John Henry Kidder is one of the town fathers—a solid practical man of affairs, in the fifties, who looks ten years younger. He was a son of John C. Kidder of Wardsboro and in his early training on the farm developed a strong physique, good habits of industry, economy and integrity. He enjoyed the benefits of a few terms at Leland and Gray seminary, Townshend, Vt., and of teaching several terms of district school. Leaving home at the age of nineteen, he got a taste of mercantile life by clerking four years in a store at Northampton, Mass. He came to Wilmington in 1867 and the following year formed a matrimonial alliance with Emogene J., daughter of Liberty Wilder, and a business partnership with his father-in-law in the purchase and management of the Vermont House and livery. They conducted the hotel seventeen busy, prosperous years, establishing an excellent reputation and business, after which they rented it two years and then sold out. It was here in 1873 that Mr. Kidder began his somewhat remarkable career as deputy sheriff, a position which he has held for twenty-seven years with the exception of the two terms which he served as high sheriff. There being only one deputy in this locality, the business was the most extensive of any point in Windham county, during the earlier part of this long period. Mr. Kidder possesses those essential requisites of a good executive officer, quirk perception, good judgement, courage and will power. It is his honorable record that no criminal ever slipped through his fingers during his long service of twenty-seven years. During nine of these years he traveled 30,000 miles by actual reckoning. After the sale of the hotel his time and attention was absorbed to a large extent in the settlement of estates, a line of work in which he has excelled. During several years he was an extensive dealer in wool and live stock. He has dealt to a considerable extent in real estate in this vicinity and his counsel and advice is often sought in business and financial affairs. He purchased his present residence in 1889 and soon afterwards engaged in the business of undertaking, which he has since continued. He has learned the art of embalming, which is coming into general use, especially during the summer season. Mr. Kidder has charge of the town hearse, furnishing the team, and his services as manager at funerals are highly appreciated and widely sought. Although not an aspirant, he has served the town well and for a long time as road commissioner, school director and for eight terms on the board of selectmen, most of the time as chairman. Mr. and Mrs. Kidder have had two children, Edith, who died in infancy and Faith W. The home life is brightened by the delights of music, literature and art. Mrs. Kidder is a thorough musician and has taught music on the organ and piano for more than thirty years and during that time has instructed more than two hundred pupils in this and adjoining towns and has been organist in some of the different churches continuously during this period. Miss Kidder plays the violin and mandolin, as well as the piano. Mr. Kidder has led the singing in the different churches and at funerals for many years. A liberal taste for curios and antique china has resulted in a very fine collection. Mr. Kidder was the former owner of the farm which he sold to the Forest and Stream Club and for the past five years he has been the local agent and has inaugurated many improvements on the premises. The organization of this club marks an important era in the social life of the town. Mr. Kidder is a trustee of the Savings Bank and also of the public library. He is a member of Victory Grange and well known in Masonic circles as a past master of Social Lodge F. and A. M. and as a member of Fort Dummer Chapter and Beauseant Commandery of Brattleboro.
Times Press, 1900