Calvin H. Blodgett

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]

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]

Calvin H. Blodgett at Find a Grave