Addison

ROSCOE, Alfred Painter

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 427-429

Alfred Painter ROSCOE was born 26 October 1864 in the town of New Haven 
[Addison County, Vermont], where he has spent his entire life, son of Alfred 
M. and Orra (BINGHAM) ROSCOE.] Throughout his entire business career Alfred 
P. ROSCOE has been an active factor in the public affairs of Addison County, 
and is widely recognized as a political leader who is laboring honestly for 
the success of his party [which is not named in this biography]. Close study 
has given him a keen insight into the important political problems, and he is 
ever actively interested in the issues of the day that affect the national 
weal or woe. [The next sentence raises the question whether his paternal 
grandfather was also named Alfred Painter ROSCOE, or if his middle name was 
different.] His paternal grandfather, Alfred P. ROSCOE, came from New York 
to the Green Mountain state [Vermont], where he was engaged in mercantile 
pursuits until his life's labors ended in death in November 1873, at the age 
of sixty-six years. He served as town clerk, as justice of the peace, as 
auditor, and three times represented his town in the [Vermont] Legislature. 
He [the grandfather named Alfred P. ROSCOE, not the subject] married Miss 
Elvira LADD, of Monkton [Addison County, Vermont], and they became the 
parents of two sons and one daughter, (1) ---- Mary, who married J. G. 
WELLINGTON, cashier of the Bank of Middlebury for many years; (2) Alfred M., 
mentioned below; and (3) Henry C., a merchant of New Haven [Addison County, 
Vermont. The mother of these children [Elvira (LADD) ROSCOE] died at the 
early age of thirty-three years, passing away in the faith of the 
Congregational church, of which she was long a valued member.

Alfred M. ROSCOE [father of the subject] was born 07 October 1836 in Monkton, 
[Addison County], Vermont, and received his education in the schools of 
Manchester [Bennington County], Vermont, and Fort Edward [Washington County], 
New York. After completing his education he entered his father's store as 
clerk and later was admitted to a partnership in the business, thus 
continuing for a number of years, their business being conducted under the 
name of A. P. Roscoe & Son. Later A. M. ROSCOE carried on the business with 
his brother [Henry C. ROSCOE], the firm name then being Roscoe Brothers, and 
they were extensively engaged in the general trade of country merchants. 
This partnership was subsequently dissolved, after which Mr. [Alfred M.] 
ROSCOE engaged in farming. Subsequently he [Alfred M. ROSCOE] repurchased 
the business, in partnership with E. S. LEAVENWORTH, and in the spring of 
1881 he bought Mr. LEAVENWORTH's interest, thereafter continuing business 
alone until his [Alfred M. ROSCOE's] death, which occurred 08 February 1885, 
at the age of forty-eight years. He [Alfred M. ROSCOE] was married in 
January 1859 to [Miss] Orra BINGHAM, who was born 07 September 1833 in 
Granville [Addison County], Vermont, a daughter of Lucius and Lovina (RIFORD) 
BINGHAM, the former [Lucius BINGHAM] a native of Cornwall [Addison County], 
and the latter [Lovina RIFORD] of Braintree [Orange County], Vermont, born 21 
July 1801.

Mr. and Mrs. BINGHAM [Lucius and Lovina (RIFORD) BINGHAM] had the following 
children: (1) Mary J., now [this biography published in 1903] the widow of 
Joseph BOWDISH, residing in Middlebury [Addison County, Vermont]; (2) Orra, 
the wife of Alfred M. ROSCOE [more correctly the widow of Alfred M. ROSCOE, 
since it is stated above he died in 1885]; (3) Christina L., widow of Daniel 
C. STEELE, of Lebanon [Grafton County], New Hampshire; (4) Ellen L., the 
widow of O. M. CHAPIN and a resident of Bristol [Addison County, Vermont]; 
(5) Adeline, the wife of E. W. BIRD, of Middlebury [Vermont]; and (6) 
Chauncey J., also of that town [Middlebury, Vermont]. The mother of these 
children [still named Lovina (RIFORD) BINGHAM or remarried?] was called to 
her final rest 31 January 1874, at the age of seventy-two years. [Note from 
Lucius BINGHAM's date of death (which follows in the next sentence) that his 
widow, Mrs. Lovina (RIFORD) BINGHAM, would have been (by calculation from her 
given birthdate, assumed by submitter to be correct) forty-nine years of age 
when Lucius BINGHAM died, and thus it cannot be assumed she was never 
remarried and died as "Mrs. Lovina (RIFORD) BINGHAM," as the biography does 
not specifically name her as such at the time of her death.] The father 
[Lucius BINGHAM], who was engaged in farming in Cornwall [Addison County, 
Vermont] and Warren [Washington County, Vermont] during the greater part of 
his life, died 11 March 1851, at the age of forty-seven years. He [Lucius 
BINGHAM] was born 03 April 1804, and was long a valued member of the 
Congregational church.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. ROSCOE [Alfred M. and Orra (BINGHAM) ROSCOE] became the 
parents of five children, four of whom are still living: (1) Mary E., of 
New Haven [Addison County, Vermont]; (2) Alfred P., of this review; (3) 
Kate R., the wife of William W. WARREN, of Springfield [Hampden County], 
Massachusetts; and (4) Edward M., principal of the high school at Waterbury 
[Washington County], Vermont. One son, (5) Henry, died at the age of seven 
years, and the mother [Orra (BINGHAM) ROSCOE] passed away 25 February 1902, 
at the age of sixty-eight years. Mr. [Alfred M.] ROSCOE held the office of 
town clerk for a number of years, was a member and for a time chairman of the 
board of listers, was a delegate to county conventions, represented his town 
in the legislature of 1876, and was a very prominent man in his locality. He 
[Alfred M. ROSCOE] died 08 February 1885.

Alfred P. ROSCOE became a student in the Bennington Academy, at New Haven 
[Addison County, Vermont], but on account of ill health was obliged to leave 
the instruction at the age of sixteen years, and he then entered the local 
post office in the capacity of clerk. From 01 March 1885 until 15 June 1886, 
he was the postmaster at New Haven and in 1887 was made town clerk, being 
since re-elected to that position each year to the present time [1903], the 
first year by ballot and afterward by acclamation. On 16 December 1893, he 
succeeded H. P. PALMER, deceased, as town treasurer, to which office he has 
also been continuously re-elected, his term of service now covering ten 
years. In 1889 he was again called to the office of postmaster of New Haven, 
serving four years, and again on 01 July 1897, and in 1901. Mr. [Alfred P.] 
ROSCOE has also been called upon to represent his town in the legislature, 
being elected to that important office in 1896, when not a single ballot was 
cast against him. He has served as a delegate to county and state 
conventions, was chairman of the delegation to the state convention in 1898, 
and again in 1902 at the convention which nominated McCULLOUGH for the office 
of governor. For a number of years he filled the position of justice of the 
peace, and at the present time is serving as chairman of the town committee. 
As a public official his course has been worthy of commendation, and he ever 
strives to promote the welfare of his fellow men.

In 1897 Mr. [Alfred Painter] ROSCOE [married] Miss Mary A. HATHAWAY; she was 
born in Adams [Berkshire County], Massachusetts, where her father, Rufus B. 
HATHAWAY, is engaged in agricultural pursuits. She [Mary A. HATHAWAY] was 
one of thirteen children, and of these nine are now living: Harriet, a 
teacher in North Adams, Vermont [should be North Adams, Berkshire County, 
Massachusetts]; Annie M.; Ida B., wife of H. Clarence PARSONS, of Fairfield 
[Hampden County], Massachusetts; Mary A., the wife of our subject; Edward; 
Ella F.; Arthur; Elizabeth; and Daniel. Both Mr. and Mrs. [Rufus B.] 
HATHAWAY are still living. The latter was born 28 May 1833, her [Mrs. Rufus 
B. HATHAWAY's] maiden name being Annie BRATTON. Mr. [Rufus B.] HATHAWAY was 
born 03 July 1832, on the farm where he now resides.

Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. ROSCOE [Alfred Painter and Mary A. 
(HATHAWAY) ROSCOE], one survives, Alfred Mortimer ROSCOE, born 24 April 1901. 
Mr. [Alfred Painter] ROSCOE is a member of the Addison Agricultural 
Association, of which he served as assistant secretary many years, and from 
1897 to January 1903, was its efficient treasurer. His religious views 
connect him with the Congregational church, in which he is also holding the 
office of treasurer, and he has always been interested in the promotion of 
education and religion and the welfare of the community at large.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly