The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

Gus pack. This was John McDufee's first
introduction to the home of his future wife,
Martha Doke.
In l7SS he purchased a farm, and two years
later he purchased of Uriah Stone of Pier
mont, the ferry which for many years was
noted crossing place until bridges were
6n op 6 a fha pa1e a left eft this
moved 10 one near the eastern base of
Wright's mountain, and here reared his
family and made his future home, finding
ample field for the practice of his art of SUR
veying. in which he soon attained celebrity
in all the surrounding towns. He was EN-
ployed by James Whitelaw, surveyor gener-
al of Vermont to survey and divide into
suitable lots for settlement the Hazen tract
in that town. He was county surveyor many
years. He possessed that animation, prac-
teal judgment and moral courage, that is
requisite i'll taking the initiative in new
and untried enterprises, and was leading
spirit in projecting and surveying routes for
roads, canals and railroad. An ardent poll
tician and fluent of speech, when called
upon at railroad meeting at Concord, n. H.,
for sentiment or toast, won the applause of
the assembly by giving imprOmptu this sem
timent 1.-THE political compass of the
United States, with the representative nee
die equally balanced on the pivot of the
Union, freely playing over the four cardinal
points, freedom of speech, freedom of the
press, freedom in election, and freedom in re-
ligion
BY his first wife, Martha Doke, John Nc
Duffee reared a family of eleven children,
all natives of Bradford. By his second Wife
Dolly Greenleaf, six sons, three of whom
died early. Charles, the third son, was
professional civil engineer and was an eff
cent agent in the settlement of estates. II.
G. McDutfee has copy of a letter written by
Charles to the Secretary of War in 1851, sug-
costing the use ofballoons for reconnaissance
of the enemies position. Mr.. John Nc
Dutfee died in 1851, at the age of s. years.
Plain living, high thinking and hard work
days"
Henry Clay McDuffee, the fifth son, is a
familiar figure at Bradford, and not un-
known in much wider circle. Just enter
ing his 9th year of portly and powerful
physique, he would readily pass for a youn-
ger man. He inherited the paternal mathe-
NAUTICAL taste, and early became competent
civil engineer and surveyor. He has travel
ed extensively in nearly all parts of the
Union, has conducted, as an agent, large
business in buying and selling lands, and
has settled many large estates. By his pres
ent wife Rosa NJ, daughter of r. NJ. Bill of
West Topsham, he has an only son Ernest, a
graduate of Dartmouth; and young man
missing republican, Mr.. McDuffee has dis
charged many official trusts with fidelity,
has been selectman, representative in '72-4,
high bailif the same year, and senator for
Orange County in lSS4-5. He has a most val
liable mine of historical relics, consisting of
ancient charters. commissions official cor
respondence, surveys, editorials, which look
ing backward nearly hundred years. are
most interesting reading. 1t is a curious CO.
incden ce that John McDuffee, his father,
was assistant assessor in lSl2-l3-l and he
filled the same during the civil war, half a
century later. We quote from John Nc
Duffee's instructions dated August 2 1913.
'You will deliver to the principal assessor
within sixty days from this time, list of all
the. appraised lands, lots of ground with
their improvements, dwelling houses and
slaves, with the value and assessments an
nexed to each, comfortable to the acts above
recited and the regulations established by
the Secretary of the Treasury"
1t will be observed that lands as well as
goods and CHI attels We're subject to the all
comprehensive features of this tax.
Nv 10 III fnn a CTh hoe aft 70 Il fc 70
Their dated September, $780, from Philip Car
rigan, who with George Neat, Esq, and Maj.
Timothy Chandler were appointed delegates
to a Railroad convention to Montpelier on
the following October. at will give me and
my associates much pleasure to meet my
good friend McDutfee, and to associate with
him in our deliberations upon the momen-
tous subject of a railroad from Boston
toward the Western states.
John McDutfee was recruiting officer in
the war of 1872, and the family have his COM