USA > Vermont > Franklin County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 10
USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 10
USA > Vermont > Lamoille County > Successful Vermonters; a modern gazetteer of Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, containing an historical review of the several towns and a series of biographical sketches > Part 10
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).
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Parker, and received his education in the public schools and at the State Normal School.
In 1884 Mr. Parker went to Min-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
neapolis and entered the employ of S. G. Palmer & Co., wholesale fruit dealers, as a clerk; later he clerked for about two years' time in a grocery establishment. In 1887 he formed a partnership with E. W. Wing in the grocery busi- ness, under the firm name of Wing
brother-in-law, and continued the William Ober sawmill at Eden. Three years later, in 1894, the mill was burned ; it was rebuilt and Mr. Parker bought Mr. Ober's interest and continued the business alone until 1900, when the mill burned a second time, with very little insur-
HARRY C. PARKER.
& Parker. At the end of a year Mr. Parker sold out and came East and married Mamie E. Ober, a daughter of William and Lizzie E. (Vigent) Ober. By this union five girls have been born : Ruth, Ruby, Rachel, Rena and Rebecca.
In 1891 Mr. Parker formed a partnership with Fred Ober, his
ance. The mill was again rebuilt the same year.
In 1900 he located in Johnson and bought the old Leland starch factory and converted it into a sawmill and soon after formed a partnership with Hon. Charles H. Stearns, under the firm name of Parker & Stearns. In 1904 they
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
purchased mills at Greenfield and Hyde Park. In the summer of 1905 the flooring mill at Hyde Park was removed to St. Johnsbury and installed in the plant of the North- ern Lumber Co. Parker & Stearns are now handling annually 3,500,- 000 feet of dressed lumber.
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and the Modern Woodmen.
PEARL, JED A., was born in Johnson, March 24, 1860, a son of Hon. Isaac L. and Hattie N. (Tracy) Pearl.
Isaac L. Pearl was a son of Zimri A. and Eliza (Blake) Pearl.
JED A. PEARL.
For 12 years Mr. Parker was a resident of the town of Eden and during this time served several years as a selectman. Since relo- cating in Johnson he has served two years as first selectman and was re-elected but declined to serve. He is a member of Waterman
He was born November 17, 1832, in Milton, and educated in the pub- lic schools and Vinton Academy. In early life he became interested in woolen manufacturing, com- mencing in the Winooski woolen mills. Here he became thoroughly familiar with every feature of the
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
business. He then entered the firm of S. & D. M. Dow, of Johnson. Upon the death of D. M. Dow he became a half owner in the business and, in April, 1871, the mill was totally destroyed by fire, but was immediately rebuilt and since that date the firm name has been I. L. Pearl & Co., and have enjoyed an ever-increasing volume of business. Mr. Pearl is a director of the La- moille County National Bank of Hyde Park and has served for a number of years as president and secretary of the board of trustees of the State Normal School. :
In public life Mr. Pearl is a stanch Republican and has fre- quently been elected to public of- fice. IIe has served as judge of probate for Lamoille County, held the various town and village offices and, in 1888, was elected to repre- sent Jolinson in the General As- sembly.
March 11, 1858, he was united in marriage to Hattie N. Tracy. Four children have been born to them : Jed A., Flora A., Morton I. (deceased), and Lizzie H.
Jed A. Pearl was educated in the public schools of Johnson and at the State Normal School. After completing his education he en- tered his father's employ and in 1883 he entered the firm. April 7, 1905, D. A. Barrows bought the I. L. Pearl interest in the business and with Jed A. Pearl continues under the old firm name of I. L. Pearl & Co.
March 15, 1882, Jed A. Pearl married Hattie Elkins of North Troy. Two children have blessed the union : I. Leonard and Lloyd.
Mr. Pearl, like his father, is a Republican of the sturdy type and has always taken a deep interest in public matters. He served as se-
lectman several years; chairman of the village trustees, and in 1902 represented Johnson in the Gen- eral Assembly, serving as chairman of the committee on manufactures. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity and has served as master of his lodge.
During the past year great en- ergy has been put into the manu- facturing business by this hustling firm and an average of 4,000 pairs of pants per month have been turned out, giving employment to 60 persons. During the year the business has more than doubled, thus making the manufacture of the celebrated "Johnson" and "Sampson" pants easily the lead- ing industry of the town.
FULLER, REVEREND JONATHAN KINGSLEY, son of Samuel Freeman and Elizabeth (Kingsley) Fuller, was born in Montgomery, May 13, 1848. His ancestry on his father's side runs back to Doctor Samuel Fuller of the Mayflower and on his mother's side to the Kingsleys who came from Woodstock, Connecticut, to Woodstock, in the early settle- ment of the latter town. Although born and reared in humble condi- tion, and limited in opportunities, he succeeded in securing a common school education, and entered upon the study of law at the age of 22. This he pursued for two years, when he decided to make the ministry his life work. With this end in view he took up the course of theological studies prescribed by the Methodist Episcopal church, and on April 23, 1873, was or- dained at St. Johnsbury by Bishop Ames.
Receiving the appointment to the Methodist Church at Richford, he served the people there the maximum of three years and then
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
resigned his membership in the Vermont Conference.
Uniting with the Congregational Church, he immediately received a call to the pastorate of that denom- ination at Bakersfield. Here he labored 12 years, caring also for the church at Fairfield and preach-
10 years the finances of the church more than doubled, and the mem- bership was largely increased. Be- sides the work in his own parish, he preached at times at Westmore, where a Congregational church was organized in 1893 as a result of his effort.
JONATHAN K. FULLER.
ing at East Fairfield, where, as a result of his labors, a Congrega- tional church was organized in 1888.
In 1889 he resigned his work in this field and received and ac- cepted a call to the church at Brownington and Barton Land- ing. During a pastorate here of
From Barton Landing Mr. Ful- ler was called to the pastorate of the Old South Church at Windsor, and to the chaplaincy of the state prison there. For four years he performed a double service, as in his former pastorates, but becom- ing greatly interested in prison work, he resigned his parish and
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
chose the less remunerative service to which he devoted his entire ef- fort for two years. The remunera- tion for this service, however, be- ing only nominal, Mr. Fuller was compelled to give it up and return to church work, and of two calls tendered to him, he accepted one at Johnson in the spring of 1905. In his various fields of labor Mr. Ful- ler has received into the church between three and four hundred persons.
Besides his pastoral duties he has taken a deep interest in agricultu- ral, educational and philanthropic matters, and has been a frequent contributor to the newspapers and magazines. Among his popular lectures are the following: "Na- tional Perils and Safeguards," "The Farmer's Occupation," "Ghosts," "Crime and Crimi- nals," and "Capital Punishment." The last two named are the result of his experience as chaplain at the state prison. .
Mr. Fuller has served for many years as superintendent of schools, and has represented his denomina- tion in national councils and before other religious bodies. He has been elected a member of various organ- izations, such as the A. B. C. F. M., the Academy of Political and So- cial Science in Philadelphia, and the Orleans Historical Society. In 1890 he received the appoint- ment of examiner in the American Institute of Sacred Literature, un- der the late President Harper of Chicago University.
In 1894 the town of Barton elected Mr. Fuller to represent it in the lower branch of the Ver- mont Legislature, and in 1898 he was chosen chaplain of the House.
Mr. Fuller was married, Septem- ber 16, 1875, to Gertrude Florence
Smith of Richford. Of this union there have been born: John Har- old, Hawley Leigh (deceased), Raymond Garfield and Robert Samuel. The first named has graduated from Yale and is now engaged in teaching; Raymond has been a student at the University of Vermont and is now doing journal- istic work, and Robert, the young- est, is still at home with his parents.
WILSON, ORVILLE H. Few men in Lamoille County are better or more favorably known than Orville H. Wilson of Johnson, born in Johnson July 13, 1857, a son of Samuel and Lucy A. (Powers) Wilson, who settled on the farm now occupied by Orville, more than sixty years ago.
Orville H. Wilson received his education in the district schools of his native town, at the State Nor- mal School and at the Morrisville Academy. After completing his education he decided on farming along progressive lines as a life work, and settled on the home place. Here he has led an active and in- dustrious career, and met with more than an average reward for well- directed efforts in his chosen field of usefulness.
February 20, 1879, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Nellie B. Austin, a daughter of Postmas- ter B. L. Austin, a substantial business man and highly respected citizen of Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had two children : Max A., assistant postmaster at Johnson, and Winnie Blinn, now a young miss of 14, attending school.
Politically, Mr. Wilson is a sturdy Republican, taking a lively interest in all public matters and is a familiar figure at the county and state conventions of his party.
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
He always keeps up with the best thought of the times, and his coun- sel is frequently sought on impor- tant public matters. He has served many years on the board of select- men, being for several years the ranking member of that important
MAXFIELD, HARRY M., mer- chant, is a son of Harry and Han- nah (Prindle) Maxfield of Fair- fax, where he was born October 13, 1862. He was orphaned when two months old by the death of his father. Four years later the fam-
ORVILLE H. WILSON.
body. Mr. Wilson has been for six years chairman of the Lamoille County Republican committee, and has served a term as county com- missioner. For the past 10 years he has been overseer of the poor, and in 1894 was elected to the Gen- eral Assembly to represent John- son, and served on the general com- mittee.
ily removed to Johnson, where his mother died in 1883.
His education was obtained in the village and normal schools of the town, from which he gradu- ated in 1881, under Principal W. C. Crippen. He taught school three terms, then contracted a matrimonial alliance with Enna, daughter of George P. and Lu-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
sina Phillips of Johnson, and bought a farm a mile below the vil- lage. In April, 1890, he moved to Johnson village and entered the mercantile trade, in which he has continued to the present time.
Mr. Maxfield takes an active in- terest in educational and religious affairs. He is one of the trustees of the Johnson Normal School, and one of the school directors; also a member of the Congregational
HARRY M. MAXFIELD.
church and chairman of the execu- tive committee. He has been su- perintendent of the poor for the association of the three towns of Johnson, Stowe and Morristown. He has served as selectman, school director and justice of the peace, and in 1904 was elected to repre- sent Johnson in the General As- sembly, and served on the educa- tional committee. Two children have come to brighten the home: May Phillips and Jennie Ella.
STEARNS, WILLIAM H., born in Johnson, in the house in which he now resides, January 12, 1856, a son of John HI. and Elmira (Hlines) Stearns. After complet- ing his education in the public schools of Johnson, he succeeded his father as a manufacturer of hand rakes, at the works estab- lished by John H. Stearns, the father, in 1855. The plant is lo- cated a mile from Johnson village, and under the energetic manage- ment of William H. Stearns, as many as 4,000 dozen rakes have been manufactured in a single season.
In 1895 Mr. Stearns established the Bell Brook Creamery, and the following year established the Cam- bridge Creamery at Cambridge; both these properties were run under the firm name of W. H. Stearns & Co. In 1900 the Bell Brook Creamery was sold to Hay- ford Brothers, and in 1903 he sold his interest in the Cambridge Creamery to E. HI. Hines. In 1900 he purchased the Gardner Murphy Creamery at Swanton, and for two years conducted the business with marked success, sell- ing out at the end of that time to the Franklin County Creamery Association of St. Albans.
In July, 1903, Mr. Stearns pur- chased the O. B. Landon gristmill and creamery in Johnson village, which he still conducts; he also owns one of the best 140-acre farms in town, having 1,000 sugar trees, and carries 25 head of stock.
September 9, 1877, Mr. Stearns was united in marriage to Florence A. Hines of Eden, a daughter of Sylvanus and Eliza Hines. Six children were born to them: Har- old V., Myra A., John L., Bert, Lynn and Ray. Mrs. Stearns died
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February 9, 1888, and Mr. Stearns married for his second wife Nellie A. Knowles, who lived for seven years. To this union two chil- dren were born: Forrest, who died in infancy, and Gladys L. For his third wife Mr. Stearns was, on March 21, 1896, united to Birdena
and for four years as selectman. In 1900 he was elected to repre- sent Johnson in the General As- sembly of the state.
WATERMAN, NORMAN A., was born September 26, 1853, in that part of Sterling which was an- nexed to the town of Johnson, a
WILLIAM H. STEARNS.
V. Rand of Brockton, Massachu- setts. One child, Wilma H., has come to bless them.
Few men of Johnson have led a busier or more useful life than William H. Stearns, and yet he has found time to respond to the frequent call of his townsmen to accept public place, serving them as lister, justice, school director,
son of D. Sanford and Drusilla H. (Bingham) Waterman, and a great-grandson of Araunah Water- man, one of the early settlers of the town. His mother was a descend- ant of the first settlers of Morris- town, and thus by birth, education and association he is a Lamoille County man. Educated in the public schools and at the People's
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Academy of Morrisville, he was well fitted for the affairs of life, which in Mr. Waterman's case have been both many and suc- cessful.
October 17, 1894, Mr. Waterman married Ella E. Magoon of John- son ; three children have been born to them : Ada D., born January 2, 1896; Lawrence B., born October 19, 1897, who died in infancy, and IIelen, born August 1, 1900.
NORMAN A. WATERMAN.
In politics Mr. Waterman is a Republican. He has served his town nine years as chairman of the board of school directors, many years a selectman and in 1890-'91, he represented Johnson in the General Assembly.
He is now, with his brother, Thomas, engaged in farming and manufacturing of timber on the old home farm where both were born.
The Waterman family is of mild
Welsh and Scotch descent. Arau- nah Waterman came to Johnson in the first year of the century, purchased 1,200 acres of land where the village now stands, and paid 4,000 Spanish silver dollars for the property. Araunah served in the Revolutionary War, was an intimate associate of the Chitten- dens and for many years repre- sented Johnson in the General As- sembly. He had four sons, one of whom was Asa, who married Anna McConnell and settled on a portion of the old Waterman farm north of the village. By his sec- ond wife, Anna Dodge, there were two sons, Levi A. and D. Sanford. Levi A. died in September, 1905. D. Sanford pursued the double avocation of farmer and lumber- man, was a resident of what was old Sterling and was a town officer who was efficient in securing the division of that town and its an- nexation to Johnson, Stowe and Morristown.
He was many years lister, select- man and justice, and took an ac- tive interest in town affairs. He married Drusilla H., daughter of John Bingham of Morristown, and their family consisted of four sons : Norman A., Thomas, Homer and John A. D. Sanford Waterman died in 1890.
HOTEL JOHNSON, Everett E. Wells, proprietor. Mr. Wells was born in Quebec in 1852, was edu- cated in the common schools of Fre- lighsburg, Quebec, and in 1868 lo- cated in Burlington and clerked for two years, at the end of which time he entered the employ of Wel- land Vale Manufacturing Com- pany as a traveling salesman, re- maining with this house for 22 years, having a very wide and interesting experience traveling
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
through Canada, British Isles, Nor- way and Sweden. He came to Johnson in 1903 and bought Hotel Johnson. Few men know better than Landlord Wells just what the traveling public require, and cer- tain it is that none supply those wants in a more thorough or up-to- the-minute style than Mr. Wells.
Hotel Johnson is a new house, 46 x 42, three stories, besides an an-
Rutland and Georgia W., a student in the high school.
HUNT, BERTRON A., a son of Jason S. and Clarissa M. Hunt, was born in Johnson, July 16, 1857; was educated in the public schools of the town and graduated from the State Normal School, first course 1875, and second course in 1877; read law with Hon. P. K. Gleed of Morrisville and later
HOTEL JOHNSON.
nex in the rear, is steam heated, has electric lights and baths, hot and cold water, and cost upwards of $10,000. A first-class livery is run in connection with the house. Here the weary traveler is made to feel that he has got home, where every reasonable want is provided for.
Mr. Wells married, in 1878, Mary E. Linus; two children have been born to them : Dr. Fred L. Wells of
with M. O. Heath of Johnson, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1883. He continued reading law after his admission to the bar, which would indicate that it was a hunt for knowledge and not practice which first concerned this energetic young man. In 1885 he opened an office, where for 18 years he has furnished good advice. In 1890 he commenced lumber operations and has contin-
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
ually increased his timber hold- ings until he now controls 7,300 acres, three sawmills and a thor- oughly modern hardwood flooring plant, excelled by none.
Mr. Hunt has continued in the practice of the law, but has devoted as little attention as possible to it,
bumal where his client had judg- ment against him, in the court be- low for 25 cents. The HIon. T. P. Redfield, who was chief presiding, at the close of the reading of the exceptions by young Hunt, whose knees were quaking-thundered, "Young man, what do you suppose
BERTRON A. HUNT.
owing to the ever-increasing and exacting calls upon his time by his other interests.
Mr. Hunt has been a most suc- cessful practitioner in our courts, particularly in the Supreme Court, owing, no doubt, to his early introduction to that august body. He was defending before that tri-
we sit here for, to fool with 25-cent judgments ?" "I suppose your honor sits here to adjust the rights of parties whether it is 25 cents or $2,500," was the ready reply,- shaking more than ever. Picking up the papers again, Judge Red- field dryly said : "Well, you meas- ure your speech by the size of your
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
judgment." This was but little encouragement to the young attor- ney; however, he won his case, which was some satisfaction for the uncalled for rebuke of the judge.
Mr. Hunt is, in politics, a sturdy, consistent Democrat, and naturally has not been given to office seek- ing, but rather to the building and
March 14, 1885, Mr. Hunt en- tered into a most fortunate and highly successful contract; he was united in marriage with Miss Net- tie B. Morse of Waterbury, a grad- uate of the State Normal School and a lady of unusual worth, who has proven a great help to her hus- band in his numerous fields of en-
WILLIAM E. TRACY.
making a better town through large transactions in a professional and commercial way.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, was a charter member of Johnson Lodge, K. of P., and its first Chancellor Commander. He was postmaster of Johnson under Cleveland.
A-10
deavor. Seven bright children have come to gladden the Hunt household, five girls and two boys. In speaking of his life work, Mr. Hunt said to the writer, "If suc- cess ever be attained, give my wife due share therein."
TRACY, WILLIAM E., a son of William H. and Lucinda (Brown)
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
Tracy, was born in Belvidere, No- vember 6, 1874.
William HI. Tracy, father of the subject of this sketch, is of Eng- lish descent, and came to Belvi- dere from Franklin County, from which place he moved to Johnson. He served two years and eight months in Company A, Fifth Ver- mont Infantry, and was wounded in the left hand while in the service.
William E. Tracy received his early education in the public schools of Belvidere and at 15 years of age he entered the State Normal School at Johnson, grad- uating with his class in 1893. He then taught school for five years, teaching in Montgomery, Johnson and Hyde Park.
In 1898, Mr. Tracy entered the law office of Bertron A. Hunt of Johnson, as a student, and pursued his studies with both diligence and ability, and was admitted to the bar in 1901, when he opened an office; he has gained a reputation as a careful and painstaking young attorney, who handles his cases with vigor, thoroughness and ability.
Mr. Tracy is a member of the Sons of Veterans, the Masonic body and the Knights of Pythias, and takes a lively interest in all public matters. He was united in marriage, in 1903, to Miss Lillian Hamm of Mahone, Nova Scotia.
BICKNELL, FRED G., a son of John S. and Anna (Bean) Bick- nell, was born in Johnson, Decem- ber 22, 1872. He received his ed- ucation in the public schools of his native town and graduated from the State Normal School, class of 1893. He taught the Cambridge High School for two years and then commenced the study of law
in the office of Bertron A. Hunt, being admitted to the bar in 1900. As an attorney Mr. Bicknell has developed unusual powers of con- centration, application and a com- prehensive knowledge of the law, which, for a young attorney, have won him a high place among his professional brethren.
In politics he is a sound Repub- lican and as such was elected state's attorney for Lamoille County in 1902 and received the unusual distinction of being re- elected in 1904. In this important office Mr. Bicknell has made a clean, strong record that he may well be proud of. In 1897 he was elected town clerk of Johnson and the next year was elected town treasurer, both of which offices he still continues to hold.
December 18, 1900, Mr. Bick- nell was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta E. Dorr of Keene, New Hampshire, a graduate of the State Normal School at Johnson, class of 1893. One child has been born to this happy union: Ernest Dorr Bicknell, born June 22, 1905.
Mr. Bicknell is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and is master of Waterman Lodge. He also con- ducts a very large fire insurance business in connection with his le- gal practice.
SHERWIN, ENOS H., a son of Lyman B. and Hannah K. (Baker) Sherwin, was born in Hyde Park, June 8, 1850; received his educa- tion in the public schools of Hyde Park, Morrisville, Johnson and took a course at Eastman's Busi- ness College at Poughkeepsie, New York. After completing his edu- cation he worked on the farm and in the sawmills until he had gained his majority and then entered the construction department of the
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LAMOILLE COUNTY.
Western Union and International Telegraph companies, constructing lines. In 1878 Mr. Sherwin en- tered the employ of the St. Johns- bury and Lake Champlain Rail- road and for the past 28 years has continuously held the responsible position of station agent, and for
second year as chairman of the board of selectmen and in 1896 he represented Johnson in the General Assembly of Vermont, serving on the committee on claims.
Socially, Mr. Sherwin has long enjoyed a marked degree of popu- larity. He is a member of Wa-
FRED G. BICKNELL.
20 years has been located
at Johnson.
While the duties of Mr. Sherwin have been of a nature peculiarly exacting, he has found time to re- spond to the frequent call of his townsmen to fill public office. He is now serving on his eighth year on the board of village trustees,
terman Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he was secretary for 12 years, member of Tucker Chapter, R. A. M., of which he was high priest for two years, and D. D. G. H. P. of District Number 1 for one year; member of Burlington Council, R. & S. M .; member of Mt. Zion Commandery, K. T .;
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SUCCESSFUL VERMONTERS.
member of Mt. Sinai Temple, N. M. S .; member of Sterling Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F. ; W. P. of John- son Chapter, O. E. S .; prelate of Johnson Lodge, K. P .; member of Johnson Grange, P. of H.
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