19th Century

Sala Gamaliel Dunham

 

(NOTA BENE:  This page currently requires more than normal down-load time because of the number of images contained.  I intend to sub-divide the page later.)

Sala Gamaliel, the 4th child of Gamaliel Dunham and Sophia Thwing, was born April 4, 1818 in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Sala was married twice: (1) Ann Maria Robb (Nov. 29, 1838) and (2) Julia A. Robb (about 1853).

Sala apparently was an iron worker at Troy, NY, Pittsburgh, PA and Worcester, MA. It is assumed he worked for the Vermont Copper Mining Company after re-locating to Vershire, Vermont. He died December 23, 1890¹ in Vershire and was buried in the Lower Branch Cemetery in Braintree, Orange County, Vermont.

There were seven children of the first marriage and none from the second: Harriet Sophronia, William Curtis, Mary Elizabeth, Martha Ann, Jane Maria, Albert Madison and Virgil Sala. Of these seven children, Virgil Sala is of immediate concern since he was my great, great grandfather.

Before proceeding with the remainder of this tale, I need to share some of my original frustrations in acquiring ancestral data. I had been searching for several years to discover my paternal ancestors without very much success. I then learned from a gravestone that Virgil Dunham had served in the Spanish American War, so I sought records from the War Department archives, which were quite voluminous since Virgil had applied for a military pension.

In those documents there were several items which led me down several primrose paths. First, there was an attested copy of his marriage certificate indicating that his mother was one Martha Russlow from Massachusetts. I searched assiduously for a Martha Russlow in the New England area without any success. It was also suggested that he had two siblings with whom he had very little communication -- one named Clarence and one named, Blanche, perhaps from the Massachusetts area, also. The information also suggested that Virgil's birthday was 1860. If this were true, his father would have been only 15 years of age when he was born!

I later found a history² of Braintree, Vermont which listed this family but with four siblings William Curtis, Martha Ann, Albert Madison and Virgil Sala; however, there was no mention of a Clarence or Blanche. The key fact emerging from this history which eventually opened the doors to much additional information was that Sala's wife's name was not Russlow, but Martha Rebecca Renslow. What a difference a sou makes! The remainder of this saga will appear below.

I am indebted to John Dunham Duguid and Warren E. Dunham, Jr. for their assistance with some of the facts appearing herein. Warren is a descendant of Clarence Edward Dunham while John is a descendant of William Curtis  Dunham.

Virgil Sala was actually born March 18, 1853 in Riverton, CT, not 1860 in Massachusetts. The 1900 census showed him as 40 years old on his previous birthday. He was apparently boarding in a household of Melinda Gardner (although the name was indistinct in census documents. This census showed his birth date as Jan. 1860 and his marital status as single. It was indicated he was a farm laborer, born in Massachusetts as was his father, while his mother had been born in New York.

His first wife, Martha Rebecca Renslow, was born in Hinesburg, Chittenden County, Vermont on October 28, 1858, the daughter of Eleazer Renslow and Esther Potter. They were married on Aug. 21, 1874.³

There were six children of this marrige Clinton DeForest, Fordyce Burton, Truman Virgil, an unnamed son, Newton Clarence and Blanch Amber.

Martha Rebecca Renslow Dunham died September 28, 1884 in Randolph, Orange County, Vermont. On the 28th of September, 1888, Newton Clarence and Blanch Amber were adopted by Sala's sister, Jane Maria (known as Jennie). At the same time Newton Clarence's name was changed to Clarence Edward and Blanch Amber's name was changed to Blanch Mildred.

Virgil married his second wife, Effie L. Collins, on Oct. 15, 1902;⁴ his third wife, Lillian Emma Williams, on June 21, 1911.⁵

Virgil Sala died December 14, 1927⁶ in Rutland County, Vermont at the age of 74. His obituary noted he had been ill for some time and had lived in Rutland, Vermont for several years. It also noted he had no near relatives. His death certificate indicated he was under a physician's care for 3 months prior to his death which was caused by broncho-pneumonia with several contributing causes.

There is no extant information about either Fordyce or Truman Dunham while the unnamed infant only survived for a short time. Clarence Edward married Mary Gertrude Mongeau and Mattie Euphemia Jones. Blanch married Willis Titus and probably resided in East Fairlee, Vermont for a time and then married Frank D. Ellis, residing in Springfield, Massachusetts. Information about Clinton DeForest Dunham will be treated below.

In the census of 1900 Clinton Dunham was reported as being 24 at his previous birthday. In the same census, Vergil Dunham was said to have been 40 at his most recent birthday. If these dates are correct, it would appear that Virgil was either 15 or 16 years of age at the time of Clinton's birth.

Martha Renslow Dunham is reported to have died when Clinton was 8 years old. There was little communication between Clarence and Clinton. Clinton seems to have been reared by a family friend.

My grandfather, Clinton Dunham was born on July 14, 1875. He married Martha Elizabeth Cram⁷ October 10, 1901. Martha was born in Northfield, Vermont, August 10, 1876 and died July 14, 1950. She was the daughter of Charles Cram and Mary Evans. It appears that Clinton and Martha did not know each other until after he returned from service in the Spanish-American War. Martha stated that she had known him for only 8 - 9 months prior to their marriage.

There were ten children (Lloyd James, Paul C. Sr, Fordyce Burton [John] Gerald Edson [Ike] Gladys Mary, Ona Beatrice, Ralph Ernest [Casey], Edith Grace, Carroll Cram [Jiggs], and Hazel Elizabeth). Clinton's death occurred on January 12, 1935 at the age of 60. Martha, my grandmother, who was born on August 10, 1876, died on July 14, 1950, aged 74.

I recall them residing in Chelsea, (Orange or Washington County) Vermont when I was young. I believe they lived in a house next door to the jail. I can remember no details about them. However, Patt Kerr has some recollections. (See Appendix ___).

There does not appear to be very much information about Clinton Dunham's life except for what can be gleaned from military pension records. His mother died when he was about 8 years old. He lived with some neighbors from that time until he enlisted in the Spanish-American War. In a pension claim affidavit Clinton, however, stated that he had lived with a Randolph, Vermont family since he was 6 years old. In an affidavit filed in connection with his pension claim, a Mrs. Alice Bruce testified that "Clinton D. Dunham boarded with me and lived in my family several years before he enlisted in the Spanish American War and after his discharge he came back to us. For several months after his discharge he was unable to do any labor and much of the time confined to the house. He was lame and was troubled badly with the piles." At another point she stated that Martha had resided across the street from her house.

In another affidavit in connection with his pension, Clinton indicated that he had one brother, Clarence and a sister, Blanch. He did not mention any other siblings in any of his pension claim affidavits. What seems somehow strange in this statement is that the other 3 children were born between Clinton's birth and the births of Clarence and Blanch.

Clinton stated that when he was 16 or 17 years old, he wounded himself accidentally when he was handling a pistol and it discharged.

Prior to enlisting Clinton performed a variety of common labor including farm work, working in the woods, working with pick and shovel, etc.

Clinton enlisted in Company F, 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry in Northfield, Vermont, although another document states the enlistment place as Ft. Ethan Allen, Vermont. Still another document shows the enlistment date as May 10, 1898. He apparently served at Chickamauga, Georgia. From Aug. 10 - 20, 1898 he was under arrest with no cause given. Speculation at the time was it had something to do with a minor bayonet wound. He was discharged honorably on Oct. 26, 1898. One document indicates the discharge site was Northfield, Vermont, while another shows it as Burlington, Vermont. Another document shows the discharge date as Oct. 21, 1898.

Upon his discharge from the military, Clinton evidently performed a variety of jobs including portering at the hotel (Randolph Inn) in Randolph, working in a local mill, etc. It was noted that he was paid $1.25 a day for some of this work. He apparently drove a team of horses for C. A. Blodgett, did finishing work at the Emerson Sash and the Salisbury Furniture Factory. At one point he rented a small farm from a widow, Elvira Loomis. About 1910 he relocated his family to Sharon, Vermont where he lived for about a year and worked on A. C. Gibson's farm.

The following quote from the affidavit of B. W. Clogston about wages of the day was interesting:

"From our books it appears that he was first employed by us in July, 1906, for five and a half days-either hoeing or haying, and I think that it was hoeing, at $1.50 a day, a little more than the usual wage for the reason tht help was scarce then. Then on the 14 july he came again - or, rather on that date he was paid $10. for hoeing and haying. It doesn't say how many days, but he was paid $1.50 a day for hoeing and $2.25 a day for haying. Then on Aug. 4, 1906, he was paid for six days work at $2.25 a day; then on the 95h day of Aug. he was paid for 33 hours work haying - $7.42. Aug. 31 - helping thresh, four days at $1.75 a day; Oct. 20 - he was paid $10. for shingling, and Oct. 30 - $10. for shingling, at $1.00 a day, or thereabouts, the usual wages for that kind of work. Nov. 23 - he was paid $3.00 for cutting straw, but it does not say for how many days or hours. Nov. 5, he was paid $11.50 for chopping wood - fire wood for the house, the number of days not stated, but averaging perhaps 17 cents an hour - the average wage for that kind of work. Dec. 6, 75 cents for helping butcher one day. Then in July, 1907, on the 28th he was paid for seven and a half days work at $2.25 a day - haying. He has not done any work for us within the past two or three years."

On June 12, 1899, Clinton filed a pension claim alleging rheumatism and rectal disease and was supposed to appear for an examination on April 20, 1901; however, he failed to appear. In 1911, he re-instituted the claim. On Dec. 17, 1911 he signed an agreement with Attorney J. E. Eldredge to represent his interests for a sum of $25. In April and May, 1911 various depositions relating to his pension claim were taken. On January 17, 1912, Rep. Plumley wrote to the Commissioner of Pensions seeking to expedite the claims process. In February 1912, Clinton wrote to Rep. Frank Plumley seeking his assistance in the pension claim matter.

In April 1912, Clinton noted that the family had been broken up because he could not support them. Martha, his wife, was in Williamstown, Vermont with her parents and four children, two children were with Martha's sister in Williamstown, and one was with him. Martha also stated that they had been receiving assistance from the town of Brookfield, Vermont.

On May 4, 1912, Clinton's claim for a pension based upon disabilities was denied. On May 11, 1912 the special examiner recommends there is no basis for disability and offers the following gratuitous comment: "There would appear to be no disability on the part of the claimant to propagate a brood of children." On May 23, 1912 the Commissioner of Pensions issues a ruling on his claim and notifies Rep. Frank Plumley. On March 24, 1913, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior reverses part of the decision of the Commissioner of Pensions on appeal and notes:

"The Bureau in its report on the appeal tacitly states the claim is meritorious, save as to proof of actual incurrence at any time or place other than at Randolph, Vermont during furlough. The Department is of the opinion, however, that the weight of evidence warrants the conclusion that soldier did not incur it at Randolph, Vermont, but at Chickamauga, notwithstanding his assertion at this examination prior to muster- that it was at the former place. The action as to piles is affirmed, and that as to service origin of rheumatism is Reversed." On the front of the document is a note of payment of $1,355.

In 1921 Clinton apparently had a hemorrhoidectomy and on February 9, 1921 his residence is Williamstown, Vermont.

On June 4, 1926 Clinton writes a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions about his pension benefits in which his residence appears to be the Soldier's Home in Bennington, Vermont. On June 24, 1926 he submits a declaration for pension under a new pension law with his address at the Soldiers' Home in Bennington, Vermont.

On October 26, 1926 he is ordered to appear for a physical exam in Bennington. Apparently he relocated to Randolph, Vermont because on Nov. 1, 1926 he requested an exam closer to his current residence of Randolph, Vermont which he claimed was 200 miles from Bennington. On Dec. 1, 1926 he was examined in Randolph and the examining board estimated a total incapacity for earning support by manual labor.

On April 16, 1928 Clinton underwent a physical exam in Burlington, Vermont after applying for hospitalization for stomach ailments. The results indicate a peptic ulcer and also a weight loss of 35 pounds during the previous year. Admission to the US Naval Hospital at Chelsea, Massachusetts, travel, meals and lodging were authorized. On April 18, 1928 he was admitted to the US Naval Hospital in Chelsea

On May 3, 1928 a cystoscopic examination was performed at Chelsea. Prostatectomy was advised. On May 14 he was discharged at his own request; return as early as possible was advised and transportation was provided to Randolph, Vermont.

On May 21, 1928 he was admitted to US Naval Hospital in Chelsea for treatment of prostate problems. Chronic tonsillitis was also noted. On May 25, 1928 a suprapubic cystotomy was performed and on June 1, 1928 a suprapubic prostatectomy. He was discharged from the hospital on June 15, 1928.

On June 27, 1928 authorization for admission to the Chelsea Naval Hospital was given; however, on June 29, 1928 transportation from Boston to Randolph, Vermont was provided.

About a year later an admission application at Burlington, Vermont shows obesity as a concern, indicating his weight was then 200 pounds; the color of his eyes are now said to be grey. Additional concerns listed are neuritis, arthritis, bronchitis and emphysema (sic). Hospitalization at Boston Naval Hospital was authorized as well as transportation.

On May 15, 1929 he was admitted again to Boston Naval Hospital and the physical exam diagnoses chronic bronchitis and chr. Mild pharngitis. May 29, 1929 treatment is completed and he is discharged.

On August 14, 1931 Clinton was re-admitted to the Vermont Soldier's Home but on August 23 he is listed as AWOL from the home. On September 13, 1931 he was discharged from the Soldiers' Home and dropped from its rolls.

In 1932 and prior to July 5, 1933 his residence is apparently at 10 Merchant Street in Barre, Vermont. On July 5, 1933 he is awaiting admittance to the Soldiers' Home in Bennington, Vermont.

On July 25,1 933 he filed an appeal to his pension award. On August 28, 1931 he indicated he had to apply to the Overseer of the Town of Randolph, Vermont for assistance because of his small pension.

Clinton Dunham died in Randolph, Vermont at Gifford Memorial Hospital at 6:00 AM. [insert date] The original death certificate shows January 11 as the date of death but it was later changed to January 12 because of a mistake by the doctor completing it. His internment (entombment) occurred on January 15, 1935. The cause of death was listed as myocarditis with acute alcoholism a contributing cause.

As noted earlier Martha Cram was born in 1876. She was one daughter of Charles James Cram and Mary Dane Evans. The other daughter, Etta May Cram, was 10 years younger.⁸

On November 25, 1935 Martha E. Dunham indicated in an affidavit that her residence was 41 Union Street, Northfield, Vermont. This apparently was the address of her son, Gerald. On April 7, 1936 Martha must have been in Chatham, New York for she made a deposition stating that Hazel E. Dunham was born in Williamstown, Orange County, Vermont on May 9, 1918, where she and Clinton were then residing. She wrote a letter to the Director of widows and Dependents Claims Services in Washington, DC from 123 Hudson Avenue, Chatham, NY. The deposition was in connection with a widow's pension claim. This address apparently was the residence of her son, Lloyd, and his wife, Evelyn.

At one point according to Patt Kerr, Martha kept house for Claude and Glen Hopkins⁹ on Mill Hill.¹⁰

On May 20, 1941 Martha E. Dunham appears to be residing in Chelsea, Vermont.

Martha died at the age of 73 at the Mayo Memorial hospital in Northfield, Vermont.¹¹ She had lived in Chelsea and been in ill health for several years, including diabetes. She was buried in the family lot in Pleasant View Cemetery in Randolph, Vermont.¹²

¹Death certificate Granville, Vermont
²H. Royce Bass, The History of Braintree, Vermont including a Memorial of Families that have resided in Town. Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle & Co., State Printers, 1883.
³Marriage certificate, Braintree, Vermont
⁴Marriage certificate West Fairlee, Vermont
⁵Marriage certificate Rockingham, Vermont
⁶Death certificate, Rutland City, Vermont
⁷Martha Elizabeth Cram is mentioned only briefly in Michael A. Cram's, The Cram Sourcebook, Vol. II, Page 412.
⁸See Appendix ___ for information about the Cram family. See also the three-volume work by Michael A. Cram, The Cram Sourcebook.
⁹Claude and Glen Hopkins were sons of Martha (Mattie's) sister, Etta May Cram.
¹⁰See Patt Kerr's ______________________.
¹¹Obituary, July 14, 1950
¹²Notice of funeral services