Biographies of Windsor County Vermont

History of Windsor County Vermont
Lewis Cass Aldrich published in 1891

DAVIDSON, JOHN , was born in Belfast. Me., September 9, 1776, and was the eldest of three sons of John and Mary (Lancaster) Davidson. His father was engaged in farming and during the boyhood of our subject removed to Windham, N, H. Mr. Davidson received only a common school education and previous to his coming of age worked on a farm. He then came to Acworth, N. H , and afterwards learned the trade of cabinet-making at Charlestown, N. H. He followed the cabinet trade and carpentering for a number of years. During this time he in vented a churn, and afterwards a cloth-dressing machine. He commenced the manufacture of the latter article at Acworth, N. H., and in 1829 removed his works to Springfield to obtain better facilities for power Mr. Davidson married Miss Abigail Prouty, who was born in Langdon, N. H., June 8, 1778. Of their eight children all but two died in infancy. The others were Elvira and Mary ; the latter married Amasa Woolson and died in Springfield. In religious belief Mr. Davidson was a Congregationalist, and in politics in his later day he affiliated with the Whigs. He died March 24, 1850, his wife April 17, 1859. Biographie Index

DAVIS, Hon. GILBERT A. , was born in Chester, Vt, December 18. 1835. He descends the fifth generation from William Davis, of Roxbury, Mass., born in England in 1617. His son, Jacob, the fourth child of eight children, born in Roxbury, September 17, 1742, married, October 30, 1764, Dorothy Baker of Dedham, Mass. Stephen, the eldest of eight children of Jacob, born in Roxbury, March 20, 1765, died March, 1821. He married Martha Tileston, and had eight children, of whom Asa, father of Gilbert A., born in Roxbury, August 22, 1789, married, October 12, 1815, Mary Hosmer, born in Chester, Vt., March 21, 1799, daughter of Amos and Sibbel (Parker) Hosmer, who came to Chester from Concord, Mass. They had children as follows: Charles L., Martha T., and Gilbert A. Asa Davis came to Chester, Vt, in 1812, and died in Reading, January 13, 1873, at the home of his son. He was a hatter by trade. His wife died in Chester, March 22, 1872. Gilbert A. received his education in the district school and at the Chester Academy. When fifteen years of age he commenced teaching school in Vermont, and in 1852 went to New Jersey, where for four years he taught in Port Colden and Belvidere, in Warren county, and at Mount Pleasant, in Hunterdon county. When in Belvidere he began the study of law with the Hon. J. G. Shipman, a prominent lawyer of the latter place. Upon his return to Chester he continued the study with the Hon. William Rounds, of that place. In 1858-59 he studied in the office of Washburn & Marsh, at Woodstock, Vt., and was admitted to the bar in the May term of the latter year in his native county. He remained with Washburn & Marsh until March, 1860. He then settled at Felchville, in Reading, where he first opened a law office, remaining there until June, 1879, when he removed to Windsor, where he has since resided, but has always kept a branch office at Felchville, where he has had a large clientage. Mr. Davis has been identified politically with the Republican party, and often a member of the county and State conventions. In 1858 and in 1861 he was assistant clerk of the House of Representatives, being assigned to the duty of making up the grand list. He was Register of the Probate Court of the District of Windsor, Vt., from December 1, 1864, to February, 1869. In addition to numerous minor offices he was town superintendent of schools, town agent, and auditor of Reading for ten consecutive years, represented the town of Reading in the State Legislature in 1872-74 and 1874-76, serving on Committee on Education, of which he was chairman at the latter session ; was State Senator in 1876-78, serving as chairman of the Committee on Education, and on the Judiciary, and State's Attorney for Windsor county from December 1, 1878, to December 1, 1880. By appointment of Governor Peck he compiled the " School Laws of Vermont " in 1875, and compiled and published the "History of Reading" in 1874, a publication requiring much patient research, and by it has been gathered many facts of local interest. He delivered the oration at the centennial celebration of the settlement of Reading, in 1872, and was also orator on the occasion of the centennial celebration of the adoption of the constitution and the name of the State, held at Windsor, August 9, 1877. He was a delegate from Vermont to the Anti Saloon Conference held at Chicago in 1887, serving on the Committee on Credentials, and was acting delegate from Vermont at the Chicago Republican Convention in 1888. He has been identified actively with the public improvements in Windsor; was one of the commissioners to put in the water-works, and was trustee of the village in 1889-90; is a director of the Windsor Electric Light Co., and the president, treasurer, director, and the largest stockholder in the Windsor Machine Company, a successful enterprise established in 1888, and is the largest resident taxpayer. He has a large and carefully selected law library, and has been a diligent student both of professional and miscellaneous topics. He has had with him from time to time young men who have pursued the study of the law under his supervision. Few men have been more often called upon to act as administrator, executor, guardian, trustee. His legal practice has taken a wide range in the courts of Vermont and New Hampshire, and in the United States courts, and before the Pension and Treasury Departments at Washington. His Vermont Supreme Court practice commenced in 1864, with the case of Town vs. Lamphere. reported 37 Vt., 52, February term, 1864, and cases with which he has been connected as counsel are to be found in every volume of Vermont reports since, and his briefs show careful study and preparation. Mr. Davis is a member of the Congregational church at Windsor, its clerk, and Sabbath-school superintendent since 1881, one of its prudential committee, and has ever been ready to do whatever he could to promote its interests, to aid other churches of the Congregational faith, and when residing at Rending was for many years the superintendent of the Sunday-school there. He has for many years been an officer of the Vermont Historical Society, and taken an active interest in the preservation of the materials which go to make up the source of the history of the State and the towns and county where he has resided. He was a delegate to the Triennial Congregational Council held in Worcester, Mass., in 1889. He is a member of the Vermont Commandery, Knights Templar. Mr. Davis was married, April 13, 1862, by the Rev. J. T. Hanna, in the Methodist church at Turner. Du Page county, ILL., to Delia I., daughter of Lemuel and Mary A. (Weaver) Bolles. Mrs. Davis was born in Grafton, Vt., January 13, 1840. They have had four children, viz : Charles Esek, born at Reading, January 10, 1864, died at Turner, ILL, August 24, 1865; George Gilbert, born at Reading, December 7, 1866, died at Reading, Septembers, 1868 ; Mary Isabella, born at Reading, July 1, 1872, a graduate of Windsor High School, now a member of the Freshman class of Smith College, Northampton, Mass.; and Gilbert Franklin, born at Reading, June 19, 1877, living at home. For many years Mr. Davis has been active in the cause of temperance, having been frequently a speaker at temperance meetings, a member and officer of temperance organizations, the Sons of Temperance and I. O of G. T., and twice has been elected a delegate from Vermont to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge of Good Templars, but has each time been prevented by business from attending the session. Biographie Index

DEWEY, Hon. ALBERT GALLATIN , the oldest child of John and Mary (Wright) Dewey, was born in Hartford, Vt, December 16, 1805. He was a member of the seventh generation in lineal descent from Thomas Dewey, who emigrated to America in 1633 from Sandwich, Kent, England, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His father was a farmer of limited means and died November 23, 1833, leaving a wife and five children, three of whom were under eight years of age, to the care and support of Albert G., then eighteen years of age. His early education was of the most limited character, consisting of only a few terms' attendance at the district school. He served a full apprenticeship of three years to the carpenter's trade, and afterwards worked at that trade for several years. In 1831 he obtained employment in the machine shop of Daniels & Co., builders of woolen machinery at Woodstock, and was soon sent out by them to set up their machinery in different places, which he followed until 1836, when he. in company with others, built the factory known as Dewey's Mills, near Quechee village, in Hartford, and commenced the manufacture of woolen goods, which he continued till his death. Mr. Dewey was always interested in everything that promoted the growth and prosperity of his section, and was a friend to all internal improvements. He was an active promoter and one of the original incorporators of the railroad from White River Junction to Woodstock, and on the organization of the company was elected as a member of its board of directors. In February, 1870, he was chosen its president, which he retained till January 1, 1883, when he declined a re-election. In political life he acceptably filled all offices of trust committed to him. He represented the town of Hartford in the General Assembly in 1850-51, 1863-64. In 1858 he was elected one of the board of selectmen and held that office continuously until 1866. In 1869 he was elected State Senator from Windsor county, and was reelected in 1870 for two years. He married, June 18, 1840, Emily, daughter of Hon. William Strong of Hartford. The issue of this marriage was three children, William S., John J., and Emma F., wife of Henry C. Denison, of New Bedford, Mass. Mrs. Dewey died April 23, 1875, and on August 26, 1876, he married Miss Eveline Trumbull of Hartford. Mr. Dewey possessed eminent business qualifications, was firm in his convictions, prompt and energetic in the performance of duty, frank, thoroughly conscientious, modest and deferential, genial and agreeable, by which qualities he gained the confidence of all with whom he had social or business relations. He died at Hartford, August 26, 1886. Biographie Index

DILLON, WILLIAM , born in the parish of Glanverth, County Cork, Ireland, March 5, 1834, is the eldest son of John and Mary (Sullivan) Dillon. His parents emigrated to America in 1846, with a family of two sons and three daughters, one of whom died on the passage. They landed in New York city December 3, 1846. Our subject's early education was attained at a private school in his native town. His father was engaged in farming in the old country, but soon after his arrival in America obtained employment in a woolen-mill in Oxford, Mass. Mr. Dillon, then only a youth of twelve years, commenced work in the carding-room, where he was employed till 1854. The next three years he was an employee in a woolen-mill at Millbury, Mass. From 1857 to 1864 he was superintendent of the carding-room of the Otter River Manufacturing Company, at Otter River, Mass., and filled the same position from 1864 to 1866 at the Pascoag Woolen Mills, at Pascoag, R. I. In the latter year he removed to Ballston Spa, N. Y., and for one year had charge of the carding-room of the Glen Woolen Company. He then returned to Burrillsville, R. I., and till July, 1871, was superintendent of the carding-room of the Granite Mills. Removing to Springfield at the date last mentioned he formed a partnership with Michael Collins and Hamlin Whitmore, under the firm name of Collins, Dillon & Co., and engaged in the manufacture of woolens. After three years the senior member retired from the firm, and in 1880 Mr. Whitmore's interest was purchased by Mr. Dillon, who has since conducted the business alone. In politics till 1884 Mr. Dillon was a Democrat, but upon that party advancing free trade doctrines, he joined the Republican party, and has since affiliated with that party. He married Ellen Berrigan, and has had five children, viz.: Mary Ellen, resides at home; Kate Agnes, wife of Hugh Quinn, of Springfield; John Emmett; Frederick William; and Edward Franklin, who was killed at the Hartford bridge disaster on the Central Vermont Railroad. Biographie Index

DOWNER, CHESTER , was a very prominent and successful business man. No one probably was better known than he among the many people throughout the entire White River Valley, and no one more enterprising, or more closely connected with the financial and property interests of the community. His business transactions were largely connected with real estate, and it can safely be said that he owned in his life time more real estate than any other person in the county. Mr. Downer was one of the directors of the Royalton National Bank ; was one of the principal holders of the stock, and as president and director, was closely connected with the financial policy of the bank under the skilful and conservative management of its several cashiers, William H. Baxter and Asa W. Kenney. Mr. Downer was also largely interested in the Gaysville Manufacturing Company at Gaysville, Vt. The business transactions of Mr. Downer were confined neither to the county or the State, for at an early day he was attracted to the State of Michigan by the chances offered for lucrative investment, and at a later day became largely interested in real estate in the city of Lansing. Mr. Downer with his family removed to Boston, Mass., about 1880, where he made his home till the time of his death.

Joseph and Robert were the original settlers in America of the Downer family. They were the sons of Robert Downer, of Wiltshire, England, by his wife, Hannah Vincent. These brothers settled at Newbury, Mass., about 1650, Robert removing soon after to Salisbury, Mass., where he married Sarah Eaton. They were both men of considerable property, and were much respected by their fellow colonists, with whom they bravely shared the trials and hardships of the early colonial life. Joseph married Mary, daughter of Deacon John Knight, July 9, 1660. Their children were Mary, born March 18, 1662 ; Joseph, born March 25, 1666; Andrew, July 25, 1672.

Joseph, son of Joseph and Mary Downer, married Hannah Grafton, about 1692. He died November 23, 1756, at Norwich, Conn., where he had moved with his family about 1706. She died at Norwich, Conn., October 12, 1741. Their children were Joseph, born September 29, 1693 ; John, born March 15, 1695; Andrew, May 14, 1697; Samuel, born April 12, 1699; Richard, February 11, 1702; Hannah, born February 16, 1704; Benjamin, born February 24, 1706; Caleb, Edmond, John, Stephen, Mary, Elizabeth.

Andrew, son of Joseph and Hannah (Grafton) Downer, married Sarah Laselle, daughter of Joshua Laselle, of Windham, Conn, son of Thomas Laselle, and grandson of John Laselle, a descendant of an old Huguenot family. Their children were Sarah, born March 26, 1721; Hannah, born January 5, 1722; Eunice, born January 16, 1724; Andrew, born January 30, 1726; Anne, born March 18, 1729; Benjamin, born May 12, 1731 ; Martha, born June 5, 1733; Joshua, born August 6, 1735; Zacheus, born June 7, 1737; Mary, born November 20, 1739.

Andrew, of Norwich, Conn., son of Andrew and Sarah (Laselle) Downer, married Mary Brown, of Windham, Conn., March 10, 1754. He and his family moved to Lebanon, N. H., about 1665, and not long thereafter settled in Sharon, Vt. Their children were Zacheus, born November 13, 1755; Jason, born December 21, 1756; Thomas, John, Frederic, Susan and Clara. Zacheus Downer resided for some time after removing from Connecticut at Lebanon, N. H., but later removed to Utica, N, Y., with his family, where descendants of his are now living. Thomas Downer was a doctor and resided at Stowe, Vt, where some of his descendants are still living.

Jason, son of Andrew and Mary (Brown) Downer, married Esther West, daughter of Solomon West and Abigail Strong. He died at Lebanon, N. H., September 15, 1841. Their children are Solomon, born June 13, 1784, died October 18, 1860; Anne, born August 18, 1782, married Ephraim Partridge; Erastus, born December 17, 1790, married Margaret Evans, died November 30, 1869. Erastus, by his wife Margaret, had three children: Esther, born May 7, 1814; Stephen West, born August 19, 1815; Ziba Alden, born December 4, 1825; all of whom, with their families, are living at Lansing, Mich.

Solomon, son of Jason and Esther (West) Downer, married December, 1808, Martha, daughter of Asa and Martha (Hibbard) Huntington. She was born January 15, 1790, and was a descendant of Simon and Margaret (Barret) Huntington, who came from England in 1633, and settled at Norwich, Conn. Their children were Wooster, born December 2, 1809. died at Berlin, Vt., March 18, 1863; Jason, born September 9, 1813, died at Milwaukee, Wis., September1, 1883; Chester, born June 29, 1819; Susan, who now resides at Lebanon, N. H.; Franklin, born September 26, 1826, now living at Hixton, Wis.; Albert, born November 7, 1830, now living at River Falls, Wis.; Alice, born November 7, 1830, now living at Sharon, Vt. Jason Downer was a graduate of Dartmouth College. He settled at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1842, where he began the practice of law. In 1845 he became proprietor and editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel. In 1864 he was elected to the bench of the Supreme Court for a term of six years. He had a large and lucrative practice, and accumulated a large fortune, which, on his death, he bequeathed mostly to charities.

Chester, son of Solomon and Martha (Huntington) Downer, was born at Sharon, Vt, June 29, 1819, and died at Brookline, Mass , February 18, 1890. He married, in 1863, Frances Elizabeth Shepard, daughter of Horace Shepard and Statira Baxter. Horace Shepard was a grandson of Squire Shepard, who came to Sharon in 1782, from Canterbury, Conn., and was a descendant of Ralph Shepard, who settled at Concord, Mass., about 1640. Statira Baxter was a daughter of Elihu Baxter and Triphena Taylor, who came to Norwich, Vt., from Norwich, Conn., about 1780, and was a descendant of Gregory Baxter, who came from England about 1635, and settled in Roxbury, Mass. The children of Chester and Frances Elizabeth Downer are Harriet Jenette, born October 26, 1864, and Charles, born May 24, 1866. Biographie Index

DURKEE, WILLIAM H ., was born in Stockbridge, September 2. 1822. John, his grandfather, came from Connecticut in 1785, and settled in Stockbridge on the farm now owned and occupied by J. M. Ranney. He took up about five hundred acres in Tweed River Valley, in part now owned by his grandson, William H. He married, first, Sarah Holt, December 11, 1783. All his children, seven in number, were by this marriage. They were John, Orrin, Harvey, Sally, Mary, Elizabeth and Fisk. Orrin, born in Stockbridge, November 5, 1786, married, first, Rebecca Hunt. Nelson Durkee was their only son. He died in the hospital at New Orleans during the war. He married, second, Philena Rich, a native of Bethel, Vt., by whom he had eight children, viz.: Lyman, died in Winthrop, la.; Luther, died in Rochester, Vt; Seneca, lives with his brother; William H.; Harris, merchant in Geneva, Wis.; Josiah P., killed in a saw-mill at Gaysville ; Charles O., farmer, living in Stockbridge; Mary E., wife of Anson Tucker, farmer in Tunbridge, Vt. Orrin the father, was the first child born in Stock-bridge after the settlement, served as captain in the War of 1812, and afterwards was colonel in the home militia. He died in Stockbridge, October 14, 1862, and his wife also died there in March, 1848. William H. married April 10, 1851, Harriet, daughter of John and Lois (White) Leonard. Mrs. Durkee was born in Stockbridge, September 26, 1829 They have no children. Biographie Index

FAY, Major LEVI CHAMBERLAIN , was born in Reading, Vt, April 25, 1807, the fifth in a family of nine children of Major Ezra and Olive (Lincoln) Fay. His father was the first of the family who came to Vermont. He came from Westboro, Mass., where he was born, and took up two hundred acres of land in the town of Reading. He married, first, Sarah Newton of Westboro. The children by this union were Mary Ball, wife of Dr. Wakefield; Elizabeth Hastings, wife of Jacob Gilbert; and Sarah Newton, wife of Calvin Wardner. He married, second, Mrs. Olive Chamberlain, nee Lincoln, a descendant of Governor Lincoln of Massachusetts. By this union there were children as follows: Olive, born March 8, 1801, married Luther Parker, now a widow living in Lebanon, N. H., ninety years of age; Lucy Lincoln, born July 10, 1802, married Frederick Woodward of Plainfield, N. H., where she died; Louisa, born April 7, 1804, died aged twenty-one years; Ezra, born December 22, 1805, died in Felchville, Vt., in 1872; Levi Chamberlain, subject of this sketch; Emily, born January 2, 1809, married Elijah Bur-nap of Plainfield, N. H.; Flavilla and Aurilla, twins, born November 5, 1810,-the latter died young, Flavilla married in 1830 Daniel Stearns, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work;-and a daughter who died in infancy. Ezra Fay died at the residence of his son, Levi C, in Reading, January, 1841. Olive Lincoln Fay died at Felchville in 1854. Levi Chamberlain Fay received his education in the common schools of Reading. When ten years of age he had a fever sore in the foot, which compelled him for several years to use crutches, and from the effects of which he never fully recovered. On this account he decided to learn the tailor's trade and went to Woodstock for that purpose, but soon abandoned it and took up in its stead the shoemaker's trade, and worked at that trade for three years in Reading with David Hammond, and at the end of that time bought out Mr. Hammond, the business then embracing boots, shoes, harness and agricultural implements. He carried on this business nine years. In 1838 he bought the Slayton Hotel at South Woodstock, repaired and moved into it, which was burned three months thereafter. He then leased the Ransom House in South Woodstock which he kept two years. Selling his property in South Woodstock in 1840 he returned to Reading, built a residence and carried on merchandising for four years, then sold out and in company with his brother-in-law, Daniel Stearns, leased the Dartmouth Hotel at Hanover, N. H., which they kept about nine months, then sold out, went to Felchville, where he again engaged in merchandising, a business which he continued for twenty years. In 1863 he sold out to his sons and purchased the stock in three stores at Windsor, Vt., the Union store, Charles Hawley and Samuel R. Stocker. His sons, selling out at Felchville, were taken into partnership in his stores at Windsor. He subsequently sold out to his sons and Marvin C. Hubbard and retired from the mercantile business. From 1843 to 1885 Mr. Fay has made yearly trips to the West for the purpose of loaning moneys on real estate mortgages. He has dealt largely in real estate, built the Fay block and quite a number of dwelling houses in Windsor. The Major has been too much occupied with his own business affairs to be a seeker for, or to desire, public positions. However, he served as town treasurer of Reading many years and also was a director in the Springfield National Bank. He has been a member of the Congregational Church at Windsor since 1868. For the past two years he has been on the invalid list, being confined to the house much of the time. He married, first, December 15, 1829, Susan, daughter of Edmund and Lovisa (Sherman) Stone, who was born in Cavendish, Vt., July 31, 1810. There were seven children by this union, two of whom died in infancy. Those who reached adult age were Amanda M., born May 6, 1833, married December 16, 1862, Hon. Chester Pike, a prominent citizen of Cornish, N. H. They have but one child living, Chester Fay, born May 11, 1868; Colamer T., born December 10, 1834, married September 14, 1859, Carrie I. Watkins, born November 18, 1838. Their children are Frank Edmund, born September 2, 1860; Lillian Watkins, born December 22, 1862 ; Mary Caroline, born February 26, 1870; Levi Elisha, born March 5, 1875; and Julia Pike, born January 10, 1878. Colamer T. is a successful merchant at Holyoke, Mass.; Emeroy, born in 1836, died aged three years and three months; Edmund Stone, born October 19, 1840, married, December, 1861, Francelia M. Kendall, born June 4, 1842, died October 7, 1875. They have one child, Herbert William, born April 24, 1866. Edmund S. is a merchant and interested in a number of the leading industries of Portsmouth, N. H., and is the present (1890) mayor of that city; Julia A., born October 19, 1842, married July 3, 1867, Joseph A. Chapin, teller in the National Bank of North America, Boston, and resides in Medford, Mass. Their children are Susan Fay, born May 26, 1868, and George Farnswortli, born May 29, 1871. Mrs. Susan Fay, the Major's wife, died in Windsor, March 27, 1870. She was a granddaughter of Samuel Sherman, of Weathersfield, Vt., who came from Connecticut, taking along with him the name of "Weathersfield," the town in Connecticut where the Shermans had lived, and gave it to Vermont, where he settled. The family were of German origin and quite numerous. Senator George F. Hoar and his brother, Judge E. R. Hoar, of Massachusetts, General W. T. Sherman and Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, and Judge. Edgar J. Sherman, of Lawrence, Mass., are connected with same family. Mrs. Fay possessed in a large measure those rare womanly qualities which characterize the true wife and devoted mother, and she commanded the love and esteem not only of her own immediate family and relatives, but of the entire community where she resided. Major Fay married, second, Mrs. Jane A. Cummings, daughter of Alpha and Lydia (Ransom) Rowley. She was born in Winsted, Conn., July 24, 1827. Kate R., born March 11, 1856, wife of I. R. Clark, a lawyer in Boston, and Jennie E., born December 17, 1859, wife of A. P. Pierce of Red Wing, Minn., are her children by a former marriage. Biographie Index

FIELD, Hon. ABNER . The Field family was first settled in Windsor county by Pardon Field. He was born at Cranston, R. I., April 13, 1761, and was the son of James, who was the son of Jeremiah. He became a resident of Chester, Vt., between 1784-88. He married Elizabeth Williams, who was descended from Roger Williams, being of the fifth generation. Their children were Hannah, who married John Kibbling ; Lydia, married Robert Field ; James; Jeremiah; Abner; Joseph; Sarah, married Stephen Austin; Welcome; Elizabeth; and Pardon. The pioneer of the family died October 28, 1842 Our subject was born in Chester, November 28, 1793. His education was limited to the common schools of his native town. When twenty-two years of age he commenced his mercantile life by entering the store of Peter Adams, on " East Hill," in the town of Andover, where he remained seven years. He then returned to his native town and engaged in trade with Nathaniel Fullerton. In 1831 he removed to North Springfield and formed a co-partnership with Sylvester Burke, and opened the store now occupied by his son. He continued business at this point till about i 845. It was through his instrumentality that a post-office was established at North Springfield, and he was appointed the first postmaster. He was one of the incorporators of the Windsor County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of the Springfield Savings Bank, and of the Bank of Black River, being for a number of years president of the latter institution. In politics he was originally a Whig, and on the organization of the Republican party became one of its members. In 1835 and 1837 he represented Springfield in the General Assembly, and was Senator from Windsor county in 1842-43. He was regarded as a man of good judgment, with the courage to express his own opinions as well as to form them. Mr. Field married, February 16, 1832, Louisa, daughter of Daniel and Annah Lenthal (Ames) Griswold. She was born in Springfield, December 5, 1807. They had four children, all of whom were born in Springfield, viz.: Walbridge Abner ; Cordelia Louisa, died at eight years of age; Fred Griswold ; and Isadore L, wife of Durant J. Boynton, of Springfield. Abner died December 19, 1864.Walbridge A. Field, the eldest son of Abner, was born April 26, 1833, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1855, having attended the preparatory school at Perkinsville, Springfield Wesleyan Academy at Springfield, and Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, N. H. He served as a tutor at Dartmouth College for two years, attended Harvard Law School, and studied law with Hon. Harvey Jewell, of Boston, Mass., was a member of the Boston City Council, and assistant United States District Attorney for Massachusetts, under Richard H. Dana, Jr. In 1869, during General Grant's administration, he was assistant attorney-general of United States, under Attorney-General E. R. Hoar, and resigned that position to practice law in Boston ; was member of the law firm of Jewell, Gaston & Field, afterwards Jewell, Field & Shepard. In 1876 he received the certificate of election of representative from the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts, but the seat was contested, and was finally decided against him, but he was returned from that district in 1878. At the expiration of his term in Congress in 1880 Governor John D. Long appointed him one of the justices of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and in 1890 he was elevated to the position of chief justice, which position he now holds. Judge Field married, October 4, 1869, Miss Ellen Eliza McLoon, of Rockland, Me., by whom he had two daughters, viz.: Eleanor Louise and Elizabeth Lenthal. His wife died March 8, 1877, and in 1882 he married Miss Frances Farwell, of Rockland, Me. Fred G., the youngest son of Abner, was born January 1, 1842. He is a merchant engaged in business at North Springfield. He represented Springfield in the Legislature of 1870 and 1872, and was Senator from Windsor county in 1880. He married, July 2, 1872, Miss Anna M. Tarbell, of Cavendish, Vt. They have two children, viz.: Fred Tarbell, born December 24, 1876, and Bertha Isadore. Biographie Index

FLETCHER, Hon. RYLAND , the youngest child of Dr. Asaph Fletcher, was born in Cavendish, February 18, 1799. His early opportunities for an education were limited to the common schools of his native town and a brief attendance upon the military academy of Captain Alden Partridge, at Norwich, Vt. At the age of seventeen he taught the winter terms of school for five years, the rest of the year being spent in laboring upon his father's farm. He early took a great interest in the militia of the State, and at his first appearance for parade was chosen a sergeant in the militia company in his native town. He was then eighteen years of age. The following year he was made a lieutenant, and two years afterwards a captain. In December, 1826, he was commissioned a major, in July, 1828, a lieutenant-colonel, and in November, 1830, colonel of his regiment. He attained the rank of brigadier-general in November, 1835, which position he filled a year, when he resigned. In early days of temperance and temperance legislation he became an active worker in the cause. He became prominently known in his native State, and also abroad, for his positive opinions on the questions of slavery and temperance ; and was a co-laborer with Garrison, Phillips, Birney, Slade and other prominent agitators for freedom of the slave, being actively engaged in the cause from 1837 until Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that slavery was no more. In politics Governor Fletcher was an active Whig, but became identified with the Free Soil party, and in 1854 received the nomination as lieutenant governor on the coalition of the Whig and Free Soil parties in Vermont. He was elected lieutenant-governor in 1854 and 1855, and in 1856 governor, holding the latter position two years. At the time of the election of Governor Fletcher as the chief executive of the State the law requiring the enrolled militia to do military duty, excepting in cases of insurrections and wars, had been repealed for more than fifteen years. The State had ceased to make appropriations for the support of the militia, and the uniformed companies had one by one disbanded, so in 1856 there had not been for ten years a semblance of a military organization. Governor Fletcher, having the foresight to see that slavery was bound to throw the country into a civil war, also having been connected with the militia under the old regime, felt a strong interest in its revival. In the summer of 1858 an invitation was extended to the various companies in the State to muster at Brandon for inspection and review. Nine companies responded to this invitation, and about 450 muskets were mustered on this occasion. During the second day a sham battle was given, the governor taking the command of the forces. This muster generated a public interest in military affairs throughout the State, and company after company was formed, and thereby Vermont was in position to successfully fill her quota on the first call for troops made in 1861 by President Lincoln. Governor Fletcher, in his first message, speaking in regard to slavery, said as follows: " The change in the relation of slavery to the National government is total and complete. At first it was merely a local institution admitted to be an evil, its existence deeply deplored and only tolerated on account of the supposed difficulty and danger of its sudden abolition, while on the other hand its extension was universally depreciated and positively prohibited. Now it has become an aggressive and powerful principle which has taken possession of every department of the Federal government except the popular branch of the Legislature." In the same message he recommended improvements and efficiency in the State militia, which \a ere acted upon, also the establishing of a reform school for juvenile offenders, previously to this they having been consigned to the State prison as a place of confinement. During his administration the State House was burned and he called an extra session of the Legislature, which passed the bill building the present edifice. Governor Fletcher's administrations were noted for their economy and progress. At the close of his term of office he returned to Cavendish, occupying his time in farming. He became a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1862 and 1863, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1870. He attended two National Republican Conventions, and was a member of the Electoral College of 1864. Governor Fletcher married Mary Ann, daughter of Eleazer May, of Westminster, Vt., and had three children, viz.: Addison, died young; Ann May, died unmarried; and Henry Addison. Governor Fletcher died from a disease of the heart, December 19, 1885, loved and respected by all who knew him.

Henry Addison Fletcher was born in Cavendish, December 11, 1839. He received his education in the common schools of his native town and in Chester and Ludlow Academies. He enlisted as a private in August, 1862, being mustered into the United States service October 22, 1862, as first sergeant of Company C, Sixteenth Vermont Regiment. He was appointed March 9, 1863, sergeant-major, and commissioned April 2, 1863, second Lieutenant of Company C ; mustered out August 10, 1863, on the expiration of his term of enlistment. He represented Cavendish in the General Assembly of 1867-68, 1878-80, and 1882, and served on the general committee in 1878, on the revision of laws in 1880, and as chairman of the committee on banks in 1882. He was appointed by Governor Redfield Proctor aid-de-camp on his staff, with the rank of colonel. In 1886-87 he was one of the senators to the popular branch of the Legislature from Windsor county. He is the present lieutenant-governor of the State of Vermont, having been elected to that office on the Republican ticket in 1890. He resides on the farm which was settled by his grandfather, and follows the occupation of a farmer. Biographie Index

FORBUSH, Hon. CHARLES A ., the eldest son of Rufus and Fedilia (Hapgood) Forbush. was born in Reading. Vt., January 8, 1823. After attending the district schools he became a student at the Unity Academy, Unity, N. H., under the tutelage of James Ashton Hull. He afterwards, for several terms, attended the South Woodstock Academy. He taught school for five or six winters, and by this means completed his education. He engaged in the mercantile business, and was for seven years a clerk in a general store at Felchville, Vt. In 1853 he opened a store in Springfield, which he successfully conducted for ten years, doing during that period the largest business in the village. He helped to organize the First National Bank of Springfield in 1863, and is still an active member of its board of directors. In 1874 he was elected president of the Springfield Savings Bank, and on the death of the treasurer in 1880 he was elected treasurer, which position he now holds. But few men have done more in the past twenty years to elevate the public schools in his town than Mr. Forbush He was a member of the Board of Directors of the State Prison for several years, and for twenty years in the Board of Directors of Windsor County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He served for a number of years as first selectman, and represented the town in the Legislature of the State in 1864-65. Mr. Forbush married Elizabeth Davis, and has one son, Frank Davis, a graduate of Vermont University, at present engaged in the furniture manufacturing business at Grand Rapids, Mich. Biographie Index

FULLAM, Hon. SEWALL , of Ludlow, was descended from Hon. Francis Fullam who, at the age of fourteen years, came from his native place, (Fulham's Place) near London, England, to Watertown, Mass., in the year 1683. He became prominently identified with the interests of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and was for many years Judge of the Superior Colonial Court; and also Superintendent of the Natick Indians, and for seventeen years occupied a seat in the Colonial Legislature. He had one son, named Jacob, whose son Francis was the father of Timothy, who was one of the early settlers of the town of Cavendish, Vt. Timothy had two sons, one of whom, Sewall, was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was for eleven years a preacher in the Methodist Church, and after that period united with the Free Will Baptists. He married Mehitable Harris, who also traced her ancestry to the Hon. Francis Fullam, as the latter's daughter married Nathaniel Harris, who was Mrs. Fullam's , great grandfather. By this marriage there were six children, of whom Sewall was the eldest, and was born in Cavendish, Vt., April 7, 1799. His early life was spent in his native town, and in Reading, Vt, where his father removed, having only the advantages of the local schools in which to obtain an education. For the means of obtaining a livelihood he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of carpenter. Having a fondness for books, he became a great reader, and his leisure hours were spent in study, and being endowed with a retentive memory, he therefore accumulated a greater store of practical knowledge than the majority of men obtain. Mr. Fullam having a personal acquaintance with Judge Reuben Washburn, he borrowed from him law books, and by diligent study at home, soon made himself so proficient that he was able to meet in legal debate any of the brethren of his chosen profession. He became a resident of Ludlow, April 16, 1828, and besides being engaged at his trade, devoted more or less of his time to legal business until 1836, when he became a member of the Windsor County Bar. From this time until his death, November 26, 1876, he continued to reside in Ludlow, and was one of the most prominent members of the bar of his native county, having as his colleagues such men as Judge Jacob Collamer, Hon. Andrew Tracy, of Woodstock, and Hon. Asa Aiken, of Windsor. Mr. Fullam was a man of imposing appearance, being five feet, eleven inches in height, and of average weight of 222 pounds. He represented Ludlow in the State Legislature from 1834 to 1841 inclusive, and a number of sessions was chairman of the Judiciary Committee; was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1843, State's Attorney in 1842-43, 1847-48. Mr. Fullam was married November 17, 1825, to Miss Eunice Howe Goddard, of Reading, Vt., and their family consisted of five children, viz.: Elizabeth Goddard, wife of Ervin J. Whitcomb, of Ludlow; Candace Lucretia, widow of Rev. J. O. Skinner, a Universalist minister, residing at Waterville, Me.; Volney Sewall, Benoni Buck, and Eunice Victoria, wife of Marcus A. Spaulding, of Ludlow. Biographie Index

FULLERTON, FREDERICK EUGENE , the youngest son of Nathaniel and Susannah (Norton) Fullerton, was born in Chester March 21, 1817. He obtained his education at the district schools of his native town and also attended Chester Academy and a school at Bellows Falls. On arriving at the age of twenty-one years he engaged in mercantile business in Chester and during his life was connected with the manufacture of cotton goods at Springfield, Vt., and of woolen goods at Cavendish, Vt. In politics he was originally a Whig, but affiliated with the Republican party upon its organization. He married Miss P. A. Wentworth, who was a native of Hancock, N. H., but at the time of her marriage a resident of Bellows Falls, Vt., and they had four children, viz. : Emma Maria, wife of F'rederick W. Childs, of Brattleboro, Vt.; Grace Wentworth, wife of George F. Hadley, of Chester; Frederick Harvey, born April 25, 1855, died of heart disease March 28, 1864; and Susan Norton, wife of Henry G. Wiley, of Kearney, Neb. Mr. Fullerton died of pneumonia February 1, 1869, loved and respected by all that knew him. Biographie Index

The information on Trails to the Past © Copyright 2024 may be used in personal family history research, with source citation. The pages in entirety may not be duplicated for publication in any fashion without the permission of the owner. Commercial use of any material on this site is not permitted. Please respect the wishes of those who have contributed their time and efforts to make this free site possible.~Thank you!