Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1919-07-09
Charles J. Ufford.

Charles j. Ufford, one of the oldest
and most widely known residents of
| Barton, died on the morning of july
4th, aged 80 years.
Mr.. Ufford was born in Glover in
| April, 1887. He was the son of
Thomas Jefferson and Sophia (Cut-
ler) Uford, who in their turn were
children of original settlers of Glov-
er, Michael Ufford and Nathan Cut
Ter. Michael Ufford was a descen-
dant of Thomas Ufford, the first of
the family, who came to this country
from England-presumab from the
township of Ufford in the county of
Suffolk-and landed at Boston in the
year 1852. The Uffords were origin
ally Earls of Suffolk, and one of the
family, Thomas de Ufford, was gov
ernor general of Ireland in the 18th
century.
Charles J. Ufford was a self-made
man. He left home at the age of IT
years, with only such education as
the local school at West Glover af-
forded, and went to Charleston, where
he lived for a time in the family of
Daniel Parlin, who ran a blacksmith
and carriage shop there. 1t was at
Charleston with Mr.. Parlin that he
learned his trade and laid the founda-
tions of his business career.
At the outbreak of the Civil war
he enlisted with his brother, Edward,
in Co. d of the 9Th regiment Of Yer
mont Volunteers and saw active SER
vice with the Union army for three
years.
After the war Mr.. Ufford married
Mary L. Wiggin, daughter of Par
ker Wiggin, and located in the town
of Barton, where he founded the car
riage manufacturing business by
which he was most widely known.
He was a pioneer in this field and
from small beginnings built up and
maintained for 80 years the largest
business of the kind in the state. 1t
was always his pride to make his
work the best that sound materials
and intelligent and conscientious la
Dor could produce. AS conditions
changed and the cheaper products of
the western factories came into the
field, Mr.. Ufford closed up his carri-
age business and in partnership with
Robert Ritchie, went into the lumber
business at Greensboro The mill
having burned, Mr.. Ufford sold his
interest to Mr.. Ritchie and went West
to join his son, W. c. Ufford, who was
engaged in the same business on
large scale in Spokane, Wash.
During the next few years Mr.. Uf-
ford made several trips back and
forth to- and from the West, but fl
nally returned to Barton and spent
his last years here Blindness and
deafness came upon him as he ap-
preached four score but he maintain
ed his pristine vigor and cheerful
spirit to a remarkable degree to the
end
Mr.. Uford was a man of rare nat
ural gifts; of small stature but ex-
traordinary strength, tireless energy
and indomitable will. His high am
bition led him to undertake great
things and his capacity for unrenit-
ting labor, together with his excel
lent mental and mechanical powers,
insured his success. His own early
hardship led him to sympathize with
the efforts of others and many
struggling young man knew the val
ue of his help.
He was conscientious in his work,
considerate of his employees, honor
able in his dealings, a man of his
word, good neighbor and a loyal
friend.
sHe was a man, take him for all in
all, we shall not look upon his like
again"
Mr.. Ufford is the last of his gener-
alton of four brothers, the others be-
ing Nathan, Edward and Sanford
and a sister, Marcia (Ufford) Hovey.
He is survived by his two sons, VIII
liam Cutler of Spokane, Wash, and
Frank Parker of New York City.
Funeral services were held Sunday
afternoon at his late residence with
Mr.. and Mrs. W. E. Nye on Elm
street in Barton, Rev. F. w. Lewis
of st Adams, formerly a Methodist
pastor here, officiated, assisted by
Rev NJ A. Turner. Interment was
in the family lot in the West Glover
cemetery.