USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 61
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In the full prime of manhood, and endowed with a restless, energetic, and self-controlled 'temperament, General Mccullough could not content himself with the enjoyment of what he had so nobly and honorably won. Although he has not again taken up exclusively legal labors, he has distinguished him- self in commercial, banking, and railroad affairs. For the past twelve years he has been vice-president and manager, in great measure, of the Panama Rail- road Company. He is now the president and directing genius of that corpor- ation, having consented to hold such relation at the urgent solicitation of M. De Lesseps and its French owners. He is chairman of the board of directors of the Erie Railway Company. He is also the president of the First National Bank of North Bennington, president of the Bennington and Rutland Railway Company, and a director of several banking and other institutions in Vermont and New York. Belonging to the Bennington Battle Monument Association, he was an active member of the committee charged with the selection of a de- sign for the fitting memorial of that celebrated engagement.
Politics, as an applied science, have never failed to enlist the warmest sym- pathies of General Mccullough. Whether on the Pacific or the Atlantic slope of the continent he has exhibited the liveliest interest in all the public ques- tions of the day. No political campaign since 1860 has passed away without having heard his voice, ringing out in no uncertain tones, in advocacy of the principles and men that challenged his support. Under ordinary conditions the better and more fruitful portion of life is still before him. His beautiful home in Southern Vermont is the abode of elegant and cordial hospitality, and the center whence radiate the manifold energies which class him with the ablest and most influential citizens of the Green Mountain State.
John Griffith Mccullough was married in 1871 to Eliza Hall, the oldest daughter of Trenor W. Park, and grand-daughter of ex-Governor Hiland Hall. Four children, named Hall Park, Elizabeth Laura, Ella Sarah, and Esther Morgan, are the fruit of their union.
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C OOPER, CHARLES was born in Nottingham, England, in January, 1835. He was the fourth child, and one of the twelve children born to James and Ann (Glover) Cooper. The father. James Cooper, was a very skillful me- chanic, and made the inside work of knitting machinery a specialty. He man- ufactured for the trade all kinds of knitting needles, and the various forms of the sinkers for the knitting frames. Into this business Charles Cooper was very early inducted, and before reaching his minority had acquired considerable skill in many of the operations that constitute the process of this manufacture. In 1847 James Cooper, the father of the subject of this sketch, came to America, first to Germantown, Pa., at that time the seat of the greatest knitting indus- try in the United States. After a few months he went to Thompsonville, Conn., to enter the employ of the Enfield Manufacturing Company of that place, pur- suing the calling to which he had devoted his life, making needles and sink- ers, and the delicate inside work of knitting frames. In 1848 the family left by him in the old English home came across the water to join the pioneer hus- band and father, and, being soon domiciled, began the working out of their sev- eral destinies in the new world. The Cooper family are a gifted race in the line of mechanical design and invention. A sister of Mr. Cooper, Madam Griswold, of New York City, has invented and manufactured some of the most popular designs of corsets and other articles of ladies' underwear. She has made for herself an enviable reputation and secured a competency George Cooper is known as a most skillful and ingenious machinest, and his patents are numerous, and have won for him great distinction as an inventor.
While living at Thompsonville Charles Cooper was married to Miss Annie Semple, daughter of Alexander Semple, whose brother is now the superin- tendent of the Broad Brook Woolen Company's Works. To Charles and Annie Cooper have been born five children, three daughters and two sons, one . son and two daughters are now living; the younger son, a remarkable boy, died at the age of twelve years. The middle daughter, Mrs. Mabel E. Graves, but recently passed away. Charles Cooper, having previously purchased of his brother George all his right in the flat rib knitting machine patent in 1868, came to Bennington to put one of his machines to work in the mills of H. E. Bradford & Co., bringing with him George Dakin, an expert knitter, to run. In the fall of the same year Charles Cooper brought his whole needle plant to Bennington, and began here his extensive business in that line. He manufactures all kinds of knitting needles for all kinds of machines, also the sinkers for the same. This was his father's business, and he has been trained in it since his youth. In 1870 Mr. Cooper took his brother-in law, Mr. Eli Tiffany, into partnership with him, and the year following they commenced the manufacture of their patent flat rib knitting machine, and so great were their sales that their output went as high as $75,000 per year. In 1886 the firm was dissolved, and Charles Cooper began the manufacture of the same
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machine in a shop of his own, and the output of the new shop equals the nun- ber of machines made by the old company. His machine works are supplied with the most improved machinery and tools, and are under the superinten- dency of Mr. Daniel Hurley. In 1883 he started the manufacture of knit goods of a very fine quality and diversified patterns, and this branch of his business has increased to such an extent that the Cooper Manufacturing Company ranks as one of the leading industries of southern Vermont. Of this company the capital stock is $100,000, Charles Cooper, president, and his son, A. J. Cooper, is vice- president and treasurer, and Benjamin F. Ball secretary and superintendent.
Mr. Cooper is essentially a self-made man, a good example of America's opportunities and rewards of talent and energy. He began life with no capi- tal save a thorough knowledge of his trade, and this he has utilized to exceed- ingly good purpose. Substantial returns are the reward of his energy, indus- try, and perseverance.
Devoted to his business, Mr. Cooper has not found time to enter into local or general politics to any great extent than should every prudent and patriotic citizen. He has, however, very decided political opinions, and is a thorough protectionist from conviction of the imminent disaster that must come to Amer- ican industries if, by lowering the present tariff rates, American operatives and manufacturers are brought into too sharp competition with the cheaper labor and massed capital of Europe.
He knows the more favorable condition of the American operative and mechanic as compared with the same employment in Europe. He knows this from observation and experience on both sides of the Atlantic, and is there- fore the more pronounced in favor of the American system of protection.
In social and society matters Mr. Cooper takes great interest. But he finds his greatest pleasure in the relaxation from business by devotion to church work. He is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is the superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is an earnest and reliable helper in all good enterprises.
B URTON, ELIAS BLACK, HON., was born in the town of Rupert on the 3d of May in the year 1816, and was the fourth of nine children born to Nathan and Charlotte (Graves) Burton, both of whom were highly respected residents of Rupert, the mother being a daughter of Dr. Graves of that town, a leading physician of his time. Young Elias was given the advantages of a good education in the district schools of the town at first, but afterward was under the instruction of Judge Aiken, then of Manchester, afterward of Massa- chusetts, by the latter preparing for college. He also attended one term at the Royalton Academy, and later at the Bennington Academy, and in 1833 entered the Middlebury College for a regular classical course of four years. In
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1837 he was graduated from that institution. He then went South and passed about a year, engaged in teaching at Carrolton, Ala., but at the expiration of that time returned to his home in Rupert.
The next year, 1839, our subject is found in Troy, in the office of Lawyer Wilson as a student, determined to enter the legal profession, but after four months he went to Salem, N. Y., and there entered the law office of Allen & Blair, with whom he continued until his admission to the bar at the General Term of the Supreme Court held in May, 1842. In 1843 the young lawyer came to Manchester and formed a law partnership with Counselor A. L. Miner of that place, with whom he was associated until the year 1851, Mr. Miner then leaving off practice to enter upon the duties of the office of repre- sentative in Congress, to which he was in that year elected. From that time until 1854 Mr. Burton practiced. alone, but in the year last named he took a partner in the person of Samuel Seward Burton, the cousin of our subject, who afterward became prominent as one of the leading and most successful lawyers and business men of LaCrosse, Wis., to which place he emigrated in 1857. Then, after a period of practice alone Mr. Burton formed a partnership in 1866 for law practice with Loveland Munson who had then but recently been admitted to the bar of the State, and who had prosecuted his legal stu- dies in the office of our subject. This latter copartnership relation continued until the spring of 1888, when the senior partner felt justified in retiring from the onerous and burdensome duties of active professional life.
As has already been stated it was in the year 1843 that Elias B. Burton began his professional career in Manchester, the north half-shire town of Ben- nington county, but his subsequent practice was not by any means confined to this locality alone. As a lawyer, whether young or old in the profession, he always applied himself diligently to its labors, and at an early day assumed, and to the time of his retirement maintained a leading position among the pro- fession's ablest members. In the conduct of his legal business he was method- ical and cautious, without being laborious. He discountenanced rather than promoted litigation, and in his intercourse with his clients mature deliberation always preceded council. He rarely indulged in rhetoric and never in osten- tatious display, but addressed himself to the understanding of his hearers in- stead of appealing to their passions, and approached whatever subject he had in hand with dignity, self-possession, and in the light of principle and com- mon sense. Upon all the political issues of the times he has entertained clear and well settled convictions and is perfectly frank and outspoken in the ex- pression of them. His sentiments have been and are emphatically conserva- tive - naturally inclined to adhere to the established order of things, and not easily drawn into the advocacy of any of the isms of the day.
Naturally enough a man of his prominence could not well avoid being drawn into the arena of politics, yet he has by no means been an office-seeker.
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In 1849 he was elected State's attorney for Bennington county, and held that office one year. In 1855 hie represented the town of Manchester in the State General Assembly, and in 1856 and 1857 in the State Senate. In 1865 he was elected to the office of Probate judge, and filled that position for twelve consecutive years. In 1860 John W. Stewart and Elias B. Burton were ap- pointed delegates to represent the first Vermont Congressional District at the National Republican Convention held at Chicago, and at which Abraham Lin- coln was nominated for the presidency of the United States, and it is to this last named event and his connection therewith that Judge Burton looks back with feelings of the greatest pride and satisfaction.
On the 13th day of December, in the year 1842, the same year in which he was admitted to the bar, Elias B. Burton was married to Adeline M. Har- wood, of the village of Bennington. Of this marriage there have been born six children, three of whom are now living, the other three having died in in- fancy.
URTON, WILLIAM B. The subject of this sketch was born in the town B of Manchester, on the farm now owned and occupied by his brother, George G. Burton, on the 3d day of July 1820. His father was Joseph, and his mother Anna (Benedict) Burton, and of their six children William was the eldest but one. The father, Joseph Burton, was a farmer, and on the farm William was brought up at work, attending school in season, until he reached the age of about twenty years, when, having been educated at the Burr and Burton Seminary at Manchester, he began teaching school, which occupation engaged his attention for several years.
About the year 1848, in copartnership with F. W. Hoyt, Mr. Burton em- barked in the mercantile business at Manchester village, but three years of ex- perience in trade brought the firm no gratifying results, and the establishment was closed. But Mr. Burton settled the affairs of the unfortunate firm, and accepted a clerkship or managing position in connection with a union store gotten up and stocked by the farmers of the vicinity, and located at Factory Point (now Manchester Center), which business Mr. Burton conducted for about eight years.
In 1862 our subject formed a partnership with Samuel G. Cone of Man- chester, and succeeded by purchase to the mercantile business formerly con- ducted by Franklin H. Orvis; and about five years later the firm added to their interests another store at Factory Point, in both of which enterprises they have been engaged to the present day. It is no flattering comment to state that the business of this firm has been entirely successful, or that the members of the firm are both counted among the most honorable and fair dealing men in the community. From 1862 to 1875 Mr. Burton also held the office as postmaster.
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William B. Burton has never been an aspirant for political honors in his town or in the county, but has been content to busy himself with the affairs of his own interests; still there is no man that has been more closely identified with the various measures looking to the benefit and welfare of the town than he. In matters pertaining to the church, with which he has for upwards of thirty years been connected as a member, Mr. Burton has taken a deep in- terest, contributing both of his time and means for the advancement and pros- perity of the Congregational Society. The office of treasurer of that society he held for many years, and insisted on being retired from the duties of the same at the last annual meeting, but still he holds the office of deacon. For more than forty years he was leader of the choir in the Congregational Church.
On the 16th day of August, 1846 William B. Burton was married to An- geline M., the daughter of Abraham B. Straight, of Manchester. Of this union three children were born, only two of whom grew to maturity. His wife died on the 13th day of December, 1877. On the 15th day of June, 1880 Mr. Burton was married to Elizabeth T. Morgan, the daughter of a highly respected and prominent pioneer resident, Colonel A. W. Morgan, of Glens Falls, War- ren county, N. Y.
0 RVIS, FRANKLIN H. The people of the quiet little village of Man- chester hardly thought what fame was in store for their town when, in 1852, Franklin H Orvis took the residence of his father and converted it into a summer resort; and Mr. Orvis himself was somewhat surprised at the results of the first few years in this undertaking, for while he confidently believed from the very first that the enterprise would be measurably successful, his most san- guine expectations were greatly surpassed in the growing success that crowned his efforts at the outset. In 1853 Mr. Orvis enlarged the capacity of the house by making his father's store-building a part of it, and the whole was then christened the Equinox House; a name well known to summer pleasure seekers throughout the country; not seekers after exciting sports, but rather those who prefer the quiet enjoyment of a most healthful locality, where rest and comfort are assured and nature's attractions are perfect. But as the name and fame of the Equinox went abroad further enlargements were necessary, but we cannot enumerate them in detail. In 1858 the building on the east side of the street was arranged for the accommodation of guests and made a part of the house, and in 1883 Mr. Orvis purchased the Taconic House, on the west side of the street, and that too forms a part of his extensive hotel. Other ad- ditions were made from time to time, and the Equinox property now occupies an ample frontage on both sides of the thoroughfare, and the surroundings and appointments of the whole enterprise are most inviting and delightful. Nature, too, has done much to make Manchester a desirable place of abode during the summer months ; on the east the visitor obtains a magnificent view of the main .
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chain of the Green Mountains; on the west is presented to the eye the tower- ing heiglits of grand old Equinox ; to north, and but a few miles distant, there stands out clearly to the vision the lesser lights-Mount Eolus and Owl's Head, while on the south the beautiful valley of the Battenkill is an attraction no less charming and no less grand. But all this lovely panorama of nature has been in constant display for hundreds and hundreds of years, and still it re- mained for the hand and energy of man to develop the place and make it a profitable resort-profitable to the person who should undertake it, and an honor to the town ; others might have accomplished the same thing but Frank- lin H. Orvis did it, and by the doing the whole townspeople owe him a debt of gratitude. Some mien would have devoted a lifetime to the work done by our subject in thirty five years, others might have done it as quickly as he ; he claims no special credit for his success. He is a native Vermonter, proud of his State and town. and his success is that of his town also. Let us see the record of his life. Franklin Henry Orvis was born on the 12th day of July, 1824, and of the seven children born to Levi Church and Electa Sophia (Purdy) Orvis he was the oldest. His father, Levi Church Orvis, and grandfather, Waitstill Orvis, were likewise natives of Vermont, though born "over east of the mountains." Electa Sophia Orvis, the mother of our subject, was descended from Reuben Purdy, who will be remembered as the head of one of the oldest and most highly respected pioneer families of the town of Manchester. Levi Or- vis came to Manchester about the year 1820, living for a time in the family of Ephraim Munson, and attending Hill's School. Shortly afterward he married Electa Sophia Purdy as above stated. He then engaged in the mercantile and marble business at Manchester, and continued in such up to the time of his death in 1849. It was in his father's store that Franklin H. Orvis obtained his early business education, but he also attended the common schools of the town, the Burr Seminary, and the Union Village Academy at Greenwich, N. Y., finishing at the latter in 1842, then being eighteen years of age, The next two years were passed in Wisconsin and Illinois in mercantile pursuits, but in 1844 he went to New York City as a clerk in the wholesale dry goods house of Marsh & Willis, which position he held for about two years. In 1846 Mr. Orvis, in association with Elijah M. Carrington, formerly of Poultney, under the firm name of Carrington & Orvis engaged in the business of wholesale dealing in dry goods, with which enterprise he was connected until about the year 1860, then retiring to give his entire attention to the hotel business he had estab- lished some eight years before. But the Equinox at Manchester, as is very well known, has been conducted as a summer resort exclusively; therefore, with Mr. Orvis's retirement from the mercantile business in New York City, the win- ter months became to him a season of comparative inactivity, except during the brief period of his connection with the Manchester Journal, which paper he took in 1871 and conducted with gratifying success for about one year, as
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will be seen by reference to the press chapter in an earlier part of this volume. About this same time, or in 1872, Mr. Orvis became proprietor of the St. James Hotel, at Jacksonville, Fla., which house he conducted as a winter re- sort one year. In 1875 he purchased the Putnam Housc, at Palatka, Fla., cn- larged it, made it a winter resort, and continued its management until it was destroyed by fire in November, 1884. In 1880 Mr. Orvis took the Windsor at Jacksonville, conducting this and the Putnam at Palatka, until the latter was burned, since which the Windsor has occupied his time during the winter, and the Equinox at Manchester during the summer season. The successful con- duct of a large hotel calls for as much of tact and good judgment as the man- agement of any other extensive business enterprise ; and it is an undeniable fact that the successful landlord must possess peculiar characteristics such as are not brought into active usc in the transaction of ordinary business in other channels. These necessary traits and qualifications are, it seems, possessed by Mr. Orvis in an abundant degree; and while to him is due the credit of having built up these large enterprises and made for them a reputation second to none in the country, some acknowledgement should be here made to the efficient assistance rendered by his sons, who are interested in the business of their father, and seem to have inherited much of his business thrift and energy. Six sons were born of the marriage of Franklin H. Orvis with Sarah M., the daughter of Paul Whitin, of Whitinsville, Worcester county, Mass. This mar- riage occurred on the 17th day of November, in the year 1852. As will be seen from the forcgoing brief résumé, the life of Franklin H. Orvis has been one of busy activity for nearly half a century, commencing with his cight- eenth year and continuing to the present time. And while he has been thus engaged with his business affairs he has nevertheless found time to participate in the various events and measures looking to the improvement and welfare. of his native town, for every cause that has tended to its advancement has found in him an carnest advocate, and every worthy charity has received from him substantial aid. In the fall of 1869 he was elected to the Vermont Senate from Bennington county as the candidate of the Republican party, of which party he has been an active member since 1861.
R OOT, HENRY G. It would seem that fifty years of participation in ac- tive business pursuits ought to entitle any person to permanent retirement and rest for the remainder of his life; but some men are so constituted that the absence of business connections seems like idleness, and the latter is irksome and foreign to their nature. Such a thought is suggested by looking over the past career of Henry G. Root, who, although now past his seventieth anniver- sary of birth, appears to be as actively engaged in business as at any time here- tofore, and with the same good judgment and results as at an carlier day; in truth time has dealt leniently with our subject, and his years hang but lightly
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upon him. His life too, from a business point of view, has been entirely suc. cessful, and a substantial fortune is its result.
But it is not solely to this accumulation that Mr. Root has been devoted throughout these long years, for within the county of Bennington there lives no man who has exhibited more public-spiritedness, or has gone deeper into pocket in the interest of his town and its improvement in every respect than has he; his early connection with the efforts made to obtain a railway outlet for the town, and the bringing about of that consummation, shows that he possessed something of an influence in the community as well as a desire to benefit the town; and his connection with the Centennial Celebration, and the Battle Mon- ument Association, he having raised in the main the subscription fund for the former, and the five thousand dollars demanded by the State Legislature to be raised by subscription among the people, as condition upon which the State appropriation was made; and for all of this service he neither asked, received or hoped for reward other than that enjoyed by the whole people of the county -a fitting celebration of the Vermont Centennial Anniversary, and the build- ing of a magnificent monument commemorative of the battle of Benning- ton. The people of the county will remember the movement that was set on foot relating to the removal of the court-house and county buildings from Ben- nington and Manchester and centering them in Arlington, and the work that was required to be done, and the means necessary to be raised to prevent such removal ; and remembering this they will also recall the fact that of the prom- inent citizens who worked to retain the buildings in the village and raise the funds to make the court-house inhabitable, none labored more zealously, or with better results than Henry G. Root.
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