HORTON, WILLIAM HUGHES, was born in Wolverhampton, England, in 1819.
He came to Boston, Massachusetts, in 1847, where he remained one year,
pursuing the business of merchant tailor; then followed the north-bound
engine of the new Passumpsic railroad to Bellows Falls, where he remained
two years, and in 1850 came to St. Johnsbury with the advent of the railroad
and located on Railroad street, as the first merchant tailor of the town,
and conducted this business until near the time of his death in 1895. When
he came in there were only three or four buildings on this great business
thoroughfare.
Mr. Horton
was a progressive citizen, a man of taste and refinement, an artist in
his line, and the first in town to put in a showcase. He served the village
repeatedly as trustee, chairman of the school board, and justice of peace.
He married Elizabeth Tinling of Penn, England, and three sons were born
to them.
William T. Horton was born in 1845 and married Annie Tinling. He
was fifteen years clerk in the general office of the railroad and during
the past seventeen years has been in the employ of E. & T. Fairbanks
& Co.
James S. was born in 1847, and for many years has been connected
with the leading mercantile house of John Murphy & Co. of Montreal,
Province of Quebec. He married Lillie McLeod, a sister of A. H. McLeod
of St. Johnsbury.
Charles H.
Horton was born in 1856, and at the age of eighteen was employed by E.
& T. Fairbanks & Co., in the dry goods department, where he remained
ten years; was then engaged in bookkeeping two years, and in 1886 was appointed
to the very responsible position of purchasing agent of E. & T. Fairbanks
& Co., a position which he still successfully occupies. The sons of
W. H. Horton inherit many of his estimable characteristics, his active
temperament, politeness, and public spirit. They are enthusiastic Masons,
W. T. and Charles H. being esteemed members of Palestine commandery.
Source:
Successful Vermonters, William H. Jeffrey, E. Burke, Vermont, The Historical
Publishing Company, 1904, page 93-94.
Prepared
by Tom Dunn May 2005
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