Calvin H. Blodgett

Last updated
Calvin H. Blodgett
Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
In office
1874–1876
Preceded by Luther C. Dodge
Succeeded by Joseph D. Hatch
Personal details
Born(1827-04-07)April 7, 1827
Randolph Center, Vermont
DiedAugust 3, 1919(1919-08-03) (aged 92)
Bakersfield, Vermont
Resting place Lakeview Cemetery,
Burlington, Vermont
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s)Mandana Moody (m. 1853-1854, her death)
Julia Jenness (m. 1856-1863, her death)
Evaline Pitkin Bill (m. 1865-1885, her death)
Florence Lillian Spaulding (m. 1890-1919, his death)
Children4
Education Middlebury Seminary
ProfessionBusinessman

Calvin H. Blodgett (April 7, 1827 - August 3, 1919) was a businessman and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, he served as a member of Burlington's board of aldermen and was the city's mayor from 1874 to 1876.

Contents

Biography

Calvin Henry Blodgett was born in Randolph Center, Vermont on April 7, 1817, a son of Calvin Blodgett and Luthera (Bissell) Blodgett. [1] [2] Calvin Blodgett was long active in politics and government, including service as an assistant judge of Orange County, terms in the state legislature, and election to Burlington's board of aldermen. [3] Calvin H. Blodgett was educated in Randolph and attended Middlebury Seminary. [1]

In 1850, Blodgett and his father opened a wholesale grocery business in Waterbury, which they operated until moving to Burlington 1858. [1] The Blodgetts then became lumber dealers as the firm of C. Blodgett & Son. [1] Their venture proved successful and grew to include timber lands in Michigan and Canada. [1] Calvin Blodgett died in 1873, and Calvin H. Blodgett operated the lumber business until 1876. [1] Blodgett also invested in several other businesses, including Burlington's Merchants National Bank, [1] Champlain Mutual Insurance Company, [4] and Vermont Horse Stock Company. [5] He was also active in several civic organizations, including serving as a director of the Burlington Board of Trade. [6]

A Democrat, Blodgett represented Burlington's 6th Ward on the Board of Aldermen from 1872 to 1874. [1] In 1874, he was elected Burlington's mayor, and he served until 1876. [1] Blodgett's term as mayor was mainly concerned with reducing government expenditures in order to lower the city's property tax rate. [7] In addition, he implemented improvements to the police department, including regular salaries for patrol officers working nighttime shifts. [7] Prior to Blodgett's term, police officers were paid based on the actions they executed, such as the number of arrests. [7] Under Blodgett's reforms, officers on night patrol in the city received two dollars per shift. [7] Officers patrolling the train depot, waterfront docks, and Battery Street industrial area received one dollar per shift. [7]

In 1878, a period of ill health caused Blodgett's doctors to recommend that he move away from the Lake Champlain area to a town with a drier climate. [1] In 1880, he moved to Bakersfield, where he resided until his death. [1]

Blodgett died in Bakersfield on August 3, 1919. [1] [2] He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington. [8]

Family

Blodgett was married four times. His first wife was Mandana Moody; they married in 1853, and she died in 1854. [9] [10] In 1856, he married Julia Jenness, who died in 1863. [11] [12] His third wife was Evaline (or Everline) Pitkin Bill; they married in 1865, and she died in 1885. [13] [14] His fourth wife was Florence Lillian Spaulding (b. 1856); they married in 1890 and she died in 1931. [15] [16]

Blodgett's children included Julia M. (1857-1937), [17] [18] Eva L. (1859-1888), [19] John C. (1861-1862), [20] and Calvin B. (born and died in 1869). [21] [22] Julia Blodgett was the wife of George A. Smythe and they resided in Pasadena, California. [16] [17] [18]

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Calvin H. Blodgett at Find a Grave

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