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| Affiliation | Independent |
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| Name | Quimby S. Backus |
| Address |
Windsor, Vermont , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
July 23, 1838
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| Died | 00, 1920
(81 years)
|
| Contributor | Joshua L. |
| Last Modifed | Joshua L.
Dec 20, 2004 04:25pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Quimby S. BACKUS, son of Gurdon and Wealthy Ann BACKUS, was born 23 July
1838, at Bridgewater [Windham County], Vermont. His preliminary education
was obtained in the public schools of his native town, and this was
supplemented by attendance at the public schools of Brandon [Rutland County]
and the Brandon Seminary, from which institution he was graduated at the age
of sixteen years. He then removed to Woodstock [Windsor County], Vermont,
where he learned the trade of machinist, which he followed with success for
many years, being employed by the Howe Scale Company and having the
distinction of making the first scale made in Brandon for the company. In
1861 he was engaged as a tool maker in a gun shop in Windsor [Windsor County,
Vermont], the firm having a contract for supplying guns to the United States
government; later he was employed in the railroad shops at Rutland [Rutland
County], Vermont, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of
machinery at Winchendon [Worcester County], Massachusetts. Mr. [Quimby S.]
BACKUS patented and was for several years employed in the manufacture of
vises; he later patented a bit brace, the first made that could be adjustable
to any size of bit. He then removed to Millers Falls [Franklin County,
Massachusetts], where he manufactured machine specialties, which were all his
own patents, and in this line of business he continued until 1876; he
invented the Backus heater and established a manufactory in Philadelphia
[Pennsylvania], in 1888, remaining until 1892. He next located at
Williamsport [Lycoming County], Pennsylvania, where he conducted business
until 1901, removing at that time to Brandon [Rutland County], Vermont, where
he erected a large manufactory and foundry, which gives employment to
sixty-five people. The plant and yards cover an area of five acres, and they
established offices or stores in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, San
Francisco and other large cities, besides giving the agency of the heater to
private dealers throughout the country.
Mr. [Quimby S.] BACKUS is a staunch adherent of the principles of the
Republican party, a strong local option man, and takes an active part in all
campaigns. He was elected Senator from Rutland County in 1902, was a member
of the committee on claims and the standing committee of the Manufacturers'
Library, and also served in the capacity of chairman of the committee on
joint rules, taking an aggressive part in all discussions. He is a member
and serves as Second Lieutenant of the "Allen Grays," a company of Vermont [p
537] militia, but being engaged in making guns during the progress of the
Civil War, was exempt from active service, but sent a substitute. He has
attained a prominent position in the Masonic fraternity, having taken the
32nd degree of the Scottish Rite, and is a Noble of he Mystic Shrine.
In 1858 Mr. [Quimby S.] BACKUS was united in marriage to Lavina A. LAWRENCE,
a daughter of Oliver E. and Emeline (WOOD) LAWRENCE, the former named being
born in Chittenden County, Vermont, and the latter in Brandon [Rutland
County], Vermont.
Mr. and Mrs. LAWRENCE [Oliver E. and Emeline (WOOD) LAWRENCE] were the
parents of the following named children: (1) Samuel L., a resident of
Rutland [Rutland County], Vermont; (2) James, who resided in Hubardton
[Hubbardton, Rutland County], Vermont; (3) Charles, a citizen of
Philadelphia [Philadelphia County], Pennsylvania; (4) Lavinia A., wife of
Quimby S. BACKUS; (5) Ellen, deceased; and (6) Porter Lawrence, deceased.
The mother of these children [Emeline (WOOD) LAWRENCE] died at the age of
eighty-two years; both Mr. LAWRENCE and his wife were members of the Baptist
church. Amos LAWRENCE, [the paternal] grandfather of Mrs. [Quimby S.]
BACKUS, was a shoemaker by trade, served in the Revolutionary War, and his
[Amos LAWRENCE's] death occurred at Brandon [Rutland County], Vermont, in the
seventy-fourth year of his age.
The [two] children born to Mr. and Mrs. BACKUS [Quimby S. and Lavina A.
(LAWRENCE) BACKUS] are: (1) Fred Ellsworth, born at Brandon [Rutland
County, Vermont], 03 August 1861, who acquired his education at Brandon and
later in Stebbins' Institute, a business college of Springfield [Hampden
County], Massachusetts. At the present time [1903] he is a member of the
firm of the Backus Company, he having the management of the manufacturing
department, while his father attends to the financial and sales departments.
He, like his father, is connected with all the Masonic bodies up to and
including the 32nd degree, has been secretary of the chapter, senior deacon
of blue lodge, and held offices in the consistory. Mr. Fred Ellsworth BACKUS
married, in June 1898, Maud M. PECK, who was born in Brandon [Rutland
County], Vermont, a daughter of Darwin PECK; they [Fred E. and Maud M. (PECK)
BACKUS] have one daughter, Beatrice Carile BACKUS, born 19 July 1900. (2)
Nellie Everetta, youngest child of Hon. Quimby S. and Lavina A. BACKUS, born
at Windsor [Windsor County], Vermont, married John O. BOWMAN, a prominent
lawyer of Philadelphia [Philadelphia County], Pennsylvania, and their
children are Fred Quimby and Miriam Lawrence BOWMAN.
Mr. Quimby S. BACKUS came from genuine old New England stock; he was the son
of Rev. Gurdon BACKUS, a highly useful local preacher of the Methodist
Episcopal church in his day, and Wealthy Ann (HOISINGTON) BACKUS; the latter
was a direct descendant of captain Joseph HAWKINS, who was given a large
tract of land to settle in Bridgewater [Windsor County], Vermont. The
HAWKINS family trace their lineage to the English general, James WOLFE, who
was killed at the battle of Quebec on 13 September 1759, in the hour of his
victory. The BACKUS family were old Puritan stock and came from Connecticut,
where they were the original owners of one-twentieth of the site of the city
of Norwich [New London County], Connecticut.
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