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 21
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 21
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 21
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The home at "Homorient Farm" is provided with the treasures of art, literature, and music, and fully sustains its former high prestige for cordial hospitality.
Mr. and Mrs. Eastman have had three children: Mabel Louise, who died in infancy: Helen Louise, who attends St. Johnsbury academy, and Richard Parks, a pupil at the Union school. Mrs. Eastman is a member and constant attendant of the North Congregational church, also a prominent member of the Woman's club.
Mr. Eastman owns a fine private library, is an original and well-in- formed gentleman, a Shriner, a member of Kismet temple, Brook- Ivn, and a 32° Mason.
SHEPHERD, FRANCIS HOLLEY. son of Saunders and Lydia (Bishop) Shepherd, was born at Dudswell, Province of Quebec, April 27, 1851. A stalwart, farm-bred youth, at the age of twenty-one he came to Water- ford, was employed as a teamster, and later worked upon farms in the neighborhood where he now resides. In 1876 he married Emily E., daughter of N. and Mary (Wey- mouth) Moreau, and they removed to a small farm in his native town,
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
where they spent the first seven years of their married life. In 1883 they returned to Waterford to the Moreau farm, and cared for the later years of the elderly couple, and here they have since resided.
"Glenvale," a productive three- hundred aere farm, is located a half mile from Passumpsie village, and is conducted as a dairy farm, with a fine herd of from twenty-five to thirty-five grade Jerseys, and a cream route at St. Johnsbury. For three years Mr. Shepherd traveled as an agent in the sale and installa- tion of the De Laval separators, and put in the first one used in the county. He possesses the imagina- tive foresight and push so essential for taking the initiative in new en- terprises, and was the pioneer in this town in the use of the circular silo. He first suggested the location of the St. Johnsbury creamery, and was a partner with C. H. Higgins in build- ing and operating it for three years. He has successfully represented sev- eral prominent manufacturers of farm machinery, and is now the agent of the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance company of Montpelier. He has acceptably served as lister five years, and knows "Waterford like a book. During the past twenty years he has more than trebled the income of the farm, and ranks as one of the most successful farmers of the county.
Mr. Shepherd is a member of Cal- edonia lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., and with Mrs. Shepherd affiliated with Green Mountain lodge, No. 49, N. E. O. P. The children of F. H. and Emily (Moreau) Shepherd are: Francis Saunders, a proficient book- keeper: Ernest Moreau, who con- duets the cream route and is asso-
ciated with his father in farming; and Raymond E., a student in St. Johnsbury academy.
JOHNSON, NILES G., son of Peter and Martha (Thompson) John- son, was born in Lunenburg in 1849, came to Waterford in 1863, and worked on farms two years. In 1865 he married Ellen, daughter of Isaac Lewis, and soon after bought his father-in-law's farm, where he has since resided.
The farm is located one mile from the village of Waterford, and con- tains 135 acres, besides outlying lands of some seventy-five acres, and has been conducted largely as a dairy farm, with from ten to seven- teen cows, mainly grade Jerseys. Sugar making has been an important feature. Mr. Johnson is a thorough and successful farmer and respected citizen. He was formerly in trade for a time at Waterford, where he was postmaster. He has held several town offices, selectman and road commissioner, and is a stockholder and director in Trout Brook cream- ery. Niles and Ellen Lewis John- son have one daughter, Flora W., who married George S. Wallace. A nephew, C. Irving Harvey, has re- sided with Mr. Johnson from in- faney.
George S., son of Nelson and Nancy (Willey) Wallace, was born in Concord in 1867. Nelson Wallace was a soldier of the Civil war. George S. Wallace is the proprietor of the general store at Waterford, and is doing a thrifty and steadily increasing business. Mr. Wallace carries grain, flour, feed, phos- phate, and agricultural implements. in fact, a general assortment adapted to the local trade, and also handles farmers' produce. A prudent, relia-
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ble young man, he is ably assisted by his capable wife, and his enter- prise is the leading one at Water- ford village.
mills, together with several other buildings in connection, were for- merly owned and occupied by the Lyndon Mill company.
LYNDONVILLE FROM LYNDON INSTITUTE.
LYNDON.
Population, Census of 1900, 2,956.
The town of Lyndon was located by a committee consisting of Hon. Jonathan Arnold, Daniel Cahoon, and Daniel Owen, representing an association of about fifty citizens of Providence, Rhode Island.
On November 20, 1:80, the town was chartered, six miles square, be- ing the fourth town chartered in Caledonia county. The town is pleasantly situated on both sides of the Passumpsic river, which is large- ly formed in this town by its numer- ous tributaries from the surround- ing towns. On this river near the St. Johnsbury line, at Great falls, is an excellent water-power, where the Lyndon Electric Light and Power company's works are located. About. one mile above, at Little falls, is also a fine water-power. Here are lo- cated the Ide grist-mill and the leather board manufactory. These
Lyndon (P. O.) village, located in the southern part of the town, on the railroad, was once the business center of the town. It contains a fine school building, two churches, and several stores.
Lyndon Center village is the seat of the Lyndon institute, also of the town hall. There is in this village one church, one large school build- ing besides the institute, one store, and post-office.
Lyndonville, the principal village in town, is beautifully located in the Passumpsie valley. It contains the railroad shops, which employ a large force of men. Here are located a large number of fine stores, shops, and public buildings, two hotels, a village hall, five churches, a graded school, and many very beautiful res- idences.
In April, 1:88, Daniel Cahoon, Jr., began the first settlement in town, his residence being a camp
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made of boughs. He was soon fol- lowed by Jonathan Davis, Nathan Hines, Daniel Hall, and others. In 1789, Mr. Davis' wife came, she be- ing the first woman to settle in town. They "kept house" in Mr. Cahoon's new log house. In 1791 set- tlements had been commenced in different parts of the town, and the total population was about sixty. On July 4 of this year they cele- brated Independence day by the or- ganization of the town. At this meeting "Elder" Philemon Hines was elected moderator, Daniel Ca-
iel Cahoon, Esq., who came to Lyn- don in 1793, and who was ever one of Lyndon's active and useful citi- zens. In fact the history of Lyndon without the history of the Cahoon family would be short of many of its most interesting features. William Cahoon, son of Daniel, Sr., came to Lyndon before the town was organ- ized and was ever prominent until his death, serving in various capaci -. ties as town and county officer, was lieutenant-governor from 1820 to 1822, member of congress from 182: to 1833. Edward A. Cahoon, son of
LOOKING SOUTHEAST FROM LYNDON INSTITUTE.
hoon, clerk; James Spooner, Daniel Resuff, and Daniel Cahoon, Jr., selectmen and listers; Nehemiah Tucker, treasurer; and Nathan Hines, constable and eollector. The first child born in town was a son to Nathan Hines, February 9, 1791. The first death was of the first set- tler, Daniel Cahoon, Jr., of con- sumption, June 11. 1293, aged twenty-six. The first marriage was of Jeremiah Washburn and Hannah Orcutt (of Sutton) by Daniel Cahoon, Esq., June 26, 1794. The first mills erected were by Dan-
William, was a prominent lawyer and publie man, and was state sena- tor from 1856 to 1858. Charles Ca- hoon, M. D., was for many years a most successful physician at Lyn- don, where he resided until his death.
George C. Cahoon, son of William, married Mary Ripley Baylies, daugh- ter of Hon Nicholas Baylies of Montpelier, and great-granddaugh- ter of Hon. Nicholas Baylies, the founder and first president of Dart- mouth college. His son, George William Cahoon, was born in Lyn-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
don, December 15, 1831, was edu- cated at Lyndon academy and Dart- mouth college, admitted to the "practice of law" in Caledonia county at June term, 1855, was elected state attorney in 1860, re- elected in 1861. He was very suc-
ton, August 3, 1858, and Mary Eliz- abeth, August 26, 1862. Having lost his first wife by death, he was married the second time to Mary L. Bellows of Lancaster, New Hamp- shire. The children of this union were Charlotte D., now a teacher in
GEORGE C. CAHOON.
cessful in his practice of law, and was always prominently connected with the public schools. George W. was married to Charlotte D., dangh- ter of Mayor James B. Cahoon of Portland, Maine. Three children were born of this union, viz .: James B., December 22, 1856; George Clin-
the public schools at Butte, Mon- tana and Grace Wilson, a practising physician at Butte, Montana. He was again called to part with his wife by death. He was married a third time to Mrs. Sarah E. Russell, who survives him. He died at Lyn- don, July 13. 1891.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
BARTLETT, HON. THOMAS. Among all of the men, who partici- pated in the affairs of Vermont, that were noted for soundness of logic, clearness of perception, keenness of wit, and large, whole-sonled human- ity, there stood in the front rank the Hon. Thomas Bartlett of Lyndon. Born in a quiet, rural town, sur- rounded by all the privations inci- dent to his day and generation, by his own inherent common sense, love of justice and studions charac- ter, coupled with great native ability as a public speaker, he rapidly rose to the position of a leader among men, especially at the bar. His legal practice was very large and success- ful. Mr. Bartlett served with distinc- tion as a member of congress from Vermont, from 1851 to 1853. To quote from Bench and Bar, by Hon. George N. Dale: "No one can de- scribe Mr. Bartlett. His life created incidents enough to fill a volume. * *
* But he is gone and the sun never set on a sadder day to his personal friends than that on which he died."
SANBORN, ISAAC W. No man has performed a more active and useful part in the town of Lyndon. His father, one of the early settlers, owned the farm upon which the vil- lage of Lyndonville now stands. Isaac W. was town clerk for over forty years and justice of the peace most of his life, was one of the pro- moters of the Lyndonville bank and an earnest supporter of the Lyndon institute, largely furnishing the funds for the erection of Sanborn hall, connected with the institute. At his death, in 1903, he left, by will, a sum sufficient to build and equip a public library building for the town.
FLETCHER, HON. ISAAC, born in 1784, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1808, studied law with Judge White of Putney, admitted to the bar at Newfane, December, 1811. In 1812 he opened a law office at Lyndon, which town was his home until his death in 1842. He was state's attorney for Caledonia county eight years in snecession, repre- sented Lyndon in the legislature several terms, and was member of
congress from Vermont from 183: to 1841. Mr. Fletcher was very prominent and useful in all posi- tions to which he was called.
HOFFMAN, HENRY, a native uf Germany, enlisted in Providence. Rhode Island, in the Revolutionary army, and after some land service enlisted in the early navy of the United States, and saw service nn- der John Paul Jones. After the close of the war he invested his prize money in land in the then unsettled towns of St. Johnsbury and Lyndon. He married Elanor Connor and reared a family of six children that settled in Lyndon and Sutton. His son, James B., married Lucy Rice, and reared twelve children. His son, William, married Nancy Fletcher, who bore him two chil- dren, Adelaide, and John H. For his second wife he married Helen M. Harris, daughter of Amasa and Ruth (Tarbox) Harris. The results of this marriage are three children, Edwin H., Charles W., and Lila M.
Edwin H. Hoffman, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lyndon, April 18, 1858. He was educated at Lyndon institute and Dartmouth. Read law with George W. Cahoon, and was admitted to the practice of law in Caledonia county June term. 1881.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
He married Mary E. Cahoon, daughter of his law partner, George W. Cahoon, November 23, 1882.
The following children have been born to them: Charlotte C., born August, 3, 1883; Helen H., born November 28, 1884; Marguerite L., born November 24, 1888, Ruth Elanor, born April 17, 1890; Eliza- beth M., born May 2, 1892; Karl Wilhelm, born August 29, 1893; Anna Grace, born November 25, 1894: Clayton Robert, born April 3,
EDWIN H. HOFFMAN.
1897; Hilda M. and Hazel, born May 4, 1899; Winifred L., born August 13, 1901. Hazel died in infancy.
Soon after marriage he moved to the General William Cahoon farm, and though engaged in the active practice of law, became interested in Morgan horses, and in 1892 practi- cally abandoned his law practice and devoted his whole time to the farm and to the Morgan horse bus :-
ness, writing extensively for the agricultural press in the line of his favorite pursuit. He has never been prominent as an office-holder, though he has held several minor offices, having been superintendent of schools, school director in the Lyndon academy and graded school district, and town lister. He is a Republican in politics and has been prominently connected with the party organization in his town and county.
LYNDON INSTITUTE, at Lyndon Center, was chartered in 1867 and founded in 1869. The main build- ing, which was erected in 1869, was built by generous donations from the founders, chief of whom were Rev. L. B. Tasker, Rev. F. Randall. Rev. T. P. Moulton, of the Freewill Baptist denomination, and Hon. S. S. Thompson, Hon. Dudley P. Hall, Hon. Calvin Morrill, Hon. Isaac W. Sanborn, Mr. S. B. Mattoeks, Mr. Jeremy Pearl, and Mr. Charles Rogers, Jr. The present board of trustees is Mr. Theodore N. Vail, president; Mr. W. Irving Powers, vice-president; Mr. Engene M. Campbell, secretary and treasurer: Mr. L. B. Harris, Mr. H. E. Folsom, Mr. J. C. Eaton, Rev. J. C. Bodwell, Rev. E. Newell, Mr. I. H. Hall, Hon. Samuel W. McCall, Hon. W. E. Ranger, Mr. O. D. Mathewson, Hon. G. M. Campbell, Mr. C. M. Darling, Mr. H. W. Lyster, Mr. E. J. Quim- by, Mr. L. A. Darling, Mr. C. G. Norris, and Mr. C. T. Walter.
The main building is a three- story structure of brick and granite, 75x100 feet, standing on a beanti- ful hillside overlooking the valley in which lie the villages of Lyndon Center and Lyndonville. The loca- tion is ideal for a school for sec-
LYNDON INSTITUTE, LYNDON CENTER, VERMONT.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
ondary education: beautiful in all its surroundings, removed from the noise and excitement of a busy village like Lyndonville, yet near enough to it to make its advantages easily accessible to the students.
The Institute is modern in its equipments and beautiful in its in- terior decorations. Its library con- tains about 1,400 carefully selected volumes, and is constantly growing through the gifts of friends and the income from an endowment given by the alumni of the school. The museum contains over 3,000 speci- mens, the extent, variety, and qual- ity of which are equaled by few school cabinets. The apparatus for scientific study and laboratory work is well chosen and extensive, and additions are constantly being made.
Three courses of study of four years each are offered: Classical. Latin-Scientific, and English. These courses fit for entrance to the best colleges and professional schools in the country. Graduates from the Institute have been admitted to Tufts, Brown, Ann Arbor, Boston University and Yale, and others are now to be found in Dartmouth, Middlebury, Bates, Norwich, and the Vermont State University. Be- sides the regular academic courses a three years' commercial course is maintained, which fits for business, and instruction is given in short- hand and typewriting, art, elocu- tion, vocal and instrumental music.
The faculty consists of nine ex- perienced teachers, each one of whom is an enthusiastic specialist in his or her department. The stan- dard of scholarship is high, and the moral tone of the school is excep- tionally healthful, conditions which
the students themselves make spe- cial efforts to maintain.
Expenses are low, and this, with the location, equipment, and char- acter of the school, makes Lyndon Institute an ideal place in which young men and young women can obtain an education.
PUGSLEY, FREMONT LAFOREST, was born in Rochester, New Hamp- shire, November 4th, 1859. His early education was obtained in the district school and Austin academy.
FREMONT L. PUGSLEY.
He then took a college preparatory course at New Hampton Institution and was graduated from Bates col- lege in 1891.
IIe had already had considerable experience in teaching, while pur- suing his studies, and in the fall of 1891 became principal of the High school in Henniker, New Ilamp- shire, where he remained five years. During this time he laid out new
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
courses of study, established the school on a firm basis, and secured the erection of a fine new school building.
In 1896 he resigned to accept the principalship of Lyndon Institute, which position he resigned August 25, 1903.
HARRIS, MERRITT MELVIN, was born December 26, 1866, in West Chazy, a little country town of northern New York. On his father's side his ancestry is Scotch-Irish and on his mother's, Scotch-English. Among his maternal ancestors is found Governor John Robinson of colonial times.
During Mr. Harris' boyhood the family removed to Iowa, where at seventeen years of age he began his career as teacher in the public
MERRITT M. HARRIS.
schools of that state. At the age of twenty-one he went to Evanston, Illinois, where he attended North- western University. After his grad-
ulation he engaged in business for a time in Plattsburg, New York, and was married to Gertrude M. Loomis of Lyndonville, June 22, 1897. Soon after he was called to fill the posi- tion of teacher in Troy Conference academy at Poultney, Vermont, which position he held one year.
In 1900 the republic of Ecuador sent a special commissioner to the United States to seleet three teach- ers to found normal schools in that country on the plan of the North American normals. Mr. Harris was one of the three chosen and he assisted in founding and taught a year in the first school of this kind to be established there.
About a year after his return Mr. Harris was requested to take the po- sition of teacher of science and mod- ern language at Lyndon Institute, which position he filled so satisfac- torily that on the resignation of Mr. Pugsley he was appointed principal. He began his duties in this capacity with the opening of the fall term, 1903, and his administration has been marked by efficiency and gives high promise for the success and prosperity of the institution.
LYNDON MILL COMPANY. In 1867, Dudley P. Hall, Sumner S. Thompson, Benjamin F. Lincoln, and George Ide formed, at Lyndon, one of the most reliable and sueeess- ful business firms in northern Ver- mont. Each member of this firm be- gan life without much of capital ex- eept good strong physique (three of the firm being more than six feet in height), good moral principles, and a strong determination to win. Each had been extensively engaged in va- rious business affairs and each had accumulated a good property. The financial resources of this company
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
were estimated to exceed those of many a banking firm in Vermont. They owned and occupied a grist- mill and a sawmill at the upper "Cahoon Falls." and four other saw- mills on the Passumpsie river; they also owned several thousand acres of timber land in Caledonia and Essex counties, and bought extensively of lumber "in the log" from various parties. The output of their manu- factured lumber was from five to six million feet per annum. They also did a large business in the grain and feed line in addition to their custom grinding. The business of this com- pany was very helpful to the gen- eral public and many regrets were expressed when, by reason of busi- ness cares elsewhere, it was decided to discontinue the firm January 1, 1883.
IDE, GEORGE, a son of William Ide, was born on a farm in Lyndon in 1821. At twenty years of age he went into trade with Fuller. at Lyndon, for four years, then formed a partnership with Miller & Trull at Lyndon in running a store and manufacturing wagons. In 1856 he bought the old home farm, which was his home when in Vermont until 1866, when he moved to the place now owned by his son, George P., where he re- mained until his death in 1900. Mr. Ide spent some years on horseback on the plains of Missouri and Kan- sas, buying cattle, hogs, etc. Dur- ing the war for the Union he was recruiting officer for Lyndon, and served as selectman twelve years, also as overseer and town agent. Mr. Ide was thoroughly Republican. He represented Lyndon in 1863-'64, was state senator from 1864 to 1866, was deputy sheriff twenty-six years.
and high sheriff four years. In 1843 he was married to Mary Ann Goss, who died in 1892. Two children were born to them: Mary I., who
GEORGE IDE.
married Henry E. Graves and who died, and George P., who succeeded to his father's business and resides at Lyndon.
HALL, DUDLEY P., son of Elias Hall, was born at Hart's Location, New Hampshire, in 1820. He early began the work of lumbering, came to North Concord, erected mills, and built up a little village, then moved to East Burke, bought the grist-mill and sawmill, and other property. Soon after the "flood" came and nearly ruined it all, but he immediately rebuilt better than before, and gave to the village the greatest "boom" it ever had. In 1864 he moved to Lyndon, erected the large house which was his home
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
until his death in 1885, being actively engaged in his business in the Lyndon Mill company.
In 1843 he was married to Amelia
DUDLEY P. HALL.
Gregory. Eight children were the fruits of the union, three of them now living: Albert C., of New York; Mabel, the wife of Charles T. Wal- ter of the St. Johnsbury Republican, and Alice, who married Herbert E. Walter, A. M., of Chicago.
THOMPSON, SUMNER SHAW, a lineal descendant of John Thomson of Wales, and a son of Jacob and Esther (Shaw) Thompson, was born at Halifax, Massachusetts. April 12, 1823. He came to Lyndon in 1856, where he ever after resided. The principal part of his business life was employed as a railroad contrac- tor and manager, having con- structed, either wholly or in part, some twenty-five different railroads.
He was also connected with the Lyn- don Mill company in the lumber business, and later in lumber in Michigan. At his death he was president of the F. & S. E. railroad, vice-president of the Montpelier & Wells River railroad, vice-president of the First National bank of St. Johnsbury, and director in many other financial business companies. He was a Republican in politics, rep- resented Lyndon in the legislature
SUMNER S. THOMPSON.
in 1860-'61 and 1866-'67, was also senator in 1876 and 1880; in 1880 he was presidential elector. He was a liberal supporter of church and school, his donations to the Lyndon institute being more than thirty thousand dollars.
On April 10, 1847, he was mar- ried to Harriet Stark Willey. Two daughters were born to them: Ella Esther, who married Congressman
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
McCall of Massachusetts, and Hat- tie W., the wife of Charles L. Stuart of Lyndonville. Mr. Thompson died October 24, 1889.
LINCOLN, BENJAMIN F., was born at Wareham, Massachusetts, in 1831. He learned the tinman's and hardware trade at Wilmington, Del- aware, spent one year about 1851 in the mines of California, then four years in hardware trade in Oregon. In 1863 he came to Lyndon and en- gaged in the hardware business. In 1866 he engaged in the lumber busi- ness, soon after joining the Lyndon Mill company, of which he was sec- retary and treasurer, and devoted most of his time to the firm. In 1881 he became interested in lumber lands in Michigan, where he spent
BENJAMIN F. LINCOLN.
quite a portion of his later years, but making his home at Lyndon, where he had erected a beautiful set of buildings. Mr. Lincoln was active
in political life, representing Lyn- don in the legislature in 1876-'78 and 1888. He also was senator in 1890-'92. His death occurred March 26,1896.
In 1860 he was married to Annie 1. Lombard. Five children, two boys and three girls, came to their home: Alice, married Homer C. Wilson; Mary S., married Haddon Lyster: Charlotte C., married Charles Steele: Benjamin, now of Munising, Michigan, and John E. of Lyndonville.
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