Rutland County Biographies

History of Rutland County Vermont
Written by H. P. Smith and W. S. Rann
Published by D. Mason & Co. in 1886

CAIN, JOHN, the subject of this sketch, although not "to the manner born," passed a life  of usefulness and enterprise in the varied relations of Rutland. He was the son of Thomas and Jane Cannel Cain, and born January 28. 1809, at Castle Town, near Peel, on the Isle of Man, on the estate Lhergydhoo, which has been in possession of his ancestors for many generations. He received the education of the time, such as was afforded the masses of the people. Possessed of a bold, adventurous and independent spirit, at the age of twenty-three he emigrated to this country and settled in Rutland in 1832. He was an architect and builder, a vocation which he pursued diligently for forty years, planning and erecting many buildings, among them being the United States court-house and post-office, the town hall and the Bennington and Rutland Railroad freight depot. He was the pioneer in demonstrating the feasibility of building a railroad over the Green Mountains from Rutland to Bellows Falls. He advocated the theory with great persistence, but his townsmen were faithless and even derisive in their comments. Possessed of indomitable will and untiring energy, he determined to make a preliminary survey, and on the 26th of December, 1842, drew a subscription addressed to the people, stating its object and signing his own name. After much time he secured the sum of $100 in small amounts. That subscription is still in existence, and the descendants of the signers who have been enjoying the benefits of the enterprise in the town of nearly 20,000 inhabitants, as its results, would be surprised at the want of faith of their fathers as indicated by the amount each contributed. He was greatly interested in the project of the Portland and Rutland road and was president of the organized corporation. He was closely identified with Rutland interests and for more than thirty years was active in all that tended to promote its prosperity and progress. He held many positions of responsibility in the town government, having been for several years chairman of the board of selectmen. He was postmaster of Rutland from 1853 to 1850 and advanced the grade of the office and made many improvements in postal affairs, securing the erection of the United States court-house and post-office. He was an ardent politician of the Democratic school and a prominent man in his party in town, county and .State, and frequently a candidate for representative and senator; was twice a candidate for Congress, and a delegate to four national conventions. In 1857 he established the Rutland Courier and was its editor until 1873, when it was discontinued. As an editor he was independent and a fearless and bold champion of every cause he espoused. He was a man of varied reading and intelligence, and a poetical writer of considerable skill ; a few of his fugitive pieces attracted wide attention. His last public effort was a poem read before the Vermont Editors' Association a few years before his death. Mr. Cain was a warm friend and a sharp antagonist; a man of much more than ordinary ability ; possessed of indomitable will, untiring energy and large individuality, he impressed himself upon the community.

May 24. 1834, John Cain and Mary, daughter of Avery Billings, a prominent citizen of Rutland, were married, and his widow still survives. Five children were born to them: William J., John A., Avery B., Mary (wife of Henry C. Harrison), and Jewett P. Three children survive. William J. and Avery B. died in the regular army, both in 1879. They were brave and efficient soldiers, as their commissions and the following sketches of their lives attest: -

William J. Cain was born in Pittsford March 26, 1835. He received an academic education and at the breaking out of the Rebellion was reading law. He went out as quartermaster-sergeant in the Second Vermont Regiment and was in the battle of Bull Run. He resigned his position and enlisted as a private in the U. S. Light .Artillery in 1862 ; was with General Pleasanton's advance on .Antietam, and was at the battle of Fredericksburgh. He received a commission as second lieutenant in the Third Regular Cavalry in February, 1862 ; was promoted to first lieutenant October 9, 1865 ; served on the staffs of Generals Sherman, Logan and Harrison ; participated in the battles of Chattanooga, Kenesaw Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Atlanta ; was at the side of General McPherson when he was shot by rebel sharpshooters ; promoted for gallant services March 10, 1865. After the close of the war he was stationed at Memphis, Little Rock, Fort Smith, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. In 1867 he commanded a cavalry escort to General Wright's surveying party through Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona to the Pacific Coast ; after leaving the army he was a surveyor on the Northern Pacific Railway, and later was at the head of the freight department of the Missouri and Texas Railroad, at Sedalia. Two years previous to his death he was stricken with paralysis, the result of exposure in his army experience, which ended his life. He was twice married ; first to Patrea Chaives, a Spanish lady, by whom he left one son, who now resides with his grandmother. He afterwards married Elizabeth, daughter of ex-Lieutenant-Governor William C. Kittredge.

Avery Billings Cain was born in Rutland February 18, 1840. He received the education of the Rutland schools. A vacancy occurring in the army, the Hon. Solomon Foot telegraphed his personal friend, Mr. Cain's father, tendering young Cain the place, and he was at once commissioned second lieutenant in the Fourth United States Infantry, August 5, i86l. He served in the Army of the Potomac during the entire war and proved himself an officer of most distinguished personal gallantry. He commanded his company at Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Gaines's Mill, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam and Chancellorsville. At the latter battle he won his brevet of captain for exceptional gallantry and was commissioned October 9, 1863. He commanded his regiment at Spottsylvania, North Anna River, Pottsville Creek. Cold Harbor, Weldon Railroad and Petersburgh. At the terrible passage of the North Anna River, his heroic conduct won him the brevet of major. The Fourth and Second regulars were so much reduced by the carnage of this awful campaign that only a mere remnant of two hundred men remained ; they were detailed under command of Major Cain for guard duty at General Grant's headquarters, in which capacity they served until the surrender of Lee. Major Cain's regiment lost over 1,400 men during the Rebellion. Alter the war he was stationed in command of various military posts on the Canadian frontier, New York harbor and in the Western Territories. He accompanied General Crook in his expedition against the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the summer of 1876, and in the battle fought on the 17th of June, of that year, performed valiant service. In that engagement he led two companies of infantry into the thickest of the fight, and held the bluffs for over half an hour under a tearful fire from a body of Indians who outnumbered his troops twenty to one. These were a part of the same band of Indians who seven days later massacred the gallant Custer and his men. He was stationed at Chicago during the riots of 1877 and remained until order was restored.

He was married to Anna Cooper, daughter of United States Senator Cooper, of Pennsylvania, October 31, 1867. He left no children, and died at Fort Laramie March 16, 1879. Major Cain was a brave and cool officer; a personal favorite, because of his excellent military record, with both Generals Grant and Sherman, who showed him unusual marks of personal regard. A sketch of this brave soldier merits a place in the history of his native county.

CLARK, HON. MERRITT, eldest son of General Jonas Clark, was born in Middletown, February 11, 1803. He received the education of the common schools, and having a desire for liberal education, fitted for college at the Rutland County Grammar School at Castleton. He graduated at Middlebury College in 1823. in a class of eighteen, of whom six are now living: Rev. Thomas J. Conant, D.D., of Rochester University; Francis Markoe, who has been forty years in the State department at Washington ; Hon. Harvey Button, of Wallingford, Vt.; Rev. Lucius L. Tilden. of Nashua, N. H., and Rev. Louis McDonald.

He studied for a year in the office of his father, who was a leading lawyer of his time. His health failing he was obliged to enter upon other and more active pursuits. After a short service as a clerk in New York city he opened a store in Middletown in 1825. A partnership was formed with his younger brother, Horace Clark, which continued until his death in 1852. During this period, in 1841, he was elected cashier of the Bank of Poultney, a position he occupied more than forty years. They were further connected in business. In 1848 a railroad was projected from Rutland to Eagle Bridge, N. Y., connecting with the Troy and Boston railroad, of which the brothers were the moving spirits, and entered into the enterprise with characteristic energy and perseverance. The Rutland and Washington Railroad Company was organized February 23, 1848. Merritt Clark was elected its president, a position he held until its completion and several years afterward, and was one of the directors until it passed into the possession of Jay Gould. He was also actively identified with the construction of the Albany Northern railway, leading from Eagle Bridge to Albany. The exhausting labors performed in these years would have broken down a man of less vigorous constitution, and his brother, Horace Clark, who was associated with him, did fall at his post before the completion of the work, which placed additional burdens on Mr. Clark, all of which he performed with energy and calmness that has ever been characteristic of him.

A public recognition of the services of Mr. Clark and his brother in building a connecting line of railway from Rutland to the valley of the Hudson was made in August, 1852, on which occasion were assembled leading business men from Albany, Troy and other towns upon the line of the road. A presentation of plate and expression of public sentiment was then given to Mr. Clark for his services. A work thirty or forty years ago regarded as Herculean pales before the concentrated capital and enterprise of the present day and seems almost forgotten. A former history of Poultney contains an account of the presentation as published in Albany and other papers at that period.

He has been much in public life called to positions by the unsolicited favor of his fellow citizens. He has served his town in varied relations for a succession of years, especially for more than forty years as a justice of the peace. He represented Middletown in the Legislature in 1832, '33 and '39, and Poultney in 1865, and '66, and was a senator from Rutland county in 1863, '64, '68, '69, and a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1870. He was United States pension agent for Vermont from 1845 to 1848.

He was identified with the Democratic party until 1861, and was twice a member of National Democratic Conventions, and was the Democratic candidate for Congress in 1850, and in 1854 and '55 for governor.

He has taken great interest in the higher institutions of learning and has been a liberal patron of Middlebury College and Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, and many years a trustee, and has been for fifty-one years a trustee of Castleton Seminary. A gentleman of fine literary taste and scholarship, he has been a terse and vigorous writer, especially upon business, finance and legislative affairs. Several of his reports to the Legislature, both in the Senate and House, were published and attracted wide attention. He was for four years a leading member of the Vermont State Board of Education. In a vigorous old age, retired from active business, yet he accomplishes and has given his attention somewhat to historical matters, and occasionally prepares an interesting sketch for publication.

He married Laura L. Langdon, of Castleton, who died November 20, 1869. He has two sons, Henry Clark, of Rutland, the editor of this work, and Edward Clark, residing in Poultney.

COOK, NELSON W., was born in Mount Holly, Vt., August 23. 1832. He is the seventh in descent from Gregory Cooke, his Puritan ancestor, who, with his three brothers, George, Joseph and Stephen, came early to New England from Stannaway, county of Essex, England, and settled in Cambridge, Mass. They at once assumed very prominent positions in the community, both in civil and military affairs, and were among the mo.st distinguished citizens in the colony. George Cooke was selectman of Cambridge three years, deputy or representative five years, and Speaker of the House in 1645. In 1645 he was elected one of the Reserve Commissioners of the United Colonies. He was appointed in 1637 captain of the Cambridge militia; became a member of the artillery company in 1638, and its captain in 1643, and when a similar company was incorporated in Middlesex on May 14, 1645, he was placed at the head of it. He was one of the commissioners and commander-in-chief of the military expedition sent to Rhode Island in 1643. He returned to England in 1646, became a colonel in Cromwell's army and was  reported slain in the wars of Ireland in the year 1652.  President Dunster, of Harvard College, and Joseph Cooke were administrators of his estate. Joseph Cooke was selectman of Cambridge ten years, from 1635 to 1645; town clerk six years, from 1635 to 1641 ; local magistrate from 1648 to 1657; and representative six years, from 1636 to 1641 ; he was also an officer in the militia and when George embarked for England he was his successor in command. Stephen Cooke was selectman in Mendon in 1674. '80. and '81. He was a commissioner of highways for the same years, and one of a committee to settle the first minister in that town. He removed to Watertown and in the church records of that town Rev. John Bailey says: "I did in the name of the church admit Deacon Stephen Cooke to full communion, he being a member of the church in Mendon." He was one of the original members and a deacon of the second, or Rev. Samuel Anglers' church of Watertown.

Gregory Cooke, of Cambridge, Mass., in 1665, bought of Abraham Williams his mansion house and about six acres of land, and in 1672 Jeremiah Dummer, of Boston, conveyed to him one hundred and twelve acres more; this place was the home of some of his descendants to about the time of the Revolution. It was probably occupied by his son Stephen, and Colonel Phineas Cook was the last of the name who possessed it. Gregory Cook was, in 1667, selectman and constable of Cambridge. He had a grant of land in Mendon, and was selectman of that town in 1668-69. He was a commissioner for laying out highways the same years - also one of a committee for settling the first minister in that town. He returned to Cambridge and was again elected selectman in 1678-79 and '81 ; in 1674 he was grand juror.

Samuel Cook, son of Thaddeus, was born in Preston. Conn., on May 18, 1765. He married. January 1, 1791, Sally Chamberlain, of Wethersfield, Vt., a daughter of Oliver Chamberlain. She was born in Windsor, Conn., December 19, 1766, and died May 24, 1861, aged ninety-five years. He died September 25, 1852. Chauncey Cook was the fourth son of Samuel. He was born in Mount Holly, Vt., on April 22, 1800. He married in Mount Holly on September 26, 1826, Ruby Wheeler, who was born in Newport, N. H., on February 2, 1804. In addition to the work of cultivating a large farm, he bought butter, cheese and cattle for market, going to Boston ten or twelve times a year. He was engaged in the business for fifteen years. While on one journey to Boston (about 1846) he exhibited, in an affray with highway robbers at Tewksbury, Mass., a natural shrewdness and coolness, which it is not too much to say have been inherited by his descendants in Mount Holly. About ten o'clock in the evening of which we speak, and while he was yet a mile from his destination for the night, two men sprang from the woods, through which he was traveling, one seizing the horses' heads, while the other mounted the wagon and with presented pistol demanded the victim's money. The latter jumped down and ran in the direction of the tavern which was his destination for the night, but was so rapidly pursued by the robbers, who also fired several shots at him, that he gave himself up. Among the things which they rifled from his pockets was a letter, which he requested to be left with him, as well as a memorandum book. They complied with his request and fled into the woods with the pocket-book. The letter contained five hundred dollars which Mr. Cook was conveying for a neighbor in Mount Holly to a Boston merchant. The robbers, Thomas Burns and John Galager, were arrested, examined and held for trial, being confined in jail at Lowell several months. At the trial they were successfully defended by a young lawyer who has now a national reputation, General Benjaman F. Butler.

When the Rutland and Burlington Railroad was completed, Mr. Cook was the first station agent at Mount Holly, and was succeeded by his son Aaron, the present incumbent. These two have held the office thirty-six years. Mr. Cook was assessor in 1829 and selectman in 1832, '33, '34 and '37 ; was appointed by the governor justice of the peace in 1836. He was elected representative in 1838-39. He was grand juror several years, also auditor, and in later years was elected justice of the peace, but never qualified by taking the oath of office. He had five children which lived, and seven which died in infancy. The names of those which lived to maturity are as follows: Carlos, born May 19, 1829; died in Boston, Mass., July 14, 1884. Rosana, born March 20, 1830; married Austin Constantine, November1, 1860, and died in East Wallingford, January 22, 1865. Chauncey Langdon, born August 23, 1832. Nelson Wyatt, born August 23, 1832. and Aaron Wheeler, born August 11, 1837. Chauncey Cook died March 31, 1865.

Nelson Wyatt Cook is the third son of Chauncey. His boyhood days were spent in working upon his father's farm summers and attending the district school at Mechanicsville winters until he was nineteen years of age, when he went to Massachusetts and worked eight months on a farm in Waltham. He returned home and went to school the following winter. The next spring (1852) he went to Boston, Mass., and entered Comer's Commercial College. After completing his business education he engaged himself as clerk in the produce and fruit store of John Sanderson, in whose employ he continued several years'. He then established himself as commission merchant for the sale of produce and was also interested in real estate. and a trader in notes, stocks and bonds. While residing in Boston he was a member of the following societies: The Mercantile Library Association, The Young Men's Christian Union, and the Parker Fraternity. He soon became a subscriber for Mr. Garrison's Liberator and a constant reader of the numerous tracts and other literature issued from that Gibraltar of liberty on Cornhill - the reading of which had its influence upon his mind. He early joined the New England Anti-Slavery Society, and continued one of its active members until the war of the Rebellion freed the slaves. At the rendition of the fugitive slave Anthony Burns, from Boston, Mr. Cook was one of those who made the attempt to rescue him from the authorities. An indignation meeting was held at Fanuiel Hall and Wendell Phillips and Theodore Parker were the principal speakers. Mr. Parker, in his speech, used the following language ; " Americans have been called cowards, and the sons of cowards. Sons of cowards we are not. cowards we are if one poor, helpless, defenseless black man leaves the soil of Massachusetts as an unprotected, un-rescued victim of oppression." After these words had been spoken the rescuers rushed from the hall and were soon at the entrance of the court-house where Burns was confined ; the crack of pistols were heard and the booming of a timber against the door, which gives way ; and there on the portal is a dead man. At the sight the rescuers hesitate and the opportunity for rescue is lost. During the exciting times in the winter previous to the firing by the rebels on Fort Sumter, the mayor of Boston, Joseph M. Wightman, and other city officials, attempted to break up an anti-slavery convention in Tremont Temple. Mr. Cook was one of those who held " the fort " until after the evening session, and was among those who accompanied Wendell Phillips home - protecting him from the violence of the mob until he was safe in his house on Essex street. He was a member of one of the first Republican clubs organized in Massachusetts, and was present at the meeting in Fanueil Hall when the Republican party in Massachusetts was organized and named. In 1872  Mr. Cook retired from active business and the following year, June 10, 1873, he sailed in the steamship Malta from Boston for Europe, spending the summer months in London and Paris and returning in the autumn. In April, 1874, he again went abroad, visiting nearly all the capitals in Europe and many places and objects of interest. He sailed the third time for Europe in February, 1875, and he spent every succeeding summer in traveling abroad and returning in every autumn until 1879. He was married to Mary Alma Kmersley, daughter of Dr. Edward Baker, of London, England, on July 8, 1879, by the Rev. John M. Lester at St. Peter's Church, Eaton Square, London. Mrs. Cook was born in New York city, February 21, 1854, and lived there until she was three years of age, when she returned with her parents to England. Dr. Baker commenced practice as a surgeon in the English navy, and a great portion of the time he was with the fleet stationed at the West Indies and North America, and when he arrived at New York he decided to establish himself in practice there. Dr. Baker, after practicing at his profession about four years in New York city, returned to London, England, where he now resides.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook came to America in August, 1879, and returned to England again in March, 1881 ; living in London the following summer. In 1882 .Mr. Cook erected an elegant residence in Mount Holly, where he has since resided. He has a young family of three children: George Chauncey, born April 14, 1880; Emma May. born September 21, 1881, and Rosana Alma, born April 13. 1884.

CURRIER, JOHN McNAB, M.D., of Castleton, Vermont, was born in Bath, New Hampshire, August 4, 1832. He was the third son, and the youngest of four children, of Captain Samuel Currier and Rachel Annis, who were among the early settlers of his native town, and were farmers. He received a classical education at Newbury (Vt.) Seminary and Mclndoe's Falls (Vt.) Academy.

He studied medicine with Drs. W. A. Weaks and Enoch Blanchard, of Mclndoe's Falls, Vt., Prof. Dixi Crosby, and his son. Prof. Alpheus B. Crosby, of Hanover, N. H.: and graduated in medicine at the medical department of Dartmouth College in 1858. In the. same year he settled at Newport. Vt., where he practiced medicine until 1871. when he moved to Mclndoe's Falls, Vt., where he practiced nearly two years. In 1873 he went to Burlington, Vt., to edit and publish The Vermont Medical Journal, but that proving to be an unprofitable enterprise, its publication was discontinued, and after remaining in the city of Burlington a little more than one year he went to Bristol, Vt., to resume practice. At Bristol he remained nearly two years, and in 1876 went to Castleton, Vt., his present location.

He took an active part in the reorganization of the Orleans County Medical Society, in 1865, and was secretary of it several years. In 1873-74 he was a member of the Chittenden County Medical Society; also of the Burlington Medical and Surgical Club. He was foremost in the formation of the Rutland County Medical and Surgical Society in 1877. and for several years was its secretary. Through his exertions the Castleton Medical and Surgical Clinic was formed in 1879, for the purpose of rendering medical and surgical advice and treatment to indigent patients free. He was elected a member of the Vermont Medical Society in 1880.

He was medical examiner of volunteers at Newport, Vt., in the War of the Rebellion in 1861-65, and was surgeon-general of the volunteer militia of Vermont in 1872-73-74 with the rank of brigadier-general, on the staff of Governor Julius Converse. He was examining surgeon for pensions at Bristol in 1875-76. Besides editing the Vermont Medical Journal he contributed many articles for other medical periodicals and for medical societies.

Dr. Currier became early interested in all branches of science. Through his zeal and instrumentality the Orleans County Natural and Civil Historical .Society was reorganized in 1869 under the name of the Orleans County Society of Natural Sciences. In connection with this society he was editor-in-chief and publisher of a quarterly scientific journal in 1870-71-72-73-74, bearing the title of Archives of Science and Transactions of the Orleans County Society of Natural Sciences. Through his liberality the publications of this society were sent to nearly three hundred foreign and domestic scientific, literary and historical societies, receiving in return publications in more than twenty different languages.

In 1872 he helped to organize the Mclndoe's Falls Scientific Club. At Bristol he was one of several to organize the Bristol Scientific Club in 1874; and after moving to Castleton, aided in the formation of the Castleton Normal School Scientific Club ; of all three of these societies he was secretary, and sought to popularize science by holding frequent meetings and publishing the proceedings of them in the various newspapers in the immediate vicinity. He made a large collection of specimens in mineralogy and palaontology, a large portion of which was purchased for the benefit of the public school in the village of Fairhaven, Vt. He also made a large collection in archaeology, mostly Vermont specimens; one portion of which was donated to the Vermont Historical Society; and subsequently the balance was purchased for the cabinet of the University of Vermont.

Dr. Currier was elected a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1879; of the Appalachian Mountain Club in 1883; and of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1884. To the first mentioned society he has contributed several articles on the archaeology of Vermont.

In Rutland county Dr. Currier has devoted much of his attention to the study and writing of the local history of the county. He was one of the founders of the Rutland County Historical Society in 1880, and has been re-elected its secretary from year to year since its organization. He was elected a member of the Vermont Historical Society in 1880, and in the same year was elected a life member of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society. He was elected a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society in 1881. Through his zeal and liberality the second volume of the Rutland County Historical Society was published, and several other important and valuable documents have been published since the organization of the society. He was a contributor to Hemmenway's Vermont Historical Gazetteer both in Orleans and Rutland counties. He has made a large collection of old, rare books, many articles of antiquarian and historic value, and has preserved many historic and genealogical manuscripts.

Dr. Currier married, August 8, 1860, Susan Havens Powers, the eldest of two daughters of John D. Powers and Jane B. Carleton. of Woodstock, Vt.; by her he had two children : Linn, born June 8, 1861, and Suza, born June 7, 1867.

DIKEMAN, GEORGE W. AND WIFE. Mr. Dikeman's grandfather, Frederick Dike-man, was a soldier of the Revolution, and a native of Redding, Fairfield county, Connecticut. He removed early to Ballston, N. Y., where on the l8th of March, 1788, was born Perry Dikeman, the father of the subject of this sketch. In 1796 Frederick Dikeman came to Hubbardton and settled on the farm now owned by M. M. Dikeman. He was four times married and had by his first wife. Mabel Couch, the following children : Lydia, born August 8, 1781 ; Sarah, born December 13, 1784 : Perry, born, as before stated, March 18, 1788 ; Uriah, born March 5, 1790, and .Azor, born January 20, 1794, In the spring of 1816 Perry Dikeman came on to the farm now owned by M. M. Dikeman, and, in 1837, bought the place now owned by George W. Dikeman, upon which he remained until his death, August 14, 1871. He held many town offices and represented the town in the Legislature in 1851 and 1852. The maiden name of his wife was Zilpha Morehouse.

George W. Dikeman was born on the 5th of January, 1815. at a distance of less than a mile from his present home, on the farm now owned by D. J. Flagg. He afterward, while a child, lived on the farm now owned by his brother, M. M. Dikeman, and came to his present farm with his father. For years before his father's death he had the active management of this farm, which contained two hundred and fifty acres of choice land, capable of growing all kinds of produce. Mr. Dikeman's education was received at the district schools of his native town. By virtue of his natural acquisitiveness and industry, he has come to be one of the wealthiest men in town. He has been a stockholder in the First National Bank of Fairhaven, and for a number of years has been, and is now, one of its directors. He also owns stock in nearly all the banks and banking companies of Rutland, and was for years a stockholder in the old Rutland National Bank. He was unfortunate enough a few years ago to be in the numerous company who lost by the failure of the old Poultney bank, being about $5,000 out of pocket by reason thereof.

Although he has preferred the quiet industry of home life to the anxieties and meager emoluments of public office, he has been compelled, at various times, to accept town offices. He was chosen selectman two terms during the war, and two terms in succession since then, has served two years as constable and collector, several years as superintendent of schools, and some time as justice of the peace, beside declining other offices which have been repeatedly proffered him.

Mrs. George W. Dikeman was born in Whiting, Addison county, on the 17th of July, 1823, and became the wife of Mr. Dikeman on the 5th of January, 1841. Her maiden name was Nancy Maria Walker. Her father, Timothy M. Walker, was a shoemaker in Whiting, and came to Hubbardton in 1837, taking up his residence upon the farm recently owned by Arnold Manchester. He was the grandson of Gideon Walker, whose career forms an interesting paragraph in the history of Whiting. He was born in Whiting on February 24, 1801, and after conducting successfully the business of farming and shoe-making until he had just passed his prime ; he died in Hubbardton on the 20th of January, 1855. His wife, Nancy Moulton, was born in Orwell, Vt., on the l0th day of February. 1802, and still lives with Mrs. Dikeman. Her father, Ephraim Moulton, from Brimfield, Mass., was an early farmer in Orwell. Her mother was Matilda Lyon, a relative of Matthew Lyon, of Fairhaven. Mrs. Dikeman, besides attending faithfully to all the duties of her household, has for many years taken active interest in the affairs of the Congregational Church of Hubbardton, of which she is a member and regular attendant. To those who take delight in reflecting upon the hardy virtues engendered by the quiet and seclusion of the farm, the spectacle of husband and wife sharing the ills and blessings of the world for near a half century is touching.

DIKEMAN. MR. AND MRS. MYRON M.  Frederick Dikeman. grandfather of Myron M. and George W. Dikeman, He was four times married, the two brothers just mentioned being descended from his first wife.

Myron M. Dykeman, the oldest son of Ferry Dikeman, was born on the 29th of June, 1809, on the farm now owned by Willis Peters. He came to the farm he now occupies when a mere child, and has always lived on the same excepting two years when he lived within sight of it. On the 3d of September, 1829, he married Elvira Jewell Robinson. Like his brother, he has steadily added to the talents given him until he has become one of the three wealthiest men in town. He has never entertained any ambition for holding office. but has, nevertheless, served the town as selectman, lister, and in other capacities. In the year 1875 he was appointed one of a committee of three to settle some insolvent estates in this town, and they were settled to the satisfaction of all, without going through a court of insolvency. he is a stockholder in the First National Bank, the Castleton Bank, and the Killington Bank, Merchant's Bank, and Rutland Trust Company of Rutland. He held stock also in the old Rutland National Bank, and lost $3,000 by the failure of the bank in Poultney a number of years ago.

Mrs. Myron M. Dikeman was born on the ninth of January, 1809, on the farm in Hubbardton now occupied by A. S. Kilbourn. Her father. Eli Robinson, son of Isaiah Robinson, was born on the shore of Lake Bomoseen, and was noted for his fondness for hunting. In 1844 he went to Wisconsin, and in 1860 died in Minnesota in his eighty-fourth year. His father came from Sharon, Conn.; his mother, Sarah Foote was a relative of Hon. Solomon Foote.

.Mrs. Dikeman's mother's father Seymour Doud. was an early settler in Hubbardton, and lived on the farm now owned by Zebulon Baker. He was killed by the falling of a tree. He was also from Sharon, Conn. Mrs. Dikeman is a member of the Congregational Church and has been for many years.

Following are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Dikeman, together with the dates of their birth, and of the death of those not now living: Maria B. Dikeman was born May 8, 1830; was twice married, and died January 8, 1863. M. Munson, horn October 14, 1831, married July 4, 1855, and now lives with his father. Schuyler M., born January 21, 1833 ; married October 6, 1864; is the present town clerk. Orphena M.. born May 19, 1834: married October 5, 1853; died April 7, 1859. Sarah Jane, born April 9. 1836; married to Stephen B. Hatch, of Parishville. N. Y., September 29, 1864. Henrietta, born February 25, 1839; married December 25, 1861 ; died July 3, 1863. Ellen E., born April 16, 1851 ; married June 25, 1865; died November 14, 1869. Harvey G., born February 21, 1843; died unmarried, November 21, 1864. Emma L., born June 15, 1845 ; married October 13, 1869 ; now the wife of her second husband, John W. Hulett, of Bennington, Vt. Zilpha A., born March 31, 1847 ; married June 13, 1871 ; died May 8, 1881. Albert G., born June 8, 1849, died unmarried July 30, 1875.

The life of a farmer in a country cleared of forests and wild beasts is usually uneventful. Occasionally, however, a single incident will afford excitement enough to last a whole lifetime. Such is the case with the subject of this sketch. On the 14th of February, 1841, while operating a water-power saw-mill which then stood on his place, Mr. Dikeman was repairing the machinery over the shaft of the wheel, when his footing gave way, and he fell about twelve feet, one foot being violently forced into the flutter wheel, which in its revolution caught the heavy heel of his boot between the bucket and the apron, and stopped the mill. He was held a prisoner in this perilous and uncomfortable position for about a half hour, with the ice cold water pouring upon him by the barrelfuls. His cries finally reached the ears of the neighbors, who soon found and released him. Strange to say, no bones were broken, though Mr. Dikeman was confined for two weeks to the house, and for about twelve hours suffered great agony from the wrenching.

Mr. and Mrs. Dikeman celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding on the 3d of December, 1879, when they entertained about a hundred of their friends. The affair was as enjoyable as it is rare.

DUNN, JAMES C, the subject of this sketch, descended from sturdy Scotch stock, his grandfather, John Dunn, being a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who emigrated to .America and settled at Ryegate, Vermont, in July, 1798. John Dunn was the only member of his family who came to America. He married Elizabeth Whitehill, daughter of Deacon James Whitehill, a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church. John Dunn died in May, 1844, at the age of seventy-one years; his wife died in June, 1860, aged eighty-seven years. John Dunn and his wife Elizabeth raised a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, viz.: John, James, Elizabeth, Hugh, Mary, Alexander and William. The oldest son and first born, John, was father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in October, 1798, at Ryegate, Vermont, and lived until August, 1873. On the 5th of March, 1829, he married Jennett Page, of Ryegate, who was the daughter of Nathan Barker and Abigail Dow Page, of Goffstown, N. H. Mrs. Page died December 11, 1823, and her husband died June 9, 1833. They were of English descent and had ten children, five boys and five girls, viz.: Hannah. Job, William, Nathan, Abraham, Martha, Isaac, Jennett (wife of John Dunn), Abigail and Helen, The family of G. F. Page were among the first settlers of Ryegate. He owned three large farms and was a blacksmith by trade.

John Dunn, whom we have left for a brief period to trace the genealogy of his wife, Jennett, followed the occupation of a farmer ; so did his father before him. He built him a house after the manner of that day, doing the greater part of the work himself. It still remains standing at Ryegate and is owned by the subject of this sketch and occupied by his brother, Isaac P. and family. John and Jennett were blessed with seven children, in order as follows : James C. Dunn, born January 13, 1830; Abigail H,, October 26, 1831 ; Isaac P., February 19, 1834 ; Hugh, June 9, 1836; Alexander Harvey, May 20, 1838; Charles C, February 20, 1841 : Sarah J., May 16, 1844,

James C. Dunn, the eldest of the seven above named, is a self-made man. His parents were poor and during his early years he was compelled to toil early and late upon his father's farm to assist in the support of the family. He received a common school education at Ryegate and Peacham. and in May, 1853, at the age of twenty-three, struck out for himself, engaging as a retail traveling salesman for a wooden ware establishment at Rindge, N. H. He remained in this business nine months, when he went into a livery stable with H. O. Whitcher, of Winchendon, Mass. He remained here but a few months, however, going thence to Templeton, Mass., and engaging with H. & W. Smith, tin-japanned manufacturers, as one of their wholesale and retail traveling agents. He remained with this firm from May, 1854, until October, 1858, having in his circuit Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of New York Slate.

In October, 1858, Mr. Dunn took up his residence in Rutland, at that time entering into partnership with his present partner, John W. Cramton, under the firm name of Cramton & Dunn. The firm started business in a small way, with a capital of exactly $2,014.22. Their stock of goods comprised tinware, woodenware, glassware, stationery, etc., and their office was in the Cramton & Nichols block, near neighbors to Jay Gould, Z. V. K. Wilson and other noted men of the day. The business of the firm was done by traveling on the road with a cart. Their storehouse was in a barn in the vicinity of the present gas works, on Freight street, and now used by the People's Gaslight Company as a storehouse for coal, etc. About 1860 they purchased of J. H. Wilson, who occupied the Cramton & Cree building, which stood in the rear of what is now L. G. Kingsley's hardware store, an interest in the tin and sheet ironware manufacturing business. This firm was then known as Cramton & Company, and their business consisted of sending peddlers out on the road to dispose of their tinware, taking in exchange all kinds of old junk. In less than a year, however, Cramton & Dunn bought out Mr. Wilson's interest and taking the stock, machinery, etc., moved into the basement of the Cramton &: Nichols block.

In 1862 the firm went into partnership with H. A. Sawyer, purchasing a line of stationery, etc.. and opening a store in the Clark block, corner of Merchants Row and West street. In two years Mr. Dunn bought Mr. Cramton's interest and for the next two years the firm name was Sawyer & Dunn. In the meantime Dunn & Cramton had continued without interruption their tinware and house furnishing business, and in March, 1864, they purchased the commodious block now occupied by them at Nos. 14 and 16, Merchants Row, it being at that time one of the best blocks for business purposes in Rutland. One year later they moved into the block and have occupied it ever since. In 1867 Mr. Dunn bought the tin business of Mr. Cramton and also purchased his interest in the block now occupied by the firm. Twelve months later J. C. Dunn, H. A. Sawyer, J. W. Cramton and C. C. Dunn formed a partnership under the style of Dunn, Sawyer & Co., and conducted their wholesale stationery and Yankee notion trade with traveling agents on the road, in connection with their other business. This business was continued for three years, when Dunn & Cramton bought out the interest of C. C. Dunn in the business and sold their stationery department to H. A. Sawyer, who occupied a portion of the block where Dunn & Cramton now are, until he found a new location.

The business has ever since continued as Dunn & Cramton, the firm carrying a large stock of goods in the several lines and being large buyers of paper stock, old junk, wool, pelts, hides, furs, etc. Mr. Dunn has had charge nearly always of the entire business and devotes his time and energy to looking after its interests. He is also largely interested in various enterprises in the village and is always interested in any object tending to increase the importance of Rutland.

In 1862, December 16, Mr. Dunn married Frances E. Purdy, of Manchester, Vt., a farmer's daughter, whom he had first met in 1854 on his first trip through the western part of Vermont. He now has an interesting family of four sons, viz.: George H., born November 13. 1863; James C, jr., born October 18, 1868 ; Frank C, born January 10, 1876 ; and William H., born May 25. 1877. All of Mr. Dunn's brothers and sisters are also living and all in good health.

Mr. Dunn is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been made a member of Centre Lodge, No. 34, F. and A. M., June 20. 1861, and subsequently joined Davenport Chapter, No. 17, and Killington Commandery, No. 6, K. T. He is also a member of Vermont Lodge, No. I K. of P., ever since its organization in town. He has been honored with the office of trustee of the village of Rutland ; was selectman several years; was a member of the fire department, and was connected with that body as an engineer for fifteen years. He has also held various other offices of responsibility and trust. At the present time he is a director in the Baxter National Bank, of which J. W. Cramton is president; also a director of the Marble Savings Bank ; is a director and was one of the incorporators of the Lincoln Iron Works ; is largely interested in the True Blue Marble Company, and was one of its incorporators ; he has also been a director of the People's Gaslight Company, and is now one of the directors of the Vermont Life Insurance Company, of Burlington. When the Rutland Street Railroad Company was incorporated and organized, he became one of the directors.

From the forth going it can safely be assumed that Mr. Dunn has been fairly successful in business, and. as a result of his hard work, has placed himself in easy circumstances. He owns the large block in which his business is located, running through from Merchants Row to Evelyn street, and considerable adjoining property, besides several tenement houses and various other real estate interests ; in fact, although perhaps not a wealthy man, he has a sufficient amount of this world's goods to feel that the toil and labor of the past twenty-five years have not been wholly in vain. For many years Mr. Dunn has been prominently associated with the Congregational Church as one of the prudential committee and is deeply interested in all that pertains to its welfare. He is also greatly interested in educational matters. In 1883 and 1884, while a member of the board of selectmen, he was a strong advocate of the building of a memorial hall, and in the face of much opposition, urged the passage of the order appropriating the necessary funds. It was largely through his instrumentality that the project was finally carried through and favorably acted upon. In various other enterprises his public spirit has been manifested, and altogether he is an active and enterprising gentleman whose interests are centered in the welfare and happiness of his family and the prosperity of Rutland. His career has thus far been not a strictly eventful one, but a busy one, and as a business man and citizen he occupies a position in the front rank of Rutland merchants.

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