History of Bradford Vermont
By Rev. Silas McKeen
Published by J. D. Clark & Son in 1875

 

 

THE GREENLEAF FAMILY

Samuel Greenleaf came from Nottingham, N. H., about the year 1791, and bought a farm here, which is still well known as the Greenleaf place, about a half-mile south of what is now called " Goshen meeting house." He built there a substantial farm house, which was long occupied by himself and family. His wife's maiden name was Hannah Rowe. She was a sister of Captain Elijah Rowe, of the same neighborhood. They had a healthy, enterprising family of three sons and six daughters, of whom we are able to give only the following brief notices.

1 Dolly Greenleaf married, as second wife, John McDuffee, Esq., and had two sons, well and honorably known in Bradford.   See the McDuffees.

2 Polly Greenleaf died at the age of fifteen years. 

3 Lowell Greenleaf married Betsey Davis, of this town, by whom he had two daughters. Julia married, and settled in the State of Maine. Her sister Melissa married Sargeant T. George, a merchant in this village, whose daughter Orissa J. married John B. W. Prichard, a merchant here, and her sister Orinda A. married John E.  Shaw, of Summerville, Mass. Mr. Lowell Greenleaf's second wife was Anne Wyman. They had two daughters, Betsey Anne and Emilyette, and a son, Lowell Greenleaf, Jr. Mr. G. married a third wife, whose name is not given.

4 Hannah Greenleaf married Jacob Corliss, of Bradford, a son of Captain Emerson Corliss. They had one son and one daughter.

5 Phillips Greenleaf married Sally Stevens, of the same neighborhood, and had a son and daughter. He married for his second wife Eliza Burnet, of Newbury.  They had two children, both, with their father, now deceased.

6 Silver Greenleaf was by occupation a tanner and currier. He migrated to the State of Maine, and established himself in business in the town of Freedom, Waldo County. He married Miss Rhoda Freeman. They had three children. Of these, Mary H. died at the age of fourteen years, and Charles Henry, aged ten years-both died of diphtheria, the same day. Mr. Greenleaf returned to Bradford in September, 1868, where his only surviving daughter, an interesting and good girl, Olive, died in June, 1871, at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. Greenleaf's eyesight, which had for years been growing dim, entirely failed in the summer of 1865, since which he has remained in physical, but not in intellectual or moral, darkness, habitually manifesting that meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. To him it has been a great blessing that he has had so good a wife, to lead him to the houses of his friends, and especially to the places of religious worship, where he has loved to go, and to take in every way such tender and faithful care of him, under this dark and trying dispensation.

7 Sally Greenleaf married Reuben Kent, of Piermont, N. H. Mr. Kent subsequently bought the farm formerly owned by Captain Russell Andross, on the Lower Plain, in this town, where they now live.

8 Lavina Greenleaf married John Celley, of Corinth, a worthy man and prosperous farmer there. They have one daughter, the wife of Nelson Worthley, of that town. 

9 Melissa Greenleaf married Amos White, a pious man and industrious farmer, in Topsham, where he lived and died. They had two daughters and two sons. Miss Lydia E. White has been a successful assistant teacher in Bradford Academy, for several years. Her sister Hannah married James Woodward, a merchant in Chicago, formerly of this place. They have two children. Carlos White, a graduate of Dartmouth College, author of a valuable book on the rights of women, lives in California, is married, and has two children. His brother, Byron N.  White, entered Dartmouth College, but on the death of his father found it necessary to leave before graduation.  He has for some time been engaged in teaching, in Iowa.  Mrs. White, the mother, is expected to take up her permanent residence in this village.

Mr. Samuel Greenleaf, the father of this somewhat large family bearing his name, died in Washington, Vt., and his wife in Bradford, both in honored old age.

Their son Silver Greenleaf, and five daughters, namely: Mrs. McDuffee, Corliss, Kent, Celley and White, have survived them, and all at this date, March, 1874, remain estimable citizens of Bradford.  Biographie Index

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