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 53

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 53

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Dr. A. A. Dean, one of the most prominent and distinguished physicians and surgeons of this section, and thus his novitiate was served under the most auspicious circumstances. Dr. Dean passed from the scene of life's labors in 1899, whereupon our subject succeeded to his large and representative practice, and it stands to his honor and credit that he has upheld the prestige of this able physician, to whose counsel and direc- tion. he acknowledges a deep debt of gratitude. In point of continuous practice in the town Dr. Norton now outranks all other members of his profession here, while his relations with his con- freres are most pleasant, since he never fails in courtesy and observes to the letter the ethics of the unwritten professional code. He is de- voted to his work, is a close and constant student and keeps in close touch with the rapid advance- ment made in the sciences of medicine and sur- gery, thus retaining precedence as one of the leading members of his profession in his native county. He is a member of the state and county medical societies and takes an active part in their deliberations and conferences. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, but has never sought official preferment, deeming his profession worthy of his undivided attention. His interest in educational matters has been marked, and he has given efficient service in the office of school director, of which he has been in- cumbent for the past three years. Fraternally he is identified with Libanus Lodge, No. 47, F. & A, M .; Gifford Chapter, R. A. M .; and Bristol Lodge, No. 36, 1. O. O. F. He and his family are regular attendants of the Congregational church, to whose support they contribute liber- ally. In 1891 Dr. Norton erected his attractive, modern residence, which is one of the best homes in the town and which is a center of refined and gracious hospitality.

On the 28th of May, 1890, Dr. Norton was united in marriage to Miss Jenny H. Cardell, who was born in Warren, Washington county, Ver- mont, a daughter of James and Mary Cardell, the former of whom was for many years a prominent merchant of Warren, where he died at the age of seventy-eight years, being survived by his widow and three of their four children. Dr. and Mrs. Norton have one son, James Cardell Norton, who was born April 13, 1892.

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

WILLIAM HENRY TAYLOR.

William Henry Taylor, attorney at law at Hardwick, is an able member of the legal fra- ternity, and occupies a place of prominence in educational and political circles. He was born July 18, 1863, in Wheelock, Vermont, a son of Benjamin F. Taylor. Further parental and an- cestral history may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of Frank T. Taylor.

William H. Taylor was fitted for college at Hardwick Academy, and in 1883 entered the sophomore class of the Chandler Scientific De- partment of Dartmouth College, from which he was graduated at the head of his class in 1886, be- ing valedictorian. The ensuing three years he was principal of the Hardwick Academy, a po- sition that he resigned to accept the office of county supervisor of schools for Caledonia county, holding the office during the existence of the law that created it. He was then appointed examiner of teachers for Caledonia county and still holds the position, and in the meantime con- tinued the study of law, which he had previously begun in the office of Ide & Stafford, at St. Johnsbury, and was admitted to the bar in 1892. During the years of 1892 and 1893 Mr. Taylor was again principal of the Hardwick Academy. On leaving the academy he formed a partnership with Albert Perley, with whom he was associated until 1894 as junior member of the law firm of Perley & Taylor. Forming a co-partnership with W. A. Dutton in 1895, he has since built up an extensive and lucrative law practice as head of firm of Taylor & Dutton.

Mr. Taylor was elected state's attorney in 1894, re-elected in 1896, and held the office two full terms. In 1900 he represented the town in the state legislature, where he served as chair- man of the committee on education, and on the committees on railroads and on the revision of bills. He has been president of the village for three years, also serving as chairman of the board of water and light commissioners for the past three years. He has likewise other private inter- ests in addition to his professional labors, being vice president and trustee of the Hardwick Land Company. Fraternally he is a member and past master of Caspian Lake Lodge, No. 87, A. F.

& A. M. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and is a worker for his party's interests, believ- ing them to be the country's interests.

Mr. Taylor married, July 27, 1887, Nettie I. Clark, who was born in Westmore, Vermont, March 12, 1862, a daughter of Calvin and Mary A. (Page) Clark, late of Hardwick. Mrs. Taylor is a member of Riverside Chapter No. 32, Order of Eastern Star, and is active in the social life of the town. She was educated in Hardwick Academy and was for many years a teacher in the graded schools of Hardwick. Four chil- dren have blessed this union, namely: Harold F., Florence M., Mildred I. and Cecil A. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hardwick.

CHARLES ALBERT STANFORD.

Charles Albert Stanford, of Hardwick, is a fine representative of the native-born citizens of this town. He was born August 2, 1864, a son of Jonathan E. Stanford, of English ancestry on both sides of the house. Jonathan E. Stanford was born in Littleton, New Hampshire, but re- moved to Hardwick when a young man, and has since resided here, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Clara C. Stiles, a native of Albany, Vermont. She had two brothers that served in the Civil war, both dying from the ex- posure and privations to which they were sub- jected as soldiers, their names being Benjamin and Frank Stiles. She had also two brothers that were clergymen in the Baptist denomina- tion : Rev. Silas Stiles, who preached in different towns in Vermont, died at Derby, Vermont, in 1880; and Rev. Horace Stiles, who was pastor of the Baptist church at Derby for many years, is now superannuated, and is living at Albany, Ver- mont.

Charles A. Stanford acquired his early edu- cation in Hardwick, attending the common schools and the academy. During the greater part of his business career he has been employed in his pres- ent occupation, working at first with the late A. E. Jeudevine, as an all-round man, and for the past fourteen years being virtually manager of the affairs of the estate under the executors, a position of responsibility and trust. Politically Mr. Stanford is a strong Republican, and is quite

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active in town affairs, having served for six years as selectman, during the past four years being chairman of the board; has been constable for two years, and for an equal length of time was a village trustee. Fraternally he is a member of Caspian Lake Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

On November 26, 1891, Mr. Stanford mar- ried Emma M. Thomas, a daughter of Benjamin F. and Marion (Bailey) Thomas, the former of whom was an extensive farmer and a life-long citizen of Hardwick. Mr. and Mrs. Stanford have one child, Gladys M., born August 23, 1892. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church.

WILLIAM R. MORGAN.

From honored New England ancestry Will- iam R. Morgan is descended. He was born in Bennington, Vermont, on the 18th day of May, 1829, and is a son of the late Mason C. and Martha E. (Safford) Morgan, the former a na- tive of Wilmington, and the latter of Benning- ton, Vermont, and both were descended from the earliest Welsh and English settlers of New England. The founder of this branch of the American family of Morgans was Miles Morgan, the youngest of three brothers, James, John and Miles Morgan, who sailed from Bristol, Eng- land, in March, 1636, and landed at Boston, Massachusetts. Mason C. Morgan's mother was Phoebe Williams, the daughter of Colonel Will- iam Williams .. Colonel Kittredge Haskins, M. C., in his historical address on the one hundred and fourteenth anniversary of American inde- pendence in Wilmington, styled him as "a very remarkable man, perhaps the most notable man that ever resided there;" he took active part in the colonial war, French and Indian, which ter- minated with the peace of Paris, 1763. At the commencement of the war of the Revolution he early became interested in behalf of the Ameri- can cause. He was active in civil as well as military affairs. He was with his regiment at the battle of Bennington, and it is recorded of him that he distinguished himself by great gal- lantry and justly shared in the glory of the vic- tory which crowned the efforts of the day. The original charter of Bennigton was granted to Colonel William Williams and others, by Gov- ernor Benning Wentworth, colonial governor of

New Hampshire, in 1719. Phabe Wilhans mar- ried Dr. Benjamin F. Morgan, a surgeon in the Revolutionary army.

On the maternal side Mr. Morgan is de- scended from the equally old and noted Safford family, which was prominent and active in colon- ial and Revolutionary times, in church and state. Deacon Joseph Safford was one of the early set- tlers of Bennington, and was elected to the office of .deacon of the church at the first election of ' this kind on record in Vermont. At the first town meeting he was appointed town treasurer and one of the tithing men. And he, with one other, built the first grist mill, and the first saw mill in Vermont. General Samuel Safford, eld- est son of Deacon Joseph Safford, took an active part in the land title controversy with New York; and on several occasions represented the town in conventions of the settlers for defence against the Yonkers, and also for forming the territory into a separate state.

When the committees of the several towns met at Dorset in July, 1775, to nominate officers for the battalion of Green Mountain boys, recom- mended by Congress, he was nominated for ma- jor, under Warner as lieutenant colonel, and served as such in the battles of Hubbardton and Bennington, and throughout the war. Before the close of the war he became a general of the militia. He was a representative of the town in 1781 and 1782, and in 1783 was elected a state councillor, and 'served as such for nineteen years in success- ion. For twenty-six successive years, ending in 1807, he was chief judge of the county court for Bennington county. He was an upright and in- telligent man, of sound judgment and universally respected.

The following is a copy of a letter written by General George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Safford, the great-grandfather of Mr. Morgan of this review. The original of this let- ter hangs in the library of the historic homestead of the Morgans at Bennington. :

"Rocky Hill, near Princeton, "22 September, 1783.

"Sir: I have received your letter of the 4th inst. and shall transmit to the Secretary of War your acceptance of the Commutation in lieu of half pay.

"Whatever is necessary to be done for the

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WokMorgan

Mina H. Morgan.

٫٠٠٠- عيد

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ERECTED BY LT .- COL. SAFFORD. 1774 W. R. MORGAN HOMESTEAD, BENNINGTON, VERMONI

I have received you

Jemetary at'lar, your acceptance of the Communication in lieu of half hay. Whatever is necessary to be doses.

for the future settlement of your Accounts i'll be fiably informed by ap hy the Pay Master General,

ho is authorised by final adjustaccess

bot defora

AUTOGRAPH LETTER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO LT .- COL. SAFFORD.

- -

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

future settlement of your accounts, you will be fully informed by applying to the Pay Master General, John Peirce, Esqr., who is authorized by Congress to make a final adjustment with the Officers of the Army. I am, Sir,

"Your Most Obedient Servant, "G. WASHINGTON."

"Lt. Col. Safford."

William R. Morgan supplemented the school- ing which he received in his native place by at- tendance at the Leland Institute of Townshend, and the Troy Conference Academy of Poultney, Vermont. His later youth and early manhood were spent in assisting in and directing the cul- tivation of the homestead farm, and this tract, which originally comprised hundreds of acres, included a large portion of what is now known as Bennington.

The present Morgan estate embraces about two hundred acres, at least one-half of which is included in what is now the seventh ward of Bennington. In 1851 Wiliam R. Morgan went to the west, where he was successfully engaged in mining in California. He returned to the east in 1877, and purchased the interests of the remain- ing heirs in the family estate. However, he still has his mining interests in California, and this connection has required many trips across the American continent, his time being about equally divided between the east and the west. Politically he was in an early day an old-line Whig, and afterward became a supporter of Republican prin- ciples. His ability and integrity were recognized in his western home by his political associates, and numerous trusts were imposed upon him. Somewhat to his business detriment he yielded to the persuasions of his party and served as county coroner, county supervisor, and represent- ed his county in the state legislature in 1873 and 1874 and held numerous other local offices. In his native place Mr. Morgan also served a term as selectman in 1893. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.

Elmira H. Morgan, a sister of William R. Morgan, was born June 29, 1842, in the oldest house in Bennington village, built in 1774 by her great-grandfather, General Samuel Safford. Her grandfather, Samuel Safford, was a captain in the army of the Revolution, and at the age of six-

teen rendered conspicuous service at the battle of Bennington. The family is one of the oldest in New England, tracing a direct descent from Cotton Mather, also from Captain Miles Standish of the Mayflower. The personality of Miss Mor- gan was extremely pleasing, and she became en- deared to her friends and acquaintances by her many estimable qualities of mind and heart; she inherited from her Puritan ancestors a generous share of those sturdy virtues which still underlie and strengthen the typical New England char- acter. With their roughness smoothed and soft- ened by time, these virtues of truth, sincerity, firm integrity and a determination to follow the right at any cost, made a most admirable charac- ter. She possessed a mind of unusual strength, enriched by travel and study and a gift of ex- pression which made her society delightful as well as stimulating. An active member of the Order of Good Templars, and of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, she did excellent work for the cause of temperance, and her in- fluence was powerful to prevent any admixtures of politics, and held the Vermont branch of the order close to its original idea of promoting the principles of temperance alone. Her clear head and lucid expression of opinion, her excellent judgment and executive ability, was a great help in the formation of the Vermont Society of Colon- ial Dames, in which she was deeply interested. She was also one of the most useful and devoted of the members of the First Methodist Episcopal church, the edifice in which the congregation worshipped having been built largely through her father's generosity. In the beautiful home, where she was the mainspring and center, in the church of her devoted love, in the village, for the improvement of which she earnestly la- bored, in all religious, social and intellectual gatherings, she was a power for good, a mes- senger of the gospel of work and love. Hers was a beautiful and helpful life, but all too quickly ended on the IIth of February, 1901. The place she left vacant cannot be filled while this genera- tion remains.

"In person she has gone from us, her foot- steps have forever vanished from the dear old home she loved so well, but in spirit she will re- main with us, her loving words, her many kind deeds, and her benevolences will long linger in

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the delightful memory of those that loved her. She lives in her work of love and devotion, and has only been removed to a higher sphere of serv- ice where the powers which wrought so nobly here have no longer clog or hindrance. She left in the hearts of all who knew her, and most of all with those who knew her best, profound re- grets and dear, honored, hallowed memories."

CHARLES ROOT DAVIS.

Charles Root Davis, of Hardwick, is an im- portant factor in the manufacturing and mercan- tile circles of this section of the state, being a successful granite manufacturer and likewise a dealer in granite-workers' tools and in groceries. A native of Craftsbury, Vermont, he was born July 2, 1863, a son of Amos and Adeline (Munger) Davis. Amos Davis was born in England, but came to this country when a child with his parents, and was brought up in Vermont, where he assisted in clearing land, in the mean- time suffering all the privations and hardships incidental to pioneer life. He worked some as a farmer, but was occupied a large part of his life as a spinner in a woolen mill.

Charles R. Davis spent the first fifteen years of his life in Danville, Vermont, from the age of eight years earning his own living. He sub- sequently worked as a farm laborer until at- taining his majority, when he went to St. Johns- bury, Vermont, to learn the trade of a granite- cutter, and remaining there fifteen years, his last employer being R. W. Ladd, with whom he re- mained four years, leaving his service July 17, 1888. In November, 1891, Mr. Davis established himself as a granite manufacturer and merchant in Hardwick, where he has since built up a large and highly prosperous business, manufacturing especially monuments of artistic work and value, disposing of them, usually, to dealers, although he sometimes sells for individual erection. He has also an excellent trade in granite manufac- turer's supplies, being the only dealer in this line of goods in the town. He is a fine representative of the self-made man of New England, winning success in life through his own efforts.

On May 30, 1886, Mr. Davis married Eva G. Brown, of Peacham, Vermont. Her father, Willard T. Brown, a native of England, came to

this country when two years old with his parents, and was here reared and educated. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company F, Sixth Ver- mont Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years, being a hospital nurse a part of the time. He married Eliza E. Ford, who was born in England, being the daughter of a carpet weaver, who worked for many years as a journeyman in a tapestry carpet factory. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have four children, namely: Sadie E., born Mach II, 1887; Grace M., born January 29, 1890; Ruth E., born September 10, 1894; and Etta M., born November 2, 1898. Mr. Davis is a Republican in politics, and both he and Mrs. Davis are members of the New England Order of Protection.

JOHN EDWARD SULLIVAN.

John Edward Sullivan, of Hardwick, is actively identified with one of the leading in- dustries of Caledonia county, being an extensive and exceedingly prosperous granite manufacturer. He was born July 9, 1849, in Bangor, Maine, a son of John Sullivan. John Sullivan was born and reared in Ireland, emigrating to this country when a young man, about 1838, and living in Maine until his death, in 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, whose maiden name was Ann Welch, came to this country when a girl, and was here married. She survived her husband, dying in 1897, aged sixty-five years.

John E. Sullivan was educated in the public schools of Portland, Maine, after which he served an apprenticeship of three years at the granite- cutter's trade at Groton Junction, now Ayer, Massachusetts. The ensuing ten years he worked in various places as a journeyman, becoming an expert at his trade. Locating in Barre, Vermont, in 1882, as a granite manufacturer, he built up a fine business, establishing a reputation for first- class work. In 1890 Mr. Sullivan removed his business to Hardwick, doing business with two partners from that time until 1897 as the Hard- wick Granite Company. In the last named year he started out alone and since then has conducted an independent business, and has developed an important and steadily increasing trade, making a specialty of monumental work of all descrip- tions. Most of his product goes beyond the

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Mississippi river. In his earlier life he affiliated with the Democratic party, but for the past six years he has been a stanch Republican. An in- dustrious business man, he gives no attention to practical politics. He and his family are mem- bers of the Catholic church.

Mr. Sullivan married, November 12, 1872, Annie Marrion, of Fairfield, Vermont, a daughter of Peter and Bridget (McGinn) Marrion. Of the nine children born of their union, six are living, namely: Alice Gertrude, wife of John Arthur Moore, who is in the office with Mr. Sul- livan; Frances Marian ; Catherine Agnes; Annie Garvey; Alice Hortense; and Margaret Irene.

CAPTAIN CHARLES E. PARKER.

The record of Captain Charles Edmund Parker contains an account of valiant service in the Civil war and of fidelity to duty in every walk of life. He is numbered among the leading citizens of Vergennes, where he was born on the 2Ist of February, 1839. His father, William Parker, was a native of Cambridge, Massachu- setts, his birth having there occurred in 1803, and in 1832 he came to Vergennes, Vermont. From the time of his arrival in this city until the year 1868 he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits, being one of the oldest merchants in point of continuous service in the town, but in the lat- ter year, when he had reached the age of sixty- five years, his life's labors were ended in death. He was one of the most prominent and influential men of the county, and held many offices of trust and responsibility, among them being that of mayor and he also represented his town in the legislature. For a number of years he was the president of the National Bank of Vergennes. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Henrietta Miller, and she was a native of Wallingford, Vermont. She was a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families in the east, and her line of descent is traced back to John Alden. Of the six children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Parker, three grew to years of maturity and two are now living, the sister of our subject, Mary Ellen, being Mrs. Charles O. Stevens, whose husband is one of the influential men of Vergennes. The mother was called into eternal rest when she had reached the age of

seventy-two years, passing away in the faith of the Episcopal church, of which she and her husband were long worthy and acceptable mem- bers, and for many years the latter served as senior warden. They were loved and honored in the city in which they so long made their home, and were deeply interested in everything pertaining to educational, religious and temper- ance work and to the improvement of the com- munity along substantial lines of progress.

Charles E. Parker received his elementary education in the schools of Vergennes, and was fitted for college by "Uncle" Ben B. Allen, who was an excellent educator, and during his lifetime fitted as many as one thousand boys to enter edu- cational institutions .. Entering the Norwich Military Academy, he there remained for eighteen. months, after which he matriculated in Dart- mouth College, graduating from the latter insti- tution in 1860. Thus, with an excellent foun- dation upon which to rear the superstructure of his life work, he began the study of law, but his studies were interrupted by the inauguration of the Civil war, and in the fall of 1861 he entered the Seventh Vermont Infantry, and was com- missioned as first lieutenant, and made adjutant on the colonel's staff, and on the 9th of December, 1862, was promoted to the rank of captain of Company E, Nineteenth Army Corps. He served. in the Department of the Gulf, under General Butler, from 1862 until the latter part of 1863, during which time he participated in the engage- ments of Baton Rouge, Vicksburg, Mobile and many other hard-fought battles of the war. On account of failing health, Captain Parker re- signed from the army in the winter of 1863 and returned to his home in Vergennes, where he em- barked in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, as a member of the firm of Hayes, Flardo & Parker, and the firm continued to do an ex- tensive wholesale business until 1878, when the great panic occurred, and they were obliged to suspend operations. Captain Parker then turned his attention to electricity, organizing the present electric light company of Vergennes, with three stockholders, and he was made the president. They succeeded in obtaining a franchise, and first leased and carried on operations in the old power- house, but later purchased their present building,. which they equipped with all the latest machinery

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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 53

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