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 82

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 82

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ceived first honors, and he manages a successful practice in Barre ; he married Alice Kendall. Er- vin L.con was born November 9, 1866, and mar- ried Gertrude I. Briggs ; he is a farmer and re- sides in the town of Berlin. George Waldo, born August 9, 1870, living with his parents, married Lora C. Johnston. Marion Lucretia was born September 22, 1873, and also resides with her par- ents; she is a graduate from the high school at Northfield, and is a school teacher; Mabel Wini- fred, born October 17, 1875, is a graduate of Northfield high school, and is now engaged in teaching in Barre, Vermont.

ELI HOLDEN.

Eli Holden, an honored and useful citizen of Barre, Vermont, who has served usefully in vari- ous positions of honor and trust, and who made an honorable record as a soldier during the Civil war, is descended from Eli Holden, son of Benja- min and Abigail Holden, and who came from Barre, Massachusetts, and was one of the early settlers in the town of Barre, Vermont. He set- tled at South Barre, where he purchased a farm which was at that time only partly cleared, the sole dwelling on the place being a log cabin. He married Hannah Persons, of Westminster, Ver- mont, and had eleven children. Mr. Holden's mother, during her last years, was an inmate of his home, where she died, February 12, 1842, at the age of ninety years, her husband having died in Barre, Massachusetts, some years earlier. Mr. Holden was a man of influence in the community, as his descendants have been.

Ira Holden, son of Eli and Hannah (Per- sons) Holden, was born on the Holden home- stead, in the town of Barre, Vermont, April 7, 1810, and was educated in the district schools of his native town. He remained on the homestead with his father, and when he was fourteen years old assisted in building the house now standing on the estate. While he engaged to some extent in teaming to Boston, his main occupation was farming, and he succeeded to the farm of his father. In politics Mr. Holden was at first a Democrat, but became a Republican when that party was organized. He enjoyed in a high de- gree the confidence of his neighbors, held the of- fices of lister and selectman, and represented his

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native town in the state legislature. He married Abigail Wales, born October 6, 1810, daughter of William and Mary Wales, of Northfield, Ver- mont. Their children are: Eli ; Ellen, who mar- ried Harrison Bancroft, of Barre, Vermont, and is now deceased; Hannah, who married Edson Fisher and resides in Bethel, Vermont; William WV., who married Lizzie Hanson, and, after her death, Dora Smith, and resides in Northfield, Ver- mont ; George W., who married Zora Carr and resides in Williamstown, Vermont ; Charles B., who died in infancy; and Abbie, who married Jesse Poor, and is now deceased. Mr. Holden lived to an advanced age, and died on the home- stead, June 22, 1874.

Eli Holden, son of Ira and Abigail (Wales) Holden, was born on the homestead at South Barre, town of Barre, Washington county, Ver- mont, December 21, 1834, and received his edu- cation at the district schools of his native town and at the Barre Academy. At the age of twenty he left the homestead and emigrated to the state of Illinois, where he combined the occupation of farming with that of teaching. He then re- turned home and assisted his father for two years on the farm, after which he went to Northfield, Vermont, where he was employed in a factory.

While Mr. Holden was at Northfield the war broke out, and he enlisted, April 27, 1861, in Company F, First Vermont Infantry, for three months' service. He participated in the battle of Big Bethel, Virginia, near Fortress Monroe, but was quartered most of the time at Newport News. In August, 1861, he was honorably discharged. September 17, 1861, he re-enlisted, in Company C, First Vermont Cavalry, and on its organiza- tion he was made first sergeant. He received his commission as second lieutenant November 19, 1861, one year later was commissioned first lieutenant, and was brevetted captain in March, 1865. He served under General Banks in 1862 in the Shenandoah valley, fought in the second battle of Bull Run, and in all took part in over thirty-five engagements during the period of his service in the army. While on outpost duty on the Rappahannock he was taken prisoner, and was confined for eighteen months in the prisons of Libby, Macon, Georgia, Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina. He was mustered out March 15, 1865. On leaving the army Mr. Holden re-

turned to the homestead and followed his ancestral occupation of farming until the autumn of 1901, when he removed to Barre city, where he now lives on French street.

In politics Mr. Holden is a Republican, his first vote for president having been given for John C. Fremont. This vote was cast when he was a resident of Illinois, and on that ticket was the name of Abraham Lincoln as one of the presi- dential electors for the state. Mr. Holden has served his native town as selectman and justice of the peace for many years, and represented the town in the state legislature of 1874-75. Mr. Holden is a member of Granite Lodge, F. & A. M. He also belongs to the R. B. Crandall Post, G. A. R., was the first commander when it was organized, and is now its present commander.

Mr. Holden married, April II, 1865, Lucy M. Howard, born October II, 1839; daughter of Nathan and Sarah Howard, of Barre, Vermont. Their children are: Lizzie Ellen, born August 6, 1870; Howard Clinton, born June 23, 1871 ; Annie Chandler, born March 16, 1873; Edson Fisher, born March 19, 1874; Charles Ira, born April 22, 1876; Ida May, born April 27, 1877 ; Jennie Alice, born August 21, 1879 ; Josie Maria, born January 25, 1881 ; and Arthur Clarence, born October 24, 1883, died July 7, 1900. Mr. Hold- en's wife died January 14, 1901.

CHARLES C. EMERSON.

The Emerson family of East Thetford, Ver- mont, are among the most influential and well known residents of that section of the state, and five generations of the family, covering a period of nearly a century, have occupied the same sub- stantial residence. They are descendants of the same stock as Ralph Waldo Emerson, the most celebrated of American philosophers, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1803, entered Harvard in 1817, was graduated in 1821, and be- came pastor of a united congregation in Boston in 1829 ; his death occurred in the year 1882.

Jonathan Emerson, great-grandfather of Charles C. Emerson, was a prominent resident of Dunstable, Massachusetts, served in the capacity of lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and while participating in the second battle of Still Water was wounded in the wrist. His commission is

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now in the possession of Charles C. Emerson. He was united m marriage to Mary Cummings, and the following children were born to them : Allan ; Lucinda, who became the wife of Joseph Stevens; Rachel, who was the wife of Joseph Fletcher ; Betsy, unmarried; and Jonathan Emer- son. The father of these children died at his home in Dunstable, at the age of forty years, sur- vived by his widow and children.

Jonathan Emerson, grandfather of Charles C. Emerson, was born at Dunstable, Massachusetts, but subsequently removed to Londonderry, Ver- mont, thence to the town of Thetford, Vermont, in 1805, with his mother. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Londonderry, but in 1805 he purchased a large tract of land in East Thet- ford, which he cultivated and improved in such a manner that it yielded him a handsome income in addition to that derived from his other line of in- dustry, which he continued to follow in the new locality. He was an active participant in the war of 1812, and participated at the battle of Platts- burg. He was formerly an adherent of the Dem- ocratic party, but in the later years of his life ad- vocated the principles of the Republican party, and was chosen by his fellow citizens to serve in the various local offices. He married Mary Howe, and six children were born to them, namely. Erasmus D., engaged in farming in the town of Thetford, and who was united in marriage to Abi- gail Wallace; Mary, wife of Varnum Woods, a prominent resident of Groton, Massachusetts ; Merceline R., wife of Johnson Muchmore, a resi- dent of Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he was engaged as a carpenter, contractor and builder ; Cyril M., mentioned at length hereinafter ; Oramel A., who married Gracie A. Glenn, and they resid- ed in Thetford, Vermont, to his death, in 1863, where he followed agricultural pursuits; and Clarissa M., unmarried. Mr. Emerson died in 1871, aged eighty-six years, and his wife passed away in 1862.

Cyril M. Emerson, father of Charles C. Emer- son, was born March 21, 1817, at East Thetford, Vermont, and was a student in the common schools and Thetford Academy. His entire life was spent on the old homestead, although not al- ways residing in the original house, and his time and attention were devoted exclusively to general

farming and to the tending of a fine flock of Merino sheep. He was a member of the Vermont militia, and was recognized as one of the sub- stantial men of the neighborhood, both physically and mentally. He served in the majority of the town offices, including that of representative to the state legislature, to which office he was elected in 1878. Mr. Emerson married Harriet C. Hos- ford, daughter of Jared Hosford, of Thetford, Vermont, who was one of the prosperous farmers of that section of the state. Their children were: Fred, who died at the age of four years ; George, who died at the age of eleven months ; and Charles C. Emerson. Mr. Emerson died May 16, 1901, having attained the advanced age of eighty-four years.

Charles C. Emerson was born at East Thet- ford, Vermont, August 8, 1852, and his education was acquired in the common schools and Thet- ford Academy. Being reared upon the ancestral estate, he was familiar with all the routine work of a farmer, which vocation he adopted upon at- taining young manhood. He is the owner of a fine stretch of meadow facing the south, as good corn land as there is in New England, and on the ten acres or more which they usually plant they average, from year to year, more than a hundred bushels of corn per acre. He is progressive in his ideas and methods, making use of the latest improved machinery, and in this manner his broad acres yield a goodly return for the care and labor bestowed upon them. Since southern professors with their free trade theories have destroyed the profits of the wool-growing business Mr. Emerson, like other former sheep-owners of the town, has turned his attention to dairying in connection with his farming interests, keeping as many as twenty cows, He is prominent in town affairs, having repeatedly and continuously served as lister and. selectman, was representative to the legislature in 1888, serving on state's prison and library com- mittee and committee on canvassing of votes, and at the present time (1903) is serving in the ca- pacity of chairman of the board of school direct- ors, having served as a member of the board for five years.

On September 13, 1876, Mr. Emerson mar- ried Harriet B. Webster, and two children have- been born to them,-Maud A., at home, super-

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visor in the Clark School for the Deaf, a state in- stitution of Massachusetts ; Carl A., at home, as- sisting his father on the farm.

ARTHUR EUGENE BUCK.

Arthur Eugene Buck, a successful agricultur- ist of Berlin, Vermont, is a descendant of John Buck, who was born in Connecticut in 1782. His father with his family removed from Connecticut to the town of Berlin, Washington county, Ver- mont, and located on a farm there, which he culti- vated to a fine state of perfection. In 1826 Mr. John Buck settled in the town of Northfield, where he purchased a farm, on which he lived during the rest of his days, and devoted his time and attention to the raising of garden truck. He married Miss Chloe Allen, who is supposed to have been born in Gill, Massachusetts, in 1781. Their children were: Chloe, born in 1810; Eliza, born in 1812; Bradley, born in 1814; Amanda, born in 1819; and Harriet, born in 1823. Mr. Buck was an upright, conscientious citizen, and was respected by all his neighbors.

Bradley Buck, the eldest son of John and Chloe Buck, was born in the town of Berlin, Washington county, Vermont, June 17, 1814. He obtained his education in the district school of Berlin and at Northfield, whither his father re- moved in 1826. After completing his studies he pursued the occupation of farming on the old homestead in Northfield, where by industry and skill he increased the value of his property to such an extent that at the time of his death, which occurred March 19, 1895, he had one of the best farms in that section of the country.

In politics Mr. Buck was an independent, and voted for who he thought would be the best man for the office, irrespective of party feelings. He possessed high moral principles, and he won and held the respect and esteem of all members of the community in which he resided. On March 5, 1856, Mr. Buck was united in marriage to Miss Polly Hopkins, the daughter of James and Phi- lura (Walcott) Hopkins, and the following named children were born to them: Isadore Amelia, born June 10, 1857; Willis Herbert, born Au- gust 12, 1858; Carrie Eliza, born February 28, 1860; Arthur Eugene ; and James Hopkins, born September 2, 1865.

Arthur Eugene Buck, second son of Bradley and Polly Buck, was born in the town of North- field, Washington county, Vermont, October 23, 1861. He attended the district school of North- field and subsequently was a pupil at the seminary at Montpelier, Vermont. Since completing his studies, Mr. Buck has devoted a useful and con- tented life to agricultural pursuits; he has im- proved the property, and now is the fortunate possessor of many of the most fertile, acres in Washington county, or, indeed, in the state.

In his political preferences Mr. Buck votes the Democratic ticket, and he was elected to the office of selectman for the years 1899 and 1900 .. Mr. Buck is a man of fine personal appearance,. friendly and open-hearted, and is very popular with all classes in his town, being esteemed by all: who come in contact with him. Mr. Buck was. united in marriage, November 24, 1891, to Miss Minnie Scott, daughter of John and Sarah Scott, of Berlin, Vermont. Mrs. Buck died October 24, 1897. April 15, 1903, Mr. Buck married Miss Mary E. Reed, of Berlin, daughter of James and Mary Reed.

HON. JOSEPH KIMBALL DARLING.

Hon. Joseph K. Darling, a prominent attor- ney at law of Chelsea, Vermont, was born March 8, 1833, at Corinth, Vermont, and is a descendant of a Scotch-English ancestry, who upon their ar- rival in this country first settled in New Hamp- shire. Peter Darling, grandfather of Joseph K. Darling, was a resident of Hopkinton, New Hampshire, from which town he removed to Corinth, Vermont, being one of its early settlers ; he was also a resident of Bradford, Vermont, for a number of years. He devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, and was the owner of a farm in Corinth, which has been in the possession of the Darling family for over one hundred years. In politics he was a firm adherent of the princi- ples of the Democratic party. He married Miss Rebecca Burbank, of New Hampshire, and the following named children were born to them: Jesse, Moses, Stephen, Samuel, John, Eben and Mrs. Thursting. Mrs. Darling was a lady of striking appearance, very tall and stately, being six feet in height, and remaining very erect up to the time of her decease at the age of eighty-four

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

years. Mr. Darling died at the age of seventy years, and was interred in the West Corinth cem- etery, his wife being also buried in the same plot.

Jesse Darling, father of Joseph K. Darling, was born in 1795, and his entire life was devoted to farming interests in the towns of Corinth, Iluntington, Stowe and Vershire. He was a member of the Free Will Baptist church, to the support of which he contributed liberally. He was united in marriage to Rebecca Whittaker, and their children were: Betsey, Stephen B., Joseph K., Eben, who died in childhood, and Eben O. Darling. The mother of these children died in 1843, aged forty-two years. Mr. Darling married for his second wife Mrs. Mehitable Humphrey, nee Heath. Their children are: Mary, wife of Jolin Buzzell; Perley H. and Hat- tie R. Darling. Mr. Darling died in Vershire, Vermont, in 1872, having attained the age of sev- enty-seven years.

Joseph K. Darling received his educational training at the common schools, from a private tutor and at Corinth Academy. Being desirous of seeing his native country, he went to Califor- nia in 1853 and engaged in surveying and mining until 1861 ; five years of this period was spent in the employ of General John C. Fremont on his Mariposa mining property. He returned from California in the spring of 1861, landing in New York from a steamship which had sailed from Aspinwall, Ishthmus of Panama, on the night of the day which had seen Fort Sumter fired upon. Returning to Corinth, he purchased a farm, upon which he labored for a short period of time. On August 16, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, Twelfth Vermont Volunteers, and served with his regiment for the full term of enlistment, being mustered out at Brattleboro, July 14, 1863. He then for some years engaged in mercantile pursuits, and was also the postmaster at East Corinth from 1864 to 1871. At this compara- tively late period in life he decided to become a lawyer, and commenced reading with Hon. Ros- well Farnham, since governor of Vermont. In June, 1874, he was admitted to the Orange county bar and has successfully practiced his profession since that date, the first ten years in East Corinth and since then in Chelsea, where he now resides. Mr. Darling is a Republican in politics and from 1882 to 1884 served as state's attorney ; he repre-

sented Chelsea in the Vermont Legislature of 1890 and 1892, in the former year serving on the joint special committee on temperance, on the ju- diciary committee and on the election committee, of which he was chairman. In the latter .year he served on the judiciary committee, the ways and means committee and was chairman of the com- mittee on military affairs. He was a senator from Orange county in 1894 and served on the judi- ciary committee, the general committee, the spe- cial joint committee on the Vermont Industrial School and was chairman of the committee on the grand list. He was deputy clerk of Orange county from 1886 to 1894, and for several years was chairman of the Orange county Republican committee. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, of the Royal Arcanum, and of Ransom Post No. 74, G. A. R. Mr. Darling is a consist- ent member of the Congregational church of Chelsea, being for over twenty years the superin- tendent and a teacher in the Sunday-school.

Mr. Darling was married at Corinth, Ver- mont, October 6, 1859, to Mary Alice, daughter of Deacon Joseph and Mary (Robie) Knight. Their children are: Charles Kimball, born in 1864. who is United States marshal for the state of Massachusetts, serving his second term, and an attorney by profession, was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1885, studied two years at West Point and later studied law at the Boston Law University ; he is colonel of the Sixth Mas- sachusetts Regiment, and served in the Spanish- American war with the rank of major. Emma Lydia Darling resides in Boston and is connected with the Willard Settlement. Hale Knight Dar- ling, born January 26, 1869, at East Corinth, was educated at Chelsea Academy and commenced the study of law with his father in 1887. The fol- lowing year he went to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and was employed by the Fitchburg Railroad until 1891, when he became reporter on the Fitchburg Daily Sentinel. In 1893 he went to North Caro- lina to recuperate his health, resumed the study of law and pursued a course in the law depart- ment of the University of North Carolina. He was admitted to the bar at Raleigh, North Caro- lina, September 21, 1894, came to Chelsea and formed a partnership with his father under the firm name of Darling & Darling, with offices in the court house. He was admitted to the Ver-

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mont bar, on motion, at the general term, 1895, and is considered one of the brightest members of the junior bar of the county, if not the state. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also belong to the Red Men, Knights of Pythias and Sons of Veterans. He is also deputy clerk of the Orange county courts. He married Maybell Hyde, and their children are: Pauline, Hale Knight, Jr., Mary and Joseph Darling. The youngest child born to Mr. and Mrs. Darling was Eben, who died in infancy. The mother of these children died in October, 1873. Mr. Darling married as his second wife Emma, daughter of the Rev. Harvey and Laura Webster; she died April 5, 1885. On July 24, 1895, Mr. Darling was united in marriage to Miss Anzolette M. Dow. of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

ORRIN H. JONES.

Orrin Harvey Jones, the present postmaster of Wilmington, was born in West Dover, Ver- mont, February 17, 1866, and is a grandson. of William Harvey Jones, who was born in West · Dover, where he was for many years a general merchant. He was one of the most prominent and progressive men of the town, and was always interested in whatever tended to the improvement of the place. He married Diana A. Allis, a native of Wilmington, and they had the following named children : Harriet A., Lauretta, W. Frank, Royal H., Wells P., a resident of Brattleboro, and Varillus O., who is a member of the firm of ;Clapp & Jones of Brattleboro. The mother of these children died at the age of eighty-one years, and both she and her husband were devoted, con- sistent and influential member of the Congrega- tional church.

W. Frank Jones, the father of the subject of this review, was born in West Dover on the 7th of April, 1840, and acquired his education in the common schools of his town. He followed the same line of business as his father for some years, but during the past fifteen years has served as clerk and treasurer of the town of Dover. He represented the town in the Vermont legislature several terms, and has also held numerous other local offices of trust and responsibility. He was united in marriage to Miss Annette Snow, a na- tive of West Dover and a daughter of Nancy

Rice Snow; the former of whom followed the oc- cupation of farming for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Snow reared a family of eight children, namely: Henrietta, the wife of Asa Pratt, of South Acworth, New Hampshire; Fayette, a resident of Rowe, Massachusetts ; Annette; Jan- ette, wife of John C. Brown, of Walpole, New Hampshire; Juliette, who married D. E. Pal- meter, of Wilmington; Leavitt and Duette, of Wilmington; and Julian J. of West Dover, Ver- mont. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. W. Frank Jones, Orrin H. and H. Jennie, the latter being the wife of Alvah Canedy, of West Dover. Mrs. Jones departed this life in 1881, at the age of forty-two. Mr. Jones married for his second wife Martha A. Allis, of Dover, December 14, 1886, and one child, Martha A., was born to them, December 29, 1892. The mother died in January, 1893.

Orrin H. Jones, the only son of W. Frank and Annette Jones, received his education in the pub- lic schools of West Dover and at Leland and Grey Seminary at Townshend, Vermont. After completing his studies he began his business life as clerk for Orrin O. Ware, a general merchant of Wilmington, which situation he held for about seven years. Incidentally he became interested with others in starting a newspaper in Wilming- ton, and furnished more out-of-town subscrip- tions than any other person. Six months after the Deerfield Valley Times was started, he pur- chased the paper and continued as its editor and publisher until 1894, when he disposed of his interest to William L. Packard. This paper was started with Forrest L. Stetson as publisher and L. E. Keyser as editor, while Hosea Mann and others were interested in the success of the enter- prise. While in the editorial chair Mr. Jones was a constant advocate of the needs of a rail- road and of the development of the town as a summer resort, and also of the advantages of an electric light plant. The consummation of his hopes has been to him an ample reward for his efforts. In 1894, by reason of a pulmonary dif- ficulty, he was compelled to sell the paper and recuperate his health in Colorado. After his re- turn from the west he received his appointment as postmaster of Wilmington from President Mc- Kinley, in June, 1897. He took charge of the office July I and as soon as possible secured the

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necessary authority to move it from the small, damp room in which it was located to the spac- ious quarters where it is at present located. Politically Mr. Jones is a Republican of the most stalwart type, and has served as one of the town committee, and helped roll up, in 1896, the largest Republican majority for president given in Wil- mington in many years, if not the largest ever given. His religious views are in harmony with the doctrines of the Universalist church.

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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 82

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