USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Reading > History of Reading, Windsor County, Vermont. Vol. II > Part 22
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I don't suppose that White's jokes and gags were really much funnier than those of the average end man since negro minstrelsy began, but he had a quaint way of telling them that was all his own, and seldom failed to evoke roars of laughter. He had a way of exchang- ing bandinage with Clark about affairs in their home town of Reading which carried the fame of that hamlet to the distant parts of New England. One of these tri- fles which I recall, which almost invariably made a hit was White's remark that Reading was a nice town, and he had only one fault to find with it there was usually a week or two in July when the sleighing was bad."
One song of which White and Clark used to sing al- ternate lines, entitled "We'se going to the Shucking of der Corn" was retained in their repertoire season after season and I think that any attempt to have cut it out would have been deeply resented by their. patrons. The opening lines ran like this.
"Miss Lucy said she loved me,
She said she loved me too,
To me she gave her heart; To me I know she's true."
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The old song seems simple enough today, but there are probably thousands of people in New England who may possibly recall the time when it afforded them a pleasure that they cannot find in the rag-time ditties of the present. At any rate, it contained none of the sug- gestiveness that seems almost inseparable from the mod- ern "coon" songs. And that was one thing that might be said of every line spoken or sung by the members of Whitmore and Clark's Minstrels. There was not a joke of a double meaning, or a word or expression likely to offend the most straight-laced person in the audience. No one had to apologize for having Hank as a friend, for he was a man always, and many will remember him thus, as well as for the laughs he caused them. He had political honors, at one time being a member of the Ver- mont Legislature. Had he made a speech before his fellow law-makers a previous announcement of the fact would have insured a "full house."
Several natives of Reading have been members of Whitmore and Clark's Minstrels, among them, O. S. Holden a fine tenor singer, who travelled with the company for several seasons. He still lives in his native town and keeps right on singing to the delight of all who hear him.
Theodore J. Allen was another celebrated musician, who was a member of this company for some time and played the cornet with some of the celebrated bands of the country. He was a son of Jonas G. Allen, and under the instructions of his father and his friend Eleazer Dexter he became proficient with that instru- ment and was one of the leading cornetists of this country for many years.
Chas. T. Conant a violinist of note, now a member of the Windsor Orchestra, played with the company for two or three seasons and fully sustained the reputation Reading has acquired as the home of good musicians.
There are many others, not members of this organi-
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zation who have added luster to the musical annals of Reading. Will J. Foley, a young cornetist, who died before he had fully developed all the musical ability that was in him. Fred C. Hammond, a first-class violin player, who has played with the Springfield Orchestra for a number of years; Herbert L. Rockwood, an excellent piano player, who was a teacher upon that instrument for some time and is now a member of the Windsor Or- chestra ; Darwin E. Washburn clarinetist of Felchville and the younger members of Hawkins' orchestra, who have already been mentioned; Dr. F. C. Morgan of Felchville is an excellent violin player although not a member of any musical organization ..
While so much has been written of the musical side of Reading we must not forget that she also has an enviable reputation as the home of some dramatists of note.
The following sketch of W. Henri Wilkins ap- peared in the "Amateur Theatrical Record," Clyde, Ohio, a paper published by A. D. Ames, a publisher of many plays and other theatrical productions. It is as follows. "We take pleasure in presenting to our read- ers a brief sketch of the life of W. Henri Wilkins, a name very familiar among amateurs in all parts of the United States and Canada. Mr. Wilkins is one of the few, very few authors who possess the happy faculty of blending the humorous and pathetic in a drama, in such a pleasing manner as to almost universally suit, not only companies, but the public, and so far as he has written we consider him the most successful writer of amateur dramas we have ever known.
He was born in Reading, Vt., January 1, 1853, and made his first appearance in public on a stage, in a dia- logue at a school exhibition, at the age of ten years, and was very successful. He met with flattering success in all he attempted in this line but it was not till 1870 at the age of seventeen that he attemped to write a play.
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This was while attending the Green Mountain Perkins Academy, at South Woodstock, Vt., and the play was "Rock Allen, the Orphan ; or, Lost and Found."
This was produced for the first time at Felchville, Vt., in 1871 by the Union Dramatic Club and was in all respects a decided success. The original cast appears in the published play No. 45 of Ames' list. The next year at the age of eighteen he was chosen valedictorian
at the above mentioned academy, and the drama placed in his hands. From the success which had attended his previous efforts, he determined to try again and at the end of four weeks the play, "Three Glasses a Day ; or, the Broken Home," was completed. The part of Zeke Wintergreen he wrote for himself, and that of Honie Montford for a room mate of his, Mr. F. W. Shattuck. In fact, each character was designed for some of his special friends. It is needless to say that this drama was successful, and it was pronounced by the public as the best one ever presented there."
He has also written "The Reward of Crime ; or The Love of Gold", "The Turn of The Tide; or, Wrecked in Port," besides several farces and sketches which have attained wide popularity. Since living at South Wood- stock as a store-keeper Mr. Wilkins has lived at various places and been in various enterprises. He is now in the crayon portrait business at Claremont, N. H.
. Among the leading spirits of the Reading Dramatic Company which never failed to fill the hotel hall at Hammondsville with an enthusiastic audience, were, Ellis E. Cross, Hugh White, Henry Sumner, Merritt G. Amsden, Don C. Hawkins, Verne C. Cooke, H. L. Rockwood, Budd D. Hawkins, and Mrs. T. J. Allen, Mrs. E. E Cross, the Misses Kate Stearns, Irene Rock- wood, Ella Foley, Alice Megrath, Mary E. Sawyer and Katie White.
Much more might be written upon this interesting subject, and more anecdotes and reminiscences be gath- ered, but time and opportunity will not admit, and we close the subject with regret.
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CHAPTER XXXVI.
The Carter Family.
Rev. Ira Carter, (From Zion's Herald, May 11, 1903.)
Ira Carter, whose death occurred from pneumonia. in Cambridge, Mass., March 20, 1903, was born in Cor- inth, Vermont, Jan. 11, 1817. He was of Puritan ances- try, being descended from Thomas Carter, who came from England in the ship 'Planter' in 1630 and settled in Salisbury, Mass. His mother, Fanny McAlister, was of Scotch-Irish stock that settled in New Hampshire.
Mr. Carter received his early education in the public schools of his native town and later in Newmarket Acad- emy and Newbury Seminary. When in Newbury he became a member of the class in theology started by Prof. Baker, afterwards Bishop. This was the begin- ning of what is now the Boston University School of Theology. After Mr. Carter's removal to Cambridge two years ago, he was an honored visitor to the school. It was a touching testimonial to the esteem in which he was held, as well as a memorial to his early connection with the school, that at his death a committee of stu- dents was sent to act as pall-bearers at his funeral. Six of them bore his body to the Harvard Street Methodist Episcopal Church, where appropriate services were held on Sunday, March 22, Rev. F. J. McConnell, the pastor, officiating. Memorial services in charge of Rev. W. A. Baker and Rev. M. V. B. Knox were also held at Wah- peton, North Dakota, where the body was taken for burial.
The early ministerial life of Mr. Carter was spent in New Hampshire and Vermont. He joined the New
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Hampshire Conference at Westfield, Vermont, in 1845, was ordained deacon by Bishop Elijah Hedding at Barre, Vt., July 9, 1848, and elder by Bishop Edmund S. Janes at Claremont, N. H., May 6, 1855. His ap- pointments were Guildhall and Bloomfield, Westfield, Londonderry, Woodstock and Bridgewater, in Vermont; Unity, Wilmont, Moultonboro and Dublin, Walpole, Stratford, Tuftonboro and Wolfboro, and South Acworth, in New Hampshire. His pastorate at Wilmont was blessed with a great revival. At Stratford he built a church, and at Tuftonboro a parsonage. In 1859 he located. In 1867-'68 he was steward of Newbury Semi- nary, from which place he removed to Windsor, Vt.
He moved to So. Reading in April 1869 and bought the Hall farm from Washington Keyes, one-half mile south of the village on the road leading to Cavendish. Here he resided with his wife and two children, Minnie E. and Albert J. for six years and then sold to Walter Tarbell, who has ever since resided there. While Mr. Carter resided here he supplied the pulpits for the Methodists at So. Reading and Felchville.
He moved to West Windsor in April 1875, and resided there on the "America Amsden farm" until he removed to Richland County, Dakota in 1882.
Mrs. Carter died at Wahpeton Dec. 7, 1900
He preached at various places, often in schoolhouses and sometimes in dwellings where there was no church. He was always successful. It was largely due to him that the beautiful church at Fairmount was built. He took great interest in the prosperity of the church at large. He was just as faithful in his attendance and service under the weight of fourscore years as in his pioneer work. He celebrated his eightieth birthday by preaching to a large and appreciative audience in his home church at Wahpeton. His last sermon was de- livered when he was eighty-three.
In 1847 he married Elizabeth Shedd, of Springfield,
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Vt., who from that time shared with him the hardships and triumphs of itinerant life. Their golden wedding was celebrated at Wahpeton, August 31, 1897. She went to the Homeland two years ago. All that their devoted children and grandchildren could do to make life pleasant in their declining years was done, but both were ready when the Heavenly Father called.
Four children are left, Edmund H., of Wahpeton, No. Dakota ; Albert J., of Springfield, Vt .; Mrs. George K. Persons, of Cambridge, Mass .; and Mrs. James A. Strachan, of the No. Dakota Conference.
Mr. Carter lived a beautiful life. His vision was broad, his piety deep. Sweet-spirited and genial, loyal to his convictions and faithful in duty, he always won respect and love, His death was like his life -- happy, trustful, peaceful. J. H. K.
Susan E. Carter was b at Walpole, N. H., Aug. 9, 1852. She m Geo. K. Persons at So. Reading, April, 1875, and they now live in Cambridge, Mass. Their children are-Clair I and Alice C. Clair I. was educa- ted at Harvard University. George K. Persons was a merchant at Felchville at the brick store north of the hotel.
Minnie E. Carter was b at Springfield, Vt., Dec. 31, 1858. She m Rev. James A. Strachan of the North Da- kota M. E. Conference, and they have one child, Sarah.
Albert J. Carter was b Nov. 16, 1863. He m Josie Moyne in New York, March 15, 1898. He resided in Reading with his parents and was educated in the pub- lic schools. He removed to North Dakota with his parents and studied law with Hon. S. H. Snyder at Wah- peton, No. Dakota, and afterward graduated from the Law Department of the University of Iowa, taking the degree of LL.B., and being admitted to practice in all
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the State and Federal Courts of Iowa, in June, 1888. He practiced his profession at Wahpeton, No. Dakota, but failing health compelled him to seek the climate of New England and he took up his residence in Felchville in 1900. Here he remained for about two years and then removed to Springfield, Vt., where he now resides, but is not engaged in active business.
Edmund Hamlin Carter, known to the older people of Reading as Ed. Carter, was bin Springfield, Vt., Aug. 9, 1848, His father and mother were Ira Carter and Elizabeth Shedd. He had the good fortune to be born well if that means having good parents. They were poor but commanded the respect of those that knew them. He descended from Thomas Carter who came over in the ship "Planter" in 1630 and settled in Salisbury, Mass. His maternal grandfather was Col. Jonathan Martin an officer of the Revolutionary Army and member of the first constitutional convention of New Hampshire. His education was gained in the district school at Springfield
and at the Springfield and Newbury seminaries. The best part of his education was obtained in business life. In 1869 his parents moved to South Reading and the town of Reading claimed him as a citizen until 1880. He taught school at South Reading the winter of 1871-'2.
He traveled when a boy selling stencil plates and washing machines. Being a Yankee this work gave an education in the line of dealing with people which in the study of human nature, has been of much value in later life. After a time the desire to learn business methods led to seeking employment which would teach this and he was employed as a clerk and general salesman by Robins & White of Cavendish. Vt., C. M. Baxter of Woodstock, and Tuxbury & Stone of Windsor. The year of 1873 was passed in traveling in the west and in 1874 he entered into the dry goods business in Felchville, in the brick store north of the hotel.
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Here, perhaps, the happiest part of life was passed up to the time a home was established. Where could one wish for more congenial environments than in the grand town of Reading among the good, kind-hearted people that lived there thirty years ago. But for all that can be said in praise of Felchville and its true and noble citizens some spirit of unrest was beckoning westward and the spring of 1880 found Ed. Carter on a Govern- ment Homestead in Richland county, Dakota Territory.
This at that time was a frontier community ; here he experienced hardships incident to the vicissitudes of a new country. In 1885 seeing the demand for money needed by the new settlers and believing that the fertile lands of the Red River Valley offered good securities, a trip was taken to New England to interest them that had funds for investment. This was the beginning of a successful loaning business. This is the business Mr. Carter is now doing. He can point with pride to the fact that in the past eighteen years he has handled large sums for New England investors, not a dollar of interest or principal has been lost. This is the result of honesty and good judgment.
Mr. Carter was m in 1896 at Baron, N. Y., to Gen- evieve Bason. Miss Bason was a teacher who had held good positions. She was preceptress for several years at Lima Seminary. This position was once held by the world-renowned Frances Willard. This union was the most fortunate event of his life and they now have a beautiful and happy home at Wahpeton, N. D. In pol- itics Mr. Carter has been uniformly a Republican. He was elected assessor in 1884. In 1894 was elected Mayor of Wahpeton, being the first Republican ever elected to that position in a party contest. This office was held two years. While in that office a system of sewerage was completed and many other improvements. 3 He consid- ers his fight made against gambling and the social evil as his best work. In 1900 he was elected County Treas-
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urer of Richland county and re-elected in 1902. This is a position of responsibility, as all county and city taxes are paid into this office, and also collections from the sale of school land. It pays the Treasurer $2,500 a year. He is at present a trustee of the First M. E., of Wahpeton, also trustee of the Red River Valley Uni- versity.
/
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CHAPTER XXXVII.
Attorneys : Natives of Reading, or Residents of the Town.
(Brief sketches of some of these attorneys will be found in other parts of this volume .- Ed.)
I Adams, Luther, resided and practiced at No. Chester, Vt.
2 *Bailey, Chas. F., was born at Reading, July 27, 1857 and lived at home until 1873, when he entered the Green Mountain Perkins Academy at So. Woodstock, Vt., graduating therefrom in the spring of 1877. December, 1877, he entered the law office of Gilbert A. Davis, at Felchville, Vt., where he read law until June, 1880. In Aug., 1880, he removed to the State of Iowa. In the fall of 1880 he entered the Law Department of the State University of Iowa, graduating therefrom, in June, 1881, receiving the degree of LL.B., and was immediately admitted to the bar in the State of Iowa. In the fall of 1881 he opened a law office in Grundy Center, Iowa. In the fall of 1882 was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held two years, declining a re-election. In February, 1884 he formed a partnership with A. N. Wood for the practice of law under the firm name of Bailey & Wood. In the fall of 1886 he was elected County Attorney for Grundy County, Iowa, which office he held two years. June 12, 1888 he was married to Laura E. Wells. The partnership of Bailey & Wood was dissolved about Jan. 1, 1891, and he practiced law at Grundy Center, Iowa, until the summer of 1892, and in the fall of the same year removed to Redlands, Califor- nia, where be now resides.
Since coming to California he has, in addition to the practice of his profession, been engaged in orange growing, and has bought and sold real estate. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Congregational church, is president of Redlands Young Men's Christian Association and for the past five years, has been one of
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the school trustees of the Redlands school district, and is secretary of the Redlands Water Company, and is a director and vice-pres- ident of the East Highlands Orange Company.
3
Brown, Titus, resided at the Center. (See page 75, Vol. I.)
4 *Buck, Edward R.
5 Buck, John L., was b on the "Coburn farm"; resided and practiced at Lockport, N. Y.
6 *Clark, Frank H.
7 Clark, Isaiah R .; resided and practiced in Boston, Mass.
8 *Coolidge, Ashbel G .; now residing at Rutland, Vt.
9 Coolidge, Omera H .; now residing at Rutland, Vt.
10 Crocker, - ; resided and practiced at Reading Center. (See page 76. Vol. I.)
II *Curley, Thos .; graduated at Tufts college. Resides il Waltham, Mass.
12 *Cole, Bert E .; resided in Reading. Admitted to the bar in 1902 ; resides at Windsor, Vt.
I3 Crandall, Edwin J .; now residing in New York City.
14 *Davis, Fred C .; born near So. Reading. Resides and prac- tices in Springfield, Vt.
15 Davis, Gilbert A .; born in Chester, Vt. Resided in Read- ing from 1860 to 1879, and since that time at Windsor, Vt.
16 Davis, Lysander M .; born in Reading. Resides at Pine Hill, Ala.
17 Dow, William Dexter ; the son of Stephen Dow, was born at Landgrove, Vt., Sept. 5, 1826. He taught in N. J., one year ; read law with Daniel M. Bates of Wilmington, Del., from 1856 to 1859. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1855, and for a long time resided at So. Reading.
18 Fullam, Sewell; born in Cavendish. Resided in Reading for many years. Subsequently resided at Ludlow, Vt.
19 Fuller, William Eddy ; was born June 30, 1833 in Bridge- water, Vt, son of Jabez and Sarah Hudson (Churchill) Fuller. In early life he attended country schools in Bridgewater, Vt., and when sixteen years of age went to So. Woodstock Academy for three years, and then to West Randolph Academy for a little more than a year. In 1853 he joined the Freshman class of Dartmouth
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college. Prior to this time he had as a rule been a student each fall and spring, a teacher each winter, and a farmer each summer. The family moved to Reading in his early boyhood, and during his school and college days he was a resident of Reading.
In February, 1855, heleft Dartmouth and joined the Junior class at Harvard. He had gone to Taunton to teach school during the winter 1852-'53 and taught there each following winter, with the ex- ception of a short time when he was assistant in the New Bedford High School, and upon graduation he became principal of the Taunton High School which position he held until Nov. 1860. He had previously given some time to the study of law in the office of Bassett & Reed in Taunton. He continued his studies in this office until April 1863, when he was admitted to the bar. Oct. 1, 1863 he entered into partnership with his classmate, Sproat, under the firm of Sproat & Fuller, in the practice of law in Taunton. This part- nership was dissolved in 1866. He was register of probate and in- solvency in Bristol county from 1868 to 1883. Dec. 1, 1883 he was appointed Judge of Probate and insolvency in Bristol county, which position he still holds. He has been a member of the Taunton school committee for many years ; a trustee of Bristol county since 1864 ; a trustee and auditor of the Taunton Savings Bank since 1864, and director and for several years historiographer of the Old Colony Historical Society. For this society he has prepared several papers which have been published in their pamphlets. He delivered a brief address on the legal profession in Taunton on the occasion of the quarter-millennial celebration of founding of that city ; also an address on the occasion of the dedication of the new county Court House in Fall River in 1882, and an historical address June 27, 1882, on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the found- ing of Bristol Academy. He is the author of a law book pub- lished in 1891, called "The Probate Law of Massachusetts", which has become a standard book of reference, He was married Nov. 21, 1859 to Anna Miles Corey, daughter of John Corey of Foxboro, Mass. They have two children, William Eddy Fuller, Jr., (H.V. 1892) b Aug. 14, 1870, now a practicing lawyer, and Mary Corey Fuller, b Aug. 14, 1873. His son is m and has a child, Wm. E. Fuller, 3rd.
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From Secretary's Report [1899] of class of 1856 Harvard College.
20 Hawkins, Josiah Q., son of Wm. L. Hawkins, practiced at Felchville and Brandon, Vt. Represented Reading in 1858. Died at Brandon.
21 Hall, James Ashton, b in Reading Borough.
22 Hatch, Urial C. Had an office at Felchville. (See page 76 Vol. 1). Was a Judge of Probate.
23 Johnson, Arthur T., son of Rev. Robert G. Johnson, b in Felchville. Pract ces in Boston, Mass.
24 Keyes, Wade, son of Wallace W. and Mary (Maloney) Keyes. Graduated at Tufts college. Resides and practices in Bos- ton, Mass.
25 *Morgan, Ernest I., resided in Reading when a boy, Now in practice at Worcester. Mass. Graduated at University of Vermont and Boston University Law School.
26 Robinson, Frank M .; son of Marvin and Lucinda (Fullam) Robinson. Practiced at Dubuque, Iowa.
27 Robinson, Geo. O., brother of Frank M., practiced at De- troit, Mich. (See Robinson Family Chapter).
28 Robinson, Calvin L., son of Lewis and Sarah Robinson, practiced at Jacksonville, Fla. (See Vol. I, History of Reading).
29 Robinson, Arthur S., son of Calvin L., practices at Chicago, I11.
30 Robinson, Nelson, b in So. Reading on the farm long oc- cupied by Ezra Robinson. Practiced in Boston, Mass., and Mont- pelier, Vt.
31 Sawyer, John York, { These brothers were b on the Sawyer
32 Sawyer, Seth, Homestead where Alba Davis now re- sides.
33 Stearns, John Milton, son of Daniel and Stearns, b on the Stearns homestead about one mile north of Felchville, Re- sided and practiced in Brooklyn, N. Y. (See Stearns Family Chapter).
34 Stearns, Oscar H., son of Benj. F. Stearns, b in Felchville in the home occupied by B. M. Newton. Practiced in Brooklyn, N. Y. Resides in Brooklyn. Graduate of Middlebury college.
35 Stoughton, Henry C., b in a house that stood on the west
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side of the highway, leading from Albert Bixby's to John Durand's near So. Reading. Practiced at Otsego, Mich.
36 Taylor, Jacob Edson, son of Samuel Charles and Zilpha Bugbee Taylor, was b at Reading, May 16, 1831, taught school at Woodstock, read law with Converse & French, and practiced at Charleston, Il1. He m Ellen, daughter of Joel Eaton in 1861.
37 Washburn, Israel, b on the farm now owned by N. H. W. Jenne in northeast part of the town.
38 Wheeler, Smith, b in the Borough.
39 Watkins, Wm., b on the farm south of where John Wil- liams now lives, near So. Reading.
*Read law with Gilbert A. Davis.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Methodism in Reading.
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