USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125
As a Republican, he represented Plymouth in the biennial sessions of 1872-'74-'76, serving on the committees on claims and reform school.
On May 6, 1868, he was married to Vic- toria J., daughter of Hiram D. and Abigail (Franklin) Moor of Plymouth. One son, J. Calvin, was born to them, and one daughter, Abbie G., who died at the age of fourteen. Mr. Coolidge's wife died in 1884, and in 1891 he was united to Carrie A., daughter of George and Marcella L. (Moore) Brown, a descendant of Lieut. Bowman Brown, a soldier of the Revolution.
COOPER, ALANSON LAWRENCE, of Newport, son of Silas and Rosalinda (Hub- bard) Cooper was born March 14, 1824, in Rochester and is a lineal descendant of the seventh generation of John Cooper, who came from England previous to 1636, and settled at Cambridge, Mass.
His elementary training was received in the common and select schools of Roches- ter, and he also studied for a short time at Newbury Seminary. He taught several terms in Pomfret and Rochester, also in Cayuga and Wayne counties, N. Y.
Entering the Vermont Conference of the M. E. Church in 1846, Mr. Cooper was stationed in several towns in Vermont, but in 1856 was obliged from ill health to retire from the work. In 1857 he entered Garrett Biblical Institution, Evanston, Ill., where he graduated in 1859, after devoting himself especially to and
theological biblical branches of study. Previous to his gradua- tion he joined the Wisconsin Conference, but later he was transferred to that of Ver- mont and was stationed at Woodstock, where he continued for two years. Since that time he has filled many of the first positions in the conference as pastor and presiding elder, and by his conscientious ministry has won the approval of all asso- ciated with him.
Mr. Cooper is an adherent of the Repub- lican party and a strong Prohibitionist. He has held the office of superintendent of schools in Cabot and Springfield, and has.
81
COTTON.
been trustee of the Vermont Methodist Seminary for many years. He was one of the charter members of the State S. S. Asso- ciation, and was president of the association in 1875-'76.
He married, May 17, 1853, Lucinda M., daughter of Jeremiah and Serepta (Hincher) Atkins. Their children were: Mary E. (married Rev. C. M. Ward), Emma Louise (married Rev. Carlos L. Adams), Alice Etta, who died Feb. 12, 1872, and Rosa May.
1
ALANSON LAWRENCE COOPER,
In 1863-'64 he was stationed at Mont- pelier, and while there Mr. Cooper was elected chaplain of the House of Represen- tatives. During the civil war, he was busily engaged in charitable efforts to improve the condition of our gallant soldiers in the field, and in the hospital at Montpelier.
He received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1880, and, nine years later, that of Doctor of Divinity, from the Garrett Bibli- cal Institute, and has been occasional con- tributor to the Vermont Christian Messen- ger, and Zion's Herald. He is also endowed with some talent for poetical composition.
He represented the Vermont Conference as a delegate to the general conference of his church in Chicago in 1868.
COTTON, JOSHUA FRANKLIN, of Mid- dlebury, son of William and Dorcas (Finch) Cotton, was born at Weybridge, Jan. 27, 1820.
His parents were of English and Dutch stock ; his grandfather enlisting in the Revo-
COWLES.
lutionary army from Connecticut, serving five years under Washington's immediate command, while his grandmother first saw light on the Atlantic Ocean, as she was born during the passage of her family from Hol- land.
The only educational advantages received by Mr. Cotton were those of the district schools of Weybridge and Shoreham, and for sixty years he has lived upon the farm he now occupies.
Elected justice of the peace and clerk and treasurer of his school district for many years, he was chosen to represent Weybridge in the Legislature of 1882, and has often filled the position of juryman in many cases, notably at the trial of Chaquette for murder.
Mr. Cotton has of late been much em- ployed in the settlement of estates, and has not been able to accept all trusts of this nat- ure offered to him. He is a constant reader and has devoted much attention to the law, of which he has acquired considerable knowledge. He is a cultured gentleman of strict integrity, and much respected by his. fellow-citizens.
JOSHUA FRANKLIN COTTON.
He married, Dec. 20, 1844, Abby C., daughter of Olive Lathrop of Weybridge. Mrs. Cotton died in February, 1888.
COWLES, ASAHEL READ, of New- port, son of Leonard and Emeline (Gray) Cowles, was born in Craftsbury, May 26, I845.
Having removed to Coventry in 1851, he received his education in the public schools,
82
COWLES.
CRAMTON.
the Brownington Academy, and the high school at Coventry. He studied vocal music with James and Mbert Whitney of Boston.
For twenty years of his life he has devoted himsch to teaching vocal music, four years in New York. He is extensively engaged in the sale of musical instruments and sewing machines. He has stores for the sale of these articles in Newport and Morrisville.
He is a member of the Republican party, a Master Mason and member of Memphre- magog Lodge, No. 64, Newport ; belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church in Newport, and is now leader of its choir.
ASAHEL READ COWLES.
He married, Dec. 30, 1871, Hattie E., daughter of William P. and Lydia (Andrus) Titus of Craftsbury, and by her had two sons : Harry E., and Percy W.
COWLES, ELMER EUGENE, of Wey- bridge, son of S. B. M. and Lucy M. (Weth- erbee) Cowles, was born in New Haven, August 21, 1861.
He graduated first from Beeman Acad- emy, New Haven, 1877, and at Middlebury College in the class of 1884 with high hon- ors. Devoting his life to teaching, for two years he was compelled to resign this calling by the failure of his eyesight and since that time has been occupied in agricultural pur- suits, making a specialty of breeding valuable stock-notably Merino sheep. Mr. Cowles has held several minor appointments, but has never sought office. He has been town superintendent and secretary of the county
board of education, and a member of the board of selectmen. He holds to the gen- cral principles of the Republican party, but in politics is conservative. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon.
.
ELMER EUGENE COWLES.
Mr. Cowles married in Weybridge, Sept. 25, 1887, Sarah, daughter of L. J. and Margaret Wright.
CRAMTON, JOHN WILLEY, son of Elihu and Lois Cramton, was born in Tin- mouth, Nov. 10, 1826.
Receiving the customary education of that time in the schools of Tinmouth, Mr. Cram- ton, after working the home farm for several years, changed the scene of his labors to Templeton, Mass., where for more than three years he was engaged in the business of peddling.
In January, 1853, he came to Rutland, where he began the manufacture of tin ware ; a business which he still continues. But in addition, in 1860, he became the proprietor of the Central House, at that time a hotel well known in Rutland county. In 1864 he purchased the Bardwell House, where he now resides. Mr. Cramton is most widely and creditably known through- out the state. A description of the various positions he has filled, both in a private and public capacity, would far exceed the allotted space of this sketch. In 1886 he became a trustee of the Howe Scale Co., then in financial straits ; and upon its re- organization, he was chosen vice-president,
8.4
COLNI .
CRANK.
which position he holds today. For more than ten years he was director of the state's prison, being appointed by Governor Bar- stow to that post. He is president of the Baxter National Bank, the True Blue Marble Co., the Steam Stone Cutter Co., and the Rutland Street Railway ; and has acted as chief excentive officer of the village corpor- ation of Rutland for several terms. Nor does Mr. Cramton confine his efforts to financial trusts. He is also an extensive ag- viculturalist of the progressive type, owning large estates in Rutland and Clarendon, one of which is devoted to the produce of the dairy ; and all are noted for the breeding of fine horses and blooded stock. During the war Mr. Cramton was largely engaged in buying horses for the army ; and he is now director of the Vermont Horse Breeders' Association. For more than twenty years his voice has been potent as a director of the State Fair Association, and he has also held many offices in the Fair Association of Rutland county.
Strongly attached to the principles of the Republican party, he has never paid much attention to political office-seeking, but has held it sufficient to confine himself to the duties of a good citizen and kind-hearted neighbor ; in appreciation of which he was chosen senator of Rutland county in 1888.
He was married Oct. 3, 1882, to Florence Belle, only daughter of Jacob and Mary Bucklin Gates.
Mr. Cramton has not confined his pecu- niary transactions to Vermont, but has varied and extensive interests in many other states.
His religious creed is that of the Protes- tant Episcopal church, and he has entered the ranks of Free Masonry, being a Knight Templar attached to Killington Command- ery. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Plymouth Rock Association.
It will be seen that Mr. Cramton has led a most busy life. It is much to his credit that he has filled so successfully the many and varied responsibilities that his active and honorable career has thrust into his hands.
COYNE, PETER M., of Maidstone, son of Michael and Sabrina (Connor) Coyne, was born at Spiddle, Ireland, March 14, 1847.
Mr. Coyne came to this country a father- less boy at the age of nine years. After re- maining about two years at Island Pond, he went to Lancaster, N. H., and received his education in the common schools of that town. Having his own way to make in the world under adverse circumstances, he re- mained in Lancaster until 1876, laboring on farm and railroad, until by patient industry
and thrift, he acquired an ample property. He then went to Maidstone where he pur- chased a large farm on which he now re- sides. He has also given considerable at- tention to himbering on the Connecticut river.
Affiliated with the Democratic party, from his ability and faithfulness he has been elected by his townsmen to many positions of trust, and was a useful member of the Legislature in 1888.
Mr. Coyne enlisted in the 14th New llampshire Regiment, but being a minor could not gain the consent of his guardian, and was not received into the service.
He was married in March, 1878, to Mary E., daughter of James and Margaret Malone, and their union has been blessed with five children : Eddie M., James, Mary, Theresa, and Peter.
CRANE, JOSEPH ADOLPHUS, of Greensboro, son of Romanus and Asenath (Goodrich ), Crane, was born at Greensboro August 26, 1842.
Attending the public schools of Greens- boro, he completed his course of study in the academies at South Hardwick and Barre, and then taught school for several winters, working for his father in the summer. At his father's death in 1879 he succeeded to the estate, which he sold in 1881, and took up his residence in the village. He has made a specialty of dairy produce and grade Jerseys. Mr. Crane entered into partner- ship with L. F. Babbitt in 1887 and the firm did a general mercantile business. Later he bought out his partner and continued the business in connection with E. O. Randall.
Republican in his political faith, he has served as a member of the town committee, as a justice for several terms, and as super- intendent of the public schools. He is an Odd Fellow and belongs to Lamoille Lodge, No. 26, at East Hardwick.
A member of the Congregational church for twenty-five years, he for a long time per- formed the duties of parish clerk and super- intendent of the Sunday school.
He was united in marriage to Irene S., daughter of Elihu and Ruth (Bean) Wright, Jan. 25, 1871. Of this union there was one child : Jennie Asenath.
CROFT, LEONARD F., of North Clar- endon, son of William and Ruth (Palmer) Croft, was born in Wallingford, May 25, 1851.
After receiving a common school educa- tion in the schools of his native town, sup- plemented by a course at Burr and Burton Seminary at Manchester and Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H., he entered St. Lawrence University at Canton, N. Y., where
85
CUDWORTH.
CROSSETT.
he remained a year. He then entered Union College of Schenectady, N. Y., where he graduated with high honors in the de- partment of civil engineering in the class of 1873. After completing his education, he engaged in railroad and mining engineering in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and for about three years was the mining engineer in charge of the Penn Gas Coal Co. near Pittsburg. Returning to his native state in . use as the basis of various settlements. 1878, he purchased a large farm in Clar- endon, on which he has since resided. He has been successful in this agricultural en- terprise and found it remunerative, still he has given some attention to engineering, especially in cases which have come before
LEONARD F. CROFT
the courts. He is an extensive dairy farmer and breeder of Holstein cattle, and has also been successful in breeding fine road horses.
He has filled nearly all the offices of trust in his adopted town, and represented Clar- endon in the Legislature of 1890.
Mr. Croft, from his natural abilities and superior educational advantages, is naturally an influential man in his town and section of the county.
CROSSETT, JANUS, of Waterbury, was born in Duxbury, Nov. 12, 1823. His par- ents were Edward and Hannah (Carter) Crossett.
Edward Crossett was a prominent citizen and farmer of the town of Duxbury. His father dying when Janus was twenty-one
years old, from that time the entire care and support of the family devolved upon Janus. Mr. Crossett commencing as a farmer, soon devoted his attention to the lumber business, which he has since carried on for more than thirty years. He is a practical man, with a bent for statistics, and during the last forty- four years he has kept a careful record of business matters, which has been of much
A Republican in politics, he has held one or more town offices constantly for the last forty years. He represented Duxbury in the Legislature in 1855-'56-'57, and was elected assistant judge in 1871. A devoted advo- cate of temperance, he has never used liquor or tobacco, and carries his three score and ten years as actively as most men do fifty.
For forty years he has been a member of the Winooski Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M., of Waterbury.
He married, Nov. 27, 1844, Eureta R., daughter of Amos and Fanny (Wheeler) Crosby. They have two children : Menta F. (Mrs. E. W. Huntley), and James E.
CUDWORTH, ADDISON EDWARD, of South Londonderry, son of Abijah Whiton and Sarah M. (Simmonds) Cudworth, was born in Savoy, Mass., July 3, 1852.
His early education was obtained at the common schools, and he was fitted for col- lege at Green Mountain Perkins Academy, South Woodstock. Entering Dartmouth College in the class of 1877, at the end of the sophomore year he left school on account of failure of eyesight. His parents successively removed to Winhall, Weston, and finally, in 1869, to South Londonderry, where he has since resided. In the fall of 1876 Mr. Cudworth began the study of law in the office of Hon. J. L. Martin ; was ad- mitted to the bar in September, 1879, and entered into partnership with Mr. Martin, which connection continued till the removal of the latter to Brattleboro, since which period Mr. Cudworth has continued the business by himself. In 1880 he was elected state's attorney for his county, and four years later he represented the town in the General Assembly. Mr. ( udworth is a direct de- scendant in the ninth generation of Gen. James Cudworth of Scituate, Mass., who came to the country in 1632.
He was married April 15, 1880, to Mary Esther, daughter of James Martin and Louisa (McWhorter) Rogers of Hebron, N. Y. A son and daughter have been issue of this alliance : Clyde E., and Ina S., both of whom died in December, 1892.
CUMMINGS, HARLAN P., of North Thetford, son of Eben and Betsey J. Cum- mings, was born Jan. 19, 1837, in Thetford.
86
CURRI.R.
Eben Cummings was one of the first set- llers of the town. He served in the war of 1812 and assisted in proving land war rants for the sokhers, who took part in the struggle, and their widows. He occupied the farm where Harlan P. now resides, and was one of the most trusted and influential citizens of the town.
Obtaining his educational training in the connon schools and at Thetford Academy, he has devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits and has made raising Merino sheep a specialty. He has always been an enter prising and public-spirited man and was in strumental in introducing the creamery which has contributed so much to the pros- perity of the town. He contributed largely toward the building of the church and Lyme bridge, and has been clerk of these corpora- tions nearly forty years.
Mr. Cummings is much interested in the cause of education and is a trustee of Thet- ford Academy. He has a large amount of probate business, holding in trust a great amount of property, a fact which shows he enjoys to a high degree the confidence and respect of the community.
He has for a long time been chairman of the Republican town committee and presi- dent of the political club of the town. Twenty-five years since he was elected jus- tice of the peace, holding this office contin- uously, and in 1876 was chosen to the Gen- eral Assembly by a large majority, and was postmaster at North Thetford from 1866 to 1876.
Mr. Cummings enlisted in Co. A, 15th Regt. Vt. Vols., and continued with it every day during its entire term of service. After the close of the war he became an active member of the E. B. Frost Post, G. A. R.
CURRIER, JOHN WINNICK, of North Troy, son of John and Mary (Elkins) Cur- rier, was born in that town, April 5, 1835.
Mr. Currier is a fine representative of American self-made men. When only nine years old he graduated from the "little red schoolhouse" and went with his father into the cotton mills at Palmer, Mass., and from this date he has only himself to thank for his success in life's struggle and for the lib- eral education which he has derived from keen observation, undaunted energy and honorable ambition. After leaving the cot- ton mills he removed to Holyoke, where he learned the jeweler's trade, and in 1854 went to Boston to take charge of a wholesale jew- elry store.
In 1854 he enlisted in the Springfield City Guards under Col. Henry S. Briggs, and when the civil war began he hastened from Pennsylvania to join his company, which had volunteered its services in response to
CURRIER.
President Lincoln's first call for troops. After doing duty for a time at the U. S. Arsenal in Springfield, he was enrolled for three years, May 31, 1861, and mustered in as sergeant in Co. E, roth Mass. Infantry, serving with his regiment at the Washington Navy Yard and Arsenal till August 9, 1862, when he was sent to Massachusetts to assist in recruiting a regiment, January 6, 1862, he was discharged for promotion. Made adjutant of the ist Va. Vols., Nov. 26, 1862, he was appointed additional paymaster U. S. Vols. Jan. 14, 1863, which post he declined in order to accept from the provost marshal of the Army of the Potomac a position for furnishing military clothing and equipments, being stationed at City Point, Va.
-
1
JOHN WINNICK CURRIER.
In 1871 he returned to North Troy, bought the old homestead and erected an elegant residence thereon, and has created a model farm from the estate. His winters are mostly spent in Boston or on his South- ern plantation.
Mr. Currier is a very public-spirited man and has done much for the benefit of his native village. He planned and was chiefly instrumental in constructing the present fine system of waterworks.
He is a member of Post Bailey, No. 67, G. A. R., one of the largest posts in the county, and gave Camp J. W. Currier, S. of V., No. 81, a fine flag. He is also president of the Orleans County Veterans' Associa- tion, and an honorary member of the State National Guard.
87
CURTIS.
In politics a strong adherent of the Dem- ocratic party, he has been entrusted with nearly all the town offices, was made town representative in 1878 and again in 1882. He has been Democratic candidate for member of Congress and Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, and has attended every national con- vention since 1872, nearly always as delegate or alternate, and was U. S. Deputy Marshal for four years under President Cleveland's first administration.
In religious profession he is an Episco- palian.
Since 1871 Mr. Currier has extensively engaged in the manufacture of lumber and has erected at North Troy a flouring mill with a capacity of one hundred barrels per day. He was interested in building the Clyde River R. R., now a part of the C. P. R. R. system, and was one of the original constructors of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. He has given much attention to the formation of companies for handling patent rights and developing mines. He is naturally very social in his tastes and is a Free Mason, and a member of the Scotch Charitable Society in Boston, the oldest organization of the kind in America.
November 9, 1866, he married Eveline, daughter of John E. and Laura (Willard) Chamberlain of Newbury. Of this union were two sons: John (deceased), and Charles Elliot. An adopted daughter is the wife of T. L. Wadleigh, of Meredith, N. H.
CURTIS, JOHN, of North Dorset, son of Daniel and Betsey (Bowen) Curtis, was born in that town, Dec. 24, 1819.
He received his education in the com- mon schools, and fitted for college at the Burr Seminary of Manchester and the Cas- tleton Academy, and after this preliminary instruction graduated from the U. V. M. in 1847. During his school-boy days, in con- nection with his brother, he made many ex- periments in electricity, proposing to com- municate instantaneously from one place to another by this means through a wire prop- erly arranged. While he was pursuing his collegiate course, he was greatly dismayed to learn that Professor Morse had invented the magnetic telegraph, which he had put in operation, and thus anticipated all efforts of Mr. Curtis in that direction. After his graduation he still continued to devote him- self to mechanics, and thus became a scien- tific and mechanical engineer. He was soon employed by the state of New York to look after the engines and other mechanical appliances used in the state's prison at Dan- nemora. Being convinced of the impor- tance of using steam expansively, he soon constructed a valve which he attached to the engine in the machine shop, whereby it was
CUSHING.
forced to use steam in this manner, and the experiments proved remarkably successful. At this time the U. V. M. honored him with the degree of A. M.
Soon after he left Dannemora and returned to his native place, where he was interested in the construction of the Ben- nington & Rutland R. R. Mr. Curtis has made various improvements in engines, on three of which he has obtained patents. It is in no small measure owing to his efforts in this direction that he has the satisfaction of seeing the engine of today doing its work with less than one-fourth part of the fuel formerly required.
JOHN CURTIS.
Mr. Curtis was married in 1851 to the widow of the late Dr. Cochran of Dorset. The 6th day of July, 1865, he was again united to Nancy Mosher, daughter of Alba and Rebecca ( Mosher) Marshall of Troy, N. Y. Two children have been born to them : Marion Ada, and John Daniel.
He has always been a strong Republican, but without any disposition for office seek- ing. Always interested in education he has, however, been superintendent of the schools continuously for about twenty years. In 1884 he consented to the nomination of state senator for Bennington county, and was elected to that important position.
CUSHING, DANIEL L., of Quechee, son of Theophilus, who was an early settler of Hartford, and Lucinda (Richardson) Cushing, was born in that town, August 4, 1834.
88
Commencing Ins education in the com- mon schools and graduating at Newbury Semmary in 1851. Having fitted himself for a civil engineer he entered the city engineer's office of Hutford, Conn. While there he laid ont the grounds and buildings of the C'olt mannfactory of fire arms, since destroyed by fire. In 185% he entered the
DANIEL L. CUSHING.
service of the state of New York where he had the practical oversight of that portion of the enlargement of the Erie Canal extend- ing from Rochester to Lyons. Afterward, removing to the West, Mr. Cushing built thirty miles of railroad under most dis- couraging circumstances and his success in this undertaking proved his unusual energy and executive ability. When the civil war broke out Mr. Cushing manifested great zeal in recruiting volunteers and raised two companies for the service of his country.
Returning to Hartford, for family reasons, he concluded to remain and invested in real estate and mercantile interests. In 1886, he with others, helped organize and construct the Hartford Woolen Mills. Mr. Cushing has settled many difficult estates and held many public offices in his native place and has ably represented it in both branches of the Legislature
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.