Addison County VT

Biography of M. D. Smith

M. D. Smith

SMITH, M. D., M.D. This family of Smith is of French origin. The emigrant from France to this country was the sixth generation removed from the doctor. Amos Smith, son of the emigrant, lived in Cheshire, Mass. He raised a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom Henry Smith was the eldest child. He was born on October 6, 1769, in Cheshire, Mass. He married, on February 7, 1790, Anna Blanchard, of Cheshire, Mass. She was born on November 13, 1770. In the same year of his marriage he moved from Cheshire and settled in Addison … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Heman L. Lovett

Lovett, Heman L., Middlebury, was born in Middlebury, Vt., on August 23, 1837. His parents were David and Betsey (Huston) Lovett. David was a son of Joseph and Sally Lovett, and was born in Pittsfield, Rutland county, Vt., on October 10, 1808; was educated in the common schools, and with his brother, Isaac, came to Addison county in 1825, where they engaged in the shoemaking trade; purchased a place together, where he lived with his brother until shortly before his marriage, which occurred in 1835; the residence is now owned by his son, Heman L. After his marriage he bought … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonah Case

Jonah Case located in the northeastern part of the town, on the old “‘Squire Arzah Crane place,” where William J. Conant recently resided. The old brick house is still standing, built by him in 1780 – the first brick dwelling erected in the county. Here he kept a public house for a long time, and the county courts were held here for several years. It is said that Case first built a log house but while putting on the roof the building was blown down, and that he then built the present house of brick manufactured on the farm. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles D. Keeler

Keeler, Charles D., Vergennes, was born in Kent, Litchfield county, Conn., in 1810. He became an apprentice in the tanning business in 1826, and in 1831 he embarked in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and also in the tanning business, which he has continued until the present time. He was married in 1837 to Lovina Williams, who died in 1841, leaving four children, all of whom have since died. Charles D. Keeler then married his second wife, Sophia Gay, in 1851. She died leaving three children, only one of whom is now living — Mary (who married John W. … Read more

Cornwall Vermont – Industry

The most prominent industry in town, and one for which her people are most widely known, is the raising of sheep. Immediately after the importation of Merino sheep from Spain, by Colonel Humphrey, of Connecticut, and later by Consul Jarvis, of Wethersfield, Vt., some of the farmers of Cornwall procured some of the variety for the purpose of improving their flocks. Merrill and A. L. Bingham have been among the foremost of breeders. They began importing French Merinos about 1846. Hon. Rollin J. Jones, who contributes a valuable portion of our general chapter on sheep raising in the county, has … 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

Biography of Nathan Smith Bennett

Nathan Smith Bennett

BENNETT, NATHAN SMITH. Among the early settlers in the town of New Haven, Vt., was Daniel N. Bennett, who was a brother of John N., first town clerk of Bridport, Vt., who came from Connecticut with his family. He secured a farm in that town, and his son, Benjamin G. Bennett, on the 27th of November, 1805, married Lucy Smith, daughter of Nathan, born October 4, 1784, and granddaughter of Samuel, the Addison county pioneer.[For a further account of the Smith family, see biography of Sheldon Smith, in these pages.] In the year 1814 Benjamin G. Bennett removed to the … Read more

Biography of William Silas Wright

Wright, William Silas, Waltham, was born in Weybridge, Vt., January 6, 1819. He was the fifth son of Daniel and Bathsheba (Frost) Wright, who settled in New Haven, Vt., in 1820, and at the age of sixteen years took a preparatory course at the Vergennes Classical Institute, and in 1838 entered Middlebury College, where he remained nearly two years, after which he returned to his father’s homestead in New Haven, and except the interval of four years (when he lived in Weybridge) he resided with his parents until the death of his father, and in 1867 removed to Waltham, Vt., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elmer G. Spencer

Spencer, Elmer G., Ferrisburgh, Panton p. o., was born in East Addison in 1824. He was married on January 20, 1845, to Laura M. Smith, of East Addison, Vt., who was born in 1826. They have had one son and six daughters born to them — George C., Laura, Ella, Matie, Lucy, Bertha, Minnie. Four of the daughters have been teachers, and Bertha and Minnie graduated with great credit from the Castleton State Normal School in 1885. Elmer G. Spencer was a son of Joseph, jr., and Lucy (Elmer) Blakeley, who were married in 1816. They had eight children born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harvey Farr

Farr, Harvey, Lincoln, was born in Lincoln, Vt., on January 26, 1828. He was a son of Jesse B. Farr, of Bristol, Vt. Harvey Farr has always resided in the town of Lincoln, Vt., with the exception of two years, which he spent in another part of the State. He has been one of the most successful farmers of his town, and is a much respected citizen. He has been married twice. His first wife was Mariette Palmer, a daughter of Simeon and Fannie Palmer, to whom he was married on November 27, 1853, and by whom he had a … Read more

Bristol Vermont – Municipal

Bristol village occupies a commanding site upon an elevated plain- about one hundred and twenty feet above the bed of New Haven River, just after that stream leaves the wild ravine known as “The Notch.” Lying thus at the very base of Hogback Mountain, with South Mountain on the southeast, fine examples of the picturesque wildness of nature, nearly approaching grandeur, are ever present to the beholder, and in rare contrast to the fertile plains north and south, and the broad view sweeping westward to the Adirondacks of Northern New York. The village itself lies principally upon four streets, North, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John F. Collins

Collins, John F., Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born in 1856. He was a son of James and Abigail M. (Wentworth) Collins. She was born in Starksboro, Vt., and he was born in 1820. They were married in 1848. He died in November, 1876, leaving a family of nine children and a widow — Delia, Celia, Guy, Martha, John F., Lemira (who was a teacher; died in 1884, aged twenty-four years), Harriet, Amanda, and Alson. James Collins was a son of Alson and Jerusha (Hardy) Collins, who were born and died in Monkton, Vt. Alson was a son of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William J. Nash

Nash, William J., New Haven, was born in New Haven, Vt., on November 26, 1852. He married Carrie E. Partch, a daughter of Nelson Partch. His parents were Joseph R. and Frances E. (Selleck) Nash. His paternal grandparents were William and Mary P. (Wright) Nash. His great-grandfather, William Nash, settled on the farm now occupied by William Nash, in 1799. His maternal grandfather, Seymour Selleck, was an early settler in the town of Middlebury, Vt., and was a prominent farmer. Joseph R. Nash was a prominent citizen of this town, and took an active part in public affairs; represented his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Noble S. Dewey

Dewey, Noble S., Middlebury, was born in Middlebury, Addison county, Vt., in February, 1835. His parents were Enoch and Sallie (Cushman) Dewey. He was educated in the common schools, and brought up to farming, remaining at home until becoming of age, when he went to New York city, where he engaged in the wall paper and window curtain business with his brother, J. E. Dewey, and remained there until 1882, when he settled on the place formerly the home of his father, Enoch Dewey. He engaged in farming seventy-five acres in addition to the home place, and also the former … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Braisted

William Braisted, from Sussex county, N. J., in 1786 first located upon the farm now owned by his grandson, William R. Braisted, a farmer who has represented the town in the Legislature, and held other town offices.

Biographical Sketch of James Marsh Douglass

The same year James Marsh Douglass, from Cornwall, Conn., pitched in the south part of the town on a lot afterwards occupied by Elias Douglass, and later still by Eli Stevens. He probably remained here most of the time until 1784, when he brought his family from Connecticut. He owned about five hundred acres in different lots in this vicinity, and apparently intended to have his sons settle about him. He died, however, in 1790, and the estate was divided among his sons.

Biographical Sketch of Russel T. Young

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.

Biographical Sketch of Aaron J. Piper

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

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Wealtha Clark

Clark, Mrs. Wealtha, Addison, was born in Addison, Addison county, Vt., on August 11, 1826. She was a daughter of George and Susan (Spencer) Willmarth. She was married in 1850 to Elliott Clark, who was born in Addison, Vt., on February 26. 1818. He was a son of Ashel and Hannah (Tower) Clark. He was a farmer by occupation, and after his marriage resided for a time in the eastern part of the town, about fifteen years. They purchased the place on which Mrs. Clark now resides in 1872, having sold their Dead Creek farm in 1870, and in 1872 … Read more

Biography of Sheldon Smith

SMITH, SHELDON. The second family of permanent settlers in the town of Bridport, Addison county, Vt., was that of Samuel Smith, of New Jersey, who made the long journey from that State in what was termed a “Jersey wagon,” drawn by a yoke of oxen. They came to what is now Whitehall, N. Y., at the head of Lake Champlain, where they disposed of the team, no roads being then opened, and loaded their goods on a bateau and sailed down the lake, probably to some point within the present town of Panton. They subsequently came to Bridport, and Mr. … Read more