Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 81

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 842

USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 81

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In June, 1840, he was able to resume his chosen profession, and established the Lamoille Whig at Johnson. While residing there he served as assistant clerk in the state

POLAND.

Legislature. After four years' connection with this paper, Mr. Poland returned to Montpelier and established the Green Mountain Freeman as the organ of the new- ly-formed Liberty party. This publication he continued, with marked success, until the close of the presidential campaign of 1848, during which period the vote of the party in the state increased to more than 15,000, and in the nation to 300,000. He served as chairman of the state committee, and large- ly as general organizer of the party, during a large portion of these years-a period made ever memorable as witnessing the birth of that wonderful moral and political revolution which, a few years later, elevated Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, and struck the fetters from every American slave.

About 1882, the late Hon. E. P. Walton justly wrote : "Mr. Poland may properly in- dulge in the double boast of him that girdeth on the harness and of him that putteth it off, having lived to see American slavery, not only forever extinguished by the organic law

JOSEPH POLAND.

of the land, but remembered only with such detestation that history blushes at the record." In 1849 Mr. Poland was chosen a director and secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co., positions which he held during the entire life of the company, more than thirty years. In 1852-'53 he served as judge of probate for Washington county ; in 1858-'60 was a member of the state Senate, and in 1870-'71 represented the town of

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Montpelier in the Legislature, In 1861 he was commissioned by Governor Fairbanks (and afterwards by President Lincoln, in connection with Hon. John B. Page and Hon. John Howe, Jr., under an act of Con gress providing for allotment commissioners) to visit the Vermont regiments in the field and procure trom each soldlier an allotment of such portion of his monthly pay as could be spared during his enlistment, to be trans mitted to his family, or any depository he might select. In 1863, under a commission from Governor Smith, Mr. Poland purchased what was then denominated the "Fair Ground," but now "Seminary fill," in Mont- pelier, and erected thereon the buildings constituting "Sloan Hospital," which was maintained for many years, first by the state and subsequently by the general government, as a rendezvons for invalid soldiers. He has been a trustee of the Vermont State Library since Nov. 1, 1859. From 1861 to 1869 he held the position of collector of internal reve- nue for the First Congressional District of Vermont. In March, 1868, Judge Poland in connection with his son, J. Monroe, purchased the Vermont Watchman, which he continued until 1882, when he permanently retired from active business. He left the paper with far more than double the circulation it had when he assumed it. Mr. Poland was also favor- ably known to the Congregational churches of Vermont and New Hampshire as the pub- lisher and proprietor of both the Vermont Chronicle and the New Hampshire Journal. Of Mr. Poland's long service in the editorial field, space allows us only one or two brief expressions of his brethren on his retirement. The Rutland Herald said : "The Watchman and Journal, under his hands, has always hewed straight to the line on all great ques- tions of deep public concern in morals and politics. A man of excellent ability as a thinker and writer, of discreet action and sagacious judgment in politics, Mr. Poland has acted well his part in Vermont journal- ism. His influence has been large, and it has been uprightly exerted." The St. Albans Messenger said : "But it is not so much in relation to the public as an able and con- scientious journalist that we feel moved to write, but rather in his relations to the editors and publishers of the state. In these rela- tions Mr. Poland has been most exception- ally free from the petty jealousies, the spirit of detraction and disparagement, the rancor and unwarranted personal abuse which have prevailed too generally among the editors of the state, and in this respect he leaves to his professional brethren a very worthy example."

Mr. Poland became a communicant of Bethany Church in 1839, and has been since the death of Hon. E. P. Walton its senior deacon ; also served as superintendent of its

Sunday school, which relations he sustained to the Congregational church in Johnson, during his residence there.

Judge Poland has been for half a century by voice, pen and earnest work an untiring friend and advocate of the temperance cause.

During his long residence in Montpelier Judge Poland's political and personal infhi- ence has been far-reaching and effective, and has been freely sought and acknowledged in connection with most of the public men and measures of his time. Proverbially public- spirited, he has ever moved far in advance of men of much larger means in enconrag- ing every business, benevolent, or social enterprise in his community; the sick and the suffering have always found in him a friend and benefactor, and the worthy young men are by no means few whom he has en- couraged and assisted to enter upon a successful business career for themselves.

July 7, 1840, Mr. Poland married Mary Ann, (laughter of the late Joseph Rowell. Of their seven children, but one, Edward R., is living ; three died in infancy : Clara A., an accomplished daughter of twenty-one, died in 1865 ; Charles F. died in 1875, in early manhood, and J. Monroe formerly adjutant of the 15th Vermont, died Sept. 16, 1891. Mrs. Poland died in 1862, and Feb. 8, 1873, Judge Poland married Julia M. Harvey, daughter of James K. and Caroline (Coburn) Harvey, of Barnet.

PORTER, CHARLES WALCOTT, son of Judge John and Jane Francis (Foster) Por- ter, was born in Hartford, July 11, 1849.

His early education was received in the schools of Hartford and the Kimball Union Academy of Meriden, N. H. He then en- tered upon a course of study at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., graduating in 1870. Two years afterwards he was settled in Montpelier and began the study of law in the office of Hon. B. F. Fifield. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1874, at which time he formed a partnership with C. H. Pitkin, Esq., and his former instructor, under the firm name of Fifield, Pitkin & Porter, and later a new firm was organized under the title of Pitkin and Porter, which arrangement re- mained unchanged until 1880, when Mr. Porter withdrew from the concern and con- tinued to practice his profession without a partner until the time of his death, August I, 1891.

He was always a Republican, and in 1872 he received the appointment of deputy sec- retary of state and held that position for twelve years. He also was made deputy in- surance commissioner. In 1884 he was elected secretary of state and by successive re-elections was continued in that office for six years. Mr. Porter was president of the

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Berlin Granite Co. from its organization in 1887 to the time of his death.

He was married July 16, 1885, at Mont- pelier, to Florence, only daughter of Charles IV. and Olive (Eaton) Bailey.

POWERS, HEMAN A., of Braintree, son of Heman and Isabel (Nash) Powers, was born in East Montpelier, June 22, 1827.

Mr. Powers obtained his education in the schools and academy of Montpelier. At the age of seventeen he went to Milford, Mass., entered a shoe manufactory, and soon be- came an expert in bottoming boots, which occupation he pursued in thirteen different states, traveling for his employer, Mr. Whit- ney, who challenged the country to produce his equal in skill or rapidity. At the age of twenty-five he returned to Vermont and commenced farming in the town of Plain- field, but some quarter of a century since he purchased the "Judge Waite" estate in Brain- tree and has made it his residence from that period. Mr. Powers believes that Vermont is the best state in the Union for farmers and proves his faith by his works, for he most

HEMAN A. POWERS.

successfully cultivates one of the best farms in the state. He has a large herd of cows, mostly graded, but generally selected for in- dividual merit, and has sent about $4,000 worth of butter to the Narragansett Hotel of R. I. annually for the last fifteen years, dur- ing which time he has not failed in making his regular four shipments a week. For-

merly his farm was considered the most pro- ductive one in Orange county, but Mr. Pow- ers has doubled its capacity, obtaining enor- mous crops of hay, oats, corn, and potatoes.

Although a Democrat in a strongly Re- publican community, he has been entrusted with many local public offices of importance, and represented Braintree in 1884. He is a man of jovial disposition, keen insight, and remarkably sound judgment, who is highly respected and very popular in the commun- ity. He was formerly much interested in checkers, of which game he was a champion player.

He was united in marriage in 1850 to Sarah J., daughter of Shubeal P. and Betsy (Sanborn) Short, of East Montpelier. Eight children have been issue of this marriage, five of whom survive : Bettie M. (Mrs. C. B. Ford of Idaho), Laura (deceased), Sadie (Mrs. M. Bruce), Alice, Elsie, and Herman Earl.

POWERS, HORACE HENRY, of Morris- ville, son of Horace and Love E. (Gilman) Powers, was born on the 29th of May, 1835, in Morristown, a descendant of Walter Powers, who emigrated to this country in the early part of the 17th century.

He prepared for his college course by study in the People's Academy at Morris- town, entered the University of Vermont, and graduated therefrom in 1855. The two years immediately following his graduation were passed in teaching school at Hunting- don, Canada East, and in Hyde Park. During this period he began the study of law under the direction of Thomas Gleed of Morristown, and subsequently continued it under that of Child & Ferrin of Hyde Park. Admitted to the bar of Lamoille county in May, 1858, he settled in Hyde Park, and there practiced his profession until March, 1862. He then formed a law partnership with P. K. Gleed at Morrisville, and con- tinued with him until December, 1874, when he was elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court. Throughout the whole of these years his firm enjoyed a large and comparatively lucrative practice in the counties of Lamoille, Orleans, Caledonia, and Franklin. His pro- fessional standing was fully equal to that of the best in northern Vermont.

Independently of his high judicial posi- tion, Judge Powers has worthily and satis- factorily filled many other public offices. He represented Hyde Park in the Vermont Leg- islature of 1858, and had the distinction of being the youngest member of the House. In the session of 1872 he represented La- moille county in the Senate, served on the judiciary committee, and officiated as chair- man of the committee on railroads. In the years 1861 and 1862 he was state's attorney

H. HENRY POWERS.

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for Lamoille county. In 1869 he was mem- ber of the last Council of Censors, and in 1870 made his personal influence powerfully felt in the state Constitutional Convention which effected the change from annual to biennial sessions of the Legislature. He acted as chairman in committee of the whole. His sole connection with financial institutions is that of director of the Lamoille County National Bank, an office he has held since 1865.

In 1874 he represented Morristown, was chosen speaker of the House and received his first election to the bench. In 1890 Judge Powers was elected to the Fifty-second Congress from the first Vermont district, and in 1892 was chairman of the Vermont dele- gation to the Republican national conven- tion at Minneapolis, and was elected to the Fifty-third Congress.

As lawyer, legislator, or jurist, Judge Powers has always commanded the admira- tion of his fellow-citizens.

Judge Horace H. Powers was married Oct. 1I, 1858, to Caroline E., daughter of V. W. and Adeline Waterman of Morristown. Two children are the issue : Carrie L., and George M.

PRATT, DANIEL STEWART, of Brattle- boro, son of Rufus and Maria (Estabrook) Pratt, was born in Brattleboro, August 3, 1826. He is of Scotch and English de- scent. His namesake and maternal great- grandfather, Col. Daniel Stewart, was a soldier in the Revolutionary army in which he served as captain, and after his retire- ment to private life held many important positions. His grandfather, Maj. James Estabrook, was born at Warren, R. I., in 1775, came to Brattleboro with his parents when he was four years of age, and was both conspicuous and popular in the local militia, in which he obtained the rank of major.

The early boyhood of Daniel Stewart Pratt was spent upon a farm, and his educa- tion was received in the public schools of Brattleboro. From the age of fifteen to the time he attained his majority, he was em- ployed in the market established by his father in the town. He then entered as a clerk the store of Wheeler & Pratt, who did a general dry goods and grocery business, and continued in their service till the firm was dissolved in 1850. He then became a member of the firm of Pratt, Wheeler & Co., of which his brother, Lucius G., was the senior partner. This concern continued to do business most successfully for four years, doing a general dry goods, millinery and grocery trade, their sales the last year amounting to $100,000. At the expiration of the time of partnership, it became evi-

dent that a radical change must ensue in the manner of conducting their business, as the trade demanded that the different lines of goods should be carried in greater variety and in separate stocks. His brother, O. J. Pratt, assumed the dry goods and millinery department, which he has carried on for nearly thirty-five years, while the firm of I). S. Pratt & Co. conducted a custom and ready made clothing business. In 1860 this partnership was dissolved, and that of Pratt, Wright & Co. was formed, which con- tinued in the general clothing trade till 1873. In addition to the above lines of business Mr. Pratt has been extensively en- gaged in farming and the breeding of horses, Shorthorn cattle and Southdown sheep, and it is very doubtful if there is a man in the state who has received higher price's for his thoroughbred stock. The adjoining country has been much benefited by the large num- ber of fine animals which he has bred, and while his Shorthorn cattle have been largely

DANIEL STEWART PRATT.

sold to go South and West, he has even exported a few head to the mother country. He has the credit of selling to Robert Hal- loway of Illinois, the finest cow that ever stood in that state, while for one bull, which he owned in connection with the Messrs. Wins- low, he obtained the sum of $9000. Mr. Pratt was made chairman of the board of select- men in 1879, which was the year of the great freshet, when the bridges and roads in the town were nearly all destroyed, but under

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his energetic and skillful management they were repaired and rebuilt in the most sub stantial and satisfactory manner. He has been a director for the last thirty years in some bank in town, and at present is serv ing as one of the board of investment of the Vermont Savings Bank, where his counsel and advice are influential from his knowledge of the value of property in the West, where he has had a wide experience in the hand- ling of real estate, both for himself and other people. He became interested with others in the Vermont Live Stock Co. in 1884, and has filled the office of vice-president and president of this organization.

During the war Mr. Pratt rendered valua- ble service in recruiting Co. B, 16th Regt. Vt. Vols, several of the enlisted men receiv- ing substantial aid from him in obtaining their outfit, while he liberally contributed to the support of their families during their absence. Ile sent a paid substitute to the front, and after the close of the struggle was made quartermaster of the Ist Vt. Regt. of the National Guard, in which capacity he creditably served until honorably discharged. He has always been a staunch Republican, though declining all offers of political pre- ferment, as his tastes do not run in this direction.

Mr. Pratt was united in marriage Feb. 14, 1850, to Caroline Pamelia, daughter of Ed- mund and Betsey (Wright) Hoar of Bedford, Mass. Six children have been born to them : Charles Stewart (deceased), Edmund Rufus, Mary Alice, Carrie Maria (deceased), Jennie S. (deceased), and Walter Stewart.

PRAY, RUFUS M., of South Woodbury, son of Thomas and Polly ( King) Pray, was born in Calais, April 8, 1844.

His father's calling was that of a carpen- ter and joiner, who was a long time resident of the town, in the schools of which Rufus received his education. The latter, a mere lad of seventeen, did not resist the patriotic impulse that moved him to enter the ranks of the Union army, and enlisted in the 2d N. H. Regiment, which for three months garrisoned at old Fort Constitution on the seacoast of that state. On his journey home- wards, he stopped at St. Johnsbury, where Co. K, of Calais, 3d Regt. Vt. Vols. were engaged in their daily drill, and such was the enthusiasm of the young volunteer, that he at once re-enlisted without even bidding farewell to the loved ones at home or cross- ing the paternal threshold. Mr. Pray shared the fortunes of the gallant third in all its numerous engagements from Lewinsville and Lee's Mills, to the bloody battles of the Wilderness, where he was wounded in foot and forehead, and was sent to the S. A. Douglas hospital at Washington, from thence

transferred to the U. S. General Hospital at Montpelier, from which he boldly returned to active duty before his wounds were wholly healed. He then experienced the vicissi- tudes of Sheridan's Shenandoah campaign, and at Cedar Creek, while on the skirmish line, received a dangerous wound in his hip, which was traversed by a minie-ball. He was carried twelve miles in an army wagon to Sheridan Hospital, then sent to Frederick, Md., and later to Montpelier, where he re- ceived an honorable discharge after a gal- lant service of four years, one month and twenty-six days, during which time he was not excused from duty a single hour, except when wounded.

Since his return from the army, though for more than a year a cripple, he has been able to labor a little at his trade of carpen- ter and joiner, and to cultivate with effort a small farm.

Mr. Pray was married August 8, 1864, to Nellie A., daughter of David and Sabrina (Chase) Whitham of Woodbury. One child has been the fruit of this wedlock : Lillian M. (Mrs. Robert B. Tassie of Montpelier).

Mr. Pray is still a member of that party for whose political principles he fought and bled. He was appointed postmaster at South Woodbury, July 12, 1889, under President Harrison, and held that position till his resignation on being elected to the. Legislature of 1892 by an unusual majority. He was town treasurer in 1891-'92.

PRIME, MERRILL FOSTER, of Barton, son of Dr. Thomas M. and Amity (Paige) Prime, was born in Brome, P. Q., Sept. 26, 1859.

His earlier education was received in the schools and academy of Knowlton, Canada. After matriculating at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons in Toronto, he entered McGill Medical School, where he remained two years, till the spring of 1878. The fol- lowing fall he entered the University of the City of New York. From this institution he graduated in the spring of 1879. Returning to McGill he took his fourth year in special work, and the year following passed before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Montreal, receiving the degree of L. C. P. S. Dr. Prime, while in New York, took private lessons in diseases of women and physical diagnosis. He began practice with his father in Knowlton, P. Q. Early in 1882 he settled in Barton, where he has since re -. mained and built up a large and profitable practice.

He is a Democrat in his political faith, a member of the Episcopal church and also of the State Medical Society. Has been health officer for the town of Barton for three years. In August, 1893, he was ap-

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pointed pension examining surgeon for the Bureau at Newport.

He married, May 25, 1882, Cora A., daughter of Elbridge G. and Amanda ( Ball) Shaw, of Waterloo, P. Q. Their two chil- dren are : Lucile, and Hazel Winifred.

PRICHARD, JOHN B. W., of Bradford, was the son of George W. and Elizabeth (Pearson) Prichard, and was born in Brad- ford, Sept. 26, 1839.

His educational acquirements were limited to the town schools and a course of study at Bradford Academy.

He commenced his active life as clerk for his father, who was a merchant, and also served his brothers in a similar capacity.

When the slave-holding aristocracy at- tempted to secede from the Union, Mr. Prichard was a member of the noted Brad- ford Guards, a company of the Ist Vt. Regt., and accompanied them when they left the state at the outset of the struggle. He was present at the battle of Big Bethel, and was mustered out with the regiment upon their return from the field in August, 1861.

He was married, Jan. 21, 1862, to Orissa J., daughter of Sargent and Melissa (Green- lief) George. Two children have been the fruit of this union : Fred E., and Warren H.

When discharged from the service Mr. Prichard returned to Bradford and bought out his brother's stock and store, which he continued to carry on for three years. Then he went to Massachusetts and was engaged in trade until 1869, when he again returned to his birthplace and formed a partnership with Barron Hay to engaged in a general mercantile business, and this arrangement has lasted till the present time.

The esteem in which he is held as a busi- ness man may be inferred from the fact that he was elected town clerk in 1870, and with the exception of a single year he has been the incumbent of that office ever since. He has thrice been honored by the position of selectman and was elected as a Republican to represent Bradford in the state Legisla- ture in 1882.

Mr. Prichard has filled all the chairs of Charity Lodge, No. 43, and two terms has presided in the east. He was a charter member and has been adjutant and com- mander of Washburn Post, No. 17, G. A. R.

PROCTOR, REDFIELD, of Proctor, son of Jabez and Betsy (Parker) Proctor, was born in Proctorsville, June 1, 1831.

The American branch of the Proctor family springs from an excellent English stock. The first ancestor in this country was Robert Proctor, who as early as 1645 was living at Concord, Mass.

PROCTOR.

Redfield Proctor received an excellent preparatory education, and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1851. Three years later he received the degree of A. M. from the same venerable institution. Select- ing law as his profession, he pursued the pre- liminary studies at the Albany Law School in New York. After graduation in 1859 he was admitted to the New York bar at Albany, and also at Woodstock, Vermont. During a portion of the years 1860 and 1861 he practiced his profession in the office of his cousin, Judge Isaac F. Redfield, the eminent jurist, at Boston, Mass.

Upon the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861 he immediately returned to Vermont and enlisted in the 3d Vt. Regt., was com- missioned as lieutenant and quartermaster, and repaired to the front. In July of the same year he was appointed on the staff of Gen. William F. ("Baldy") Smith, and in Oc- tober was promoted and transferred to the 5th Vt. Vols., of which he was commissioned major. With this regiment he served nearly a year in the neighborhood of Washington and on the Peninsula. In October, 1862, Major Proctor was promoted to the colonelcy of the 15th Vt. Vols., and in the memor- able and decisive engagement at Gettysburg this command was stationed on the famous Cemetery Ridge during a part of the second day's struggle.

Redfield Proctor was married May 26, 1858, to Emily J., daughter of Hon. Salmon F. and Sarah J. Dutton of Cavendish. Five children, four of whom are living, are the issue of their union : Arabella G., Fletcher D., Emily D., and Redfield, Jr.

After his return to Vermont, Colonel Proc- tor established himself in Rutland, entering into law partnership with Wheelock G. Veazey, afterwards a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court, and now a member of the U. S. Interstate Commerce Commission. Thrown into the conduct of business matters in settling the affairs of a concern of which he had been appointed receiver, Colonel Proctor found that it was more to his taste to do things than to talk about them. The attraction that business life has for a man of pronounced executive ability soon withdrew him from active practice of law, and in 1869 he became manager for the Sutherland Falls Marble Co. In 1880 the Sutherland Falls and Rutland Marble companies were consolidated under the name of The Ver- mont Marble Co., with Governor Proctor as its president. Under his management this company enlarged and so increased its busi- ness as to become the largest concern of the kind in the world.

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Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont, Part 81

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896 Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 842

Author: Ullery, Jacob G., comp; Davenport, Charles H; Huse, Hiram Augustus, 1843-1902; Fuller, Levi Knight, 1841-1896
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Brattleboro, Vt. : Transcript Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 842