Addison County VT

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

Biography of Russell Walker

Russell Walker

WALKER, RUSSELL. The father of the subject of this sketch was also named Russell, and was born on the 9th of April, 1771. His youth was spent among the Shakers at New Lebanon, N. Y., whence he came to Shoreham, Addison county, Vt., in 1794. On the 10th of September, 1795, he was married at his new home, and was engaged in farming on the place which is now owned by Orrin Cooper. In the year 1800 or 1801 he settled in the town of Bridport, Vt., on the farm which is now owned by Selden Walker. In 1806 he … Read more

Biography of Arzah Crane

Arzah Crane came from Burlington in 1814 and settled on the farm now occupied by Shepard Olcott, about one and one-fourth miles north of Asahel Barnes’s. His daughter E1len is the wife of Asahel Barnes. He died at Essex, N. Y., in 1861.

Biographical Sketch of Frederick H. Dean

Dean, Frederick H., Monkton, was born in Monkton, Vt., in 1850. He was brought up to farming, but in 1879 he embarked in the general merchandise business as a successor to Hon. Harrison 0. Smith, of Monkton Borough, Vt. He was appointed postmaster in 1879, and town clerk from 1878. He was married on November 30, 1875, to Halcyone Adele Smith (a daughter of Hon. Harrison 0. and Melissa (Cooks) Smith. Frederick H. Dean was a son of Carlton S. and Celestia (French) Dean. Carlton represented his town in 1862 and 1863, and in early life was a hotel proprietor, … Read more

Biography of Elijah Elmer

Elijah Elmer, from Amherst, Mass., came to Addison in 1783, locating upon the farm now owned by his grandson, Wright Elmer. He had a family of four sons, only one of whom, Chester, attained mature age. He married a sister of Governor Silas Wright.

Biographical Sketch of Emerson Holland

Holland, Emerson, Panton, Vergennes p. o., was born in Hinsdale, Berkshire county, Mass., in 1829. He represented his town in 1864-65, and is now town treasurer, an office which he has held for seventeen years ; he has also been lister and selectman, and held all of the leading offices of his town. He is a farmer and surveyor, and now owns and occupies the old homestead which was purchased by his father, Stephen. Emerson Holland was a son of Stephen and Achsa R. (Bixby) Holland, who were born and married in Massachusetts, and settled in Panton, Vt., in 1835. … Read more

Biography of Hon. Albert Briggs

HON. ALBERT BRIGGS. – Ever green in the memory of the pioneer of the Pacific coast remain the trials and hardships they endured while establishing civilization in the far west. These pioneers, constituted no ordinary class; they were hardy, brave and energetic men; and thousands to-day are reaping the benefits which have accrued from the trials and hardships endured by the early pioneer. None among them deserve more tribute than the subject of this sketch, an excellent portrait of whom is placed in this history, from a photograph taken when he was in his seventy-fifth year. Mr. Briggs was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas I. Woodworth

Woodworth, Thomas I., Middlebury, was born in Weybridge, Addison county, Vt., on April 5,1810. He was educated in the common schools. At the age of twelve years, in 1822, after the death of his mother, he became a member of the family of Harvey Bell, in Middlebury, Vt.; served as an apprentice with Joseph Sargent for seven years, at the gilding trade, and also worked as a journeyman in Troy for four years. He was married on May 20, 1835, to Betsey C. Albro, of Pownal, Vt., after which he engaged in the manufacture of looking-glasses, and picture frames, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Stephen W. Field

Field, Stephen W., Ferrisburgh, was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1817, and died in September, 1871. He was an extensive and successful farmer, and retired from active life in 1865. He was a prominent man of his town and held many of the town offices. He was married in 1840 to Eliza Jane Killmer, who was born at Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y., in 1821, and was a daughter of William and Esther Killmer, who were born in Argyle, Washington county, N. Y., and died at Gouverneur, N. Y. They had a family of three children born to them, … Read more

Biography of Frank A. Williams

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

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 Capt. Gordon Munsill

Captain Gordon Munsill was born in Windsor, Conn., October 26, 1760, served all through the Revolutionary War, and soon after its close married Olive Carver, of Bolton, Conn., and came to Bristol with his wife and two children, arriving March 21, 1789. He had been in town the previous year, made some improvements and built a log house on his farm, purchased of Timothy Rogers, and now owned by E. C. Powell. He was appointed by the Legislature a collector of the first land tax in Bristol, was a selectman of the town seven years, a justice of the peace … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ralph Satterly

Satterly, Ralph, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1830. He is a general farmer and has held several of the town offices, served as lister, justice of the peace and collector of the town. He was married in 1861 to Loraine P. Hurlbut, who was born in 1815, and was a daughter of Lewis and Philomelia Hurlbut. They have had one daughter born to them — Eva S. Ralph M. Satterly was a son of Captain Isaac and Sophia (Marsh) Satterly. She was born in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1807, and Isaac was born in Ferrisburgh Vt., … 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 Munroy D. Parmelee

Parmelee, Munroy D., Middlebury, was born in the town of Bristol, Addison county, Vt., on January 14, 1829. His parents were Harvey and Arzina (Drake) Parmelee. He was educated in the common schools and also attended one term at the high school at Bakersfield; was brought up to farming and remained at home until the time of his marriage, which occurred December 30, 1851. His wife was Louisa M. Partch, who was a daughter of Dr. T. Partch, of Hinesburg, Vt. Mr. Parmelee purchased a farm on Bristol Flats, where he resided for twenty years. He then went to Iowa, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Aaron A. Farnsworth

Farnsworth, Aaron A., New Haven, was born in New Haven, Addison county, Vt., on March 15, 1818; is a farmer, and the farm which he now occupies was settled on in 1785 by his paternal grandfather, Aaron Haskins, and which Mr. Aaron Farnsworth has occupied since 1828. He is an extensive breeder of the Atwood Merino sheep, having a registered flock of 170 sheep. He was married in 1851 to Harriet Sprague, who was a daughter of Horace and Zursiah (Eldridge) Sprague, of New Haven, and by whom he had seven children — Zursiah, Frank A., Helen A. (deceased), Harriet … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Stiles A. Tuttle

Tuttle, Stiles A., Vergennes, was born in Monkton, Vt., in 1846, and settled in Vergennes, Vt., in 1865. He was a farmer in early life, after which he worked as a cabinet maker, and in the year 1871 he engaged in the shade roller business for a time, and in 1883 was made general manager of the factory organization, which gives employment to from thirty-five to forty men. He was married in 1880 to Martha Collins. His parents were J. C. and Sarah (Brooks) Tuttle. J. C. Tuttle died in 1872, aged sixty-eight years, leaving five children, four of whom … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edwin F. Preston

Preston, Edwin F., New Haven, was born in Burlington, Vt., on March 4, 1857. He is a physician; was reared in Waltham, Vt., and began the study of medicine with Dr. C. W. B. Kidder, of Vergennes, Vt., in 1881; entered the medical department of the Burlington University in the spring of 1882, which he was graduated from in the fall of 1884, and immediately located in New Haven, Vt., where he has since resided. He was married on June 17, 1885, to Cora H. Holley, a daughter of Truman R. and Juliaette (Sanford) Holley, of Cornwall, Vt. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Byron W. Field

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

Biographical Sketch of Corydon S. Harris

Harris, Corydon S., Panton, Vergennes p. o., was born in Panton, Vt., in 1812. He was brought up from the age of two years by Norman Munson and his wife Sally (Pearse) Munson. Mr. Munson died in 1844, and Mrs. Munson in 1877. Having previously purchased a part of the farm, consisting of 272 acres, Mr. Harris at the death of Mrs. Munson came into possession of the balance, and now resides on it. He has held most of the town offices, and represented the town of Panton in 1872 and 1873 at Montpelier. He was married in 1850 to … Read more