Lamoille

PIKE, Paphro D.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 315

Paphro D. PIKE, of Stowe [Lamoille County, Vermont], was born 01 December 
1835 in Morristown [Lamoille County, Vermont], son of William and Nancy 
(HITCHCOCK) PIKE. He passed the days of his youth in labor on the parental 
acres, and gained his education in the common schools of Morristown, and 
later at Johnson Academy [Lamoille County]. When he had arrived at man's 
estate, as he had a natural taste for mechanical pursuits, he purchased a saw 
mill, which furnished him with employment until 1860, when he moved to Stowe 
and engaged in a similar enterprise, constructing a mill of his own. When 
President LINCOLN issued his call for volunteers he [Paphro D. PIKE] enlisted 
in Company D, Eleventh Regiment Vermont Infantry, and followed the fortunes 
of that organization during its entire service, including the last grand 
advance on Richmond. During this period he was constantly at his post, with 
the exception of two months spent in the hospital, and was honorably 
discharged in July 1865.

After his release from the army he was variously employed as carpenter and 
millwright for several years, and in 1871 commenced the manufacture of butter 
tubs. In this he continued for fourteen years, when he sold the business and 
went to Brooklyn [Kings County], New York, and was employed in the Hatters 
Fur Cutting Company, but after a time returned to Stowe and again purchased 
his old mill, where with improved machinery the firm of P. D. Pike & Sons are 
now engaged in the manufacture of butter tubs, making use of several 
improvements in the mechanical applicances of the trade which have been 
patented by himself, and from small beginnings has derived an increasing and 
prosperous business.

Though favoring the political principles of the Republican party, Mr. PIKE 
has not found much time for official life, so urgent and various have been 
the demands of his private affairs, but he has faithfully discharged the 
duties of those town offices which have been conferred upon him; was elected 
to a seat in the House in the Legislature of 1880, and served on the 
committee on manufactures. On 07 November Mr. [Paphro D.] PIKE married 
Abigail, daughter of Luke J. and Eunice (CAMP) TOWNE, of Stowe [Lamoille 
County, Vermont]. Three sons are the issue of this union: Arba A., Lewis 
A., and Fred M.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly