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 99

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 99

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One of his characteristics was accuracy in everything he undertook; he would ferret out the most complicated and intricate pieces of machin-

ery until he thoroughly mastered his undertak- ing. If he planned a piece of work about his home, he would study its feasibility before he car- ried it into execution. And his reputation for correctness was so well known that he was often sought by others for advice and counsel.

For many years Mr. Bigelow was associated with E. S. Adsit under the firm name of Adsit & Bigelow. In January, 1895, he became as- sociated in the shoe business with C. N. Mosley, the style of the firm being Mosley & Bigelow. He took no active part in this firm, as he knew Mr. Mosley to be a thorough business man, and would properly guard their interests.

Mr. Bigelow never sought public favors as a politician. His mind was devoted to his business and his domestic circle, though he affiliated with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Lake Champlain Yacht Club and the Algonquin Club.

February 23, 1858, he was united in marriage with Marion S. Bedell, daughter of Levi and Sophia (Curtis) Bedell, to whom one child was born, which died in infancy.

The life of J. J. Bigelow was a useful one. He was regarded by his business associates as a man of honor and high integrity, and his word was as good as his bond. Though not a man who sought out new friends, he enjoyed the esteem of those who knew him, but he was always a friend to those less favored with this world's goods than himself, charitable, liberal-hearted, broad-minded,. and his sterling worth was more justly realized after he was called from earth, March 1, 1897. Mrs. Bigelow died March 1, 1901.

CHARLES N. MOSLEY.

It is the self-made men who by their energy and frugal habits have made the most successful and enterprising business men of to-day, and in this connection it is a pleasure to class among such men the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Charles N. Mosley was born in Bridport, Ver- mont, July 22, 1857. His father was Royal Mos- ley, a sturdy farmer, who lived and died in Brid- port. He married Miss Lorain Kellogg. His. ancestors came of English stock and settled in America in an early day.

Charles spent his boyhood days on the farm

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and attended school in winter, and later entered the Newton Academy at Shoreham, where he prepared himself for his future business career. The life on the farm was too monotonous for young Charles, and after he grew to the age of usefulness he took a position in West Bridport in a general store, where he remained until 1879, when he accepted a clerkship with E. M. Barlow, of Burlington, remaining eight years, when he decided to go into business on his own account. With that object in view he selected Bristol as a field for a shoe store, and opened business there, where he was very successful. In 1894 he decided to locate in Burlington, where he formed a part- nership with Mr. J. J. Bigelow under the firm name of Mosley & Bigelow. The latter was en- gaged in other business and never took an active part in the store, leaving it all to the management of Mr. Mosley, who has successfully built up the largest shoe trade of any retail establishment in the city.

Mr. Mosley was united in marriage Sep- tember 14, 1886, to Miss Ella G. Bedell, daughter of George Bedell, of Keeseville, New York. Po- litically he affiliates with the Republican party, though he is not a politician. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, and a gentleman held in high esteem both in business and social circles.

ALONZO HIRAM HINES.

Alonzo H. Hines, of Brattleboro, has risen to his present influential position largely through his own efforts. He has, however, through a long line of good ancestors come by those sterling traits of character which are bound to win suc- cess for a man at whatever he undertakes in life.

William Hines, the first of this line of whom we have record, was born in 1719. He resided for the greater part of his life in Greenwich, Rhode Island, where he was engaged in business for many years. He married Elizabeth Williams, who was born in 1717, and who was a great granddaughter of Roger Williams. She died in 1750.

William Hines, Jr., son of William and Eliza- beth, was a man of large wealth and much influ- ence. Born in Scituate, Rhode Island, in 1744, he resided in that state for many years of his life. 36 ×

When the Revolutionary war broke out he en- listed, and did some valiant service for his coun- try. He was one of the first ancestors to settle in Vermont, and was one of the founders of the town of Guilford, where he purchased land as early as 1788. He opened the first woolen mill in the place, and carried on an extensive manufac- turing business for many years. He accumulated considerable wealth and later in life settled at Monroe, Massachusetts, where he died in 1825. He married Jemima Seeman, of Rhode Island, an they had several children, among them Thomas. Thomas Hines, grandfather of Alonzo H., also a prominent man, was born in Rhode Island in 1780. After reaching manhood he resided in Monroe, Massachusetts, for some years. In 1800 he married Sarah Arnold, and they had seven children : Maria Arnold; Isaac, who is men- tioned below; Jemima ; Laura; William; Emily ; and Milo. As a man of ability and one keenly interested in public affairs, Mr. Hines served as a member of the assembly of the town of Mon- roe for some time. As a Democrat in politics he exerted large influence. In religious sentiment he was liberal, and attended the Congregational church.

Isaac Hines, father of Alonzo H., a well known contractor and builder of Brattleboro, also engaged in other business in the town, was born at Hinesburg, in the town of Guilford, Vermont. In the common schools of his neighborhood he secured his education, which was quite sufficient for all practical business purposes. During his early life he also learned the carpenter's trade, at which he later became very proficient. About 1830 he came to Brattleboro, where he followed his trade for some years. Being a skilled work- man he found no difficulty in securing plenty of work, and he finally rose to the position of con- tractor and builder. He followed this business for many years in Brattleboro and the surround- ing country, and many fine residences and churches in that city and vicinity are the results of his work and supervision. Many of his con- tracts were large ones, requiring the employment of large forces of men, and the business was high- ly profitable. In addition to his building enter- prises, he was for some time associated with Jacob Estey and H. P. Greene in the well known organ house in Brattleboro, then run under the firm name

THE STATE OF VERMONT.

of Hines & Company. He had few if any draw- backs in his business, and became in the course of time very solidly prosperous. His last days, as well as the more active part of his mature life, were spent in Brattleboro, where he died in 1876, in his sixty-ninth year. He married Hannah I .. Joy, and they had three children, Franklin, who died in early life; Eugene ; and Alonzo H., who is mentioned below. Mr. Hines possessed those strong, forceful traits of character which made him a power in his community. As a member of the Baptist church he was zealous in all religious work. He was always interested in things per- taining to the city's welfare, and improvised and established the system of conveying water to the ·city of Brattleboro by means of pipes extending from springs in the adjacent highlands.

Alonzo H. Hines was born in Brattleboro, January II, 1839, and in the public schools of that city received his early education. Evincing a keen interest in his studies, he was later sent to the Leland and Gray Seminary at Townshend, Ver- mont, where he became well grounded in the higher branches. Possessed of a decided talent for music, he also gave considerable time during his early life to the study of that subject. For a livelihood, however, he naturally turned to em- ployment with his father, and in his youth took a course in carpentering. He later entered into partnership with his father, and assisted as a con- tractor and builder until 1876. As the business was a large and profitable one, he got a good start in life. After the death of his father he followed up the profession of music, and as a prompter has filled engagements in southern Vermont and the adjacent sections of New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Having natural ability, he has been eminently successful in this line, and has continued it for forty-two years. He has accumu- lated considerable wealth, which he has securely invested, and he now owns much real estate, con- sisting of residences and unimproved property in Brattleboro. In fact, he is considered one of the heavy tax payers of that city.

In 1861 Mr. Hines married Abby L. Cham- berlain, a most estimable woman. A man of large social attributes, he is well and favorably known in his city and in the surrounding country. Fraternaliy he belongs to the Red Men.

GUY ALLEN CLOUGH.

The subject of this biography has led a varied and somewhat adventurous life, the kind which hardens the muscles, trains the mind and fur- nishes the best equipment for successful grap- pling with the problems which confront every active business man. Born at Waterbury, Ver- mont, March 7, 1852, and a son of Storrs S. and Alma A. (Allen) Clough, he received an excel- lent education in the district schools, supple- mented by a course in the Green Mountain Sem- inary and the Essex Classical Institute. When twenty-three years of age he joined the famous corps of sailors whose achievements have made New England famous all over the world. Enter- ing the merchant marine service at St. Johns, New Brunswick, he visited in the line of duty many ports on the Atlantic seaboard, occasionally going to Europe and making trips to South America, the Lesser Antilles and other distant ports. This somewhat arduous but beneficial ex- perience lasted from 1875 until 1878, when Mr. Clough abandoned the seafaring life and re- turned home. Taking service with George J. Prince in the latter's butter-tub factory at Ran- dolph, he represented that establishment as its foreman in Michigan for two years. In 1890 he purchased a farm in Braintree, Vermont, where he has since devoted his time to agricultural pur- suits. From 1889 until 1892, in partnership with Victor I. Spear, he was engaged in shipping fine grades of sheep from Vermont to Montana. During the years 1892 and 1893 he represented the town of Braintree in the state legislature and made a commendable record as a public official. Since 1895 he has held the position of road com- missioner, and during the last two years has been school commissioner, in both capacities showing aptitude for business and a watchful interest in the affairs of the people.

On the 16th of April, 1878, Mr. Clough was united in marriage to Miss Elsie M., daughter of William and Phebe (Loomis) Farnsworth, resi- dents of Braintree and engaged in agriculture. The four children born to this union are Nellie Blanche, Lynn F., Ray W. and Storrs F. The family is well known and has many friends, Mr. Clough having the faculty of making himself

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popular with people of all predilections and call- ings. When elected to the legislature he was a Democrat, but since then has affiliated with the Republican party. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 28, of that ancient order at Randolph. He at- tends the Congregational church at East Brain- tree, of which Mrs. Clough is a member. His career in all the relations of life has been credit- able to him as a man and a citizen.

Storrs S. Clough, the father of Guy A. Clough, was a native of Waterbury, Vermont, born April 7, 1828, and died in Roxbury, March 13, 1881. He was the eldest son of Thaddeus and Clarissa (Morse) Clough. The former came from Hopkinton, New Hampshire, at the age of five years, to Brookfield, Vermont, with an elder sister, wife of Solomon Rood. At the age of eighteen years he moved to Waterbury, where he passed his life and held all the chief town offices, representing the town three times in the state legislature. He died November 28, 1883, aged eighty-two years. His wife died September 30, 1876, aged eighty-four years.

Alma A. Allen was a lineal descendant of Deacon Asaph Allen, a cousin of Colonel Ethan Allen. Asaph Allen's wife was Persis Sheldon, of Bernardston, Massachusetts, a granddaugh- ter of Margaret Burke, who was a sister of Sir Edmond Burke. Deacon Asaph Allen was a Rev- olutionary soldier and a pensioner. Eliakim Al- len was a son of Asaph Allen, and the father of Alma A. Allen. The latter died February 20, 1854, aged thirty years. Eliakim Allen died at Waterbury, March 25, 1875, at the age of ninety years and one month. His wife Deborah died October 19, 1857, aged seventy-one years and eleven months.

REV. WILLIAM H. WASHBURNE, D. D.

Rev. William H. Washburne, D. D., pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church in Ben- nington, Vermont, was born in Rensselaerville, Albany county, New York, on the 18th day of October, 1839. He is a graduate of the Illinois Wesleyan University, of the Boston University School of Theology, and received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Livingstone College in 1896. He entered the ministry by

joining the Troy conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1866. On July 10, 1866, he was joined in marriage to Miss Betsy Swartwout, of Westerlo, New York. Two sons were born of this marriage, Robert Hoosick, now a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church; and Ernest S., a manufacturer in Troy, New York. Febru- ary 27, 1901, Dr. Washburne was united in mar- riage to Miss Georgiana Craw, of Albany, New York.

Dr. Washburne became pastor of the Metho- dist Episcopal church in Bennington in 1900. The church is fairly prosperous, a floating debt of twelve hundred dollars has been reduced to four hundred dollars, without interest. There is a membership of nearly four hundred, and good large congregations attend on the church services. The present church edifice was built of a sort of flint stone, sixty-five years ago.

SALMON WILLIAMS.

Though at present keeping a hotel in East Braintree, the gentleman whose name heads this biography spent the greater part of his life on a farm, engaged in the varied lines of agriculture suitable to this section. His father, George Will- iams, who was a native of Northfield, Vermont, and a son of an early settler of Washington coun- ty, purchased and cleared a farm on which he remained almost all his life. He held the posi- tion of justice of the peace and other town offices, farmed with fair success, and stood well in the community among all classes. He married Julia Spear, the early representatives of whose family were among the first settlers of Braintree. Her father, Jacob Spear, was a farmer and rose to a position of prominence and influence in his day. George Williams was a Republican in politics, and a Universalist in his religious belief.

His son Salmon, who bought the farm, was born April 4, 1840, and, with the exception of a very brief interval, spent sixty-one years of his life on the old homestead. Recently, however, he sold this place and now owns the old East Braintree Hotel, which he conducts to the entire satisfaction of the traveling public. Like his im- mediate ancestors, he has affiliated in politics with the Republican party, which had an early growth on Vermont soil and has dominated that

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state for half a century. The estimation in which Mr. Williams is held by his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that he has often been called to fill important positions in connection with local affairs. Among the offices he has held are those of justice of the peace, selectman and lister, be- sides discharging the duties of town and grand juryman, and was overseer of the poor for six years.

On the 28th of October, 1862, was solemnized the marriage of Salmon Williams and Lucy A. Dowen, the latter a native of Saratoga Springs, New York, and a woman of many estimable traits of character. This union resulted in the birth of five children, all of whom are comfortably set- tled in life and have done well. George D. is a farmer in Washington, Vermont; Cara J. is the wife of L. P. Kinney, of Lebanon, New Hamp- shire ; Hattie L. married C. E. Bowman, a farm- er of Roxbury, who of late has purchased the old Williams homestead; Lura Bell is the wife of Collin McRitchie, of Maine: and Alvin S. is an employe in the Edison Electric Light Works at Schenectady, New York. Mr. Williams is liberal in his religious belief, and, like the family for generations, is an adherent of the doctrines taught by the Universalist church. He has always taken much interest in agricultural affairs, for years has been an enthusiastic worker among the Patrons of Husbandry and was a charter member of the Grange at Snowville, in which he has held all the offices.

FRANK OREL BURT.

In the death of Mr. Frank Orel Burt, the village of Stowe was deprived of one of its chiefest ornaments, one whose life was devoted to the advancement of its interests, morally as as well as materially, and whose sterling traits of character are now a proper theme for sake of the influence which such a life must exert in the community.

He was born in Waterbury, Vermont, Feb- ruary 10, 1849, a son of Charles and Edna Burt. He was reared upon the homestead farm, where he labored for several years. He was educated in the public schools in Waterbury, and the Stowe high school, and made such advancement in knowledge that he subsequently taught with

much success for several terms. In 1883, in as- sociation with his brother, Charles E. Burt, he engaged in the lumber business, which they con- ducted with such industry and intelligence that it soon came to be recognized as one of the principal industries of Stowe, while the firm was numbered among the most enterprising lumber producers in the state. Practically controlling four thousand, five hundred acres of fine timber lands, the proprietors, in the conduct of their business, afforded a sadly needed object lesson to the lumber producers of the entire country, in carefully reserving a large share of their trees for future growth, and they calculated that by their method the town would, as a whole, grow timber with sufficient rapidity to nearly compen- sate for the annual cuttings. In the division of labor, to C. E. Burt was committed the over- sight of the logging and freighting, while Frank O. Burt had charge of the manufacturing and sales. In all the affairs of the business, which brought him into contact with all classes of men, he displayed those qualities which mark the real man of affairs. At the same time he bore him- self as one to whom was committed a trust rather than a matter of a private business, so considerate was he of others, whether employes or customers. He appeared to regard the enterprise in which were embarked his talents and his means, as a part of the life of the village, and he conducted its affairs in such manner as to enable the vil- lages to reap the fullest share of the benefits which that enterprise could bring. In all his dealings he was distinguished for his lofty in- tegrity. No taint of smallness, saying naught of sharp business methods, ever attached to him. His name was the synonym for an absolute hon- esty, which broadened out into liberality, and, were there honest question as to conflicting in- terests, he would cheerfully yield, in favor of another, the larger share of that which was in controversy.

While his efforts were largely devoted to the business with which his name was so prominently associated, Mr. Burt rendered loyal service to the community in various other important capac- ities. He took a foremost part in securing the establishment of the Stowe & Waterbury Electric Railroad, as well as every other enterprise prom- ising of advantage to the village or county. With

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his brother, he established the minature but use- ful water supply from the old Mount Mansfield hotel site, and by so doing brought benefit to a goodly number of worthy people. Deeply inter- ·ested in educational affairs, he served as school director for nine years, and it is without question that no one of that period took so active or use- ful part as did he in promoting the usefulness of the schools of Stowe and in elevating the stand- ards of teaching and scholarship. He served at one time as first selectman, and in 1900 repre- sented the town in the legislature. In both these positions he was an ideal public official, putting from himself all selfishness, and laboring with singleness of heart for the good of the com- munity and the state. He was an exemplary practical Christian, and an attendant and liberal supporter of the Unitarian church. He was a member of Mystic Lodge, F. & A. M., and his political affiliations were with the Democratic party.

Mr. Burt died July 16, 1902, at the age of fifty-three years. He was in the very prime of his physical and mental powers, and, until seized with his last illness, gave every promise of a long extended life of usefulness. He was compara- tively young to hold so high a place as he did in the hearts of his fellow townsmen. It is to be said, in all truthfulness, that he was the most highly regarded of all citizens of Stowe. Every effort of his life had for its inspiration the in- terests of his community, and his every act was to its advantage. Thus much may be read be- tween the lines in the foregoing narrative of his business and public career. In his personal re- lations with his fellows he was sympathetic to a degree approaching that of close and real kin- ship. He never lost and was ever making oppor- tunity to render some helpful service to the needy ones about him, in judicious counsel and with his means, in aid to the establishment of business or making a home, in rendering assistance in time of financial embarrassment, and in ameliorating the condition of the sick and distressed, and he was frequently known to practice almost pathetic self-denial in order to assist a neighbor. In all this intercourse with those about him, he was modest and unostentatious, and his private bene- factions remain unknown save as they were told of by those who were debtors to his kindhearted-

ness. Domestic in his tastes, he was essentially a home man, devoted to his wife and children in much closer degree than is usual with men of affairs, and only to be drawn from them when he might render some Samaritan-like service to a needy person.

Mr. Burt was twice married. His first wife was Miss Lillian May, and to them were born five children: Craig, who, although young in years, has afforded every evidence of possessing the excellent personal attributes of his father, and who, as a member of the firm of Burt Brothers, has succeeded to the responsibilities of handling the business interests of the father ; Barbara, who is engaged in the office of the firm; Wayne, Mar- jorie, Rebecca.

Mr. Burt was again married, October 17, 1897, to Miss Jeanette Straw, a daughter of Thomas A. Straw, who was a wheelwright and miller, and operated a grist mill in Stowe up to the time of his death. Mrs. Burt, a lady of edu- cation and culture, brought to her husband all those graces of character which made her a con- genial helpmate to her devoted husband, and she repaid his affections with an ardent sympathy in the concerns of his active career, and with un- selfish devotion in his last days.

SANFORD E. EMERY.

Sanford E. Emery, an efficient and successful attorney and land surveyor of. Proctorsville, Ver- mont, was born in Plymouth, Vermont, June II, 1857, a descendant of an ancestry who have re- sided for generations in the New England states. His paternal great-grandfather was a native of New Hampshire, but subsequently removed to Vermont, where his son Willard Emery, grand- father of Sanford F. Emery, was born and fol- lowed the occupation of shoemaker in Plymouth, Vermont, where his death occurred. He was the father of the following named children: Charles, James, Moses and Willard Emery.

James N. Emery, father of Sanford E. Em- ery, was born at Plymouth, Vermont, January 15, 1833, enlisted as a private in Company C, Sixth Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, in 1863, and was later promoted to the rank of cor- poral. He was united in marriage to Sarah A. Carlisle, and their children were: Sanford E .;

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Abbie, who died in 1883, was the wife of Charles Ross : and Addie, a widow now residing in Chi- cago, Illinois, was twice married. Mr. Emery's death occurred in the Baltimore Hospital, Octo- ber 27, 1864, from disease contracted during his service in the United States army, he being then only thirty-one years of age. He was survived by his widow, who married for her second hus- band Artemus Spaulding, a farmer of Cavendish, Vermont; they have two children, Laura, now Laura Darling, of Gardner, Massachusetts; and Edith Spaulding Foster, residing at Cavendish.

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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 99

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