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 91

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 91

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THE STATE OF VERMONT.

Colonel Tracy served in the Civil war four years, one month and five days.

Upon his return from the war Colonci Trans was engaged in mercantile business in Middleboro, Vermont, and also acted in the ca- pacity of postmaster for twelve years. For the following six years he was engaged in the manu- facture of carriages, and for the past thirteen years has been employed in the custom service in the following named places: Burlington, Windmill Point, Alburg, Richford, St. Albans and North Troy, Vermont ; at the latter place he has been engaged for the past six years as a deputy collector of customs.

Colonel Tracy was united in marriage to Miss Helen Sarah Dow in February, 1849, and they resided in her father's house in Leicester, Ver- mont. Mrs. Tracy died in August of the same year; Colonel Tracy then removed to Massa- chusetts, and six years later he located in the village of Middleburg, Vermont, where he was married to Miss Sarah M. Crane, daughter of Horace Crane, in March, 1858. Six children have been born to them, four of whom are now living, namely : Horace C., Lena F., Lillian S. and Charles A. Tracy.

JOHN WINNICK CURRIER.

Among the long list of distinguished men who claim as their birthplace the Green Moun- tain state the name of John Winnick Currier holds no insignificant place. The spirit of a sturdy New England race, bred and matured in the healthful, wholesome, bracing atmosphere of Vermont, survives in him, and it has manifested itself strikingly throughout the whole of his inter- esting and vigorous career. Whether in humble, plodding toil, as little more than a child in a cotton mill, managing the mercantile affairs of a large establishment ; serving his country as a volunteer soldier, or conducting extensive and important enterprises, there was always displayed the same resolute determination, guided by intelligence and conservatism. In the upbuilding of his for- tune Mr. Currier evinced those solid and substan- tial qualities which gain not only respect but popularity, and his success has been attained primarily by hard work and endurance, accom-

panied by the capacity of seeing the opportunity and promptly seizing it.

John Winnick Currier was born sixty-seven years ago at North Troy, Vermont, and at the early age of nine years he was endeavoring to eke out the family income by working with his father, John Currier, in the cotton mills at Palm- er, Massachusetts. A few years later, an op- portunity having been offered for learning the jewelry trade, he applied himself to this, and such adaptability did he display in the business that at the age of nineteen he was appointed manager of a wholesale jewelry store in Boston.

Mr. Currier early manifested a taste for mili- tary exercise, and, following his bent in this di- rection, he enlisted in 1854 in the Springfield City Guards, then a flourishing troop under the command of Colonel Henry S. Briggs. At the outbreak of the Civil war the City Guards were among the first to respond to the call of Presi- dent Lincoln for troops, and foremost in the ranks of cager and enthusiastic volunteers was John Winnick Currier, then a young man of twenty-five years. He was first assigned to duty at the Springfield, Massachusetts, United States arsenal, from which point he was later mustered in as sergeant in Company F, Tenth Massachu- setts Infantry, serving in the Washington navy yard and arsenal. In August, 1862, he was de- tailed to Massachusetts to assist in recruiting a regiment.

At the close of the war, his personal service in the national cause being no longer required, Mr. Currier devoted himself with his ac- customed energy to business pursuits, and with almost unvarying success. Among his strongest emotions, one which clung to him through the vicissitudes of his ripening years, was a love for his early home, and his cher- ished ambition was to regain possession of the old family homestead, which had long been in the hands of strangers. Stimulated in this as much perhaps by the picturesque surroundings, the wild and beautiful scenery amidst which it was located, as by the force of early recollec- tions, it was with a feeling of intense gratifica- tion that in 1871 he found himself the owner of what had been his boyhood's home. Included in the purchase was about three hundred acres of land, which he at once proceeded to convert

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into a model stock farm. On an.eminence in the midst of charming grounds, possessing all the attractions of mountain, lake and wood, Mr. Cur- rier erected a modern dwelling, the view from which covers an immense stretch of country, and is one of the loveliest landscape views in a state justly celebrated for its magnificent natural scen- ery.

The influence of as public-spirited a man as John Winnick Currier could not but make itself felt in the surrounding community, and to his enterprise and alertness in public matters are largely due the many advantages which North Troy can boast. The construction of a system of water works was one of the first improvements which claimed his attention, and it was mainly through his endeavors that this much valued requisite was secured. His fellow townsmen have shown their esteem by entrusting to him nearly all the offices of trust within their vote. He is president of the Orleans County Veterans' Association and an honorary member of the State National Guard. He is a member of Post Bailey. G. A. R., and the handsome flag of which Camp Currier, S. of V., is so proud, is one of Mr. Currier's gifts. In politics Mr. Currier has al- ways been a Democrat. Since 1892 he has at- tended every national convention and nearly al- ways as a delegate or alternate. During the first four years of President Cleveland's first admin- istration he held the office of United States dep- uty marshal.

Mr. Currier is prominently identified with interests of great magnitude. Since 1871 he has been engaged in the lumber business, which un- der his management has assumed large propor- tions. One of the features of North Troy is a mill, which he erected, and which has a capacity of one hundred barrels a day. The construction of the Clyde River Railroad, now a part of the Canadian Pacific system, was one of Mr. Cur- rier's achievements, and he was also connected with the construction of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. His readiness of com- prehension with regard to business matters re- quiring deep thought and foresight, have made him a valuable counselor, and his skill in the formation of companies for handling patent rights, developing mines and other intricate un- dertakings is well and widely known.

In 1866 occurred the happy event of Mr. Currier's marriage, the bride being Evelyn, daughter of John E. Chamberlin and Laura Chamberlin. One son born to them died in in- fancy. Charles E. Currier, living, was adopted. Lillian Hodgdon came to live with them when twelve years old, was brought up as a daughter, but not adopted, and married T. L. Wadleigh, of Meredith, New Hampshire. Evelyn L. Cur- rier died in 1896. John W. Currier married as his second wife, in 1899, Jennie E., daughter of Jonathan Fairbanks, of Wayland, Massachusetts.

Mr. Currier is a Freemason, and a member of the Scotch Charitable Society of Boston, one of the oldest organizations of its class in the country. Mr. J. W. Currier has represented the town three times.

ALBERT WOOLEY FARMAN.

Albert Wooley Farman, of Newport, Ver- mont, is a man of much influence in his com- munity, for he is highly respected, and is justly regarded as a man of sound judgment in public affairs as well as in matters relating to law. He was born June 21, 1875, in the town of Troy, Vermont, a son of Willard and Isabel ( Brown) Farman. Herod Farman, grandfather of Albert W. Farman, resided in the state of Vermont, and followed the occupation of farming. He also represented his town in the legislature. Willard Farman, father of Albert W. Farman, was also born in Vermont, and, like his father, was a farmer. He served as a member of Company E, Sixth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and he fought for two years during the Civil war. He also represented the town in which he resided in the legislature. He was united in marriage to Miss Isabel Brown, a daughter of Thomas Brown, a farmer of Westfield, Vermont.

Albert Wooley Farman, when eleven years of age, removed with his parents to Westfield, and later to Newport. He acquired his education in the Lyndon Institute, and after completing his studies he took up a course of law with O. S. Annis, Esq., of North Troy, Vermont, with whom he studied about one and one-half years; he then continued his studies with Messrs. Cook and Redmond, of Newport. In 1897 he was ad- mitted to the Vermont bar, and practiced his

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profession in Newport until the spring of 1898, When he joined the First Regiment Infantry, Ver- mont Volunteers, and went with his regiment to Chickamauga. After the termination of the Spanish American war he returned to Newport, and again resumed the practice of law, and in February, 1900, was admitted to practice before the United States circuit and district courts. Mr. Farman is captain of Company L, First Regi- ment, Vermont National Guard.

Mr. Farman is prominent in Masonic cir- cles, being a member of Malta Commandery No. IO, K. T .; Cleveland Chapter No. 20, R. A. M .; Memphremagog Lodge No. 65, F. & A. M. In his political views Mr. Farman is a loyal Re- publican. He was nominated and elected by that party for state's attorney after a hard strug- gle, his opponents being Messrs. Cook and Red- mond, with whom Mr. Farman studied law.

GEORGE 'EDMUND ROYCE.

Few men can trace their ancestry back in more direct line to so early a date as can George Ed- mund Royce, of Rutland, Vermont. The pro- genitor of the family in this country was Deacon Edmund Rice ( Royce), who was born about 1594, and came to America from Barkhamstead, Hert- fordshire, England, in 1638. He settled in Sud- bury, Massachusetts, where he remained for a time, removing thence to Marlboro, Massachu- setts, and his death occurred in that town May 3, 1663.

Thomas Rice (Royce) (2), son of Deacon Ed- mund Rice (Royce), was born in England about 1621 and accompanied his parents when they emi- grated to this country, and resided first in Sud- bury and later in Marlboro, Massachusetts, where he died November 15, 1681.

Jonas Rice (Royce) (3), son of Thomas Rice (Royce), was born March 6, 1672 ; in 1702 he re- moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he had the distinction of being the first settler of the town and one of its most prominent citizens. He was elected judge of the court of common pleas for the county of Worcester, and retained the office until his death, which occurred September 22, 1753, at the age of eighty years, six months and fourteen days.

Adonijah Rice (Royce) (4), son of Jonas

Rice ( Royce), and great -grandfather of George Edmund Royce, was born November 7, 1714, be- ing the first white child born in the town of Wor- cester. Massachusetts, where he resided until the latter part of his life, when he removed to Brid- port, Vermont. He was a member of the cele- brated band of scouts known as Roger's Rangers, and participated in several campaigns against the French and Indians. Mr. Rice died January 20, 1802.

Jonas Rice (Royce) (5), son of Adonijah Rice (Royce), and grandfather of George Ed- mund Royce, was born about 1756 at Worcester, Massachusetts. He enlisted in the Revolutionary war and served as first lieutenant under General Washington, being in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and he also participated in the histor- ical crossing of the Delaware amid floating ice. Directly after the close of the war he settled in Orwell, Vermont, where he purchased a farm and the remainder of his life was devoted to agricult- ural pursuits. 'Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Carver, a direct descendant of John Carver, first governor of Plymouth colony. Their children were Alpheus and Harriet Rice. Mr. Rice died in Orwell, February 17, 1839.

Alpheus Rice (Royce) (6), father of George Edmund Royce, was born in Orwell, Vermont, December. 18, 1787, on the old homestead which he occupied all his life. He devoted his attention to the occupation of farming, at which he was very successful. He was an active participant in the war of 1812, serving as captain of a company of militia at the battle of Plattsburg. He was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Moore, of Putney, Vermont, who was born March 15, 1790, and the following named children were born to them : Charles V., born August 28, 1810; Louisa A., born April II, 1812; Laura E., born July 23, 1814 ; Mary E., born June 17, 1816; Jane A., born April 10, 1820: Henry L., born December 23, 1821 ; William E., born September 10, 1824; Al- bert F., born October 3, 1826; George Edmund, born January I, 1829; Erasmus D., born April 9, 1831, who resides in California; Harriet A., ·born April 7, 1833; and M. Antoinette, born September 2, 1835. The father of these children died in the old homestead where he was born,. April 15, 1871, survived by his widow who died. February 24, 1873.

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George Edmund Royce (7), son of Alpheus and Harriet ( Moore) Royce, was born on his fa- ther's homestead in Orwell, Vermont, January I, 1829. He was a pupil in the common schools of the vicinity and later he attended two terms at the Troy Conference Academy, after which he as- sisted his father with the management of the farm until he attained the age of nineteen years. He then entered the store of John Simonds, at Watch Point, Shoreham, Vermont, in the capac- ity of clerk, and developed a genuine talent for business. On attaining his majority, in 1850, he located in New York city and entered the employ of Dibble, Frink & Company, in the wholesale dry-goods trade. He remained with this firm for one year, and then secured a clerkship with the firm of Lathrop, Ludington & Company, in the same line of business, and he retained his connection with this firm for about seven years. In 1859 he became an organizing member of the firm of Robbins, Royce & Hard, which subse- quently became Robbins, Royce & Acker. The firm enjoyed a prosperous career, but on January I, 1864, Mr. Royce was obliged to withdraw on account of ill health brought on by his arduous labors. For about a year he resided in New York, closing up his old business affairs, then removed to Rutland. Vermont, where he had previously purchased property.

Soon after locating in Rutland, Mr. Royce be- came interested in a steam stone-cutter invented by George J. Wardwell. In connection with Col- onel W. T. Nichols, who had previously pur- chased an interest in the patent, Mr. Royce then organized the Steam Stone-Cutter Company, of which he was manager, trustee and treasurer un- til his death. The success of the company was no sooner assured, than another corporation, with wealth and long experience, attempted infringe- ment upon the patent. After ten years of the most persistent and sleepless litigation the Steam Stone-Cutter Company, after expending nearly one hundred thousand dollars in protecting its rights, was by judicial decision fully confirmed in all its claims. The persistent tenacity with which Mr. Royce followed this contest exhibited one of the strongest phases of his character, dem- onstrating that when he was convinced of the in- tegrity of his convictions he would not be swerved from their defense.

Mr. Royce has also been for many years close- ly connected with the marble business. He be- came impressed with the value of a rich deposit north of West Rutland, which he bought in 1884 and was the prime mover in organizing the True Blue Marble Company immediately after- ward. He was made one of the directors and in 1887 became treasurer and manager, and contin- ued to hold these offices until April, 1901, when the property, which included some rich veins near Florence, was sold to the Rutland-Florence Mar- ble Company. Mr. Royce bought some exten- sive marble properties in Brandon in October, 1902, and had been doing an extensive business up to the time of his death. Mr. Royce's prop- erty, comprising over four hundred acres of land, included the Corona ten-gang marble mill at Brandon, with track to the main line of the rail- road, and five open quarries, with track to them. The veins of marble included in these holdings were the Florence vein, the Corona vein, the so- called West Rutland vein, located in Brandon, and an extra dark blue vein located in West Rutland. near the True Blue and Esperanza quarries, and darker than either of these marbles.

Aside from these large interests, Mr. Royce was constantly busied with other important busi- ness and public enterprises which were of marked advantage to the community, contributing in large degree to its development and prosperity. He was a director in the Baxter National Bank from its organization in 1870, and in the United States Tube Company of Buffalo, New York. He was frequently called into public service, and held many offices under the old town and village organ- ization of Rutland. From 1883 to 1886 he was selectman, and he was the first selectman in the last of these years, and he was a leader in the establishment of the water-works system, and was the first water commissioner. In all his business relations, whether private or public, he was known for his masterly managerial ability, untiring in- dustry and unswerving integrity. In religion he was a Universalist, and he was a trustee of St. Paul church, and a director in the City Hospital. He was a Democrat in politics, and exerted a com- manding influence in his party. He was a dele- gate in the national convention in 1900, and was an ardent supporter of William Jennings Bryan for the presidential nomination, and took

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an active part in the ensuing campaign. He was at one time nominated for state treasurer, and in 1002 Was elected state senator on the Democratic and local option tickets. His personal attributes were those becoming to the Christian gentleman of the old school. His counsel and his means we're at the command of the deserving unfortu- nate, and every charitable and philanthropic cause ever found in him a faithful ally and liberal sup- porter. In his family he was the devoted husband and parent.

Mr. Royce died March 5, 1903, from ulcera- tion of the stomach, after an illness of about three months. He was seized with illness during the session of the legislature to which he had been elected at the previous election. He came home and recovered somewhat, and resumed his duties during the last week of the legislative session. After his return from Montpelier he was confined to his home almost constantly to the time of his death.

Mr. Royce was three times married. His first wife was Miss Miriam E. Brewer, of Orwell, whom he married February 5, 1857, and who died March 2, 1866. Their children were: Fannie E., born February 22, 1858, who married C. N. Drowne, of South Dakota ; they are the parents of three children, Royce Carver, Brewer and Fanny. George B., of St. Louis, Missouri, born August 8, 1860. Julia M., born November 4, 1862, who died in infancy ; and Kate M., born December 9, 1864, who married Charles H. Hyde, of Boston. September 6, 1866, Mr. Royce married Miss Mar- tha A. Brewer, of Orwell. Their children were: Jane M., born August 18, 1867; Robert S., born August II, 1869, who died in Naples, January 27, 1890; Julia I., born June 14, 1871, who became the wife of. F. F. Dowlin, and died October 13, 1893. November 4, 1875, Mr. Royce married Miss Ellen C. White, a daughter of Albert White, of Orwell, and of this union were born the fol- lowing named children: Edmund W., born Feb- ruary 24, 1877 ; Thomas J., born July 25, 1879; Pauline® M., born May 24, 1881 ; Albert A., born September 13, 1883 ; Henry Moore, born Febru- ary 26, 1886; Richard Howard, born April II, 1889; John Carver, born January 30, 1893, died August 26, 1898 ; Helen Caroline, born March 4, 1807.

Two of the sons of Mr. Royce were for a

time connected with their father in business. George was secretary of the Steam Stone-Cutter Company and of the True Blue Marble Company up to 1893, and Edmund W. was secretary of the Steam Stone-Cutter Company from 1800 to 1899. A third son, Thomas J., was secretary of the True Blue Marble Company from 1897 to 1900, when he was made treasurer. In 1900 he was made assistant treasurer of the Florence Marble Com- pany, in which capacity he served until August, 1901, after which he gave his entire attention to his father's business. He was elected secretary of the Steam Stone-Cutter Company in 1900, and treasurer in 1903, and since the death of his father he has acted as general manager of the same cor- poration.

JOHN YOUNG.

John Young is descended from an old and highly respected American family, his ancestors having for several generations lived at White- hall, New York. One of these, Mr. Young's grandfather, being somewhat of an enterprising spirit, determined to locate in Lower Canada, and he was one of the twenty-five energetic and industrious settlers who laid the foundation of the town of Stanstead, Canada, in 1801. Hav- ing established his home and family there, he made it his permanent residence and became one of the foremost and most influential members of ,the community in that section.

It was in Stanstead that John Young was born, in 1839. His early years were spent amid the surroundings of a refined and cultured home. Ample opportunity was afforded him for gratify- ing his taste for study, and his love for scholarly pursuits was stimulated and encouraged. Though not insensible to the attractions of boyish sports, he never failed to derive pleasure from books, and the judgment displayed in the selection of these did much to prepare him for the career of usefulness and distinction which the future held for him.

Having completed his preparatory studies at Stanstead Seminary, he entered the sophomore class at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where he pursued a scholastic course of three years, and graduated from that institu- tion in 1860, being then twenty-one years old. About this time the trustees of Derby Academy

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at Derby, Vermont, were looking for some one who could acceptably fill the position of principal in that institution, and as the young graduate seemed entirely capable of meeting their require- ments, the position was offered to him. Mr. Young accepted, and during two years of his in- cumbency in this office discharged his duties not only with conscientious attention but with happy cheerfulness, which contributed greatly to the success of the school. All his spare moments, however, were industriously occupied in the study which for him possessed the greatest charm- namely, the study of law. Mr. Young is by nature endowed with a clear and logical mind, and the intricacies of legal questions were to him always a source of delight in the unravel- ing. So great was the ability he manifested and so rapid was his progress in this study, under Hon. John L. Edwards, at Derby, that he was admitted to the bar in 1862.

Filled with ambition and a desire to rise in the profession to which he was devoted, he se- lected as his first field for practice the town of Troy, Vermont, and he soon gave evidence of qualities which showed that he had made no mistake in the choice of a profession. In 1867 professional duties called him to Derby Line, and he removed there, and still later to Newport, where he has since resided.

Mr. Young, in 1866, married Miss Augusta A. Young, and one son was born to them, George B. Young, who, like his father, developed a taste for law, and is now junior partner in the firm known as Young & Young. Mr. Young enjoys the confidence and esteem of his townsmen to a remarkable extent, and his advice in difficult matters is considered all important. He has served his state in the legislature, and has held many offices of trust and distinction. In 1894 he was appointed member of the judiciary com- mittee of the house, and by that legislature was elected one of the editors of the "Vermont Stat- utes" of 1894, this being the last revision of the statutes of Vermont, and, in 1898, was chair- man of the judiciary committee of the senate. As a public-spirited citizen Mr. Young is highly respected. He has many warm personal friends, and his influence in public and private affairs is strong and beneficial.

JERRY ELY DICKERMAN.

Jerry Ely Dickerman, one of the prominent retired lawyers of Vermont, was born at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, January 15, 1830, a son of Jerry and Maria F. (Fletcher) Dickerman. Mr. Dickerman, Sr., was a physician by occu- pation, and resided for some time at Burke, and in 1882 located at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he continued the practice of his profession.

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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 91

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