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 5
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 5
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 5
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where he has continued in active practice until the present, and was for several years proprietor of a drug store.
Dr. Stiles has been a member of the United States pension board of C'aledonia county continuously for
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
twenty years, except a period of four or five years during the administra- tion of President Cleveland, most of the time as secretary or acting secre- tary, and during the past six years as president.
He has been a director and for the past seven years president of the C'aledonia County Agricultural so- ciety, during which period a debt of more than $3,000 has been raised and the buildings and grounds put in good condition. He has been village trustee and superintendent of the village water-works, and is a director of the Merchants' National bank and a member of the state board of health.
Dr. Stiles is a Mason. an Odd Fel- low, and a Knight of Pythias, and has passed all of the chairs of the local bodies of the two last named societies.
He was a member of the legisla- ture of 1898 from St. Jolinsbury, was chairman of the committee on public health, and a member on the committee for the insane. It was largely due to his personal efforts that the bill providing for the state laboratory was passed and he also presented and championed the bill providing for the examination of physicians practising in the state.
Elected a senator from Caledonia county in 1902, he was chairman of the committee on public health. a member of several other committees. drafted several important measures presented by himself and others, and took an active part in the general discussions of the senate.
Truman R. Stiles married Abbie .1. Jenness of Sheffield in 1870. Their two sons are Don C. (a mer- chant in the line of druggists' sun- dries, patent medicines, and sta-
tionery, located on Railroad street) and Ned C. The latter is a grad- nate M. D. of U. V. M., of the class of '99; also a post-graduate of Tufts Medical college, and of the Kline School of Opties of Boston. Mrs. Stiles died in April, 1900.
Dr. Stiles married Miss Elizabeth A. Derick of Sherbrooke in 1901, and their little daughter is named Charlotte Hilda.
ANDREW FOLSOM.
FOLSOM, ANDREW. As a loco- motive engineer and hotel man, An- drew Folsom has a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. He was born in Barton, Vt., forty years ago, the eldest son of the seven children of James and Elizabeth (Morgan) Folsom.
Orphaned at eight years of age by his father's death, he was put ont to service with a farmer in Sut- ton, where he received only limit-
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
ed common school advantages but learned to " hoe his own row " in life. Naturally active and ingen- ious, at fifteen years of age he began to learn the trade of stationary en- gineer, which he followed about five years, when he entered the em- ploy of the St. J. & L. C. R. R., first as fireman, and two years later be- came locomotive engineer, which position he has filled since. In 1902 he leased the Avenue House for one year. In January, 1903, he leased the Union House, which he is still conducting. The Union House is a handsome modern hotel on Rail- road street, within two minutes walk of the railroad station .. With neat, cozy rooms, steam heat, elec- tric lights and excellent table, the house is well patronized by those who appreciate good service and a quiet home-like stopping place at moderate rates, as well as by the numerous friends of the genial pro- prietor.
Mr. Folsom also owns a half in- terest in a farm at Bar Harbor, Me., near the famous fishing grounds of Frenchmen's bay, where his family spends a portion of the summer.
Andrew Folsom married Estella, daughter of II. R. and Dorcas N. Pratt of Concord, Vt., in 1885. They have one son, Henry A. Mr. Folsom is a member of Moose Riv- er lodge, No. 82, F. & A. M., also of Haswell chapter, Caledonia council, Palestine commandery, and Mount Sinai temple.
HOVEY, CAPTAIN EDWIN L. " There's a divinity that shapes our ends rough hew them as we may." The experience of Captain Hovey has frequently illustrated this Shakespearian aphorism. Impul- sive and yet tenacious in his purpose
his career has been interesting and even romantic, and he is in some sense a man of destiny. He is best known as the " Father of Summer- ville."
Edwin L. was one of the six sons of William Hovey, and was born in Waterford sixty-four years ago. At nineteen years of age he left the farm and fitted for college at St. Johnsbury academy. Ile cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He had just completed his sophomore year at Dartmouth college with a good standing when the second call for troops came. At a war meeting held at the Waterford town house, Hovey enlisted, with the proviso that the town's quota should be filled then and there, which was done. He entered Company K. Fifteenth regiment, as a private. One evening while ruminating on hardtack and tough beef, and the lost opportunities of college life, he was summoned to the tent of Colonel Proctor, who addressed him in double bass tones: " You are recommended as fit for a small of- fice: ] appoint you sergeant-major of the regiment." Visions of offi- cer's mess and shoulder straps danced before him, and they were realized, for he returned as first lieu- tenant of Company I. Ilis title of captain was afterwards obtained in the Vermont militia.
After his service had expired Hovey packed his grip to return to college, and when he stopped to say good-by to his sister, Armenia, and her husband. Stephen Richardson. the latter offered one half of his farm so cheaply that Ilovey bought it on the spot, and bade adieu to college life. Ile married Ella, daughter of John P. Carr of Water-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ford, in 1864, and settled down to farming.
After several lucky real estate ventures, he bought the Tobias Les- ter and the Armington farms-some 800 acres-and sold them four years later at a handsome advance. He then bought a printing plant for $5,000, and founded the St. Johns- bury Times, which he conducted sneces-fully one year, with Arthur Ropes as general editor, and then sold the paper and list to Dr. Bul- lard for $8,000. He then bought the Summerville sawmill with one of the $2,000 notes. In the fall of 1870 he bought eighteen acres of land, east of the schoolhouse, of W. True for $3,000, and the wise ones predicted his failure. Here was el- bow room for enterprise. He laid out Lafayette, Lincoln, Liberty, American, and East streets, and went to work. For sixteen years he sawed a half million feet of lumber annually, using a considerable por- tion of it in his extensive building operations. During this period he built about thirty houses.
E. L. Hovey's name was the second on the charter of Green Mountain grange, No. 1, the first grange founded in New England. He was at three different periods owner of the Grange store. always doing a good business, and selling at an advance.
In January, 1890, in company with B. G. Howe, he bought a traet of eighty acres, including Harris hill, of Edwin Harris, for $8,000; a year later bought out his partner's interest, and soon sold enough lots to pay for the original purchase.
Mr. Hovey has built or rebuilt all the stores on Portland street, he- sides nearly fifty dwellings. He
was engaged in the meat business several years, on Railroad street, and is an intensive and an extensive farmer. Mrs. Hovey died in 1820. He married Miss Sarah Hutchins of St. Johnsbury in 1873, and they have a spacious residence on Lafay- ette street.
Mr. Hovey has been a leading member of the State grange, Pa- trons of Husbandry, and is a promi- nent member and past commander of Chamberlain post, Grand Army of the Republic.
He has repeatedly served as lister, selectman, and grand juror, and was for three years an efficient member of the school board of St. Johns- bury. He has been a justice of the peace more than a score of years, and a member of both the town and county Republican committees. Mr. llovey has never used any alcohol stimulants, or tobacco, was never siek a day in his life, and is in the mature prime of manhood.
Mrs. Ella Carr Hovey died in 18:1.
By this marriage are three dangh- ters, Edith L. (wife of John Moore of St. Johnsbury), Mabel F. (wife of E. P. Carpenter of Waterford), and Ella E.
Captain Hovey married Sarah F. Hutchins in 1823. Mrs. Hovey is past department president of the W. R. C. of Vermont.
There are two daughters by this marriage, Bertha E. (Mrs. David H. Macomber of Independence, lowa), and Grace G. Hovey.
FLINT, RICHARD B. This worthy gentleman and veteran land- lord came to Railroad street as a pioneer, contemporaneous with the Passumpsie railroad, fifty-two years ago, when there was only one or two
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
primitive houses here. As a youth he helped plant the acorn, and as a hale and hearty veteran of seventy- eight he rejoices in the shade of the mighty oak; he sees a long, hand- some, prosperous street, with fine residences and magnificent blocks, "arise as by the stroke of an en- chanter's wand." His grandfather, James Flint, was a soldier of the Revolution, and a pioneer settler in
RICHARD B. FLINT.
Randolph, who married Jerusha Lillie. Ilis father, Joel Flint, fought as a Yankee volunteer at Plattsburg, and was a long time blacksmith in Walden, where R. B. was born in 1825. His mother was Hulda Hawes, and he was the youngest and now the only survivor of a family of five children. Mr. Flint's youth and early manhood was spent in his native town, where he conducted a blacksmith shop, also a shoe shop, and served the
town two years as constable and collector. In 1850 Russell Hal- lett built on the site of Lougee Brothers' and Smythe's store, the building which is now occupied by D. Frechette, and in the ground floor of this building R. B. Flint and 1 .. C. Woodbury started a grocery store and eating saloon, and were the first merchants on the street.
Mr. Flint also started the first livery stable and the first meat mar- ket, and built the slaughter house near Portland street bridge. In 1852 he purchased the Cottage ho- tel lot, paying for the same a horse, valued at $200. That year he built his house, 22x28 feet, two stories, which he used many years as a resi- dence, but which has since by de- grees grown into the Cottage hotel, 50x20 feet, and three stories high.
For nearly thirty years Mr. Flint conducted this hotel, and during this time never sold a glass of liquor to a guest, always maintaining a good table, a good reputation, and a good financial standing, an em- phatic refutation of the statement that " a landlord can't make a living unless he sells rum." Mr. Flint was widely known as a skilful con- naisseur of good horses, and was a good horseman, and has many years exhibited fine roadsters on the fair grounds. During the war he bought, as a government agent, 253 horses, all but one being accepted, and took them on to Washington, every one arriving in prime condi- tion. lle has fitted and sold many good ones at rising prices. In 185: R. B. Flint married Marcialine M. Hopkins of Montpelier, a lady of fine social gifts and a true helpmeet.
Two children now living, Wil- lis D. and Ella M. (Mrs. D. C.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Horner of St. Johnsbury). Mr. Horner is well known in Masonic cireles and as a thorough mechanic and the superintendent of the tool department of Fairbanks' works. Mrs. Horner has resided with her parents, and is favorably known, not only to guests of the Cottage hotel, but as a prominent member and district deputy grand matron of the Order of the Eastern Star of Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Flint have for many years been esteemed members of the South Congregational church, and have a wide circle of acquaint- ances and friends.
CHAPMAN, CHARLES A., son of William A. and Elizabeth (Morrill) Chapman, was born in East St. Johnsbury, August 11th, 1873. He comes of strong New England stock. His maternal grandfather was Hon. Calvin Morrill, an early and promi- nent merchant and public man of East St. Johnsbury. His paternal grandfather, David Chapman, came from Danville to East St. Johns- bury, where he was a blacksmith several years, and in the later fifties bought the Morrill store and en- gaged in trade, first as senior part- ner of the firm of Chapman & Bill, and later with his son, William A., as Chapman & Son.
William A. Chapman enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Vermont regiment, Colonel Redfield Proctor; was elected lieutenant, later pro- moted captain, and honorably dis- charged with his regiment. After his return from the tented field, Captain Chapman continued in trade many years at East St. Johns- bury and died there in 1887.
Charles A. Chapman was edu- cated in the public schools and at
St. Johnsbury academy. In 1893 he commenced the printing business on a small scale at the old store in his native village, and a year later located in the armory building at St. Johnsbury, where he continued this business four years. He then leased the old opera house and was its manager until the fire of 1897, after which for several years he as- sisted Landlords Doyle and Black
CHARLES A. CHAPMAN.
in bill posting and advertising. During the past year he has been manager of the Howe opera house, and after a successful season has re- cently secured an indefinite renewal of his lease.
He does a general theatrical busi- ness, engaging lecturers, theaters. etc., and the character and value of the amusements here largely de- pends upon his discretion. He makes touring engagements for such well-known organizations as Sousa's
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
band, the Kilties, and Denman Thompson's company.
Mr. Chapman married in 1896 Miss Elsie M. Shaw of Fall River, Massachusetts. Mr. Chapman is a member of Apollo lodge, No. 2. Knights of Pythias, and was form- erly captain of E. B. Frost camp, No. 18. S. of V. lle resides at No. 11 Belvidere street. Mr. Chapman from early boyhood has evinced an unusual interest and taste for dra- matic and theatrical representations and has presented entertainments of a high order, well adapted to the taste of the St. Johnsbury public.
PREVOST. CHARLES ARSENE, M. D. Dr. Prevost comes of stanch Canadian stock. His father, Jules Prevost, is now a citizen of St. Johnsbury, and his mother, Ade- laide Bossonnault, was a sister of Father J. A. Bassonnault of this town. C. A. Prevost was born in Làcadie parish, P. Q., in 1863. His mother died when he was nine years of age. and a maternal uncle. Rev. Charles Bossonnault, provided for his education, which was obtained at College Bourget. at Rigaud, Can- ada, where he graduated in 1887 with the degree of A. B.
He soon commenced the study of medicine at the School of Medicine and Surgery at Montreal, P. Q., where he graduated in 1891 with the degrees of M. D. and C. M.
He first located at Barre, Vt., where he met with a favorable re- ception, but six months later de- cided to settle in St. Johnsbury, where he was already somewhat ac- quainted, and where a better oppor- tunity awaited him.
He purchased the business of Dr. G. Goyett and was soon engaged in an extensive and lucrative practice.
The following year he was a victim of the disastrous fire on Railroad street, where he lost nearly all of his effects, without insurance.
In 1892 he married Marie Desco- teux of Montreal, who died in April, 1897. leaving three little danghters, Bernadette, Germaine, and Marie. The same year he completed his ele- gant residence at 130 Railroad street, which contains his commo-
CHARLES A. PREVOST, M. D.
dious office, an excellent library, and all needed appliances.
Dr. Prevost is a member and ex- amining physician of the Catholic Order of Forresters, the St. Jean Baptiste society, and the Modern Woodmen of America, the subordi- nate bodies located at St. Johns- bury. He is also a member of the Vermont Medical society.
Endowed with fine musical talent and considerable executive ability, Dr. Prevost has given liberally of
!
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS,
his time and means for the organiza- tion of his countrymen and culti- vation of music. He enjoys a good social and professional standing in his adopted town.
FRECHETTE, DAVID. The sub- ject of this sketch is an excellent type of the enterprising, patriotic, French-Americans who have cast their lot in St. Johnsbury. Born in 1844, in the parish of Maskinonge, P. Q., he was reared upon a farm, and received a common school edu- cation. His mother died when he was ten years old. At the age of sixteen he went to Keesville, N. Y., to make his home with an uncle. The next year he enlisted as a sol- dier of the Union in the Fifty- sixth Massachusetts regiment, Ninth corps, received his baptism of fire at Pigram Farm, shared the for- tunes of his regiment at Weldon railroad and at Grant's grand ad- vance on Richmond and Petersburg, and was honorably discharged with his regiment at the close of the war. After visiting his relatives, he spent some two years in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and later resided seven years in Fair Haven, Vt. He came to St. Johnsbury in 1825, and has resided here ever since. He was employed by Rev. J. A. Bosson- nault several years as a teacher and in other capacities. Ile engaged in trade with his oldest son, D. S. Fre- chette, in January, 1893, in the line of groceries, meats, and provisions, at 95 Railroad street, where he still continues.
During the past few years he has conducted the business alone, dis- continuing the sale of meat. Mr. Frechette is noted for his sterling integrity. and his unfailing cour- tesy to all, and has a good business
standing. He has officiated as no- tary public for more than a dozen years and five years as justice of peace.
Mr. Frechette affiliates with St. Jean Baptiste society and Cham- berlain post, No. 1. G. A. R. In 1867 he married Rosalie Gregoire, at Phoenix, R. L., and eleven chil- dren have been born to them, only four of whom are living: David S., a provision merchant at Newmar- ket, N. H., Joseph P., who assists his father in the business, Mary A., and Arthur.
ALLEN, JOHN M., M. D. Dr. J. M. Allen was born in St. Johnsbury in 1868. His father, David S. Al- len, was for many years an employé at Fairbanks' scale works, and his mother was formerly Abbie Alvord.
After graduating from St. Johns- bury academy in 1884, one of a class of sixty-eight, the largest ever grad- uated, .J. M. Allen worked several years as a clerk in the post-office and in other capacities, thus acquir- ing the means to complete his edu- cation. Ile began reading medicine with the late Dr. Gates B. Bullard, and later entered the medical de- partment of T. V. M., from which he graduated in the class of '90, and a year later graduated from Belle- vue Hospital Medical college of New York.
He was acting superintendent of Mary Fletcher hospital at Burling- ton for six months, during the ill- ness of Dr. Andrews, the superin- tendent. In October, 1891, he lo- cated at St. Johnsbury, with his of- fice in Republican block. He mar- ried in April, 1893, Miss Winnifred D. Hall of St. Johnsbury. and bought his residence and office at 24 Railroad street. Dr. Allen is a
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
member of the Vermont State and White Mountain Medical societies, and American Medical association.
Desiring to secure the best possi- ble equipment, in the fall of 1897 he spent four months in the hospi- tals of London and Paris under spe-
dozen or more leading life insurance companies. He is a member of the board of United States pension ex- aminers of Caledonia county, and was a member of the examining board for enlisted volunteers for the Spanish war. Dr. Allen was
JOHN M. ALLEN, M. D.
cial instructors, and in the spring of 1898 took a course in surgery and diseases of women in the Post-grad- uate Medical college of New York city, and he has made a successful specialty of the practice of surgery. He is medical examiner for the United Commercial Travelers, and a
the pioneer in interesting physicians and business men in the project of founding Brightlook hospital. He is a member of the N. E. O. P., Pas- sumpsie lodge, No. 22, F. and A. M .. Iloswell chapter, Royal Arch, and Palestine commandery, Knights Templar: also of Mount Sinai tem-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Mont- pelier.
WARD, JOHN G., son of Dr. George W. and Emma M. (Gilman) Ward, was born in St. Johnsbury in 1878. Dr. George W. Ward is well known in this section as a suc- cessful veterinary surgeon and horse breeder, and is at present lo- cated at Newport, Vermont, as gov- ernment inspector of live stock, at five points of entry. . John G. began in early boyhood to assist his father and to study and observe practical veterinary work, and for the past eight years has practised, either with his father or by himself, and at present has a large and increasing patronage in this section.
He is a veterinary by birth and training, a practical man. His home and office is in Summerville, near the Ely works, where his father was in practice many years. The veterinary practice is steadily in- creasing, and the practitioner is re- garded with favor and esteem as an indispensable factor in the com- munity. Mr. Ward married Miss Lizzie Blair of Canada.
BOISSONNAULT, REV. J. A. Rev. Father S. Danielon took charge of the Catholic parish of St. Johnsbury in 1858. The people had hitherto enjoyed only occa- sional religious services, led by Fathers Drolet, Maloney, and O'Reilly, as missionaries. Father Danielou completed the old church, built the first rectory, and bought the Catholic cemetery in Summer- ville. He also started the building now used as a boys' school. In 1874 Father Boissonnault was appointed pastor of "Our Lady of Victory " church, St. Johnsbury.
During his first year he com-
pleted the boys' school building. To facilitate the further develop- ment of the school, the commercial department will be transferred in September of this year to St. Agnes' hall, under the care of the reverend brothers of St. Gabriel, Montreal, who are already well and favorably known in St. Johnsbury. In 1876 he bought ground for a Catholic cemetery, and the same year built the church at Lyndonville, and in- stalled the chime of three bells in the home church on the Fourth of July. This was the first chime lo- cated in the state of Vermont.
In 1817 the Sisters of Charity came to St. Johnsbury and lent their devoted efforts to the church work. In June, 1878, the pastor purchased a residence for the nuns on Cherry street. In September, 1879, the reverend sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame, Mon- treal, assumed the direction of the school. During the summer of 1882 the present convent building was erected at a cost of about $25,000.
The spacious residence which the priest now occupies was purchased in February, 1884.
During the twenty-nine years of his pastorate, Father Boissonnault has spent nearly $200,000 upon buildings and real estate, for church purposes.
Rev. L. Marceau, from the Que- bec diocese, has been associated as curate with Father Boissonnault since 1888. In him the pastor has always found an able and zealous as- sistant in all that concerns the wel- fare of his people. Father Marceau has charge of the missions depend- ing on St. Johnsbury. In 1899 he built churches in Greensboro, Vic- tory, and Granby.
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CALEDONIA COUNTY.
This brief outline of the material improvement is an index of the numerical growth and spiritual up- lift of the church. The number of families has doubled and there have been more than 3,500 baptisms.
THE CONVENT.
Rev. J. A. Boissonnault was born at St. Valentine, P. Q., in 1841, graduated from the Mon- treal college in 1863, and the same year began his theological studies.
After his ordination in 1866, he was named assistant pastor at Sault au Recollet, and in 1869 came to Vermont, taking charge of the new congregation at Rutland. Later he was ap- pointed rector at Fairhaven, which comprised the missions of Castleton, Orwell, Shoreham, and Proctorsville. During that time he built churches at Fairhaven and Shorcham. His latest great work of beneficence was the founding and erection of the St. Johnsbury hos-
pital, an elaborate brick structure, costing about $20,000. The hos- pital is in charge of the Sisters of Providence, Montreal, whose care- ful training for hospital work counts for the success which crowns their work.
Probably no other man in this state with his limited means has ever been in- strumental in providing
NOTRE DAME DES VICTOIRES CATHOLIC CHURCH.
so many resources for church, charit- able, and educational work as Father Boissonnault. His influence has ever been a tower of strength in the cause of temperance and moral-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ity, and he is held in the highest esteem by all our citizens.
ALDRICH, WALTER J., is a prominent member of that coterie of well-read, active, and public- spirited St. Johnsbury physicians, in the early prime of life, all of whom are animated by sentiments of mutual respect and helpfulness. His ancestors are of English descent. He was born in Lyman, New Hamp-
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