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 12
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 12
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 12
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"For more than a quarter of a century I was an associate with Mr. Wilkins on the board of directors of the Lamoille County National Bank and presume I knew him as few men did. It was our custom
at each directors' meeting of our bank to bring forward a record of every note discounted during the preceding month and disenss the merits and demerits of the differ- ent individual signers. I came to respect not only his sound busi- ness judgment, his correctness in weighing men and matters, but his kindness of heart as well, because in discussing the different men pri- vately, as we did, I was enabled to gauge the natural characteristics and idiosyncrasies of my brother director, not only with reference to his excellent business judgment, but as to his kindly regard for his brother fellow men."
Mr. Wilkins' public service was frequent and highly useful. In 1852-'53 he served as state's attor- ney; in 1859 he was elected state senator from Lamoille County; in that important place he displayed all the qualities of the wise and con- scientious legislator, and his con- stituents would have gladly ad- vanced him had he manifested any partiality for a political career. He was an ardent admirer of Lin- coln and was a delegate to the Na- tional Union Convention in 1864, which renominated that eminent statesman to the presidency. In 1868 he was a presidential elector, and cast his vote for General Grant. In 1872 he was a delegate to the National Republican Con- vention which renominated that distinguished soldier. He exerted a strong influence in behalf of the Republican party, to whose princi- ples he was deeply attached, and which he eloquently maintained on many occasions before large assem- blages. He had a remarkably fine voice, of deep and rich tones.
During a greater part of his later years he devoted much of his
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time to caring for his large proper- ties. He was ever interested in educational affairs. In 1870 he gave to each one of the 18 school districts in Stowe a copy of Web- ster's Unabridged Dictionary, and subsequently to each a good sized globe. In token of his admiration of the soldiers who defended their country during the Civil War, he presented to N. H. Smith Post a beautiful soldiers' memorial vol- ume, which volume as a soldiers' record, has a place with the sol- diers' tablets in Memorial Hall.
Mr. Wilkins was married, July 12, 1846, to Maria N. Wilson of Hopkinton, New York, who, dur- ing the summer and fall of the pre- vious year, taught the village school in Stowe. In 1875 she was ap- pointed delegate from the Third District of Vermont to the Wo- man's National Temperance Con- vention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her zeal and ability in educational af- fairs led to her election as super- intendent of schools for three con- secutive years, 1881, '82, '83-the first woman to hold that office in Stowe, and to prepare and read reports on the condition of the schools in town meeting. She is an easy, fluent writer, and has made many meritorious contributions to the press, one of the most impor- tant being her "History of Stowe," published in the "Vermont His- torical Gazetteer."
Mr. Wilkins died, March 22, 1902, and since then Mrs. Wilkins has shown remarkable ability for a woman of her age (in her 84th year), in taking upon herself the entire management of her prop- erty since its control has passed into her hands.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins brought into their home three orphans: A-11
Charles B. Swift and his sisters, Maude M. and Elizabeth M. Swift, the children of Captain J. H. Swift, a former sea captain of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and later a resident of Washington. Upon these Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins be- stowed a really parental affection. Charles B. Swift was the son of Captain Swift and Louise (But- ler) Swift, daughter of Captain Butler of New Bedford, Massachu- setts. She died at the age of 28. Later, Captain Swift married Em- ily C. Wilson of Vallejo, Califor- nia, sister of Mrs. Wilkins.
Charles B. Swift was educated at the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Boston, Massachusetts, and is now an extensive lumber dealer in Garfield. He married Jennie Hastings of Wolcott and has two children: Louise M. and George W. Swift. Maude Swift was educated at Stowe High School, later at the People's Acad- emy in Morrisville and the Normal School in Johnson. She married Mr. Harry C. Fullington of John- son and to them were born two children : Mary W. and Birney Swift Fullington. Elizabeth M. Swift also attended the Normal School in Johnson and now has a home with Mrs. Wilkins in Stowe.
EDDY, CHARLES F., was born in Huntington in 1857, was educated in the district schools and at the State Normal School at Johnson, working his way through this school by teaching winters.
January 4, 1882, Mr. Eddy was united in marriage to Miss Dora Stoddard of Fayston, and for the next nine years devoted himself to farming and buying farm produce. In 1891 Mr. Eddy began his career in the creamery business, which has been both marked and success-
CREAMERY.
Creamery at Stowe. Creamery at Cream Hill, Shoreham. Rutland County Creamery at Pittsfield.
THE EDDY CREAMERIES.
Charles F. Eddy. Residence of C. F. Ed ly at Stowe
Creamery at North Thetford. Underhill Creamery at Underhill. Creamery at Montpelier.
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ful, until the present time he is con- ducting seven successful creameries, the output of these creameries for 1905 being 1,149,021 pounds of butter. At Waitsfield he has con- ducted a large hardware, grocery and feed business and, in 1903, bought a half interest in the gen- eral store of Pike & Benson of Stowe, which carries a stock of about $18,000. Mr. Eddy also has a half interest in a livery stable, and two farms.
Charles F. Eddy is the typical Vermont hustler, filled with energy, grit and stick-to-itiveness, sound judgment and one whose word is as good as a bond; decided in his opinions, not easily changed when satisfied that he is right, and yet always genial, courteous and a patient listener, Mr. Eddy has won high place in the business circles of his town, county and state.
While residing in Waitsfield he served that town as selectman, lis- ter and constable. He located in Stowe in 1900 and in 1904 he was chosen to represent the town in the General Assembly, serving with credit on the committee on insane and the agricultural committee; in both these places he won the dis- tinction of being a working mem- ber. Mr. Eddy has the distinction of being the only Republican chosen to represent Stowe since 1896.
BURT, CHARLES E., son of Charles and Edna (Town) Burt, was born in Waterbury, January 5, 1841. He is widely and favora- bly known, not only as one of the leading lumber manufacturers of Vermont and a highly esteemed and influential citizen of Stowe, but as a veteran deputy sheriff.
Mr. Burt received only the ordi- nary common school education, but
had a valuable training in the practical affairs of life, and early learned the lessons of industry, per- severance and economy. He came to Stowe in 1864 and engaged in the livery and freighting business, which he continued to conduct to a considerable extent until the ad- vent of the electric road.
In 1883, in company with his brother, the late Frank O. Burt, he purchased about one thousand acres of timber land and built a steammill in the eastern part of the town, known as Stowe Hollow, and conducted the lumber business there some ten years, until the mill burned. They also bought a water mill and 2,000 acres of land in the southwest part of the town, known as Nebraska, and annually handled at both mills a million feet of lum- ber and three fourths of a million of clapboards. After operating a mill at Moss Glen Falls for two years, Burt Brothers moved the machinery to a mill in this village which they had erected, where they have consolidated the bulk of their business. Their logging is mainly done by jobbers on contract. Dur- ing the logging season some sixty teams, employing 75 men, are kept busy ; also 25 men are employed in and about the mill. A large por- tion of their help are permanent residents of the town and their pay roll is the largest in town. The bulk of their timber is mountain spruce of unusually good quality and size. They leave the small timber to mature. After the burning of Mount Mansfield House in 1889, its site, including about fifty acres of land, was unoccupied until the fall of 1893, when Burt Brothers bought it, also the water supply, consisting of three cold mountain springs. During the fol-
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lowing summer they dug and built a large reservoir on the hill and conducted a main to the village, where some seventy-five families are supplied with this excellent water. They also laid out the old hotel site into building lots, on which three fine residences have been erected. These two enter- prises alone entitle Burt Brothers to the enduring gratitude of the citizens of Stowe.
Frank O. Burt was an esteemed member of the Legislature in 1900. He died in 1903, leaving a widow and five children. The eldest son, Mr. Craig O. Burt, fills a sphere of usefulness as foreman of the mill and timekeeper. Miss Bar- bara Burt, the eldest daughter, is the efficient bookkeeper of the firm.
This enterprising firm controls practically 8,000 acres of tim- ber land and the successful opera- tion of their immense business, a potential factor in the prosperity of the town, devolves upon Charles E. Burt. During the past 35 years he has filled a large sphere of business activity and enjoys the implicit confidence of the people .. During much of that time he has been constable or deputy sheriff. The busiest of men, his unfailing good nature and courtesy are mani- fested to all, and he deservedly has a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Burt married Miss Vera Raymond of Stowe, in July, 1882. He is a member of Mystic Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., also of Tucker Chapter.
BARROWS, DOCTOR HARRY W., son of Samuel W. and Sibyl (Chase) Barrows, was born in Leb- anon, New Hampshire, January 6, 1866. His father moved to a farm in Bethel in 1868, and here Harry
spent his youth, graduating from the Bethel High School in 1887. He resolved to adopt the medical profession as his future life work and attended three years at the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Vermont, from which he graduated in 1890. His first settlement was at Norwich, where he remained only one year. He then came to Stowe, bought the practice of Doctor Burnet and is pursuing an excellent and increas- ing business.
Doctor Barrows has served as sec- retary of the pension board and is a member of both the Lamoille County and the State Medical So- ciety. Doctor Barrows possesses those qualities of mind and heart that always command respect and esteem. In manner quiet and un- obtrusive he is social and kindly, and faithful and exemplary in every relation of life.
He has entered heartily into the social, religious, and public activi- ties of the town. He has served as a member of the executive com- mittee of Unity Church, and as a member of the board of school di- rectors. He is now one of the vil- lage trustees. He is affiliated with Mystic Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M., with Tucker Chapter and Mount Zion Commandery of Mont- pelier. Doctor Barrows married, in 1900, Lille C., daughter of A. E. Douglass of Stowe. They have two children: Douglass W., born in 1902, and Dorothy S., born in 1904.
SMITH, FRED ELISHA, son of Lemuel B. and Nancy E. (Towne) Smith, was born in Stowe, Sep- tember 18, 1869. Lemuel Smith was born in 1809 and at the time of his lamented death, in 1899, was the oldest man in town. He was
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a millwright and carpenter and joiner by trade, and possessed con- siderable mechanical ingenuity. He built the first starch factory in town, also the present sawmill at Moscow, which he purchased in 1836 and conducted for more than half a century. He also erected
nership with his father, under the firm style of L. B. Smith & Son, which continued until 1896. After renting the mill for four years, he purchased it. His present abun- dant prosperity is due largely to his invention of a scientific parchment- lined butter box. The box is
FRED E. SMITH.
a sash and blind factory, which was burned in 1877 with heavy loss. Soon after he erected a planing mill, which in 1891 was refitted for a butter box factory.
After completing his education at People's Academy, Fred E. Smith returned to his native vil- lage, and soon after formed a part-
square, having dove-tailed corners, largest at the top, and is lined with a single piece of parchment paper, folded so as to make a perfectly water tight lining, also doing away with the use of glue. Mr. Smith. after many experiments, devised the machinery for the manufacture of these boxes and his factory now
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has a daily capacity of 2,000 boxes. It is a convenient and popular package and finds an extensive and ready sale.
Mr. Smith employs from 15 to 30 men in his various operations, and his pay roll is the lifeblood of Moscow. This year he will manu- facture a million feet of dressed lumber. During the past six years he has acquired some eighteen hundred acres of land, largely tim- ber land, including two farms. He has erected two houses in the vil- lage. He is too busy to accept town office, although he acts as justice of the peace. Mr. Smith is emphatically a self-made man. He possesses that rare combination of mechanical ingenuity and practi- cal good sense and executive abil- ity that commands success.
He is a member of Mystic Lodge and Tucker Chapter, A. F. & A. M.
Mr. Smith married, in 1892, Mar- tha, daughter of Franklin J. and Sarah (Atkins) Waite. Their beautiful home is a pleasant social center and is brightened by three children : Venila Ann, born 1894; Isabelle Charity, 1895, and Waite L. B., 1901.
LOVEJOY, M. C., the well- known proprietor of Green Moun- tain Inn, has kept this popular ho- tel since 1892, and being a native of Stowe, is familiar with all points of local scenery. The house has recently been repaired and refur- nished, and under the present able management commands an excel- lent patronage. A good livery is connected, with turnouts adapted to large or small parties and moun- tain work, with experienced driv- ers, is made a specialty.
Green Mountain Inn is the most available hotel, Stowe being only five miles from the foot of Mount
Mansfield, the monarch of the Green Mountains. The spotted trout abound in the cool mountain brooks in this vicinity, and small game is found in the black timber on the mountain slopes. Its ele- vated situation makes Stowe a nat- ural sanitarium, and severe cases of asthma and hay fever are greatly alleviated by brief resi- dence in this bracing mountain air. Green Mountain Inn is distant 10 miles from Waterbury, eight miles from Morrisville by tri-daily stage, and three miles from Moss Glen Falls.
Mr. Lovejoy owns a half interest in a fine 300-acre dairy farm, well stocked with thoroughbred Ayr- shires.
CAMBRIDGE.
Population, Census of 1900, 1,606.
This town was granted Novem- ber 7, 1780, the same day that the town of Eden was granted to Seth Warner and his associates. Cam- bridge was chartered August 13, 1781, to Samuel Robinson and 66 others. Two years later, the same year that saw the treaty of peace signed between Great Britain and the United States, saw John Spaf- ford, a Revolutionary soldier, build his log cabin in town, 25 miles from the nearest habitation. He win- tered here in 1783-'84. Conant, in his historical reader, relates how he lived in a log house beside the La- moille River. One day in winter he took a bag of corn on a hand- sled and drew it on the ice of the river, where he could, to the near- est mill to be ground. The mill was at Colchester Falls, 25 miles off.
On the way home he became very tired and hungry. So he stopped,
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made a fire, wet up some of the meal in the mouth of his bag and baked a cake. Then he went on again. His wife Sarah waited a long time for him that evening, but as he did not come she lay down and slept and dreamed that Mr. Spafford was calling her.
She awoke and looked and lis- tened, but she could not see nor hear anything of him. Soon she slept again and dreamed a second time that he was calling. Then she rose and with a lighted torch went to the river bank, where she found him, unable to get up the bank with his load.
The summer of 1784 John and David Safford, Samuel Montague, John and Jonathan Fassett, Daniel and Stephen Kinsley, soldiers of the Revolution, came to town and settled near Mr. Spafford.
John Safford was a man of great force and energy. He taught the first school and exerted a command- ing influence in the town for 70 years.
The town was organized March 29, 1785. John Fassett was the first town clerk, and that fall David Safford was chosen the first representative.
No litigation or angry lawsuits ever disturbed the harmony of the neighborhood. By living in peace with each other they saved both their money and tempers. Such was the character of the men who laid the foundation of this splendid town.
The first settlers of the town, being many of them soldiers of the Revolution, brought the military and patriotic spirit with them and infused it into the public sentiment of the people. The June trainings were more than mere pastimes.
In the War of 1812 the town
sent a company of 60 men, under Captain John Wires, afterwards General Wires, to Plattsburg, and some thirty other citizens enlisted during the war.
In the Civil War the town fur- nished 170 men; 37 of these died in the service. The town paid $33,000 in bounties.
In 1805 the first church building was built. The first settlers lived in rude dwellings of logs. The for- est echoed for miles around with the axman's blow and crash of sturdy trees. The settler's wife spun flax, while her daughters spun tow for summer clothing, and when this was finished the wool was next spun for the winter's wardrobe; and summer and winter they wore. their durable homespun and were not dependent upon factories and stores. The schoolhouses, too, were well filled with a robust lot of boys and girls. On the Sabbath the meeting-house was filled with hear- ers and all were kind and tender.
The old schoolhouses that had forty or fifty scholars are gone ; you will find better ones in their stead, but only from five to fifteen schol- ars there now, and these in im- ported fabric and thin shoes, less robust than of old. The church slips, too, are nearly all vacant. The old fathers have answered their last call, and as we look back to those pioneer days we almost feel that the sturdy type of man- hood and womanhood that built this great country has departed, never again to return. But such is not the case, for today our fair state is peopled by the best, the purest and noblest people that ever lived in any state in any age.
FULLINGTON, JOHN T., was a son of Ephraim and Sarah Foster Fullington, who came from Ray-
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mond, New Hampshire, to Cam- bridge, in 1795, which has been the home of the family for 111 years.
John T. Fullington was born here in 1808 and here he lived out his 91 years of an honorable and useful life. His education was in the public school of this dis-
He early learned and carried into his practical and long, useful life, the sentiment of doing to others as he would have them do to him, and giving to them as he would have them give to him. This kind feel- ing was ever in his house, guiding it. His home was full of good
JOHN T. FULLINGTON.
trict and from the instruction of his elder brother, Moses. He in- herited a kind heart and a mild dis- position, which were drawn out and educated by a wise mother and a noble elder brother. So well trained were these qualities that he had no animosities in his inter- course with men.
cheer to all of its inmates and to all who came to it to share its welcome hospitality.
Mr. Fullington, though in mod- est circumstances and living all his life in this quiet neighborhood, kept himself well informed by good reading of important movements and changes going on in the polit-
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ical, religious and educational world, and enjoyed all the changes that elevated all conditions of men, making them wiser, freer and hap- pier. He was firm in his opin- ions and beliefs, and courageous in holding to them. He was a con- servative optimist in relation to the
hearted and reverent, and loved by all with whom he associated. In all his long life no scandal, dishon- esty or meanness touched with its slim finger his character. In his modest and narrow place, by diligent and honest effort, he grew into a wise, active, useful, no-
FREDERICK H. FULLINGTON.
popular questions of the progress of his times. He was a firm be- liever in the all-wise God, who ulti- mately guides and directs the af- fairs of men. He was industrious, benevolent, evenly governed, hap- pily self-controlled, intelligent, de- vout, and an honest man. His character was true and just, frank-
ble man. Reverend Edwin Whee- lock, in his memorial remarks, said: "His life's work is done. He has finished the task given him to do in this world. We shall miss him in the town which has been the field of his activities for so many useful years-we shall miss his sedate walk and cheerful face and calm,
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wise words of counsel-but his work is not done-it never ends. The life of influence is as fixed as the ocean, or as the beams of the light of the sun which fills the earth with flowers and golden har- vests. The influence of a good man never dies, but brightens the pages of humanity as the ages come and go. It goes on stretching out wider and deeper like the sea, unit- ing with other holy influences until the final closing up of the pages of human history. The work of the truly good man never dies. It is a sweet and active force in the universe of God forever. Such a life is an example and an inspira- tion to young men for the highest and noblest work given men to do on this earth, when they heed the instruction of Him, who is the way and the truth and the life-'oc- cupy till I come'-and we do well here today to drop a tear of sincere sorrow and respect over the bier of this good, upright and exem- płary man."
Mr. Fullington died at his home, February 23, 1899, in his ninety- first year.
FULLINGTON, HON. FREDER- ICK H., a son of the late John T. and Sylvia (Carpenter) Fulling- ton, was born in Cambridge, on the old home farm, December 9, 1851. He was educated in the public schools and at the State Normal School at Johnson. When he attained his majority duty seemed to direct him to stay on the old farm, and while his tastes, desires and capabilities might have directed otherwise, like a true Fullington he chose to re- main. Here he has met with that splendid degree of success that us- ually comes to persistent effort and real worth. Modest, unassuming,
but keen, well posted and able, Mr. Fullington has always been re- garded as a leading son of Cam- bridge. He has held the offices of selectman, school director, superin- tendent of schools, county board of road commissioners. He was chosen to represent Cambridge in the Gen- eral Assembly of 1888, and in 1904 was elected state senator for La- moille County ; here he served on the senate committee on education, the general committee, the grand list committee and the joint stand- ing committee on immigration and industrial interests. On all of these important committees Senator Full- ington was a working member, never leaving for his colleagues du- ties that he should properly perform.
March 16, 1875, Senator Full- ington married Emma, daughter of James F. and Clara (Davis) Tay- lor of Barton; two children have been born to them : Fred Earl, and Stella Blanch.
LEAVENS, HON. LINUS, was born in Berkshire, September 2, 1859, a son of Jonathan W. and Maria (Holmes) Leavens. He was educated in the public schools of Berkshire and at the Bryant and Stratton Business College at Man- chester, New Hampshire. After completing his education he went to Cowansville, Quebec, and clerked for eight years; he then entered the grocery and hardware trade with G. W. Boright, under the firm name of Boright & Leavens, and continued for two years; he then disposed of his interest and located at Enosburg Falls ; here he entered the employ of W. II. Billado, as head clerk in a general store and remained thus employed for four years, at which time he entered the employ of M. P. Perly & Co., and
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for three years was manager of their business.
In 1895 he and Mr. Perly formed a partnership under the firm name of Perly & Leavens, and opened their general store at Cambridge, Mr. Leavens becoming the resident partner. Here he has
that would advance the well being of the community. He has served his town as moderator, auditor, school director and, in 1904, was elected to represent the town of Cambridge in the General Assem- bly. Here his integrity and keen business discernment were recog-
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