Pete was well known in his adopted town of Barton, Vermont. He was born on March 28, 1929 to John and Lela Cocoros and had two older brothers, Bill and Steve. He died on November 6, 2024 in Barton. 

His family and friends know him as the warm, jolly, talkative godfather who made a mean leg of lamb, struck up conversations with strangers, and implemented a welcoming open-door policy to his cabin. Many heard his stories, seen his photographs around the town of Barton and in the newspaper, and heard him play "Taps" on Memorial Day, and "Oh Holy Night/ Joy to the World: at St. Paul's Church for Christmas. His photographs of Rodger's Rangers re-enactors and his own WWII story are displayed in the Pierce House Museum's Veterans Room. Barton Chronicle Obituaries 

     What a life I had!” declared Francis (Frank) W. Nye, Major General, USAF, Retired who died at the age of 100 on January 13, 2019. Francis was born on a farm in Barton, Vermont to Percy Hildreth Nye and Clara Elizabeth “Bessie” Murphy Nye on June 29, l918. He attended Barton Academy from first grade through high school. Francis was very active with several farming projects with the Future Farmers of America. In the fall of 1935, during his senior year in high school, he received the American Farmer Degree in Kansas City, MO. He was forever indebted to Cedric Pierce, the Barton Academy Principal, who urged him to go the University of Vermont. Francis majored in Vocational Agriculture with plans for a teaching career. He graduated in June 1941, then enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet in July 1941. After 31 years of distinguished service, he retired in February 1972. Francis’ decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Air Medal. He is a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Vermont. He was an Honorary Member of the Albuquerque Rotary Club since l972. Frank's family generously donated his military uniform, biography, and photos to the Pierce House Museum where they are proudly displayed in our Veterans Room. Cemetery Location 

      Born, April 20 1923, in St. Johsbury, Elizabeth was the second child of the family. Her brother (Charles) Frederick was five years old at the time of Elizabeth's birth. After graduation from Barton Academy in 1943, Elizabeth's career at the Howard Bank spanned 41 years. She enjoyed her job, meeting people and the fact that she could work close to her home.

      Elizabeth lived in her family home in Barton all of her life and spent idyllic days at the nearby family camp, Draycott Lodge, on Shadow Lake. Elizabeth's stories at camp abound with autobiographical tales of fishing, swimming, wildlife, summer friends, the dancehall, and chaperones. Elizabeth's Barton stories revolve around the family blacksmith shop, mother, adventures with friends, constructing with Frederick, and the musical band made of friends & family, "The Happy Gang". Elizabeth was proud to spend her life devoted to the care of her family and friends.

      Elizabeth served for many years on the board of the CLFHA while also contributing her time and knowledge to serveral of the local historical societies. A room in the Pierce House Museum is furnished with objects from her father Tom Redington's Barton blacksmith shop where he served the people of the town of Barton for many years. Legacy.com 

At the Welcome O. Brown Cemetery in the middle of Barton Village on Cemetery Hill, a Civil War soldier lies underneath a grave stone that says:

Charles Devereux was born in some unknown place in 1831. He enlisted in the Vermont Volunteer Infantry on August 6, 1862 in Barton and was mustered in on September 1, 1862 as a Private in Co. F of the 11th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Corporal on May 1, 1863. Charles was mortally wounded in action at the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864 (with twenty-three other Vermont Volunteers).

The Battle of Cedar Creek was in Middletown, Virginia. Every single Vermont man in service in 1864 fought at the Battle of Cedar Creek. Charles's 11th Vermont Regiment served in the VI Corps of the Army of the Shenandoah commanded by Major General Philip Sheridan. They were in the 2nd Division, 2nd Brigade and were among the first sent into battle. The Army of the Shenandoah had 31,610 men and 90 guns in battle. Five hundred sixty were killed, 3025 were wounded, and 1770 were taken prisoner. The Confederate Army fought with approximately 21,102 men (exact figures are unknown) and 40 guns. Killed and wounded were 1860 people, and 1500 were missing at the end of the battle. All suffered horribly.

Charles died of his wounds in Baltimore, Maryland on November 18, 1864 — hopefully in a hospital. He was buried in Welcome O Brown Cemetery in Barton, Vermont. There are no photographs, family, obituaries, or memories of Charles anywhere except for his gravestone.

"Many casualties, especially during the 1863-1864 campaigns, are probably buried in mass or unmarked graves, and their final resting place will never be known. There are also, in Vermont, many cenotaphs, or empty graves; some of these are not marked as such, but are a fitting memorial to the fallen solider nevertheless."