Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Robert A. Young

Young, Robert A., Bristol, was born in the town of Starksboro, Vt., on January 14, 1838. He was a son of Enoch and Lydia (Varney) Young. Enoch Young was a son of Robert Young; was one of the first settlers in the town of Starksboro, Vt. Lydia Young was a daughter of Hezekiah Varney, of Monkton, Vt., where Lydia was born on July 19, 1805. They have a family of four chidren living — Robert A., Mary A. (now Mrs. Daniel Hill, of Starksboro, Vt.), Russel T., and Enoch H., of Starksboro, Vt. Robert married Elma W. Hill, of Starksboro, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin T. Field

Field, Benjamin T., Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1855. He was married in 1876 to Minnie Laduke, a daughter of Joseph and Olive Laduke. They had a family of three children born to them — Maude, Thaddeus, and Rose. Benjamin was a son of Thomas and Abbie (Herrington) Field. Thomas was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Rogers, by whom he had one daughter — Ann. He died in 1878, at the age of seventy-four years. He had two sons by his second wife — Benjamin T., and Orville C. Thomas was a son … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles O. Stevens

Stevens, Charles O., Vergennes, was born in Panton, Vt,, in 1818. He engaged in the hotel business in 1835 with his brother Carlton T. as a partner, in which business they continued until 1872, when they sold the hotel property and retired from active business life as capitalists. He was married in 1853 to Phebe Thorn, of Addison county, Vt., who died, leaving one child — Martha T. Charles O. then married his second wife, Ellen M. Parker, in 1859. He was a son of Thomas and Sally A. (Tappan) Stevens, who were married in Panton, Vt., in 1816, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Paris Fletcher

Paris Fletcher was born in Woodstock, Vt., March 21, 1794, and at the age of sixteen years came to Bridport, and engaged with his brother James, who came here two years previous, in the saddle and harness-making business. Young Fletcher’s inclinations, however, were towards a more active and speculative life, and he soon became a general merchant, in which vocation he displayed the same ability and energy that characterized him in all ventures of his life, from shop-boy to bank president. Mr. Fletcher was held in the highest esteem by his townsmen, whom he served in most of the important … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Artemas Wheeler

Artemas Wheeler was a settler in town, coming on from Worcester county, Mass., at an early date, with his family. His son Leonard lived many years in town near the village, where his son, E. M. Wheeler, now lives. Leonard died in 1872, aged eight-nine years. He was lawfully married five times. His last wife died some years previous to his death. In his younger days he was a shoemaker.

Biography of James Hindes

James Hindes came from New Jersey in 1800, locating upon the farm now owned by Aaron Hindes, in that part of the town known as “Nortontown.” The homestead descended from James to Aaron, and thence to Aaron, jr., who has been a prominent man in town affairs, being now upwards of seventy-five years of age.

Cornwall Vermont – Mercantile

The first merchants in town were Mr. Ballard and Israel C. Jones. Joshua Stockwell, Josiah Austin, Daniel Campbell, Hosea Brooks, Israel C. Mead, Samuel Everts, William H. Remsen, P. W. Collins, Benjamin F. Haskell, Calvin M. Lewis, Ira Bingham, A. C. Wicker, Daniel Sanford, Joel S. Lane, Sylvester B. Rockwell, and the Cornwall Mercantile Company have carried on business at different periods since the beginning of the century. The only store now in town is kept by Fred S. Haskell. The building is owned by his father, Benjamin F. Haskell, grandson of Joshua Stockwell, who built the rear part before … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lester Griswold

Griswold, Lester, Orwell, was the second son of Griswold the pioneer, and was born on April 18, 1786. He was married to Lucinda Parks, a daughter of Asa Parks, also an early pioneer, and to them were born six children-William C., Lucretia L., Asa Parks, Olivia L., Emmitt Darwin, and Georgianna Augusta. Of these children Emmitt Darwin is one of the substantial men of Orwell, Vt., who believe in doing well whatever is worth doing at all. His farm is among the best, and is stocked with the choicest bloods. His cattle are thoroughbred “Jerseys; ” sheep of the finest … 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

Bristol Vermont – Mercantile Interests

W. H. Miller, dealer in clothing and furnishing goods, began business here in the sale of notions in 1876. In 1885 he went into his present business, taking the store then occupied by W. B. Dunshee. F. I. Ward, millinery, fancy goods, etc., began business in the O’Neil block in 1873, and removed to his present location in 1875, which was then built by Drake Farr, & Co. E. S. & S. D. Farr, stoves and hardware, began business in 1878, succeeding the old firm of Drake, Farr & Co. who built the the block. J. J. Dumas, dealer in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Chester Elmer

Elmer, Chester, Middlebury, was born in Addison, Addison county, Vt., on January 13, 1812. His parents were Chester and Huldah (Fisher) Elmer. Chester Elmer, sr., with his father, Elijah Elmer (who was a native of Massachusetts), came with his family to the town of Addison, in 1802, and bought a farm which is still owned by his descendants. He died on May 5, 1804. His son, Chester, jr., cleared up the place, and built a brick house which still stands on the place. He was a successful farmer, and had a family of seven children, five of whom are now … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Israel Taylor

Israel Taylor came to Addison from Middlebury in 1816. He followed the carpenter and joiner trade; reared nine children, two of whom, Cyrillo H. and Esther, now reside here.

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Hemenway

Daniel Hemenway, from Shrewsbury, Mass., located in Shoreham in 1783. Four of his eight sons settled in Vermont, and his brother Jacob was one of the original proprietors of Shoreham and Bridport. Daniel, as we have previously shown, served the proprietors as their treasurer, and his son Asa is recorded as their collector and surveyor. Daniel took up land in Shoreham, and built a log shop, which was afterwards used by his son Samuel, who settled there in 1792. Daniel died in 1794. One of his sons, Asa, was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., in 1750, and was present at the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Locklin Wainwright

Wainwright, Locklin, Middlebury, was born in Salisbury, Addison county, Vt., on April 13, 1813. His parents were William and Annie (Baldwin) Wainwright. William Wainwright was born in Middlebury, Conn., in 1782, and came with his father, Jonathan Wainwright, to Addison county, Vt., about 1803. He settled on a place adjoining that of his father, where he spent the remainder of his days. He had a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom but two are now living — Alanson, now a resident of Brandon, Vt., and Locklin. He died on January 2, 1858. Locklin was educated in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Avery Williams Billings

Billings, Avery Williams, Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in West Haven, Vt., in 1816, and settled in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1845, and engaged in the harness manufacture and repair business, in which he still continues. He was married in 1850 to Clarissa Amelia Lyman, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. They have had one child born to them, Lois Abigail, who married Squire Chapman Palmer, and resides in Chittenden county, Vt. They have had one child born to them, Harry Billings Palmer. Avery William Billings was a son of William J. and Abigail (Woodward) Billings, who were natives of Massachusetts, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Philo D. Percival

Percival, Philo D., Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Keene, Essex county N. Y., in 1827. He settled in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1866, when he purchased the custom and merchant flouring mill at North Ferrisburgh Vt., and in 1877 sold one-half of his interest to Judge N. J. Allen; and he retired from the business in 1885, renting his interest. He is now engaged in the culture of small fruits, and also is interested in the culture of bees, having a large apiary. He has been justice of the peace for ten years, and has also been county … Read more

Biography of Almon P. Tupper

TUPPER, ALMON P., was born in Middlebury, Addison county, Vt., April 24, 1825 ; the third in a family of four children, and the only son of Norman and Mary (Horton) Tupper. Darius Tupper, his grandfather, was born in Connecticut, moved from that State and first settled in the town of Chartotte, Chittenden county, Vt., and in the winter of 1704-95 moved to the town of Middlebury, where he built a tavern at the intersection of the present turnpike-road with the “old road,” leading from East Middlebury to Middlebury Village. This tavern was kept by him until his death, in … Read more

Biography of Nathaniel Higbee

Higbee, Nathaniel, Monkton, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Monkton, Vt., on January 10, 1831. He was married in 1854 to Eliza A. Patterson, who was born in England in 1832. They have had four children born to them — Mary Louise (born in 1857 ; was married in 1878 to Albert Baill; she died in 1882, leaving one daughter — Edith), Etta I. (was born in 1859 and died in 1879), Wilbur E. (was born in 1863), and Frederick N. (was born in 1868). Eliza A. Higbee was a daughter of William and Mary A. Patterson, who were … Read more

Biography of Samuel J. Benedict

Samuel J. Benedict is a son of John Benedict, an early settler in Weybridge, who died in Cornwall in 1873, aged eighty-seven years. S. J. Benedict has been in Addison thirty-four years, thirty-one of which on this place, which he sold to his son-in-law, Frederick P. Owen, in the spring of 1883.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Buck

Samuel Buck was born in Milford, Conn., October 29, 1767, and came to Bridport in 1790, locating upon the farm now owned by Joseph R. Crane, and afterwards kept a store where A. A. Fletcher’s house now stands. Mr. Buck, though possessed of considerable intelligence, had never been fortunate enough to have any educational advantages, and knew nothing of the science of penmanship. In making entries upon his books he used hieroglyphics of his own manufacture instead of English letters. One of his customers, it is related, upon settlement for goods, found himself charged with a cheese, which he denied … Read more