USA > Vermont > Genealogical and family history of the state of Vermont; a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol II > Part 18
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ELMER ELLSWORTH ROSS.
Eimer E. Ross is a man who in his progress- ive career has demonstrated the value of a good name in the business world, which is worth far more than wealth. As a merchant and man of affairs he has not only prospered in a substantial manner, but has won a name which stands for business stability and insures him a high stand- ing. He is a native son of Middlebury, his birth occuring in this town on the 12th of May, 1861, and on the paternal side the family is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Reuben Ross, located in this town in a very early day, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and here he spent the remainder of his life.
Norman D. Ross, his son, also claimed Mid- dlebury as the place of his nativity, and he was one of six children, only two of whom still sur- vive. Norman D. Ross received his elementary education in the public schools of this town, and after completing his literary education took up the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Edward Porter. After engaging for a time in the drug business he took up the practice of his chosen profession, locating first at Bethel, Vermont, and after some years removed to Salis- bury, thence to East Middlebury in 1857, where he followed the practice of medicine until his
life's labors were ended, June 7, 1899, in his seventy-fourth year. He was a great student and progressive in his ideas, and won the good will and patronage of many of the leading citi- zens and families in the localities in which he practiced. Dr. Ross married Miss Harriet Fields, who was born in England, and they be- came the parents of eight children, six of whom still survive, namely : Rose, wife of Charles Pin- ney, cashier of the Bank of Middlebury ; Edgar N., who is engaged in painting at East Middlebury; Clarence W., also of East Mid- dlebury ; Laura A., of East Middlebury ; Elmer E., of this review; and George C., who is engaged in the railroad business in Boston, married Mary A. Enos, and they have three children, Harry, Mildred and Pauline. Mrs. Harriet Ross was summoned into eternal rest at the age of sixty-six years, May 17, 1896, pass- ing away in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was long a worthy and faithful member.
Elmer E. Ross spent the early years of his life in East Middlebury, where he attended the common and high schools, and after putting aside his text books he entered the grocery busi- ness, thus continuing for the following three years. On the expiration of that period he purch- ased the grist and flour mill which he now owns and operates, and six years later he also embarked in the grocery business, while from 1894 until 1896 he conducted the Exchange Hotel, at Mont- pelier, but has since disposed of the latter prop- erty. In the lines of endeavor in which he is now engaged he is meeting with a high and well merited degree of success, the result of his excel- lent business ability, his indefatigable labor and his honorable dealings.
On the 3Ist of December, 1901, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Ross and Miss Nina Poreau. She was born in Pittsford, Vermont. and is a daughter of Jack Poreau, a prominent farmer and hotel proprietor. Mr. Poreau and his wife, Sarah Perry, became the parents of five children. three of whom still survive: Min- nie; Mrs. Perley Kendrick; Bessie, wife of Clarence Thomas, and Nina. Mrs. Ross is affiliated with the Congregational church, while her husband is a member of the Episcopal church. In political matters he gives his support to the
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Republican party, and is recognized as one of the public spirited and progressive citizens of the locality, ever lending his and and co operation to all movements and measures for the benefit of his town and county. He is a man of sterling worth and justly merits the high regard in which he is held.
DR. EDWARD RICHARD LYNCH.
Few men in the profession have had more gratifying results in their work during the same length of time than has Dr. Lynch, a rising young physician of Brattleboro. Though it was only in February, 1898, that, coming from his studies, he opened an office in that town, he now has a practice extending far and near. His pri- vate sanitarium is especially attracting to: him large numbers of patients, as is also his extra- ordinary success in treating cases of appendicitis, children's and women's diseases, and in perform- ing surgical operations.
Dr. Lynch was born in South Wheelock, Ver- mont, September 3, 1870, is a son of John Lynch, of that place, and is of Irish descent. His grand- father was Michael Lynch, and a resident of county Cork, Ireland. John Lynch, father of Dr. Edward R., was one of the well-to-do-farm- ers who have so ably assisted in the development of the agricultural industries of this state. He came to America in 1842, locating at St. Johns- bury, Vermont, where he remained for some time. Later moving to South Wheelock, Vermont, he settled upon a farm and gave his time almost ex- clusively to the development of its resources. Possessed of keen intelligence and a large ca- pacity for work, he made a thorough success of his business. By his marriage there were nine children, four of whom are now living: William M., who has been a member of the Boston fire department for the last twenty years, and who is now lieutenant; Rev. John A., now a parish priest at St. Johnsbury; Dr. Edward R., who is mentioned below; and a daughter, who married Charles McGovern, and who now resides in St. Johnsbury.
Dr. Edward R. Lynch spared neither time, money, nor unceasing toil in the preparation for his professional work. The institutions that he attended have been many and among the best in
the country, and no detail which would assist him in diagnosing the cases with which he is likely to have to deai has been neglected. As a preliminary professional preparation, he attended the Green Mountain Seminary at Waterbury, Vermont, and the Lyndon Institute at Lyndon Center, in the same state, graduating from the latter in 1890. Having in these schools be- come well grounded in those sciences and lan- guages which would assist to a thorough com- prehension of medical lore, he entered the medi- cal department of the University of Vermont, where he pursued his studies for two years. He next attended the popular and well-equipped College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, and later the Baltimore Medical Col- lege, graduating from the latter in 1896, with the degree of M. D. Though possessed by this time of the knowledge and experience of the average physician, he was not content, and decided to supplement this preparation by more hospital practice. He first took a course of training in the North End Dispensary, next in the Union General Hospital at Tewksbury, Massachusetts, where he remained for fourteen months, later for six months in the Union General Hospital, West Springfield street, Boston; also at Dan- vers Hospital for the Insane, and finally in the City Asylum at Mattapan, Massachusetts, ac- quiring in these institutions in a short time an experience which it would require years of coun- try practice to equal. So it was with the most confident assurance of success that in 1898 he opened an office in Brattleboro and started in regular practice. He had no difficulty in winning the confidence of the people, and soon had more patients than he could conveniently attend to. Perceiving that better results would attend his labors by the aid of a private sanitarium, and that his patients were of a class to patronize the institution, he decided to open one, and in less than a year he had it fully equipped and ready for the treatment of cases. This institution has proved a great blessing to the city and to the sur- rounding country, and Dr. Lynch always has in it as many as he can conveniently care for. Dur- ing the year 1901 he here received and treated over five hundred cases. His practice outside, too, has been large, is still increasing, and, ex- tending over a wide area, necessitates the em-
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ployment of five fast horses. Dr. Lynch has been very fotunate with his treatment of appen- dicitis cases, and out of one hundred and fifty- five, all involving operations, he has lost but one. He makes a specialty of surgery and diseases of women and children, and expects to devote his entire attention to the former at some future time.
Dr. Lynch married, June 23, 1894, Georgina Moran, the charming daughter of James Moran, of Londonderry, Nova Scotia, and they have had two sons, Edward Byron and George Hamilton. Dr. Lynch is a born physician, is thoroughly interested in his work and never neglects an op- portunity for keeping abreast of his profession. He belongs to the Vermont State Medical So- ciety, the American Medical Association, the American Association of Physicians and Sur- geons and the Connecticut Valley Medical As- sociation, before which he has read pa- pers. Among various other organizations he also stands high, and affiliates with the Independ- ent Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, New England Order of Protection, Catholic Order of Foresters and the Independent Order of Red Men. He also acts as medical ex- aminer for several societies. In the public af- fairs of his town he takes a live interest. In poli- tics he is a Democrat and in religion a Roman Catholic. He is popular in all circles and is a member of the Professional Men's Club, of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Cath- olic Young Men's Union.
MERRITT H. EDDY, M. D.
Generic history must in every instance trace back to its essence in the specific, and this specific .essence in the history of human life and hu- man achievement always springs from some ob- jective prototype-some individual or class of individual whose actions and efforts have formed the background of the general history. The gen- eral is thus the reflex of the individual record, while there must be incidental reference to en- vironment, with its modifying or broadening in- fluences. It is in this sense that biography be- comes the nucleus of all history, making clear beyond peradventure the progress and the opu-
lent achievement whose basic elements must ever remain obscure unless cognizance be taken of the individual life and the individual accomplish- ment. In rendering, then, the history of any nation or any people there is a scientific historical necessity for biography, and in tracing the growth and development of any community or any in- stitution the impression must be deepened and the salient points emphasized by tracing simultaneous- ly the life histories of those whose efforts have promoted this advancement. In the case at hand we have to do with one of the leading representa- tives of the medical profession in Vermont, and one whoe genealogy betokens that he is a scion of a family whose association with the annals of American history has been intimate and honor- able from the early colonial epoch, the original representatives of the name having taken up their residence in the new world prior to the middle of the seventeenth century, as will appear later on in this article. Such men and such ancestral prestige amply justify the compilation of works of this nature, that a worthy record may be perpetuated for future genrations.
Merritt Henry Eddy, an honored citizen and prominent physician and surgeon of Middlebury, Vermont, is a native of the old Green Mountain state and has here passed essentially his entire life. He was born on a farm in Winhall, Benning- ton county, on the 25th of January, 1833, being a son of Chandler Eddy, who was born in Win- hall, Vermont, on the 18th of July, 1807. The latter's father, Stanton Eddy, was a native of Rowe, Massachusetts, where he was born on the 29th of February, 1776, a son of Silas Eddy, who was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, on the Ist of September, 1749, and who died on the 3Ist of August, 1807: The latter's father was William Eddy, who was likewise a native of the Massachusetts colony, where he was born on the 5th of February, 1725, and who was one of the valiant soldiers in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution, having been a private in the regiment of General Israel Putnam, of historic fame. This Revolutionary hero was a son of Benjamin Eddy, who was born in Ox- ford, Massachusetts, on the 16th of September, 1673, and who died previous to 1728. He was a son of Samuel Eddy, who was born in Water- town, Massachusetts, on the 30th of September,
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logo, and who died on the 22 of November, 1711.
The last mentioned was a son of John Eddy. one of the original American progenitors of those who bear the name in this country. John fiddy was born in March, 1597, in Iengland, and was there reared. On the soth of August. 1630, in company with his brother Samuel, he left the city of London and embarked for America, land- ing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, on the 29th of the following October, after a voyage of twelve weeks' duration. The brothers paid a visit of respect to Governor Winthrop, who later, in a written message, designated them as "two gen- tlemen passengers." They located in Watertown, Massachusetts, where, as indicated on page 81 of the town records of that day, John Eddy was admitted a freeman on the 3d of September, 1634, while in the three ensuing years he was in- cumbent of the office of selectman, from which it is prima facie evidence that he forthwith be- came prominent in the affairs of the town. He was twice married, and a number of children were born of each union. His death occurred on the 12th of October, 1684. The family lineage is traced farther, and most definitely, to William Eddy, A. M., vicar of the church of St. Dunstan, at Cranbrook, county Kent, England. He was born in Bristol and was educated in Trinity Col- lege, Cambridge, while his incumbency of the vicarage of Cranbrook extended from 1589 to 1616, on the 23d of November, of which latter year his death occurred, his remains being in- terred in the Cranbrook churchyard. From this brief genealogical record it became evident that Dr. Eddy is of the eighth generation of the family in America, and thus may well take pride in the record, which bespeaks worthy lives and worthy deeds, as one generation has followed-another on the stage of life's activities, the name being one on whose escutcheon appears on spot or blemish during all years through which it has been identi- fied with the annals of our national history.
Stanton Eddy, grandfather of the Doctor, was a farmer by vocation and was the first rep- resentative of the name in the Green Mountain state, whither he emigrated from Massachusetts in the latter part of the eighteenth century, taking up his abode in Winhall, Bennington county, where he secured a large tract of land, becom-
ing one of the pioneers of that section and there developing a fine farm. He erected a substantial dwelling on the place and made other excellent improvements, and became one of the successful and influential citizens of the community. There he continued to maintain his home during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1862, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. The old homestead is still in the possession of the family, being now occupied by Kirk Hughes and wife, Minnie (Eddy) Hughes, a great-grand- daughter of this honored pioneer. March 15, 1803, Stanton Eddy married Waity Howard, who was born in Jamaica, Windham county, Ver- mont, on the 19th of April, 1781, and whose death occurred on the 30th of January, 1860, both she and her husband having been devoted members of the Baptist church. They became the parents of eight children, all of whom are now deceased, though many descendants remain to perpetuate the family prestige in the state.
Chandler Eddy, father of the subject of this review, was reared on the parenta! homestead in Winhall, where he was born, and in his youth he was accorded such educational advantages as were afforded in the local schools of the period. He early began to assist in the work of the farm, and while still a youth went to live in the home of his uncle, Benjamin Eddy, under whose direc- tion he learned the trade of wheelwright. He did not devote his attention to this trade for any considerable period, but returned to the old home- stead, where he cared for his parents in their declining years, successfully carrying on the work of the farm. He eventually purchased an adjoining farm, where he continued his agricul- tural operations until his retirement from the active labors of life, passing the evening of his days in the home of his son, W. H. Eddy, at East Townshend, where he died on the 11th of March, 1895, having attained the patriarchal age of eighty-nine years. On the 15th of March, 1832, Chandler Eddy was united in marriage to Miss Alice Davis Howe, who was born in Ja- maica, Vermont, on the 8th of June, 1805, the daughter of Joel Howe, who was likewise a native of that place, where he became a pros- perous and representative farmer. He passed the closing years of his life in the home of his daughter, the mother of our subject, but at the
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time of his death he was in Londonderry, where he passed away in 1867, at the age of ninety-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hul- dah Fittz, was born in Wales, whence she ac- companied her parents to America in her child- hood. Joel and Huldah Howe became the par- ents of four children, of whom the mother of the Doctor was the third in order of birth. Ex- treme longevity has been characteristic of both the Eddy and Howe families, and it is appro- priately noted in the connection that Huldah Howe, the maternal grandmother of Dr. Eddy, lived to the age of ninety-five years, both she and her honored husband having heid the faith of the Methodist church. Chandler and Alice D. (Howe) Eddy became the parents of three chil- dren, namely: Merritt H., the immediate sub- ject of this sketch; Willard Harrison, who is a prominent carpenter and builder of Townshend, Vermont; and Otis German, who resides on the old homestead farm of his grandfather. The mother of these children entered into eternal rest on the 22d of May, 1863, at the age of fifty- eight years, and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gentle and gracious personality. Chandler Eddy: was originally a Whig in political principles, but his last allegi- ance was given to the Republican party, with which he identified himself at the time of its organization. He was a man of inflexible integ- rity, and held the unqualified confidence and es- teem of all who knew him, while he took a deep interest in local affairs of a public nature and in all that concerned the general welfare. He and his wife were regular attendants of the Metho- dist church, exemplifying their faith in their daily lives.
Dr. M. H. Eddy passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm in Winhall, securing his rudimentary educational training in the district schools and later attending the graded schools in Londonderry during the winter months, while he continued to assist in the work of the home- stead farm during the summer seasons. He later attended a select school in Putney and an acad- emy in Townshend. In the meanwhile he had formulated definite plans for his future career, having determined to prepare himself for the practice of medicine and surgery, with which end in view, at the age of fifteen years, he took up
a course of technical reading under an able pre- ceptor at Putney, in the meanwhile working at various occupations to defray his incidental ex- penses. He began teaching in the district schools of his native town when seventeen years of age, being very successful in his pedagogic efforts. which he continued for two years in that locality, later following the same line of work in Jamaica and South Londonderry, being an instructor in the graded schools of the latter place during two winters, and then returning to Jamaica, where he was similarly engaged during the succeeding two winters, gaining an excellent reputation in this field of endeavor, and in the meanwhile carrying forward his preparatory studies in order to fit himself for admission to college. In 1856 he matriculated in Middiebury College, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1860. For the following three years he was engaged as a teacher in the academy at Ticonderoga, New York, thus earning the money with which to con- tinue his technical studies. In 1863 he entered the medical department of Harvard University, where he continued his studies until the spring of 1864, when his financial resources reached so low an ebb that he was compelled to secure addi- tional reinforcement before proceeding with his medical course. He then located in Burlington, Vermont, where he became an assistant to Pro- fessor H. M. Seely, of the University of Ver- mont, in the meantime attending lectures in Bur- lington Medical College, where he was graduated on the Ist of May, 1865, receiving his coveted de- gree of Doctor of Medicine and being amply fortified for the work of his chosen profession. Dr. Eddy forthwith opened an office in Middle- bury, and here he has ever since been engaged in active practice, controlling a representative patronage and having gained precedence as one of the able and successful physicians and sur- geons of his native state. He has thus been in practice here for nearly forty years, and he has held the utmost confidence of the local public and the affectionate regard of those to whom he has ministered, having ever continued a close student and having kept in touch with the ad- vances made in medical and surgical methods and systems, while his genial personality and unvary- ing kindliness have made his presence ever grate- ful to the weary sufferer. He is one of the oldest
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members of the Vermont State Medical Society m this section, is a member also of the Addison County Medical Society, being secretary of the latter, and is identified with Union Lodge, No. 2, F. & A. M., of Middlebury. Within the years of his active practice the Doctor has been medical examiner for twenty different life insurance com- panies. In politics he gives a stanch allegiance to the Republican party, though he has never desired official preferment, considering his pro- fession worthy of his entire time and attention.
On the 9th of April, 1867, Dr. Eddy was united in marriage to Miss Louise M. Seely, a sister of Professor H. M. Seely, formerly of Burlington College, and later of Middlebury Col- lege. She was born in Onondaga, New York, a (laughter of Joseph Owen Seely, a prominent farmer of that locality, where he died at the age of eighty-three years. Dr. and Mrs. Eddy be- came the parents of two children, namely : Jessie L., who remains at the parental home; and Stan- ton S., who is a graduate of Burlington Medical College, where he received his degree when twenty-two years of age, and who is now asso- ciated with his father in the practice of medicine in Middlebury, being a young man of fine intel- lectuality and one who has gained prestige as an able and discriminating physician. He grad -. uated from the local school at the age of fifteen years, from college at nineteen, upon which he entered the medical school. He was appointed an interne at the Boston City Hospital before receiving his degree, subsequently was house surgeon, after which he had charge of scarlet fe- ver and diphtheria wards in the Chester Park Hospital of the same city. After a course in New York hospitals he opened an office in East Or- ange, New Jersey, but very shortly, yielding to the entreaties of numerous friends, he took up practice with his father in his native place. In 1902 he was appointed district surgeon of the Rutland Railroad. He is a member of the County and State Medical societies, of the Masonic order and Chi Psi, and Delta Mu, of his academic and medical colleges.
ANDREW J. HORTON.
This gentleman, for twenty years the efficient superintendent of the Brattleboro Gas Light Company, was born in Hinsdale, New Hamp-
Shine. November 11, 18.19. He received an ex- cellent education in the conmon schools of his native place and at the age of sixteen years came with his parents to Brattleboro. He was always of a constructive furn of mind, and he early be- came interested in electrical engineering, the business which he adopted as his life work. He became connected with the Brattleboro Gas Light Company in 1882, and was continuously engaged with them up to 1902, when, on ac-
ANDREW J. HORTON.
count of ill health, he resigned. Mr. Horton: was a member of the Estey Guards and Fuller Battery, and is a member of Wanbisbiquet Lodge, No. 5, I. O. O. F. He celebrated his marriage November 11, 1880, his wife's maiden name having been Sarah Ingraham, she being a widow lady with two children, Bertha and Earn- est, their father having been George Hastings.
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