USA > Vermont > Bennington County > History of Bennington County, Vt. : with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 63
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V TALENTINE, JOEL, was born in Jackson, Washington county, N. Y., Jan- uary 22, 1791. He was brought up a farmer, and had the usual limited opportunities for education afforded in those days by the district school, which opportunities he seemed to have improved. He was for a short time a soldier in the War of 1812 and 1814. His father served in the Revolutionary War. In early manhood he worked his full time as an apprentice in learning the clothier's trade. He was married in 1821 to Miss Judith Wells, also of Jack- son, N. Y. He moved to Bennington in 1822, and hired what was known as the Walbridge Fulling Mill, situated at Bennington Falls, and there did a small business in manufacturing woolen cloths. In the year 1824 he purchased lands and a water privilege in Bennington village, then called in derision "Algiers." His business was taking wool of the farmers and making it into cloth, and full- ing, coloring and finishing their home-woven flannels. He also carded wool into what were called rolls, for the spinning-wheels of the thrifty dames of those days. He was doing a thriving business, when in 1836 his factory, which was insured for only a few hundred dollars, was destroyed by fire. He impro- vised a small manufactory in one of his outbuildings, where he worked for nine years. At the end of that time he was able to build a substantial brick struc- ture, which became in later years a part of his son's knitting- mill, and was de- stroyed by fire in 1884.
Mr. Valentine was economical in his habits, and as a business man careful and prudent, and for those days successful. He was honest to a fault, his word being as good as his note, and there was never cause to question either. His stern, unyielding integrity was proverbial, and no persuasion could induce him to give or spend one cent beyond the warrant of his means and business pros- pects.
Few, if any, did more to shape the course of Bennington village in its early history than did Joel Valentine. With a judgment unsually clear, and possess- ing decided opinions, he was active in promoting what he considered the best good of the village. He was one of the promoters of the educational institu- tion so long and widely known as Union Academy. His private life was above reproach.
In early years he was a strong Jackson Democrat, later on a Free Soiler, then an Abolitionist, and at the breaking out of the rebellion he became an ardent Republican He was town selectman for a number of years and held many positions of public trust. He took an active and liberal part in the sup- port of the Baptist Church, of which he was a member. He was a strong tem-
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perance man, and believed in the prohibitory law and its enforcement. Such a man would naturally make some enemies, and many friends. Four children were born to him, two of whom died in infancy. A son, Samuel Wells, lived to the age of nineteen, and his son, Alonzo B Valentine, was his only surviv- ing child at the time of his death, July 17, 1866.
V TALENTINE, MAJOR ALONZO B. The subject of this sketch, the son of Joel and Judith (Wells) Valentine, was born in Bennington on the 1st day of April, in the year 1830, and at this day lives in the house in which he first saw the light. Alonzo was the youngest of four children born of the pa- rents above named, and the only one that grew to man's estate. The youth of our subject was spent in the schools of the town, the Union Academy, and he also received further instruction at Townsend, Vt., and Suffield, Conn., tak- ing a course preparatory for college, but relinquished this purpose, having a greater inclination for business rather than professional life. To this end he engaged with his father in the custom woolen mill of the latter, and became a partner on arriving at the age of twenty-one, under the style of Joel Valentine & Son.
But about this time the wonderful stories in circulation concerning the rich gold deposits of California were creating considerable excitement in the East, and young Valentine was brought under its influence to an extent that in- duced him to journey to the other side of the continent during the year 1852. Here he remained some two years, in the gold fields a part of the time, and en- gaged in business for the other part, but decided to and did return to the East in the early part of 1854, bringing with him several hundred dollars in gold dust, the fruits of his labor and toil.
Having returned to Bennington our subject resumed business, but changed its character somewhat by adding grain grinding machinery to the mill, the spe- cial charge of which was taken by the young man and Zadoc Taft. But in 1856 Alonzo sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Taft, and with his young wife, whom he had married on the 28th day of June of that year, and whose maiden name was Alma L. Park, (the sister of the late Trenor W. Park), he again went West, this time to Wisconsin, where he acquired an interest in a timber tract, and en- gaged in the lumber business. This he sold after about two years, and in 1858 Mr. Valentine returned to Bennington, purchased Mr. Taft's interest in the grist- mill, and carried on business here until 1862, when the war being in pro- gress he entered the service as regimental quartermaster with the rank of lieu- tenant, in the Tenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry. In this capacity Lieuten- ant Valentine served from the 3Ist of July, 1862 until the 2d day of March, 1864, and was then advanced by President Abraham Lincoln to the position of commissary of subsistence, with the rank of captain, and assigned to duty with the First Vermont Brigade. Again on the 28th of June, 1865, by a com-
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mission bearing the signature of Andrew Johnson, (the former bore President Lincoln's), Captain Valentine was further advanced to the rank of brevet- ma- jor, which promotion, as the commission recites, was " for meritorious services."
Digressing briefly here from the narrative of the events of his life, it may be stated that it was as commissary of subsistence that Major Valentine rendered his most efficient service to the government during the war. The office was highly important, and one connected with which were heavy responsibilities. An officer so holding was compelled to furnish large bonds of fidelity, as there were placed with him vast quantities of army stores and supplies for safe keeping and disposal; and although Major Valentine was a new man to this branch of service he performed its duties to the entire satisfaction of the department, the suspicion of error or fault never being created, but every duty was done with military and business dispatch and accuracy. Concerning Major Valentine's incumbency of this office. Granville Benedict in his " Vermont in the Civil War," says: "Alonzo B. Valentine was without previous experience, but pos- sessed genuine business capacity as well as high patriotism, and proved to be an energetic and capable officer."
In June, 1866 Major Valentine was mustered out of the service and returned to Bennington, and home and friends. He then purchased from his father the mill and privilege the former had so long utilized, and changed it into a knit- ting factory, and has conducted it as such to the present day. While the busi- ness of manufacturing knit goods is perhaps the leading industry of Benning- ton, the factory now operated by the Valentine Knitting Company is known not only as one of the largest, but also as one of the best managed and most successful enterprises of the village or locality. Of this company Major Valen - tine is the vice-president and active manager, and to the building up of this vast industry has he been devoted since his return from the South in 1866. Besides this he is interested in various other enterprises of a business charac- ter, but that above mentioned is perhaps the most important and extensive.
Outside of his business Major Valentine has been no less conspicuous in the town, county and State in all matters pertaining to the general welfare of each. It cannot be said that any good work ever appealed to him in vain; at the same time his best deeds have not been done in a manner to draw atten- tion to himself. He is not a self-seeker in any sense, his chief aim being to be considered one of the staunch business men of the town, and to so order his daily life as to secure the respect and esteem of his townsmen. His public- spiritedness too is undoubted, for there has been no enterprise the object of which was for the general welfare of the people, with which he has not been prominently associated. In the matter of the celebration of the Vermont Cen- tennial Anniversary, the subsequent Battle Monument Association, and the project for building the monument itself, he has been not only a leading spirit, but a safe counselor in the multitude of questions that have arisen where ex-
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ceedingly good judgment and wise discrimination were of the utmost import- ance. He was not only an earnest advocate of the graded school for Benning- ton, but he stood manfully and fearlessly in the front when others wavered, and it is due to him to say that without the effort made by Major A. B. Valentine the village of Bennington would not have had the graded school built when it was, and perhaps not even to this day. Major Valentine is not without ene- mies, but the leading men, the thoughtful business men, the men of integrity of the town are entirely content with his course, and proud to call him their friend. It was almost wholly through his efforts that the Soldiers' Home was established at Bennington, and he is now the active local director and chair- man of the finance committee of the board of trustees of that institution. He is the present president of the Bennington County Savings Bank. In "Grand Army" circles Major Valentine has been equally prominent. In 1882 he was elected State Department Commander, and at that time the organizations of the State numbered only about seven hundred members; but through the en- ergy brought into the Grand Army by his incumbency, the membership dur- ing his first year increased to fifteen hundred, and at the expiration of the sec- ond year (Major Valentine having been re elected in February, 1883), the lat- ter figure was itself doubled; more than that he greatly increased the number of posts in the State.
Naturally enough a man of his extended and popular acquaintance could not well avoid being drawn somewhat into the field of politics, both in minor and higher offices, the indispensible public trusts required by every community. He has never sought office, and often refused it. By it he could add nothing to his name, character, or standing among his fellow-men. He never felt the "pride of office;" to fawn or scheine for it he is incapable, and like the good citizen he has been ever awake to the public weal, and a close observer of public men and public acts, and has watched the interests of the country with the closest scru- tiny; and occasions are not wanting in which his sentiments have been ex- pressed upon the platform and through the medium of the public press. Still, private life and his own affairs are more congenial to his tastes. Blessed with a happy family and an abundance of this world's goods, his home is the seat of comfort, generous hospitality, and social enjoyment, and yet he is a public man. His influence in society is great and beneficial, and his liberality in every en- terprise for improvement, and in matters relating to charity and education is munificent.
In 1886 and 1887 Major Valentine represented Bennington county in the Senate of the State, and while there he was identified with some highly im- portant measures, among them the bill that brought the Soldiers' Home, into existence; also the bills relating to the Normal Schools of the State, and the permanent location of a camping ground for the use of the National Guard of Vermont. He was especially active in securing the passage of the act entitled
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"an act to provide for the study of scientific temperance in the public schools of Vermont," and the supplementary act making the books relating thereto free to the scholar. Under the provisions of these acts Senator Valentine was ap- pointed by Governor Ormsbee one of the committee of three to select the text- books to be used, and to contract for their purchase.
After retiring from the duties of his office in the Legislature Senator Valen- tine has devoted his time and energies to his personal business interests, and the several institutions with which he is associated; and at this present holds by appointment of Govenror William P. Dillingham, the position of commis- sioner of agricultural manufacturing and labor interest of the State, a position of importance and responsibility. Concerning the appointment and Major Valentine's qualifications for its duties the Burlington Free Press says:
Governor Dillingham's appointment of Major A. B. Valentine to be commissioner, under Act 110 of the last Legislature, to investigate the agricultural and manufacturing interest of the State, and devise means to develop them, is well received by the press of the State. It is the clutv of the commissioner to collect authentic statistical information in regard to the agricultu- ral interests and resources. The commissioner is to report, if advisable, a bill to the next Leg- islature, embodying any action that may be necessary. Major Valentine will employ a clerk to assist him in the statistical duties of the office.
In 1876 Major Valentine made an extended tour through Europe, and took a great interest in the condition of mill operatives, especially in England. He has also traveled extensively on this continent and with his habits of observation has laid up a large store of information, which will add to his qualifications for the duties of the office.
The growth of the Vermont Department of the Grand Army of the Republic was remark- able under Major Valentine's administration as department commander in 1882 and 1883, and added to his reputation for executive ability. He was State senator in 1884, and was the author of some important bills which became laws.
His articles on the tariff and labor question during the late campaign attracted much atten- tion, and were extensively copied by our State papers and prominent metropolitan journals.
The position of commissioner of agricultural and manufacturing interests was reluctantly accepted by him, but with his energy and executive ability there is no doubt but he will fill the position ably, and render valuable public service in it.
COTT, COLONEL OLIN. This well-known and enegetic business man of S the village of Bennington is a life long resident of the town, and was born on the 27th day of February, in the year 1832. He is therefore in the fifty- eighth year of his life, although he might well be taken for a man at least ten years younger, and that notwithstanding the fact that Colonel Scott's life has been one of hard and incessant labor since he was about ten years of age. His work, too, has been of such a character as would ordinarily break the constitu- tion of an average person ; but he, happily, has been an exception to the gen- eral rule, and the strength of mind and body are apparently as vigorous as can be found in the great majority of men with a score less years upon them. The parents of Olin Scott were Martin B. and Mary A. (Olin) Scott, of whose chil- dren our subject was the eldest save one. The father was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and lived, when Olin was born, in Bennington, about a mile due north from the Putnam House corner, on a direct continuation of North
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street past the Soldiers' Home. In the spring of 1841 the family moved to Shaftsbury, Vt., and in 1843 removed to the village of North Bennington, Vt., where the family have since remained. Up to the time that Olin reached his eleventh year he attended the district school of the town, but on attaining that age his father obtained for him a situation in a store at Troy, N. Y., where he remained about one and a half years. He then returned home and resumed his books during one winter, but went the next spring to Albany, and took a position as cashier and collector's assistant in a dry goods establishment in that city, remaining there several months, and then came back to North Benning- ton and school. In the spring of 1846 the young man came to Bennington village (that now known as such), where he worked for his board, with the priv- ilege of attending school at the old Union Academy ; but during the spring of 1 848 he became an apprentice to learn the trade of a millwright, working with his mother's brother, Truman Olin, and was so employed during the next three years, and at the end of that period he had so thoroughly mastered the trade in all its departments that he was frequently sent out with gangs of men under his charge to do millwright work in various places. But during these years, as well as those that followed, it was an absolute rule with young Scott to spend at least an hour each day in the study of mathematical and mechanical books ; and after his term of apprenticeship had passed he attended the North Bennington Academy and studied mathematics and surveying, the knowledge of which served him an exceedingly good turn in after years. It may be stated further, parenthetically, perhaps, that until within a very few years Colonel Scott has devoted much of his leisure time to the study of mechanical engi- neering, drafting and kindred pursuits, which might be of assistance to him in business life; and while so doing other studies have not been wholly neglected, as he has a fair knowledge of law, and besides these he is an exceptionally well informed man, and an agreeable, clear, and forcible conversationalist on all the leading events of our civil and political history. From the time of completing his apprenticeship until the year of 1855 young Scott worked for himself, job- bing in various localities and States, some in New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts, but mainly in Vermont ; but during the year last named or early in the next year he became connected with the old firm of Grover & Harrington, of Bennington in the capacity of foreman of their mill machinery department. With this concern he was employed until their suspension in De- cember, 1857, after which he became for a time interested in a mill property in Shaftsbury, which he sold in the spring of 1858. In May, 1858, Mr. Scott became a partner of Major S. H. Brown in the Bennington Iron Foundry and Machine Shops and engaged in the business of building general and paper- mill and powder machinery, at the Bennington Iron Works on North street in Bennington, which copartnership continued for a period of five years. At the beginning of the war of the rebellion Colonel Scott was prompt to begin the work of raising men to support the government, and largely assisted in raising
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the first company of three years' volunteers put in the field by the State of Vermont-Company A of the Second regiment (the first regiment being a regiment of militia who went out as three months' men). He drilled with the company two weeks, when he was called to the work of reconstructing the powder. mills of the country to make the powder needed for the extensive mil- itary operations then in progress. Not being able to go into the field in per- son during the war, he hired a man to go in his stead as a volunteer, but with- out procuring exemption for himself. At that time Colonel Scott was the only mechanical engineer in the United States who was an expert in the construction of powder-mills, and also in the manufacture of gunpowder, he having already made that business a specialty. A large part of the powder machinery built during the war of the rebellion was built by him. During the war Colonel Scott continued building powder mill machinery, and the urgent needs of the country for machinery, such as the firm put up, gave them an abundance of business and necessitated an enlargement of their works. In 1863 Colonel Scott became sole proprietor of the works and so remained until 1864, when he and H. W. Putnam purchased the Grover & Harrington property and made a division of the same, Mr. Putnam taking the realty and Colonel Scott the machinery and patterns, the latter be- ing soon afterward removed to the location on Pleasant street where the col- onel's extensive works are now operated. In 1865 the large brick building was erected, but the works were not in full operation until the year 1866, up to which time he continued to operate the works on North street. His chief manufacture at that time and in fact up to within the last two years was the production of powder-mill machinery, but incidental thereto he has always carried on the business of general jobbing and machine work together with the building of paper and marble-mill machinery at the same time. In his special industry of so many years continuance-that of building powder-mill machin - ery-Colonel Scott has done a large business, and it is a fact that during the period above stated he has built such to the extent and value of more than two millions of dollars ; and his product has gone into all the principal powder- mills of this country and many in Europe. One great advantage of his over other powder-mill inventions lies in the fact that by their use the risk and danger to life are very much lessened. So much, indeed, were his inventions and improvements superior to others in use, and his mechanical genius esti- mated over that of other like engineers, that he was in 1869 chosen as super - intendent of the Lake Superior Powder Company-a newly organized corpor- ation in which he was a stockholder, and stayed during the greater part of that year on the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, the location of the company's works, which were built by him. Again during the years 1873 and 1874 he was engaged by the Laflin-Rand Powder Company in the capacity of mechanical engineer, and as such had headquarters in New York City during his term of engagement. In 1882 Colonel Scott assisted in organizing the Ohio Powder
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Company of Youngstown, O., and built that company's works, and for three years was a director and vice- president. In 1884 he organized the Pennsyl- vania Powder Company (Limited) at Scranton, Pa, and two years later he be- came the owner of the entire enterprise, which he sold in March, 1887. On the first of April following Colonel Scott made a contract with the firm of E. I. Dupont de Nemours & Company, of Wilmington, Del., and the Laflin- Rand Powder Company, of New York, by the terms of which Colonel Scott was en- gaged by each of them for a term of ten years in the capacity of consulting engineer and superintendent. In July, 1887, Colonel Scott formed a partner- ship with C. W. Roberts, for the manufacture of wood pulp machinery. This firm was organized into a stock company during the summer of 1888, and Colonel Scott was made its president, an office which he still holds. Such is a résumé of the events of the carly and business life of Olin Scott, and from it the reader will discover no period of idleness or inactivity, and anyone that thoroughly knows Colonel Scott also knows that his characteristics are those of a persistent enterprising business man. But, however busied he may have been with his multitude of business affairs, Colonel Scott has lacked nothing of public-spiritedness or progressiveness in matters pertaining to the welfare of his town and village, and every measure looking to that end has found in him an earnest advocate and generous contributor. Political aspirations he has none, still he has been called into some of the offices of the town and village because he could not well avoid it. At one time he served in the capacity of auditor for the village, town, school district, and savings bank, the first of which offices he held for ten successive years. His connection with the Bennington Savings Bank covers the entire period of that institution's existence, having been for many years a trustee. He was one of the earnest advocates of the graded school enterprise, and when that consummation was attained he generously donated an elegant and costly piano for the use of the school. He was also prominently connected with the committee chosen for the Centennial Celebration in 1 877 and the subsequent Battle Monument Association, being now the secretary and first auditor as well as one of the present directors. Colonel Scott was brought up in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years was one of the strongest supporting members of that society, but in 1875 he withdrew and has since become a member of the Congregational Church of Bennington, of which society he has for many years been a trustee. Olin Scott has no chil- dren to enjoy the prosperity he has earned and so richly deserved. He was married on the 30th day of October. 1856 to Celeste E., the daughter of Dea- con Samuel Gilbert, of Salem, N. Y. Of that marriage three children were born, two daughters and one son, but none of them are now living. This great loss fell heavily upon our subject, and may with much truth be said to have been the only burden that ever bore him down. In the foregoing sketch the writer has designated the subject by the title by which he is generally ad- dressed-"Colonel." This came to him by virtue of his position on the staff
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