Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 108

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 842

USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 108

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He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. His law studies were pursued at the Albany Law School, and with the firm of Flagg & Tyler, Wilmington. The members composing this firm were his father, Gen. Stephen P. Flagg, and the Hon. James M. Tyler, now one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Vermont. Mr. Flagg was admitted to the bar in Windham county at the September term in 1864, practicing for the first year at Wilmington, and subse- quently at Bennington, for a period of four years.

At the October session of the Vermont Leg- islature in 1864, he was elected clerk of the House of Representatives, and was unani- mously re-elected to the same office for the succeeding four years. At the first session of the Forty-first Congress, beginning in December, 1869, he was appointed principal clerk of the United States Senate, which office he continued to hold through succeed- ing Congresses until the spring of 1878, when he resigned. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1870, and on terminating his connection with the United States Senate resumed his law prac- tice, both in Washington and New York, giv- ing special attention to international questions arising under treaties between the United States and foreign powers, as well as kindred subjects. He was prominent in the pro- longed discussion involved in the earlier

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legislation of Congress, defining the relation of our government to the "Geneva Award Fund," and the method of its distribution, and subsequently prosecuted to a successful termination a large number of claims arising under said treaty.

Removing to New York City in the year 1880, he has not only continued his practice before the Federal courts and departments at Washington, but has given much attention to corporation law, receiving a lucrative in- come therefrom, being steadily employed by various corporations prominent throughout the country. He is an accepted authority on the law of parliamentary procedure as well as of international law, and has had for clients several foreign governments in this

JOHN HENRY FLAGG.

latter branch of practice, to which so few lawyers seem to have given special attention. For many years he has been counsel to va- rious foreign steamship lines, the large pe- troleum corporations of the United States, railroad corporations and many others.

He is a member of Union League Club, the chief Republican organization of New York City, the Metropolitan Club of Wash- ington, a life member of the New England Society of New York, and was one of the promoters of the Brooklyn Society of Ver- monters, of which he is a member and one of the executive committee.

Mr. Flagg was married in June, 1889, to Peachy J., daughter of Frank F. and Marion Jones of Brooklyn, N. Y.

FLETCHER, RICHARD, was born in Cavendish, Jan. 8, 1788 ; graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1806 ; served in the Legis- lature of Massachusetts ; was a judge of the Supreme Court from 1848 to 1853; and a representative in Congress from Massachu- setts, from 1837 10 1839.

FOLLETT, JOHN FASSETT, of Cincin- nati, Ohio, was born in Franklin county, his father removed to Ohio in 1837, and settled in Licking county ; he procured for himself a classical education, entering Marietta Col- lege in 1851, and graduating in 1855 as the valedictorian of his class; he tanght school two years ; studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1858; was elected to the Ohio Legislature from Licking county, in 1865, and re-elected in 1867 ; was elected in Janu- ary, 1868, speaker of the House of Repre- sentatives ; in September, 1868, removed to Cincinnati to engage in the practice of the law, and on the assembling of the legislature resigned the speakership and his commission as representative from Licking county ; in 1880 was nominated at the Democratic state convention as one of the electors at large for Ohio on the Hancock and English presiden- tial ticket; in 1879 received the degree of LL. D., from Marietta College; and was elected to the Forty-eighth Congress as a Democrat.

FONDA, EDMUND S., of Osage, Iowa, son of Stephen H. and Julia (Harwood) Fonda, was born June 3, 1839, at Rupert.

Mr. Fonda was educated in the common schools and at Fort Edward (N. Y.) Insti- tute. The usual experience of a farmer's son was that of Mr. Fonda until, in 1862, he became a book-keeper and salesman in the general store of F. Wells, Constantine, Mich., which position he resigned after two years, and entered into partnership with G. W. Waterson, of the same place, selling dry goods and groceries. He continued in the same business until 1868, when he removed to his present home. In the fall of 1869 he sold out and engaged in real estate, and in 1875 became further engaged in the sale of farm machinery, a business he continues in at the present day.

Mr. Fonda served as chairman of the rail- way committee of the Osage Board of Trade for five years, during the projecting and building of the Winona & Southwestern R. R., and was largely instrumental in get- ting the company to build to Osage.

Educational matters have had a strong interest for him. He was engaged, previous to embarking in the mercantile business, in teaching district winter schools in Vermont, New York and Michigan. He has served many years on the city school board, and

FOOTE.

as a trustee of the Cedar Valley Seminary has served several years, and is now presi- dent of the board. He is also president of the Mitchell County Agricultural Society, holding that honor for thirteen years.

In politics he is Republican ; has served for two years as member of state central committee. Has never sought office. Was elected mayor of the city of Osage, in 1889, receiving, without distinction of party, every vote cast but one. Was re-elected mayor in 1891, and declined a re-election in 1893. He had previously served as city council- man.

EDMUND S. FONDA.

In 1893 Mr. Fonda obtained a charter for himself and associates to organize the Farmers' National Bank of Osage, of which he is a director. He is now comfortably situated with a farm of nine hundred and ten acres, every acre of which is tillable, and which is situated but two and a half miles from Osage, valued at $45,000. Has a large implement trade and other interests.

He married, August 18, 1864, in Constan- tine, Mich., Loretta E., daughter of Rulef and Charlotte A. Crego. They have three children : Lottie J., Fannie L., and Kate B.

FOOTE, STEPHEN MILLER, United States Army, son of Henry William and Rebecca (Dunlap) Foote, was born Feb. 19, 1859, at La Salle, Mich., and came to Ver- mont, his father's native state, at fourteen years of age.

FOOTE.

His early education was received at Bee- man Academy, class of '79, when he entered Middlebury College. The following year he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in the class of '84. He afterwards graduated at the United States Artillery School at Fortress Monroe, Va., in the class of '88.

June 12, 1884, he was appointed 2d Lieut. 4th Artillery U. S. A., and Ist Lieut. June 17, 1889. From September, 1884, to Septem- ber, 1885, he served at Fort Adams, New- port, R. I., from 1885 to 1886 at Fort Trum- bull, New London, Conn., and from 1886 to 1888 in the artillery school at Fort Monroe. From September, 1888, to January, 1889, he passed traveling in Europe, on leave of absence, and in January, 1889, became as- sistant instructor of engineering, and in charge of non-commissioned officers' school at the artillery school, Fort Monroe. From March, 1891, till July, 1892, he was on duty with the Intercontinental Railway Commis- sion in Washington, D. C., and in Central

STEPHEN MILLER FOOTE.

America. From July, 1892, to February, 1893, he was on duty at Fort Barrancas, Pensacola, Fla. His last service at present date is with World's Columbian Exposition. Lieutenant Foote is a member of the Chi Psi Society of Middlebury College.

He was married at Fort Monroe, Va., April 24, 1889, to Sara, daughter of Maj. John Brooke of the Medical Department U. S. A., and Esther Willing Brooke.

PRIIMAN.

I. RINK.

FREEMAN, NELSON ORLANDO, of Freeport, Ill., was born in Wolcott, Jan. 1, 1836.

Mr. Freeman acquired his early education in the village school and the academy at Johnson, and prepared for college at Fort Edward Institute. Entering Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., in the class of 1863, he later was transferred to the University of Vermont, where he completed the course and graduated in 1869, receiving the degree of A. M. In further pursuance of a thorough preparation for the university he commenced a course at the Boston Theological Seminary in 1869.

Mr. Freeman began his life work by enter- ing the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the conference held at St. Albans. While attending college he was pastor at Winooski. In 1870 he went westward and transferred to the Rock River Conference, and for the past twenty-five years has served at various places, including the following churches : St. Charles and Wheaton, and at Batavia a second term, four years at Ottawa. He is now pastor of First M. E. Church, Freeport, Ill.

While ever assiduously applying himself'to his chosen profession and making no effort for distinction in social organizations, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and"of the Odd Fellows.

Mr. Freeman's first wife was Francis E. Richmond, of Woodstock, Vt., daughter of Baezillar Richmond and Lodoisski Brown. She died in 1867, leaving one daughter since deceased. Mr. Freeman again married in 1872, Hattie, daughter of Ezra and Catherine Samson, of Waterman, Ill. The result of this union is three children : Charles S., Dwight, and Anna Louise.

FROST, TIMOTHY PRESCOTT, of Balti- more, Md., son of Timothy M. and Mary G. (Prescott) Frost, was born at Mount Holly, June 26, 1850.

His education was received in the district schools of Weston, the Methodist Seminary of Montpelier, and the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn.

Mr. Frost entered the itinerant ministery of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1876 and served full terms at Thetford Centre, Woodstock, Bradford and Montpelier. He was chaplain of the Vermont Senate in 1886. He also served two years at St. Johnsbury, from which place he went to the Summer- field Church, of Brooklyn, N. Y., in May, 1889. In April, 1893, he was appointed pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Md., where he is located at present.

In 1888 Mr. Frost was chosen one of two ministerial delegates from the Vermont con-

ference to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church held in New York City, which is the legislative body of the church and meets quadrennially.

TIMOTHY PRESCOTT FROST.

Mr. Frost is a member of the Society of the War of 1812, and of the Brooklyn Society of the Sons of Vermont.

He married, Jan. 23, 1876, Carrie M., daughter of Nathan and Lavona (Webster) Holt, and has two children : Philip Pres- cott, and Florence Virtine.

FRINK, ALDEN, of Boston, Mass., son of Luther and Alvatina (Childs) Frink, was born in Woodstock, April 18, 1833.

Receiving a limited education in the dis- trict schools, he has earned his own living since he was nine years of age, working on a farm until the age of fifteen. He then learned the carpenter's trade and this occu- pation he followed for six years in Windsor and Worcester, Mass., during which time he learned the draughting of plans and when twenty-one years of age he began the study of architecture in the office of Elbridge Boyden, Worcester, Mass. After remaining there three years, in the spring of 1857 he removed to Boston and was employed by the United States Government as a draughts- man on the new Minot Ledge Lighthouse. In 1859 he visited Europe, travelling through England, Ireland and Scotland as well as on the Continent. In 1860 he returned to this country and opened an office at 28 State

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street, Boston, where he has been located ever since. Mr. Frink has built over fifty stores ; over one hundred dwellings ranging from $5,000 to $150,000, and a number of schoolhouses, engine-houses and police sta- tions for the city of Boston. He also built the New England Manufacturers and Mer- chants Institute building in Boston, which was destroyed by fire in 1886.

Within the past eight or ten years, he has built quite a number of railroad stations for the Boston & Maine, Fitchburg, and Old Colony Railroad Companies, at Woburn, Somerville Highlands, Winter Hill, Prospect Hill, Wakefield, Marblehead, Lynn Com-

GLAZIER.

mon, Waverly, Marlboro, Athol, Concord Junction, Stoneham, Wilton and other places. He has also made extensive ad- ditions to the Lowell station in Boston.

He affiliates with St. Andrew's Lodge of Masons, and is a prominent member of Tremont Lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F.

Mr. Frink was united in marriage at Bos- ton, Jan. 29, 1859, to Roxana, daughter of Benjamin and Charlotte Folsom of Vienne, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Frink have two children : Leonard Alden Frink, born Sept. 22, 1870, entering Harvard College in 1889 in class of 1893, and is now a student in Harvard Law School ; and Carrie Roxana Frink, born April 16, 1876.

GARFIELDE, SELUCIUS, was born in Shoreham, Dec. 8, 1822 ; removed to Ken- tucky in early life ; finished his collegiate course at Augusta College ; read law and was admitted to the bar in 1849 ; was elected a member of the convention to revise the state constitution ; spent the following year in South American travel; emigrated to California in 1851 ; was elected a member of the Legislature of that state in 1852 and in 1853, was selected by that body to codify the laws of the state ; returned to Kentucky in 1854, was a member of the Cincinnati national convention in 1856 and an elector during that canvass ; removed to Washington Territory in 1857, where he filled the posi- tion of receiver of public moneys to 1860 ; in 1861 he was nominated for Congress, but was beaten by the secession wing of the Democratic party ; was surveyor general from 1866 to 1869, when he was elected a delegate from Washington Territory in the Forty-first Congress as a Republican ; was re-elected to the Forty-second Congress.

GILFILLAN, JOHN B., of Minneapolis, Minn., was born at Barnet, Feb. 11, 1835, graduated at the Caledonia County Academy in 1855, then removed to Minneapolis, where he has since resided, studied law, was admitted to the bar in July, 1860, and has practiced since ; was a member of the board of education, 1860-'68, was an alderman of the city of Minneapolis, 1865-'69, was pros- ecuting attorney of Hennepin county, 1863- '67, and 1869-'73 ; was city attorney, 1861- 64, was a member of the state Senate of Minnesota, 1875'-85, was regent of the State University of Minnesota in 1880, and still holds that office, and was elected to the Forty-ninth Congress as a Republican.

GLAZIER, NELSON NEWTON, of Green- field, Mass., son of John Newton and Phebe

Cass (Bourn) Glazier, was born Dec. 12, 1838, at Stratton.

His education was acquired in the com- mon schools, Leland Seminary, Amherst Col- lege, 1859-'61, and at Brown University, 1864, where he graduated in 1866, receiving the degree of A. B., and from there in 1869 the degree of A. M. Also three years, 1866-'69, were spent at the Newton Theological Insti- tution (Baptist). In 1865 while a senior at Brown University he was elected representa- tive from his native town, and served on the committee on education. This honor was again conferred on him in 1867 and he was made a member of the committee on elec- tions.

Mr. Glazier, August 11, 1862, enlisted in Co. G, I Ith Regt., afterwards Ist Vt. Heavy Artillery, and served as private, corporal, and for a time acting ordnance sergeant at Fort Slocum, and in recruiting service in Vermont. He was made 2d lieutenant of Co. A, Nov. 2, 1863, and became Ist lieutenant, Jan. 21, 1864. He lost his left arm at Spottsylvania, May 18, 1864, and was honorably discharged Sept. 3, 1864, on account of wounds received in action.

He is a member of Edwin E. Day Post, No. 174, G. A. R., of Greenfield, Mass.

October 21, 1869, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry (Baptist). He was pastor at Central Falls, R. I., 1869-'70, Montpelier, 1872-'78, South Abington, Mass., 1880-'84, Westboro, Mass. (acting pastor), 1884-'86, and in 1887 he became pastor of the First Baptist Church at Greenfield, Mass., which place he now occupies.

From 1872 to 1875 he was superintendent of schools at Montpelier. From IS72 to 1878 he was for three consecutive terms chaplain of the Vermont Senate. His in- terest in religious matters generally has always been great, and he is closely identi- fied with the religious and benevolent work

GLEASON.

of the Baptist denomination, especially in Massachusetts, and is deeply interested also in educational matters.

GLEASON, JAMES MELLEN, of Boston, Mass .. was born in Wardsboro, Oct. 6, 1833. His parents were Josiah and Susan Read ( Morse) Gleason, excellent representatives of the Green Mountain state-of a thrifty and hardy race of people.

He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Springfield Wesleyan Seminary ; for three years he was an effi- cient teacher in the public schools of his native state.

JAMES MELLEN GLEASON.

The 16th of January, 1856, he went to Boston to complete his education, entering French's Commercial College from which he graduated in due course. After several years service as a book-keeper he became cashier of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co., March 1, 1870. That he has carefully and conscientiously discharged, in an efficient manner, the duties of his re- sponsible position, no stronger testimony could be possible than twenty-three years of continuous service therein.

The politics of Mr. Gleason, like so many "Men of Vermont," has been a stalwart Republican. He has never sought official position, yet he has not escaped being sought after by the office, but has as often declined, having no desire or taste therefor. Masonry has the allurements for Mr. Gleason

GOODNOUCHI.

that politics has for so many others. He was made a Master Mason in Joseph Warren Lodge of Boston, Feb. 25, 1868; a Royal Arch Mason in St. Andrews Chapter, Boston, Jan. 20, 1871; a Knight Templar in Bos- ton Commandery, Nov. 20, 1872. He has also received the degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite including the 324 degree. In no way perhaps has Mr. Gleason become so well known to the Ma- sonic fraternity as in the capacity of Grand Lecturer, and never was the office more effectively filled than by him, in the years '82 to '87. Few men have more kindly en- cleared themselves to their fellow-men than Mr. Gleason, and among none is he more highly esteemed than by his brethren of the craft. Masonry has given his life abundant social privileges, which his kindly and gen- ial manner has enabled him to improve. He is a member of the Ancient and Honor- able Artillery Co., of Boston, in reality, to- day, Boston's highest social organization, by no means a savage war-waging body of men.

Mr. Gleason is intensely patriotic ; he re- lates as one of the most pleasing experiences of his life "that he attended the dedication of the Bennington monument with the Ver- mont Veteran Association, of Boston, and upon their return they elected him an honor- ary member."

Such is a brief sketch of a son of Vermont who in a quiet modest way has done credit to his native state.

GOODNOUGH, ALGERNON MOR- DANT, of Redding, Cal., was born in Des Plaines, Ills., on the 16th of March, 1838. His parents were both from Vermont, and his mother dying soon after his birth the discouraged father returned to his old Green Mountain haunts, where the subject of our sketch was reared and educated in a state he has ever been proud to call his home and native land. He was the son of Daniel Goodnough, a hard working-farmer of Eng- lish descent, and Harriet M. Conant, a woman of rare intelligence and gentle Chris- tian spirit, whose family were direct des- cendants of the world famous Huguenots ; they and their ancestors through successive generations gave evidence of the source from which they sprung, not only in their marked intelligence and enterprise, but in the fact that they were men,

" Who wore the white lily of a blameless life."

Mr. Goodnough graduated at Middlebury College in the class of '61, and the following year was married to Lucy H., daughter of Myron Langworthy of Middlebury, who up to the time of her death in 1890, proved a true helpmeet and affectionate wife. For many years an invalid with rheumatism, her

GOSS.

GOODNOUGH.

patient, uncomplaining, Christian spirit won all hearts. Always devoted to her husband's welfare it is not strange he speaks of her as " the noblest woman he ever knew, and the truest friend he ever had."

Shortly after marriage Mr. Goodnough en- gaged in teaching, his last school being in Barnstable, Mass., after which he pursued a course of studies in Yale Theological Semi- nary, and subseqently was installed pastor of the Congregational church in Mystic Bridge, Conn. Failing health induced him to resign his charge in 1867, when he went to the Pacific coast with his wife, across the isthmus, under the auspices of the American Home Missionary Society, and was for sev- eral years settled in San Mateo, Cal., where a commodious church was built during his pastorate ; after which he moved to Vallejo, Cal., and after some years of ministerial

ALGERNON MORDANT GOODNOUGH.

labor there, his health being still delicate, he engaged in merchandising, building up a large trade, by strict attention to business and honorable dealing with all, in musical instruments. In the character of a music dealer he is now well and favorably known on the Pacific coast. As a singer of home songs he is known to multitudes in Califor- nia, and wherever known is always welcome. He sings over four hundred songs from memory, without the sight of words or music, and there is, perhaps, not another man in America who can sing as many from recol- lection only.

For many years he has been an occasional contributor to various magazines and news-

papers, both secular and religious, and his articles whether in prose or verse, have always been recognized as possessing a high order of literary merit. Among the most notable and widely circulated of his writings we may mention a religious tract entitled "My Dead Mother," published several years ago under the auspices of the M. E. Tract Society, by Nelson & Phillips ; speaking of this tract Bishop J. R. Vincent said : "It will live a thousand years"-a high compli- ment indeed, coming from such a source. In 1872 he came East on a lecturing tour, delivering in Representatives Hall in Mont- pelier, and in many other important towns, a lecture entitled : "Five Years in the Sunset Land." This lecture was spoken of by the press in most flattering terms, and received by large audiences with marked interest and pleasure, winning for the lecturer an envi- able reputation as a platform orator of un- usual ability, as well as an enthusiastic Cali- fornian.

In addition to his music trade Mr. Good- nough has quite large real estate interests, consisting of improved and unimproved properties in the cities of Redding and Vallejo, Cal., and a large acreage property in Shasta county, Cal., where he now re- sides.

Of unusually, and we might say unreason- ably, retiring disposition, the subject of our sketch, desiring no preferment political or social, has steadfastly refused to accept any of the offices which have frequently been offered him in the various political, fra- ternal, social and religious bodies to which he has belonged, being deeply impressed with the emptiness of all earthly fame, since "The paths of glory lead but to the grave."

In 1891, a year subsequent to the death of his former beloved wife, he married Miss Ida May Bloyd, a native of California, an amiable young lady, with a large circle of friends, and who had been for many years an inti- mate friend of the family. This union has been blessed with one infant daughter : Elsie Alzette, born August 21, 1893.

As the position in life, financial and social, which Mr. Goodnough has acquired is due solely to his unswerving integrity and unaided efforts, he may justly take pride in the result of his labors while looking cheerfully toward the sunset of life, as well expressed in an original stanza from his pen with which we close :

I trust when this fast fleeting life reaches sunset And o'er past are its labors, its troubles and ills, Beyond the dark night I shall greet the bright morning, Of an unending day on the heavenly hills.

GOSS, EZRA C., was born in Windsor county, graduated at the University of Ver- mont in 1806 ; was a representative in Con- gress from New York, from 1819 to 1821 ;

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and was elected to the Assembly of that state in 1828 and '29, but died before the close of his second term.

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Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 108

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 842

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 842