Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of James Barbour

James Barbour, from Worcester, Mass., located in Bridport in 1782. He made the first thanksgiving party ever held in the town, and to which the whole population were invited, the said population then consisting of six families. Mr Barbour and wife were Christians of the pure old Puritan stock, and consequently very staid and sober. On one occasion Thomas Ormsbee, a lawyer of Shoreham, Vt., reported that he saw Mr. Barbour and his wife out in their yard “pulling hair with all their might, and the old man had a butcher’s knife in his hand.” The church concluded that for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Increase Graves

Rev. Increase Graves was the first settled minister and received the ministerial lot allowed by charter, the same being the farm now occupied by H. N. Sollace. Calvin Sollace, born in Walpole, N. H., was a graduate of Middlebury College, studied law in Middlebury, and commenced practice in Bridport in 1814, and subsequently served as judge six years.

Biography of Ehlert Heitmann

Heitmann, Ehlert, Bridport, was born in Brunswick, Germany, on August 5, 1822. From the time he was six years old until he reached the age of fourteen years he attended school and received a German education. From that time until he reached the age of twenty years he was engaged in working for others at farming. He was conscriped at this time in the army, served one year and six weeks, and was then furloughed until wanted. He then went to Bremen and engaged as engineer in a large brewing establishment there, where he remained for three years, when he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Peck

Jacob Peck located on the east side of the road north of the Reeve farm in 1786, and remained there until his death in 1837, aged eighty-four years. He was born in Farrington, Conn., in 1753. He reared a numerous and respectable family and left many descendants, some of whom still reside in town. Captain Alanson Peck, his son, occupies a part of the old homestead; M. M. Peck, Henry T. Peck and Mrs. Henry Lane and Mrs. Anna Sanford are children of Alanson. Edgar Sanford, son of the last named, has grandchildren, thus exhibiting the remarkable co-existence of five … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William R. Hays

Hays, William R., Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., on September 10, 1824. He was married March 25, 1845, to Sophia Gregory, who died December 9, 1866, leaving two sons — Michael D. and Harvey W. He married his second wife, Mrs. Nancy Meader, of Lincoln, Vt., on December 1, 1867. They have had one daughter born to them — Emma S. (born December 18, 1870). She had by her first husband, John C. Meader, four children. W. R. Hays was a son of Seymour and Hannah Brydia Hays. He was born on August 20, 1780, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ebenezer Allen

Ebenezer Allen was one of the old and respected citizens of this town, coming here at an early date from Tinmouth, Vt., and was married to a daughter of the noted Philip Stone. The name of “Allen” has passed away. He claimed to be a relative of Vermont’s hero, Ethan Allen. G. R. and S. Z. Walker are his grandsons. He was a stanch Mason, and died in 1875, aged eighty-seven years.

Biographical Sketch of Abel Norton

Abel Norton, from Connecticut, located upon the farm now owned by Hiram Norton, in 1790, and died here in 1833, aged fifty-six years. Hiram has eight children, all of whom except Lucy (Mrs. F. M. Moulton, of Vergennes) reside near the old farm.

Biography of John Deere

No citizen in Rock Island County, or throughout the country, was probably more widely known than John Deere of Moline. He was born at Rutland, Vermont, February 7, 1804, and died May 17, 1886. 1805 the family moved to Middlebury, Vermont, where the children attended school in a district schoolhouse, which had a long fire place across the end of the room. The reading, writing and little arithmetic obtained here, before he was twelve years old, was the principal educational start Mr. Deere had for life. He afterwards attended private school for a few months, but the inborn inclination for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Bain

Bain, James, Bristol, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on November 22, 1820. His father, Andrew Bain, came to America with one son, Andrew, in 1830, settled in Lincoln, Vt., and in 1832 the mother came with four children from Glasgow to Lincoln, Vt. The children were William (who now resides in Lincoln, Vt.), Thomas (now a resident of Lincoln, Vt.), Archibald (deceased, died in Bristol, Vt.). They lived in Lincoln and Bristol, Vt., most of their lives. After their arrival in America they had three daughters born to them, Mary (now Mrs. Horace Dodge, of Northfield, Vt.), Harriet (now Mrs. … Read more

Biography of Oren K. Britell

Britell, Oren K., Weybridge, was born in Weybridge, Vt., on January 17, 1836. His parents were Orange and Mary Ann (Brainard) Britell, Orange Britell was born in Vermont in 1800, on the place which was first settled by his grandfather, Claudius Britell. Oren’s paternal grandfather, John Britell, was a native of Connecticut, who had a family of ten children. Three daughters are now living and are all residents of Western States. Orange Britell was a clothier by trade, and conducted that business in Weybridge village. His wife died in 1837. He then married his second wife, Diadama Gage, of Ferrisburgh, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Reuben Parker Jr.

Parker, Reuben, Jr., Ferrisburgh, was born in Underhill, Chittenden county, Vt., on April 25, 1840, and settled in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1857. He has been lister of the town for two terms, was selectman for five terms, and held other minor offices. He represented his town in the Legislature in 1884 and 1885. He is a general farmer, and a son of Reuben and Susan Ann (Rogers) Parker. He was born in Manchester, Bennington county, Vt., in 1719, and she was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. They died in Ferrisburgh, Vt. Reuben was a son of Benjamin Parker, who was … Read more

Biography of Julius Preston Douglas

DOUGLAS, JULIUS PRESTON. Among the pioneers of Addison county was the family of James Marsh Douglas, who came from Cornwall, Conn., to the town of Cornwall, Addison county, in 1784, where James Marsh Douglas died in 1790. His son, Benajeh Douglas, was born in Cornwall, Conn., August 5, 1780; was a successful farmer and hotel keeper in Cornwall, Vt., for many years. He was much interested in militia affairs in the early days. His first wife was Salome Scott, by whom he had two children, one daughter and one son. His second wife was Betsey Preston. To that union were … Read more

Bristol Vermont – Military

There were few among the early male population of Bristol that had not served in some capacity in the continental ranks. But as a town, it of course has no Revolutionary history. On the 7th of June, 1791, the first militia company was organized here, the “Tenth Company, Second Regiment, Sixth Brigade Vermont Infantry” Cyprian Eastman was elected captain and Benjamin Clapp lieutenant, positions of no little honor in those days. Another company, the “Light Infantry,” was organized June 1, 1808, which elected John Hilborn captain, and Jehial Saxton lieutenant. At the invasion of Plattsburgh, in September, 1814, sixty-six volunteers … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elihu Purinton

Purinton, Elihu, Lincoln, a representative farmer of Lincoln, Vt., was a son of James and Clarissa (Nud) Purinton, and a grandson of Chase Purinton. James Purinton was a tanner by trade. He was twice married. His first wife was Achsie Morrison. After his marriage he resided in Lincoln, Vt., for a number of years, after which he removed to Canada, where he died. He had a family of twelve children, three of whom now reside in Addison county, Vt. — Asa, Freeman, and Elihu (who was married on October 25, 1876, to Hulda Purinton, a daughter of Jonathan and Hannah … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ezra C. Dike

Dike, Ezra C., Bristol, was born in Bolton, Vt., on April 4, 1837. He went into business for himself as a merchant in February, 1869, as a partner in the firm of Dike, Bixbee & Co., who were then general hardware merchants. He was married twice. His first wife was Lucy Rood, by whom he had one child, Bertha L. His second wife was Sarah Needham, a daughter of William and Mary Needham. She was a granddaughter of Dr. Joseph Needham, of Bristol, Vt.

Biographical Sketch of Robert Holley

Robert Holley, a native of New London, Conn., came from Hebron, N. Y., in 1795, and located on the east side of the highway, nearly opposite the place now owned by Joel Barlow. In 1808 he removed to the village, where he kept a public house several years. He served the town as constable and collector, represented the town in the General Assembly eight years; was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1826; was a presidential elector, casting his vote for President Monroe, and was a justice of the peace twenty-eight years. He was the father of eight children, … Read more

Biography of William M. Dean

Dean, William M., Monkton, was born in Monkton, Vt., in 1860. He is a general farmer, and was elected lister of the town in 1885. He was married in November, 1884, to Abie M. Palmer, a daughter of James and Lucinda (Martin) Palmer. William M. is a son of Marion and Loretta (Fuller) Dean. She was born in 1835 and Marion H. was born in 1833. They were married in 1854 and have had a family of four children — Ashbel A. (born in 1857), William M. (born in 1860), and Lewis F. (born in 1862). Ashbel A. was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Maylon E. Taylor

Taylor, Maylon E., New Haven, was born in Salisbury, Vt., on April 26, 1826. He went to Michigan in 1844, and remained there until 1852, when he returned to Vermont, and has been a resident of New Haven, Vt., ever since. He was married in 1859 to Ellen Mills, a daughter of Ralph and Abigail (Sumner) Mills. They have had three children born to them — Samuel L., Ira M., and Herbie M. Mr. Taylor is a representative farmer of New Haven, Vt., and occupies a farm of 312 acres, and also keeps a dairy of thirty cows. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hiram F. Hurlbut

Hurlbut, Hiram F., Ferrisburgh, Lynn, Mass, p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt. He was married in 1860 to Roxy Satterly, who was also born in Ferrisburgh, Vt. They have had one son born to them — Byron S., who is a student at Harvard College. Hiram F. Hurlbut was a son of Lewis and Philomelia (Fuller) Hurlbut, who were natives of Ferrisburgh, Vt. Roxy Hurlbut was a daughter of Captain Isaac and Sophia (Marsh) Satterly, who were married in 1826. Mrs. Satterly died in 1856, leaving four children — Ralph M., Mary, Charlotte, and Roxy. Captain Isaac Satterly died … Read more

Cornwall Vermont

THE original grantees of Cornwall were probably residents of Litchfield county, Connecticut. The charter granted to them was signed by Benning Wentworth, governor of New Hampshire, on the 3d day of November, 1761. The following are their names; Elias Reed, Thomas Chipman, Murry Lester, Samuel Lee, Josiah Heath, James Nichols, Josiah Dean, Ebenezer Fletcher, Samuel Keep, Roswell Steel, Alexander Gaston, George Nichols, William Nichols, John Judd, Timothy Brownson, Solomon Linsley, Andrew Esquire, Moses Buck, David Cowles, Moses Read the 3d, Zuriel Jacobs, William Trumbull, Stephen Benton, Sarah Nichols, Benjamin Smalley, John Willoby, Joel Reed, Joseph Williams, James Nichols, jr., Enoch … Read more