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 56

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 56

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The great-grandfather of Eliza Jennette

King was the son of a southern slaveholder, who disinherited his son on discovering that the lat- ter had fallen in love with and intended to marry a northern lady. It seemed as if this great- grandfather were destined to unite in his single person all the essential qualities of a hero of romance, for, in addition to being an ideal lover, he was also a soldier, and served in the Revolu- tionary army, where he met a soldier's fate, being killed in battle.

George King, the son of this great-grand- father, was born in Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, and for many years was a sailor on mer- chant vessels. The life of a sailor a century ago was one into which entered largely the elements of danger and adventure, and of both these ele- ments George King seems to have met with his full share, having on one occasion been captured by the British and carried to the West Indies, where he was held for seven months.

George William King, son of George King, was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, and was the father of Eliza Jennette King, mentioned above as the wife of Frederick Plummer Abbott Clark. The wife of George William King was Hannah Pierce, of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire.

William Frederick Clark. son of Frederick Plummer Abbott and Eliza Jennette (King) Clark, was born January 7, 1849, in Glover, Vermont, and received his elementary education in the common schools, afterward attending the Orleans Liberal Institute, and nearly complet- ing a seminary and college preparatory course of study in Montpelier Seminary. Mr. Clark takes a great interest in public affairs, and has served the town in many different positions, having filled the offices of lister, town superintendent of schools, and in 1890 enumerator of census. In 1896 Mr. Clark was elected a member of the general assembly of Vermont, and served on the committee on election. In the special session in May, 1898, it was Mr. Clark who introduced the leading bill making provision for the Spanish war. In 1902 Mr. Clark was elected assistant judge of the Orleans county courts.

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is the senior steward, and in 1884, when the church was built, he acted as chairman of the building committee. Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic order. affiliat-

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ing with Orleans Lodge No. 55, F. and A. M., and is also a member of Keystone Chapter No. 10, R. A. M., and of Malta Commandery No. 10, cf Newport. Mr. Clark married, in 1871, Phsabeth Marston, bom June 6, 1818, in Crafts- bury, Vermont. Mrs. Clark, as well as her hus- band, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The Marston family is of very ancient origin, the first ancestor having gone to England in the company of William the Conqueror. For his services in the conquest this Norman knight re- ceived the grant of Marston Moor, from which the name of the family was thenceforth derived. This estate, ever memorable as the scene of one of the greatest battles of the civil wars, a bat- tle in which the parliamentary and Scotch troops under Cromwell totally defeated the Royalists commanded by "Rupert of the Rhine," is still held by a member of the Marston family.

The first of the American branch of the Marstons of whom we are informed by the record is Jeremiah Marston, who served in the colonial wars of the eighteenth century with the rank of captain, under General Amherst at Isle-Aux-Moix, Crown Point and Montreal, and witnessed the transfer of Canada by the French to the English. General. Amherst, in a letter to Governor Went- worth, of New Hampshire, makes honorable mention of Captain Marston as a brave soldier. The sword which he carried in this campaign is still preserved in the family.

Captain Jeremiah Marston had three grand- sons : Arthur Marston, Orford, New Hampshire, who lived on the old homestead of his father, Jeremiah Marston, Jr .; General Gilman Marston, of Exeter, New Hampshire; and Deacon Charles Marston, who was born in Orford, New Hamp- shire, and is the father of Elisabeth Marston, mentioned above as the wife of William Freder- ick Clark.

The children of William Frederick Clark and Elisabeth Marston Clark are: Charles Fred- erick, born August 13, 1873, and graduated in the University of Vermont in 1897; Arthur Will- iam, born August 22, 1879, and now in the junior class in Vermont University; Eliza Eme- line, born October 28, 1889; and James Gilman, born October 12, 1891.

EZRA BRAINERD, LL. D., D. D.

To the extent that an individual apprebends and appreciates the truth of the statement so tersely made by Tennyson, that "Self reverence, self-knowledge, cli control, these three lead men to sovereign power," to that extent does he realize his potentiality and usefulness in the world and is prompted to become one of its noble army of workers, being clean and sincere in thought and placing a true valuation on men and things. Thus he develops his maximum powers and be- comes a useful and honorable member of society.

The glory of our republic is in the perpet- uation of individuality and in according the utmost scope for individual accomplishment. Fostered under the most auspicious of surround- ings that can encompass the one who has the will to dare and to do, our nation has, almost spon- taneously, produced men of finest mental cali- ber, true virile strength and vigorous purpose. The cradle has not ever been one of pampered luxury, but the modest couch of infancy has often rocked future greatness. American biography thus becomes most distinctively individual in the general as well as the specific case, and the rec- ord of individual accomplishment through worthy means is the record which the true and loyal American holds in the deepest respect and highest honor, while he also has lasting rever- ence for those who have wrought nobly in the past, so that in connection with individual biogra- phy the genealogical record becomes an integral part and constitutes a most interesting and valu- able record as thus perpetuated. The subject of this review is incumbent of the position of president of Middlebury College, at Middlebury, Addison county, Vermont, and is not only a man of high scholarly attainments and marked pres- tige in the educational field, but has the distinction of being a representative of one of the old and honored families of New England, with whose history the name has been inseparably identified from about the middle of the seventeenth cent- ury, while it has ever stood exponent of unequivo- cal loyalty and patriotism and of inflexible in- tegrity in all the relations of life.

Ezra Brainerd, whose patronymic in its en- tirety has been borne by representatives in vari-

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ous generations of the family, was born in the town of St. Albans, Franklin county, Vermont, on the 17th of December, 1844, a son of Lawrence Robins Brainerd, who was born in Martinsburg, Lewis county, New York, on the 20th of Octo- ber, 1819. The latter's father was Ezra Brainerd, who was born in East Hartford, Connecticut, on the 15th of October, 1787, a son of Ezra (2), who was born in Middle Haddam, Connecticut, on the IIth of May, 1769, a son of Ezra Brainerd (1), who was a native of the same place, where he was born on the 17th of August, 1744; a son of Josiah Brainerd, who was born in Haddam, on the 4th of May, 171I, being the son of William, born in the same town, on March 30, 1673. The last mentioned was a son of Daniel Brainerd, who figures as the original American progenitor of the family. He was born in England, whence he emigrated to America at the age of eight years with the Willis family, they becoming members of the Hartford colony, under the leadership of Rev. Hooker. He took up his abode in Haddam, where he was given a grant of land, becoming one of the original settlers of the town, and there he passed the remainder of his life, his death occur- ring on the Ist of April, 1715, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a man of prominence and influence in the community, and its largest landholder. The public records of the day indi- cate that he was incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, while it is also known that he was the first deacon in the Congregational church. He married Hannah Spencer, a daughter of Ger- ard Spencer, of Lynn, Massachusetts, and they became the parents of eight children. Their son William, passed his entire life in Haddam, having married and become the father of seven children. His son Josiah, the next in order of direct descent, also passed his life in Haddam, being one of the leading citizens of that locality and having been a valiant soldier in the early colonial war. He was first a lieutenant and later an adjutant in a Con- necticut regiment, with which he was an active participant in the engagements in and about the city of Quebec, Canada. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church in Middle Haddam, where he died at the venerable age of eighty-one years, while his wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Spencer, died in her seventy- eighth year, eight children having been born of

their union. Their son Ezra well upheld the pres- tige of the family name in East Haddam, where he attained a foremost position both in public affairs and as a successful and progressive busi- ness man. In that locality he opened a stone quarry, being one of the pioneers of this industry in the state, and for a long period he carried on extensive operations in this line, having given employment to an average corps of ninety men and having made shipments of stone to many cities and towns in the state of New York and other states, while he also made shipments from his quarries to New Orleans and other points far removed. He was held in the highest respect and confidence by all who knew him, and he was ac- corded distinguished evidence of the same in be- ing chosen to important offices of trust and re- sponsibility. He was justice of the peace for many years, and for numerous terms represented East Haddam in the Connecticut legislature, being a man of high intellectuality and having gained a reputation as an able, eloquent and convincing public speaker. He wielded a definite and benefi- cent influence in public, industrial and private life, exemplifying the virtues of piety, temper- ance and usefulness in all relations and having been for many years a deacon in the Congrega- tional church in his home town, where he died on the 7th of April, 1837, at the patriarchal age of ninety-three years. He married Miss Jerusha Smith, a daughter of Lieutenant David and Doro- thy (Brainerd) Smith, she being his fourth cous- in. Dorothy (Brainerd) Smith was a sister of David and John Brainerd, who were prominent missionaries of the Congregational church among the North American Indians. David Brainerd was engaged to the daughter of the distinguished Jonathan Edwards, but he died be- fore the time set for their marriage. Grief at his departure soon carried away his intended bride and they were buried side by side at North- hampton, Massachusetts, where their grave is of- ten visited as an object of romantic and melan- choly interest. Jonathan Edwards published an extended biography of David Brainerd, which reached several editions. The grandfather of Jerusha (Smith) Brainerd was a member of the governor's council of Connecticut and otherwise was distinguished in public affairs. Ezra and Jerusha Brainerd became the parents of thirteen

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children, all of whom attained years of maturity with the exception of three, the death of the mother occurring on the Fith of October, 1811. Ezra Brainerd (2), son of this union, became a representative architect and builder of East Hart- ford. Connecticut, and executed many important contracts in the erection of public buildings and the construction of bridges, in which latter line it may be noted that he built the large bridge across the Genesee river at Carthage, New York. His death occurred on the 15th of November, 1833, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mabel Porter, was born in East Hartford, a daughter of James Porter, and of this union twelve children were born. She passed away on the 27th of August, 1833.

Ezra Brainerd (3), son of Ezra and Mabel (Porter) Brainerd, followed in the footsteps of his father, in choosing his vocation in life, becom- ing a successful contractor and builder, and con- tinuing to follow this line of enterprise until his death, which occurred while he was still a young man, the later years of his life having been passed in Martinsburg, New York. Here he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Robins, a daughter of Zebulon Robins, of Rocky Hill, Hartford county, Connecticut, the family having been one of prominence in that section. Ezra and Louisa (Robins) Brainerd became the parents of six children, of whom Lawrence R. was the only son, while all are now deceased. Mrs. Louisa Brainerd entered into eternal rest on the 22d day of May, 1839, having long survived her hus- band and having been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Lawrence R. Brainerd passed his childhood days in Martinsburg, New York, where he re- mained until the death of his father, when, at the age of thirteen years, he came to St. Albans, Ver- mont, where he found a home with his uncle, Law- rence Brainerd, an influential citizen of that place. There he was reared to maturity, receiving a good common-school education and early giving in- ception to his independent career. He was clerk in a mercantile establishment in the employ of his uncle, and engaged in mercantile business on his own account soon after attaining his majority. Later he became extensively engaged in the lum- ber business in St. Albans, operating a number of saw-mills in both Vermont and Canada, while in

St. Albans he also engaged in the manufacture of railroad cars upon a wide scale, reaching an average annual output of three hundred cars. He carried forward his large industrial enterprise with consummate discrimination and ability and was known as one of the leading business men of the state. In addition to manufacturing he also bought and shipped large quantities of lumber, in which line he controlled a representative trade in New York city and other commercial centers. He also became the owner of a mill at Chateaugay Lake, New York, and also operated a number of lumber vessels. He was an extensive manufac- turer of barrel heads, making car-load shipments, and in all of these important enterprises his per- sonal supervision was given and the influence of his fine business judgment and his exceptional executive ability permeated every detail and in- sured a distinctive success. He continued to give his attention to his extensive business interests until he was called from the scene of life's activ- ities, on the 26th of November, 1863, being only forty-four years of age at the time. Mr. Brainerd was originally a Whig in his political proclivities, and in the crucial period leading up to the war of the Rebellion he was 'known as an uncompro- mising abolitionist, and he lived long enough to witness the organization of the Republican party, as the avowed opponent of slavery and secession, and to identify himself with its cause. He as- sisted many a poor slave to make his way across the Canadian line and to thus gain the boon of liberty, while his son, the subject of this review, as a youth, proved an enthusiastic co-adjutor of his father in this humane and kindly service. Mr. Brainerd was superintendent of the Congrega- tional Sunday-school at St. Albans for a period of thirteen years, and both he and his wife were active and zealous members of that church. On the 17th of January, 1844, L. R. Brainerd was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Wood, of Malone, New York, where she was born on the 25th of January, 1823, being a daughter of Arunah Wood, who was born probably in Ben- nington, this state, a son of Enos, born in 1762. The father of the latter, John Wood, was born in 1737, and died, at Georgia, Vermont, in 1816, having been a valiant soldier in the Conti- nental line during the war of the Revolution and having participated in the battle of Bennington, as

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did also his son Enos, who was a lad of only fifteen years at the time. Of this service record is made in the Hemmenway Vermont Gazeteer. Arunah Wood married Emeline Bartlett, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom only one survives, Miss Maria Wood, who now resides in Washington, D. C. Mrs. Catherine (Wood) Brainerd passed away August 15, 1854. Of her children three survive, namely: Ezra, whose name begins this sketch ; Catherine W., the wife of Charles G. Steele, of Winthrop, Massa- chusetts ; and Frederick L., a successful merchant of the city of Boston. Two now deceased were : George, who died at the age of thirteen years, and Rev. Charles Nelson, who was a graduate of Middlebury College, and who became a promi- nent clergyman of the Congregational church, his death occurring January 15, 1893.

The early life of Professor Ezra Brainerd was passed in his native town, where he prepared for college in the public schools. He entered Middle- bury College in August, 1860, and graduated in 1864, receiving the first honor. Immediately up- on graduation he was appointed a tutor in the college, which position he filled two years-this being the only instance, save one, in which a graduate was at once made a tutor. In 1866 Mr. Brainerd entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in 1868. Immediately thereafter he was appointed to the chair of rhetoric and English literature in Middlebury College and continued to fill that chair until 1880, when he became pro- fessor of physics and applied mathematics. He became president in 1885, and has since contin- uously been the executive head of the institution, with whose faculty he has been identified for the past thirty-five years.

In addition to his regular college duties, Pres- ident Brainerd has devoted much time to natural science, and his contributions to the botany and geology of Vermont have been extensive and valuable. He was one of three commissioners, appointed in 1887, to revise the school laws of the state, in which he rendered valuable service. In 1888 he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Vermont and also from Ripon College, and in 1900 Howard University conferred upon him the title of Doctor of Divinity.

On the Ist of December, 1868, Mr. Brainerd was married to Miss Frances Viola Rockwell, daughter of Sylvester B. Rockwell, of Middle- bury. She was a devoted member of the Con- gregational church and a woman of noble char- acter and gracious refinement. She was born October II, 1846, and died January 11, 1893. Her children confer credit and honor upon their parentage and breeding. Elizabeth DeLong, the eldest, is a graduate of Andover Female Seminary and has been successful as a teacher. She is now the wife of Professor Carl C. Plehn, occupying the chair of political science in the University of California. Bertha was graduated from Mid- dlebury College, and is now the wife of a fellow alumnus, Professor Charles A. Adams, principal of the high school at Adams, Massachusetts. Frances Viola, also a graduate of Middlebury College, is teaching at Centerville, California. Ezra, Jr., is now attending the Law School of the Michigan University. Miranda Stranahan, an in- valid for many years, passed away in Berkeley, California, January 5, 1903. Alice, the youngest, is a member of the class of 1904 at Middlebury College.

On Christmas day, 1897, Mr. Brainerd was married a second time, to Miss Mary Ellen Wright, who was born in New Haven, Vermont, a daughter of Alvah S. Wright, an influential farmer of that locality, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. He was twice married, and is survived by his second wife, whose maiden name was Ellen Kellogg, and who was born in Starksboro, Addison county, Vermont, Mrs. Brainerd being the only child of this union. The last named is the mother of Dorothy Brainerd, born September 7, 1900. Since 1860 Dr. Brain- erd has been a member of the Congregational church, and he has delivered many sermons in many towns of the state. He has always been in sympathy with the general policies of the Repub- lican party, and is recognized as a power in devel- oping the moral progress of the state.

CHARLES SUMMERS DANA.

Charles S. Dana, a prominent agriculturist and newspaper correspondent of New Haven, Vermont, has been a resident of this locality throughout his entire life, his birth having oc-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

September 13, 1802. The family Here long plentilied with the interests of the old En state, and, in Amherst, the grandfather Aus fin Dana was born, May 31, 1795. He subse quently came with his father, Eleazer Dana, to Habridge, Addison county, Vermont, thus being numbered among the early pioneers of this com- monwealth. The family subsequently removed to Cornwall, Vermont, where Eleazor Dana spent the remainder of his life, passing away November 10, 1838. He was born August 6, 1767. Austin Dana married Susan Gale, whose father, General Summers Gale, participated in the battle of Platts- burg during the war of 1812. This union was blessed with three children, Sarah A., wife of Horatio Sanford, of Cornwall, Vermont ; Edward S., who is further mentioned below; and Eliza M., who married Lyman H. Payne, of Cornwall. The mother of this family died at the age of sixty- eight years. She was long a consistent member of the Baptist church at West Cornwall. Austin Dana became a prominent and influential man in his county, and was called upon to serve as select- man, lister and justice of the peace. He died July 23, 1870, in Cornwall.

Edward Summers Dana, son of Austin Dana, was born April 27, 1834, in Cornwall, Vermont. He received his early education in the common schools of Cornwall, while later he matriculated in the Bakersfield Academy and the Fort Edward Institute. He taught school for several terms in Williston and Bridport, Vermont, after which he removed to Washington, D. C. While a resi- dent of that city he served as clerk of the pension department from 1861 until 1866, and from the latter year until 1871 was assistant clerk in the house of representatives. Returning thence to the old homestead in Cornwall, Vermont, he was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877, and in that year removed to the farm on which his son now resides, in New Haven, it being for- merly known as the old Squier place. The farm consisted of two hundred and fifty acres, and he was engaged in its cultivation until his death, which occurred February 24, 1886. He became very prominent in Masonic circles, and for twelve years served as grand high priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the state, and for a like period he was at the head of the grand council, R. & S. M., of the state. He was a member of

Mount Calvary Commandery, K. T., and served as grand commander of the state, and represented the state at the national encampment a number of times. He also became equally prominent in the political circles of Addison county. He repre- resented Cornwall in the legislature in 1874, and in 1880 was elected to the state senate, and in 1855, 1856 and 1861 he served as assistant clerk in the Vermont house of representatives.

Mr. Dana married Miss Mary H. Squier, a daughter of Calvin and Mary (Henry) Squier, members of old and well known families of Ver- mont. The former lived to the age of eighty-six years, but the latter died young. To Mr. and Mrs. Dana were born two children, Charles S .; and Marvin Dana, of New York city. Mrs. Dana now makes her home with her son Charles. She is an accomplished artist, and her paintings are to be found in nearly every state in the Union. She is a member of the Congregational church.

Charles S. Dana spent the early years of his life in the city of Washington, and his early edu- cational training was received in the schools of Cornwall, Vermont, while later he became a stu- dent in the Beeman Academy of New Haven. Since leaving school he has resided on the old Dana homestead, where he has devoted his atten- tion to general farming and newspaper work. He is a man of scholarly attainments and is a most able writer, his style being fluent, his diction correct and his utterances clear. He is local edit- or of the New Haven News, and has been a cor- respondent for the Rutland Herald and Vergennes Enterprise and Vermonter, for eighteen years. In politics Mr. Dana is an ardent Republican, and in recognition of his worth and ability he has re- ceived many honors at the hands of his fellow citi- zens, For four years he was a member of the board of listers, serving for a time as chairman of the board, and in 1890 he was made the census enumerator. For a period of six years he was a school director; for twelve years he was mod- erator of the town meetings ; was chairman of the Republican county convention in 1896; in 1900 represented his town in the state legislature, where he was a member and clerk of the committee on education ; and has many times been a dele- gate to the county, district and state conventions. He was assistant doorkeeper of the state senate in Į880, and assistant secretary of that body in 1890.

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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 56

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