Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Charles Alden

Alden, Charles, Vergennes, was born in Addison, Vt., in 1853. He has been a contract builder for several years, and in 1885 he formed the firm of Alden & Cotey, and now is engaged in the manufacture of sash, blinds, doors, and is doing a general carpenter trade and job building. He was married in 1872 to Angeline Bricot, who was born in Canada. They have had a family of three children born to them — Jennie, Louis E., and Lena Belle. Charles Alden was a son of John and Thursey (Murray) Alden. Thursey was born in Canada in 1823 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James O. Walker

Walker, James O., Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1840, and is one of the prominent farmers and businessmen of this town. He took to farming in early life, in which he has been very successful. In 1882 he commenced the business of the buying and selling of hay, straw, and grain, and is now one of the present firm of Booth & Walker, having receiving depots at Vergennes and New Haven, Vt. He now owns and occupies his grandfather’s old homestead. He was married in 1867 to M. M. Beady, of Charlotte, Chittenden county, Vt. They have a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Capt. Cyprian Eastman

Captain Cyprian Eastman was born in Norwich, Conn., in 1749, and removed with his father to Beckett, and subsequently to Bennington county, where he married Rosannah Nehon, and soon after, in 1787, removed to this town, locating on the flats. He was chosen one of the first selectmen of the town, and at the organization of a militia company, in June, 1791, was chosen its captain, and was also one of the committee elected to lay out the first division lots and survey highways. He died of small-pox May 23,1798, aged forty-nine years, leaving a family of ten children.

Biographical Sketch of Doctor Franklin Bond

Bond, Doctor Franklin, Cornwall, was born in Cornwall, Addison county, Vt,, on April 15, 1821. He was a son of Asa and Lucy (Janes) Bond. Asa Bond was born in Chelsea, Orange county, Vt. He came to Addison county about 1811, and in 1812 he purchased a portion of the place which is now owned by his son, Franklin Bond. He was a tanner and currier by trade, a business which he followed for many years. He had a family of eight children, six of whom are now living. The latter part of his life he devoted entirely to farming. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Royal W. Peake

Peake, Royal W., Bristol, one of the most venerable citizens of Bristol, Vt., has always during his life been prominently identified with the business interests of this section of Addison county, Vt. He was born in the town of Monkton Vt., on December 17, 1806. He was a son of Seth Peake, who was the youngest son of William and Jane (Oliver) Peake, who were of English descent. William was a seafaring man, and during his earliest residence in America resided on Nantucket Island. Seth Peake was a harness-maker by trade, and was also engaged in the mercantile business. Royal … Read more

Biography of James Stickle

James Stickle, born in New Jersey in 1769, came to Addison in early life, locating in the eastern part of the town, where he died December 18, 1850. The homestead came into Charles Stickle’s possession in 1847, who was born in 1807, and in 1878 reverted to H. A. Stickle, the present owner, it having never left the family since it was reclaimed from the wilderness.

Biographical Sketch of John F. Collins

Collins, John F., Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in 1856. He was a son of James and Abigail M. (Wentworth) Collins. She was born in Starksboro, Vt., and he was born in 1820. They were married in 1848. He died in November, 1876, leaving a family of nine children and a widow — Delia, Celia, Guy, Martha, John F., Lemira (who was a teacher; died in 1884, aged twenty-four years), Harriet, Amanda, and Alson. James Collins was a son of Alson and Jerusha (Hardy) Collins, who were born and died in Monkton, Vt. Alson was a son of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Ferguson

Ferguson, Elijah and Elisha, Bristol, were among the early settlers of the town of Starksboro, Vt. They came from Nine Partners, New York, with their father, John Ferguson, who bought a large tract of land in that town. Elijah Ferguson was born on April 17, 1775, and was married on August 10, 1797, to Mary Haight, who was born on November 6, 1780. They had a family of ten children born to them, of whom Albert was the fourth child, and was born on October 23, 1803. He was married on December 22, 1825, to Clarissa Bostwick; she was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Byron Ray

Ray, Byron, Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in Hinesburg, Vt,, in 1832, and settled in Monkton, Vt., in March, 1865, as a farmer dairyman, and stock dealer and breeder of fine horses and cattle. He has been selectman of the town for three terms and lister for three terms. He now owns a fine farm of 216 acres. He was married in 1864 to Carrie V. Ferguson, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Ferguson. They have had four children born to them — Elsie L., now Mrs. H. W. Clifford; Cora, a teacher; Daniel, and Rolla. Byron Ray … Read more

Bristol Vermont – 1880 Town Officers

The present board of officers for the town is as follows: E. M. Kent, clerk; H. C. Munsill, treasurer; H. S. Sumner, W. R. Peake, and P. W. Chase, selectmen; E. S. Farr, constable; A. D. Searls, superintendent of schools; W. W. Needham, N. J. Hill, and C. W. Norton, listers; R. A. Young, overseer of the poor; and W. W. Rider, town agent.

Biographical Sketch of Joseph Colby

Colby, Joseph (deceased), Lincoln, from whom descends a numerous family, was born in Ware, N. H., on August 14, 1787. He settled in South Lincoln, Vt., in 1827, on the present home of Henry Clay, taking up about 150 acres. His wife was Lydia Gove, who was born in March, 1786; she was a daughter of Stephen Gove. Joseph Colby had a family of nine children born to him — Rodney G. (born on December 21, 1808, and died on March 6, 1855), Fannie (born on September 11, 1810, now Mrs. Simeon Palmer, of Lincoln, Vt.), Page (born on July … 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 David Sperry

In 1788 David Sperry came from Wallingford, Vt., where he had resided during the war, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by William Delong. He came originally from New Haven, Conn and was a man of unusual ability. It was his custom, it is said, to wake his sons in the morning with the following roll-call: “Daniel and Levi, David and Lyman, Heman and Dimon, Ebenezer Peck and Harvey, turn out.”

Biographical Sketch of John Douglass

John Douglass lived on the place now owned by C. and C. E. Ward; Colonel Benajah Douglass on the place where his son N. B. Douglass now lives. N B. Douglass and his three children, James, Maria, and Lilian, are the only descendants in town of James Marsh Douglass.

Biographical Sketch of George Washington Porter

Porter, George Washington, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1810. He was married in March, 1834, to Julia Harris, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1809. They had ten children born to them, three of whom are now living — George (who enlisted in the Eleventh Vermont Regiment, served three years and was detailed as musician), Ursilla (who married William Bard), and Louisa (who was married to Austen Booth). George Washington Porter was a son of Noah and Polly (Pangburn) Porter. Mrs. Porter was born in Champlain, N. Y., and Mr. Porter was born in Ferrisburgh, … Read more

Bristol Vermont – Early Manufactures

The first grist-mill built in the town was put up by James, William and John O’Brian about the year 1792. It was located west of South Mountain, upon the brook which still bears the builders’ name. This mill was a small affair, and was in use but a short time, though it was very valuable to the early settlers, until a more pretentious structure was built at New Haven Mills. Subsequently, in 1805, a grist-mill was built at Bristol village by Enos Soper, and which did service until September, 1849, when it was destroyed by fire. Henry and Enos Soper … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Herbert W. Clifford

Clifford, Herbert W., Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in Starksboro, Vt., in 1862. He is a general merchant at Monkton Ridge, and settled here in March, 1885, dealing in a full line of goods of all descriptions. He was married in 1883 to Elsie L. Ray, of Monkton, Vt. They have had one daughter born to them, Carrie. Elsie (Ray) Clifford was a daughter of Byron and Carrie V. Ray. Herbert W. Clifford was a son of Richard and Clarinda (Hill) Clifford, of Starksboro, Vt. Richard is a son of Ebenezer Clifford, who was born in New Hampshire, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Brevoort

Henry Brevoort came from West Haven, Vt., in 1811, and located upon the farm now owned by his son Henry F. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and a very public-spirited man. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1825-26; was a justice of the peace thirty years, and died here in 1880, aged ninety-two years.

Biography of Sheldon Smith

SMITH, SHELDON. The second family of permanent settlers in the town of Bridport, Addison county, Vt., was that of Samuel Smith, of New Jersey, who made the long journey from that State in what was termed a “Jersey wagon,” drawn by a yoke of oxen. They came to what is now Whitehall, N. Y., at the head of Lake Champlain, where they disposed of the team, no roads being then opened, and loaded their goods on a bateau and sailed down the lake, probably to some point within the present town of Panton. They subsequently came to Bridport, and Mr. … Read more