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

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Biographies:

William Pitt Kellogg, governor of Louisiana, was born at Orwell, Vt., Dec. 8, 1831; son of the Rev. Sherman and Rebecca (Eaton) Kellogg; grandson of Saxton and Sallie (Fuller) Kellogg, and a descendant of Benjamin Franklin on his father's side. His grandmother on his mother's side, Harriet Charter, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a cadet of the class of 1847, Norwich university, but did not graduate; removed to Peoria, Ill., in 1850; read law with Judge E.G. Johnson; was admitted to the bar and practised in Fulton county until 1861. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1856 and 1860, and a Republican presidential elector for Illinois in 1860. President Lincoln appointed him chief justice of Nebraska Territory in March, 1861, but he returned to Illinois in August of that year and raised the 7th Illinois cavalry, of which regiment he was commissioned colonel by Governor Yates. He was for several months in command of the military station at Cape Girardeau, Mo.; served under General Pope until the evacuation of Fort Thompson; commanded a cavalry brigade at Corinth, Farmington and Grand Junction, and leaving the army on account of ill-health in 1863, returned to the position of chief justice of Nebraska, resigning in January, 1863. He was appointed collector of the port of New Orleans, April 14, 1865, and his commission was signed by President Lincoln the same day he was assassinated. He was married, June 6, 1865, to Mary E., daughter of Andrew Wills, of Canton, Ill. He served as collector until July, 1868, when he was elected to the U.S. senate. In 1872 he was nominated for governor of Louisiana by the Republican party, and elected in November of that year. A bitter struggle ensued with the Democratic party, which claimed the election of John McEnery. Two legislatures convened and both candidates were inaugurated, Jan. 14, 1873, and a dual government instituted. The controversy was finally settled by the passage of a joint resolution of both houses of congress recognizing Mr. Kellogg as the legal as well as the de facto governor. His term of office expired, Jan. 8, 1877, and Jan. 17, 1877, he was elected by his party to the U.S. senate for the term expiring March 3, 1883. He was also a representative front the third Louisiana district in the 48th congress, 1883-85, and was a delegate from Louisiana to every Republican national convention from 1868 to 1900, inclusive. He became connected with sugar-planting enterprises in Louisiana, and large real-estate interests in Washington, D.C., and divided his time and residence between the two places.

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

Nathaniel Colver, clergyman, was born in Orwell, Vt., May 10, 1794; son of the Rev. Nathaniel Colver, a pioneer Baptist clergyman, who removed to Champlain, N.Y., where the son acquired his elementary education. In 1809 he removed with the family to West Stockbridge, Mass., where he studied for the ministry. He served churches at Clarendon, Vt., and Fort Covington, Kingsbury, Fort Ann and Union Village, N.Y. In 1839 he was called to Boston, Mass., where, with Timothy Gilbert, he organized the church afterward known as Tremont Temple. He labored in that church with a success unique in the history of the Boston pulpits until 1852, when he took charge of the church at South Abington. He was pastor of the First Baptist church, Detroit, Mich., from 1858 until 1856, when he became pastor of the First church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and while in the latter city organized a class of young men and instructed them regularly in theology. He was pastor of the Tabernacle, afterward the Second Church, Chicago, 1861-67; founded in Richnmnd, Va., the Colver institute for educating young colored men for the ministry, was its president from 1867 until 1870, when he returned to Chicago and made the beginning toward the organization of the Richmond theological seminary, in which he declined the chair of doctrinal theology. Denison university conferred upon him the degree of D.D. in 1857. He died in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 25, 1870.

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

Marsena Edgar Cutts, representative, was born in Orwell, Vt., May 22, 1833; son of Edward and Eliza (Messer) Cutts; and grandson of Thomas and Abigail (Bscom) Cutts. He was educated at the academy at Brandon, Vt., and at Potsdam, N.Y., and in 1855 removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was admitted to the bar and became prosecuting attorney of Poweshiek county. In 1861 he was elected a representative in the state legislature; was a state senator, 1864-66; and again a state representative, 1870-72. He was at-torney-general of the state, 1872-77, and a representative in the 47th congress, but was unseated in a contest with John C. Cook in 1883. He was re-elected to the 48th congress, 1883-85, but died before taking his seat. His death occurred at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Sept. 1, 1883.

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