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.
Ball, George E., Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., one of the prominent farmers of this town, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1851. He now occupies a homestead of 300 acres and is a general farmer and dairyman. He was married in 1872 to Flora Webb, of Ferrisburgh Vt. They have had two children born to them — Dora M. and Benedict C. George E. Boll was a son of Michael and Delia (Champlin) Ball. Delia died in 1857, leaving a family of five children three of whom are now living — Ezra, George, and Emma. Mr. Ball then married … Read more
A post-office was first established in Bristol in 1803, with Thaddeus McLaughlin postmaster. The office was located in the first brick building erected in the town, by the father of Thaddeus, Henry McLaughlin, in 1800, and located about a mile west of the present village. Previous to this the mail matter for Bristol, consisting of a few letters and the Middlebury Mercury, was brought from Middlebury each week by the settlers themselves, who alternately shared in the task. In 1804 Jacob Cadwell was appointed postmaster, and the following year was succeeded by Isaac Cadwell, who retained the office until 1815, … Read more
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.
Rogers, Charlotte S., Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1828. She was married in 1849 to Thomas R. Robinson, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. He died in 1854, leaving two children — William G. and Sarah R. William G. is a graduate of the medical department of the University of Vermont, also of the Bellevue Medical College of New York. Sarah married W. H. Harmon. Mrs. Charlotte Robinson was married the second time, in 1860, to R. Rogers. She was a daughter of Captain Isaac and Sophia (Marsh) Satterly, of Ferrisburgh, Vt.
Field, Byron W., Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1842. He is one of the prominent business men of his town and county, and embarked in the general business of buying and selling of hay, in 1866. His business in that department has sometimes exceeded fifty thousand dollars. He is also a general farmer and dairyman. He is now treasurer of his town. He was married in 1863 to Hattie E. Sattley, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. She was born in 1842, and was a daughter of Abraham Sattley, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. They have had four children … Read more
Benjamin Kellogg brought his family into the town in 1766. He traded his farm of one hundred acres in Connecticut for 3,000 acres lying in Addison and Panton. When the settlers were driven off, Kellogg went to Mount Hope, N. Y., with his family, and subsequently to Bennington, where he took part in the battle there. Subsequently he and Lieutenant Everest came back to Addison to look after the cattle they had left here, and found that a Mr. Gale had sold them to the British, and had also reported their owners as spies. They were both captured on the … Read more
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
Wilkins, J. Reuben B., Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Vergennes, Vt., September 18, 1834. He is a general farmer, town superintendent of schools, and a graduate of the University of Vermont in the class of 1855. In 1856 he read law with W. W. Peck, esq., in Burlington, Vt., and was admitted to the bar at Albany, N. Y., in 1857. He was married in 1859 to Harriet E. Guinnip, daughter of Matthias B. and Margaret (Pinney) Guinnip, residents of Watkins, Schuyler county, N. Y. Three children were born to them in Ferrisburgh, Vt. — Anna M., Daniel … Read more
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
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
Piper, Aaron J., Middlebury, was born in Salisbury, Addison county, Vt., on March 24, 1839. His parents were John and Philena (Hire) Piper. He was educated in the common schools, and brought up to farming. He was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and enlisted under the first call for 75,000 men, in the spring of 1861, in Captain Hayward’s company, First Vermont, for three months, served his term, and again enlisted December 19, 1861, in Company C, Seventh Vermont Infantry, under General Butler, at Baton Rogue, and at the beginning of the battle in the morning … Read more
Williams, Frank A., Bridport, was born in Bridport, Addison county, Vt., on July 29, 1831. He was educated in the common schools at Bridport, and also at the select schools at Vergennes and Bridport. He was brought up on the homestead to farming pursuits. He was lister of the town in early years, selectman for three years prior to 1878, when he represented his town in the Legislature; he also had charge of the Fletcher Cemetery fund for two years. He is a successful breeder of fine sheep, horses, and also has a large and very fine dairy, and owns … Read more
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
Elijah Grosvenor came to Bridport from New York some time between the years 1780 and 1790, locating upon the place now occupied by Frank P. Wood, where he reared a family. He was a mason by trade, and assisted in the construction of the Middlebury jail. The widow of his son John now resides here, while among the other descendants are Elijah and Edgar, sons of John, and Darwin, son of Edgar.
Willard, Doctor George F. B., Vergennes, was born in Boston, Mass., in 1853. He was a graduate of Middlebury College in 1876, and also a graduate of the St. Louis Medical College in 1883, after which he settled in Vergennes, Vt. He was married in December, 1883, to H. Ada Vedder, who was born at Whitehall, Illinois. They have had one daughter born to them — Delana E. George F. B. Willard was a son of George and Delana D. (Lake) Willard. She was born in Addison county, Vt., and he was born in Prescott, Canada, and died in 1860, … Read more
Payne, Lyman H., Cornwall, was born in Warren, Vt., on February 17, 1835. His parents were Horace and Sarah (Blood) Payne. He came with his parents to Addison county, in 1837, first settled in Orwell, Vt., and remained there two years; they then went to Shoreham, where his father engaged in farming, and remained there about seven years. In 1845 he purchased the farm now owned and occupied by his son. He had a family of two daughters and two sons — Susan C. (who is the wife of Deacon Samuel James, of Weybridge, Vt.); George N. (of Bridport, Vt.), … Read more
Dike, Ezra C., Bristol, was born in Bolton, Vt., on April 4, 1837. He went into business for himself as a merchant in February, 1869, as a partner in the firm of Dike, Bixbee & Co., who were then general hardware merchants. He was married twice. His first wife was Lucy Rood, by whom he had one child, Bertha L. His second wife was Sarah Needham, a daughter of William and Mary Needham. She was a granddaughter of Dr. Joseph Needham, of Bristol, Vt.
Young, Russel T., Lincoln, South Starksboro p. o., was born in Starksboro, Vt., on August 22, 1844. He now owns and occupies a farm of 360 acres. He was selectman for two years and highway commissioner for two years. His wife was Mary Green, a daughter of Stephen Green, of Starksboro, Vt. She was born in that town on February 7, 1845. They have had a family of four children born to them — Walter H., Stephen, and Carrie. Walter H. is now a student at a school in Buffalo, N. Y.
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