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 71

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 71

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His visit to Cavendish, however, was the means of his subsequently taking up his abode in that town, which he did in October, 1834, as- suming charge of the carding department in the woolen mills which had just been erected there. His mechanical genius found plenty of exercise in Cavendish. He was a good musician and a fair player on the violin, and in his spare time he engaged in the manufacture of these instru- ments, bass viols and others of that ilk. This business he followed after his retirement from the mill, adding thereto the instruction of scores of young men and women who learned from him to play the instruments he constructed for them. His workshop was a curiosity, his lathe and tools of all kinds being for the most part made by himself.

Not long after the breaking out of the "gold fever" in 1849, he went to California, but re- turned shortly and afterwards made too other trips, all by way of the Isthmus. His visits, al- though made after he was sixty years of age, were fairly successful financially.

Abel and Nancy Fisher Hill were married January I, 1813, and had eleven children, all born before they came to Vermont, in Alstead, New Hampshire, and Marlboro and Westboro, Massachusetts; Eliza Foster, born October 20, 1813, died in 1832; Abel Fisher ; Harvey Mon- roe ; Samuel Dana ; George Sparhawk : Nancy M., born January 28, 1823, died in 1843; Mary A .;

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Susan E., born April 29, 1827, died September 1, 1847; Elizabeth Warren; Sarali Eliza; and Ellen A., born November 3, 1833, died October 4, 1836. Abel Hill died in Cavandish, April 30, 1874, at the age of eighty-seven. His wife Nancy died November 19, 1864.

Abel Fisher Hill, born in Alstead, April 5, 1817, was a wool sorter, and spent most of his life in the mills at Cavendish and Proctorsville, Vermont, and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He died October 21, 1890, at the latter place, and his body was brought to Proctorsville for inter- ment. He married Susan Field, who died in Providence, Rhode Island, July 1, 1902, and they had one daughter, Ella, now the wife of Edwin D. Paige, manager of the Valley Worsted Mills of Providence, Rhode Island. They have two children, Frank and Alice, the latter the wife of Herbert P. Emory, of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Harvey P. Monroe Hill Hill, born in Alstead, October 13, 1819, started out in life as clerk in a country store. He was postmaster at Proctors- ville, Vermont, in 1848-49, and in the latter year went to California "around the Horn" with a party of one hundred and twenty-seven, mostly from New England, some of whom made their mark in the world later on. For many years he experienced all the vicissitudes of a miner's life. He was for a long time the companion of James W. Marshall, the discoverer of gold in Califor- nia, being with the latter when he died in an old cabin near Coloma in 1885. He came back to Vermont shortly after Marshall's death, bring- ing with him several mementoes of the discoverer which the writer has in his possession, but re- mained only a few years, and then returned to California, where he died December 3, 1891, at the age of seventy-two. He was buried in the miners' cemetery in Oakland, which is the rest- ing place of many of the "Forty-niners" and Cal- ifornia pioneers. He never married.

Samuel Dana Hill, born May 17, 1821, was brought up in the. woolen business. May 16, 1842, he married Eliza Ann Giddings, of Felch- ville, Vermont, and they removed to California about 1860. They had five children: Nancie Ann, Harvey Dana, Elizabeth (who lived only a few weeks), Florence Eliza and Helen Maria. Samuel Dana Hill died January 22, 1901, and his wife Eliza Ann in the following year.

Nancie A. Hill, born April 12, 1843, was mar- ried in Downieville, California, April 5, 1863, to LIenry Strange and they had two children, George Dana Strange, born June 2, 1864; and Alice Margaret, born September 28, 1880. George Dana Strange married Mary Campbell, of Downieville, December 10, 1888, and they have one daughter living, Irene Strange, born May 23, 1898. Henry Strange died November I, 1888, at the age of fifty-nine. He was clerk of Sierra county for twenty years and was widely known.

Harvey Dana Hill, born in Felchville, Ver- mont, December 14, 1849, married Triphenia Hall, of Downieville, in 1872, and they had five children: Harvey Dana and Charles Abel (twins), born in June, 1873; John, Samuel and May. Samuel Hill married Annie Beard, and is editor of a paper at Etna Mills, California.

Florence Eliza Hill, born in Downieville, July 13, 1861, married F. D. Soward, July 14, 1880, and they had two children: Estelle Tabitha, born May 14, 1883; and Frances Eliza, born March 2, 1891. Mr. Soward was for a time superior judge of Sierra county and is now a prominent attorney in Downieville.

Helen Maria Hill, born June 18, 1863, mar- ried Frank R. Wehe, a lawyer of Downieville, June 18, 1882, and they had four children: Van Clief, born November 9, 1883; Donald Henry, born March 7, 1886; Frank Roswell, born June 6, 1892; and Helen, born April 2, 1895.

George Sparhawk Hill, youngest son of Abel and Nancy, was born in Walpole, New Hamp- shire, May 31, 1822. He attended the Cavendish public schools and Ludlow Academy, early en- gaged in mercantile business and settled in Proc- tersville, Vermont, in 1847. He went to Califor- nia via the Isthmus route in 1850, but soon re- turned to Vermont, and was postmaster at Proc- tersville under President Pierce. He became cashier of the bank of Black River in 1856 and continued in that capacity after the conversion of the old state bank into the National Black River Bank, and until his election to the presi- dency in 1878. He has now retired from active duty in the bank, but is still its vice president. He has been justice of the peace and town tras- urer for many years, and has held various other offices. He married Harriet Smith, of Shrews-

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bury, Vermont, and they had two daughters, Mrs. Helen M. Fitton and Mrs. Anna S. Pickett, both now living in Springfield, Massachusetts. The former has one son, Robert H. Fitton, and two daughters, Helen and Mary; and Mrs. Pickett has also a son, Harold G. Robert H. Fitton mar- ried Amelia Lovejoy, of Proctersville, Vermont, and they have one child.

Mary A. Hill, daughter of Abel and Nancy, born March 12, 1825, married Edward H. Fletch- er, of Cavendish, son of Dr. Alpheus Fletcher, and nephew of Ex-Governor Ryland Fletcher. They removed to New York city and had seven children : Robert, Alpheus, Richard, Mary, Em- ily, Helen and Harriet. Robert, a graduate of West Point, has been for years at the head of the Thayer School of Engineering, connected with Dartmouth College. He marired Miss Hunt- ington, of Hanover, New Hampshire, where they now reside with their son and daughter. Al- pheus, the second son of Edward H. and Mary Fletcher, died several years ago. Emily married Asa W. Rogers, of Brooklyn, who is now dead, and they had four sons. Richard also married, and his wife died in 1901. The Fletchers, with the exception of Robert's family, all live in New York.

Elizabeth Warren Hill, daughter of Abel and Nancy, born in Westboro, Massachusetts, March 5, 1829, married Asa Wentworth Whitcomb, of Cavendish, November 28, 1852. He died April 13, 1890. They had four children, in whose rec- ords appear the genealogy of the Whitcomb family in this work.

Sarah Eliza Hill, daughter of Abel and Nancy, was born April 25, 1832. April 14, 1859, she married Francis Wayland Ely, who was born in Springfield, Vermont, March 28, 1828, and they had three children : Frank Dana, Harry Hill and Richard Skinner. Frank Dana Ely, born in Cavendish, March 13, 1860, married Flora Maria Cady, of Foxboro, Massachusetts, and they had two children, in Windsor, Vermont: Florence Vivian, born May 14, 1887, and Helen Lora, born March 4, 1889. They reside in Proctor, Vermont. Harry Hill Ely, born November 26, 1861, married Lillian Prouty Field, of Grafton, Vermont, August 15, 1891. She died March 5, 1900, leaving two daughters, both born in Proc- 1

tor, Vermont, Gladys Lillian, born July 5, 1896, and Sarah Harriet, born September 3, 1897.

Richard Skinner Ely, born in Cavendish, De- cember 20, 1863, is a physician and a graduate of Dartmouth College. May 18, 1891, he mar- ried Ethel Louise. daughter of General Thomas O. Seaver, of Woodstock, Vermont. She died October 21, 1893, leaving a son, Roland Seaver Ely, born October 20, 1893. Second, he married Eva Mabelle Sherwin, of West Townsend, Mass- achusetts, November 14, 1900. Dr. Ely has been a successful practitioner at Brownsville and Proc- torsville, Vermont, and is now located in West Townsend, Massachusetts.

ERASTUS PHILO FAIRMAN, M. D.

Erastus Philo Fairman, M. D., of Hardwick, was born July 15, 1828, in Albany, Vermont, a son of Erastus Fairman. He comes of honored colonial stock, being a direct descendant in the seventh generation from John Fairman, or Fir- min, as the name was originally spelled, the line of descent being as follows: John, John, John, John, James, John, Erastus, Erastus Philo.

John Firmin (1), the immigrant ancestor, came from Suffolk, England, and was at Water- town in 1630. According to Savage, he may have returned to England and come again, from Ips- wich, Suffolk, in the ship Elizabeth, in 1634, being then aged forty-six years. There was a Josiah Firmin at Boston in 1640, and these are supposed to be the sons named, with a wife and other children, in the will of Giles Firmyn, of Stoke Nayland, diocese of Norwich, England. This will was made June 4, 1597, and proved July 16, following. Bond's History of Water- town says John Firmin came over in 1630 and settled in Watertown, where his wigwam was burned November 10, of that year. He was ad- mitted freeman May 18, 1631, and was deacon and selectman in 1638. Meantime he had re- turned to England, embarking again at Ipswich, in April, 1634. He was a grantee of eight lots, two of which were home stalls, and his heirs sold his lands in Watertown to Barnabas Farr, of Bos- ton. He died before 1653.

The first notice of John Fairman (2) is in the Salem, Massachusetts, records, where notice is

26X

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made of the birth to him and his wife Elizabeth of a daughter. December 11, 1674. His name appears on a petition made May 12, 1683. from those who had grants of land at "Fresh Water Brooke," now Enfield, Connecticut. About 1075 he removed from Salem to Newbury, Massachus. etts, and from there to Enfield, about 1682-3. with the other earliest settlers. He lived in the lower part of Enfield, and died out of town, in 1684. being survived by his wife Elizabeth. In 1712 she deeded land to her younger son, James. There were three daughters and two sons.

John Fairman (3), (or Firman, as it was spelled), was born October 5, 1678, in Newbury, Massachusetts, and before 1705 was married to a woman named Sarah. His second marriage, February 8, 1715, was to Hannah Spaulding, of Killingly, Connecticut. He died May 27, 1753, at his home in South Killingly, where he settled as early as 1714. Four of the five children of his first marriage were baptized in Killingly, June IO, 1722, but they were probably born between 1705 and 1714. Of these,

John Fairman (4) married Elizabeth Hughes, March II, 1736. He lived in Killingly, and died there March 22, 1778, being survived by his wife until November 1, 1789. They had four sons and two daughters. The third,

John Fairman (5), born July 22, 1738, in Kil- lingly, Connecticut, married Eunice Carey, Janu- ary 4, 1759. The date of his death and the num- ben of his children are unknown. One son, John Fairman (6); born May 5, 1779, in Kil- lingly, married, February 4, 1802, Anna Corey, who was born July 25, 1778, and died August I, 1829. He married, second, 1831, Polly Rowell, who was born October 11, 1781, and died July 21, 1871. He died in Wolcott, Vermont, Febru- ary 2, 1868, aged eighty-eight years, eight months and twenty-seven days, having removed in 1864 to that town from Albany, Vermont, where he settled in 1803. His only child, Erastus, being dead, he moved next to Wolcott to live with his grandson, Erastus Philo, the last four years of his life. In 1800 he migrated from Killingly, Connecticut, to Craftsbury, Vermont, and thence went to settle in the wilderness of Albany, in 1803, his being the fourteenth family to locate in that town. He took an active part in the de- velopment of the town, and was influential in

the management of affairs, serving in town and county offices of trust and responsibility. He had only one child, Erastus.

Erastus Fairman (7) was born in Crafts- bury, Vermont, April 20, 1863, but spent the greater part of his life in Albany. A man of sterling integrity, he was held in high esteem, and, like his father, held many of the more im- portant town and county offices, during the later years of his life being a deacon in the Congre- gational church at Albany. He married, first, October 15, 1826, Susan McIntire, of Lancaster, New Hampshire. She died October 27, 1850. He married. January 21, 1851, Lucinda T. Row- ell, who was born in Albany, Vermont, July 15, 1820, and died April 3, 1883. He died April 20, 1857. The children of his first union were Eras- tus Philo, the subject of this sketch; and Loren Porter, who died on the Pacific ocean, on his way to California, March 16, 1852, at the age of twenty years. Lillian Ardell is the child of the second wife, born August 12, 1855, and married January 1, 1874, Wallace L. Dow, of Hardwick. They have two children, Ernest Fairman Dow, born November 29, 1875 ; and Cleo V., born Feb- ruary 9, 1887.

Erastus Philo Fairman (8) acquired his ele- mentary education in Vermont, attending the academies at Derby, Craftsbury and St. Johns- bury. Turning his attention to the study of med- icine, he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, March 3, 1854, and immediately began the prac- tice of his profession at North Troy, Vermont. On February 29, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Sevententh Vermont Volunteer Infantry, was commissioned as an assistant sur- geon April 9, 1864, with the rank of second lieu- tenant, in the Ninth Volunteer Regiment, and served until the close of the conflict. Returning to Vermont, he located in Wolcott, where he built up a large and remunerative practice, and was for many years one of the foremost citizens of the town. An earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, he was frequently elected to positions of importance, in 1860 and 1861 serving as sheriff of Lamoille county, and in 1874 and 1875 being a representative to the state leg- islature. He spent three winters-1878-9, 1879- 80 and 1881-2-in pursuing a post-graduate

RESIDENCE OF DR. E. P. FAIRMAN.

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course at his alma mater, making a special study of the eye and ear and the treatment of diseases peculiar to females.

Dr. Fairman removed to Hardwick in 1890, purchasing the old hotel property on Main street, where he has since resided. He has entirely re- built and remodeled the house, transforming it into a veritable mansion. It contains forty-five rooms, fitted and furnished in a most sumptuous and artistic manner, all finished in hard woods, one of solid rosewood, being especially beautiful in finish and design.

On September 29, 1852, he married Laura Elmina Hubbell, who was born in Wolcott, Ver- mont, April 8, 1827, and died October 17, 1859. She bore him three children, none of whom are now living, namely: Emma Elmina, born Sep- tember 16, 1854, died March 3, 1880, was edu- cated at the Johnson Normal School and the Montpelier Seminary; Carrie Ezzella, born Au- gust I, 1856, died August 24, 1858, aged two years and twenty-four days; Jennie Ellen, born August 4, 1858, died March 23, 1881, received her education at St. Johnsbury Academy. Ver- mont, where she was nearly ready to graduate, when she died.

Dr. Fairman married for his second wife, Sep- tember 29, 1861, Eliza Cornelia Bailey, of Ber- lin, Vermont. Their only child was Carrie Eme- line, børn April 28, 1867. She was educated at Hardwick and St. Johnsbury Academies, then spent four years in the Boston Conservatory of Music and Elocution, where she graduated June 22, 1891, and afterwards taught music and elo- cution. She married, May 10, 1892, Dr. E. M. Crane, of Hardwick. Mrs. Crane, who died March 28, 1899, left one child, Edward Fairman, born February 26, 1893, who resides with Dr. Fairman.

WILLIAM HENRY MILES.

William Henry Miles, a prominent business man of Graniteville, Vermont, and who has held responsible positions in that town, is descended from Terrance Miles, who came from Ireland with his family about 1825, and settled in the town of Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont, where he followed the occupation of a farmer. He died at Fairfield, Franklin county, Vermont.

John Miles, son of Terrance Miles, was born in the county of Louth, Ireland, and came with his parents to Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont, when about two years old. He received his edu- cation in the district schools of Sheldon, and afterward adopted his father's occupation of farming, which he followed in Fairfield, Franklin county, Vermont, until about two years before his death, when he removed to Barre City. He was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic church. He married Mary McDonald, who was born in England. Their children are : James Edward, who resides in Burlington, Ver- mont ; Mary Jane, who married Peter C. Owens and resides in Barre, Vermont ; Julia C., who mar- ried Walter W. Scott, and also resides in Barre; David McDonald and Margaret Agnes, likewise residents of Barre; Tressa, deceased ; and Will- iam Henry. Mr. Miles died in Barre City April I, 1900.

William Henry Miles, youngest son of John and Mary (McDonald) Miles, was born in the town of Fairfield, Franklin county, Vermont, . September 15, 1865. As a boy he attended the district schools of his native town, and afterward acted as clerk for his brother, James E., at the same time attending the high school. Having completed his education, and also gained business experience during the five years spent in his brother's store, he went to Barre, Vermont, in 1887, and entered the grocery business with his brothers, J. E. and D. M. Miles. In 1891 he re- moved to Graniteville, Vermont, and in partner- ship with his brother J. E., opened a general store, under the firm name of W. H. Miles & Company, which he has successfully conducted to the present time.

In politics Mr. Miles is a Democrat, and has been honored with positions of trust in his town, holding the office of clerk and treasurer at the present time. He represented the town or Barre in the state legislature of 1898. held the offices of lister and selectman. He was a delegate to the Democratic state convention held at Burlington, July 24, 1902. Mr. Miles belongs to the Catholic church at Graniteville, Vermont, and is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Miles married, December 25, 1886. Cath- erine A. Quinn, born April 14. 1866, daughter of Peter and Ann Quinn, of Stowe, Vermont. Their

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children are : Eva Olena, born October 11, 1888 ; John Everitt, born March 5, 1800 ; William Ros- well, born December 15, 1891 ; Alice Tressa, born November 16, 1802; Harold Francis, born May 16, 1804: Mary Mildred, born August 11, 1896; and Arthur Lawrence, born April 11, 1902.

FREDERICK RUBERT STODDARD, M. D.

Frederick Rubert Stoddard, physician and surgeon of Shelburne, Vermont, can trace his an- cestry back to the year 1639, when Anthony Stoddard, the progenitor of the American branch of the family, emigrated from England to, this country and settled in Boston, Massachusetts.

FREDERICK RUBERT STODDARD, M. D.

He was admitted a freeman in 1640, and was chosen to act as representative to the general court, which was held in Boston, from the year 1650 to

16fy); he was re-elected in 1665 and served until 1684. He was one of the most prominent and in- fluential men of the town, and was admired and esteemed by all who came in contact with him. He was married three times, his first wife having been Miss Mary, daughter of Hon. Emanuel Downing, of Salem, Massachusetts ; he then mar- ried Barbara Weld, widow of Joseph Weld, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and after her decease was united in marriage to Miss Christian, family name unknown. There were three children of the first marriage and ten of the third.

Solomon Stoddard, son of Anthony and Mary (Downing) Stoddard, was born October 4, 1643, in Boston, Massachusetts, where he received his early education in the common school, and later entered Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1662; in 1664 he became the li- brarian of that institution, and retained that posi- tion up to the year 1667. He then accompanied the governor of Massachusetts to the Barbadoes,. where he was engaged in preaching for two years to the dissenters. After his return to his native state, he settled in Northampton and preached the gospel from 1669 to 1672, and was the means of bringing many people to a better understanding of the scripture. He was united in marriage to Esther Mather, widow of Eleazer Mather, and his death occurred February II, 1729, at the age of eighty-six years.

Rev. Anthony Stoddard, son of Solomon Stoddard, was born in 1678 in Woodbury, Con- necticut, where he acquired his education in the- district school ; subsequently he became a student in Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1697. He chose the ministry for his life work, and for the long period of sixty years was en- gaged in preaching the good tidings to the people. of Woodbury, Connecticut. He was an earnest, faithful and conscientious man, and performed all his duties in such a manner that he won the re- spect and esteem of all the members of his flock. He married Miss Prudence Wells, and, after her decease, he chose for his second wife Miss Mary Sherman. His death occurred in 1760.

Gideon Stoddard, son of the Rev. Anthony Stoddard, was born May 27, 1714. He attended the public scools of his native town, where he ac --

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quired an excellent education. He was a resident of Woodbury, where he was united in marriage to Miss Olive Curtis.

Rev. Simeon Stoddard, son of Gideon and Olive Stoddard, born March 1, 1735, attended the common school of his native town, and later en- tered Yale College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. After his graduation he settled in Saybrook, Connecti- cut, where he was engaged in preaching the gos- pel, He married Miss Sarah Waterhouse, and his death occurred October 27, 1765.

Dr. Simeon Stoddard, son of the Rev. Simeon and Sarah Stoddard, was born in Saybrook, Con- necticut, December 12, 1761. After receiving his education in the common schools of his native town, he removed to Windsor, Connecticut, where he married Miss Abia Thompson, and subse- quently he located in Waitsfield, Vermont, in 1795. He was one of the first settlers of that section of the state, where he cleared and culti- vated a large tract of land. He remained there until his death, which occurred December 15, 1841.

Robert Orton Stoddard, son of Dr. Simeon and Abia Stoddard, was born in Waitsfield, Ver- mont, January 12, 1792. He attended the dis- trict school of that town, and after completing his studies he followed agricultural pursuits. He volunteered his services in the war of 1812 and participated in the battle of Plattsburg, where he displayed great courage and daring. In 1821 he was joined in marriage to Miss Betsey Morse, who was born in Waterbury, Vermont, and eight children were born to them, six of whom grew to years of maturity. Orton L., born October 15, 1822, died in March, 1892; Henry L., born Sep- tember 30, 1826, died in 1886; Aurora Maria, born July 31 1828, wife of Ira C. Bickford ; Charles Carroll, born June 27, 1830; Mary Jane, born October 29, 1833, died in 1888; and Miranda Antoinette, born February 16, 1837, wife of Amos N. Warner, of Johnson, Vermont. The father of these children died in 1860 and his wife passed away in 1884.

Charles Carroll Stoddard, son of Robert O. and Betsey Stoddard, was born in Waitsfield, Vermont, June 27, 1830. He was reared on the old homestead, and received his education in the common schools. Upon attaining young manhood

he removed to Westfield, Vermont, where he was successfully engaged in the occupation of farm- ing up to the year 1882. Shortly after his re- moval to Westfield, he was united in marriage, March 17, 1855, to Miss Lucia P. Hitchcock, who was born in Westfield, Vermont, January 20, 1831 a daughter of Simeon and Patty (Hitch- cock) Hitchcock ; they were residents of Connecti- cut, whence he removed to Westfield, Vermont, and were among its earliest settlers. The Hitch- cock family is of English descent, but can trace its ancestry in this country back to the year 1640. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard are : Frederick R., December 16, 1855 ; Charles Perry, November 20, 1858, now in the real estate busi- ness at Whittier, California ; Robert Orton, born August 7, 1863, received his education in Johnson and later at the University of Vermont, and is now a practicing physician of North Ferrisburg, Vermont ; and Edwin Thomas, born January 13, 1870, now a resident of Whittier, California, in the oil business. Mrs. Stoddard died in 1882. and since her death Mr. Stoddard has resided with his children, and is now with his son in Shelburne.

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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 71

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