The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 71

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064

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rectly, and in a few days passed peacefuly away, Nov. 4, 1845, aged about 74, uni- versally regretted and respected.

Personally, he was of medium height, rather stocky, moderate in his motions, slightly limping in gait in consequence of a fever sore on one of his legs in his youth, and very neglectful in all matters of dress and outward appearance,-all which were at once forgotten, when one confronted his massive and noble head, manly features, pleasant blue eye, and thoughtful, impres- sive countenance ; and socially, he was one of the most kindly and agreeable men, full of instructive remarks, generally aptly illus- trated by the fund of piquant and amusing anecdotes which, in the course of his vari- ous reading and experience, he had treas- ured in his remarkable memory.

If ever a people owed a great and une- quivocal debt of gratitude to any one man, the people of Montpelier and vicinity rest under such an obligation to Dr. Lamb.

COL. JAMES H. LANGDON,

the successful merchant of Montpelier, was born in Farmington, Conn., Mar. 3, 1783. When a youth he entered the store of Gen. Abner Forbes, then the leading mer- chant of Windsor, Vt., to acquire a knowl- edge of the mercantile profession, which he had determined to make the business of his life. And such was the progress he made and the confidence he inspired, and tact and good judgment he displayed in all the details of trade, and more important transactions of business coming within the scope of his action, that his employer, Gen. Forbes, before he reached the age of 21, took him into partnership, and estab- lished him at the head of a branch store in the village of Montpelier, in 1803. For the next half dozen years he continued to do business under the firm of Langdon & Forbes ; when justly believing he had ac- cumulated capital enough and friends enough in this place to warrant the move- ment, he bought out Gen. Forbes' interest in the store, and thenceforward conducted the business in his own name, and entirely on his own responsibility.

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with different partners, the firstand longest continued being the systematic and clear- headed John Barnard, who was prematurely cut down by an acute disease in 1822 ; and the next, the Hon. John Spalding, still surviving, [since deceased.] From this time, for the next 20 years, Col. Langdon seemed to be wafted forward on one un- varied tide of prosperity and success, and great public benefits grew out of his com- mercial career, as he was instrumental in reforming the irregularities of trade, which up to his day custom had sanctioned, and in placing it on a just and honorable basis ; and while thus conferring untold benefits on his town by what he did, and by the force of his salutary examples, he so con- ducted his dealings as well to deserve all the remarkable success which attended him. But we need not here enlarge on his noble characteristics as a merchant; we shall rather confine the remainder of our sketch to that which particularly marked him as a man and a citizen, and gave him that strong hold on public feeling, and that high place in the public estimation, which he retained through life.

In. 1809, Col. Langdon married Miss Nabby Robbins, of Lexington, Mass., a union from which sprang five children, Amon, who died in childhood, John B., James R., George, and Caira R. Langdon. [John Barnard and George Langdon have died ; James Robbins and Caira R., now Mrs. Nicholas, are still living.]

Col. Langdon ever manifested a proper interest, and often took an active part in the public affairs and official business of the town, having at various times filled with acceptance its most important offices. He also entered, and was rapidly promoted, in the military line, till he gained the title by which he is here designated. In the year 1828, having removed over the river to his beautiful meadows within the bor- ders of Berlin, he was elected with unusual unanimity by the people of that town, as their representative in the Legislature ; and in the following year re-elected to the office still more unanimously; and by the appli- cation of his excellent judgment and great practical knowledge in the business of a single dollar lost out of the whole col-

legislation, he well justified the choice of his constituents. In 1828, he was elected, on the retirement of the Hon. Elijah Paine, the first to hold the office, President of the Bank of Montpelier, which responsible office he continued to hold to the time of his death.

In person, Col. Langdon was well formed, and his features were all shapely and hand- some ; while his countenance was lighted up by one of the most kindly and winning smiles that ever enlivened the human face. Nor did his countenance belie his heart, inherently sincere, sympathetic and hu- mane. And, while in all the movements and enterprises of public benevolence, his liberality was commensurate with his means, in private charities and individual assist- ance, he went, as he wished, far beyond what was ever generally made known to the public ; for he was extremely averse to making any parade of his benefactions, and his favors were very generally con- ferred under injunctions of secrecy. And thus it was, that the extent of his private charities and pecuniary assistance to the distressed and those laboring under busi- ness embarrassments, were never known except through the irrepressible outgush- ings of gratitude from the lips of those whom he had relieved.

His lenity and forbearance towards all who were indebted to him were remark- able; and, to the credit of human nature be it said, as remarkable was the gratitude of those thus favored, and their determin- ation that he should never be the loser by the kindness he had conferred. After he had retired from business, expecting to be much absent, he placed his demands, over $100,000, in the charge of a confidential agent, who was an attorney, strictly en- joining him to sue nobody and distress nobody, but use all kindly, and charge him for all the expense and trouble in- curred in the collections. And though this great amount of miscellaneous de- mands remained in the hands of that at- torney for nearly three years, and though a large number of the debtors failed during that time, yet in all that period never was

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lection. On the eve of their failures, or when they had any fears of failure, the debtors would come privately to the agent, and, with the remark, that " Col. Langdon had been too good to them to be injured," voluntarily placed in his hands the fullest securities they had in their power to offer. Within one week after such transactions, perhaps these debtors would fail ; sheriffs would be scouring the country for prop- erty, and almost every creditor would suffer loss except Col. Langdon. He, to the wonder of all, was always found secure.

The last characteristic incident of his life occurred when he was on his death bed. Finding his end drawing near, he sent for his attorney, and ordered him to make a life lease to an old revolutionary soldier of the farm he occupied, but of which the Colonel held a mortgage for more than its value. This was the last business transaction of his life. He died Jan. 7, 1831. As he was the idol of the people when he lived, so at his death he was lamented by more friends in the com- munity at large than falls to the lot of but few to have numbered among their real mourners.

HON. JEDUTHAN LOOMIS

was born in Tolland, Conn., Jan. 5, 1779. After receiving a fair academical education, he studied law with Hon. Oramel Hinck- ley, of Thetford, Vt. ; was admitted to the bar there, and came to Montpelier and es- tablished himself about 1805.

Mar. 11, 1807, he married Hannah, daughter of Col. and Judge Oramel Hinck- ley, of Thetford, who died suddenly, Dec. 24, 1813, leaving no issue. Oct. 10, 1814, he married Miss Charity Scott, of Peacham, who died June 13, 1821, leaving 2 sons, Gustavus H., the late Dr. Loomis, and Chauncey. Oct. 8, 1822, he married Miss Sophia Brigham, of Salem, Mass., who died in 1855, leaving Charity,-Mrs. Dana, of Woodstock,-now deceased ; Mrs. Jo- seph Prentiss, of Winona, Minn., and Charles Loomis, Esq., now deceased. Judge Loomis died Nov. 12, 1843.

In 1814, Mr. Loomis was appointed Register of Probate for the District of

Washington, but held the office only one year.

In 1820, he was elected the Judge of Probate for this district, and had the un- usual honor of receiving ten successive elections, the greatest number of elections of any other man in this County being five, given to the Hon. Salvin Collins.

From 1807, up to his death, there is scarcely a year in which he did not receive, and well and faithfully execute, some one of the trusts or offices of the town. And the last 20 years of his life he was, besides being an efficient friend of the common schools, always a laboring trustee, often the head prudential committee, and always the treasurer, and chief pillar of Wash. Co. Gram. School. In the latter capacity, for which, and for being so long the admitted model Judge of Probate of all this part of the State, he was mostly known to the public abroad.

There was once extant an old book called "The Minute Philosopher." We mention the name, because so suggestive of the character of Judge Loomis. He was a very carefully reasoning man, and carried his philosophy into all the minutia of business. Any of the little trusts or commissions growing out of a town, school district, highway district, or neighbor- hood or family affairs, which the more am- bitious or selfish would disdain to accept, or, if they did, only half execute, he would cheerfully accept, and always execute with the most scrupulous care. Indeed, he seemed to consider it his duty to do every- thing asked of him, if, in performing it, he thought he could benefit his fellow-men individually, or the public at large. It was so with him in his profession, so in the church of which he was an officer, and it was so everywhere.

Being a tall, dark-complexioned man, of formal manners, with a grave and rather austere countenance, he might be taken by the unacquainted for a man with few sen- sibilities ; but break through the apparent atmosphere of repulsion, and approach him, and you would find him as affection- ate as a brother.

Being extremely strict in all moral and

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religious observances, and seemingly rather set in his opinions, he might sometimes be taken for a bigot ; but get at his real views and feelings, and you would find him absolutely liberal, and willing to make all the allowance for errors which the largest charity might demand.

A man of legal knowledge, ordinary good judgment, and of known good mo- tives, who is willing to perform the duties of every small needful office, as well as great one, and who is ever ready to act the part of adviser, assistant and friend, in adjusting town difficulties and neigh- borhood dissensions, is always a great blessing to a village community, and such was Judge Jeduthan Loomis. More than will ever be justly appreciated, probably, is Montpelier village indebted to him for his untiring and self-sacrificing exertions to advance her best interests.

HON. TIMOTHY MERRILL.

Emphatically a public man, was born in Farmington, Conn., Mar. 26, 1781, where, having received little more than a common school education, when becoming of age, he shouldered his pack, and travelled on foot to Bennington, Vt., where his older brother, Hon. Orsamus C. Merrill, had some years before established himself in the legal profession. Here he studied law ; was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in partnership with the after- wards noted Robert Temple, in Rutland. But not feeling very well satisfied with his situation, dissolved with Temple in less than a year, and removed to Montpelier in 1809, and established himself alone in his profession. In 1812, he married Clara, daughter of Dr. Fassett, of Bennington. They had 5 children-a son who died in infancy ; Ferrand F. Merrill, our late well- known fellow citizen ; Edwin S. Merrill, of Winchendon, Mass., formerly post- master of Montpelier ; Clara Augusta, who died in 1842, and Timothy R. Merrill, our present town clerk.

In 1811-'12, Mr. Merrill was the town representative of Montpelier. In 1811, was elected the first State's Attorney of the new County of Jefferson, and in 1815 to the same office, the name of the county

being now changed to that of Washington, which office he held through seven succes- sive elections, eight in all ; two more than ever received in that office by any other man in the county, Dennison Smith hav- ing received but six. In 1815, he was elected Engrossing Clerk of the General Assembly, and received seven successive elections to that office. In 1822, he was elected Clerk of the House of Representa- tives, and received nine successive elec- tions to that office. In 1831, he was elected Secretary of State, which office he retained till his death, having received in it five successive elections.

In his profession, Mr. Merrill took a very fair rank, and was sustained by as fair a patronage. ' But his public employ- ments required too much of his time and attention to permit him to reach the posi- tion in his profession to which his admitted talents would have otherwise doubtless raised him. He was ever considered, how- ever, a safe legal adviser; and in his ap- peals to juries, as well as in his addresses to public assemblies, he often warmed up into genuine eloquence, the effect of which was heightened by one of the most clear- toned and melodious voices which it was ever the good fortune of a public man to possess ; and yet with such a fair profes- sional business to bring him money, be- sides his receipts from his public offices, he died worth but little property, and what added pertinency to the fact, his family ever dressed and lived, for their position, with great plainness and frugality ; but he never charged anything for advice, though his office was thronged by those seeking it ; being naturally a peace man and very conscientious, he would advise three men out of lawsuits where he would one into them. He never charged for his legal services much more than half what was usually charged by other lawyers of the same standing, and what he did charge he would, in any event, often remit a part from, and if his client was unsuccessful, be quite likely to give in nearly the whole of it.

In person, he was below the medium height, but had a fine head, good features

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and a very intelligent and prepossessing countenance. He was one of the most affectionate of husbands and fathers, one of the most agreeable of neighbors, and one of the most correct and enlightened of citizens-honored be his memory.

HON. FERRAND F. MERRILL, son of Hon. Timothy, of whom, to a most singular extent, the public history of the father was the history of the son. Like the father, and for about the same number of years, though at a much younger age, the son was Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives. Like the father, was the son at once transferred from the clerkship to the office of Secretary of State, to be therein retained, we believe, exactly the same number of years during which the former lived to hold the office. Like the father, the son was State's Attorney for Washington County, though, through the altered rules of rotation, not so long ; and, like the father, was the son, for the now customary term, the representative of Montpelier in the legislature.

By his education, by his readiness in all matters in form, acquired under his fath- er's trainings, advantages of personal ap- pearance, and great courtesy of manners, he was unusually fitted to do well and ap- pear well in public life, and was an accom- plished and popular officer. In the legis- lature he became a prominent member, and in the difficult position in which he found himself placed, in the keenly con- tested question relative to the removal of the seat of government from Montpelier, he displayed an ability and tact which met the full approval of his constituents, and which, had he consented to be again a candidate, would have ensured him further elections.

In private life he was blameless, in all his social relations much esteemed. In the furtherance of the interests of religion, morals and education, he took a conspic- uous part, and, in fine, he began to be looked upon as one of the most capable and useful of our citizens, when he died of apo- plexy, May 2, 1859, in the meridian of his usefulness, and when his prospects for pro- fessional eminence were the brightest.

HON. ARAUNAH WATERMAN

was born in Norwich, Conn., Nov. 8, 1778. He sprang from good Revolutionary stock, his father having been at first a subaltern officer, and then commissary, in the con- tinental army, and his uncles either officers or soldiers. His advantages for education were 6 months schooling before the age of 12. At about 13, he was apprenticed to a carpenter of his town, and served till 21, working steadily by day, and studying at night by the light of pine knots, to make up the deficiences of his education. Soon after acquiring his trade, was recommend- ed as a master mechanic to Gen. Pinkney, of South Carolina, who was wishing to build somewhat extensively on his several large plantations, was accepted, and the first year devoted himself to the superin- tendency of erecting the various structures contemplated, among which was a fine summer house on Sullivan's Island, and the next year, having by his capacity and integrity gained the fullest confidence of Gen. Pinkney, who was appointed U. S. Minister to England, was made steward and chief supervisor over all the General's estates. After leaving Gen. Pinkney's em- ployment, he returned to Connecticut, but in 1801 or 1802, came to Vermont with his brothers, the present Judges Joseph and Thomas Waterman, and other brothers and sisters, and with them settled in Johnson. In 1804, he married Rebecca, daughter of Oliver Noyes, of Hydepark, and sister of the Hon. David P. Noyes, by whom he had several children, among whom is the Hon. Vernon W. Waterman, of Morristown. His wife dying in .1812, in something over a year afterward, he mar- ried Mehitable Dodge, of New Boston, N. H., now deceased, but long known among us as a most estimable woman, by whom he had 7 children, two of whom, daughters, are still living on the old home- stead in Montpelier. After residing in Johnson about a dozen years, engaged in farming, constructing the machinery re- quired about the different mills of that brisk village, and particularly by the card- ing and clothing works with which he be- came connected, he removed to Mont-

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pelier about the beginning of 1814, and purchased the farm and a portion of the water privilege, lying on the west bank of the North Branch, above and around the falls, on the borders of this village. Here, besides carrying on his farm, he soon en- gaged in erecting, improving and carrying on carding and clothing works, and before many years, in connection with Seth Persons, erected and put in operation the comparatively extensive woolen factory, which was burned March, 1826, and at the burning of which he came near losing his life. After this, he mainly employed him- self in improving his farm, which, with his house, soon brought considerably within the village by its gradual extension in that direction, he continued to occupy until his death, coming, at the age of 80, to close his unusually varied, active and laborious life, Jan. 31, 1859.

In 1821, '22, '23, '26, Mr. Waterman was elected town representative of Montpelier. When the new State Senate was estab- lished, in 1836, Mr. Waterman was tri- umphantly elected as one of the two first senators of Washington County, and on the following year, as triumphantly re-elected to complete the senatorial term, which, in what is called the Two Year Rule, had been previously adopted. In 1840, he was elected by the legislature to the office of Judge of the County Court, which office, however, being unsought and unexpected by him, he declined to accept. As a rep- resentative and senator, he never spoke for the sake of talking, and never except to support some measure which he be- lieved calculated for the public good, or to subserve some cherished political interest ; and then his extensive practical knowledge and accurate political information enabled him to speak with effect.

retire from the field, much employed on difficult surveys of land plots, disputed lines, and laying out of new public roads, and about 1830, when, on the completion of the great canal in New York, the feasi- bility of canals across this State began to be agitated, he was appointed, under an appropriation from the general govern- ment, to conduct a survey for a canal from Burlington up the valley of the Winooski, and over the heights to Wells River, run- ning into the Connecticut. This he ac- complished, and, in doing it, was the first man to ascertain the altitude of Montpel- ier above Lake Champlain, and the alti- tude of Kettle Pond, on the eastern border of Marshfield, the lowest summit level of the heights between Montpelier and Con- necticut river. And in proof of the accu- racy of his survey, as imperfect as were his instruments, may be cited the fact, that when the surveys of the Central rail- road were perfected, it was found that the engineers, with their greatly more perfect instruments, and their everyway better equipments and means, had made the level of the top of the dam across the river at Montpelier to vary but between 3 and 4 feet from the altitude recorded in Mr. Wa- terman's survey made a dozen years be- fore.

Mr. Waterman was active in improving our common schools, and for many years one of the most efficient of the trustees of our Academy. And in despite of the mul- tiplicity of his cares, found time to keep himself posted in matters of general science and literature. He was probably the most reliable geologist in Montpelier. In a knowledge of the principles of mechanics and their practical applications, he had few superiors anywhere. His knowledge of history was extensive, and of our national politics singularly ample and accurate. The late Jonathan Southmayd, 12 years preceptor of our Academy, was in the habit of often conferring with Mr. Water- man in the solution of difficult problems in the higher branches of mathematics, me- chanics and other sciences, and once re- marked, he had never met a man, not ed-

We find Mr. Waterman's name on our town records often associated with the most important of our town offices. But he was not much known in these, because, doubtless, he was almost constantly in higher posts attracting a more general no- tice. Being esteemed the best surveyor in this section of the country, he was, after our old surveyor, Gen. Davis, began to ucated in a college, who could compare

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with him in the extent of his general and the accuracy of his scientific knowledge.

As a citizen, man and neighbor, his use- fulness and practical benevolence were universally admitted, and the assistance he was frequently rendering others, through their bad returns for the favors conferred, kept down to a simple competence what would othewise have been a handsome property for the inheritance of his family.

Among those of an active life, a man's capacities and character are best accurately measured by what he accomplishes. By this rule, what Mr. Waterman accomplish- ed would place him far above the level of ordinary men. In the first place he made himself-no common achievement where such a man is made, and made under such disadvantages ; and then he achieved for himself, for his family and for the public, all that we have related of him. Let all that stand as the simple record of his life. What cause have his friends to ask for a better monument to his memory?

HON. CYRUS WARE,

son of Jonathan Ware, of Wrentham, Mass., was born May 8, 1769. His father died when he was but 3 years of age, but he continued with his family and attended the common schools of the place till nearly 14, when he went to Hartford, Vt., to learn the blacksmith's trade, in the shop of a Mr. Billings, who had married his sister, and worked faithfully at the trade till 21 ; and then, with what knowledge he had contrived to pick up by reading during his apprenticeship, he went to studying law with Hon. Charles Marsh, of Wood- stock, and after a year or two, went to Royalton and completed the prescribed course of legal studies with Jacob Smith, Esq., and was here admitted to the bar in 1799, and the same year came to Mont- pelier, and opened an office in this village. His capacities appear to have early attract- ed the attention of his townsmen; for within about one year after he came into town, we find him figuring in town offices, in some one of which he was retained until the September State election, 1805, when he represented Montpelier in the General Assembly, and did so acceptably acquit

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The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 71

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press Number of Pages: 1064

Author: Hemenway, Abby Maria, 1828-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Montpelier, Vt. : Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press
Number of Pages: 1064