USA > Vermont > Caledonia County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 12
USA > Vermont > Essex County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 12
USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 12
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mutual and cordial cooperation of capital and labor.
We shall find even a brief refer- ence to the personalities of the noble and public-spirited men who laid the foundations and raised the super- structure of the prosperity of St. Johnsbury, full of interest and in- spiration. The original firm con- sisted of the three brothers, Erastus, Thaddeus, and Joseph. The latter was the lawyer and literary man, Thaddeus was the fertile inventor, and Erastus the business man of the firm.
FAIRBANKS, ERASTUS, twice governor of Vermont, the signer of its prohibitory law, which defeated him for reelection, but eight years later elected as the first of our three war governors, was born in Brim- field, Massachusetts, in 1792. He represented St. Johnsbury in the legislature in 1836-'37-'38, and was a presidential elector in 1844-'48. He was elected governor in 1852, and signed the prohibitory law. In 1860 he was again elected by the young Republican party. He called an extra session of the legislature soon after the attack on Fort Sum- ter, which placed at his absolute disposal the sum of $1,000,000 for arming and forwarding of troops.
He was a pioneer in the construc- tion of the Passumpsie railroad, and many years its president. He mar- ried, in 1815, Lois Crossman of Peacham. Nine children were born to them, of whom Horace and Franklin were notably connected with the scale works.
Governor Erastus Fairbanks died in 1864.
FAIRBANKS, THADDEUS, was born in Brimfield, Massachusetts in 1796.
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He was frail in childhood and peculiarly timid and sensitive, but studious and original.
The scale was a comparatively simple invention, but many of the machines invented by Mr. Fairbanks for facilitating the mannfacture were exceedingly ingenious, and his inventions were not merely for scales, for which and machines for making them he received thirty-two patents. He patented also a hemp machine, a stove, a cast iron plough, a steam heater, a steam water heater, a feed water heater, and an improve- ment in refrigerators. His last patent was allowed upon his nine- tieth birthday, a short time before his death in 1886.
His benefactions to education were numerous in St. Johnsbury and elsewhere.
FAIRBANKS, GOVERNOR HOR- ACE, the second son of Erastus Fair- banks, was born in Barnet in 1820. He became an active partner of the company in 1843, and finally the financial manager of its extensive business. Its annual product he saw grow from $50,000 to $3,000,- 000. He was from its inception identified with the Portland & Og- densburg railroad and strongly backed the enterprise with his means, credit, and influence.
Hle was a delegate to the Republi- can national conventions of 1864- "2, a presidential elector in 1868, a senator from Caledonia county in 1869, and was elected governor of Vermont in 1826-'78. He was es- sentially a humanitarian and a phil- anthropist. His greatest benefac- tion was the St. Johnsbury Athe- næum, that splendid repository of literature and art.
Governor Horace Fairbanks died in New York in 1888.
FAIRBANKS, COLONEL FRANK- LIN, was born in St. Johnsbury in 1828. His education was completed in the Peacham and St. Johnsbury academies. At the age of seventeen he entered the scale works and by actual labor in the varions depart- ments, aided by a natural genius for mechanics, made himself familiar with the details of scale manufac- ture. At the age of twenty-seven he became a partner of the firm of E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. For many years he was superintendent of the works, a position for which he was emi- nently fitted. In 1876, at the organ- ization of the firm as a corporation, he was elected vice-president, and at the death of Governor Horace Fair- banks in 1888, he was made presi- dent. and held that office until his death in 1895. He was aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Hall in 1858, and filled the same appointment from Governor Fairbanks in 1861. He was elected by the Republican party as repre- sentative from St. Johnsbury in 1870, and again in 1872; at the lat- ter session was chosen speaker of the house. For more than twenty years he was a member of the state Repub- liean committee. He was president of the First National bank for seven years, and for more than a third of a century superintendent of the Sun- dav-school of the North church.
Deeply interested and profoundly intelligent as a student of natural science, especially of ornithology, he presented the magnificent gift of the Museum of Natural History to the town of St. Johnsbury, which was dedicated in 1891.
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KIRBY. Population, Census of 1900, 350.
Kirby, a township in the eastern part of Caledonia county, was granted to Roswell Hopkins of Ver- gennes (a former secretary of state for fourteen years), on October 20, 1786. It was chartered as Hopkins- ville on October 27, 1790. The town was organized August 8, 1807. In October of the same year, 2,527 acres of the town of Burke was an- nexed to Hopkinsville and the name .of the town changed to Kirby. Theophilus Grout and Phineas Page, the first settlers in town, came about A. D. 1792, locating in the southerly part of the town, near Moose river. They were soon after followed by Josiah Joslin, Jonathan Leach, Ebenezer Damon, Antipas Harrington, Jonathan Lewis, Asa- hel Burt, and others, mostly from Massachusetts and New Hamp- shire.
At the first town-meeting, in 1802, Jonathan Lewis was chosen town clerk, Benjamin Estabrook, Samuel Burt, and Joel G. Whipple, selectmen; Philemon Brown, con- stable.
The first freemen's meeting was held September 6, 1808. Voted "not to send a Representative to the General Assembly." On Sep- tember 5, 1809, Theophilus Grout was chosen town representative. At this meeting the votes for gov- ernor were: For Isaac Tichenor, 18; for Jonas Galusha, 24; and seat- tering, 2 (showing an early “ Mug- wump " ancestry). The quarrying and working of granite has lately been begun and bids fair to be suc- cessful. Excepting this, and lum- bering in the winter, the town is de- voted mostly to agriculture and is
one of the best farming towns of its size in northeastern Vermont, with productive fields, good fences, and modern buildings and good roads, all well kept.
In the War of the Rebellion, Kirby, with a population of only 425, furnished forty-four soldiers, and three others from town en- listed in neighboring towns, among the number being one lieutenant- colonel, one major, and other com- pany officers.
JAMES CHURCH.
Kirby can be credited with hav- ing raised one member of congress, one governor, one state senator, three county judges, and other pub- lie officials outside of the town.
Jonathan Lewis, the first town clerk, held that office seventeen years and was one of Kirby's most useful citizens. The family are all removed from town, but are promi- nent in their places. James Church,
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
one of the early settlers here in 1814, succeeded Mr. Lewis as town clerk and served as such fourteen years. He also was town repre- sentative two terms, held the posi- tion of town treasurer, selectman, etc., for many years, and settled on the farm now owned by Chandler C. Walter. He married Betsey Willis, raised six children, and died in 1815, aged eighty-three years.
Hon. Elhanan W. Church, son of James and Betsey, was for many years Kirby's most prominent citi- zen, always living on the old Church farm. He married Lydia Gregory. They had three children, Celia, married Reuben Pierce, deceased; Leis A. (Mrs. David S. Young), Lu- via A. (Mrs. Chandler C. Walter), both now living in Kirby. Judge Church served his town as repre- sentative four terms, as treasurer seventeen years, as selectman twenty-seven years, justice many years, and many other town offices; was recruiting officer during the War of the Rebellion. He was as- sistant judge of Caledonia county from 1878 to 1882. He died June, 1892, aged seventy-two years.
The Burroughs family were for several years conspicuous figures in the affairs of Kirby, Seth and Horace coming early to town and serving in various capacities their townspeople. Hon. Albert W., son of Seth, was especially useful as a public man. When but little more than a boy he was chosen county surveyor and was always au- thority in such matters; was town representative in 1843, was select- man fifteen years, treasurer many years, and many other town offices. He was twice elected assistant judge of Caledonia county. He had two
sons, Henry and Dan, both now dead, and one daughter, Mrs. Ira P. Lewis, now living in Concord. Judge Burroughs died in 1858, aged forty-three years.
The Newhall family requires more than a passing notice in Kirby history. Merritt Newhall came in the early years and settled on the farm now owned by Mark L. Hovey. He followed James Church as town clerk and at different times occupied that position fourteen years. He represented Kirby in the legisla- ture in 1850 and 1851, and was selectman, treasurer, etc., for many years. He had a large family of children,-George W., living with his father until the father's death in 1876, aged eighty-two, when he re- moved to California. Abner Miles, M. D., the only physician who ever lived in Kirby, settled in the south part of the town for a few years.
In the early settlement of Kirby there were many men and women who were prominent in its develop- ment, the families of whom are gone from us and we are unable to write a suitable sketch of their work. Among them are Ebenezer Damon, Josiah Joslin, Timothy Locke, Orin and Joshua Carpenter, Levi Harrington, Benjamin Nutter and others, all of whom represented Kirby in the legislature of this state.
Kirby received its name from Thomas and Francis Atkinson (who at one time owned all of Hopkins- ville) and whose native place was at Kirby, Moorside, York county, Eng- land. Among the incidents of early life in Kirby may be mentioned the following:
The boards for the first barn in South Kirby were "snaked" with
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oxen through the woods from St. Johnsbury.
Captain Willis at one time lived alone with nothing to eat but pota- toes and salt for some weeks.
Jonathan Leach took his first "grist" of wheat to Barnet, carrying
GROUT, THEOPHILUS, the first settler in Kirby, was born in 1768, and about 1792 came from Charles- town No. 4. New Hampshire, to Kirby and settled upon the farm which has ever since been in the Grout family. He carly married
899.
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE GENERAL WILLIAM W. GROUT, KIRBY, VERMONT.
it and bringing it home again on his back.
We regret that we cannot give a more extended notice or proeure a likeness of those old heroes who came to this " Northland," and in an unbroken wilderness builded their homes, reared their families, and sustained the principles of American civilization.
Joanna Willard and there were born to them eleven children. Mrs. Grout died at the age of eighty-one, and Theophilus died April 5th, 1852, aged eighty-four.
Theophilus Grout spent the greater portion of his life in im- proving his farm and home, al- though he was often called to pub- lie service; was at one time collec-
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tor of United States revenue, repre- sented his town in the legislature seven terms, was justice of the peace for a long time, and a man of large usefulness and influence in all pub- lic matters. In 1834 his youngest son, Dan, while assisting his father to arrest a smuggler, at. Canada line, was shot and killed.
GROUT, JOSIAH, sixth child of Theophilus, was born October 20th,
June 26th, 1838; Josiah, born May 28th, 1841, was major, Vermont cavalry, in War of Rebellion, mem- ber house of representatives and senate several terms, and governor of Vermont in 1896-'98; Sophronia, born September 17th, 1842, married George O. Ford, who was captain in the War of the Rebellion, in Eighth Vermont regiment, and who has had the charge of the Grout farm for
MR. AND MRS. THEOPHILUS GROUT.
1805. September 29th, 1830, he married Sophronia Ayer. After a short time they removed to Comp- ton, Province of Quebec, and re- mained there until 1848. They reared a family of ten children (some of whom were born during their stay at Compton). Helen M., born December 17th, 1831, married Martin Perkins, died, 1856; William W., born May 24th, 1836, died Oc- tober 7th, 1902; George W., born
many years; Mary, born March 15th, 1845, married Charles H. Dwinnell; Victoria, born September 27th, 1846, makes her home on the old farm: Theophilus, born September 3d. 1848. lawyer: Susan, born Sep- tember 21st. 1850, married Fred W. Baldwin, died September, 1879; James, born July 3d, 1852, resides on the home farm. Josiah, Sr., came with his family to the Grout farm from Canada, where he re-
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mained for many years, being a prominent man in town. He died at the age of sixty-nine.
GROUT, W. W., son of Josiah and Sophronia, became one of the most prominent men in Vermont. When a boy he attended the district school and afterward the Poughkeepsie Law school, graduating theretrom in 1857, then went into the law office of Hon. Thomas Bartlett, at Lyn-
torney for Orleans county, and re- elected in 1866. He represented Barton in the legislature in 1868, 1869, 1870, and 1874. In 1876 he was elected senator from Orleans county and was chosen president pro tempore of the senate.
In 1880 General Grout was elected to the Forty-seventh congress from the third district. He was elected, from the second district. to the
MR. AND MRS. JOSIAH GROUT.
don; was admitted to the Caledonia county bar soon after. The next year he established an office at Bar- ton. In 1862 he enlisted in the Fifteenth Vermont regiment and was chosen lieutenant-colonel; served during the term of the regi- ment and was mustered ont August, 1863. In 1864 the state militia was organized and Colonel Grout was made General Gront.
In 1865 he was elected state's at-
Fiftieth, Fifty-first, Fifty-second, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-fifth, and Fifty-sixth congresses, always with large majorities, and during his service in congress he was one of the most active and useful members of that body. He was always in touch and sympathy with the people, and when their interests were at stake General Gront always came to their aid, and came with a purpose and zeal that rarely failed. He was the
WILLIAM W. GROUT.
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originator and main champion of the oleomargarine bill, was espe- cially helpful in pension claims, as many an old soldier, widow, or or- phan well know. In 1900 he re- tired from active public life and spent the most of his time upon the old farm. General Gront married in 1860 Loraine M. Smith of Glover. Two children were born to them, both of whom died soon after, and their mother died in 1868. The general was never married again. In 1902 he was stricken with sick- ness which resulted fatally. He died October 7th, 1902, aged sixty- six years.
FORD, CAPT. GEORGE O. George O. Ford, son of James and Annie (McKoy) Ford, was born in Lyn- don in 1835. His father, James, was a native of Grafton, N. H .; his mother was born at Lunenburg, Vt. In 1864 Captain Ford was married to Sophronia E. Grout, daughter of Josiah and Sophronia (Ayer) Grout of Kirby.
In December, 1861, George O. Ford enlisted in Company K, Eighth Vermont regiment, for three years' service. He was in all the impor- tant engagements participated in by that organization. He was taken prisoner at Des Allemands, La., September, 1862; was wounded at the battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, and again at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864. He enlisted as a private and came out of the service at the expiration of his term with an honorable dis- charge and having served as ser- geant, second lieutenant, first lieu- tenant, and captain.
Captain Ford has always taken a deep interest in everything that
would be for the advancement and benefit of his town, and has served several years on the board of select- men, six years as road commissioner,
GEORGE O. FORD,
and in 1888 he represented Kirby in the Vermont legislature. Since 1865 he has resided on the Grout farm.
CURRIER, ALSON. The subject of this sketch first saw the light of day in the town of Victory, Vt., July 28, 1860. He is the son of Benjamin F. and Mary J. (Chap- man) Currier. Alson received his education in the public schools of his native town and located in Kirby in 1888. He has always been a farmer. His farm consists of something over 200 acres in the south part of Kirby, and he has forty-four head of stock.
Mr. Currier has served the town two years as constable and collec-
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tor of taxes, which responsible posi- tion he still holds, and three years as lister.
In 1887 he was united in marriage to Miss Lorett Glines of Carroll, N. H. By this happy union four children have been born, Edson W., George A., Alice B., and Hazel R.
THE GRAVES FAMILY in Amer- ica are of English ancestry (being a branch of the family of which the Lords North were prominent mem-
CHARLES H. GRAVES.
bers). Thomas and John Graves came from England and settled at Hartford, Conn., about 1640, Their descendants settled along the Con- necticut valley towards Vermont. Two of the grandchildren of Thomas were killed by Indians at Hatfield in 1677.
Moses, the oldest of nine children of Jeremiah and Lucinda (Hub- bard) Graves, was born at Conway,
Mass., 1781. moved with his par- ents to Guilford, Vt., married Wealthy Carpenter, and settled at Westminster. He was a slate cutter by trade, working each summer at Hoosick, N. Y. Having saved a sum of money he invested it in land in central New York. The In- dians soon after making trouble in that section, he abandoned his claim and came with his family to Kirby, in 1814, and bought the farm now owned by Preston H. Graves, erected a log house and a small barn, left the management of the home to his wife and two children, Charles H. and Wealthy A., and went back to Hoosick to earn money to pay for his farm, going every year, until age prevented, going and coming all the way on foot. As soon as possi- ble the family began farming in the " primitive style." Charles H. dng out a quantity of sap troughs and began sugaring. Going one morn- ing with his sister, Wealthy, to the " boiling place," they found a black bear helping himself. With an axe and a stick and a great noise they drove him away and saved their sweetening for the year.
Moses died October, 1854, his wife having died some years before. Wealthy A. married and moved away. Charles H. continued to live upon the farm all of his life. He married Mary Goodell of Westmin- ster. They had two children, Pres- ton H. and Emmogene M. Charles II. served his town as town elerk six- teen years, justice of the peace twenty years, representative from Kirby to the legislature six terms. He was one of the old school Ver- monters, meant what he said, and did what he promised. Born in 1809; died in 1884.
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Mary, his wife, died in 1891. Emmogene M. never married, but lived on the home farm until her death in 1891. Preston H. was born February 5, 1841, and has al- ways lived upon the old Graves homestead. He married Almira S.,
1824, who lives on the home farm. Preston H. has been town clerk thirty-five years, selectman thirty- seven years, justice of the peace thirty-two years, and held other town offices; has been notary public ten years, represented Kirby in the
PRESTON H. GRAVES.
daughter of Rev. Lewis and Sarah (Hall) Jenkins of Burke, in 1864. There have been born to them four children, Harry S., 1865, who mar- ried Junie Trefren and lives at Bar- ton, Vt .; Nellie M., 1867, who mar- ried Guy O. Clifford and lives at Meriden, Conn .: Susie E., in 1870, who died in 1872; Harvey P., in
legislature three terms, was assist- ant judge for Caledonia county four years, and is at present one of the senators from Caledonia county.
RUSSELL, WILLIE P. Palmer W. Russell, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Kirby, June 9, 1829, and died in the same town, April 14, 1883. He held many of
9
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
the town offices and represented Kirby in the Vermont legislature three times and held five town of- fices at the time of his death. Wil- lie P., son of Palmer W. and Laura J. (Chase) Russell. was born in Kirby, January 2, 1820, and was ed- ucated in the public schools of
WILLIAM P. RUSSELL ..
Kirby and at Lyndon institute. He has always been a farmer; his farm consists of 360 acres of splendid land; fifty-five head of stock is kept.
Jnne 7, 1899, Mr. Russell married Ruth Williams of St. Johnsbury. Mr. Russell has served the town seven years as a lister and five years as a selectman, which office he still holds. In 1902 he was elected to represent Kirby in the Vermont legislature.
HOUGHTON, PHIN. C., was born in Lyndon, April 5,1845, a son of Captain Henry and Caroline M. (Cook) Honghton; he attended the
public schools of his native town and Lyndon academy. After complet- ing his education he worked for two years in the paper mill at St. Johns- bury; after this he was employed for sixteen years by E. & T. Fairbanks. He then located in the town of Kirby, where he bought his present farm, and keeps about thirty fine head of stock.
Mr. Houghton married Hannah Morse of Concord, Vermont, a daughter of Hiram and Hannah (Aldrich) Morse. Their happy union
PHIN. C. HOUGHTON.
has been blessed by three children, Ina, deceased, Fred and Roy.
Mr. Houghton has served Kirby as constable and collector, and is now serving as school director and town treasurer. In 1900 he repre- sented the town in the general as- sembly of Vermont.
YOUNG, DAVID S., was born in Kirby, Vermont, in 1844, son of
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Huntley D. and Eliza (Spaulding) Young, now in her 94th year.
Huntley D. Young was born and educated in Roxbury, Vermont. He located in Kirby in 1835 on the present homestead of his son, David S. He was a man of force, high character, and sound judgment, and served his town in the various of- fices and represented Kirby in the legislature. Ile died in 1889.
David S. has always followed farming and resided on the farm where he was born. He is a man highly esteemed for his sterling
DAVID S. YOUNG.
worth by his fellow-townsmen. He has avoided rather than sought pub- lic office. He was for twenty-one years overseer of the poor and in 1896 he represented the town in the state legislature.
In January, 1871, he was mar- ried to Leis A., daughter of Elhanan and Lydia L. (Gregory) Church.
The Church family were among the early settlers of Kirby. (See his- torical sketch of Kirby.)
Charles Church married Hannah Little and resided at Hancock, Ver- mont. They had seven children, one of whom was James, who came to Kirby in 1814. He married Bet- sey Willis of Enfield, New Hamp- shire, and reared six children, one of whom was Elhanan W., who mar- ried Lydia L., daughter of Josiah and Delia (Hibbard) Gregory.
WALTER, CHANDLER C., son of Lemuel and Phylena (Kibby) Wal- ter, was born in Burke, Vermont, in 1842, and in 1818 he located in Kirby, where he has been a progressive farmer, a wide-awake and highly esteemed citizen. He
CHANDLER C. WALTER.
received . his education in the schools of Burke. In 1869 he married Luva 1. Church, daughter of Elhanan and Lydia L. (Gregory)
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Church of Kirby. (See historical sketch of Kirby.) One son has blessed the union, Dudley HI., of St. Johnsbury.
Mr. Walter has served the town of Kirby as a lister, selectman, and representative to the Vermont legis- lature; in each position he has discharged the duties of the office with fidelity, ability, and to the en- tire satisfaction of his town. He is affiliated with the Masonie fratern- ity.
NOYES, IRA, was born at Lan- daff, N. H., in March, 1817. He married Susan Smith of Bath, N. H. In 1848 or 1849 they moved to Kirby and soon purchased the farm upon which he now resides. Three children were born to them.
CHARLES A. NOYES.
Mrs. Noyes died in 1871. Ira then married Ann Oleott, who died in 1891. He has held many public positions, always successfully.
Charles Austin, son of Ira and Susan, was born at Dalton, N. H., July 18, 1844, and came with his parents to Kirby. He married Amy
ANNA NOYES.
Smith of Victory, March 27, 1869. They had one child, Anna, and one adopted son, Hollis Gilbert Noyes, who died March, 1888, aged sixteen. C. Austin has always lived upon the farm with his father. He has been selectman, lister, and held many other town offices; was town repre- sentative in 1898.
Anna Noyes, danghter of Charles A. and Amy, was born in Kirby, April 7, 1870; attended the district school until sixteen years of age, when she began to teach and taught several terms. She then took a full course at Johnson Normal school, graduating June, 1891, after which she resumed teaching again with suecess until 1896, when she entered the Mary Fletcher hospital and grad-
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uated from there, as a nurse, Feb- ruary, 1898. In June, 1899, she was chosen matron of the Bright- look hospital at St. Johnsbury, and was doing good work, with a pros- pect of splendid snceess, when she was taken sick and died, September 19, 1899; and there was lost to the hospital and to the world one of Vermont's brightest and best young women.
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