Essex

CUTTING, Hiram Adolphus

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 90-91 
(portrait p 90)

Hiram Adolphus CUTTING was born 23 December 1832 in Concord [Essex County, 
Vermont], son of Stephen C. and Eliza (DARLING) CUTTING. Though of 
distinguished ancestors, both on his father's and mother's side, he derived 
no adventitious aid from ancestry or wealth. Receiving his earliest 
instruction in the district school, he diligently availed himself of whatever 
advantages it had to offer. From his sixteenth year until he attained his 
majority, he taught school from three to five months annually. He also 
attended school at the St. Johnsbury Academy in the spring and fall, 
sometimes both, and served therein as assistant teacher.

Desiring to enter the medical profession, from the age of fifteen he studied 
its theory and practice, under the tuition of Dr. George C. WHEELER of St. 
Johnsbury [Caledonia County, Vermont], but his health gave way and for a time 
he became a land surveyor. At the age of nineteen he became assistant to D. 
H. HULL, one of the first proprietors of an itinerant daguerreotype-car in 
Vermont. He continued in this employment until he entertained a proposition 
from his uncle, John G. DARLING, a successful merchant of Concord [Essex 
County, Vermont], who proposed that he and CUTTING should open a store at 
Lunenburg [Essex County]. The proposal was accepted and the new firm began 
business on 01 January 1855. The connection thus established lasted 
successfully for twenty-five years, when Mr. CUTTING purchased the entire 
stock and business, after that conducting the business alone. In July 1870 
fire consumed the store, together with most of its contents. His loss was 
heavy, and was aggravated by the destruction of a very extensive geological 
collection and of more than a thousand volumes, mainly scientific works, that 
had been place in the second story of the building.

In 1870 he recommenced his medical studies privately, under the tuition of 
Prof. E. E. PHELPS, of Dartmouth College, and soon after received a diploma 
from this institution. At the close of the war he took out a license as 
claim agent, and prosecuted [settled] hundreds of claims to a successful 
issue. In June 1873 he was appointed examining surgeon. In addition to this 
office, he held those of special notary public and master in chancery. Dr. 
CUTTING was appointed state curator of the cabinet by Gov. John W. STEWART in 
1870, and the same year he received the further appointment of state 
geologist, was reappointed by Gov. J. CONVERSE, and was subsequently 
confirmed in the office until change should be necessary. In 1880 he was 
appointed by Gov. Roswell FARNHAM to a position on the board of agriculture, 
and was elected its secretary. As chairman of the Fish Commission of 
Vermont, in which position he was placed by Gov. FARNHAM, Dr. CUTTING was no 
less useful than in other relations.

In 1868 Norwich University conferred the degree of A. M. and that of Doctor 
of Philosophy upon him the following year. In consequence of his scientific 
attainments he was made a member, active, corresponding, or honorary, of no 
less than seventy-nine scientific, literary, and medical societies scattered 
throughout America and Europe. As geologist, metallurgist, mining expert, 
practical and consulting scientist, he was perhaps not excelled in New 
England, if indeed in the United States. Dr. CUTTING was the possessor of a 
library of twenty thousand volumes and a cabinet of minerals and curios 
containing thirty thousand specimens. On 03 February 1856 he [Hiram Adolphus 
CUTTING] was married to [Miss?] Marinda E. HASKELL, of Lennoxville, Canada 
East.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly