Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Charles E. Parker

Parker, Charles E., Vergennes, was born in Vergennes, Vt., in 1839. He enlisted in the Seventh Vermont Regiment; was made adjutant and promoted to captain of Company E. He served in the Department of the Gulf under General Butler from 1862 until the latter part of 1863, when he was compelled to resign on account of ill health. He spent a year in Norwich University, and from there entered Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1860. He was elected mayor in 1885, and is now engaged in the manufacture of the “Little Giant” road machine, and doing business under the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Peck

Peck, Charles, New Haven, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., on July 24, 1839. He settled in New Haven; Vt., in 1876, on the farm on which he now resides, and which consists of 300 acres. He is a breeder of Spanish Merino sheep, and has a fine registered flock. He was married in April, 1872, to Mary E. Hallock, who was a daughter of Isaac and Susanna (Montgomery) Hallock, natives of New Haven, Vt., and by whom he had four children — Harry, Hallock, Sarah, and John F. Charles Peck was a son of Aldrich and Miranda (Hawkins) Peck, who … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Smith

Smith, Jacob, Vergennes, was born in Shaftsbury, Bennington county, Vt., in April, 1804. He was in early life a tanner and currier, but later a farmer. He has been alderman of his town, and also colonel of the State militia. He was married in 1834 to Mary Hudson, who was born in Putney, Vt., in 1805. Mrs. Smith resided in the family of Deacon Bingham for many years in early life. They had a family of eight children born to them, six of whom are now living — Eliza S., Mary G., Isaac H., George O., Helen L., Susan S., … Read more

History of Addison, Addison County, Vermont

THE town of Addison lies on the shore of Lake Champlain, in the western part of Addison county, and is bounded on the north by Panton; east by Waltham and Weybridge; south by Bridport, and west by Lake Champlain. The surface of the town is level or with a gradual slope towards the lake, except the extreme eastern part, which becomes hilly or mountainous, the highest elevation being Snake Mountain (or Grandview Mountain, as it is now called; this elevation rises to a height of 1,310 feet above sea level, and is the highest point in the county west of … 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

Biography of Luke E. Hemenway

Mr. Luke E. Hemenway, father of Charles, F., was born in Shoreham, Vermont, August 7, 1816. His father was Francis S., born at Grafton, Massachusetts, January 23, 1784, and his mother was Clara Turrill, born in the year 1786. He was a direct descendant of Ralph Hemenway and Elizabeth Hewes, who were married at Roxbury, Massachusetts, July 5, 1634. He received a common school education at Shoreham, Vermont. Leaving home at the age of thirteen, he worked in a store at Bethel, Vermont, until the year 1838, when he removed to Grand de Tour, Illinois, where he married Jane E. … 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 Lieut. Benjamin Everest

Lieutenant Benjamin Everest came with his father to Addison when he was sixteen years old; his father’s name was also Benjamin, and Zadock was his brother. He is said to have been a man of prowess and courage, and with his brother was conspicuous in aiding Allen and Warner to drive out the “Yorkers” from the county. On receipt of news of the battle of Lexington, Everest repaired to Allen’s headquarters, and was given a lieutenant’s commission. He was with Allen when he entered the fort at Ticonderoga, and went with Warner to the capture of Crown Point. After Allen … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Orton T. Barnum

Barnum, Orton T., Monkton, Bristol p. o., was born in Monkton, Vt., in 1838. He is one of the leading farmers of his county and also one of the representative men, having held most of the town offices, and representing the town in the Legislature in 1876 and 1877. He was married in 1864 to Amanda Dean, a daughter of Carlton and Celestia (French) Dean. They have had three children born to them — Mary A., Harry Orton, and Edward T., who died at the age of two years. Orton T. was a son of Philemon and Rebecca (Thomas) Barnum. … Read more

Bridport Vermont- Early Business Interests

The population of Bridport has always been strictly of an agricultural character. Its tradesmen and mechanics have almost invariably devoted their energies exclusively to supplying the home demand. The dearth of manufactures is attributed to the absence, as we have previously noted, of adequate water power. At an early day, when the settlers were clearing their lands and wood ashes were plentiful, Bridport, in common with other towns, did considerable business in the manufacture of potash, which found a market in Troy, Albany, and sometimes Quebec. In this manufacture Samuel Buck was pioneer. His works were located near the present … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jared Ives

Jared Ives, from Cheshire, Conn., settled in 1787 on the west side of the road, north of David Pratt. Enos Ives lived nearly across the road from him. John Rockwell, jr., came to Cornwall from Ridgefield, Conn., in 1784, and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his grandson, S. S. Rockwell. He first built on the west side of the road. He gradually acquired an extensive farm, which, after his death at the age of seventy-one years, September 5, 1825, become the property of his son, John Rockwell, who conveyed the farm to his son, the present … 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

Biographical Sketch of Deacon Lamond Gray

Deacon Lamond Gray was a descendant of Scotch ancestors who, in 1612, settled in the north of Ireland, near Londonderry. In 1718 the family of which John Gray was the head, with some forty other families, emigrated through Boston to Worcester, Mass. In 1743 the family settled in Pelham, Mass., where Lamond was born in 1753, the son of Daniel Gray. He was well educated, and for a time taught school in that vicinity. May 26, 1778, he was married to Isabel Hamilton, widow of Lieutenant Robert Hamilton, by whom he had two children, Robert and Isabel, the latter afterwards … Read more

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 Samuel Miles

Miles, Samuel, Monkton, was born in Canada on January 1, 1835, and removed to Monkton with his parents in 1843. He was married in 1856 to Phebe Ann Thompson, who was born in Richmond, Chittenden county, Vt., in 1835. They have had a family of six children — Ellen E., Alfred B., Francis A., Caroline E., Edward S., and J. William. He was a son of Henry and Mary (Hagen) Miles, who were born and married in England, and settled in Canada in 1832, and in 1839 came to Addison county, Vt., where they died in 1885. They had a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hiram F. Kingsland

Kingsland, Hiram F., Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Addison, Vt., in 1828, and settled in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1844, and purchased his present homestead farm in 1873. He was married in 1863 to Rhoda Wing, a daughter of Isaac and Fanny (Barnes) Wing. Rhoda was born in 1840. They have a family of five children — Herbert H., Jessie, Franklin, Hiram, jr., and Howard S. Hiram F. Kingsland was a son of Abraham and Ann (Vanderhoof) Kingsland, who were born and married in New Jersey; settled in Addison, and died in Ferrisburgh, Vt. They had a family … Read more

Biography of Hon. Lucius E. Smith

SMITH, HON. LUCIUS E., was a son of Luman B. and Lucia (Collins) Smith, of Monkton, Vt. He was born at that place on the 5th of October, 1824, and was the second of five children, of whom the others were Hon. A. T. Smith, of Vergennes; Daniel C., of Addison; Jerome B., of Burlington; and Mrs. B. F. Sutton, of Middlebury, Vt. The subject of this sketch had exceptional educational advantages, and made good use of them. He entered and was graduated from Juliet College, a Catholic institution at Moscow, Canada, where many priests have been and are now … Read more

Cornwall Vermont – Professional

Many of the lawyers and physicians who have practiced in Cornwall in times past will receive more particular mention in general chapters devoted to their respective professions. Among the former Martin Post stands alone; while representatives of the latter profession are numerous, viz., Drs. Nathan Foot, Frederick Ford, sr., Frederick Ford, jr., Solomon Foot, Abraham Fleming, Horace Brooks, Rodolphus Field, Oliver J. Eells, R. C. Green, C. B. Currier, Thomas Porter Matthews, Marcus O. Porter and Darius Matthews. Descendants of Dr. Mathews now living in town still occupy the old farm, namely, W. H., T. P.D., and Abbie P. Matthews, … Read more

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