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 78

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 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Charles McNeil, son of John and Mary (Breckenridge) McNeil, married Jerusha Ly- many. Mary (Breckenridge) McNeil was a daughter of Lieutenant James Breckenridge, on whose farm, says the "Early History of Ver- mont," "was born the future state of Vermont." In 1772 he was one of the special commissioners sent to England by the settlers in the interest of land grants, and was one of the commissioners to Congress in July, 1776.

William McNeil, a son of Charles and Jerusha (Lyman) McNeil, was born in Charlotte, Ver- mont, May 29, 1826, and was reared on the farm and educated in a private school, after which he was sent to a high school in an adjoining town. In 1850, being seized with the "gold fever" which then attacked so many, he went to California, where he engaged in mining and was also United States weigher in the custom house. At the end of six years he returned to Charlotte, and later went to Missouri, where he was livng at the out- break of the Civil war. Enlisting in Company F, First Missouri Cavalry, he was made sergeant of his company, and later was promoted to the rank of sergeant major of his regiment and sub- sequently became sergeant provost marshal. serv- ing three years and three months. At the close of the war he returned to Vermont and engaged in the cultivation of a farm, which now forms part of the "Shelburne farms," owned by Dr. W. Seward Webb. Mr. McNeil is now the owner

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of a small farm in the village of Shelburne, where he is living a retired life, enjoying the fruits of a long industrious life. In politics he acts with the National Prohibition party, and, with his wife. is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. McNeil married, in 1856, Miss Lucia Constock, daughter of Levi and Maria (Lewis) Comstock. Her father was a native of Vermont, born in Fletcher, in July, 1793, and came with his father, when five years old, to Shelburne, where he died May 16, 1885, at the great age of ninety-two ycars. He was a farmer throughout his life. He served in the war of 1812, and took part in the battle of Plattsburg. His wife, Maria Lewis, was born April 5, 1798. The father of Levi Comstock was Levi Comstock, Sr., who was born April 3, 1766, a son of Captain Daniel Com- stock, who derived his title from army service during the Revolutionary war. Captain Com- stock died January II, 1816, aged seventy-four years. His wife, Mary, wove, on a hand loom, in 1810, a rug which is now used as a portiere in the home of William McNeil.

To William and Lucia (Comstock) McNeil were born three children: Clinton, who died at the age of thirty-three years; George C., now a resident of Philadelphia; and Fanny M., who lives with her parents.

HARLAN P. CUMMINGS.

Among the public-spirited and enterprising citizens of North Thetford, Vermont, and who deservedly possess to a large degree the confi- dence of their fellow townsmen, may be men- tioned the name of Harlan P. Cummings, who was born January 19, 1837, in Thetford, Ver- mont. Jeremiah Cummings, his grandfather, ac- companied by his brothers Ezra and Eleazer, came from Dunstable, Massachusetts, to Thet- ford, Vermont, and was among the earliest set- tlers of that section of the state. Ezra and a son of Eleazer, James Cummings, served as privates during the war of 1812. Jeremiah Cummings purchased, in 1793, a farm which was formerly the property of Dr. Burgoyne, and subsequently became the owner of a large tract of land, origin- ally settled by John Chapel, and which is the present site of the village of North Thetford. He married Abigail Swallow, a native of Mas-

sachusetts, whose family subsequently settled in Woodstock, Vermont. Their children were: Jeremiah, who resided for many years in Nor- wich, Windsor county, where his death occurred ; Walter, who was engaged in agricultural pur- suits up to the time of his death in Thetford, Vermont ; Jason, who settled on a near-by farm ; Zebedee; Edmund; Eben; Clarissa, who was united in marriage to Alvah Hall, and they lived in Fairlee, Vermont, many years, then moved west, and their children were Cummings and Clarissa Hall; they were among the original founders of Udina, Illinois, where their deaths occurred ; and Rebecca, wife of Asa Merrill, who made his way overland, traveling in wagons, from Thetford to Udina, Illinois, became the first postmaster of the town, and was the owner of several farms which yielded him a handsome in- come.

Eben Cummings, father of Harlan P. Cum- mings, was born at Dunstable, Massachusetts, and obtained a practical education in the common schools of that town and Thetford, Vermont, whither his parents removed when he was a small boy. He was reared on his father's farm, which he subsequently owned and operated for many years, and in addition to this industry he was the proprietor of a public house in the village. He sold and improved many building sites in the town of Thetford, gave the site for the North Thetford bridge, and was largely instrumental in the organization and construction of the Pas- sumpsic Railroad. In his political affiliations he was a member of the Whig party, and held various local offices, among them being justice of the peace and assessor. He was a prominent member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and an active and zealous member of the First Con- gregational church, taking a keen interest in the various societies connected with it. He par- ticipated in the battle of Plattsburg during the war of 1812, and assisted in proving land war- rants for the soldiers who took part in the strug- gle. He was one of the first stockholders in the Connecticut & Passumpsic Railroad, and up to the time of his death served as treasurer of the North Thetford Bridge Company. He was a man of irreproachable character, never sought public prominence, and was devoted to his home and family ties. He married Betsey Jacquith,

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daughter of Moses Jacquith, and four children were born to them: Angeline, widow of Otis Earle, who resided for many years at Newbury and later at Thetford, Vermont, and their chil- dren were Clara, Byron C., Fred E., Julia A. and Willis L. Earle; Elizabeth Ann, wife of Solon K. Berry, one of the prominent and influ- ential farmers of Thetford; Ellen M., widow of J. E. Johnson, who was a resident of Bridge- water, New Hampshire, and their children were Mary, Helen L. and Gertrude E. Johnson; and Harlan P. Cummings. Mr. Cummings died Sep- tember 17, 1857, aged sixty-seven years, and his widow passed away October 24, 1858, in the fifty-ninth year of her age.

Harlan P. Cummings, youngest child and only son of Eben and Betsey Cummings, attended the Thetford Academy, where he acquired a prac- tical education, but on account of the death of his father was obliged to forego the college course which had been planned for him. On August 29, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany A, Fifteenth Regiment, Vermont Volun- teer Infantry, was nine months in Virginia under the command of Colonel Redfield Proctor, and, of the whole regiment of one thousand men, forty-five were from Thetford, Company A hav- ing been raised in Orange county. They served in the defences of Washington until General Lee made his invasion on Pennsylvania, being a part of the First Army Corps. Later they were sent to Gettysburg, arriving in time for the second day's fight, in which they supported the battery on Cemetery Ridge with great valor and heroism. They also followed General Lee's re- treat as far as the Potomac, serving longer than the term of their enlistment, and were mustered out at Brattleboro, Vermont, August 5, 1863. Of the one hundred and one men who composed the company, only one other besides Mr. Cum- mings was present for duty on all occasions and never had leave of absence on account of sick- ness.

After his discharge from the service of the United States, Mr. Cummings returned to the paternal homestead, which he has cultivated with diligence and success ; he has made a specialty of dairying, and was one of the founders of the North Thetford Creamery, which is so largely conducive to the prosperity of the town. He has

disposed of building lots from time to time, as the growing needs of the village required, and in all enterprises which would benefit the town he has always taken an active interest, facilitat- ing building operations by becoming a dealer in lumber, buying by the carload and retailing as the occasion requires. He is a director, clerk and treasurer in the West Fairlee, Fairlee & Thetford Telephone & Telegraph Company, is much interested in the cause of education and is a trustee of Thetford Academy, contributed liberally to the building of the church, and of Lyme Bridge, being clerk of these corporations for nearly forty years. He has served in the ca- pacity of chairman of the Republican town com- mittee, president of the local Republican club, for twenty-five years continuously held the office of justice of the peace, was postmaster of North Thetford from 1866 to. 1876, and in the latter years was chosen to the general assembly from Thetford, Vermont, by a large majority. With the aid of two other veterans, Mr. Cummings organized the Orange County Veterans' Asso- ciation, is a member of the Fifteenth Regiment Veterans' Association, of which he has been ad- jutant, a member and commander of E. B. Frost Post, and is prominently affiliated with the Ma- sonic fraternity at West Fairlee. Mr. Cummings performs a large amount of probate business, holding in trust several pieces of property, a fact which attests his standing in his own com- munity, and he has also been of great service to those seeking pensions.

On January 23, 1868, Mr. Cummings married Alpha M. Baxter, daughter of Marshall D. Bax- ter, of Norwich, Vermont, where' he was en- gaged in farming interests. Their children are : Allen C. was educated at Thetford Academy and Dartmouth College, graduating from the latter named institution in 1892 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts ; he was engaged in teaching at St. Johnsbury, but at the present time (1903) is serving as principal of the Ayer high school. Burton E. was educated at Thetford Academy, and subsequently engaged in farming at Burling- ton, Vermont ; in 1900 he went west and died at St. Louis, Missouri, in April, 1900, aged twenty- eight years. Elizabeth A. is a graduate of Thet- ford Academy, and for the past eight years served in the capacity of supervisor in the Massa-

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chusetts State Deaf and Dumb School at North- ampton, Massachusetts. Marshall D. was edu- cated at Thetford Academy and Burlington Ag- ricultural College, and is now professor of botany and assistant professor of horticulture in the Maine State College at Orino, Maine. larlan P., Jr., is a graduate of Thetford Acad- ciny and St. Johnsbury Academy, also engaged in teaching, Edith E. Cummings resides at home with her parents. Mr. Cummings is serving his second year as treasurer of Thetford Academy, and has been a member of the board of trustees since 1879.

ORVILLE A. SPEAR.

Orville Asa Spear, of Shelburne, Vermont, is a descendant of George Spear, who was a native of Scotland and emigrated about the year 1644 to this country, where he became the progenitor of the American branch of the family. His son, Ebenezer, was the father of Deering Spear, who was first married to Catherine Miles, and after her death to Jemima Thayer, on June 30, 1726. Deer- ing Spear was born March 6, 1700, and died in 1767. Richard Spear, son of Deering and Je- mima Spear, was born November 22, 1737, and died May 19, 1788. On the 21st of April, 1758, he married Miss Elizabeth White, and their son, Elhanan. was the father of Orville A. Spear.

Richard Spear, grandfather of Orville A. Spear, removed from Braintree, Massachusetts, to Shelburne, Vermont, arriving August 24, 1783. Here he purchased a tract of land, which he pro- ceeded to clear and cultivate. His wife was a descendant of Peregrine White, who was the first child born in the colony that sailed from England on the Mayflower. Their children are recorded as follows: Richard, born August 10, 1759, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war; Barnabus, born April 4, 1761 : Deering, July 28, 1763; Bar- zilia, October 25, 1765 ; Elizabeth, March 2, 1768; Drusilla, May 6, 1770 ; Barjona, August I, 1772 ; Abigail, December 17, 1775; Asahel, March 15, 1778 : Elhanan, July 17, 1781 ; and Easther, April II, 1784, died in childhood. Of these, Richard was one of the smallest babies at birth that ever grew to maturity. He was placed in a quart tankard, and the cover shut down. The mother of these children passed away September 20, 1818,

aged eighty years. When Mr. Spear located in Vermont there were no grist mills nearer than Whitchall and St. Johns, whither grists were car- ried in a canoe. When his son, Elhanan, was a small boy the latter was sent on an errand to Burlington, riding the only horse in the settle- ment, and was pursued by a panther on the way home. There were no roads, and he followed a trail marked by blazed trees. The panther was killed next day, near the present reisdence of Lemuel S. Drew. Mr. O. A. Spear preserves and cherishes two dresses worn by his aunts one hundred years ago, and also two red broadcloth cloaks over one hundred years old. He also possesses a silver tablespoon, owned by his great- grandmother, Elizabeth Miles, in 1651, and other ancient relics, including a pewter platter made in London.

Elhanan Spear was born in Old Braintree (now known as Quincy), Massachusetts, July 17, 1781. He was only two and a half years of age when his parents removed to Vermont, where he was reared and recived his education, after which he learned the trade of tanner and currier. also that of shoemaker. He carried on an extensive business in these different trades, and in addition to these he devoted a portion of his time to farm- ing. In 1804 he built the residence in which his son now resides. Mr. Spear was an old-line Whig, and became an earnest Republican and al- ways maintained an interest in the progress of affairs. One of his last wishes was that he might live to see Grant elected President. He held vari- ous town offices, and was chosen to represent Shel- burne in the state legislature in 1839 and 1840.

Mr. Spear was married twice, his first wife having been Miss Louisa Saxton, daughter of Frederick Saxton, one of the earliest settlers of Burlington, Vermont. They were married Janu- ary 24, 1808, and a daughter, Julia Louisa, born January 8, 1809, became the wife of Myron A. Read May 30, 1830 (See Read). Mrs. Spear died April 19, 1809, and on June 4, 1810, Mr. Spear was married to Miss Annie Callender, born in Spencertown, (now Chatham), New York, No- vember 25, 1789, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Loomis) Callender. The former named was a sergeant in the Revolutionary war. John Call- ender settler in South Burlington, Vermont, on what is now known as Spear street, and engaged

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in the tailoring trade. Following is a brief record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Spear : Giles Chittenden, born October 18, 1811, was a surveyor, banker and merchant in Burlington, and died in Shelburne July 15, 1844. Camilla Fran- ces, born April 4, 1813, died December 23, 1859. Amos Callender, born November 24, 1814, was a druggist of Burlington, and died February 23, 1892. Franklin Winchester, born January 19, 1817, was a merchant, and later a railroad agent, and died November 5, 1899, at Milwaukee. War- ren Perry, born November 14, 1818, was a mer- chant in Burlington, and died September 18, 1845. Cassius Lee, born November 12, 1820, was a shoe- maker and farmer, and died June 14, 1900, in South Burlington. Stephen Decatur, born Oc- tober 21, 1822, was a merchant in Burlington, and died August 14, 1851. Lucinda Adelia, born No- vember I, 1824, died July 2, 1853. Lucy Anna, born July II, 1827, became the wife of Phineas H. Catlin, and died April 1, 1897. Hannibal Elhanan, born October 31, 1829, was a merchant, and died August 12, 1887, at Milwaukee. Or- ville A. is mentioned below. The father of these children died February 4, 1869, and his wife died February 1, 1874.

Orville A. Spear, youngest child of Elhanan and Annie Spear, was born June 15, 1832, was reared on his father's farm, and has resided all his life in the same house in which he was born. He acquired his education in the common schools of his native town, and has pursued the occupa- tion of farming, at which he has been successful. Politically Mr. Spear is a member of the Re- publican party, and religiously a member of the Episcopal church of Shelburne, Vermont. A faithful churchman, he has been a vestryman many years, and has been several times a delegate to the diocesan convention.

On November 1, 1875, Mr. Spear was united in marriage to Miss Mira Havens, born in Nor- folk, New York, April 29, 1845, a daughter of Gurdon and Selinda Havens. One child has been born of this union, -- Anna Camilla, born August 25, 1876, died May 22, 1890. Mrs. Spear passed away December 28, 1883. Mr. Spear has never been in any sense a politician and has avoided public positions, except that he served twenty-two years as clerk and treasurer of his school district, known as No. 4.

GEORGE ERASTUS CLARK WHEATON.

John Wheaton was the first ancestor of the Wheaton family of whom we have any record. The period of their emigration from England is unknown, but John was born in the state of Mas- sachusetts, probably about the middle of the eight- eenth century. He married Phoebe Hubbard, and removed with his wife and six children from Lei- cester, Massachusetts, to the town of Barre, Ver- mont. Here he purchased of Peter Taft a farm of about one hundred acres on East Hill. A few acres had already been slashed and a log cabin erected, but Mr. Wheaton immediately applied himself to the work of clearing and building a more com- fortable house for his family. His children were: Sallie, Phoebe, Pliny, Joseph and Benjamin (twins), John. All these children lived and mar- ried. Benjamin settled on the homestead. The other sons settled on farms in that school district.

Benjamin Wheaton, third son of John and Phoebe (Hubbard) Wheaton, was born in Lei- cester, Massachusetts, September 20, 1783. He came to Barre, Vermont, with his parents in 1797, at the age of fourteen, and attended the district schools. He remained at home with his father and succeeded him in the ownership of the farm. He took the freeeman's oath November 24, 1808. He belonged to the Whig party, and seems to have possessed the confidence of his neighbors, as we find that he filled several town offices, among them that of selectman. He was a member of the Congregational church. He married Sallie French, who was born in Mount Vernon, New Hampshire. Their children were: Erastus, born on the old homestead, October 17, 1812: Elmira, born October 30, 1816, died June 12, 1898 ; and a child who died in infancy. Benjamin Wheaton died May 27, 1860. His wife died June 26, 1864.

Erastus Wheaton, eldest son of Benjamin and Sallie (French) Wheaton, was born on the home- stead October 17, 1812, and his education was received in the district schools of his native town. He succeeded his father in the possesion of the homestead and was a farmer all his life. He was a Republican in politics, and for a number of years held the offices of lister, selectman and justice of the peace. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church. His character was in all respects such as to command the esteem of his neighbors.

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He married, January 3, 1839, Nancy Crandall (Luk, daughter of William S. and Mira ( Bald- wing Clark, of Middlesex, Vermont. She was horn in Thetford, Vermont, June 8, 1817. Their children were : Coralinn C., born October 11, 18.30. died May 11. 1854: George Erastus Clark, born August to, 1841 ; Emma Hinsdale, born June 23. 1844, married William Clark, of Barre; Alfaratta Geneveve, born March 12, 1849, married Albert C. Reed, a farmer whose farm adjoins the Wheaton homestead; Ellen C., born August 9, 1855. married Arthur N. Wheelock, of Barre, and died October 18,1880. Erastus Wheaton died at the homestead, January 21, 1890. His wife died April 25, 1898.

George Erastus Clark Wheaton, eldest son of Erastus and Nancy Crandall (Clark) Wheaton, was born on the homestead, August 10, 1841, and attended the district school, after which he became a student at the Barre Academy. Like his an- cestors, he was a farmer, and in time succeeded to the ownership of the homestead. In politics he is a Republican and has held, among other offices, that of selectman.

He married, January 1, 1866, Alice Mary Kinney, born September 1, 1846, daughter of Liberty T. and Caroline Augusta (Wheeler) Kin- ney. Liberty T. Kinney was born in Barre, March II, 1816. Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton have one child, Carrie Alice, born on the homestead, August 26, 1867, and married Elmer Elsworth Owen, of Barre, Vermont, January 1, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have two children: Lena Ellen, born De- cember 12, 1890; and George Wheaton, born July 6, 1897. Mr. Wheaton, like his ancestors, has always enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his townsmen, and has been foremost in every en- terprise having for its object the public walfare.

PHILIP REYNOLDS LEAVENWORTH.

Philip Reynolds Leavenworth, of Castleton, Vermont, widely known as an able and successful educator, is descended from a family of English origin which was founded in America by Thomas Leavenworth, who, tradition says, emigrated with two brothers and settled in Woodbury, Connect- icut, where he died in 1683. His son, Dr. Thomas, was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, or possibly, in England, in 1673, and was a

man of energy, position and wealth. From him have descended men of inthience, several of whom were physicians of note. His son, also called Thomas, was born at Stratford, Connecticut, and was among the refugees driven by the Indians from the Wyoming valley, then in Connecticut, but now included in Pennsylvania. He lived to be an octogenarian, and died in the town of Ham- den, Connecticut.

Abel Leavenworth, Sr., son of Thomas, third of the name, was born at Woodbury, Connecticut, January 30, 1765, and was a carpenter by, trade. He built a mill at Charlotte, Vermont, and settled there in the woods. He married, at this place, November 29, 1791, Lydia, daughter of Elihu and Statira (Meigs) Bartlett. She was born in Guilford, Connecticut, in August, 1772, and her two grandfathers were the Rev. Moses Bartlett, and Deacon Timothy Meigs, who was a descend- ant of the Rev. Abraham Pierson, the first presi- dent of Yale University. Mr. and Mrs. Leaven- worth were the parents of five sons and two daughters : Meigs, Miner, Lydia, Abel, Sabrina, Laura and Arza. Abel Leavenworth, Sr., died in Middlebury, Vermont January 25, 1813.

Abel Leavenworth, Jr., son of Abel, Sr., and Lydia (Bartlett) Leavenworth, was born in Char- lotte, Vermont, November 24, 1800, and in early life was a marble manufacturer in his native place, but subsequently removed to Madrid, St. Law- rence county, New York, where he remained twelve years. In 1844 he returned to Charlotte, where he followed the occupation of a farmer, and was a quiet, unassuming man, though a good, substantial citizen. He was justice of the peace, and captain of the old state militia. January 12, 1826. he married Anna Hickok, and they were the parents of the following children: I. Abel Edgar, mentioned at length hereinafter. 2. Lydia Ann, who married Alfred William Sherman, a farmer at Charlotte, Vermont, where he died in 1894, aged sixty-nine years. He was justice of the peace over thirty years. Their children are : Mary Anna. who married William Holmes, and had the following children: William Sherman, who married Alice Dell Loomis ; Edith, who mar- ried Arthur W. Edson ; Estelle; John; Carleton ; Harriet ; Alice Estella ; and Alfred. The other children of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are: Lillie Louisa, who married Frank L. Eastman, a farmer

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of New Haven, Vermont, and has these children, Albert S., Laura, Mary, and Anna Lillie ; Harriet Orilla ; Leverett Abel; and Alfred Leavenworth, who was educated at the Boston University Law School, graduating in 1897, and is practicing law in Burlington, Vermont. He married, December 10, 1902, Miss Mary Edna Cushman, (3) Louisa Miller, who was formerly a teacher in Vermont and Missouri, was for many years associated with her brother, Professor Abel Edgar Leavenworth, and for eight years was a matron of the Castleton Normal School, of which her brother was prin- cipal. (4) Lucy Jane married Joshua Nichols Alvord, and died in Decker, Illinois, leaving two sons, Frank Edgar and Fred Leavenworth, who are now in Texas. She was likewise formerly a teacher in Vermont and Missouri. (5) Charlotte Laura married Joshua Charles Russell, who was formerly a farmer and carpenter in Illinois, but died in Shelburne, Vermont, April 20, 1877. Their children are: Florence Louisa, who married An- son Perkins, and resides in Brockton, Massachu- setts ; Burton L., who lives at Carrington, North Dakota, married Lulu Paige; Harry, who mar- ried Mary Smith, and resides at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Frederick Edgar, who resides .in Carrington, North Dakota; Sarah Sabrina mar- ried Sylvester S. Tuttle and resides in Woodland, California ; Mary Amy died in infancy. Mrs. Leavenworth, the mother of these children, died December 19, 1849, at the age of forty-seven. April 10, 1851, Mr. Leavenworth married Mrs. Mary Joslyn, nee Alexander, and they had three children: Mary Elizabeth, who died in child- hood ; Amy Janet, who married Charles Reynolds and resides in Burlington, Vermont, and whose children are Ellen Mary, Charles, Ruth and Es- ther ; and Ella, who died at eleven years of age. Mr. Leavenworth died in Charlotte, Vermont, May 3, 1879.

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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 78

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