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 55
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 55
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 55
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
He represented Coventry in the legislature of 1852, working and voting for Vermont's first prohib- itory law. He was reelected in 1853, after a contest on that issue. He was a member of the constitu- tional convention of 1870. From 1842 to 1876. he was assistant judge of the Orleans county court, Judges Redfield, Peck. and Powers presiding.
In expressing to Judge Peck his want of confidence in his own judgment, this eminent jurist re- plied: "Our opinions agree as well as those of any judges of the su- preme court." In 1882 he moved to Barton Landing, where he spent "a green old age." He died May 19, 1896. at the age of 83 years.
He was twice married, to sisters of the late Hubbard Joslyn. Five children were born to them, only two of whom lived to maturity.
His golden wedding was cele- brated September 3, 1895. He was a member of the Congrega- tional church at Waitsfield and Coventry. A man of broad views and humane feelings, the old time
169
ORLEANS COUNTY.
creeds were repugnant to his na- ture. He believed that greater light was yet to dawn. This in- creased with his years.
Judge Jones was a man of un- questioned integrity and spotless reputation. Of sound, conserva-
nently a social man, and in all the relations of life the kindly, genial, mirthful spirit was especially prominent. His life was filled with quiet, unostentatious deeds of kindness and charity. "He went about doing good." The influence
HORACE S. JONES.
tive judgment, he held his own opinions quietly but firmly and was tolerant of the opinions of others. An extensive reader. he kept abreast of the times and the best in literature. He looked on the bright side of life and held a large faith in humanity. He was emi-
of such lives is a legacy to the race.
"They throng the silence of the breast, We see them as of yore, The kind, the true, the brave, the sweet. Who walk with us no more."
170
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
JONES, CHARLES H., the only child of Horace S. and Harriet (Joslyn) Jones, was born in Cov- entry, Vermont, May 9, 1847. His mother, a lady of great refinement and fine mental endowments, was a sister of Hubbard Joslyn. He
eyes and impaired health. At Derby he was a classmate of Charles A. Prouty. Each there formed a high estimate of the other and a strong friendship en- sued.
After leaving school he spent
CHARLES H. JONES.
received his education at St. Johns- bury and Derby academies, where he took the highest rank as a scholar and debater. He fitted for the junior class in Dartmouth col- lege, but was unable to complete his college course, owing to weak
some time in the South. He read law with Judge Thompson of Iras- burg. but his health did not admit of active practice. In 188? he came to Barton Landing and was appointed register of the probate court by Judge Austin. He held
171
ORLEANS COUNTY.
this position for ten years and often had entire charge of the business of that office. He acted as judge in one of the most complicated in- solvency cases which came before the court and his thorough mastery of the legal questions involved was apparent. Ile declined to be a can- didate for the office of judge, for which his fitness was acknowledged.
He resigned as register to settle his uncle's estate, the largest in the county, and whose extensive busi- ness interests he had managed for some years previous.
For three years he was superin- tendent of schools in Coventry. Mr. Jones has never been an office seeker. Books and affairs of na- tional and world-wide interest are more congenial than the scramble for place. He is a strong Republi- lican, but belongs to no other soci- ety or sect, although he is an ear- nest supporter of the church. 1Ie is a close student of finance along broad lines, and has written for financial and other journals. He is the master of a pure style of terse and vigorous English. His campaign lines, "Tom Reed of Maine," which first appeared in the Monitor in 1896, were widely pub- lished in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Early in life he showed marked talent as a speaker. It has seldom been used since his student days. In 1889 he delivered an address be- fore the Orleans County Historical society, which received high praise. In 1896, at the state convention to choose delegates to the national convention, he presented the name of Charles A. Pronty. In the lan- guage of Judge Powers, who nom-
inated Senator Proctor, "he outdid us all." At the district conven- tion in 1898 he presented the name of General Grout for congress. This speech attracted wide atten- tion. Colonel Hooker, the veteran politician who nominated Judge Reed, pronounced it one of the finest he ever heard in a conven- tion.
On June 10, 1891, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Cora G. Humphrey of Barnston, Quebec, a lady of rich character and worth. The promise of a most happy union was suddenly broken. She was buried just three months from their wedding day.
STANNARD, HARRY J., a son of L. J. and Grace (Kimball) Stan- nard, was born at Berkshire, in the state of New York, May 2, 1870. He received his education in the public schools of his native town and the Newark Valley Free acad- emy, supplemented by a full course at the State Normal school at Cort- land, New York, from which he graduated in 1891. He began his work of teaching as principal of the graded school at Locke, New York. where he remained until he came to Barton in the fall of 1893 as principal of the Barton academy and graded school. At that time there were 140 pupils in all, and only nineteen in the high school de- partment; five teachers were em- ployed in the schools. Professor Stannard at once took steps to in- crease the school in size and efli- ciency, to enlarge its scope and character, and build it up in public favor. The results are that the school now numbers 320 pupils, with ninety in the high school, with
172
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
a force of nine teachers. A certifi- cate of graduation from the school admits to the various colleges.
Professor Stannard is prominent in state educational matters. He was for two years a member of the executive committee of the State
to its present prosperous condition. He is also chairman of the Barton library trustees, and is an extra working member of the board.
Mr. Stannard is a member of Or- leans lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M .; member of Keystone chapter, Royal
HARRY J. STANNARD,
Teachers' association, and presi- dent of the same in 1903. In De- cember, 1902, he was appointed ex- aminer of teachers for Orleans county, which position he now holds. He is also president of the Barton Lecture association, and has done much to aid in building it up
Arch Masons, No. 16; member of Malta commandery, Knights Tem- plar, No. 10, and has passed the chair of the Blue lodge. In 1902-03 he served as district dep- uty grand master for Orleans county. In polities Republican, in church connection Congregational,
173
ORLEANS COUNTY.
and has served as clerk of the church six years.
June 23. 1897, Professor Stan- nard was united in marriage to Miss Nellie E., daughter of Levi P. and Sarah (Leonard) Case of Bar- ton, who materially aids him in his life-work, and together they are important factors in building and promoting the things that are for the highest good of the village and town of Barton.
WEBSTER, ELLERY HI., is a son of Albert A. and Harriet (Skinner) Webster, who were married Novem- ber 24, 1836. Albert A. and his father moved from Littleton, New Hampshire, to Irasburg in March, 1829, driving their cattle and sheep with them, being six days on the road.
Ellery H. Webster was united in marriage to Emeline D., daughter of Philander and Betsey Wright of Newport. on June 9, 1867. Three children have been born to them: Elmer E., Carroll B., and Clarence S.
Ellery H. Webster came near be- ing born in Coventry Gore, but missed it three quarters of a mile, and was born in Irasburg, January 11, 1843. The first sixteen years of his life was spent on the farm, driv- ing the oxen for his older brother to hold the plow, picking up stones, and making dog-wood whistles. At sixteen he entered the printing of- fice of 1. 1. Earle, and for three years was the devil in charge, spending the most of his time driv- ing the eow two miles to the pas- ture and back twice a day, feeding the pig, tending a tame woodchuck, and setting up the bar dockets. In the latter occupation he learned the significance of plff., deft., speen.,
and a whole lot of other law terms, so that in the summer of 1859 he was admitted to the bar (room) of Ralph Nye, where he drank two bottles of Scotch ale, which so "set him up" that he went out on the common and jumped forty feet at three jumps and has never drank any Scotch ale since.
At the printing business he was promoted from junior to senior devil, then to a full-fledged journey- man and worked as such in Hyde Park, Bradford, and Barton, Ver- mont, Annapolis, Maryland, Win- chester, Virginia, New York city, and Nashua, New Hampshire. In 1869 he came from Nashua to Bar- ton and bought the job printing business of A. A. Earle, who had moved the Orleans Independent Standard from Irasburg to this place. In December, 18:1, Mr. Earle sold his list to D. M. Camp of the Newport Express and went to St. Johnsbury, leaving the place with no local paper. January 8. 1872, Mr. Webster issued the first number of the Orleans County Mon- itor, naming the paper after the famous iron-elad that so success- fully bumped the Merrimack in Hampton Roads. After four years printing the best paper ever printed in Orleans county, he thought he had got enough of the business and sold out to Captain George H. Blake and returned to his first love-the job printing busi- ness. In August, 1862, he became so dissatisfied with the slow prog- ress that the Union army was making in ending the War of the Rebellion, that he concluded to en- list himself (in Company F, Elev- enth Vermont) and go down and give the general in charge a few
174
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
points. He succeeded so well that he got himself taken prisoner June 23, 1864, and during his sojourn in Dixie visited such popular summer resorts as Castle Thunder and Libby prison in Richmond, Lynch- burg, and Danville, Virginia, An- dersonville, Georgia, Charleston and Florence, South Carolina, from which place he was paroled Decem- ber 8, 1864, going into the prisons with fifty-one comrades and coming out with only eight, one of that number dying on his way home, and another soon after reaching home.
At the earnest solicitation of himself and a number of his friends he was made postmaster at Barton under the Harrison administration. But when Cleveland came in he went out and stayed out four years, when the old horse was put back in his stall again, where he still con- tinues to hold down the office.
BLAKE, THE LATE GEORGE IL., the subject of this sketch, was born in Sutton, April 27, 1836. His great-grandfather. Enoch Blake, was one of the first settlers of the town. His grandfather, Stephen Blake, cleared a large farm near the center of the town, became a successful farmer, later a merchant and man- nfacturer, built a grist-mill and starch factory, and was a prominent business man of the town, dying in 1861. John C. Blake, father of George H. Blake, was a nephew of Rev. John Colby, a noted evangelist in his day, and still held in great re- spect by the Free Baptists of the country. John C. Blake married Tamar Pillsbury, daughter of Jon- athan Pillsbury, one of the earlier settlers of Sutton. George II. Blake was the oldest child of the family. His only brother, Rev. A. B. Blake,
is a retired Methodist preacher liv- ing in Barton. His two sisters, the late Mrs. H. F. Pillsbury and the late Mrs. S. H. Preston, at the time of their decease were residents of Barton.
Mr. Blake lived a very busy life. His father went to California when he was fourteen years old, and as a boy the responsibility of helping care for and support a family fell to his lot. For three years he worked hard with his mother to care for the family. On the return of his father, the boy learned the millwright's trade, at which he worked for some years, picking up his education in select schools, New- bury academy, Orleans Liberal In- stitute, and elsewhere. He began to teach when seventeen years old, teaching winters, with an occasional term in select schools at Hardwick academy, etc. Having practically obtained a college fitting, he was about to enter college, when the war broke out and he gave up his college for a place in one of the vol- unteer regiments, enlisting in Com- pany G, Fifteenth regiment, Ver- mont volunteers. Chosen a first lieutenant, he was soon promoted to a captainey and made an honored record. He served with Lieutenant- Colonel William W. Grout and Colo- nel Redfield Proctor. After return- ing from the war he came to Barton, where he spent about a year in the law office of General William W. Grout, afterwards entering into a lumbering partnership. the Orleans and Caledonia Steam Mill company, in Sutton. Later he accepted the editorship of the Orleans County Monitor, which he published for twenty-two years. until his decease on February 26, 1898. Ile was held
175
ORLEANS COUNTY.
in the highest respect in the towns where he resided.
He was school superintendent in Sutton, and was chosen representa- tive, while temporarily residing there, in 1812. On returning to Barton he was made town repre- sentative in 18:6. In 1886 he was chosen county senator from Or-
power for good, promoting the right and opposing the wrong. While making no pretensions to oratory, few men in the state were listened to with deeper interest, or wielded a greater influence. He ever had the well-being of the community at heart, and deemed no sacrifice too great to accomplish this object. He
GEORGE H. BLAKE.
leans. He was a public-spirited man, a leader in all those enter- prises which tended to bring pros- perity to the village or town.
Mr. Blake was a man of sterling moral character, excellent judg- ment, a wise counselor, a conscien- tious Christian gentleman.
He had the courage of his con- victions, and made the Monitor a
was liberal to the poor, charitable toward the erring, and kind to all. He filled many responsible positions creditably, and all knew he would never sacrifice principle for prefer- ment of any kind. For many years he was a faithful steward in the Methodist church at Barton, and was one of its chief supporters.
Mr. Blake married Frances A.
176
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Burnham of Woodbury, June 19, 1866, and they had one daughter, Mrs. Mary Jacobs.
JACOBS, WILLIAM L., is the son of Henry A. Jacobs, and was born
WILLIAM L. JACOBS.
in Middlesex, Vermont, October 3, 1813. Ile attended school at the high school in Montpelier and later became a student at the Montpelier Seminary, where he graduated in 1894.
He accepted a position as assist- ant editor of the Orleans County Monitor, published at Barton. He soon purchased an interest in the paper. and at the death of the edi- tor, Mr. Blake, in 1898, he became its sole owner. Under his manage- ment the Monitor has maintained its standing and the business has prospered. He married Mary T. Blake, daughter of George II.
Blake of Barton, in August, 1894. Two daughters, Frances and Helen, and one son, George H., have been born to them.
CLEMENT, DR. TRUSTAM, was the father of seven children. Dea- con James Clement, his son, was born in Waterford, New Hampshire, December 21, 1811, and his wife, Rosina Massy, born March 29, 1811, and is now living. To them were born nine children: Walter H., J. B., Julie W., Sylvia A., Austin O., Leonard MI., James M., Heman W .. and Ida C. J. B. married Mrs. Olive W. (Pearson) Kent, November 29, 1866, she having one daughter, Mary I. Kent, now Mrs. Dr. J. F. Shattuck of Wells River. To J. B. and O. W. Clement were born two
J. B. CLEMENT.
children: Frank D., May 5, 1869, now a successful jeweler and mer- chant in Barton Landing; Etta L., born December 4. 1874. and died two years later. Frank D. married
177
ORLEANS COUNTY.
Miss Blanche R. Dodge December 6, 1894. To them three children have been born: Ralph H. in 1895, Verne P. in 1898, and Theodore D. in 1902. J. B. Clement, the subject of this sketch, has lived in Barton Landing village since 1813 and been prominent in village work. The family are Congregationalists.
BARRON, EDWIN W., son of Lo- renzo D. and Sarah (Turner) Bar- ron, was born at Charleston, Sep- tember 5, 1854. His great-grand- father Barron and his great-grand- father Bly were both soldiers in the War of the Revolution and were in the battle of Bunker Hill.
Edwin W. Barron was educated at the West Charleston academy. Af- ter attaining his majority he was employed as clerk in a store at Charleston for three years, then owned and operated a store in that town for five years. In 1885 he came to Barton, and in company with C. E. Hamblet purchased and conducted a general store where his
chased his partner's interests in the store and has since conducted the same alone. Ile carries one of the
EDWIN W. BARRON.
largest and most complete stocks of general merchandise, including a full line of drugs, of any store in
BARRON'S BLOCK, BARTON, VERMONT.
present new store (which they erected in 1896) now stands.
In March, 1900, Mr. Barron pur-
this section. Mr. Barron has been selectman of Barton two years, jus- tice of the peace six years, is a
178
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
member of the F. & A. M., and of the I. O. O. F.
On October 5, 1881, he was united in marriage to Nell L. Young of West Charleston. They have, now living, two children, Harley Roy and Ruth Mae, both students at the Barton high school.
Mr. Barron is a business hustler and successful in his mercantile affairs.
JOEL F. WRIGHT, M. D.
WRIGHT, JOEL FITZ, M. D., Barton Landing, Vermont, where he has been in constant practice since his graduation thirty-two years ago. Dr. Wright's literary education was obtained in the com- mon schools and academy of Cov- entry. He began the study of medi- cine in the office of Dr. J. M. Cur- rier of Newport, meanwhile teach- ing school to pay his expenses dur- ing his professional education. He
pursued medical lectures at Burling- ton, and afterwards graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in the spring of 1872. Dur- ing the winter and spring of 1883 he took a post-graduate course at Bellevue college, New York. By the utmost frugality and persever- ance he was able to start in profes- sional life unburdened with debt.
As a medical practitioner, Dr. Wright enjoys a peculiar confiden- tial and social standing which makes him a valuable factor in the community. He has acceptably served as health officer of the vil- lage, and has been for some years a member of the board of medieal ex- aminers for pensions. He is a mem- ber of the Orleans County Medical society, and a member of the Ver- inont Medical society. He is a charter member of Philemon lodge, Knights of Pythias, and surgeon for the E. L. Chandler company.
In 1843 he married Naomi G .. daughter of Deacon William Spen- cer, who died in 1881, leaving one son, Fred S., a graduate of Uni- versity of Vermont at the age of twenty, elass of '94, and in 1896 a post-graduate of Yale college. He is now a junior partner of the law firm of Hosford & Wright of Woodsville, New Hampshire. In the year 1886 Dr. Wright married, as his second wife, Miss Helen J., daughter of Deaeon S. B. Parker of Coventry, who deceased in 1901.
It is seldom we are called upon to chronicle a more interesting fact in the biography of a physician, than the statement that Dr. Wright has, for more than thirty-two years, been located at Barton Landing, within an hour's drive of his paternal homestead, and among early friends.
179
ORLEANS COUNTY.
He is one of the ten children of Erastus Wright, a long-time resi- dent and respected farmer of Cov- entry. The ten children of Erastus Wright are all living with three ex- ceptions. Riley E. and M. Willis are successful lawyers at Baltimore, Maryland. Fred is a fruit farmer in Oregon. Hugh is interested in mining in Colorado. Homer is a farmer in Coventry.
Dr. Wright has also shown a con- mendable interest in the business of his village and town, having been a heavy loser in the burning of the Barton tub factory recently, which did not deter him from joining in the reconstruction of the new plant now nearly completed, under the firm name of Stevenson, Wright & Valley, Barton, Vermont, which will employ about fifty hands. (Re- ferred to in another part of this work.)
LANG, FRANK B. (Barton, Ver- mont). Jacob Lang, the grand- father of the subject of this this sketch, moved from Bath, New Hampshire, to Charleston, Ver- mont, about 182:, with his family, consisting of a wife and nine chil- dren.
Charleston at that time con- tained only a small number of fami- lies and but little of the forest had been cleared away.
He was a soldier of the War of 1812, taking an active part in the same. He bought a tract of land and begun a farm where Martha Davis now lives, and his youngest son was born there on the 24th of March, 1830. llis name was Alexander C. Lang. IFe died January 31, 1899. Mrs. Lang died October 12, 1895. He learned the carpenter's trade, yet farmed most
of his life. He was married to An- gelia Handy, November 19, 1857. Her people came to Charleston about 68 years ago from Bethlehem, New Hampshire. There were ten children. Her father's name was Rufus Handy. He was a farmer.
Father and mother Lang lived most of the time in Charleston, only a year or two in Dakota. They had two children, Mrs. C. E. Blood, of Charleston, and Frank B., of Bar- ton, born June 29, 1862, in Charles- ton. Frank obtained his education at the common schools of the town, his health preventing any further study. He worked at the carpen- ter's trade with his father summers, and in a store winters for several years. Fourteen years ago he be- gan to train horses and drive in races. He had always been a great lover of horses and skilful in man- aging them. He drove his first race at North Troy, in the three- year-old race, getting third money, fifteen years ago. He drove and cared for the fast horses of General William W. Gront for eight years, and this is the third year he has worked for F. T. Holder.
Frank B. Lang and Lillia A. White were married at Craftsbury, November 23, 1887. They have three children: Mildred A., born September 24, 1888; Glendolene M., born September 10, 1890; Clarence 1., born February 8, 1900.
Lillia A. White was born in Greensboro, September 30, 1863. She was educated at Craftsbury academy, graduating in 1882, then at Johnson State Normal school in 1885. She was the youngest of ten children, the daughter of Royal and Mary (Patterson) White who, if they live till November, 1904, will
B-12
180
SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
celebrate their ?0th wedding anni- versary.
Mrs. White was born in Pasley, Scotland, in 1816, coming to this country eighty-two years ago, living in the vicinity of East Craftsbury ever since. She was the daughter of John Patterson and the eldest of twelve children. Her father built
all of his life. He was the son of Jason and Clarissa (Trumbull) White, the eldest of ten children. His grandfather, Robert Trumbull, was the first settler of Craftsbury, starting in there about 120 years ago. He was a soldier of the Revo- lution.
Mr. White was simply a farmer,
MR. AND MRS. FRANK B. LANG.
the first mill and log house where Lowell, Massachusetts, now is loeat- ed. Hle owned the stage route from Craftsbury to Boston, and run it for a number of years.
Mr. White was born in Crafts- bury, 1815, living in that vicinity
living fifty-five years on one farm where he started in, clearing a farm of 1:5 acres.
LANG. GEORGE CHESTER, was born at Charleston, May 28, 1866. His education was obtained in the district and high schools of Island
181
ORLEANS COUNTY.
Pond, Derby academy, and Mont- pelier Methodist seminary. His grandfather on his paternal side was the well-known Jacob H. Lang, born at Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire, February 6, 1:80, who served in the War of 1812. His grandfather on the ma- ternal side was Elijah Young. born at Danville in 1813. His great- great-grandfather on the ma- ternal side, Samuel Jackson. served in the Revolutionary war and took part in the famous battle of Bunker Hill. The Lang family is of Scottish origin.
The father of George C. Lang. the subject of this sketch, was born in Charleston, May 1, 1825, where he now resides. He married Cor- delia A. Young, born at Waterford, March 1. 1834, who deceased in 1884. There were born of this union three children: Mrs. A. R. Campbell of Morrisville; Mrs. E. F. Hobson of Chicago, and the son, George C. Lang.
The father took an active inter- est in public affairs, and held ser- eral offices in his town, particularly at Island Pond, where he moved about 1869. He was by occu- pation a farmer.
George C. Lano early showed signs of mechanical genius, and de- cided to learn the watch and jew- elry business, and began the study in the office of B. E. Shaw of New- port, in 1885, later engaging with R. C. Parsons of Rock Island, Province of Quebec, and later still with F. E. Healey of Morris- ville. Desirous of further per- fecting himself, he took a course of training in Parsons' Horological institute, of La Porte. Indiana, from which he graduated with
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.