Colonel George Dana Harrington

GEORGE DANA HARRINGTON, son of Lyman and Althine (Bruce) Harrington, was born at Londonderry, Windham Co., Vt., July 28, 1823. His father, the third in a family of ten children, was born in Orange, Mass., July 11, 1793. His mother was born in Templeton, Mass., August 11, 1790. They were married at Orange, Mass., in August, 1818, and soon removed to Londonderry, Vt., where Mr. H. kept a store for several years. It was the only store, at that time, between Manchester, Vt., and Keene, N. H. He had, therefore, always on hand a good assortment of all needed commodities, groceries, dry goods, hardware and drugs. He was known in all that region, and during all his life, as an honorable and industrious citizen. His integrity and honesty were in such high repute, that people would, without hesitancy or security, intrust him with their business and property implicitly. By dint of hard work and strict economy and fair dealing, he, in a few years, acquired what was, for that time and place, a large fortune.

In 1830, he removed his family temporarily to Troy, N. Y., with the intention of going West to live; but, the following year, a young man whom he had started in business in Manchester, Vt., became involved, and he was under the necessity of moving his family there and taking charge of the business himself, in order to save what he had invested in it. He settled at Factory Point, a small village about a mile northeast of Manchester, remaining there until 1844, when he removed to Bennington, Vt., where he purchased a few acres of land, about midway between the villages of Bennington and Bennington Centre, and there built himself a comfortable house, and passed the remainder of his life in the care of his garden and orchard. His wife was a woman of unusual energy of character and strength of will—the life of the house and the joy of the family; and when she died, November 28, 1871, it seemed as if the home was broken up, and that its cheerfulness had departed with her. Mr. H. continued a few years, and followed her March 10, 1876, after a long and severe illness, leaving behind him a name untarnished by even the shadow of a taint, and held in cherished remembrance still by all who knew him.

Their son George, inheriting his father's sterling qualities, and his mother's energy, passed the greater, part of his boyhood at Factory Point, Vt., surrounded by the happiest home influences, and in the midst of the most charming natural scenery. From childhood a very prominent trait observable in him was a passionate love of nature, in all her phases and moods.

As a boy, he would wander off alone, or with older companions, and spend whole days in the woods, or by the mountain streams, with gun or fishing rod, caring less for game than for the music of the birds, and the murmur of the purling brook. He knew by name all the trees of the mountain and plain, and the note of every warbler, and then- haunts; and his ear was ever keen to hear their music, whether of the blue-bird and robins in the springtime, or the solitary thrush, and other songsters of the forest. And some of the precious memories of his children, in after years, are the visits they have taken with him to the woods for flowers and autumn leaves and evergreens. .Instruction on these occasions was combined with amusement, and all done for the beautifying of the home, which was the centre of his attractions. Yet his nature, in all these early predilections, was rather susceptible than sensitive; his mind meditative rather than gleeful; buoyant rather than sportive. Hence, in his choice of associates, he often seemed to prefer and court the society of those older than himself; and many strong and intimate friendships were formed by him with such. Among his intimates, in his early pastimes in fishing and hunting excursions, was the late Governor Sargent, of Vermont, between whom and himself there remained a life-long attachment. Many, and interesting also, are the anecdotes which companions and playmates in those youthful scenes with him still tell of their experiences and exploits.

But there was in him a vein of the practical as well as the romantic. He very early evinced a decided mechanical genius, which, on several occasions in after life, was of special service to him. One of the haunts where he spent many a happy leisure hour was the workshop of the late Deacon Goodwin, of Factory Point, who, feeling a kindly interest in the boy, and wishing, moreover, to encourage his mechanical bent, permitted him to use any of his tools as he might choose; which was a source of inexpressible pleasure to the youthful mechanic.

But the time came when he must leave his loved parental home to prepare for his future life-service. For a few years he was sent to the family boarding-school, kept by Mr. Preston, first at Hoosic Falls, N. Y., and afterwards in Bennington, Vt. He, however, fitted specially for College at the Burr and Burton Seminary, in Manchester, Vt., under the instruction of Rev. Joseph D. Wickham, D. D. (Yale, 1815), then its principal, previously a tutor in Yale.

Dr. Wickham, in a letter to Rev. James L. Harrington, son of Col. G. D. Harrington, dated at Manchester, Vt., December 21, 1881, gives the following reminiscences of him at that early period:

"Your father came under my instruction first in the spring of 1839, and left for College in the summer of 1841. As he lived with his parents at Factory Point, and was at the Saminary only during the hours of study, I was not in so close relation to him as though he boarded at the Seminary. My recollections of him, during that period, present him to me as an amiable youth, correct in his deportment, and diligent in study. There is no incident that I can recall, in his personal history, as definitely as I remember the act of his father on his first going to New Haven, in requesting of me a letter of introduction to some Christian gentleman, who would be willing to have an oversight of his son, and take charge of the funds needful for his use. I gave him such a letter to my father-in-law, Rev. Samuel Merwin (Yale, 1802), then living in New Haven. Through him a room, and I think board was obtained for your father in the excellent family of Judge Wood, than which he could not have found a place in any other more favorable for the influence to which your father would be subjected during his course at College. I never heard that he was led by others astray from the right course, either in College, or while he was preparing for it at the Seminary."

He entered the Class of '45 in Yale, at its start, in the fall of '41, and soon became identified with it in all its interests and associations. His scholarship was good from the outset, though he seemed unambitious for the highest class honors. His classmates cannot forget his intense love of, and devotion to music. He was one of the best tenor singers in College—a member of the chapel choir, of the College Glee Club, and of the Beethoven Society, where, with flute, ophecleide, or bass-viol, he performed his part with faultless precision. So sensitive was his ear to discords, that he often expressed the doubt, in later years, whether his keen enjoyment of good music overbalanced the torture so often endured by him in listening to discordant strains. It was, however, his favorite recreation all through life; and, to the last, his. flute was the delight of his Mends, as he made it the accompaniment to piano music in his home.

His character, throughout his collegiate course, was above reproach. All who knew him esteemed him highly. He had, as far as known, no enemies; for- his was a kindness of heart that seemed instinctively to avoid wounding others' feelings—a trait which gave him influence in all his associations with his College mates.

On leaving College, after graduation, it was his intention to study law with his intimate classmate Crowell. So confident was he of the execution of this purpose, that he did not procure Crowell's autograph before leaving College, saying that it would be soon enough to do that when they should get to their work. The unexpected death of his friend Crowell—the first of our number to leave us after graduation—together with a chronic sore throat, which made it almost impossible for him to speak loud for any length of time, caused him to change his plan, and enter upon a mercantile life instead.

For a few years, therefore, he kept a hardware store in Bennington, Vt. But, finding such a life not congenial, he turned his attention, like his classmate St. John, to civil engineering ; and, for a time, was made superintendent of the telegraph, at Bennington, and afterwards went to Troy, N. Y., to occupy a like position there. For some years, from that time, he was employed as civil engineer in the construction of the Central Vermont R. R., and in other railroad building in Canada and Central New York.

While residing in Bennington, Vt., he became acquainted with Miss Mart Elizabeth Lyman, the eldest daughter of Deacon George Lyman, who lived in the old Governor Tichenor mansion, a few rods from the old church in Bennington Centre, and was married to her June 8,1847. Shortly before this time also he became deeply interested, as never before, in Christ's salvation as a personal concern; but being of strong will and positive mind, and having, withal, in his boyhood's home, had few religious influences surrounding him, he had to begin at the foundation of religious beliefs; and, unwilling to accept any one's views as truth, without thorough examination, he went to the fountain head—the Bible; and it was only after years of study—struggling with doubts and difficulties—-that he felt his way clear to accept and publicly profess the faith held by the orthodox Congregational Church. But when he did, it was without a scruple and in full-hearted embrace. He often stated to his eldest son, that if God's power had not been exerted to subdue his naturally unyielding will, no argument or persuasion could have availed to do it. He delighted to emphasize God's efficacious grace as the sole cause of that change in him; and hence he regarded his life as thenceforth consecrated to Him whose grace had done so much for him.

At the opening of the late civil war, he felt it his duty to engage in it, and accordingly, through the late Governor Foote, of Vermont, he offered his services to the U. S. Government. In the spring of '63 he received a commission as Captain and Commissioner of Subsistence. At first he was sent to the front, with the army -operating in Northern Virginia; but in a few weeks he was ordered to Columbus, O., to assist Governor Todd, and there remained till the close of the war. On account of fidelity in the trust committed to him, and through the influence of Governor Todd, he obtained a commission as Colonel. He was accustomed as Commissioner of Subsistence to disburse large sums of money, and had charge of the letting of large contracts. Sometimes his monthly accounts would amount to more than $500,000; still, one who knew him well thus testifies as to his scrupulous fidelity: "In this service he disbursed millions of dollars, accounting faithfully to the Government for every dollar, and returned from the service a poor man, as he was when he entered it."

While at Columbus, he, on a temporary furlough, returned to his home in Bennington Centre, Vt., and there, September 20, 1863, united with the First Congregational Church, where all the pleasantest associations of his early manhood had been. And from that time he seemed ever anxious to do all in his power to exemplify the Christian spirit.

On returning to civil life after the war, having become attached to the place, he removed his family to Columbus, O., and there entered the jewelry business, and continued it, though often absent on public duties, till the close of his life. He had already become deeply interested in the spiritual welfare of the prisoners in the State penitentiary at Columbus, and was permitted to do a great amount of good among them. He succeeded in winning the confidence of the convicts to an unusual degree. His interest in their welfare ceased not with the expiration of their penal term, but he continued to care for them after they left the prison. Owing to the great sagacity displayed by him in this work, and the wise suggestions which he gave to others engaged in the same "labor of love," he was placed by Gov. Cox on the "Board of State Charities," and was unanimously chosen by the Board, at their first meeting, their president. He spent a considerable portion of his time in visiting different prisons of the State and in a tour of inspection among various penal institutions of the Eastern States. His annual report on the subject was highly spoken of and widely circulated.

In February, 1870, Gov. Cox, being Secretary of the Interior at Washington, D. C, and about to organize the Census Bureau for taking the census of 1870, summoned Col. Harrington to Washington, to assist Gen. Francis Walker in the arduous undertaking. Here he found a work at once congenial and suited to his tastes and abilities. During a part of the time, while Gen. Walker was absent in Europe, he had the oversight of the whole. After the census was completed, and Gen. W. had left the census office, he remained in charge of it until his death. All who have had occasion to consult that important work have noticed its exceeding accuracy and completeness and admirable arrangement ; and the pains he took to make it so was simply an effort on his part to realize his high ideal of what such a work should be.

For several years he had been suffering, unknown to his family, from disease of the heart. During the summer of 1878 he was obliged to hasten to his old home in Vermont on account of his enfeebled health. When he returned to Washington in the early fall, his health was not materially improved ; but shortly after his return, his disease began to develop more serious symptoms. Cardiac asthma, in some of its most distressing features, ensued; and it was not long before he was unable to lie down at all. His nervous system soon showed signs of sympathy in the general physical derangement, and " the grasshopper became a burden." His naturally strong constitution could not long endure the strain thus put upon it, and, accordingly, the winter of intense suffering resulted in paralysis of the brain on the morning of the 9th of March, 1879. From that time he did not recognize any one about him. He at last found rest in death early Thursday A. M., March 13, 1879. His remains were taken to Bennington Centre, Vt., and placed near the old church which he had loved so dearly, and amid the pleasantest associations of his life. It was there, in that old village, he had become acquainted with and married his wife; there the greater number of his nine children were born, and four of them rest beside him in the rural village-cemetery.

His children, of whom five survive, are

1. James Lyman, born June 2, 1848 ; as he grew up he assisted his father in his office for a year or so; fitted for College at the High School in Columbus, O.; entered Williams College in 1868, and graduated there in the Class of '72 ; began his studies for the ministry at Yule Divinity School in September of same year, and graduated in the spring of 1876 ; was ordained and installed pastor of Congregational Church in Orange, YL, October 2, 1876, where he remained until invited to become pastor of the Congregational Church in East Dorset, Vt., and began his labors there July 1, 1870, and is there still; unmarried.

2. *Mary Lucina, born February 2, 1850; died May 12, 1854.

3. *Charles Tichenor, born May 26, 1851; died December 31, 1851.

4. William Gilbert, born October 3, 1854; has been bookkeeper in his father's jewelry store at Columbus, O.; was married October, 1875, to Miss Alice Minor, of Washington, D. C., who died in the fall of 1876, leaving him with a young son, Frank Minor by name ; was again married to Miss Florence Moodie, of Columbus, O., in 1879. They have one daughter, Mary Lyman, born May 19,1880.

5. George Lyman, born March 29, 1857; is at present (1881) connected with the Census Bureau at Washington, D.C.

6. *Frank Lyman, born June 15, 1861; died October 3, 1861.

7. Laura Stark, born December 23, 1863; is with her mother in Columbus, but with her younger sister attending the High School there.

8. Catherine Beach, born March 10, 1867 ; with her mother.

9. *Althine, born August 6, 1869 ; died December 18, 1869.

In summing the leading traits of Col. George D. Harrington, though much, very much might be said, we must necessarily be brief.

1. He was a man of indomitable energy and strength of will. This, his leading characteristic, he inherited from his mother. It was, undoubtedly, this element of power in him, in connection with his great courage and perseverance, that secured him such uniform success in the various undertakings in which he was engaged during his life. What he did, he did with all his heart and soul enlisted in it; obstacles only intensified his determination to succeed.

2. Unselfish devotion to the good of others characterized all his acts, public and private. He knew no such thing as stint in his exertions to do good. It was his delight to do for his family, his friends, the church, the public, all in his power. It was his unreserve in this that led him to such untiling efforts for the prisoners in the penitentiary at Columbus and other State peoal institutions. Like the philanthropist, John Howard, whom he, in many respects, closely resembled, he could not be content till he had effected the good he aimed at in behalf of the wretched inmates of those places of punishment.

3. Duty emphatically dominated his life; but, mellowed by Christian principle, it made him a man of uncompromising integrity throughout. His scrupulous fidelity in responsible trusts was its natural fruit. Under its impulse, also, he gave, with a liberality which came free from the heart, a thank-offering, equaled in freeness and fullness, according to his ability, by few. He only wanted to know what the Master would have him do, and he did it "cheerfully, as unto the Lord." During his last sickness, in a calm review of his life, his main regret seemed to be that he had not done earlier and better what he felt he ought to have done as a Christian. In conversing with his second son, one day, not long before his death, he said that the one regret of his life was that he had not done more for the Master. Ever after his public profession of Christ, the key-note of his life was duly. He ever delighted to work in behalf of God's kingdom, in any capacity where he could do the most in its advance. In seasons of religious interest in the church, his pastor could always rely upon his aid to the utmost of his ability. In the Sabbath-school, in systematic beneficence, in organizing Christian work in the church he was untiring.

4. He was implicit in his trust in God. Nothing seemed to shake his confidence here. He experienced many severe trials during his life ; yet, when all seemed dark, and hope in man seemed to have forsaken him, his faith in God's goodness and faithfulness never, for a moment, wavered, but remained steadfast to the end. Long and earnestly did he, in his early experiences, wrestle with intellectual doubts and perplexities ; but his triumph, as life advanced, gave his prayers and remarks in religious meetings a peculiar interest, making all who heard them feel that he was a man of pure and high spirituality, who was not ashamed of his profession. This it was that rendered his life a living power. Prisoners felt and acknowledged it; men of intellectual strength instinctively paid it the homage of deference. He carried his piety with him • everywhere, and the world saw that it was not a show, but a reality, and from the heart.

5. Crowning all else was his ardent devotion to his family. He was kind and affectionate, and, of consequence, he was beloved at home. And, when he was taken from them, he was missed by that family group, in whom centred his earthly attachments. He was, in every sense, a noble man. All who knew him honored and respected him. His wife and children "rise up and call him blessed," while his sons feel that they ever have his life before them as an ideal which they may hope, by hard work, to approach, but never attain.

[The above facts mainly furnished by the widow and eldest son of the deceased.]

Bibliographic information:

• Title Record of the Class of 1845 of Yale College: Containing Obituaries of Deceased, and Biographical Sketches of Surviving Members
• Authors Yale University. Class of 1845, Oliver Crane
• Publisher Jenkins & Thomas, printers, 1881
• Original from the University of Michigan
• Digitized Oct 8, 2007
• Length 219 pages
• Page 113
• https://books.google.com/books?id=ubRLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA120&lpg=PA120&d...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Dana Harrington, the youngest child of Lyman and Althine (Bruce) Harrington, was born in Londonderry, Vt., July 28, 1823, and came to college from Factory Point in that State.

He settled in Bennington, Vt., where he was engaged in business for several years. He was also for some time employed in civil engineering,—in the construction of the Central Vermont Railroad, and in other railroad building in Canada and New York. In 1862 he received a captain's commission as commissary of subsistence, and was with the Northern Army in Virginia for a time, and later at headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. He performed his duties in the service so well as to gain the especial esteem of Gov. Tod, of Ohio, and through his influence received a full colonel's commission. While at Columbus he became incidentally interested in the condition of the State Penitentiary, and the impulse given to spiritual work among the convicts by his suggestions and cooperation was so marked that he was subsequently appointed by Gov. Cox a member of the Board of State Charities. In connection with the U. S. Census of 1870 he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Census Bureau, at Washington, and was acting superintendent of the same at the time of his death.

For the last six months of his life he was a sufferer from cardial asthma, which brought on paralysis of the brain, of which he died in Washington, March 13, 1879, in the 56th year of his age.

He was married, June 8, 1847, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George Lyman, Esq., of Bennington, who survives him, with five of their nine children. The eldest son is a graduate of Williams College and of the Yale Divinity School.

Bibliographic information:

• Title Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University ... Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Alumni
• Author Yale University
• Published 1880
• Original from the University of California
• Digitized Oct 13, 2009
• Page 356
• https://books.google.com/books?id=jlcdAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA356&lpg=PA356&d...

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3S3L-TCF