USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 12
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ELMER D. KEYES.
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the original partnership had reached a volume of over $ 600,000 yearly.
Upon the retirement of Mr. Bardy, Mr. Keyes asso- 'ciated with himself C. O. Perkins, a traveling represen- tative of the firm, who has, for the past few years, been one of the active managing heads of the house. In June, 1885, Erwin E. Keyes, the elder son of the head of the firm, was taken into partnership.
The business has always been conducted in the brick building on Evelyn street, where it was establish- · ed nearly a quarter of a century ago. Mr. Keyes pur- chased half of the block soon after beginning business in Rutland, and a few years later secured the remainder of the building. He gradually withdrew from the active management of the Rutland business, soon after his son entered the firm, and for the last few years of his life, de- voted his time largely to real estate and other financial interests in the West.
Mr. Keyes married in 1862, Lorette Charlotte Haw- kins, of Reading. Three children were born to them, of whom two sons, Erwin E. Keyes and Arthur H. Keyes, together with Mrs. Keyes, survive him. Mr. Keyes left two brothers, W. F., and Charles Robinson, and a married sister. all of whom reside in Boston.
He has never sought office, but served as colonel on the staff of Gov. Washburn. At the time of his death he was director of the Baxter National bank, of the Howe Scale Co., and of the People's Gas company, vice president of the Bank of Volga, South Dakota, vice pres- ident of the Volga Equitable Loan and Trust company, and a director in several other financial institutions in various parts of the West.
Mr. Keyes was one of five gentlemen who bid off the plant of the Howe Scale Co., at public auction in 1886, and thus prevented the works from being purchased by the Fairbanks Scale Co., in which case they would prob- ably have been removed from Rutland to St. Johnsbury,
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Vermont.
Mr. Keyes had been a sufferer from chronic bronchi- tis and asthmatic troubles for nearly 15 years, and dur- ing the last five years of his life, had several severe at- tacks of illness. He returned from a six weeks' business trip about a month before he died, Mrs. Keyes joining him on the homeward journey at Chicago. During this trip he drove for 34 miles over a South Dakota prairie, and contracted a cold from the effects of which he never recovered. His chronic affections developed emphysema, which eventually caused his death. He was a Mason and was a faithful communicant of Trinity Episcopal church.
Mr. Keyes was typical of New England thrift and integrity. From the position he occupied in his native village, his business ability and personal integrity raised him to that of the head of the largest firm in the wholesale grocery business in the State of Vermont. ' As a business man he occupied a unique position. His untiring energy and industry were fruitful with the best results, and he commanded, to an unusual extent. the respect and confidence of all who were in any way asso- ciated with him. In his home life he was ever a thought- ful and loving husband and parent, and a most genial entertainer of the many he delighted to call friends.
In speaking of his death, Mr. Bardy, his former partner, paid a warm tribute to his personal character and business ability. , "Mr. Keyes was," he said, "a man of the most thorough and painstaking in- stincts. His word was always regarded as the. equiva- lent of his name, and he never engaged in any undertaking without entering into a careful and thoughtful examination of its minutest details.
"The growth of our business under his direction was phenomenal. The business was confined entirely to the retail branch until a relative of Mr. Keyes, a Chicago tobacco manufacturer, sent to us a small quan-
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tity of fine cut tobacco, and appointed the firm his rep- resentative in this section. Mr. Keyes was going over to the other side of the mountain, and as an experiment took three boxes with him. He sold ten kegs of it before he returned, and that was the beginning of the present enormous business.
"Mr. Keyes was prompt and active in his business life, never wasting words when time was more valuable than speech, but at home or in society he was ever genial."
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CHAPTER XVI.
Biographical and Family Sketches Continued.
(I) Ebenezer Abbott and Family ; (2) Rev. George W. Bailey ; (3) Levi Bailey and His Descendants ;
(4) Benjamin Buck ; (5) Benoni Buck ; (6) J. L. Buck, and (7) Bixby Family.
Ebenezer Abbott, the son of Asa and (McCollom) Abbott, was b Nov. 15, 1797, in Ludlow, on the Green Mt.
He came to Reading in 1809, and served an appren- ticeship as a clothier with Levi Bailey. He m Elsie Annis, of Hartland, Vt. Their only child was William M. C. Abbott, who was b in Randolph, Vt., Sept. 16, 1832. He returned to Reading in 1842, and tended grist mill for Levi Bailey, at Bailey's Mills, for about two years, and then became a farmer. He d May 22, 1875, at Reading, Vt. He was a Universalist in his religious belief. His wife d April 11, 1862.
Wm. M. C. Abbott is still a resident of Reading. He was lister in 1880-1, and 1881-2, and 1896. He m Amelia M. Parkhurst, of Cavendish, Jan. 5, 1865. She d Dec. 31, 1890, at Reading. 1
Rev. George W. Bailey.
(The following article was prepared by Mr. Bailey, at the request of the editor.)
I was b at Weare, N. H., June 19. 1816.
My parents' names were, Bradbury and Agnes (Marshall) Bailey. My education was obtained in com- mon schools, and the following academies,-Cavendish, in the year of '34, Chester, in '35, and in the Scientific
REV. G. W. BAILEY.
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and Military academy at Unity, N. H., in the years of '36, '37, and '38, then very celebrated, under the con- trol of A. A. Miner, afterward President of Tuft's college, and a popular clergyman in Boston. I never attended any Theological school. What little I am, aside from what nature gave me, I have acquired by my own per- sonal efforts.
There were no preachers of other denominations liv- ing at Felchville when I lived there.
In the spring of 1840, I received a letter from Lu- ther Kendall, Esq., asking me to come to Felchville and preach on the first Sunday in May. I complied with his request, and the result was, I engaged to go there, and preach in Reading, (Felchville, Middle of the Town, and South Reading,) one-half of the time, for the enor- mous salary of $ 7. a Sabbath. I remained there until the first of March, 1841, when I was called to Spring- field. I taught the Felchville village school during the winters of '40 and '41. After removing to Springfield, I supplied for the Universalists in Reading, one Sabbath in a month during the year of 1841. In June, 1840, I re- ceived the Fellowship of the Universalist denomination in New Hampshire, and was ordained the 12th of Nov .. of the same year, in Felchville, in the church which was afterward burned. At that time, Rev. S. C. Loveland was living in Reading, and he, with Rev. Warren Skin- ner, of Cavendish, and Rev. Russell Streeter, of Wood- stock, performed the principal parts at my ordination, Rev. Warren Skinner preaching the sermon.
Since taking up my permanent abode in Springfield, I supplied the Universalist parish at Felchville, during the year of 1879, one Sabbath in a month.
My memory shows me distinctly the appearance of the old church at the Middle of the Town, which was built in the cold year of 1816. The pulpit, and platform on which it stood, had taken a leaning position, having become detached from the wall behind, and stood at an
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angle of several degrees towards the people ; so that I felt, while occupying the sacred place, in danger of be- ing landed among the pews. ; But no such accident ever occurred.
I have lived to fill several pastorates and ministerial positions from that day to this, viz :- six years in Spring - field, one year in Richmond, Va., three years in Ran- . dolph, Vt., fifteen years in Lebanon, N. H., and ten years in Morrisville, Vt. For the last twenty-five years I have labored only as a supply for different parishes, having in all, delivered some over 4030 sermons and lec- tures, attended 700 funerals, and solemnized 372 mar- riages.
In public life, I have served seventeen years as sup- erintendent of schools, two years a member of the N. H. legislature, and also two years in the same capacity in Vt. In 1865, the legislature appointed as a committee of location of what is now the Goddard seminary, in Barre, the following :- Rev. A. A. Miner, of Boston, ex- Gov. Trask, of Springfield, Mass., and Rev. G. W. Bai- ley, of Lebanon, N. H.
Rev. Solomon Laws, a graduate of Dartmouth col- lege, was my predecessor at Felchville, and, I believe, Rev. Luther Rice, now of Watertown, N. Y., was my successor.
The Bailey Family, and Bailey's Mills, By Charles F. Bailey.
To all residents of Reading, one of the old land- marks is that cluster of buildings in the valley on the banks of Mill Brook, known as Bailey's Mills.
Here has been activity, and what was once the cen- tre of a prosperous neighborhood, now shows decay and is growing old and unless something is done to stay the hand of time, nothing but ruins will mark the place which has been the scene of so much activity.
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Levi Bailey the founder and builder of this place was born February 5, 1766, and was the son of Samuel and Hannah Bailey, his father having been killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. All that I know of his early history is that he lived in Mass., until about 1785, when he came to Reading, and purchased land that is a part of the farm now owned and occupied by H. S. Fay, and here as a young man in the twenties, began his labors in a new country.
He first cleared the land and then erected buildings suitable to the times, and as his means increased pur- chased more land and branched out in various lines.
February 1, 1791 he was married to Hannah Bailey, and they started house keeping in their house on the place above described, and here and in the new neighbor- hood they reared a large family, which have scattered, now only one survivor remains, Mrs. Rhoda Warren, living in Weathersfield, Vt., at the advanced age of 96 years.
From what I have learned from tradition and from the works that remain, he must have been a man of strong personal character, and accomplished whatever he undertook.
He purchased the property at Bailey's Mills at dif- ferent times and from different persons, durfug the last years of the eighteenth, and the first years of the nine- teenth centuries.
From what I can remember of tradition at the time of his first purchase, which was a half interest in the water power, there had been some improvements made upon the same, a dam had been built, and a saw mill erected.
He soon, however, had full control of the same, and in modern terms, started out to boom the place and develop its resources. This saw mill was followed by a grist mill, the grist mill by clothiers' works, and then a carding mill, one of the first to be started in the state, and these
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were in the due time followed up by a linseed oil mill, a full and complete woolen mill for the manufacture of woolen cloth, a starch mill, blacksmith shop, and store. These were all run at different times. and with varying fortunes at the place from about 1800, up to his death in 1850; and he owned and managed all of these, with perhaps the exception of the store which I don't think he owned, only owning the building and renting the same. During the time in addition to the business carried on at Bailey's Mills, he was extensively engaged in farming, owning and farming several hundred acres of land, sit- uated in Reading, and for a number of years was a mem- ber of the firm of Bailey & Gilson, who conducted a general store at the Middle of the Town, but in this business he only furnished capital.
He was an extensive buyer of stock, and as was the custom then, drove the same to the Brighton market.
During the busy part of his life, from 1300 to 1840, he carried on the largest business of any man in Read- ing, and was a considerable portion of the time consider- - ed the wealthiest man in Reading.
He built a large number of buildings at Bailey's Mills, upon the old farm, and upon other property owned by him, some of which now remain - particularly the brick house and factory building at Bailey's Mills ; others have been torn down, or burned, and a part fallen by the ravages of time.
He met many losses by fire and flood. I have been told by my grandfather, that his losses by fire and flood amounted to over $13,000, and this without insurance, was a total loss to him.
Hannah, his wife, d June 29, ¿822, aged 58 years. Levi Bailey died at his home at Bailey's Mills, October 21, 1850, aged about 85 years.
The following are the names and date of birth of the children that grew to maturity, two having died in in- fancy,-
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Hannah b Dec. 18, 1791; Samuel b Jan. 14, 1794; Betsey b Aug. 23, 1795; Levi b Feb. 15, 1797; Thusa b May 13, 1799; Sarah b Aug. 28, 1800; Rosamond b June 8, 1804; Rhoda b Jan. 16, 1806; Plooma b Mar. 25, 1808, Kendall b March 17, 1810.
All of the children with the exception of Rosamond who died when she was about 21 years, lived to ad- vanced age, all but one living past the age of three score years and ten, two lived to be over seventy, three over eighty and three over ninety, with the survivor now living at the advanced age of 96 years.
Hannah mı Daniel Forbush and resided in Reading most of her life. Samuel lived at the old place and will have notice later.
Betsey m Jeptha Shedd Nov. 17, 1817, and lived at the Shedd place. They had two children, Fredrick b May 24, 1820; who m Lovira. Bailey; Albina b May, 16, 1822, m George Bailey; Jeptha Shedd d July 21, 1831; Betsey Shedd, in 1854, m Joseph Shedd, she d at Bailey's Mills in 1883; Levi m Lucinda Johnson, removed to Mis- souri, from there to Iowa, where he d at the advanced age of 92 years. He left several children and grand chil- dren; Thusa m Oliver Holmes, removed to Missouri, d aged 73 years; lett several children and grandchildren; Sarah m Shubal C. Shedd, and d aged 85 years; Rhoda m Asahel W. Warren, and lives at Weathersfield, Vt. Has two children living,-James residing in Stanislaus County, Cal., and Asahel B., residing at Ascutneyville, Vt., and several grandchildren; Plooma m Benjamin Kinball, removed to Missouri, and d aged over So years; Kendall m Emily Sutton, removed to Missouri, and d aged about 78 years.
As Samuel lived the most of his life at Reading, it is important that a sketch of his life should be given here. Born in Reading, Jan. 14, 1794, he lived at home and worked at the various enterprises his father had on hand, until Dec. 31, 1819, when he m Dolly Newton, and
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started a home of his own.
He still continued to be engaged with his father in his various manufacturing enterprises up to the time of his father's death.
He developed a large amount of mechanical ingenu- ity, and could work with almost any kind of a tool. He also understood blacksmithing and all the various in- dustries carried on at that time at Bailey's Mills, and has done all the different work required in these various occupations. It was a common saying in Reading if anything was broken, 'take it to Uncle Sam, and he can fix it if anybody can'.
After the death of his father he purchased the Bail- ey's Mills property, and soon after sold an undivided two-thirds interest in the water power and factory to his son George and Oliver Bailey, of South Woodstock, who, about 1854, went into the business of manufactur- ing stocking yarn, and a general store under the firm name of O. S. & G. Bailey, which firm continued until the death of Oliver Bailey in 1856, when his interest was bought up and the business continued under the firm name of S. & G. Bailey, which firm did business of va- rious kinds,-general store, carding mill, grist mill, and farming, up to 1873, when he gave up all interest in the various lines of business.
During the last twenty-five years of his life, he spent much of his time in his shop, doing various jobs of repairs for himself and neighbors, experimenting with various inventions, and making different articles of wood or iron as his fancy dictated, until his failing fac- ulties would not permit him to work further. During the last five years of his life he lived in Iowa and Dako- ta, and d at the residence of his son Ransom, near Grun- dy Center, Iowa, February 14, 1891, at the ripe age of ninety-seven years, and one month. His wife, Dolly, d at Reading, July 28, 1848.
He afterwards m Achsah Bruce Wheeler, who d at
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Reading, Vt. Nine children were b to Samuel and Dol- ly Bailey ; their names and dates of birth are as follows,-
Orwell, b Nov. 1, 1820; George, b June 16, 1822 ; Lovira, b Oct. 18, 1825 ; Ransom, b Feb. 24, 1828 ; Sam- uel, b March 14, 1830 ; Sarah, b Jan. 5, 1835 ; Levi. b Dec. 12, 1837 ; Mary, b Apr. 26, 1842 ; Charles, b Oct. 16, 1846.
Orwell went to Illinois, afterwards to Iowa, where he now resides, at Holland. He has been extensively engaged in farming, and dealing in real estate, at which he became wealthy. He has now retired from active business. He m Maria Rogers, and five children were b, of which four survive, --
Charles, Frank, George, and Eugene. All are en- gaged in farming and dealing in real estate, and all are married.
Lovira m Frederick Shedd, and resided at Bailey's Mills, and on the Shedd Place, and d March 一, 1889, aged 63 years.
Ransom went to Illinois, from there to Iowa, and now resides at Cedar Falls, Iowa, is engaged in farm- ing and dealing in real estate, and has amassed a fine property. He m Mary Dyer, and they have two children. James Levi, and Samuel Orwell, who reside at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and are engaged in general hardware and plumbing.
Samuel went to Illinois, then to Kansas, and now resides at Wichita, Kansas ; 111 Relief Philbrick. They have five children, viz,-George S., Emma, Ward, Fred, and Cora.
Sarah went to Illinois, and now resides at Morrison. Iowa, m Truman Pattee. The following children were b unto them,-
Lovira, Martin, and Fred.
Levi d at Baileyville, Illinois, Jan. 31, 1866.
Mary m Henry N. Bryant, d May -, 1869, leav- ing one child.
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Jennie, who m Eugene Bailey, resides near Grandy Center, Iowa.
Charles d at Reading, July 25, 1855.
George Bailey m Albina Shedd, June 25. 1856, and started house keeping at Bailey's Mills, where he now resides. He has been engaged in various enterprises at Bailey's Mills all his life, as a member of the firm of S. and G. Bailey, and also since 1873 in running a carding mill and grist mill up to 1885, when the dam was des- troyed, and no business has been done since that time in the old mill. He has also been engaged in farming. He is now the oldest resident in that part of the town, where he has spent a useful life, always ready to accom- modate any one in need or trouble, and is unusually re- spected for his upright dealings and strict honesty.
Albina Shedd, his wife, d Jan. 7, 1898, aged 75 years. Their children are,-
Charles F., b July 27, 1857, and Abbie S., b Nov. 7, 1862.
Abbie S. Bailey m John P. Barnes, and now resides - at Felchville, Vt.
A sketch of Charles F. Bailey, prepared by the ed- itor, will be found under the head of Attorneys and Col- lege Graduates.
Benjamin Buck's Genealogy.
I
Benjamin Buck was b in Killingly, Coun., May 21, 1768. He m Ellen Leavens, Nov. 25, 1790. She was b March 3, 1767 ; their people came to Reading, and located on Caper Hill, on the farm occupied by them through life, and by his son, Dexter Buck, until his death. Benjamin Buck dat Read- ing Oct. 22, 1857. His wife Ellen, d at Reading Feb. 23, 1851. Their children were,-
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II (I) Benjamin Buck, Jr., b Nov. 10, 1791, d June 29, 1880. He m Charlotte Bragg June 7. 1819, and had three children.
II (2) Martha Buck, b July 16, 1794, d Feb. 9, 1845, in West Windsor. She m Joseph Bliss, March 25, 1830. They had five children.
II (3) Hannah Buck, b Dec. 15, 1796, d April 8, 1858, unmarried.
II
(4) Infant son, b March 9, 1799, d March 12, I799.
II
(5) Ellen Buck, b Nov. 6, 1802, d Feb. 24, 1865, unmarried.
II
(6) Rufus Buck, b June 2, 1805, d Oct. 22, 1891, at South Reading, m Sophia Fullam Oct. 22, 1835. They had four children.
II
(7) Dexter Buck, b May 26, 1810, d Aug. 9, 1896, m June 1, 1840, to Sarah Jane Davis, b March 15, 1813, in Compton, P. Q., d June 24, 1900, at Reading.
II
(8) Caroline Buck, b May 22, 1812, d June 12, 1881. She m Rufus Stearns Dec. 4, 1833. 1 They had three children.
Children of Dexter and Sarah J. Buck,-
III
(1) Ambrose Dexter Buck, b June 19, 1843, d at Lebanon, N. H., Sept. 24, 1899, was a member of Co. A., 12th regt., Vt. Vol, m Estella Emogene Perkins, of West Wind- sor, b Sept. 1, 1845, daughter of Solomon and Rhoda Story Perkins.
III
(2) Marilla Sophronia, b June 15, 1845, in Reading, m Nov. 18, 1869, to Norman Eu- gene Elliot Perkins, b Oct. 28, 1841, in West Windsor, son of Moses and Clarissa Washburn Perkins. He was Sergt. of Co. A., 12th regt., Vt. Vol., now resides at Felchville, and is Justice of the Peace, and
1
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III
a miller.
(3) Effie Sarah, b June 8, 1847, at Reading, m Darwin Elber Washburn, Jan. 1, 1873. He was b Oct. 31, 1844, son of Samuel and Sarah Jewel Washburn. He resides at Felchville, is a tinsmith and undertaker, has been Justice of the Peace and Select- man, and served in Co. H., 7th regt., Vt., Vol:
Children of N. E. E. and Marilla S. Per- kins,-
IV (1) Fred Valentine, b Feb. 14, 1874, in West Windsor, m Nellie Edna Graham, of Lud- low, June 13, 1900. He is of the firm of Maloney & Perkins, merchants in Cav- endish, Vt.
IV
(2) Lilla Effie, b Jan. 5, 1877, at Reading, and is a milliner in Felchville.
Children of Ambrose and Estella Buck, --
(I) Karl Arthur b March 10, 1871, d May II, 1890.
IV
IV (2) Ned Carroll b March 16, 1874, m Emogene S. Buck Aug. 9, 1899. Resides at Ran- dolph, Vt., and is a printer.
IV
(3) Guy Ambrose b June 2, 1876, resides at Lebanon, N. H., and is a druggist.
IV
(4) Fred Eugene b Aug. 2, 1878, resides at Lebanon, N. H., and is a miller. He m Annie Hatton April 30, 1902.
IV
(5) Frank Wait b June 1. 1880, d June 4, 1880.
IV
(6) Floyd Dexter b June 1, 1880, d June 12, 1880.
Hon. Benoni Bnck, By Mrs. Chas. M. Keyes.
The late Hon. Benoni Buck was born Oct. 24, 1799 in
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the south west part of Reading, on the farm now owned or controlled by Hon. G. A. Davis, nearly one half mile north of what is still known as the "Old Sawyer Stand". He was one of five brothers, all of whom lived to ages ranging from 75 to 92 years. He only received a common school education, but was a thoroughly good scholar as far as he went, and at an early age com- menced teaching school winters, and working on the farm the rest of the year. He was an exceptionally fine mathematician, and used to have difficult problems sent him, sometimes by persons whom he never saw, but never one that he failed to solve. Was very fond of reading, and kept himself well posted with the important questions of his time. When at the age of 25 years, his father having died, and his older brothers having left home, he m Candace, daughter of Dea. Aaron Goddard. and settled on the home farm, where he soon built a new brick house, very near the old one in which he was born, and which is still standing, and being occupied. There his three children were brought up, attending school in the same old school house where he used to go. He greatly valued an education and was able to give them much greater advantages than he himself had enjoyed.
He was possessed of a remarkably kind and affec- tionate nature; always ready to lend a helping hand to all with whom he came in contact. Generous, hospit- able, charitable, interested in every good cause, and of strictly temperate habits. He was "Justice of the Peace" and "Notary Public" many years, represented the town two years, 1840 and 1841, and was member of the senate two years, 1852-'3, always serving his constituents in an acceptable manner.
Mr Buck was uniformly dignified and polite in his manner, truly an "old school gentleman."
Was very fond of children; took great interest in boys, especially, and usually had one or more in his family, besides his own, making them a home sometimes
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for months, and sometimes years as the case might be.
Of these, one was a little six-year old son of a poor widow who was struggling hard to support three little ones. (The father was English and the mother Irish. ) This little boy (Isaac Thornton) was an exceedingly bright and interesting child, of whom the whole family soon became very fond, and wanted to keep him as their own. To this the mother would not consent, but would permit him to be kept for an indefinite length of time. The result was he was kept, taken care of and sent to school till about 16 years old, never once wishing to go back to his former home.
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