Addison County VT

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Mead

Isaac Mead was an early settler on the farm now occupied by B. B. Rice. General Somers Gale afterwards lived on the farm. He was an influential citizen, and commanded a detachment at Plattsburgh in 1814. He was born in Panton in 1775; the family were driven to Fort Ticonderoga during the Revolution and obliged to stay there a while after its capture. His son, Dr. Nathan Gale, now resides in Orwell. Mrs. S. A. Sanford is his granddaughter, and Mrs. Charles H. Lane, a descendant one degree further removed.

Biographical Sketch of Thaddeus N. Dean

Dean, Thaddeus N., Monkton, was born in Monkton, Vt., in 1816. He was married in 1842 to Phydelia Alford, of Malone, Franklin county, N. Y. They have had two children born to them: one son died when sixteen years of age and the other died in infancy. Thaddeus N. Dean was a son of Charles and Loretta (Munson) Dean. Loretta was born in Manchester, Vt., on September 4, 1786, and died in 1843. Charles was born in North Caanan, Conn., and died in 1861. He was a carpenter and builder and settled in Starksboro Vt., in 1794 with his parents, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Heman Hallock

Hallock, Heman, Panton, Vergennes p. o., was born in Hinesburg, Vt. In 1826 he came to Bristol. He was a son of Anson and Polly (Sweet) Hallock. They had a family of eleven children born to them — Isaac, Lucy, Anson, Ira, Chester, Heman, Sarah, Hyman, Ovett, Charles, and Stephen. Heman was married in 1851 to Mehitable Norton, who died in 1852, leaving one daughter, Hattie, who married William Siples. Heman then married Mrs. Emily Eastman Stewart in 1855. She had one daughter by a previous marriage — Sylvia Stewart, who married Erwin Carpenter in 1877. Heman had a family … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Heman R. Bull

Bull, Heman R., Ferrisburgh, North Ferrisburgh p. o., was born in Charlotte, Chittenden county, Vt., in 1814, and settled in Ferrisburgh, Vt., in 1833. He is a farmer and owns 300 acres. He was married in 1837 to Rachel M. Palmer, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. She was a daughter of Peter Palmer, and died in 1884, aged seventy-two years, and leaving six children, Aurilla Mrs. Edward Keeler), Celia (Mrs. James Barton), Melvia Ann (Mrs. Albert Boardman), Elmer H. (who married Mary Cole), Peter P., and Watson W. Heman R. Bull was a son of Jeremiah and Phebe (Palmer) Bull. She was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Maylon E. Taylor

Taylor, Maylon E., New Haven, was born in Salisbury, Vt., on April 26, 1826. He went to Michigan in 1844, and remained there until 1852, when he returned to Vermont, and has been a resident of New Haven, Vt., ever since. He was married in 1859 to Ellen Mills, a daughter of Ralph and Abigail (Sumner) Mills. They have had three children born to them — Samuel L., Ira M., and Herbie M. Mr. Taylor is a representative farmer of New Haven, Vt., and occupies a farm of 312 acres, and also keeps a dairy of thirty cows. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Douglass

John Douglass lived on the place now owned by C. and C. E. Ward; Colonel Benajah Douglass on the place where his son N. B. Douglass now lives. N B. Douglass and his three children, James, Maria, and Lilian, are the only descendants in town of James Marsh Douglass.

Biographical Sketch of Edward Grant

Grant, Edward, Middlebury, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on March 14, 1810. His parents were Dennis and Martha Dallis. The family on both sides were of Scotch origin. Edward Grant came to America in the spring of 1847, when he came direct to Middlebury village, and remained there six years. He was a weaver by trade, and was employed in the cottonmill there. He was a resident of Burlington for two and one-half years, where he was employed as watchman for the R. & B. R. R. He then went to Leicester, where he engaged in the lime business … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Brevoort

Henry Brevoort came from West Haven, Vt., in 1811, and located upon the farm now owned by his son Henry F. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and a very public-spirited man. He represented the town in the Legislature in 1825-26; was a justice of the peace thirty years, and died here in 1880, aged ninety-two years.

Biographical Sketch of Franklin A. Goss

Goss, Franklin A., Vergennes, was born in Waterbury, Washington county, Vt., in 1850. He is now engaged in the manufacture of kaolin, under the firm name of Goss & Gleason, and have their office at Vergennes, Vt. He was married on June 3, 1873, to Ruth C. Keeler, of Vergennes, Vt,, and a daughter of Charles D. and Elizabeth A. Keeler. Franklin A. has had four children born to him — three daughters and one son. Franklin Goss was a son of Benjamin F. and Mary J. (Witherell) Goss, who settled in Vergennes, Vt., in 1864, where Benjamin F. died … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Doty

David Doty was born in New Providence, N. J., in May, 1758, married Hannah Smith in 1787, and located upon the farm now owned by Sheldon Smith; but not liking the soil of that farm, he removed in 1790 to the farm now owned by his son, Captain David F. Doty, who was born July, 1798. His son, Ira S. Doty, lives with him.

Biographical Sketch of Wallace J. Thompson

Thompson, Wallace J., Vergennes, was born in Bridport, Addison county, Vt., in 1834. He was in early life a farmer, and in 1874 he engaged in the general grocery and provision trade, also dealing in butter and cheese, and still continues the management of the farm. He has been lister of his town. He was married in 1864 to Wilhelmina Preston, of Vergennes, Vt. He was a son of Julius W. and Hester A. (Bacon) Thompson, who were married in 1832. Hester was born in 1811 and died in 1874, and Julius W. was born in 1806 and died in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Warren D. Clark

Clark, Warren D., Addison, was born in Addison, Addison county, Vt., on August 27,1836. He was educated in the common schools of Addison, and after finishing his education he engaged in farming at his home. On July 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Eleventh Vermont Regiment, and afterwards was in Battery B, First Artillery, and at Washington was assigned to guard duty. He went to the front under General Grant, and was at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Stroudsburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and was with the Army of the Potomac at the surrender of Lee. He served until the close … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rufus Mead

Rufus Mead, brother of Ezra and Isaac, in 1786 bought of Abel Wright the farm now occupied by Mrs. W. W. Wright, and built, first at the base of the hill and afterward on the present highway. Of his sons, three, Hiram, Martin L. and Charles M., were graduated from Middlebury College, and another, Rufus, was for a number of years editor of the Middlebury Register.

Biography of John Fisher

John Fisher, from Massachusetts, located in the eastern part of the town, upon the farm now owned by Osman H. Fisher, at an early date. The homestead passed into the hands of his son Henry, and from him reverted to Osman H. John, whose remains rest in the cemetery near Olin Smith’s place, had a family of five children.

Biography of Asahel Barnes

Asahel Barnes was a native of Bristol, Conn. From there he removed to New Haven, where he remained about seven years, then went to Canada and remained two years, and finally in 1823 came to Addison, locating upon the place now occupied by his son Asahel, Jr. The earliest settler on this place was Benjamin Paine, though Mr. Barnes bought it of James Lewis, whose wife was an adopted daughter of Paine. Mr. Barnes died In June, 1859, in his eighty-second year, while on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Alfred Roscoe, of New Haven. Asahel, Jr., was born in … Read more

Biography of Wyman Henry Merritt

MERRITT, WYMAN HENRY. – The surname Merritt is derived from the ancient Saxon manor and parish of Meriet, in Somersetshire, England. The family trace their pedigree in direct line back to Eadnoth the Statter, a high officer under Kings Edward, Harold, and William the Conqueror. The line, as taken from a carefully prepared genealogical record, is as follows: 1. Eadnoth the Statter; 2. Harding Fitz Eadnoth; 3. Nicholas Fitz Harding; 4. Henry Fitz Nicholas; 5. Nicholas De Meriet; 6. Hugh De Meriet; 7. Nicholas De Meriet; 8. John De Meriet; 9. Sir John De Meriet; 10. William De Meriet; 11. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adonijah Rice

Adonijah Rice, who was claimed the first white male child born in the town of Worcester, Mass., was one of the sixty-four original proprietors of Bridport who received rights of land according to charter, and it is claimed was the only one of the above grantees who passed their last days in town. On a stone in the village cemetery reads, “Adonijah Rice died January 20, 1802, aged eighty-eight years.”

Biographical Sketch of Barnabas 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 David Smith

Smith, David, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes p. o., was born in Leicester, Vt., in 1813. He is a farmer, and one of the directors and vice-president of Vergennes National Bank, also president of Lake Champlain Granite and Marble Company, and at various times has held the most important offices in town, and was elected for the third time as a member to the State Legislature. He was married in 1850 to Sarah Barnum, daughter of Heman and Lydia (Rogers) Barnum, of Ferrisburgh, Vt. They have two daughters — Julia Ella and Josepha Barnum. The latter was married in 1884 to C. A. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ira D. Smith

Smith, Ira D., Monkton, Monkton Ridge p. o., was born at Monkton, Vt., in 1852. He was married in 1873 to Carrie A. Smith, a daughter of Warren and Mary A. (Sleeper) Smith, and was born in 1854. They have had five children born to them — George, born in 1874; Thaddeus K., born in 1876; Fanny I., born in 1878; Joseph P., born in 1880; and Avah L., born in 1885. Ira D. Smith was a son of Daniel W. and Cynthia M. (Purmort) Smith; she was born in Franklin county, Vt., on September 11, 1817, and Daniel was … Read more