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 30
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 30
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 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
lovers of fine stock will find that a visit to this farm will well repay them. Mr. Bronson is vice-president of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers'
Lake lodge of F. & A. M. He held the office of school director for two years in Dakota and has held the same office in Hardwick for nine
TIMOTHY G. BRONSON.
association, also vice-president of the Vermont Dairymen's associa- tion. He is a member of Caledonia grange, also a member of Caspian
years, and was town superintendent of schools for three years; has been justice of the peace and notary pub- lie for many years.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bronson: Alice J., born October 20, 1884 (in Dakota): Edith T .. born June 9, 1886; and Arthur H., born December 9, 1887.
DOW, WALLACE L., one of a fam- ily of eight children of Luther C.
cess. He was postmaster at Sonth Albany from 1885 to 1889. For some years previous he had been employed as contractor and builder and did considerable at this in Bar- ton and St. Johnsbury. In 1889 he bought the J. M. Stevens farm at
WALLACE L. Dow.
and Lovina (Dewey) Dow, was born in Albany, Vermont, in 1850. He received the common school and academic training of his native town. For several years he con- ducted a farming and also a mer- cantile business at Albany with suc-
East Hardwick and moved on to the same, where he conducted an exten- sive farming business. He was also a dealer in live stock and served as postmaster at East Hardwick for four years. He was one of the pro- moters and organizers of the La-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
moille Valley Creamery association in 1892, and was its manager and secretary and treasurer for several years. He was also one of the com- missioners to organize the Hard- wiek Savings Bank and Trust com- pany, was master of the Caledonia grange at East Hardwick for three years, and is at present a deputy grange organizer and inspector for Vermont. He is a member and sec- retary and treasurer of the Hard- wick board of trade. He has held many positions as town officer in Hardwiek, and also in Albany, and has, all in all, been a prominent and efficient publie man.
In 1902 Mr. Dow erected his fine residence on Church street at Hard- wick village, where he now resides. He is at present doing an extensive real estate business, also life, fire, and accident insurance. Mr. Dow is a member of Caspian Lake lodge, No. 87, F. & A. M., also member of Ilardwick lodge of Odd Fellows.
In 1874 he was married to Lillian A. Fairman of Albany, Vermont. The fruits of the marriage are two children, Ernest F., born in 1875, and Cleo V., born in 1887.
BRIDGMAN, GEORGE WASHING- TON, son of Dorman and Achsa (Mitchel) Bridgman, was born at Hardwick, Vermont, February 21, 1840, on the old homestead settled by his grandfather in 1795. He received the common school and academie educational training of his time in his native town. He worked on his father's farm until he enlisted in Company F, Second Vermont infantry, April 29, 1861, one of the first four men to enlist from Hardwiek. He remained in the service until his discharge, June 26, 1864: was in seventeen engage-
ments, including the first Bull Run ; was wounded in shoulder in battle of the Wilderness. He was an ever-ready-to-fight soldier and was discharged as lieutenant of his company.
February 10, 1866, he was united in marriage to Helen M. MeLond, daughter of Colonel Ira MeLoud of Woodbury. Of this union was born on December 20, 1870, twins, one
GEORGE W. BRIDGMAN.
of whom died in infancy; the other, Maud Helen, died September 9, 1881. Also born April 26, 1815. Edward George, now married and living with his father on the "old farm." In 1866-6: Mr. Bridgman carried on the parental farm. He then moved to Sutton and engaged in the lumber business as a member of the Orleans and Caledonia Steam
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Mill company. In the spring of 1878 he moved to Barton village and conducted a meat business for the summer, when he traded his place and business for the John Bean farm at Barton and occupied himself mostly in agriculture. In the spring of 1886, on account of the poor health of his parents he moved to Hardwick and in 1891 bought out the other heirs and be- came the owner of the old home- stead of 320 acres, which has been in the family for 100 years. He and his son. Edward G., now run a milk route, keeping over forty cows be- sides much other stock. They have fine, commodious farm buildings which occupy one of the most pleas- ant farm situations in Vermont.
In 1882 Mr. Bridgman repre- sented Barton in the legislature, also represented Hardwick in 1894, and at various times has held many public offices in Barton and in Hardwick. He is an active member of Ellsworth post, G. A. R. It can truly be said of G. W. Bridgman that both in civil and military life he is a worthy descendant of the first settlers of Vermont, whose works have placed her name in the front rank of a liberty-loving peo- ple.
DIXON, REV. JOHN ANTHONY, was born in Wales, September 15. 185%. He comes of good stock, but as he quaintly remarks, "There are so many Britishers in the United States whose ancestry is illustrious that it would be superfluous for me to trace my pedigree." He ran away to sea when he was only four- teen years of age, and followed that occupation until he was twenty- five. During these years, with no one to push him, he worked his way
from cabin boy to chief officer. He was second mate before he was eighteen and first mate before he was twenty-one. His experiences, as he modestly relates them. are thrilling. Twice shipwrecked, in two mutinies, one of two survivors of the ravages of yellow fever which carried off two crews; beside other varied experiences of the life of a seaman. At the age of twenty-five Mr. Dixon left the sea and settled in
REV. JOHN A. DIXON.
Lynn, Massachusetts, having pre- viously married Julietta Allen, a resident of that place. Here he was converted to God and called to the ministry and the struggle for an education began. With his wife and child and aged mother he strug- gled for nine long years, working in the shoe shops days and studying nights, and reciting three times a week to Professors Johnson and Davis, one the master of a private
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
school, the other the principal of the Ingalls school. When business was rushing he did this and when business was slack he devoted all his time to study. During these years of working days and studying nightsalmost invariably he preached somewhere on Sunday, giving his services to struggling missions and poor churches. His struggle for an education was heroic and the habit acquired in those days of struggle sticks to him to-day, for he is one of the greatest students in the Ver- mont conference. He loves his books and gives much time to them. He joined the Vermont conference at Barton in the spring of 1893, and was appointed to Sheffield, where he had a successful pastorate of one year. Since that time he has served Cabot four years, Barton Landing three years, and he is now serving on his fourth year at Hard- wiek. Mr. Dixon sueceeds in mak- ing the people like him. On all his charges it is the same. Hardwick honored him in 1902 by sending him to the legislature as her repre- sentative, and faithfully did he serve his constituency. He is a strong temperance man and made himself felt on that side to such an extent that his opponents named him the "fighting parson." But no man among his opponents but re- spected and liked the man; some of the best friends he had at Mont- pelier were among those who dif- fered from him in politics.
Mr. Dixon is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and believes heartily in the work being done by these societies, and societies of like character, along humanitarian lines.
Having worked hard himself, and being a worker who makes his brain
sweat to-day, he has great sympathy with the sons of toil and no one suf- fers in Hardwiek if it is in his power to relieve the suffering, and therefore the granite cutters of Hardwick "swear by him." Having been well born and tenderly reared in early life, he understands the feelings of those who are not reck- oned as toilers, and has, therefore, sympathy for all. Since joining the Vermont conference Mr. Dixon has pushed his studies, having taken the regular four years' course for "trav- eling preachers," and correspond- ence courses through the general conference board of the Primitive Methodist church, affiliated with Taylor university, from which he received the degrees of A. M. and Ph. D. He holds in his conference a place on the board of examiners. and is assistant secretary. The newspapers of Montpelier, during the recent session of conference, characterized him as an eloquent and forceful preacher, and his con- ference showed confidence in him by electing him an alternate to the general conference. He is the em- hodiment of the spirit of the denom- ination to which he belongs, namely, wide-awake mentally, enthusiastic, progressive, and adjustable to pres- ent conditions. He is a self-made man.
WALDRON, REV. JOHN DREW. was born in Wakefield, New Hamp- shire, September 5, 1841, and was the oldest son of Frederick and Sally Waldron. He received his education in the schools of his na- tive town, with the exception of one year at Middleton, New Hamp- shire. He was converted in the year 1858, and united with the Ossi- pee and Wakefield Free Baptist
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
church. Soon after this he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, to work for J. M. Wood. In 1861 he went to South Berwick, Maine, and worked five years in a store for O. Stackpole & Co. In 1867 he went to New Hampton (New Hampshire) theological school; in 1868 was called to the pastorate of the Free Baptist church of South Strafford, Vermont. The three years of labor here were abundantly blessed; as a
REV. JOHN D. WALDRON.
result 108 persons united with the church, the debt on the parsonage paid, and the church building thor- oughly repaired. Mr. Waldron has also held pastorates in the following named places: Lawrence, New York, Warren, Vermont, Sutton, New Hampshire, Amesbury, Massa- chusetts, Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, a second pastorate at South Strafford, Vermont, Springvale, Maine, West Buxton, Maine, Enos-
burg Falls, Vermont, North Dan- ville, Vermont, West Charleston, Vermont, and at present Hardwick, Vermont. In all these places he has seen marked results: over five hundred persons have united with the churches by baptism, church debts have been removed, and churches and parsonages repaired. At Enosburg Falls, one of the best churches was built under his pas- torate. Mr. Waldron is called out- side to attend many funerals and speak for different orders. His life has been and still is a very active one.
In July, 1863, Mr. Waldron mar- ried Miss Maria E. MeDaniel, daughter of Sewel and Martha Mc- Daniel of South Berwick, Maine. Three daughters were born to them. two of whom are now living. In January, 1886, Mrs. Waldron died. The following year he married Mrs. Abbie E. Merrill of Manchester, New Hampshire. who only lived a short time, and on November 29, 1888, Mr. Waldron married his present wife, Carrie E., daughter of Lewis and Emily M. Godfrey of Vershire, Vermont. Mr. Waldron is a very earnest and rapid speaker, not afraid to preach what he believes is right. In politics he is and always has been a strong Republican. He has always been interested in the welfare of the places in which he has lived, and is none the less so in his present pastorate, the flourish- ing town of Hardwick.
TAYLOR, WILLIAM H., was born in Wheelock, Vermont, July 18, 1863, a son of Benjamin F. and Amanda M. (Stetson) Taylor. His great-grandfather, Jonathan Tay- lor, was captain of a trading vessel and came to this country from Scot-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
land, settling at Canterbury, New Hampshire. His grandfather, Jon- athan Taylor, removed to Vermont when quite young, coming to Whee- lock in 1790, where he continued to live during a long and somewhat eventful life. His father, Benja-
William H. was the eldest of five children. He was educated in the common schools of his native town and fitted for college at Hardwick academy. In the fall of 1883 he entered the Sophomore class of Dartmouth college, and graduated
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR.
min F. Taylor, was born in Whee- lock in 1831 and when about ?1 years of age went into the mercan- tile business there which he fol- lowed for nearly a half century, retiring in 1901 and removing to Hardwick to take up his residence.
from that institution in June, 1886. He returned to Hardwick the same year as principal of Hardwick acad- emy, which position he held for three years, resigning in 1889 to ac- cept the office of supervisor of schools for Caledonia county. He
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
held the office of supervisor during the existence of the law creating it, and later was appointed examiner of teachers for the county, a po- sition he still holds (1904).
He studied law in the office of Ide & Stafford at St. Johnsbury
mont, under the firm name of Tay- lor & Dutton, a relation which still exists. Mr. Taylor was elected state's attorney in 1894 and reëlect- ed in 1896. In 1900 he was chosen to represent his town in the state legislature. He has held various
WALTER A. DUTTON.
and was admitted to the bar in 1892. During 1893 he was again principal of Hardwick academy and at the same time engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1895 he formed a law partnership with Walter A. Dutton of Walden, Ver-
town and village offices and has al- ways been active in promoting the best interests of the community.
He has twice been selected by the governor to revise the school laws of the state under legislative au- thority.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
Mr. Taylor married Nettie 1. look back more than one hundred Clark July 27, 1887. They have four children : Harold F., Florence M., Mildred I., and Cecil A.
MORSE, MELVIN G., a young and talented lawyer of Hardwick, was born February 27, 1873, in Elmore, Lamoille county, Vermont. After leaving the common schools of his native town, he was graduated from the People's academy at Morrisville, Vermont. Deciding then upon a professional career, he studied law first with the late Hon. P. K. Gleed, of Morrisville, then in the office of Bates & May at St. Johnsbury, Ver- mont, subsequently taking a special course in the law school of the Bos- ton university. He was admitted to the bar in 1899, and immediately located at Hyde Park, Vermont.
Not being satisfied with the pros- pects in that place, Mr. Morse set- tled in Hardwick, in April, 1900. and is here winning success in his legal work. He has served as state's attorney for Caledonia coun- ty for the past two years. He has a good practice, in addition carries on a substantial business as a fire, life, and accident insurance agent, rep- resenting some of the leading insur- ance companies of New England, his office being in the Marshall block. Ile is likewise the local agent for the Connecticut Building and Loan association.
RYEGATE. Population, Census of 1900, 995.
The town of Ryegate was settled by emigrants from Scotland, who received their lands under certain conditions and regulations from the Scotch company. When we
years and contemplate the busy preparations of these men to leave their native country, their homes and all that is dear to youth and manhood, for the purpose of select- ing a future and lasting residence in a far-off wilderness, where the wild beasts of the forests were the only occupants, and where the howling of the storm or the moan- ing of the wind through the forests were the only sounds to relieve eter- nal silence; when we view them leaving the places of their nativity on the banks of the river Clyde in Scotland, whose northern banks present romantic scenery of wildest grandeur, and whose southern landscapes are lawns and fields cov- ered with richest verdure, and dot- ted ever and anon with cottage and mansion and castle of varied archi- tecture; when we see them bidding adieu to their friends and relatives with tears and prayers for their- welfare and prosperity, we can only express ourselves in wonder and ad- miration. In the winter of 1773 a company was formed by a number of farmers in the vicinity of Glas- gow, Scotland, called the Scotch American company, for the pur- pose of purchasing a tract of land for settlement in North America. Allen, one of the commissioners, was a practical farmer on the south- ern bank of the Clyde near Paisley, where a ready market was found for all of the products of the farm, and within easy distance of church and school. At the age of 33 he- had been selected with Whitelaw to go to America to purchase land for a settlement. He was a mat- ter-of-fact man and in every way
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
well adapted for the enterprise. James Whitelaw at the time of the formation of the company was 24 years old, and resided on the Clyde near Glasgow. He was well edu- cated, being a practical land sur- veyor, and combined a high sense of honor and independence with a religious turn of mind, characteris- tics inherited from his covenanter ancestors. James Henderson, who accompanied the commissioners, had just finished his apprenticeship as a house joiner, and with his chest of tools and proficiency as a workman was an invaluable acqui- sition to the new settlement. Nat- urally of a social and humorous turn, his witticisms, jokes, and cheerfulness helped while away the lonely hours of a new settlement.
Allen returned to Scotland. Whitelaw was busily engaged in surveying, so it was to Henderson that the newcomers had to look for shelter and protection from the storm, and well he performed his part.
The company was formed prin- cipally of inhabitants of Lanark and Renfrewshire. Their articles of agreement were subscribed at Inchman, February 5, 1773. The commissioners were to purchase land in any of his majesty's colo- nies in North America, beginning in New York, draw a plan of the land purchased and send it to the managers in Scotland, and lay off the land in lots conformed to the smallest sums paid ; they were to provide accommodations for emi- grants until they were able to build for themselves.
It was also agreed that if any difference or misunderstanding
should arise between the members in regard to company matters, it was to be settled by arbitrators, from whose decision there was no appeal. This code of agreement illustrates the practical good sense of these sturdy Scotchmen. The commissioners with their instruc- tions and all necessary articles of convenience and comfort, full of hope and romantic ideas peculiar to youth, left their native country in the spring of 1:13. On the morn- ing of the 20th of May they saw in the dim distance the hills on the American coast.
At New York they were wel- comed to the country by Alexander Semple and by Rev. John Wither- spoon, their countrymen, who no doubt knew many of the company. having been ordained minister of the low church of Paisley in 175%. In consequence of his being favor- able to the independence of the col- onies, he lost his place in the church, came to America and be- came one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. At this time he was president of Princeton college, New Jersey. He told them that he and a Mr. Church owned a township in Colchester county, New York, called Ryegate, which they wished to sell. Soon after the commissioners started for Ryegate, where they found Mr. Church, who was copartner with Mr. Witherspoon in the ownership of Ryegate.
Suffice to say that the commis- sioners traversed all parts of the town, making careful observations.
They resolved to look over a wide area in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Vir- ginia, and the Carolinas.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
In Ohio salt was selling at 20 shillings per bushel, and other things at equally extravagant prices, and markets were distant.
Of Pennsylvania they wrote, " The province of Pennsylvania ap- pears the most desirable to live in, yet the land is so dear we cannot make a purchase. The people here look well except the women, who for the most part have lost their teeth."
No doubt the fact above men- tioned decisively influenced their choice against a settlement there. After traveling thousands of miles and inspecting lands in Pennsylva- nia, Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, they returned to Prince- ton October 1, and the next day bar- gained with Mr. Witherspoon for half of Ryegate. They pushed up the Connecticut in a canoe to New- bury and put up with General Jacob Bailey on the first of November. On the tenth Mr. Church came and they divided the township, the southern half falling to the com- missioners, which was regarded as fortunate. When they came to Ryegate they found John Hyndman building his house and they assisted him until it was roughly finished, he in turn helping them erect a house which they occupied about January, 1779.
The colonists having secured their grist and sawmill, were antici- pating a prosperous season for 1426. But the war for independ- ence had commeneed, consequently their fear of the Indians induced them to prepare for defence, and they met May 14 to form a military organization. Their first officers were Captain James Henderson,
Lieutenant Robert Brock, Ensign Bartholomew Somers.
SAVAGE, HON. ALBERT R., an eminent lawyer and jurist of Maine, was born in Ryegate, Ver- mont. December 8, 1847, a son of Charles W. and Eliza (McLarın) Savage, a daughter of Asa and Anna Stevens (Clough) Savage.
Albert R. Savage's boyhood was spent in much the same manner as all other New England boys of his day. At nine years of age he left Vermont and has never returned, only as the man journeying back to his birthplace and boyhood home, to once more drink of the in- spiration which comes to all of us from these pilgrimages to the scenes of our earlier days.
Mr. Savage graduated from Dartmouth college in 1871, was admitted to the bar of Maine in 1875, and practised his profession at Auburn until 1897. He was county attorney from 1881 to 1885, judge of probate 1885 to 1889, mayor of the city of Auburn 1889, 1890, and 1891, representative to the legislature 1891 and again in 1893, speaker of the house of rep- resentatives in 1893, senator in 1895 and re-elected in 189, and in 1897 he became a member of the supreme jndicial court, and is still serving in that capacity.
August 17, 1871, Judge Savage was united in marriage to Nellie H. A., daughter of Sprague T. and Naney M. (Moulton) Hale of Lu- nenburg. [See page 86, Essex county].
MEADER, THOMAS A., is a good type of the plueky, energetic Irish- American, who has won recognition by merit and persistence.
23
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Mary Ann Fleming came from near Dublin when about 15 years of age, and married John A. Meader at Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1857. Not long afterwards Mr. Meader came to Ryegate and worked at his trade as a stone
pital in 1863, from wounds received at Gettysburg. His widow was left with three little children, Andrew D., born in 1858, who died in 1879, Thomas A., born in 1860, and .Jen- nie in 1862.
The family lived at Ryegate Cor-
THOMAS A. MEADER.
mason. His books show that he generally received $1.25 per day for doing work in that line, which would now cost about three times that amount. .
John Meader enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. F. Colonel Berdan's sharpshooters, and died in a hos-
ner until 1869, when they moved to the farm which they now own, for which they ran in debt $1,250. also for their stock. By the death of Andrew ten years later, Thomas was left in sole charge of the farm. He was strong and self-reliant. and, sink or swim, had to paddle his own
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
canoe, and he came ashore. The brothers had carried on the farm as best they could, and worked out both summer and winter. Thomas survived, toughened and hustled, and has finished paying for the farm and doubled its productions.
Mr. Meader has given especial attention to diarying, and in 1897 averaged 379 lbs. of butter each with his eight cows, which was high water mark.
He attended Newbury academy two terms, and as he has always been an eager reader, has thus sup- plied earlier deficiencies of educa- tion. He began corresponding for the Lyndon Union nearly twenty years ago, and has since corres- ponded for several important agri- cultural journals, including the New England Homestead.
Judge Meader has held many po- sitions of public trust. He has been moderator, constable. lister, school director, town agent, chair- man of library trustees, and audi- tor, holding some of these positions nearly all the time. He has been notary public for the past ten years, justiee of the peace for many years and has tried many important cases, and was always sustained by county court. He was census ennm- erator in 1900 and in 1902 was elected first associate judge for Cal- edonia county. There being no lawyers in Ryegate, Judge Meader is often consulted in legal matters and is considered authority. He makes out all kinds of legal papers. He has for many years been secre- tary of " Ryegate and Wells River Valley Dairymen's association." and has given much time and effort to win success for the society, and
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