Addison County, Vermont is a county in western Vermont, established by act of the legislature on October 18, 1785, from a portion of Rutland County during the period of the independent Vermont Republic (prior to Vermont’s statehood in 1791), with its shire town (county seat) at Middlebury, making county court and land records available there from the late 1780s onward—vital for genealogical research. The area lies in the Champlain Valley and is drained primarily by Otter Creek; Native American presence by Iroquoian and other tribes along Lake Champlain predates European exploration by Samuel de Champlain in 1609 and later French and British colonial activity at sites such as Chimney Point. Early towns within the county, many chartered in the 1780s and 1790s, drew settlers largely from New England states after the American Revolution, with township land records, early census returns, and town meeting minutes beginning in this period; resources for genealogy include county town clerk records, Probate and Deed offices in Middlebury, local historical societies, libraries, and numerous cemetery transcriptions.
Ira J. Blakeley was born in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, in 1815. He worked as a foreman at Eagle Mills for fifteen years and later served as a keeper at Denmore prison in New York for over two decades. Blakeley returned to Ferrisburgh in 1880. He married Betsey B. Downing in 1836, with whom he had one son before her death in 1865. He married Cornelia A. Field Houghton in 1880. Blakeley was the son of James and Catherine Blakeley, and he passed away in 1824.
Charles D. Keeler was born in 1810 in Kent, Connecticut, and became an apprentice in the tanning business at age 16. By 1831, he was manufacturing boots and shoes while continuing in tanning. He married Lovina Williams in 1837, but she passed away in 1841, leaving him with four children, all of whom died young. He remarried twice, first to Sophia Gay, with whom he had three children, and then to Elizabeth A. Painter, with whom he had a daughter, Ruth.
Louis B. Fuller, born in 1823 in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, is a notable stock grower and farmer, owning 800 acres and dealing primarily in hay. He has held various local offices, including selectman and justice of the peace. Married in 1850 to Polly Ann Satterly, they had four children. Fuller descended from a family of early settlers in Ferrisburgh, being the son of Gideon and Elenor Fuller, and has a sibling named Loretta.
Elijah Ferguson, born April 17, 1775, and his brother Elisha were early settlers of Starksboro, Vermont, having moved from Nine Partners, New York with their father, John. Elijah married Mary Haight in 1797, and they had ten children, including Albert, born in 1803. Albert, who married Clarissa Bostwick, lived in Starksboro until his death in 1884. Alfred, one of Albert’s children, settled in Bristol in 1844, served as a selectman and justice of the peace, and continues to farm the family land.
Rufus Hazard was born in 1808 in Uxbridge, Canada West, and later moved to Ferrisburgh, Vermont. He held various town offices and managed notable estates as executor. Married in 1835 to Sarah A. Allen, he lost her in 1865 and adopted a daughter, Mary Esther Anthony. His second marriage was to Ruth Carry Holmes. Rufus was part of the Hazard family, with roots in Vermont, being the son of Thomas and Lydia Hazard, who had five children.
J. B. Dike was born on August 24, 1808, in Milton, Vermont. He was the son of Jonathan, Jr. and Sally Dike and had two siblings. Dike lived in Starksboro before moving to Bristol in 1851. He married twice, first to Mary M. Leet and then to Marilda Remington, who died in 1882. Dike served in various public roles, including constable and member of the Legislature, and was dedicated to local development and education throughout his life.
Nicholas H. Guindon was born on September 3, 1830, in New Haven, Vermont, to Gabriel Guindon, a French Canadian farmer. Gabriel moved to Lincoln in 1833, acquiring a hundred-acre estate and serving as a selectman. Nicholas married thrice, first to Eliza Gove, then Hetty E. Tabor, with whom he had three sons, and finally to Mary Cadwell. He currently owns a two-hundred-acre estate in Lincoln, where he has established his life and family.
Jonas Fuller, born in 1828 in Monkton, has served as selectman for three terms and is a prominent local farmer. He owns the homestead established by his father, Milton A. Fuller, in 1820. Jonas married Elma Tattle in 1878, and they have one daughter, Belle. He is the son of Milton A. and Almeda (Chamberlin) Fuller, who married in 1820 and had three sons. Milton A. Fuller died in 1877, and Almeda passed away in 1882.
Louis Hope, born on February 28, 1828, in Saint Hyacinth, Canada, was educated locally before learning blacksmithing at seventeen. He moved to Cornwall, Vermont, in 1843, then settled in Middlebury in 1844, where he worked for Eli Mathews for seven years before establishing his own blacksmith business for twenty-five years. Married to Jane Gee in 1848, they had seven children. A self-made man, he has resided in a residence on Court Street for over twenty-five years.
James P. Fenn was born on July 8, 1832, in Middlebury, Vermont, to Chester and Patty Fenn. Chester, a shoemaker and War of 1812 veteran, was an early pioneer in the region. James acquired a 130-acre farm in 1852 and married Nancy S. Foote in 1863, with whom he had two sons. Renowned as a skilled farmer and cattle raiser, James has also been an active and prominent citizen in Middlebury, contributing to the community’s development.
Ezra A. Hazard, born in 1831 in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, is a prominent farmer who operates part of his family’s historic homestead. He has served his community as selectman, lister, and poor-master. Married in 1860 to Caroline Williams, they have two daughters, Adelia and Sylvia. Ezra is the son of Robert and Elizabeth Hazard, with deep family roots in Vermont. He is the last surviving child of his family, carrying on a legacy that traces back to one of Ferrisburgh’s earliest settlers.
Ezra C. Dike, born on April 4, 1837, in Bolton, Vermont, established himself as a merchant in February 1869 by partnering in Dike, Bixbee & Co., a general hardware business. He was married twice, first to Lucy Rood, with whom he had one child, Bertha L., and later to Sarah Needham, daughter of William and Mary Needham, and granddaughter of Dr. Joseph Needham of Bristol, Vermont.
Lester Griswold, born on April 18, 1786, was the second son of a pioneer family in Orwell. He married Lucinda Parks, and they had six children, including Emmitt Darwin, a prominent figure in Orwell known for his high-quality farm and thoroughbred livestock. Emmitt married Martha Conkey, and they had two daughters, Gracie L. and Mary C. The Griswold family’s legacy highlights their contributions to the community and the success of their agricultural endeavors.
William Joslin, born in 1798 in Vermont, was a prominent harness-maker and saddlery manufacturer who settled in Vergennes in 1820. He became the sole proprietor of his business in 1822 and served in various local government roles, including sheriff and deputy. Joslin retired in 1867 and was married to Laura Wheeler in 1831, with whom he had nine children. He faced significant financial loss due to a fire in 1866, destroying his belongings and valuable government bonds. He passed away on April 8, 1886.
William F. Frisbie was born on November 27, 1838, in Westport, New York. He married Anna E. Field on November 20, 1868, with whom he had two sons, Egbert E. and Walter E. In 1870, he settled in Waltham, Vermont, on a 200-acre farm. A prominent farmer and active in local governance, he held various town offices. His wife descends from early settlers in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, and Frisbie himself is the son of Andrew and Sally Frisbie, also early settlers.
Winter H. Holley, born June 15, 1798, in Bristol, Vermont, was a notable local figure and businessman who contributed significantly to his community until his death on June 10, 1877. A son of Revolutionary soldier Colonel Robert Holley, he married Mary Seymour in 1820, with whom he had four children. Holley served in various town offices and represented Bristol in the General Assembly. He was also a long-time director and vice-president of the Vergennes bank. His wife Mary, who outlived him, was a strong support in his endeavors.
Harvey Farr was born on January 26, 1828, in Lincoln, Vermont, to Jesse B. Farr. A successful farmer and respected citizen, he lived primarily in Lincoln except for two years elsewhere in the state. He married Mariette Palmer in 1853, with whom he had three children before her death in 1870. He remarried Marinda Pickett in 1872, having two more children. Farr served in various civic roles, including a term in the Legislature in 1882 and multiple positions in local governance.
William R. Hays was born on September 10, 1824, in Ferrisburgh, Vermont. He married Sophia Gregory in 1845, who passed away in 1866, leaving him with two sons. Hays remarried Nancy Meader in 1867, with whom he had a daughter, Emma S. His father, Seymour Hays, was born in 1780 and died in 1852, while his mother, Hannah, also born in 1780, passed away in 1861. The Hays family included nine children, with William R. and Seymour being the only survivors.
Emerson Holland, born in 1829 in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, has served his community as town treasurer for seventeen years and held various leadership roles, including selectman and lister. A farmer and surveyor, he resides on the family homestead established by his father, Stephen Holland, a clothier who settled in Panton, Vermont, in 1835. Emerson is the son of Stephen and Achsa R. Holland, who had four children. He continues the family legacy of public service and agriculture in his town.
William M. Dean, born in 1860 in Monkton, Vermont, was a general farmer who held the position of town lister in 1885. He married Abie M. Palmer in 1884 and is the son of Marion and Loretta Dean. His family includes notable figures such as his brother Ashbel, a physician in Bristol, Vermont. The Dean lineage traces back to early settlers in Monkton, including ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War. The Dean family has a history of civic involvement and agricultural pursuits.