History of Lyndon, (Caledonia County) Vermont United States of America

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Biographies:

Elizabeth Thompson, philanthropist, was born at Lyndon, Vt., Feb. 21, 1821; daughter of Samuel Rowell, and a descendant of Hannah Duston . Her father, a farmer and hunter, was unable to give his children educational advantages, and Elizabeth was obliged at an early age to aid in her own support, engaging in domestic service. She visited Boston, Mass., in 1843, where she met Thomas Thompson, a millionaire and philanthropist, to whom she was married in 1844. After his death in 1869, she came into full possession of his property, which was bequeathed her as a life-estate and thereafter to be used "for or towards the relief and support" of needy working women in the towns of Brattleboro. Mrs. Thompson's charities include large contributions to the causes of woman suffrage and of temperance; financial aid to the unfortunate heads of families, and $10,000 to the investigation of yellow fever. She originated and financed a song-service for the poor in the principal cities of the country; founded the town Longmont, Col., in 1871, continuing actively interested in its progress up to the time of her death, and gave 640 acres and $300 each to the colonists of Saline county, Kansas. Among her other generosities are a contribution to the purchase of the Vassar college telescope; a building to the Concord summer school of philosophy; $1000 to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1883, being chosen its first patron; and also $25,000 to the trustees of the latter association in 1885, the trust to be called the "Elizabeth Thompson science fund." She also purchased "The Signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Lincoln in the Presence of his Cabinet," painted by Francis B. Carpenter , and presented it to congress, for which favor she received the thanks of congress and was granted the privilege of the floor, an honor which no other woman ever received. She was president of the Woman's Memorial Fund association. She died in Littleton, N.H., July 21, 1899.

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

Francis Southack Hoyt, educator and editor, was born in Lyndon, Vt., Nov. 5, 1822; son of Benjamin Ray and Lucinda (Freeman) Hoyt; grandson of Benjamin and Lydia (Joslyn) Hoyt, born in Massachusetts, and died in Craftsbury, Vt., and probably a descendant of John Hoyt, 1640. He was graduated at Wesleyan university in 1844; became a clergyman in the Methodist Episcopal church, and served as teacher and pastor in New England, 1844-48. In 1848 he removed to Salem, Ore. He was president of Willamette university, Salem, Ore., 1855-60; professor of chemistry and natural history in Ohio Wesleyan university, 1860-66; and Chrisman professor of Biblical literature, 1866-72, editor of the Western Christian Advocate at Cincinnati, Ohio, 1872-84; delegate to the Methodist ecumenical conference, 1881; delegate to the general conference, 1860, 1872, 1876, 1880 and 1884, and presiding elder, 1884-96. He received the degree of D.D. from Baldwin university in 1869 and from Ohio Wesleyan university in 1873, and was president of the board of trustees of Baldwin university, Berea, Ohio, 1885-1900. He edited Angus's Bible Hand Book (1868).

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