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 51
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 51
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 51
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ducted. Mr. Ranney is a citizen of high moral ideals, and his active in- fluence is exerted on the side of rec- titude and progress. He has been a member of the State Sabbath School executive committee, on the same committee for the Y. M. C. A., and a member of the Temperance Committee of Fifteen. He has served as village trustee, as a mem- ber of the school board eight years, and represented Newport in the legislature in 1898.
GEORGE H. NEWLAND.
NEWLAND, DR. GEORGE H., son of George W. and Orpha C. (Whip- ple) Newland, was born in Hyde Park July 28, 1853. He spent most of his early life in Irasburg and was educated at Kimball Union academy and the Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, New York. He came to Newport in 1873, stud- ied dentistry and engaged in prac- tice about ten years at that time.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
He married Florence E., daugh- ter of S. W. Parker of Newport in 1883, and soon after removed to Irasburg, where he was engaged in dentistry, was in the drug business and was postmaster under Presi-
monwealth of Massachusetts. Dr. Newland is also a member of the State Dental association, and enjoys an extensive practice.
In 1892-'93 he erected Newland block, a fine modern structure on
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dent Arthur, but returned to New- port two years later. He attended the Boston Dental college in 1890, and received a diploma from that institution and also from the com-
the corner of Main and Central streets. He was a pioneer in de- veloping Lake Memphremagog as a summer resort and has a fine sum- mer cottage and steam launch,
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
where he enjoys life with his fam- ily and friends, and dispenses a lib- eral hospitality.
Dr. Newland is a most social and genial gentleman and has contrib- uted his full share to the prosperity of Newport.
was educated at Greenwich Acad- emy, Rhode Island, at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecti- cut, and at the Boston School of Theology.
In 1884 he married Elizabeth Haynes of Lyme, Connecticut, and
REV. WILBUR C. NEWELL.
NEWELL, REV. WILBUR C., is the popular and efficient pastor of the Methodist church of Newport. He is the son of Rev. F. C. Newell, a successful Methodist clergyman, and was born at Gurleyville, Con- necticut, December 28, 1859. He B-8
joined the New England Southern conference, where he served sev- eral important churches with marked acceptability.
In the spring of 1901 he was called to Newport, where he is win- ning unusual success. Mr. Newell
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
is a devoted student of literature, ancient and modern. All of his sermons and writings attest this fact.
His booklet "Truth Abont Hell," published at the Methodist Pub- fishing House, has had an extensive sale. His new book, "The Life Worth Living," by the Abbey Press, is scholarly, high-toned, replete with apt illustrations and merits a wide circulation.
His popular lectures, "The Art of Making Things Go," "Common Sense," "Back Seat Folks," and "The Twentieth Century Farmer," are in good demand and are well re- ceived by the public.
THRASHER, HOMER, son of Charles and Harriett (Wheeler) Thrasher, was born in Westminster September 29, 1841. The same year his father settled in Coventry and successfully followed his trade of blacksmith, and owned and conducted a farm until the time of his death in 1876. Charles Thrasher was a war Democrat and as a selectman did yeoman service in securing soldiers during the Civil war.
Homer Thrasher, the fourth of a family of five sons and four dangh- ters, was reared npon his father's farm, attended the public and high schools of Coventry and Browning- ton and taught several terms of winter school. At twenty years of age he went to Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts and for four years was em- ployed in a scythe factory. Later he clerked in stores both at Coven- try, Vermont and Fitchburg, Mas- sachusetts, and in 1865 engaged in the starch business with Mr. Bur- bank one year at Barton Landing and then two years at Coventry.
In 1873 Mr. Thrasher bought the general country store of L. Soper at Coventry, which he successfully conducted until he sold it in 1880. Meanwhile for nearly eight years he had been town clerk and treas- urer at Coventry.
He came to Newport in 1881 and for two years engaged in business with D. M. Camp & company, pub- lishers of the Newport Express and Standard. In the fall of 1883 he founded his present business and is now recognized as the leading dealer in gents' clothing and fur- nishings in Orleans county.
Mr. Thrasher is a sagacious and successful business man, of unusual executive ability and absolute in- tegrity. His townsmen have rec-
HOMER THRASHER.
ognized these qualities by electing him to many positions of trust. He has served as treasurer of the Cem- etery association, of the lecture
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course committee and of the Or- leans County Musical association. He has been lister and school trus- tee five years, also village trustee, and for 13 years in succession chairman of the board of selectmen. Mr. Thrasher was a member of the legislature in 1890. He has been a Mason for thirty-seven years, was many years secretary of the blue lodge and is now secretary of the chapter, and recorder of Malta commandery.
Mr. Thrasher married Josephine Bowles of Lisbon, New Hampshire, in 1868. They have had two child- ren: Florence, who died in infancy, and Edward C., born January 11, 1874.
Edward C. Thrasher is a grad- uate of Newport and St. Johnsbury academies, of the Worcester, Massa- chusetts Polytechnic institute, an honor man of the class of 1898.
He married Elsie M., daughter of George Ranney of St. Johnsbury. Edward C. is now in the employ of Park Davis Co., wholesale drug manufacturers, Detroit, Michigan.
PROUTY & MILLER. The firm of Prouty & Miller was formed in 1876, the original members being John A. Prouty and Oscar C. Mill- er, they having mills at Newport, Vermont, and Roxton Falls, Que- bec. In 1885 H. H. Pronty and George H. Prouty were admitted as members, but H. H. Prouty retired in 1889. Mr. Miller having been appointed general manager of the International company and John A. Prouty having given up the active management of the property, Mr. G. H. Prouty became the managing partner. In 1899 the two younger sons of John A. Prouty were admit- ted as members of the firm, so that
to-day it is made up of Oscar C. Mil- ler, George H. Prouty, Edgar J. Prouty, and Willard R. Prouty.
The business of the firm has rap-
GEORGE H. PROUTY.
idly increased until today they own some 40,000 acres of timber land and have two mills at this point, one at Buckingham, Quebec, one at St. Victor, Quebec, and one at Bige- low, Maine, with a combined output of 30,000,000 feet per year. They also own retail yards at Taunton, Brockton, and Holyoke, Massachu- setts, their total sales reaching in the aggregate to almost one million dollars per year. The mills at New- port employ about seventy-five men and are kept running for the pur- pose of dressing lumber all the year around.
John A. Prouty, who during his life was the senior member of the firm, was prominently associated with the business interests of the
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
town and village and for many years was one of its leading citizens. His judgment was always sought in town affairs and his influence had much to do in bringing about the improvements of which the town and village have a right to be proud.
He represented the town in the legislature at three different times and had very much to do with the removal of the county buildings to this place. He was also one of the organizers of the Orleans Trust company, and one of its directors from its organization till the time of his death, which occurred in 1900, at the age of seventy-three years.
-
OSCAR C. MILLER.
Oscar C. Miller was born in West- field, and spent the early years of his life in that town, teaming and in the lumber business. In 1873 he removed to Newport to take the po-
sition of superintendent for D. H. & J. C. Newton, who were owners of the mill at that time. He re- tained this position until 1816, when the mill was sold to the firm of Prouty & Miller, he becoming the managing partner of the manu- facturing department, which posi- tion he successfully filled until in 1886 he became the general man- ager of the International company.
In 1895 he built the mill now oc- cupied by the Blair & De Larm Veneer company, and is still its owner. Mr. Miller has always been very active in town affairs and, though he has always been a Demo- crat in politics, he was in 1892 elected to represent the town in the legislature, and in the same year was a member of the Democratic convention which nominated Grov- er Cleveland. He is to-day vice- president of the Orleans Trust com- pany
George II. Prouty was born in Newport in 1862. He attended the public schools, after which he took a short course at St. Johnsbury academy and passed through the business college of Bryant & Strat- ton of Boston, after which he began his business career by taking charge of a mill at Knowlton, Quebec, and has been in active business since that time, having been a member of the firm for about fourteen years. He is a young man of superior ex- ecutive ability and of large experi- ence of men and affairs. He was a member of the legislature in 1896, and is a member of all the Masonie bodies up to and including the 32°. He is always much interested in publie matters and contributes lib- crally to enterprises of publie bene- fit.
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
The younger members of the firm are both young men of great prom- ise and are taking a very active part in the management of the business by the way of taking charge of the actual operation of the mills at Newport.
CLERMONT, REV. ANTHONY, rector of St. Mary Catholic church at Newport, was born at St. Martin, Province of Quebec, in 1853, son of Ant. P. Clermont, farmer, and of Adeline Giroux, and received his early training in the parish and dis- triet school. Orphaned at an early age by his father's death, he was sent to Montreal at eleven years of age as an apprentice to the jewel- er's trade, and while there attended the business college, taking the English course. He then attended Montreal college, from which he graduated in the classical course in 1875. After taking his degrees in philosophy he was assigned to the position of professor of classical lit- erature at Montreal college, where he remained three years. He then attended the Grand seminary at Montreal, and graduated from the theological course in 1881, after which he was recalled to the classi- cal chair. His first settlement was at Pembroke, Ontario, as secretary of Bishop Loraine. He was then sent as a eurate to Joliet, Province of Quebec, and curate of St. Vin- cent, and of St. Bridgett, Mon- treal. In 1891 he became chan- cellor and secretary of the Ro- man Catholic diocese of Vermont, and since 1892 he has been reetor of St. Mary's church at Newport, where he has been influential in ex- tending the faith of his church, and is held in the highest esteem by the citizens.
Father Clermont has purchased the site for the erection of a splen- did Catholic church commodious enough for this large parish and it
REV, ANTHONY CLERMONT.
will be completed in the near future.
CAMP, DAVID M., youngest son of Ira and Harriet (Davis) Camp, was born in Derby, December 11, 1836. He was educated in the dis- trict school and the academies of Derby and St. Johnsbury. His mi- nority was spent on the farm and in teaching. From early life he has been closely identified with educa- tional affairs, several years as a teacher in district schools and acad- emies, later as superintendent in
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTEI S.
Derby three years, and a trustee of Newport academy and graded school and Johnson Normal school. He was also a member of the state board of education when the last uniform text-books were adopted.
Though not a college graduate, he was in 1886 honored by Middle- bury college with the degree of A. M. In 1865 he settled in Newport and soon after bought an interest in
DAVID M. CAMP.
the Express and Standard, and was its sole or joint owner and editor for a quarter of a century, covering the most interesting period of our country's history. He was ever an outspoken advocate of temperance, morality, and patriotism, and a strong Republican from the birth of the party.
In 1889 he was appointed deputy collector of customs at Newport,
under George G. Benedict, and served until 1894, when under a change of administration he re- signed by request. In 1898 he re- ceived a like appointment from Z. M. Mansur, collector of the district of Memphremagog, and in January following was promoted to the posi- tion of cashier, having care of all receipts and disbursements within the district. This position he still holds. He has held many import- ant town, village, and district of- fices.
From 1869 to 1876 he served as clerk of the house of representa- tives. In 1878 he represented Newport in the legislature, and was then elected a trustee of the state reform school. He was also a mem- ber of the last constitutional con- vention.
Mr. Camp is a man of positive opinions, well informed on public questions. He is a strong Congre- gationalist and one of the deacons of his church.
He was for several years connect- ed with the Y. M. C. A., serving upon the state committee; three times moderator of the state con- vention of Congregational churches and for many years its treasurer; he has been an ardent friend of the Sunday-school, being for nearly thirty years actively connected with the state work, serving upon the ex- ecutive committee and twice hon- ored as its president. He is also a director in the Vermont Domestic Missionary society and the Vermont Bible society.
Mr. Camp married, in 1861, Julia M., youngest daughter of Orrin Dorman of North Troy. She died in 1870, and in the following year he married Mrs. Adeliza H.
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Oakes, widow of Colonel J. H. Oakes of Coventry. Of three chil- dren by the first marriage, only
FRANCIS M. SHERMAN.
one survives, the wife of E. C. Blanchard of Newport.
SHERMAN, FRANCIS M., son of Thomas F. and Sarah (Felch) Sher-
man, was born in Lyndon in 1836. In 1860 he entered the employ of the Passumpsie railroad, now the Boston & Maine, as station agent at Lyndon, and later was agent at Norwich and Barton. He came to Newport October 5, 1863, on the first passenger train, and was con- tinuously station agent twenty-two years at Newport. In 1885 Sher- man & West started the wholesale and retail grain and feed store, which has continued and increased until the present time. After the death of Mr. West in 1887, C. N. Brady became a partner until June, 1903. The mill and store is 50x100 feet, three stories and ell, and is equipped with all of the modern fa- cilities. Buying in large quantity at wholesale rates, Mr. Sherman conducts a widely extended whole- sale trade in flour, feed, grain, phos- phate, sewer pipe, lime, cement, and coal.
He married, in 1867, Mary Jane Becwith of Burke. His son, Frank R. Sherman, is associated with him
SHERMAN PBRADY
11
FRANCIS M. SHERMAN'S STORE.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
in business. Mr. Sherman has been a director of the Newport National bank more than a quarter of a cen- tury, and since 1882 he has been vice-president. He is very widely acquainted and is recognized as an able and thoroughly reliable busi- ness man.
HILDRETH, DAVID WESLEY, was born in Maine in January, 1853. His boyhood was spent in Canada. He came to Vermont at nineteen years of age, and for two vears was station agent at Thetford. He then came to Barton Landing, and after some service in the rail- road office commenced in the drug business in 1879. In 1882 he married Mrs. Etta N. (Dodge) Flint of Barton Landing. The same year
DAVID W. HILDRETH.
he built his drug store, 26x40 feet, two stories with an ell, and a resi- denee on the second floor.
Perhaps Mr. Hildreth is more
widely known as an ornithologist, a practical taxidermist, a writer of dramas, short sketches, and stories under the nom de plume of "David Hill." Possessed of an original and ingenious mind, he some years ago commenced his travels and collec- tions in ornithology, and now has mounted between 500 and 600 spec- imens of Vermont and other birds, a private collection rarely equaled. In his strolls among the hills of Vermont, the Rockies, prisons of Havana. Cuba, the Florida wilds, and through the great wilderness surrounding Hudson's bay, much of which has been done while in the newspaper business, he has struck many legends of adventure that have furnished clues which he has worked up into plays for the ama- teur stage. The most successful and well known of his dramas are "Forced to the War," "Placer Gold," "Bound by an Oath," "Pride of Company G." "Lone Tree Mine," and "Joining the Tin- panites."
Mr. Hildreth is a member of Memphremagog lodge of Newport, F. & A. M., belongs to Malta com- mandery, No. 10, and was a charter member of Philemon lodge, Knights of Pythias, of Barton Landing. In the fall of 189? he purchased the Newport Express and Standard of Theophilus Grout. and since that time has devoted his whole atten- tion to the newspaper business and travels of adventure, many sketches of which have appeared in his own and other papers.
BRADY, CHARLES N., was born in llaverhill. New Hampshire. Feb- ruary 9, 1855. on the farm that is now known as the Henry Keyes estate. His early training was that
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
received by the majority of farmers' sons of fifty years ago. Early in life he mastered the art of telegraphy and followed that profession
CHARLES N. BRADY.
through its different grades as operator and train dispatcher until October, 1886, when he severed his railroad connections and embarked in mercantile pursuits at Newport. Vermont, as the junior member of the firm of Sherman & Brady. The rapid growth and foremost position attained by this concern the first three years of Mr. Brady's admin- istration of its affairs is all that need be said of his business ability.
December 30, 1896, he was ap- pointed postmaster by President Cleveland and served the term of his commission, four years, and en- joys the distinction of having given to his town the most satisfactory service ever rendered them in that particular line.
During his term as postmaster he, with Colonel Mansur, Hon. C. A. Prouty, and Congressman Grout, appeared before the house commit- tee on public buildings in the capi- tol at Washington to urge the ne- vessity of a federal building at New- port. The committee was made up of eight Republicans and seven Democrats. Mr. Brady's efforts in personal interviews with the Demo- cratic members and the four votes received from the Republican side of the committee insured to the people of his town the magnificent structure which they are to-day en- joying as a post-office and custom house. Mr. Brady has an auto- graph letter from General Gront, in which he says: "To you is due the credit for the building at New- port. We had struggled for years and might struggle for years to come, if your timely appearance on the scene of action and the magnifi- cent work you did with your Demo- cratic friends had not borne fruit." Mr. Brady has held many offices, as a duty not sought after, and is now one of the trustees of the Goodrich Memorial free public library, one of the finest institutions of its kind in New England and of which he is justifiably proud, because he has had to do with it from its first in- ception.
He was married December 20, 1886, to May Field, daughter of Solomon M. and Louisa (S'as) Field, which union was severed by the death of his wife December 6, 1903.
He withdrew from the concern of Sherman & Brady in June, 1903, and is now one of the largest holders and most active operators in real estate in northern Vermont. Too much cannot be said of Mr. Brady's
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
devotion to the interests of the town of his adoption. He has given unstintingly of his time and means to the promotion of industries and the forwarding of any and all pro- jects that bid fair for the commu- nity's welfare.
BRADY, FRANK PIERCE, was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, June 22, 1853. His education was obtained in the common schools and the Methodist seminary at New- bury, Vermont. Early in life he adopted the profession of tele- graphy and before attaining his ma- jority had become sufficiently ex- pert that his services were in de- mand at the highest price paid in those days for that class of work.
In 1887 he was appointed super- intendent on the Southeastern railroad, between Newport, Ver- mont, and Montreal, which was af- terwards absorbed by, and is now the eastern terminus and New Eng- land outlet of, the Canadian Pacific railway, which is to-day the largest railroad system in the world. He is at this writing located at Winni- peg, Manitoba, as general superin- tendent of lines west of Fort Will- iam.
His family consists of his wife, who was Miss Hattie Kavanaugh of Concord, New Hampshire, two daughters, and one son, who at present is the agent of the Cana- dian Pacific at Newport, Vermont.
Mr. Brady is a good representa- tive of the self-made man of to-day, and well illustrates what a young man can attain to that is possessed of energy, intelligence, good habits, and aspirations to rise from an humble beginning to a position of eminence among his fellow-men. He is among the class of great rail-
road operators of his time and we predict for him a brilliant future.
The town of Newbury, although not the place of his birth, was the
FRANK P. BRADY.
scene of his early manhood, has a right to claim him as one of their sons whom they sent forth equipped with the sterling qualities imbibed from good breeding, unsurpassed associations, and superb environ- ment, all of which contribute to make the man Mr. Brady has de- veloped into.
GREEN, J. Y., son of Ahira and Roxanna (Mears) Green, was born at Barnston, Province of Quebec, June 20, 1834. He died at New- port, August 4, 1886.
Ahira Green removed with his family to Derby in 1846 and died there in 1893, at the age of eighty- five.
J. Y. Green, at the age of nine- teen, entered the store of J. C. Brig-
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
ham, druggist, at St. Johnsbury, as a clerk, where after serving three years he engaged in the business for about five years as a partner with Dr. Hoyt, on Railroad street, St. Johnsbury. He then sold his in- terests there and eame to Newport, where he resided and successfully followed the druggist business un- til the time of his lamented death. He was highly esteemed as a busi- ness man as well as a social and public-spirited eitizen. A man of most benevolent and kindly im- pulse, he had a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Green was a Mason. He was a constant attendant and lib- eral supporter of the Methodist
J. Y. GREEN.
church, an active, prominent mem- ber of the church, choir and Sun- dav-school.
He married in 1858, Miss Rox-
anna Severens of Derby. Their only son, Hite B. Green, who took charge of the drug business after his father's death, died in 1889 at
SWELLT
J. Y. GREEN'S STORE.
the age of twenty-eight. He was an esteemed member of the New- port band. His only child is Helen R. Green.
In 1887 Mrs. Green was married to Warren A. Himes, a substantial farmer and highly respected citizen of Newport, who for many years owned the historie Martin Adams farm. They reside in the drug- store block, which for forty years has been the family home.
LONGE, DR. B. D., son of Isaac C. and Sophia (Clark) Longe, was born at East Albany, August 17, 1870. He was reared upon a farm, where he formed a robust physique and habits of industry and economy. He fitted for college at Craftsbury academy, entered University of Vermont, and graduated in the class of 1894 with the degree of B.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
S. Two years later he graduated from the medical department of that institution. For two years he was house surgeon in Mary Fletcher hospital, a most valuable experi- ence.
He married in September, 1894, Carrie M. Day of Burlington.
Soon after completing his hos- pital work he settled in Newport, where he has since remained with a steadily increasing practice. Dur- ing the past two years Dr. Longe's residence and office have been on Main street, near the post-office.
He is secretary and treasurer of the Orleans County Medical society, and a member of the Vermont State Medical society. He is medical ex- aminer of the Connecticut General Insurance company and several other companies, and is surgeon for this section of the Canadian Pacific and Boston & Maine railroads.
DANE, OLIN S., the well-known station agent of Newport, son of Israel Putnam and Abbie J. (Sias) Dane, was born in Derby, August 28, 1858. His early boyhood was passed at West Derby, but when he was ten years old the family re- moved to Newport, where he has since resided. He was educated in the excellent public schools of New- port.
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