Orleans

RUTHERFORD, Joseph C.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 347

Joseph C. RUTHERFORD, of Newport [Orleans County, Vermont], was born 01 
October 1818 at Schenectady [Schenectady County], New York, son of Alexander and 
Saly (CLIFFORD) RUTHERFORD. His parents came to Vermont in 1826, and settled at 
Burlington [Chittenden County] in 1830. He received the principal share of 
his education in the high schools of Burlington. At the age of twenty years he 
started out in the world for himself. He early expressed a desire to study 
medicine, but his circumstances were such that he was unable to do so until 
1842, when he entered the office of Dr. NEWELL, then of Lyndon and afterward of 
St. Johnsbury [both in Caledonia County, Vermont]. In May 1843 he [Joseph] 
located at Derby [may not mean "Derby" in Essex County, Vermont; could mean 
"Derby Center" or "Derby Line" in Orleans County, Vermont] and in December 1843 he 
[Joseph C. RUTHERFORD] married Hannah W., daughter of Hon. Jacob CHASE. Of 
this union were five children, three of whom are still living: (1) Dr. Jacob 
C. RUTHERFORD of Providence [Providence County], Rhode Island; (2) Mrs. John 
S. COLBY of Chicago; and (3) Mrs. George S. WOODWARD of Chicago [Cook County, 
Illinois]. In 1844 he [Joseph C. RUTHERFORD] resumed the study of medicine in 
the office of Dr. Moses F. COLBY, Stanstead, Province of Quebec [Canada 
East], and graduated at Woodstock [Woodstock in Ontario, Canada, or Woodstock in 
Windsor County, Vermont?] in 1849. In 1851 he went to Blackstone [Worcester 
County], Massachusetts. In 1857 he returned to Derby, from where he removed to 
Newport [Orleans County, Vermont] in 1860, which place has been his home since 
that time.

At the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion in 1861, he was commissioned 
surgeon by Governor FAIRBANKS, and examined recruits for enlistment. He held 
this position until commissioned by Governor HOLBROOK as assistant surgeon of 
the Tenth Vermont Volunteers. Mustered into the U. S. service, he immediately 
started for the front, where the regiment was assigned to duty in the defense 
of Washington, D. C., and was stationed near Edwards Ferry [Montgomery 
County], Maryland. The regiment remained here and in this vicinity about nine 
months. When the army of the Potomac was ordered to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 
Tenth Vermont was sent to Monocacy Station [Montgomery County], Maryland, to 
guard the rear of the army and the supplies. After the battle of Gettysburg, 
the Tenth Vermont joined the army of the Potomac and was enrolled in the third 
division third army corps. His first experience on the battlefield was 26 
November 1863 at Locust Grove, Virginia, where he received an injury that nearly 
cost him his life, and which resulted in a broken constitution and crippled 
frame. Notwithstanding its serious character, he remained at the post of duty, 
and was in every battle in which his regiment participated, until near the 
close of the war. In March 1865 he was promoted to be surgeon of the Seventeenth 
Vermont Volunteers, which regiment had but one battle after he joined it, 
that of Petersburg, 02 April 1865. He was mustered out of the U. S. service with 
the Seventeenth Vermont Volunteers in July 1865, after having served within a 
few days of three years. His relations with the two regiments were, and with 
their survivors have been to the present time, of a very pleasant character. 
He won the respect and esteem of both officers and men, and the ties of 
friendship that were there cemented with blood and hardship have become stronger as 
time has silvered the locks of the surviving comrades. Today, nearly thirty 
years after the war, his comrades speak of Surgeon RUTHERFORD with deep 
feelings of gratitude and respect.

Directly after being mustered out of the service he returned to his home in 
Newport, where he has since resided, and resumed the practice of medicine in 
civil life. In 1866 he was commissioned examining surgeon for pensions, which 
place he has held to the present time, 1893. He joined the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows in 1844, and was made a Free Mason in 1866, and has taken all 
the degrees up to and including that of the Knight Templar. At an early day the 
doctor took a deep interest in the anti-slavery cause, and was a delegate to 
the first convention held by that faction in Vermont. His first vote for 
president was cast for William Henry HARRISON, and when the Republican party was 
organized [1854] he joined it, and has voted with it ever since. In 1880 he 
was chosen by the Legislature a supervisor of the insane, which office he held 
for two years. After a busy life of hardship and toil for the relief of the 
sufferings of others, he has retired from the active practice of his profession, 
and is now living in his quiet and pleasant home in the peaceful enjoyment of 
the fruits of his labors. His kindness to the poor and destitute is limited 
only by his means, and he is ever ready by kindly words and deeds to cheer and 
solace the woes he cannot altogether heal.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly