History of Townshend, (Windham County) Vermont United States of America

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Biographies:

Alonzo Gray, educator, was born in Townsend, Vt., Feb. 21, 1808. He was graduated at Amherst college, A.B. 1834, A.M. 1837; and from the Andover theological seminary in 1838. He taught the natural sciences in Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., 1837-43; filled the chair of chemistry in Marietta college, 1844-45; and taught in the Brooklyn Heights female academy, 1845-51. In 1851 he established the Brooklyn Heights female seminary, which he conducted for the remainder of his life. The honorary degree of LL.D. was given him by Ingham university in 1856. He is the author of: Elements of Chemistry (1841, 40th ed., 1853); Elements of Scientific and Practical Agriculture (1842); Elements of Natural Philosophy (1851); and in collaboration with Charles B. Adams, Elements of Geology (1852). He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., March 10, 1860.

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

Ambrose Arnold Ranney, representative, was born in Townshend, Vt., April 17, 1821; son of Dr. Waitstill R. and Phoebe (Atwood) Ranney; grandson of Waitstill and Abigail (Harlow) Ranney and a descendant of Thomas Ranney (born in Scotland, 1616, and one of the first settlers of Middletown, Conn.), and Mary (Hubbard) Ranney. His father was a leading farmer and physician of Windham county, and lieutenant governor of Vermont for two terms. Ambrose attended Townshend academy and was graduated from Dartmouth college, N.H., in 1844. He was principal of Chester academy, 1844?46; studied law with Andrew Tracy at Woodstock, Vt.; was admitted to the bar in 1848, and after teaching in the Brimmer Street school for some months, began practice in Boston. He was city solicitor, 1855?57; a representative in the state legislature in 1857, 1863 and 1864, and was a Republican representative from the third district in the 47th, 48th and 49th congresses, 1881?87, serving as chairman of special committees on the pan-electric schemes. He was married, Dec. 4, 1850 to Maria D., daughter of Addison and Maria (Ingals) Fletcher, and his only son, Fletcher, became his law partner. He died in Boston, Mass., March 5, 1899.

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