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 31
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 31
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 31
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in this work has been very ably as- sisted by his sister Jennie. The Meader family have been identified with Blue Mountain grange since its organization in 1898. The Judge has been master three years, and Miss Jennie lecturer and secretary for two years each. He is also a director of the St. Johns- bury Fair Ground company.
The Meader family at this home consists of the widowed mother and her son and daughter, Thomas A. and Jennie.
Neither Thomas A. nor Jennie were ever married but have re- mained with the mother on the farm, to which they came with her when they were but children, and here they maintain one of the solid, grand old homes for which Ryegate is so famous. The family are members of the United Presbyter- ian church at Ryegate.
The Judge is a thorough going Republican and can be depended upon to stay.
GAY, ALLEN T., of Ryegate, well known as the genial proprietor of the jewelry and notion store in Gib- son block, is a "downeaster" by birth. He has "swing round the cir- cle " of New England and for most satisfactory reasons settled in South Ryegate. He was born in Waldo, Maine, in 1863, son of Abial W. and Sarah T. Godding Gay. He left home at the age of 17, went to Ban- gor, Maine, and there worked two years learning the trade of oar maker. He then went to Taunton, Massachusetts, and was em- ployed five years as a nurse and attendant in the insane asylum, where he obtained some ideas of diseased human na-
356
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ture. After spending a year as an officer on the state farm at Howard, Rhode Island, impaired health re-
ALLEN T. GAY.
quired a change and he resided two years on a farm in Groton. He then came to South Ryegate and became a member of the mercantile firm of Terry, George & Gay, but after three years sold his interest to his partners and started in business for himself. in the line of jewelry and notions. At a disastrous fire on the night of October 13, 1898, Mr. Gay's entire stock was con- sumed, entirely without insurance. It was a severe blow, but he whistled to keep up his courage and deter- mined that he would still be Gay. In March, 1900, he opened his pres- ent stock of jewelry, silverware, faney erockery, notions, confection- ery, tobacco and cigars in Gibson block. Repairs of watches, clocks and jewelry are promptly attended to. His patronage has steadily in- creased, and exceeded his expeeta- tions, and he has constantly added
RESIDENCE OF ALLEN T. GAY, SOUTH RYEGATE, VERMONT.
357
CALEDONIA COUNTY.
new lines, including standard bi- cycles and sundries. He was united to Lizzie, daughter of David and Mary Whitehill of Ryegate, in 1886, and their pretty home on Pleasant street is cheered by the presence of two children, Nelson C. and Nellie S. Mr. Gay enjoys society and is a member of Pulaski lodge, No. 58, F. & A. M., also with Mrs. Gay of Corinthian chapter, O. E. S. Ile also affiliates with Temple lodge, No. 10, I. O. O. F.
GILFILLAN, FAMILY, THE. David Gilfillan came to America from Scotland in 1796, one of four brothers. Here he settled, built a cabin, and hewed out a farm from the primeval wilderness. Six of his seven sons were pioneers in Brownington and Westmore, Or- leans county.
Andrew went to Brownington in 1840, cleared up a fine farm and here William N., his only son, was born in 1847.
His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of "Sugar " Will Nelson, and granddaughter of James Hender- son, the pioneer. Her mother, Jane Henderson, was the first fe- male child born in this town.
In 1867 Andrew Gilfillan and his wife came to Ryegate and purchased the present family homestead of Andrew Buchanan.
Andrew Gilfillan was a man of the times, hardy, vigorous and ac- tive. He died in 1892 in his 77th year, and his wife the preceding year.
William N. attended Peacham academy and taught school success- fully several terms.
Later he was located two years as a shipping elerk at Springfield, Ver-
mont, and while there was president of the Industrial Works.
The failing health of his parents required his care on the Ryegate home farm in 1877, and the same year he married Lizzie, daughter of David Henderson, whose wife, Mary Bailey, is a descendant of the well known pioneer, General Jacob Bailey of Newbury.
Their oldest son, Irving H., 24 years of age, is associated with his father in farming; Bailey H. died
WILLIAM N. GILFILLAN.
in January, 1895, at the age of 14.
W. N. Gilfillan was first secretary of the Farmers' Club of Ryegate and furnished more than 500 columns of correspondence for the Vermont Union. He was for many years the secretary of the South Ryegate creamery, and has served as select- man.
He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Reformed Presby- terian church. In 1902 he repre- sented Ryegate in the legislature.
MARTIN H. GIBSON.
POST OFFICE
MARTIN H. GIBSON'S BLOCK, SOUTH RYEGATE, VERMONT.
OMITTED FROM THE TOWN OF KIRBY .*
NICKERSON, DAVID B., a son of Benjamin B. (see sketch of Nick- erson family, Kirby), was born May 5, 1843, at Kirby. He lived at
DAVID B. NICKERSON.
home on the farm until about twenty years of age, after which he spent some years as a sailor in the whaling service from Provincetown, Massachusetts. In 1869 he was married to Alma J., daughter of Henry Houghton, of Lyndon, and they settled on a farm in his native town. Four children were born to them, the first, Phin W., born Feb- ruary 12, 1871, who died August
11, 1872 ; second, George D., born October 23, 1813, who early devel- oped the characteristics of a ma- chinist and entered a machine shop at St. Johnsbury. His failing health soon forced him to abandon his work and December 10. 1893, he died. The third child of David B. was Charles H., born August 23,
GEORGE D. NICKERSON.
1815, who is married and settled in Kirby. The fourth was Katie Ab- bie, born October 22, 1877, who married and removed from town.
* This article and photographs were received too late to appear in the Kirhy chapter and are used here at the request of the subscriber .- EDITOR.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
April 12, 1891, death removed from the family the wife and mains a resident of Kirby, the own- er of a fine farm in company with mother, Alma J. David B. still re- E. E. Hovey.
ALMA J. NICKERSON.
ESSEX COUNTY
Population, Census of 1900, 8,056
The pioneer settlers of the county were Timothy Nash, George Wheeler, and David Page, who lo- cated in Guildhall in 1764. They had to transport their food supplies in canoes up the Connecticut river, a distance of more than one hundred and fifty miles. For several years settlement progressed slowly. The people suffered from want of food. Mothers sometimes had the heart- rending experience of seeing their children fainting from hunger, without the means to satisfy it, and were obliged to put them to bed without food.
Through this county was the main highway for the St. Francis tribe of Indians, in Canada, and the Coos Indians, who lived in the valley of the Connecticut. Both tribes claimed the territory as a hunting ground and the stone tomahawks and arrow-points which have been found furnish evidence of occasional warfare between them.
The people were also especially exposed to depredations by the In- dians and Tories during the Revo- lutionary war. Their cattle were killed, their houses plundered or burned, and in some instances men were killed and women and children carried into captivity.
The following incident from " Miss Heminway's Historical Gaza- teer of Vermont," will give an idea
of the courage and fortitude with which some of the experiences of these times were borne:
"A Mrs. Chapman, who saw her husband killed while at work in the field near their house, sought refuge for herself and three children in the woods. The Indians passed several times very near her place of conceal- ment, in their search for her, and she was in momentary expectation that her babe would cry, and thus betray her hiding-place. When the Indians had gone, she waded through the river, to a neighbor's house, carrying her children, one at a time, till all were safely over."
Other names have come down to us of men and women who braved dangers and endured privations and hardships. Among them were Cap- tain Bailey, John Hugh, James Lu- ther, John French and wife, Heze- kiah Fuller and wife, and Major Whitcomb. (For extended account of the last named, see " Mountain View Farm," Burke.)
Essex county was incorporated from Caledonia in 1798, but was not fully organized till 1799, when Lu- nenburg and Brunswick were estab- lished as half shires. On the third Monday in December, 1800, the first session of the Essex county court
A-1
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
was held in Lunenburg, in the house of Samuel Gates, which was the first framed house built in that town (see Lunenburg and Dr. J. C. Breit- ling). Daniel Dana of Guildhall was chief judge, Samuel Phelps of Lunenburg and Mills De Forrest of Lemington, assistants; Joseph Wait of Brunswick, first sheriff ; Haynes French of Maidstone, first elerk. At
jail was built in 1808 or 1809 ; a new jail was built in 1834, which was burned in 1864 ; in 1866 it was rebuilt ; set on fire by the prisoners and burned in 1878; it was very soon rebuilt; has been several times repaired and in 1885 was enlarged.
The bar of Essex county was early distinguished for clearness of perception, vigor of intelleet, and
By courtesy of Vermont, 1903.
THE CONNECTICUT.
the October session of the legisla- ture, in 1801, the county seat was changed to Guildhall, where it remains. The first court-house was built on the hill back of the eom- mon, on land granted for the pur- pose by Eben Judd ; in 1831 it was rebuilt on the common and for many years served the threefold purpose of court-house, church, and schoolhouse. The present eourt- house was built in 1850. The first
untiring energy and perseveranee. Some of its members are also re- membered for their gentlemanly na- tures and scholarly attainments. General Seth Cushman, William Heywood, the three Bentons- father and two sons-William Hartshorn, and others might be mentioned. Its strength and dig- nity have been maintained by the acquisition from time to time of such men as Henry Heywood,-son
3
ESSEX COUNTY.
of William Heywood,-Hon. David S. Storrs, Hon. Frankim D. Hale, Colonel Z. M. Mansur, Hon. George N. Dale and his son, Colonel Porter H. Dale, some of whom are still liv- ing and others of whose memories are still fresh in the minds of the present generation.
This county has in the Essex County Herald, published by W. HI. Bishop of I-land Pond, a bright, en- terprising weekly newspaper of sound policy and far-reaching influ- ence.
The town of Concord, in this county, has the distinction of being the seat of the first normal school in the United States, incorporated in 1823.
Essex county is about forty-five miles long and twenty-three miles wide. The head waters of Pas- sumpsic, Moose, and Clyde rivers water the western part. Agricul- ture and lumbering are the leading industries. The strong fertile soil produces plenteous crops of grain and vegetables, while the rich meadow lands along the Connecti- cut produce large quantities of hay and the higher ground furnishes abundant pasturage.
The climate is healthful, the peo- ple are of the energetic, labor-loving type, who enjoy the freedom of the hills and love the scenic beauties of the ever-changing panorama of meadow. cliff, and valley, to be found along the banks of the grand old Connecticut, which forms the eastern boundary.
BRIGHTON.# Population, Census of 1900, 9,023.
At the height of the watershed between the St. Lawrence and the
Atlantic, the town of Brighton has its romantic situation; and across it lay the route of the Indians in their annual pilgrimage from the river to the sea. \ century since, their canoes could easily be pushed from Lake Memphremagog up the River (lyde, over the lake with its beau- tiful pine-covered island, and on to Spectacle pond. where the prow of Pine point, first called the okl man's nose, gives evidence of their council fires as clearly as does Rock Dunder in Lake Champlain; from thence a few paddle strokes would carry them down the Nulhegan river and into the Connecticut.
Following a trail parallel to this water course came the early explor- ers, among them one Knowlton, who give his name to the lake with the island, but the prosaic Yankee fish- ermen came after and called it Island Pond, by which it is known to-day, and in this manner the vil- Soon after Knowlton, General James Whitelaw, who was the guardian and somewhat distant con- nection of Mr. Ronaldo, a Highland Scotchman, the maternal grand- father of Hon. Whitelaw Reid. came, and touched by the beauty of the river, he named it from the beloved stream of his boy- hood's home, the River Clyde. Whitelaw climbed the rocky steeps to a height of fourteen hundred feet above the sea. and as he beheld the lakes that beneath him lay,
" And islands that, empurpled bright, Floated amid the livelier light, And mountains, that like giants stand To sentinel enchanted land."
* Sketch by Colonel Porter H. Dale.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
he dreamed again of the homeland and called the mountain Bonnyberg, that is now generally known as plain Mount Bluff.
Along this trail taken by the ex- plorers and the trappers came, later,
ment was made by Enos Bishop on the westerly shore of the lake, in 1823. The same year John Cargill built a cabin under Mount Bluff and commenced clearing the farm on which he was to pass his long life.
Susanna Stevens
Timothy Ilinman and his party of surveyors, laying out the county road from Derby to the Hampshire line. This road crossed what is known as the Dolloff farm and went around the northerly shore of the lake. The first permanent settle-
and where he died not many years since.
Soon John Stevens settled near the Bishop clearing, and Vitica Blake located on the bay nearly op- posite them.
In the spring of 1827 John Cur-
5
ESSEX COUNTY.
rier and Oney Aldrich bought of the original proprietors seven hundred aeres of land for fifty cents an aere, and Currier built a cabin on the stream that crosses what is now called the Rowe place, and Aldrieh located on the Clyde.
Warren, son of John Stevens, married Susanna, daughter of Oney Aldrich, and they moved to the
From Enos Bishop, Oney AAldrich, and John Currier were descendants who enlisted for the war, as did also the sons of Asa Davis, another of the early settlers.
During the years 1852 and 1853 the Grand Trunk railway was built through this town, and with it came the ancestors of many of the Irish who still live here. Among them
F
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GENERAL VIEW OF ISLAND POND, VERMONT.
Enos Bishop place, which they pur- chased, and where enough sublime history was enacted to fill a volume.
Warren died, all three boys went to the war, one only returning, and the heroic mother struggled on against terrible conditions, and is still living, somewhat lame physi- cally, but possessing perfectly clear mental power.
Peter Tracy, Thomas Foley, Patrick Foley, Patrick Deveney, Thomas Gill, Patrick Flaherty, Michael Tracy, Anthony Flaherty, Stephen Maroney. John Linehan, John Hol- leran, Patrick Curran, and Martin Donohue; the seven last named of whom are still living. Almost without exception they acquired the best farm lands, and made for
6
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
themselves good homes to which they were loyal and were a genial, honorable class of men.
Among the earlier of the French nationality in town were Jean Bap- tiste Gonya, whose sons are direc- tors of the Gane Shirt Co., and one of whom, George A. Gane, is its president. (See sketch.) Gabriel
ployed here, and in various parts of the country.
The first manufacturing indus- try here was lumbering, commenced by John Currier, John Cargill, and Arba JJoy. Dudley P. Hall and others organized the Island Pond Lumber company and built large mills on the lake shore where the
VIEWS OF ISLAND POND, VERMONT, SCENERY.
(. Vallee was for many years tele- graph lineman on the Grand Trunk railway and connected with sev- eral hardware firms; Jeremiah Steady (Giboin) also came here as a young man with the railway: John Riggie was employed from its early days in Hobson's mill. These three are living yet, and have sons em-
Fitzgerald plant is now located. These mills were sold at auction to Isaac Dyer of Portland, Maine, and for two years they were in charge of Sammel D. Hlobson (see sketch). and for six years, from 1859, Nathan Hobson took charge of them. George B. JJames of Boston next came into possession of this indus-
7
ESSEX COUNTY.
try and failed most disastronsły. For more than a quarter century past George H. Fitzgerald has op- erated this plant successfully, and is still running a most modern saw and finishing mill.
In 1866 Samuel D. Hobson pur- chased of Lester Woodbury his mills, some four miles east of the village and carried on, first alone, and later assisted by his sons, ex- tensive operations, till a few years since all the available timber had been cut. For some thirty years Numbering was conducted by resi- dents of Brighton in a mill located just over the Morgan line. There John Kimpton, Charles W. Pierce. and James M. Butters did a large, but to none of them profitable, busi- ness. For about three years Wil- liam R. Rosebrook operated a mill on his farm.
It has been remarked as a strange fact that so great quantity of most valnable timber should have been cut from this locality to so little permanent profit to the operators.
Brighton possesses one of the finest shirt factories in New Eng- land, erected by the town and its use donated to the Gane Shirt com- pany, who came here some ten years ago from Leominster, Massa- chusetts. The first building when fully equipped, and in which were employed some three hundred oper- atives, was entirely destroyed by fire a few months ago, but with quick response the town has already re- built it.
A. and R. Loggie conduet a lively little factory during the sum- mer months and employ some twenty men in making cans and put- ting up blueberries, which are im- ported from Canada.
Of course the greater number of the inhabitants of the village of Island Pond are employed by the Grand Trunk railway, on which this is a divisional point. A new engine house and repair shop are now in process of construction here, and specifications are completed for a new depot. The amount of rail- road business conducted at this point would astonish one not fa- miliar with it. With an already immense yard. negotiations are con- eluded by which a steel viaduct is to be erected to convey all public travel over the tracks that no grade crossing may impede the handling of trains.
This amount of trathe makes the United States customs business at this station the heaviest of any port in the state, there being no less than thirteen deputy collectors and in- spectors detailed for service here.
Few towns in the state can be ad- vaneing in material ways as rapidly as Brighton. It has four churches, a new school building. a Railroad Y. M. C. A. building, erected at a cost of seven thousand dollars above the lot, prosperous societies of Ma- sons and auxiliary orders, Odd Fel- lows, Knights of Pythias, Wood- men, and Forresters: a Grand Army post. with its kindred organizations, sixtoon stores, several carriage, paint, and blacksmith shops, a news- paper, a national bank, an opera house, four hotels, electric lights. a fine water system, and withal, its real estate is valuable and its taxes reasonable.
ISLAND POND NATIONAL BANK. One of the chief institu- tions of the town, commercially con- sidered, is, of course, the Island Pond National bank. It is located in the
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Opera House block and ranks with any of the like institutions of the state in its equipment, management, and safety of the funds in its keep- ing. Its vault is fitted with all modern appliances to guard against fire and burglars and is considered absolutely invincible to all invasions of this nature.
The bank commenced business on the 21st day of April, 1890. Eber C. Robinson was the first president and Alvah K. Darling the first
Report of the condition of the bank at the close of business, June 9, 1903 :
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts, $218,243.40
U. S. bonds to secure circu- lation, 37,000.00
Stocks, securities, etc., 50,645.94
Due from approved reserve agents, 2,182.18
Checks and other cash items, 797.80
Notes of other national banks, 335.00
Fractional paper currency,
nickels, and cents, 62.27
Lawful money reserve in bank, viz. :
OPERA HOUSE BLOCK, ISLAND POND.
cashier. On the decease of Mr. Robinson, George H. Fitzgerald was elected president, on the 30th of June, 1894. Luther A. Cobb be- came cashier on the death of Mr. Darling, May 2d, 1895, and retains this position at the present time. On August 29th, 1899, Mr. Fitz- gerald resigned as president, because of the ill health of his wife which made his removal to Portland im- perative, and Colonel Porter H. Dale was chosen president.
Specie, $6,026.55
Legal tender notes, 4,690.00 10,716.55
Five per cent. redemp- tion fund, 1,850.00
Total, $321,833.14
LIABILITIES,
Capital stock paid in, $75.000.00
Surplus fund, 10,000.00
Undivided profits, less ex- penses and taxes paid, 22,502.92
National bank notes out- standing, 37,000.00
Individual deposits subject to check. 172,321.07
9
ESSEX COUNTY.
Demand certificates of de- posit, $1,775.00
Certified checks, 125.52
Cashier's checks outstanding,
608.63
Bills payable, including cer-
tificates of deposit for
money borrowed, 2,500.00
Total, $321,833.14
A general savings bank is also operated and generally patronized by the townspeople, under the same officials and management.
power. From here the water is conveyed through a steel penstoek, six feet in diameter, a distance of sixteen hundred feet to the power house below, in which is machinery in duplicate for all the requirements of the plant, so that the breakage of any part would simply necessi- tate the substitution of its dupli- eate.
From this station are lighted the villages of Island Pond, Derby Line.
ISLAND POND ELECTRIC CO.'S DAM AT WEST CHARLESTON IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION.
THE ISLAND POND ELECTRIC Co. owns and operates one of the largest and most modernly equipped plants in this country.
The power is generated at the falls of Clyde river in West Charles- ton, where the water is held back by a granite dam, some three hun- dred feet long and forty feet high in its deepest part. The pond caused by the dam covers about seventy aeres and is held as reserve
and Stanstead, to which will soon be added East and West Charleston and Derby. The directors of this company are Porter H. Dale, John S. Sweeney, O. S. Eaton, Luther 1. Cobb, and George HI. Fitzgerald.
DALE, GEORGE NEEDHAM,* was born in Fairfax, Vt., February 19, 1834. His parents removed to Waits- field, where he attended the public schools, and later graduated from Thetford academy. He studied law
*Sketch by Rev. Edward P. Lee.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
with Paul Dillingham at Water- bury, and was admitted to the Ver- mont bar in 1856. He came im- mediately to Guildhall, the seat of Essex county, and entered into part- nership with William 11. Hartshorn. Having received the appointment of deputy collector of customs for the port of Island Pond, he moved his residence to that place in 1861, where he resided till his death. October. 1863, he married Helen M., daughter of Porter Hinman and Mary P. Wikler, his wife. The is- sue of this marriage was one son and two daughters. His wife, one son, and one daughter, still survive, but the youngest daughter died about two years ago.
He was elected state's attorney for the county of Essex in 1857, and was reelected for the fourth time.
He was elected from Guildhall to the general assembly in 1860, and to the senate of Vermont in 1866- '67-'68-'69, and was president pro tempore of the senate by unanimous choice in 1869.
At the first biennial election in Vermont, Mr. Dale was elected lieu- tenant-governor of the state for the years 1870-71. Subsequently he represented the town of Brighton in the legislature for the year 1892, and again was returned to the sen- ate from Essex county in 1894.
In the United States customs ser- vice. Mr. Dale was deputy collector in charge at the port of Island Pond from 1861 to 1866, and again from 1872 to 1882. He entered the dip- lomatie service as I'mited States consul at Coaticook, C'an., in Oc- tober, 1901, but resigned at the end of about a year on account of his failing health. Ile was employed as connsel for the Grand Trunk
Railway company from 1864 up to the time of his death.
Governor Dale was a lawyer in the best sense of that term, from start to finish, and amid all the public offices which he held, he never let go his hold of the fact that he was an officer of the court, and a member of the bar in the judiciary of his native state. And he loved his profession. lle was extremely careful and painstaking. He very seldom gave an opinion on a point of law offhand, but took time to examine anthorities, and turn it over in his mind, till he had looked at it from every point of view, and when he finally gave an opinion it could generally be relied upon as correct. He was a lawyer, but he was not a fitigant, that is, he never took cases for the sake of litigation. It was his aim always to compose quarrels and differences, never to make them. Many are the cases that have been settled by his advice, which could easily have been taken into court, yet the advice to Laertes seemed always to be his motto: " Beware of entrance to a quarrel: but being in, bear it that the oppo- ser may beware of thee."
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