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 77

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 77

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Henry T. Cushman was the youngest son of John and Sophronia (Hurd) Cushman. He was educated in the academies of his native place. and began business as a merchant at the age of sixteen years, being left, by the death of his father, with the care and principal support of his mother and two sisters. He enlisted in the early part of the Rebellion as regimental quartermaster, and was probably the youngest quartermaster in the army. His efficiency and faithfulness are attested by the fact that in the absence of the brigade quarter- master he was at times appointed to fill that posi- tion. He was the first to offer his services to the brigade commander, General L. A. Grant, who said of him, in a letter to a brother soldier : "He was not only an excellent quartermaster, but he was a brave and gallant soldier. I shall never forget, when the terrible battle of the Wilderness left the old brigade with but one staff officer. how . Lieutenant Cushman and two other quartermas- ters volunteered to serve during the emergency. It was a gallant act of itself, and Lieutenant Cush- man not only volunteered, but he performed con- spicuous service all through the battle that imme-

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

diately followed the Wilderness, including the prominence in public affairs, and one, John Mor- Bloods Angle." .ton, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Since his removal to North Bennington in ISog, Mr. Cushman has been engaged in the man- ufacture of stationers' goods, he having received letters patent on many of the articles he makes. After prosecuting this branch of business with success for some time, he added to it the manu- facture of fine furniture, reaching out into all states of the Union, and exporting also to Eng- land, Germany and other foreign countries. He now has one of the largest plants in town.

In 1877, at the celebration of the Centennial of the battle of Bennington, Mr. Cushman was adjutant general of the veterans' reunion, and was active in locating the encampment and preparing for the entertainment of the veterans and the other soldiery. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Bennington Battle Monument Association, and several prominent clubs, local and state. He has been, since 1895, president of the village where he resides, and has been also at the head of the school committee, taking special interest in educational matters. He is a man of good common sense, agreeably sea- soned with wit and humor. He is a Republican. October 4, 1867, Mr. Cusman marired Eliza, daughter of Henry Davis Hall, and granddaugh- er of Ex-Governor Hiland Hall; they have five children : Arthur H., John H., William C. H., Caroline E. and Frederick B. Cushman.

DR. RICHARD GLENN MORTON.

Dr. Richard Glenn Morton, deceased, was born in Sudbury, Vermont, April 1, 1830, and died at his home in Randolph, Vermont, February 5, 1898. He was a son of Gideon and Meribah (Ballard) Morton, and came of patriotic an- cestry, his great-grandfather, Martin Morton, and his grandfather, Richard Morton, having served in the Revolutionary war without pay, but not without honor, both being pres- ent at the battle of Bunker Hill, and with Washington at Valley Forge, Richard Morton then being a lad of fourteen. Martin Morton, a native of England, married a Scotch lassie, and of the children born of their union many attained

Richard G. Morton obtained the rudiments of his education in the district schools of his na- tive town, after which he attended the Brandon Seminary, and the school of Professor Barrett at Leicester, Vermont. His father, Gideon Morton, was a physician, but he did not advise his son Richard to take up a professional carcer. Not- withstanding the opposition of his father, the son

DR. RICHARD GLENN MORTON.

began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Middleton Goldsmith, at Rutland, Vermont, in 1855. Ill health prevented him from completing his studies, but, having passed a most creditable examination in 1859, he was allowed to practice as a physician. His physical strength, however, would not allow him to continue in his profes- sion, which he reluctantly gave up and accepted a position as prescription clerk in the drug store of

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

L. L. Dutcher & Son, in St. Albans, Vermont. On resigning his situation in that place, he was unable to work for two years, then entered the employ of Dr. C. L. Case, of Brandon, Vermont, where he remained for some time. He was some- what noted as a school teacher, having had some experience in every district of Sudbury, be- sides teaching in other places for a few terms.

Coming to Randolph in July, 1862, Dr. Mor- ton embarked in the drug business on his own ac- count, in the DuBois and Gay block, leasing a store, which he stocked with drugs and other goods, and there carried on an extensive business until his death. A man of excellent financial and executive ability, he acquired con- siderable property, becoming interested in real es- tate, and erecting seven houses, some of which he kept for tenement purposes. While living in Sudbury, he held many offices of trust and re- sponsibility, but after settling in Randolph his time was largely devoted to his private interests.

Dr. Morton married, December 2, 1875, Mar- tha A. Burke, who was born in Pomfret, Ver- mont, June 19, 1848. Her father, Dexter Burke, was a prosperous farmer in Sharon, where Mrs. Morton was reared. He was a Republican in politics, and a Methodist in religious belief. He married Aurilla Bugbee, by whom he had seven children, as follows: Alma, wife of Syl- vester Snow, of South Royalton, Vermont; Ed- mund D., a farmer in South Royalton ; Martha A., now Mrs. Morton ; Edna C., wife of Henry King, dealer in sewing machines at Woodstock, Ver- mont : Clarence E., for many years foreman of the shoe shop in South Royalton ; Forest E., engaged in agricultural pursuits in Randolph ; and Charles A., a railroad employe at West Falmouth, Massa- chusetts. Mrs. Morton was associated with her husband in the drug business for nine years prior to his death, and has since continued it with great success. She has the honor and distinction of being the only lady graduate pharmacist in the state. Dr. and Mrs. Morton reared two chil- dren, namely : Jennie Edith, born November 19, 1882; and Ernest Harry, August 20, 1887.

Mrs. Morton's lineage is traced to Richard Burke, who was born in 1640, in county Clare, Ireland, whence he came to America about 1660, and settled in Sudbury, Massachusetts. He is supposed to have been reared a Roman Catholic,

but married Mary Parmenter, a Protestant, and was disowned by his family. His son Richard had a son Jonathan, who was the father of Jesse. Eli, son of Jesse Burke, was born October 21, 1771, in Westminster, Vermont, and died Sep- tember 20, 1855, in Pomfret, Vermont. His wife Mary Adams, was born November 15, 1776, and died March 18, 1863, in Pomfret. During their lives they resided successively in Westminster, Chester, Andover, Bethel and Pomfret. Vermont. Of their eleven children, Dexter, father of Mrs. Morton, was the youngest. He was born Decem- ber 17, 1817, in Andover, Vermont. May 17, 1842, he married Aurilla Bugbee, of Pomfret, Vermont, daughter of Rufus and Elizabeth Bug- bee.

The Bugbee family was planted in this coun- try by Edward Bugby, who sailed, with his wife Rebecca, from the port of Ipswich, England, to- ward the last of April, 1634, and settled in Rox- bury, Massachusetts. His age is given at that time as forty years, and his wife's thirty-six. The name is of Danish origin, and signifies "by the burgh," and was spelled down to 1700 by the English Bugby. Since that time it has been al- most universally spelled in its present form. The records of the first church of Roxbury show this : "1665, June 26, Edward Bugby, an old man, joined the church." He died January 26, 1669.

(II) Joseph, son of Edward and Rebecca Bugby, born June 6, 1640, in Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, married Experience, daughter of An- drew Pitcher, of Dorchester. She was baptized September 28, 1642. In 1686, Joseph Bugby re- moved to Woodstock, Connecticut, being one of the original proprietors of that town. The next · year he was chosen one of a committee of five to manage the prudential affairs of the town. A town organization was formed in 1690. and he was elected one of the selectmen. He died in Woodstock, July 26, 1729, and was buried on "Plane Hill." He had ten children.

(III) Samuel, fourth child and third son of Joseph and Experience Bugby, was born August 31. 1673, in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and married Dorothy, daughter of John Carpenter, formerly of Rehoboth, Massachusetts. They had nine chil- dren. He owned and lived on a farm in the "Eastern. vale," about a mile from Piane Hill, which was held in the Bugbee name until about

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

1887, when it was sold. Dorothy Bugbee died October 6, 1721, and Samuel afterward married Mary Morse, who bore him no issue. He died November 12. 17.14.

(IV ) Jesse, fifth child and second son of Sam- ucl and Dorothy Bugbec, was born March 10, 1711. in Woodstock, and married Experience Peake, March 14. 1733. He lived in West Wood- stock, and signed a petition, November 12, 1736, for the setting off of a separate parish, that they might have preaching four months every year at the charge of the whole town. He died in 1756, and his widow survived until January 8, 1797, dying in Pomfret, Vermont. They had eight children.

(V) Abiel, sixth child and second son of Jesse and Experience Bugbee, was born February 27, 1746, in Woodstock. November 15, 1770, he married Hannah Harwood, who was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, July 27, 1750, and died in Pomfret, Vermont, October, 17, 1836. They had nine children. Abiel Bugbee was a member of the fifth company from Ashford, Connecticut, enlisting May 1, 1775, under Captain Thomas Knowlton, in Colonel Israel Putnam's regiment. He served at the battle of Bunker Hill, where a buckle was shot from one of his shoes. He was discharged December 15, 1775, but later enlisted again and was in action at the battle of White Plains, New York, October 28, 1776. On June 17, 1786, he bought land in Pomfret, Vermont, upon which he settled two years later, and here he died January 17, 1824.

(VI) Rufus, youngest child and sixth son of Abiel and Hannah Bugbee, was born May 12, 1792, in Pomfret, Vermont, and married Eliza- beth Hunter in 1818. He was a farmer, educated in the common school of his native town, and was a useful member of the community. He was for many years a steward in the Methodist church, served as selectman and justice of the peace, and was captain of the local militia company, declin- ing offered promotion in that body. In politics he was a Whig, Free-soiler, and a Republican from the organization of the party until his death, which occurred in Pomfret, September 30, 1871. His wife was a daughter of David and Abigail (Howe) Hunter, and was born September 16, 1705, in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Tradi- tion says she was related to Admiral and General

Howe, of the British army of occupation in the Revolution.

(VII) Aurilla Bugbee, wife of Dexter Burke.

HON. ZED S. STANTON.

Zed Silloway Stanton, of Roxbury, Vermont, a most useful and honored citizen of Washington county, and who has rendered to the people val- ued service as a jurist and legislator, and in various minor offices, is of blended English and Scotch-Irish blood. The earliest member of the Stanton family known in America was Benjamin Stanton, who was an English soldier, and sonte time prior to 1710 came to America in a fleet com- manded by one Nicholson, a naval commander. After the surrender of Port Royal he was one of the garrison stationed at Annapolis, and he per- formed other military duty with the colonial forces under the British rule. He married Elea- nor Ricker, and their son William, born in 1730, became a patriot soldier and died while in the army during the Revolutionary war, February 20, 1777. Ezekiel, son of William, born in 1760, died at Northfield, Vermont, in 1833, and was the grandfather of Lieutenant-Governor Stanton. He was a farmer and lived in turn in Barrington, New Hampshire, his native place ; Washington, Williamstown and Northfield, Vermont. He married Annie Berry, and his children were: William, Isaac, John, Moses, Paul, Thomas, Ezekiel, Jonathan, George Berry and one daugh- ter, Tamson.

George Berry Stanton, son of Ezekiel Stan- ton, was born in Barrington, New Hampshire, February 14, 1809, and was brought by his par- ents to Vermont. He was a man of industry and excellent character. . His active life was passed as a farmer in Roxbury, where he died August 28, 1888, and he was at one time a member of the state militia. January 10, 1841, he married, at Northfield, Lucretia Prentiss Silloway, who was born November 30, 1818, in Berlin, Vermont, a daughter of Zedekiah and Esther (Holden) Sil- loway, and she outlived her husband, dying De- cember 24, 1896. The children of George Berry and Lucretia (Silloway) Stanton were: David Russell and Zed Silloway Stanton. The first named was born October 24, 1841, and is a farmer

Zed S. Stanton

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by occupation, and he has also occupied various town offices. He married Kate Stone, and their children were: Maud Electa, Mary and Fred Carey. Zed Silioway Stanton, only other child of George Berry and Lucretia (Silloway) Stanton, was born in Roxbury May I, 1848. His life was that of industry and sturdy ambition from the first. Until he was nineteen years of age he labored on the parental farm, attending a country school for three months each winter and at times studying during short summer terms until eleven years of age. For eighteen months afterward he performed the severe and dangerous duty of a brakeman on a train on the Central Vermont Rail- way. He left this employment to aid his father in rebuilding the family home, which had been destroyed by fire. He subsequently attended the district school for a brief time, and then engaged as a chopper and teamster in clearing off land near the present state trout hatchery. While per- forming all this labor he still desired to fit him- self for a more important place in life, and cher- ished a determination to seek a higher education as a means to that end.

In 1872 Mr. Stanton went to Northfield to at- tend school and, although twenty-four years old, far past the age when men usually enter a school- room, he took his place in the middle forms of the graded school. He was an ardent student, and while he was not privileged to enter college, he laid such a substantial foundation that his later acquirements brought to him pro meritis from Norwich University in 1895, the degree of Master of Arts. During his student career he enjoyed the confidence of two successive princi- pals of the Northfield school-Marshall R. Peck and Albert R. Savage-both ripe scholars and experienced educators, who gave him ample en- couragement to persist in the path which he had chosen. At the same time he was defraying his expenses with the means obtained in teaching school and in other employments.

After attending school at Northfield Mr. Stanton engaged in the study of law, having as tutor in turn Frank Plumley, of Northfield, and L. L. Durant, of Montpelier, both capable practi- tioners. At a later day Mr. Stanton had the pleas- ure of testifying to his appreciation for Mr. Plum- ley by placing him in nomination for Congress, and his speech upon that occasion was a splendid

eulogy and tribute. On March 15, 1880, Mr. Stanton was admitted to the bar, and he soon afterward entered upon practice in Roxbury, which has been the scene of his efforts to the present time. During the first few years he also continued to teach in district schools. In 1882 he was admitted to practice in the state supreme court, and in 1889 was admitted to the United States circuit and district courts. As a lawyer his success has been marked, and outside of his practice he has frequently been called upon to act as referee and special master. Among the most important cases in which he has been engaged were State vs. Dyer et al., the notorious Wash- ington county conspiracy case, in which he was of counsel for the respondents; State vs. Marsh and Buzzell, for murder, wherein the state's at- torney was disqualified, and he was assigned to prosecute ; and State vs. Mildred Brewster, and State vs. Noakes, murder, and State vs. Wales, arson, in all of which he was assigned by the court to assist the state's attorney. At the bar he is known as a well equipped lawyer, a logical debater and an able and eloquent speaker, making his statements with the utmost clearness, and urg- ing his conclusions perspicuously and with great forcefulness. From 1884 to 1888 Mr. Stanton served as assistant judge of the Washington county court, and in this position he gave evidence of high judicial qualities of mind and tempera- ment. He vindicated the authority of the office to which he had been called, removing it from the perfunctory to the active list, and his conduct was such an innovation that his difference with a presiding judge as to the merits of the principle involved came before the supreme court on a question of constitutionality, in which he was fully sustained. This case is reported in Bates vs. Bassett, 60 Vermont, 530. From 1890 to 1896 Mr. Stanton occupied the position of state's at- torney, and he cleared up a large docket so rap- idly and satisfactorily that a competent critic paid him the tribute of saying that "he set a standard in that office by which excellence of execution is measured."

The professional career of Mr. Stanton has been thus related connectedly, and it is to be here told of his other activities reaching into all de- partments of community life. He has almost con- stantly been occupied with a succession of local

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

offices, which, while insignificant in emoluments, alle of the utmost importance to the people. . \ various times he has been called to serve as se- leeman, lister, constable, school director, town clerk and town treasurer, and during many terms he occupied two or more of these positions at the same time. It is of interest to note as indicative at once of his capability and of the estimation in which he is held by his fellows, that for sixteen years he was annually elected moderator of the town meeting, and he was only relieved from such duty because of his election to an office which could not be held in association with it.

In 1884 and again in 1886 Mr. Stanton was representative in the legislature from the town of Roxbury, and in 1900 he was state senator. His conduct in both positions was characterized by broad intelligence and unflinching integrity, giving close scrutiny to all new measures, and his most fervent effort to their support or in antago- nizing them as their merits or demerits war- ranted. He served upon various committees in the house, on the committees on the insane, on elections, on railroads and on the general com- mittee ; and in the senate on the committees on judiciary, railroads and corporations, and on the joint committee on state and court expenses, and he was chairman of the two latter named bodics. He was a state railroad commissioner from 1896 to 1898 and from August 1, 1897, to the expira- tion of his term of service was chairman of the board.

This long career of usefulness brought to him in 1892 a well deserved preferment in his election as lieutenant-governor. By virtue of his office he was president of the senate, and he presided over its sessions that year. His special fitness for his important position was manifested in his entire familiarity with all parliamentary intrica- cies, and his facility for expediting business.

Summed up, it is to be said that his public career has been as entirely and highly honorable as has been his private life. Known as one of the most active and useful men of his state, his record amply justifies the verdict of one who wrote of him in a public journal that his accom- plishments are due, in an unusual degree, to his vigorous and sturdy character, to the simplicity and purity of his conduct, to his fidelity to all the work which he assumes, to the maintenance of

friendships, and to his love for the people and in- stitutions of his native state.

Governor Stanton was married May 31, 1880, to Mrs. Jennie Smith Walbridge, of Roxbury, a daughter of Israel and Maria Smith. Of this marriage has been born one child, Jessie Lucretia, December 23, 1881.

ALBERT CHARLES REED.

Albert Charles Reed, who died November 5, 1902, was a well known and public spirited farmer of Washington county, Vermont. He came of Massachusetts stock, his paternal grandfather, Danforth Reed, having been born in that state, July 9, 1773. He emigrated to Barre, Vermont, during his early life, and there followed the occu- pation of a farmer. He died in the year 1859, at the age of eighty-six.

Charles Quincy Reed, son of Danforth Reed, and father of the subject of our sketch, was born in the town of Barre, Washington county, Ver- mont, December 18, 1816, and his education was received at the district schools of his native town. While attending thoroughly to the cultivation of his farm, which was situated about a mile and a half north of Barre village, he found time to take a deep interest in the public welfare, and the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors is sufficiently indicated by the fact that for about eleven years he filled the office of selectman and represented the town of Barre in the state legis- lature in 1869. While acting as selectman he rendered important service in securing soldiers for the army during the war of the Rebellion. He married Caroline Ketchum, daughter of Jus- tus and Lydia Ketchum. His wife was a native of Barre, having been born there November 13, 1820. She died in the same town in the year 1863. Their children are: Cornelia Elizabeth, born April 15, 1841, married Hiram C. Jones, who was killed on the railroad, and after his death married Frederick King, of Barre, Ver- mont. Alice Amanda, born June 7, 1844, married John Heath Jones, of the town of Barre. Albert Charles, the subject of this sketch, was born March 1, 1847. During his long life Mr. Reed was always a pronounced Republican. He died in February, 1899, full of years and honor.

Albert Charles Reed attended the district

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school, and was afterward a student at the Barre Academy. On completing his education he fol- lowed the course which has been adopted by so many of our enterprisng self-made men, namely, teaching in the winter and engaging in other oc- cupations during the summer. He continued this for five years, and for two years, from 1869 to 1871, was in business with H. Z. Mills under the firm name of Mills & Reed. Feeling, how- ever, more inclination for agriculture than for commerce, the result, no doubt, of an inherited taste, he purchased in 1871 the farm on which he lived till his death. He was also, for twenty- five years, a large dealer in live and dressed poultry.

In politics Mr. Reed was a staunch upholder of Republican principles, and the fact that he en- joyed in a high degree the confidence of his towns_ men was demonstrated by their having honored him for five years with the office of lister, for two years with that of selectman, and also with that of town auditor. He was clerk and treasurer of the Cobble Hill Creamery from its organiza- tion in September, 1901.

Mr. Reed was a highly respected member of the Congregational church at Barre city. His inclination did not lead him to affiliate to any great degree with fraternal orders, his only con- nection of that kind being with the Knights of Honor. Mr. Reed married, August 23, 1870, Alfaratta Geneveve Wheaton, daughter of Eras- tus and Nancy C. (Clark) Wheaton. She was born on the Wheaton homestead, in the town of Barre, March 12, 1849. Their elder son, Charles Earnest Reed, is a resident of Barre city ; he mar- ried, September 18, 1894, Inez Alta Perry, daugh- ter of Courtland Perry, of Barre, and they have one child, Viola Ellen, born. June 24, 1902. Mr. Reed's younger son, George Albert, born August 18, 1879, is a student at Dartmouth College.

WILLIAM McNEIL.

William McNeil, a highly respected citzen of Shelburne, Vermont, is a grandson of John Mc- Neil, who established the first ferry between Charlotte, Vermont, and Essex, New York. The McNeils descended from Clem McNeil, and moved from Scotland to Ireland in 1609. The founder of the McNeil family in America was

Captain Archibald McNeil, who was born in An- trim, Ireland, about 1710. He came to America about 1730, and took an active part in Lord Londoune's expedition to Fort Edward in 1757 and to Crown Point in 1759, and against Canada in 1760 and 1761. He settled in Litchfield, Con- necticut, was concerned in the expedition against the Spanish West Indies, and was a member of all the war committees at Litchfield during the Revolution. His son, John McNeil, born in 1741, came from Litchfield to North Adams, Massa- chusetts, in 1766, and to Bennington, Vermont, about three years later. He obtained from New York a grant of two thousand acres in the town of Tinmouth, where he settled in 1777. Being a loyalist, he was dislodged by the Green Moun- tain Boys. After the war he settled in Charlotte, and was first clerk and first representative of the town. He died in 1813.

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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 77

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