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 50

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 50

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creasing years made the Florida business too bur- densome, he gave it up, but not until he was regarded as the pioneer of winter hotel business in the south, as he had been of the summer business in Vermont."

At the time of his death the editor of the National Hotel Reporter concluded a most ap- preciative tribute in the following words : "Frank- lin H. Orvis was a sturdy New Englander, a man of strong will, clear brain, bright mind, well de- fined ideas on public matters, a stanch Republican in politics, a capable business man, a hotel-keeper of originality, rare skill and great sagacity; a good citizen, a kind and loving husband and a generous and just father. In his demise Ver- mont loses one of her best citzens, and there is removed from the ranks of American hotel- keepers one of the most unique, progressive and talented men who ever welcomed the coming and speeded the parting guest."

Continuing, the Journal farther says: "Mr. Orvis always manifested a keen interest in na- tional affairs, and was a thorough patriot and a most loyal Vermonter. Few men in the country had a more profound knowledge of political mat- ters or could give a better reason for political faith. He never sought office, but was twice elected to the state senate, where he served with credit. He was a strong Republican and thor- ough-going protectionist, and was always ready with strong arguments for those of opposite polit- ical faith. Mr. Orvis was a man of untiring energy. He loved to work himself and he loved to see others work. He wanted to see no idle men, and often planned his business to give work to those who needed it. Generous of heart, he was always ready to lend a helping hand to one worthy of aid. Many a poor man and many a poor family has cause to remember him with gratitude. It is in the town and village of Man- chester where Mr. Orvis will be most missed and longest remembered. The growth of our summer business has been due almost entirely to him. There has been no public improvement in which he has not taken the lead and borne a good share of the expense. In short, all that makes Manchester especially attractive is due largely to his foresight, energy and liberality."

It may well be said of Mr. Orvis that he was strong in his convictions, but not intolerant. He

was always firm in the defense of right, but there was no room in his heart for revenge. Flattery could not cajole him into compromise, nor power awe him into silence. All men were his brothers when their cause was just, and all sufferings were his own when there arose affliction, misfortune or disaster, and he well exemplified the lines : "The bravest are the tenderest ; the loving are the daring." He died lamented by a community and by all who had known and appreciated sterling character, as shown by him in all the relations of life.

Edward C. Orvis, who is manager of the magnificent hotel enterprise built up by his father, was born in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, on the 18th of May, 1858, and in his native town he . passed his early years, as have also each of the other four children. He attended the public schools and later entered Williston Seminary at Easthampton, Massachusetts, after which he be- came identified with the hotel business conducted by his father, continuing to remain concerned in the conducting of the Equinox House until the death of his father ; since that time has acted as manager of the house, which is one of the largest and finest in the old Green Mountain state, its attractions as a place of summer residence un- rivaled, while it draws its patronage of the wealthiest and most exclusive guests. Under the direction and with the co-operation of his mother, Mr. Orvis has had the hotel fitted with the finest of modern improvements and furnish- ings, and thus its attractions are those of the best metropolitan hotels, with the surroundings of the idyllic mountain region and the beautiful New England village in which the hotel is situated. Mr. Orvis is essentially public-spirited and in politics gives a stanch allegiance to the Republi- can party. He served as selectman of the town and in 1890 represented the town in the legis- lature of the state, while his brother Paul was elected to the same position four years later.

In 1883, Edward C. Orvis was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary L. Woods, who was born in the city of Boston, being the daughter of Samuel H. Woods, who was born in Ashburnham. Massachusetts, and who was engaged in the drug business in Boston for many years; he died in 1872. The maiden name of his wife was Julia Carsley, and she was born in Maine. and of their

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union to children were born : Mary J., the wife of Mr. Orvis, Vice, the wife of A. F. Howell, of Boston; Caroline, the wife of John 1. Howell, of Worcester, Massachusetts: and Agnes, the wife of G. A. Martin, of Yonkers, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Orvis have two daugh- ters: Edna, in the junior year of Wellesley Col- lege ; and Sarah, who remaines at the parental home

ADNA LYMAN CHILDS.

Adna Lyman Childs, of Wilmington, is act- ively identified with its mercantile interests as the proprietor of a fruit, confectionery and gro- cery store. A native of this town, he was born August 26, 1834, a son of the late Adna B. Childs. His paternal grandfather, Major Adna Childs, served in the war of 1812, being com- missioned as a major in the army; he was a farmer by occupation, living in Wilmington until his death, at the age of eighty-six years; he and his wife, Hannah Lamb, had a family of seven children, none of whom survive.

Adna B. Childs was born in Wilmington, Ver- mont, in 1799, and grew to man's estate on the ancestral homestead. Beginning the battle of life as a merchant, he located first on Town Hill, Wilmington, then went to Boston, where he was engaged in the bakery business for awhile ; going to Zoar he operated a card and cloth-dressing mil! in company with Otis Shumway for awhile, after- wards being in trade with a brother, Freeman Childs, for a short time. Locating then in what is now the village of Wilmington, he established the first store in the place, building it on the site now occupied by the residence of C. M. Russell. Disposing of that property to his brother, Free- man W. Childs, he built and occupied several stores, and was actively engaged in mercantile pursuits until his death, at the age of seventy- five years. the firm being then known as Childs, Stanley & Sargent. During the latter years of his life he dealt in men's clothing, making a specialty of custom-made suits, employing five men in the tailoring department. He was a stalwart member of the Democratic party, and held various local offices, serving as lister for a number of terms, as deputy sheriff, and for forty years was postmaster. For a number of years he

was deacon of the Universalist church. Of his union with Hannah Lamb, daughter of Jonathan Lamb, a Wilmington farmer, twelve children were born, of whom eight are living, as fol- lows: Henry W., of California ; Ann and Mary Jane, residing in Springfield, Massachusetts ; Adna L .; A. P., of Bennington ; Esther H., wife of Congressman Haskins, of Brattleboro; Sarah M., wife of Charles H. Kidder, of Chicago; and Frederick, of Brattleboro. The father was a thirty-third degree Mason.

ADNA LYMAN CHILDS.

Adna L. 'Childs was educated in the common schools of Wilmington, where he was subse- quently in business for some time. He was after- wards engaged in the bakery and grocery business in Boston, going from there to Minnesota, where he spent a year. Returning to Wilmington in 1857, he located in his present store, where he has since continued, being probably the oldest business man in point of service in southern Ver- mont. Adhering to the political faith in which

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he was reared, Mr. Childs is a loyal Democrat, and has served as a delegate to the state con- vention.

Mr. Childs married, in 1861, Annette Fox, who was born in Woodford, Bennington county, Vermont, February 14, . 1840, and died April 29, 1875. Her father, Alonzo Fox, who for forty years was a hotel- keeper in Woodford, died in Bennigton, Vermont, at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Philena Knight, survived him, living to the age of eighty years; they were the parents of two children : Jane, wife of Henry Scott, of Bennington ; and Mrs. Childs. Mr. and Mrs. Childs have one son, Frank. Frank Childs was educated in Wil- mington and at Brattleboro, where he was in the employ of J. Estey & Company, as organ and piano tuner until 1896, when he entered into part- nership with his father, being junior member of the firm, which is known as A. L. Childs & Son. He married Jennie Bowker, daughter of Elijah Bowker, a farmer in Wilmington, and they have a son, Harold Lyman Childs, and a daughter, Eliz- abeth Annette Childs. Mr. Childs and his family are members of the Universalist church, and he is connected with the church choir.

JUDGE JAMES WARREN BARNES.

The name of Judge James W. Barnes is deep- ly engraved on the pages of the history of this section of the state, for through many years he has been a most important factor in the agri- cultural and financial interests of his locality. He is now living retired in his pleasant home in Ver- gennes, surrounded by the comforts that earnest labor has brought to him. Judge Barnes was born in Ferrisburg, Vermont, on the IIth of February, 1824, and is a son of James Barnes, also a native of that town, and a grandson of Joshua Barnes. The latter was born in Tarry- town, Westchester county, New York, but in 1789 he came on horseback to Ferrisburg, Vermont, where his father was one of the early pioneers, and the journey hither was made by following marked trees, as no roads had then been built. Joshua Barnes cleared and improved a farm in that locality, and agriculture continued to be his vocation through life, his labors being ended in

death in Ferrisburg when he had reached the age of eighty-five years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Hubbs, was a native of New York city. To this worthy couple were born nine children, Joshua, Phebe, Patience, Jackson, Richard, James, Hannah, Isaac and Fannie. The mother, who was born November 9, 1764, died on the 17th of March, 1836, while the father, born September 15, 1753, survived until the 10th of December, 1838, when he, too, passed into eternal rest.

James Barnes was born September 7, 1797, in Ferrisburg. He also followed the noble art of husbandry as a life occupation, and his death occurred in Ferrisburg, Vermont, when he had reached the seventy-fifth milestone on the jour- ney of life. He took a prominent and active in- terest in the public affairs of his locality, held all the town offices and represented his town in the legislature in 1852-3. As a companion on the journey of life he chose Elizabeth Morgan, who was born in 1796, and was a daughter of David Morgan. The latter was born on the 29th of September, 1752, and died April 10, 1839, while his wife was born in 1758 and died on the 3d of June, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan became the parents of eleven children, Hannah, Margaret D., Sarah, David, James F., Thomas, Tryphena, Charles, Elizabeth, Harmon and Julia. Mrs. Barnes was called to her final rest in 1868, dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she was a loyal member and in which Mr. Barnes long held the office of steward.

James W. Barnes, the only child of his par- ents, spent the early years of his life in the place of his nativity, attending its common schools and academy, and later became a student in a select school at Vergennes and still later in the academy at Shelburne. With this excellent education he was able to engage in the occupation of school teaching, which he followed in Charlotte, Ferris- burg, New Haven and Vergennes, thus covering four winter terms, completing the last soon after attaining his majority. He continued to engage in farming in Ferrisburg until his removal to Vergennes in 1879. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Philena L. Hanks, a native of Addi- son, Vermont, and three children were born of this union, Nellie, now deceased; Carrie, the wife of R. D. Booth, of Ferrisburg; and Charles W.,

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who is employed with the largest wooden ware company in the United States, at Menasha, Wis- consin. The oldest became the wife of James I. Scott, and lived some years at Menasha, Wiscon sin, dying at Marinette, same state, October 7. 1883, at the age of thirty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Booth have a son, Frederick D., now a resident of Ferrisburg, Vermont. Mrs. James W. Barnes died April 25, 1862, in Ferrisburg. For his second wife Judge Barnes chose Helen Wentworth, of Starksboro, Vermont, and she was called to the home beyond in 1897. One son, James W .. Jr., blessed this union, and he is now engaged in the drug business in Troy, New York. He married Ruth Goss. Judge Barnes is widely recognized as a Republican leader, who has la- bored earnestly for the success of his party, and has many times been honored by his fellow townsmen to positions of honor and trust. He was called upon to serve as a selectman, as as- sessor, as superintendent of schools, and in 1868- 69-70 he represented Ferrisburg in the state legislature. In 1872 he was elected to the high position of senator, and two years previously was a member of the constitutional convention. For many years he also held the office of justice of the peace, was made assistant judge in 1888, was subsequently appointed to that position to fill out an unexpired term. Judge Barnes is a man of strong mentality, keen discernment, great tact and resolute purpose, and is therefore well fitted for the political honors which have been con- ferred upon him. His business interests have also been capably managed and have brought to him the handsome competence which to-day enables him to live retired. He commands the respect of his fellow men by his sterling worth, and Ver- mont numbers him among her honored sons.

ELIZABETH AND ABBIE A. HARD.

Elizabeth and Abbie A. Hard, of Arlington, Vermont, were born and educated in this town, and have here spent their lives. They are of good old pioneer ancestry, being great-granddaughters of Zadock Hard, Sr., one of the earliest settlers of this section of the state, granddaughters of Zadock Hard. Jr., and daughters of Oran Hard.

Zadock Hard, Sr., removed from Newtown, Connecticut, to Arlington, Vermont, in 1768, fol-

lowing the trail on horseback. Purchasing a tract of land, he improved a farm from the wilder- ness, and for many years was a tavern keeper on the road leading to Bennington. He did much towards advancing the interests of the new town in which he had located, and served as justice of the peace a number of years. He married Chloe Nobles, a native of Brookfield, Massachusetts, and after her death married a widow, Mrs. Fenn. His children, all born of his first marriage, were as follows: Hannah: Lemira; Belus, grandfa- ther of George B. Holden, of whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume ; Chloe; Lucy ; Noble ; Jesse ; Zadock, Jr., the next in line of descent ; Sylvanus ; and Sarah.

Zadock Hard, Jr., spent his eighty-eight years of earthly life in Arlington, where he was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was held in high respect throughout the com- munity, as a man of honest integrity ; he and his wife belonged to the Episcopal church, of which he was senior warden for many years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Williams, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, a daughter of Charles Williams, a life-long resident of that place. Ten children were born of their union, two of whom died in childhood, Cyrene at the age of seven years, and Zadock when six years old. Eight grew to years of maturity, as follows: Oran, father of the Misses Hard; Sarah Ann, deceased; Hiram, deceased; Shaler died at the age of seventy-eight years, leaving two children, Clinton and Emily; Julia died at the age of seventy-five years; Charles, who was in business in Boston, Massachusetts, for a quarter of a century, died in Arlington, Vermont, at the age of seventy-six years; Nathan died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving two children, Will- iam N., of Arlington, and Mrs. Thomas Douglas, . of Saratoga, New York; and Susan, who died at the age of seventy-five years.

Oran Hard grew to manhood on the parental homestead, and on attaining his majority pur- chased an adjoining farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life, dying at the venerable age of ninety years. He was a man of influence, active in public matters, rendering the town ex- cellent service for a number of terms as select- man. He married Beulah Holden, who was born in Arlington, a daughter of John Holden, a pio-

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neer settler of this town. John Holden, a native of Barre, Massachusetts, removed from there to Arlington, where he cleared and improved a homestead, on which he resided until his demise, at the age of fourscore years. His wife, Abigail Chipman, was born in Sunderland, Vermont, a daughter of Amos Chipman, who migrated from Connecticut to Vermont, becoming a pioneer of Arlington. Ten children blessed their union, namely : Lucy ; John ; Cyrus A., father of George B. Holden ; Willard ; Abbie ; Amos ; Beulah, who became the wife of Oran Hard; Mary Ann; Nel- son ; and Eliza.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Oran Hard three children were born, Elizabeth; Zadock, a hardware merchant in Arlington; and Abbie A. Mr. and Mrs. Hard had a happy married life of more than half a century, all of which was spent in the same house. Both were members of the Episcopal church, and both outlived the three- score and ten years alloted to man, Mrs. Hard living to the age of seventy-six years.

JOSEPH WICKHAM FOWLER.

Among the younger men of Manchester who have made a substantial and valuable impress upon the community is the gentleman whose name is the caption of this biography. He is a son of Judge Harvey Klapp Fowler, whose personal and ancestral history are contained in this work, and was born in Manchester, Vermont, on the 15th day of May, 1857. His initial schooling was ob- tained in the schools of his native place, and at Burr and Burton Seminary. He subsequently at- tended the famous military school conducted by Major Bingham, now located at Asheville, North Carolina. Following in the footsteps of his hon- ored father, he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1880. In addition to the practice of his profession, Mr. Fowler has been identified with insurance and other business in- terests, to which he has devoted a large share of his time. He projected and organized the Man- chester Water Company with a capital stock of forty thousand dollars, and has acted as secre- tary of the company since its incorporation.

Mr. Fowler has been, since attaining his ma- jority, a Republican of the stalwart type, and has been actively identified with the interests of his

party in local, town, county and state work. He has efficiently filled the various local offices. He is recognized as one of the most valuable members of the Republican district committee, and was reelected at the last convention. He was elected as representative of Manchester to the state legis- lature in 1902 by a good majority, and served in the judiciary, railroads, and rules committees.

Mr. Fowler has been twice married, his first wife having been Harriet Dole, daughter of George Dole of Salem, New York. Mrs. Harriet (Dole) Fowler died January 13, 1881, leaving one child, Arthur Dole Fowler. Mr. Fowler's second marriage was to Miss Hattie Walker, daughter of Samuel Walker. Of this marriage he has two children : Paul W. and Earle Fowler.

DR. WINFIELD SCOTT PHILLIPS.

Dr. Winfield Scott Phillips, of Arlington, Vermont, was born in Hanover, New York, December 9, 1841, a son of Charles and Marietta (Bennett) Phillips, the former mentioned being also born in Hanover, where his childhood days were spent. He became a contractor, and fur- nished the company who were building the Wel- land canal with the necessary men. The Phillips family came down the Erie canal in 1849 on a packet from Buffalo to Smith's Basin, near Sandy Hill, the trip occupying three weeks. La- ter Charles Phillips removed to Pawlet, Vermont, where he was engaged in farming. He married Miss Marietta Bennett, who was born in Pawlet, a daughter of Aaron C. Bennett, who was one of the pioneers of that town, where he farmed a tract of land consisting of two thousand acres. He was also a distiller of oils and essences. His wife, Nancy Monroe, born in Pawlet, was the mother of five children, all now deceased. Mr. Bennett died in 1849, at the age of ninety-one years, and his wife died in 1846, aged eighty years. Two daughters and three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, four of whom are liv- ing, namely: Ellen A., wife of Jerome Gault, of Arlington; Dr. Winfield S .; Henry C., a farmer living in East Wells, and who is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in Company C, First Vermont Cavalry ; and George W., engaged as foreman in the manufacturing establishment of A. W. Gray, of Middletown Springs. Vermont.

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The father of these children died January 31, ist, at the age of sixty seven years, while on a visit to his son at Arlington, and his wife died in her fifty-fourth year.

Dr. Winfield Scott Phillips received his ini- tial schooling at Pawlet. He taught school for a short period, and then commenced the duty of medicine with Dr. Munroe, of West Pawlet, with whom he remained until the latter died. He then pursued his studies with Dr. Moseley, and in Feb- ruary, 1865, entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, and in September, 1866, entered the Albany Medical College. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in June, 1867. ; For a short space of time after this he was associated with Dr. Mosely but resigned in order to take a special course in the University of Vermont. Subsequently he located in Arlington, where he has built up an extensive and lucrative practice by his professional skill and kindly manners.

Dr. Phillips favors the principles of the Re- publican party, but does not find much leisure time to devote to politics. In 1890 he was chosen to represent the town in the legislature, where he gave especial attention to the question of tem- perance, of which he is a firm advocate; he was also chairman of the committee on the insane. Dr. Phillips was a charter member, and held the position of censor for three or four years, for the Union Medical Society, was president of the Bennington County Medical Society, and is also a member of the Vermont State Medical Society, and of the American Medical Associa- tion. Fraternally he is a member, and for six years was master of Red Mountain Lodge No. 63, F. & A. M., he is a member of the Adoniram Chapter, Manchester ; of Taft Commandery No. 8, Bennington, where he served one year as dep- uty district grand master. His religious mem- bership is with the Episcopal church of Arling- ton.

Dr. Phillips was united in marriage to Miss Ione Phillips, is a graduate of the Burr and Bur- Sarrissa (White) Parsons, of Arlington, Two children have been born to them: Miss Hallie Ione Philips, is a graduate of the Burr and Bur- ton Seminary, Manchester, Vermont, and St. Curry's School of Expression, Boston, Massa- chusetts, and is now of the faculty of the Pres-

byterian College for Young Ladies of Columbia, South Carolina, holding the chairs of elocution and physical culture of that institution. The son, Charles Winfield Phillips, also attended the Burr and Burton Seminary, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in June, 1902, and is now (1903) associated with his father at Arlington.

FRANK. A. RICH, D. V. S., M. D.

Among the honored representatives of the medical profession in the city of Burlington is Dr. Frank A. Rich, whose ability in his pro- fession has gained him marked prestige, while he has also gained distinctive preferment through his talent as a veterinary surgeon, having fully prepared himself for the work of this analogous branch of the healing science prior to taking his technical medical course, and he is now incum- bent of the chair of veterinary science in the Ver- mont University, in Burlington, dividing his time between the duties of this professorship and the active work of his profession as a physician and surgeon. He is a man of fine scientific and liter- ary attainments, and his position in the commun- ity is such as to render particularly consistent a brief review of his life history in this connection.

Frank A. Rich claims the old Empire State as the place of his nativity, having been born in Avon, Livingston county, August 2, 1861. His father, Edwin F. Rich, was likewise born in that town, and the family name has been long identi- fied with the annals of the commonwealth, hav- ing been established in America in the colonial epoch. The grandfather of Dr. Rich was Will- iam Rich, who was born in the state of New York, and who passed the greater portion of his life in Avon, and died in Michigan, where he made his home for the last yew years of his life. Edwin F. Rich was reared and educated in Avon, New York, and has followed the vocation of agri- culture from his youth up, being now one of the influential and honored farmers of his native county. He married Miss Lucy E. Milliman, who was born in Avon, a daughter of Abiram Milliman, who was a prominent farmer, and who held the office of justice of the peace for many years, and was one of the leading citizens of the county, where his death occurred at the age of

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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 50

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