John L. Barstow
Encyclopedia
John Lester Barstow was a teacher, farmer, politician, and soldier.
Barstow was born in Shelburne, Vermont
, the son of Heman and Lorain (Lyon) Barstow. After teaching in a local school starting at the age of 15, he moved west to Detroit, but returned in 1857 to help his aging parents with the farm. He married, October 28, 1858, Laura Maeck, of Shelburne. He subsequently obtained a position as assistant clerk in the Vermont House of Representatives
in Montpelier
, in which position he was employed when the American Civil War
broke out.
on February 19, 1862. He was given command of Company K, as captain, on May 27, 1863, then promoted to the field and staff as major, on January 22, 1864. He mustered out with the regiment on June 22, 1864. He was held in such esteem by the members of his regiment, that he was given two swords, one when he was promoted to major, the other when the regiment was mustered out.
He entered the service with robust health and vigorous constitution, but nearly three years of arduous service in the swamps and miasmatic climate of Louisiana shattered both, and for many years malarial diseases deterred him from entering upon any active business pursuit. Soon after the regiment was disbanded, Vermont Adjutant & Inspector General Peter T. Washburn
offered Barstow a position in the recruiting service, but he was obliged to decline due to his health.
In September, 1864, he was elected as a member of the State Legislature, which was in session on October 19, 1864, when the St. Albans raid
occurred. Major Barstow was sent to the scene, later went to Canada on a special mission, and subsequently commanded one of the militia brigades raised by the state as a result of the incident. He commanded troops on the northwestern border of the state until relieved by Brigadier General George J. Stannard
in January 1865.
in 1866 and 1867. In 1870, President Grant
appointed him U.S. pension agent at Burlington
, a position he held for eight years. His efforts in reforming the pension system were rewarded with a letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Interior
, Carl Schurz
.
In 1879, Barstow was appointed by Governor Redfield Proctor
to serve as the state commissioner for the centennial celebration of the surrender of General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia
. In 1880 he was elected the 31st Lieutenant-Governor, and in 1882 was elected Governor, having been nominated to each office the unanimous vote of the respective Republican conventions.
He was the first Governor of Vermont to call attention to alleged discriminating and excessive rates of freight by transportation companies, and urged the creation of an effective railroad commission.
George Carpenter, his regimental historian, says: "The Ely riots occurred during Governor Barstow's term of office, and his course in requiring that justice should precede force, and that the riotous miners be paid their honest dues, attracted much favorable comment throughout the country."
The resolution of the Legislature of 1884, requesting the Vermont delegation in Congress to use their best efforts to secure the passage of the interstate commerce law, was passed in pursuance of Governor Barstow's recommendation.
At the close of his administration the Rutland Herald expressed the general opinion of his constituents that "he had been as careful, independent, able and efficient a ruler as Vermont had enjoyed for twenty years."
In 1891 he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison
to serve on a commission with General Alexander McDowell McCook
, U.S. Army, to treat with the Navajo Indians
. In 1893 at the request of Governor Levi K. Fuller
he has acted with the executive committee of the national anti-trust society.
Barstow was a member of the Vermont Officers' Reunion Society
, the Grand Army of the Republic
, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
. He was an Episcopalian by religious preferences, and was a Mason
from 1853.
He died in Shelburne, and is buried in the village cemetery.
Barstow was born in Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne, Vermont
Shelburne is a town in southwestern Chittenden County, Vermont, United States, along the shores of Lake Champlain. The population was 7,144 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, the son of Heman and Lorain (Lyon) Barstow. After teaching in a local school starting at the age of 15, he moved west to Detroit, but returned in 1857 to help his aging parents with the farm. He married, October 28, 1858, Laura Maeck, of Shelburne. He subsequently obtained a position as assistant clerk in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in Montpelier
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, in which position he was employed when the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out.
Civil War
Barstow enlisted as quartermaster sergeant, but was immediately commissioned adjutant of the 8th Vermont Infantry8th Vermont Infantry
The 8th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three-year infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in both major theaters, first in Louisiana and then in Virginia, from February 1862 to June 1865. It was a member of the XIX Corps.The regiment was mustered...
on February 19, 1862. He was given command of Company K, as captain, on May 27, 1863, then promoted to the field and staff as major, on January 22, 1864. He mustered out with the regiment on June 22, 1864. He was held in such esteem by the members of his regiment, that he was given two swords, one when he was promoted to major, the other when the regiment was mustered out.
He entered the service with robust health and vigorous constitution, but nearly three years of arduous service in the swamps and miasmatic climate of Louisiana shattered both, and for many years malarial diseases deterred him from entering upon any active business pursuit. Soon after the regiment was disbanded, Vermont Adjutant & Inspector General Peter T. Washburn
Peter T. Washburn
Peter Thacher Washburn was a lawyer, politician and Adjutant and Inspector General of the State of Vermont during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
offered Barstow a position in the recruiting service, but he was obliged to decline due to his health.
In September, 1864, he was elected as a member of the State Legislature, which was in session on October 19, 1864, when the St. Albans raid
St. Albans raid
The St. Albans Raid was the northernmost land action of the American Civil War, taking place in St. Albans, Vermont on October 19, 1864.-Background:In this unusual incident, Bennett H. Young led Confederate States Army forces...
occurred. Major Barstow was sent to the scene, later went to Canada on a special mission, and subsequently commanded one of the militia brigades raised by the state as a result of the incident. He commanded troops on the northwestern border of the state until relieved by Brigadier General George J. Stannard
George J. Stannard
George Jerrison Stannard was a Vermont farmer, teacher, and Union general in the American Civil War. After the war, he served as Doorkeeper of the United States House of Representatives.-Early life:...
in January 1865.
Postwar career
In September 1865, Barstow was unanimously reelected to the State Legislature, and served as State Senator from Chittenden CountyChittenden County, Vermont
Chittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 156,545. Its shire town is Burlington. Chittenden is the most populous county in the state, with more than twice as many residents as Vermont's second-most populous county, Rutland.Chittenden County...
in 1866 and 1867. In 1870, President Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
appointed him U.S. pension agent at Burlington
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, a position he held for eight years. His efforts in reforming the pension system were rewarded with a letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
, Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz
Carl Christian Schurz was a German revolutionary, American statesman and reformer, and Union Army General in the American Civil War. He was also an accomplished journalist, newspaper editor and orator, who in 1869 became the first German-born American elected to the United States Senate.His wife,...
.
In 1879, Barstow was appointed by Governor Redfield Proctor
Redfield Proctor
Redfield Proctor was a U.S. politician of the Republican Party. He served as the 37th Governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War from 1889 to 1891, and as a United States Senator for Vermont from 1891 to 1908....
to serve as the state commissioner for the centennial celebration of the surrender of General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
. In 1880 he was elected the 31st Lieutenant-Governor, and in 1882 was elected Governor, having been nominated to each office the unanimous vote of the respective Republican conventions.
He was the first Governor of Vermont to call attention to alleged discriminating and excessive rates of freight by transportation companies, and urged the creation of an effective railroad commission.
George Carpenter, his regimental historian, says: "The Ely riots occurred during Governor Barstow's term of office, and his course in requiring that justice should precede force, and that the riotous miners be paid their honest dues, attracted much favorable comment throughout the country."
The resolution of the Legislature of 1884, requesting the Vermont delegation in Congress to use their best efforts to secure the passage of the interstate commerce law, was passed in pursuance of Governor Barstow's recommendation.
At the close of his administration the Rutland Herald expressed the general opinion of his constituents that "he had been as careful, independent, able and efficient a ruler as Vermont had enjoyed for twenty years."
In 1891 he was appointed by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
to serve on a commission with General Alexander McDowell McCook
Alexander McDowell McCook
Alexander McDowell McCook was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, U.S. Army, to treat with the Navajo Indians
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
. In 1893 at the request of Governor Levi K. Fuller
Levi K. Fuller
Levi Knight Fuller was the 44th Governor of Vermont from 1892 to 1894.-Early life:Born in Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, and attended Brattleboro High School and later apprenticed as a machinist in Boston, also working as telegrapher to finance additional studies in engineering and...
he has acted with the executive committee of the national anti-trust society.
Barstow was a member of the Vermont Officers' Reunion Society
Reunion Society of Vermont Officers
The Reunion Society of Vermont Officers was an organization of American Civil War veterans.-Founding:The Society was founded in 1864 by Union veterans from Vermont. Its original organizers included Redfield Proctor, George G. Benedict, and Wheelock G...
, the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
. He was an Episcopalian by religious preferences, and was a Mason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
from 1853.
He died in Shelburne, and is buried in the village cemetery.