The name of the township was given in allusion to George III, evincing a considerable degree of veneration in the prefix "St.," more so, perhaps, than would have been allotted could the proprietors have foreseen the curtailment their possessions were to receive, and the tyrannical course to be pursued by "His Majesty."

       In surface, St. George is very uneven, presenting some quite lofty elevations, retaining, however, a number of verdant valleys and hill slopes. It has no streams of importance, and contains no mill sites. Its soil is principally loam, clay, and gravel, producing fair crops of the grains and fruits indigenous to such soil and locality. The geological structure is composed of rocks of Eolian limestone, clay, slate, and talcose conglomerate formation, the former underlying about three quarters of the town, the two latter lying in the eastern portion.

       In 1880, St George had a population of ninety three persons. The whole town constituted one school district, and contained one school, located on road 4. Three teachers had been employed at an aggregate salary of $160.00. There were twenty six pupils attending school, the entire expense of the school for the year, ending October 31st, being $179.00, with Ira O. LOCKWOOD, superintendent.

       The town contains no village, no manufactories, and no church building. The post office, St. George is located near the central part of the town, on road 4, with Norman ISHAM, postmaster.

       The first settlement was commenced by Joshua ISHAM, in 1784, who located in the western part of the town. Here he cleared a farm, and after many years of hardship, succeeded in gaining a moderate competence. He was drowned in Hinesburgh Pond, in December, 1837. Early in the following year Elnathan HIGBEE and Zirah ISHAM, with their families, settled here. And, not long after, Jehiel ISHAM, Reuben and Nathan LOCKWOOD, John MOBBS, James SUTTON, Wheeler HIGBEE, and others joined the settlement, so that, in 1791, the town had fifty seven inhabitants.

       The town was organized and first town meeting held March 9, 1813, when Jared HIGBEE was elected town clerk; Sherman BEACH, constable; and Reuben LOCKWOOD, Lewis HIGBEE, and Levi HIGBEE, selectmen. The first justice was Reuben LOCKWOOD, appointed in 1808. The first representative, Lewis HIGBEE, chosen in 1813. The first born was a daughter of Joshua ISHAM, a short time previous to the birth of the first male, Lewis HIGBEE, September 23, 1787. The first death is supposed to have been that of Heman HIGBEE, an infant son of Wheeler HIGBEE, September 17, 1791; first adult, Rebecca GILMAN, June 22, 1797. The first marriage was that of Jacob HINSDILL to Hannah COOK. The first school house was built soon after the first settlement was commenced, a rude log structure, and Amos COLLENDER, of Shelburne, taught the first school

       Jehiel ISHAM came to St. George about the year 1790, and located near the center of the town, where he soon became an extensive farmer. He was actively engaged in the war of Independence, enlisting when fourteen years or age. He married Sarah MOBBS, by whom he had a family of thirteen children nine sons and four daughters -- four of whom, Silas, Amasa, Sophia and Eunice (OWEN), are now living. He died here at the residence of one of his sons, in 1851, at the great age of ninety two years. His wife died in 1840, aged ninety years. Silas is now the oldest person residing in the town. He married Dora Sinclair in 1818, and has four children living. His wife died in 1874. He kept the first and only hotel the town ever had. The ISHAM family has always been one of the most influential and numerous in the town.

       James SUTTON, from Connecticut, with his brother, Benjamin, immigrated to Shelburne at an early day, where, after a short residence, James removed to St. George, residing here many years. He finally died at Montpelier, whither he had gone on business, and was buried in this town. His son, James, born here April 6, 1803, now resides on road 5. He has served his townsmen as representative, justice of the peace, selectman, and in other trusts.

       Russell TILLEY came to this town, from Williston, in 1839, and subsequently located upon the farm now occupied by him on road 2. He married Abigail ISHAM in 1839, and has five sons, Silas H., Sidney N., Hiram H., Herrick A., and Raymond A. The latter married Mary H. SLOCUM, of South Burlington, and has one child, Ray E.

       Reuben LOCKWOOD was a prominent resident of the town for nearly sixty years, removing to Irasburgh, Vt., in 1856. He represented St. George in the legislature at the age of twenty eight years, and was subsequently reelected nine different times. He also held the office of lister twenty five years, and that of selectman twenty nine years; was elected town clerk in 1833, continuing in that office twenty two years, and, in 1842, received the appointment of postmaster, which he resigned in 1846.
 

Transcribed by Karima Allison ~ 2004