Caledonia

GRANGER, Pliny Nye

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 162-163

Pliny Nye GRANGER, of West Burke [Caledonia County, Vermont], was born 26 
November 1823 in Bethel [Windsor County, Vermont], son of John and Eunice 
(OWEN) GRANGER. Mr. GRANGER's ancestors emigrated from the old country to 
Amherst [Hampshire County], Massachusetts, and Suffield [Hartford County], 
Connecticut. He received his education at the public and private schools of 
Bethel and Woodstock [both in Windsor County]. The family having moved to 
Woodstock when he was seventeen, he assisted his father, who was a carpenter 
and joiner by trade, and afterwards was concerned in the business of a 
butcher until 1845, when a strong desire for adventure induced him to embark 
at New Bedford on a whaling voyage as ship's carpenter. This voyage extended 
through three and a half years.

Returning in the fall of 1848 Mr. [Pliny Nye] GRANGER resumed work at his 
carpenter's bench at which he continued to labor until the spring of 1853, 
when he was admitted to the Methodist Episcopal Conference and immediately 
began to preach in various towns in the state. He continued his duties as 
pastor for twenty years and then assumed the position of agent for the State 
Temperance Society, lecturing all over Vermont and making his residence at 
Peacham [Caledonia County, Vermont]. Returning to his ministerial labors, he 
is now stationed at West Burke. He has always been a successful preacher, 
ever making additions to the societies of which he has had pastoral charge. 
He has had few active revivals but believes in constant regular work.

Mr. GRANGER has been superintendent of schools in the towns of Walden 
[Caledonia County], Holland [Orleans County], and Lyndon [Caledonia County]; 
represented Peacham in the Legislature in 1872; elected senator from 
Caledonia County in 1874; served eight years as commissioner both in Orleans 
and Caledonia County; in 1880 and 1884 was delegate from the Vermont annual 
conference to the General Methodist Episcopal Conference; has been for 
several years trustee of the Vermont Methodist Episcopal Seminary; trustee 
and treasurer of the Preachers' Aid Society; and also served a considerable 
time as steward of the Methodist Episcopal Conference and upon several other 
standing committees of the church. Was presiding elder of St. Albans 
district from 1878 to 1882 and of St. Johnsbury district from 1882 to 1886. 
Has always been a steady advocate of temperance and has been eminent in the 
order of Good Templars; was a charter member of Lodge No. 7; and has served 
as delegate to the Grand Lodge of Vermont and to the Right Grand Lodge when 
it assembled at Detroit, Michigan.

On 28 May 1849 he [Pliny Nye GRANGER] was united in marriage to Sophia, 
daughter of Loring and Susan (METCALF) RICHMOND of Woodstock [Windsor County, 
Vermont]; she [Sophia GRANGER] died 24 December 1878, leaving issue: (1) 
John, deceased; (2) Sarah J., deceased; (3) Guy R.; (4) George H., one of 
a surveying party which went up the Pearl River in 1880 and was never heard 
from; (5) Susan L., Mrs. Harrison McCLACHLIN of Peacham [Caledonia County]; 
and (6) Frank P. [The Pearl River is in Rockland County, New York, across 
the Hudson River from Westchester County, about twenty-five miles northwest 
of New York City near the border of Bergen County, New Jersey, which is also 
part of the New Jersey state line.] On 07 September 1880 Mr. [Pliny Nye] 
GRANGER married his second wife, Ellen E., daughter of Nathaniel P. and Lydia 
(ROLLINS) STEVENS, of Derby [Essex County, Vermont.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly