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 2
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 2
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 2
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
Percival, Charles F. 195
Tabor, Hon. Horace A. W. 32
Percival, Orson. 196
Taplin, Merrick W 182
Phillips. Chester S
82
Templeton. Dr. Wilbur F. 81
Pierce, Horace ('
186
Tenney, Frank W
39
Place. Guy V
47
Thrasher, Homer 116
Pratt. Herbert H 131
Tice, George H
30
Pronty, Hon. Charles A 112
Tolman, Hon. Henry S
267
Prouty & Miller. 117
Tripp, William E.
11
Prouty. Hon. George H
117
Turnbull Creameries
204
Ranney, Charles F
113
Tureot, Rev. Joseph 161
89
Richardson, Mrs. N. R.
19
Tyler. William D
89
Robinson, Eber C.
139
Valley, Oliver 202
46
Rogers, Frank S. 38
130
Waller. Dr. C. Curtis. 55
187
Rowell, William
36
Warner. Rev. Wilmond A
165
Rowell. Enoch C.
36
Ward. Thomas.
255
Rowell, William W
36
Ward, Charles D 256
173
Sawyer, Rosa
148
Wells. Dr. Robert M.
16
Scott, Walter A
98
Scott. Wilbur F.
98
Wheeler, Chester C.
58
Seaver, Ezra T
50
Wheeler, Hon. Charles W
90
Seaver. Harley T
182
Wheeler, Clarence A
ISS
Sears. Frederick M
J3
Whitehill, Ellsworth MI
25
Shepard, Guy E. 41
Wilson, Marshall E. 1-
Sherman. Francis M.
121
Willoughby Lake House 19
Silver. Albert :
248
Williams. Charles W 36
Silver. Albert A., Jr
250
Williams, Hon. Frank C. 134
Silver, Edgar O. 250
Willard. Wylie S.
78
Siseo. David W. & Co 145
Woodworth, Den C
67
Skinner. French & Co.
199
Wright. Dr. Ioel F.
178
Skinner. Hon. Chauncey S 199
Wyman. James M.
14
Smith, Henry O 136
Young. Dr. William A 69
Somers, Homer H
94 Young. Hon. John 108
Robbins, William S.
228
Wakeman, Arthur M
Wakefield, William W
Rogers. Hon. Nathaniel S
Ross, Elder Nathan A
272
Walcott. Edward A
Royce, Clark.
7
Webster, Ellery H
Wells, Burt U. 76
Rickard, The 258
Tyler. Mary E. H
VERMONT
SEEDOM
AND UNITY
TO ALL SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF VERMONT BY BIRTH OR ADOPTION
WHO LOVE HER INSTITUTIONS, HER HISTORY, AND HER TRADITIONS, THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED
VERMONT
Hail, thou Green Mountain State ! Home of the good and great Of by-gone days ! Thy patriots' honored name, Thy heroes' deathless fame, Thy sons will loud proclaim And sound thy praise.
Clothed in their living green, Thy noble hills are seen, Our boast and pride ; There, winds with praise resound, There, wild flowers sweet are found And peace and health abound On every side.
Fierce was thy long campaign, For liberty to gain A sure repose. Thy banner wide unfurled, Thou didst " defy the world," And thy stout weapons hurled 'Gainst all thy foes !
Hail, then, our loved Vermont Freedom's baptismal font Was reared by thee ; Still may its waters bless Thy sons, who would possess Truth, Courage, Holiness And Liberty.
CALEDONIA COUNTY
Population, Census of 1900, 24,381
ALEDONIA county was or- ganized November 8, 1796, with Danville as its shire town. It was called Cale- donia in honor of the numerous emigrants from Scotland, Caledonia being the ancient Roman name for Scotland.
The growth of St. Johnsbury, the construction of the railroad through the town, and other canses, made it desirable that it should be made the shire town, which was done, and the court house in St. Johnsbury was erected and first occupied by the court at the Deeem- ber terin, 1856.
The soil is good and suitable to every condition of agriculture. The western portion of the county is mountainous, and although the farms in that part are on high lands, they admit of successful cultivation, some of the best farms in the county being on the high hills of Danville. The valleys of the Connectient and Passumpsie rivers are composed of rich, deep soil, and are easily enl- tivated.
It has been said of Caledonia county that every farm has its own muck bed. While this is not strictly true, yet the deposits are so abundant that every farmer can avail himself of this most excellent absorbent at little or no expense. Caledonia county is a rich farming
district, and scores of farms give an affirmative answer to the question, " Does farming pay?" The farm- ers are rapidly adopting the modern methods of agriculture, realizing that the old ways of fifty years ago are as much out of place on the farm as in the store or shop.
The county is well watered by many streams. The Connecticut runs along the southeastern side, and the northern towns are watered by the head waters of the Passump- sic. Every farmhouse can be sup- plied with pure, soft running water from the numerous springs which abound. There are many falls at numerous places on the rivers, with power both improved and unde- veloped, which should make the county one of the first for manufac- tures. Among some are Stevens river, which falls eighty feet in the distance of twenty rods near its month; the Emerson falls on Sleeper's river, half a mile from St. Johnsbury, which fall seventy- five feet in five rods; an available power at Passumpsie of from 300 to 500 horse power, with two side tracks: a 500 horse power of the St. Johnsbury Power Co., of which less than a third is used, the Great Falls at Lyndon, owned and formerly used by the Wilder Pulp Co., an immense power which is now idle; and many others.
6
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
The mineral resources are princi- pally of granite. In Kirby and Sheffield are extensive deposits of granite of very good quality and texture, which have as yet been worked but little. The Blue Moun- tain granite from Ryegate is known the country over, and is considered the best for monumental purposes of any in the state. While the Hardwick quarries are equalled only by those of Barre and for quality are surpassed by none in the world.
Gold specimens have been found in Waterford, and the rocks there are of a gold-bearing formation.
There is also a slate ledge in Waterford, from which roofing slates of very good quality have been quarried, but which is not worked at present.
The transportation facilities are excellent, three different lines of railways crossing the county. One runs the entire length, north and south, and the others east and west, giving direct lines to Portland, Bos- ton, and Montreal, with but six hours' ride from either of the three. St. Johnsbury, at the junction of two of these roads, offers exceptional advantages as a business point, and also as a place to live. The town is liberally disposed toward legitimate manufacturing enterprises, and the formation of an energetic board of trade has awakened new interest in the resources of the town as a manu- facturing center.
Caledonia joins with her sister counties in presenting fertile plains, well-watered valleys, health-giving breezes, and never failing harvests, as inducements to Vermont's sons in the West to come home to the mother state, which has enough and to spare for their comfort and suste- nance.
ST. JOIINSBURY. Population Census of 1900, 7,010.
EARLY
LEHISTORY
Chop.
argent
The town is the essential unit of the political institutions of New England. In a real sense a town is a moral being, with ideals, princi- ples, traditions, and a history, some- thing more, something higher than a mere aggregation of individuals and material wealth.
It is this nobler conception of his town and of his state that inspires the citizen with patriotism and all the civic virtues; this conception is the foundation stone of our consti- tutional liberties; hence the history of the town is worthy of our first and most careful consideration. The town of St. Johnsbury is not only the railroad, the industrial and the educational center of north- eastern Vermont, but it has exerted a potent and controlling influence, by reason of the character and abil- ity of its leading men. The tract of land, about 39,000 acres, on the Passumpsie river, that included the present town of St. Johnsbury and a portion of the towns of Concord and Waterford, was granted by King
7
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
George III in 1270, to thirty-nine petitioners, under the leadership of John Woods and William Swan.
tlement was made here until 1785, as the authority of King George was not then recognized as paramount
Jonathan Arnold
HON. JONATHAN ARNOLD, FOUNDER OF ST. JOHNSBURY, VERMONT.
It was called Dunmore, in honor of the Earl of Dunmore. There is no record that any permanent set-
in this region. About this time Hon. Jonathan Arnold of Rhode Island, and his associates, petitioned
8
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Governor Thomas Chittenden of Vermont for a grant of unappropri- ated land, who granted ther a chart- er for a new township November 1, 1286. The name of St. Johnsbury was given in honor of St. John De Crevecoeur, the French consul at New York, at the suggestion of his friend, Colonel Ethan Allen, a fit- ting recognition of a true and distin- guished friend of America. Among the grantees were the names of Jonathan Arnold, Samuel Stevens, Ira Allen of Irasburg, Joseph Fay of Bennington, the brothers, James and John Clark, James, Jonathan, and J. Cullender Adams, William and Jonathan Trescott. Allen and Fay were non-residents holding four shares, and Samuel Stevens held eighteen rights, or about 5,400 acres, most of which were subse- quently transferred to Dr. Arnold and other actual settlers. Arnold received 3,900 acres in his own right at the date of the charter, about one tenth of the original grant.
The area of the town was esti- mated at 21,167 acres. Provision was made in the charter for educa- tion and religion, by the reserva- tion of one seventy-first part for the use of a seminary or college, and the same for the use of county grammar schools in the state, also an equal share for the support of an English school or schools in the township, and for the settlement of ministers of the gospel. Provision was also made for the erection of the first grist and sawmills, out of the proceeds of the public land. The reservations of this charter were: " That each proprietor of the town- ship should plant and cultivate five acres of land, and build a house at
least eighteen feet square on the floor, or have one family settled on each respective right in said town- ship within the time limited by law of the state. Also that all pine tim- ber suitable for a navy be reserved for the use and benefit of the free men of the state." The penalty was forfeiture of the land.
The settlement of the town was begun in the latter part of 1786, just before the charter was granted. The pioneers were James Martin, J. C. and Jonathan Adams, who lo- cated on the valley near the works of the Northern Lumber Co., and Simeon Cole, who settled on the meadows south of Center village. Later, Benjamin Doolittle, Josiah Nichol, Thomas Todd, Jonathan and William Trescott had all ob- tained rights as actual settlers. The supplies of the little settlement were all obtained from the stores and grist-mills of Barnet, at first trans- ported on the shoulders of the pio- neers.
The spring of 1787 brought a notable addition, Jonathan Arnold and sixteen others. Dr. Arnold was a man of high character and ability, formerly a member of con- gress from Rhode Island.
He settled at the head of St. Johnsbury Plain, and also owned the district now known as Fairbanks village. During the summer of 1187 he erected the first frame house in St. Johnsbury, located just above the park, which stood until 1844, when the boys burned it in celebrating the presidential election of General Polk. The first town meeting was held in this house in 1790, with Jonathan Arnold, mod- erator and clerk, Jonathan Adams, treasurer, and Joel Roberts, Joseph
9
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Lord, and Martin Adams, selectmen.
In June, 1982, the "one full right," reserved according to the charter for building mills, was lo- cated on the Passumpsie, just above the mouth of Moose river. This property, 300 acres, was assigned to Dr. Arnold, and during the spring of 1280 he erected a sawmill, and later a grist-mill, the modern Pad- dock village being known as " Ar- nold's Mills." After the mills were established, the rights assigned, and some highways laid out, the popula- tion increased rapidly by immigra- tion, largely from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. David Goss removed to St. Johns- bury in 1792, built a sawmill in 1293, and a comfortable residence the following year, thus forming the nucleus of Goss Hollow.
These are the brief and simple landmarks of the carly history of the town. Traversed from north to south by the Passumpsic river, with its tributaries, the Moose on the east, and Sleeper's river on the west, with a surface diversified but not broken, and a soil well adapted to the purposes of cultivation, the town soon took rank as a prosperous agricultural community.
The following interesting tradi- tion is related in connection with the early survey of the town. Dr. Arnold, with others, was establish- ing lines in the vicinity of Sleeper's river, then known as West Branch. The provisions and equipments were left in charge of Thomas Todd. When the surveyors returned Todd was found on the river bank enjoy- ing a quiet snooze. " Hencefor- ward," said Dr. Arnold, "let the West Branch be known as Sleeper's river."
In 1997 St. Johnsbury was set off from Orange county and with eighteen others united to form the new county of Caledonia. The his- tory of St. Johnsbury for the next thirty years was that of many an- other New England town- a con- tinual struggle and some progress.
Then, in 1831, Sir Thaddeus Fairbanks, the inventor of the first platform scale, took out his first patent and from that time St. Johnsbury dates her material growth and importance, for by na- ture she seems to have been de- signed for a manufacturing center.
A biography of Sir Thaddeus Fairbanks would be little less than
THE FIRST ACADEMY BUILDING.
a history of the town. In 1842 he. with his two brothers, founded the St. Johnsbury academy, and until 1866 sustained it; from that time until 1882 all the expense was borne by Thaddeus Fairbanks, and during this time South hall was built, costing $30,000, and also the present academy building, which cost $50.000. In 1882 the acad- emy was endowed with $100,000, $40,000 of which was from its geu- erous founder, and in all his gifts amounted to more than $200,000.
On Sabbath day, April 11th, 1861.
10
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
an hour before noon, a telegram an- nounced to the citizens of St. Johns- bury the disheartening intelligence that Fort Sumter had capitulated to an armed force of the already par- tially established Sonthern Confed- eracy! Major Anderson, with his threescore of loyal adherents- United States soldiers-had surren- dered to General G. T. Beanregnard, the commander of the Confederate beleaguering forces.
This event aroused the country. On the 15th of April President Lin- coln issued a proclamation calling out for immediate service 75,000 of the militia of the several states of the Union; at the same time conven- ing an extra session of congress. The quota of Vermont, under the call, was one regiment.
On the same day, Governor Fair- banks issued a proclamation, con- vening an extra session of the legis- Jature of Vermont on the 23d of April. At this session the gover- nor was authorized to raise six spe- cial regiments for immediate service.
The people of St. Johnsbury, like others throughout the free states, felt the occasion to be momentous. It may be interesting to future resi- dents of the town to know the action of its inhabitants while these stir- ring events were transpiring. With- in two days after the announcement that Fort Sumter had surrendered to the rebels, a public meeting was holden in the town hall.
In response to a call Tuesday evening, April 16th upon all loyal citizens who were willing to aid in maintaining the honor, integrity, and existence of our national Union, the town hall was filled to overflow- ing at an early hour. The meeting was organized by the choice of Hon.
A. G. Chadwick as president. Upon taking the chair the president made stirring and appropriate remarks upon the condition of our country, and our duty as good and loyal citi- zens. Remarks were then made by J. D. Stoddard, Esq., Rev. Thomas Kidder (who afterwards died while in military service), Hon. B. N. Davis of Danville, Hon. C. S. Dana, George C. Barney, Esq., and Dr. J. P. Bancroft of Concord, N. 11., but a former resident of St. Johns- bury, Colonel George A. Merrill, R. Armington, B. B. Clark, Esq., John W. Ramsay (who was killed in the military service at Savage Station, Virginia), E. C. Redington, Esq., Hon. Moses Kittridge and others. President Lincoln's proclamation, calling for 75,000 men, and Gover- nor Fairbanks' proclamation, con- vening an extra session of the legis- lature to take proper action in rela- tion thereto, were read and heartily endorsed. Strong resolutions de- nouncing the rebels and sustaining the government were then presented and read by Hon. C. S. Dana, which were received with great enthusiasm, and then adopted. A single re- solve is here given to serve as an in- dication of the high feeling of pa- triotism that prevailed:
" Resolved, There were tories in 1761, and there are tories in 1861, and those of to-day will go down to posterity as did those in the days of the Revolution, traitors to their country when despotism is attempt- ing to bind the people to the car of political bondage."
At a late hour the meeting ad- journed with but one feeling, and that to support the president, the constitution, and the Union.
On the evening of April 22d an-
11
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
other patriotic meeting was holden at the town hall. The hall was filled to overflowing. Hon. C. S. Dana was chairman, and after stir- ring and patriotic remarks by sev- eral persons, seventy men came for- ward and volunteered their services, proposing to organize themselves into a company according to law and
llanscom, E. P. Warner, John S. Kilby, Henry G. Ely, A. E. Worthen, Charles L. Paddock, Charles Hodgdon, John P. Eddy, William E. Parish, A. O. Kidder, Albert J. Ayer, Curtis R. Crossman, Thomas Bishop, C. R. J. Kellum, John W. Ramsay, John Green, A. F. Felch, C. F. Spaulding, Henry (.
THE FOUNTAIN, ARNOLD PARK.
hold themselves in readiness to re- spond to the requisition of the presi- dent of the United States for aid in suppressing the Rebellion. The following named among these seventy, actually, though not all in the same regiments, entered the service: Franklin Belknap, D. C. llaviland, Oliver W. Heyer, Hiram
Newell. Samnel W. Hall, Orren Chase, Fred E. Carpenter, John H. Ilutchinson, William L. Jackson, Carlton Felch, William Norris, A. (. Armington.
Twenty-one of this number en- listed in the Third regiment, and the remaining fifteen in other branches of the service. Ten of
12
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
the thirty-six lost their lives-five on the battle-field-two in rebel prisons, and three by disease.
uniforming and equipping and pro- viding needful supplies for such persons as should enlist. Thirty re-
CORP. JORN N' COPELANO CORP. MICHAEL FOLEY
CORP. ALBERT F. FELCH
CORP. EPHRAIM P. HOWARD
CORP. NATHAN P. JAY CORP. CEORCE T. KASSON CORP. WILLIAM NORRIS
CORP. HARRISON W. VARNEY CORP. HENRY C. VOODAY
CORP. CHARLES W HILL ORANGE H AYER JACOB S. ARCHER LEONARD N. BISHOP SIMEON S. BEAN JOSEPH BAKER ROZERNE E. BACON STEPHEN CUARIER FRANKLIN CASWELL OSCAR N. CUMMINGS LEWIS A. CLARK FELIX CUNNEUILLE JACOB CHAPMAN
1867
MEADE'S STATUE OF LIBERTY, COURT HOUSE PARK.
At this meeting $1,200 were volvers were also pledged. E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. pledged $2,000 to-
pledged by different individuals for
13
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
wards a fund for the benefit of the families of recruits. The United States government, by the time our soldiers became organized, was ready to supply equipments, and the state made provision for aiding needy families of men in the service. Though these subscriptions were never called for in the form in which they were made-the state having made appropriations for the same purpose-many of them, if not all, were largely increased by con- tributions to soldiers and their fam- ilies, and to the sanitary and Chris- tian commissions.
Other meetings of a patriotic character were hollen at a later period from time to time; but the foregoing abridged account of the two earlier ones will be sufficient to acquaint the children of the spirit which stirred the hearts of the fathers in these times that tried men's souls.
At a meeting of the citizens of the town of St. Johnsbury, holden on the 4th day of May, 1861,-duly warned by Beauman Butler, Barron Moulton, and Calvin Morrill, select- men of the town-the following resolution, offered by J D. Stoddard, Esq., was adopted without a dis- senting voice:
" Resolved, That in all cases where the head of any family, or any per- son upon whom any family of this town shall depend for support. by voluntary enlistment as a private, musician, or non-commissioned offi- cer, shall be mustered into service under the laws of this state, or the laws of the United States, and the sum appropriated at the extra ses- sion of the Legislature held at Montpelier, April, 1861, and the provision of Act No. 9, approved
April 26, 1861, entitled an Act to provide for raising six special regi- ments for immediate service, shall not be sufficient to maintain and support such family, the Selectmen may and are hereby empowered to provide such additional means for the maintenance and support of such family, or families, during the absence of such person so detailed in active service. AH sums so ex- pended shall be paid by the Treas- urer on orders drawn upon the treasury by the Selectmen; and the sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby raised for the purpose, which sum is hereby appropriated, levied and collected, from time to time, as the same is expended, as other town taxes are."
On the same day the resolution which follows, offered by John Ba- con, 2d, Esq., was also adopted, to wit:
" Resolved, That the Board of Civil Authority of the town of St. Johnsbury, whose duty it is to make all necessary abatements of faxes, be instructed to abate all taxes as- sessed upon the polls and ratable estates of all persons, citizens of the town of St. Johnsbury, who shall volunteer or enlist into the active military service of the United States, and such abatements to be continued during such service."
In pursuance of a warning of the selectmen, Barron Moulton, Calvin Morrill, and J. II. Applebee, a town meeting was holdlen on the 24th day of August. 1862. Article two, as follows, was adopted, to wit:
"To see if the town will vote to appropriate out of the United States deposit money received from the United States by the apportion- ment under the last census, twenty-
14
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
five dollars bounty to each soldier who will volunteer, and who shall be mustered into the United States service from this town, to supply the place of the number who will have to be drafted unless the town's quota is supplied by volunteers."
At the same time it was voted that if the sum thus appropriated for the purpose specified should be insufficient, the selectmen should supply the deficiency from the treasury, or by borrowing the re- quisite amount.
above that offered by the United States,-and holden on the 19th day of November, 1863,-on mo- tion of Governor Erastus Fairbanks, it was voted,-
"That the Selectmen be in- structed to offer a bounty of three hundred dollars to each volunteer for three years or during the war, and to pay the same when such vol- unteer shall have been mustered into the service of the United States."
At a town-meeting, holden on the 18th day of February, 1864, for the
FAIRBANKS MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE.
It was also voted at this meeting to guarantee seven dollars per month additional pay to all volun- teers, provided the state failed to pay this amount. The state, by an act of the legislature, paid volun- teers seven dollars per month, or al- lowed them, upon being mustered into the service, $125 as commuta- tion.
At a meeting of the town, duly warned by the selectmen, to provide additional bounty to volunteers,
purpose of enlisting more men and providing means for paying them. the following resolution, presented by Hon. L. P. Poland, was passed, to wit:
" Resolved, That if it shall be necessary to raise any number of volunteers from the town of St. Johnsbury, in order to raise the proportion of men said town is bound to furnish under the last or future call of the President, the Se- lectmen of said town are instructed
15
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
to enlist the necessary number of men, either new men, or men re- enlisted in the army, and pay them a bounty of three hundred dollars- and are authorized to draw money from the treasury of the town, or to borrow the money on the credit of the town for that purpose."
The following resolution, pre- sented by Jonathan Ross, Esq., was also adopted at the same meeting. to wit:
" Resolved, That the Selectmen be authorized to pay the men in the field, who have or may hereafter re- enlist to the credit of St. Johns- bury, prior to March 1, 1864, to the number of forty men, the sum of $300 each, and to draw money from the treasury or borrow the money to pay the same, and if more than forty men shall so re-enlist prior to said date, then instead of the sum of $300, the said seleetmen shall pay the sum due forty men pro rata to all then so re-enlisted, and that the same shall be paid on the first day of June, 1864."
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