Orange

POWERS, Heman A.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 323 
(portrait p 323)
Heman A. POWERS, of Braintree [Orange County, Vermont], was born 22 June 
1827, son of Heman and Isabel (NASH) POWERS. Mr. POWERS obtained his 
education in the schools and academy of Montpelier [Washington County, 
Vermont]. At the age of seventeen he went to Milford [Worcester County], 
Massachusetts, entered a shoe manufactory, and soon became an expert in 
bottoming boots, which occupation he pursued in thirteen different states, 
traveling for his employer, Mr. WHITNEY, who challenged the country to 
produce his equal in skill or rapidity. At he age of twenty-five he returned 
to Vermont and commenced farming in the town of Plainfield [Washington 
County], but some quarter of a century since he purchased the "Judge WAITE" 
estate in Braintree, and has since made it his residence from that period. 
Mr. POWERS successfully cultivates one of the best farms in the state; has a 
large herd of cows, mostly graded, but generally selected for individual 
merit, and has sent about $4,000 worth of butter to the Narragansett Hotel of 
Rhode Island annually for the last fifteen years, during which time he has 
not failed in making his regular four shipments a week. Formerly his farm 
was considered the most productive one in Orange County, but Mr. POWERS has 
doubled its capacity, obtaining enormous crops of hay, oats, corn and 
potatoes.

Although a Democrat in a strongly Republican community, he has been entrusted 
with many local public offices of importance, and represented Braintree in 
the state Legislature in 1884. He is a man of jovial disposition, keen 
insight, and remarkably sound judgment, who is highly respected and very 
popular in the community. He was formerly much interested in checkers, of 
which game he was a champion player. In 1850 he [Heman A. POWERS] was united 
in marriage to Sarah J., daughter of Shubeal P. and Betsy (SANBORN) SHORT, of 
East Montpelier [Washington County, Vermont]. Eight children have been born 
of this marriage, of whom five survive: Bettie M. (Mrs. C. B. FORD, of 
Idaho), Laura (deceased), Sadie (Mrs. M. BRUCE), Alice, Elsie, and Herman 
Earl. [Since the father's name was Heman A., and his father's name was 
Heman, would not the last child more likely be Heman Earl, not Herman Earl?]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly