Addison County VT

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

Biographical Sketch of Solomon Mead

Solomon Mead bought of Abel Wright in 1795 the farm now occupied by Azial Hamilton. From him the farm passed to Timothy Turner, Zenas Skinner, and Reuben P. Bingham. Silas Mead was located farther north on the present farm of S. S. Andrus.

Biography of Allen Penfield Beach

BEACH, ALLEN PENFIELD, was born in the town of Ferrisburgh, Vt., on the 27th day of November, 1813. His grandfather, Nehemiah Beach, was one of three Beach brothers living near Bridgeport, Conn., where he died in 1792, aged forty-five years. He left a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Stephen, the eldest, was the father of the subject of this sketch. Stephen Beach was born near Bridgeport, Conn., in 1777, and upon his father’s death learned the weaver’s trade. Although he completed his apprenticeship, he did not long pursue the business, but gave his attention to farming. … Read more

Addison Vermont – Early Settlements

One of the soldiers of Amherst was named Benjamin Kellogg, from Connecticut. It is said that while stationed at Crown Point he frequently visited the Salt Licks, near where the mansion of General John Strong was subsequently built, to procure venison for the officers of the army. It is believed that the clearings made by the French, and the promising character of the locality, made an impression upon his mind, and that when lie returned he told his acquaintances of the advantages of the place for settlement. He returned to his old hunting grounds in the fall of 1762, and … Read more

Addison Vermont – Municipal History

Addison is exclusively an agricultural township. Though one of the oldest and in a historical point of view one of the most important towns in the State, the only settlement within its limits at all approaching the dignity of a village is a small cluster of houses in the northeastern part of the town, and known as “The Corners.” Here is located the town hall. As early as 1830 there were two stores located here, and the mercantile business was continued down to about ten years ago, the last merchant being Stephen Gregory. Chimney Point was formerly a place of … Read more

Biography of Simon Zelotes Walker

Simon Zelotes Walker

WALKER, SIMON ZELOTES, was born in Shoreham, Addison county, Vt., November 3. 1796, and was the eldest son of Russell and Anna (Chellis) Walker. Anna Chellis was a daughter of one of the Revolutionary soldiers, who served honorably as a quartermaster from the Battle of Bunker Hill until the end of the struggle. The ancestor of the subject of this sketch has been noticed properly in the preceding sketch of Russell Walker. Simon Zelotes Walker received his education in the common schools of Bridport and Schroon, which was amplified by extended reading and study in later years. While still a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William S. Hopkins

Hopkins, William S., Vergennes, was born February 28, 1825. He was a graduate of Middlebury College in 1846, and a graduate of the Castleton Medical College in 1849, and settled in Vergennes, Vt., in the practice of his profession. He represented his town in the Assembly in 1864 and 1865, and was mayor of the city from 1875 to 1878. He was a son of Roswell D. and Mary (Strong) Hopkins. Roswell D. was born in Bennington county, Vt., November 5, 1787. His wife was born in Vergennes, Vt., and was a daughter of Samuel and Mercy Strong. Samuel Strong … Read more

Bristol Vermont – Proprietors’ Meetings

There is strong presumptive evidence extant tending to prove that proprietors’ meetings were held, and some measures taken towards allotting the lands in Pocock, previous to those appearing in the proprietors’ record-book. It is generally believed by authorities that, as early as 1784, John Willard, of Middlebury, Hon. Jonathan Hoyt, of St. Albans, and Captain Miles Bradley, of New Haven, at a meeting held in Canaan, Litchfield county, Conn., were appointed a committee to survey and allot the land in Pocock, though no record of such an event has been found. But deeds from the proprietors recorded in the Rutland … Read more

Cornwall Vermont – Military History

Relative to the action of the inhabitants of Cornwall in the War of 1812, Mr. Matthews wrote as follows: “When our territory was invaded or threatened with invasion, party strifes sunk out of view, and citizens arranged themselves around their country’s standard, and stood shoulder to shoulder, the united opponents of a common foe. When in the spring of 1814 the alarm was sounded that the British forces on the lake were intending to destroy the vessels which afterward constituted McDonough’s fleet, then building at Vergennes, the citizens, as if moved by an electric spark, shouldered their muskets and flew … 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 M. H. Welch

Welch, M. H., Middlebury, was born in Ireland, County Sligo, on September 14, 1820. He came to America with his parents in 1830, and settled in Brandon, Rutland county, Vt. He received his education in the public schools of this town, and remained on the farm until eighteen years of age. He then went into a shop to learn the machinist trade, and remained in the same shop for about eight years. He was married in 1844 to Harriet A. Hubbard, who was a native of Windsor county, Vt. He came to Middlebury, Vt., in 1849, and there worked for … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ephraim Stone

Ephraim Stone, from Groton, Mass., made his first settlement upon a farm now owned by Aikin Dukett, in 1787, where he resided until his death in 1841, aged seventy-eight years. His son Philip, born in 1803, died recently, leaving two sons, Charles and Marshall.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Oscar L. Nimblet

Nimblet, Dr. Oscar L., Monkton, was born in Monkton, Vt., on January 16, 1832. He read medicine and attended lectures at Dartmouth College, and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1854, when he settled in Monkton, Vt., in the practice of his profession, and where he now has a large practice. He was married on August 16, 1853, to Sarah V. Mason. They have had four children born to them, one of whom died at an early age — Ida (now Mrs. Moses Sears, jr.), Katie L. (now Mrs. Alfred Hull), and Altha S. … 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 Zenas 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 Edward H. Squier

Squier, Edward H., New Haven, was born in the town of New Haven, Addison county, Vt., on March 10, 1832. His parents were Alvin and Sarah (Hallock) Squier. His paternal grandfather was a native of Lanesborough, Mass., and settled in New Haven, Vt., in 1787, where he resided until the time of his death, which occurred in his ninety-second year. His children were Diadama, now Mrs. Elias Bottum; Alicia, Mrs. Whitman Chapman; Andrew, and Alvin. Edward H. Squier is a farmer, and was married in 1856 to Elizabeth Skinner, a daughter of William Skinner, of Ontario county, N. Y. They … Read more

Biography of Ward B. Hurlburt

Hurlburt, Ward B., Weybridge, was born in Ripton, Vt., November 19, 1842. He was a son of Hiram and Susan (Bullard) Hurlburt. Hiram Hurlburt was born in Woodstock, Vt. In early life he resided in Weybridge, Vt., where he was engaged in conducting a saw-mill ; was also engaged in the same business at Ripton, Vt. He went to California in 1850, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred in 1861. Ward B. Hurlburt received his education in the public schools at Weybridge, Vt., and also at a select school at Vergennes, Vt. He taught school … Read more

Addison Vermont – Postmasters

The first post-office in the town was established at Chimney Point about 1823, with Amos B. Chubb, postmaster. He held the office about two years, and was succeeded by Byron Murray, and he by Asahel Barnes, sr., who held the Office until he went to Burlington, in 1841, when Dr. Prentiss Cheney had it for a time; then Dr. David C. Goodale, and finally, in the autumn of 1847, it was taken by Asahel Barnes, Jr., who has been continued in the office up to the present time. At the Corners a very early postmaster was Gideon Seeger. The present … Read more

Biography of Watson Wallace Ward

WARD, WATSON WALLACE, was born on the 8th of October, 1834, in Waltham, Vt. The first of his ancestors to emigrate to Vermont was his grandfather, Jesse Ward, who was born in Connecticut on the 20th day of July, 1763, and served three years in the Revolutionary War. He married Olive Nye, of Connecticut, in June, 1788, and some time before 1800 settled in the northern part of the town of Waltham, Vt. He was the father of five children – Chester, born on the 15th of January, 1789; Silas, born on March 11, 1791; Olive, born June 11, 1793; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Wilcox

James Wilcox, who was at Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen, located on the lake shore where E. H. Merrill now lives. Among his sons were Abner, Vilroy, Henry, and Anson. E. D. and Arthur Wilcox are sons of Abner.