As far as I have found, my Vermont ancestors were some of the few Vermont men to not serve in the Civil War. But my great-grandfather and his brother were both born during it, and they fit the pattern Darrell discusses very well too. Their various families had lived in Vermont for 4-6 generations, but both of them left when they turned 18. Their parents remained until they died. My great-grand-uncle and his wife retired to the town where my great-grand-uncle had been born, Norwich, after over 50 years working in other states. He died just a few years later. One generation at a time, the families had stopped farming. I think my great-grandfather and his brother probably sized up the possibilities for them if they stayed and decided to take their chances elsewhere. Liz Loveland