I N T R O D U C T O R Y.

WHILE it may seem to the uninitiated a task involving but little difficulty to prepare for publication a work no more comprehensive in character than this volume, and containing. the history merely of a single county, still it is not out of place here to assure all such readers that the work is one demanding a vast amount of labor and research, watchful care, untiring patience, and great discrimination. This need not be said to any person who has had experience in similar work. In attempting the production of a creditable history of Addison county, the publishers and the editor did not underestimate the difficulties of their task, and came to it fully imbued with a clear idea of its magnitude, and a determination to execute it in such a manner that it should receive the commendation of all into whose hands it should fall. It is believed that this purpose has been substantially carried out, and that, while a perfect historical work has never yet been published, this one will be found to contain so few imperfections that the most critical reader will be satisfied.

It has been a part of the plans of the publishers in the production of this history to secure, as far as possible, assistance from parties resident in the county, either as writers, or in the revision of all manuscripts; the consequence being that the work bears a local character which could not otherwise be secured, and, moreover, comes from the press far more complete and perfect than could possibly be the case were it intrusted wholly to the efforts of comparative strangers to the locality in hand. In carrying out this plan the editor has been tendered such generous co­operation and assistance of various kinds, that merely to mention all who have thus aided is impossible; the satisfaction of having assisted in the production of a commendable public enterprise must be their present reward But there are some who have given so generously of their labor and time towards the consummation of this work that to leave them unmentioned would be simple injustice. Among these should be mentioned Mr. Henry L. Sheldon, of Middlebury, for invaluable aid (as appears in subsequent pages) and access to his large collection of books, manuscripts, etc.; Hon. Jno. D. Smith, of Vergennes, for his valuable chapter on the Bench and Bar of the county, and a history of the city of Vergennes; Dr. Chas. L. Allen, now of Rutland, for valuable services in preparing the chapter on the medical fraternity; Justus Cobb, of Middlebury, for contributing the chapter on the county press; Professor Ellithorpe, of Bridport, Hon. R. J. Jones, and others, for the comprehensive chapter on the sheep interests of the county; Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Bennett, of Bridport, for aid in writing the history of their town; M. B. Gove, for writing the history of the town of Lincoln; the late E. S. Dana and others, for preparation of the history of the town of New Haven; Hon. Wm. S. Wright, for writing the history of the town of Waltham. To all these, to the entire press and clergy of the county, the town clerks and other officials, and to so many others that it is impossible to mention them in detail, the gratitude of editor, publishers, and readers is alike due. With these words of introduction, the work is commended to its readers.