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 23
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 23
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 23
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The residence, a rambling man- sion made up of additions to and alterations of the original farm. buildings, surrounded with exten- sive lawns and ornamental gardens, is on the Bigelow farm, originally settled by Abraham Smith. It is said that on this farm, in the orig- inal log house, was held the first town-meeting, and on this farm was built the first frame house in the town. This frame house, built about 1:95, together with the addi- tion built about 1845, still forms- part of the residence, although quite overshadowed by the additions since- made.
SPEEDWELL
a
5
VIEW FROM SOUTH, SHOWING GREENHOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS.
LLEWELLYN.
F
JACK (STALLION).
ANGORA RAM.
FLOCK OF ANGORA GOATS.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Connected with the residence are very extensive glass houses, where small vegetables like radishes, onions, cucumbers, string beans, and
PRINCE BACH, IMPORTED.
tomatoes are cultivated the year round, and during the winter, strawberries, asparagus, etc.,-all for home consumption.
FRENCH COACH TEAM.
There are also very extensive fruit houses, where can be seen flowering, growing, or ripening peaches, grapes, oranges, figs, apri- 17
cots, nectarines, and melons in great abundance.
The residence, greenhouses, and other buildings are heated by a very extensive hot-water system, consist- ing of four large boilers and thou- sands of feet of piping. The resi- dence is also well supplied with fire- places, old-fashioned in size, in some of which a man can stand erect, and which take in a four-foot log of wood.
The water supply, in addition to the springs on the place, is brought by a six-inch pipe from the well- known springs on the "Razee
PAIR OF WELSH PONIES.
Right," some two miles away, and is sufficient not only for the large demands of the greenhouses, gar- dens, lawns, etc., but also supplies a large pond to the south of the residence, which is abundantly stocked with trout.
The carriage house with its har- ness room, washing stands, and lounging room, is one of the largest and best-arranged in the state, and is filled with vehicles of every de- scription, from the little pony-trap
TAFFY, IMPORTED.
GROUP OF WELSH PONIES, ALL DESCENDANTS FROM ONE PAIR.
FRENCH COACH TANDEM.
FRENCH COACH FOUR-IN-HAND.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
to the brake for four-in-hand driv- ing: while the stable is well filled with French coach horses and Welsh ponies, all of which have been reared on the farm.
The "farm" with its buildings is on the old Fletcher or Sanborn farm. The frame of the old barn built in 1292 still forms part of the farm buildings.
The large cow barn is one of the best ventilated in the state, fresh air being brought in front of every cow, while the foul air is carried off by ventilators. Fresh water is at the side of every animal.
In this barn there are five silos. The ensilage is cut by gas-engine power and is carried to the silos on endless chain carriers; while the storehouse, graineries, sheds, are all on a liberal scale and well arranged.
The sheep barn is also arranged most suitably for the purpose, with its nursing and feeding arrange- ments.
There is a blacksmith shop con- nected with the farm, where all the horseshoeing and repairing is done, keeping one blacksmith occupied his full time.
In the barns will be seen a fine stock of farm animals, Jersey cattle, Shropshire sheep, Berkshire hogs, Percheron farm horses, etc.
Here, in winter, will be seen, brav- ing the coldest weather, a large number of Welsh ponies, all de- scendants of one pair brought to the farm over twenty years ago and still living. The breed has been im- proved and kept strong by import- ing Welsh ponies from England, three of which, "Taffy," "Prince Bach," and "Llewellyn," are regis- tered animals and prize takers at the English fairs.
A recent addition to the farm is a flock of Angora goats, which were bought for the purpose of keeping the undergrowth down in the sugar wood, as well as testing the profit there may be in keeping them.
Speedwell Farms butter and cheese, now made by the Lyndon- ville Creamery-which was started by Mr. Vail-has a most enviable reputation and is in great demand.
POWERS, W. IRVING, a son of Jason and Cynthia (Winslow) Pow- ers. Jason Powers was one of eleven children of Ezekiel Powers, one of the first settlers of Burke. Cynthia Winslow was one of eleven children of Samuel Winslow, who was one of the first settlers of the town of Lyndon. W. Irving Powers was born at West Burke October 11, 1862. At the age of seventeen he went to Manchester, New Hamp- shire, to work in the telephone busi- ness; from there he went to New York as manager of the Brooklyn telephone exchange. In 1885 he mar- ried Emma Hardy, a daughter of Charles Hardy of Nashua, New Hampshire. In the spring of 1890 he came to Lyndon to take the posi- tion of treasurer and clerk for the Theodore N. Vail Speedwell Farms Co., which position he has held ever since. In 1890 he organized the Lyndonville Creamery association and ever since its organization has been its general manager and for the last eight years its treasurer as well. This creamery association own and operate fourteen creameries located in Vermont and New Hampshire and maintain an extensive branch near Boston for handling its own products. In 1899 he was the lead- ing spirit in organizing, and was elected president of, the Canadian
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Carbonate company. This concern, with its main office in Montreal, Canada, manufactures nearly all of the carbonic acid gas used in Can- ada. Mr. Powers is also president of the Lyndonville board of trade
the Lyndon academy. He taught school winters for eight years. He first settled at South Wheelock, on a farm where he resided until he moved to Wheelock Hollow in 1868. In 1893 he purchased and moved
W. IRVING POWERS.
and vice-president of the Lyndon institute.
ROGERS, CHARLES. The sub- ject of this sketch was born in the town of Alton, New Hampshire, in 1823, and moved with his parents to Wheelock, Vermont, in 1828. He received his education at the com- mon schools with one term only at
on to a place on Pleasant street in St. Johnsbury and from there he came to Lyndonville in 1899.
In June, 1852, he was married to Mary II., daughter of Hiram and Caroline (Bigelow) Melvin. Of this union there were born six children, two now living: Susie E., wife of M. M. Taplin of Barton, and Etta M.,
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
wife of P. T. Hanscomb of Schenec- tady, New York; and four deceased, Carrie, Flora, wife of Frank Taylor of Hardwick and two infant sons. Mrs. Rogers, who was a most estim- able and capable woman, died in 1902, since which time Judge
Wheelock in the legislature in 1852, 1854, 1861, 1862, 1880, 1882, and 1888. He was senator from Cale- donia county from 1872 to 1876; was associate judge of Caledonia county from 1868 to 18:0; was trustee of the State Reform school from 1872
CHARLES ROGERS.
Rogers has resided with his nephew, Charles M. Darling at Lyndonville.
Judge Rogers has been very much in public life. He is a surveyor and has many calls to locate highway, town, and farm lines and has done an extensive business in the hand- ling of estates. He represented
to 1876, and chairman of the board for the last two years. He was town clerk, treasurer, agent, selectman, lister, and school superintendent of Wheelock for many years. He has held the office of justice of the peace for fifty years continuously and has been much employed as a "trial jus-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
tice." His life has been so much employed in the discharge of his publie duties that he has become one of the best known men in north- ern Vermont and his opinion is often sought in various matters.
PIERCE, JOHN, a native of Ches- terfield, New Hampshire (a near rel- ative of the family of which deceased ex-President Franklin Pierce was a member), served with credit in the War of the Revolution. William, one of his family of six children, married Ruth, daughter of Major Ephraim Hubbard, and reared a family of nine children.
William E., son of William and Ruth, married Adaline Houghton of Lyndon. Hle settled on a farm which is now a portion of the Speed- well estate. He was a singing mas- ter and also taught school for twen- ty-five years, being very successful in these callings. They had two children, Emily A. and George W.
Mrs. Pierce died in 1828 and Mr. Pierce some nine years later.
PIERCE, GEORGE WASHINGTON, was born in Lyndon, January 8. 18:5, on the farm. His mother died when he was three years of age and his father when he was twelve. He went to live with his unele. Stephen Hoyt, when he was thirteen, receiv- ing his education at the Lyndon academy and graded school.
At the age of fifteen he was ap- pointed assistant postmaster at Lyndonville, under W. A. Dens- more, served two years, then went into the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad. He was freight clerk at Newport one year, then came to Lyndonville as assistant ticket agent, which position he occu- pied for ten years, until promoted to the position of passenger clerk of
the Connecticut & Passumpsic and the St. Johnsbury & Lake Cham- plain department of the Boston & Maine, in June, 1903, to fill the place made vacant by the death of N. P. Lovering.
Mr. Pieree has been prominent in town and village matters. At the age of twenty-three he was chosen as first constable and collector for the town and served as such for five
GEORGE W. PIERCE.
vears; he has been lister and auditor and is at present assistant town clerk. He has served as village auditor, collector, and trustee, hav- ing been chairman of the board of trustees two years. In politics, Mr. Pierce is a Democrat; has served many years as committee, being chairman for a long time and prom- inent in conventions, etc.
Ile is a prominent member of the F. & A. M., the Odd Fellows, the
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Knights of Pythias, and the Red Men.
On October 10, 1894, Mr. Pierce was married to Mabel Florence, daughter of Alson P. and Idella (Corliss) Sleeper of Lyndon. They have four children: William Earl, born December 14, 1895; Erma Aileen, born June 8, 1897; George Washington, Jr., born May 8, 1899; Robert Franklin, born March 25, 1902.
Mr. Pierce presents an example of what may be accomplished by a poor Vermont boy, who uses his oppor- tunities and improves his time.
CAMPBELL, GILBERT M., a member of the large and well- known Campbell family of Sutton, that did much for the development and prosperity of that town, was
GILBERT M. CAMPBELL.
born at Sutton, July 3, 1855, a son of Judge Nahum K. and Corrilla (Parker) Campbell. Gilbert was ed- ucated in the schools of his native
town. Being a business hustler, he acquired a practical education in the affairs of life. He lived in Sut- ton until 1895, when he moved to the fine residence he had erected at Lyndonville, his present home. He was school director, lister, and con- stable of Sutton for several years, and representative to the legislature in 1888. In 1900 he was elected and served as a senator for Caledonia county. While in Sutton, he began the business of dealing in live stock, sugar, and wool. Also conducted a fire insurance business, having been director of the Union Mutual since 1882, and insurance agent for Ver- mont and Union Fire Insurance companies. All of these business matters he is still engaged in. Also agent for American Fidelity Com- pany.
November 27, 1879, he was united in marriage to Mary E., daughter of Charles L. and Eunice (French) Eaton. The fruits of their marriage are five children: Blanch E., Carrie L., Alice M., Gilbert M., Jr., and Raymond E. Mr. Campbell is a member of Alpine lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F., at West Burke.
DARLING, CHARLES B., M. D. The history of the Darling family was, in early years, principally in Burke, where the subject of this sketch was born, June 24, 1818.
His father. "Major" Ebenezer Dar- ling, son of Joshua Darling of Hop- kinton, Massachusetts, was born in 1788. Ebenezer was a soldier of the War of 1812 and settled in Burke immediately after the war. He married Abigail Fisher. Eight chil- dren were born of this union: Harry G., Charles B., Alfred B., Carolin, Lucius F., Abigail, Pamelia, and Scott.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
The conditions incident to a new settlement developed in the Darling family traits of character that in- sured success in after life. Major
CHARLES B. DARLING, M. D.
Darling was prominent in public affairs, representing Burke in the legislature in 1828. He died in 1858 at the age of seventy. Of the eight children, three died at the home, Carolin, aged nineteen, Pa- melia at twenty-five, and Scott at eighteen. Of the remaining five, Henry spent most of his life in Burke where he died: Alfred B. of the Fifth Avenue hotel, New York, was so well known that nothing more need be said; Lucius F. went to Mobile, Alabama, and died of yellow fever in 1853: Abigail mar- ried John Evans of Lyndon, where she lived and died; Charles B. at- tended Lyndon academy, studied medieine with Dr. Abel Brown and with Dr. Sanborn. He graduated
from the Allopathie College of Medicine at Woodstock in 1844, and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Homeopathy in 1852. He practised his profession at Lyndon with the greatest success. Ile was always pleasant, social, and genial, a real "old school," "family physi- cian," one that it is always a pleasure to remember. On December 9, 1852, he was married to Susan, daughter of Hiram and Caroline (Bigelow) Melvin. Two children blessed their union: Charles M. Dar- ling, now of Lyndonville, and Jennie L., the wife of Colonel H. E. Fol- som, division superintendent of the Boston & Maine railroad. Dr. Dar- ling died June 19, 1860. His wife died September, 1861.
WAY, WILLIAM C., a son of Frank A. and Helen E. (Chamber- lain) Way, was born at Newark, Ver- mont, May 22, 1861. His parents were both born in New Hampshire. The father of Frank dying when he was a young boy, his widowed mother removed to Burke. Frank lived some years with Harley Hall of Burke. At his marriage he pur- chased and moved on to a farm in Newark, where he lived many years and where his two children were born. He afterward engaged in the manufacture of starch at Sutton for a time, then conducted a grain and feed business at Burke for a few years. In 1880 he, with his family, moved to the state of Texas. After their return to Vermont he prac- tised farming to some extent, but is now retired and resides in Lyndon. William C. was educated at the com- mon schools. When twenty-two years of age he went to New York and worked at the ice business for one year, then went to work for
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Simon Corliss of Newark on a farm, where he proved himself so accepta- ble as a helper that Elva, the daugh- ter of Mr. Corliss, accepted him as her husband, and they were married in December, 1886. He operated a hardware store at West Burke,
Corliss. In March 1901. he pur- chased and moved on to "Meadow Brook farm," where he now resides. He has made many improvements upon the farm and buildings, and it is now one of the finest farm homes in this section. Mr. Way held sev-
WILLIAM C. WAY.
which he sold in 1887. They then went to California for a year. After their return from California they carried on his father's farm one year, then bought the "old Corliss farm." and remained there some twelve years, selling it in 1900 to Fred P.
eral offices in the town of Newark, and is at present road commissioner for the town of Lyndon.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Way: Hazel Helen. born September 24, 1891, and Mor- ris Frank, born July 12, 1898.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
SILSBY, FRANK W .* For the benefit of the rare individual who isn't acquainted with him we will state the fact that Frank was born in Lunenburg fifty-three years ago, and was a son of that staunch, well- known and highly respected business
made clothing, etc., at St. Johns- bury, and remained until the disso- lution of the firm. He came to Lyn- donville in the spring of 1871, and with his uncle, David Silsby, rented a store in Mathewson's block, where they conducted a large and prosper-
FRANK W. SILSBY.
and public man, Hon. Levi Silsby, of that town. His education was completed at Newbury and Mont- pelier seminary in 1869. Soon after- wards he entered the employ of D. & J. W. Silsby, dealers in ready-
ous business in ready-made clothing. furnishing goods, etc., under the firm name of D. & F. W. Silsby, for four years. He married Nancy R., youngest daughter of Larnard Wat- son. Esq., of West Burke, in 1876.
* The foregoing sketch was, by permission, principally taken from the illustrated edition of the Lyndonville Journal.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
By this time Silsby had read far enough in the book of human nature to qualify him for a traveling sales- man of sewing machines, represent- ing the Florence machine, and tak- ing the general agency of Orange, Washington, Lamoille, Orleans, Cal- edonia and Essex counties, he fur- nished a large number of local agents, and set the pace for them. He was a hustler in the business, and feared no competitor, as he was will- ing to take anything from geese wings to a stock of cattle, in ex- change for machines. Some twenty- five years ago he took up the auc- tion business, together with the real estate business, and became a dealer in all kinds of driving harnesses, which business he still conducts. He has bought and sold at auction bankrupt stocks of goods. His auc- tion tent at the fairs was for some years one of the regular side shows. A good judge of human nature and familiar with the value of all kinds of merchandise, real estate, and per- sonal property, he probably con- ducted the largest auction business in the state. With his ability and persistence he has made hosts of val- uable friends and business acquaint- ances, and established a reputation that few achieve in that business. He has adopted the practice never to misrepresent an article or useabusive language to a bidder, his motto be- ing: "Justice to the owner and pro- tection to the buyer." The real estate business usually falls with the auction business, and if any one de- sires to buy, sell, or trade a farm or house, he will make no mistake in intrusting it in Frank W. Silsby's hands, as he is wide-awake and ex- tensively acquainted. He sells driv-
ing harnesses, wholesale, retail and at anction.
Mr. Silsby is a staunch Republi- can and interested in both home and national politics. He has rarely ac- cepted office, though he has served several terms as lister, been on the Republican town committees, has been delegate to both district and state conventions, and represented Lyndon in the legislature in 1896. He gave conscientious attention to legislative questions, and cast his vote and influence on the side of right and justice as he understood it. His good judgment and ability were recognized and he was given position on important committees. He is at present a director in the Cit- izens' Savings Bank and Trust com- pany of St. Johnsbury, has been chairman of board of village trustees in Lyndonville, and other places of trust like settlement of estates, etc., and at present one of the building committee for the new schoolhouse to be built in the spring of 1904. He is also the owner and manager of one of the largest dry and fancy goods and ready-made clothing stores in this section. He has two children, Harry P., with him in the store, and Isabella, at home. He is highly esteemed socially, being a member of Passumpsie lodge, Has- well chapter, Palestine command- ery, F. & A. M., is a Mystic Shriner and a member of several other so- cial organizations.
SILSBY, DAVID M., son of Lewis and Sophronia (Ford) Silsby, was born at Lunenburg, Vermont, in 1850. The elder Silsby was a black- smith and David had some long- ings for that profession until called upon to handle the heavy ham-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
mers, when he decided that "horse farming" would be better for him. He served his apprenticeship in the livery business with Dr. Bul-
DAVID M. SILSBY.
lard and some half a dozen other livery men at St. Johnsbury. In 1815 he opened a small stable at Lyndonville. In 1880 he built a large barn and did an increasing business until the fire in 1894, which burned out his entire plant with a very heavy loss. In 1895, nothing discouraged, he erected his present large and commodious stable and fit- ted it up for an extensive business, having one of the largest and best equipped livery plants in this part of the state. He also deals exten- sively in carriages and harnesses. Mr. Silsby has been deputy sheriff some twenty-five years, has been constable, and collector, and lister in Lyndon many years. He married Lettie, daughter of Reuben and
Harriet Allard of Sutton. They have one child, Lewis David, born November, 1885, who assists his father in the livery.
CARTER, A. J., M. D., of Lyn- donville, Vermont, was born in Ken- tucky in 1838 and lived in that state until the War of the Rebellion. He served as surgeon in the Confeder- ate army four years, came to Ver- mont in 1864 or 1865, located at Wheelock and practised medicine until he moved to Lyndon in 1890. He was examining pension surgeon during Cleveland's administration, has been in medical practice all the time, having an office in Stearns' block, and is considered as one of the leading M. D.'s in town.
A. J. CARTER, M. D.
He married Mary Ann Leavitt of Vermont and they have five chil- dren, three boys and two girls. The oldest boy, Oscar E., is a physician located at Danville. The next boy,
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
George A., is a physician and is in practice at Hardwick. The young- est boy, Roscoe A., is a dentist with an office at Lyndonville. The oldest daughter, Mary O., married H. C. Moorshouse and resides at Lyndon Center. The youngest daughter, Annie Yosemite, married Elbridge Pierce and resides at Littleton, New Hampshire. The children are all graduates of the higher institutions of education and successful in their callings.
ALLEN S. HOLBROOK.
HOLBROOK, ALLAN SMITH, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, Ang- ust 1, 1874, the second oldest son of Samuel H. and Caroline D. Hol- brook. Until twelve years of age he resided in Boston with the rest of the family, receiving the elementary branches of his education in the public schools there. His father's health becoming poor, the family moved at that time to Newport, Ver- mont, to the old home place, which
has since remained the home of the family. Here he added to his edu- cation in the district schools and the graded school and academy at Newport and finally graduated from the St. Johnsbury academy in June, 1894.
Previous to attending school in St. Johnsbury he worked for a year and a half in the printing office of C. F. Ranney at Newport, and after graduating at St. Johnsbury began work in the Caledonian office in that town. Deciding to make this busi- ness a life-work he remained in this line of work until the call for volun- teers in the spring of 1898, when he enlisted in Company L, First Vermont volunteers, and went with the regiment to Chickamauga, spending the summer there and re- turning in the fall when the regi- ment was mustered out.
He soon took up his former work again and remained at it until July, 1903, when he became joint owner and publisher, with John H. Fuller, of the Lyndonville Journal, a paper published at Lyndonville, Vermont, where he is at present located.
On December 20, 1899, he mar- ried Miss Charlotte Stiles, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar L. Stiles of St. Johnsbury. Two chil- dren have been born to them, Paul E. and Roger.
FULLER, JOHN HAROLD, was born in Richford, June 27, 1876. His father is the Rev. Jonathan Kingsley Fuller, who has been for over twenty years a prominent Con- gregational clergyman in the state. His mother is Gertrude (Smith) Fuller, daughter of the late John Smith of Richford. On the pater- nal side his ancestry goes back to the Pilgrims of the Mayflower. His
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
mother was descended of good En- glish and Dutch stock. A great- grandfather was an admiral in the Dutch navy.
In 18:2 his parents moved to Bakersfield, where they lived twelve years. At this place young Fuller attended the district schools and later Brigham academy. In the summer of 1889 his parents moved to Barton Landing, and in the same year the son began a four years' course at Lyndon institute, Lyndon
JOHN H. FULLER.
Center, where he graduated in 1893 with first honors in the classics. The following year was spent in working in a mill and teaching district school.
In the fall of 1894 Mr. Fuller en- tered the academic department of Yale university where he won an en- viable reputation in scholarship and where he graduated in 1898 with high honors in both the Latin and Greek languages. During his eol-
lege course he earned a large share of his expenses by waiting on table and other work.
The following fall Mr. Fuller was offered a position as assistant prin- cipal of Lyndon institute, where he remained four years, teaching science, German, and history. Dur- ing his official connection with the school he took great interest in its welfare and in the development of athletics.
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