Caledonia

BRIDGMAN, Dorman, Jr. & John

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 42 
(portrait p 42)

Dorman BRIDGMAN, Jr., of Hardwick, was born 07 February 1837 in Hardwick 
[Caledonia County, Vermont], son of Dorman and Achsah (MITCHELL) BRIDGMAN. 
His grandfather, Capt. John BRIDGMEN, was the first settler (1795) in the 
southern part of the town, where he cleared the farm on which his son was 
born, and which has always remained in the family. The son was the first 
postmaster of Hardwick and the first and most prominent merchant of the 
place. Both Capt. John and Dorman, Sr., were prominently identified with the 
business interests of the town. The former was a volunteer at Plattsburg 
[Plattsburgh, New York] in the War of 1812, and in addition to his 
agricultural pursuits was an innkeeper, furnishing good entertainment for man 
and beast at the homestead farm under the sign of the "Half Moon and Dove," 
A. D. 1800.

Dorman BRIDGMAN, Jr., received the customary education at the public schools, 
then attended Hardwick and afterwards the People's Academy at Morrisville 
[Lamoille County, Vermont]. After teaching several terms in various towns, 
the California gold fever seized him in 1858, and he started for Pike's Peak. 
In 1860 he returned to Hardwick and employed himself as proprietor of the 
hotel in that place until 1862, when his father took the house, the son 
retiring to the paternal farm, where he remained for five years, then 
purchased an estate in Woodbury [Washington County, Vermont]. In 1879 he 
engaged with M. E. TUCKER in the lumber business and erected a mill in 
Mackville [Caledonia County, Vermont], where he remained until 1886, when he 
returned to Hardwick village.

Since his return he has occupied himself principally in the advancement of 
the material interests and prosperity of the village, the rapid growth of 
which is largely attributed to him. During this time he has been chosen to 
different town and village offices, and is at the present time (1893) 
chairman of the board of selectmen and justice of the peace of the town. He 
was largely interested in securing the incorporation of the village in 1890, 
and was elected its first president; and again in 1892-1893. He has been at 
various times Democratic candidate for town representative, polling very much 
more than the party vote. 

In November 1860 he [Dorman BRIDGMAN, Jr.] was untied in marriage to Jennie 
R., daughter of George and Eliza (RENFREW) WHITCHER, of Albany [Orleans 
County, Vermont]. Mr. BRIDGMAN early interested himself in the establishment 
of the Hardwick Savings Bank & Trust Company, organized in July 1893, and is 
at present a director and one of its largest stockholders. 

[The following reference to John C. BRIDGEMAN, grandfather of Dorman 
BRIDGMAN, Jr., was extracted from a section on the history of Hardwick in: 
Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, page 333.] Capt. John C. 
BRIDGEMAN [note variation in spelling of surname], from Coventry [Tolland 
County], Connecticut, to Hardwick [Caledonia County, Vermont], the first 
settler in the south part of the town [Hardwick], served the town in 
different ways. Was a very kind man to his friends, and in his family. 
[Bracketed material added by submitter, who is not researching these 
surnames, to support or clarify information given in the biography.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly