Vermont Governor. He was educated in Shelburne, Vermont, and became a teacher when he was fifteen. After living briefly in Detroit, Michigan, he returned to Shelburne and began farming, also serving as Assistant Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives. He enlisted in the Union Army for the Civil War, serving from 1861 to 1864, receiving promotion to Major in the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment, and earning frequent commendations for bravery. As a Brigadier General of Vermont militia, he commanded a militia brigade that entered Canada in pursuit of Confederate raiders who attacked St. Albans in 1864. A Republican, Barstow served in the Vermont House from 1864 to 1865, and the Vermont Senate from 1866 to 1867. He was United States Pension Agent in Burlington from 1870 to 1878, and in 1879 served as Vermont's Commissioner to the centennial celebration of the British surrender at Yorktown. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1880, serving until 1882, and then Governor, serving from 1882 to 1884. He was a Trustee of the University of Vermont and the state Agricultural College, and a Director of the Burlington Savings Bank. He was also a member of the Bennington Battle Monument Commission, and in 1891 served on the federal commission that negotiated with the Navajo Indians.
Vermont Governor. He was educated in Shelburne, Vermont, and became a teacher when he was fifteen. After living briefly in Detroit, Michigan, he returned to Shelburne and began farming, also serving as Assistant Clerk of the Vermont House of Representatives. He enlisted in the Union Army for the Civil War, serving from 1861 to 1864, receiving promotion to Major in the 8th Vermont Infantry Regiment, and earning frequent commendations for bravery. As a Brigadier General of Vermont militia, he commanded a militia brigade that entered Canada in pursuit of Confederate raiders who attacked St. Albans in 1864. A Republican, Barstow served in the Vermont House from 1864 to 1865, and the Vermont Senate from 1866 to 1867. He was United States Pension Agent in Burlington from 1870 to 1878, and in 1879 served as Vermont's Commissioner to the centennial celebration of the British surrender at Yorktown. He was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1880, serving until 1882, and then Governor, serving from 1882 to 1884. He was a Trustee of the University of Vermont and the state Agricultural College, and a Director of the Burlington Savings Bank. He was also a member of the Bennington Battle Monument Commission, and in 1891 served on the federal commission that negotiated with the Navajo Indians.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Advertisement
