Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Franklin A. Goss

Goss, Franklin A., Vergennes, was born in Waterbury, Washington county, Vt., in 1850. He is now engaged in the manufacture of kaolin, under the firm name of Goss & Gleason, and have their office at Vergennes, Vt. He was married on June 3, 1873, to Ruth C. Keeler, of Vergennes, Vt,, and a daughter of Charles D. and Elizabeth A. Keeler. Franklin A. has had four children born to him — three daughters and one son. Franklin Goss was a son of Benjamin F. and Mary J. (Witherell) Goss, who settled in Vergennes, Vt., in 1864, where Benjamin F. died … Read more

Biography of Rollin C. Goodale

Goodale, Rollin C., Addison, was born in Westport, Essex county, N. Y., on December 18, 1836. He was a son of Jared, jr., and Phebe (Norton) Goodale. Jared Goodale, jr., was a son of Jared Goodale, sr., who was an early settler in the town of Addison, Vt., settling on the Goodale place, which is near Chimney Point. Rollin C. Goodale was educated in the cornmon schools at Westport, N. Y., and was brought up to farming. When fifteen years of age he was thrown on his own resources, with but fifteen cents in his pocket. He went to Pennsylvania … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Chase

Chase, Nelson, Lincoln, one of the residents of Lincoln, Vt. Was born in Waltham, Vt., on August 19, 1813. He settled in Lincoln, Vt., in 1868, and then purchased 100 acres of the Purinton estate, locally known as Elder Hill, and where he has since resided. His father, Benjamin Chase, was born in Rhode Island on March 13, 1790. He married Fannie Smith, who was born on July 4, 1794. They had a family of four children born to them. Benjamin Chase was a son of Nathan Chase, and was married on April 29, 1731, to Elizabeth Shaw. They had … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Birkett

Birkett, John, Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., on March 12, 1823. He now owns and occupies the old homestead settlement, and also a large addition, owning in all about 400 acres He represented his town in 1876 and 1877, was a justice of the peace, and held other offices in his town. He was married in 1861 to Alvira C. Parker, who was born in Underhill, Vt., in 1838, and is a daughter of Reuben and Susan Ann (Rogers) Parker. They have had four children born to them: Martha (born November 23, 1862); Elmer P. (born March 4, 1864); … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elisha H. Landon

Landon, Elisha H., New Haven, was born in Salisbury, Conn., October 1, 1800, where he was educated; in 1821 he came to New Haven, Vt., and served as a clerk in the store of Rodman Chapman for three years, after which he engaged in the mercantile business in Bristol, Vt., and later in New Haven, Vt. He engaged in farming in 1832, a business in which he has since engaged, continuing until the time of his retirement from active life. He was agent for the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company, for Rutland and Addison counties, for forty years, and has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Orange L. Gage

Gage, Orange L., Ferrisburgh, V ergennes p. o., was born in Ferri sburgh, Vt., in 1828. He now owns and occupies the old homestead of seventy acres, which was purchased by his father over seventy years ago, and on which he has erected a fine brick mansion. He was married in January, 1858, to Sarah Hitchcock. They had a family of three children born to them — Hattie M., aged six years, died on August 7, 1877, and also their baby, aged one and a half years; his wife died on August 7, 1877, and also their daughter Clara, on … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William F. Frisbie

Frisbie, William F., Waltham, was born in Westport, N. Y., on November 27, 1838. He was married on November 20, 1868, to Anna E. Field, a daughter of Henry and Polly A. (Westcott) Field, of Ferrisburgh, Vt., and by whom he had two children — Egbert E. and Walter E. He settled in Waltham, Vt., in 1870, on the farm he now occupies, containing 200 acres. He is a leading farmer and takes an active part in all public affairs of the town, having held several of the town offices. His wife is a descendant of the pioneers of Ferrisburgh, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harvey C. Munsill

Harvey C. Munsill was born in Bristol June 22, 1824. He hired his father’s estate, and has been somewhat prominently identified with the civil affairs and business growth of the town. He married, October 1, 1851, Charlotte M. Holley, daughter of John D. Holley, of Bristol, and they have three children: Newcomb H., born July 14, 1852, fitted for college at Bristol Academy, entered Middlebury College, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1877, taught in the graded school of Wallingford, Vt., four terms, studied law with Veazey & Dunton, of Rutland, later with Judge Albert Hobbs, of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac L. Rogers

Rogers, Isaac L., Middlebury, was born in Clinton county, N. Y., on June 27, 1845. His parents were Robert and Abigail (Allen) Rogers. He came with his parents to Addison county, Vt., in 1852, and settled in the town of Orwell, Addison county, Vt., where he conducted a lumber and saw-mill for some years. He afterwards came to Middlebury, Addison county, Vt. Mr. Rogers died in January 1884. Isaac L. Rogers was educated in the common schools; was brought up to farming until reacing the age of twenty, when he learned the carpenter and joiners’ trade, and also acquired some … Read more

Biography of John Vanderhoof

John Vanderhoof, from New Jersey, located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Oliver Vanderhoof, early in the present century.

Biographical Sketch of Andrew Ross

Ross, Andrew, of Vergennes, Vt., was born in the parish of Old Deer, county of Aberdeen, Scotland, on May 29, 1836. He was a son of Hugh and Isabella (Watt) Ross. Hugh Ross died in 1861, leaving a widow and seven children. Andrew came to Vergennes, Vt,, in October, 1866, and obtained employment in the spoke factory of Strong & Ross, and in 1873 he became book-keeper for the National Horse Nail Company. In 1880 he was made cashier of the National Bank of Vergennes, a position which he now occupies. He has also held several of the town offices. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Myrick

William, Barnabas and Zenas Myrick, the three brothers, were early prominent business men in town. William served as town clerk many years; represented the town in the State Legislature six sessions; was a judge, etc. Barnabas served the town as selectman, and in numerous other offices. He was killed by the fall of a tree in 1823. B. J. Myrick, in town, was his son. Zenas was a carpenter by trade; he also represented the town in 1828 and 1829. William M. and Charles H. Grandoy, of this town, were grandsons of Judge William Myrick.

Biographical Sketch of Hon. Joel Linsley

Early in 1775 Hon. Joel Linsley, from Woodbury, Conn., made a pitch on a tract which he occupied the remainder of his life. His first log cabin stood sixty or eighty rods east of the building now occupied by Charles Benedict, which he subsequently built. He was a surveyor and became a large land owner. At the organization of the town he was chosen town clerk, and afterwards repeatedly elected, with the exception of two years, until his death in 1818. He represented the town several years in the Legislature; was assistant judge and afterward chief judge of the County … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Peleg Whitford

Peleg Whitford, the founder of the Whitford family in Addison, was born in Rhode Island in 1744, and after three months’ schooling was apprenticed to a tailor. He married in the town of Coventry, and removed to Lanesboro, Mass., living for a short time near a place called “Cheshire Meeting-House,” and since known as “Whitford’s Rocks.” In the spring of 1781 he again moved, this time to Shaftsbury, Vt., where he remained until February, 1802, when he sold out and came to this town, and resided here until his death, at the age of eighty-eight years. His only son, William, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Mead

Isaac Mead was an early settler on the farm now occupied by B. B. Rice. General Somers Gale afterwards lived on the farm. He was an influential citizen, and commanded a detachment at Plattsburgh in 1814. He was born in Panton in 1775; the family were driven to Fort Ticonderoga during the Revolution and obliged to stay there a while after its capture. His son, Dr. Nathan Gale, now resides in Orwell. Mrs. S. A. Sanford is his granddaughter, and Mrs. Charles H. Lane, a descendant one degree further removed.

Biographical Sketch of Reverend Father P. A. Campeau

Campeau, Reverend Father P. A., Vergennes, was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1839; was educated as a priest and ordained at Paris, France, in 1866, and in 1867 he settled in Montreal. He came to Vergennes, Vt., in 1884, where he is now engaged in completing the church, and, erecting a parsonage and a school-house.

Biographical Sketch of Jonas Fuller

Fuller, Jonas, Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in 1828. He has been selectman for three terms, and is now one of the leading farmers of his town. He now owns the old homestead, which was purchased in 1820 by Milton A. Fuller. He was married in 1878 to Elma Tattle. They have had one daughter born to them — Belle. Elma (Tattle) Fuller, was a daughter of Jireh and Sarah Tuttle, of Hinesburg, Vt. Jonas Fuller was a son of Milton A. and Almeda (Chamberlin) Fuller. She was born in New Milford, Conn., in 1799, and he was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Slade

William Slade came from Washington, Conn., to Clarendon, Rutland county, about 1780, and three or four years later removed to Cornwall and made his pitch on the land now owned and occupied by John Towle, where he continued to reside until his death in 1826, at the age of seventy-three years. Being of vigorous and energetic nature and withal a born politician, he took an active part in the management of town affairs, and was sheriff of the county from 1810 to 1811. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and was for a time on board the Jersey prison … Read more

Biography of Ira Ward

WARD, IRA, fourth child and third son of Jesse Ward, was born in a log house in the northern part of Waltham, Vt., on the 9th day of April, 1796, and has therefore attained the remarkable age of ninety years. His father was born in Connecticut on the 20th of July, 1763, and served three years on the side of the patriots in the Revolutionary War; married Olive Nye, of Connecticut, in June, 1788, and some time before 1800 settled on the place where Ira Ward was afterward born. He was the father of five children: Chester, born on the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ira J. Blakeley

Blakeley, Ira J., Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1815. He was a foreman at the Eagle Mills for fifteen years and a keeper in the Denmore prison in New York for over twenty years, and returned to Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1880, where he now resides. He was married in 1836 to Betsey B. Downing, a daughter of Major Downing, of Bristol, Vt. She died in 1865, leaving one son, Ira J. He married his second wife, Mrs. Cornelia A. (Field) Houghton, in 1880. She was a daughter of Solomon Field. She had two daughters by … Read more