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 87

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 87

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Sarah Babcock. Shortly after his marriage he removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he died April 17, 1765. Enoch Kelton, the son of John and Sarah Kelton, was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, June 19, 1726. He married Miss Elthea Hicks, December 23, 1746, and subse- quently took up his residence in Warwick, Massa- chusetts, where he died March 31, 1812. James Kelton, the son of Enoch and Elthea Kelton, was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, February 16, 1750. On February 4, 1773, he was united in marriage to Miss Lois Ingalls, who was born on the same day as her husband, February 16, 1750. Mr. Kelton removed to Warwick, Massachusetts, where he died January 26, 1831.

Nahum Kelton, the son of James and Lois Kelton, was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, January 28, 1778. He located in Montpelier, Vermont, in the fall of 1798, where he spent the ensuing winter in the employ of Colonel Jacob Davis. The following spring he returned to his native town, and shortly afterward removed to Schoharie, New York, where he was employed for three years as a teacher in the public schools. Mr. Kelton subsequently taught school in New York and Vermont for thirteen winters, and spent his summer months in the cultivation of a farm, which he purchased about the year 1800, when he returned to Montpelier, Vermont, from New York state. Mr. Kelton was elected in 1810 to the office of deputy sheriff, a position he held for six years, and the ensuing seven years he served as constable. He represented the town of Mont- pelier, Vermont, in the state legislature for the years 1816-17-18 and 1820, and again in 1829. He also held other town offices of trust and re- sponsibility.

Mr. Kelton married, December 7, 1809, Miss Fanny Vincent, who was born in New Braintree, Massachusetts, January 15, 1791, a daughter of Dr. Philip and Susie Vincent. Dr. Philip Vin- cent was the first regular physician who settled in the town of Montpelier. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kelton, namely: Samuel Still- man and Truman Chittenden Kelton. Mr. Kel- ton died July 2, 1857, and his wife died December 15, 1852.

Samuel Stillman Kelton, son of Nahum and Fanny Kelton, was born on the old homestead in the town of East Montpelier, Vermont, October

20, 1810. He was a student in the public schools of his native town, and his boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. In 1838 he purchased a farm in East Montpelier, where he resided for nearly forty years, and he removed to Mont- pelier in 1877, where he died. He was a man of sterling worth, and was honored by his townsmen by being elected to the office of justice of the peace, which he retained for thirty-five years ; he was the town treasurer for sixteen years ; served his town as selectman, and was the as- sistant judge of Washington county for the years 1861 and 1862. He was also called upon in the settlement of many important estates.

Mr. Kelton was united in marriage, March 20, 1838, to Miss Ursula Lucinda Sprague, who was born September 12, 1819, a daughter of Allen Sprague. They had two children: Fran- cis Philip and Dwight H. Mr. Kelton died March 22, 1892, and his wife died May 10, 1897.

Dwight H. Kelton, younger son of Samuel Stillman and Ursula Lucinda Kelton, was born October 4, 1843, in East Montpelier, Vermont. He acquired his education in the Barre academy and Norwich University, and upon the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he enlisted as a private in the volunteer army, and later served in the regular army of the United States. He is the author of the "Annals of Fort Mackinac," etc., etc. He married, July 19, 1889, Miss Anna Loretta Donnelly, who was born October 4, 1860, a daughter of Thomas Donnelly.

Francis Philip Kelton, the elder son of Sam- uel Stillman and Ursula Lucinda Kelton, was born in East Montpelier, Vermont, May 6, 1841. His early educational advantages were obtained in the common schools of his native town, and this was further supplemented by a course of study in Spaulding's Academy at Barre, Ver- mont. After his graduation from the latter in- stitution he became engaged in farming on the old homestead where he was born. He has been very successful in his management of the farm, where he makes a specialty of dairy products and the raising of thoroughbred Jerseys, for which he always finds a ready market.

Mr. Kelton is a firm and staunch Republican, and he has been elected by that party to serve as selectman, and has also held other offices in the town. In 1890 he was chosen to represent the

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

town of East Montpelier in the state legislature. He is also called upon to settle estates.

Mr. Kelton was united in marriage, January 19, 1876, to Miss Johanna Alice Colby, who was born January 19, 1851, a daughter of Captain Edwin J. and Mary (Wigglesworth) Colby, of Salisbury, Massachusetts. Three children were born of this union, namely: Mary Hale, born March 26, 1879; Raymond Allen, born June 17, 1885; and Robert Stillman, born June 8, 1891.

Mr. Kelton has won the respect and confi- dence of the citizens in his community by the many sterling characteristics which he has in- herited from his ancestors on both the paternal and maternal side. Philip Sprague, the maternal great-grandfather, was born in Johnston, Rhode Island, January 9, 1765, and with his father's family removed to Clarendon, Vermont, in 1768. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and served ten months of the year 1781 in the company of Captain Brookins of Colonel Samuel Fletcher's battalion, and five months in 1782 in the company of Captain William Hutchings.

GEORGE JEFFORDS WARDWELL.

George Jeffords Wardwell, of Rutland, Ver- mont, son of Joseph H. and Lydia (Howard) Wardwell, was born in Rumford, Maine, Septem- ber 24, 1827. Mr. Wardwell's descent is traced from a family that settled in Salem in the old colonial days. One of the family was executed during the witchcraft delusion in that place, and another was an officer in the continental army dur- ing the Revolutionary war.

Mr. Wardwell's somewhat limited education was received from the public and private schools of Rumford, Maine, and a short course of study at Bridgeton Academy. At the age of thirteen he was apprenticed to his cousin, who was a gen- eral mechanic, and he commenced his career by the manufacture of sleighs in Rumford and vi- cinity. Later he moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he was engaged in constructing looms. He then, in partnership with his brother, took a con- tract to build forty of these articles, but the broth- ers had the misfortune to lose their shop and its contents by fire. Still they fulfilled their agree- ment, and after fitting up a small shop in Hanov- er, Maine, they were employed in the manufacture

of sleighs, and sashes and doors for the California market. Here they met with more than one dis- aster, and in 1852 the partnership was dissolved. After carrying on the business for some time alone, Mr. Wardwell moved to Andover, Maine, where he occupied himself in the various voca- tions of inn-keeper, postmaster, and manufacturer of furniture. Always possessing great mechan- ical skill, in 1854 he invented and received a pat- ent for the first pegging machine for making boots and shoes, but unfortunately he did not reap the results of his skill, owing to the dishonesty of his partner.

After a short sojourn in Hatley, Canada, he removed to Moe's River, again forming a part- nership for the manufacture of furniture and sleighs, then changed the scene of his labors to Coaticook, province of Quebec, where he worked at his trade and gave much attention to his vari- ous inventions, the principal one of which was a stone-channeling machine, for which he secured a patent in 1859. The first one was placed in Sutherland Falls quarry in 1861, where it worked successfully, but, owing to the depressed finan- cial condition at that time, he was compelled to give up the development of the machine, and con- tinued working at his trade in Canada until 1863, when he obtained a new patent on an improved machine which accomplished the work of fifteen laborers, cut a channel from three to four feet deep, and was employed in the Sutherland Falls quarry for seventeen years. As he was still un- able to reap any practical result from his discov- ery, he continued for some time with the com- pany constructing stone-boats. Soon afterward he received a contract on somewhat unreasonable terms to build several of these machines for vari- ous parties, and subsequently was enabled to dis- pose of his patent to the Steam Stone Cutter Company, receiving $1,500 in cash and $33,520 in the stock of the corporation, of which he was made superintendent. One of the machines was exhibited at the Paris exposition in 1867 and was sold in France. The same year he parted with his foreign patents to the Steam Stone Cutter Company, for over $17,000 in stock. At the time several parties constructed machines in direct vio- lation of his patent, the validity of which after a tedious litigation was established, and injunc- tions were issued against the sale and use of the

Dr. J.hardwell

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

illicit machines. The invention has proved itself of immense practical value, and from calculations made up to 1886 it has been proved that over $7,000,000 have been saved to the stone producers in the working of their quarries. As a testimonial of its worth Mr. Wardwell received a gold medal from the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' Association in 1865 ; and its value was recognized by the presentation of a silver medal from the Paris exposition, in 1867 ; he afterwards received a similar recognition from the Centennial exhi- bition at Philadelphia. In 1874 he invented and patented two different forms of valveless steam engines, which also received medals at Philadel- phia. At one time he was the largest stockholder in the Steam Stone Cutter Company, at Rutland, having taken out twenty-five patents for the chan- neling and other machines in this country and Europe.

For nearly thirty years Mr. Wardwell was a hard and laborious student, a fact to which his large library amply testifies, making a specialty of chemistry and geology. He possessed a very large collection of specimens relating to the latter science, and a well fitted, practical laboratory. He made several visits to Europe for the purpose of studying the geological formation of the coun- try, especially with reference to quarries. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a past eminent commander of the Knights Templar and belonged to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. For more than twenty years he was affiliated with the American and British Association for the Advancement of Science. An adherent of the Democratic party, he filled various official positions of trust in Rut- land ; was vice president of the board of trade in that city, and one of the committee of fifteen who framed its charter ; was also director of the Mer- chants' National Bank of Rutland, and president of the board of school commissioners of the city of Rutland.

Mr. Wardwell was liberal in his religious views, and a generous supporter of the Univer- salist church. He was eminently a self-made man and possessed great inventive genius, having fully overcome the defects of his early education by a long course of arduous study and able and suc- cessful efforts for self-improvement.

October 4, 1850, Mr. Wardwell was united in

marriage to Margaret, daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Dickey) Moore, of Hatley, Canada, who departed this life November 10, 1883. She left four children, two of whom survive: Lizzie Olina (Mrs. Thomas Mound, of Rutland), and George Alvin. August 22, 1888, Mr. Wardwell was married to Kittie C. E., daughter of Hiram. W. and Mary M. (Huntoon) Lincoln, of Danby. To them one child was born, Charles Howard Wardwell, May 28, 1891. Mr. Wardwell died December 18, 1895.

CHARLES ALBERT BLODGETT.

The family of this name is of very ancient: lineage, and to reach the fountain source the his- torian must needs go back to the distant period of the Norman conquest of the British Isles. After the valiant warriors of Normandy had overthrown Harold, the last of the Saxon kings. on the disastrous field of Hastings, which is classed as one of the decisive battles of the world, Robert Blodgett, one of the victorious host, was appointed bishop of Lincoln and one of the chan- cellors of William the Conqueror. This same churchman and soldier also held high office under King Henry and is reputed the founder of the framework of the English law. From him de- scended a numerous progeny, who occupied vari- ous positions of influence and prominence in every profession during the subsequent history of old England. One of these was Thomas Blod- gett, who rose to distinction as a merchant of London in the seventeenth century and in 1655 emigrated to Boston in the brig Increase. He became the founder of the family in America, members of which are scattered throughout the United States, and the name has been made fa- miliar by men who bore it in every department of professional and commercial life. Many genera- tions grew up in Boston and Cambridge, from which, as the colonies and states afterward multi- plied, sent forth offshoots who have carried the name and fame of this celebrated connection to the farthest corners of the Union.

It was Samuel Blodgett, of the sixth generation from the first Massachusetts settler, who founded the city of Manchester, New Hampshire, and his son and namesake was connected with the found- ing of Washington, D. C. Among the distinguished

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members of the family at the present time may be mentioned Judge Blodgett, of Chicago, and Sena- for Blodgett, of New Jersey. But it would take a catalogue to contain a list of the noted men who now or during the past centuries have borne this ancient name. Such is the lineage which con- nects the subject of our sketch with the far dis- tant past, affording him a just pride of ancestry and the pleasurable reflection'that he is not un- worthy in any way of such an illustrious line.

Charles A. Blodgett was born in Randolph Center, Orange county, Vermont, on the 27th of March, 1852. His parents, Elijah and Harriet (Ellis) Blodgett, though excellent samples of the best and most industrious stock of the Green Mountain state, were not in circumstances to do much in a financial way for their son, but they gave him a good education and their blessing, ample capital for the average Yankee boy, and started him on his way to fight the battles of life. The father was a carpenter and wheelwright by occupation, but during the last twenty years of his life had charge as landlord of the old Randolph Hotel. He was active in all local affairs, took a prominent part in the famous "town meetings" so characteristic of New England civilization, and was frequently elected to offices of trust. In short, he was a fine sample of the sturdy yeo- manry which have made the game little state of Vermont famous all over the world. Charles A. Blodgett, like his father and most New England boys, wisely determined to learn a trade, and de- cided on harness-making as best adapted to his taste and inclinations. He worked industriously at this calling for sixteen years, most of the time in his native state and for a while in near-by Canada, but eventually abandoned his original vo- cation to engage in other pursuits. In 1883 he embarked in the livery business at Randolph, and this he has continued ever since, in addition to moving buildings, which has proved a remunera- tive adjunct to his regular employment. He keeps three heavy teams engaged in jobbing work most of the time.

February 5, 1881, Mr. Blodgett was united in marriage to Mrs. Celia (Cary) Leathers, former- ly of Bethel and later of Randolph, and though four children were born of this union the only ·one now living is a son named Jesse. Mr. Blod-

gett is esteemed as an industrious man, a social companion and a good citizen in the performance of all his duties to nation, state, county and town.

WILLARD WESBERY MILES.

Willard Wesbery Miles, of Barton, Vermont, is descended from ancestors who were among the early settlers of this country, coming hither from England, and finding a home, tradition says, in the colony of Connecticut. William Miles, great- grandfather of Willard Wesbery Miles, removed, when a young man, from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, and thence to Lyndon, Vermont, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer, and served in the continental army in the war of the Revolution. He was the father of seven sons: Edmond; William; Josiah ; John ; David; Abner : Robert; and two daughters. Mr. Miles died July 9, 1831, aged seventy-seven years, and was buried in the cemetery of Lyndon Cen- ter, where a monument, erected in honor of those who served in the Revolutionary war, bears his name and age.

Edmond Miles, son of William Miles, was ed- ucated in the common schools, and was a farmer of moderate means. He married Betsey Tibbets, and was the father of the following children: Orin, John, William, Moses, Ansil, Page, Mary and Hannah. Mr. Miles died in Albany, Ver- mont, in 1862, at the age of eighty-two years.

Orin Miles, son of Edmond and Betsey (Tib- bets) Miles, was born in November, 1812, was educated in the common schools, and, like his father and grandfather, followed the occupation of a farmer. Although he never took an active part in public affairs, and neither sought nor held office, he was a man whose word carried weight, inasmuch as he was esteemed by all who knew him for his sound judgment, sobriety and hon- esty. In early life he was a Democrat, but allied himself with the Republican party from the time of its organization. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Eunice Clark, who was born in 1817 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where she was educated in the com- mon schools and academies. Her father was Nathaniel Clark, who lived nearly all his life in St. Johnsbury, and during his residence there

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

held some of the town offices. He was the son of Samuel Clark, who served in the patriot army of the Revolution, and died in St. Johnsbury, Feb- ruary 12, 1855, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. He is buried in the St. Johnsbury Cen- ter cemetery. He was a descendant, but in what generation has not been definitely ascertained, of Joseph Clark, of Dorchester. Thus it will be seen that Eunice Clark, mentioned above as the wife of Orin Miles, was descended from old colonial stock. Mr. and Mrs. Miles were the parents .of eight children : Lorenzo D., who served for three years in Company E, Third Regiment, Vermont Volunteers, and has been high sheriff of the coun- ty of Orleans for the last twenty years ; Melvina, who became the wife of T. F. Wright, of Barton, Vermont; Willard Wesbery, mentioned at length hereinafter ; Bailey C .; Elias; Nathaniel ; Lydia; and Nora, who married Joseph Holmes, of Stowe, Vermont. With the exception of Nathaniel and Lydia, who died while still in early life, these children are all living. They were all educated in the common school and academies, and are all in prosperous circumstances. The death of Mr. Miles took place May 20, 1877, and his wife sur- vived him more than twenty years, dying at New- port, Vermont, May 10, 1900.

Willard Wesbery Miles, son of Orin and Eunice (Clark) Miles, was born February 6, 1845, in Albany, Vermont, and received his ele- mentary education in the common schools of his native town. He afterward studied at the acad- emies of Barnston and Hatley, province of Que- bec, and Glover, Vermont. He took private lessons in Greek and Latin of the Rev. S. K. B. Perkins, under whose instructions he was fitted to enter college. Mr. Miles, however, finally decided to abandon his purpose to take a college course, and devote the time necessary to complete that course to the study of law. For some time he taught in the common schools in Albany and the neighbor- hood, and two terms in each of the academies of Albany and Craftsbury, employing his leisure time in reading law. In 1866 he entered the office of Charles I. Vail, Esq., then of Irasburg, where he remained for two years. He then went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the purpose of en- tering the law school at that place, but on account of ill health was compelled to return to Vermont, and in the autumn of 1871, entered the office of

Hon. William W. Grout, at Barton, where he re- mained until the September term of the Orleans county court, in 1872, at which time he was ad- mitted to the bar, and was appointed master in chancery. He practiced law in Albany, Vermont, until June 12, 1873, when he removed to Crafts- bury, in the same state. April 1, 1881, he went to Barton, Vermont, where he has since remained. Prior to his removal to Barton he had never been associated professionally with any one, but at that time he formed a partnership with the Hon. William W. Grout, under the firm name of Grout & Miles. The firm did a large and remunerative business during its continuance, and was en- gaged in many of the important suits in that part of the state. In 1889, on account of congressional duties, Mr. Grout withdrew from the firm, since which time Mr. Miles has conducted the business alone. Since the dissolution of the firm, he has retained, and continues to hold, the clientage of the establishment.

Mr. Miles has all his life been in sympathy with the principles advocated by the Republican party, and since attaining legal age has been an active member of that organization. He has been entrusted with official positions both in Albany and Craftsbury, holding the office of town clerk in the latter place from 1875 to 1881, and acting as superintendent of education for Albany in 1867 and for Craftsbury in 1876. While residing in Craftsbury he held some other minor offices. In 1872 he was sent to the general assembly of Ver- mont to represent the town of Albany, serving on the committee on elections, and in 1873 he was continued in office. In 1878 and 1879 he repre- sented the town of Craftsbury, serving on the ju- diciary committee, of which Judge Poland was chairman. In the years 1890-91-92-93 he was state's attorney for the county of Orleans, the citi- zens of which, in 1894 and 1895, elected him to represent them in the state senate. Mr. Miles has been, since 1876, a member of Meridian Sun Lodge No. 20, F. and A. M. In his religious be- lief he is a Congregationalist, and a member of the Congregational church at Barton.

Mr. Miles married, September 28,- 1872, at Glover, Ellen M. Dow, who was educated in the common schools and at the academy of Albany, Vermont. Their children are: Ida M., born De- cember 9, 1873; Mabel A., born September 8,

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1875; Orin 1 .. , born April 5, 1879, died October 3, 1888: and Dorothy, born January 15, 1895, and died in infancy. Ida M. and Mabel A. were edu- cated in the common schools and at the Academy of Barton, Vermont, the Academy of St. Johns- bury, Vermont, and the University of Vermont, at Burlington. Both took a classical course, and graduated at all these institutions, receiving their diplomas from each. Ida M. married Henry R. Cutler, a commercial traveler, president of Bar- ton Savings Bank, and a director of Barton Na- tional Bank. They have two children: Henry M .; and Elizabeth. Mabel A. married Frank D. Thompson, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, an'at- torney and member of the firm of Porter & Thompson, and a son of the late Judge L. H. Thompson. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have no children.

Mr. Miles is descended from an English fam- ily, the founder having emigrated to America in 1632. Benjamin Dow, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Miles, served in the Revolutionary war, en- listing in a New Hampshire regiment, July 6, 1780. At the expiration of his term of service he was honorably discharged, December 31, 1780. Greely Dow, son of Benjamin Dow, married Nancy, daughter of James Glines, of Canada. Their son Luther C. Dow married Lavinia Dew- ey, daughter of Chandler Webb Dewey, whose father and grandfather both bore the name of Nathan Dewey. Nathan Dewey (I) was the son of Samuel Dewey and the grandson of Nathaniel Dewey, whose father, Josiah Dewey, was the son of Thomas Dewey, who came from England to this country about 1633. Josiah Dewey, above mentioned, was an ancestor of Admiral George Dewey. Luther C. and Lavinia (Dewey) Dow were the parents of Ellen M., mentioned above as the wife of Willard Wesbery Miles.

WILL ERI PIERCE.

Will Eri Pierce, a representative citizen of East Putney, is a keen-sighted, progressive busi- ness man, being successfully interested in various lines of industry, and is one of the most energetic and up-to-date farmers of Windham county. He was born May 20, 1865, in Putney, which was also the birthplace of his father, Clark Pierce, and of his grandfather, Mark Pierce. He comes

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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 87

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