Notes |
- He moved to Ticonderoga, New York, in 1900.
1860 Federal Census of Orwell, Addison County, Vermont (11 Jul 1860)
Calice Bassett 24 M L C 675 200 Wheelwright
Margaret 24 F L C
Napoleon Mania? 19 M L C Wheelwright
1870 Federal Census of Orwell, Addison County, Vermont (2 Aug 1870)
Calice Besset 33 M Canada 2000 500 Wheelwright
Margaret 34 F Canada Keeping House
Virginia 9 F Vermont
Cordelia 8 F Vermont
Malvina 6 F Vermont
Calice Jr. 4 M Vermont
Albert 1 M Vermont
Julia Shaney 67 F Canada
Joseph Benet 20 M Vermont Carriage Painter
1880 Federal Census of Orwell, Addison County, Vermont (3 Jun 1880)
Calice Bessette 44 M CN CN CN Head Wheelwright
Margaret 45 F CN CN CN Wife Keeps House
Virginia 18 F VT CN CN Daughter School Teacher
Cordelia 16 F VT CN CN Daughter At Home
Melvina 14 F VT CN CN Daughter Attending School
Calice Bessette 12 M VT CN CN Son Attending School
Albert 11 M VT CN CN Son Attending School
Louis 9 M VT CN CN Son Attending School
Amelia 6 F VT CN CN Daughter Attending School
Hannah 3 F VT CN CN Daughter
Sketches of Addison County, Vermont
Calice Bessette, a manufacturer of carriages and wagons, has been established in Orwell, Vt., since 1860. He is a native of St. Mary’s Province, Quebec, Canada, where he was born on April 10, 1836. He is the fourth generation from France. His father, Albert J. Bessette, came from Canada with his family and settled in Burlington, Vt., in 1847. Calice Bessette went to Lowell, Mass., in 1856, where he spent one year, after which he went to Shoreham, Vt., where he remained there years, where he learned his trade, that of blacksmithing and carriage-making at the shop of Antoine Decelle. After this he came to Orwell, Vt., where he worked for Eleazer Abbey for two months, and then purchased the business, and by close application to busi8ness, and by manufacturing a superior quality of work, he has made the business in all of its branches a decided success and a credit to himself and the town. He not only supplies a steadily increasing home demand, but fills orders for special customers at a distance, shipping some of his best work to the large cities. He sustained heavy losses by fire in 1869, but has rebuilt his works on a much larger scale than before, and now employs on an average ten men the season through. He now owns and occupies a commodious and elegant residence adjoining the factory.
History of Addison County, Vermont
History of the Town of Orwell
Calice Bessette’s carriage and wagon factory is the prominent business interest of the town. The business was established by Eleazer Abbey, father of Gideon Abbey, in 1825, who conducted it until Mr. Bessette succeeded him, May 15, 1860. Business increased rapidly with the latter and was flourishing when, December 31, 1869, the buildings took fire and were entirely consumed, together with the stock and tools they contained, causing a loss of $10,000 over and above the insurance, which was only $1,800. The factory was soon rebuilt, however, and business resumed, which has increased till Mr. Bessette now employs twelve men, and does an annual business of about $20,000 in the manufacture and repair of all kinds of wagons, carriages, and sleighs.
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