Orange

LYNDE, George W. & John

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 249-250

Biography of John LYNDE - pp 249-250, portrait p 250

[The biography of George W. LYNDE follows that of his father. Note that John 
LYNDE resided in both Williamstown, Vermont, and Williamstown, Massachusetts.]

John LYNDE, of Williamstown [Vermont], was born 06 August 1810 in 
Williamstown [Orange County, Vermont], son of Cornelius and Rebecca (DAVIS) 
LYNDE. Cornelius LYNDE left Harvard College at his country's call, enlisted 
in the Continental army and served through the Revolutionary war, attaining 
the rank of major. In 1786 he moved from Williamstown [Berkshire County], 
Massachusetts, to the town of the same name in Vermont, and was one of the 
original proprietors. He laid out and allotted the land to his associates, 
was justice of the peace and first town clerk. He constructed the first saw 
mill in the town, was representative from 1791 to 1795, member of the state 
council, first postmaster, and associate judge for two years. In the first 
year of the century at a meeting in his house, a Universalist society was 
organized, believed to be the earliest in the state. The mother of John 
LYNDE was the oldest daughter of Col. Jacob DAVIS, the pioneer of Montpelier 
[Washington County, Vermont].

Mr. John LYNDE was educated at the common schools of Williamstown, and at the 
early age of sixteen began to teach, working in the summer on his father's 
farm; was a farmer until 1865; after that was engaged in trade until 1887, 
when he sold out his interest to his son, James K., and again returned to 
farming. He has been very prominent in all social and public affairs; has 
settled many estates; was a general counsellor in business and legal matters; 
for more than ten years was one of the directors of the Northfield, and later 
of the Barre bank. Formerly a Whig; now a Republican; has been for 
forty-four consecutive years justice of the peace; has held every town 
office; was twice town representative before the war and three times 
afterwards; senator in 1876; was assistant judge of Orange County court two 
terms. Judge LYNDE has ever been a liberal donor to all benevolent and 
religious enterprises, a public-spirited citizen, and has given to all his 
children every educational advantage in his power to bestow.

John LYNDE married at the age of twenty-two, uniting himself in the bond of 
wedlock to Dolly SMITH. She bore him twelve children, nine of whom still 
survive: (1) Ellen, Mrs. W. B. BASS; (2) John; (3) Martha, Mrs. Jerry 
KENISTON; (4) Rebekah, Mrs. Nat SIMONS; (5) George W.; (6) James K.; (7) 
Laura, Mrs. Harvey L. CHENEY; (8) Emma, Mrs. Dr. William B. MAYO, of 
Northfield [Washington County], Vermont; and (9) Dr. Cornelius V. Two of his 
sons, John and Charles (the latter deceased), served in the Civil War. His 
first wife [Dolly] died in July 1881, and he [John LYNDE] was again married 
in 1882 to Laura E., daughter of Norman DAVIS.



Biography of George W. LYNDE - p 249

George W. LYNDE, of Williamstown, was born 03 February 1849 in Williamstown 
[Orange County, Vermont], son of John and Dolly (SMITH) LYNDE. Educated in 
the common schools and at Randolph and Barre [in Orange and Washington 
Counties, respectively]. When twenty years of age he commenced extensive 
operations in the lumber business in Groton [Caledonia County, Vermont] and 
these he carried on in partnership with his father-in-law for fifteen years; 
then removed his plant to Mill Village [Mill Village in Orange, Washington, 
Essex, or Orleans County?]; has since employed it running the grist and saw 
mill, and polishing works; in 1886 removed to the farm formerly belonging to 
his father-in-law; continued there the latter portion of his life; is a 
typical Vermont farmer, so large is the scale on which he conducts his 
operations and so great the success he meets with in his enterprises; is also 
the owner of a fine maple grove and one of the four owners of the 
Williamstown granite quarry.

In political sympathies Mr. LYNDE is a Republican, and in religious belief, a 
Universalist. After having filled the usual town offices, he was sent to the 
state legislature in 1888, where he served on the general committee. He is 
active, public-spirited, and influential in every social and business 
enterprise, and is a highly esteemed member of the community in which he 
resides. On 16 March 1871 Mr. [George W.] LYNDE was married to Frances, 
daughter of Richard L. and Phebe (MOORE) MARTIN, by whom he has had two 
children: Fred G. (deceased), and John Richard.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly