USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 88
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A man of so much energy could scarcely escape the responsibilities of public office, and as the natural consequence of his exec- utive ability he has been chosen to discharge the duties of constable, collector and deputy sheriff. He is a Republican, and was for five years assistant in the post-office, and postmaster, and was in 1890 elected repre- sentative from Topsham to the General As- sembly. He is now sheriff of Orange county.
Mr. Smith was married, June 17, 1877. to R. Augusta, daughter of James and Rachel
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( Anderson ) Perkins, of Boston, Mass. Their union has been blessed with a son and daughter : Bessie May, and Bradley P.
Sheriff Smith is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, 1. O. O. F., of Barre.
SMITH, CYRUS H., of Townline, son of Elisha and Ellen ( Whitford) Smith, was born in Addison, March 5, 1855. His education was obtained at the common schools of Ad- (lison, at Ft. Edward Institute, Fort Edward, N. Y., and at the Vermont Methodist Sem inary at Montpelier. But more important than this school training was that of kindly discipline, regularity and self-culture, which he received in the home circle. Always taught to regard the interests of business rather than the pursuits of idle pleasure, the result of the inculcation of these principles has rendered Mr. Smith one of the leading farmers and most energetic business men in his native town. He is both intelligent and conservative and strictly attend's to his own private affairs. He has especially devoted himself to the breeding of Merino sheep and now owns an excellent flock. He is some- what interested in horses and advocates the raising of the Black Hawk-Morgan breed as best suited to the wants of the community.
He was wedded in Bridport, Jan. 31, 1877, to Alma E., daughter of John O. and Char- lotte (Sanford) Hamilton. Their marriage has been blessed with four children : Mary H., Carroll C., Mabel E., and Herman E.
Mr. Smith is a strong Republican, and, although a comparatively young man, has been called upon to fill many of the town offices, including selectman, auditor, lister, and justice of the peace, and at present is serving as one of the school directors of the town. He is a progressive and substantial citizen.
SMITH, ELISHA, of Townline, son of Hiram and Anna (Starkweather) Smith, was born in Bridport, Dec. 1, 1828. His grand- father, Nathan Smith, was one of the earliest settlers of Bridport. He was twice taken prisoner in the war and carried to Canada, but made his escape each time, and after many perilous adventures and great priva- tions, finally succeeded in reaching the town of Pittsford.
Elisha Smith received his primary educa- tion at the common schools of Bridport, followed by a course of study at the acade- mies of Williston and Bakersfield, obtaining what was considered at that time a liberal education.
He was married in Panton, Dec. 18, 1851, to Ellen Whitford ; four children have been issue of this union : Anna L. (Mrs. Edward T. Gough, of Addison), Cyrus H., Benjamin IV., and Cora E.
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After his marriage he moved from Brid- port, and settled on one of the lake farms in Addison county, and, in 1864, he pur- chased and made his home upon the estate which he now possesses in the valley of Lake Champlain, where he devotes his at- tention to general farming, stock raising and wool growing.
Mr. Smith is one of the sturdy representa- tive yeomen of the state, never seeking office or personal distinction, but a strict man of business and true worth, one hon- ored and respected, who despises the profes- sional politician. He originally belonged to the old whig party, but joined the ranks of the Republicans in 1856. He was select- man during the crisis of the civil war and represented Addison in the state Legislature in 1872, serving as chairman of the com- mittee on mileage and debentures. For many years he has been a believer in the efficacy of the law of prohibition. He be- longs to no secret societies, and though he has not lived for the sake of show or distinction, is very influential in his town and county.
SMITH, EMERY L., of Barre, son of Alvin and Susan (Lewis) Smith, was born in Northfield, Oct. 11, 1842.
His mother died in his early boyhood and the family was broken up in consequence of this sad loss, but Emery was fortunate enough to find a comfortable home in the household of Mr. Joseph Gold, of Roxbury. He ap- plied himself diligently to labor on the farm, receiving in the intervals of toil such instruc- tion as the common schools afforded, and after his return from his military service he managed to attend two terms at the Orange county grammar school at Randolph.
Before he had arrived at his majority he list- ened to the call of patriotic duty and enrolled himself a member of Co. G, 6th Vt. Vols., and before his first year of active service had expired, was taken prisoner and sent to Rich- mond where he languished in captivity some months, was then paroled and immediately re- joined his comrades. With this exception and a brief service as recruiting officer, on which he was detached as a mark of appreciation of his meritorious conduct, he was constantly at the front during his term of service of three years.
Mr. Smith was married, Oct. 11, 1866, to. Mary, daughter of Eliphalet and Lucy (Par- ker) Hewitt, who bore him four children : Alice L., and Corrie A., then twins who died in early infancy. Mrs. Smith died Nov. 22, 1875. He married Martha, daughter of Clark and Emily (Carter) Day, April 12, 1887, by whom he has had one child : Harry D. (deceased).
When Mr. Smith removed to Barre, for more than a year he worked for his father -.
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in-law, Eliphalet Hewitt, who was the pion- eer stone cutter of the place, but in the spring of 1868 he began business on his own account, and has continued till the present time a stone cutter and granite dealer, hav- ing during that period been a partner in several firms. He was the first to quarry granite in the winter season, also to use a permanent derrick, for which he invented a special capstone to increase the power. He was first to see the advantages of the steam drill and the electric battery, and introduced their use. His present partners are John E. and Donald Smith, and the firm possesses one of the best plants in New England, employing a large number of men.
Mr. Smith is a man of independent polit- ical convictions and has the courage to live up to them. Of late he has acted with the Democratic party. He has been village bailiff, is a public-spirited citizen who has always predicted a prosperous future for the town of Barre, and does his utmost to real- ize his anticipations. When he came here there were about a dozen men engaged in quarrying and stone-cutting, but now in its various branches there are a hundred firms, employing a working force of over eighteen hundred laborers.
For nearly thirty years Mr. Smith has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he is also a member of R. B. Crandall Post, No. 56, G. A. R., of Barre. He joined many years ago the Knights of Honor, and still continues to affiliate with that society.
SMITH, FREDERIC ELIJAH, of Mont- pelier, son of Elijah and Anna ( Robertson) Smith, was born in Northfield, June 1I, 1830. His grandfather served in Thomas Barney's Co., in Col. Ira Allen's regiment during the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Frederic Smith pursued his studies in the common schools until sixteen years of age, then entering Newbury Seminary, graduated from that institution, and in IS4S became a clerk in Loomis & Camp's dry goods store in Montpelier. In IS53 he established himself in Montpelier as a drug- gist, which occupation he was pursuing with great success when the civil war broke out. Leaving the concern in charge of his clerks he entered the service of his country, to which he had been summoned by Gov. Erastus Fairbanks to take charge of the arming, equipping and subsistence of the 6th Regt. Vt. Vols. With this regiment he was sent by the Governor to the front in order to settle with several quartermasters who had left the state with their accounts un- adjusted. While in discharge of this duty he was, Nov. 23, 1861, appointed quartermaster of the 8th Vt. Vols., and immediately re- turned to commence his new duties, assist-
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ing Col. Stephen Thomas in enlisting men, and afterwards taking charge of them while rendezvoused at Brattleboro. He accom- panied the regiment which had been ordered to join the command of Major-General But- ler to Ship Island, and later to New Orleans. Soon afterwards he was stationed at Algiers, on the west side of the Mississippi, where he was post quartermaster, and made provost judge by appointment of the department commander. He next served as commissary of subsistence on the staff of Gen. Godfrey Weitzel in the department of the Gulf, till December, 1863, providing for the army in the field during all of its marches till they finally arrived at Port Hudson.
After the war he returned to Montpelier where he engaged in mercantile pursuits till 1869, when he moved to New York, where he remained for three years. In 1872 he returned to Montpelier, where he became
FREDERIC ELIJAH SMITH.
engaged in manufacturing, establishing fac- tories in different towns, and having stores in several places in the United States.
Mr. Smith was married, Oct. 12, 1852, to Abba Morrill, daughter of Nathan and Bet- sey (Dole) Hale of Danville. Three sons were the issue of this union : two died in infancy, the third, Walter Joseph, was born May 9, 1862, and died May 9, ISSI, one whose bright and lovely youth had given promise of a noble manhood.
Colonel Smith is now president of the Watchman Publishing Co .; of the Mont-
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pelier Pubhe Library (from its foundation ) ; the Colby Wringer Co., of Montpelier ; the Maplewood huprovement Co., of Tennesee ; and of the board of trustees of the Diocese of Vermont ; he is vice president of the First National Bank of Montpelier ; of the Ver- mont Mutual Fire Insurance Co. ; and the Bowers Granite Co. ; a director in the Na- tional Life Insurance Co., and a member of its finance committee ; in the Vermont Quarry Co., and in the Wetmore & Morse Granite Co. Colonel Smith was for four years prior to 1891, president of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Co., an office which the pressure and importance of private inter- ests compelled him to resign. Since the war Colonel Smith has maintained in the Grand Army of the Republic and Loyal Legion his military associations, and for many years has been secretary of the Vermont Officers Reunion Society. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
He has always taken a deep interest in the educational interests of the state, and is a trustee of the Norwich University and Wash- ington county grammar school, and was for some years president of the Montpelier school board. He has long been junior warden of Christ Episcopal Church in Mont- pelier, a trustee of the Vermont Episcopal Institute, Bishop Hopkins' Hall, a member of the board of investment of the aged and infirm clergy fund, and has been a delegate to the triennial conventions of his church in New York and Baltimore.
In 1876 he was appointed aid to Gov- ernor Fairbanks with the rank of colonel, and in 1886 and 1888 served two terms as a senator for Washington county. In 1892 he was made delegate-at-large to the Republi- can National Convention at Minneapolis.
SMITH, MYRON W., of Fairlee, son of Grant and Rebecca (Swift) Smith, was born in Fairlee, July 26, 1834.
His educational advantages were limited to the common schools of Fairlee and Thet- ford, but he has always been a most diligent and judicious reader of books, and may fairly lay claim to the title of a self educated man. The cares of the family devolved upon him at nineteen years of age on account of the death of his father, compelling him to forego his cherished desire to obtain a liberal edu- cation. From 1850 to 1868 he lived in Thetford, but since the last date he has passed his time upon his farm in Fairlee, de- voting himself to the congenial employment of an agriculturist, to reading and to the dis- charge of the many official duties which his appreciative fellow-townsmen have intrusted to his charge.
Mr. Smith has acted with the Republican party from the time of Fremont to the ad-
ministration of Benjamin Harrison. He has, at varions times, held many of the offices in his town, acting for nine consecutive years as superintendent of schools. He was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature in 1886 and again in 1890; in both these bodies earnestly advocating reform in the in- terest of equal taxation.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage, Dec. 28, 1859, to Anna A., daughter of Johona- than and Mary (Colcord) Bryant. The grandfather, Daniel Bryant, served for three years in the Revolutionary war. Their union has been blessed with two children : Irving G. and Carrie M.
The great-grandfather (Swift) on the mother's side, was also a soldier of the Revo- lution for several years and a United States pensioner.
Several generations of this family have made their name a synonym for bravery and patriotism. David Smith, in the eighth gen- eration, emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled in New Boston, N. H., where he was taken prisoner by the Indians, but set a neighbor and himself free from two Indian guards the first night by a sudden act of des- perately determined bravery. The grand- father of Mr. Smith was commissioned cap- tain of the Fairlee militia in 1778, and served as a minute man, also as scout in the Cham- plain Valley. Grant Smith, though exempt from military service by reason of his offi- cial position, went with the Fairlee company at the time of the battle of Plattsburg. New- ton W., a younger brother, died in the United States service Feb. 5, 1864, a member of the 3d Vt. Battery, Light Artillery. Myron W. enlisted in Company A, 15th Regt., Col. Redfield Proctor, in 1862, served his time, and was mustered out with his regiment. He is a charter member of the original and also of the reorganized Washburn Post, No. 17, G. A. R., and was also a member of Val- ley Grange P. of H. of Fairlee. He has been an active member of the Congregational So- ciety and church for many years.
SMITH, WALTER PERRIN, of St. Johns- bury, son of John S. and Sophronia M. (Perrin) Smith, was born in Hardwick, Nov. 4, 184I.
Judge Smith prepared for college at the Hardwick and Morrisville academies and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1867. He studied law at the University of Michigan and with Powers & Gleed at Mor- risville, and was admitted to the Lamoille county bar at the May term, 1869. The fol- lowing autumn he removed to St. Johnsbury and formed a partnership with Hon. Jona- than Ross. He continued the practice of his profession until elected to the office of judge of probate for the district of Cale-
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donia in 1882, which position he now holds. He was state's attorney for Caledonia county from 1874 to 1876; represented the town of St. Johnsbury in the Legislature of 1880, and has been superintendent of schools. He was for several years a director in the Merchants National Bank of St. Johnsbury ; is at present a director in the First National Bank, and a trustee and one of the board of investors in the Passumpsic Savings Bank, and president of Carrick Bros. Granite Co.
WALTER PERRIN SMITH.
August 15, 1876, he was married to Miss Susan A. Holbrook of Lyndon, daughter of Dr. Perley R. and Louise M. (Lawrence) Holbrook, and they have one son : Robert H.
In politics he has always been a Republi- can, and in religious faith a Congregationalist.
SPAFFORD, HENRY W., of Rutland, son of William H. and Eliza (Rumrill) Spaf- ford, was born in Weathersfield, Nov. 2, 1840.
He received his education in the district schools of his native town and Cavendish, and in Springfield Seminary and Chester Academy. At the outset of his active life he was employed as station agent at Danby, and North Bennington.
Enlisting in Co. A, 4th Regt. Vt. Vols., Sept. 4, 1861, he was promoted to commis- sary sergeant, and after being confined in a rebel prison in Richmond for seven months he was mustered out of service, at the expira- tion of his three-years' enlistment, at Brattle-
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boro. He again sought service in the same regiment, was promoted to ist Lieut. and quartermaster, and appointed a member of the staff of Gen. George P. Foster, and Gen. Lewis A. Grant. He was acting quarter- master of the Vermont Brigade during the last part of its service, and when the com- mand left the field for Vermont, he was again mustered out with his regiment at Burlington.
Soon after the close of the war he was employed as bookkeeper in the large hide and leather house of Lapham & Clarendon in New York City, but impaired eyesight caused by exposure in the army compelled him to give up his position. On Jan. 16, 1867, he again entered the service of the Bennington and Rutland Railway Co. as sta- tion agent at North Bennington. He was successively promoted to general freight agent and to general passenger agent, both of which offices he holds at the present time.
HENRY W, SPAFFORD.
Mr. Spafford was married, Oct. 5, 1864, to Mattie E., daughter of William and Fanny (Spring) Kingsbury, of Chester. Mrs. Spaf- ford died June 3, 1877, leaving four children. He was again married, Dec. 5, 1879, to Lydia Ella, daughter of Jared and Almira ( Eaton) Marsh, of Chester, of which union there are five children.
Mr. Spafford lived in North Bennington from January, 1867, until April, 1882, when he removed to Rutland, where he now resides.
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SPEAR, VICTOR 1., of Braintree, son of Jacob A. and Caroline ( Flint ) Spear, was born in Braintree, Sept. 20, 1852.
Ilis preparatory education was received in the schools of Braintree and at the West Randolph Academy. He then entered Dart- month College, where he pursued the usual course of study, and was graduated with the degree of B. S. from that institution in 1874.
VICTOR 1. SPEAR.
Having a strong natural aptitude for mathematics, he ardently desired to adopt the profession of a civil engineer, but yield- ing to the wishes of his parents, after some time spent in the profession of teaching, he returned to the paternal farm. Here, in connection with his father, he has combined various branches of business with farming and stock raising, their specialty being registered Merino sheep, of which they usually keep about two hundred. In 1884 he began the business of shipping sheep to Montana, and the venture proving successful, he has sent one or more carloads of sheep annually to that locality. He usually purchases on com- mission from fifty to one hundred thousand pounds of wool every year, and is quite an extensive land owner. He is also engaged in the manufacture and sale of orchard pro- ducts.
He was united in marriage Dec. 29, 1886, to Mrs. Abbie M. Davis, daughter of Lieut. James and Maria E. (Slack) Welch, of Randolph.
STANLEY.
He is a strong Republican, and as such represented Braintree in 1880, and was chosen a senator from Orange county in 1886. Four years later he was appointed by Governor Page a member of the board of agriculture, and discharged his duties with great devotion and efficiency, acting as secretary in the laborious task of collecting statistics of the unemployed resources of the state. He was reappointed to the board in 1892, chosen statistical secretary, and prepared the illustrated booklet on Vermont, of which 40,000 copies were distributed from the Vermont building at the Column- bian Exposition, Chicago. He secured re- turns of dairying, sheep husbandry and maple sugar products in the state for 1892, and has in charge the general matter of col- lecting statistics and publishing lists of un- occupied real estate that is on the market.
Mr. Spear is well and favorably known throughout the state, and was a prominent candidate for Governor before the Republi- can state convention in 1892. He is a gen- tleman of unassuming manners, undoubted integrity and excellent judgment, combined with genuine public spirit and quite exten- sive experience of men and affairs.
STANLEY, ALBERT E., of Leicester, son of Silas W. and Electa (Eastman) Stan- ley, was born in Leicester, June 4, 1833.
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ALBERT E. STANLEY.
His education commenced in the common schools in Leicester. At an early age he
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went to Haverhill, Mass., where he lived during his minority, enjoying the benefits of the grammar and high schools of that noted town. He contemplated a collegiate career, and entered Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, N. H., to complete his preparatory course. Failing health not permitting him to carry out his intention, he returned to Leicester, where he has since resided. For thirty-six years he has been clerk and treas- urer of the town, and for twelve years was postmaster. For thirty-five years he has been an active and efficient agent of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Co., and for ten years secretary and treasurer of the Queen City Park Association, while he is constantly acting as administrator in the settlement of important estates.
As a Republican he represented Leicester in the Legislature of 1872, and was the only member of the county who received the compliment of a re-election in 1874. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1882, and was chosen a member of the Senate from Addison county in 1886, and served on the special committee on the division of Rutland. He was also chairman of the committee on the insane as well as a mem- ber of the general committee and the joint committee on the library.
In his doctrinal belief Mr. Stanley is a Spiritualist in the proper sense of that word, though holding no less the essential tenets of the Unitarian faith. He has widely lectured upon religious themes and performs accept- able service on funeral occasions throughout the state.
June 3, 1860, he was united in marriage to Ada, daughter of Simeon and Amanda McCanon, of Bennington, N. Y. Two sons have been the offspring of this union : Ned A., and Fred D., both located in New Bed- ford, Mass .- one a dentist, the other an attorney-at-law.
STANTON, ZED S., of Roxbury, son of George B. and Lucretia (Sulloway) Stan- ton, was born in Roxbury, May 1, 1848.
After attending the district schools of the vicinity he pursued a course of study in the Northfield graded school. He afterwards worked on the railroad, then taught school and while teaching resolved to adopt the law as his profession and enrolled himself as a student in the offices of A. R. Savage and Frank Plumley of Northfield, and subse- quently in the office of L. L. Durant of Montpelier. He was admitted to the bar of the Washington county court, March 15, 1880. In 1882 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court, and in the U. S. Cir- cuit Court in 1892.
Since 1873 with the exception of one year Judge Stanton has continuously held town
office, and has occupied the positions of selectman, lister, agent, constable, moder- ator, superintendent of schools and school director and trustee. He represented Rox- bury in the General Assembly during the sessions of 1884 and 1886 and in legislative work and debate became a leading member.
ZED S. STANTON.
In 1884 and 1886 he was elected an assist- ant judge of Washington county court and has since 1890 served most efficiently as state's attorney for Washington county, which office he still holds.
Judge Stanton was married, May 31, 1880, to Mrs. Jennie S. (Smith) Walbridge of Rox- bury. They have one child : Jessie Lu- cretia.
START, HENRY R., of Bakersfield, son of Simeon Gould and Mary Sophia ( Barnes) Start, was born in Bakersfield, Dec. 28, 1845.
He was educated in the common schools and in Bakersfield and Barre academies, and served in the army as a member of Co. A, 3d Regt. Vt. Vols.
After the close of the war he studied law. and was admitted to the Franklin county bar in April, 1867, and began practice the same year in Bakersfield. From 1876 to 1878 Mr. Start was state's attorney for Franklin county. Forming a partnership with A. P. Cross, of St. Albans, he retained his residence in Bakersfield, and the firm of Cross & Start had a large practice. The active conduct of the trial of cases largely
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tell on Mr. Start, and when he was elevated to the bench it was at once noted that his wide experience as a trial lawyer had given him good preparation for the right conduct of trials as presiding judge in the county conIlS.
In 1880 Mr. Start was elected a senator from Franklin county, and served on the judiciary committee and as chairman of the joint standing committee on the reform school. From 1886 to 1888 he was one of the trustees of the Vermont reform school, and was, the last-named year, one of the pres- idential electors who cast the vote of Ver- mont for Harrison and Morton.
In 1890 he was elected representative from Bakersfield, and at the beginning of the session of that year was chosen speaker of the House of Representatives, and at its close was without opposition elected fifth assistant judge of the Supreme Court. His service on the bench, which he continues by unanimous re-election in 1892, has com- mended itself to the entire bar of the state as excellent judicial work.
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