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 35

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1044

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 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In his political affiliations Mr. Derby is a Democrat, but he has persistently refused to be- come a candidate for public office. He is a Knight Templar of Hugh De Payne Commandery of Keene, having taken all the preceding degrees at Bellows Falls; he is also prominently identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On January 1, 1856, Mr. Derby was united in marriage to Miss Martha P. Russell, and one daughter was born to them, Minnie F., who is now the wife of George M. Rossman, of Keene, New Hampshire.

GEORGE E. GILMAN ..

George E. Gilman, one of the prominent busi- ness men of Brattleboro, Vermont, was born July 30, 1855, at Paw Paw, Michigan, a son of Joseph Gilman. He attended the Paw Paw Heights school, where he acquired an excellent education. When he attained the age of eighteen years he commenced his business career by engaging as a clerk in a mercantile store in Paw Paw. After resigning from this position, he became interested in the exporting of horses in the same city, and he has also engaged in the breeding of horses, which business he continued up to 1898 when he removed to Brattleboro, Vermont, when he im-

Albert Derby

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mediately entered into the trade of shipping horses from the west for the southern market ; he handles as many as twelve car loads or three hundred horses a year. In addition to this ex- tensive business, he deals in all grades of horses, making a specialty of high-priced saddle and har- ness horses, also single footers ; some of his coach horses he has disposed of for the large sum of fifteen hundred dollars. He keeps about sixty horses in his stable, which are almost constantly in use, as he was awarded the city contract for the trucking of Brattleboro, in which he employs twenty teams at a time. He is also an extensive dealer in grain, hay and feed, and, being an hon- est, high-principled man, his business has in- creased from year to year until now he is the foremost merchant in the city of Brattleboro, Vermont.

Mr. Gilman is prominently identified with the Masonic order, and is a member of Paw Paw Lodge, No. 25, F. A. M .; Fort Dummer Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M .; Beausant Commandery, No. 7, K. T .; Mystic Shrine, Mt. Sinai Temple, Mont- pelier.

Mr. Gilman's branch of the Gilman family in the new world is traced as follows: In May, 1638, Edward Gilman, his wife, two daughters and three sons. John, Edward and Moses, came from the county of Norfolk, England, in a ship called the Delight of Ipswich. Edward Gilman, Jr., had a son, Edward, and built some mills at Exter, New Hampshire. He was lost at sea, having returned to England for mill gearing.

Edward, third, had Edward, fourth, born " April 11, 1681. Edward, fourth, had Edward, fifth, Antipas, Jonathan and Mary. Antipas, son of Edward, fourth, married Lydia Thing, and to them were born Antipas, Samuel, Edward, Jon- athan, Benjamin, Nathaniel, Abigail and Debor- ah. His death occurred at Gilmanton, New Hampshire, in January, 1793. Edward Gilman, son of Antipas, bought the Gilmanton Mills and lived at Gutterson Mills until he became blind. when he removed to Walden, Vermont, to live with his children. His sons were Joseph, who married Betsey Boody ; David, who married Han- nah Folsome; Edward, who married Hepsibeth Osgood ; Noah, who married Esther Kies ; Jacob, who died at the age of fifteen years; Timothy, who married Sally Kelby ; and Samuel, who mar-

ried Judith Morrell. Joseph Gilman's childrer. were Elizabeth, John, Mary, Edward, who died at one year old, and Permelia. David Gilman's children were, Polly, Hannah, Lydia, Calvin. Luther, Sally and Deana. Edward Gilman's chil- dren were, William, Amasa, Sally, Hiram, Hor- ace and Anna. Timothy Gilman's children were Desire, Mary, Sally and Electa. Samuel Gil- man's children were Sarah, Daniel, Joseph, Ma- ria, Willard, Mary, Semanthia and Martha.

Joseph Gilman, father of Mr. George E. Gil- man, was a native of New Hampshire, married Miss Annis Dole, of Northfield, Vermont, and they subsequently, in the thirties, located in Paw Paw, Michigan, where he cleared five hundred acres of land and became one of the leading citi- zens. He represented his district in the state legislature and held numerous other offices of trust and responsibility, including that of judge of probate.

George E. Gilman was united in marriage August 23, 1882, to Miss Lucy A. Averill, and the following named children have been born to. them : Otto, Beryl, Dana H. and Mina A. Gil- man.

Mrs. Lucy A. Gilman is a great-granddaugh- ter of Thomas Averill, who was born in West- minster, Vermont, in 1745. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Robinson, who was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1751. Af- ter their marriage they removed to Northfield. Vermont, where they resided for many years, and finally located in Westminster, where the follow- ing named children were born to them: John. born in 1775; Betsy, born in 1777; Amos, born in 1779; Oliver, born in 1782; Nabbie, born in 1784; Jesse, born in 1786; Lucy, born in 1788: Lavina, born in 1790; John, born in 1794 ; Kezialı, born in 1798. Mr. Averill died in 1823, and his wife died in 1840.

Captain Jesse Averill, grandfather of Mrs. Gilman, resided in the town of Northfield, Ver- mont, and was one of the representative men of the town. Being a man of sound judgment. quiet, unostentatious manners and sterling hon- esty, he was often called upon in the settlements of estates. He entered upon his public career when quite young, and during a period of twenty- five years he held almost every office that the town could confer upon him. He was repre-

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wouldlike, tale of the peace, selectman, lister The chool committee. He man ned Mrs Polly Loom , of Hinsdale, Massa chusetts, who was born November 28, 1783. Five clubdiren were born of this union : Clark, born in THE ?: Manon 1., born in 1811; Russell, born in 1816; Thomas, born in 1820; and David, born in 1823. All these children were born in the town of Northfield, Vermont. Mr. Averill died July 25. 1800, and his wife passed away October 17, 1855.

Thomas Averill, father of Mrs. Gilman, was born in Northfield, Vermont, June 5, 1820. He received an excellent education, and, being a dis- criminating and intelligent student of art and lit- erature, he was ranked among the most intelli- gent men of his section of the country. He was a writer for the local press, and in addition to this he followed agricultural pursuits at differ- ent times in New Jersey, New York, Massachu- setts and Michigan. In his political affiliations he was a Republican. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Fanny Howes, who was born July 13, 1827, a daughter of Amos Howes, who was born in Windham, Connecticut, in 1792. Mr. Howes married Miss Melinda Bennett, a daugh- ter of Lebbeus Bennett, Esq., and the following named children were born to them: Augustus, Harriett, Fanny, Lucinda, Maria M., Elizabeth, Seymour, Adelia L., Edward H. and Lebbeus Howes. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Averill : Jefferson, born in 1847; Theodore, born January 25, 1850; William Howes, born November 17, 1853; Evelyn M., born November 22, 1855; and Lucy Arabella, born August 29, 1858.

J. HENRY HOLDEN.

The gentleman whose name initiates this para- graph is now living a retired life, owing to ill health. His was a life of great activity, and he is one of the best known mechanical geniuses in the state of Vermont. He was for a long period in his earlier life one of the leading railroad- bridge builders of the country, some of the prod- ucts of his handiwork being still in existence on roads in New York state, and also on the Mis- souri Pacific in the west. For twenty-eight years previous to his retirement he was the honored

and trusted superintendent of the Estey Organ Company. Ar. Holden was born in the town of Warwick, Frankhn county, Massachusetts, on the 17th . of September, 1828. At the age of nine years he moved with his parents to the town of Orange in the same county, where he received a good education in the common schools. He remained at home until he was seventeen years of age, during this period learning the carpenter's trade, and then he found employ- ment with the Vermont and Massachusetts Rail- road Company, with whom he remained for three years. It was in their service that he learned the principles of bridge-building, and from that time for a period of some years he was in charge of that class of work on different roads in New York, New Jersey, and the west. After fourteen years of service in this line, the last two of which had been with the Missouri Pacific sys- tem, his health failed him, and he returned east and entered the employ of the Boston & Albany Railroad in their shops. He then worked with his father at the carpenter's trade for a period, which he followed for some six years succeeding 1861, and also during that time he learned the piano-making trade. In 1867 he came to Brattle- boro, and entered the employ of the Estey Organ Company, and from 1871 to 1895 he was the superintendent of that large concern.

Mr. Holden is affiliated fraternally with the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of the com- mandery. He has also been a prominent and ac- tive worker in the Baptist church, in which or- ganization he served as trustee, and was a mem- ber of the building committee for a period of years, upon which committee he was of great service on account of his great practical knowl- edge. Mr. Holden has reared a family of very interesting children, who have graced the walks of life in their different lines, and who are credi- tably filling positions of trust and honor. He was married in 1855 to Levina E. Ballou, a daughter of James Ballou, of Richmond, New Hampshire, a prominent farmer of that vicin- ity. To the marriage there were born three chil- dren : Fred H., a druggist, married Hattie H. Wales 'and has one child, Wales. "The second child was Emma E., who married Oliver Bas- tion, and has four children, Bert, Maud, Fred and Harold. Mr. Bastion is a cabinet-maker in the

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employ of the Estey Organ Company. Hattie M., who was the other daughter, is with her par- ents at home.

The father of Mr. Holden was Mr. Chapman Holden. He was a prominent builder and con- tractor of Orange, Massachusetts, and was a gal- lant soldier in the war of 1812, through which he served as orderly sergeant. In political affiliations he favored the Whigs in his day, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He reared four children, namely : Maria L., who married Alpheus Underwood; J. Henry, the sub- ject of this sketch ; Samuel M., who married Sar- ah J. Battle, and is now a railroad conductor on the Boston & Maine; Sawyer J., deceased.

Mr. J. Henry Holden is well and favorably known in the town of Brattleboro, and his many fine qualities have attracted to him through the years of his active manhood a large and exten- sive circle of friends. In the evening of life he can look back over the past without regret, hav- ing met every duty faithfully and well, and for- ward to the future without fear.

CLARENCE FREMONT RUBENS JENNE.

Clarence Fremont Rubens Jenne, one of the prominent business men of Brattleboro, Vermont, is a worthy descendant of an old and honored English family, and the line of descent is as follows: John Jenny, the progenitor of the fam- ily in this country, was born in Norwich, Eng- land, and, having adopted Puritanism for his faith and belief, he was forced to escape from England in the fall of 1607 or the spring of 1608, and he sought refuge in Amsterdam, Holland. In the fall of 1608 he removed to Leyden and be- came a member of the church of which John Rob- inson was pastor. His trade was that of a brew- er, and he followed this occupation for some years. On November 1, 1614, at Leyden, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Cary, of Mancksoon, England. Three children were born to them in Holland: Samuel, Abigail and Sarah Jenny. In the summer of 1623, a little vessel (forty tons) was constructed for the Puritans at Leyden. It was christened the "Little James" and in this frail craft John Jenne and his family, in company with others, sailed for Plymouth, Mas- sachusetts. They arrived there safely in August,

1623, and Mr. Jenny being a well read and highly educated man soon became prominently identified with the affairs of Plymouth. He served as dep- uty governor for several years, and was also ap- pointed a member of important committees and councils. His duties were varied and important ; he conducted the public affairs of the town during the absence of the governor, and served as justice at the terms of the general court; he also dealt out corn in payment of bounty for the killing of wolves, and he manufactured salt, which is so essential to the wants of all mankind.

Samuel Jenny, son of John and Sarah Jenny, was born about the year 1616 at Leyden, Eng- land. He came to this country with his parents when quite young and settled in Plymouth, Mas- sachusetts, where he was united in marriage to Miss Ann Littis, of Plymouth. Nine children were born of this union.

John Jenny, son of Samuel and Ann (Littis) Jenny, was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1647 and by his marriage six children were born. His death occurred in the year 1727. Samuel Jenny, son of John Jenny, was born February 4, 1678, and by his marriage had six children. Mr. Jenny died in 1718. Job Jenny, son of Samuel, was born at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, July II, 1705. He served as deacon in the Congregational church of Dartmouth, and was united in mar- riage, January II, 1727, to Miss Keziah Briggs, of Rochester. Six children were born to them. Seth Jenny, son of Job and Keziah Jenny, was born March 27, 1732. He married Miss Hannah Rider, and eleven children were born to them. Mr. Jenny died May 27, 1807.

Prince Jenne (as the name of this line was afterward spelled), son of Seth and Hannah Jenny, was born at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, April II, 1759. He was a Congregational min- ister, and was installed as pastor of a church in Plymouth, Vermont, in the year 1805. On Jan- uary 18, 1781, he was united in marriage to Miss Lettis Heyden, and they had a family of nine children. Mr. Jenne died in July, 1837, and his 'remains were interred at Plymouth, Ver- mont.

Reuben Jenne, son of the Rev: Prince and Lettis Jenne, was born January 24. 1798. He married Miss Wealthy Cady, of Kingston, and nine children were born of this union. Miss

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Wealthy Cady was born at Alstead, New Hamp- shite, daughter of Isaac and Eunice ( Houghton) Cads. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jenne died and were interred at Ludlow, Vermont.

Benjamin Rush Jenne, son of Reuben and Wealthy Jeune, was born June 13, 1831, in Granville, Vermont. For his second wife he chese Miss Precepta Austin, of Sheffield, Mas- sachusetts : she was the daughter of Harry Day and Almira (Pope) Austin, the latter being a Dewey on the maternal side. They had four children, one of whom is Clarence Fremont Ru- bens Jenne, born November 10, 1856. Mr. Jenne enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, recruiting a company at Rutland, Vermont, of which he was clected the captain on September 10, 1861. He was mustered into the United States service Sep- tember 16, 1861, at St. Albans, Vermont, as cap- tain of Company G, Fifth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and when the Army of the Potomac was organized, he was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. He participated in the following impor- tant battles : Lee's Mills, April 16, 1862; York- town Heights, May 4, 1862; Williamsburg, May 5, 1862; Golding's Farms, June 27, 1862; Sav- age Station, June 29, 1862. He was wounded and taken a prisoner of war June 29, 1862, and sent to Libby Prison, and exchanged at Fredericks- burg, December 13, 1862 ; he was in the battle of Mary's Heights, May 3, 1863; Salem Heights, May 4, 1863; Gettysburg, July I and 3, 1863 ; and Funkstown, Maryland, July 12 and 13, 1863. After the termination of the last named battle, he was sent to Brattleboro, Vermont, to drill re- cruits for the army, and during the latter part of the year 1863 and the early part of 1864 was in command of the camp. During the summer of 1864 he was detailed to go to New Haven, Con- necticut, where he was assigned to duty in the camp at Grape Vine Point, adjacent to the city of New Haven. When the time of his enlistment expired he was mustered out at camp in the field, September 16, 1864, and, accompanied by his family, he went to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he entered the quartermaster's department of the United States Volunteers as a civilian, and re- mained as such for one year. At the close of the was he was brevetted major by the United States government.

Clarence Fremont Rubens Jeune, eldest son of Benjamin and Precepta Jenne, was born in L.ce, Massachusetts, November 10, 1856. He ac- quired his education in the Brattleboro high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1874. Immediately after his graduation he entered, in the capacity of clerk, the insurance office which was conducted by his father, and he remained in his employ until 1878, when he en- tered into partnership with his father-in-law, Mr. Sidney H. Sherman, who had previously been associated with his father in business. The firm was known under the style of Sherman & Jenne ; they were very suc- cessful from the beginning, owing to their honor- able, upright and conscientious business dealings. l'his association continued until the death of the former, which occurred in 1898, and since then Mr. Jenne has conducted the business alone. Among some of the important companies repre- sented by Mr. Jenne are the following : the Mut- ual Life Insurance Company of New York, the Old Vermont Mutual Insurance Company of Montpelier, and a large line of English and New York fire insurance companies. Mr. Jenne was one of the incorporators of the Brattleboro Sav- ings Bank, of which Mr. Sherman, his father-in- law, was vice president for several years.

In his political affiliations Mr. Jenne is a Re- publican, and takes an active interest in commit- tee work. He was a member of the Vermont Nat- ional Guard for five years, and acts as colonel of the Vermont division of the Sons of Veter- ans, of which he has been a member for the past twenty years ; he succeeded Colonel Fletcher D. Proctor. He has held all the chairs and served on the staff of Commander-in-Chief Dr. Abbott, of Chicago. He is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution and the Loyal Legion. Mr. Jenne is prominently identified with the Masonic order, being a member and acting as treasurer of Columbia Lodge, F. A. M., Fort Dummer Chap- ter, R. A. M., Knights Templar and of the Mys- tic Shrine. He is a director of the Young Men's Christian Association, and a consistent member of the First Baptist church, of which he is one of the board of trustees. He is an active member of the Vermont Wheel Club.

On September 15, 1880, Mr. Jenne was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Sherman, and their

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two children are: Mary Pauline, born April IO, 1884, a student of Mt. Holyoke College ; and Sherman Austin, born August 24, 1887.

Mrs. Jenne is a descendant of Henry Sher- man, of Dedham, Essex county, England, a cloth- ier by trade. He emigrated from Suffolk county, England, where he was probably born, having in his possession the Suffolk county Sherman coat of arms. He married Miss Agnes Butler. / Of their children, Henry Sherman had six sons, one of whom, John Sherman, was born in Ded- ham, England, and died prior to 1625, and who married Grace Macon.

John Sherman, son of John and Grace (Ma- con) Sherman, was born in Dedham, England, in 1613. He came to this country from Ipswich, England, in the ship Elizabeth in 1634; he em- barked in April of that year, and arrived in Bos- ton, in June, 1634, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. He was admitted freeman, May 16, 1637, was elected to serve as land surveyor and selectman many times between the years 1637 and 1680; he served as town clerk, and was afterward chosen to represent the town in the state legislature. He was chosen ensign of the state troops, and there derived his title of Captain John. He also acted as steward of Harvard College in 1662. He married Miss Martha Pal- mer, daughter of William Palmer and his first wife.

Joseph Sherman, son of John, was born May 14, 1650. He was a blacksmith by trade, and was one of the prominent men of his town, be- ing often chosen to fill the positions of select- man, assessor 'and representative in 1772-3-4-5. He married, November 18, 1673, Miss Elizabeth Winship, of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

John Sherman, son of Joseph and Elizabeth Sherman was born January II, 1674. He was one of the original grantees of the town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts ; he came from Marl- boro, and with forty other citizens paid three pounds, twelve shillings, for the use of the prov- ince. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Bullen.

Joseph Sherman, son of John and Mary (Bul- len) Sherman, was born in Marlboro, May 9, 1703. He enlisted from Sudbury in Captain Daikin's Company in the Crown Point expe- dition. He was one of the original sixteen

founders of the first Congregational church in Marlboro, Massachusetts. He married Miss Sar- ah Perham, of Sutton.

Joseph Sherman, son of Joseph and Sarah Sherman, was born August 15, 1742. At the age of thirty-five he was a soldier in the Conti- nental army, and participated in many of the bat- tles. He married Miss Abigail Muzzy, Febru- ary 4, 1766, and died in Morristown, New Jer- sey, during the winter of 1777.

Nathan Sherman, son of Joseph and Abigail Sherman, was born December 6, 1767. He emi- grated in 1790, to Dover, Vermont, and was a sil- versmith by trade, and in addition to this he fol- lowed the occupation of farming. He was joined in marriage to Miss Mary Stearns, daughter of William Stearns, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and who died at the great age of ninety-seven.

Joseph Sherman, son of Nathan and Mary Sherman, was born June 12, 1794. He was a clothier by trade and he also followed agri- cultural pursuits. He married Miss Chloe Hay- ward, and his death occurred in Dover, Vermont. Mrs. Chloe (Hayward) Sherman was a daughter of John and Mary ( Pease) Hayward.

Sidney Harvey Sherman, son of Joseph and Chloe Sherman, was born May II, 1828, in Do- ver, Vermont. He was educated in the district schools, and commenced his business career as a clerk in the store of P. F. Perry, in Dover Center; later he went to New York, where he was engaged as a bookkeeper for the New York Wire Mills. After being engaged in trade in vari- ous places, he returned to Dover, Vermont, and heid the position of postmaster there for many years. He was one of the prominent men in the political affairs of the town, having at one time or another filled all the prominent offices in the gift of the town: delegate to the constitutional convention in 1870, representative in 1872-3, se- lectman, 1864; town clerk, Dover, 1869 to 1873. He was drafted in 1861, and secured a substi- tute and was largely instrumental in the raising of funds by the town of Dover to defray war ex- penses. Mr. Sherman was twice married, his first wife having been Artie H. Perry. After her death, which occurred February 16, 1858, he married, at North Leverett, Massachusetts. January 2, 1859, Miss Mary E. Farnsworth, daughter of Joseph and Anna (Nichols) Farns-

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worth, of Halifax, Vermont. Anna ( Nichols) Farnsworth was the daughter of Khoda ( Carpen. ter ) Nichols, whose father was Benjamin Car- penter, second heutenant governor of the state of Vermont. Their daughter Ida May became the wife of Clarence F. R. Jenne.

Mrs. Jenne is well known throughout the state in various patriotic circles, having organ- ized the "Society of the United States Daugh- ters of 1812," and among other notable events in the history of that society, while Mrs. Jenne was the state president, they entertained Lieuten- ant Richard Pierson Hobson, who gained such fame during the Spanish-American war. Mrs. Jenne also acts in the capacity of national treas- urer of the same society. She served as treas- urer of the Brattleboro Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and secretary of the Brattleboro Woman's Club; is a charter mem- ber of the Vermont Society of Colonial Dames ; and has been the president of the Woman's Aux- illary of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is very active and prominent in various re- lations in the Baptist church of Brattleboro, hav- ing sung in the choir for fifteen years, and be- ing especially active in charitable work ih con- nection with the church.

JOHN J. RETTING.

John J. Retting, a retired merchant of Brat- leboro, Vermont, was born in Klutz, Mecklen- burg-Schwerin, Germany, February 5, 1824, a son of Frederick Retting, a resident of Schwerin, Germany, where he was educated for the minis- try, but instead of following that profession he was engaged for a number of years in teaching school. John J. Retting was only a very small child when his father died, but he was reared under his mother's watchful care, and attended the industrial schools of his native town, where he learned the furniture trade. He was very bright and proficient in his studies and after leav- ing school his guardian prepared him for col- lege, where he intended to pursue a theological course. But failing to do this, he served three years at the furniture trade, and after the expi- ration of this period of time he was employed "as journeyman" the following seven years, work-

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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 35

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1044

Author: Carleton, Hiram, 1838- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: New York, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1044