USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 43
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Mr. Brock has also the care of several estates in the town, whose owners are resi- dents, showing how much he enjoys the con- fidence of those who know him. A Repub- lican in his political belief, he has been justice of the peace for forty years, was a member of the Legislature in 1865-'66, and has held numerous other offices of trust con- ferred upon him by his fellow-citizens.
He married Sophia Lovewell 'T'aplin. Five children have been born to them : Benjamin F., Eugene, Clarence T., William Wallace, Jr., and Clara Belle, the first three prosper- ing in the state of Washington, and the last two still residing in Newbury.
BROOKINS, HARVEY S., of Shoreham, was born Jan. 25, 1835, in Shoreham. He was the son of Philip C. and Lucina ( Forbes) Brookins.
Receiving his early education at the com- mon schools of his native town, he after- wards graduated at Bakersfield Academy. In 1856 he went to Minnesota where he found employment as a surveyor, and was there elected sheriff of Wright county.
He enlisted in the 8th Minnesota Regt. in August, 1862, and was promoted to the rank of captain May 1, 1863. As the trouble with the Sioux Indians came about this time, he served as a scout in Minnesota till 1864. He then marched across the plains, and on returning the regiment was sent to Mur- freesboro, Tenn., where Captain Brookins received a severe wound, which necessitated
his discharge May 17, 1865. He then re- ceived an appointment as clerk in the Treasury Department at Washington, which position he resigned in September, 1866.
Returning to Vermont he gave his atten- tion to farming, and has pursued this voca- tion with success.
Captain Brookins was elected by the Re- publicans of the town to the Legislature of 1876-'78, and has creditably served on several committees. He also served his town as constable from 1872-'80, when he resigned, and has held other town offices.
HARVEY S. BROOKINS.
He belongs to Simonds Lodge of the Masonic order, and is its Senior Warden, and to John A. Logan Post, No. 88, G. A. R.
He married in Shoreham Sept. 3, 1866, Emma L., daughter of Myron W. C. and Tryphosia Wright. Three children are born from this marriage : Lura E., Edna E., and Arthur H. Captain Brookins is looked upon as a man of marked ability in his town and section of the county.
BROWN, ADNA, of Springfield, son of Isaac and Sarah ( Flagg) Brown, was born in Antrim, N. H., Dec. 11, 1828.
A pupil of the common schools of his birthplace, he left home at the age of sixteen to battle with the world. First entering a woolen mill to learn the trade, he gave this up and served his apprenticeship as a machinist. Rising rapidly, he successively became foreman, then superintendent, and
BROWN.
finally master in the Parks & Woolson Machine Co., of which he is now the president and general manager. In this position Mr. Brown has furnished many improvements in cloth-finishing machinery, and is the holder of many valuable patents covering the same. He is also president and managing director of the Jones & Lam- son Machine Co., especially prominent as the builder of the Hartness flat-turret lathe. He organized the Springfield Electric Light
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Co., and is president of the Brown Hotel Co., chartered under the laws of the state in 1892, which has erected a handsome brick hotel, named in his honor, "The Adna- brown." He is the presiding officer of the local board of trade and of the Black River Railroad Co.
Mr. Brown is a staunch and active Repub- lican, and though never seeking office, has filled many positions of trust both in town and county. In 1882 he was sent to the Legislature, and in 1890 was a state senator. Mr. Brown was one of Vermont's delegates to the national Republican convention in Minneapolis in 1892, and was a member of the committee which drafted the platform for the party in the campaign of that year. In 1893 he received the appointment of state World's Fair commissioner from Governor Fuller.
A Congregationalist in belief, he does not confine his religion to the church, but carries
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his Christianity beyond its doors and is well known for his active benevolence and inter- est in all worthy enterprises.
BROWN, ALBERT L., of Lunenburg, born in Lunenburg, Jan. 12, 1828, was the son of Isaac and Lucretia (Wood) Brown, and was educated in the schools of Lunen- burg. Remaining with his father till the age of eighteen, he went to Boston and worked as a cabinet maker, then took up his abode in Portland, Me., where for eight years he kept a hotel. At the close of the war he sought his fortune in the West, and for a long period was employed as an agent by the Chicago Scale Co., after which he engaged in the grocery business. Satis- fied with the competence, which was the result of his industry and business ability, Mr. Brown returned to his native town and purchased the beautiful and picturesque estate, which was the early home of his first wife.
A lifelong and stalwart Republican, he has been elected to almost all the offices in the gift of his fellow-townsmen, including a seat in the Legislature in 1888. In creed he is a Congregationalist.
ALBERT L. BROWN.
September 17, 1849, he married Lucretia S., daughter of Stephen and Almira Powers. To them a son was born, George Albert, who died Aug. 18, 1864. He married at Chicago, June 13, 1878, Julia F., daughter of James and Susan Trow. From this latter union there is one daughter : Mabel E.
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BROWN, CURTIS, of Belvidere, son of bybeont and Betsey W. ( Ward) Brown, was born in Coventry, Oct. 16, 1825.
His father was the first Republican repre- sentative in the Legislature of the state, to which both his son and grandson have been elected.
Mr. Brown was educated in the common schools of Coventry and afterwards at Wa- terbury, N. Y., residing with his parents till the age of twenty-one. At that time he pur- chased a farm in Belvidere, and in order to pay for it went to Massachusetts, where he worked industriously in a mill for several years until he had accomplished his object. For a time he engaged in the manufacture of butter tubs and lumbering, but has given this up and now resides upon his farm.
Mr. Brown is said to be the champion bear hunter of the state, having shot or captured sixty-eight of these animals, once performing the feat attributed to General Putnam of Revolutionary times by entering a cave and crawling a distance of forty feet on his hands and knees, when with unerring aim by the light of a torch he brought down the object of his pursuit.
He is one of the best representatives of the old class of sturdy woodsmen, who have given such lasting fame to the hunters of the Green Mountains, so few of whom remain to narrate the deeds of their early days.
He married, March 13, 1852, Helen M., daughter of Edmund I. and Lucy (Hodg- kins) Crozier of Calais, by whom he has had five children : Reuben J., Edmund L., Alex- ander (deceased), Francis B., and Nora.
BROWN, WILLIAM A., of Jacksonville, son of Amos A. and Mary (Temple) Brown, was born in Whitingham, April 15, 1856.
He received his education at the common schools of his native town, and after its com- pletion devoted his time to teaching, dealing in real estate and lumbering, continuing until 1884. He then opened a store for general merchandise in Jacksonville, and meeting with success, formed a partnership with H. A. Wheeler, purchasing the stock of goods owned by N. L. Stetson. After a year he bought out his partner and continued the business alone, selling out to C. H. Shepard- son, and formed a stock company which bought out the Cooking Mill, Stetson Bros., and the E. E. Putnam estate, for the purpose of manufacturing butter tubs and boxes. At present he is president and manager of the company.
Brought up a Republican, on reaching his majority he concluded that Vermont was run by a ring for their personal interests and not in the interest of the people, he cast his first vote for a Democrat. At that time he, with several other young men who had formerly
been Republicans, began a fight against the ring. He was elected to the Legislature in 1890 and re-elected in 1892, serving on the committee on insane and on the Grand List. He thoroughly advocated the Australian sys- tem of ballot, weekly payments, and the town system of schools.
WILLIAM A, BROWN.
He was married Oct. 3, 1889, to Ada M., daughter of Mervin M. and Almeda ( Fowler) Brown, of Whitingham. Two children have been the fruit of this union : Greely A., and William Russell.
BROWNELL, CHAUNCEY WELLS, born in Williston, Sept. 13, 1811, was the son of Samuel and Zeruah ( Forbes) Brownell. His paternal and maternal grandfathers were both Revolutionary soldiers ; the latter, John Forbes, distinguished for his ready wit and quick power of repartee, came to Williston in very early times. Samuel A., the father of the subject of the present sketch, came with his parents from Connecticut to Willis- ton and purchased land in the northeast corner of the original town of Burlington, now Williston, embracing a large portion of the grant to Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire in this township.
In this new country which his hands helped to clear, C. W. Brownell grew to manhood, his early days being devoted to hard labor, and his evenings to study by the light of the huge logs burning in the old- fashioned fire-place, or the occasional aid of the glimmer of a pine knot. Here, with a
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BROWNELL.
board and piece of charcoal, he solved many a problem in mathematics that after- ward served him in good stead when he taught the district school.
In 1840 he purchased a large farm in the southwestern corner of Williston, on which he continued to reside during life. It was his ambition to build up and improve and leave to those who should come after him
CHAUNCEY WELLS BROWNELL.
more comforts and sources of income than he had been wont to enjoy. He set out large orchards and grew all varieties of fruit that the climate would permit. He sought to beautify the roadways, and planted large numbers of maple, elm, butternut, walnut and other domestic trees, which today ex- tend along the street for more than a mile, making a shady and attractive drive. He added to his real estate from time to time, seldom parting with any he had bought, and it was owing to this peculiar phase of char- acter that at his death, notwithstanding con- veyances to his children, he was the pos- sessor of more than one thousand acres. He gave much time and thought to the improve- ment of stock, and bred and owned some of the best horses, cattle and sheep in the state.
Strongly attached to the principles of the Republican party, Mr. Brownell was a useful public-spirited citizen, and was called to nearly all the duties entrusted to town officials. An uncompromising believer in protection for American industries, he was
quickly out of patience with those who ad- vocated a free trade policy. He repre- sented Williston in the Legislature of 1860- '61, and was chosen a member of the state Senate from Chittenden county for the first biennial term in 1870. In his business rela- tions, upright, of genial temperament and of untiring energy as his last words strongly indicate, "My work is but half accom- plished" he has rarely been surpassed as a good citizen and useful friend.
On March 4, 1841, he married Miss Laura C., daughter of Isaac and Laura (Chapin) Higbee, from whom the following children were born: Samuel A., of Essex ; Zeruah F., wife of William F. Whitney, of Williston ; Chauncey W., lawyer, of Burling- ton ; Laura H., wife of John A. Collier of Brooklyn. One, Eliza, died in 1862. Mrs. Brownell dying in November, 1852, in May, 1854, he married for his second wife Miss Martha M., daughter of Hon. John Van Sicklen of South Burlington. His children by the second marriage are Sarah V., Mary A., Mrs. E. H. Thorp of Middlebury, and Grove L., of Essex ; one, John Lester, died in 1885. Mrs. Brownell's death occurred Jan. 5, 1891. Mr. Brownell died June 4, 1892.
BROWNELL, CHAUNCEY WELLS, son of C. W. and Laura ( Higbee) Brownell, was born in Williston, Oct. 7, 1847.
Receiving a preparatory education in the common schools and at the academies at Williston and Alburgh Springs, he was grad- uated from the University of Vermont in the class of 1870, and afterwards pursued his studies at the Albany (N. Y.) Law School. After graduation he established himself at Burlington and commenced to practice his profession. He was four years city grand juror and prosecuting attorney. Belonging to the Republican party, Mr. Brownell has been called to many public offices. For two years he was state's attorney for Chittenden county and assistant secretary of the Senate from 1874 to 1880, when he was elected to the office of secretary, a position he held from that time until 1890 by successive re- elections. He was elected Secretary of State in 1890 and in 1892 was re-elected. He was secretary for a number of years and is now president of the Champlain Valley Associa- tion for the Promotion of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and is a director of the electric street railway company.
He has the management and personal su- pervision of the large estate of his late father, C. W. Brownell.
In 1873 Mr. Brownell received the degree of A. M. from his alma mater. He is a Con- gregationalist in his religious preferences.
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Mr. Brownell married, Oct. 12, 1875, Elva M., daughter of the late Baxter and Laura (Chase ) Brigham of Westford. Four chil- dren have been born to them : Carl Brig bam, Elva Mabel, Chauncey Sherman, and Henry Chase.
BRUCE, GEORGE ASA, of South Shafts bury, son of Charles M. and Phebe (Smith) Bruce, was born in Danby, June 17, 1857.
He received his early education at the district schools and at the hands of a private tutor, followed by a course at Burr and Bur- ton Seminary, and graduated from Williams College with the class of '79.
Following his graduation Mr. Bruce for a time was a bookkeeper, and in 1881 he located at Sioux City, la., where he became a member of the firm of Cottrell, Bruce & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in farm implements, when he returned East and con- nected himself with the Waterbury Clock Co., of Waterbury, Conn., in the capacity of bookkeeper and cashier, remaining with
GEORGE ASA BRUCE.
them until 1887, since which time he has been engaged in the mercantile business as a member of the firm of W. P. Mattison & Son, of South Shaftsbury.
Mr. Bruce has affiliated with the Republi- can party, and by that body has been honored with many positions of trust, being at the present postmaster and chairman of the Republican town committee.
He is a member of the Phi Betta Kappa, and also of the Blue Lodge, Tucker No. 48,
of North Bennington, and Temple Chapter and Taft Commandery No. 8, of Bennington.
Mr. Bruce married at South Shaftsbury, May 27, 1880, May V., daughter of William P. and Sarah (. Mattison. . Of this union is one son : Kenneth Mattison.
BUGBEE, HERMAN, of North Pomfret, was born Nov. 21, 1834, in Pomfret, the son of Rufus and Elizabeth ( Hunter) Bugbec. His father was a captain of militia, justice
HERMAN BUGBEE.
of the peace, and a highly respected citizen of the town. Mr. Bugbee was educated in the common schools of Pomfret, and has spent the greater portion of his life upon the old homestead farm settled by his grand- father, Abial Bugbee, in 1788, except from March, 1862, till June, 1874, he was in Bos- ton with Sampson, Davenport & Co. In this occupation he traveled extensively in New York and New England.
Mr. Bugbee possesses fine musical ability, and is a well known instructor in the art in the neighborhood of Pomfret ; this in addi- tion to his labor as a progressive farmer and dairyman.
Republican in politics, he has filled many positions of trust. In 1890 elected to the Legislature, he served on the Grand List committee.
In 1867 he married Eunice E., daughter of Stephen S. and Deborah Stinson, of Tops- ham, Me. His wife died July 26, 1887, and their only child, Earle Rufus, in infancy.
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BUCKHAM.
BUCKHAM, MATHEW HENRY, of Bur- lington, son of Rev. James Buckham, was born July 4, 1832, at Hinckley, Leicester- shire, England.
He pursued his preparatory studies in the academy at Ellington, Conn., and also at a private school in Canada. Entering the University of Vermont in September, 1847, he graduated from it in August, 1851.
He was principal of the Lenox Academy at Lenox, Mass., from 1851 to 1853. In September of the latter year he became tutor of languages in the University of Vermont. In August, 1854, he sailed for Europe, spent there two years in travel and study, and returned in 1856 to enter upon a professor- ship in the University of Vermont. He occupied the chair of Greek in that institu- tion from 1856 to 1871, and also performed the duties of professor of English literature from 1865 to 1871. In August of the latter year he was elected to the presidency of the University, and was duly inaugurated as the successor of Dr. James B. Angell. President Buckham received the degree of D. D. from Dartmouth College in 1877, and also in the same year from Hamilton College, N. Y. With all the educational interests of Vermont he was intimately identified as a member of the State Board of Education from 1867 to 1874. His published writings have princi- pally taken the form of articles in reviews and educational publications ; of addresses, sermons, etc.
He married on the 3d of December, 1857, Elizabeth Wright of Shoreham.
BULKLEY, GEORGE, of Moretown, son of Roger G. and Sally (Taylor) Bulkley, was born in Berlin, Sept. 11, 1815.
Roger G. Bulkley was a native of Colches- ter, Conn. He graduated from Yale College and afterward studied law at Montpelier. He was admitted to the Orleans county bar in 1809 and practiced law in Williamstown until the war of 1812, when he enlisted and served throughout the struggle. He purchased a farm in 1818 but still continued in the practice of law.
The early education of George Bulkley was limited to the common schools of Dux- bury. He commenced the manufacture of sashes and blinds, and afterward, in connec- tion with his brother-in-law, purchased the old cloth dressing mill at Moretown and put in a plant for a saw mill and also for making doors, sashes, and blinds. He pur- chased the entire interest of the business in 1861, but sold it in 1879. During much of this period he had owned and carried on a small farm, and since 1883 has resided with his daughter, Mrs. Haylett of Moretown.
Mr. Bulkley cast his first electoral vote for Martin Van Buren and was an adherent of
the Democratic party until 1864, when he was elected to the Legislature as a war Dem- ocrat, since which time he has been a Republican. He has passed through the usual routine of town and county offices.
GEORGE BULKLEY.
In 1848 he was united to Sarah, daughter of Hubbard and Lucy (Redway) Guernsey of Montpelier, and of this marriage three children have been born : Clara (wife of Dr. James Haylett, died in 1877), George W., and Lilla (second wife of Dr. James Haylett).
An extensive reader, he still manifests a lively interest in local and public affairs, enjoying the esteem and confidence of the community.
BULLOCK, ELMER J., of Readsboro, son of James and Cynthia (Baker) Bullock, was born in Whitingham, July 21, 1849.
He was educated in the common schools of Readsboro. After leaving school he served as clerk in several stores in Vermont and Massachusetts. In 1870 he entered into partnership with his father in a general store in Readsboro. In 1882 he sold out and engaged in the real estate and insurance business in North Adams, Mass. In 1885 he returned to Readsboro, and in 1886 formed a partnership with his mother, under the name of E. J. Bullock & Co. It was through the influence of Mr. Bullock that the telephone line from North Adams to Jack- sonville was built, and he was president of the company until the line was sold to the New England System. He had also much
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to do with the organization of the Readsboro Chair Manufacturing Co., and has been its secretary and treasurer ever since. Mr. Bullock worked unceasingly until Reads- boro had a good water system and ample protection against fire. In 1800 the firm built the Bullock block at a cost of $10,000, in which they at present do business.
ELMER J. BULLOCK.
Mr. Bullock has never cared to enter into political life, though frequently urged to do so.
BUNKER, CHARLES ALBERT, of Peacham, son of Alfred and Mary Emerson (Hodgdon) Bunker, was born at Barnstead, N. H., July 21, 1840.
He attended the public schools of Barn- stead, and then was a pupil of the Pittsfield Academy for three years, afterwards pursuing his studies at Phillips and Pembroke Acade- mies. He entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1860, teaching during the winters throughout his college course in the home district in Barnstead, and Pennacook, N. H., Waitsfield, Vt., and Barnstable, Mass. Soon after his graduation in 1864, he was made the principal of McIndoes Falls Academy, Barnet, and two years after was called to Peacham as principal of Caledonia county grammar school, an institution which was chartered in 1795, opened in 1797, and is now styled the Peacham Academy.
While at Dartmouth Mr. Bunker ranked high as a student, as he has since in his pro-
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fession. He was a member of the Psi Upsi- lon and Phi Beta Kappa societies. In 1867 he received from his alma mater the degree of A. M. In 1869 he was elected town superintendent of Peacham, which office he held sixteen years, and was always a strong advocate of the town system of schools. In 1883 he was elected president of the Ver- mont State Teachers' Association.
An adherent of the Republican party, he has held the minor town offices, and in 1886 was chosen state senator from Caledonia county, and served as chairman of the com- mittee on education, and was a member of that on federal relations. Re-elected in 1888, he again acted as chairman of the educational committee, also served on the special committee on temperance legislation. The next year he was made a member of the Caledonia County Board of Education.
Mr. Bunker was married May 20, 1869, to Nellie, only daughter of Dr. Jeremiah and Adeline (Carroll ) Blake.
He is a member of the Congregational church, and all his life has labored in the Sabbath school. He exerted great influence
CHARLES ALBERT BUNKER.
in the Senate, availed himself of every op- portunity to benefit the cause of education, and was specially interested in passing the law requiring scientific temperance instruc- tion in the public schools. He has written much which has been printed in different periodicals and lectured upon various educa- tional, social and political topics.
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BURDETT.
BURDETT, JESSE, of Rutland, son of Jacob and Rebecca (Talbot) Burdett, was born in Brookline, Jan. 19, 1826.
When quite young his family removed to Newfane, where having received his educa- tion in the public schools, he was appren- ticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and followed this employment for eleven years. After a short interval, during which he worked at his vocation in Brattleboro, he removed to Arlington, where he has since resided and where he was appointed station agent. In 1852 he became conductor on the passenger train running from Rutland to Troy on the Western Vt. R. R., now the Bennington & Rutland. In 1860 he was employed in a similar position on the Hud- son River road, between Albany and New York, and afterwards acted as trainmaster in the employ of the same corporation. In 1871 he was appointed superintendent of the Rutland division of the Central Vt. R. R., which position he now holds, making his headquarters at Rutland.
Mr. Burdett is a Democrat in his political creed, and though he has never occupied himself in office-seeking, he has held many minor offices in Arlington and represented that town in the Legislature in 1857, but of late years he has been obliged by his profes- sional duties to be so frequently away from his home, that he has not been eligible for the discharge of the responsibilities of any position of public trust.
He is a member of St. James' Episcopal Church in Arlington, of which he has been a vestryman for more than twenty years.
Mr. Burdett married, Oct. 21, 1851, Cornelia C., daughter of John C. and Amanda (Hill) Lathrop, by whom he has one son : John L.
BURNELL, MILO S., of Wolcott, son of Chester A. and Amanda A. (Skeels) Bur- nell, was born in Swanton, Aug. 18, 1846.
From the age of thirteen he supported himself, working whenever he found an opportunity to gain his livelihood, and in 1868 he began to read law in the office of the Hon. Richard F. Parker of Wolcott. In 1871, at the advent of the P. & O. R. R., he was appointed depot master at Wolcott, and has continued in this employment ever since, though to some extent occupying himself with the bark and lumber trade.
He has served both as deputy sheriff and sheriff of his county and has been elected to both branches of the Legislature, where he has been chairman and member of several important committees, as well as filling the principal town offices.
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