USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 42
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BOYCE.
BOYCE, OSMORE BAKER, son of Rich- ard T. and Joanna ( Banfield) Boyce, was born in Newbury, Nov. 24, 1841.
Born and brought up on a farm he received only such education as was afforded by the district schools. After becoming of age he turned his attention to acquiring an educa- tion, following any employment which offered the best inducements, spending as much of his time at Barre Academy as his means
OSMORE BAKER BOYCE.
would permit, and following teaching suc- cessfully. Acquiring a taste for professional life, he decided on the law and read for a time in the office of his brother, W. A. Boyce, and then took a course at the Albany ( N. Y.) Law School, from which he graduated in 1871.
Mr. Boyce first began the practice of his profession at Guildhall where he also edited for a year the Essex County Herald. In 1874 he removed to Barre and formed a law part- nership with his brother, W. A. Boyce, which has successfully continued to the present time, the firm enjoying a large practice in Orange and Washington counties.
Politically Mr. Boyce is an adherent of the Republican party, and has been honored with many positions of trust, viz. : superin- tendent of schools, justice of the peace, vil- lage trustee, and state's attorney for Essex county in 1872, and a senator from Wash- ington county in 1892, serving on the judiciary committee.
Mr. Boyce is a member of the Knights of Honor, and has held various offices in that
BOYCE.
organization ; also serving as grand director, and represented that body in the supreme lodge for four annual sessions. He is also a member of the local lodge I. O.O. F.
He was married in June, 1871, to Amelia A. French, of Northumberland, N. H., who died September, 1877, leaving one child : Edith A. In January, 1881, he married Louisa 1 .. , daughter of Oraneel B. Dodge, of Barre.
BOYCE, WILLIAM A., of Barre, son of Richard T. and J. (Banfield) Boyce, was born in Newbury, Dec. 3, 1839.
He was brought up on a farm, educated in the common schools and at Barre Acade- my, taught several years in the public schools of the state with marked success, two of these as principal of the Cabot high school.
Having decided to enter the profession of the law for his life work, he studied three years in the office of the late L. C. Wheelock and of the late E. E. French, and was ad- mitted to the Washington county bar at the March term in 1869, and soon after opened an office in Barre and engaged in the active practice of his profession. In 1875 he took
WILLIAM A. BOYCE.
into partnership his brother, O. B. Boyce, and since that time the firm have enjoyed a large and successful general practice. He has also been extensively and successfully engaged in real estate transactions. At the organization of the Barre Savings Bank & Trust Co. he was elected one of its director s
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BONDEN.
BOYNTON.
Mr. Boyce has repeatedly held the office of town treasurer, superintendent of schools, and lister, and he has also represented Barre in the Legislatures of 1872-'73. Ile is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 20, 1. O. O. F.
BOYDEN, NELSON L., of Randolph Center, son of Luther and Hannah (Goff) Boyden, was born in Barnard, July 19, 1836.
Ilis educational advantages were derived from the district schools, the Royalton Academy and Orange county grammar school. Left an orphan in his earliest boy- hood, he was brought up on a farin, after- wards read law with Hon. Philander Perrin, being admitted to the Orange county bar
NELSON L. BOYDEN.
in 1865. He commenced the practice of his profession at Randolph Center where he has always remained and enjoyed a large and fairly successful business. In addition he is the owner of a large farm and one of the finest herds of Jerseys in the state, and pays much attention to the breeding of fine horses.
Mr. Boyden is a Republican and has filled many offices of trust. He has been super- intendent of schools in Barnard and Ran- dolph, and town clerk in the latter place for twenty-five years. He was chosen senator from Orange county in 1882, and was chair- man of the committee on education and re- form school, besides serving on the judiciary committee. In 1888-'89 he represented the town of Randolph in the Legislature, being chairman of the committees on railroads and
Grand Isle bridge and also a member of the judiciary committee. He was state's attor- ney for Orange county in 1870-'72-'74-'76, and has been both member and president of the board of trustees of Randolph State Nor- mal School. For the interest of this institu- tion Mr. Boyden has labored assiduously, and when their building was burned in the sunnuer of 1893 he was unanimously chosen chairman of the committee to erect a new edifice, and to this end he has given his clos- est attention with flattering prospects of success.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F., has filled the chairs in the four local bodies of the former society at West Randolph, and is a member of Mt. Zion Commandery Knights Templar at Montpelier.
Mr. Boyden was united in marriage to E. Angene, daughter of George and Arminda ( Miner) Carpenter. They have had five children, two of whom survive : Charles I., and Florence 1 ..
BOYNTON, THOMAS JEFFERSON, of Montpelier, the son of David F. and Lydia (Roberts) Boynton, was born in Westfield, Dec. 30, 1856.
Educated in the common schools of West- field and the State Normal School at Johnson, where he graduated, he taught several terms in common and graded schools. In 1878 he began to read law, but ill health compelled a cessation of study. In 1879 he resumed his legal studies and was admitted to the bar at the April term of Lamoille county court and afterward received the same privilege in Suffolk county, Mass., on Nov. 16, 1889. He practiced law in Johnson till July 15, 1875, when he was appointed P. O. Inspec- tor in charge of the New England division, which position he resigned June 25, 1889, when he resumed the practice of his profes- sion and located in Montpelier, continuing until November, 1893, when he again re- ceived the appointment of P. O. Inspector with headquarters in Boston, where he now resides.
A Democrat in his political faith, Mr. Boynton has filled the usual town offices, and he represented Montpelier in the Gen- eral Assembly of 1892, being the leader of his party during that session and influential in the work of the House. He was a mem- ber of the Democratic state committee from 1882 to 1886 and is now its chairman.
He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being on the roll of Waterman Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M.
Mr. Boynton married, Dec. 27, 1879, Miss Hattie L., daughter of Elizah O. and Judith Story, of Johnson. They have one child : Marion J.
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BOYNTON.
BOYNTON, WILLIAM SEWARD, of St. Johnsbury, son of David and Harriet (Cham- berlain) Boynton, was born in St. Johnsbury, April 2, 1853.
His early education was received at the public schools of that town. He afterwards attended the St. Johnsbury Academy, where he was graduated in 1873. He entered Cornell University with the class of 1877, where he pursued a scientific and literary course of studies. In 1877 he became treasurer and a trustee of the Passumpsic Savings Bank, which position he has since held. He has also served as treasurer of the village, county and union school district.
In politics he is a Republican, and an hon- orary member of the National Guard of Vermont, having served as Ist lieutenant of Co. D), Ist regiment.
A member of Passumpsic Lodge, F. & A. M., he also for fifteen years has been junior warden of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of St. Johnsbury.
September 8, 1881, Mr. Boynton was married to Ida P. Bancroft, formerly of Chelsea, Mass., daughter of William and Statira (Haskell) Bancroft. Their three children are : Helen Agnes, Alice Harriet, and William Henry.
BRADY, CHARLES N., of Newport, son of Patrick and Hannah (O'Connor) Brady, was born in Haverhill, N. H., Feb. 9, 1855.
His education was obtained at the public schools and the Methodist Seminary at Newbury.
He began business life at the age of thir- teen by mastering the art of telegraphy, which he practiced in summer until 1877, when he entered the general offices of the Passumpsic R. R. at Lyndonville, filling various minor positions until he was made night train dispatcher in 1879, which occu- pation he relinquished after one year's service on account of ill health. Two years afterwards he entered the train service in the passenger department. In 1886 he took up his abode in Newport, and until the early part of 1888 devoted his time entirely to the real estate business. In February of that year, he became a partner in the firm of Sherman & Brady, successors to Sherman & West, wholesale and retail dealers in flour, feed, etc., taking charge of the affairs of the concern and doubling its general business and storage capacity the first two years, also adding to its facilities a steam grist mill with elevator, etc. ; and at the present time, is conducting one of the most important in- dustries in Northern Vermont.
Mr. Brady was one of the incorporators, and at present is a director of the Newport Board of Trade, and vice-president and treas- urer of the Memphremagog Driving Park
BRADFORD.
Association. Mr. Brady is one of the prime movers and ablest supporters of all the im- provements that Newport at present enjoys ; to him is due in a great measure the estab- lishment of both the water and sewer system in the town, also the electric lights and con- crete sidewalks. He is vice-president of the Moir Granite Co., which has recently located the United States branch of their works at Newport, largely through the efforts of Mr. Brady. He is also a director in the New- port Loan and Building Club, and an ener-
CHARLES N. BRADY.
getic citizen who never allows any opportu- nity to escape him to promote the welfare of the community in which he resides.
He was united in wedlock Dec. 20, 1886, to May, daughter of Solomon M. and Louisa (Sias) Field.
Mr. Brady is an ardent Democrat who has never sought political preferment.
BRADFORD, PHILANDER D., late of Northfield, was born in Randolph, April 9, 1811, and was the son of John and Lucy (Brooks) Bradford. His father was a lineal descendant in the sixth generation from Governor William Bradford, who came over in the Mayflower. An orphan at the age of seven years, he found a home with the relatives of his mother at Alstead, N. H., but returned to Randolph at the age of fifteen, and entered the Orange county grammar school. Five years later he com- menced the study of medicine with his
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BRANCH.
brother, Dr. Austin Bradford, and at the age of twenty-three graduated from the Wood- stock Medical School, then a branch of Mid dlebury College. He practiced medicine in Braintree, Randolph and Bethel. In 1850 he received the degree of A. M. from the University of Vermont. In 1854 he perina- nently settled in the town of Northfield. In 1857 he became professor of physiology in the medical college of Castleton, and held that position until December, 1862, when he resigned. An antiquarian by nature, he made a large collection of objects of inter- est and historical value, as well as a fine col- lection of minerals, which he donated to Norwich University, where they are known as the Bradford collection.
Dr. Bradford belonged to the Republican party. He was elected to the Legislature from Randolph in 1853-'54. In the latter year he was made commissioner of the in- sane and served the state in this capacity for two years. In 1862-'63 he was elected senator from Washington county; and in the last year president of the Vermont Medical Society. A strenuous advocate of the cause of human rights, of temperance and all moral reforms he was elected a trustee of Norwich University. In December, 1862, he was commissioned surgeon of the 5th Regt. Vt. Vols., but from ill health was com- pelled to resign the ensuing April.
In 1860 he was made G. M. of the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F., and was also placed at the head of the grand division of the Sons of Temperance. In 1875 he was a member of the Right Worthy Grand Lodge U. S. I. O. O. F., and in 1879 of Right Worthy Grand Lodge I. O. G. T.
He was a liberal supporter of, and a con- stant attendant at the services of the Pro- testant Episcopal church, and was senior warden of the same at the time of his death.
Dr. Bradford married first Susan H. Edson of Randolph in 1835, who died in October, 1865, leaving one child, Mrs. George W. Soper, who died in 1889. In May, 1867, Dr. Bradford married Mrs. Olive Moore, widow of Hiram Moore, Esq. The second Mrs. Bradford died August 5, 1890. Dr. Bradford died at Northfield, July 16, 1892.
BRAGG, AZRO D., of Fayston, born in Warren, Nov. 25, 1834, was the son of William and Chloe (Buck) Bragg.
His father being crippled from rheuma- tism when Azro was a young lad, he took charge of the farm, manifesting even at that age the energy, self-reliance and persever- ance that has made him a successful man. He has passed most of his life in the town of Fayston. Here he occupies himself with dairying and stock raising. From a fine
sugar orchard of two thousand trees he sends to the West large quantities of maple syrup each season.
Mr. Bragg is an active Republican and has attended as delegate every county con- vention but two for the last thirty years ; represented Fayston in the Legislature in 1870-'71, besides holding many town offices.
He was four years Master of Waitsfield Grange, P. of II., is a member of I. O. G. T'., and was for six years superintendent of the M. E. Sabbath school of Waitsfield and Fayston.
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AZRO D. BRAGG.
He was married, Jan. 9, 1855, to Anna B., daughter of John C. and Lydia (Bixby) Griggs. They have had five children : Francis A., Emily L. (died, 1881), Hattie E. (Mrs. G. F. Ainsworth of Minneapolis), William C., and an infant son, who died in 1862.
BRANCH, CHARLES FRANKLIN, of Newport, son of Orson and Rodilla (Felton) Branch, was born in Orwell, Dec. 9, 1845.
His preliminary education was received in the village schools, and he was fitting for college when the civil war destroyed all taste for study. Eager to participate in the stirring events of the times, he enlisted in Co. C., 9th Vt. Vols., and was successively promoted from private, through the grades of corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and cap- tain, which last position was assigned him for gallant and meritorious conduct in the field before Richmond ; later he was breveted
BRANCH.
BREWSTER.
41
majorįfor conspicuous conduct at the cap- ture of Richmond, April, 1865. He was an active participant in all the varied experi- ences of his regiment, including their unfor- tunate capture at Harper's Ferry, and was among the first to enter the rebel capital. He was twice wounded in battle, and was honorably discharged from the service in December, 1865.
CHARLES FRANKLIN BRANCH.
At the close of the war, returning home, he was anxious to continue his studies, but his parents desired that he should remain on the farm, which he did until 1875, when he decided to adopt the profession of his choice. Graduating with honors, and pursuing fur- ther instruction in hospital work, he settled in Coventry, and in 1887 moved to Newport, and has become one of the leading physi- cians of his section. He has been United States pension examiner for several years, also professor of state medicine and hy- giene in the State University. He is an active member in the Orleans County Medi- cal Society, the Vermont State Medical Society, and the American Medical Associa- tion. For several years was surgeon to the Ist Regt., V. N. G., and was surgeon-gen- eral of Vermont in 1886-'88. He is an ardent G. A. R. man and member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He is a member of Central Lodge F. & A. M., Cleveland Chapter and Malta Commandery K. T .; of this last body he was chief mar- shal at the celebration of the Bennington
centennial. He is medical examiner for nine prominent life insurance companies, and surgeon for the southern division of the C. P. R. R.
He has taken a deep interest in educa- tional matters, and for many years was su- perintendent of schools in Coventry. He is esteemed one of the best speakers on the subject of the war in the state, and is in de- mand as a Memorial Day orator. He has no disposition to seek office ; is a Congrega- tionalist in his religious belief, earnest and conscientious in his every-day life, and ever ready to strive for the public weal.
Dr. Branch was united in marriage at Orwell, March, 1868, to Emma, daughter of James and Lucretia (Calkins) Cook by whom he had issue : James O., May E., and Alliene E. Mrs. Branch deceased, Septem- ber, 1876. In Coventry he was again united in marriage to Ida H., daughter of Hon. Sam- uel Burbank. From this union was born one daughter, Helen L. His second wife died in February, 1888, and he contracted a third alliance, at Derby, with Martha J., daughter of Hon. Emera and Julia (Dag- gett) Stewart, in October, 1891.
BREWSTER, GEORGE BENJAMIN, of Irasburgh, son of Phineas and Lydia ( Isham) Brewster, was born in St. George, August 4, 1823.
He was educated at the common schools of St. George, Shelburne, and at Hinesburgh Academy. In 1851 he removed to Iras-
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GEORGE BENJAMIN BREWSTER.
BRIDGMAN.
burgh, where he now owns a farm of four hundred and forty acres. In addition to his farming interests, he has for more than twenty years been an extensive dealer in butter and agricultural implements. He has always been ambitious to advance the inter- ests of the farmer and was the first to organ- ize a farmers' league in the state.
Always a Republican, he served in the state Legislature in 1869.'70. Ile is in religious belief a Universalist, and for many years was instrumental in maintaining Uni- versalist preaching in his town.
He married, first, June 16, 1852, Emily Holbrook, daughter of Peletiah Holbrook, and second, Sept. 26, 1855, Alary A. Leon- ard, daughter of Willard and Amy ( Lary) Leonard of Glover. He has two sons and a daughter : W. F. Brewster (living in Iras- burgh), Leonard E. Brewster (of Boston), and Emily F. Brewster (wife of Dr. E. M. Shaw of Spokane, Wash.)
His high moral principles and progressive nature demonstrated in his every-day busi- ness life, together with his cheerful, indus- trious companion, has given to him a beautiful country home, where he now lives a comfortable retired life, and a respected citizen.
BRIDGMAN, DORMAN, JR., of Hard- wick, son of Dorman and Achsah (Mitchell) Bridgman, was born in Hardwick, Feb. 7, 1837. His grandfather, Capt. John Bridg- man, was the first settler (1795) in the southern part of the town, where he cleared the farm on which his son was born, and which has always remained in the family. The son was the first postmaster of Hard- wick and the first and most prominent mer- chant of the place. Both Capt. John and Dorman, Sr., were prominently identified with the business interests of the town. The former was a volunteer at Plattsburg in the war of 1812, and in addition to his agricul- tural pursuits was an inn-keeper, furnishing good entertainment for man and beast at the homestead farm under the sign of the "Half Moon and Dove," A. D. 1800.
Dorman Bridgman, Jr., received the cus- tomary education at the public schools, then attended the Hardwick and afterwards the People's Academy at Morrisville. After teaching several terms in various towns, the California gold fever seized him in 1858, and he started for Pike's Peak. In 1860 he returned to Hardwick and employed himself as proprietor of the hotel in that place till 1862, when his father took the house, the son retiring to the paternal farm, where he re- mained for five years, then purchased an estate in Woodbury. In 1879 he engaged with M. E. Tucker in the lumber business and erected a mill in Mackville, where he
BRIGHAM.
remained till 1886, when he returned to Hardwick village. Since his return he has occupied himself principally in the advance- ment of the material interests and prosperity of the village, the rapid growth of which is largely attributed to him. During this time he has been chosen to different town and village offices, and is at the present time (1893) chairman of the board of selectmen and justice of the peace of the town. Ile was largely interested in securing the incor- poration of the village in 1890, and was elected its first president ; and again in 1892-
DORMAN BRIDGMAN, JR.
'93. He has been at various times Demo- cratic candidate for town representative, polling very much more than the party vote. Mr. Bridgman early interested himself in the establishment of the Hardwick Savings Bank & Trust Co., organized in July, 1893, and is at present a director and one of its largest stockholders.
He was united in marriage, November, 1860, to Jennie R., daughter of George and Eliza (Renfrew) Whitcher of Albany.
BRIGHAM, CHARLES ORSON, of Rut- land, son of Leander D. and Eliza (Bates) Brigham, was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., Dec. 23, 1847.
His early childhood was passed in Oshawa, Ont., until the death of his parents, when with his brothers and sisters he came to re- side with his grandmother at Westford. As she was a woman who held fast to the Puri- tanical faith of her ancestors and was well
BRIGHAM.
versed in all business operations, her influ- ence strongly impressed the boy who devoted his attention to study during his evenings, after the steady daily toil upon a rocky hill- farm, the care of which he manfully took upon his young shoulders. Having availed himself of the best possible advantages afforded him by the district and "select school" of the village, Mr. Brigham com- menced a course of study at the age of twenty, in the Essex Academy, which was unhappily interrupted before its completion
CHARLES ORSON BRIGHAM.
by the destruction of the school buildings by fire, and the bursting of a blood vessel in one of his eyes. Overwork and hard study had been a double draft on weary nature, and partial blindness seemed about to blot out his prospect of a professional career. Going with one of his fellow-students to his home at Pittsford, he labored as he was able for a short period, little thinking that in the future he would return here in a professional capac- ity, after an interval of fifteen years of weary waiting and uncongenial occupations. This time he spent mostly in Westford as clerk in the store of a general merchant, or teaching school in the long winters and employing the summer season in agricultural pursuits and in fire-insurance agencies, when his health and eyesight would permit.
He was ever an active worker in church, Sunday-school and choir. Uniting with the Congregationalists in early manhood, he was always prompt to engage in any enterprise which would promote the public welfare in
BRIGHAM.
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his town, and was ever liberal in helping other societies besides his own.
He was married on April 25, 1876, to Sarah A., daughter of Samuel G. and Phebe (Dimick) Bishop, who has borne him one son : Lynn B.
In 1880, while making improvements on the farm of his father-in-law in Westford, urgent calls for nursing in that vicinity seemed to develop a special aptitude and interest in this occupation, and eyesight and health appearing established now on a firm basis, he commenced a study of medical works, which resulted in his entering the medical department of the University of Vermont in the spring of 1883. Dr. Brigham received his diploma in 1886, after having taken a full course of surgery and medicine, and has practiced with marked success ever since in Pittsford and the adjoining towns. He is thoroughly in earnest in his work, and his reputation has made him an active mem- ber of the Rutland County Medical and Surgical Society, which has availed itself of his services as secretary and treasurer. He is also a member of the State Medical Soci- ety. In 1893 he removed from Pittsford to Rutland, where he now resides.
BRIGHAM, FREDERICK LUCIAN, of Pittsfield, son of Charles W. and Mary L. Brigham, was born in Pittsfield, July 7, 1862.
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FREDERICK LUCIAN BRIGHAM.
His early education was obtained in the State Normal School at Randolph, and the
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BROCK.
BROWN.
Vermont Methodist Seminary in Montpe- lier, and he graduated from the medical col- lege at Dartmouth in 1887, receiving the diploma of M. D. He immediately settled in his native town where he has remained, enjoying a very successful practice as a regular physician. In 1892 he was appoint- ed health officer of Pittsfield, and in the same year was elected town representative.
Dr. Brigham is a member of the Masonic fraternity in which he took the Blue Lodge degrees at Rochester in 1885.
He was united, Feb. 9, 1887, to Keta I .. , daughter of George W. and Eldora A. Davis.
BROCK, WILLIAM WALLACE, of New- bury, son of William and Anna ( Wallace) Brock, was born in Newbury, June 7, 1819.
His father, a prominent citizen of New- bury, had him educated at the public schools and seminary of that place. He lived on the farm on which he was born until 1858, when he removed to the old Brock home- stead, where he now resides. A daughter, making the fourth generation of Brocks, still resides with her parents. This farm, from the neatness of its surroundings, its appear- ance of thrift and comfort, presents the picture of a typical New England home.
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