Orange

PIRIE, James Kelman

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 535-535

James Kelman PIRIE, until recently member of the firm of Lamson & Pirie, 
quarrymen and granite manufacturers at Williamstown [Orange County, Vermont], 
one of the leading business men of the town, was born 13 May 1858 in 
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and is a son of Walter and Jean (KELMAN) 
PIRIE. He comes of the same ancestry as John T. PIRIE, the noted dry goods 
dealer of New York and Chicago. Walter PIRIE was for many years a member of 
the police force of the city of Aberdeen and died in 1865. His widow [Mrs. 
Jean (KELMAN) PIRIE] survived until 1874. James Kelman PIRIE is the only 
child of their marriage. He spent the first fifteen years of his life in 
Scotland. Coming then to St. George, New Brunswick, he learned the trade of 
stonecutter, at which he worked as a journeyman in nearly all of the New 
England states, locating in Williamstown, Vermont, in 1880.

Inheriting in a marked degree the habits of industry and thrift 
characteristic of his Scotch ancestors, Mr. PIRIE has me with eminent success 
in his chosen vocation. In 1883 he became junior partner of the newly 
organized firm of Wells, Lamson & Company, which purchased in that summer 
fifteen acres of quarry land lying south of Millstone, in the northeastern 
part of Williamstown, and opened what in now known as the "dark quarry," 
establishing at the same time large cutting shops in Barre [Washington 
County, Vermont]. In 1886 the firm bought nine and a half acres of land on 
the northern side of Millstone hill, opening their light granite quarry, and 
subsequently worked both quarries with great success. In April 1861 Mr. 
WELLS retired from the firm, and the business was subsequently continued by 
Messrs. LAMSON and PIRIE, until the death of Mr. LAMSON, in November 1902. 
Mr. PIRIE continues the business. In April 1892 they bought five acres of 
land on the river below North Barre, and the following summer built a new 
plant which they equipped with a complete set of the most approved modern 
machinery used in their line of work.

The concern is noted throughout the Union for the excellent work it turns 
out, a specialty being made of heavy monumental work, cemetery vaults and 
mausoleums. It has furnished many notable public and private monuments, 
among which mention may be made of the Soldiers Monument at Binghamton, New 
York; the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Kokomo, Indiana; the polished 
columns and carved caps for the mausoleum erected at San Francisco, 
California by John L. FLOOD; the monument erected to Hon. A. B. MARTIN, of 
Lynn, Massachusetts; the mausoleum erected for the family of the late Vice 
President HOBART, at Paterson, New Jersey, costing on board the cars at 
Barre, twenty-five thousand dollars; and the one for George EHRET, in 
Woodlawn Cemetery, Greater New York, which cost one hundred and twenty 
thousand dollars on the cars at Barre. The establishment employs an average 
of one hundred men, and in addition to its monumental work carries on a large 
business in rough granite. Both quarries have side tracks, and operate 
powerful cranes, and steam derricks with a capacity of fifty tons.

Politically Mr. PIRIE affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served 
with fidelity in many of the more important town offices; for ten years was 
justice of the peace, and for six years was grand juror. Fraternally he is 
a member of the Masonic order, of the Scottish Clans, the Burns Club, of 
Barre, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He owns a fine estate of forty 
acres, on which is a handsome residence, near the quarries in Williamstown, 
and is an enthusiastic horticulturist. On 02 December 1882 Mr. [John KELMAN] 
PIRIE married [Miss?] Mary FARNSWORTH, of Hardwick [Caledonia County, 
Vermont], and they are the parents of eleven children: James; Mary, 
Frederick F.; Grover C.; Maude L.; Francis, now deceased; Merle; Bessie; 
Daisy; ??sie; and Christina.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly