Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 40

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 40

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He is, in religious preference, an Episco- palian, and has been a Mason since 1853 ; he is also a member of the Grand Army and Loyal Legion.

He was married Oct. 28, 1858, to Laura Maeck, granddaughter of Dr. Frederick Maeck, the first physician settled in Shel- burne. Mrs. Barstow died March 11, 1885, leaving two sons : Frederick M., born March 3, 1860, who was graduated from the Uni- versity of Vermont in 1880, and is now a civil engineer ; and Charles L., born May 23, 1867, who was graduated from Union Col- lege in 1889, and is now in New York City.

BARRON, LYMAN P., of Washington, was born in Washington, Nov. 27, 1820.

His grandfather, Isaac Barron of Brook- field, Mass., held the commission of lieuten- ant in the Revolutionary army signed by John

BATES.

Hancock, president of the Continental Con- gress, was captured by the British and held a prisoner in an English man-o'-war for several years. His family supposed him dead. Recaptured after a daring attempt to escape, during which he suffered incredi- ble peril and hardship, he was at length exchanged, and, with a bullet in his thigh, the unfortunate result of his effort to free himself from prison, he was restored to his family and was soon afterward drowned in the Con- necticut river. His son Eleziah, when a boy of ten, in the company of Thaddeus White, went from Hanover to Washington, then a wilderness, over a route marked by blazed trees a distance of forty miles, whence the boy returned alone. Soon the family re- moved to Washington. In due time Eleziah married and the subject of this sketch was the youngest of ten children. His mother's maiden name was Albea Dickenson.

Mr. Lyman Barron has lived upon his farm for fifty-two years, an active and influ- ential man in business and public affairs, represented Washington for six years in the Legislature, has served as sheriff or deputy sheriff a nearly continuous term since 1850, a position for which he is well adapted from his shrewd perception and fearless action.

He married, March 22, 1852, Emily A., daughter of Henry and Betsey (Little) God- frey. They have one daughter : Ada Louise (Barron) Dwinell of Taunton, Mass.

BATES, EDWARD L., of Bennington, son of William and Melissa (Scribner) Bates, was born in Bennington, June 24, 1869.

He received his education in the graded schools of Bennington, supplemented by a course of instruction at the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. Choosing the legal profession as a business of life, in 1875 he entered the office of Gardner & Harman, of Bennington, where he remained until . 1882, when he formed a partnership with James K. Batchelder, Esq., which continues to the present time.

Mr. Bates was admitted to practice at the bar of the Bennington county court June 12, 1882, and more recently to that of the United States district and circuit courts. . He has also been appointed United States commissioner for Vermont.

Though a general practitioner he gives especial attention to criminal and office practice. Outside of his profession he deals largely in real estate in Bennington, Peters- burg and Cambridge, N. Y.

He is a firm adherent of the Republican party, and through their votes has been ap- pointed to many positions of trust and honor. For several years he discharged the duties of auditor and village clerk in Bennington, was state's attorney, and was commissioned

BAXTER.

by Governors Page and Fuller as special prosecutor of criminal offences. He has acted as corporation counsel for the village of Bennington, and was secretary of the citizens' committee of fifty at the dedication of the Bennington battle monument. In 1892 he was made a member of the staff of Governor Fuller, with the rank of colonel. He is very active in town and political affairs and is an eloquent and powerful orator in political campaigns.

Colonel Bates was united in wedlock in May, 1882, to Jennie M., daughter of Buel and Mary (Eames) Rockwood, who died in 1884. He contracted a second alliance May 17, 1887, with Estella, daughter of Perry W. and Lucy (Green) Elbred, of Hoosick, N. Y. Of this latter marriage there are issue Beulah Bell and William Leroy Bates.

Colonel Bates is a member of the Baptist church and of the Masonic order, having held several offices in the local lodge as well as that of Grand Orator of the Lodge of Per- fection. He belongs to the Bennington Council and the Oriental Temple of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he has also affili- ated with Tucker Lodge, I. O. O. F.

BAXTER, EDWARD K., of Sharon, was born in Barton, Feb. 3, 1840, the youngest

EDWARD K. BAXTER.

in a family of seven children of Harry and Deborah (Steele) Baxter.

After the death of his father he removed to Sharon and lived with an uncle, and this town has since been his home.

BIAN.

BECKETT.

His education was received at the com- mon schools and Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. Il. He studied medicine with Drs. Dixi and A. B. Crosby of Hanover, N. H., attended three courses of lectures at Dartmouth Medical College, and one course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, and graduated at Dartmouth Med- ical College in 1864. Has been assistant physician at the Hartford, Conn., Insane Retreat, and at Sanford Hall, a private asyhun at Flushing, L. L., and is a member of the State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Baxter is a Republican, and has always been active and prominent in the politics of the town, having for several years served as chairman of the town committee, superin- tendent of schools and represented the town in the General Assembly of 1886.

Not being dependent on the practice of his profession he has had time and oppor- tunity to indulge a natural fondness for agri- cultural pursuits and the study of the natural sciences, especially botany, mineralogy, orni- thology and microscopy.

He was one of the principal organizers and promoters of the Sharon Co-operative Cream- ery Association, and has served as its presi- dent and treasurer.

Owing to impaired health and the pressure of business cares, Dr. Baxter has recently withdrawn from the practice of his profes- sion, and will henceforth devote himself to the care of his own business and the execu- tion of certain large and important trusts now devolving upon him.

Religiously Dr. Baxter is a Congregation- alist, and for many years has been clerk and treasurer of the church and society in Sharon, and its most liberal friend and sup- porter. Humane, philanthropic and educa- tional work have claimed his interest and support to a considerable degree, as a recent gift of five thousand dollars to Kimball Union Academy in her hour of need can testify.

Dr. Baxter was married, Sept. 5, 1880, to Sarah S., daughter of Col. Gardner and Susan (Steele) Burbank.

BEAN, CROMWELL PHELPS, of West Glover, was born in the town of Glover, April 4, 1846, was the son of Amos Phelps and Phila E. (Sartwell) Bean.

Since his education at the public schools and Orleans Liberal Institute he has devoted himself to the cultivation of the old home- stead. He has also extensively dealt in farm products and is an extensive breeder of Morgan and George Wilkes horses.

A strong Democrat in politics he has held about every town office that could be con- ferred upon him, and in 1882, by the help of the Republicans, was elected to the Leg-

islature, being the first Democrat who had been sent there since his father in 1859.

Ile is a member of Orleans Lodge, F. & A. M., and his religious preferences are those of Universalism.

CROMWELL PHELPS BEAN.

He married, Dec. 22, 1867, Alpa M., daughter of Ira and Lavina (Camp) Emery of Burke, by whom he has had two chil- dren : Carl W., and Ida L.

BECKETT, GEORGE, of Williamstown, son of William S. and Polly (Pool) Beckett, was born in Williamstown, May 14, 1833. The father was a prominent and highly re- spected citizen of that town, filling several offices of trust and usefulness : thirty years justice of the peace, town clerk thirty-five years, and captain of the local militia com- pany, besides being four times representative from the town. The son received a common school education only, which he has supple- mented by extensive reading and intelligent self-culture. He has been successful in bus- iness, amassing a modest competence, a part of which he has invested in real estate in his native town. He has been influential in found- ing several stock companies, especially the Williamstown Granite Co., giving a great im- petus to the business of that place. As librarian he has been an untiring worker for the Williamstown Social Library, which was started in 1801 with only thirty-five volumes.

Mr. Beckett is a Democrat, is town clerk and treasurer, having held these positions for

BEDELL.

more than ten years. He was an incorpora- tor of the Barre Savings Bank & Trust Co., and now holds the position of treasurer, and is a deacon in the Congregational church.

He married, June 21, 1855, Belle R., daugh- ter of Calvin and Dolly ( Delano) Flint. They have one son, Charles Henry, who graduated with distinguished honors at Dartmouth and afterwards at Columbia Law School. He is the author of "Who Is John Noman?" and is now a member of the eminent law firm of Booraem, Hamilton, Beckett & Ransom, of New York City.

BEDELL, HENRY EDSON, of Newport, son of James G. and Amanda (Smith) Bedell, was born in Troy, July 26, 1836.

He was educated in the district schools of Westfield and before the war was a farmer, while his present occupation is that of an

HENRY EDSON BEDELL.

auctioneer. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. D, 11th Regt. In this organization he was successively promoted from private through the grades of corporal and ser- geant to that of 2d lieutenant. The regi- ment was first stationed in the defenses of Washington, but was afterwards engaged in the battles of Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, and on the Welden R. R .; returned to Washington, and driving back the rebels at Berryville, then up the Shenandoah Val- ley, again returned to Washington and was afterwards detached to Harper's Ferry and after many forced marches and skirmishes around that place finally met the enemy at

BENEDICT.

Opequan, where Lieutenant Bedell, acting as captain of the second company was struck by a shell which carried off his left leg and injured him severely in the right hand. He was conveyed to the temporary hospital on the field and suffered the ampu- tation of his leg. A few days later the sick and wounded were ordered to be transferred to Harper's Ferry As Lieutenant Bedell was so much exhausted it was impossible to move him and he was left in the hands of the rebels, and would have perished had it not been for the kindness of a rebel lady in the neighborhood of the battlefield, who removed him to her own house and though her means could but barely furnish the necessities of life she nursed him with such care and attention that he was finally able to be transported within the Union lines.

Lieutenant Bedell married, March 3, 1856, Emeline, daughter of Aaron and Lucinda (Hitchcock) Burba of Westfield. Six chil- dren have been born to them : De Etta J. (died March 9, 1879), Lucena A. ( Mrs. Nol- ton McClaflin of Montgomery), Alden N. (died Nov. 3, 1892), Herman A., Betty Nanny, and James A.

Mr. Bedell is a Republican and while in Westfield acted as the constable of the town. After the close of the war he was for twenty years an employe of the United States as custom house officer. For five years of this period he was stationed at Richford and Berkshire and for fifteen years discharged the duties of inspector and deputy collector at Newport,

He is a Methodist in his religious creed ; was one of the charter members and found- ers of Baxter Post, No. 51, G. A. R., and has been its junior commander.

BENEDICT, GEORGE GRANVILLE, son of George Wyllys and Eliza (Dewey) Bene- dict, was born in Burlington, Dec. 26, 1826.

Mr. G. G. Benedict prepared for matricu- lation at college in the academy at Burling- ton, entered the University of Vermont and graduated with honors in 1847, receiving the degree of Master of Arts in 1850. In 1865 he was elected member of the corpo- ration of the university and was also ap- pointed its secretary.

Subsequent to his graduation Mr. Bene- dict taught in the city of New York for about twelve months, and for the three following years was employed in building the lines of the Vermont & Boston Telegraph Co. In 1853 he acquired a proprietary interest in the daily and weekly Burlington Free Press, became associate editor, and is now editor- in-chief of the same paper. He was also postmaster of Burlington and president of the Vermont & Boston Telegraph Co. from 1860 to 1864.

BINION.

BINNETT.

In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co C, 12th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Militia. In January, 1863, he was promoted to a lieutenant, and later was appointed aid de camp on the staff of Gen. George J. Stan- nard, commanding the zd brigade of Vt Vols. At the expiration of Lieutenant Ben ediet's term of service he was honorably dis- charged on the 1.4th of July, 1863. In 1865 he held the office of assistant inspector gen eral with the rank of major.

In 1866 he was appointed aid-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Paul Dillingham, with the rank of colonel. In 1869 he was elected to the state Senate from Chittenden county, and served in the committees on education and military affairs. Re-elected to the same body in the following year, he served therein as chairman of the committee on education and in the committee on military affairs.

In civil life Colonel Benedict also served as director of the old Farmers' and Me- chanics' Bank. Very appropriately, too, in view of his antecedents, he has been cor- responding secretary of the Vermont His- torical Society for a long series of years. In 1879 Colonel Benedict was appointed by Governor Proctor state military historian to prepare a history of the part taken by Ver- mont in the war for the Union, which work he did with painstaking care and great liter- ary ability.

He was married on the 27th of October, 1853, to Mary Anne, daughter of Edward and Abigail Frances (Warner) Kellogg of Canaan, N. Y. One daughter was the issue of this union. Mrs. Benedict died on the 9th of November, 1857. Mr. Benedict mar- ried as his second wife on the 22d of Decem- ber, 1864, Catherine Almira, daughter of the Rev. Alvin Pease, D. D., and Martha (Howes) Pease of Rochester, N. Y. A daugh- ter, who died in infancy, and one son were the fruits of his second marriage.

BENTON, JOSIAH H., of Maidstone son of Samuel S. Benton, was born in Waterford, Aug. 8, 1816.

He received his education in the common schools of Waterford and St. Johnsbury and at Lyndon Academy, concluding his studies at Burr Seminary, Manchester. He left his paternal home at the age of seventeen to pursue his education, relying on his own unaided efforts to effect this praiseworthy endeavor. After teaching several successive terms at Belchertown, Mass., and Montpelier, and in the meanwhile pursuing his theolog- ical studies, he was ordained as minister of the Congregational church and settled in West Addison, but soon went to Northfield, and afterwards to Michigan as a conventional delegate and settled at Clinton, Mich. Then he received a call to Port Huron, but in a

year returned to Clinton. Malaria compelled him to return fast. He now resides opon his farin of eight hundred and fifty acres on the Connecticut river.

An outspoken advocate of the Republican party, Mr. Benton has filled several impor- tant town offices and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1870.

He married at Putney, Angust 12, 1841, Martha K., daughter of David and Hulda Danforth. From this marriage there were four children : Josiah II., Jr., Martha E., Mary, and Robert. At Newbury, Oct. 9, 1856, he married for his second wife Harriet B., daughter of Nathaniel and Silence Niles. From this union there were eight children : Samuel S., Harriet Maria, Ben Butler, Joseph, Caroline f., Hugh Henry, John Edwin, and Mary Edith.

BENNETT, EDWARD DEWEY, of Ben- nington, son of Daniel J. and Martha (Dewey) Bennett, was born in Middlebury, Dec 6, 1843. Descended from Daniel Ben- nett, a soldier of the war of 1812.

His early education was derived from an attendance in the schools of Middlebury, where he fitted for college, and taught school

EDWARD DEWEY BENNETT.

in Upton and Middlebury. In 1863 he was employed as foreman of a construction gang by the Western Union Telegraph Co. Gain- ing a knowledge of the art from this expe- rience, he removed to Lansingburg, N. Y., where he was placed in charge of the office, and was also employed by the Bennington

BILLINGS.

& Rutland R. R. in a similar capacity at the former city. Here he remained until 1885, when he was made superintendent of that railway, a position which he still retains. In addition he has acted in the capacity of train dispatcher and auditor of passenger and freight accounts of the Harlem exten- sion and superintendent of the Lebanon Springs and Bennington & Glastonbury R. R.

Mr. Bennett is affiliated with the Repub- lican party, but his business has left him no time to hold or seek office ; nevertheless he is now serving his third term as member of the Bennington graded school board, and in 1892 was made president of that body. He has joined the Bennington Historical Society, and was one of the committee of fifty who served at the dedication of the Bennington monument. In 1888 he re- ceived an appointment on the staff of Gov- ernor Dillingham, with the rank of colonel.

Colonel Bennett was wedded Sept. 15. 1870, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Sophronia (Hurd) Cushman. Their union has been blessed with three children Edward Cushman, Charles Henry, and Bessie Dewey Bennett.

Colonel Bennett is a Congregationalist in his religious belief, and has occupied the positions of deacon and superintendent of the Sabbath school. He is much interested in the Y. M. C. A., and has been a member for three years of their state executive board as well as charter member of the local or- ganization. He is allied to the Masonic fra- ternity, and has presided in the East in Mt. Anthony Lodge, No. 13.

BILLINGS, FREDERICK, son of Oel and Sophia (Wetherbe) Billings, was born in Roy- alton, Sept. 27, 1823.

He received his preparatory education at Kimball Union Academy and graduated at the University of Vermont in 1844. He then studied law in the office of Oliver P. Chandler of Woodstock and was admitted to the bar in 1848. In the spring of 1849 Mr. Billings began the practice of law in San Francisco, Cal., and for thirteen years con- tinued it as a member of the firm of Halleck, Peachy & Billings. Three years later he made a trip to Oregon and Washington to restore his health, after which he returned to the East and settled in Woodstock, pur- chasing, about 1870, the property known as the Marsh estate. There he made the most beautiful home in Vermont.

Mr. Billings not only took first rank as a lawyer but was equally prominent among the men of great business ability who spanned the continent with railways. His energies were specially devoted to the Northern Pa- cific R. R. in which he was long a director,

for many years the manager of its land de- partment and for two years its president.

He did signal service in saving California to the Union during the rebellion, and when President Lincoln was considering the recon- struction of his cabinet for his second term he assured the California delegation of his intention to appoint Mr. Billings a member to represent that state. After the death of Mr. Lincoln the Legislature of California passed a resolution requesting his successor to give Mr. Billings a cabinet position as the representative of the Pacific coast.

FREDERICK BILLINGS.

He was married in New York, March 31, 1862, to Julia Parmly, daughter of Dr. Elea- zer and Annie M. (Smith) Parmly. Their children were seven : Parmly (died, 1888), Laura, Frederick, Mary Montagu, Elizabeth, Ehrick (died, 1889), and Richard.

Mr. Billings died in Woodstock, Sept. 30, 1 890.

His was a manhood not absorbed in great professional and business successes ; it went out to his fellow-men in benefactions large and innumerable.

Rev. L. G. Ware, himself since deceased, wrote of him in November, 1890, the follow- ing words of one Christian gentleman of an other : "The trustees of the Vermont State Library desire to place on their record, and to express in their report to the General Assembly, their regret in the lamented death of their fellow-trustee, the Hon. Frederick

HUNGHAM.

Billings, Occurring within the first of his membership of the board, it leaves them to miss the friendly presence and genial com panionship which they promised themselves, and deprived of the sympathy and aid they were looking forward to from the wise inter- est he was known to have in library affairs ; an interest in the collection of valuable books and their proper bestowal, which he specially manifested in the gift he made to the University of the State of the scholarly library of the late Hon. George P. Marsh, and in the erection of the beautiful library building which bears his name and has be- come his fit and noble monument. But regret in Mr. Billings' deccase, the trustees are well aware, is to be bad on larger grounds than those personal to themselves in the in- timacy and conduct of their board. They have to lament in his departure the loss of a true lover of Vermont, who had a quick eye for the beauty of its hills and a heart quick for the tradition of patriotism and integrity among its people. He was the large-minded citizen, to whom all the interests of his native state were dear, but dearest its highest con- cerns of education and all intellectual advan- tage of moral worth and religious conviction."

BISBEE, EDWARD W., of Barre, son of Elijah W. and Lydia (Brown) Bisbee, was born in Waitsfield, Feb. 27, 1856.

EDWARD W. BISBEE.

He received his early education in the public schools of his native town and later at Barre Academy, from which he was grad-

nated in 1875. He studied law in Mont- pelier and was admitted to practice at the Washington county bar at the September term of court, 1879. He located at Barre in the following November and has since practiced his profession there

Mr. Bisbee has been an enterprising and successful young man, a public-spirited citi- zen, and has assisted in supplying the needs of the town, being popular with all classes of the community as a gentleman of good judgment and sterling integrity In 1886 he was one of the incorporators and organizers of the Barre Water Co., which furnishes the village and its inhabitants with an abundant supply of water for public and domestic uses, and since its organization he has been a director and its secretary. He is also a stockholder in the electric light company, which furnishes lights for the towns of Mont- pelier and Barre. In 1892 he was one of the incorporators and commissioners to ef- fect the organization of the Barre Savings Bank & Trust Co., and is one of its stock- holders.

He was state's attorney for Washington county four years, 1886-'90. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In politics he is a Re- publican ; religious preference Universalist.

Mr. Bisbee was married in Montpelier, Jan. 20, 1886, to Julia B., daughter of John and Maria (Wilson) Snow.

BINGHAM, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, of Stowe, was the son of Elias and Martha (Robinson) Bingham. His birthplace was Fletcher, and he was born April 15, 1813.

His father, Elias Bingham, in early life came from Connecticut and settled in Fletcher, which he represented in the Legis- lature, dying in 1839.

William H. H. Bingham received his edu- cation in the schools of his native place and at the St. Albans Academy. When of age he began the study of law in the office of O.W. Butler, Esq., of Stowe and was admit- ted to the bar of Washington county in 1836. He first opened an office in Stowe, entering at once upon an active professional practice and continued there until 1874. He has deservedly obtained a very high local repu- tation as a business lawyer and collector, which specialty has brought him into inti- mate relations with nearly all the merchants and business men of his vicinity. These circumstances combined with his great per- sonal popularity gave him a most extensive practice for a rural community. Relying on his good judgment and professional skill very many cases were referred to him by the county and supreme court in his capac- ity of auditor, referee, commissioner and master in chancery. He has served four terms as state's attorney for Lamoille county.

BIXBY.

Mr. Bingham has always been and still is identified with the national Democratic party. In 1853 he represented Stowe in the Legislature, the same year was elected county commissioner and in 1862 a member of the Council of Censors and was its clerk. From 1853 to 1857 he was pension agent for the eastern department of Vermont. A member of the last constitutional convention in 1870, he was appointed in 1878 one of the diree- tors of the state's prison and house of correc- tion and for fourteen years served in that capacity. On three occasions Mr. Bingham was Democratic candidate for the chief magistracy of Vermont and has received the largest number of votes ever cast for a mem- ber of that party. Twice he has been selected as congressional candidate from his district.

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Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 40

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