Vermont

Biography of Arthur Berkmere Richards

Arthur Berkmere Richards, born May 23, 1864, in Cummington, Connecticut, was a prominent figure in the meat trade and later a dairy farmer in South Amherst, Massachusetts. His ancestry traces back to William Richards, an early American settler. Arthur inherited a thriving meat business and expanded it significantly. He also owned extensive farmland, selling milk directly to customers. A Congregationalist, he had two marriages and children from his first wife, Vesta D. Packard, and second wife, Nettie Minerva Gardner.

Biography of Perley Oscar Folsom

Perley Oscar Folsom, born March 28, 1882, in Marshfield, Vermont, was a prominent figure in business and politics in Cushman, Massachusetts. His lineage traces back to John Foulsham, an early settler in America, who arrived from England in 1638. Perley was educated in Montpelier and pursued a career in railroading, becoming a station agent and postmaster. He was also active in various Masonic organizations and community services. Folsom married Ethel King in 1916, further establishing his roots in the region.

Biography of Orland Jonas Brown, M.D.

Dr. Orland Jonas Brown, born on February 2, 1848, in Whitingham, Vermont, has been a prominent physician in North Adams since 1870. Educated in medicine at Bellevue Hospital Medical College and the University of Vermont, he has made significant contributions to his community through various roles, including health officer, state legislator, and militia surgeon, retiring as lieutenant-colonel. Active in local civic life, he has held numerous positions within medical and community organizations, while also serving in the Universalist Church. Brown’s legacy includes three marriages and several children, highlighting both personal and professional commitments.

Biography of Fred M. Myers

Fred M. Myers, born April 15, 1888, in Pownal, Vermont, is a distinguished attorney primarily based in Pittsfield. After graduating second in his class from Williams College in 1909 and from Harvard Law School in 1912, he began his legal career alongside Clarence P. Niles. Following Niles’ death, Myers formed a partnership with Frank H. Cande and later, Walter C. Kellogg. An active member of his community, he also serves as special justice of the District Court of Central Berkshire. He married Ethel May Murgittroyd in 1921.

Biography of Rufus Walker

Rufus Walker, born on December 10, 1839, in Vermont, was the youngest of eleven children in a shoemaking family. After his father’s death, he moved to Rock Island County in 1860, where he worked in a general store before purchasing it in 1864. He later established a lumber business and played a key role in developing Reynolds, Illinois. In 1882, he married Jane Edgington and had four children. Walker built a successful coal and fuel business in Moline, earning a reputation for integrity and skill in his community.

Biography of Henry A. Ainsworth

Henry A. Ainsworth, born in Vermont in 1833, moved to Moline, Illinois in 1870 and became a key figure in the community. He served as president of the Moline Trust and Savings Bank and the Williams White Company, significantly contributing to local industry. Ainsworth was involved in public affairs, holding positions such as state senator and member of the state board of equalization. A devoted family man, he was married twice and remained an active member of the First Congregational Church and local fraternal organizations.

Biography of Hon. E. D. Shattuck

Hon. E.D. Shattuck has been a significant figure in Oregon’s public affairs for over thirty years, recognized for his integrity and commitment to justice. Born in Vermont in 1824, he pursued a career in law after teaching and practicing various roles in education. Shattuck held numerous judicial positions, including judge of the supreme and circuit courts, and remained active in civic duties in Portland. While politically independent, he shifted affiliations throughout his career. His dedication and uprightness have made him a respected member of the legal community.

Biography of Judge John W. Spencer

Judge John W. Spencer, born on July 25, 1801, in Vermont, was a pioneer of Rock Island County, Illinois. After moving east of the Mississippi River in 1820, he played a significant role in the region’s early history. He served as the first judge of Rock Island County, participated in the Black Hawk War, and was a member of the board of county commissioners. A devout Christian and community leader, Spencer’s legacy endures through his descendants and his contributions to the formation of local governance and infrastructure. He died on February 20, 1878.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Carpenter

Charles Carpenter was born on February 1, 1838, in Chattendon County, Vermont. In 1851, his family moved to Franklin County, New York, where he completed his education. He traveled to California in 1859, then worked various jobs, including teaching. In 1864, he moved to British Columbia and later joined his brother in railroad construction. By 1868, he settled on a ranch in Eastern Washington, where he successfully engaged in hop-culture. He married Lena Webber and had five children, establishing himself as a prominent farmer in the region.

Biography of W. L. Adams A.M., M.D.

W. L. Adams, A.M., M.D., born in Ohio in 1821, was a significant pioneer in the settlement of Oregon, journeying across the plains in 1848 with an ox team. Overcoming numerous challenges, he established himself as a respected educator and leader against pro-slavery initiatives, contributing significantly to Oregon’s Republican Party. His talents as a writer, politician, and physician gained him recognition and appointments, including collector of customs under President Lincoln. A devout family man, Adams remained active in various pursuits, advocating for freedom and education throughout his life.

Biographical Sketch of John H. Boyce

John H. Boyce, born in Vermont in 1832, journeyed to California via Cape Horn in 1850. His career spanned mining, freighting, and ranching across several states, including California, Nevada, and Oregon. Notably, he worked as a teamster and later owned a prairie-schooner, amassing wealth sufficient to purchase a farm in Umatilla meadows. However, hardships included a harsh winter that devastated his cattle. Despite challenges, Boyce remained actively engaged in his community during turbulent times.

Biography of Hon. Albert Briggs

Hon. Albert Briggs, born on August 26, 1813, in Vermont, exemplified the pioneering spirit of the Pacific coast. After moving through several states, he and his family journeyed to Oregon in 1847, eventually settling in what is now Port Townsend, Washington. A skilled carpenter, Briggs thrived in farming and held various public offices, including county superintendent of schools and probate judge. Married to Isabel Cook for over fifty years, Briggs faced personal loss when she passed away in 1888. He left a lasting legacy in the region.

Biography of William Billings

William Billings, born in Ripton, Vermont in 1827, embarked on a diverse career that included sailing, mining, and logging. After moving to Washington Territory in 1849, he became involved in various enterprises, including a failed gold prospecting expedition. During the 1855 war, he served as a soldier. Billings entered politics in 1860 as the first Republican sheriff of Thurston County and continued to serve in various capacities, including positions on Indian reservations, demonstrating his adaptability and commitment to public service while raising a family of five.

Biography of L. B. Hastings

L.B. Hastings, a pioneer of Portland and Port Townsend, played a crucial role in the development of these cities in the mid-19th century. After arriving in Oregon in 1847 with a group of immigrants, he established a log cabin and ventured into various businesses, including supplying troops and mining in California. Ultimately settling in Port Townsend, he became a prominent merchant and public servant, holding roles such as sheriff and probate judge. Hastings, born in Vermont in 1814, passed away in 1882, leaving a legacy of progress and distinction through his family and endeavors.

Biographical Sketch of Parsons Gleason

Parsons Gleason, born in 1799 in Vermont, is a distinguished pioneer. He moved to Western New York at age six and later journeyed to Indiana, where he spent time with missionaries among the Osage Indians. After returning to Indiana, he married and formed a close bond with W.H. Harrison. In 1851, he migrated to Oregon, settling in Clackamas County at a location initially known as Hard Scrabble. Now at the age of ninety, he has led a long and honorable life.

Abenaki Tribe

The Abenaki Tribe, part of an Algonquian confederacy, was primarily located in present-day Maine and included various subgroups such as the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy. Their history, noted since Verrazano’s visit in 1524, involves interactions with European settlers and conflicts with other tribes. Culturally, they lived in wigwams and practiced agriculture alongside fishing. Their societal structure included war and civil chiefs, and they held beliefs in a dualistic spiritual world. Over time, Abenaki populations diminished, leading many to relocate to Canada.

Biography of Hon. William Strong

Hon. William Strong, born on July 15, 1817, in Vermont, significantly influenced Oregon and Washington’s legal systems through his extensive service as a judge and practicing lawyer. Appointed associate justice of the Oregon Territory’s supreme court in 1849, he navigated complex political and judicial challenges during a transformative era. Strong’s legal acumen and dedication shaped the early courts, while his legislative contributions established foundational laws. After a distinguished career, he retired to Portland, Oregon, where he continued to reflect on his experiences until his death in 1887.