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 16
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 16
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 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
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most productive farms in Burke, known as "Woodland farm," with fine new farm buildings. The farm keeps 100 head of cattle and some six or eight horses. He is a breeder of fine registered and herd book Holstein-Friesian cattle and Morgan horses, and runs a model dairy farm. He is president of the Burke Cream- ery company.
Mr. Marshall has filled many posi- tions of public trust. overseer, se-
BENONI H. MARSHALL.
lectman, and others, and, like his father before him, he is one of Burke's substantial and prosperous citizens.
BOLTON, DR. GEORGE W .. son of Plynn andl Phoebe (We-son) Bol- ton, was born at Danville, March 21. 1859. Hle fitted for college at the Caledonia county grammar school at Peacham, entered the medical de- partment of Harvard college in 1881, and graduated with the class
of 1884 with the degree of M. D. He at once located at West Burke, where he has met with conspicuous success in his practice.
GEORGE W. BOLTON, M. D.
November 19, 1884, he married lda L., daughter of Mortimer and Laura (Pike) Coe of Burke; by their union two children have been born: Plynn Mortimer and Arlene (de- cea-ed).
Dr. Bolton is a member of the Caledonia County Medical society and the Vermont State Medical so- cietv.
BURRINGTON, ASAHEL, was born at West Hartford, Connecti- ent. February 11, 1291. In 1801 his father, Ebenezer Burrington. emigrated to Vermont and settled in Burke. The country was then a wilderness and Mr. Burrington and his sons cleared away the for- est where Burke Hollow now stands. As the older sons became
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ASAHEL BURRINGTON.
of age, they moved to Ohio, leaving the two youngest, Joseph and Asa- hel on the home farm, where they
REV. LINDLEY M. BURRINGTON.
lived for most of their long lives. With few books, no teachers and limited means, Asahel acquired a good education for his time. For more than twenty winters he taught school at Burke Hollow.
He was a man of marked intel- lectual power, and wrote many po- ems for publication, among which "Farewell my Youth," and "The Dying Year" were of superior merit.
HOWARD R. BURRINGTON, A. M.
In 1822 he was elected town clerk, which office he held for fif- ty-three years. For more than twenty years he was town treasurer. For several years he was postmas- ter and twice represented his town in the legislature of the state, where he served on one of the most important committees of that body. In business he was faithful, methodical and reliable, and en- joyed to a remarkable degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
townsmen. He died April 13, 1882, in the ninety-second year of his age.
Mr. Burrington's family consist- ed of seven sons and two daugh- ters. Four of these are now liv- ing: Rev. L. M., of Belfast, Maine; Howard R., of Franklin, Massachusetts, and Charles and William of Boston. Rosalie (Mrs. W. R. Hall) died in Michigan some years ago; J. Quincy of Michigan, died in 1893. Of Lester, Solon, and
1
LESTER L. BURRINGTON, A. M.
Henrietta further mention will be made.
Rev. Lindley M. Burrington was born November 7, 1827. He re- mained on the home farm, as did all Mr. Burrington's sons, nntil twenty years of age. He attended school at the Green Monntain institute at Sonth Woodstock, Vermont, then under the charge of Rev. J. S. Lee, with whom he commenced his stud- ies for the ministry, and finished the same with Rev. A. A. Miner, D.
SOLON O. BURRINGTON, M. D.
D., of Boston. His first pastorate was at Reading, Massachusetts. Afterwards he became pastor of
HENRIETTA A. BURRINGTON.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
the Universalist societies at North Adams and Worcester, Massachu- setts, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Fort Plain, New York.
He was twice married. His first wife was Mis: E. M. Brewster, of Hartland, Vermont. Ilis second was Mrs. E. A. Dickinson, of Bel- fast, Maine, where he now resides. She died in 1900.
Howard R. Burrington was born November 14, 1836. After leav- ing home he fitted for college at South Woodstock, and graduated from Tufts college, with his broth- er Lester, in 1866, gaining the sec- ond honors of his class. He at once took up the profession of teaching, which has been his life work. He was principal of the Green Mountain institute, after- wards of the union school of Can- ton. New York, then professor of ancient languages in a Western col- lege. Later he was principal of the High school at Danvers, Mas- sachusetts, for eleven years, and in 1890 was chosen associate principal of Dean academy, which position he now holds.
He married Miss Lanra Brewster, of Hartland, Vermont. She died in 1869. Afterwards he married Miss V. A. Spaulding, of Canton, New York. She died in 1895, leav- ing one daughter, now living in New York city.
Lester L. Burrington was born March 24, 1838. He spent his early years on the farm, and after- wards fitted for college at South Woodstock. After graduating he entered the new Dean academy at Franklin, Massachusetts, as teacher of languages. Upon the opening of Goddard seminary at Barre, Ver- mont, he was chosen principal,
which position he held for several years. Afterwards he was princi- pal of the High school department of the Illinois state normal school. In 1879 he was called to the princi- palship of Dean academy, and suc- cessfully managed the affairs of this large institution for seventeen years, until failing health com- pelled him to retire in 1896.
He was a member of the Massa- chusetts legislature in 1900 and 1901. where he served as chairman on the committee on education. In 1902 he was chosen superin- tendent of schools of Peabody, Mas- sachusetts, where he died August 30, 1903.
In 1867 he married Miss Sarah I. Ryder, of Provincetown, Mas-a- chusetts, who still survives him.
Solon O. Burrington was born July 24, 1839. On leaving home he attended school at South Wood- stock and afterwards took up the study of medicine. Soon after the Civil war broke out he was ap- pointed to the medical staff of the army and served until after the war closed. He graduated from the University of Maryland, at Balti- more, and at once took up the work of his profession. He lo- cated at Columbus, Wisconsin, where he spent the most of his life. His army training made him a skil- ful surgeon and he was very snc- cessful in his profession. He died October 16, 1888.
In 1822 he married Miss Stella Cady, of North Adams, Massachu- setts, who still lives at Columbus.
Henrietta A. Barrington was born December 29, 1841. January 1, 1843, her mother died, leaving her fam- ily of four little ones to the care of their elder half sister, Rosalie,
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
who gave the best years of her life to their training. So well did she fulfil her trust that, to the ties of sisterly affection was added the love and veneration due a devoted moth- er. Henrietta was precocious, cas- ily mastering her school studies. The summer she was fourteen she taught school in the Belden dis- triet and at sixteen attended school at South Woodstock. Many of her school compositions were written in verse, "Farewell Sixteen." "The Island of Dreams," and "My Moth- er," being of special mention. On leaving the academy she spent three years in Boston, and in 1864 went to St. Lawrence university as preceptress.
In 1865 she wrote the prize story "Mignonette," competing with such writers as Mrs. C. M. Sawyer and Mrs. Patterson.
In the spring of 1866 she mar- ried Rev. Henry I. Bingham, of Columbus, Wisconsin. Her mar- ried life was short, as Mr. Bingham died the following autumn. In 1869 she became editress of the La- dies' Repository, of the Universalist Publishing House of Boston. Dur- ing the five years that she con- dueted that magazine she won for herself a literary record that would honor any name. She was marked for succession with Julia Scott, Sarah Edgarton, Mrs. Bacon, Mrs. Sawyer, and Mrs. Munroe. Her specialty was verse, but her pen was graceful in essay, editorial, story. or sketch. One of her most beau- tiful poems was "L'Envoi," a mid- night meditation on the passing year. Two poems, "The Human Side" and "The Divine Side," were her greatest work. These easily placed her in the front rank with
writers of her time. In 1825 her failing health compelled her to give up work and return to her Western home, where she died February 18. 1827. Among the many gifted women whom Vermont has pro- duced, none has won more marked success than Henrietta Burrington Bingham.
DAVIS, LEROY C., a son of Elea- zer and Delia E. (Colburn) Davis, was born at Sutton, May 21, 1865,
LEROY C. DAVIS.
a paternal grandson of Osborn Da- vis, who married Olive Stoddard; a paternal great-grandson of Jona- than Davis, a native of Chesterfield, New Ilampshire. On the maternal side Mr. Davis is a grandson of Ora and Delia (Day) Colburn, who were natives of Chesterfield, New Hamp- shire.
Ora Colburn was born February 14, 1803, and died June 2, 1893; his wife, Delia (Day) Colburn, was
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
born October 20, 1810, and died February 12, 1868. Eleazer Davis was born February 19, 1808, and died July 21, 1898; Delia E. (Col- burn) Davis was born September 9, 1832.
Leroy C. Davis was educated in the district schools, is a carpenter by trade, and has served the town of Burke as town clerk, treasurer, justice, and, in 1902, as its repre- sentative to the general assembly of Vermont. Mr. Davis married Laura, daughter of James and Electa (Packer) Ball of Newark.
Mr. Davis has one brother, Frank M., who resides at St. Johnsbury, who married Roa Hall of Burke.
ROOT, DR. EDWARD F., was born in Sheffield in 1862, son of Edward
EDWARD F. ROOT, M. D.
F. and Georgianna (Haley) Root. Dr. Root attended the district schools of his native town, grad- uated from the Glover academy,
class of 1881, entered the medical department of the University of Vermont, and remained a year, and then entered Dartmouth, from which institution he received his de- gree in 1889. He then located at Greensboro, where he practised for two years, and in 1891 located at East Burke, where he has met with a marked degree of success and built up a large practice.
In 1883 Dr. Root married Rose B. Barker of Sutton. Two children were born to them: Clarence and Lottie. Clarence died at the age of seventeen of tubercular spinal men- ingitis.
Dr. Root is a member of the Junior Order United American Me- chanics and Red Men.
STAFFORD, JAMES P., was born in 1840 at Plattsburg, New York, a son of Colonel Peleg Stafford of the Thirteenth United States regulars.
Mr. Stafford was educated in the schools of Plattsburg, and May 13, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Sixteenth New York Regiment of Infantry, which organization was a part of the Second brigade and Fifth division, and was in the following engagements: Fairfax Court House, July 17: Bull Run, July 21, 1861; West Point, Virginia, May 7; Gaines' Mills, June 16; Crampton's Pass, September 14; Antietam, Sep- tember 17, 1862; Mary's Heights, May 3-4, 1863. He was honorably discharged May 13, 1863.
December 18, 1863, he enlisted again, this time in Company K, Fifty-sixth regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer infantry. He was with his company in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5-10. 1864, and re- ceived wounds in the right knee and left shoulder. He was sent to the
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Georgetown hospital, where he re- mained a short time, and was then sent to the Judiciary Square hospital at Philadelphia, where he remained until August 5, 1865, when he was discharged.
In 1862 he married Mary Emer- son of Plattsburg. Thirteen chil- dren have been born to them, ten of whom are still living: Laura, who married John Schindler of Utica; William, who resides at West Burke; John, at East Burke; Lo- renzo W. of St. Johnsbury; Kate (see Walter S. Silsby of Lunenburg); Mary, who married George Hamelin of Utica; Mabel, who married Mer- ton Vance of Albany, Vermont; An- nie, who married Walter Bailey of Utica; Scott of East Burke; Celia (see Carl Frasier, Burke).
For nine years Mr. Stafford was a resident of West Burke, and for the past twenty-eight years he has resided in East Burke village.
EGGLESTON, ROYAL A., was born in Burke, August 8, 1844, son of Artemas L. and Orvid (Adams) Eggleston. Hle was educated in the common schools of Burke and took up farming until 1864, when he en- listed in Company E, Ninth infan- try, Vermont volunteers. Ile saw a year's service, and was mustered out at Fortress Monroe, June 16. 1865. For a year after his discharge he was unfit for labor. In 1867 he married Amy M. Freeto of Burke, and took up carpentering at Man- chester, New Hampshire, where he remained for five years. He then returned to Burke. In 1890 he lo- cated at East Burke village and has a shop on "Dish Mill brook," where he has followed carpenter work and undertaking.
He has one son, George L., born
1881, who married Bertha, daughter of Bion F. Humphrey, in 1902.
Mr. Eggleston has served two years as selectman, is a member of
ROYAL A. EGGLESTON.
the Odd Fellows, Grand Army, and Junior Order United American Me- chanics.
TREFREN, CEPHAS J., was born at St. Johnsbury, May 21, 1842, and was a son of James and Emeline (Roberts) Trefren, who had also one daughter, Jennett E., who is un- married and lives in Burke. James and his wife began life with "empty hands,"-no capital but grit. In No- vember, 1851, they moved from St. Johnsbury to the "Jude Kimball farm" in Lyndon, about one half mile west of the Corner village, and which was settled by the Kimballs in 1792, and had remained in the family until purchased by James Trefren. On this farm Mr. and MIrs. Trefren lived until their death.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Mrs. Trefren died May 10, 1884, Mr. Trefren dying October 11, 1894. At his decease the farm came into the possession of Cephas J., the present owner. having been in the two fam- ilies more than a century. "Uncle Jim," as he was familiarly called,
in the common schools and the acad- emy at Lyndon. When twenty-one years of age he went to Springfield, Massachusetts, and worked for Bur- gess & Osborn in the meat business two years, then came home to the farm for a year. In 1866 he went
CEPHAS J. TREFREN.
was a well known dealer in cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., and was always on hand when any one had wool or pelts to sell. By strict economy and "tend-to-business habits" he became one of Lyndon's wealthy men.
Cephas J. Trefren was educated
to Lowell and was employed by the Lawrence Manufacturing company as watchman for one year.
At Lowell, March 18, 1867, he was married to Amanda C., daugh- ter of Jehial and Mary (Richardson) Powers of Lyndon, and soon after
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
they came to Lyndon to reside, where a major part of their life has been upon a farm. In 1897 they moved to their present fine home at the village of West Burke, where they spend their winters. In sum- mer they go to their "Gobi cottage" in Foster's grove at Lake Wil- loughby.
While in Lyndon Mr. Trefren was first constable and collector for nine years, he also served as selectman and as lister and has been deputy sheriff for the past fifteen years. IIe was engaged somewhat as a dealer in cattle and sheep. In politics, Cephas says he is a "Full-blooded Demo- crat," but we think he has "liberal tendencies." He is a 32' Mason, a member of Crescent lodge of Lyn- donville, Haswell Royal Arch chap- ter, Caledonia council, and Palestine commandery, St. Johnsbury; Mt. Sinai temple. Montpelier; Delta chapter, Rose Croix, and Vermont consistory, S. P. R. S., Burlington; also a member of Esther chapter. No. 20, Order of the Eastern Star, Lyndonville. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Trefren are: Junie A., born March 15, 1870, who is married to Harry S. Graves of Kirby, who oper- ates a bakery at Barton village: Frank J., born August 4, 1871, who married Emily M. Bean of Kirby, and has two children, Bertha May and Bernice Amanda. They live on the old Trefren farm in Lyndon.
WOODRUFF. OSCAR C., a son of Erastus and Betsey (Randall) Woodruff, was born January 22, 1852, at Lyndon Center. Ilis par- ents located at Burke in 1854, where they remained until 1863, when they took up their residence at Newark.
Oscar C. attended the public schools of Burke and Newark and attended the Lyndon, St. Johns- bury, and Glover academies. After completing his education he taught school for a few terms and then took np the cattle business, in which his father had long been en- gaged. When 22 years of age he was elected a lister in Newark, held that office for eighteen years and served as superintendent of schools
OSCAR C. WOODRUFF.
for six years, and for eighteen years was a deputy sheriff.
In 1895 Mr. Woodruff gave up farming and located at West Burke, and actively took up the cattle bus- iness, in which he is still engaged. He has served Burke for five years as a lister.
In 1878 he was married to Emma Dolloff. Three children have been born to them, two of whom are now living: Fred E. and Frank R.
12
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
JENKINS, ALVAH H., D. V. S., a son of Jonathan and Hannah Jen- kins of Burke, and a descendant of Lemuel Jenkins, a soldier of the
ALVAH H. JENKINS, D. V. S.
Revolution, was born in that town October 20, 1865. In his youth he attended the common schools at East Burke village until sixteen years of age, when he was employed for a time by the Hazen Lumber company at Victory. In 1882 he went to southern Missouri, where he was employed on a large grain farm one year. He then went to Kansas to work for a live stock dealer a year, then came back to Burke, and the next spring went to Springfield, Massachusetts: he later went into the Massachusetts primary school of charity and lunacy, where he re- mained two years, then went into the Boston asylum and farm school, where he was supervisor of the class
in agriculture for about three years. He then went to Petersham and went into the grain business for a year, then sold out and began to study for the veterinary profession with Dr. Aikens, where he remained one year. He took a year's course of lectures at Amherst, then a year's course at Harvard. then went into practice with Professor Damon, who was county examiner of Plymouth county for tuberculosis in animals and succeeded to Dr. Damon's prac- tice, after which he practised at Barre, Massachusetts, for four years. He came to Burke, August, 1898, and has been constantly in practice ever since. His residence is at West Burke village.
Dr. Jenkins has passed an exam- ination at McGill college, Montreal, and at London, Ontario, as D. V. S. He was married March 1, 1893, to Ida M. Williams, who lived only until February 9 of the following year. November 26, 1899, he was again married to Mary L. Eggles- ton of Burke. They have one child, Loren W., born May 13, 1902.
NEWARK.
Population, Census of 1900, 500.
Newark was chartered August 15, 1:81, to William Wall and others. The first land cleared was by James Ball, who came with his family in September, 1797, and settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Albro Ball. Four years he was the sole inhabitant of what is now the town of Newark, then, in 1801, came Eleazer Packer, who penetrated two miles further into the dense forests and located where Henry Packer now resides. Three years later, 1804, Charles Palmer came. These
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
were followed by others, and in 1809 the town was organized. Eleazer Packer, James Ball, and John Sleeper were chosen selectmen. Eleazer Packer was the first justice of the peace, and in 1811 became the first representative to the general assembly. He solemnized the first marriage-Philemon and Sallv Hartwell-June 28, 1812. Arnold, son of James Ball, was the first birth in town.
The early history of Newark is so thoroughly given in the extended article on Eleazer Packer which fol- lows, that it has been thought un- necessary to enter into it at length, as it would prove merely a repetition of the material facts.
PACKER, ELEAZER, born June 26, 1750, at Groton, Connecticut, died at Peacham, Vermont, March 29, 1864.
There is no record that gives the exact date at which the first Packer or Packers arrived in this country, neither is there anything to show whether the first arrival consisted of one man, or two who were broth- ers, or the three traditional brothers. Tradition is not uniform regarding the matter, so there is an opportun- ity for the exercise of a wise selec- tion. It is a matter of record, how- ever, that one John Packer, having obtained a grant of land in the southern part of Connecticut, came from England about the year 1651. and settled in the town of Groton in the above-named state. There is considerable evidence that John was a man of thrift in various ways, for not only did he soon become the largest planter in the colony, but in process of time he became the father of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. He therefore fur-
nished a commendable copy for his descendants, who seem to have ap- preciated the worth of his example, for, as we trace down the account of succeeding generations, we discover that almost the invariable number of children welcomed into each fam- ily was twelve; and, if it chanced in any single instance that the number dropped to eleven, the deficiency was always offset by the excess of one in another instance, so the aver- age was kept good.
The youngest of the seven sons of John Packer was named James. Like his father, he was a man of mark, and noted among the large planters. Early in life he removed his residence from West Mystic to a point nearer the center of his plan- tation, where he erected new build- ings. Later these buildings were burned, and James, caught in the flames that devoured one of his barns, lost his life. Subsequently the buildings were replaced by a grandson, a second John Packer, and the house he built is still stand- ing, and is owned and occupied by a Packer.
James Packer, of whom we have been speaking, was born in 1681, and died on April 24, 1765. Like his immediate predecessor, he was the happy sire of twelve sons and daughters, the eldest of whom was a son, who received his father's name and became James, Junior. He was born in Groton, Connecticut, in 1:34. It has been ascertained that in middle life, while his family were young, he moved from Groton to Guilford, Vermont. Three sons ac- companied him, and several daugh- ters. The oldest of the former at the time of the removal, who was also named James, was eighteen
ELI E. PACKER.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
years of age, having been born Aug- ust 17, 1760. Jeremy was a year and a half younger, and Eleazer, the subject of this sketch, nearly ten years younger, his birth having oc- curred June 26, 1720.
It is well to bear in mind the faet. that. at the date of the migration of the Packer family, the Revolution- arv struggle was still in progress, and also the fact that Guilford was then a wilderness. In the graveyard at Guilford, on a headstone erected to the memory of James Packer. who came up from Groton with his family, this inscription may still be read: "Deacon James Packer, died August 24, 1803, aged 69."
The three sons left by James Packer at his death, took to them- selves wives from Guilford or the adjacent towns, and adopted the for- mer as their place of abode, making farming their business; although Jeremy added to this vocation that of preaching the gospel.
About the year 1801, James Packer, the olde-t of the three brothers, came into possession-we have been unable to learn how-of a traet of "wild land" in the town of Newark, Vermont. During the fol- lowing summer he effected an ex- change of property with his brother, Eleazer, who took the lot of land in Newark and turned over to James his own farm in Guilford.
During the summer of 1802, with the aid of several men whom he en- ployed, Eleazer Packer began the arduous task of elearing a portion of his new possessions in Newark of the heavy growth of primeval wood with which the entire area was en- cumbered, and of preparing the ground for erops the ensuing sum- mer. He also built a log house, which contained a single room, and
a barn of the same material. This having been accomplished, he re- turned to Guilford for the winter, and to make arrangements for oceu- pying his "lodge in the wilderness" the next spring.
Some years ago the writer met by chance one of the men, then liv- ing in St. Johnsbury, who had been employed by Mr. Packer in the work of making a beginning of "clearing up" his new farm during the sum- mer of 1802. It is needless to say that his narration of the experiences, the privations, and labors of that summer were listen.d to with in- tense interest. "We never could have endured it all," he remarked, "but for the love of fun and unfailing cheerfulness of spirit of Eleazer Packer. No hardship seemed to tire him and no mishap to dishearten him."
Eleazer Packer was married to Abigail Potter in Leyden, Massachu- setts, March 16, 1796. She was his junior by seven years. The fruit of this union, a most suitable and happy one, had been, up to the time of their removal from southern to northern Vermont, four children, two girls and two boys.
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