Henry Wadhams Catlin

Narrative:

     Henry Wadhams Catlin was born about 25 Oct 1811 in Burlington, Vermont.^7,8,9
     He was probably the male under age 10 listed in the household of his father, Guy Catlin, in the 1820 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.²⁰ He was probably one of the two males age 15 to 20 listed in the household of his father in the 1830 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.²¹ He was probably one of the two males age 20 to 30 listed in the household of his father in the 1840 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.²²
     Henry married Mary Cobb Mayo, daughter of Henry Mayo and Abigail Cobb, on 10 Aug 1840 in Burlington, Vermont, with Rev. J. K. Convese officiating.^10,11,12
     Henry and Mary appeared on the 1850 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, enumerated 23 Aug 1850, reporting real estate valued at $30,000. Their children Henry and Charles were listed as living with them, as her father, Henry Mayo. Also listed were Lucy B. Adams, age 38; William G. Catlin, a clerk age 19, probably a relative of Henry; James Gilooly, age 25; Louisa Roberts, age 17; and Catherine Larkin, presumably boarders or servants.²
     A visitor wrote that Burlington "has some of the finest private residence, especially in the picturesque beauty of their location, to be found in this section of the country." Henry and Mary's home was among nine described as "among the finest I have ever seen."²³
     The Burlington Flouring Mill, a water-powered mill at Winooski Falls, was erected by Henry's father and uncle before 1830. Henry operated it for many years afterwards as a custom mill. A visitor from New York in 1853 described it as a very large mill, "one of the finest and most completely furnished in the country." It was making nearly 500 barrels of flour a day, limited by the available supply of wheat. Originally the mill ground wheat from Canada, but by this time Henry was buying his supplies mainly in Ohio and Michigan.^23,24,25,26
     Workmen entering the mills in the early morning of 15 Jan 1859 found a fire in the lower story of the grist mill which formed one wing of the large structure. Throwing water on it with buckets slowed it only slightly, and soon it burst through the roof and threatened the five-story wooden flouring mill. A runner had sent to summon the fire departments in Burlington, about a mile away. Contemporary accounts marveled that they arrived only 35 minutes later. The firemen, fatigued from running that distance, nevertheless cut a hole in the ice to secure water for their engine and managed to save the main building and even part of the grist mill.²⁷
     Grinding resumed 38 days later while construction of a half larger mill proceeded around it. The rebuilt mill was still under construction when visited in early Apr 1859. It would contain five runs of stones, smut mills, corn cracker, bolters and "every convenience in the shape of grain elevators and conductors, weighing bins, &c., &c." Henry assured his visitor that it would be the best mill in the state and as good as the best in the country, without exception. The interior finish was described as equaling "that of an elegant church. The handsome panelings painted with white and glossy Florence paint, with rails and trimmings of mahogany, and pillars of dark ornamental wood" in strong contrast with "the plain board finish commonly considered good enough for country mills."²⁸
     Henry was named an executor in the will of Mary Cobb Mayo, his wife, dated 24 Oct 1855 in Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, and to receive the entire estate as trustee for her children.²⁹
     His wife died on 2 Nov 1856 in Burlington, Vermont.^30,31
     Henry appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, enumerated 1 Jun 1860, reporting real estate valued at $75,000 and personal estate of $10,000. His children Henry, Robert and Walter were listed as living with him, as were Lucy Adams, age 40, a domestic servant, William Hogan, age 17 a laborer, and Elizabeth Larkin and Eliza Maddon, both age 15 and domestic servants.³²
     Henry married second Mary A. Poor, daughter of Rev. D. Poor, in May 1861 in High Street Presbyterian Church, Newark, New Jersey, with Rev. D. W. Poor officiating.^13,14,15
     Henry opened a wholesale trade at a store in Burlington, but retired by 1870.^33,34,35
     Henry and Mary appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont, enumerated 23 Aug 1870, reporting real estate valued at $50,000 and personal estate of $10,000. His children Henry and Walter were listed as living with them, as were Mary C. Catlin, age 29, who may have been a daughter-in-law, and Clark W. Catlin, age 3, who appears to have been a grandson. Also listed were Bridget O'Laughlin, age 35, and Mary Hickey, age 20, both domestic servants from Ireland, and Lucy Adams, age 59, listed as a boarder.³⁶
     Henry died on 1 Oct 1878 in Burlington, Vermont.^16,17,18 He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont.¹⁹