History of Cornwall, (Addison County) Vermont United States of America

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Biographies:

Orlando Benajah Douglas, physician, was born in Cornwall, Vt., Sept. 12, 1886; son of Amos and Almira (Balcom) Douglas; grandson of Col. Benajah and Saloma (Scott) Douglas, and in the eighth generation from Deacon William Douglas, a native of Scotland who set, tied in Boston, Mass., and New London, Conn. Orlando was a student at Brandon seminary; taught school in Vermont; removed to Brunswick, Mo., where he studied medicine, 1858-61; and served through the civil war in the 18th Missouri volunteers as private, lieutenant, adjutant and assistant adjutant-general of his brigade. After the war he was active in promoting the interests of Sunday schools and Young men's Christian associations in Vermont and Massachusetts and was a member of the International committee, Y.M.C.A., 1869-71. He removed to New York city in 1876, was graduated from the medical department of the University of the city of New York in 1877; was connected with Demilt dispensary, 1877-79; was treasurer of the Medical society of the county of New York, 1879-87, and its president in 1891. He was elected a fellow of the New York academy of medicine, and was its treasurer, 1888-98. He became professor in the N.Y. post-graduate medical school, surgeon to the Manhattan eye and ear hospital, and permanent and honorary member of various medical associations. He was made surgeon of Reno Post, G.A.R.; companion, first-class, of the Loyal Legion, U.S.A.; and a fellow of the American geographical society. He was married in 1864 to Mary A. Rust, who died in 1873. In 1875 he was married to May L., daughter of the Rev. A. C. Manson. His son, Edwin Rust Douglas, born in Brandon, Vt., Sept. 26, 1872, was graduated M.E. and Sc.M. at Harvard in 1898.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Solomon Foot, senator, was born in Cornwall, Vt., Nov. 15, 1802; son of Dr. Solomon and Betsey (Crossett) Foot. His father died in 1811 and the son prepared himself for college between the intervals of farm work and teaching the district school. He was graduated from Middlebury college in 1826. He was preceptor of Castleton academy, 1826-27 and 1828-31; tutor at the University of Vermont, 1827-28; and professor of natural philosophy at the Vermont medical school, Castleton, 1828-31. In 1831 he was admitted to the Vermont bar and established himself in practice in Rutland. He was a state representative in 1833, and again in 1836-38, being speaker of the house in the last two sessions; and was delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1836. He was state's attorney for Rutland county, 1836-42, and was a Whig representative in the 28th and 29th congresses, 1843-47. In 1846 he declined a second re-election and returned to his law practice at Rutland. He served again in the state legislature, 1847 and 1848, and was speaker in 1848. He was elected to the U.S. senate in 1850, and was re-elected in 1856 and 1862. During his congressional career he opposed the policy of the Democratic party in all its measures; and supported high tariff and the abolition of slavery. He defended Representative Giddings, who was assailed on the floor of congress, and by his personal defiance of armed opponents prevented bloodshed. During the civil war he was a Radical in all war measures. After the death of Lincoln he opposed the policy of President Johnson and was a mover for his impeachment. Before the war he was a commissioner with Jefferson Davis to reorganize the course of study and discipline at the U.S. military academy; supervised the enlargement of the capitol and the erection of other government structures, and was chairman of the committee on arrangements for the inauguration of President Lincoln. He was elected president pro tempore of the U.S. senate, Feb. 16, 1861, and held the office by re-election till the close of the 36th congress, March 3, 1861. He was again elected July 18, 1861, and served by successive re-election through the entire 37th and in the first session of the 38th congress up to April 26, 1864. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention of 1864. Senator Foote died in Washington, D.C., March 28, 1866.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Charles Marsh Mead, clergyman, was born in Cornwall, Vt., Jan. 28, 1836; son of Rufus and Anna (James) Mead; grandson of Rufus Mead, and a descendant of John Mead, a native of England, who settled in Greenwich, Conn., about 1650. He was graduated at Middlebury college, Vt., in 1856; taught at Phillips Andover academy, 1856-58, and was a tutor at Middlebury, 1859-60. He was graduated at Andover Theological seminary in 1862; was professor of Hebrew there, 1866-82; studied at the University of Halle, 1863-64, and at the University of Berlin, 1864-66; was ordained to the Congregational ministry in 1866. He was married, Aug. 2, 1867, to Caroline, daughter of Joseph H. and Martha S. Thayer of Boston, Mass., and granddaughter of the Rev. William and Lydia (Haskins) Greencash. He was in Germany, 1882-88; was a lecturer in Princeton Theological seminary in 1889, and resided in Europe, 1889-92. He was Riley professor of Christian theology at Hartford Theological seminary, 1892-98, when he resigned. He was a member of the American committee which co-operated with the English committee in the revision of the Bible as published in 1885, and which edited the American recension of the revision as published in 1901. He received the degree of Ph.D. from the University of T?bingen in 1866, and D.D. from Middlebury college in 1881, and from Princeton university in 1896. He translated Exodus in the American Lange Series (1876) and is the author of: The Soul Here and Hereafter, a Biblical Study (1879); Supernatural Revelation (1889); The Romans Dissected (1891); Christ and Criticism (1893); and numerous theological and philosophical essays.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor