Friday, March 8, 2024

Rest in Peace, Kate Piper

With deep sorrow, we note the passing of Kate Piper, who gave her full commitment to the people and places she loved, from Waterford on outward into a world that's better for her gifts of heart and skill.



Friday, June 2, 2023

Waterford, Vermont, Occupations in the 1800s With Settlement Notes


Eugenia Powers

Eugenia Powers wore many hats on behalf of Waterford, Vermont. Of all of them, her most significant may have been for her self-appointed historian role. Many town reports like the one shown here from 1965 included notes by Eugenia about people and buildings.

In this hot first couple of days of June 2023, I've typed up a file-card box of Eugenia's notes on local residents. Have fun browsing!

Presumed Eugenia Powers gray file box: OCCUPATIONS [typed by Beth Kanell, June 2, 2023; double line space indicates new file card; note that d can mean “died” or “daughter.”]

 

Artist

Jefferson C. Ensminger of Independence, Iowa, married Amanda Brown – His parents were E.M. Ensminger and June Miles

Joel Locke—b. Falmouth, Mc.—had a child born Wat. 1876

 

Blacksmiths

William. J. Morrison

Edwin Bickford—death 1883—age 34

Samuel Morrison—1874—married

C.H. Knapp—1874—married

 

Carpenters (See also Joiners)

Fred Bullock—1896 (on birth record)

Langdon Cummings—1871—married

 

Cloth Manufacturers—Fulling

 

Coopers

1878—Frank Carter—cooper—child born

1880—Fed Hunt—child born. He’s also a painter, q.v.

 

Doctors

Dr. Nathan Cole—from Church records his wife Polly Jameil[?] 8/15/1802

Morrison, Moses G.

Rowell, Richard F. d. 1872 of small pox age 85

Bugbee, Abel C.—1877—married in town, but lived in Derby

Ralph Bugbee—age 84—b. Ashford, Ct.

1869—Charles G. Cargill, physician, married ?? age 23

Physicians list from Vol I, p. 432-5, Hemenway

A. Kinne*

A. Farr

C. Farr

R. Bugbee, Jr.

A.C. Bugbee

Frank Bugbee

N.S. Goss

Wm. Benton

*graduate—however think all were????

 


 

Engineer

Albert Babcock—1872—married

 

Gunsmith

George Furby—died 1892, age 63-9-26-single

 

Hotel Owners—

Edwin Bowman—1887—child born LW [Lower Waterford]

Ozro B. Hurlbutt—d. 1870—suicide—LW, b. Hanover, N.H.

Hiram Hill—d.1874, age 54-1-12—of pneumonia, stage driver and hotel keeper

 

Jeweler—

Franklin R. Sargent‚—1874—married in Wat., resided in Stansted [sic]

 

Joiner—

Orange Chaplin of Wat.—1879—married

John H. Chandler—1872—married Emma C. Streeter dau. of. Timothy & Almira Streeter

Napoleon Chaboneau—of Littleton, N.H.—house joiner—married 1871

 

Justice

Eben Farnham 1816

 

Harvey Kinne—Childs p 378

            merchant

            town cleark—postmaster

Willard Kinne—obituary d. 12/4

            s. of Nathan and Elizabeth Kinne

                        came from Pomfret, Conn. in 1793

            error in farm—settled where Whittemore lives & then at Willis Person’s Cottage—

                        not Hal Peck place

            farmer, stock man, drover

                        about 700 acres

                        promoter of Cal. Co. Agric. Assoc.

 

Lawyers—list in Abby Hemenway I, p. 432-5, from article by Thomas A. Cutler

J.D. Stoddard

R.C. Benton

R.C. Benton Jr.*

Jacob Benton

A.H. Hadley

O.T. Brown

A.J. Hale

Jonathan Ross*

E. Cutler, Jr.*

A.P. Carpenter*

Luther Kidder

* means graduate

 


Lawyers

J.D. Stoddard

Frank C. Streeter—died 1878—age 25—son of Timothy & Almira Streeter—consumption

James B. Donnan Esq.—1868—married Martha J. Ross

 

Mail Carrier

Abel F. Carpenter—died 1889—b. 5-2-16 in Lyndon, parents Abel & Betsy (Smith) Carpenter

Austin E. Blodgett—marriage—1873

Fred George—(mail service_) 1889—a birth

Patrick Carr—dies age 60 of small pox—came from Ireland—d 1872

Hiram Hill—d. 1874—was stage driver and hotel keeper

 

Mason

George West—1886—stone mason—b. England

 

Mechanics

William Furby—1884—a birth record

George H. Thomas—1888—a birth record

H.E. Cheney—1873—death Bk.4

Fred H. Blodgett—Bk.5 1885 birth rec.

James W. Newton—1868—married

Albert W. Bowles—(machinist)—married—1869 married

1878—J.S. Mullikin—child born

1884—Henry Koepke—child born

 

Merchants

Hiram Parks—UW [Upper Waterford]

Ephraim Swett—1871—married

Azro D. Stoddard—Merchant at Wat.—died of consumption 1871—son of Norman & Almira Stoddard

1879—Charles Brown—had a meat market—a child born

 

Miller

George Holland—1887—death record, age 66, born in Ireland

 

Grist Mill Owner (Millers)

 

Miner

John N. Griffin—1883—a birth—was husband of Jennie Griffin

Ministry—List from Abbyu Hemenway I, p. 432-435, article by Thomas A. Cutler

W.D. Hadley*

Alfred Stevens*

Samuel Benton*

James H. Benton*

E.I. Carpenter*

Zenas Gos[s]*

Samuel Hurlburtt

Silas Gaskill

Philander Carpenter

Ebenezer Cutler*

*graduate

 

Ministry—Waterford men who were ministers in town or elsewhere

Erastus Carpenter

Prosper Davison

Preserved Davison (died)

Ebenezer Cutler

 

Ministers (preached in town)

Silas Davison

George Roger—1890

John E. Palmer—m. Newton – Kent 1818

Rev. Carlos Marsden

Rufus Cheney

Asa Carpenter

Thomas Hall

Rev. John E. Palmer—d.1872, age 90-1-5—of old age & pneumonia

 

Waterford’s Contribution to Cong’l Ministry

Vt. Congregationalism—p.253

dates are dates of life if known

! connection with Am. Board of Missions or other missionary organ.

Samuel Austin Benton 1807–1865

Erasmus Irving Carpenter 1808–1877

Amander Barker 1810–?

Alfred Stevens 1810–1893

Josaih [sic] Henry Benton 1816–1907

Zenas Goss ! 1832–1864

 

Painter—houses? machinery and sleighs??

Fred P. Hunt—1875—married Martha Buckman

 


 

Salesmen & Peddlers

1868—Henry A. Bowman—married

1877—Albert Davis, peddler—child born

 

Sawyers—Sawmills Owners

 

Shingle Mills

 

Shoemakers—See Leather

 

Soldiers of Waterford

see—

1812 Roster

1840 Census for Rev. Pensioners then in town—

F.R. Carpenter’s War Record for Civil War.

Revolutionary Roster

Roster War of the Rebellion

Spanish Am. Roster, etc.

Voting Lists and Tax Records for exemptions

 

Stone Cutter

George W. Smith—1890—a birth—Bk. 5

 

Surveyors

Harvey Holbrook, d. 1845, age 77 (Cem. St.)

 

Tailors & Dressmakers—

C.J. Cobb, d. 1878—tailor—died in Aug—age 70

 

Teachers—

 

Teamsters

Alden J. Hale—died 1868—age 19-3-26—in Boston of Typhoid Pneumonia—an express teamster, son of Jo [sic] Hale

 

Toll Bridge Tenders

 

Town Clerks From Hemenway I, p. 432-5

1793-5 Selah Howe

1706-1801 John Grow

1802-5 Sylvanus Hemingway

1806 Samuel Gaskill

1807-1816 Sylvanus Hemingway

1817-23 Jonah Carpenter

1824-41 Sylvanus Hemingway

1842-1857 Lucius Freeman

 

Wheel Wrights

Hiram Whipple—1894 (a birth, I guess)

Asa Hovey—married 1872—Mianda [sic] Goss for his 3rd wife

Albert Howe—1878—a child born

 

Wood workers—Sleighs, winnowing machines, et

 

[second half of file box, new alphabet]

 

People Mentioned Childs [in Child’s Gazetteer]

 

James Adams—Childs p 369

1st settler (traditional)

exact date not known

proprietors mtg held in Barnet in 1783

“was adjourned to J.A.’s in said Littleton.”

 

Samuel D. Astle—Child[s] p 377

s. of Joseph who served in Eng. army

b—Shipton, Canada, in 1836

came to Wat. in 1857

m. Harriet Phelps (d. of Anthony Phelps) in 1859

children—Helen, Ralph,  Sam Joe, Katie, Willie, Fred, Frank, Hattie

tanner & manufacturer of lumber

resides at village

 

George R. Barker, Childs p 379

s. of George I_

b 1815

m. Mary Mann in 1840

children Charlotte, Charles, Albert, Mary, Etta

lives on road 12

 

George T. Blancher, Childs p 379

s. of Wm

b. Lyndon 1833

m. Almira, d. of Cornelius Adams

served in war—wounded at Petersburg and died in 1964

wife farm on road 7

 

Ephraim Blodgett, Childs p 376

b. N.H. in 1815

came in 1836

children Ephraim A, Nelson (died in army), Volney B and Austin E., Louisa, Almira

Ephraim A lived on road 40

 

Edison Bowman, Childs p 379

s. of Willard & Tryphema

b. Littleton, N.H., 1843

m. Irene Richardson 1865

children Nellie, Eddie A, Willie R & Charles H.

manager of hotel at Lower Wat.

 

Frank W Brown, Childs p 376

b. Bethlehem 1845

m. Jennie Miller in 1868

selectman—

children—Celia, Edward M., Ruith E

loved in Petrie[?] homestead—road 46, corner 47

 

William Brown, Childs p 373

c. 1800 settled where Cushings are

s. Elisha -> s. Bradley -> s. Elisha W.

town clerk 20 yrs town records

 

Alpheus Bugbee, Childls p 372

from Woodstock, Conn—1797

where Mrs. George S. Russell lives

 

Alonzo Carpenter

Chief Justice in N.H.

s Isaiah Carpenter

 

Isaiah Carpenter, Childs p 375

descendant of Wm. Carpenter who came to Am. in 1638

came to town in 1808

located on Amos Carpenter place

d. Eliza married Judge Johnathan [sic] Ross

Amos m. Cosbie Parker of Concord—Amos was assistant postmaster at West Waterford

 

FRC—dates of life—p155 Jill Cor

Influences on him—NNE

Improved Agri. Method—HC of NEE p 173

His financing—farmers’ club

 

FRC diaries with Social Ferment

Puritan Counter Reformation

Temperance Crusade

Anti-Masonry

Anti-Slavery & Religion

Anti-Slavery & Politics

Equal & Exact Justice for ALL

Social Architects

 

His wife—as prod of past—

His Children as product of his age

Himself as versatile—his many occupations

What was he chief of?

What did he father?

blacksmith & forge man

judge & lawyer

mortician

agriculturist as well as farmer

architect

builder

inventor

 

Deacon Perley Church, Childs p 371

from Mansfield, Conn. about 1795

located on HC Davison place (Mary Petersons)

war record—— ?

 

Samuel Church, Childs p 370

youngest son of Deacon Perley

m. Lucina Felch

5 children (Sam. C., Lorena, Lyman B., Allen J & Celia A (Mrs SB Horr

family choir—were Welsh Extraction SRP

 

James Curtis, Childs p 378

s. of Amos

a shoemaker

b Morgan, Vt. in 1833

in Civil War—

on road 37

 

Allason[?] Daniels, Childs p 378

s. of Hiram

m. Lucia McLacklin in Peacham in 1882

d. Bertha May b 1885

on road 15

 

Rev. Silas Davison, Childs p 371-2, SRP

b. Hartland, Vt. in 1766

m. Persis Rice 1790

in town—1796

settled on Passumpsic Mt.

grson Claudius m. Rebekah Wright—d. of Capt. Walter—her brothers had cabinet shop in St. J. C. [St. Johnsbury Center]

specimens of furniture in home of Arnold W. Powers

 

Aaron Freeman, Childs p 372

b.  of Elizah & Arad, b. Norwich Vt 1784

to Waterford with father in 1800

settled at Bean Bors.

in 1887—farm occupied by Dennis May who m. Caroline d. of Aaron

 

Arad Freeman, Childs p 372

from Hanover, N.H. in 1800

settled where Rollo Wright, Sr, lives

Arad settled on L D Freeman place

s. Lucius S. b 1812—town cleark for 40 yers

Lucius son was Lorenzo

Olive Hovey Freeman b 1799 in Wat Birth Records but not necessarily born in town

 

Elijah Freeman

brother of Arad & Aaron

settled on Williams

d Rowena m. John Sanborn

J. Sanborn is L. D. Williams’ grandfather

 

Abel Goss, Childs 372

settled on Goss place (Allports.) 1792

his son, Capt. Abel, gave school ground for L. W. [Lower Waterford] school

 

Richardson B. Graves, Childs p 378

b Athol, Mass in 1775

m. Lovina Briadfor 1801

located near Concord Corners 1796

his grandson— Herbert K—came to Water. 1881

s. died in infancy

 

Eli Green, Childs p 372

1799—

m Lucinda Graves

 

Asa Grow & Brothers, CEH [C.E. Harris book] p 11

claimed to own all land in Wat. bordering Conn.—

sold tp settlers & took their money— drawback to young men who had begun to clear land— most of them kept land & paid for it—

Grow built two-story house— about command[?] folks— Mrs. Sawyer said all puckered up with pride    about 1800

Pucker St. Song-  by Timothy Hazeltine who worked for James Morse blacksmith about 1825, song p 12-18

 

George Ide, Childs p 376

s. of Joseph & Almira Ide— born in town in 1828

a tanner

m. Mary Furby in 1861 (she died 1867)

bought Richardson saw mill in 1865

(evidently George & Joseph/son & father/in business together)

 

Charles D Harris, Childs p 378

b. Danville Vt., in 1842

war vet—

m. Isabella Kellogg (d. of Independent)

children—Charles E, Nellie, Bertha May b 1878

lives on road 36

 

Amasa Hastings, Child[s] p. 379-380

b. Ashburnham, Mass—

came to Wat. 1800

pioneer of West Wat.

settled in wilderness a mile from neighbors

went to claim by marked trees—

log cabin several years

m. Anna Brown—story about Mrs. Brown & the bear in the corn patch (green corn & beans for dinner)

lived there until old age— sold to s. Moses & moved to a small farm.

12 children—10 lived to adulthood

in 1887—two survived

Amasa Jr. then in St J—

Jefferson H— then in Newark [Vt]

 


 

Josaiah Hastings, Childs p 374

b. Westmoreland, N.H. in 1786

came here in 1807—located road 41

m. Mary Packard

descendant— Stephen J. Hastings b. 1850, attended Dartmouth, married Althea Carpenter

(in a triple wedding— SRP)

Stephen J was town rep in 1882 also selectman

 

Sylvanus Hemingway, Childs p. 371

from Royalston, Mass, c. 1795 with sons Laban & Cyrus.

built log houses east of Luther Hemingway’s (Young’s)

Syl. was Town C.

 

Cyrus T. Hill,  Childs p 375

f. of Willard Hill b 1844

-> Guy Hill

on road 23

 

Senicon Hill, Childs p 375

from Walpole, N.H., about 1808

kept tavern until 1810

è Ambrose -> Charles T. lived on homestead, road 3 -> George, Lottie, etc.

 

Stewart B Horr, Childs p 377

b. in Maine 1846

Civil War— Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Petersburg

m. Celia Church, d. of Samuel

live on road 46

 

Asa Hovey, Childs p 374

from Hampton, Conn., in 1803

located on Kidder farm (in 1881 owned by Frank Cutler)

s William m. Lydia Richardson

è Emory b 1841 m Emily Cushman

è Guy W

Emory settled on road 40, corner 41

 

Benjamin Hutchinson, Childs p 373

descendant of Richard Hutchinson who came to Am. in 1634

came to Wat. from Royalston, Mass, in 1801

Benajah (grandson) b 1835—living in town in 1887

 

Niles Johnson, Childs p 376

b. Lunenburg, Vt., in 1843

came to town in 1865

d. Flora Wallace b. 1869

 

George C. Lawrence, Childs p 378

s. of Daniel

b. in Danville 1813

m Hannah Barkers in 1838

d Hattie —Addie (d)

[Hattie] m L P Winslow

è Cora m Homer Brewster

lived on road 12

 

Moses Ladd, Childs p 375

s of Thyng & Elizabeth Ladd

b in Salsibury, N.H., in 1812

came to Wat. in 1814

m. Hannah Carr

-> Orange S. b 1825

-> Milo E.

-> Orange S – now in St. J. Center

where did Thyng & Moses live?

 

John Lee

b. Moultonborough, N.H. in 177 [sic]

settled in Wat. in 1801

son Nathaniel Lee bought Lee farm 1841 WLR [Waterford Land Records]

 

Dr. William McDale

who was he?

Dr. Rowell studied under him

 

Thomas Mason, Childs p 377

b. in Ireland 1814-

came to Am at 19 (1833)

m. Jane Johnson

children—George H., Ellen, Martha, Emily, John,  Thomas, Albert

prosperous farmer (dairying)

in 1853 bought Daniel Havens farm road 38

 

George Morrison, Childs p 377

s of George & b. of Samuel

b. Ireland 1839

came to Am at 16—1855

in Civil War (Andersonville prison)

m. Catherine Morrison in 1870

children—Eliza, Samuel, William G, & Harvey B

[Eliza] m George Ballou

lives road 44

 

Samuel Morrison, Childs p 377

son of George

b. in Ireland 1847

came to Am. 1864

blacksmith

located in W. 1868

m. Elocia Thurber (d. of Jehiel Thurber)

children— Mary E(dith), Charles, Harry A, Clarence A, Gertrude (d. inf.), Samuel M.

lived in Lower Wat.

 

William S. Morgan, Childs p 370

1st male born in town

m. Clarissa Church d of Deacon Perley

 

Seth Moulton, Childs p 376

b. Lyman, N.H., in 1833

came in 1845 with his father Alpheus

m. Sarah Colby of Danville in 1867—

has been selectman & other offices

lives on farm easterly part of village

 

Josiah Newton, Childs p 377

came to town 1861

road 21

 

Judge Ezra Parks, Childs p 378

s. of Eli

b. Passumpsic in 1821

mem. of legislature 1870-71

assistant county judge

dealer in stock, produce

lived 1 mile north of Passumpsic village

 

Nathan Pike from Royalton Mass Age 57

FH [Farmers Herald] 8/26/29- Obituary

Dennison Pike—agent for Fairbanks plows

Brigham Pike—Fire Ins. Agent in Concord

5/12/30 marriage of Jacob Ide and Ladoska Knights reporte

10/6/30—Nathan Pike a trustee for Wat.H.S.

 

Daniel & Nathan Pike, Childs p 369, 370

1st settlers in eastern part of town

1792— from Royalston, Mass – brought yoke of oxen, cleared land & sowed wheat, returned to Royalston

1793—Daniel & sons Luther & Nathan come in spring

1793— fall Daniel moved his wife & twin d. Sally & Polly to town

            cabin built on S B Horr farm, SG Willson lot on Concord line

 

 

Nathaniel J. Reed, Childs p 379

s. of Stephen

b. Kirby 1839

served in war—

m. Lizzie, d. of Moses Lewis

d Lizzie Belle

blacksmith & wheelwright

on road 50

 

Rufus W Remick, Childs p 379

s. of Wm. B-

b- 1855

m. Mary A Greeley in 1875

children—Harry E, Mabel D, Homer W

farmer

lives road 42, corner 43

 

Johnathan [sic] Ross—brother of Royal M. settled R. Powers

son of Royal & grandson of Johnathan

Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Vt

U.S. Senator

 

Johnathan [sic] Ross, p 371 Childs

1794- located on road 47

grandfather of Charles Ross (s. of Abraham), R. C. Morrison place

 

Hon. Johnathan Ross, Child p 80-83

account of Judge Ross’s life

b April 30, 1826

 

Royal Ross- p 370 Childs

son of Johnathan Ross

p 371—married Eliza Mason

Royal had to promise her minister father that he would take Eliza to church every Sunday. Royal was an atheist- Father did not approve marriage but wanted promise. R. kept promise. SRR

their son Royal M.

 

Dr. Richard F. Rowell, Childs p 373

came to town at early date

studied with Dr. Wm. McDale.

began practice in 1825

m. Melinda Mullin 1826

6 sons – 6. daughters

4 sons served in Civil War

Daniel (son) b 1842- lived in village 1889

impressive war record

 

John Sanborn, Childs p 379

s. of John—

b. Kirby 1830

M. 3 times

(1) Ellen Hall—John H. & Jennie L. (Mrs. E. F. Williams in Concord)

(2) Susan Furman[?]—d. month after marriage

(3) Rowena W Freeman 1865

lives on road 18

 

John Stiles, Childs p 374

came from Keene, N.H., soon after 1800

m. Annie, d. of Th. Hill, in 1802

built sawmill at foot of Stiles Pond

last Stiles in town?

 

Rev. Alfred Stevens D. D. —

b. Wat – 1810

schooling Concord, Peacham Acad., Meriden N.H.

Portsmouth Coll. (ent. 1835 – age 26)

grad. Andover Sem. 1842 (age 32 ent. ministry)

pastor of Congo. Church, Westminster West, Vt. from 1842 – 1889 & pastor emeritus until death 1893

always a member of the Low. Wat. Congo. –

honorary degree from Dartmouth 1872—

called “Father Stevens”

 

Jesse Stoddard, Childs p 373

from Chesterfield, N.H., c. 1800, settled on J. Campbell’s place

 


 

George West, Childs p 377

s. of Richard

b. Summersetshire [sic], Eng. in 1835

came to Am. 1854

came to Wat. 1862

son— Herbert West

 

Milo Williams, Childs p 379

s. of Warner

b. Concord 1838

m. Jennie d of Ansel Hoadley 1867

children Bertha Jennie & Lula Nellie

farmer

road 10

 

Thaddeus B. Wheeler, Childs p 376

son of George W.

b in Littleton, N.H., in 1820

came to town 1870

on road 15

 

Charles White, Child[s] p 377

b. Sheffield – 1859

bought John Houghton farm in 1885

on road 46

 

John & Joseph Woods, p 370 Childs

1784-85 – settled on Passumpsic R.

1st person born in town. Polly Woods, d. of Joseph W.

 

James Works, Childs p 376

b. in Westmoreland, N.H. in 1787

came to town in 1816 (m. Almira Aldrich

2 sons & 3 d

1 son  Barton b 1829 – in Civil War –

occupied homestead in 1887 (father oldest man in town at time)

 

[cards at end list pages of men included in Successful Vermonters by Wm. H. Jeffrey, 1904]

 

Edward Payson Lee 213, Herbert King Graves 215, Richardson Graves, Nathan J. Graves, Edward R. Godd 216, Abel. Goss, Abel B Goss, Charles D. Harris 217, Amory E. Hovey 217, Frank W. Hastings 218, Stephen J. Hastings 218, Elisha W. Brown 219, Volney Blodgett 220, Frank W. Brown 221, Hiram M. Parks 222, Frederick A. Cross 222, Stuart R. Hoor 223, Eddie Bowman 223, Tobias H Lyster 224, Ezra Parker Carpenter 225, Ezra Parks 225 Francis Halley Shepherd 229, Niles G. Johnson.

Friday, March 17, 2023

Waterford's Irish: A St. Patrick's Day Salute

Although the name of the town of Waterford has nothing to do with Ireland, many local farmers declared Irish descent in the 1900 US Census. Among the ones born in Ireland were George Morrison, Henry Morrison, John Morrison, Anne Rudd, and Maggie Laffre.

Others with one or both parents born in Ireland included Nelson Mayhen, William Frazier, Elmore Miles, Winfield Hastings, Jane Hastings, Elmer Mayhue, Tobias Lyster, and Mary Corlis.

George Morrison's story is of special interest because he was one of the town's several Civil War veterans to survive hellacious conditions in Andersonville as a prisoner of war. 

Born in 1837 in Kilkeel Down, Ulster, Ireland, George immigrated into the United States in 1858. His wife was Katherine (also spelled Catherine). They married in 1870 in Quebec and had four children.

This page is from the Soldiers' Record of the Town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in the War of the Rebellion:


And here is the Caledonian's November 21, 1906, obituary for this Waterford farmer:



Friday, November 25, 2022

William A. Dow of Waterford, Passumpsic, and St. Johnsbury: A Railroad Story






An extended period of sorting my late husband Dave Kanell's research turned up this wonderful photo this month, labeled on the back "William Dow's House." The photo was taken by Charles F. Shepherd (21 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, according to the 1890 St. Johnsbury directory), whose wife was Emma A. Smith (married August 7, 1884); the photographer also stamped his work "Passumpsic Vt," indicating he had a studio there. Note the buggy to the far right of the photo.


William A. Dow was born in Waterford, Vermont, in 1850, to Joseph and Lydia Jane (Keich/Keach) Dow. William worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, with some express agent labors, and as a Western Union agent in McIndoe Falls, say Dave's notes. In 1880 he married Mary Agnes Smith (1958-1908). His brother John K. Dow (1845-1853; wife Beverly, 1845-1913) was a member of Company H 13th Regiment Vermont Volunteers in the Civil War, John was born in Cabot; his death in 1863 was of "typhoid."

Dave's notes indicate that William also owned a home in Cambridge, MA.

As you can see from the newspaper article (St. Johnsbury Caledonian, November 10, 1915), William Dow's notoriety at that date came from his tragic death at the railroad crossing in East Ryegate. Mr. Howard Harris, one of two auto dealership partners in Boston, was driving Mr. Dow in his brand new automobile, purchased two days earlier in Boston. "Neither one had any idea that a train was approaching the crossing and the automobile was nearly over the track when it was struck near the rear wheel by the engine," the newspaper reported. A train, presumably the next one along the tracks, brought Mr. Dow to St. Johnsbury, and he was treated at Brightlook Hospital for concussion, by "Drs. Ross and Fitch," who failed to find other injuries; he did not survive the next day, dying of heart failure.

In addition to its ties to Waterford and Passumpic (presumably where the house in the photo stood) and St. Johnsbury, this material connected to today's Dow family in the region. William Dow's paternal ancestry goes to Joseph Down 1822-1905, Jacob Dow 1776-1831, Ebenezer Dow 1737-1817, John Dow 1695-1738, Thomas Dow 1653 (born in Hampton NH)-1728, Henry Dow Jr, 1615-1657. [Henry Dow Jr., in the small world of northern New England ancestry, is one of my 10-great grandfathers.]

An additional newspaper article in the St. Johnsbury Republican, also on November 10, 1915, adds that the car was a Regal; that William and Mary (who came from Littleton, N.H.) had an adopted son Earl Dow of Littleton); and that relatives called to town for the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. John Bacon of Danville (Mrs. Bacon was William's sister), Mr. and Mrs. George Smith of Littleton, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Smith of Hardwick, and Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Smith of Passumpsic, as well as A. J. Richardson and family of Littleton. William Dow's surviving brothers were Edward Dow of South Dakota and Dexter Dow, "whose whereabouts are unknown."


 


Friday, October 28, 2022

A West Waterford Letter from 1902

 "West Waterford" existed as a significant village of Waterford beginning just before the Civil War, when 55 years of settlement created new generations and prosperous business.

Until the middle of the 20th century, post offices in Waterford took up space in the home of whoever the postmaster was at the time. Here is the history of the West Waterford post office, which must have spent many years in the home of Amos B. Carpenter and his wife Cosbi, then their daughter-in-law Mabel:

West Waterford, Caledonia County, Vermont
Established on January 5, 1856
Discontinued on February 28, 1902 (mail to Saint Johnsburg) [sic]
Reestablished on April 8, 1902
Discontinued on June 30, 1905 (mail to Saint Johnsburg) [sic]

Postmasters                  Appointment Dates
                               Through June 30, 1905

Amos B. Carpenter      January 5, 1856
James W. Curtis           April 21, 1862
Amos B. Carpenter      October 31, 1862
Edwin L. Hovey          December 11, 1863
Amos B. Carpenter      August 25, 1864
Cosbi B. Carpenter      August 13, 1884
Cosbi B. Carpenter (Reappointed)    April 8, 1902
Mabel H. Carpenter       July 16, 1903

The shift of West Waterford mail to St. Johnsbury (as it's spelled now) remains in force, a result of how mail was sorted and how carrier routes were laid out.

I purchased this letter from a dealer who specialized in postmarks, so his interest lay in the posted date, January 1902, about five weeks before the first closing of the West Waterford post office. Mabel (Hovey) Carpenter wrote the letter, to Ezra Carpenter, who was in Boston at the time. The letter is now in the hands of the Carpenter family, who maintain a residence in Waterford.



Transcription:

W. Waterford, Vt.

Jan. 21, 1902

My Dear Ned,

    I wonder what you are doing this morning and if it is pleasant in Boston. Up here we are having a snowstorm & I guess we shall have quite a fall by the way it has started.

    Father got home pretty cold last night but he was very happy for everybody signed his paper, Barton Works included, though he had quite a time to get him. He has gone again today.

    I let the children take their dinner so we won't have many to dinner.

    How is your cold? Please be careful and don't take more.

    Miner [Ezra's brother] says there were about sixty down to Frank's and they had a good time.. I didn't go. Miner didn't say a word about how I was to get there & of course I wouldn't to him, but I did think that if Mary had been in my place and she wanted to go you would see that she went. I guess it is just as well for I can hardly wag (excuse the slang) this morning.

    When I went to bed last night I put Miner H. [her son] into my bed. He woke up enough to realize and said "Me over here."

    He laid just as still as a mouse all night. 

    Miss Everding's certificate [probably a teaching certificate] came last night and I sent it to Mr. Taylor today with a letter. Osgood sent a big check and I have sent that over. Will send a letter and Osgood's statement. Miner thinks he is cutting it awfully.

    I must not write more, the dinner needs my attention.

    Much love to my Ned.

            Mabel H. Carpenter


Two years later, Mabel became a widow; the 1910 Census shows her renting a home in St. Johnsbury with her six children.


Friday, July 29, 2022

Three Generations of Adams, Blodgett, and Ladd Descendants

To make sure these photos don't vanish, here they are for remembering the pleasure of the July 12 visit to Waterford from this family -- we all met for nibbles and photo sharing at the Waterford Town Office, then collaboratively (with Helen and Beth) annotated a map so the Johnson and Brown families could drive around town for the day, visiting locations of meaning to their ancestors.





Saturday, July 23, 2022