The History of Washington County in the Vermont historical gazetteer : including a county chapter and the local histories of the towns of Montpelier., Part 81

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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He married in 1822, Catherine Couch of Bath, N. H., a lady possessing in a remark- able degree the administrative ability which made her celebrated as a hostess, to which she added a frankness and heartiness of manner, which seemed to have no dis- guises, to despise pretence, and to be open as the day. She died at Montpelier in 1861.

Mr. Cottrill was a successful man, and a person of superior common sense. What- ever he did, he did well, and had not much patience with one whose work was not done thoroughly and on time, and yet, never hurrying, never appearing anxious or ex -. cited-a reticent, self-reliant man.

As host of the Pavilion he was best known, both in and out of the State, far and wide, as the prince of landlords, and whose hotel was the traveler's as well as the sojourner's home. He seemed like a gentleman of the olden time, stately, yet

not even cold in aspect, of unruffled tem- per and wonderful self-possession. He made for the Pavilion a most excellent character, and he got for himself, by his connection with it, a respect wider than the State, and eminently deserved.

In Montpelier he was much esteemed. Almost the whole of his active life was passed here, and he was identified with all the interests which have aided to make the town what it is. His means, which his business sagacity and ability enabled him to accumulate, were spent liberally. He gave generously, but without ostentation, to every deserving charity, and to all ben- evolent and religious institutions ; and he was a ready helper of all public improve- ments.

- Watchman Obituary.

JED. P. C. COTTRILL, son of Mahlon Cottrill, born in Montpelier, graduated at Burlington College in 1857. He now lives in Milwaukee; his profession, the law. Of him the Milwaukee News says, "he confessedly stands among the fore- most at the bar of Milwaukee County." And he was "at the 13th annual communi- cation of the Grand Lodge of Free Masons of Wisconsin, June 9, 1874, elected Grand Master." The productions from his pen, in the reports of the committee on foreign correspondence of the Grand Chapter of Wisconsin, are among the ablest and best in American Masonic literature.

The other children of Mr. Cottrill are William, a famous hotel-keeper in the west ; George, a lawyer in New York city ; Lyman and Charles.

COL. LEVI BOUTWELL

was born in Barre, Feb. 5, 1802. He was early in life thrown upon his own resources, and thus acquired self-reliance, energy and perseverance. Having learned the spinner's trade, he followed it in Hartland and afterwards in Strafford. Then going to Thetford, he bought an interest in a

carding and cloth-dressing establishment, the buildings of which were swept away by a great freshet in 1828, leaving him penni- less. From 1830 to 1837, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in West Fairlee. Meeting with poor success he tried hotel

Sur Boutwell

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keeping, Mst in Lebanon, N. H., later in Chelsea, where he remained 5 years. He came to Montpelier in 1846, and leased the Union House, which stood on ground now occupied by the Church of the Mes- siah. Ten years later he became proprie- tor of the Pavilion, and for about 12 years served as its landlord. Then he rented it to others ; but it remained in his posses- sion till his death, March 27, 1874.

His first wife was Miss Jerusha Peabody of Reading, by whom he had three children, two of whom are now living,-Harry Syl- vester, and Elizabeth Jane, the wife of Hon. T. R. Merrill. His second wife, married a short time before he came to Montpelier, was Miss Eliza Burbank, a sister of the late Silas Burbank of this place. She is yet living.

For nearly a generation Col. Boutwell was actively and prominently identified with the interests of Montpelier. His po- sition as landlord of the leading hotel brought him into contact with large num- bers of influential men ; and his physical and mental characteristics were so striking that those who met him once were not likely to forget him. For almost half a century he was connected with the Mason- ic Order, and he held many positions of honor in that fraternity. From his youth he was an outspoken Universalist, although not trained in that faith ; and after having for many years assisted in the maintenance of churches not of his choice, he rejoiced in the opportunity of joining with others in organizing the Church of the Messiah, in Montpelier, of which he continued to be, during the rest of his life, one of its most enthusiastic and generous supporters. Goddard Seminary, in Barre, was largely indebted to his munificence. The Ver- mont Conference Seminary in Montpelier came in for a share of his benefactions. His hopefulness and energy, and resolu- tion, did much to make the Wells River Railroad an assured fact. He was a man of remarkable force, both mental and phys- ical ; he belonged to the class of inspiring men, men who communicate their own strength to others ; he was a man "born to command," a fact recognized in his elec-

tion to the colonelcy of a regiment of mili- tia. In him we saw that paradox in hu- manity, a young old man, whose three score and twelve years strove in vain to quench the fire of his youth ; for, though for a year he had been somewhat enfee- bled, still he kept about his business till within some two weeks of his death, and did not take his bed till his last day.

He was a man in whom there was no lukewarmness ; he was always either cold or hot,-a hearty hater and an ardent lov- er, a man of impulse, intensity, impetuos- ity, a man of head-long self-forgetting generosity, a quick-responding friend of the poor and needy, always vulnerable in his sympathies, a hater of cant, and shams, knaveries and deceptions, quick-witted and keen; often coarse of speech, but kind of heart ; as one said of him, "made up rough side out ;"-a man whose deed was frequentiy better than his word. In truth his word sometimes repelled men. He was often more forcible than polite, and no doubtfulness of mind, or fear of man ever led him to stop the current of his vehement speech till he could substi- tute a smooth phrase for the rough one that was on his tongue's tip. But those who knew him well discerned the man through the manner, and honored the rug- ged honesty, the bluff benevolence, the thorough-going truthfulness, the unawed independence, and the deep tenderness, too, which characterized him.

GOV. ASAHEL PECK, A. M., LL. D.

He was descended from Joseph Peck, who was in the twenty-first generation from John Peck of Bolton, Yorkshire county, England. Thus the genealogy of the Pecks has been traced as far back as, and probably farther than, that of any other Vermont family. Joseph Peck, the American ancestor of the subject of our notice, came from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Mass., in 1638. Asahel, third son of Squire Peck and Elizabeth Goddard, was born at Royalston, Mass., in Sept., 1803, and brought by his parents about 1 806 to Montpelier, who settled in what is known as East Montpelier. Receiving

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the discipline of a farm until he was of age, the benefit of the common school, and fitting for college at Washington County Grammar School, he entered the University of Vermont, but in his senior term left college for a course of study in the French language in Canada. The incipient eminent judge and governor en- tered then upon the study of the law with his oldest brother, Nahum Peck, of Hines- burgh. Asahel Peck's name as attorney, at Hinesburgh, appears in Walton's Reg- ister for 1833, when he was thirty years of age. In that year he removed to Burling- ton, where all his professional life was spent. Doubtless his progress at the bar was slow, as he was not a man to push his way, but to honestly win it by merit. In- deed, a characteristic of him is that he was slow in everything, but in the end he was almost always sure to be right, and that he regarded as the only point worth gaining. He was a thorough and patient student, and a conscientious lawyer and judge. Possessing a tenacious memory, he held all that he had secured in years of study, and could instantly bring his great store of learning to bear upon any legal question presented to him. Touching his abilities as a lawyer, we cite an incident that oc- curred several years ago : The late Rufus Choate, who will be remembered as one of the most eloquent and eminent lawyers of Massachusetts, met Mr. Peck as an an- tagonist at the trial of an important case, and at its conclusion Mr. Choate was so astonished to find such a lawyer in Ver- mont, that he went to Mr. Peck and urged him vehemently to remove to Boston, as- suring him that he would win fame and fortune. No inducement, however, could move Mr. Peck; having once made up his mind, nothing could change it. Burling- ton he had selected as the place to practice his profession, and Burlington it must and should be, and was. Of his reputation as a lawyer and judge, an eminent member of the bar declares that no man in New England since Judge Story has equalled Judge Peck in his knowledge of the com- mon law of England and the law of equity. As Governor, we can bear testimony that

he was one of the very best the@ Vermont has ever had-thoroughly independent, prudent in every act, and carefully in- specting the minutest detail of everything presented for his official approval. Mr. Peck was a judge of the Circuit Court from 1851 until it ceased in Dec., 1857, and of the Supreme Court from 1860 until 1874, when, it being understood that he had retired from the bench to a farm in Jericho, to renew the employments of his youth, he was elected Governor for the term 1874-1876. He was never married. Since leaving the executive chair, he has been often employed as counsel in impor- tant cases ; and doubtless, had his life been spared, would for some years more have shown himself as a grand master of the law. In speaking of the probable ac- tion of the Republican state convention of 1874, at which Judge Peck was nominated for Governor, the WATCHMAN spoke of him in the following terms, which his course while in the gubernatorial chair fully vindicates : "The State would be honored by his selection for it. So long as Vermont designates such men as he is for its highest offices, it is not liable to the old Tory reproach against Republican government, which condemned republics ' not because the people elected their offi- cers, but because they elected unworthy and ignoble men to office.' He would be a worthy successor in the executive chair of Moses Robinson, Galusha, Palmer, Tichenor, Skinner, Williams, Van Ness, Royce and Hall, who were his predecss- eors on the bench. His name will evi- dently harmonize the diverse interests of the Republican party, and will reconcile all differences. It is not merely unobjec. tionable. It is in every respect honorable and fit to be made. His nomination would be followed by a triumphant elec- tion."

Gov. Peck was a citizen of Montpelier 1855 to 1875, and from that time resided on his farm in Jericho, where he died May 18, 1879. E. P. W.

[Inserted by request. ]

Hon. E. P. WALTON : Dear Sir-1 thank you for the interest you are taking

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for the memory of my late brother, Gov. Peck. And withal you will recollect that he had A. M. added or prefixed to his name by the University of Vermont, and LL. D. by Middlebury College, and which is written on his $700 granite monument at Hinesburgh, and whose attachment to the people of Montpelier was never abated or withdrawn. Yours Truly,

NAHUM PECK.

CARLOS BANCROFT.

[From the obituaries in the Argus and the Watchman at the time of his death.]

Mr. Bancroft, who contributed much to make the town of Montpelier everywhere honored and honorable in business and fi- nancial circles, was born in Plainfield, this county, Mar. 20, 1809. At three years of age he lost both of his parents, and was brought up by Arthur Daggett of East Montpelier. He went to Massachusetts at 16 years and learned the stone-cutter's trade ; worked in the Navy Yard at Charles- town ; went to Norfolk, Va. Navy Yard and worked for a time, and returned to Mont- pelier. He engaged with his brother, Watrous, on the stone work of the second state house, afterward burned. Much of that exceptionally fine work, which was so much admired, was wrought by his hand. After this, he formed a part- nership with Geo. P. Ricker, and after the death of Mr. Ricker with E. C. Holmes, terminating after 25 years by the death of Mr. Holmes in 1870. The firm has since been C. Bancroft & Son- Arthur D., the oldest son, being the part- ner. In 1839, Mr. Bancroft married a daughter of Col. Cyrus Johnson of Ber- lin, who was the mother of his children, and died Sept. 15, 1856. Feb. 3, 1858, he married Margaret Wallace, widow of John McLean, Esq., of Cabot, and sister of Dr. M. P. Wallace, who survives him. Of his 6 children but one survived, Frederick W .; of the others, but two reached the age of maturity, his daughter Jennie, who married a Mr. Scott and died about two years after her marriage, and his oldest son, Arthur D.

From his youth up, Carlos Bancroft was one of the leaders of the Democratic party here. Besides repeatedly filling various town offices, selectman, &c., he had, for

many years, been an acting director and vice-president of the Farmers' Insurance Co., and a director of the Montpelier Na- tional Bank ; both were benefited largely by his prudent counsel and sound judgment. Though entirely successful in business, he never accumulated a dollar but by honora- ble dealing. His word was never called in question, and his opinion in matters of bus- iness generally put an end to all contro- versy. He was one of the building com- mittee of Christ Church, where he attended worship. In one word, as a citizen, neigh- bor, and friend, he was a man of large worth.

He died of the insidious, slow old-fash- ioned consumption ; so insidious that none suspected the familiar face of one so uni- versally known and respected would be so soon removed from our thoroughfares and business places. Monday evening, he re- tired apparently in his usual health, for the last few months not his former robust health, a state of increasing feebleness, but which did not debar him from attention to his business. Early the next morning, he had a coughing fit in which he ruptured a blood-vessel ; hemorrhage ensued and be- fore the physician could be summoned he was dead. Age 67, Oct. 24, 1876.

ARTHUR DAGGETT BANCROFT, son of Carlos, who had all the traits of his father, inherited consumption and died at 37. He was one of the selectmen of the town, much esteemed by his townsmen in life, and left a very handsome estate. He married Ju- liette, daughter of Algernon S. Camp, form- erly of Montpelier, now of Chicago. They had children, who with his widow reside at Montpelier.

WATROUS FAMILY IN MONTPELIER.

Some sixty years ago Erastus Watrous, the hatter, lived on Main street, a very intelligent man, who worked quietly away at his trade many years, died Dec. 16, 1828, aged 54, and was buried in Elm street cemetery.

Mrs. ERASTUS WATROUS was a lady of much natural talent, and handsome per- sonal appearance. At the visit of Gen. La- fayette to Montpelier, in 1825, she was

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selected and made the welcome address to the French general in behalf of the ladies of Montpelier. She died July 4, 1832, aged 40.

CHARLES WATROUS, a son of the hat- ter, born in Montpelier, graduated at Middlebury in the class of 1817. He read theology in Montpelier for a year after, and then learned the printer's trade of Walton ; but soon after went South, where he taught for a short time, and then relin- quishing teaching, worked at his trade for short intervals in different States. He at length became deranged, or partially so. While insane, he wrote and published in Troy, N. Y., a book on the craft and dan- gers of masonry .- For title of his work see Montpelier bibliography by Gilman, page -. Soon after the issue of his book, he returned to Montpelier, where he stayed only a few months, and went to Concord, N. H., where he died, about 1835, by his own hand.

ERASTUS B., son of Erastus, Sen., a stir- ring character, went to New Mexico and became immensely rich. He is supposed to be still living.

SOPHIA WATROUS, daughter of the hat- ter, was born in Montpelier, and resided here till her marriage with Mr. Bemis, when she removed to Northfield, where she resided the last twenty years or more of her life. She embraced the Spiritualist belief some years before her death. She and her husband have both been deceased some years, now, and are buried at North- field. Before her marriage, while she re- sided at Montpelier, she published a small volume of her poems, which had the honor at least of being the first volume of poems written and published in the county. From Mrs. Sophia Watrous Bemis' little book, " The Gift," and the prettiest lines, we think, she ever wrote, a mortuary poem :

THE IMBECILE.

Child of misfortune, few have shared Such love as was thine own; And all along thy rayless path A guiding star, it shone.

Affection changeless in excess When love and pity meet; And find on earth a resting place, A mother's breast the seat.

It asks no aid of outward charms Nor e'en the light of mind; It then becomes a holy thing; But few the pearl can find.

Such love was thine, and earth is poor The precious gift to buy ;

It woke with thy young dawning life And caught thy dying sigh.

And tender lives thy cherished thought Within that mother's breast: Affliction marked thy course on earth, Heaven guard thy peaceful rest.

The imbecile was her brother. We ar told the family were all odd or singular i their ways; yet streaked with talen They are all gone and have left no d scendants but Erastus B. ED.

HON. GEORGE WORTHINGTON,

a native of Connecticut, came to Mon pelier at an early day, married the younge daughter of Col. Jacob Davis, and engage in the hatting business with Erastu Watrous. He became a prominent ma was high sheriff in 1814, representative 1819, councillor, 1827 to 1831, and judg of probate, 1840. Retiring from the ha ting business to agriculture, on the far now largely occupied by State, High ar Middlesex streets, and residing in tl present dwelling of Charles A. Reed, 1 was largely employed in the settlement estates. He was a deacon of the Fir Congregational [Bethany] church fro Feb. 7, 1812, for about half a centur when he removed to Irasburgh, where l died, and also his two sons, Johnand Ho George, Jr., who was representative ar senator from Orleans County.

REV. ELISHA BROWN,

formerly a member of the New Hampshi Conference, was born in Gloucester, R. ] May 14, 1802, and died in Montpelier, Fe II, 1881, in his 79th year. When abo ten years old, his father moved to Sutto Vt., where he lived until he was abo thirty years of age. Early converted, default of any Methodist society in his ir mediate community, he was for a season member of the Freewill Baptist COI munion. His religious views, howeve being Methodistic, of the most pronounc type, he subsequently connected himse with the Methodist church, and after spen ing several years in teaching, entered t.

Elisha

Brown

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itinerant ministry of that denomination, joining the New Hampshire Conference at a time when it included all the territory of Vermont east of the Green Mountains.

During the earlier period of his ministry he preached at Greensboro, Troy, West- field, Walden, Cabot and East St. Johns- bury, touching, meantime, the top and bottom of the toils and trials, joys and triumphs, of the itinerancy in very difficult fields at that early day. About forty years ago he moved, with his family, to New- bury, to give his children the benefit of the old Newbury Seminary. During his residence of fifteen years, or more, at that place, he supplied several churches in the vicinity of Newbury, also devoting much time to teaching. In the year 1855 he re- moved to Montpelier, and for several years supplied churches at East Montpelier, Wright's Mills and Berlin. He was the "stated supply" of the latter charge, in- deed, for nine consecutive years, during much of that time occupying, with his ven- erable mother, the old parsonage, and per- forming most acceptably all the duties of the pastorate. During the past ten or twelve years he has spent many months, from time to time, in the family of his son- in-law, the writer, and will be well re- membered at Monson, Brookfield, Danvers, and especially at Milford-supplying with great acceptance, during the writer's pas- torate at the latter place, the adjacent Mendon charge for the space of one year. For the last four or five years of his life, "in age and feebleness extreme," he " halted feebly to the tomb," tenderly cher- ished and cared for in the home of his son, Col A. C. Brown, Montpelier.

Of the life, gifts and activities of Father Brown, much might be said. He was an instructive, sensible, and sympathetic preacher, and a most successful pastor. Very tall, and large and massive physically, his personal appearance, with his flowing, patriarchal beard, was very impressive. Exemplary in all his walk and character, and always ready for every good work in the interest of religion and humanity, being particularly ardent and active on temper- ance lines, he commanded the universal

and affectionate esteem of all classes of citizens in the several communities where he labored. No teacher, or preacher, per- haps, was ever more fondly regarded or tenderly remembered. Hence his ser- vices to preside at weddings and on funeral occasions were in constant requisition. The aged were wont to seek his companion- ship, while the young and those in middle life looked to him for counsel; and even little children always had a glad word and a pleasant smile for Father Brown, cheer- ing his last days by gifts of flowers, not more fresh and fragrant than the innocence and love of their sweet young lives that prompted these gifts. He warmly appre- ciated and very gratefully remembered all the kind and thoughtful attentions of neighbors and friends during his declining years.

Though his life of nearly fourscore years brought to him his full share of burden- bearing, and responsibility, and physical suffering, and sorrow, he never wavered in his convictions, or shrank from any post of duty when clearly presented to him. Not only so, but endowed by nature with a fine vein of humor, his strong religious trust conspired with his very genial tem- perament to enable him, in the midst of all his troubles and sorrows, to maintain an untroubled serenity and cheerfulness. He was one of the sunniest and most kindly of men. Father B. was a great Bible reader, having, in the course of his life, read the Sacred Volume through scores of times. His favorite text, and one which in his later days he has been often heard, and with great fervor, to repeat, was : “I have been young, and now am old, yet have I never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."-Ps. 37 : 25.

Over a quarter of a century ago Mr. Brown buried the companion of his youth. Three out of five children survive him. In the weakness of his last days he was con- stantly "waiting and watching " for the moment that should announce his happy release. Very quietly at last, as if he had laid him down to sleep, he entered into his final rest. Rev. N. Fellows, his pastor, on the occasion of his funeral, which was

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very largely attended, gave a very compre- hensive, appropriate and impressive review of Mr. Brown's life and character, earnestly recommending to the church of which he was a member, and to all who knew him, to follow the example of his consecrated life.

R. H. H.

Mr. Brown was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and had taken the several de- grees up to and including the Knights Templar. He was a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 22, from the records of which we take the following :

IN MEMORIAM.

BRO. ELISHA BROWN,

Born in Gloucester, R. I., May 14, 1802, Died at Montpelier, Vt., February 11th, 1881 ; Aged 78 years and 9 months.

Took his degrees in Aurora Lodge, No. 22, as follows :

Initiated Feb. 8th, 1869. Passed Feb. 15th, 1869. Raised Feb. 22d, 1869.

Chaplain of Aurora Lodge, No. 22, From December 13, 1869, to April 15, 1878.

" Summoned from labor to refreshment."

MAJ. A. L. CARLTON.

Alfred Lathrop Carlton was born in Morristown, Lamoille County, in 1829. His father, Benjamin Franklin, and mother, Betsey Lathrop, a cousin of Daniel Web- ster, were married in Waterbury in 1826. Mr. Carlton was the eldest of four sons, of whom but one survives. His mother is still living, being 84 years of age. He ob- tained an excellent education, and was for some years a teacher. In 1854, he married Margaret, eldest daughter of Hon. Clark Fisk, of Eden, and removed to Montpelier, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, which he steadily and successfully followed until the day of his death, with the ex- ception of a few years' absence in obeying the call of his country.

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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 81

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