USA > Vermont > Franklin County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 6
USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > Gazetteer and business directory of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vt., for 1882-83 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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Halbert John R., of Fairfax, age 44, Ist Lieut. Co. K, 11th Regt., Sept. I, '62 ; discharged for incompetency March 14, '63.
Halbert John S., of Fairfax, age 20, private, Co. A, 9th Regt., May 29, '62 ; Sergt., July 9, '62 ; Ist Sergt., July 1, '63 ; 2d Lieut., Nov. 28, '64; mustered out of service June 13, '65.
Hall Elmore J., of Highgate, private Co. L, Ist Cav., Aug. 21, 62 ; Asst. Surg. January 1, '63 ; resigned Sept. 15; '64.
Hall Horace P., of St. Albans, age 33, Asst. Surg., 9th Regt., June 30, '62 ; resigned March 13, '63.
Hibbard Edward L., of Franklin, age 30, private, Co. K, 13th Regt., Sept. II, '62 ; Sergt-Major, January 22, '63 ; 2d Lieut. Co. D), February 23, '63 ; ist Lieut., June 4, '63 ; mustered out of service July 21, '63.
House Thomas F., of St. Albans, age 37, Capt. Co. H, 3d Regt., June 3, '63 ; resigned Oct. 16, '62.
Hoyt William R., of St. Albans, age 20, private Co. I, 10th Regt., Sept. 23, '63 ; Corporal, February 26, '64; Sergt. Aug. 31, '64; Sergt-Major, February 9, '65 ; 2d Lieut. Co. C., February 9, '65 ; Ist Lieut. March 22, '65 ; mustered out of service June 29, '65.
Hurlbut Alonzo R., of St. Albans, age 24, Ist Lieut. Co. A, 5th Regt., Sept. 3, '61 ; Capt., June 15, '62; died June 9, '64, in Armory Square Hos- pital, Washington, D. C., of wounds received at Battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 5, '64.
Hyde Horace A., of Swanton, age 54, private Co. B, ist Cavalry, Sept. 18, '61 ; Sergt., Nov. 19, '61 ; Ist Sergt., February 19, '63; 2d Lieut., April 1, '63 ; taken prisoner Oct. 11, '63, at Brandy Station, Va., and died at Andersonville. Ga.
Hyde Melvin J., of Isle La Motte, age 35, Assist. Surg. 2d Regt., Sept. 12, '63 ; Surg., Aug. 1, '64 ; mustered out of service July 15, '65.
Jewett Albert B., of Swanton, age 32, Ist Lieut. Co. A, Ist Regt., April 27, '61 ; mustered out of service Aug. 15. '61; re-enlisted; Capt. toth Regt., Aug. 26, '62 ; resigned April 25, '64.
Jewett Erastus W., of St. Albans, age 13, 2d Lieut. Co. A, 9th Regt., June (4, '62 ; rst Lieut., May 24, '63 ; resigned Nov. 21, '64.
Jewett Jesse A., of Swanton, age 24, 2d Lieut. Co. C, 5th Regt., Sept. 5, '61 ; Ist Lieut. July 9, '62 ; Capt. Co. K, March 21, '63 ; resigned May 29, '63.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Jordan Henry D., of Isle La Motte, age 33, private Co. A, 17th Regt., Nov. 4, '63 ; Ist Sergt., Jan'y 5, '64 ; wounded May 12, '64, and April 2, '65 ; Ist Lieut., March 11, '65 ; Capt., June 26, '65 ; mustered out of service as Ist Lieut., July 14, '65.
Keith Alfred H., of Sheldon, age 20, appointed 2d Lieut. Co. K, 6th Regt., March 21, '62; Ist Lieut., Dec. 28, '62; Capt., March 18, '63 ; hon- orably discharged Sept. 4, '64, for wounds received in action at Wilder- ness, Va., May` 10, '64.
Kennedy Thomas B., of Sheldon, age 21, private Co. K, 6th Regt., Oct. 8, '61 ; Sergt. ; 2d Lieut., March 18, '63 ; Ist Lieut., Feb. 11, '64; Capt., Sept. 19, '64; honorably discharged April 25, '65, for wounds received in action at Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, '64.
Kittredge George H., of St. Albans, age 30, 2d Lieut. Co. E, 12th Regt., Sept. 1, '62 ; mustered out of service July 14, '63.
Langdon Seth W., of Fairfield, age 43, recruit for 5th Vt. Vols., Aug. 15, '64 ; Asst. Surg. 17th Regt., Nov. 21, '64; mustered out of service July 14, '65.
Leach Chester K., of Fletcher, age 31, 2d Lieut. Co. H, 2d Regt., June 20, '61 ; Ist Lieut., Sept. 12, '61 ; mustered out of service June 29, '64.
Leach Ephraim L., of Enosburgh, age 23, private Co. C, 5th Regt., Aug. 21, '61 ; Ist Sergt., Sept. 16, '61; 2d Lieut., Dec. 2, '62 ; mustered out of service Sept. 15, '64.
Lewis Silas H., Jr., of St. Albans, private Co. I, 10th Regt., July 23, 62 ; Ist Sergt., June 1, '64; 2d Lieut. Co. F, June 6, '64; brevet Capt., April 2, '65, for gallantry in assault on Petersburgh, Va., April 2, '65 ; mus- tered out of service June 22, '65.
Marsh Carmi L., of Franklin, age 19, 2d Lieut. Co. K., 13th Regt., Sept. II, 62 ; resigned Feb. 17, '63,
Martin Nathan, of Alburgh, age 18, private Co. K, 11th Regt., Aug. 12,'62 ; Corporal, Dec. 29, '62 ; Sergt., Dec. 28, '63 ; Co. Qr. M. Sergt., June 16, '64; Ist Sergt., April 18, '65; 2d Lieut., May 18, '65 ; mustered out of service as Ist Sergt., June 24, '65.
Morey Sidney S., of Swanton, age 22, private Co. K., 13th Regt., Sept. 12, '62 ; Ist Sergt., Oct. 10, '62; 2d Lieut. Co. E, June 4, '63 ; mustered out of service July 21, '63.
Murphy Bradford S., of Swanton, age 23, private Co. K, 6th Regt., Sept. 25, '61 ; Sergt., Oct. 15, '61 ; Sergt .- Maj., June 24, '62; 2d Lieut., Dec. 28, '62 ; Ist Lieut., March 18, '63 ; cashiered and dismissed the service Oct. 8, '63.
Nason Carter H., of St. Albans, age 27, 2d Lieut. Co. F, 8th Regt., Jan. 3, '62 ; dismissed the service June 2, '63.
Newton John W., of St. Albans, age 24, Ist Lieut. Co. L, Ist Cav., Sept. 18, '62 ; Capt., Jan. 5, 64 ; resigned and honorably discharged as Ist Lieut., Feb. 27, '64.
Nye Albert N., of Highgate, age 22, private Co. F, Ioth Regt., Aug. 4, '62 ; Corp., Sept. 1, '62 ; Sergt., June 5, '64; wounded severely Sept. 22, '64; Ist Sergt., May 14, 65 ; 2d Lieut., June 15, '65 ; mustered out of service as Ist Sergt., June 22, '65.
Nye Chester F., of Highgate, age 23, Ist Lieut. Co. F, 10th Regt., Aug. 6, '62 ; wounded Oct. 19, '64; Capt., June 6, '64; discharged Dec. 27, '64, for wounds.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Parsons Henry C., of St. Albans, age 21, Capt. Co. L, Ist Cav., Sept, 18, '62 ; honorably discharged Jan. 4, '6 4, for wounds received in- action at Gettysburgh, Pa., July 3, '63.
Perkins Hiram E., of St. Albans, age 22, Ist Lient. Co. C, Ist Regt. March 12, '61 ; mustered out of service Aug. 15, '61 ; re-enlisted ; Capt. Co. F, 8th Regt., Jan. 3, '62 ; discharged for promotion in U. S. C. T., May 31, '63.
Perry John R., of Swanton, age 38, Chaplain, roth Regt., March 23, '65 ; mustered out of service, July 7, '65.
l'ixley Charles H., of Enosburgh, age 21, private, Co. B, Ist Cavalry, Sept. 23, '61 ; Co. Qr. M. Sergt., Nov. 19, '61 ; 2d Lieut., February 1, '63 ; drowned in Broad Run, Va., February 18, '63.
Platt Hiram, of Swanton, age 37, Capt. Co. F, Ioth Regt., Aug. 6, '62 ; resigned April 1, '64.
Plant Azro M., of Georgia, age 27, Assist Surg. 14th Regt., Jan. 29, '63 ; mustered out of service, July 30, '65.
Reynolds Charles H., of St. Albans, age 27, private Co. I, 10th Regt., Aug. 5, '62 ; Regt. Qr. M. Sergt., January 1, '63 ; Qr. M., April 6, '64 ; pro- moted Capt., and A. Qr. M. U. S. Vols., Dec. 12, '64.
Rice Franklin E., of Isle La Mott, age 21, private, Co. F, 9th Regt., June 17, '62 ; Com .- Sergt, Nov. 20,'62 ; Qr. M., Oct. 19, '64; mustered out of service June 13, '65.
Roberts John W., of Montgomery, age 18, private, Co. H, 9th Regt., June 8, '62 ; Corp., January 1, '64; Sergt., March 1, '65 ; Ist Sergt., April 12, '65 ; 2d Lieut., June 13, '65 ; mustered out of service as Ist Sergt., June 13, '65.
Robinson George W., of Georgia, age 34, Ist Lieut., Co. E, 12th Regt., Sept. 1, '62 ; mustered out of service July 14, '63.
. Sawyer John, of Highgate, age 33, private Co. B, Ist Cav., Sept. 23, '61; Ist Sergt., Nov. 19, '61 ; 2d Lieut., February 19, '63 ; Ist Lieut., April 1, '63 ; mustered out of service Nov. 18, '64.
Sawyer Joshua P., of St. Albans, age 26, private Co. H, Ist Regt., May 7,'61 ; Sergt., June 20, '61 ; 2d Lieut., Jan'y 25, '62; rst Lieut. Co. C, Sept. 26, '63 ; wounded May 5, '64 ; mustered out of service June 29, '64.
Shattuck Charles S., of Sheldon, age 22, private Co. K, 6th Regt., July 16, '62 ; Sergt., July 13, '63 ; Ist Lieut., Sept. 19, '64 ; promoted Capt. and Com. of Subsistence U. S. Vols., Feb. 22, '65.
Sheridan John D., of Swanton, age 33, 2d Lieut. Co. A, Ist Regt. April 27, '61 ; mustered out of service Aug. 15, '61; re-enlisted ; Capt. Co. C, 5th Regt., Sept. 5, '61 ; resigned July 10, '62 ; re-enlisted ; private Co E, 1 1th Regt., Dec. 21, '63 ; Sergt., June 8, '64; 2d Lieut. Co. M, Sept. 2, '64 ; Ist Lieut. Co. L, May 23, '65 ; transferred to Co. A, June 24, '65 ; mustered out of service Aug. 25, '65.
Sherman Linus E., of Montgomery, age 26, Ist Lieut. Co. A, 9th Regt., June 14, '62 ; Capt., May 24, '63 ; mustered out of service June 13, '65.
Simons Volney M., of Swanton, age -, Chap. 5th Regt., Aug. 24, '61 ; re- signed March 18, '62.
Skinner Nathan L., 'of St. Albans, age 22, private Co. F, 7th Regt., Jan'y 8, '62 ; Corp., Oct. 30, '62 ; Sergt., April 1, '63 ; re-enlisted Feb. 17, '64; Ist Sergt., July 6, '65; Ist Lieut., Oct. 27, '65 ; mustered out of service March 14, '66.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Smith Louis McD., of St. Albans, age 24, 2d Lieut. Co. A, 5th Regt., Sept. 3, '61 ; wounded June 29, '62 ; Ist Lieut., June 15, '62 ; mustered out of service Dec. 31, '62 ; re-enlisted ; Capt. Co. E, 5th Regt., March 1, '63 ; mustered out of service Sept. 15, '6 4.
Sowles George D., of Alburgh, age 23, Capt. Co. K, 11th Regt .; wounded June 1, '64 ; Major, Oct. 16, '64; mustered out of service June 24, '65. Sowles George H., of Alburgh, age 19, private Co. K, 11th Regt., July 15, '62 ; Sergt., Sept. 1, '62 ; Ist Sergt., Aug. 26, '63 ; 2d Lieut., Dec. 28, '63 ; prisoner of war from June 23, '64, to March 12, '65 ; Ist Lieut., Sept. 2, '64 ; honorably discharged as 2d Lieut. May 15, '65.
Stannard George J., of St. Albans, age 41, Lieut .- Col. 2d Vt. Vols., June 6, '61 ; Col. 9th Regt., May 21, '62 ; promoted Brig .- Gen. U. S. Vols., March II, '63.
Start Charles M., of Bakersfield, age 23, ist Lieut. Co. I, 10th Regt., Aug. II, '62 ; resigned Dec. 5, '62.
Start Romeo H., of Franklin, age 24, 2d Lieut. Co. H, 3d Regt., June 3, '61 ; Ist Lieut., Nov. 7, '61 ; Capt. Co. E, Sept. 22, '62 ; resigned May 19, '63.
Start Romeo H., of St. Albans, age 24, Capt. 3d Battery Lt. Art., Nov. 23, '63 ; mustered out of service June 15, '65.
Stearns Henry G., of Swanton, age 21, private Co. F, 7th Regt., Nov. 22, '61 ; Ist Sergt., Feb. 12, '62 ; 2d Lieut., Aug, 28, '62; resigned Jan. 27, '63. Stevens Hiram, of Enosburgh, age -, Adjutant Ist Regt., April 26, '61 ; mustered out of service Aug. 15, '61.
Stranahan F. Stewart, of St. Albans, age 21, private Co. L., ist Cav., Aug. 15, '62 ; Ist Sergt., Sept. 29, '62 ; 2d Lieut., Jan. 5, '64; ist Lieut., Feb. 28, '64; resigned and honorably discharged as 2d Lieut., Aug. 28, '64. Symons William, of Fairfax, age 40, Ist Lieut. Co. K, 5th Regt., Sept, 12, '61 ; honorably discharged April 19, '62, for disability.
Town Dexter B., of North Hero, age 31, private Co. F, 7th Regt., Dec, 11, '61 ; Sergt., Feb. 12, '62; Ist Sergt., Oct. 13, '62; re-enlisted Feb. 16, '64; Ist Lieut., May 23, '65 ; Capt. Oct. 27, '65 ; mustered out of service March 14, '66.
Tupper John S., of Bakersfield, age 20, private Co. H., 3d Regt., June 1, '61; Corp. July 16, '61 ; Sergt., June 1, '63 ; re-enlisted Dec. 21, '63 ; trans- ferred to Co. K, by reason of consolidation of regiment, July 25, '64; Ist Sergt., Aug. 27, '64 ; ist Lieut., Oct. 18, '64; mustered out of service July II, '65.
Vaughan Roswell C., of St. Albans, age 28, Ist. Lieut. 3d Battery Lt Art., Dec. 12, '64 ; promoted Capt. and Com. Sub. U. S. Vols., July 2, '64. Vinclette Edward, of Swanton, age 20, private Co. F, Ioth Regt., July 12, '62 ; Sergt., Sept. 1, '62 ; Ist Sergt., January 1, '64; 2d Lieut., Co. K, Feb. 9, '65 ; Ist Lieut., March 22, '65 ; mustered out of service June 29, '65. Wheeler Charles W., of St. Albans, age 23, private Co. I, 10th Regt., Aug. 5, '62 ; Corp., Jan. 3, '63 ; Ist Sergt., July 4, '64 ; 2d Lieut., August 9, '64; wounded Oct. 19, '64; Ist Lieut., Co. K, Feb. 9, '65 ; Qr. M., March 22, '65 ; mustered out of service June 28, '65.
Wheeler Henry O., of South Hero, age 20, private Co. A, ist Cav., Oct. 2, '61 ; Corporal Nov. 19, '61 ; Sergt., Dec. 1, '62 ; ist Lieut., Sept. 24,'63 ; wounded May 5, '64 ; taken prisoner Oct. 7, '64 ; paroled ; mustered out of service March 8, '65.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
White Marvin, of Enosburgh, age 30, Capt. Co. G, 13th Regt., Sept. 11, '62 ; died Dec. 13, '62 ; of disease.
White William, of Sheldon, age 43, private Co I, 10th Regt., Aug. 9, '62 ; Sergt., Sept. 1, '62 ; ist Sergt., Dec. 5, '62 ; 2d Lieut., April 2, '64; Ist Lieut., Aug. 9, '64 ; wounded June 1, '64, and Oct. 19, '64; Capt., June 15, '65; mustered out of service as Ist Lieut., June 22, '65.
Whitney' Orloff H., of Franklin, age 23, Adjt., 13th Regt., Sept. 24, '62 ; Capt., Co. H, January 22, '63 ; died June 4, '63.
Williams Merritt B., of Bakersfield, age 23, Ist Lieut., Co. G, 13th Regt., Sept. 11, '62 ; Capt. Dec. 13, '62 ; wounded July 3, '63 ; mustered out of service July 21, '63.
Woodward Rollin C. M., of St. Albans, Surg. 6th Regt., Oct. 10, '61 ; dis- charged Oct. 29, '61 ; for disability.
Wright William H., of Fairfield, age 26, private Co. C, 5th Regt., Sept. 9, '61 ; Sergt. Sept. 16, '61 ; ist Sergt ; re-enlisted Dec. 15, '63 ; Ist Lieut., June 9, '64; Capt., Nov. 10, '64 ; mustered out of service June 29, '65.
Of the 5,022 men discharged, 317 commissioned officers resigned, sixty- one commissioned officers and 3,865 enlisted men were discharged for disa- bility, forty-four commissioned officers and 596 enlisted men for wounds received in action. Eleven enlisted men were paroled prisoners. Twenty- eight commissioned officers and one hundred enlisted men were dishonorably discharged.
Among the whole number of troops it is to be expected that some were not true, and the records show that 2,219 men (mostly, if not all of whom were substitutes, ) deserted.
The Number of Engagements in which the several Regiments, Batteries and detached troops, (officered in part by Franklin and Grand Isle county men,) bore honorable part during the war, are as follows : -
First Regiment, Infantry,. I
Second Regiment, Infantry 28
Third Regiment, Infantry 28
Fifth Regiment, Infantry 25
Sixth Regiment, Infantry 25
Seventh Regiment, Infantry 5
Eighth Regiment, Infantry
Ninth Regiment, Infantry. 4
7
Tenth Regiment, Infantry
13
Eleventh Regiment, Infantry. 1 2
Thirteenth Regiment, Infantry . I
Seventeenth Regiment, Infantry 13
Third Battery, Light Artillery 4
First Regiment, Cavalry. 73
IN CONCLUSION.
It may be well to state that the War Department accredited to this State 5,242 men ; being one thousand and four more than are shown by the State records, and gives the State credit over the aggregate quota under all calls, of fifteen hundred and thirteen men. "This discrepancy may be and proba- bly is to be accounted for," says Adjutant-General P. T. Washburn, "by en- listments in organizations of other States, to the credit of this State, which appear upon muster rolls of those organizations and were not reported to the State."
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GRAND ISLE COUNTY.
T is probable that the first European whose eye ever rested upon this lo- cality was Jacques Cartier. In 1535, he was commissioned by Francis I., of France, with the command of an expedition to explore the western hemisphere. Having discovered the gulf and river St. Lawrence as far as the present site of Montreal, he found there an Indian encampment, or village, known as Hocelaga. An Algoquin chief, Donnacona, conducted him to the summit of Mount Royal, and showed him a beautiful country to the south, which he called Iroquoisia, and told him of great rivers and inland seas and of smaller rivers and lakes penetrating this beautiful territory, belonging to the war-like Iroquois. Many years afterward, Samuel Champlain, accom- panied by a party of friendly Hurons, proceeded to the locality described by Cartier, and on the fourth day of July, 1609, entered upon the waters which perpetuate his name, and consequently was the first white man to enter the territory which now bears the name of Grand Isle county.
Away up in the northwestern corner of the State this county lies, between lat. 44° 35' and 45° o', and between long. 3º 39' and 3º 47', embosomed in the waters of Lake Champlain, having a length of twenty-eight miles from north to south, and a width of about five miles. It contains eighty-two square miles, 40,070 acres, about 4,126 inhabitants, and is divided into five towns,-Alburgh, Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, North Hero, and South Hero.
After the division of the State into counties (see page 20) and the subse- quent erection of Franklin county, November 5, 1792, the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero were set to Franklin county, leaving Grand Isle and South Hero still under the jurisdiction of Chittenden county. This arrangement was peculiarly unsatisfactory to the people of Grand Isle county, as it virtually divided the five townships, thereby creating many inconven- iences of a public nature. The people of these townships were bound to- gether, in a greater or less degree, by local attachments and interests, and they therefore deemed that their public and private welfare would be essen- tially promoted by a political separation from the main land, and the erection of the five towns into a distinct county. There were, in the outset, many influential persons, however, who opposed this project determinately, and for a time successfully. The subject was agitated as early as 1792, but no meas- ures were instituted to carry out the scheme until September, 1794, when a petition was drawn up, praying for the formation of a new county, to be called the " Hero," and asking for that purpose all the islands in Lake Cham-
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GRAND ISLE COUNTY.
plain, north of Colchester Point, and east of the channel of the lake, to lat. 45 , including Alburgh. This petition was signed by twenty-three citizens of Alburgh, eight of Isle La Motte, twenty-nine of North Hero, and sixty- three of South Hero and Grand Isle. It was presented to the legislature at its October session of the same year, and referred to a select committee, which, after some deliberation, asked to be discharged from its further con- sideration ; and the matter was thereupon referred to the next legislature. The subject was urged and discussed, with more or less pertinacity, from this time until 1802, but without effect. After repeated trials, in which popular sen- timent in favor of the measure had gradually gained strength and potency, the assent of the legislature was finally, though reluctantly, secured, and the new county incorporated November 9, 1802. The following are the provis- ions of the act of incorporation :-
" First, That the towns of Alburgh, Isle La Motte and North Hero, in the county of Franklin, and the towns of South Hero and Middle Hero, in the county of Chittenden, together with all such islands as lie in the State near the above mentioned towns, and are more than a mile from the main land, in the counties of Chittenden and Franklin, be, and they are hereby constituted a distinct county, by the name of Grand Isle. Second, That at the session of the legislature, in October, 1805, the said county of Grand Isle shall be organized for the transaction of all legal business as a county."
The surface of the country is generally level, though diversified with occasional hills and small tracts of rolling land, while the scenery is varied and attractive. There are no streams or inland lakes of importance, but the lake whose waters nearly surround the county amply compensates for any loss of beauty or interest on this account. Not only in beauty, however, does this lake excel, for around none other of the continent hover historical associations so brilliant and memorable. Long before any European had looked upon its silver waters, its long and narrow track, adapted to the tran- sit of the light canoe, had opened a pathway between hostile tribes, in their perpetual missions of reciprocal slaughter and rapine. The Indian, doubt- less, in reference to this fact, gave to the lake the striking and appropriate name, Caniadere- Guarante, that is, the lake that is the gate of the country. And again, for a period of over two centuries from the date of its discovery by Champlain, its character and position remained unchanged. Its waters were the portals of alien and often hostile nations ; along its highway the stealthy march of murderous bands have passed, to be precipitated upon the slumbering settlements of the foe ; fleets of canoes and batteaux in summer have glided over its pure waters on errands of blood and rapine ; and in win- ter its crystal pavement afforded an easy pathway to the invader, or if deep snows rested upon the ice, the snow-shoe left scarcely an impress to betray his transit. By this track the French, with their savage associates, traversed the lake, and penetrating the gorges of the Green Mountains, devastated, amid the storms and snows of winter, the fairest villages of New England. Later on, vast armies, clothed in the pomp and panoply of modern warfare, have gathered on it, sequestered shores, or glided over its silent waters, where
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GRAND ISLE COUNTY.
now all is a scene of thrift and prosperity-a scene of rare beauty and great interest, that each season calls hundreds of tourists from this and foreign lands to gratify their love for the beautiful, and to revel amid its gems of historical lore. And amid these scenes of historic renown, none, perhaps, possesses an interest equal to that attached to Grand Isle county. Its shores were the first in the State to be visited by a white man, within its limits was commenced the first settlement, and upon its soil rested the first military for- tification erected in what is now the proud State of Vermont. But these honors, by some strange chance, have for many years been assigned to other localities.
GEOLOGICAL.
Geologically, there is nothing in Grand Isle to distinguish it from other counties of the State. The principal rocks are of the Black river limestone, Trenton limestone, Utica slate and Hudson river slate formations. The rocks of the Black river group underlie the western portions of South Hero, Grand Isle, and Isle La Motte, and are generally known as Isle La Motte marble. It is a black, compact, finely granular marble, a pure carbonate of lime, and a very handsome and valuable stone. It also contains many fossils. When sawed, it makes an excellent marble for floor tiling, and specimens of it may be seen in the public edifices and costly mansions of the principal cities of the Union.
A vein of Trenton limestone lies parallel with and adjacent to the Black river ledge, extending the whole length of the county, having a mean width of about one mile. One very soon leains to distinguish this rock from all others in Vermont, by its common characters of black schistose layers, asso- ciated with slaty seams of limestone and occasionally argillaceous matter. The rock occupies the middle and northwestern parts of South Hero, reach- ing entirely across the island at one place, to Keeler's Bay ; but the shape of the island is such that it runs off to the northwestern part, where it sinks be- neath the lake to rise again in Isle La Motte. In Grand Isle, the best de- velopment of the Trenton formation in Vermont appears. Prof. Adams, in his manuscript notes of the geology of Vermont, thinks that the thickness of the rock here is as much as 500 feet. The strata are thick-bedded, and filled with beautifully developed trilobites, orthocerata, shells, fucoids, etc. The principal mineral found in the rock is a large vein of milk-white calcite, ten feet wide, in South Hero.
A large bed ot Utica slate comes next in order, underlying, except a small portion of the extreme eastern part, the residue of the county. This rock is a continuation of the calcareous shales of the Hudson river group downwards, until they meet the slaty limestone of the Trenton limestone. The common variety greatly resembles the shales of the Trenton limestone, differing from them principally by being firmer, and exhibiting a double system of joints, which are often filled with seams and veins of calcite. These veins consti- tute a marked feature of this rock. There are three varieties of them,-the
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GRAND ISLE COUNTY.
large veins, or dikes ; the smaller ones, that twist and branch in every direc- tion, frequently like the branches of a tree ; and thirdly, small veins that oc- cupy the cleavage seams, and are parallel to one another over large areas. This rock is particularly conspicuous on the southeast and southwest shores of Alburgh, where ledges of it occur, and also in the center of the town near the railroad. . Upon the east side of Isle La Motte, two ledges of the slate appear, in contact with the Black river and Trenton limestone. The mineral contents are mostly calcite and nodules of pyrites. Several mineral springs occur in the formation, the principal ones being in Alburgh and South Hero. The water is strongly impregnated with sulphurated hydrogen, and they are visited by many invalids with beneficial results. It is probable that the sul- phur arises from the decomposition of the nodular pyrites common in the slate.
The numerous drift scratches, moraines, etc., found throughout the county confirms the supposition that it was once the bed of an ocean. Larger de- posits of marine shells also are interspersed with the soil in different locali- ties, and many fossil remains have been exhumed, especially in North Hero and Isle La Motte.
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