Chittenden

CROMBIE, William Augustus

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 157

William Augustus CROMBIE, New York City, was born 20 April 1844 at New Boston 
[Hillsborough County], New Hampshire, son of Samuel Coolidge and Susan 
Augusta (CHOATE) CROMBIE. At six years of age his parents moved to Nashua 
[Hillsborough County], New Hampshire. Educated at Pinkerton Academy, Derry 
[Rockingham County], New Hampshire, and at Nashua High School. At the age of 
sixteen entered the freight department of the Boston, Lowell & Nashua Railway 
Company, working his way up through the several grades to the position of 
cashier.

After an experience of four years went to Burlington and engaged in the 
lumber business with Mr. Lawrence BARNES. In 1869 Mr. BARNES disposed of his 
interest to a new organization known as Shepard, Davis & Company; in 1876 
this firm was succeeded by the Shepard & Morse Lumber Company, in which Mr. 
CROMBIE was a large owner and local manager. While in Burlington he was 
largely interested in local business, and gave a great deal of his time and 
money to the business of the Burlington Shade Roller Company, Porter 
Manufacturing Company, Baldwin Refrigerator Company, and other industries.

In 1868 he [William Augustus CROMBIE] married Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of 
Orlando Dana and Mary Jane (WITHERBEE) MURRAY, of Nashua, New 
Hampshire; she [Sarah Elizabeth CROMBIE] died 07 March 1907 in New York. 
They had three children: William Murray (graduate, University of Vermont), 
Arthur Choate (also a University of Vermont graduate), and Maude Elizabeth, 
all three born at Burlington [Chittenden County, Vermont].

Republican; twice elected mayor of Burlington, and in 1890 was appointed 
colonel on the staff of Gov. E. J. ORMSBEE. Since 1894 has been located in 
New York City, where he is conducting a wholesale lumber business in 
partnership with his sons, William Murray and Arthur Choate CROMBIE. For a 
number of years was prominently connected with New York City and State 
politics, being the Republican leader of what was then the Nineteenth 
Assembly District in New York City, which carried with it an executive 
membership in the Republican county committee. Member of the Union League 
Club; Lumbermen's Club of New York City; West Side Republican Club; Empire 
State Society Sons of American Revolution; Vermont Society of New York City; 
Lake Champlain Association, and Merchants' Association of New York City. 
Office: 81 New Street; residence: Bretton Hall, Broadway and Eighty-sixth 
Street, New York.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly