USA > Vermont > Men of Vermont : an illustrated biographical history of Vermonters and sons of Vermont > Part 99
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Mr Alford is a Republican, and since his residence in Brooklyn has been chairman of the Ward Association, member of the gen- eral committee, and a liberal supporter of his party.
He is a member and one of the deacons of the Central Congregational Church of Brooklyn ; a member of the Congregational
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Club, the Sons of Temperance ; for twenty years a member of the directory of the Y. M. C. A. ; a director of the Congregational Church Building Society, and of the City Mission and Tract Society, and president of the Mercantile Benefit Association. He isa prominent Mason and Odd Fellow ; was treasurer of the Amateur Rifle Club during its existence, and a life member of the National Rifle Association, out of which was organized the American Rifle Team, which distinguished itself at Dollymount, Wimble- don and Creedmoor.
Mr. Afford was united in marriage at Ber- nardston, Mass., Feb. 1, 1860, to Chloe Cor- nelia, daughter of Henry and Sylvina A. ( Hale ) Slate. Mrs. Alford is an active Christian worker, and is treasurer of the National N. P. W. C. T. U., and for many years was the publisher of the official organ of the W. C. T. U., Our Union, now the Union Signal, and at present publisher of the Temperance Tribune.
Since the foregoing was written Mr. Alford has retired from business, and has taken up his residence at Bernardston, Mass., where he has a comfortable country home.
ALFORD, ALBERT GALLATIN, of Balti- more, Md., son of Ammi and Clarissa G. (White) Alford, was born at St. Albans, Oct. 14, 1847, and afterwards removed to Water- ville.
Death breaking up his parents' home while he was yet a boy, Mr. Alford was thrown upon his own resources, having had only the advantages of the village schools. After a short time spent in the American Hotel at Burlington he went to New Haven, Conn., to learn a trade. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the U. S. Engineer Corps at New Haven, Feb. 21, 1865, and served three years, having been promoted an artificer. A taste for military life has always been fostered; and while living in Chicago in 1874, he enlisted in Ist Regt. Ill. N. G., and was rapidly promoted, holding a lieutenant's commission at the time of his resignation when he moved to Baltimore ; and from 1886 to 1893 held the office of captain, ordnance officer and inspector of rifle practice in Ist Regt., Md. N. G.
In business life he early became connected with the great firm of gun manufacturers, E. Remington & Sons, and from 1874 to 1883 was their manager of the arms department in Chicago and later general manager of their entire business in Baltimore, when in 1883 he established the great sporting goods house now known as the A. G. Alford Sporting Goods Co.
Mr. Alford has occupied a leading part in social organizations and societies. From the George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., of Chica-
go, he was transferred to Custer Post, No. 6, of Maryland, in 1879, in which post he served as commander ; also as assistant inspector general ; two terms on commander-in-chief's staff; junior vice-department commander of Maryland in 1882 ; and has served continu- ously as department and national officer from 1880 to 1891 in positions mentioned, and also as chief mustering officer and A. D. C. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W. and U. S. Benevolent Fraternity ; of the latter he is one of the supreme officers.
ALBERT GALLATIN ALFORD.
Mr. Alford has never sought political pre- ferment, but has always been a Republican, and in 1893 was the unanimous choice of the Republicans of his ward for first branch city council, and although this ward was over five hundred Democratic the year previous, was defeated by only thirty-three votes.
In 1886 he married Clara Augusta, daugh- ter of William T. and Margaret Robinson, of Baltimore, and has two daughters : Delia R. and Bessie P. Mrs. Alford is the depart- ment treasurer of the Women's Relief Corps, and one of the organizers of the department.
ALLEN, JOHN CLAYTON, of Lincoln, Neb., son of John H. Allen, was born in Hinesburg, Feb. 14, 1860.
He received his early education at Hines- burg Academy and graduated from the New Haven Academy, when he associated himself with his father in the lumber and harness busi- ness in his native town and there continued
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until 1881. Removing to Lincoln, Neb., in March, 1881, he entered the wholesale grocery house of Raymond Bros. & Co., representing that firm in southwestern Nebraska and east- ern Colorado, where he remained until 1886. In that year, Mr. Allen entered into business on his own account at McCook, Red Willow county, Neb., and built up one of the largest wholesale and retail general merchandise houses in southwestern Nebraska, which he continued until 1892.
JOHN CLAYTON ALLEN.
Politically, Mr. Allen has held true to his early training and is a member of the Repub- lican party. He was elected a councilman in the city of McCook in the fall of 1886, and served two terms of two years each, being president of the council during the en- tire term of his incumbency and acting mayor for six months, resigning that office at the time of his election as secretary of state. In 1890, he was nominated by the Republican state convention for the office of secretary of state, and was elected over four other con- testants with a plurality of 3,800.
In 1892 he was renominated by acclama- tion by the Republican state convention for a second term, and was elected by 21,209 plurality votes over four others. Mr. Allen has always been regarded as one of the stanchest Republicans and one of the best informed politicians of Nebraska, and natur- ally has a large following. He is looked upon as a representative of the business in- terests of Nebraska, and he has always
ALLEN.
enjoyed the confidence and support of the business men irrespective of political opinion.
He is a member of Willow Grove Lodge, No. 42, K. of P., McCook, Neb., and a member of the Commercial Pilgrims of America.
Mr. Allen was united in marriage, in August, 1881, to Abbie Stapleford of Ver- mont, Ill., a niece of ex-Attorney General C. J. Dilworth of Nebraska. The issue of this marriage is : Ralph C., born Sept. 1, 1883.
ALLEN, JOHN CLARENCE, of Brooklyn, N. Y., son of Rufus C. and Sabrina (York) Allen, was born July 28, 1848, at Wallingford. Mr. Allen is from an ancestry distinguished in religious constancy. His mother and her
JOHN CLARENCE ALLEN.
ancestors for generations were Baptists ; while his father and mother were active Christians from their youth, and sang to- gether in church for thirty-five years. Love of music and skill in it are family charac- teristics, no less than church work. Mr. Allen's sister Fanny is the wife of T. J. Whitaker of Brooklyn.
He was educated at the Wallingford high school and Black River Academy at Ludlow, and was graduated with highest oratorical and other honors at Madison (now Colgate) University at Hamilton, N. Y., in 1874. Mr. Allen entered upon his first pastorate in Newark, N. J., in 1875. Success crowned his efforts. Following this work he served
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the First Church ( Baptists) of Elizabeth, N. J., for five and a half years, performing loyal work, baptizing many and raising the church. The earnest call of the Hanson Place Baptist Church drew Mr. Allen 10 Brooklyn. Here his tireless devotion and energy found wide scope. During the somn- mer and fall of 1885 he remodelled the main audience room and erected lecture and Sunday school rooms, fitting them with es- sential modern appliances for church work. In the first year of the pastorate the entire church debt was pledged and paid off, amounting to $40,000. During Mr. Allen's ministry thus far he has baptized over five hundred souls, and has been the means of securing over $125,000 for the use of the Baptist denomination, and has borne an honorable part in the formation and work of the Brooklyn Baptist Extension Society.
His activity in temperance and other re- form work has been highly commendable. At the national Prohibition convention, at Cincinnati, in 1892, he was a delegate. To many social organizations he has lent his earnest support and membership. Among them are the Phi Beta Kappa Society of New York ; the American Institute of Civ- ics ; Metropolitan Museum of Art ; Brook- lyn Baptist Social Union ; Brooklyn Society of Vermonters ; and the New York Alumni Association of Colgate University, of which he is president.
Mr. Allen was married in 1874 to Julia I., daughter of Rev. Charles T. and Irene (Buell) Johnson.
ANNIS, JERE WRIGHT, of Osage, Iowa, son of A. W. and Laura (Hodgkin) Annis, was born in Westfield, Jan. 22, 1844.
He received his education at the district schools of his native town and the Westfield Academy.
Upon attaining his majority he removed to Osage, Iowa, and there formed a partner- ship with E. O. Hitchcock in the mercantile business, which was successfully conducted until 1868, when he formed a partnership with Judge Hitchcock and J. H. Johnson, and conducted a large hardware business under the firm name of Johnson & Annis, which was continued until 1885, when he re- ceived the appointment of assistant cashier of the Osage National Bank, which was fol- lowed in 1891 by his promotion to the posi- tion of cashier, a position he still holds, as well as a directorship in the same institution.
Politically Mr. Annis has affiliated with the Republican party, and at the hands of his party was honored by an election to the mayoralty of Osage in 1881, and again in 1893, being the present mayor. He is pre- sident of the Osage Board of Trade, presi- dent of the Mitchell County Farmers' Mutual
Fire Insurance Company and Agricultural Society.
He is a member of Osage Lodge, No. 102, F. & A. M., and Osage Chapter, No. 36, and is Eminent Commander of Coeur de Leon Commandery, No. 19.
JERE WRIGHT ANNIS.
Mr. Annis was united in marriage Nov. 24, 1864, at Westfield, to Lucia S., daughter of Hiram and Harriet Hitchcock. Four child- ren have blessed this union : Franklin W., Fanny, Laura L., and Homer B.
ARTHUR, CHESTER A., late President of the United States, was born in Fairfield, Oct. 5, 1830, the son of Rev. Dr. William Arthur. The educational an- tecedents and scholarly tastes of Dr. Arthur induced him to give his elder son, Chester A., a thorough course of in- struction in the best schools of Union Village and Schenec- tady, N. Y. Classical preparation for college he made his own especial care, and with such success that the future President was fitted for
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matriculation at Union College when only fif- teen years old. Honorably graduating with the class of 1848, young Arthur selected the profession of law for his future activities, and began the requisite studies in Fowler's Law School at Ballston Spa. In 1853 he re- paired to the city of New York, entered the law office of ex-Judge E. D. Culver, was ad- mitted to the bar in the same year, and com- menced professional practice.
Mr. Arthur's earliest opportunity of legal distinction was in connection with the fa- mous slave case of Jonathan Lemmon of Vir- ginia. Lemmon had attempted to carry eight slaves through New York on his way to Texas. His right to do this was disputed on the ground that they were free because of his voluntarily bringing them into free ter- ritory. The case was tried on a case of habeas corpus before Judge Payne who ordered the slaves to be released. The judge affirmed that they could neither be held to servitude in New York, nor relegated to slavery under the provisions of the fugitive slave act. The Supreme Court of New York sustained his decision, as did the Court of Appeals. Not less honorable to Mr. Arthur was the defence of the legal rights of the colored people in 1856, when he was coun- sel for Lizzie Jennings, a colored girl who had been forcibly ejected from a street car after she had paid her fare. A verdict against the company was obtained.
Mr. Arthur's genius was naturally inclined to the science and art of politics-in the true sense of that much abused phrase. His first active associations were with the Henry Clay Whigs. Of the Saratoga convention, which founded the Republican party in New York, he was a member. Military affairs also in- terested him. Prior to the outburst of the secessionist rebellion he held the office of judge-advocate of the second brigade of the state militia. Under Governor Morgan he was raised, in 1860, to the position of engin- eer-in-chief of the staff. Subsequently he was made inspector-general, and next quar- termaster-general of the state militia. This latter office he held until the close of Gov- ernor Morgan's magistracy in 1863. In per- formance of his official functions he equipped, supplied and forwarded the immense number of troops demanded from his state. Intelli- gent, sagacious, vigorous and always incor- ruptible, his military administration was notably brilliant and successful.
General Arthur returned to legal practice in 1863. His business was largely that of collecting claims against the government. In legislative affairs he was also greatly in- fluential. Many important enactments were drafted by him, and to his labors their adoption at Albany and Washington was mainly due. For a brief period he acted as
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counsel of the New York board of commis- sioners. In local politics he soon became an efficient factor. By President Grant he was appointed collector of customs at the port of New York on the 20th of November, 1871. A second appointment to the same office followed in 1875, and was at once con- firmed by the Senate, without the customary formality of reference to a committee. Dif- ficulties between himself and President Hayes occurred in 1877, in consequence of an order issued by the latter, which pro- hibited persons in the civil service of the general government from personal activity in political management. This injunction was specially onerous on General Arthur, who was then chairman of the Republican central committee of New York City, and also on Naval Officer A. B. Cornell, who was chairman of the state central committee. Both refused to comply, and both were sus- pended from office in July, 1878. The suc- cessor to General Arthur, appointed after his suspension, was confirmed in the ensuing session of the United States Senate. A previous attempt to effect Arthur's removal had failed, through refusal on the part of the Senate to confirm the nominee of President Hayes. No official dereliction could be detected by either of two special committees who investigated the administration of the office. The probity of his official acts was unquestionable, and was freely acknowledged by the superiors who sought to oust him from office. The public desired his reten- tion. All the judges of the New York courts, most of the leading members of the bar, and nearly all the mercantile importers in the city signed a petition asking that he might be continued in office. But he himself sup- pressed the petition. The only accusation against him was that he had disregarded the President's injunction to refrain, in com- mon with all civil servants of the public, from active political management. In a letter addressed to Secretary Sherman he showed that during the six years of his administration as collector at New York he had removed only two and three-fourths per cent. of the whole number of subordinate officials, while the percentage of removals under his three immediate predecessors average no less than 28 per cent. He also showed that in ninety-seven out of one hun- dred appointments to important positions, having a salary of $2,000 or more, he had raised the incumbents from the lower grades of the service on the recommendation of the heads of the several bureaus. His fidelity to the best interests of the public could scarcely have been more apparent.
Returning to private life, General Arthur again resumed the practice of law in the city of New York. He also zealously guided the
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movements of his political associates, and assisted in the nomination and election of Mı. A. B. Cornell to the gubernatorial chair of the state. He and Roscoe Conkling were closely allied in the effort to secure the nom- ination of General Grant to a third term in the presidency of the national Republican convention held at Chicago in 1880. Their lack of success, singularly enough, prepared the way for his own nomination to the vice- presidency. James A. Garfield was selected for the national chief magistracy, and Chester A. Arthur for the second position. The latter was nominated by acclamation. In the exciting canvass that followed he was one of the principal managers. In his own state, as chairman of the Republican central committee, he was particularly effective. His presidency of the Senate of the United States, during the special session which began the 4th of March, 1881, was charac- terized by great personal dignity. In the contest between President Garfield and U. S. Senator Conkling over civil appointments in the state of New York, and particularly over the nomination of Judge William H. Robertson to the collectorship of New York, he declined to participate. He did, how- ever, in harmony with that faithfulness to private friendships, which was one of his most conspicuous and attractive traits, re- pair to Albany after the New York senators had resigned, in order to co-operate in their re-election. While the issue was yet unde- termined, President Garfield was assassi- nated. The pistol of Guiteau prevented further electioneering in behalf of Mr. Conk- ling. General Arthur was overwhelmed by the deepest grief over the terrible tragedy.
The death of President Garfield was an- nounced to General Arthur by telegraph at New York. The members of the cabinet expressed the wish that he would repair to Long Branch on the following morning. This he did. But before his departure, and in harmony with the advice of his friends, he took the oath of office as President of the United States in his own house, about 2 a. m. of September 20, before one of the judges of the Supreme Court of New York. From Long Branch he accompanied the remains of his deceased predecessor to Washington. There he was formally sworn into office be- fore the chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on the 22d of Septem- ber, and briefly stated his own appreciation of the grave possibilities devolved upon him. His first official act on the same day was to proclaim a day of general mourning for the lamented Garfield. A special session of the Senate was convoked, to begin on the 10th of October, for the purpose of choosing a presiding officer and of confirming such ap- pointments as might be submitted. The
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members of the cabinet were requested to retain their portfolios until the regular meet- ing of Congress in December. All of them consented to do so with the exception of Secretary Windom of the Treasury Depart- ment, who insisted on resigning in order that he might become a candidate for the Senate from Minnesota. Ex.Gov. E. D. Morgan, of New York, was nominated and promptly confirmed as his successor. On the declinture of the latter gentleman to serve, Chief Judge Folger, of the New York Court of Appeals, was chosen and confirmed in his room.
After his accession to the presidency General Arthur made official changes in a gradual and cautious manner. Robert T. Lincoln, of Illinois, son of the martyr Presi- dent, was retained in the secretaryship of war. All the other members of the cabinet were replaced by different statesmen. In February, 1882, he nominated Roscoe Conkling to the vacancy on the bench of the Supreme Court, but after that gentleman had been confirmed by the Senate he re- spectfully declined to accept the elevation. In August President Arthur nominated General U. S. Grant as one of two commissioners to be appointed to negotiate a commercial treaty with Mexico. In all the legislation of that and the following year he was a wise and judicious factor. The foreign relations of the government were undisturbed and satis- factory. The "Monroe Doctrine" was again asserted by him in relation to the canal across the Isthmus of Panama-the neutral- ity of which naturally and rightfully falls under the protectorate of the United States -in correspondence with the British gov- ernment. On May 9, 1883, he approved and promulgated the rules of the civil ser- vice, under which demonstrated fitness is the only condition of continuance in office.
President Arthur's administration was at- tended by the unexampled prosperity of the people. Whether in the meetings of his cabinet, at his weekly receptions, or in Sab- bath worship at the church, he was ever the same gentle and unobtrusive gentleman. But beneath this quietude of aspect was an enormous reserve of power. Holding an office to which he was only indirectly elected, he exercised its functions in a manner that challenged the unfeigned admiration of all observers. None of the fears entertained by some at the epoch of his accession were realized. He fulfilled the highest hopes of those who knew him best. The respect and gratitude of the nation were justly and freely accorded to him. The simplicity, the strength, the dignity, the wisdom of his patriotic service are acknowledged on all hands.
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Chester A. Arthur was married in 1859 to Ellen Lewis, daughter of Captain William Lewis Herndon, of Fredericksburg, Va., Mrs. Arthur died in January, 1880, leaving two children, viz. : Chester A., aged fifteen, and Ellen Herndon, aged eight years. President Arthur died in New York Nov. 18, 1886.
ARNOLD, LEMUEL H., was born in St. Johnsbury, Jan. 29, 1792, and removed to Rhode Island at an early age. He gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1811, was educated for the bar, but turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. In 1831 he was elected Governor of Rhode Island, and re- elected in 1832 ; he was a member of the Governor's council during the Dorr rebel- lion in 1842, was a representative in Con- gress from 1845 to 1847, and died in Kings- ton, R. I., June 27, 1852.
ATWOOD, HARRISON HENRY, of Bos- ton, Mass., son of Peter Clark and Helen Marion (Aldrich) Atwood, was born in North Londonderry, August 26, 1863.
HARRISON HENRY ATWOOD.
Soon after his birth his parents located in Boston, where his school training was obtain- ed. He graduated from the Phillips gram- mar school in 1877, and immediately entered the law office of Godfrey Morse and John R. Bullard. At the age of seventeen he took up the study and practice of architecture as his chosen profession, and became a student of
ATWOOD.
Mr. Samuel J. F. Thayer, where he remained for four years, and after spending one year in the office of Mr. George A. Clough, ex-city architect, he began practice in the fall of 1886, his prize designs for the Suffolk county court house and the public library being his best work as a student. After com- mencing practice he was at various times employed by the city of Chelsea, on public work, and established a reputation for thor- oughness and care, his First National Bank building in Chelsea being the finest and most expensive building in the city. In May, 1889, he was appointed by Hon. Thomas N. Hart, mayor of Boston, as city architect, in which position he served during Mayor Hart's administration, being re-appointed in 1890. While city architect he completed the legacies in the way of unfinished public buildings left by former administrations, viz. : The Horace Mann School for Deaf Mutes, the South Bos- ton grammar school, the Roxbury high school, and several minor buildings ; and the new work laid out, completed or placed un- der contract during his term of office com- prise four of the finest public school buildings in New England-the Henry L. Pierce gram- mar school ; the Prince primary school; the Bowditch grammar school, and the Adams primary school. All the new work was placed by him in one single contract, a method of doing the public business never before or since adopted by the architect department. Be- sides these beautiful school buildings, much work was accomplished during these two years for the fire, police, water, sewer and park departments.
Mr. Atwood was a member of the House of Representatives of 1887 from the eighth Suffolk representative district, was re-elected in 1888, and honored again in 1889, at which election he received the highest num- ber of votes ever cast before or since for any representative candidate, and this too, despite the fact that the district was over a thousand Democratic majority. During his service in the Legislature, his committee appointments were among the most im- portant. His work upon the committees on state house extension, liquor law, mercantile affairs and cities was most creditable, and gained him much in character and reputa- tion. He was elected an alternate delegate from the old fourth congressional district to the national Republican convention at Chicago in 1888, and was again honored by being chosen as a delegate to the Repub- lican national convention at Minneapolis in 1892. He has been a member of the Re- publican city committee of Boston since 1884, serving as its secretary for four years, and for the years 1887-'S8 was a member of the Republican state committee. Septem- ber 14, 1892, he was nominated by the Re-
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