John I. Ver Planck (1999)

John I. Ver Planck, or John I, as he was widely known, was born in Norton Hill where his father Isaac had operated a carriage making shop. After Isaac’s death in 1912, John I.’s uncle Albert Bell continue the business until 1922 when John I. took over. Although he still dealt with wagons and sleighs, he gradually began selling other goods, the kind we associate with the mid-century general store, and “John Eye’s” store was known as the classic general store. In addition to his own business, John I. was active in a myriad of town activities, Justice of the Peace being one of them. John I. married Viola Teeple in 1931 and had one son, John (Jack). He passed in 1982.