Maeck and Tracy Families Papers

Frederick Maeck (d. 1826) was a medical doctor in Shelburne, starting in about 1778. He built a home in Shelburne in 1800 and was elected to the legislature in 1809. His father was Jacob Maeck (d. 1775), who was a doctor and surgeon for the British army during the Revolutionary War.

Frederick married Abbie Newell (d. 1857) and they had 8 children: Betsey (married Judge John Van Sicklen), Jacob (d. 1875), Frederick (1800-1869, see below), Abbie (later Holabird), Newell, Sarah (d. 1890), Dr. Reuben Y., and Martha M. (later Cleveland).

Frederick Maeck (1800-1869) was born in his parents’ house and continued a successful farmer. In 1822, he married Laura Van Sicklen (about 1803-1880) whose father was John Van Sicklen, an early settler of South Burlington. Frederick and Laura had 9 children: Abigail (about 1824-1844), Elizabeth (1828-1849, later Russell), Currence, Laura (married John L. Barstow, Vermont’s Governor from 1882 to 1884), Reuben Y. (d. 1881), Mary, Frederick (1840-1886, a merchant and state representative), John Van Sicklen (1842-1913, see below), and Sarah (died in infancy).

John Van Sicklen Maeck (1842-1913) John was a farmer and politician who owned “two hundred and seventy acres of well-tilled and productive farm land, where he [made] a specialty of dairy products.” (1). He was a Republican town official and served in the state legislature in 1882.

In 1877, he married Laura H. Wooster (1847-1910). She was the daughter of Benjamin Wooster and Laura Tracy. John and Laura had five children: Frederick Wooster (1878-1892), Walter Felton (b. 1881), Benjamin Harris (1883-1953), Charlotte Louisa (1885-1985, later Maeck), and John H. (b. 1889). Charlotte Louisa Maeck married Henry W. Tracy II (1878-1974) in 1912.

Henry Warren Tracy II (1878-1974) was the son of Julius Tracy (1846-1916) and Hannah M. Edgerton (1846-1915). Julius had 2 brothers Henry (1848-1925) and Charles Lee (1865-1933). Henry was a merchant, treasurer for the town of Shelburne, a member of the state legislature in 1894, elected assistant judge for Chittenden County in 1914 and 1916, and state senator in 1918. Charles Lee was an accomplished musician and instructor.

Julius and Hannah had 13 children: twins Lee Peckham (1871-1924) and James Edgerton (1871- 1926), Adeline Emma (1872-1889), Julius Cyrus (1874-1927), Martin Charles, Henry Warren (1878-1974), Silas Edgerton (1880-1958), Mary Louise (1882-1968), John Jay (1884-1974), Hannah Edgerton (1886-1982, later Maeck), Robert (1887-1887), Helen Ruth (1889-1980, later Parker), and Margaret Alma (1891-1976, later Jones).

Charlotte Louisa Maeck (1885-1985) and Henry W. Tracy II (1878-1974) had 4 children: Laura Wooster (1913-1996, later Twitchell), Warren Maeck (1914-1998), Richard L. (b. 1919), and Elizabeth Alma (1922-1971, later Tenney).

Hannah Edgerton Tracy (1886-1982) married Benjamin Harris Maeck (1883-1953) in 1912. They had four children: Dr. John Van Sicklen Maeck (1914-1988), Helen Ruth (1918-1977, later Hopwood), Benjamin Harris Jr. (1927-2007), and William T.

Brothers-in-law Henry W. Tracy II and Benjamin Harris Maeck ran the Tracy and Maeck General Store in Shelburne for decades. It had previously been operated by Henry Warren Tracy (1848-1925) as Tracy and Van Vliet, where the younger Henry worked as a clerk. Benjamin Maeck graduated from UVM in 1905 and held various town offices in Shelburne. Most family members were part of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Shelburne.