USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 16
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Early in the year 1864, Dr. D. W. Prime, Asahel June was brought to this town E. J. Bliss and J. F. Estabrook, organized | from Stamford, Ct., in 1774, then in the sec- the " Brandon Paint Co." This was finally merged into the " Brandon Kaolin and Paint Co., which became an incorporated Company by a charter from the Legislature of the State, November 15, 1864, with a capital stock of $ 300,000.
ond year of his age. The family settled down on the old patrimony in the south part of the town, where they remained in com- parative quiet until the advance of Burgoyne in 1777. On the morning of the HubbarIton battle, July, 1777, the father, perceiving the approach of danger, made arrangements for the mother and the two lads, Daniel and
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Ashel, to retire within the lines of the American outposts, then at Pittsford, and trusted the carrying out of the plan to the mother and her children while he left for the fort in the same town. Gathering the sinull pittance of stock and household valu- ables, Mrs. June and her young sons, one seven and the other five years of age, retired to Wallingford, where they remained till the close of the War of the Revolution, when they returned to the old homestead.
Asahel's father's name was David, and, what was a little remarkable, his three sons, Daniel, Asahel and David, married three sisters by the name of Simonds.
Daniel's children were Ezra,* . Milton, Frances and Milo.
Dea. June resided on the same farm 69 years. His children, all of whom have sur- vived him, are Olivia, (Mrs. Gill); Prudence A., (Mrs. Ellis) ; Lucinda and Harriet E., (Mrs. H. A. Sumner).
Mr. June, during his long life, held vari- ous offices in the gift of his townsmen, and once represented the town in the State Legis. lature. He publicly professed faith in Christ by uniting with the Congregational church, March 2, 1817, and was appointed deacon after the death of his brother Daniel, in his stead. He was long known as one of the pillars of this church.
He died Friday the 18th, aged 90 years, 2 months and 12 days .- Brandon Gazette.t
CAPT. DANIEL FARRINGTON.
[ Condensed from a biographical sketch published at the time of his death in the Ver- mont Record .- Ed.]
Daniel Farrington, the youngest son of Jacob Farrington, was born of humble, yet highly respectable parentage, in New Canaan, N. Y., May, 31, 1773. When 13 years of age he removed with his father's family to the then new State of Vermont. The family settled in the valley of Otter Creek,-one of
* The present aged Judge June of Brandon, from whom we received this additional paper, and from whoin we have asked a longevity table for Brandon-a list of the names and ages of those citizens of Bran- don deceased, not included in Dr. Dana's papers, who hate attained 80 years or upward. But which not Living been received, we can only give the few namus we happen to have from news clippings .- Ed.
t See biography of Daniel June and family in Dr. Dana's papers,-Ed.
the best agricultural sections of the State-in the town of Neshobe, now Brandon .*
Here young Farrington was devoted to agricultural pursuits for several years, and laid the foundation of his after success as a man. With an athletic frame, and an abund- ant flow of life, his early years were passed in industry, and, untouched by dissipation, he grew up into a hardy and vigorous manhood. When twenty-one, his father being unable to afford him any substantial aid, owing to his own straitened means, with his axe and few clothes, and four dollars in his pocket, he was thrown upon the world, to get for himself a name and an inheritance.
But with a stout heart and energy which was born with him, he went forth from his father's house. Having stopped for a time in Milton, on the banks of the Lamoille, he purchased in Cambridge Borough, farther up the river, a tract of land consisting of 100 acres. This, of course, was bought on credit, and Farrington, in its purchase, as- sumed considerable responsibility. The pur- chase made, he plunged into the wilderness and was soon hard at work among the forest trees.
He did not, however, remain long in that portion of the State; the alluvial flats of Otter Creek, and the associations of his for- mer home, called him to Brandon. Soon after his return he married a daughter of Dea. Ebenezer Drury, of Pittsford-a town immediately adjoining Brandon on its southern border. This lady was from a good family, and is remembered,-for she has been long dead,-as a person of amiable character, highly cultivated taste, and mental endow- ments that rendered her a valuable and rare acquisition to any society. Up to 1818, the life of Mr. Farrington had been that of a hard-working man. He was one of those noble men who was not ashamed to toil with his own hands. It is true that his circum- stances were narrow, and rather compelled him to labor, but he did so cheerfully and resolutely, and already his thrifty manage- ment and habits of economy were leaving to him a competence.
In 1808, Lieutenant Farrington, for this title he now bore, having been elected to
*This last name is undoubtedly a contraction of Burnt toten." which appellation was given to the town- ship after it was burnt by the Iu lians, who frequently visted it in its early history. .4.
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this office in the militia of Brandon, en- tered upon a new life. Hitherto he had been chiefly occupied in home and private concerns; he now was called to participate in State and national affairs. Difficulties had grown up between the United States and Great Britain. A rupture between the two governments was anticipated. The commercial relation of the two countries were seriously disturbed. The smuggling business led to frequent encounters between the smugglers and Custom House officers, during the non-intercourse which proceeded the last war with England, in some of which blood was shed and lives lost. In the first serious affray of this kind Captain Farrington was an actor. May 30, 1808, he received orders from the Government to repair to the line between the States and Canada, for the purpose of sustaining the
In this encounter Lieut. Farrington showed great intripidity and coolness ; his character as a man of mettle and courage was fairly established. Though his men were thoroughly frightened, and he him- self faint with the loss of blood, the object of his mission was most satisfactorily secured.
From this time to the close of the war of 1812, he was more or less engaged in active service, as a soldier. Receiving the ap-
pointment of Captain, in April of 1813, he was on duty at Plattsburgh and vicinity in all those memorable events which have made that neighborhood historical ground. Great confidence was placed in him by his superiors in command and to him was en- trusted a great part of the work incident to building and rebuilding, alter their de- struction, the barracks at Plattsburgh. In sbort, the time he was in service gave de- cisive proof that had he seen fit to have continued in the army, he would have s speedily arisen to the most honorable posi- tion therein. But he chose rather to re- turn to his home and to engage again in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture, and these pursuits on his part were crowned with great success. Honorable and high mind- ed in his business transactions, he was uni- versally beloved and respected by his fellow famous embargo laws. He complied with the | citizens, was frequently selected by them - request and was stationed at Windmill Point, 1} miles from Rouse's Point, under the com- mand of the late Daniel Penniman, Esq., officer of Customs, and Major Charles K. Williams, late Chief Magistrate of Vermont. In August of this year a guard of 18 men were placed in his command with orders to pursue and take a smuggling vessel called the Black Snake. After reconnoitering the island in the lake, the vessel was discern- ed and taken in the Winooski a short dis- tance from Burlington. In the melee several men were killed, and Lieutenant Farrington was seriously wounded in both arms near the shoulder. One ball struck his forehead passing over his head, grazing him in its passage and leaving him for a time completely senseless. Several of the smugglers were secured and safely lodged in the jail at Burlington. After due process of law three of them were sentenced to the State's Prison for ten years, and one by the name of Dean was hung.
for important civic offices, the duties of which he discharged with ability and faith- fulness. He was a member of the Con- vention of the State for the revision of the State Constitution and his judgment was widely and repeatedly solicited in the adjustment of matters difficult and respon- sible. Having previously buried his first wife, in 1842 he contracted a second marriage with an estimable lady who survives to mourn his loss.
The marked traits of Captain Farring- ton's character were energy and good sense and if in early life he had been favored with the advantages that now come within the reach of every one, he would have made a wider and deeper mark in his day and gener- ation. As it was, he exerted a vast influence and there is much to instruct one, in his history, and it causes a wide-spread feeling of sadness to think that the fires of so much energy have gone out in the darkness of death.
The personal appearance of Captain Far- rington was imposing, of a large frame, well proportioned and a noble countenance, he naturally attracted attention and commanded respect.
The writer remembers of having from a friend the effect produced upon himself, on seeing the Captain during the war of 1812. He had been dispatched through the towns of Western Vermont, to warn the citizens lin view of the anticipated invasion of the
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British army. As he rode through the vil- | town, Vt., July 9, 1802. Of his antecedence lage in haste, with flushed cheeks aud flash- ing eye, he appeared like one born to com- mand.
In social life, he was genial and warm, a kind neighbor and sympathetic friend.
In politics the Captain was originally a democrat, of the true Jacksonian type, and continued to act with that party up to the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861, when, true to his patriotic instincts and life, he immediately identified himself with the Union party. Captain F. was far from be- longing to that lamentably large class of voters, whose culpable indifference in public matters is such that they deserve to experi- ence the salutary influence of the celebrated Grecian law upon this subject. On the con- trary so positive was his interest in public affairs that from the time he was twenty-one he never failed to attend Freeman's meeting and to deposit his vote, and what is most remarkable, he not only voted in this State, but in the town of Brandon, for seventy- one consecutive years, having voted for the first town representative from Brandon, Nathan Daniels-and for the last-Dr. Vol- ney Ross-and he was always able to go to the polls without conveyance. In the fall of 1814, he was stationed at Burlington, and rather than to lose his vote for town representative, he rode on horseback to his home in Brandon and there attended Free- man's meeting. He cast his first Presiden- tial vote for the immortal Jefferson and his last for the martyred Lincoln.
Captain Farrington's health remained good and he was able to attend to his own affairs up to within a week of the time of his death. His steps was as elastic, and his form as upright as most men at fifty. Dur- ing the last summer he cultivated his own garden, and he harvested and secured his crops with his own hand the week before he was stricken down. He never wore glasses His eye sight always remained good and his mental faculties remained unimpaired to the last. He died at his residence in Bran- don Oct. 7, 1865, at the ripe age of 92 years, 5 months and 7 days, calmly trusting in the Lope of a blessed immortality.
THOMAS DAVENPORT.
BY HIS RON, WILLARD G. DAVENPORT ; ABRIDGED AND RE- VIBED BY CHARLES THOMPSON, OF ST. ALBANS.
Thomas Davenport was born in Williams-
but little is known, save, that he was the son of a farmer who died intestate when Thomas was ten years of age.
Young Davenport learned the trade of a black-smith at an early age, and opened a smith shop in Brandon where he plied his trade until 1832. At this time, he became interested in the subject of electricity, inso- much, that it became the ruling passion of his mind during the remainder of his life. He at once abandoned his former business and devoted his whole energies to the devel- opment of electro magnetism. He soon con- ceived the grand idea of propelling machin- ery by this new power. He was not long in producing rotary motion, which he effected by breaking and closing the circuit.
In 1834, he secured the services of James Vaughn, a practical machinist and native of Rutland. They made several machines, bringing out many improvements. One of these models consisted of a battery in the bottom of a pint mug, with a horizontal shaft across the top, carrying a balance- wheel of polished brass. This model Mr. Vaughn says, was put on exhibition in the city of New York, and elicited much inter- est among the scientific men of that place. They proposed to buy the invention and called in Prof. Morse for the purpose of se- curing his opinion on its merits. He ex- amined it very minutely but withheld his opinion farther than to say, " It is certainly worthy of careful consideration and the sub- ject is one in which I feel a lively interest." Of this little speech, Mr. Buckland remarked. " The Professor probably went away with the rudiments of the telegraph working in his mind."
In 1835, Mr. Davenport exhibited his in- vention at Middlebury college, putting in motion a model trip-hammer. About this time, he also put in motion a vibrating lev- er which moves with considerable force and velocity, and was in all respects essentially the same as that now employed in the oper- ation of the telegraph. From Middlebury, he went to Troy and exhibited his invention before Prof. Eaton. He next went to Prince- ton, New Jersey, and exhibited bis machine before Prof. Henry.
All the Professors and scientific men who had thus far witnessed the movements of his invention expressed great confidence in its
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ultimate success as a motive power and Prof. Henry gave him a certificate as to the orig- inality of the invention.
In like manner he visited Prof. Bache of Philadelphia, and also held exhibitions in Washington, Springfield, Boston and many other cities. We may also add that, among other things, he had on exhibition a mini- ature railway. This he had on exhibition at Saratoga, in 1836, where he formed the ac- quaintance of Ransom Cook, Esq., an enter- prising mechanic who became interested in the enterprise, insomuch, that he became a joint partner with Mr. Davenport and con- tinued with him until 1838.
Davenport and Cook made many models of machines, among which was one for the Patent Office. Letters patent were granted to Mr. Davenport for the application of magnet- ism and electro-magnetism as a moving principle in mechanics, Feb. 25, 1837. A letter has been found among Mr. Davenport's papers written by Mr. Ellsworth of the Pa- tent Office, July 4, 1838, in which Mr. E. says, "No other patent has been issued for such an invention." Thus placing the prior- ity of the invention beyond dispute.
In 1838, Mr. Cook left the firm and Mr. Davenport pursued his experiments alone. In 1840, he commenced the publication of a paper, in New York, called " The Magnet," working his printing press by electro-mag- netism. The following extract from the edi- torial of his paper will convey some idea of what he believed would be the ultimatum of his labors.
" From a comparative estimate of the pow- er now used to propel our printing press and the cost of working a steam engine, many valuable facts are developed. By using the electro-magnetic power, the cost and weight of thirty cords of wood would be saved on a single trip from New York to Albany. This would be thirty tons, equal to four hundred passengers." And he adds in conclusion, " The power of electro-magnetism is far su- perior to steam and must and will triumph- antly succeed."
This was the proudest day of his life since he believed his invention a success ; but alas for the fate of this new motive power ; Prof. Page at this time appeared upon the stage of action, and, under an appropriation from government, triel the experiment of moving a train of cars by electro-magnetism ; but in-
stead of putting in motion 5000, or 6000 pounds of iron as he ought to have done, be employed 60 pounds only as momentum for his motor, and yet he did succeed in propel- ing a train of cars from Baltimore to Wash- ington; but from the amount of power produced by his machinery, the scientidc world decided that this new power is inade- quate to the propulsion of heavy machinery ; and from that hour Mr. Davenport was forced to abandon his great enterprise for want of support commensurate with the vast- ness of the undertaking: not, however, un- til he had imparted to Prof. Morse much val- uable information and thus contributed largely to the aggregate of practical knowl- edge requisite to the success of the telegraph, the first line of which was put in operation between Baltimore and Washington in 1844.
Mr. Davenport acknowledged the logic of the popular verdict by returning to Bran- don and retiring to private life in 1842. Of his political and religious views but little is known to the biographer. He was married to Emma Goss, Feb. 14. 1827, by whom he had 2 sons who were both members of the 5th. Vt. Vols. Capt. George, the eldest, was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. Lieut. Willard G. was wounded in the same battle, but still survives with the pa- ralysis of one arm.
After returning to private life Mr. Daven- port made some experiments with the view of working the keys of a piano by electrici- ty ; but with what success is not known.
Mr. Davenport died July 6, 1851, in the 19th year of his age. His widow survived him about ten years and also died.
Though a man of humble birth, he pos- sessed nobility of mind. Like most great inventors he was obliged to stem the tide of superstition, unbelief, ignorance and opposi- tion and to suffer defeat in the end ; yet the world may one day learn to honor his name as that of a master mind whose share in the great work of harnessing the forces of na- ture and making them subservient to human volition has not often been paralleled. When steam, as a motive power, shall have been numbered with the useless things of the past, having been superceded by electro- .magnetism, when the services of the noble horse shall no longer be required by the lumberman and the farmer, when even the pleasure carriages which throng the streets
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of our villages and cities shall be propelled by this new and wonderful power, then will the name of Thomas Davenport be dear to the hearts of his countrymen and as familiar as household words.
HON. JOHN HOWE,
for many years a resident of Brandon and a well known citizen of this State, was a son of the Hon. John Howe, of Brookline, Mass., one of the promoters and early directors of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad, and was born at Boston, September 24, 1819. He moved to Brandon several years ago and was connected with the furnace and iron works in that town. He subsequently established the extensive works for the manufacture of scales with which he was so long identified, and which made his name familiar not only over this country, but almost throughout the world. He was a Senator from Rutland county in 1865 and 1866, being a colleague of Seneca M. Dorr and Pitt W. Hyde. Mr. Howe removed to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where, after a brief illness, he died in 1871, at the age of 51 years. His funeral was,held in Brandon.
BODSEY V. MARSH, ESQ.,
was the second son of Daniel and Mary Marsh of Clarendon, where he was born July 11, 1807. In 1834, he married Eliza E., daughter of Hon. N. T. Sprague, who sur- vives him. Their children were Cora M., widow of S. W. Jones, Jr., of New York City, Clarence R. and Edward S. Marsh, and a son and daughter deceased. Mr. Marsh re- ceived his early training in the schools of his native town and at the Academy at Benning- ton, and read law with Rodney C. Royce and Silas H. Hodges at Rutland.
Hecame to reside in Brandon, July 11, 1832, and at that time was 25 years of age. His principal business was the profession and prac- tice of law, though he was more or less en- gaged in political and literary matters, and had considerable to do with farming and hor- ticulture. He always took an active part in all town affairs and meetings, and was for many years (probably 10 or 12) elected town agent, to prosecute and defend all suits in be- half of or against the town. For many years the financial condition of the town, and the doingy of its officers were reported by him, at the annual meetings, as chairman of the board of auditors. Always taking decided
ground in favor of temperance, he delivered several public addresses on that subject, and many years ago, joined others in holding mes :- ings for discussions in all the school districts in town ; and they were so successful that nearly three-fourths of all the legal voters signed the pledge, and the cause, in Brandon, was never so popular as at that time.
Politically, he was a Whig until the forma- tion of the Liberty Party, in 1841. He at- tended nearly all the State Conventions, of the Liberty Party, and at many of them, drafted the resolutions that were adopted by those conventions, taking an active part in their discussions. He labored constantly an i earnestly for twenty years, in connection with many noble men and women, in the cause of human liberty against the slave power, to accomplish its downfall.
During many of these years he labored in what a great majority of the other par- ties then believed to be a hopeless minori- ty. He attended the National Free Soil Convention at Buffalo, in 1843, and assiste i at the formation of the Republican Party in 1854. He and many of his co-laborers have lived to see the principles for which they contended, triumphant, and slavery destroyed.
In the years 1856-'57 and '58, he was elect- ed and served as the Representative of the town of Brandon, in the Legislature the three regular sessions, and also the extra session of February, 1857. By consulting the Journals of those years, and " Walton's Book of De- bates," for the extra session, can be seen what part he took during those sessions. They were all very active, exciting sessions, especially the regular ones, in regard to ca- tional and political topics. On these topics Le was chairman of a select committee during all these years, and in 1856 and '58 maje a report for the committee, and also drafted the resolutions in 1858, which, with sligh: amendments, were adopted almost unanl- mously by the House and Senate.
The " Report of the Select Committee on Slavery, the Dred Scott decision and the ac- tion of the National Government thereon." submitted to the House of Representativesin the Vermont Legislature, Nov. 1sth, 1-28. was drafted by him and was regarded an able and interesting State paper.
At the session of 1850, he was chairman of the committee on the Extension of slavery and the then prevalent troubles in Kansas. He
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presented a lengthy and elaborate report, re- viewing the whole question of Slavery, fiom the foundation of the Government, the Mis- souri Compromise and the Kansas Contro- versy.
A minority report was presented, which caused much excitement and discussion. The bill was once dismissed, but finally passed. In this struggle, which was in a measure a political one, Mr. Marsh devoted all his en- ergy of will and powers of argument until his object was accomplished, and he always considered it, as it was, a remarkable triumph over the conservative views of that period. Mr. Marsh pushed those measures through with energy and will, rarely exhibited by any legislator. It was in his legislative career he was most prominent before the State at large, and to which he attached much impor- tance He had an experience which has been allotted to few men in our State, and he proved faithful to his convictions of right and duty.
He was a man of extensive reading, and varied intelligence. Familiar with the his- tory of Government and parties, he had a faculty of combining facts and statistics, which enabled him to handle his view of a subject with skill, whether in debate or in newspaper controversy.
Mr. Marsh died at his residence in Bran- Friday evening, March 8, 1872, aged 65 years.
th was the result of a sad accident ilking a cow in a narrow stall in h1. heut dark on Thursday evening. The . ampting to turn, caught Mr. Marsh war body and the side of the sta ! Her Ned for help but was unheard, at way alone into the house. Dr. Pe as soon there, but as no outward signs of injury were visible-and as he was suffering much pain, it was at once feared there was an internal injury. He was in severe pain during Thursday night and Friday morning. Near noon he appeared to be failing. Dr. Dyer was called, but it was apparent that he was beyond the reach of medical skill. He sank rapidly until his death at 7 o'clock. A post-mortem examina- tion by Drs. Peck and Dyer on Saturday, dis- closed a rupture of one of the intestines .- Material for the above from Mrs. Eliza E. Marsh.
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