History of Shaftsbury, (Bennington County) Vermont United States of America

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Biographies:

Heman Dyer, clergyman, was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., Sept. 24, 1810; son of Henry and Sarah (Coy) Dyer; grandson of Edward and Elizabeth (Fish) Dyer, and a descendant of William an d Mary Dyre. William Dyre was one of the eighteen original owners of the state of Rhode Island, and his wife was hanged on Boston Common, June 1, 1660, for her Quaker faith. He was graduated from Kenyon college, Ohio, in 1838, and was later ordained a Protestant Episcopal clergyman. In 1840 he became principal of a school in Pittsburg, Pa., resigning in 1843 to accept a chair in the Western university of Pennsylvania, of which institution he became president in 1844. In 1849 he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., where he was employed by the American Sunday school union and soon afterward became secretary and general manager of the Evangelical knowledge society in New York. In 1854 he was made editor of the Episcopal Quarterly Review, and in 1860 declined the bishopric of Kansas. He became a member of the board of missions in 1868, and in 1880 retired from active work. He was married in 1850, to Cornelia Catherine, daughter of Arad Joy. Trinity gave him the degree of D.D. in 1843. He is the author of: Voice of the Lord upon the Waters (1870); Record of an Active Life (1886). He died in New York city, July 29, 1900.

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

Jacob Merritt Horward, senator, was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., July 10, 1805; seventh in descent from William Howard, the immigrant, who settled in Braintree, Mass., in 1635. He was brought up on his father's farm, prepared for college at the academies at Bennington and Brattleboro, and was graduated at Williams college in 1830. His tuition was paid out of his earnings as teacher of district schools. He taught at an academy in Massachusetts in 1830-31; removed to Michigan in 1832; studied law in Detroit, and was admitted to the bar in 1833. He was married in 1835 to Catherine A. Shaw, of Ware, Mass. He was a representative in the Michigan legislature in 1838; a representative in the 27th congress, 1841-43; attorney-general of Michigan, 1855-60; U.S. senator to fill the unexpired term of Kinsley S. Bingham, deceased, 1862-65, and by re-election, 1865-71. He was chairman of the ordnance committee and a member of other prominent senate committees. He drew up the platform of the convention made up of Whigs and Freesoilers, assembled at Jackson, Mich., July 6, 1854, which gave birth to the Republican party, and he is accredited with having named the new party. He was a delegate to the Loyalists' convention of 1866 at Philadelphia. Williams college conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. in 1866. He published a Translation from the French of the Secret Memoirs of the Empress Josephine (1847). He died in Detroit, Mich., April 2, 1871.

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

Henry Olin, justice, was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., May 6, 1768; son of Justin and Sarah (Dwin-nell) Olin; grandson of John and Susanna (Pierce) Olin, and a descendant of John Olin, probably of Huguenot descent, who came from Wales to America about 1678, and to East Greenwich, R.I., about 1700. Henry Olin received a common school education; was married in 1788 to Lois Richardson, and became a resident of Leicester in 1788. He represented his town in the state legislature, 1799-1825, except while serving on the governor's council, 1820-21; was assistant judge of the county court, 1801-09, and chief judge, 1809-24. He was a delegate to the state constitutional conventions of 1814, 1822 and 1828. In 1824 he was elected a representative in the 18th congress to fill the unexpired term of Charles Rich, who died, Oct. 15, 1824, and served, 1824-25. He was lieutenant-governor of Vermont, 1828-31. He died in Salisbury, Vt., in August, 1837.

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