Orleans County VT Archives Biographies.....Elkins Part 2, O.N. 
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Jan Jordan jnrose@webtv.net June 3, 2006, 9:56 pm

Author: "Memories of the Early Day in the Town of Troy, Vermont", by Anne Huckins Butterfield, 1977, pages 18-19

O.N. Elkins [continued]

The country from miles around North Troy furnished abundant timber for the
manufacture of lumber and many streams afforded ample water power for the mills that
might be erected; the products of the farms had always commanded good prices in the
markets. With rapid transit to Montreal and Boston, there would be an impetus given
to all the industrial interest in the section. After much consultation, a company
known as the Missisquoi Railroad Co., was chartered in 1867 by the Legislature of
Vermont. In 1869 the company was reconstructed and chartered November 11, 1869 as
the Missisquoi and Clyde River Railroad Company. On the permanent organization, Col.
O.N. Elkins was made a director and elected secretary and treasurer and served in
office until his death. After many losses and difficulties, the road was built with
several name changes, but now owned by the Canadian Pacific Railroad and for many
years North Troy was an important shipping port.

When the Civil War broke out, Col. Elkins was an important merchant and officeholder
in the village and he did not shoulder a gun and go to the front, but started a home
guard to protect the village of North Troy. He became a staff member of Governor J.
Gregory Smith, and in November, 1863, received the commission of Colonel for his
important work in guarding our boundary. He was sent by the governor to Washington
and Virginia to inspect our Vermont troops and provide for their necessities as much
as possible. Following the war, he worked for pensions for the returned soldiers. He
was most influential in our men obtaining their pensions.
It is impossible to enumerate the many and diverse things he did for his state, town
and village. He represented the Town in Montpelier in 1872.

He was interested in the schools of the town, and for many years served on the
school committee and was the efficient secretary of the board of trustees for the
Missisquoi Valley Academy, which is described in another part of this history.
With the cooperation of other citizens of the village, he also played a large part
in organizing and starting St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, which has now become
our Missisquoi Valley Historical Society.
The generous kindness of Hon. John W. Currier gave the lot of land occupied by a
blacksmith shop, and the shop was made into the present building in 1882-1883. The
first service was held on Passion Sunday, March 11, 1883. It was dedicated by the
name of St. Augustine's, in commemoration of the great Bishop of Hippo. <excerpt>


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