Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-30
Gle &ree Aress:
THE LATE ELI CHITTESDEN.
sketch of the Last Male Descendant OF
Gov. Thomas Chlttenden, In Chit-
tendcn County.

was named, living in this county.
There are two others living - Nelson
H., his younger brother, who resides in
California, and George W., formerly
of this city, but now residing in Boston.
Their grandfather, Gov. Thomas Chittcndcn,
was born in Guilford, Connecticut, January
6, 1920, aftcrward removed to Salisbury, Ct.
and represented the town in the Legislature
of Connecticut seven years, and became
prominent as a civil magistrate and colonc
of the militia of that State. In the Spring
of l774 he removed to Willston, Vermont,
and purchased large tract of land on the
WinoosN river.
At this time there were scarcely any in.
habitants north of Rutland, and none in
this county except few who had
come the same year and located a,
Burlington and Winooski Falls. Mr..
Chtlendcn commenced at once TO make
extensive Improvements upon the land he
had bought. While thus engaged. the war
Of the Revolution broke out, and the few peo-
pie ON the frontiers being without any means
of defence, and liable to attack from the
enemy from Canada and their Indian allies,
were obliged to seek refuge in the older settle
ments. Mr.. Chittcnden removed his family
to Arlington, Bennington county, which be-
came the headquarters Of the then existing
government OF Vermont, which consisted OF
u council OF safety, of which Mr.. Chittenden
wa, president. lie and his assoca ties Jelial
Ilawley. Remember Baker, Seth Warner,
Ethan Allen and others managed the affairs
of the settlers until Vermont became State,
"a n n
committee which drafted the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution of the
State. He was then elected Governor of the
State, which office he held with the exception
Of one year, TO the time OF his death in
August 1914 period of 10 years. lie was
the George Washington OF Vermont, and
was regarded by all the inhabitants as the
wise counsellor and prudent leader amid all
the exciting and turbulent scenes which
marked the early history of the State. That
the qualifications which peculiarly fitted
him Tor the position, were dull, appreciated
by the people was shown Ivy their clectng
him govt rnor eighteen times. After the close
Of the revolutionary war, he returned with
his family TO Willston where he erected The
large brick house now occupied Ivy Hiram
CLARK, near the Central Vermont railroad,
where he resided until his death.
He had four sons and six daughters.
All these married, reared large fam-
lies ard settled in this county except one
daughter who married Col. Matthew Lyon,
who became celebrated as the fighting Com
gresham from Kentucky.
Noah Chitcndcn, the eldest son, located in
Jericho, on the north side OF The Winooski
river, opposite his fathers place, On what
is now known az the Bishop farm. Martini
who was Il member of Congress ten years and
Governor Of Tie State in 1913 and 1914, ac-
quircd considerable not)riuty by ordering
home regiment of Vermont militia which
had been drafted into the service of the
United States before the battle of Platts-
burgh--Nhich order they refused to obey
lie settled in Williston, ms well ms his younger
brother, Truman, who became somewhat
prominent in HE civil service Of the country
Colonel Giles Chttondeu. the father of Eli
Chttcnden also built a la'go biick house in
Wllliston, and owned Il large and very valua-
bic tract Of pine land, lie married Mary
lIawlcy of Arlington and had five sons and
six daughters. All perhaps are now dead,
except Nelson. lie now resi- les in Califor.
mia,
Colonel Giles Chttenden was an active,
energetic business man, of high character for
integrity. Ills house was open at all times
to all VINO chose 10 avail themselves of his
hOsptaliti,s, which in those days were not a
few, and he was universally respected and
Lowell by all the people,
His extreme kindness OF heart, however,
brought about his financial rum and he final
iY died within "the limits of the Jail yard in
Burlington, on the 2Sth Of February, 1919,
(whcn Imprisonment was "A punishment for
debt in this Stute) his pecuniary condition
heinz a consequence of his end srSpmpnt for