Ferrisburgh, Vermont, USA (Ferrisburg) (North Ferrisburgh)
1849 - Ferrisburgh

Addison Co. This township is watered principally by Otter, Little Otter, and Lewis Creeks. Otter Creek enters the township from Vergennes, and after running north-westerly about eight miles, across the south-west part, falls into Lake Champlain about three miles south of the mouth of Little Otter Creek. Little Otter and Lewis Creeks run through the township in a westerly direction ; the former through the middle, and the latter through the north part. The mouths by which they are discharged into the lake are within eighty rods of each other. Otter Creek is navigable eight miles ta Vergennes, and Little Otter Creek three miles, by the largest vessels on the lake. In Little Otter Creek are four, and in Lewis Creek three commodious falls, on which mills and other machinery are erected. Large quantities of pike, bass, &c., are annually taken in the spring of the year, about the mouths of these streams. About three miles north of the southwest corner of the township is one of the best harbors on the lake, called Basin Harbor. Five miles north-west from Vergennes, and a short distance south of the mouth of Little Otter Creek, is a ferry across the lake, which is here something more than two miles wide. This place is known by the name of Grog Harbor, taking its name from the landing place in Essex, on the New York side.

The surface of the north-eastern part of this township is somewhat hilly. The remaining parts, especially the western, are remarkably level. No township in the State has afforded more or better timber for market than this. The soil is very various ; some parts of it being clayey, while others consist of rich mould, which is easily tilled and very productive. In 1823, one acre here produced 120 bushels of corn, which cost ten days labor and two bushels of plaster of Paris, {gypsum.) The same kind of soil has produced fifty bushels of wheat, seventy of oats, &c., per acre. It is a good grazing township, and large numbers of fat cattle are yearly driven from it to market.

A part of this town was annexed to Panton, in 1847.

Boundaries. North by Charlotte, east by Monkton and New Haven, south by Waltham, Vergennes, and Panton, and west by Lake Champlain, which separates it from the State of New York.

First Settlers. The first permanent settlement was made in 1784 and 1785, by Mr. Ward, Abel Thompson. Gideon Hawley, Timothy Rogers, Jos. Chilson, Jona. Saxton, and Zuriel and Absalom Tupper, emigrants from Bennington, in this State, and from Connecticut.

Manufactures. Here is a fine water power, and manufactures on its beautiful streams are rapidly increasing.

Productions of the Soil. Wheat, 2,700 bushels; Indian corn, 8,910 bushels; potatoes, 21,680 bushels; hay, 12,000 tons ; maple sugar, 1,400 pounds ; wool, 65,690 pounds.

Distances. Sixteen miles north-west from Middlebury, and thirty-four west from Montpelier.

The Northern Railroad passes in the vicinity of this town.

A gazetteer of Vermont... by John Hayward Boston - Tappan, Whittemore, and Mason 1849

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