Caledonia

DENISON, George W.

Vermont Historical Magazine, No XI, October 1867, pp 307-308

Hon. George W. DENISON, M. D., was born 16 October 1779 in Hartland [Windsor 
County, Vermont]. About 1803 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. 
FULLER, of Cavendish [Windsor County, Vermont]; in 1806 went into partnership 
with Dr. FULLER; practiced with him one year; in 1807 moved to Burke 
[Caledonia County, Vermont], and purchased the farm upon which he lived until 
his death. In 1813 at Lyndon [Caledonia County, Vermont] he [Dr. George W. 
DENISON] was married to Miss Sally JENKS. From 1808 to 1813 he was town 
clerk; in 1822 and 1823 town representative; in 1837 one of the assistant 
judges of the County Court, which office he held two years. His wife [Sally 
(JENKS) DENISON] died 25 January 1843. One of their sons is a practicing 
physician in Illinois; another a lawyer of considerable repute in Washington 
Territory, was formerly Judge of the County Court in Los Angeles County, 
California; another is now in California; two remain in their native town, 
one upon the old homestead; another is in Canada; Charles O, deceased, was 
formerly a practicing physician at Lyndon [Caledonia County, Vermont]; and 
Emeline, wife of Dr. Selim NEWELL, lives at St. Johnsbury [Caledonia County, 
Vermont].

Dr. [George W.] DENISON was one who was out of his element unless engaged in 
business. He built several mills in town, and was until his death a large 
landholder, owning large tracts of wild land in several different towns. His 
practice as physician extended over many towns. Physically, the Doctor was a 
model man, six feet and upward, finely proportioned, with a carriage full of 
grace and dignity, and his countenance when at rest was but an index of his 
heart, reflecting all of its loftier attributes, mild and gentle, yet wearing 
the stamp of an iron will that must and would accomplish everything it 
undertook. In his religious sentiments, he looked upon all mankind as 
brothers and sisters, traveling the same highway to one common home, or was a 
Universalist. In his politics he was Republican. In relation to slavery, 
his ideas of justice were to give it no more territory, but confine it within 
its present bounds and let it work its own destruction. He was a capital 
shot. Nothing suited him better, even in his old age, than to take down his 
trusty rifle and try his skill with the young men, and if he succeeded in 
beating them, he would "fat an inch on the rib." He [Dr. George W. DENISON] 
died 04 March 1847.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly