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 52

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 52

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John Hindes, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born in New Jersey and settled in the Green Mountain state in December, 1800, being among the early pioneers in Addison coun- ty, this state, where he followed the noble art of husbandry until his death, at the age of ninety- four years. His son James was born December 22, 1800, and was one of a large family of chil- dren, and he, too, became a tiller of the soil, but his last days were spent at Ausable, Clinton coun- ty, New York, where he closed his eyes in death at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife bore the maiden name of Arminta Fuller, and she was also a native of Vermont, being reared in Fer- risburg, this state. This worthy couple became the parents of the following children: Orrin F., who went to California about 1850, and his fate is unknown; Colonel George W. Hindes, who served during the Civil war as a member of the Ninety-sixth New York Infantry, and is now a resident of San Francisco, California; William F., who died in November, 1901, in Vergennes, at the age of sixty-nine years; Jacob G., the sub- ject of this review ; Captain Esbon W. Hindes, a resident of Keeseville, New York ; Lucy Augusta, wife of E. K. Baber, also of that city ; and Spen- cer, who passed away at the age of twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Hindes were long worthy and val- ued members of the Baptist church at Keeseville, in which the former served as a deacon through- out the greater part of his life.

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Jacob G. Hindes was born in West Platts- burg, New York, June 13, 1834, and spent the early years of his life in Ausable, that state, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1860. For the next four years he engaged in the manufacture of iron and nails at Danne- mora, New York, employing convict labor under contract with the state. After spending a year at Keeseville, he entered the office of the Bur- lington Manufacturing Company of Burling- ton, Vermont, where he was employed in differ- ent capacities until 1869. Selling his interests in that city he then aided in organizing the Na- tional Horse Nail Company, of Vergennes, now one of the oldest incorporated concerns in the city. After three years' connection therewith Mr. Hindes was made manager of the company, in which capacity he continued until 1899, when he was also made its president. At times this con- cern furnished employment to seventy-five men, and the plant, which was burned in 1902, was equipped with all the latest improved machinery and appliances, including a Dodge hot-forging machine, and their products find a ready sale through all parts of the United States. Its fab- rication is now continued at Essex, New York. His able administration of the affairs of this mammoth institution is manifest in its prosper- ous career, while the safe and commendable policy which he has followed has insured it a liberal pat- ronage, and throughout this section of the state it has long been regarded as a reliable and sub- stantial institution.

The marriage of Mr. Hindes was celebrated in 1860 to Miss Lucy C. Cutting, who was born in Westport, Essex county, New York. The Cutting family in America is descended from two brothers, William and Richard, who sailed from Ipswich, England, April 30, 1634, and lo- cated in Farmington, Connecticut. The great- great-grandfather of Mrs. Hindes, Jonas Cutting, was born on the Ist of January, 1746, served as a private in Captain John Moore's company, Col- onel John Stark's regiment, was later a private in Captain Ebenezer Fry's company, was a cor- poral in Company A, Colonel Cilley's First New Hampshire Regiment during the Revolutionary war, from February, 1777, until November, 1779. On October 23, 1810, the governor and council met for the purpose of electing a major and briga-

dier general of militia, and Jonas Cutting was elected to the latter position. His son, Jonas Cutting, Jr., was born in Bolton, Massachusetts, January 24, 1765, and died in Woodstock, Ver- mont, August 5, 1834. He served as lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, United States Army, and later as a brigadier general, in the war of 1812. His son, Sewell Cutting, mar- ried Mary Hunter, who was a daughter of Will- iam Hunter, also a soldier in the Revolution, and served as a private in Captain Samuel S. Savage's company of militia "that marched the 16th day of March, 1781, by order of General Bagley, of Windsor, Vermont," and also served as a pri- vate under Colonel Ebenezer Wood; his death occurred in Windsor, Vermont. William Jonas Cutting, a son of Sewell and Mary (Hunter) Cutting, was born in Windsor, on the 27th of May, 1807, and when a youth, went to New York city, where he rose from the humble position of errand boy to that of clerk in the employ of Silas Tappen, an old merchant of that city, and while there he became a member of the Baptist church. Later he came to Westport, New York, and was there married to Minerva E. Holcomb, a daugh- ter of Dr. Diadoras S. and Sybil Holcomb. The former was a son of Abner Holcomb, who came as a pioneer from Simsbury, Connecticut, to Pan- ton, Vermont, with the Spaulding family. Abner Holcomb afterward removed to Elizabethtown, Essex county, New York. The son Diadoras was born in Panton, in 1789, and became known as the "village doctor" of Westport, New York, and was a physician of much note in his day. He was an upright, Christian man and became the loved family physician in many a household. Dr. Holcomb was three times married, first to Sybil Wright, afterward to Sylvia Loveland, and for his third wife he chose Harriet Stafford. By the three marriages he became the father of thirteen children.

William J. Cutting was for many years en- gaged in mercantile pursuits with his brother, under the firm name of W. J. & F. H. Cutting, in Westport, New York, and was afterward in the iron business, as superintendent of the blast furnaces owned by F. H. Jackson, in Westport. He was an upright Christian man, and held many offices of trust in his town and church, having several times served as supervisor. In his political

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affiliations he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican. For a period of two years he re- sided in New Jersey, in charge of the iron works of William De Camp, at Charlotteburg. In 1852 he went to Marysville, California, where he served as superintendent of a gold quartz crushing ma- chine, but two years later retired from active busi- ness pursuits, and his death occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Lucy C. Hindes, in Keese- ville, on the 10th of September, 1864, when he had reached the age of fifty-eight years. His wife survived him but five months, and her death occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hindes, in Burlington, Vermont, February 15, 1865, aged fifty-six years. They were the par- ents of four children, but their only son died in infancy. Their daughters are: Mary J., who was first married to Hiram Hitchcock, and after- ward to Freeborn H. Page, and they now reside in Chicago, Illinois; Helen Hunter, who mar- ried Abram W. Kingsland, an iron manufacturer, whose death occurred in Chicago, his widow now residing in Burlington, Vermont ; and Lucy C., who became the wife of Mr. Hindes on the 26th of September, 1860.

Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hindes: Spencer Wiltsey, Ella Minerva, Lucy Augusta and Jacob Churchill. The sec- ond child, Ella M., died April 9, 1890, at the age of twenty-five years. Lucy A., is the wife of Arthur W. Norton, of Vergennes. J. Churchill Hindes is a graduate of Harvard Dental College, and is now practicing his profession in Vergennes. Mrs. Hindes is a member of the Baptist church, and for twelve years has held the position of director of the Woman's Home Mis- sionary Society of Addison county. She is also chapter regent in the Daughters of the American Revolution, of Vergennes. Mr. Hindes gives his political support to the Republican party, and for four terms has served as an alderman, was the mayor of the city for two terms, was a member of the city council for a time, in 1902 was made chairman of the school board, has served as trustee of the Vermont Academy at Saxton's River, was instrumental in building the horse nail plant, of which his son is now sec- retary, in 1898-9 represented his town in the leg- islature, where he was appointed chairman of the committee on manufacturing and for many years

he has served as a delegate to state conventions. In his fraternal relations he is a member of Dor- chester Lodge, F. & A. M., of Vergennes, and religiously is connected with the Baptist church, being president of the Baptist Society of Ver- gennes. In all the relations of life he has ever been faithful and true, and no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil-doing darkens his honored pathway.

WILBUR BROWN.

Wilbur Brown, second son of Daniel C. and Anna (Bixby) Brown, was born in Fayston, Washington county, Vermont, June 7, 1847. When he was eight years of age his parents re- moved to Waterbury, Vermont, and ten years later to Berlin, Vermont, purchasing a large farm in the western part of the town, which is still owned by the heirs and known as the "D. C. Brown" farm.

The subject of this sketch received a good education in the district school in the town of Waterbury, and at Montpelier Seminary. In 1886 he purchased the lumber mills in Berlin, lo- cated on Dog river, two and one-half miles from Montpelier on the Northfield road ; and the prop- erty has since been known as "Brown's Mills." He immediately improved the plant, and, dou- bling its former capacity, built up a successful and lucrative business.

His earlier life having been spent on the farm, when he had money to invest he purchased farms, which he took great pleasure in improving ; he owned over a thousand acres of land and standing timber, his well tilled acres and sleek herds af- fording him much satisfaction.

His energy, honesty and business ability se- cured for him a full measure of success. His. helpful, kindly and unselfish nature, his broad charity, which "thinketh no evil," early won the respect and confidence of all with whom he asso- ciated. He was well known throughout the state as a respected and successful business man ; and, in his own town and county, as a leader in all that makes for right living and good citizenship.

He was a man of strong personality, a Re- publican, and held many of the town offices ; was town clerk and treasurer from 1899 to the time of his death; selectman in 1888-1894-95; justice-

Wilbur Brown

-----

J. B. Woodhull

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of the peace from 1898; and, as the highest office in the gift of his fellow townsmen, represented them in the legislatures of 1894 and 1900.

Mr. Brown was twice married. His first wife, whom he married June 29, 1869, was Miss Emily L. Dewey, daughter of William and Han- nah (Hurlbut) Dewey. She died September 18, 1884. June 7, 1886, he married Miss Cora Brooks, daughter of Josiah Prentice and Fanny (Dunsmoor) Brooks, of Northfield, who survives him. No children were born of either of these marriages. His death occurred at his home in Berlin, January 18, 1902.

JOEL BROWN WOODHULL, M. D.

Joel Brown Woodhull, M. D., of North Ben- nington, is one of the most successful and best known physicians of the county. He was born . June 10, 1854, at Brookhaven, Suffolk county, New York, a son of John Alpheus Woodhull. He comes of ancient and honored stock, tracing his ancestry back in a direct line to one Walter of Flanders, who crossed over to England with William the Conqueror, and subsequently held as feudal lord estates in Bedford and Northamp- ton, his castle being located , in Wahull, now, Woodhull, Bedford. That he and his descendants were people of prominence is proved by the fre- quent recurrence of the name of Woodhull in the Doomsday Book, and by the family coat of arms, whose various quarterings were acquired through meritorious conduct, or by marriage, Margaret Foxcote, wife of Nicholas de Wahull, a lineal descendant in the twelfth generation from Walter of Flanders, bringing by inheritance the second quartering; Elizabeth Chetwood, wife of Thomas de Wahull, of the thirteenth generation, bringing the next four quarterings; Anna, wife of Fulk Woodhull, of the sixteenth generation, bringing the seventh; while Elizabeth Parr, wife of Fulk Woodhull, of the eighteenth generation, brought the quarterings from eight to eighteen, she having inherited them from her father, grand- father and mother ; she was a cousin of Catherine Parr, last wife of Henry VIII, and counted among her ancestors William the Conqueror, Ed- ward the First and William the Lion of Scot- land.

Richard Woodhull, the founder of the Ameri-

can family of Woodhull, a descendant in the twen- tieth generation from Walter of Flanders, was born in Thenford, Northamptonshire, England, in 1620, and emigrated to America in 1644. In 1648 he settled at Jamaica, Long Island, as one of its pioneers. In 1665 he bought a tract of land containing ten thousand eight hundred acres in Brookhaven, on Setauket Harbor, and a part of his original purchase is still owned by his descendants, and here the original coat of arms of the Woodhull family is preserved, with its crest and motto, "Sequor nec Inferior." He was a man of influence in the town, serving as justice of the court of assizes, and representing the cause of the English colonies against the Dutch

COAT OF ARMS.

at Hartford. He died in 1690, leaving three children, Richard, Nathaniel and Deborah.

Richard Woodhull, born October 9, 1649, died in 1699. He was a surveyor, and also

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served as magistrate. He reared six children, as follows: Richard, Nathaniel, John, Josiah, Dor- othy and Temperance. Richard Woodhull, the first of these, born in 1691, died in 1797. His children were Richard, Mary, John, Nathan, Stephen, Henry and Phoebe. Stephen Woodhull, born in 1722, was the father of seven children, namely : Abraham, John, Stephen, Oliver, Han- nah, Susan and Polly. John Woodhull, born in 1760, settled at Ronkonkoma, Long Island, where his death occurred in 1805; his children were Richard and Brewster. Richard Woodhull, a life-long resident of Ronkonkoma, Long Island, was born in 1793 and died in 1834. He married Fanny Green, who was born in 1802 and died in 1872. Eight children were born of their unión, namely: Francis, Charles Ambrose, John Al- pheus, Edward Henry, Josiah Richard, Mary Jane, George Lee and Susan Green. His widow, who survived him many years, married for her second husband, William Smith, by whom she had three children, Emma Louisa, Ellen Amelia and Herman.

Rev. John Alpheus Woodhull took an acad- emic course at Miller's Place, Long Island, then entered Yale College, and was graduated with the class of '50. Subsequently he entered and was graduated from Andover Theological Seminary. In his earlier days, and for many years, he was an active worker in the Congregational denom- ination, and a most successful preacher. On June 23, 1900, he presented a most able and interesting paper at the reunion of the descendants of the first Richard, Woodhull at Ronkonkoma, being then seventy-five years of age. He married Jo- hanna Brown, who was born in 1825 and died in 1887. He married for his second wife Eliza Miller Church. He died February I, 1902. His children, all born of his first union, are as fol- lows: Joel Brown; Charles Edward, born in 1855; John Francis, born in 1857; Augustine, born in 1859, died in 1860; George Heber, born in 1860; Florence, born in 1862, died in 1876; Marianna, born in 1864; and Adelia Hallock, born in 1866, died in 1876. Charles Edward Woodhull, the second son, was graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music, and is now engaged in business in that city as a musical director and teacher, and a dealer in musical in- struments ; he married Josephine Hallock, who

was born in 1853, and they have one son, John. John Francis Woodhull, Ph. D., was graduated from Yale University, after which he took special courses at both Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins University, and is now professor of natural sciences at Columbia University, and also superintendent of the Horace Mann School of New York; he married Minnie Ellen Hinkley, who was born in 1867, and they have two chil- dren, Mildred and Hazel. George Heber Wood- hull, who was graduated from Yale University, and from the Yale Theological School, is pastor of a Congregational church at Kittery Point, Maine; he married Mary Warburton Curtis. Marianna Woodhull, a woman of eminent culture and scholarship, was graduated from Smith Col- lege, after which she went abroad, and further pursued her studie's at Oxford, and in Germany ; on her return to this country she taught for two years at Mt. Vernon Seminary, Washington, D. C., where she had under her instruction a num- ber of distinguished pupils ; Miss Woodhull lec- tures upon English literature and art, and is now (1902) taking a post-graduate course in English literature at Columbia University.

Joel Brown Woodhull acquired the rudiments of his education in the common schools of Brook- haven, Long Island, subsequently attending the Northville Academy, Northville, New York, and New Preston Academy, Litchfield county, Con- necticut, and was graduated from the medical de- partment of the University of the City of New York with the class of 1884. Locating at once as a physician in South Shaftsbury, Vermont, Dr. Woodhull met with signal success in his pro- fessional labors, his practice increasing with such rapidity that in 1895 he removed to North Ben- nington, where he opened an office, and has since conducted both. With one exception he is the oldest practicing physician in either town, and has- the largest patronage, his long drives and numer- ous calls necessitating the use of four fine horses and a driver.

Fraternally he holds an honored position in the Masonic ranks, belonging to Tucker Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he has held all the offices ; to Temple Chapter, R. A. M .; to Bennington Council, R. & S. M .; to Taft Commandery, K. T .; and to Mount Sinai Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Montpelier. He is district deputy of the grand

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lodge, and was district deputy and grand patron of the Eastern Star order, in the advancement of which he took an especial interest. He is a mem- ber of the Bennington County Medical Society, likewise of the American Medical Association, and has frequently presented valuable papers on medical topics at the meetings of these societies. He is a man of enterprise, and inaugurated and owns a local telephone line between North Ben- nington and South Shaftsbury.

Doctor Woodhull married Abbie Cornelia Hatch, who was born in 1853 in New Milford, Connecticut, a daughter of John Hatch, who reared a family of two children. She died in 1880, leaving two children : Joel Raymond Wood- hull, now studying medicine at Washburn Col- lege, Topeka, Kansas; and Abbie Florence, a fine elocutionist, who pursued her studies in this direction at the Emerson School of Oratory in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Woodhull married for his second wife Elizabeth Henry Hicks, who was born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1858, a daughter of Charles H. Hicks; and she died in 1893. Prior to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of Bennington, and was quite prominent in musical circles. Of the two children born in their union but one is now living. Mary Henry, late a student at Dover, Massachusetts, now residing with her father at North Bennington. Dr. Woodhull is a member of the Congregational church, to which both of his wives also belonged.

ANSON MORTIMER NORTON, M. D.

Dr. A. M. Norton was born in Bristol, Ver- mont, on the 27th of October, 1863, and is a rep- resentative of one of the pioneer families of this section of the old Green Mountain state. His father, Charles W. Norton, was born in Starks- boro, on the 17th of January, 1844, being a son of Wolcott Norton, who was born in Starks- boro, his father having been one of the early set- tlers in this locality, whither he emigrated from the state of Connecticut, with whose annals the name had been identified from the early colonial epoch. Wolcott Norton was reared in the town of Starksboro, and after attaining years of ma-

turity he there continued to be engaged in farm- ing for a number of years, but eventually re- moved to Bristol, Vermont, becoming one of its pioneer farmers, and there continuing to make his home until his retirement from active labors, the closing years of his life having been passed in the village of Bristol, where he died in 1878, at the age of seventy-six years. He was one of the prominent citizens of the county and one to whom was ever accorded the utmost respect and esteem. He was twice married, his first union having been with Miss Mehitable Thompson, who was born in this county and who here passed her entire life, being forty-five years of age at the time of her death. They became the parents of four children, namely; Anson, who died at the age of about twenty-one years ; Charles W., further men- tioned below; Lucy, who is the widow of Alson F. Peet, of Shelburne, Chittenden county ; and Cynthia, who is the widow of Daniel P. Peet, of Bristol. Wolcott Norton consummated a second marriage, being then united to Mrs. Mandana (Peck) Lufkin, who survives him and who still resides in the village of Bristol. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as were also her honored husband and his first wife.

Charles W. Norton was reared to maturity on the old homestead farm in Bristol, and his edu- cational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of the locality, and that he duly profited by the opportunities thus afforded is evident when we advert to the fact that as a young man he was for some time a popular and successful teacher, having conducted a select school in this township and having accomplished most effective work in the pedagogic profession. He continued in agricultural pursuits for a num- ber of years and then took up his residence in the village of Bristol, where he now maintains his home, being one of the honored citizens of the county and one whose life has been guided by the highest principles of integrity and honor. Jan- uary I, 1863, he wedded Miss Delia Bushnell, who was born in Starksboro, a daughter of Ira and Mandana (Ferguson) Bushnell, representa- tives of honored pioneer families of the county, where Mr. Bushnell devoted his life to black- smithing, though he was the owner of a fine farm. He died at the age of eighty-three years, and his

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" Je hoved to the age of eighty years. They re came the parents of six children, of whom four and living at living at the present time, namely : Sales, who is an influential farmer of Starks- Foto: Lates, who is the widow of Wesley Sales and who resides in Starksboro; Julia, who is a resident of Natick. Massachusetts, being the wides of William Daniels ; and Delia, the mother of Dr. Norton. Charles W. and Delia Norton be- came the parents of nine children, all of whom are living except Frank Leslie, who died at the age of three years, a brief record of the others being as follows: Anson M. is the immediate subject of this review. Edgar Charles is en- gaged in the hardware business in Bristol. Ruth is the wife of Frederick Roberts, of Shelburne. Mandana, Ella, Grace, Ira and Reuben remain at the parental home. All of the children received excellent educational advantages, and two of the number have done efficient work as teachers, in which field of endeavor one, Mandana, is en- gaged at the present time. Ella is a graduate nurse, having received her training at Heaton Hospital, Montpelier. The parents are consist- ent and zealous members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, as are also all of their children, and the family is one of prominence in the com- munity, taking part in its best social life. The father has served in various local offices of trust and responsibility, including those of selectman, lister and school director, and he has ever lent a ready co-operation in all undertakings advanced for the general welfare of his town, county and state.

Dr. Norton received his preliminary educa- tional discipline in the public schools of his na- tive town and then entered St. Johnsbury Acad- emy, in Caledonia county, where he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1885. He then continued his literary studies for two years in Dartmouth College, after which he matriculated in the medical department of the University of Vermont, where he completed the prescribed three years' course and was graduated in 1889, receiv- ing his degree of Doctor of Medicine and leaving his alma mater with a most excellent equipment for the practical duties of his noble profession. Shortly after his graduation Dr. Norton entered upon the active practice of his profession in Bris- tol, in the year 1889. becoming associated with

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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 52

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