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Business Men Of Whitingham

Green Leaves from Whitingham
By Clark Jilson in 1894

Silas Hamilton was the first person to furnish supplies for the inhabitants of Whitingham, but he was not a merchant, nor did he keep a store of goods for the accommodation of the public, but he might be called a trader, a speculator in lands, and every other thing whereby he could make black appear white.  He was a man of the world, shrewd, unscrupulous and reckless. To describe him briefly and minutely would be to say that he was an adventurer.

Calvin Munn was the first merchant in Whitingham and was in trade there previous to the present century. He took the freeman's oath in 1788, and was selectman in 1789, 1791 ; moderator in 1792.  In 1804 William and Joseph Goodnow built the first store in town, on the site of the store and tavern more recently built, now in ruins.

John Noyes came a few years later. He was father of John H. Noyes who established a community in Putney, known as "perfectionists". They were driven out of the state in 1847, but gathered again at Oneida N. Y. and reorganized under the lead of their former director, John H. Noyes. He was not without talent, but his methods of conducing social affairs was not approved as being strictly moral.  Mr. Noyes Sr. spent several years in Whitingham and became somewhat distinguished in politics. He was a graduate of Dartmouth college in 1795, after which he became a tutor therein. In 1815 he was elected to congress and served two years. He died in 1841, aged 78 years.

Adin Thayer was the first Postmaster of Whitingham, appointed in 1816. He served four years and was a merchant at the centre of the town. He was selectman in 1818. He died at Hoosick Falls N. Y.  in 1858 at the age of 73 years.

Linus Austin succeeded Mr. Thayer. He was a sort of tripod, holding the position of merchant, minister and postmaster.   He was appointed in 1820. 

Asahel Booth was in trade here for several years, but finally removed to Bennington where he died in 1886, at the age of 85 years.

Eli Higley was a prominent citizen, and in 1825 became a merchant. He was the prime mover in building the hotel and store, the remains of which are now standing. His dwelling house stood near the northwest corner of the common, west of the road running north, and was a favorite resort on the Sabbath for the thirsty church goers who assembled there at noon time, to pay their respects to.

"The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket.

The moss-covered bucket which hung in the well."

In front of this house the hay scales were located, and the mystery supposed to exist under the platform drew many an inquisitive youth to that locality in the days of June trainings and ginger bread.

Ephraim Smith kept a store at the "corners," about a mile southerly from the common. He was prominent in town affairs, town clerk from 1818 to 1826, inclusive, and representative two years.

George Boardman was in business several years at the centre, his store was near the southwest corner of the common where Henry Goodnow lately traded.

Emory Greenleaf and Royal Houghton were both in trade here about 1820. Houghton was postmaster in 1826 for one year only.

Reuben Winn commenced trade here in 1833, and continued in business till 1846, when his partner, Rufus Chase, died. Mr. Winn was the ablest man who ever did business in Whitingham. He was one of the selectmen eight years, being chairman during the war.   He was state senator 2 years, postmaster 11 years, and held some office in town or county 44 consecutive years.

Rufus Chase was a popular merchant, a singer and a gentleman, but died in early manhood.

Henry Goodnow was a well known trader here for many years. His store was at the lower end of the common, near which he built a new house. He was postmaster 9 years. Shoreham Goodnow was also in trade at the same place for several years.

Henry S. Goodnow was in trade at the centre, and postmaster 4 years next previous to 1857.

Alfred Bowen traded at the centre and Jacksonville, Eli Green at the residence of his father, Alfred Green, more than a mile southwesterly from town.  Eli Green was a representative to the Legislature four years in succession next previous to 1852.

Saxton Plumb first traded at Point Pleasant a mile northeasterly from Jacksonville, where he was postmaster 8 years. He had the name of the office changed to Jacksonville, and by so doing the village before known as Martin's Mills and New Boston, took its present name, Nov. 4, 1834, in honor of Gen. Jackson who was then president of the United States. At this place Mr. Plumb was postmaster 5 years.   He was merchant, politician and postmaster.

Laban J. Childs and Adin T. Childs were from Wilmington but in trade at Jacksonville in 1845, and they were both postmasters that year, 6 months each.

Philander H. Sumner had a store at Jacksonville, and was postmaster there from 1847 to Oct. 27, 1851.

Martin Brown did a large miscellaneous business at Jacksonville, and also successfully managed a large retail store.   He was postmaster from 1854 to 1856.

Norris L. Stetson, Albert C. Stetson, W. P. Jones, Edwin C. Starr, S. A. Clark, O. N. Stickney, M. W.  Stickney, W. O. Hunt, John H. Sears, E. P. Read, Wm. A. Brown, H. A. Wheeler, and Clarence H.  Shepardson, were merchants in Jacksonville.

Norris L, Stetson was representative in 1867 and 1868, and postmaster from 1851 to 1854, and from 1865 to 1867, and from 1870 to 1885. Albert C.  Stetson was postmaster from 1867 to 1870.

George W. Chase, Eli T. Green, Cyrus Temple, Abraham Chase, Thaddeus Wheeler, Henry C. Millington, Herbert E. Knowlton and Albert L. Cook, have been in trade at Sadawga. Green was postmaster there in 1865, Millington in 1878, Knowlton in 1887, and Cook in 1889 up to the present time.  Sadawga post office was changed in name and called Whitingham, February 23, 1882.

Several others have, from time to time, been engaged in mercantile pursuits as clerks or proprietors.  The principal business firms have been, William & Joseph Goodnow, Noyes & Thayer, Austin & Booth, Smith & Boardman, Greenleaf & Houghton, Higley & Booth, Houghton & Booth, Boardman & Winn, Winn & Chase, Brown & Stetson, Brown & Wheeler, Stetson & Jones, Stickney & Hunt, Chase & Green.

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