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 60
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 60
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 60
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LUNT, CHARLES, was born at Derby in 1830, a son of Johnson and Sarah (Boynton) Lunt. He at- tended the public schools of Derby, and at twenty-five years of age he engaged in railroad contracting in Ontario, and continued in this line for two years. He then bought a farm at Stanstead, Quebec, and re- mained there for seven years; here lie established a splendid reputa- tion as a thoroughly up-to-date farmer of the most progressive type. He sold out here and bought at Derby, and for twenty years bought, repaired, built up, and sold farms in this locality. In 1891 Mr. Lunt retired from active business and located at Derby Center to ed- ucate his daughters at the Derby academy. Here he remained for six years, then he built his pleasant home at Derby Line, where he now resides.
In 1853 Mr. Lunt was united in
marriage to Maria Wilson, who died October 14, 1877, and December 23, 1878, he took for his second wife her sister, Hattie. Two daughters have been born to them: Mary H., born May 27, 1880, and Hattie W .. born January, 1882, and died July 14, 1897. Mrs. Lunt will be remembered as a popular teacher for many years at Beebe Plain, a lady of culture, refined taste. and splendid ideals.
CHARLES LUNT.
Mr. Lunt has served Derby as a lister, selectman, and school direc- tor, and in 1870 as her representa- tive in the general assembly of Ver- mont. For thirty years he has been connected with the Congregational church and is a citizen of character, worth, and splendid judgment. Ile recently became one of a land syn- dicate which is doing much to de- velop and build up Derby Line vil- lage.
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He is trustee of Stanstead Wes- leyan college at Stanstead, Prov- ince of Quebec.
ADAMS, DR. GEORGE F., son of Ira A. and Mary (Fish) Adams, was born in Newport March 29, 1854. Martin Adams, the great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier of the Revolu- tion, and the first settler at New- port, his son, Abial A., the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, being the first white child born within the present limits of the town of Newport. Ira A. Adams was a farmer, merchant, and lumber man, and moved from Newport to Derby in 1864.
George F. Adams fitted for col- lege at New Hampton institute. New Hampshire, and graduated from Bates college, Lewiston, Maine, in the class of 1876. He at- tended the medical department of Dartmouth college one year. and graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Vermont in 1819. He engaged in medical practice one year in Coventry, and then settled in Lunenburg, where he remained in practice four years.
In 1882 he married Cora C. Che- ney of that town. and they have two sons. George C. and Irving R. Adams.
Dr. Adams located at Livermore. Maine, and had there secured a prosperous practice, when a disas- trous fire swept the business part of the town, whereby Dr. Adams was a heavy loser. He came to West Derby in 1890 and has secured an excellent practice. Ilis fine resi- dence on Main street was erected in 1894. Ile is a member of the Ver- mont Medical society and has been
president of the Orleans County Medical society. Dr. Adams has a splendid physique, genial address. and an optimism and good humor that are prime requisites in the sick room, and is an influential citizen. Ile is health officer of Derby, was a member of the first board of village
GEORGE F. ADAMS, M. D.
trustees, and treasurer until 1896. He is a member of Cleveland chap- ter and Malta commandery, K. T. and F. & A. M .. of Newport.
ADAMS. MYRON A .. a son of Auretus F. and Jane F. (Weeden) Adams, was born at Derby in 1849. lle re. eived his education in the public schools and at Derby acad-
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emy. For two years Mr. Adams followed a mercantile life and then purchased the old "B. Hinman" grist-mill and for ten years con-
has ranked as one of the foremost farmers of this section.
In 1813 he married Clara E., a daughter of Chester Carpenter, Jr.,
MYRON A. ADAMS.
ducted a very successful feed busi- ness. In 1883 he purchased a part of the old Colonel Chester Carpen- ter farm, and ever since that time
a granddaughter of Colonel Chester Carpenter, and a great-granddaugh- ter of Judge Timothy Hinman. To Mr. and Mrs. Adams two sons have
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been born, Chester €. and Carlton A.
Mr. Adams has two splendid farms, consisting of 300 acres, has 1.400 sugar trees, and more than fifty head of stock are kept. It is as a dairyman that Mr. Adams is best known, being ranked among the leading authorities of this cele- brated dairy state. For two years he has served as president of the State Dairymen's association, and is now on his third term as its treas- urer. He has ever taken a lively in- terest in publie matters and has served Derby as lister, selectman, superintendent of schools, and in 1896 as representative to the gen- eral assembly.
Auretus Adams, father of Myron A., was a man of sturdy character. great worth, and high ideals. In character, ability, and influence he was a power for good. He repre- sented Derby in the general assem- bly in 1882, and died in 1892.
ADAMS, THERON A., twin brother of Myron A .. received his education in the public schools and at Derby academy. At twenty years of age he completed his edu- cation and after teaching school for a while took up farming, and has aways resided in the same school district.
March ?2. 1813, he married Lil- lia Haselton of Charleston. Two children were born to them: Franklin 1 .. born Febuary 14. 1814, and died January 20, 1892, and Charles M., born February 18. 1888. Mrs. Adams died April 28. 1893, and July 11, 1894, Mr. Adams married Mrs. Jessie (Allbee) Bray- nard, of Morgan, daughter of Cy- rus and Cynthia (Cobb) Allbee.
Mr. Adams has served as school director six years, and is a Univer- salist in religious faith. He has a farm of nintey-six acres, 809 sugar
THERON A. ADAMS.
trees, and keeps about twenty head of stock.
CARPENTER. COLONEL CHES- TER. was born at Randolph Center, December 19, 1286, eldest son of Jonathan, Jr., and Olive (Sessions) Carpenter. Jonathan, his father, was born at Rehoboth, Massachu- setts. June 19, 1:57, in direct line of descent from William and Abi- gail Carpenter, who came from London, England, to Rehoboth in 1638. Jonathan's youth was at home and he was educated in the common schools. At seventeen he apprenticed himself to the joiner's trade. (See Carpenter Memorial.) January 9, 1125, he enlisted for the colonies. December 11, 1222. he
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joined the privateer brig Reprisal, which was captured February 19, 1128, by the Unicorn. In irons and sick, in crowded and filthy holds of five vessels, one after another, he was landed at Portsmouth, Eng- land, where were congregated in prisons and prison ships 2,730 American prisoners. His impris- onment covered seventeen months and three days, and he reached home November 4, 1779. He
CHESTER CARPENTER.
taught a winter school, and on March 27, 1780, started with a friend to find homes in Vermont. They walked 416 miles in twenty- one days. He bought a right of land at Randolph Center for £37, to be paid in neat cattle or New England rum. There he lived, a farmer and innkeeper, until his death at eighty years, and his wife at ninety-two. They reared seven children: five sons, all soldiers of 1812, temperance men of worthy
character, loyal Whigs and Repnb- licans, four of whom, with one sis- ter, lived to eighty years or more.
Colonel Chester Carpenter lived at home and attended district school. When nearly of age, in 1807. he started on foot for Frank- lin county, Vermont, to purchase a future farm. He met a stranger, over night, at Greensboro, who praised the lands east of Magog lake. Morning found Carpenter facing toward Derby, where he pur- chased at once a lot in Esquire Wright's neighborhood, overlook- ing the lovely lake. Quickly his axe was "lifted up upon the thick trees," and before snow, ten acres were "slashed" and "ehopped." He taught a winter's school at Brown- ington. In the spring he cleared the acres and sowed to wheat, built a barn before harvest, reaped the wheat, garnered it with steers and sled, threshed it morning, nights, and Saturdays, while teaching in his own district, and with it paid for his farm. Cleared more land, and taught same school again. Built a house in 1810.
November 11, 1811, he married Hannah Kendall, daughter of Dea- con Nathaniel Kendall, living upon the adjoining "Moses Blake" farm. He was the first enlisted man in Captain Mason's company, War of 1812, and was made orderly ser- geant. His coloneley came by pro- motion in the state militia, to which he was ardently devoted. In 1815 he bought a farm at Derby Center and opened an inn, which was continued by himself and his family until 1852, no liquor being sold after 1832. He added adjoin- ing lands, to the whole extent of 400 acres, but always sold at less
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than actual value, for build'ng pur- poses.
About 1836 he gave land for the building of a Baptist church and parsonage, and contributed fully $1,000 towards their erection, and later gave land in connection for a cemetery. In 1839 he secured the grant of land from Benjamin Hin- man, Esq., for the erection of sem- inary buildings, to which his per- sonal contributions were not less than $3,000. He and his wife joined the Baptist church in 1825. and during the same summer was chosen clerk and deacon. He sought no office, but was trial jus- tice of the peace thirty years. Life- long Whig and Republican, no whiffler, no drinker, no law suit or quarrel, no brag. always indus- trious, in his last year building with his own hand only from the stump. a two-story farm building now in constant use. An intelligent, ster- ling, honest man. Helped in every interest by a most excellent wife. whose children always rejoiced to "rise up and call her blessed." She never flattered, but her heart took in all needs, a ready helper at more births and deaths than any woman in Derby. They reared six chil- dren: Marshall. Emeline, Ora. Chester, Fanny W., and Charles. Only Chester and Charles are liv- ing.
Query. If Chester Carpenter had lodged at Greensboro any other night, what about Derby academy. Derby Baptist church, and what about this Carpenter family?
CARPENTER. CHESTER. JR., son of Colonel Chester and Hannah (Kendall) Carpenter, was born at the "Carpenter Tavern," in Derby. September 4, 1820. His education
was in the district school, and one term under Hugh Elder, before academy days. He was a robust boy, very industrious, with a clear faculty at plan- ning, with an eye to the chance for saving an honest shilling. In- heriting the good traits of his pa- rents. he grew early into the man- agement of farm affairs, for some years of his minority. and after- wards by contract, until at twenty- four years he purchased hotel, farm, stock, and tools. He well un- derstood the advantage of disposing of farm products through hotel table and stables. He arranged to have fat oxen, sheep, swine, and farm crops on the market when priees were best. His house, as his father's had always been, was clean, morally and otherwise. He greeted the sun at its rising, and retired when everything was done. He sold the hotel to Joseph Bates. 2d, about 1850, and January 1, 1869. sold the village portion of the farm. At this time he purchased the flour- ing and grist-mill, which he owned twenty-seven years. His neighbors counted him, as they had his father, an honest man. He was constable and tax collector four years, until taxes were paid into town treasury. gathering them promptly and thor- oughly. Then he was treasurer six- teen years; no discrepancies ever in his accounts. His word and bond were always of equal strength. From incurable sickness, in 1874. he was compelled to give up busi- ness, but he has been idle only by absolute constraint. He gained and saved a competency.
Ile married, June 16, 1845. Phoebe S. Hinman, granddaughter of Hon. Timothy Himnan, the
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
founder of Derby. Four children were born to them, all yet living, three of whom have never lived be- vond the limits of Derby Center. Charles K., born Angust 15, 1848, married Alice Lonto of Derby. They have two children, Gertrude
married Sarah F. Mead of Holland. They have no children. He was a merchant in South Strafford for several years, afterward at Derby Line for sixteen years, and removed to Fossil, Oregon, in 1890, where he is partner in a large mercantile
CHESTER CARPENTER, JR.
S., wife of George O. Burton, and Chester A., vet in school. Clara E., born September 9, 1854, married Myron A. Adams, who appears in this volume. Harriet S., born Sep- tember 30, 1858, married Lucian P. Jenne, who also has record herein. George S., born January 24, 1861,
house, and managing owner in a bank.
CARPENTER, MARSHALL, Der- by, Vermont. The Carpenter family in this country traces its descent from William Carpenter, a merchant in London, England, in the thirteenth century.
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ORLEANS COUNTY.
Samnel Carpenter, a lineal de- scendant of William Carpenter, was born in England, 1663, and came to this country, settled in Re- hoboth, Massachusetts, was head of the New England branch of the Carpenter family. His descend- ants have been known as respecta- ble citizens, for the most part tillers of the soil, and from among them have been legislators, clergymen, lawyers, and others eminent in the affairs of town, county, and state.
Marshall Carpenter, the subject of this sketch, was born at Derby, Vermont, April 24, 1813. His par- ents were Chester Carpenter and Hannah (Kendall) Carpenter. His early years were those of the child- ren of the pioneer. His education was confined to the common schools and one term at the Ben- nington and Randolph academies. At the age of fifteen he was appren- ticed to his uncle, Danforth Car- penter, a country merchant at Dan- ville, Vermont, upon the conditions of board and clothing and the sum of one hundred dollars and a suit of clothing upon the attainment of his legal majority.
At the conclusion of his appren- ticeship he became engaged in the mercantile business at Davisville, Vermont, and at Derby, Vermont, to which latter place he removed in 1839, and afterwards became a far- mer.
He held various offices in his na- tive town, for many years those of selectman, lister, moderator of town meetings and auditor. At- tained to the rank of major in the militia service. In 1854 he was elected to represent Derby in the state legislature, and during the same year was elected judge of pro-
bate for the county of Orleans, and performed the duties of that office for the next succeeding eight years.
Since the expiration of his office as judge of probate he has acted in the capacity of administrator and assignee of estates both in probate court and the court of bankruptcy, and in different capacities as town officer.
He deceased April 8, 1883. No one in the community in which he lived was better known and did his work, enjoyed a larger measure of profound respect and esteem, and no man's death in that community could bring to those who knew him best a more sincere sense of per- sonal loss, and the benediction of a strong, faithful, and noble service rests upon his memory.
He was foremost and untiring in the pursuit and accomplishment of all that tended to moral and mate- rial growth and prosperity of his town.
He was a great reader of books, and of those of solid and substantial thought, historical, and philosophi- cal research. The Bible and the New York Tribune represented the corner-stones of political and ro- ligious faith and creed. He was a Henry Clay Whig and believed in the principles and results of a pro- tective tariff. At and from the time of the organization of the Re- publican party he adhered to its platforms of political action. He was an original thinker and by na- ture controversial, and thought it his duty at all suitable occasions, when his opinions were assailed, to defend them forcibly and with te- nacity and power.
He hated a lie and all subter- fuges, hence his expressions and
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
opinions as to principles, men and events, were open, and he never at- tacked from an ambuscade. His life was open to inspection and just criticism.
He was married to Hannah Den- ing, and the fruits to that mar- riage were two sons, B. F. Den- ing Carpenter, Esq., of Barton Landing, Vermont, and Henry D. Carpenter of Hope. North Dakota.
CHARLES CARPENTER.
CARPENTER, HON. CHARLES, was born at "Carpenter's Inn," Derby Center, October 7. 1828, youngest son of Colonel Chester and Hannah (Kendall) Carpenter. He attended district school after he was three years old, with irregular recitations at the academy from September, 1840, to March, 1846. All his study was at home, being chore boy and farm hand in busy seasons. From July 6, 1846, he was clerk at Howard's in Burling-
ton, to his twenty-first birthday in 1849, for board and clothes; then two years for wages, then two years for J. W. Odell on same street. At his first purchase, a small Bible, he opened a cash account, continued until now, and through thirty years of business life balanced every night. Nights after closing, not spent on the street, or places of re- sort, but in his room, reading good books and writing a voluminous diary, still in his possession; and quite a good many rhymes, if not poetry, a few of which
have place in "Green Moun- tain Poets." Left Burlington August 8, 1853, with $675 saved. On the 16th, having inventoried two stocks of goods, commenced trade with two partners, as C. Car- penter & Co. Within two and a half years he changed one partner for two, and bought out the lot, and from 1856 to 1874 had no part- ners. In 1874, by the failure of E. C. Merrill, a very heavy ereditor and endorsee, he was compelled to dispose of all possessions. He was assignee in bankruptcy of Merrill, whose liabilities were $115,000. He repelled all counsels towards bank- ruptcy, and the earnings of twenty- one years went out through other's debts; discounts being neither asked nor offered. The Vermont Emery Wheel company was created by some of Merrill's creditors out of the debris, with $50,000 of nom- inal stock, but not one dollar of cash. This handicapped company was run nine years with Mr. Car- penter as treasurer and managing director, during which he bought every share of stock and closed the business. By strange and complex conditions in 1883 he was drawn
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into trade again, which was contin- ued about six years. In 1889 a very peculiar incident led to a very careful inventory, which re- vealed his insolvency. Without a day's delay he presented a petition at court for voluntary insolvency. The shortest notice followed for first meeting; no messenger ap- pointed. At the meeting he per- sonally presented his inventory and explanation, with an offer guaran- teed, of payment of fifty per cent. in settlement, which was accepted. Payments were made as specified: after which he was enabled and pleased to pay in cash and property; (with interest), over $2,000, the unpaid half of all debts, except to three very wealthy creditors in Orleans county and bills for merchandise in Portland and Boston. The interest was up- on the unpaid half of the debts, afterwards paid in full, the three debts to wealthy creditors here, and the bills in market, being all that were not paid in full. The next eight years he settled estates in in- solvency and probate courts, work- ed in various town offices, and any- thing honorable. October 1, 1897, he was appointed deputy collector at Derby Line and is there yet. He is a straight prohibition Republi- can; blood not fouled by drink, to- bacco, narcotics, or other vices. Drafted in 1862, he paid commuta- tion, unexamined.
With wife and mother he united with the Congregational church January 1, 1860, and has continued interest in prayer meeting and Sun- day-school ever since. He sus- tained an out-district Sunday- school ten seasons from April to November. He was three years
B-16
president of the Orleans County Union Sunday-school convention, and was delegate to the First Na- tional Council of Congregational churches in Boston in 1865. He was a member of the legislature in 1842, and in the senate of 1816, and has held nearly every town office, and was several terms county grand juror.
May 8. 1834, he married Betsey Nelson Hinman, granddaughter of Judge Timothy Hinman, Derby's first settler. Her portrait is in Proverbs 31:10, and on. A modest, happy, home-keeping commenced that May day and, by God's bless- ing, still continues. When Merrill failed, and the consequences were known, her reply was calmly: "We began at the bottom, and can again." When the homestead, $500, from the unmortgaged home, was offered, she answered: "Pay the debts." No tears or reproach ever followed the crash. Four children were given them: Lilla Antonia. wife of Harding Allen Clark of Kansas; they have two children. Kate Lorain, wife of Charles E. Bennett: they have one daughter. Anabelle Orphia, died at two and one half years. Ora Marshall mar- ried Jennie Clark (see Brighton in Essex county).
KENDALL, DEACON NATHAN- IEL, moved from Windsor to the Moses Blake farm before 180%, where he built a barn, in which was then organized a Baptist church, and where meetings were held quite a while. His deed bears the date October 24, 1809. His great-grand- father was English, his wife Ger- man, who gave to the Kendall fam- ily the extra fingers and toes which they still exhibit.
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Deacon Kendall married Hannah Kibling, also a German. To them were born twelve children. The date of their coming, or the propor- tion of children born here, are un- known. He died November 21, 1821, aged fifty-six; his widow April 10, 1859, aged eighty-nine. They await resurrection in Derby ceme- terv. Seven children, in order of birth, here named: Olive, married Luther Eager, a Derby farmer; their children maturing were: Mar- tin B., Sylvia C., Levi, Lucius, Em- ily, Luther, George, Charles, and Nathaniel. Hannah to Colonel Chester Carpenter. Isaac Newton to Harriet Corning. removed to Buckingham, Canada, in 1825; seven children matured: Emily, William C., Orrin S., Isaac N., So- phronia, Laura, Maria, Orrin S., liv- ing at Coaticooke, Quebec. Sylvia married Zenas Cobb, farmer; they had daughters: Betsey C., Laura K., Ann J., Emily K .; Ann J. died un- married; three are widows in Derby. Samuel Stillman, physician in Cov- entry and Georgeville, married Em- ily Colby, had children: Samuel S., Laura C., Emily, Lamira, Nathaniel; by second wife, Abbie Redfield, had Fletcher, IIannah. Peleg R. Betsey married Orville Daggett, farmer; had Maria Caroline, Charlania, and Chester C. Caroline married Will- iam Blake, cattle dealer and farmer, and hotel; children: Zenas C., Eliza G., Nye O., Newman Q., Truman G., Hannah K., Idella C. From first to last worthy, respectable people.
ERWIN, JOHN WESLEY, son of Ralph and Jane (Riley) Erwin, and the third son of a family of ten children, seven boys and three girls, was born in Sheldon. Vermont, April 5, 1840. In the parental line
he is of Scotch-Irish descent, Ralph, the father, emigrated from the north of Ireland, with his elder brother, when sixteen years old. After trav- eling over many states, he settled in the town of Sheldon, where he bought a farm and married Jane Riley, the daughter of James and Mary Riley of Highgate. James Riley was a school teacher, which occupation he followed during lite. The father and mother of John Wes- ley lived on the same farm from 1828 until 1876, when they bought a residence in Newport, where they moved the same year. The father died in 1881, and the mother in 1894. His father was class leader in the Methodist church for more than fifty years. His mother was an accomplished reader, and it was the general custom for her to read to the family every evening when possible. It was the invariable rule in his father's family to read a chap- ter from the Bible, and pray- ers every night and morning. John Wesley was educated in the com- mon schools of his native town, and from private lessons from his grand- father Riley, and was attending the academy at St. Albans when the war of 1861 broke out. He enlisted as a private in Company B. First regiment, Vermont cavalry, in Sep- tember, 1861. In 1862 he was pro- moted to quartermaster-sergeant. In a cavalry charge at Hagerstown, Maryland, July 6, 1863, his horse was shot, and he was seriously in- jured and taken prisoner, and taken to Libby prison, and later to Bell Island, where he was for nearly five months. He was in all the impor- tant battles of the Army of the Potomac, up to the time of his dis- charge in November, 1864. He
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studied law with Hon. Josiah Grout of Newport, Vermont, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Orleans county, September term, 18:4, and com- menced the practice of law at Derby the same year, where he still resides. He has always been a persistent stu-
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