USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 36
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He has always been a good worker in matters of public interest. He pre- pared the first articles of incorporation of Springfield village; has always taken good interest in the public schools, and was one of the workers to bring about the union of the three school districts in the village into one central,
410
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
graded school, and is now (1894) one of the school board in charge of the building of a large and long hoped for central high school building.
He secured from the late Henry Barnard a written memorandum ready for signature, giving the terms on which Mr. Barnard would become an incorpo- rator of the town library, and would give toward the same any sum, not to exceed three thousand dollars, that would be matched by a like sum from any other source, but when the fund was obtained from the sale of the seminary property, Mr. Barnard attached snch new and nnreasonable conditions to his offer that it was useless to try to comply with them.
Mr. Pierce is a Unitarian in his religious views, and has always been an active worker in the Universalist Society.
He m. July 19, 1864, Eugenia L. Stark of Morgan, Ohio. She d. March 27, 1866. Hc m. 2d, Oct. 29, 1867, at Berlin, Ohio, Anna E. Brooks, danghter of John and Adaline (Squires) Brooks. She was b. at Florence, Erie County, Ohio, May 19, 1837, prepared for college at the preparatory school of Oberlin College, and gradnated from Antioch College in 1862, having completed the full classical course. Most of the next five years she spent in teaching and in the study of art, taking lessons in painting of Iusco Williams of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ch .:
I. Frank Brooks Pierce, b. Ang. 25, 1868; was for some time editor and publisher of the San Angelo (Texas) Enterprise.
II. Jessie Brooks Pierce, b. May 27, 1878.
III. Clara A. Pierce, b. July 13, 1881.
JONAS PIERCE came to Springfield very early from Weston, Mass. He was b. July 7, 1830; m. 1st, Sarah Bridge; she d. Sept. 19, 1772; m. 2d, Lydia Gregory. He d. in Springfield, Jan. 27, 1819. Ch. : Matthew, Jonas, Asa, Thaddens, Molly, Anna, Isaac, Abigail.
I. Matthew Pierce, oldest child of Jonas, was b. in Ashburnham, Mass., Oct. 15, 1755. He was a soldier in the Revolution. In 1796 he moved to Weathersfield, and lived one year on the farm now owned by Joshua Upham, then came to Springfield, in 1797, and located on what is known as the John Johnson place, now owned by Adna Brown. He d. here June 16, 1835. He was one of the fifty-nine members who organized the Baptist church at North Springfield ; in 1803, and was prominent in church affairs. He m. 1st, Sally 'Tainter; she d. June 25, 1820; m. 2d, Ruth Robinson. Ch. :
1. Sarah, b. April 3, 1778; m. Nathaniel Hudson; d. in Baltimore, Vt., April 14, 1847.
2. Lydia, b. April 12, 1782; m. David Chaplin, d. Aug. 29, 1867.
3. Nathaniel, b. April 9, 1784; m. Anna Davis, and lived in Spring- field, on the farm in Eureka now owned by Mrs. Achsa Grow. He moved to Weathersfield in 1840. Ch. :
(1). Lonsia.
(2). Nathaniel B.
(3). Lorinda.
(4). Abigail, b. in 1812; m. Solomon Spencer of Springfield; d. in 1858.
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
(5). Lucius M.
(6). Willard D.
(7). George E.
(8). John.
(9). Nancy A.
4. Hannah, b. Oct. 19, 1787; m. Dec. 6, 1810, Luther Haywood; res. in Ludlow.
5. Nancy, b. April 20, 1789; m. Jan. 19, 1815, Jonathan Smith ; d. in Middlebury, in 1874.
6. John, b. in Ashburnham, Mass., Aug. 29, 1794; came to Spring- field with his father, in 1797, and always lived in Springfield. He d. March 19, 1861. He m. Jan. 26, 1815, Abigail Haywood, daughter of David Haywood of Weathersfield. Ch. :
(1). John C., b. Oct. 16, 1816; d. May 23, 1835.
(2). Eunice A., b. Nov. 14, 1821; m. Feb. 23, 1842, Parkman Davis; res. in Springfield, later in Chicago. Ch. :
[1]. Arvilla M., b. Aug. 8, 1846; m. Henry Austin.
[2]. Harlan J., b. Feb. 8, 1848.
[3]. Leroy P., h. March IS, 1855.
[4]. Isiline, b. June 4, 1857.
(3). Edson X.,
b. Aug. 11, 1823. He
lived on the home- stead in
Spring- field, be- low the North Vil- lage, on the farm now owned by Lorenzo D. Lock-
wood, and was a suc- cessful far- mer and breeder of merino sheep and fine horses. In 1888 he sold his
farm, and later mov- ed to Ches-
EDSON X. PIERCE.
412
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
ter, where he now resides. He m. Dec. 19, 1849, Mary Barrett, daughter of Charles and Polly (Jackman) Barrett of Weathersfield. Ch .:
[1]. John C., b. Dec. 18, 1850; d. in infancy.
[2]. Flora E., b. May 25, 1852; m. July 18, 1877, George A. Brown of Plymouth, now a lawyer in Boston. Ch. : Nelson Pierce, b. May 13, 1878.
Ruth, b. Dec. 1, 1882.
James Barrett, b. March 3, 1883.
[3]. Abby L., b. June 13, 1854; m. Oct. 15, 1879, Lewis Herrick (see Herrick family) ; res. in New Haven, Conn.
[4]. Nellie A., b. July 21, 1862; m. Nov. 8, 1881, George F. Leland, of the firm of C. A. Leland & Son, mer- chants in Springfield. (See Leland family.)
(4). Mary J., b. Oct. 7, 1832; m. Henry Wright of Rockingham. Ch .:
[1]. Walter M., jeweller in Ashburnham, Mass.
[2]. Henry, station agent and telegraph operator at Bar- tonsville, Vt.
7. Mary, b. Nov. 30, 1795; m. Daniel Bixby ; res. in Reading, Vt.
LEVI PIPER, b. June 28, 1793, was the son of Noah Piper, who was one of the first settlers in Baltimore, and came from Connecticut. "There were twelve children. Levi m. Jan. 11, 1816, Marion Bartlett, who was also of a family of twelve children, and they both outlived the other twenty-two.
They moved from Balti- more to Springfield in 1859. He d. Jan. 3, 1877, and his wife d. Jan. 26, 1882. Ch. : I. Edwin, b. Dec. 11, 1817; d. April 9, 1893.
II. Adaline, b. July 20, 1820; m .- Pres- ton.
III. Martha, b. May 4, 1823; d. Aug. 14, 1871.
Edwin m. Esther A. Brierly, who d. Oct. 14, 1890. He
EDWIN PIPER.
GEO-H.WALKER & CO BOSTON
FRED* PORTER.
413
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
was long and well known to the people of this town, conscientious and upright in all business affairs. Ch .:
1. Foster L., b. March 3, 1850; m. May 31, 1876, Sarah J. Adams of Springfield. Ch. :
(1). Nellie May, b. April 9, 1885.
(2). Herbert Foster, b. April 24, 1894.
2. Mary Jane, b. April 22, 1860; m. Willis Prescott ; res. in Epping, N. H.
Dr. FRANK E. POMROY, son of David A. and Jane (Starkey) Pomroy, was b. Nov. 5, 1850, at West Swanzey, N. H. He is a dentist, and in business in Springfield. He m. Jan. 9, 1879, Mary E. Kidder, daughter of Abel and Clarissa (Taylor) Kidder, b. in Townshend, Vt., Dec. 10, 1850.
CHARLES E. PORTER, son of Samuel and Mehitable (Fletcher) Porter, was b. in Dummerston, Vt., in 1806. He learned the machinist trade in Greenwich Mass., and after his apprenticeship was associated with his brother Frederick in the manufacture of card clothing in Springfield. He d. in 1859, leaving a widow, Mrs. Ann E. Porter, and one son, Charles Emerson Porter, both now residing (1894) in Newburyport, Mass.
FREDERICK AUGUSTUS PORTER, son of Samuel and Mehitable (Fletcher) Porter, was b. in Dummerston, Vt., Sept. 3, 1796. While very young he manifested a great fondness for mechanics, and in his boyhood was able to manufacture many useful articles with the limited number of tools at his com- mand. In his teens he taught school as a source of income, but what spare time he had was devoted to subjects pertaining to the mechanic arts. His first work away from home was at Greenwich, Mass., where he was employed in making parts of machines for making card clothing from sample pieces given him to duplicate, and it was here he conceived the idea of improving upon the construction of these machines, and built up a business for him- self in the manufacture of cards. An opportunity was soon presented at Springfield, Vt., about the year 1825, where a good water power was secured, and his two brothers, Samuel W. and Charles E. Porter, joined hin as partners in the enterprise, under the name of F. A. Porter & Co. By Mr. Porter's superior inventive talents and mechanical skill, machines were made producing cards of the best quality, far in advance of any made in this country at that time, and the company were usually crowded with orders. The secret of their success was in the perfection of their machines. They were constructed in such a manner as to be in a great measure automatic in their movements, requiring only one operative to care for twenty machines. If a tooth was slightly bent in setting, or was missed altogether, or if there was a slight variation in the length of the teeth, the machine would stop; in fact, if there was any imperfection in the card as it was produced, the machine would refuse to run, thereby giving warning to the attendant. Although Mr. Porter made many valuable improvements in card machines, he never would trust to a patent for protection, but always kept his machine room strictly private. The business was carried on successfully until Mr. Porter's health failed, and his brother Charles dying in 1859, the business was then discontinued.
414
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Frederick A. Porter m. Sept. 3, 1828, Hannah Thayer, daughter of Thadeus and Roby (Smith) Thayer of Dummerston, Vt., b. Feb. 13, 1804. He d. Feb. 17, 1867. Mrs. Porter d. in Springfield, July 5, 1891. Universally known as " Aunt Hannah," she will long be remembered as one of the most intelligent, active and useful women of her generation. Ch. :
I. Mary Elizabeth, b. Aug. 16, 1830; m. Frederick Wilkinson of New York City; d. Sept. 24, 1864, leaving two sons, Frederick P. and Byron, who are in business in New York.
II. Grace Ann, b. June 22, 1831 ; d. at her sister's residence in New York at the age of 29.
GEORGE WASHINGTON PORTER, son of Samuel and Mehitable (Fletcher) Porter, was b. in Dummerston, Vt., July 28, 1800. He was for many years a merchant in Springfield, and for twenty-five years was treasurer of the Springfield Savings Bank, being chosen treasurer at its organization. He was a careful and judicious business man, noted for his accurate methods and integrity. He d. May 14, 1879. He m. Lucretia H. Bordurtha. Ch. :
1. George C., b. in Ware, Mass., May 24, 1830, was for some years in business with his father in Springfield, and later was assistant treasurer of the Springfield Savings Bank ; now res. in Dover, N. J. He m. 1st, Harriet A. Cram ; m. 2d, Mary E. Milliken. Ch. by last marriage :
1. Artie F. ; m. Arthur L. Richards of Newark, N. J.
II. Samuel W., master armorer at the U. S. Armory at Springfield, Mass., d. 1894.
III. William H. H., b .- , 1840. He went into the hardware business as office boy in the employ of Frye, Phipps & Co. of Boston, and for nearly twenty-five years was a member of that firm. He had a large personal and business following, was a man of rare honesty and integrity. He d. in 1887.
IV. Helen M., d ..
V. Edward C., d. -
VI. Albert E.
SAMUEL WARDSWORTH PORTER, who was a resident of Springfield for nearly seventy years, was born in Townshend, Vt., Nov. 4, 1792. His ances- tors, as far as they can be traced, werc:
1st, John Porter, born in Dorset, England, in 1596, and a resident of Hing- ham, Mass. (Danvers), in 1635.
2d, Joseph Porter, baptized in Hingham, Sept. 9, 1638.
3d, Deacon William Porter, b. Aug. 30, 1674, lived in Topsfield, Mass., afterward removed to Norton, Mass., and d. in Braintree, Mass.
4th, Jabez Porter, grandfather of Samuel W., b. in Topsfield, Mass., Feb. 1, 1723, graduated at Harvard College, and lived in Braintree, Mass. School teacher by profession, his school being spoken of in the town records as the "Latin School," and his special work was in fitting young men for Harvard College. Several of his text-books are still in possession of the Porter fam- ily, some of them dating back to 1537.
5th, Samuel Porter, father of Samuel W., born in Braintree, Mass., in 1763,
Geo. H.Walker & Co. Lith Boston
GEO.W. PORTER
CEO.H. WALKER & ED LITH. BOSTON,
SauM Postup
415
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
received his education at his father's (Jabez Porter's) school, preparatory for college, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1790. He was a lawyer of eminence, elected to the office of Chief Judge of the Windham County Court iu 1804, and lived in Dnmmerston, Vt.
Four of his sons settled in Springfield, Vt., viz. : Samuel W., Frederick A., George W. and Charles E. Porter. Their mother, Mchitable (Fletcher) Porter, was a danghter of Gen. Samuel Fletcher, who was one of the first settlers of Townshend, Vt., aud who joined the American standard at Bunker Hill in 1775 as orderly sergeant, afterward chosen captain of militia, and did good service at " Old Ti" in 1777.
Samuel W. Porter received his education at Newfane, Brattleboro and Ches- ter Academies, studied law with Hon. William C. Bradley of Westminster, Vt., aud first opened au office in Putney, but removed to Springfield, December, 1815, where he spent the rest of his life. Identifying himself heartily with every movement to further the interests of the town and county, he was made the recipient of many honors at the disposal of the people, being elected town representative in 1827 and 1828, county judge from 1828 to 1837, a mem- ber of the Council of Ceusors and of the First Vermont Senate in 1836 and 1837, also towu clerk from 1848 to 1881.
He married Fauny Richards, daughter of Hon. Mark Richards of Westmin- ster, Vt., which resulted in a happy union for half a ccutury. Mrs. Porter, before her marriage, lived in Westminster, and an incident which occurred in 1809 or 1810 was often related by her, showing an element of barbarism in the laws of that time and how the law was executed. A woman was sen- tenced to be publicly whipped at Newfane with the cat-o'-nine-tails, - thirty- seven lashes applied upon the bare back. The execution of this sentence de- volved upon the high sheriff, Mark Richards, and his deputy, Lemuel Whit- ney. Mr. Richards gave orders to his daughter Fanny and a daughter of Mr. Whituey to prepare the sconrge. 'This they did in the cause of humanity by making the tails of slack-twisted woollen yarn, aud the scourge was applied according to law, but left no marks. It was probably the last sentence under this law before its repeal.
The first post office in Springfield was established in the fall of 1818, Mr. Porter receiving the appointment of postmaster Nov. 28 of that year, and holding the office until 1828.
Judge Porter was emphatically a gentleman of the old school, very genial in his social intercourse, and always deemed it a pleasure to confer a favor. He was plaiu in his manner of living, temperate iu his habits, and avoided excite- ment of every form, which may account for his general good health and his long life of usefulness. 'The town records were kept by him for thirty-three successive years, and the last page recorded by him is written with as firm and steady a hand as the first.
Mrs. Porter died March 11, 1869, aged 82 years. Judge Porter died in his ninetieth year, Aug. 11, 1882, at the residence of his son, Frederick W. Porter, and was at that time the oldest member of the Windsor County bar. Ch. :
I. Helen Ann, b. Jan. 3, 1814; m. Sept. 10, 1838, Dr. Henry F. Crain. (See Craiu family.)
II. Mark Richards, b. Dec. 10, 1821 .; d. Aug. 11, 1848.
416
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
III. Frederick Wardsworth, b. in Springfield, Oct. 27, 1823, and educated at the public schools in Springfield and at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. At a very early age he showed a mechanical turn of mind, and was encouraged in this direction by his uncle, Fred- erick A. Porter, who was a first-class mechanic, and who allowed him the use of his tools and machine room. At the age of eleven years he had constructed a perfect ruuning miniature steam en- gine, and applied its power to propelling a miniature steamboat on the river. Soon after the art of taking pictures by the Daguerreau process was brought to this country, aud Mr. Porter, then eighteeu years old, conceived the idea of making himself master of the art and using it as a source of pleasure and profit. This he accomplished under the instruction of Mr. Van Loon of New York in the fall of 1841, and afterward continued the business of taking likenesses by this process for two years, as- sociated with Mr. Horace M. Whitmore. They were among the first to introduce the art through the country, and they made a success of the business. Iu the spriug of 1844 Mr. Porter decided to make the jewelry business his permauent vocation, and arranged with Brinsmaid & Bros. of Burlington, Vt., for a year's iustruction in watch work and jewelry business generally. On account of his knowledge of mechanical work, and the excellent op- portunity given him for ob- FREDERICK W. PORTER. taiuing a kuowledge of all branches of the business, he was enabled to open a store on his own account in Springfield in the spring of 1845. From this time to Jan. 1, 1875, he coutinucd in the business, adding books, stationery and drugs to his stock.
During about twenty years of this period W. H. Wheeler was in partnership with him under the firm name of F. W. Porter & Co., forming a very pleasant and successful business union. A short time previous to a dissolution of this partnership, the firm had
417
OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
bought the building formerly occupied by F. A. Porter & Co. in making card clothing, and established the business of manufactur- ing toy carriages under the name of the Springfield Toy Manufac- turing Company, which was afterward continued by Mr. Porter with R. H. Holbrook as a partner. This business required for its success just what Mr. Porter was capable of furnishing, viz., the yearly production of new-style carriages, original in design and at- tractive in appearance. His best efforts in this line were protected by patents, and were staple goods in the market for many years. 'T'he business of this company increased rapidly from its commence- ment, and their goods were handled in nearly every city in the United States, San Francisco alone taking about $5,000 worth an- nnally. When interrogated as to his business, Mr. Porter would reply that making seventy-five thousand children happy every year (a toy carriage for each one) was glory enongh for any firm. This business was conducted in a systematic manner, no pay-day was allowed to pass withont making full settlement with the help, and the principle that a credit kept good at home would not suffer abroad was sernpulously adhered to.
Although naturally of a retiring disposition. Mr. Porter did not hesitate to accept public positions. He was town representative in 1878-79, and was frequently chosen to fill town, village and school district offices. He was postmaster during the administrations of Lincoln and of Johnson. He m. Oct. 25, 1849, Caroline Silsby of Charlestown, N. H. Their religious preferences are Swedenbor- gian, and they take great comfort in its teachings. Ch. :
1. Anna Silsby, b. June 22, 1851; m. Oct. 9, 1872, Jolmn Worthington Marsh, lawyer, b. at Woodstock, Vt., and resides at Chicago. Ch. :
(1). John Porter, b. Feb. 25, 1874.
(2). Miriam Elizabeth, b. Aug. 10, 1875.
2. William Bradley, b. Feb. 22, 1855; d. Sept. 12, 1871.
3. Frank Farrington, b. Jnne 30, 1858; m. March 8, 1886, Jessie M. Wood of Springfield; res. in Springfield, Mass.
4. Elizabeth West, b. Jnne 4, 1868; . m. Sept. 5, 1891, F. H. Babcock.
5. Russell William, b. Dec. 13, 1871.
IV. Frances Harriet, b. Nov. 17, 1831; m. Royal Blake Stearns of Wood- stock, Vt. (merchant). Ch. :
1. Frederick Richards, b. April 20, 1854; m. Jan. 1, 1885, Ida Connor of Santa Clara, Cal. Ch .:
(1). Elbert Porter Stearns.
2. Margaret Eliza, b. May 20, 1857; m. Jan. 16, 1877, Holsted Burnet of St. Lonis. Ch .:
(1). William Porter Bnrnet, b. Jan. 19, 1878.
JERATHMIEL POWERS, b. in Littleton, Mass., in 1718, came to Springfield with his family abont 1772, and settled on the Crown Point Road. He was
418
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
prominent in political affairs in those early days. He d. May 17, 1805. His wife Eunice d. Aug. 9, 1794. Ch. :
I. David.
II. Eunice.
III. Asahel.
IV. Peter.
v. Moses.
VI. Blanchard.
VII. Anna, b. in Springfield, Oct. 3, 1774.
VIII. Cynthia, b. in Springfield, July 19, 1777.
IX. Eunice, b. June 19, 1757, was the second wife of John Nott.
ASAHEL POWERS, second son of Jerathmiel, b. Sept. 29, 1759, in Shirley, Mass., came to Springfield with his father in 1772. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the army for eight months, and was at the Battle of Bunker Hill. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to Springfield and joined the expedition to Ticonderoga and Quebec. In May, 1776, being sick with small-pox, his comrades left him at a place called Patricks Hole, where he was taken prisoner and carried to Quebec. He was first placed in the jail and afterward taken to the hospital. By the kindness of the surgeon in charge he was permitted to live in the home of a Mr. Galway, an Irish gentleman, who was friendly to the cause of the colonists. Here he was kindly treated and aided to escape and return to his home in Springfield.
Mr. Powers was a man of more than ordinary ability, and was considered a sharp, shrewd pettifogger or justice lawyer. He was always called "Esquire Powers."
He was a Methodist in religion and one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal society, and among the foremost in building the first Methodist meeting-house on Seminary Hill, now used for a school building. He m. Eleanor Bragg, daughter of Nicholas Bragg. Ch. :
1. Polly, b. Jan. 12, 1782 ; m. Oct. 6, 1804, Oliver Fairbanks.
2. Cynthia, b. July 17, 1784; m. Richard McAllister. Ch. : (1). Major. (2). Eleanor. M. 2d, Dec. 4, 1814, Daniel Brooks.
3. Eleanor, b. Dec. 2, 1786; m. Jan. 12, 1806, Warden Place.
4. Asahel Powers, .Jr., b. Feb. 25, 1789; m. March 29, 1812, Sophia Lynde.
5. Major, b. March 26, 1791 ; m. Jan. 18, 1815, Hannah Parsons.
6. Permelia, b. April 17, 1793; m. Nov. 14, 1816, Ebenezer Harlow.
7. William B., b. Aug. 27, 1795 ; m. Aug. 14, 1821, Sarah B. Eveleth.
8. Betsey, b. Nov. 4, 1797.
9. George, b. July 3, 1800.
10. Submit, b. Oct. 6, 1802; m. H. W. Purdy.
NATHAN S. PROCTOR, son of Nathan and Harriet (Dorand) Proctor, was b. in Rockingham in 1837. He came to Springfield in 1872, and engaged in the meat business with R. L. Lovell. He has lived in Springfield since, except a short time in the meat business at Bellows Falls. He m. Martha Ann Felch, daughter of Warren and Elvira (Webb) Felch, b. in Rockingham in 1840. Ch. :
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
I. Wells Herbert, b. in Rockingham in 1865; m. Laura McIntyre, daugh- ter of William R. and Amanda (Lucas) McIntyre of Springfield.
ELI P. B. PULSIPHER, son of William W. and Electa (Barnes) Pulsipher, was b. in Rockingham, Jan. 18, 1839. He came to Springfield in 1873, and was eight years in hardware business with W. H. H. Putnam, the firm being Putnam & Pulsipher. In 1881 he sold to Putnam, and a year later engaged in the livery business, which he still continues, keeping seventeen horses. He m. Ist, Sept. 2, 1873, Emma S. Smalley, daughter of Charles and Delina (Davis) Smalley. She d. in 1885. He m. 2d, May 20, 1890, Nancy (White) Beard, daughter of Bartlett E. White. Ch. :
I. Frank E. (adopted), b. July 25, 1876.
ROBERT PUTNAM, son of Solon and Mary A. (Rice) Putnam, was b. Feb. 23, 1853; m. Addie S. Smith, daughter of Luther aud Esther E. (Grant) Smith, b. in Surry, N. H., Oct. 27, 1855. Ch. :
I. Ada A., b. Nov. 16, 1874.
II. Edna A., b. Nov. 16, 1874.
III. Minnie, b. June 28, 1878.
IV. Ervin, b. June 3, 1882.
TYLER PUTNAM, son of Solon and Mary A. (Rice) Putnam, was b. in Springfield, June 29, 1839; m. Ist, Ellen Abbott. She d. -. M. 2d, Nettie E. Parker. Ch. :
I. Adin T., b. June 28, 1876.
II. Solon, b. May 8, 1878.
III. Arthur F., b. July 11, 1879.
IV. John, b. Feb. 10, 1885.
SYLVESTER PUTNAM, son of Joseph and Sarah Putnam, was b. in Ludlow, Jan. 26, 1837; m. March 5, 1862, Ellen Rollins, daughter of Asa and Lydia (Byam) Rollins, b. in Chester, Vt., July 11, 1843.
GEORGE PUTNAM, son of Joseph and Sarah Putnam, was b. in Springfield, April 20, 1840; m. Aug. 15, 1878, Lois Rice, daughter of Orrin and Jaue (Randall) Rice, b. in Springfield, Aug. 6, 1857. Ch. :
I. Leon R., b. Oct. 6, 1880.
TIMOTHY M. PUTNAM, son of Timothy and Emily (Eaton) Putnam, was b. Jan. 30, 1830, in Springfield ; m. Sarah A. Gould, daughter of William and Clarissa (Damon) Gould, b. in Springfield, Sept. 21, 1836. Ch. :
I. Nora A., b. Nov. 29, 1854.
II. Willie H., b. Nov. 19, 1856 ; d. Oct. 30, 1862.
III. Emma C., b. June 9, 1858 ; m. Fred M. Rice.
IV. Rowella M., b. March 29, 1861; m. Everett Bingham.
V. Mary J., b. Oct. 30, 1864 ; m. George Hartwell.
VI. George H., b. June 30, 1867.
VII. Walter T., b. Aug. 11, 1880.
ELVIN M. PUTNAM, son of Timothy and Emily (Eaton) Putnam, was b. June 25, 1852; m. Dec. 29, 1874, Julia E. Swift, daughter of Ryland and Mary (Dean) Swift, b. in Cavendish, Vt., Sept, 7, 1854. Ch. : ,
I. Irving R., b. Feb. 9, 1883.
420
HISTORY OF THE TOWN
WILLIAM H. II. PUTNAM, son of John and Roxana (Howard) Putnam, b. in Grafton, Vt., Sept. 14, 1840. His father was a direct descendant from John Putnam, who came from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1634. He went to Ga- lena in 1856, where he learned the trade of tinsmith, returning to Vermont in 1860. In 1861 he enlisted for three years in Co. E, 6th New Hampshire Volun- teers, serving as sergeant major. Becoming disabled, he received his discharge in 1862. The following year he went to Galesburg, Ill., and in 1864 to the gold fields of Montana, and for seven years was engaged in mining and mercan- tile business, after which he spent a year in Nevada, Utah, and California. He came to Springfield in 1873, and was engaged in the stove and hardware trade until 1886, when he retired from the business. His townsmen recognized his
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