Addison County VT

Addison County, Vermont is a county in western Vermont, established by act of the legislature on October 18, 1785, from a portion of Rutland County during the period of the independent Vermont Republic (prior to Vermont’s statehood in 1791), with its shire town (county seat) at Middlebury, making county court and land records available there from the late 1780s onward—vital for genealogical research. The area lies in the Champlain Valley and is drained primarily by Otter Creek; Native American presence by Iroquoian and other tribes along Lake Champlain predates European exploration by Samuel de Champlain in 1609 and later French and British colonial activity at sites such as Chimney Point. Early towns within the county, many chartered in the 1780s and 1790s, drew settlers largely from New England states after the American Revolution, with township land records, early census returns, and town meeting minutes beginning in this period; resources for genealogy include county town clerk records, Probate and Deed offices in Middlebury, local historical societies, libraries, and numerous cemetery transcriptions.

Biographical Sketch of W. Harrison Bingham

W. Harrison Bingham was born on January 9, 1843, in Cornwall, Vermont, to Harris and Lucy Ann Bingham. His father, actively involved in local governance, built their family home in 1849. W. Harrison enlisted in the Fourteenth Vermont Volunteers during the Civil War, notably fighting at Gettysburg. After returning to farming, he married Mary L. Cook in 1868, with whom he had two children. A dedicated public servant, he has held various town offices and currently manages a 335-acre farm with registered Merino sheep.

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Colby

Jonathan Colby, originally from Deering, N.H., settled in Lincoln, Vt., in 1839, purchasing fifty acres of land. A carpenter by trade, he worked in the field until his death in 1846. He married Hannah Wilson, with whom he had six children. His son, Stephen N. Colby, moved from Tewksbury, Mass., in 1841, became a farmer, and later served in local government. Stephen’s son, Irving A. Colby, continued the family legacy on their homestead, contributing to their community’s leadership.

Biographical Sketch of Russel T. Bristol

Russel T. Bristol, born in 1822 in Panton, Vermont, married Martha Jane Thompson in 1847, with whom he had seven children. He was the son of Noah and Anna Stafford Bristol, whose lineage traces back to early settlers in Panton. Noah Bristol, born in 1789, passed away in 1838, and was part of a large family. The Bristol family has roots in Connecticut, with notable ancestors like Aaron Bristol, who settled in Panton in 1785 and participated in the War of 1812.

Biographical Sketch of Albert W. Cronk

Albert W. Cronk, born in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, in 1836, is a farmer who manages part of his family’s homestead, established in 1820. He also operates several acres in Monkton. Married in 1866 to Charlotte E. Ball from Essex County, New York, they had five children, including Sarah Ella, Frances Helen, Charles Albert, Clarence P. (deceased), and George Howard. Albert is the son of Peter and Sarah (Mead) Cronk.

Biographical Sketch of Henry R. Baldwin

Henry R. Baldwin, born in Monkton, Vermont, in 1836, served as a town representative and held various local offices, including constable and justice of the peace. A dedicated general farmer, he married Mary Mathewson in 1868. He was the son of Roderick and Lydia Baldwin, who were part of a pioneering family that settled in Monkton in 1794. They had nine children, seven of whom survived into adulthood, reflecting the family’s enduring legacy in the region.

Biographical Sketch of Herbert W. Clifford

Herbert W. Clifford, born in 1862 in Starksboro, Vermont, is a general merchant who established his business in Monkton Ridge in March 1885. He married Elsie L. Ray in 1883, and they have one daughter, Carrie. Clifford’s lineage includes his father, Richard Clifford, and his grandfather, Ebenezer Clifford, an early settler from New Hampshire.

Biographical Sketch of Avery Williams Billings

Avery Williams Billings was born in West Haven, Vermont, in 1816. He moved to Ferrisburgh in 1845, where he established a harness manufacturing and repair business, still active today. In 1850, he married Clarissa Amelia Lyman, and they had one daughter, Lois Abigail, who married Squire Chapman Palmer. Avery is the last surviving child of William J. and Abigail Billings, who originally hailed from Massachusetts and had six children in total.

Biographical Sketch of George W. Cobb

George W. Cobb was born on September 9, 1844, in Starksboro, Vermont. After enlisting in the Ninth Vermont Volunteers during the Civil War, he endured health issues and was imprisoned before being discharged. Following the war, he married Jennie H. Sampson, had two children, and later remarried Mary A. Sampson. Cobb moved to Weybridge in 1869, initially peddling goods before establishing a successful business in medicine, notably with Champaignes champion cough remedy and Adirondack pain relief, holding exclusive sales rights in Vermont.

Biographical Sketch of Charles H. Bain

Charles H. Bain was born on July 6, 1839, in Bristol, Vermont, to Andrew and Harriett Bain. Andrew Bain emigrated from Scotland to America in 1830. After several years of farming in various states, Charles H. was raised in a farming environment and enlisted in the Civil War in 1861. He sustained injuries in a rail collision but served until his discharge in 1864. Bain married Emma Moor in 1865 and eventually acquired a 155-acre farm, raising three sons.

Biographical Sketch of Nelson Chase

Nelson Chase was born on August 19, 1813, in Waltham, Vermont, and settled in Lincoln in 1868 after acquiring 100 acres of the Purinton estate. He was the son of Benjamin Chase and Fannie Smith, who had four children. Nelson married Jane Rogers in 1838, with whom he had six children, and later married Mrs. Meader, the widow of Elijah Meader, in 1870. His lineage traces back to Nathan Chase, who moved to Vermont from Rhode Island prior to 1812.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel N. Brooks

Samuel N. Brooks, born on March 12, 1821, in New Haven, Vermont, was the son of Daniel and Mary Brooks. He grew up working on farms and completed an apprenticeship in carpentry. After several years as a journeyman, he established his own business in Middlebury. In 1883, he acquired 110 acres previously owned by Dudley Munger. A successful farmer and horse dealer, Brooks married Susan C. Buttell in 1847. He was educated in local schools and took on responsibility early in life.

Biographical Sketch of Harvey F. Cram

Harvey F. Cram, born in Ferrisburgh, Vermont, in 1833, graduated from Burlington University and Burlington Medical College in 1853 and 1858, respectively. After two years at Kings County Hospital, he began his medical practice in Ferrisburgh in 1860. Alongside his medical career, he managed a substantial farm. Cram served in the Vermont Legislature during 1874 and 1875. He was the son of Dr. Jonathan Cram and Fanny (Tupper) Cram, both of whom were integral figures in the local community.

Biographical Sketch of Calice Bessette

Calice Bessette, born on April 10, 1836, in St. Marys Province, Quebec, established a successful carriage and wagon manufacturing business in Orwell, Vermont, in 1860. Trained as a blacksmith and carriage-maker, he initially worked in Lowell, Massachusetts, and Shoreham, Vermont. After facing significant losses from a fire in 1869, Bessette rebuilt his factory on a larger scale, employing around ten men. His commitment to quality earned him a solid reputation, allowing him to meet both local and distant demands for his products.

Biographical Sketch of Philip B. Cloyes

Philip B. Cloyes was born on September 15, 1838, in Salisbury, Vermont, to Elijah and Maria Cloyes. Educated locally, he worked in farming, marble sales, and teaching before marrying Jennie E. Smead in 1863. They had two sons, Fred and Dennie. Cloyes managed his family’s farm, spent a year in Kansas, and worked in grocery in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before returning to Addison County, Vermont, where he acquired significant land holdings in Middlebury and Salisbury.

Biographical Sketch of Elias Bottum

Elias Bottum was born in Shaftsbury, Vermont, in February 1791, and died on February 6, 1865. He settled in New Haven in 1805, married Diadama Squire in 1811, and fathered four children. A prominent citizen, Bottum held various public offices, including senator for Addison County and county judge. His son, Elias S., continued the family legacy of public service, also becoming a deacon and a legislator. Bottum’s widow remained on their homestead after his death.

Biographical Sketch of Eugene G. Cox

Eugene G. Cox, born in 1852 in Monkton, Vermont, was married to Electa Wilson in 1871, and they had four children: Mary M., Henry C., Merritt P., and Sarah B. He was the son of George B. Cox and Marilla Beaman. George B. held various town positions and came from a lineage that included James and Mary Cox, early settlers of Monkton. James, a tailor, was notable for being the only one in the area for many years.

Biographical Sketch of James Bain

James Bain was born on November 22, 1820, in Glasgow, Scotland, and immigrated with his family to Lincoln, Vermont, in the early 1830s. His family, including his father Andrew and several siblings, settled in Lincoln and later Bristol, Vermont. Bain married Rhoda Bush, with whom he had a son, Lewis, who died at fourteen. Bain served as selectman, grand juror, and currently holds the position of justice of the peace. He manages a farm of approximately seventy acres.

Biographical Sketch of Harry W. Carter

Harry W. Carter, born on May 4, 1813, in Monkton, Vermont, lived there until 1869 before relocating to New Haven. He married Eliza Beers in 1842 and had one daughter, Ovanda C. He had four children from a previous marriage and one from his second wife, Harriette Barnes. Carter’s lineage includes a grandfather who was an early settler in Monkton. His life reflects a connection to Vermont’s agricultural and familial heritage, influencing both his personal and professional endeavors.

Biographical Sketch of Charles T. Cowley

Charles T. Cowley was born on July 26, 1844, in St. Albans, Vermont, to John and Mary Cowley. Following his education and early work in farming, Cowley enlisted in the First Vermont Cavalry in 1862, participating in significant battles including Gettysburg, where he was wounded and captured. In 1864, he moved to Weybridge and began working for Philo Jewett. Cowley married Emily Jane Wilkins on March 30, 1870, and they had two children. He subsequently lived on the Sylvester Foot farm before remaining a resident of Weybridge.

Biographical Sketch of William D. Bell

William D. Bell was born on October 2, 1808, in Weybridge, Vermont, as the only son of Dennis and Huldah Bell. His father, a successful businessman, built the first dam across Otter Creek and established a saw-mill. Following his education, William took to farming and married Rosamond A. Johnson in 1839. He settled on land originally constructed by his brother-in-law and had six children, some of whom pursued careers in law, agriculture, and contracting. William remains the last living member of his immediate family.