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 45
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but saved the state to the Union in the stormy days of 'or and '02.
Besides his ownership of real estate in San Francisco, Mr. Brooks was one of the original promoters of the system of cable street railways, which has reached its greatest success in that city. He built the water works at Santa Cruz, California, and had other large interests in that vicinity. After his release from the exacting cares of business in the paper warehouse, his at- tachment for the east and the scenes of his youth reasserted itself, and in due time he established his legal residence in Brattleboro, and thereafter, saving a year spent in Europe, he divided his time between Brattleboro and San Francisco.
In 1871-72 he showed his public spirit and his interest in the good name and permanent welfare of Brattleboro by erecting the Brooks House at a cost of about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. His home in Brattleboro has ever since been in the Brooks House in handsome apartments especially arranged and fitted up for the accommodation of himself and his sister, the late Miss Ellen Malvina Brooks.
A year ago last October, Mr. Brooks bought the old Goodhue homestead on Main street, and about that time he made known to a few intimate friends his purpose to build upon a portion of the lot a building to receive and permanently hold the Brattleboro free library. In due time the scheme took definite shape, and was made public, and be- fore his departure for San Francisco for the win- ter he had decided upon the general plan, and named his trustees, and left the details to be worked out and all needed arrangements to be made ready to begin the work on the building at the opening of the season of 1886. In order that not a day should be lost he anticipated the time of his usual return from San Francisco by more than a month, and ever since then his whole time has been devoted to watching and furthering the construction of the building, save only the few weeks as the town's representative at Montpelier. His mind seemed wholly absorbed in the work, and nothing gave him half the pleasure or satis- faction as to know that his townsmen appreciated the good work of beneficence which he had at- tempted to do for them and for their children after them. Within two days of his death he positively refused the appeal of a relative to go
to New York to attend a matter of importance business, saying in answer that he could not leave the library building, but must stay to see the work pushed diligently forward. The fact that the final development of his plans called for a total sum of money largely in excess of that which he at first intended scemed only to increase his pleasure and satisfaction in his proposed gift. His labor was purely a labor of love, and on every lip, as his death has been spoken of, has been an expression of keenest regret that he could not have been spared to see his building finished, to make the gift to his townsmen by his own hand and word of mouth, and to share in the services of dedication which are so near at hand. Among his papers has been found a partial draft of what he meant to say when presenting the deed to the town at the dedication services.
In his personal character Mr. Brooks was a man of absolute integrity, of purity and simplicity of thought, of rare singleness of purpose, and of warm and generous impulses. His success in life was due to solid, substantial qualites of mind, which showed him things in their true perspective. refused to be carried away by any passing whim, and sought the end in view by methods of plain, straightforward directness. From his earliest beginning in business he scorned the days of those who seek to accomplish their own ends by in- direction or by circumventing and breaking down the interests of others. His handsome fortune was won on principles and methods of business uprightness and through investments which com- mended themselves to his judgment because of their solid and permanent value .- From Vermont Phoenix, 1886.
"The George J. Brooks Memorial Fund." BRATTLEBORO, FEB. 4, 1887. To B. D. Harris, Joseph Draper, James M. Ty- ler, Julius J. Estey and Hoyt H. Wheeler, Trustees of the Brooks Library.'
"Gentlemen: The undersigned, executors of the will of the late George J. Brooks, acting under authority and in behalf of his residuary legatees, propose, as soon as the legal formalities can be observed, to transfer to you and your successors, in trust, for the benefit of the library building and library, on conditions to be then more fully set forth, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be
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known as 'The George J. Brooks Memorial Fund.'
"Kindly advise us at an early day of your willingness to accept this trust, and oblige,
"Yours respectively, "NORMAN F. CABOT,
"FRANCIS GOODHUE,
"OSCAR A. MARSHALL,
"Executors."
WILLIAM BERNIS SHELDON.
The profession of the law, when clothed in its true dignity, purity and strength, must rank first among the callings of men, for law rules the uni- verse. The work of the legal pro- fession is to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to administer those rules and principles that under- lie and permeate all government and society and control the varied rela- tions of men. As thus viewed there attaches to the legal profession a no- bleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true lawyer, who, rising to the responsibilities of the profes- sion, and honest in the pursuit of his purpose, embraces the richness of learning, the firmness of integrity and the purity of morals, together with the grace and modesty and the general amenities of life. Of such a type Mr. Sheldon is a representative.
William B. Sheldon was born in East Rupert, Bennington county, June 15, 1842. His father, Aaron S. Sheldon, was a native of Fair Haven, Rutland county, this state, born April 7, 1817, while the grandfather, Moses Sheldon, was born in Rupert in 1784. Farther back than this, however, the ancestry can be traced to the great- grandfather, another Moses Shel- don, whose birth occurred in Suf- field in 1752. The last named was a son of Elijah Sheldon, who was born in North- ampton, Massachusetts, în 1719. Elijah Sheldon was a son of Jonathan Sheldon, who was born at Northampton in 1687. Jonathan was a son of Isaac Sheldon, and the latter was the progenitor
of the family in America. He was born in Eng- land in 1629, and was one of the first settlers who located in Windsor, Connecticut, moving from there to Northampton in 1654. As the town grew, he became very active in its affairs, and was in- strumental in shaping its early history. He died here in 1708.
The hardships and privations which marked the sturdy life of this pioneer family can be more fully appreciated when it is remembered that as late as 1670 there were two thousand Indians in
WILLIAM BERNIS SHELDON.
the town of Windsor alone, or nineteen Indians to every white man. 'Years passed and the colon- ists became dissatisfied with the relations between them and the mother country. Heavy taxes were imposed and they at length resolved to throw off allegiance to the British crown.
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Elijah Sheldon, the great great grandfather of our subject, had served with the British army in the French and Indian war in 1755-59, and in the subsequent Indian wars up to the Revolution, when he again took up arms, but this time in the cause of American liberty as a member of the colonial army. He was in the regiment com- manded by Thaddeus Cook and was several times wounded. (See Hoadley's Records, 1778 to 1780). Whenever his health would permit, how- ever, he was found at his post of duty, and loyally aided in the work which resulted in the estab- lishment of this republic. He had a fort or stockade' in the town of Windsor, Connecticut, and in one of the attacks by the Indians the fort was captured, and his wife and daughter were carried away to Canada. He never heard of them again. His connection with religious interests and his work as a member of the church is indi- cated by the fact that he was known as Deacon Sheldon.
Jonathan and Elijah Sheldon died at Suffield, Connecticut, in 1769 and 1785, respectively, and their names are inscribed upon the Sheldon monu- ment erected in the cemetery there by Hezekiah S. Sheldon, the historian of Suffield, who traces his ancestry back to a common source with the subject of this sketch in the person of Elijah Sheldon.
Moses Sheldon, Sr., was also one of the heroes of the Revolution, serving through the long war of seven years. He participated in many import- ant engagements, including the battle of York- town, and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis. He was in the campaign of the south, serving under General Greene. When not engaged in military services, Moses Sheldon, Sr., followed agricultural pursuits and lived to the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. He died at East Rupert, Vermont, in 1849. As a Revolution- ary soldier he was in receipt of a pension.
Moses Sheldon, Jr., was a farmer by occupa- tion, and spent the greater part of his life in Fair Haven, Vermont, where he died November 21, 1828, at the comparatively early age of forty-four years. He was a soldier in the patriot army for a short period at the close of the Revolution. He took an active part in public affairs and filled the office of constable for several years. His wife, who. bore the maiden name of Betsy Eastman,
was born in Rupert, Vermont, and was a daugh- ter of Captain Enoch Eastman, who built the first log house in the eastern part of Rupert. Captain Eastman served as captain of a com- pany of rangers at the battle of Bennington, where the Green Mountain boys achieved such a notable victory; the gun he used in the battle is still in the possession of John E. Eastman, of Rutland, Vermont. His daughter Betsy was one of a family of fifteen children, all of whom lived to advanced age. She became the mother of ten children and died March 18, 1862, at the age of about eighty years. Her children have also passed away.
Aaron S. Sheldon, the father of William Ber- nis Sheldon, was reared in Fair Haven until eleven years of age, when his father died, after which he made his home with his grandfather Eastman, in Rupert, Vermont, and later served an appren- ticeship at the carpenter's trade with Benjamin Warren, of Covington, New York, who married his eldest sister. During his active life he fol- lowed that pursuit, and erected some of the first frame houses in Genesee and Wyoming counties, New York. He built the Equinox House in Man- chester, and many other houses in southern Ver- mont. He was a passenger on the first railroad train that ran between Schenectady and Albany. Finally locating in East Rupert in 1840 he erected the Eastman House, which is now standing. In 1845 he removed to Manchester Center, then Factory Point, and five years later took up his abode in Dorset, while in 1857 he became a resi- dent of Manchester, having removed there to edu- cate his children. In 1860, however, he returned to Dorset, where he remained until his death, which occurred June 30, 1881. He married Han- nahette B. Kent, who was born in Hannibal, New York, and was a daughter of Trumbull Kent, a native of Dorset, and a representative of one of the early families of Bennington county, Vermont, and also prominent in the early history of Suffield, Connecticut. In connection with farm- ing, Mr. Kent also engaged in preaching the gos- pel, and after a long, useful and honorable career he passed away at the age of about eighty years ; his wife bore the maiden name of Laura War- ner, and was born in Pawlet, Vermont, and by her marriage she became the mother of five chil- dren, but all have passed away, and she died when
.......
Anna Ci Park
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Mrs. Sheldon was but two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon had three children: William B .; Mary Amelia, now deceased; and John H. Shel- don, who is engaged in business in connection with the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany in Dorset. The mother, surviving her hus- band, passed away October 9, 1885, at the age of sixty-three years. Both were members of the Congregational church.
William B. Sheldon spent his early childhood in Rupert, in Manchester, and in Dorset, and thus fifteen years of his life passed by. He attended common and private schools, and later continued his studies in Burr and Burton Seminary, at Manchester, from which institution he was grad- uated on the IIth of June, 1859. The next day he went to work with his father at his trade, earn- ing the first dollar which ever came to him in compensation for his own labor. He was very proud of it, and it meant more to him than many a larger fee which he has earned at a later day. He had completed a three years' course of study in two years while in the seminary, and when he left school he continued to work for his father at the car- penter's trade and upon the farm until 1870; his younger brother now being old enough to take his place at home, he was free to follow his chosen pursuit, and he took up the study of law under the direction A. L. Miner, and later con- tinued his reading with Burton & Munson, the latter member of which firm is now a judge on the supreme bench of Vermont. He began prac- tice in North Bennington in July, 1872, where he remained until 1878, when he opened an office in Bennington, where he has since remained and is now the third oldest practitioner in the county in years of continued active connection with the bar. He is a distant relative of both Chancellor Kent and Daniel Webster, two of the most dis- tinguished jurists this country has ever produced. Immediately after his admission to the bar he en- tered upon the practice of his chosen profession, wherein he was destined to rise to an honorable and prominent position. The young lawyer in his contests with older and experienced men, whose reputation and patronage were already assured, found it a hard school, but it afforded excellent training, and as he measured his strength with the best, his mind developed, his intellectual
powers were quickened and strengthened, and he acquired a readiness in action, a fertility of re- source and a courage under stress that have been essential factors in his successful career.
In October, 1878, William B. Sheldon was united in marriage to Margaret A. Simmons, who was born in Bennington, and by whom he had one daughter, Mary A., who died in November, 1886,. at the age of four years. Mrs. Sheldon was a daughter of George W. Simmons, a tinsmith, who made his home in Bennington for many years, and died in North Bennington ; he wedded Abigail P. Wills, and of their ten children Ho- ratio Clayton is now the only one living. Mrs. Sheldon died at the age of fifty years, and for his second wife Mr. Sheldon married Maria Holley, who was born in Dorset, Vermont, in 1847, a daughter of Justus and Eliza (Wood- ward) Holley. Her father was a successful far- mer, and died at an advanced age. The mother was a native of Benson, and by her marriage had four children, Mrs. J. S. Bacon, Angeline M., Maria (Mrs. W. B. Sheldon), and William J.,. a resident of Dorset.
In his political views Mr. Sheldon has al- ways been a Republican, and in 1876 was elected to the office of state's attorney, in which position he served two years. He was also register of the probate court from 1874 to 1876. A special act of the legislature was passed empowering him to make up the probate records of the district, for the sixteen years previous to his term of service,. which he did. In 1872 he was appointed master in chancery and has since occupied the position. He has been a law agent of the town, and trus- tee of the village, and for two terms served as chairman of the board of auditors of the town. For years he has been a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, and is now a trustee in the Congregational church, in which both he and his wife hold membership.
ANNIE C. PARK.
A representative of one of the oldest families of New England, Miss Annie C. Park traces her ancestry back to the Richard Park and his wife Majory, who came from England in 1636 and settled in the town of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Richard Park was, with others, chosen to lay out
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the highways of the town and was active in many lines which led to the development and up- building of the new settlement. In the church, leo, he was an carnest worker and held the office of deacon. Ife had one son, Thomas Park, who married Abigal Dix, and to them was born one son, Edward, who wedded Martha Fisk. Nathan Park, a son of Edward and Martha Park, was united in marriage to Sarah Brown, and among their children was William Park, whose birth occurred in Northbridge, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 22, 1749, and who married Sarah Potter, a daughter of Edmond and Sarah (Reics) Potter, of Sutton, Massachusetts, the wedding taking place October 13, 1780. Sarah Potter was born March 15, 1762, and died April 17, 1836, while William Park attained the advanced age of nine- ty-one years, passing away on the 5th of March, 1840. His son, William Park, Jr., was born in Northbridge, Massachusetts, January 15, 1782, and on the 21st of December, 1808, was married to Betsey Taft, a daughter of Nathan Taft. Sophia Park, a daughter of William and Sarah (Potter) Park, was born at Northbridge, April 25, 1783, and became the wife of David Lyman, Jr., a son of David Lyman, of Middletown, Con- necticut, this wedding taking place May 1, 1803. Her husband, Mr. Lyman, died March 15, 1811, at the age of thirty years, his birth having oc- curred on the 3rd of September, 1781. Betsey Potter Park, also a daughter of William Park, Sr., was born at Northbridge, July 20, 1786, and on the 8th of December, 1805, became the wife of John Wilson, of Bennington. Luther Park, an- other member of the family, was born in Chester- field, New Hampshire, March 4, 1789, and be- came the father of the lady whose name intro- duces this review. Sallie Park, another member of the family, was born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, April 30, 1791, and became the wife of Galen Cutter, December 30, 1813, and died August 31, 1824.
William Park, the grandfather of Miss Annie C. Park, was one of the veterans of the Revolu- tionary war, and aided in guarding the lines in Roxbury, near Boston, in 1775. He was also one of thirty-two appointed to guard the fort at Biard's Hill, New York. He served through- out the war for independence, first holding the rank of lieutenant and afterward was appointed
quartermaster of his regiment by Colonel Ezra Wood, in May, 1778. His honesty was prover- bial, and he bore strong resemblance to the father of his country in this respect. He liked fre- quently to change his place of residence; in 1755 he lived in Providence, Rhode Island; in 1784 in Northbridge; in 1786 in Winchester; in 1787 in Chesterfield; in 1795 in Woodford; in 1803 in Bennington; and in 1808 returned to Wood- ford, where his last days were passed. He was among the early settlers there and was a highly esteemed and honored citizen. His career, ex- tending over a long period, was ever worthy of high regard. He was temperate in all things, and was never known to speak a lie or convey a false impression in any way. He died March 5, 1840, at the age of ninety years.
Luther Park, his son, and the father of Annie C. Park, was also a very prominent and influential man. He married Miss Cynthia Pratt on the 13th of December, 1816, and in their family were nine children, of whom four are still living, namely : Mrs. A. B. Valentine, of Bennington ; Sophia and Annie, who are living at the old homestead in Bennington : Mrs. Cummings, who is now traveling in the south. One son of this family, William Trenor Park, was a member of the celebrated firm of Billings & Park, railroad magnates. He was also associated with General Baxter in the ownership and operation of the famous Emma mines, but died while enroute to Panama in 1882, leaving a son and two daugh- ters, Trenor L., Mrs. J. G. Mccullough and Mrs. Fred B. Jennings. Another brother, Austin Luther Park, died a few years ago in California. The father was a resident of Bennington during the last years of his life, passing away in 1871.
Miss Annie C. Park was for a number of years successfully engaged in teaching, and as a representative of that profession gained a wide acquaintance and high reputation in many sec- tions of the country. She taught, not only in New England, but in New Orleans and in Cali- fornia, and was the first lady teacher in the high schools of San Francisco. She took up the study of German, Greek, French, Spanish and Italian, and is a lady of superior knowledge, intelligence and refinement. She possesses a very extensive library and also a fine collection of curios, which she has obtained from all parts of the world, for
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she has traveled extensively. She spent one year in Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands, and has also visited Rome and other sections of Europe ; Galilee, Jerusalem and India. In addition to her home in Bennington, she has a beautiful summer residence in Woodford, Vermont, where each year she spends several months.
EZRA E. FISHER.
Ezra E. Fisher, a well-known and much re- spected citizen of Brattleboro, is a native of Brattleboro, where he was born December 29, 1838, a son of Asa and Mary (Defactor) Fisher. His grandfather, Ebenezer Fisher, was a son of Ebenezer Fisher, who migrated from Dedham, Massachusetts, to Brattleboro, being one of the original thirteen proprietors of the town. Set- tling east of the site of the present cemetery, on the farm now occupied by Chandler Brown, he took up a large tract of land, part of which is now included in the Retreat property, and he was there prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits and brick making throughout the re- mainder of his long life, dying at the venerable age of ninety-one years. His son Ebenezer was a member of the Congregational church, and for several years was active in the Vermont militia, belonging to the Flood Wood Guard. Of his union with Mary Fisher the following named children were born: Asa; Elias Wilder, who married Electa Weatherhead; Ira; Orin; Sybil, who married Ezra Shepherd ; Elsie, who married Silas Gleason ; Russell and Roswell, twins; Kath- erine ; Charles ; and two that died in infancy.
Asa Fisher was born in 1800, on the Asylum farm, in Brattleboro, and there spent many years, succeeding his father as farmer and brick man- ufacturer. He subsequently lived three years in Brookline, Vermont, going from there to Town- shend, where he resided six years, then returned to his native town and died at West Brattle- boro in 1880. He was a staunch Kepublican in politics, served as highway surveyor for a num- ber of terms, was for several years a member of the Vermont militia, and belonged to the Baptist church. He married Mary Streeter, by whom he had twelve children, as follows: Joseph E. married Laura Moore; Willard was thrice mar- ried ; Henry married Abby Russell; John died
at the age of tweney-two years; George married Lucinda Wood; Hattie married Franklin Stowe; William H., who married Sarah Cole, served in the First Vermont Cavalry during the Civil war; Ezra E., the subject of this sketch ; Roscoe, who served in the Civil war as a member of Com- pany F, Fourth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and was a prisoner for sixteen months at Ander- sonville prison, married Laura Stanton; Oscar, who married Abby Farr, enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war; Eugene, who enlisted when a lad of sixteen years in the Seventeenth Vermont Vol- unteer Infantry, but was not permitted to serve, married Edna Roundtree; and Mary, who be- came the wife of Alden C. Loomis.
Ezra E. Fisher was educated in the district schools of Brattleboro, and early learned the wheelwright's, cabinet-maker's and machinist's trades, becoming proficient in all and pursuing them most successfully until his retirement from active business. He, like three of his brothers, had an honorable war record. In August, 1862, he enlisted for nine months in Company B, Six- teenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, in the same company with his brother Oscar, being under command of Colonel Veasey. Going with his comrades to Washington, he was first in camp on Arlington Heights, then detailed for guard duty along the various railway lines, later joining the First Army Corps, under General Reynolds, then transferred to the Seventh Army Corps, un- der General Doubleday. He took an active part in the tree days' fight at Gettysburg, supporting Pickett's Battery and occupying a position at the famous "bloody angle." He likewise participated in various other engagements of minor import- ance, at the expiration of his term of enlistment being mustered out of service. On returning to his home Mr. Fisher resumed work at the wheel- wright's trade, which he followed with good suc- cess, both from a mechanical and financial point of view for a quarter of a century. He is a Re- publican in politics, a member of Sedgwick Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has been an active member of the memorial committee. He is president of the Meeting House Hill Cemetery Association, and took an active interest in ascer- taining definitely the site of the first meeting house built in southern Vermont, erected in 1768,
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