Bennington

ORVIS, Franklin Henry

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 289-290 
(portrait p 289)

Franklin Henry ORVIS, of Manchester [Bennington County, Vermont], was born 12 
July 1824, and is the eldest child of Levi Church and Electa Sophia (PURDY) 
ORVIS. His father, Levi Church ORVIS, and grandfather, Waitstill ORVIS, were 
likewise natives of Vermont, though born east of the mountains. His mother 
was descended from Reuben PURDY, who will be remembered as the head of one of 
the oldest and most highly respected pioneer families of the town of 
Manchester. Levi Church ORVIS came to Manchester about 1820, living for a 
time in the family of Ephraim MUNSON, and attended Hill's School. Shortly 
afterward he married Electa Sophia PURDY. He [Levi Church ORVIS] was engaged 
in the mercantile and marble business at Manchester up to the time of his 
death in 1849.

It was in his father's store that Franklin Henry ORVIS obtained his early 
business training. He was educated in the common schools of the town, and at 
the Barr Seminary, and the Union Village Academy of Greenwich [Washington 
County], New York, from which last institution he graduated in 1842, being 
then eighteen years of age. The next two years were passed in Wisconsin and 
Illinois in mercantile pursuits, but in 1844 he went to New York City as a 
clerk in the wholesale dry goods home of Marsh & Willis, which position he 
held about two years. In 1846 Mr. ORVIS, in association with Elijah M. 
CARRINGTON, formerly of Poultney [Rutland County, Vermont], under the firm 
name of Carrington & Orvis, engaged in the wholesale dry goods business, 
which he continued until about 1860, when he retired to give his whole 
attention to the hotel which he had established some eight years before. But 
the Equinox of Manchester, as is very well known, has been conducted as a 
summer resort exclusively; therefore when Mr. ORVIS withdrew from his 
occupation in New York City, the winter months became to him a season of 
comparative inactivity, except during the period of his connection with the 
"Manchester Journal," which paper he purchased in 1871, and continued with 
gratifying success.

In 1872 Mr. ORVIS became the proprietor of the St. James Hotel at 
Jacksonville [Duval County], Florida, which he conducted as a winter resort. 
In 1875 he purchased the Putnam House at Palatka [Putnam County], Florida, 
enlarged it and continued its management until it was destroyed by fire in 
November 1884. In 1880 Mr. ORVIS leased the Windsor at Jacksonville, 
conducting this and the Putnam at Palatka until the latter was burned, since 
which the Windsor has occupied his time during the winter, and the Equinox at 
Manchester during the summer. The successful conduct of a large hotel calls 
for as much of tact and good judgment as the management of any other 
extensive enterprise. These necessary traits and qualifications are 
possessed by Mr. ORVIS in an abundant degree; and while to him is due the 
credit of having built up these large enterprises, and made for them a 
reputation second to none in the country, acknowledgment should be made of 
the efficient assistance rendered by his sons, who have inherited much of the 
business thrift and energy of their father. On 17 November 1852 he [Franklin 
Henry ORVIS] was married to Sarah M., daughter of Paul and Sarah R. WHITIN, 
of Whitinsville [Worcester County], Massachusetts. Six children are the 
fruit of this union.

It will seem from the foregoing brief resume that the life of Franklin Henry 
ORVIS has been one of busy activity for more than half a century. While he 
has been thus engaged with his business affairs he has nevertheless found 
time to participate in the various events and measures looking to the welfare 
and improvement of his native town. Every enterprise tending to its 
advancement has found in him an earnest advocate, and every worthy charity 
has received from him substantial aid. In the fall of 1869 he was elected to 
the Vermont Senate from Bennington County as the candidate of the Republican 
party, of which party he has been an active member since 1861. In 1892 he 
was again elected to the Vermont Senate for two years. Although now in his 
seventieth year, he is actively engaged as the head of the well known Equinox 
Spring Company, of Manchester.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly