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 17
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 17
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 17
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At the beginning of March, 1803, 100 years ago, Eleazer Packer, with his wife and little ones, and with as many household effects and provis- ions and seeds for planting as could be taken with a couple of two-horse sleighs, set out on his journey to Newark. At that time the weather was still cold and the snow deep, and there was apprehension lest their trip should be attended with suffer- ing, if not with serious harm. They started thus early in order to reach their destination in time to supply themselves with maple sugar.
Scarcely, however, were they well
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on their way before milder condi- tions began to obtain. the snow be- gan to soften, and tokens were not wanting that spring was at hand; and when they reached St. Johns- bury or Lyndon, I am not sure which, after several days of jour- neying it was found necessary to discard sleighs and complete their trip on wheels. The spring, which thus opened unusually early, contin- ued to be mild and pleasant and.
ELEAZER PACKER.
fortunately. the following summer proved to be a productive one.
Let us take a glance at the condi- tions as they existed in Newark and surrounding towns at the time when Eleazer Packer made his advent into the highland region of Vermont. He had been preceded by a single settler in Newark, a Mr. Ball, who, a year earlier, had located a mile further south and made a small opening in the woods similar to that begun by
his sole fellow-townsman. To the east, to the north, and to the west, as far as the eye could reach from any point attainable, stretched an unbroken forest. Barnet, twenty- five miles distant to the south, was the nearest place at which supplies could be obtained, and grain taken to be milled. and the road leading thither was imperfectly worked and bordered much of the way by a thick forest growth. Two days were re- quired to carry a bag or two of corn or wheat to Barnet on the back of a horse, get it ground, and return with it to Newark. It was not possi- ble often, even in an emergency, to procure the services of a physician in less than twenty-four hours.
Newark is the divide, or "height of land," which separates the St. Lawrence valley from that of the Connecticut. Consequently, this lo- cality is subject to a vast amount of precipitation; and this not infre- quently takes the form of snow six months of the year. Heavy snow falls are often attended or followed by high winds which pile the "beau- tiful" into huge drifts that block the roads and greatly interfere with travel. In the days of the early set- tlers the highways were liable to be impassable for weeks at a time. At this period there was actually no money in circulation or in the pos- session of farmers, and little even in the hands of merchants; and busi- ness was carried on by means of a system of exchange or barter.
When Eleazer Packer was enabled to leave the log honse which had sheltered him and his growing fam- ily for a series of years, and to enter the comfortable and commodious new home, the work of whose con- struction had been mainly per-
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formed by his own hands, he found that for the material he had pur- chased and the labor he had em- ployed, he had paid out in cash just one silver dollar.
The foregoing is a partial list of the stubborn difficulties with which pioneers had to contend, who es- sayed to make for themselves homes in these northern wilds and estab- lish a town. That they tried and succeeded is sufficient proof of their grim purpose and unfaltering indus- try. Doubtless the growing im- provements of their lands and the increase of comforts that came to them, furnished compensations which we can hardly conceive, and which we can not fully appreciate.
For more than half a century Eleazer Packer was permitted to see his cultivated acres increase, during which time the forest line was grad- ually pushed back, and in place of the giant maple and beech and birch, the apple and plum and cherry had been brought to yield their fruit and contribute no small measure of comfort. Neighbors, too, had multiplied, schools had been es- tablished, a church-the Methodist Episcopal-of which he was an hon- ored and devoted member, had been organized, and town machinery set in motion. In all these advances he bore a conspicuous part, and in many instances furnished the initia- tion. That he enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his fellow-towns- men is sufficiently evidenced in the fact that he was chosen to represent his town in the legislature for fif- teen consecutive years, and was jus- tice of the peace two score years; and the former office he was at length led to relinquish on account of the demands made upon his time
by increasing home duties and re- sponsibilities. His serving the town so long in the capacity of justice of the peace fastened upon him the sobriquet of the "Squire," and, wherever he was known, he was mentioned with that distinguishing title prefixed to his name.
Allusion has already been made to the fact that his four older children were born in Guilford. The oldest of these was Phi-
MRS. ELEAZER PACKER.
Iura, who became the wife of Eleazer Newell of Burke. She died in 1824, leaving a son and a daughter. Electra, the, second one, died also in 1824, at Newark. being twenty-five years old. The third member of the Guilford quar- tette was born March 16, 1801, and was just two years old when his ca- reer in Newark began. His name was llorace, and he proceeded at once to give point to his entrance
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into his new home by falling through the trap door into the cel- lar; but as the cellar was not deep and he was well protected by his traveling wraps, no harm resulted. Eleazer, the youngest of the four, was eight months old when he com- menced his journey northward, and survived the change a little more than three years, dying April 3, 1806. Subsequently seven more children came to swell the family circle. The first arrival was that of Austin and Osmon, twins, which oc- curred April 28, 1805. The succes- sion was continued by David's ap- pearance February 20, 1808, who was followed by Eli Wing January 5, 1811. On March 30, 1814, and July 23, 1817, respectively, two more girls, Josephine and Rebecca Barney. joined the procession. About three years later, the honor of being the rear guard fell to the lot of John Quincy Adams, whose name is an unmistakable index of the po- litical leaning of his father-a lean- ing which all his boys, save one, came in due time fully to sympa- thize with. Thus eleven children were born to Eleazer Packer, ten of whom grew to maturity and nine of whom lived to have children of their own-forty-two in all.
The distribution of the grandchil- dren is as follows: Philura, one son and one daughter; Horace, three sons and five daughters; Osmon, one son who died in young manhood; Austin, two sons and four daugh- ters; Eli Wing, four sons and three daughters: Josephine, who married Edmond Newton of Leyden, Massa- chusetts, two sons: Rebecca Bar- ney, who married Samuel Newton, brother of Edmond, four daughters; John Quincy Adams, who married
Lovina Newton, sister of Samuel and Edmond, two sons and five daugh- ters.
The older of these sons of John Q. A. Packer, Edmond, served his country in the Civil war, since which he has been a successful medical practitioner in Lowell, Massachu- setts. The oldest of the daughters, Charlotte, married Rev. Joseph Hamilton, member of the Vermont Methodist Episcopal Conference, and now lives at Danville. David Packer prepared for the ministry, and for many years held important pastorates in the same conference. In his later years he took up the practice of medicine. Two sons of Eli Wing Packer, one of whom is living, entered the same profession. At the age of six Eli Wing went to live with an uncle and aunt in Ley- den, Massachusetts. Here his boy- hood was passed, as well as the active years of his manhood. He was an active participant in town affairs, holding important offices, and being several terms a repre- sentative in the legislature of the state, and a member of the conven- tion for the revision of the state constitution.
Osmon was a cloth dresser, and passed the major part of his life in Danville, reaching the advanced age of more than eighty years. For his uncomplaining patience under pe- enliar misfortunes, for his unweary- ing industry, his piety and integrity, he won the highest regard of every one capable of appreciating such qualities.
Horace, as was the case with all his brothers, except Osmon and Da- vid, chose the occupation of a far- mer. For a number of years after his marriage with Hopestill Whipple
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Brown of Kirby, he owned and lived upon a farm at Newark Street. His health, however, becoming impaired, he removed to Burke, where he died at the age of sixty-seven. Of his eight children only two remain at this time of writing-Halsey Horace of West Burke, and Eli Eleazer of Albany, New York. The latter has been a resident of the last-named state since 1858, and has, during all this time, been engaged in the work of teaching, uninterruptedly. Seven years were passed in Whitehall, where he was first located, five years at Cohoes, and the balance, nearly thirty-four, in Albany, where he is still engaged in teaching.
Rebecca Newton, the youngest daughter of Eleazer Packer, is the only one of the eleven children now living, and Lovina Newton Packer, the widow of John Q. A., is the only one who entered into family relation by marriage that still continues on the hither side. The latter, who is now past eighty years old, and in feeble health, is most ienderly cared for by her youngest daughter, Mrs. Mears, who lies at Marshfield. The former is still quite vigorous, not- withstanding her fourscore and seven years, and still retains her fac- ulties to a remarkable degree, and her interest in passing events. She divides her time between the homes of her two daughters, one of whom is the wife of Judge Bixby of Adams, Massachusetts, and the other the wife of Mr. Harris Williams of Athol, in the same state. Possessed of the same indomitable spirit of cheerfulness that characterized her father, and similar physical endow- ments, she bids fair to reach the same advanced age that he attained.
The writer has often felt regret
that Eleazer Packer was not per- mitted to pass his latest days on the old home place he had labored so assiduously to make a refuge for himself and family. But it was or- dered otherwise by a merciful prov- idence and, doubtless, was ordered wisely and kindly. And so it came about that the summons to a higher life, to which he and his good wife had been looking forward many years, with unclouded faith and eager expectation, came to both at Peacham. The call came to her first, on April 14, 1863. But the loving union of sixty-seven years was not to be interrupted long, and they were reunited on March 29, 1864. Their last days were passed under the roof of their youngest son, from whom they had never been sep- arated, and whose great privilege it was to minister to them in their de- clining years.
The writer wishes to express his gratification that the original Packer premises in Newark are still in pos- session of those who bear that name -Packer-and indulges the hope that future generations will find the same still owned and occupied by one of that name. A son of Austin Packer, Henry, and his son, Harris, are the present occupants.
BURNS, AUSTIN C., son of Ed- ward and Abbie B. (Packer) Burns, and a maternal grandson of Eleazer Packer, was born at Columbia, New Hampshire, November 19, 1861, and came with his parents to Newark when only an infant. He attended the district schools of the town, and has always followed farming.
March 4, 1881, Mr. Burns married Ella M. Lee of Newark. Six chil- dren have blessed their happy union: Charles E., Lura M. (Mrs.
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Frank A. Bruce of Newark), Leon- in 1777 and died in 1824. A ard A., Pliny E., Pearl L., and Abbie E.
Mr. Burns has always been active
AUSTIN C. BURNS.
in town matters, and has been fre- quently called to serve his townsmen in publie office, serving as justice, road commissioner, selectman, and in 1902 as representative to the gen- eral assembly.
llis farm is a particularly good one, of about one hundred and fifty acres, with upwards of a thousand sugar trees. Twenty-five head of stock is kept.
WALTER, HEMAN A .. son of Harlow B. and Louis (Coe) Walter, was born in East Haven, October 29, 1851. His paternal grandfather, Norris Walter, was the second set- tler of the town of East Haven, and followed, in 1805, his brother John, who came from Winchester, Con- necticut, in 1804. Norris was born
daughter of Norris, Harriet, was the first child born in the town.
His paternal great-grandfather was John Walter, who died in 1848, aged one hundred years and six months (see Oscar T. Walter, East Haven, Essex county).
In 1857 Harlow B. Walter and his six-year-old son moved to the present Walter farm in Newark, which was then a dense forest: land was cleared and building erected
HEMAN A. WALTER.
with the same energy, pluck, and unyielding courage that has ever characterized the early settlers in northern Vermont. He was born in East Haven, February 15, 1813, and died in Newark in 1885.
Heman A. received his education. in the district schools and has always followed farming. November 24, 1880. he married Addie N. Smith of East Haven. Two children
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have blessed their union: Harlow B., Jr., and Hazel L.
Mr. Walter has always taken a lively interest in public matters, and his townsmen have frequently recog- nized his integrity and sterling worth as a man and citizen. He has held the various town offices, was deputy sheriff four years, and in 1896 represented Newark in the general assembly.
SLEEPER, LYMAN O., was born in Newark, May 9, 1851, a son of John, Jr., and Chastina (Powers) Sleeper. He received his education in the district schools of the town, and did farming until nineteen. when he entered the employ of Silas
LYMAN O. SLEEPER.
Wetherbee at. Lyndonville, where he remained for five years. He then returned to the old homestead, which was settled and cleared by his
paternal grandfather. John Sleeper, who came from Unity, New Hamp- shire, about 1805, and when the town was organized in 1809 became one of the first board of selectmen, and later represented the town in the legislature.
Lyman O. Sleeper has continued on the old homestead, and has been a farmer, dairyman, and sugar maker of the progressive class The farm consists of three hundred acres and has 2,600 sugar trees, and some thirty head of stock are kept.
Mr. Sleeper has served the town as selectman, auditor, school di- rector, and justice, and is recognized as one of the strong men of Cale- donia county, always taking a lively interest in all public matters that will aid the farmer or benefit his condition.
December 17, 1818, Mr. Sleeper married Mary J., daughter of Man- ning Walter of East Haven (see Os- car T. Walter of East Haven).
John Sleeper, Jr., father of Ly- man O., was a man of sound judg- ment, keen abilities, and sterling worth. He held the usual town of- fices and represented the town in the state legislature.
JOHNSON, DAVID F., a son of Obed and Mary (Foster) Johnson, was born on the old homestead in Newark, where he now resides. Hle married in 1854, Mary C. Kenney, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the town. Their union was blessed by four children: One died in infancy. Fritz L. is an engineer on the Fitchburg railroad out of Boston. Avaline E. has for the past twelve years been a teacher in the public schools of san Fran- cisco, California, and Frank 2. is located in that city.
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Mrs. Johnson died May 6, 1878. and David F. took for his second wife Isabelle Booth of Burke, De- cember 28, 1880.
Mr. Johnson has always been a leading citizen of Newark, and has had perhaps more to do with public matters for the past forty years than any other one man. He has been town clerk and treasurer since 1888, and was postmaster for twenty-five years, and has served the town as lister, justice, selectman, and three times as its representative in the general assembly. He has long been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church and affiliated with the Masonie fraternity.
Obed Johnson, father of David I., was a native of Sudbury, Massachu- setts, and eame to Vermont when a lad of five years, on horseback with his mother in 1791. They located at Guildhall and remained there until 1808, when his mother died. He, in company with his brother, Eben, bought a brick vard and for many years were prominent in this industry. Later they located in Newark and Obed settled and eleared the land where his son, David F., now lives.
SUTTON.
Population, Census of 1900, 694.
The town was first settled in 1790, and was organized July 4, 1794. James Cahoon was chosen clerk. Samuel Orcutt, one of the first set- tlers, came in 1793. At about this time Enoch Blake and his son. Sam- uel, came (see Henry A. Blake). Then came Thomas Colby from Sandwich. New Hampshire (see George W. Colby, M. D.). These were soon followed by Luther Cur-
tis, who came from Swanzey, New Hampshire, in 1806, and James Campbell, a soldier of the Revolu- tion (see G. M. Campbell of Lyn- don). He came from Putney. Caleb Allard came from Wheelock in 1808. John Fogg located in 1810, and Jo- siah Willard in 1804.
Thus Sutton was peopled in the early days by the hardy pioneers, who undertook cheerfully and with- out complaint the settlement of the dense timber land of the Vermont highlands. Their experiences of hardship, suffering, and joy did not materially differ from that of their neighboring towns. Here, as in each of our settlements, was laid ille foundation of rugged Vermont man- hood, which has ever given the sons of this state high place in the coun- eils of the nation, and in all the various walks of life. From these hillsides have gone forth physical and intellectual giants, clothed with the mantle of integrity, honor, and force, to combat all conditions of life, and with a priceless heritage from the sturdy pioneer ancestor, have met and conquered to a degree hardly ever attained by any ciher people.
PILLSBURY, H. F., was born in Sutton, February 12, 1834, was brought up on a farm. and schooled at the wood-colored schoolhouse under the hill. He did not take kindly to books, and, as he fre- quently said, "often came home at the foot of his class." Hunting, trapping, and fishing, interspersed with a desire to trade, seemed to be his forte.
He left the farm when he was nineteen years of age, went West and spent a year in Iowa and Wis- consin; he came back tired of the
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
West, and went to work for Mar- shall Newell at Burke, where he learned the mercantile business.
In 1859, he married Ellen N. Blake of Sutton, where he kept a store and post-office for sixteen years, buying butter, sugar, and
his state aid of $7 per month, which he had forfeited by selling himself to a broker as a substitute. This bill Mr. Pillsbury vigorously fought through the house of representa- tives on the ground that said Ain- ger was an ignorant man, and a
H. F. PILLSBURY.
wool of the farmers in Caledonia and Orleans counties, also buying and selling real estate.
In 1867 he was elected repre- sentative to the Vermont legisla- ture, and while a member he intro- duced a bill to pay one Jacob Ainger of Sutton, a drafted soldier,
poor and deserving cripple, and as he counted in the Vermont quota of drafted men, it did the state no wrong to grant this aid. The sen- ate committee reported adversely on this bill, as being a bad prece- dent for the state to establish, but through the assistance of his
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friends, Senators Bullard and Dale, the bill was finally passed. He also organized the Orleans and Cale- donia Steam Mill company, and had a bill passed incorporating the same. In 1868 he was reëlected to the state legislature, serving his town with credit. In 1869 he sold his store and went into the lumber business with General Grout, Colo- nel Blake, Elisha White, M. F. Blake, and George Bridgman. He soon bought out his partners, and for over twenty-five years managed the business alone.
He still kept on buying lands, until at the present time he owns over 10,000 acres. He is now the oldest lumberman in this section. In 1900 he took his son, Fred H. Pillsbury, into his business as an equal partner, doing business under the name of H. F. Pillsbury & Son.
He was one of the promoters of the Lyndonville National bank, also of the Lyndon Savings bank, and has served as a director in both banks since their organization. His last speculation was the buying at auction, of a Barton syndicate, Hotel Barton.
Starting as he did, with poor health and without a dollar in his pocket, financially he has been one of the most successful business men in his county. He has spent several winters in Florida and California.
Mr. Pillsbury has been a gener- ous and public-spirited man, always putting his hand in his pocket when public good required.
PILLSBURY, FRED H., son of H. F. Pillsbury, was born in Barton August 4, 1875, schooled in Barton high school, Montpelier seminary, and one year in Wesleyan college. On account of the sickness and
death of his mother he was obliged to give up his college course and re- turn to his father.
In 1900 he married Florence L. Currier of Barton and commenced the lumber business with his father at their mills in Sutton and West- more.
In 1902 he was elected represent- ative to the Vermont legislature from the town of Sutton, represent- ing the third generation of Pills- burys in the Vermont legislature
FRED H. PILLSBURY.
from the town of Sutton. He was appointed one of the standing com- mittee on manufactures, also one of the special committee on the Louis- iana Purchase exposition, serving his town with credit and ability. He, like his father, is a natural trader and will make his mark as a business man.
RUGGLES, DANIEL E., of Sut- ton, a son of James and Lydia (Ran-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
dall) Ruggles, was born in Sutton April 16, 1831. He was one of a family of three children. His only brother was William F., the old "drover," who was so well and favor- ably known from Canada to Brigh- ton cattle market, and who died in
ried January 2, 1854. Three chil- dren were born to them, two dying in early life. The remaining one, Bnrleigh D., was born January 25, 1870, and married Minnie J. Fyler, daughter of John Fyler of Burke, and resides on the old "Ruggles
DANIEL E. RUGGLES.
1891 in Kansas. Their sister, Re- becca H., married William Harvey, deceased. She now makes her home at Lyndonville. The brothers mar- ried sisters, who were the danghters of Lorenzo D. Hall of Sutton. Will- iam F. married Mary and Daniel E. married Mariah. Daniel was mar-
farm" in Sutton, where his father and grandfather lived before him.
Daniel E. Ruggles has always been one of Sutton's prominent men, being very successful as a farmer, and being largely interested in all publie matters. He has served his town as lister and justice of the
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peace many years, and has been overseer of the poor for some ten years. He represented Sutton in the legislature in 1898, and in 1902 he was elected assistant judge of Caledonia county, which position he now holds. A few years ago Judge Ruggles retired from active farm life, and Mr. and Mrs. Ruggles now occupy their quiet home at Sutton Corner village, enjoying their well- earned rest from the more labo- rions duties of life.
of her parents) was born at Orwell in 1841. She was educated at the common schools and at the Troy Conference academy at Poultney. Mr. and Mrs. Doud lived upon a farm in New Haven until 1870, when they purchased and moved on to the William Ruggles farm in Sut- ton, which has ever since been their home. In 1884 they erected their very commodious house (an engrav- ing of which appears with this sketch). From this farm can be
RESIDENCE OF SYLVESTER S. DOUD.
DOUD, SYLVESTER S., a native of New Haven, born in 1839, a son of Sylvester and Alzina (Wheeler) Doud, was one of a family of five boys. He was educated at the com- mon schools, the New Haven acad- emy, the Barre high school, and the Montpelier seminarv. Ile was mar- ried in 1866 to Mary G., daughter.of Deacon Dan and Maria (Potwine) Goodell. Mrs. Dond (an only child
seen one of the finest landscape views in this section.
Arthur V., an only child of Mr. and Mrs. Doud, was born at New Haven in 1867. He began his edu- cation at Sutton common schools; after this he attended the St. Johns- bury academy, and later graduated from the Lyndon institute. He then entered the Michigan university at Ann Arbor, and graduated from the
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medical department in 1896. After his graduation he began the prac- tice of medicine at Hill, New Hamp- shire, where he continued one year.
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