USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 67
USA > Vermont > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 67
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Mr. Dutcher married Miss Almira Brainerd, a sister of Hon. Law- rence Brainerd, a most estimable woman, beloved and respected by all who knew her. Her death occurred in August, 1841. His second
Datcha
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marriage was to Miss Caroline S. Webb in 1844. She died June 29, 1881, much respected.
In 1826 he united with the First Congregational church and in 1842 was elected one of its deacons, which office he retained to the time of his death. He was clerk of the church for thirty-six years, was choir leader, teacher, and superintendent of Sabbath-school, and represented the church in councils and in general convention. Rev. Charles Van Norden, his pastor, in his memorial sermon said of him: "So great talent devoted to Christ with so generous a love and consuming itself with such fidelity and zeal few churches have at their command, and the like the church may never see again. As his pastor and friend I honor and love him. Never have I known a brother in Christ to stamp his own individuality upon a Christian church as he did, and yet never have I seen a useful public servant of the Master so little dictatorial and so ready to yield to the will of the majority, so loyal to defer to the rights of the pastor." He possessed a more than ordinary literary abil- ity. In an obituary notice of him it was said: " He might have been known in literature if he had not been so much engrossed in business." He contributed largely to the local press with occasional articles in metropolitan journals. He was an honored member of the Vermont Historical Society and one of its officers, and contributed many essays and valuable historical papers to that body. The history of St. Albans with numerous biographical sketches, the history of the First Congrega- tional church, and numerous papers and addresses bear witness to this fact. He was a corresponding member of several historical societies, and was an honorary member of the Vermont Pharmaceutical Society. The University of Vermont conferred the honorary degree of A. M. upon him without his knowledge or solicitation. Mr. Dutcher was of a retir- ing disposition. He never sought public office, and whenever a nomina- tion was tendered him by his party he invariably declined it. He was twice appointed postmaster of the town, which office he retained for several years. He was a man of indomitable energy and perseverance. His integrity was never questioned.
He died September 18, 1878. The church of which he was a mem- ber passed the following resolution regarding his death :
"WHEREAS, In the providence of God our beloved brother and father,
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
Deacon L. L. Dutcher, has been removed from us to his rest; therefore be it
" Resolved, That we as a church are keenly sensible of our great loss and hereby recognize our indebtedness for fifty years of devoted service. We mourn the loss of one who was never discouraged, never made ex- cuse when the call of duty came, and spared neither time, strength, nor energy in the services of his Master. We return humble and hearty thanks to our Heavenly Father that so great talent and zeal should have been placed at our disposal, and we pray that the mantle of Brother Dutcher's energy and devotedness may descend upon the younger members of our communion now called to occupy his post."
ENNE, JAMES NATHANIEL, M.D., born in Berkshire, Vt., De- cember 21, 1859, is the eldest son of John G. and Charlotte (Wood- worth) Jenne, the family numbering seven children. His grandfather, Nathaniel Jenne, came from Massachusetts and was one of the early settlers of Berkshire. When the doctor was seven years of age his father moved to Enosburgh, and his education was begun at the dis- trict schools in that town, being furthered by a course at the high school in Enosburgh Falls, where he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. J. Darrah. He entered the Medical Department of the University of Vermont at Burlington in 1879, and during the progress of his studies there was the private pupil and under the especial tutor- ship of Dr. Samuel J. Thayer. Graduating two years later Dr. Jenne commenced the practice of his profession in Georgia, Vt., remaining there six years, during which period (September 19, 1883) he married Miss Abbie Cushman, of that place. In 1887 he removed to St. Al- bans, and has since enjoyed a large practice in that town. In addition to constant private readings and study, with a view to keeping abreast of his profession, Dr. Jenne has been a regular attendant on the Post- Graduate School in New York city, receiving a diploma from that in- stitution in 1890. He is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and was, in 1890, chosen president of the latter. He has also been a member of the State Board of Licensed Censors, and in 1890 was appointed member of the Board of Consulting Surgeons of Mary
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Fletcher Hospital at Burlington. He has for a number of years been prominently connected with the state militia, and at present holds the office of brigade-surgeon, with the rank of major, of the First Brigade, Vermont National Guard. In politics Dr. Jenne is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office.
ST TILES, HON. WILLIAM HOWARD, born in Enosburgh, Vt., June 21, 1823, was the eldest son in a family of ten children born to Samuel and Hannah (Hendrick) Stiles. His father was a native of Chester, Vt., and came to Enosburgh during his early manhood, where he engaged in farming. William H. attended the district schools of his native town, and was for a time a student at the Enosburgh Academy. After finishing his education he cleared a farm in Enosburgh and was for a number of years engaged in agricultural pursuits. About 1847 he came to Montgomery, where he commenced the manufacture of butter tubs. He sold this plant after operating it three and a half years, and in October, 185 1, located about one mile south of Montgomery Center, where he built a saw-mill and also again manufactured butter tubs. He remained in business here till March, 1883, during which time he was associated with different parties as partner. On the date mentioned he formed a partnership with Alfred B. Nelson, and the manufacture of but- ter tubs was carried on at Montgomery Center. This partnership was in existence at the time of the death of Mr. Stiles. In 1873 he purchased of Columbus Greene his stock in the general store at Montgomery Cen- ter, which business he conducted during his life. In 1883 he built the present store building, his late residence, and a number of other build- ings in Montgomery Center.
A Republican in politics he represented Montgomery in the legis- latures of 1868 and 1869, and was a member of the state Senate of 1872. At the time of his death he was associate judge for Franklin County Courts, he having been elected to that office in 1888. He married, Sep- tember 25, 1844, Betsey, daughter of William and Mary (Giddings) Miller. Their children are Annette, wife of Samuel N. Dix, of Mont- gomery, and William M., a resident of Montreal, Canada. The judge died suddenly March 31, 1891, mourned and respected by all who knew him.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
R UGG, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The pioneer of the Rugg fam- ily in Franklin county was Abraham Rugg, who came from Whit- ingham, Vt., in 1791 and settled in the northern part of Fairfax, where his son Alexander built the first saw-mill in that part of the town. He married Hannah Graham, of Scotch descent, by whom he had nine chil- dren, one of whom, a son, died in infancy. The others were Sally, who married a Jewell and died in the West; Betsey, who married Caleb Briggs and died in New York; Polly, who married Jonathan George, of Dickinson, and died in New York; Patty, who died unmarried in Fair- fax ; Harriet, who married Ira Wright and died in Fairfax; Laurancy, who married James Graham and died in Fairfax; and Alexander and Russell, who both died in Fairfax.
Alexander Rugg, born in Whitingham, Vt., married Philinda King, a native of Hartford, Conn., and a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Mather) King, the latter being a niece of Rev. Cotton Mather. After his mar- riage he settled on a farm in Fairfax, which is now in the possession of his son, Elbridge G. He served as a captain during the War of 1812, and died in Fairfax in 1874. Of his family of ten children the eldest died in infancy ; Charles was killed by an accident at the age of ten years; Abraham resides in Milton, Vt. ; Benjamin Franklin lives in St. Albans; Giles, Elbridge Gerry, and Charles reside in Fairfax; Albro lives in Fletcher, Vt. ; Harriet Emeline married C. L. Bullard and died in Swanton, Vt. ; and William H. resides in St. Albans, Vt.
Benjamin Franklin Rugg was born in Fairfax, June 8, 1820, and passed his youth on his father's farm. His education was limited to dis- trict schools and a six months' term at the Jericho Academy at Jericho, Vt. Leaving home at sixteen he went to Millbury, Mass., and was employed in the scouring and teaseling department of Parks, Wright & Whitcomb's broadcloth-mills. June 7, 1837, while engaged in putting the rolls of cloth in a steam kettle, and while bearing down on the roll, he slipped and fell into the huge vessel. His whole body was sub- merged in the scalding water, but his head he saved by holding his arm over the edge of the kettle. Mr. Rugg still carries the marks of this scalding on his body. He was so crippled in his left leg and arm that for years he was unable to do any physical labor, and it has affected his health during his whole life. In the fall of 1837 he returned to his
B ), Rugy
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native town, making the distance of 250 miles by wagon. For the next two years he was unable to perform any work, and he then turned his attention to peddling dry goods and tinware in Franklin and a part of Chittenden counties. He also carried on an extensive horse business, having in one summer traded over one hundred times.
On March 6, 1843, he married Stella B., daughter of Benjamin and Lola (Bogue) Richardson. She was a native of Fairfax, and her father's mother, Sarah Cutler, was a sister of the Colonel Cutler who threw the tea overboard in Boston Harbor. She was also a cousin to General Washington. After his marriage Mr. Rugg continued peddling for a year, and purchased two farms in Fairfax, which he soon after disposed of. He was engaged in buying cattle for some two years, and while transacting this business in 1846 he purchased a farm in Berkshire, which after holding one year he sold at a profit of $1,000. This vent- ure was the starting point of a successful business life. Returning to Fairfax he purchased two farms which he retained for four years, when he sold them at a profit of $800.
In 1852 Mr. Rugg came to St. Albans, where he has since resided. He formed a partnership with A. G. Soule, of Fairfield, under the firm name of A. G. Soule & Co., for the purpose of buying butter, cattle, and produce. This was the pioneer firm in St. Albans. Hiram B. Sowles during the same year became a member of the firm. Mainly through Mr. Rugg's endeavors a market day was established at St. Albans. The firm continued business for three years, when the partnership was dis- solved. Mr. Rugg had displayed so much sagacity and ability as a buyer that O. A. Burton, the president of the Franklin County Bank, offered him all the assistance he required to prosecute extensive business operations. He began to deal largely in cattle, horses, sheep, wool, pro- duce, and real estate, his transactions during some seasons averaging $6,- 000 per day. He afterwards engaged in large ventures on joint account with firms in New York and Boston. In 1864 he formed a partnership with his son-in-law, R. B. Kenerson, and M. G. Elliott in the grocery business. This firm continued only one year, but Mr. Rugg had a part- nership with Mr. Elliott until 1874 in the real estate and wood business, and with his son-in-law in the produce business. From 1875 to 1885 he was interested with his nephew, J. E. Rugg, in a sheep ranch in Wyo-
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
ming. This proved a profitable investment. Mr. Rugg has been largely interested in building up the village of St. Albans, having erected about fifty dwellings and two stores, one of the latter being the first built on Lake street in 1860, and was thought at the time by many to be a wild scheme. In 1860 he opened and built up the street that bears his name. In late years he has made considerable changes in his real estate holdings, at present owning in St. Albans only the store on Lake street and one dwelling house, but he is interested in four farms in St. Albans, five in Fairfax, and one each in Fletcher, Fairfield, and Milton. In politics he was originally a Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party he has affiliated with that body, but has not cast a ballot for fifteen years for the reason that he does not uphold in local affairs the ring of the Central Vermont Rail- road, which he considers detrimental to the best interests of the state and county. In religious belief he was reared in the Methodist church, but after his marriage he attended the Universalist and Episcopal churches. Some fifteen years ago, however, having become convinced that the principles of Spiritualism was the only true religion, he became and continues a firm believer in that faith. Mr. Rugg has two daugh- ters : Ellen P., wife of R. B. Kenerson, of Boston, and Eleanor Maria, widow of George Rhett Walker, of St. Albans. Each daughter has a son, viz. : Benjamin Franklin Kenerson and James Canfield Walker.
N \TOBLE, GUY CHAPLIN, is not now a member of the Franklin County Bar except in remembrance. He was born in Franklin, Vt., October 9, 1839. At the age of eleven years he became a student at Franklin Academy, and three years later entered the classical course at the New Hampton Institute at Fairfax, from which institution he graduated, and at the age of nineteen entered Harvard Law School. He was graduated with the class of '61, and admitted to the bar at the September term of Franklin County Court the same year. Mr. Noble was a thorough student, and applying himself diligently to professional work he soon took high rank at the bar. In October, 1862, the law firm comprised of our subject and Julian H. Dewey, his brother-in-law, was formed and continued until the death of the latter. Among those asso-
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ciated with him in later years was Edward Curtis Smith, son of the Hon John Gregory Smith, and the firm of Noble & Smith, when broken by the death of Mr. Noble, May 21, 1889, had a reputation second to few, if any, in the state. Mr. Noble was a stalwart Republican, and though possessing no inclination for office had held many positions of honor and trust in the town and state. He was for over twenty-two years attorney for the Central Vermont Railroad, and during his professional career was associated with much of the best legal talent of the state.
MITH, HON. WORTHINGTON C., who was born in St. Albans, S April 19, 1823, is the youngest son of John and Maria N. (Curtis) Smith. Receiving a collegiate education he graduated in 1843 from the University of Vermont, and commenced the study of law with his father, but abandoned the profession and became an iron merchant and manufacturer. In 1848 he went to Plattsburgh, N. Y., and engaged in the foundry business, remaining there two years. He then returned to St. Albans and purchased the St. Albans foundry, and carried on that business till 1866, when he disposed of his interest to Edward A. Smith and John W. Newton. These parties failing in 1879 Mr. Smith re- purchased the works and the business was carried on in his name till May, 1890, when a stock company was formed under the style of the St. Albans Foundry Company. Mr. Smith has also been connected with the railroad interests of Vermont, being one of the early treasurers of the Vermont and Canada Railroad, and from 1872 to 1879 was vice- presi- dent of the Central Vermont Railroad and one of the board of trustees that operated the road for the bondholders. He was manager of the Missisquoi Railroad from 1878 to 1886 and is now president of the Missisquoi Valley Railroad.
In politics he is a strong and ardent Republican, and has been called upon to fill various offices of trust by his fellow citizens. He repre- sented St. Albans in the legislature of 1863, and was a member of the state Senate of 1864 and 1865, being president of that body in the latter year. In the fall of 1866 he was elected to and took his seat in the Fortieth Congress the following March. His congressional career ex- tended by re election to the Forty-first and Forty-second Congresses.
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
He was a member of the Committees on Banking and Currency, Man- ufactures, and Weights and Measures.
Mr. Smith married Catharine, daughter of Maj. John Walworth. They have five children-three daughters and two sons. The sons are F. Walworth, one of the present members of the Colorado State Senate and resides at Grand Junction, and W. Tracy, vice-president and treas- urer of the St. Albans Foundry Company and secretary and treasurer of the Missisquoi Valley Railroad Company.
S® TART, HON. HENRY RUSSELL, born in Bakersfield, December 28, 1845, is the youngest son in a family of six sons (all of whom are living) of Simeon G. and Mary S. (Barnes) Start. His grandfather, Moses Start, was originally from Massachusetts, and was among the early settlers of Bakersfield, part of the land he settled upon being now in the possession of Henry R. His father is a native of Bakersfield, where he still resides, his occupation being that of a farmer. Judge Start attended the district schools of his native town and was for one year a student at Barre Academy at Barre, Vt., but he finished his academical course at the North Academy of Bakersfield, Vt. During the late war he was a member of Company A, Third Regiment Vermont Volunteers. In 1866 he commenced the study of law with M. R. Tyler, of Bakers- field, and became a member of the Franklin County Bar at the April term of court in 1867. He commenced the practice of his profession in November, 1867, at Bakersfield, where he continued till January I, 1881, when he formed a co-partnership with H. G. Edson and A. P. Cross, at St. Albans, under the firm name of Edson, Cross & Start. Judge Start retained his residence at Bakersfield, and after three years the senior member of his firm retired. The remaining members con- tinued as partners until December 1, 1890, when the partnership was dissolved. In politics Judge Start has always affiliated with the Repub- lican party. He has held various town offices, was state's attorney from December, 1876, to December, 1878, was member of the Vermont Sen- ate in 1880, was one of the trustees of the Vermont Reform School from December, 1880, to December, 1888, was presidential elector in 1888, and represented Bakersfield in the legislature of 1890 and was
11. Thayer
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elected speaker of that body. He was elected by the same legislature a member of the Supreme Bench of Vermont, and took his oath of office December 1, 1890.
Judge Start married Ellen S., daughter of Stillman and Sarah E. Houghton. She died July 12, 1890. Their family consisted of four children : Simeon G., jr., a resident of Worcester, Mass .; Guy H., a student at Dean's Academy, Franklin, Mass .; and Mabel S. and Bur- dett H.
T HAYER'S WHEELOCK S., emigrant ancestor was Mr. Thomas Thayer, who came from England and settled at Braintree, Mass., about 1640. Ferdinando, one of his three sons, married, January 14, 1652, Huldah Hayward, of Braintree, and removed soon afterwards to Mendon, Mass. He died March 28, 1713. His sixth child, Captain Thomas, married, in 1688, Mary Adams, and died at Mendon in May, 1738. William, the eighth child of Captain Thomas and Mary (Adams) Thayer, was born January 22, 1708, and married, November 13, 1729, Abigail Sumner. They had nine children. Amasa, the eighth, was born at Mendon, March 2, 1754, and in 1772 married Perley Wheelock. He died September 24, 1802. Amherst, the eldest of seven children of Amasa and Perley (Wheelock) Thayer, was born in Mendon, December 13, 1773, and settled in Swanton in 1800. He married for his first wife Lucy Farrar, by whom he had one child, Millicent M., who married Simon H. Kellogg and died in Swanton. He married for his second wife Barbara Cheney in 1812. Their children were Amherst C., a res- ident of Carleton, Monroe county, Mich .; Wheelock S .; Andrew M., who died in Swanton, October 3, 1886; and Lucy P., a resident of Swanton. Amherst died July 27, 1838, and his second wife November 4, 1826.
Wheelock S. Thayer was born in Swanton, August 5, 1815. He learned the trade of blacksmithing from his father, which in connection with farming he followed in Swanton until his retirement from active busi- nessin 1876. His education was limited to the district schools. In politics he was originally an old line Whig, but since the organization of the Re- publican party he has voted that ticket. He has filled the offices of justice of peace, town treasurer, and was for more than thirty years town clerk. His handwriting on the town records stands to-day a marvel
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of neatness and correctness. Mr. Thayer married, first, Miss Julia S. Church, who died January 15, 1852. His second wife was Miss Juliet Foster, and the issue of this marriage was a son, who died in infancy, and Mary Amanda, who resides with her father in Swanton. Mr. Thayer's third wife was Julia Kitts.
B RIGHAM, JOSIAH FAY, who died in Bakersfield, Vt., on Wednes- day, August 28, 1878, was born in that town October II, 1801. He was the sixth child of Uriah and Elizabeth (Fay) Brigham, who in 1796 moved from Marlboro, Mass., to the home in which our subject was born. He was descended from Thomas Brigham, who emigrated from England in 1635 and settled in Cambridge, Mass., about a mile west of the present site of Harvard University. Thomas's son, Samuel, from whom the Bakersfield branch is derived, purchased in the latter part of the seventeenth century a large landed estate in Marlboro, Mass., where his descendants have continued to reside in great numbers to the present day.
The names of Fay Brigham's father, grandfather, and great-grand- father were Uriah. The grandfather was noted far and wide for his culture, hospitality, and gentlemanly demeanor. His doors were always open to the poor and to foreigners, where they ever found a home until they could make other provision for themselves. Though possessed of a large estate it became so involved that a long time was required after his death to settle it. Among those who came from the older colonies to Northern Vermont soon after the Revolutionary war were Uriah (the great-grandson of Capt. Samuel Brigham), his wife Elizabeth Fay, and two children, moving with an ox-team to the newly settled town of Bakersfield, Vt., where they lived upon the farm now owned by Junius Barnes. Here Fay was born, being the sixth child in a family of nine children. Through the efforts of his father and others of a like mind a small but valuable library was purchased for the use of the pioneer settlement. That taste for historical and philosophical literature which characterized Mr. Brigham's later life was early developed, and was amply gratified by this library. On the death of his father the manage- ment of the estate was thrown upon Fay at the age of eighteen.
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The subject of this memoir bore the given name of his mother's father, Josiah Fay, of Southboro, who was a colonel in the Revolution- ary army and died while in service on Long Island. His remains now lie in Trinity Church Cemetery, New York city. Mr. Brigham's brothers and sisters were Mary, who married a Mr. Mitchell, and be- came widely celebrated for her knowledge of medicine; Elizabeth, who married Cheney Brigham, the first male child born in Bakersfield ; Uriah, who participated in the battle of Plattsburgh, and died at an early age; Robert, who died childless in North Burke ; Breck, who died in early youth ; Benjamin Gott, who resided in Fairfield, Vt., and was long prominent in the public affairs of the town and county ; Peter Bent, whose biography is printed elsewhere in this volume; and Sarah, the youngest, who married a Jacobs, and since his death has resided on Bulfinch street, Boston.
Fay Brigham was three times married. His first wife was Sally Paige, whose death a year after was soon followed by that of an infant son. He married, second, Vina Hall, by whom he had Albert G., now living in Bakersfield, and Sarah Jane (Kendall) and Roxana (Hankinson), both residing in Boston. His third wife, Jane Fay, still survives him, having Herbert F. and Mary F. still with her. Frances G. Brigham, her eldest daughter, resides in Boston. Her youngest daughter died some years ago.
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