USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 74
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John a. Diead
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cally describes the experiences of the first settler: "Go back with me for a moment for one hundred and twenty four years, and picture, if you will, that man, the first settler, with his wife and eleven children ; one pair of oven with the old style sledge piled high with all their earthly belongings ; the mother and girls riding alternately upon two small horses ; the father and boys in turn driving the oxen, and closely behind, their two cows. At Manchester, Vt., they leave all roads and strike out into the unbroken forest ; they push their way, slowly but surely, along the sides of the mountains. There are no settlers along their route to point the way or shelter them by night. They move along that rocky crest and after three days and two nights, they arrived at their destination, the Central Falls, as they were known upon the old survey, viz., the falls at Center Rutland. They stopped the first night near the present village of Dorset, the second night near that of Danby ; they passed through Tinmouth, West Clarendon, and finally arrived at the home of the Caugnawaga. One of the chiefs met him at the door of his wigwam, talked for a few minutes in an unknown tongue to his squaw, and papooses and other Indians, and then throwing his hands high in the air and wide apart, he exclaimed in English, 'Wel- come, Welcome !' The father allowed the cattle to feed upon the leaves in the under- brush near by, the boys arranged to sleep near the sled, while the mother and girls, kneeling in a circle, utter their feeble prayers in the Indian wigwam, thirty miles from the nearest white settler. If sickness threatens the parents or their children, there are no neighbors to help and to sympathize, there is no physician to consult or relieve their anguish, and should death overtake them in this wilderness, the parents must hew from the trees of the forest the coffin for the loved one, and bury their dead alone in the lonely wilderness ; there are no friends, no bearers, no chapel, no church, and no pastor to soothe and minister and to ask divine sustenance in this hour of anguish ; there are no stores, no shops, no mills of any kind, no fields of grass or grain, no roads or paths, except an occa- sional Indian trail."
At the organization of the town govern- ment on the 2d Tuesday of October, 1770, Col. James Mead was made the first modera- tor, first selectman and first town representa- tive of Rutland, and the old farm cleared by Colonel Mead still remains in the Mead family, having been deeded from father to son for one hundred and twenty-five years, the original purchase having been from the Caugnawaga Indians.
Abner, son of Col. James Mead, was great- grandfather of Mayor Mead, from whom he derived a portion of his name. He married
Amelia, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Roots, the first clergyman in Rutland. John A. was the only child of Roswell R. and Lydia A. (Gorham ) Mead. His father was a success- ful farmer and merchant in West Rutland till his death in 1875. His mother died when he was but six months old. Her father served in the war of 1812, and so maternal and pa- ternal ancestors give him a loyal claim on the country. John A. Mead was educated in the common schools of West Rutland and at Franklin Academy, Malone, N. Y.,
graduating from Middlebury College in 1864, and in 1868 received his diploma of M. D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He immediately accepted a position as house physician in the Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y., remaining there until December, 1870, when he removed to Rutland, where he successfully practiced till 1888. At this time he was tendered a "chair" in the medical department of the University of Vermont and for some time he hesitated as to whether he should or not continue in his chosen profession, but he finally and re- luctantly retired from professional pursuits in order to give his whole attention to his ex- tensive business interests. During his career in medicine he was appointed surgeon-gen- eral of the state on the staff of Gov. Redfield Proctor, was medical superintendent of the house of correction from the time it was es- tablished till he gave up his profession, was a member of the pension examining board for eight years, and was appointed surgeon-gen- eral of the Vermont state encampment of the G. A. R. in 1890.
Dr. Mead is now one of the largest real estate owners in Rutland, was director and cashier of the old National Bank of Rutland for several years, was treasurer of the Rut- land R. R. and director and treasurer of the Addison R. R. for nearly five years, director of the Clement National Bank since it was organized, vice-president of the State Trust Co. since its organization, and continued as such till he was elected its president.
He is president of the New England Fire Insurance Co., of the P. E. Chase Mfg. Co., and the Rutland board of trustees, and trustee of Middlebury College of Middle- bury. In 1888 he reorganized the Howe Scale Co., and is now president and execu- tive officer of that corporation. The history of this corportion had been unfortunate since its first organization in 1857, but in his new sphere Dr. Mead proved more successful than ever before, as the wonderful growth of this company fully testifies. Within five years under his administration he made this company second to none other manufactur- ing a weighing machine. In addition to the production of the renowned Howe scales, he added the truck department, and
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in two years they developed over a thousand varieties, and manufactured more trucks than any other company in America. Letter presses were added, and soon a large busi- ness in this line was established. A full line of lifting jacks was also added to their out- put, increasing their sales largely. In 1893 he contracted for the sole manufacture of the Cyclone coffee mills, formerly made in Portland, Me., and all the patterns have been removed to Rutland and become a part of the business of the Howe Scale Co. The Harrison Conveyor Co. was also added to the manufactured products of this company, and today they are melting more iron than any concern in the state, and are producing more scales than any corporation in the world.
In the administration of the financial and a supervision of the mechanical affairs of this company, Dr. Mead has exhibited rare executive ability. His watchful care of every detail, and his judgment of human nature, enabling him to select competent assistants in the varied departments, and his untiring perseverance have contributed largely to the remarkable success of this in- dustry.
He has always shown a kindly interest in the welfare of his employes, and of the workingmen, and has never hesitated to champion their cause whenever their de- mands were reasonable and in his judgment just, and they in turn evinced their apprecia- tion of his efforts in electing him to the state Senate in 1892 by a large majority, and again in 1893 by making him the first mayor of the city of Rutland by over three-fourths of the total vote cast for the candidates for this office.
Dr. Mead is most emphatically one of that large class of New Englanders who are the sole architects of their reputations and for- tunes, having acquired his academic educa- tion by his own efforts in the school room and on the farm. He left his studies for a year to acquire means to begin the study of his profession, and on his receiving his diploma in medicine, he found himself a debtor to quite an extent, and, in short, on leaving the hospital and starting in private practice in Rutland, it was an absolute ne- cessity that financial success should attend his first efforts, or he could have maintained himself but a few weeks.
Impelled by patriotic duty, Dr. Mead enlisted in Co. K, 12th Vt. Vol. Regt., serv- ing in the campaign of 1862 and 1863, and returning to college he graduated with his class in 1864. He is a member of Roberts Post, G. A. R., and has always felt a warm interest in matters pertaining to the "Boys in Blue." He was a member of the staff of General Alger and of General Veazey when
they were commanders-in-chief of the Grand Army.
Dr. Mead is a staunch adherent of the Republican party, and as state senator was chairman of the committees on claims, and of the World's Fair, also a member of the committees on manufactures and banks. He is a member of the Congregational church, and for many years has been one of the ex- ecutive committee, and is vice-president of the Congregational Club of Western Ver- mont.
He was united in marriage, Oct. 30, 1872, to Mary M., daughter of Hon. William N. Sherman, a prominent citizen of Greenwich, R. I. Dr. and Mrs. Mead have one child, a daughter : Mary Sherman.
MEAD, JOHN B., late of Randolph, was born in Stratham, N. H., March 15, 1831. In 1841 he came to Randolph and lived with Dr. and Mrs. P. D. Blodgett, who were childless.
JOHN B. MEAD.
His education was obtained in the district school and in the Orange county grammar school, and was supplemented by discipline obtained by teaching school both in Ver- mont and New Jersey.
The first year of the rebellion found him, at the age of thirty, settled with wife and two young children on what had been the Dr. Blodgett farm, just south of Randolph Center, where Mrs. Blodgett still lived, receiv- ing love and care from him in his manhood
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as he had received them from her in his boyhood. Late m 1861 he enlisted, making such arrangements as he could for the well being of the family left behind him.
Colonel Mead's military service and that of no soldier was more honorable, was in the 8th Vermont Regiment, where he held every commission from ed lieutenant to colonel, His record is this: ed lieutenant Co. G. Jan. 7, 1862 ; ist lieutenant Co. G, April 2, 1863; captain Co. G, May 5, 1863 ; major, July 26, 1864 ; lieutenant-colonel, Nov. 24, 1864; colonel, March 4, 1865 ; taken pris- oner at Bayou des Allemands, Sept. 4, 1862 ; wounded Oct. 19, 1864, at the battle of Cedar Creek ; mustered out June 28, 1865.
At the close of the war Colonel Mead re- turned to the farm, and was in 1867 and 1868 elected to represent Randolph. In 1878 he was a senator from Orange county. In 1875 he was a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and from 1878 to 1880 was state superintendent of agriculture. In 1884 and 1885 he was commissioner from Vermont to the New Orleans Exposition, and in 1886 was the commissioner from New England to the New Orleans Exposi- tion of that year, and was a member of its board of management.
He was a practical farmer on modern lines, and was an importer and breeder of red-polled cattle, and in 1883 spent some time in England selecting stock for impor- tation.
Colonel Mead was from young manhood an active member of the Congregationalist church, and for many years a deacon there- in. He was an earnest advocate of tem- perance and held the highest official posi- tions in the organization of Good Templars. Full of zeal in all educational matters he was for many years a member of the board of trustees of the Randolph State Normal School and secretary of the board, and with public spirit invested thousands of dollars in erecting a large boarding house, which he and others thought necessary for the better condition of the school.
He was engaged at the last in an enter- prise looking to the settlement by Ver- monters of a large tract of land in North Dakota.
Colonel Mead died suddenly at his home in Randolph, Dec. 16, 1887-his death doubtless hastened, and it is believed, caused by the lingering effects of his years of mili- tary service.
He married in May, 1858, at Randolph, Orpha O., daughter of Elias and Orinda (Blodgett) Carpenter. Their children were : Charles C., born in 1859; John F., born August 16, 1861; Nellie O. (Mrs. W. F. Morse of Barre), born in 1864 ; Myra B., born in 1866 and died in 1879, and Orinda
C., born in 1868 and died in 1885. Mrs. Mead died May 6, 1877. In August, 1880, Colonel Mead married Laura C., daughter of Hiram and Jerusha ( Bradish ) Kimball. Mrs. Mead and their daughter, Annie K., born in 1882, now reside in West Randolph.
C'olonel Mead was of commanding pres- ence and soldierly bearing earnest, elo- quent, and brave physically, intellectually and morally. He was a real and, so far as in man les, the ideal Christian citizen and soldier.
MEAD, JOHN F., of Randolph, son of John B. and Orpha O. (Carpenter) Mead, was born in Randolph, August 16, 1861.
JOHN F. MEAD.
His education was received at the Ran- dolph Normal School and St. Johnsbury Academy, and during his earlier life he remained with his father on the farm, acting as his foreman during his frequent absences.
He now owns the homestead at Randolph and a large cattle ranch in North Dakota, the latter property jointly with his brother now located in that state. He is engaged in dairying and horse breeding, and has the character of an enterprising, industrious and successful farmer. He held the appoint- ment of assistant commissioner of Vermont at the International Exhibition at New Orleans in 1885, and in 1886 was superin- tendent of the second division of the first Minneapolis Exposition. He has traveled in every state but one this side of the-
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Mississippi, and for a man of his age pos- sesses wide knowledge of men and affairs. He is one of the trustees of the Randolph Normal School, has held town offices, and in 1892 was representative from Randolph and served on the committees on education and the World's Fair.
MEECH, LEONARD E., of East Monk- ton, son of Henry B. and Jane E. (Burritt) Meech, was born in Hinesburgh, Oct. 27, 1844.
LEONARD E, MEECH.
His education was principally received at the academy of Hinesburgh, but he supple- mented his school instruction by a long course of judicious reading and home study.
He served in the civil war in Co. G, 14th Regt. Vt. Vols., in which command he was promoted to the grade of corporal and a little later was compelled to accept his dis- charge on account of disability.
He has always followed the occupation of a general farmer, especially devoting his at- tention to the breeding of Jersey cows, and horses of a high class.
Well informed in political affairs he has been chosen to nearly all the official posi- tions in his town, and in 1884 represented Monkton in the state Legislature where he gave his services to the committee on the state's prison.
Mr. Meech was married in Monkton, July 3, 1865, to Edna S., daughter of Daniel S. and Frances M. (Deming) Ladd. From
this union were four children, only one of whom, Daniel, survives.
He is allied with the Masonic fraternity, and for twelve years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in which he has served for some time as steward. Sincere and unassuming, his straightforward and honorable dealings have won for him a numerous body of warm friends in his com- munity.
MELENDY, JONATHAN WASHBURN, of South Londonderry, son of Emery and Jerusha (Pierce) Melendy, was born in Lon- donderry, Nov. 18, 1845.
His education was derived from the com- mon schools and the West River and Saxton's River academies, and after its completion he engaged with his father in the trade of a blacksmith, which he had learned during his boyhood. Later he devoted his attention to agriculture, and in conjunction with his brother has operated the home farm to the present time.
JONATHAN WASHBURN MELENDY.
He was twice elected first constable and collector, and was selectman of the town for nine years, during six of which he served as chairman of the board. In 1879 he was made town railroad commissioner and was instrumental in the building of the B. & W. R. R. In 1871 he was appointed deputy sheriff, which position he held by successive appointments until 1878, when he was elected sheriff of Windham county, dis-
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charging the duties of that office for six years, and was afterward appointed by his successor as a deputy, which position he still retains. In 1800 he was elected a state sen- ator from Windham county, and served on the committee on claims, and was chairman of that on fish and game.
He is a member of Anchor Lodge, No. 99, F. & A. M., of South Londonderry, in which he has filled the Master's chair, and of Adoniram Chapter, No. 15, of Manchester.
Since the construction of the B. & W. R. R. Mr. Melendy has been a director of the corporation. Since 1880 he has been en- gaged with his brother in the undertaking business at South Londonderry.
Mr. Melendy has been a public-spirited man and prominent in all movements for the benefit of his town and community.
He was married, Nov. 26, 1868, to Carrie L., daughter of Hon. David and Lydia (Dudley) Arnold of Londonderry. Of this union is one child : Emery A.
MERRIFIELD, JOHN HASTINGS, of Williamsville, son of John A. and Louisa W. (Williams) Merrifield, was born in Newfane, June 12, 1847.
He received his early education in the common schools and the Springfield Wes- leyan Seminary.
Working on his grandfather's farm, and finally conducting the same, he commenced his business career by the purchase of a gen- eral merchandise store, which he carried on till 1881. The following year he went to Dakota and for four years was connected with the Vermont Loan and Trust Co., when he returned to Williamsville, and since 1887 has been acting station agent of the B. & W. R. R.
Mr. Merrifield was married, Feb. 24, 1886, to Miss Ella R., daughter of Asa and Polly M. (Morse) Stratton, of Newfane.
He has discharged the duties of lister, selectman, and superintendent of schools in his native town, which he represented in the Legislatures of 1878 and 1880. In 1874 and 1876 he was engrossing clerk of the Legisla- lature, second assistant clerk of the House in 1882 and 1888, first assistant clerk in 1890, and clerk in 1892.
MILES, LORENZO DOW, of Newport, son of Orrin and Eunice (Clark) Miles, was born in the town of St. Johnsbury, Sept. 26, 1838.
He received his preparatory education in the schools and academy of Johnson, and was contemplating a college course, which design he was unable to carry out on ac- count of the bursting of the war cloud in 1861. He enlisted in Co. E, 3d Vt. Regt., while yet a schoolboy, but was detached on special service with Battery F, 5th U. S.
regulars, with which organization he re- mained till early in the winter of 1863, when he returned to his regiment, with which he served till he was honorably discharged at Burlington, July 27, 1864. He participated in all the battles in which the Sixth Army Corps were engaged, except the seven days' fight in front of the rebel capital, including Lee's Mills, Antietam, both engagements at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg, Welden Station, Cold Harbor and Fort Stevens. In all these bloody struggles he escaped unscathed, nor was he ever captured by the enemy, but did his duty every day during the three years of his service except a period of three months, which he spent in the hospital, sick with typhoid fever. At the expiration of the war Mr. Miles came to Albany, where he settled down as a farmer.
LORENZO DOW MILES.
March 14, 1865, he was united to Harriet E., daughter of Eben K. and Jennett (Gregg) Lord ; they have three children : Carrie E., Eddie F., and Frank E.
In 1874 Mr. Miles was appointed deputy sheriff and successively re-elected until he was made sheriff ten years later. Since the fall of 1878 he has resided in Crafts- bury, Barton, Irasburg and Newport, but finally made his place of abode in Al- bany. He has been concerned in the arrest of many prominent criminals and was active- ly employed in search of the murderer Almy.
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Republican since the formation of the party. He is a member of Baxter Post, G. A. R., of the K. of P., and in the Masonic order is a member of the K. T. He is liberal in his religious preferences.
MILES, WILLARD WESBERY, of Barton, son of Orin and Eunice (Clark) Miles, was born in Albany, Feb. 6, 1845. His ances- tors were among the early settlers of this country and his father's and mother's grand- fathers were Revolutionary soldiers and set- tled in Vermont at the close of the Revolu- tionary war.
Mr. Miles, after a course in the public schools in Albany, fitted for college at the Barnston and Hatley academies in the Prov- ince of Quebec, at the time intending to complete his education at college ; but being compelled to rely upon his own resources and financial means, consisting principally of good health, a robust constitution and
WILLARD WESBERY MILES.
freedom from expensive habits, he finally decided to abandon his purpose to take a college course, and devote the time necessary to complete that course, to the study of law. Previous to entering an office, he took pri- vate lessons in Greek and Latin of Rev. S. K. B. Perkins. For some time he taught in the common schools in Albany and vicinity and two terms in each of the academies of Albany and Craftsbury, employing his leisure time in reading law. In 1866, he entered the office of Charles I. Vail, Esq., then of
MILLER.
Irasburgh, where he remained for two years. He then went to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the purpose of entering the law school at that place, but on account of ill-health he was compelled to return to Vermont, and in the fall of 1871, entered the office of Hon. William W. Grout at Barton, where he re- mained until the September term of Orleans county court, 1872, at which time he was ad- mitted to the bar and was appointed master in chancery.
He commenced the practice of law at South Albany, where he remained till June, 1873, when he removed to North Craftsbury, and there opened a law office. He prac- ticed law at this place until April, 1881, when he removed to Barton, and formed a copartnership with Gen. William W. Grout, under the name of Grout & Miles. That firm did a large and remunerative business during its continuance, and was engaged in many of the important suits in that part of the state. In 1888, on account of congres- sional duties, General Grout withdrew from the firm, since which time Mr. Miles has conducted that business alone at Barton, where he is now located. Since the dissolu- tion of the firm of Grout & Miles, he has retained and continues to hold the clientage of that firm.
Mr. Miles is a strong Republican and has ever felt a deep interest in the prosperity of the Republican party. He has been entrust- ed with official positions both in Albany and Craftsbury, holding the office of town clerk in the latter named town for several years and until his removal to Barton. In 1872, he was sent to the Legislature to rep- resent the town of Albany, serving on the committee on elections, and in 1878 he rep- resented the town of Craftsbury, serving on the judiciary committee of which Judge Poland was chairman. In 1890 he was elect- ed state's attorney for the county of Orleans, which office he still holds.
He is a member of Meridian Sun Lodge of F. & A. M., No. 20. In his religious be- lief, he is Congregationalist and a member of the Congregational church at Barton.
September 29, 1872, he married Ellen M., daughter of Luther and Lavinia (Dewey) Dow of Albany. They had three children : Ida M., Mabel A., and Orin L. (deceased).
MILLER, CROSBY, of Pomfret, son of John and Hannah (Crosby) Miller, was born in Pomfret, June 6, 1811.
Educated in the common schools and afterwards at Chester Academy, he has devoted the principal energies of a long life to farming, but has found opportunities to discharge many other duties which have de- devolved upon him in consequence of the high reputation for integrity and ability
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MILLER.
which he has always maintained in the com- munity.
In politics he was a whig until the Repub- lican party was formed, since which he has steadfastly adhered to its principles. For several years postmaster, and having held most of the town offices, including treasurer for thirty years, he was sent to the state Sen- ate in 1851 and 1852, and for four terms was the representative from Pomfret, commenc- ing that service in 1860. He has been county commissioner and United States as- sistant assessor, and was made assistant judge of the county court in 1872, which office he held for ten years. The limits of
CROSBY MILLER,
this article are hardly sufficient to enumerate a tithe of the trusts which have devolved upon him. As a farmer, Judge Miller was president of the Windsor County Agricul- tural Society, and a director and vice-presi- dent of the State Agricultural Society, a director of the Champlain Valley and Con- necticut River societies, while as a financier he has held for seventeen years the position of director of the Royalton National Bank, and that of its president for ten years, and vice-president of the Otter Queche Savings Bank. For a long time past he has been a trustee of the U. V. M. and State Agriculural College, and a member of the board of con- trol of the experiment station since its establishment. Judge Miller's wisdom as to what is best to be done and how to do it is the reason of his having been called to so many and important duties.
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