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 97

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 97

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Truman Pitkin, father of General Pitkin, was born on the parental homestead in Marshfield, Vermont, April 24, 1800, and in his early life was engaged in milling, owning and operating a saw and grist mill, but during the last twenty- five years of his activity he followed agricultural pursuits. On December 31, 1822, Mr. Pitkin married Rebecca P. Davis, a daughter of General Perley Davis, of Montpelier, Vermont, and after her death, which occurred September 17, 1847, Mr. Pitkin married Nancy Wing, daughter of Joseph Wing. General Davis was born March

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31, 1766, in Oxford, Massachusetts, now known as Charlton. On May 4, 1787, he came to Ver- mont, becoming the first settler of what is now East Montpelier, where he cleared and improved a valuable estate, and there resided until his death. He was one of the leading citizens of this section of the state, and was very prominent in military circles, having been chosen in 1794 as captain of the first military company organized in that town, while in the same year he was made major of the regiment, which was composed of companies from that and the surrounding towns. In 1798 he was commissioned colonel, in the fol- lowing year, 1799, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and was one of the volunteers at the battle of Plattsburg, where he was an active participant. He took a keen interest in local and state affairs, having been especially in- .terested in founding the town library and in promoting the cause of education, while on two occasions he represented his town in the state legislature. In 1794 General Davis married Re- becca Peabody, a daughter of Colonel Stephen Peabody, and seven daughters blessed their union. General Davis died April 14, 1848, sur- vived by his widow, who passed away February 5, 1854.

Perley P. Pitkin resided on the home farm un- til he attained mature years, receiving his early education in the district schools, and his studies were completed in Washington county grammar school at Montpelier, Vermont. Making the journey to California in 1851, he remained in that state for three years, during which time he was successfully engaged in mining and trading, and on returning to the east settled in East Mont- pelier, which he represented in the state legisla- ture in 1859 and 1860, having been a member of the special session of that body which convened at the breaking out of the Civil war. At once offering his services to the government, he was commissioned regimental quartermaster of the Second Vermont Volunteers, and was there for a time, when he was appointed brigade quarter- master of the First Vermont Brigade. In April, 1862, he was promoted to be assistant quar- termaster of volunteers with the rank of cap- tain, and reported to General Rufus Ingalls, chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac, at White House, Virginia. The work assigned

to Captain Pitkin was the receiving of supplies at the army base from the fleet of army vessels and distributing them to the several army corps. In this labor Captain Pitkin had under him over twelve hundred civilian employes at a time. When the army was withdrawn from the peninsula he was ordered to Washington with his brigade of subordinates and thence (during the Antietam campaign) to Harper's Ferry, where he was chief depot quartermaster in charge of all the sup- plies for the army. This most responsible posi- tion he held at the bases of supply of the army established successivelv at Warernton Junction, Falmouth, Belle Plain, and Aquia Creek, Wash- ington, Frederick, Maryland (during the Gettys- burg campaign), and Alexandria, from which point the army was supplied during the winter of 1863-64, its principal supply station being at Brandy Station, fifty-seven miles from the base, with branch depots at Bealton and Culpepper. When General Grant's overland campaign began in May, 1864, the surplus supplies having been sent back to Alexandria, Captain Pitkin was placed in chief charge of the immense train of four thousand wagons, which carried ten days' rations for the army, with ammunition and other supplies. While at Spottsylvania, Captain Pit- kin was selected to be the bearer of despatches from General Grant to the war department, which could be entrusted only to a most responsible messenger. With an escort of regular cavalry he made the journey to Washington and back in four days, and then resumed his duties as chief depot quartermaster at Belle Plain. Here. to the care of the enormous quantities of supplies which were provided for the further overland march of the army, were added the duties at- tending the arrival of thousands of recruits and reinforcements ; the receipt of many thousands of prisoners, arriving from the front to be for- warded to Alexandria and Annapolis; and the care of the army of wounded and sick soldiers, on their way to the general hospitals. Captain Pitkin moved with the supply depot, successively to Port Royal on the Rappahannock, White House on the Pamunkey, and City Point on the James, where he remained as chief depot quarter- master during the summer of 1864. July 8. 1864, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and assistant quartermaster. During this period

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the amy numbered upwards of one hundred thousand men, with fifty thousand horses and mules. For the subsistence of the former one hundred thousand pounds of bread, one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds of meat, ten thousand pounds of coffee, ten thousand pounds of sugar, and, when obtainable, large quantities of vegetables, were furnished each day; while the latter consumed over six hundred thousand pounds of grain and an equal quantity of forage daily. Once in three or four months one hun- dred thousand pairs of shoes, and two hundred thousand pairs of stockings, and at a little longer period of time as many coats and pantaloons, and twice as many changes of under-clothing were distributed. For each periodical shoeing of the animals, Colonel Pitkin received and distributed two hundred thousand pounds of horse shoes. Add to all this the care and transportation of the enormous quantities of ordnance and surgical sup- plies required where armies of such magnitude were in constant collision, and it may be realized that the duties of the chief quartermaster in charge of the army base were such as could be borne only by a man of great physical vigor, as well as superior executive ability and untiring industry. They were performed by Colonel Pit- kin with an ability and fidelity which won for him the unvarying commendation of his superiors. The successive commanders of the army all recog- nized his value, and relied on him with a confi- dence which was never disappointed. The opin- ion of his immediate superior is expressed in the annual report of General Rufus Ingalls, chief quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac for the year ending June 30, 1863, in the following words :

"To the quartermasters of this army I feel under a great weight of indebtedness, especially to those who have had charge of the great de- pots. I have referred to them in the body of this report, still I would be doing much injustice if I did not mention Captain P. P. Pitkin, assistant quartermaster, who has had charge of the great depots, and whose business for the year has been extremely heavy. He is a most meritorious, ener- getic and trustworthy officer." This is the highest praise accorded to any man in the report. In November, 1864, after two years of such service, in positions second only to the highest in responsi-

bility, and second to none in labor and care, Col- onel Pitkin resigned his position in the army, to enter upon his duties as quartermaster general of the state of Vermont. Late in November, 1864, the governor of Vermont insisted that Colonel Pitkin must return to take the important office of quartermaster general of the state, to which he had been unanimously elected by the legisla- ture. Greatly to General Grant's regret, Colonel Pitkin obeyed his governor and resigned his office. He held the new office for the six fol- lowing years, and then declined a re-election.

After his return from the war General Pitkin resided in Montpelier and embarked with two partners in a new enterprise, the manufacture of sawmills, establishing a business that later de- veloped into the Lane Manufacturing Company, of which he was at first manager. In 1888 he was elected president of the company, serving. in that capacity until the time of his death. A public-spirited, loyal citizen, he was devoted to the interests of the town and county, and never shirked the responsibilities of office, for he served as selectman during the years 1868-70-74-77-79- 80, was a representative to the state legislature in 1872 and for many years was a trustee of the Washington county grammar school and presi- dent of the Montpelier school board. At the time of his death General Pitkin was officially connected with several institutions or organiza- tions, being a director of the First National Bank, a position that he held continuously from his election in June, 1866; a director in the Na- tional Life Insurance Company, in which he had been a member of the finance committee since June, 1878; and was one of the commissioners of the Green Mountain cemetery, being chosen to that office March 2, 1880.

On April 4, 1848, General Pitkin was united in marriage to Caroline M. Templeton, daughter of James Templeton, of East Montpelier, Ver- mont. Their children are: Clarence Horatio, born August 26, 1849, was for many years a leading lawyer of Montpelier, and died May 31, 1900. Carroll Perley was born at East Mont- pelier, Vermont, December 15, 1851; on No- vember 19, 1873, he married Ella L. Dewey, daughter of Hon. Charles Dewey, and her death occurred May 30, 1879 ; on October 10, 1883, he married for his second wife Mary A. Devine,

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and their only daughter, Margaret Caroline, born November 18, 1892, died December 4, 1899. Frederick Eugene, the next child in order of birth of General and Mrs. Pitkin, was born Feb- ruary 25, 1855, died March 26, 1897 ; he was mar- ried September 15, 1875, to Fannie M. Cummins, and they have one son, Carroll Arthur Pitkin, born January II, 1883, now living with his mother in Montpelier. Frank Ivan, born July 18, 1857, was married October 4, 1882, to Jose- phine Roleau, and they have one son, Perley . Peabody, born January 5, 1902. On July 26, 1886, General Pitkin married for his second wife Jennie A. Poland, daughter of Denison Dewey, of Montpelier, Vermont. General Pitkin's death occurred at his home in Montpelier, Vermont, July 28, 1891.

ALLISON NATHANIEL McQUIVEY.

Allison N. McQuivey, one of the well known citizens of this section of the Green Mountain state, who is devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits and whose efforts in that direction result in making him one of the substantial citizens of the community, has been a resident of Addison county throughout his entire life. He was born in Ripton, on the 3d of February, 1851, and is descended from an old and prominent family in the east, the name being of Scotch origin. His grandfather, Nathaniel McQuivey, claimed Con- necticut as the place of his nativity, but he became one of the early pioneers of Williston, Vermont, and there devoted his energies to the tilling of the soil for many years. Subsequently he took up his abode in the town of Ripton, where he followed both farming and milling, and there he spent the remainder of his life. He became prominent in the public affairs of his locality in those early days, and was one of the first selectmen elected in the town of Ripton. His wife, nee Littleton, was also a native of the commonwealth of Connecticut. and this worthy couple reared a large family of children. In the community in which they so long made their home they were loved and hon- ored for their many noble characteristics, ever performing their full share in the work of de- velopment and improvement, and they were worthy and acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal church, assisting materially in the

building of the house of worship of that denomin- ation in Ripton.

Nathaniel McQuivey, a son of this worthy pioneer couple and the father of the subject of this review, was born in 1819, in Williston, Vermont, and was there reared and received his education. When the time came for him to assume the re- sponsibilities of life, he, too, chose the art of agri- culture, and in this vocation he proved a worthy representative, becoming one of the most promin- ent farmers in this section. Although his busi- ness interests were extensive and claimed much of his attention he, however, found time to devote to

ALLISON NATHANIEL McQUIVEY.

the public welfare of his town and county, and for eleven years he served as a selectman, and also represented his district in the legislature two years. As a companion on the journey of life he chose Emily Dunham, a native of Bethel, Ver- mont, and they became the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom are still living, namely: Emeroy L., now Mrs. Cornelius Billings, and a resident of New Haven, this state: Arlie E .. now Mrs. William H. Dean, who makes her home in

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Middlebury : Judson, also of this town ; Charlotte, now Mrs. Michael Galvin, who makes her home in Middlebury ; Allison N., the subject of this re- view : and Emma, wife of Gustavus Smith. The mother of this family is still living, and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Billings, in New Haven, but the father was summoned to Jus final rest February 15, 1888, when he had reached the age of sixty-nine years.

Allison N. McQuivey, whose name forms the caption of this article, spent the early years of his life in the town of Ripton, receiving his element- ary education in its common and high schools, and later he entered a seminary at Montpelier, Ver- mont. After putting aside his text books he re- turned to his old home in Ripton, and there fol- lowed farming and stock-raising until 1899, mak- ing a specialty of the raising of sheep and Mor- gan horses. In the year mentioned he came to the farm on which he now resides, near Middlebury, Addison county, the place consisting of one hun- dred and thirty-four acres of fertile and well im- proved land, and there he is devoting his time and attention to general farming and stock-raising, meeting with a well merited degree of success in both branches of industry. Another important interest in which Mr. McQuivey is also engaged is that of dairying, and in that line of endeavor he is equally prominent. His business affairs are conducted with diligence, enterprise and perse- verance, and his labors are attended with gratify- ing success.

The first marriage of Mr. McQuivey was cele- brated in 1875, when Miss Mary Hooker became his wife, but after a short, although happy married life of fifteen months the wife was called to the home beyond. For his second wife he chose Flor- ence Cobb, a daughter of William N. Cobb, of Ripton, this state, and a native of Springfield, Vermont. His father, Jeduthan Cobb, was of a Connecticut family. Four of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. McQuivey are now living, namely : Agnes, wife of Charles Leeds, now mayor of Stanford, Connecticut ; Gordon D., attending col- lege at Middlebury ; and Arthur N. and Merrill C., who are still at home. Mr. McQuivey exer- cises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has been honored by his fellow citizens with many offices of honor and trust. For many years he

held the office of selectman in Ripton ; for the long period of ten years was superintendent of schools, and for three years also taught school; held the office of lister for four years, was chairman of the town committee; for many years held the posi- tion of auditor ; was justice of the peace for one year ; was a census enumerator in 1890; and in 1892 represented his town in the legislature. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, being connected with Lake Dunmore Lodge, No. 1I, of Middle- bury, and was also instrumental in organizing and for many years held office in the Grange. His re- ligious preference is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, in which he has long held the office of clerk and is a prominent worker in the Sunday-school. His active life has brought to him a wide acquaintance, his labors have made him a valued citizen of the community and his name is inseparably interwoven with the history of progress and improvement along ma- terial, social and intellectual lines in Addison county.

DANA HOLLEY MORSE.

The name above given has been made familiar in Orange county by a long line of useful men who have borne it, but none have worn it more worthily or made it more popular and influential than the subject of this sketch. Not to speak of his prominence and activity in politics, in which sphere he has long ranked as a leader, his achieve- ments both as a practical and scientific agricultur- ist, especially as a successful breeder of the best horses and cattle, have not only given him fame thoughout his native state, but they entitle him to a place high on the roll of honor as a public benefactor. The family is of Massachusetts origin, and Dea Abner Morse, the founder of the Vermont branch, was born in that state in 1761, emigrated to Randolph in early manhood, and died there in 1813. June 10, 1790, he married Betsy Byam, by whom he had six children : Luther and Grace, twins, born in 1793; Calvin, born in 1794 and married Elvira Moody in 1818; Coburn, who was born in 1796 and married Al- mira Thomas in Randolph; Ira, born April 26, 1805 ; and Abel, born in 1807. All these children, with the exception of Luther, grew to maturity,

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and most of them reared families. Ira Morse married Loretta Jones, of Bethel, Vermont, and had nine children, all of whom died young, with the exception of Charles N., who was born Feb- ruary 7, 1835, and Dana H., the subject of this sketch. The father passed away January 22, 1856, at his home in Randolph, aged about fifty- one years.

Dana H. Morse was born on the parental homestead, in the town of Braintree, Vermont, February II, 1837. About seven years later, new buildings were erected on the Randolph side of the line, and since then he has lived in this town. He grew up on the farm, and in his youth learned the details of that noble calling in which he was destined to achieve both success and distinction. It was not long after reaching maturity before he became a landowner, and at the present time he possesses two hundred acres of the best farming land in Orange county. In addition to this farm, however, which is one of the most productive in the state, he owns other land, his holdings alto- gether amounting to about five hundred acres. He is a noted agriculturist and breeder, and car- ries on his operations by scientific and up-to-date methods. He owns a dairy, which enjoys a high reputation for its products, and he keeps from forty to fifty graded Jerseys, his herd of all kinds consisting of from eighty to one hundred head. He has also long owned and successfully bred the celebrated Morgan horses, which are in constant demand and sell at from two hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars apiece. He is a very act- ive member of the state Grange, and takes an in- telligent interest in everything relating to agri- culture, especially the important branches devoted to dairying and the live-stock industry. He is master of the Central Vermont Pomona Grange and is general deputy for Vermont, and does much in organizing granges.

Mr. Morse also finds time to "lend a hand" in politics, and is a figure of prominence in all the contests, local or general. He is one of the most influential Republican leaders in the county, al- ways ready to help his friends, though he has never sought or accepted any political prefer- ment for himself. His enthusiasm in such matters grows entirely out of a patriotic desire for the welfare of the country, which is only to be

secured by the retention in office of good men and the adoption of wise laws and efficient methods of administration.

On the 27th of April, 1864, Mr. Morse was joined in wedlock to Miss Emma Thayer, one of the esteemed daughters of Randolph, and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of three children : Cassius T., Belle T. and May E. The social relations of Mr. Morse are in keeping with his prominence in the business and political world, and an acquaintance, which is co-extensive with the population of the county and includes many of the best known people in the state, attests his qualities as a "mixer" as well as his popularity with all classes.

JOSIAH HOTCHKISS STEDMAN.

Josiah Hotchkiss Stedman, M. D., for many years a prominent physician of West Brattleboro, was born April 7, 1809, in Windham, New York, and died in West Brattleboro, August 17, 1894. He came of colonial ancestry, and of patriotic Revolutionary stock, his grandfather John Sted- man, of Farmington, Connecticut, a weaver by trade, having served as a soldier in the continental army.

Salmon Stedman, the father of Dr. Stedman, spent his earlier years in Farmington, Connecti- cut, going from there to Durham, Greene county, New York, where he followed the blacksmith's trade for several years. On his retirement from active pursuits, he came to Vermont, and spent his declining years with his only child, Dr. Josiah H. Stedman, dying in March, 1861, aged eighty- two years. He married Lucina Hotchkiss, of Farmington, Connecticut.

Josiah H. Stedman, M. D., received his ele- mentary education in the public schools of his na- tive town, and was fitted for his professional ca- reer in the Pittsfield ( Massachusetts) Medical College. His first practice was in Durham, Greene county, and Richford, Tioga county, New York, whence he removed to Cummington, Massachusetts, and after four years there located at West Brattleboro in 1859, and there continued in active practice up to within ten years of his decease. He won in an eminent degree the con- fidence of the community, and built up an exten-

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sive and remunerative practice in the locality. He was highly respected for his sterling qualities, and was a member of the local and state medical societies.

Dr. Stedman married Elvira Strong, daugh- ter of Jairus and Dosha Strong, of East Windsor, Connecticut. Jairus Strong was a tanner and merchant, and a prominent citizen of Ashland, New York, where he filled the various offices within the gift of his fellow townsmen, and was a representative to the state legislature. IIc reared ten children, namely: Austin, Olivia, Clarinda, Aurelia, Maria, Elvira, Daniel, Bissell, Louise and Elisha. Dr. and Mrs. Stedman be- came the parents of six children, namely: Lu- cina ; Willard P .; Daniel B .; Maria L .; Frances ; and Clara M., who died unmarried in 1893. Lu- cina married Luther E. Bartlett, who was born in Cummington, Massachusetts, and was for sev- eral years a teacher in the public schools. During the Civil war he enlisted, in 1862, for a term of nine months, in the Fifty-sec- ond Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and took an active part in the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana, where he contracted a fever from which he died, soon after being brought home, in 1863, aged thirty years. He left one child, Nel- lie, now deceased. Willard P. Stedman, a hard- ware merchant at Bristol, Connecticut, married Nellie Hamlin, by whom he had three children, Harriet, Irving and Carleton. Daniel B. Sted- man, formerly editor of the Vermont Phoenix, now a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, married Mary Brown, and they have two chil- dren, Frederick C. and Harry. Maria L. is un- married. Frances is the wife of Ezra E. Fisher, of West Brattleboro.

ABEL HUBBARD STEWART.

Abel Hubbard Stewart, of Berlin, Vermont, son of Rollins Hubbard and Mahala Stewart, was born on the old homestead in the town of Berlin, Washington county, Vermont, May 5, 1843. Simpson Stewart, his great-grandfather, was a 'resident of Amherst, New Hampshire, being one of the early settlers. He engaged in the occu- pation of farming. His son, John Stewart, grandfather of Abel Hubbard Stewart, was born in Amherst, New Hampshire, April 10, 1774,

where he attended the district schools. He re- moved with his parents to Berlin, . Washington county, Vermont, where they purchased a farm, and he engaged, for the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. He was united in marriage May II, 1806, to Miss Tamier Hubbard, who was born September 21, 1781. Mr. Stewart died Sep- tember 27, 1847.

Rollins Hubbard Stewart, father of Abel Hubbard Stewart, was born on the old homestead in the town of Berlin, September 17, 1808. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, and then settled down to the life of a farmer on the ancestral estate. He was very successful in this occupation, being an indus- trious, energetic man ; he possessed strong manly characteristics, was a good citizen, a kind father and a loving husband. In his political prefer- ences he was a Republican ; was the moving spirit in the formation of that party in the town of Ber- lin, and the first meeting was held at his residence. He always took an active interest in the work. He was elected to the office of selectman during the Civil war, and was instrumental in securing soldiers for the army; he held this position for many years, and was also chosen to fill the office- of overseer of the poor.

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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 97

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