Orleans County VT Archives Biographies.....Elkins, O.N. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Jordan jnrose@webtv.net June 3, 2006, 9:53 pm

Author: "Memories of the Early Days in the Town of Troy, Vermont" by Anne Huckins Butterfield, 1977, pages 17-20

O.N. ELKINS
The store at the foot of Main Street, for many years, with the name of O.N. Elkins
on the front. Who was he? What was his business? Why was he so important that his
name remained there until the building burned in 1928?

Orion Nelson Elkins was the son of Jonathan and Mary [Rolph] Elkins. His parents
were among the first settlers of North Troy, and his grandfather, Josiah Elkins,
came here in 1796, exploring the territory of Orleans County and returned to Peacham
and induced his brother, Moses Elkins to come here to an absolute wilderness to
settle. Moses and his family did come but settle in Potton, [no distinction between
countries at that time]. His brother, Curtis Elkins, came to join them, followed
soon by Jonathan, the father of our subject, O.N. Elkins. Mr. Elkins was born on the
east side of the Missisquoi River in a house across the road from what is now the
Eli St. Onge home. Mr. Elkins, as a very young man, went West with many others, but
he stayed less than a year and returned to his beloved birthplace, North Troy, He
entered into partnership with his father, Jonathan Elkins, and they erected the
building at the foot of Main Street which bore his name for so many years. He had
two other partners after his father left the business and in 1878 he became the sole
owner and proprietor. Later he sold his business to Lewis and Clark Co., but his
name remained.

O.N. Elkins was appointed postmaster in 1861 and remained postmaster until the
administration was changed in 1885. He took a great interest in the town affairs and
was anxious for the prosperity of the village. He wanted improvements such as good
sidewalks, lights, well made roads and other minor details. He held every important
office in the village and worked for the above mentioned improvements. He and other
men of the community, also men from Richford, Newport and Island Pond were appointed
to consider a projection of the South Eastern Railway of Canada, the construction of
a connecting line.


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