Rutland

BRIGHAM, Charles Orson

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 42-43 
(portrait p 43)

Charles Orson BRIGHAM, of Rutland [Rutland County, Vermont], was born 23 
December 1847 in Ogdensburg [Ogdensburgh, St. Lawrence County], New York. 
His early childhood was passed in Oshawa, Ontario, until the death of his 
parents, when with his brothers and sisters he came to reside with his 
grandmother at Westford [Chittenden County, Vermont]. As she was a woman who 
held fast to the Puritanical faith of her ancestors and was well versed in 
all business operations, her influence strongly impressed the boy who devoted 
his attention to study during the evenings, after the steady daily toil upon 
a rocky hill farm, the care of which he manfully took upon his young 
shoulders. Having availed himself of the best possible advantages afforded 
him by the district and "select school" of the village, Mr. BRIGHAM commenced 
a course of study at the age of twenty, in the Essex Academy, which was 
unhappily interrupted before its completion by the destruction of the school 
buildings by fire, and the bursting of a blood vessel in one of his eyes. 
Overwork and hard study had been a double draft on weary nature, and partial 
blindness seemed about to blot out his prospect of a professional career.

Going with one of his fellow students to his home at Pittsford [Rutland 
County], he labored as he was able for a short period, little thinking that 
in the future he would return here in a professional capacity, after an 
interval of fifteen years of weary waiting and uncongenial occupations. This 
time he spent mostly in Westford as clerk in the store of a general merchant, 
or teaching school in the long winters and employing the summer season in 
agricultural pursuits and in fire insurance agencies, when his health and 
eyesight would permit. He was ever an active worker in the church, Sunday 
school and choir. Uniting with the Congregationalists in early manhood, he 
was always prompt to engage in any enterprise which would promote the public 
welfare in his town, and was ever liberal in helping other societies besides 
his own. 

He [Charles Orson BRIGHAM] was married 25 April 1876 to Sarah A., daughter of 
Samuel G. and Phebe (DIMICK) BISHOP, who has borne him one son, Lynn B. In 
1880, while making improvements on the farm of his father-in-law [Samuel G. 
BISHOP] in Westford [Chittenden County, Vermont], urgent calls for nursing in 
that vicinity seemed to develop a special aptitude and interest in this 
occupation, and eyesight and health appearing established now on a firm 
basis, he commenced a study of medical works, which resulted in his entering 
the medical department of the University of Vermont in the spring of 1883. 
Dr. BRIGHAM received his diploma in 1886, after having taken a full course of 
surgery and medicine, and has practiced with marked success ever since in 
Pittsford [Rutland County, Vermont] and the adjoining towns. He is 
thoroughly in earnest in his work, and his reputation has made him an active 
member of the Rutland County Medical and Surgical Society, which has availed 
itself of his service as secretary and treasurer. He is also a member of the 
State Medical Society. In 1893 he removed from Pittsford to Rutland, where 
he now resides.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly