HISTORY of CONWAY (Massachusetts) 1767-1917 BY The People of Conway Rev. Charles Stanley Pease, A.M. Editor Springfield Printing and Binding Company Springfield. Massachusetts 1917 ■^l ■■■'9 / To the Memory of Henry W. Billings, Esq 1826—1915 F i f t y - f o u r \' e a r s Town Clerk THE FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERVANT THE TRUSTED COUNSELLOR AND FRIEND OF EVERY ONE This Work is Respectfully Dedicated PREFACE In the su-iTiier of 1900 Mr. Frederick C. Pierce of Chicago, author of the Field and other genealogies, visited Conway and began the preparation of a history of the town. He secured a mass of material which he. proposed to publish in Iwo xolumes. Lack of financial support delayed the publication until the author's death in 1903. His estate proved to be insohent and after unsuccessful attempts to sell the manuscript it was deposited with the town of Conway by permission of the Judge of Probate. At the annual town meeting in 1914 a committee consisting of Rev. E. L. Chute, H. W. Billings, A. P. Delabarre, C. F. Elmer, and C. L. Parsons was appointed to arrange for a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Conway in 1917. Mr. Billings died in 1915 and Rex. Charles S. Pease was elected to fill the vacancy. In 1916 Mr. Chute removed from town and Mr. Alvin C. Boice succeeded him on the committee. This com- mittee was authorized by the town to publish a brief history of Conway based upon the Pierce manuscript and Re\'. Charles S. Pease was appointed editor for that purpose. In the task of preparing a history for pul)lication the editor has been assisted by those whose names appear at the head' of the various chapters. Much of the material in the Pierce manuscript proved to be of doubtful historical value and all of it was in need of careful revision. Each author has accord- ingly made independent researches and has written his chapter or section in his own way. The Genealogy has been carefully revised and to a large extent rearranged. The chapter on the first centurv was taken from the historv of Conwav's centennial 8 PREFACE. and the chapter on the Field Library is a memorial which Dr. Rice prepared by request of the Field family. The chapter on useful men and women was written expressly for the Pierce history. The illustrations have been contributed by different people, but we are especially indebted to the Misses Frances and Mary Allen of Old Deerfield for the use of a series of photographs taken about 1890, and to Miss Florence Rowland of Conway for pictures of more recent date. The committee has not attempted to produce a complete history of Conway. This would be impossible. The aim has been rather to prepare a readable and reasonably comprehensive account of the past one hundred and fifty years. The work has been a labor of love by Conway people, who without literary experience and with little time at their disposal for such employ- ment have simply tried to make a permanent record of the more important facts in the history of the town. The Editor. Conway, Mass., March 7, 1917. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I. — Previous to Incorporation. By Edward C. Billings. Pages Pocumtuck and the Frontier — ^King Philip's War — Queen Anne's War — The "Old French War" — Fort Massachusetts— The Bars Fight — The Seven Years' War — Massacre of William llenr>-— Conway Set Off, 15-28 Chapter II. — The First Centiry. By Rev. Charles B. Rice, D.D. The Settlement of Conway — Frontier Life — The First Church- Schools — Cemeteries — Roads — Localities — Clothing — War — Population — Industries — Politics — Professional Men — Destruc- tive Fires — Old Farms, 29-72 Chapter III. — Fifty Years More. By Rev. Charles S. Pease. The Conway Centennial — ^Prosperous Conditions — Railroad Sur- veys — Electric Street Railway — Telegraph and Telephone — Improved Mail Service — Automobiles — Celebration of National Centennial — -Patriotic and Social Organizations — Disasters — Cemeteries — Town Ofificials — Physicians — • Population — Farm and Farm Life — The Outlook — Biograjihical Sketches, 73-101 Chapter I\'.— The Natural Features of Conw.w. By Florence Mabel Pease. The Beauty of Conway — E.xtensive Views — -Rivers and Brooks — Wildwood Park — Geological Features — The Glacier Lake — Large Trees — Flowers and Ferns, 102-107 Chapter V.— ^Business and Industry. By Edward Affhauser. Farm Products — The Creamery — Manufacturing — Gristmills — Saw- Mills — Brickyards — Tanneries — Cotton Mills — Woolen Mills — Shoe Shop — Tap and Die Shop — Other Manufactories — Stores — Wagon Makers — Stage Drivers — Taverns — Harness Shops- Newspapers — Post Ofifice — Electric Street Railway — Electric Light Company — Banks and Banking, 109-126 10 CONTENTS. Chapter \T. — The Churches. CONGREGATIONAL, By Rev. Edward L. Chute. Pages Beginning of Public Worship — The First Minister — Succeeding Pas- tors — Work for Children — Members Recei^'ed — Mission and Benevolence — Meeting Houses, 129-135 BAPTIST, By Rev. Charles S. Pease. Origin — Elder Keyes — List of Pastors — ^The First Meeting House — Location Changed — The Parsonage — Repairs and Improve- ments — Church Discipline — Clerks — Baptisms — Young People Trained for Service — The Church Closed, 135-146 METHODIST, By Rev. Charles. S. Pease. Meetings in the South Part — Camp Meetings in Poland District — The Chapel — Meetings at Burkeville — Field's Hall — Building the Church — First Members — Pastors — Young Men Who Became Ministers — Official Members — Losses — Church Closed 146-152 THE FEDERATED CHURCH, By Prof. Alvah J. Norman. Reason for the Federation — First Steps — Articles of Federation — The First Lhiited Service — Officers and Committees, 152-155 SAINT MARK'S CHURCH, By Rev. P. H. Gallen. The First Catholic Service in Conway — Building the Church — A Mission of Shelburne Falls — A Mission of South Deerfield — Pastors, 155-156 Ministers and Wives of Ministers Born in Conway 156-157 Chapter YII. — The Schools. By Rev. W. F. Avery, in Part. Schools Required of Every Township — First ^Appropriation in Con- way — The First Schoolhouse — Master Cole — ^School Districts — Graded Schools — Superintendents — ^College Graduates — "Hill View" — Select Schools — Conway Academy — High School,. . 158-168 Chapter VHL — The Field Memorial Library. By. Rev. Charles B. Rice, D.D. Field's Hill — The Field Family — Marshall Field — Town Libraries — ■ The Gift of a Memorial Library — -Laying the Corner Stone — Architecture of the Building — Dedication, 171-201 CONTENTS. 11 Chapter IX. — Military History. By Ri:v. Charles S. Pease. Pages The ReYoluiion, Minute Men, Other EnHstmeiits — War of 1812 — The Ci\il War, Recruiting, Total Enlistments by Regiments. Fallen Heroes — War with Sj)ain, .... 202-211 Chapter X. — -Useful Men and Women. By Rev. W. F. Avery. Interesting Reminiscences of the Various Neighborhoods of the Town and the Prominent Families in Former Generations. A Remarkable List of Conway Young Peoi)le Who Became Eminent in Professional and Business Life 212-238 FAMILY GENEALOGIES. Revised and Arranged by Miss Ada Patrick. Genealogical Sketches of the Families That Came to Conwa\- during the First One Hundred Years, 241-345 ILLUSTRATIONS The V^illage from Parsons' Hill, Frontispiece Main Street Looking West, in 1890, 14 The First Framed House in Town, 34 The Parsonage of Rev. John Emerson, 36 Centennial Elm, Site of First Schoolhouse, 73 Dr. E. D. Hamilton, 91 Col. Austin Rice, 95 H. W. Billings, Esq., 100 Pumpkin Hollow and Field's Hill, 103 One of Conway's Great Elms, 106 Gen. James S. Whitney, 108 Conway Creamery, Ill BURKEVILLE WoOLEN MiLL, 115 The Conway Churches, 128 Second Congregational Meeting House, 134 The Burkeville School, 161 The High School, 167 Marshall Field, 170 The Field Memorial Library, 191 Burkeville, 232 Main Street Looking East, in 1890, 240 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Chapter I. PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. By Edward C. Billings. POCUMTUCK AND THE FRONTIER. "Nine miles from >c River into ye Western woods." So reads the grant by which the General Court of the province of Massachusetts, in 1712, enlarged the holdings of the Pro- prietors of Pocumtuck by adding to them the tract of land now covered by Conway. Queen Anne's War had arrested the growth of the frontier settlements of New England, but the cessation of hostilities, proclaimed at Boston in 1712, encouraged the people of Deeriield, the mother town, to drive another wedge into the wilderness and thus secure suitable commons and more lands for early settlement. Thus Conway, two hundred years ago, was carved out of the primeval forest and appro- priately given the name of Deerfield Commons. It was officially known, however, as South West District, and under this name obtained a definite position on the colonial map, as well as its first appearance in public records. But a half century was to pass — "a half century of conflict" — before any attempt was made to settle the pleasant hills and fertile bottom lands of this last grant to the Proprietors of r\)cumtuck, from whom all land titles in Conway are derived. Whatever plans may have been entertained for the immediate settlement of the South West District were destined to be frustrated by fear of Indian forays and the actual renewal of hostilities a few years later. Thus the end of "The Last French War," as it was provincially called, was contemporaneous with Conway's first settlement. For a full century the New England pioneers had lived in constant dread of the red warriors who peopled the mysterious wilderness just beyond the frontier, and during most of this period they had equally good reasons for suspecting the intentions of their white neighbors on the north, 16 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the French. Naturally the inhabitants of Deerfield and other Massachusetts towns Were in no hurry to build new homes in the "western woods" so long as Canada was governed by a Vaudreuil, whose policy it was to commit the savage Abenakis and Caughnawagas to hostility against New England, or so long as there remained a Hertel de Rouville to lead cruel marauding parties to the destruction of unoffending English hamlets and the pitiless massacre of such of the inhabitants as could not endure the hardships of captivity or be made profitable as prisoners. But with the fall of New France her Indian allies ceased to threaten New England, and the belated settlement of many hill towns, like Conway, began at once and continued to progress until the lines of the clearings reached to the very hilltops. The giants of the forest which had held undisputed sway over the pleasant hills of Conway fell rapidly before the axe of the pioneer, and as early as 1790, Conway, with more than two thousand inhabitants, had reached her high tide in population. It will be seen from the foregoing that during the heroic days of Indian, and French and Indian, warfare, Conway was a part of Deerfield in a geographical or territorial sense only. Throughout all of that romantic period her territory remained an unbroken wilderness, still a part of "ye western woods," to revert again to the quaint and picturesque language of the grant of 1712. But there is a continuity in history which transcends geo- graphical lines and which also carries us far back of the year 1767, the date of municipal incorporation, into the heroic past. Without following this sinuous thread too far, or enlarging at great length upon the many interesting events to which it leads us, it has been thought best, for the purposes of this work, to take a brief survey of some of the more important events in the early history of the mother town, which was first called by the Indian name Pocumtuck. 'fhe people of Western Massachu- setts, and particularly the inhabitants of those towns which were carved out of the territory originally known as Pocumtuck, are indebted to the Hon. George Sheldon of Deerfield for the invaluable fund of historical truth which his many years of thorough and patient research have made available. The writer of this brief resume has drawn freely from Mr, Sheldon's "History PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. 17 of Deerfield," and those who desire to further pursue the many interesting matters here Referred to rather than discussed will find Mr. Sheldon's work an exhaustive depository of interesting and exact local historical information. The original territory known as Pocumtuck was granted by the General Court to certain inhabitants of the town of Dedham in 1663. This territory was enlarged in 1670 and 1671 and, as we have already seen, by the grant of 1712, it was made to include what is to-day the town of Conway. It now included practically all of the territory covered by Deerfield, Greenfield, Gill, Shelburne, and Conway and part of Ashfield and Whately. The first settlement in this territory was made in what is still the main street of Old Deerfield in 1670 or 1671. KING PHILIP'S WAR. Hardly had the settlement begun before King Philip, or Metcom (his Indian name), and his plumed and painted warriors of many tribes, acting in concert under this unusually sagacious and capable chieftain, began to stalk through the frontier towns of Massachusetts, and with tomahawk and firebrand entered upon a work of desolation which for a time threatened the extinction of the colony. During this war occurred the engage- ment with the Indians near Turners F'alls from which the village takes its name. This is known as the Falls Fight. Near here Capt. William Turner surprised an encampment of the warriors and punished them severely. The Indians had their revenge, however, and in the running fight which followed the attack forty-one of Captain Turner's little army of one hundred and forty-five men were killed. In 1736 the General Court made a grant of land "to be located on the north bounds of Deerfield" to the survivors of the Falls Fight and their heirs. This grant was first called Falls Fight Town, but in 1762 the settlement was incorporated as Bernardston. In this war also occurred the Bloody Brook massacre at what is now Soyth Deerfield, where Captain Lathrop with his picked company of one hundred young men, "the flower of Essex county," were led into an ambuscade from which but few escaped. General Hoyt, in his "Antiquarian Researches," places the total loss at ninety. 18 HISTORY OF CONWAY. One of the most romantic stories in history is connected with an Indian attack on the town of Hadley at about this time. Here the fugitive William Gof'e, one of the judges who sentenced Charles I. to e ecution, was alternately concealed in the houses occupied by Mr. Russell, the minister, and Peter Tilton, a prominent man of the town. Three of these judges or "regicides," as they were called by the Royalists, escaped to America upon the restoration of the Stuarts in the person of Charles II. and went into hiding in New Haven. Determined at any cost to punish all those directly responsible for his father's ignominious death, the king sent special officers to the colonies to capture the fugitives, whereupon GofTe and his companion, Edward Whalley, fied to Hadley, where they v. ere concealed for a number of years. Whalley died during concealment and his burial place was a secret known to but few until his bones were found by workmen in making e.xavations near the founda- tion of Mr. Russell's house many years later. On Wednesday, September 1, 1675, so the story runs, the Indians attacked the town while the inhabitants were holding a service in the meeting house. Gof'e, from his hiding place, seeing the attack, sallied forth, and taking charge of the defense as one used to command, the savages were put to flight. Not being able to otherwise account for the timely appearance of this venerable stranger of martial mien, the devout inhabitants of the town, with Puritan faith in Divine providence, believed him to be an angel sent by God for their deliverance. Is the story of Goffe's appearance during the Indian attack on Hadley one of the myths of history? Sheldon has carefully considered the subject and written convincingly against it in an article published in the Proceedings of the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. It passed current, however, with his- torians of an earlier date, and the late Syh ester Judd, the careful historian of Hadley, does not question it. Those who discredit the story point to the fact that contemporary records and writers say nothing about it. On the. other hand it is contended that contemporary writers naturally maintained a discreet silence in regard to the occurrence, but that the oral tradition existed many years before any one dared to publish it. Whether the story is true or false, Walter Scott, the greatest PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. 19 master of English fiction, has considered it good enough to incorporate into his novel, "Peveril of the Peak." Thirteen towns were destroyed and six hundred colonists, including many women and children, were killed before the desperate settlers administered the crushing blow to Philip and his warriors at Mount Hope, R. I., in 1676. The pioneers of Deerfield, who had been driven from the town, now returned, but the settlement had received a check and the act of incor- poration was delayed until 1682. When William III. was placed upon the throne of England, Louis XIV. promptly declared war upon his old adversary, the Prince of Orange, and his realm. This war was known in American colonies as King William's War and was the first of the several French and Indian wars from which the English colonies suffered for more than a half century. It was the occasion of an Indian attack on Deerfield in 1694. The inhab- itants, however, had taken the alarm from the attack on Schenectady and had inclosed a portion of the settlement within stout palisades from which they repulsed their foes without suffering serious loss. QUEEN ANNE'S WAR. For the ne.\t decade the settlement continued to grow slowly without serious check from Indian hostility, but the outbreak of Queen Anne's War brought the savages back with frightful results. During the night of February 28-29, 1704, a force of three hundred French and Indians under Major Hertel de Rouville made a descent on Deerfield, scaled the stockade on the drifted snow, and scattering themselves among the houses, butchered or made captives of one hundred and forty of the two hundred and sixty-eight inhabitants. The houses of the hamlet were built to resist assault, and many of the Indians were killed by the fire of the settlers from within, while trying to batter down the stout doors or hack holes through them with their axes and tomahawks. The door of Ensign John Sheldon's house resisted all efforts to break it down. A small aperture was finalh' made through which the enemy fired and killed Mrs. Sheldon. An entrance was finally effected through a rear door which had inadvertently been left open by a lad 20 HISTORY OF COXWAV. who sought safety in flight. The marauders then used the house as a cover from which to attack the neighboring dwelhng of Benoni Stebbins, which was stoutly defended by its inmates. Sheldon, in his "History of Deerfield," says: "In all the wars of England, there is not a more gallant act recorded than this defense of an unfortified house, by seven men and a few women, for three hours, against, not only the fury and wiles of an unor- ganized horde of savages, but also a large force of French soldiers, under officers of the line trained in the wars of France." The Sheldon house was set on fire when the enemy left the settlement but fortunately the flames were extinguished and it stood until 1849, becoming widely known as the "Old Indian House." Its scarred and battered door is to-day an object of great interest in the Memorial Hall at Deerfield. The light of the burning buildings of the settlement, reflected from the fields of snow, brought small relief parties from North- ampton, Hadley, and Hatfield, and in the morning the French and Indians were driven from the town, and with their one hundred and eleven prisoners began the terrible three-hundred miles' winter march to Canada. The little band of soldiers from the towns below did not dare to press the marauders too severely for fear that the savages would massacre their prisoners rather than see them released. The captives sufifered greatly on the march and, as a sort of savage mercy, the Indians did not hesitate to dispatch with the tomahawk those who were too weak longer to endure its hardships. One of the first recipients of this savage mercy was Mrs. Williams, the wife of the Deerfield minister, who had become a mother only two weeks before. In her feeble condition she had fallen to the rear and her husband had been compelled by his pitiless Indian captors to go on without her. She was one of the last of the party to ford Green River, and when knee-deep in the water she stumbled and fell. Recovering her footing, she reached the further bank but in such a weakened and benumbed con- dition that she was unable to go on, and her Indian master dispatched her with one blow of his hatchet. The sufferings of several other women and a number of small children were soon ended by similar acts of savage mercy. The Indians were well aware of the pecuniary value of their captives, whom PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. 21 they intended to hold for reinsoms or as slaves. The>' were careful, therefore, not to sacrifice those who were able to endure the fatigues and privations of the march. Sometimes little children were drawn on sledges or carried on the backs of their owners. The party soon divided and took differant routes, and as each prisoner was compelled to accompany his or her indi- vidual owner, families became separated. In this manner Mr. Williams was early parted from his five children. Many of the captives were subsequently redeemed, but of the whole band, only one half ever again saw their home and friends. A number of the children, who had experienced the fascination and freedom of forest life with their Indian masters, refused, in after years, to return to their early homes, or to the ways of civilized life. Some married among the French and Indians and their blood still fiows in the veins of the French and the half-breeds of Canada. THE "OLD FRENCH WAR." During the "Old French War" (1745-1748) Massachusetts maintained a number of garrisons in the western part of the colony in which many Hampshire county men saw service. The principal fortifications were Fort Massachusetts in East Hoosac or Adams, Fort Shirley in Heath, and Fort Pelham in Rowe. Small garrisons were also stationed at Greenfield, Northfield, Fall Town (Bernardston), Colerain, Southampton, Blandford, and Stockbridge. There were palisaded houses in Northamp- ton, Hatfield, Deerfield, Shutesbury, and New Salem. These picketed houses were usually provided with mounts or bastions from which the walls of the palisades could be defended with firearms. To avoid surprise scouting parties were continually being sent out. Col. John Stoddard of Northampton, who was a soldier at Deerfield when the town was destroyed by the French and Indians in 1704, was now in command of the Hamp- shire county men. He died June 19, 1748, but a short time before the close of the war and was succeeded by his cousin, Col. Israel Williams of Hatfield. The capture of Louisburg in Cape Breton, June 17, 1745, was the event of this war which reflected the greatest glory upon the New England troops. Louisburg, then considered 22 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the strongest fortress in North America, surrendered to the provincial troops assisted by a British squadron, after a siege of forty-nine days. Many Deerfield and other Hampshire men took part in the siege. Many Hampshire county men also enlisted for a proposed expedition against Canada, which, however, failed to materialize because England did not send the promised army and naval forces to co-operate with the New England troops. DEFENSE OF FORT MASSACHUSETTS AND THE "BARS FIGHT." The heroic defense of Fort Massachusetts against seven hundred and fifty French and Indians on August 19, 1746, was one of the most memorable events of the war. At the time of the attack the garrison consisted of but twenty-one men, eleven of them on the sick list, under command of Sergt. John Hawks of Deerfield. After the fight had continued for twenty-four hours the commanding officer of the French, Pierre de Vaudreuil, a brother of the governor of Canada, came forward with a white flag and asked for a parley. At this time the fighting force of the garrison had been reduced to eight men, for whose use there remained just three rounds of ammunition per man. Such effective use had the little garrison made of its limited supply of ammunition since the beginning of the attack that the French and Indians had lost from forty to seventy men killed and wounded. De Vaudreuil promised quarter, and after prayer and consultation the garrison surrendered upon honorable terms. The promised protection was given and the prisoners were kindly treated on the return march of the French to Crown Point. Not all the attacking party returned to Canada with the prisoners after the surrender of Fort Massachusetts. Many of the Indians, who were dissatisfied with the small number of prisoners, crossed the Hoosac Mountain and continuing down the Deerfield Valley discovered, on August 24, a field of hay near the foot of Stillwater. Here they waited in ambush for the haymakers, who unsuspectingly returned to their fate the following day. One of the haymakers going into the bush for partridge, walked right up to the hidden enemy and was instantly shot. The other men made a heroic but hopeless resistance PREVIOUS TO IXCORPORATION. 23 and with one or two exceptions were killed upon the spot. Several of the children who accompanied the haymakers were assisted to make good their escape. One boy, Samuel Allen, Jr., was captured and taken to Canada. He returned, however, and became one of the first landowners in Conway. Eunice Williams, thirteen years of age, was pursued by an Indian, who fractured her skull with a blow of his hatchet and left her for dead but failed, probably because of his haste, to take her scalp. She was rescued and lived to be eighty-five years of age, although it is said she ne\'er completely recovered from the effects of the blow. The men killed were Samuel Allen, Eleazar Mawks, ()li\'er Amsden, Simeon Amsden, and Adonijah Gillet. This attack ui^on the haying party is known locally a? the "Bars Fight." THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. Peace was restored in the colonies a few months after the signing of the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, October 7, 1748. The seven years' peace whi(-h ensued was followed by the "Seven Years' War," or the "East French War," as it was commonly called in America. The year 1755 is memorable in American history as the year of Braddock's ill-fated expedition against Fort Duquesne, but this is hardly more a matter of local history than the great Lisbon earthquake which occurred the same year, as no New England troops served under Braddock. Hampshire county men, however, were soon actively engaged in the expedition against Crown Point, which was also unsuc- cessful, as were the succeeding campaigns of 1756, 1757, and 1758. In 1755 also occurred the "Bloody Morning Scout" near Lake (ieorge in which Col. Ephraim Williams, the founder of the college which bears his name, and other Hampshire county men were killed. MASSACRE OF WILLIAM HENRY. The year 1757 w^as signalized by the capture of Fort William Henry at Lake George by the French and Indians under Mont- calm. The gallant defense of the fortress by Colonel Monroe against overwhelming odds, and the shameful massacre of the disarmed garrison by inebriated savage hordes, after it had 24 HISTORY OF CONWAY. capitulated upon Montcalm's promise of protection, is a chapter of colonial history still widely known as the "Massacre of William Henry." Montcalm's special plea that he was unable to re- strain his three thousand Indians, gathered from thirty-three different tribes, because some of the English soldiers, in spite of all warnings, had given them rum to drink, has never been considered sufficient to remove this foul blot from the escutcheon of the gallant Frenchman. Cooper in his "Last of the Mohicans" has attempted to visualize the scenes of the "Massacre of William Henry." How- incomplete would be our mental pictures of past events if formed only from historical records! It has become almost a truism that imagination is, after all, the real truth-teller. Yet Cooper's attempt to depict the scenes of the massacre hardly outrun in sanguinary details the traditions and historical narratives that have come down to us. Sheldon in his "History of Deerfield" gives the following account of how a Deerfield man escaped the Indians at William Henry: "Lieut. Salah Barnard was seized by two Indians; each grasped one of his hands and dragged him towards the woods to strip and murder him. Barnard was an athletic man, and while the three were in this relative position, they reached a steep descent. Just at the moment the Indians began to descend, Barnard braced himself back, gathered all his strength and swung the heads of the Indians together with such force as to stun them both. He made his escape and finally reached Fort Edward." Among the Deerfield men who served under Colonel Monroe at William Henry was Consider Arms, the first town clerk of Conway. The fate of William Henry intensified the feeling of appre- hension along our frontier. Its effect in our immediate vicinity was to strengthen the garrisons at the several forts. Col. Israel Williams, who had been chief in command in Hampshire since the death of Colonel Stoddard in the last war, placed the four forts in Colerain under Lieut. John Hawks, Sergt. John Brown and fifteen men at Greenfield, Sergt. Remembrance Sheldon and sixteen men at Fall Town (Bernardston), Sergt. Ebenezer Belding and nine men at Huntstown (Ashfield), Sergt. Helkiah Grout and fourteen men at Northfield, and Sergts. Samuel and PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. 25 Olhniel Taylor and Greshom Hawks with fifly-onc men at Charlemont. The General Court in 1755 had offered a bounty to those in the regular service of forty pounds sterling for each Indian scalp, and the garrisons at the forts were provided with snow- shoes and moccasins for the use of scouting and scalping parties. The records of some of the Massachusetts towns show that bounties were actually paid for scalps. In spite of the vigilance of the scouts there were occasional Indian incursions, and alarms were frequent. Marauding parties penetrated as far as Greenfield, Northfield, Colerain, and Bernardston, and on June 11, Moses Rice, the first settler in Charlemont, with his son and two boys was surprised by the Indians while hoeing corn. He was killed and scalped and the two b(ns were taken to Canada. Phineas Arms, a Deerfield man and a soldier of the garrison at Charlemont, who went to the cornfield as a guard to the party, was also killed. In 1758 the fortunes of war began to favor the English. Abercrombie's repulse at Ticonderoga was followed in a few weeks by the second capture of Louisburg. The successful campaigns of the following year, the evacuation of Ticonderoga by the French, and the capture of Quebec by General Wolfe, left the result of the war no longer in doubt. Deerfield and other Hampshire men did their full share in these campaigns. March 16 Colonel Williams was ordered to send two hundred men from the Hampshire regiment to join the army of Amherst at Lake George for the attack on Ticonderoga. The destruction of the Indian town of St. Francis in Canada by Rogers' Rangers, with whom several Deerfield men served, completely discouraged the Indians and Massachusetts has since been free from their hostile visitations. The French power in Canada came to an end with the surrender of Montreal to General Amherst, September 8, 1760. Among the Deerfield men who served in this closing campaign were three who held lands in the South West District, or Conway, to wit: Major John Hawks, the gallant defender of Fort Massa- chusetts in the Old French War; Lieut. Seth Catlin, and Samuel Allen. 26 HISTORY OF CONWAY. CONWAY SET OFF. The following account of the setting off of Conway from the mother town is taken from Sheldon's "History of Deerfield": Dec. 10, 1750, "Voted to divide ye South and half of ye West Additional Grant" — now Conway — and a committee was chosen to "take a \iew" of the tract, and run and mark lines two hun- dred rods apart, "to run South 19° West." Dec. 14, 1753, John Blackmer was granted ten acres "including a place for a mill just before the crotch of South River," provided he can prove a right to as much as one common. Agents were chosen to prosecute trespassers on the commons, but proprietors w^ere allowed to cut as much timber as they would for their own use in building or fencing. April 21, 1760, a committee was chosen to run the nine-mile line, and establish the Ashfield bounds, the line against Hatfield, and mark the south line of Shelburne grants. Ten years had now elapsed since the vote to divide the Conway land, and now, June 16, measures were taken to lay it out to individuals. It was to be cut into seven tiers of two hundred rods, each parallel to the nine-mile line, and an eighth tier, taking what was left to the seven-mile line, with four intersecting roads. The next day lots were cast for the draft. But the last French w^ar was still raging, and nothing further appears to have been done towards efTecting a settle- ment. The proprietors, most of whom lived in Deerfield, had land enough and to spare, and many of them sold out to specu- lators, or men desirous of settling on the territory. In 1763, the whole tract was in the hands of forty parties or estates, and more than one half of this was held by seven men. March 2, 1767, the people of "South West" appeared in town meeting with a petition to be set off into a separate district. About this time a large sum of money was being expended by the town in repairing the meeting house. From its location, the people of Conway could get little comparative benefit from the taxes they would be called upon to pay in footing the bills. The same amount expended at home would give a much more satisfactory return. This consideration probably hastened the inevitable act of separation. This petition probably contains nearly a full list of the voters in South West at this time. It is addressed: — PREVIOUS TO INCORPORATION. 27 To the Inhal)itants of the Town of Deerfielcl in the County of Hamjjshire quaHfied by Law to \ote in Town Meetings "We the Subscribers inhabitants and owners of lands within that tract of land in the sd Township of Deerfield called the South West Division, for too many reasons herein to be men- tioned, humbly request of you that you would by a vote give your full Consent and declare yourselves willing that the sd South West Division should be set off from ye sd Tow^nship of Deerfield and made into a district corporated and vested with all the Power and Privileges which Towns or Districts within this Province are by Law vested withal, if the Genl Court of ye sd Province upon application to them made shall judge the Same Expedient "Deerfield J any Thomas French, Moses Daniels, David Parker, James Oliver, Robert Hamilton, Samuel Wells, Josiah Boyden, John Thwing, Cyrus Rice, Joel Baker, Daniel Davidson, Ebenezer AUis, Stephen Davidson, Alexander 01i\er, Silas Ransom, Jonas T. Witchell, Nath. Field, Robert Oliver, Elias Dickinson, 12 1767." David Whitney, Israel Rice. W'ill W^arren, Jeremiah Hew, James Dickinson, Benj'm Pulsipher, John Boyden, Simeon (Jones?), Elijah Wells, James Gilmore, James Gilmore, Jr. John Rand, WiU'm Smith, Abra. (?) Marble, Mathew Graves, Nathaniel Marble, Joseph Cutler, John Merrit, (Abel Marinan?). At the town meeting, March 2, 1767, a committee of nine w-as chosen to ' ' Confer together & draw up a proper vote for the Setting off the South West part of Deerfield into a Separate District and lay the same befor the Town for its Acceptance." 28 HISTORY OF CONWAY. The meeting was adjourned one day for a mature consideration of the proposition, when it was: — "Voted that the prayer of the Petitioners be granted upon the following Conditions, viz.: That the Inhabitants aforesd be set ofT with their Lands into a town or separate District by the following Meets & Bounds, viz. East upon the seven Mile Line, so called, until it comes to Deerfield River; West upon Ashfield Bounds, or the west line of Deerfield; South upon Hatfield Bounds; North, partly upon Deerfield River, untill it comes to the Northwest Division so called, & thence by sd Northwest Division untill it comes to the west line of the Town. "Provided also that they pay the same proportion of the Yearly Province & county Tax laid upon Deerfield, as the Polls & Estates of the Inhabitants of sd South West were set at & assessed in the last list & Tax." With this consent, the Conway people at once applied to the Legislature, and on June 17, 1767, Gov. Francis Bernard signed the act which gave Conway a separate municipal existence. Chapter II. THE FIRST CENTURY. A paper prepared for the Centennial Celebration of Conway, in 1867, and given in part as an address on that occasion. By Rev. Charles B. Rice, D.D. The settlement of Conway was begun in 1762. Most of the adjoining towns were entered upon before that time. Deerfield, w^hich had then been occupied nearly one hundred years, owed its early planting to the attraction of its rich meadows, uncovered of forests and ready at once for cultivation. It was possible also there, and in the other meadow towns, to establish settle- ments sufficiently compact to offer some defense against the Indians. The savage war cry, ringing through the valley for nearly all that hundred years, and but just then ceasing to be heard had kept back the peopling of the hill country westward. And for the occupation of some towns at the north and west at cjates a little earlier than that of Conway, it was due to the greater efforts of those township proprietors to give value to the lands they owned by establishing settlements upon them. At the time of its settlement, this region now bearing the name Conway was included within the limits of Deerfield. The first record we have relating to it occurs May 28, 1712. At that time the General Court for the State, in answer to a petition of Rev. John Williams, enlarged the territory of Deer- field by allowing it to extend "nine miles westward into the western woods." The nine miles were not wholly in the new grant, but included the previous width of the town from east to west. Before this, the west line of Deerfield was what it is now. The territory thus conveyed was nearly the same that is now embraced in Conway and Shelburne. The southern portion of it came to be known as "South West District," or "South West"; and it was also sometimes called "Deerfield commons." Arrangements were made in 1753 by the township proprietors for the division of the district into lots, preparatory to its settlement. The survey was made beginning on the western or Ashfield line; and the town appears at first to have 30 HISTORY OF CONWAY. been divided by four parallel "roads." stretching from north to south across its entire length, into eight ranges, each 200 rods in width, which ranges were to be subdivided by east and west lines. Nothing came of these "roads," which were laid out six rods wide; and the whole survey underwent such readjust- ments that the lots, as finally offered for sale, were 240 rods in length from east to west, and 100 rods in width, containing 150 acres. There was much controversy with Huntstown, now Ashfield, concerning the western boundary. Twice the Deerfield and Conway men got the worst of the matter in law, and were com- pelled to draw in their lines. They never felt easy as to the way this business was settled, and unquestionably we ought to believe that they were wronged. The owners on the west side who suffered loss received compensation in other lands. It is observed by Pliny Arms, Esq., of Deerfield, who touches on this point in his valuable historical lecture, that the Hoosac farm, now owned by Consider Arms, was probably acquired by his grandfather Consider in this way. In December of the same year, 1753, appears the first sign looking towards actual settlement in Conway. The proprie- tors made a grant to John Blackmore of ten acres of land for a mill spot "at a place just before the crotch of South River"; there being a condition that he should build within twelve months. But it cannot be learned that John Blackmore pro- ceeded any further with this enterprise. The place itself where he meant to build, any one familiar with the course of South River and the force of prepositions may be competent now to discover. In 1754 a county road was laid out across the District from east to west. This road, to which further reference will be made, had respect at this time solely to the use of the Huntstown settlers. It remained for years a mere path. In 1763 it was voted by Deerfield to raise four pounds "towards building a bridge over South River, and making the County road adjacent to the same." A rude bridge was probably soon thrown across, and some work done on the banks to make it accessible. After South West began to be peopled, we find that an allow- ance was made for the schooling of the children who lived too far away to attend at the "Town Plat." THE FIRST CENTURY. 31 Early in 1767 the inhabitants had become numerous enough to wish for a separate organization; and they petitioned to that effect. Deerfield agreed to the petition, and proposed the boundaries of the new town as follows: "East upon the seven mile line, so called, until it comes to Deerfield River; West, upon Ashfield bounds, or the west line of Deerfield; South, upon Hatfield bounds" (where Whately and Williams- burg now arc); "North, partly upon Deerfield line, until it comes to the North-west Division, so-called" (that is, until it strikes the Shelburne line); "and thence by said North-west Di\'ision until it comes to the West line of the town." On the 17th of June in the same year Conway was incor- porated by act of the General Court. The town took its name from Gen. Henry Conway, then a member of the British ministry, and popular in the Colonies as having been government leader in the House of Commons at the repeal of the Stamp Act. General Conway was a brave soldier, and a well meaning though not an able statesman. The General Court had authorized Elijah Williams, "One of His Majesties' justices of the peace for the County of Hamp- shire," to issue his warrant "to some Principle Inhabitant" of Conway, requiring him to warn the qualified voters to meet for the choice of town officers. This warrant bears date Aug. 8, 1767; and is the first document appearing on the records of the town. The first town meeting thus provided for was held on Mon- day, Aug. 24, at the house of Thomas French, Innholder. The following is the list of the officers elected : Consider Arms, Moder- ator and Town Clerk; Cyrus Rice, Constable; Thomas French, Consider Arms, and Samuel Wells, Selectmen and Assessors; Consider Arms, Town Treasurer; Israel Gates, Thomas French, and Joel Baker, Surveyors of Highways; David Parker, Ty- thingman; Elisha Amsden, Warden; Thomas French and Simeon Graves, Fence Viewers; Silas Rawson, Sealer of Leather; Eben- ezer Allis, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Joseph Catlin and Joel Baker, Hog-reefs; Cyrus Rice, Deer-reef; James Gilmore and Josiah Boyden, Hay-wards; David Parker and Ebenezer Allis, Surveyors of Lumber. The deer were soon gone from the forests, and the official list has been otherwise somewhat changed. 32 HISTORY OF CONWAY. but since that day the soil has never ceased to bring forth men wilHng to fill these stations; and the succession has not failed. EARLY SETTLERS. Having thus reached a spot where the town has an organi- zation and a name, we may properly stop to gather up some facts of interest with respect to its earliest inhabitants. The town, as was to have been expected, was first occupied upon its eastern border and within the district now known as "East Side." Here, upon the slope of the hill looking to- wards Deerfield, were the farm and dwelling house of Cyrus Rice, the first settler of Conway. Mr. Rice was from Barre.* His house was upon the south side of an old and now unused road that led from the vicinity of John Field's, past the place lately occupied by Bradley Packard, to the present county road a little distance above the old tavern stand long known as the Hawley place: The first house was about twenty-five rods southeast of the spot now marked by an ancient cellar with bricks and rubbish, on which the family afterwards lived. A mound of stones has lately been raised on the original site. Here, as already mentioned, occurred the first death in our town. Here also was born, Jan. 10, 1764, the first child of Conway — Beulah Rice. The family had also, sons; one. of them, Stephen, became the father of the poet of this occasion, who is thus a lineal descendant of the first man. Other settlers soon followed. A half mile south of Mr. Rice was Israel Gates (Barre) on a spot now occupied near the house of Cephas May. Still southward was the first house of Josiah Boyden (Grafton), a Revolutionary soldier, and probably the second man to come. His son David was the first boy the town had. And a daughter Mary, born Aug. 24, 1767, — the day of the first town meeting, — and afterwards the wife of Medad Crittenden, is still living among us and is the oldest inhabitant of Conway. Not far ofT were John Wing and Elijah May, neither of them of the very earliest; and also, probably, David * The probability is that Mr. Rice came to Conway early in 1762 and cleared lands, planted crops, and built a house; that he brought his family in the fall of the same year; and that his wife died soon after reaching her new home. It would appear that Mr. Rice married again the following spring. THE FIRST CENTURY. 33 Parker. Half a mile west of Cyrus Rice, where John Field now lives, was James Dickinson (Somers). Northwest from him was John Bond (Grafton), and farther on westerly, at the top of the hill, Jonas Rice (Grafton), where his descendant Joel still lives. South of Jonas Rice, on a road now closed, was John Boyden (Grafton), a Revolutionary soldier. And north- west again from James Dickinson was Joseph Catlin (Deerfield), near by the present Josiah Boyden's. In his barn Mr. Emerson preached his first sermon. And here, still earlier, were baptized at one time seven infant children. North of this eastern district, and where is now the great elm he planted, and at the place now occupied by Madison Stearns, lived Lieut. Robert Hamilton (Barre), long a soldier in the Revolution. Beyond, over the Hoosac hill. Consider Arms owned the land and sent his son Henry later to live upon it, where another Consider, grandson of the first, now is. North- westward was George Stearns, father of all the Stearnses. Fur- ther on Deacon Caleb Rice, moving afterward to the top of Arms' Hill, and to Genesee; and beyond him Silas Rawson. And still westward. Deacon Joel Baker (Sunderland) building soon, for Dennis Childs of the present time, what is now the oldest and what was probably the first framed house in Conway. Here is the oldest apple tree and the first tree in the town to bear fruit, which oldest tree is also found in other locations. South of Joel Baker, where Dexter Bartlett now lives, was Adoniram Bartlett, father of many Bartletts and authors of much wit; moving afterwards to the east of Robert Hamilton. And next towards the center Deacon Jonathan Root (Montague) and Daniel Stow, prominent but not early settlers. Half a mile north, near Morris Brown's, was John Thwing (Bristol, R. I.). Northwest from thence at John Clary's, Benjamin Pulsifer soon lighted for a little before his later settlement at the east side. A little below was Timothy Thwing, son of John, planting apple trees for his own and the Broomshire orchards on the place which the family still keep. Amariah, son of Timothy, is with us to-day, the oldest man in our town, having his mind yet clear, and with his natural force not spent. Beyond the river, in Broomshire, was Israel Rice (Grafton), where Austin Rice now lives, and northward in the order of 34 HISTORY OP' CONWAY. the present houses: Timothy Rice (Grafton), Theophilus Page (Conn.), William Warren (Grafton), John Batchelder, on the town farm, and a half mile beyond, where a cellar now remains, Nathaniel Goddard (Grafton). East of Israel Rice were John Broderick and Michael Turpey (Ireland), and southeast for a time, John Sherman (Shrewsbury), father of Caleb and John, where John B. Stearns now lives. The First Framed House in Town. Built about 1766. Burned in 1916. Israel Rice and William Warren were the first of these set- tlers. Mr. Warren with the father of Mr. Rice explored the neighborhood and bought lands in 1762, the year of Cyrus Rice's coming. Two years later William and Israel undertook to visit their estates, but losing the former track up the Deer- field and striking the sharp banks of the South River at or below the point of Hoosac they could not cross and went back disconcerted. The next year they effected a landing, cross- ing near the present bridge, and prepared, Mr. Rice the frame, THE FIRST CENTURY. 35 Mr. Warren the logs, for a house. In 176C they brouglil their famihes. One hung sheets over his frame for his bedroom, the other spread bark over his logs, \vhereu[)on it rained twelve days. Jumping over Broomshire hill to the north end of "West Street," we find Samuel Newhall (Leicester) where Joseph New- hall now lives; south towards the four corners, David Harring- ton, with his son Jason, a Revolutionary soldier; west by William Stearns, Jonathan Smith (his son living later by the Broom- shire ferry); westward still over the hill, Deacon Caleb Allen, on a fine slope that keeps his name; and northwesterly James Warren (on the Tobey place). Returning to the main road, at the Harding place was Daniel Newhall (Leicester), popu- larly called "Wig Newhall," Revolutionary soldier, father of the Daniel of stories and humorous memory, and of other Daniels in long succession, though gone from Conway; westward again, Capt. Prince Tobey, and over the brow of the hill, where Rodol- phus Rice now lives, Jabez Newhall (Leicester). South again on the main track from Daniel Newhall were Horton, David Whitney (Grafton or Upton), gone to be first settler of Phelps, N. Y., and later, perhaps, Benjamin Wells, where George Stearns now is. Rising the hill by the old road, we pass on the left the spot on which John Emerson built his house and set his elms in 1770; — we may find Abner Forbes, Esq., sitting under the shadow of his trees. And if now we are tired or thirsty, the house of Capt. Thomas French, " Innholder," is in sight upon the fiat, one third of the way up Arms' Hill before us. This "Principle Inhabitant" of Conway walked to the Deerfield line on his own land, went into office-holding beyond any other man, wrote his name in great letters, "Test. Thomas French," on the town book, fell into idleness, cheated the Continental government in salt, took to the lawyers, forged, sat in the pillory, and died a vagabond. Not waiting with him, we may look up if we can his brother Tertius; and find Nathaniel Field, not far, it is to be guessed, from the foot of Arms' Hill, west of the Baptist meeting house. Down on "the Flat," uncertain where, we may search for Asa Merritt, great-grandfather of Charles of West Street. On the hill beyond, northeast of Charles Parsons, we may call on 36 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Jonathan Whitney, at the house, now gone, where town meetings were often held. Over all the land that can be seen from this point in every direction, but especially, it may be guessed, on a site a little to the east of Jonathan Whitney's, lives Caleb Sharp. He is IhE PAKtiONAGH ( )t Re\ . Jl'HN EmERSON. half^negro and half " Indian, or something else," it is said, which last statement may be rested in. He is a vigorous man, a builder of sawmills and gristmills; and has already before or by the incorporation of the town, a grain mill running where the mill now stands. With him will presently appear his successor "Black Csesar" (Csesar Wood), in later times "Saxton and Grave Diger," who also, as the ancient memories tell us, "did THE FIRST CENTURY. 37 every sort of a thing." After him soon is corning, third in the line, Asahel Wood, "respected by everybody old and young," and again, fourth in succession, Thomas Cole, who will continue to the first centennial. Turning south, towards where the Congregational meeting house now stands, Aaron Howe will shoe our horses, or Maj. Jiimes Davis, if we have not passed him before by the Baptist meeting house, and if wherever he is we can find his shop, will tap our boots, — a questionable matter, for he is the man whose newly put-on sole Adoniram Bartlett lost from his foot, "care- lessly," as he said, "because he took it from the stirrup." If we wait a little this Davis will leave his shop for the Continental army. Still southward and west of the road as we go into Pumpkin Hollow wc pass the log houses of Joel and Elias Dick- inson, the latter the owner of the "center lot" and living in Jabez Newhall's garden. Elijah Wells calls to us from the western hill; by H. B. Childs, and Gersham F'arnsworth shortly on the other ear. But hastening out of this swamp, the best part of which Jonas Rice would not take at twenty cents an acre, though for the rest of his lot he gave a dollar, and running up Field's Hill, we pass near the summit Alexander Oliver, a lieutenant in the army of the Revolution, and Robert Oliver, and James Oliver, a Tory refugee and one of the three that the town furnished that went away with the British. Under the hill south is Captain James Look (Martha's Vineyard, 1768). We meiy hurry as best we can through Hardscrabble, by Elisha Clark on the west side, and by Ebenezer Allis at the Fairfield place; and beyond at the southeast we will halt at the always hospitable stand where John Allis now lives by the home of his grandfather. Captain Lucius (Somers, Conn.). Here, if the Davis boots have failed, others may be borrowed, for Captain Allis has a pair of fashionable ones, or rather the only pair in the district, which he lends to his neighbors wlien thc>' go a journey in style. Captain Allis was a principal inhabitant. Besides his boots he had one of the only two carts that for twenty years were knowm beyond Field's Hill. And over and above boots and cart he had some public spirit. He bought, it is said, and gave to the town the common bv the old church. Withal he rode at 38 HISTORY OF CONWAY. first seven miles, Sundays, to the Deerfield meeting, horseback, with his wife, and with a child in the arms of each. And with many other Conway men, he helped take Burgoyne. A half mile southeast were Elijah Wells and Matthew and Simeon Graves (Whately) ; and a like distance, more to the north, James Gilmore, where Israel and Thomas L. Allis, of the Captain Lucius stock, now live. Still beyond, on the edge of Whately, at the Foote place, Samuel Wells, where was a hotel. Westward again a mile from Captain AUis's, and on the present W^hately road, was Amos Allen, "Captain Barefoot." He fought in the war of the Revolution. He needed to borrow no boots. He got his commission and his title coming from the army over the Green Mountains with bare feet in four inches of snow. Passing west to Cricket Hill, we find Capt. Abel Dinsmore, a Revolutionary soldier, where his grandson, Alvan Dinsmore, now lives. W^illiam Gates was his next neighbor at the north. Southwest was Gideon Cooley. He brought his wife and all his goods on the back of a horse; and the wife filled her bedtick with the leaves of the wood. Not far off was Nathaniel Marble. Going to the northwest we pass the farm of Deacon John Avery (Dedham), now uninhabited, but stoutly occupied for two generations, and reach the stand of Malachi Maynard (Westboro), where his daughter Lucy and his son-in-law Zelotes Bates now live. The town had men on the hill in those days, and later. Malachi Maynard was a genuine old New Englander and a Puritan, and a good specimen of both; strong in body and in mind resolute, independent, upright, religious, staying put in his place. He had but six weeks' schooling, was twenty-six years town treasurer, figured in his head and figured right, and settled right after he had figured. South of Malachi Maynard was Solomon Goodale. North- ward was Samuel Crittenden, in 1772, father of Medad Critten- den; a name still kept among us by the memories it brings of a life manifestly growing through all its long later years into the likeness of the life that is to come. Looking from Cricket Hill toward the southwest at the date of the incorporation, there was probably no settler's house to be THE FIRST CENTURY. 39 seen. (Indeed it may not be quite certain that there was one on the Hill itself at that time. Mr. Maynard came in 1768.) Isaac Nelson may probably have been the earliest. Richard Collins was where Hiram Collins now lives as early as 1770. Solomon Hartwell (Dedham) was soon planted north of John Bradford's. Also two brothers of Malachi Maynard, Moses and Calvin: one south of John Bradford, the other north of Edward Bradford. Ebenezer Tolman was here in 1772. Twenty years later there were farms still uncleared in the districts that have since become "city." So late as that Shubael and John Bradford were first occupants. Caleb Beals was early in Po- land, north of the Lucius Bond place; also Jonathan Oakes upon the Chester Wrisley place, and Ebenezer, another of the Maynards, upon the Captain Phillips' farm, with Reuben Hendricks hard l)\- him. And far northwest across the river, still a fifth Maynard brother, Timothy, living but four years ago (1863), ninety-nine years old. Coming down the valley we are near by at the house of Capt. Consider Arms (Deerfield), the opposite side of the road from the one now occupied by the Arms famil\-. Consider Arms was one of the earliest settlers in the limits of the town, one of the greatest landowners, a leading public man, and everyway a "principle inhabitant." Passing again our grove and the Inn of Captain French, and over the Arms Hill northwest, by the Goddard who brought the boy, Eleazer Flagg, to the place where Samuel F'lagg now lives, and past the neighbors Stebbins, Whittemore, and Woodward, all later comers, we go down upon the large farms of Isaac and Elisha Amsden (Deerfield), now occupied by Walter and Earl Guilford. Beyond them the settlement, as at the southwest, was somewhat later; Solomon Field (Surrey, N. H.) was of the first, in 1772 or 1773. He was the man who killed the bear which gave its name to the river that is called Bear River. His grand- son, Consider, still keeps the place. Near by him toward the south were Jesse Severance and Zadac King. Toward the east Sylvanus Cobb (Deerfield) at Charles Macomber's, and north- ward Samuel Wilder (Deerfield), Aholiab Wilder, and farther on William Halloway and Seth Godfrey; none of these last, perhaps, first settlers; and returning from the north schoolhouse, Nathan 40 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Bacon, and still later, though himself the son of an early inhab- itant, where Ryder had lived, in the center of the district and the central man, Caleb Sherman. There were doubtless some other early settlers whose names are not here mentioned, but there can have been but few such. On the other hand some of those whose names are given, though for the most part the first occupants of their farms, were relatively late in coming. Dividing the town by a line from Broomshire through the center to the South Part, the eastern half contains almost all that were on the ground at the date of the incorporation. The number of families was about fifty, and the whole popu- lation, the households being then small, did not much if at all exceed two hundred. These were the men, who, as Mr. Emerson writes, had come in, "planted themselves down on new and unimproved spots of land, and with small property but good resolution commenced the arduous but honest and respectable business of earning their bread by the sweat of their brow." They were, with a few exceptions, very poor at their coming. They were not well furnished with tools nor with animals for farm work. William Warren's apparatus consisted of one cow, one axe, one hoe, one chain and one "bung-town copper." It was usual to go to Deer- field or Hatfield to hire cattle for plowing, or other team work. It was not for several years that a man commonly owned either oxen or a horse. During this period it was customary to carry grain to mill upon the back. One bushel was the usual load. There are many accounts, however, of larger quantities having been carried from great distances. Amos Allen ("Captain Barefoot") brought two bushels of rye from Hatfield, taking it but once from his shoulder, and that at the mill where it was to be ground ; other accounts resolutely put it at three bushels. Mal- achi Maynard also brought from Hatfield, in bags, nineteen shad and two pigs, the pigs being of considerable size. He rested at midnight on the top of Popple Hill, leaning against a tree, and fearing to remove his load lest he could not replace it. He used to say that "he was more glad at breakfast for those shad than ever after for all the income of his farm." Our fathers made up thus in vigor and resolution for the lack of means. So too did the mothers. Mrs. Joel Baker built THE FIRST CENTURY. 41 her own oven, which cHd good service for herself and her neigh- bors, her husband provicHng stones and mortar. The wife of Alexander Oliver, on the top of Field's Hill, was accustomed in summer to do her washing at the brook, one hundred rods north, down the steep slope. Having finished the work, Captain Childs tells us, "she would take her two pails of w^et clothes, one in each hand, her baby under her arm, and her wash tub on her head, and go up the hill home." It may be hoped that this was only while the lieutenant was away in the army fighting for his country and his wife. Considerably later, between 1780 and 1790, John Sherman, son of John and brother of Caleb, ran eight measured miles in 56^ minutes, and on a hot August day. A wager of eight pounds had been laid that he could not do it within an hour. He ran on the Deerfield road, from near the foot of Arms' Hill to "Eagle brook." He had previously, to make the matter sure, gone over the course by night, his brother accompanying him on horseback, and giving him the time at ever)- mile stake, "it being moonlight." FRONTIER LIFE. There is much that is common with new settlers everywhere in the w^ay of living. The condition of things here one hundred years ago repeats itself now at the farthest West. Yet not with exactness. Most of the men who have gone lately to the new lands have not been so poor as these settlers were. The age is not so poor. Materials and implements of all sorts are more abundant and much better. The prairie country at the West, too, makes less hard work than these stony and wooded hills did. The whole township at the period of its settlement was densely covered with timber, much of which was of great size. It can hardly be said that any of the original forest is still stand- ing, to show what it was. There are spots that have never been cleared, but the heaviest growth has been removed. A few single trees may remain. Most that we see are but puny representa- tives of those our fathers felled. Some of us, not old now, have found stumps of pines and chestnuts, five or six feet or more in diameter. We are not likely to have come upon the largest. John Allis has this year cut a chestnut upon the lot of his grand- father, Lucius, full six feet across at its butt. There is one maple 42 HISTORY OF CONWAY. at least on the farm of Levi Page that is 18>^ feet in circumfer- ence. Others larger are known to have fallen. Enormous hemlocks, growing and prostrate, covered the low and level grounds and blocked up the ravines and river banks. Adding to this the rough surface in many parts, it made tough work and gave a -hard look at first to the country. Thomas L. AUis narrates it from his grandfather that about the time of the setting off of the town, Eliphalet Williams of Deerfield rode on horseback all day over it, as best he could, and told his neigh- bors at night he would not give the horse he rode on for the whole of it. Others judged better of its value. The great trees stood for hearty soil as well as hard work. They made stout houses too, and substantial "backlogs" — such of them as were not too large. To illustrate still further the style of living prevalent among the early settlers, I will quote from the address of Captain Childs: "Many families had but one cow for some years. Milk porridge was very common fare. At those seasons of the year when milk failed, bean porridge was the usual substitute. They were fre- quently entirely out of meat in March. It was usual then to go to the river and buy a horseload of shad, which might be had in any quantity for a copper each. Indeed they were so plenty that they were considered not as a rarity but as a drug, and were resorted to from necessity and not from choice. Roast potatoes alone frequently constituted the entire meal. One man said to me, ' I have often seen the time when I would have given more for a roast potato than I would now for a roast turkey.' They had no tea except bohea, and but precious little of that." The roasting of potatoes carries us back to times when cook stoves were unheard of and when enormous fireplaces ventilated and occupied, if they did not warm, the houses. The privation of tea may not strike us all with force. And the like may be said of the necessity of living upon Connecticut river shad. As to the fish indeed we know that it got into bad repute not wholly on its own account. The ill savor it had was the taste of the lack of meat. Long after, if by evil chance, a farmer was brought to the buying of fish in spring he might be likely to hear inquiries after the state of his pork-barrel. It is told of one in later times that, having come prematurely to the last layer, he went about among his neighbors to procure a lamb, whose wool he said his THE FIRST CP:NTURV. 43 wife was in want of. Not finding any, and being at last in despair, he muttered, forgetfully to himself, that he believed he should go and l)u\- some codfish. It may be remarked withal that as to food the scarcity was only in the first years. Once cleared the land brought forth abundantly. The fields yielded wheat, and sweet grasses for the cattle were ready to cover the hills. - Reviewing thus this time Mr. Emerson declares, "While the rank and situation of \our fathers did not admit of that ex- ternal polish and refinement, or elegance and luxury in living, which modern fashion and taste have introduced, and prosperity can now better afford, yet their comparative indigence did not subject them to the extremities of want or merited contempt. Providence smiled upon their honest efforts and industry, by which they were rising to a state of credit and respectability; verifying the remark of Solomon that 'the hand of the diligent maketh rich.' The first inhabitants of Conway are described by one still living, who remembers them, as "men and women of sound minds, frugal and industrious habits, strict integrity of char- acter and sterling worth." There is much other testimony to the same effect. They were, as a class, hardy, resolute, indus- trious, endowed with strong common sense, attached to the principles of morality and good order and earnest maintainers of the doctrines and institutions of religion. There was, how- ever, among them, as in almost every community of every age, those of whom so much could not be said. The memories that go back to the past are apt to overvalue the distant in comparison with the near. If the question is put whether on the whole the population of that day was superior in point of character to the present, we should have need to hesitate l)efore answering that it was. There can certainly be gathered up, in stories and songs illustrative of the social habits that pre- vailed in some circles, and from the records of the church, enough to comfort those who fear that our town is deteriorating in the quality of its population and running hopelessly into looseness and disorder. There was dishonesty, not perhaps at first quite down to the average (it may be feared in this respect we have made no gain at least) ; there was intemperance, after a little, 44 HISTORY OF CONWAY. below the line of recent times; there was as much vulgarity of speech and of manners and as much immorality and irregularity of life in general as is usual in modern times. It will not be ex- pected that I should produce the proofs on some of these points. And it is not pleasant to lower the estimate many may hold of those who lived here before us. But waiving further compari- son with the present, if we take the years between 1840 and 1850, it is a matter of the clearest knowledge that there was never any earlier period at which our town had on the whole a better popu- lation than it had then. More than this, it is my decided belief that, going back from that time, the levels will be found dropping somewhat lower. What changes the last few years have wrought I cannot undertake to determine. Moreover, to look fairly on the later generations is in justice, also, to the fathers themselves. They set on foot appliances of education and religion upon the working of which they relied, not only to maintain for their own time the power of sound principles, but also to perpetuate them and to pass them down to the coming generations. To place the present below the past is to disparage the past; for it was the business of the past to make the present better. Our fathers meant to do it. THE FIRST CHURCH. Previous to the incorporation of the town, religious meetings had not been held with regularity. Such as were able went to Deerfield; or they attended any occasional meeting they could hear of. At the second town meeting provision was made for hiring a preacher. The Congregational church was organized in less than a year — July 14, 1768. It had thirty-two members, sixteen men and sixteen women. After a little Mr. John Emerson of Maiden was invited to preach as a candidate for settlement. "It was," says he, "in the month of April, 1769, when I com- menced my public labors here on the Sabbath, being the 9th day of that month and year. We met at a barn. It was sur- rounded with thick growing wood except a small adjacent spot cleared, which admitted ye light of heaven; a place dififerent indeed from those costly and splendid edifices erected and dedi- cated to the worship of ye Most High since that day, and very dissimilar," he goes on to say, emphasizing his words, "from THE FIRST CENTURY. 45 that in ye ancient church in Brattle St., Boston, where I had been called only ye Lord's day before to preach." "On this Sabbath," he continued, "the people, all 'tis supposed that were able, came to hear the word. Natural curiosity indeed was doubtless one motive for this attention. The speaker was a stranger from a distance, and a youth of small stature, nothing otherwise dis- tinguishing; only it was literally John preaching in the wilderness when they came out to see and hear." Mr. Emerson pleased the people and was ordained pastor, Dec. 21, 1769. He was voted "for an encouragement" an annual salary of fifty pounds, with a yearly addition of three pounds until it should rise to eighty. He was also to have, within two years and a half, an additional sum of one hundred and fifty pounds "settlement." The ordaining council had dinner at Consider Arms's. Tradi- tion has preserved the story that after dinner two of the ministers were unable to find their way back to the church — on account of the woods. Yet it may here be mentioned that fifty-eight years later, at the settlement of Daniel Crosby, it was reckoned a strange thing that he should propose and insist upon the enter- taining of the council without liquors. AH proceedings with respect to the support of preaching were then, as for many years, had in town meetings. The town w^as the parish. The money raised for religious purposes was collected with the other taxes. Here, also, by the town, were taken all steps for the building and furnishing a meeting house. F'or several years no subject appears more frequently upon the records. At the second town meeting, held in September, 1767, a committee was appointed to find the center of the tow^n, with this object in view. This committee discovered what they regarded as the appropriate spot in the so-called "center lot"; the same being what is now known to a few as "the old common," situated twenty-fiv^e or thirty rods south of Mrs. William Avery's, and now owned by Jabez Newhall. Bm the matter of location was not so settled. Many meetings were held, and many conflicting votes taken. A committee from abroad was called in. They reported the true center to be seventeen rods southwest of the old common spot, and not suitable for building on; and recommended a 46 HISTORY OF CONWAY. site on the Elijah Wells place, a few rods east of where H. B. Childs now lives. And their report was also "excepted" and the spot "established." But neither did this stand. They subsequently voted to build a small house near Jonathan Whit- ney's; rescinded this vote, and finally, in the spring of 1769, determined "yt ye Nole, about fifteen or twenty rods north of the southeast corner of ye Center lot, where is a large stump with a stake Spoted, standing within ye same, be established for a spot to build the meeting-house upon." The site thus fixed on was the same now occupied by the schoolhouse in Pumpkin Hollow, a third of a mile east of "the old common," and within, and near the eastern line of, the same center lot, w^hich stretching west- ward over the hill, included both the other locations selected by the committees. On this "nole" was raised the house which stood, a meeting and a town house, until within the memory of all of us who have attained to middle age. The frame was put up in the spring and summer of 1769. And it was in this building that Mr. Emerson was ordained, as before noticed, in December following. It was then, and for years after, only a shell. The minister took for a pulpit one end of the carpenter's workbench, which was left against times of further use. Part of his congrega- tion sat on the other end. The larger portion occupied benches made of slabs. The questions of the sale of pew ground, of the building of pews, of pulpit, gallery, and porches continued long to exercise the ingenuity and to disturb, it must be feared, the temper of our fathers. The pews, when they began to be builded, were not put in all at once, but there remained a space still occupied by benches. There are signs of a jealousy of the pew building as of aristocratic tendency, and of a disposition on the part of some to stand by the common benches as more suitable to a wholesome sentiment of equality. Gradually, however, the house grew into order and convenience. It was enlarged in 1795 and 1796 to meet the wants of a rapidly increasing congre- gation. Porches and a steeple were built and a clock provided. In 1842 it was taken down, a new house having been built a quarter of a mile north, which still stands. The connection between town and parish having been then dissolved, arrange- ments were made by which the town secured the right of holding its meetings in the basement of the new building. THE FIRST CENTURY. 47 The old meeting house was n(^t warmed by a fire until 1819, fifty years after it was built, when stoves were put up in it. Hot stones and foot stoves were often carried, to mitigate the severity of winter. The minister preached with overcoat and gloves on. And notwithstanding what may be said of the hardy habits of former generations there is abundant evidence that they suffered much from cold. Another provision for warmth on Sunda\-s ma>- also be mentioned. There was a small log house, called the "Little House," perhaps also the same that is once mentioned in the records as "the Sabbath House," which stood a few rods south of the meeting house on the flat back of the residence and store of William C. Campbell. Here a huge fire was built on Sundays, which was resorted to at morning and noon. Here we may suppose our fathers and mothers had their Sunday noon conversations, always on befitting topics. This house was built as early, at the latest, as 1769. How long it stood I have no means of knowing. SCHOOLS. The first action of the town with respect to schools appears in the record of a meeting held in September, 1767, at which it was voted ">t thc>- will hire a Dame to keep school 5 months, and yt Messrs. Nathaniel Field, Ebenezer Allis and Benjamin Pulsifer be a committee to provide said Dame, and appoint where said school shall be kept." The schools were held in private houses. The first schoolhouse was begun in 1773, and finished the next year. Its dimensions were 25 feet by 22 feet. It stood a few rods northeast of the old meeting house, near the middle, but somewhat toward the eastern side of the common, on a spot which would be crossed by a line from the shop lately and long occupied by Phineas Bartlett, Esq., passing over the common to the house of Jabez Newhall. The site of this house, which, through comparison of various dates, has been with difficulty recovered to knowledge, is to be marked by a century elm this morning planted upon it, — a living memorial, which, unlike anything else of all the life of the present generation, may possibly carry its remembrances across the coming century the next hundredth return of the day we now commemorate. F'or a few \ears the sum of money raised for schooling did not exceed twelve pounds, but in 1774 it was increased to thirty 48 HISTORY OF CONWAY. pounds. Once only since has the annual appropriation been omitted. This was in 1775, and was owing to the great appre- hension that prevailed in view of the approaching hostilities with Great Britain. The amount raised for schools the current year is twenty-seven hundred dollars. The earlier sums were not small in comparison when we consider the poverty of a popula- tion of farmers, few of whom, as yet, owned a horse, or a cart or a plow. Some rudiments of a district system begin to appear in 1776, and in 1778 the town was formally "squadroned out" for schooling. The districts as we now know them are of much later date. For about ten years this first schoolhouse was the only one in town. Schools were held to some extent in the outer parts of the town. But this was the principal school. Here, whenever it was in session, the older children came from all parts, boys and girls, young men and women. It thus became, by force of cir- cumstances, a town high school. The branches taught were reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic. An effort was made in 1791 to introduce "grammar," a term which seems then partly, perhaps, from its legal use in the name "Grammar School." to have been confined to the study of the classical tongues. It was voted that 'the Latin and Greek languages should be taught. But the reason of this was "Greek" to our fathers; and the next year it was rescinded. Private "select schools" have been held for many years. One such was kept twenty-nine terms, to his own credit, and to the great and lasting benefit of the town, by Deacon John Clary. In 1853 the Conway Academy was incorporated. The build- ing then erected with money voluntarily contributed, was des- troyed by fire in 1863, and the present structure was raised on the same spot (on the hill opposite the Congregational meeting house) in the next year. Within the past two years arrange- ments have been made by which there is here kept a high school free for all the children of the town. It is not known who was the first school-teacher in the town. The first master whose memory has been preserved to us was Master Cole. A teacher was famous in those days according as he lifted up switches upon his unruly boys. The name of Master Cole still sprouts fresh among us, like a twig from a green birch tree. THE FIRST CENTURY. 49 CEMETERIES. Another necessity engaged the early attention of our fathers. At the same second town meeting, held in September, 1767, at which provision was made for the services of religion, there was also secured a ground for burial. Previous to this time Mrs. Cy- rus Rice held been buried in Deerfield; and an infant child of Silas Rawson and a child of John Thwing, three years old, at a spot, not marked, a little south of Mr. Emerson's house. The first ground then laid out for bur\ing was that now known as the Emerson Yard, on the slope of the hill east of Mr. Emerson's house. The place is spoken of as lying near "the saw mill" which then stood below, upon the ri\-er, where the mill dam now is. Here was brought, in December following, a son of Israel Rice, one year old, drowned while his father and mother forded South River on horseback by night, and, after an interval of fifteen months, John Thwing, the first adult person buried in Conway. In 1772 land was purchased of Elias Dickinson for a second burial yard westward, in the rear of the meeting house, which had then been placed and built. This ground has been long unused; only the ancient gravestones are on it. In 1845 there was laid out, one and a half miles north of the center of the town, Pine Grove Cemetery, where, since that time, the most of our dead have been buried. There are also other burial places in the remoter parts of the town. Into these, the villages of the dead, which began at first to be so slowly occupied, have been gathered since, sometimes by rapid and ever by sure accessions, a population outnumbering that which is still found in the houses of the living. The total of deaths recorded is 2,183. The yearly average for the century is thus 21tVV. The average for the last thirty years, to the beginning of 1867, has been lljiyu, while for the last ten years it has been ?>3u,. It will thus be seen that the rate of mortality has increased toward the latter part of this period. This increase is due partly to the fact that the town was occupied at first mostly by people who were young, and like all emigrants they were doubtless more robust and vigorous than the average of the population from which they came. The same causes withal are now reversed in operation; taking away from us the young and lea\ing the old. 50 HISTORY OF CONWAY. It may here also be appropriately mentioned that there are now living in Conway (1867) 57 persons — and the enumeration may not be complete — who are above 70 years of age. And there are eighteen who have reached 80 years or more. ROADS. It has been commonly supposed that the first county road leading from Deerfield to Ashfield, through Conway, left the Mill Brook valley just above the old "Hawks' place," passing up the hill to the left by Cyrus Rice's, and thence over the Jonas Rice hill (where Joel Rice now is) to Pumpkin Hollow, from which point it turned northward, crossing South River near the post ofiice, then rising the hill by Franklin Arms's, and continuing on by the Amsden (now Guilford) places into Ashfield. The latter part only of this course is correctly stated. The laying out of the first half of the above described route in town roads can be traced on the Records, and plain references fix the county road on another track. The laying out of this road "from Deerfield to Huntstown" in 1754 has already been referred to. From the record, kept at North- ampton, it is only to be learned that there was then a cart track leading from the top of Long Hill in Deerfield, to a sawmill on Mill Brook (which no doubt was near where the sawmill below the "Hawks' place" now stands), and that just before coming to the mill "the Huntstown Path" turned northward from the cart track "into the woods," and that the said county road was laid out ten rods in width following this path through its whole course. The road kept upon the hills just north of Mill Brook until it reached the spot where Robert Hamilton afterward settled (at Madison Stearns') and then turned squarely to the left across the valley, rising past the place of William Avery Howland and passing over the top of the hill, some distance to the north of the present road, and descending to the old Jonathan Whitney place, northeast of Capt. Charles Parsons'. The next stage alone is in some doubt. The road probably bore toward the north, crossing the river a little above where is now the dam built by Gen. Asa Howland, near his house, and at the foot of the old burying-yard hill, and from thence westerly to the neighborhood of the Baptist meeting house; and thence over THE FIRST CENTURY. 51 Arms's Hill, as before described. The first bridge over South River was probably at the spot just mentioned. But it was swept away within three or four years, at the farthest, and was never replaced — the passage remaining afterwards a ford- way. The first bridge built after the incorporation of the town appears to have been not far from the post office, where the road now crosses. The fixing of the center of the town and the location of the meeting house near it drew the roads more to the southward; and led finally to the entire discon- tinuance of this middle portion of the old count}' road. Withal, as to the road over the Jonas Rice hill, from the east, the same attraction to the center, taken in connection with the fact that the southeastern portion of the town became early quite popu- lous, will account for its being, as it certainly was, a line of much passage. The opening of the route next to be spoken of may afterwards have contributed to bring, or to keep, travel on that track. A second county road, laid in 1785, led from the old meet- ing house over the hill to Consider Arms's (now Elijah Arms's) through what has since become Burkeville, and thence up the river to the large dam lately built, and then, crossing the hill on the south, it struck down again upon the valley a mile and a half above, and continued on to Ashfield, and beyond to the county line. The gap in the valley above the dam was sup- plied in 1824. It weis reckoned a hard road to build; and Deacon Elisha Billings eloquently declared in town meeting that it led through a gorge "into which the sun in heaven had not shone since the morning of creation." Still later, in 1837, the river line was completed by the road from the bridge near the post office up the valley to the old gristmill. On the east the road to Deerfield was brought down from the hills to the side of Mill Brook, where it now is, in 1832. The roads to Broomshire and South Part were laid in 1767; those to West Street, Cricket Hill, and Poland in 1769. The present improved South Part road dates from 1846; the Broom- shire from 1847; the Cricket Hill from 1850; and the new Shel- burne Falls road from 1856. The tracks at first were marked with a purpose to reach and connect the settlers' houses. The houses were on hills, where 52 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the soil could be most easily worked; and not in swamps and gullies. So the roads kept well on the uplands. Here, too, they were made with less work, required fewer bridges, and were for these days i-eally better roads than valley roads could have been. Though these highways were at first mere paths for horses and men, and next no more than cart tracks, yet the amount of hard work done upon them within twenty years from the occupation of the town must have been prodigious. They seem to have been early put in creditable shape for the country and the time. It is related that when Dr. Samuel Ware came to Conway, about 1770, his wife, struck with the good appearance of the roads, remarked that "there might some day be chaises in this town"; a womanly fancy which her husband rebuked as wild and extravagant. It was not long, however, before Parson Emerson had a chaise. Others followed him later. Lucius AUis and Elisha Clark grew aristocratic enough after a time to ride each in his "hack." One-horse wagons were not known till the beginning of the present century. The first one was built by Robert Hamilton, who was a clockmaker; and a suffi- ciently solid man to need a carriage. He thought himself the inventor of the institution; and held that there was not another like it in all America. Not far from the same time Dr. Ware built the first single sleigh or "cutter." Before then the lively young people went sleighing upon wood sleds,' or haply on a "pung"; saving that it was more fashionable to go horseback. It may be observed that for conveying their baggage the first settlers sometimes made a rack, like a broad ladder, with stout side pieces between which in front they put a horse, trailing the rear end on the ground. This instrument was called "a car." The men who went early beyond us up the Deerfield Ri\-er used such; but cast them, aside on reaching the smoother country at the foot of the hill toward Shelburne Falls. The strange looking wrecks thus left attracted the attention of a philosophical traveler, who repaired to a native for an explanation. He was informed that Satan with part of a legion had once been traveling down the valley and at this spot, not liking the looks of the road and bethinking him of the river, he had taken to navigation and left behind him his land gear. It may be added that although the THE FIRST CENTURY. 53 ways in that neighborhood have been much improved, this per- sonage has not been seen there since, — nor indeed in any part of the town. Other cars more modern may this year be run- ning past the hills over which the old racks were drawn. LOCALITIES. Some note may here be made of the names of localities in our town. Cricket Hill was so called first by a party of hunt- ers who were annoyed by the crickets as they camped there for a night. Captain Childs, in the calm and confident exercise of that foreseeing faculty which belongs ever to the true his- torian, declares that as "it has been known by that name from that day to this" so it "will continue to be as long as the hills remain." I here ofificially reaffirm the declaration. "Hard- scrabble" sets forth that it is hard scrabbling on that soil to live. Of Hoosac I have no satisfactory explanation. Broom- shire, as is well known, has its name from the walnut brooms William Warren made and sold in Deerfield, one broom for a pound and a half of pork. He did it because he was hungry; being out of meat for several years by winter. He used to walk first to Deerfield to get a horse and "pung" to carry his brooms. Concerning Shirkshire Captain Childs shall give the narration. "Old Mr. Sherman," he says — it was doubtless John Sherman, — "happened along as the people were upon the roads, and at their request assisted them a number of hours-, hoping thereby to earn and get his dinner. But no one seemed willing (as the services rendered were for the public) to bear the burden alone, — they all shirked, and left him to shirk for himself as best he could. Highly indignant at the neglect with which he was treated he left the place in a state of great excitement, saying, 'Let it be called Shirkshire from this day forward ' ; and so it has been and will be as long as wood grows and water runs." It is an affair of seriousness; and the ordinance looks unchangeable. But one main feature escaped the historian's eye. The time was doubt- less while the district belonged to Shelburne. The thing was not done, as of course it never could have been, in Conway. Remembering this, and considering that it is not just that the children's teeth should be forever set on edge because the father ate no grapes — or other dinner — I suggest that we might 54 HISTORY OF CONWAY. at once propitiate the hungry and indignant shade of John Sherman and commemorate the integrity and manly vigor of his son Caleb, by calling that district Sherman Corner; or by fixing in some other similar manner that family name upon it. As to Poland, Captain Childs professes that he knows no deri- vation for the name, and thinks it must be due to the deeply planted liberty-loving and slavery-hating instincts of its people, — allying them to the Polanders of Europe. The prevalence there of these noble sentiments is a matter of conspicuous knowledge, and this is the association which the title should ever suggest, but the serious verities of history constrain me to record that the name itself originated in the strife of two boys over the skins of certain slain "Pole Cats." I do not know but the animal may also bear another name. Of "the city" no account is preserved, except that two girls, about to depart from it, left it the name. It obviously comes of the great number of buildings the neigh- borhood has— room for. Lastly, in the center is Pumpkin Hollow. Into it the pumpkins once rolled from the eastern if not also from the western cultivated slope. We hear that there are those who have ventured to tamper with the wholesome and savory and venerable appellation. Let it not be done. Clothed to-day with the prophetic mantle my predecessor dropped, I make it here to be known that, so long as the greatest of those vegetable orbs will roll from the top of Field's or Newhall's hill the valley that lies between shall be called of men Pumpkin Hollow. For the information of the curious mind I will add that the locality sometimes entitled "Church Green" is in Pumpkin Hollow. CLOTHING. The dress worn by the first settlers and their families was, as might be supposed, of the plainest fabric. Tow cloth and linsey-woolsey were the common materials for men and boys. Some men, not of the tailors' craft, and not forced either to such a resort, used to cut for themselves the garment that was worn where pantaloons ought to be. Stout linen, checked or striped with blue, was for Sunday wear. The busy wives and daughters spun and wove it; and wore it also for themselves. So they made table and pocket linen; very similar, of which here is a specimen (displaying a checked handkerchief made in THE FIRST CENTURY. 55 the old time). No Conway man is expected to-day to use one of any other description. Infant children were baptized wearing dresses of this material. Our stylish girls had then for winter flannel frocks, red or of butternut color, which they made and dyed themselves. They became irresistibly charming when they added a Boston ribbon for the waist and neck. Silks, though not absolutely unknown, were very rare. And so, too, was cotton. For many years a first-class bridal suit was of calico. When the town had a representative at the General Court it was often sent for by him. The cost was a dollar a yard. As to the quantity required there are no means at the present time for forming a judgment. There is evidence withal that what they had they took care of. The young women, coming on Sunday to meeting, would not put on their best shoes until they were near the meeting house; wearing for the most of the way some coarser covering of art — or a finer one of nature. Often, though less uniformly, dresses as well as shoes were thus changed. I know not what ignomin- ious man has cut down that chestnut tree near the western foot of the Jonas Rice hill that was the favorite dressing shelter of the maidens from the East Side and the South Part. As to the boys, shoes were of no account to them except in the very coldest months. Bonnets were prolonged "shakers." There is a South Part story that Capt. Lucius AUis used to keep cider — which may be believed — at some place near the meeting house to be had with the Sunday dinners, and that the women attempt- ing to take a share — which is not so clear — were much embar- rassed by reason of these bonnets. It is not believed that the present style would give occasion to such difficulties. Disre- garding the cider, I do not know but there may be found those who will acquiesce in the change by which the faces of the moth- ers' daughters have ceased to be so entirely inaccessible. However this almost exclusively domestic provision for cloth- ing may now please the imagination, there is abundant evidence that it did not then adequately protect the body. Captain Childs speaks of the clothing of the early inhabitants as "utterly insufficient"; and facts transmitted to us will sustain his state- ment. That the settlers were generally healthy and that many of them lived to a great age, makes nothing against it. Vigor of 56 HISTORY OF CONWAY. constitution supported them; and the strength that comes of working and sleeping in good air. Moreover, as to the children the healthiness of the early times is not admitted. It is pleasing to be able to reflect that notwithstanding poverty of dress and badness of the roads, with lack of car- riages, the first people here did not neglect social intercourse. Malachi Maynard used to come evenings with his family two miles down the hill to call on his neighbor Consider Arms. His wife carried one child, he another; and there was left for him his right hand for a burning pine knot to light the way and keep off wolves. So they refreshed themselves after their day's work. When Mr. Emerson brought his young wife, Sabra Cobb, from Boston in 1770, almost the whole town came together to the reception at the house of Consider Arms. It may be guessed it was a new side of life the lady saw. The report is still heard of the kisses she enjoyed — or endured. On this occasion her resolution to do appears also to have been equal to her fortitude to suffer. Eli Dickinson said the kiss he received was "the sweetest he had ever had." Whereat his wife gave him the boxing he deserved. Mrs. Emerson was a lady if she came from Boston. She had a silk umbrella; and because there was not an umbrella among her people she never carried it; but long after she made the silk into bonnets for her daughters. One day when Mr. Emerson w^as away a man brought to her house a choice piece of pork. To her horror he told her that his hog had died that morning "of a sore throat." She thanked him graciously, but being afraid her husband would be angry — for his temper rose on due occasion — and wishing to hide a matter for trouble, she threw it away with the refuse for soap. Mr. Emerson, however, had heard of the gift, and came home to inquire, too late, after his expected dinner. Thus the town was entered upon, cleared, and populated. Man had his home in the wilderness of the deer, and the wolf, and the bear. And the varied scenes of human history began here to be enacted. WAR. The Revolutionary War was soon coming on. Our fathers, though poorly prepared at that early day to contribute in car- rying it forward, yet entered heartily upon it. They made haste THE FIRST CENTURY. 57 in 1774 to assure the Boston Committee of Correspondence that they should join with them in "all Lawful and Salutary Measures for the Recovery of those Inestimable Priviledges Wrested from us, and firmly to secure those that remain, for we are sensible," — say they, — "yt should we Renounce our Liberty and Priviledges we should Renounce the Quality of men and the Rights of hu- manity." They shortly directed that the selectmen should pro- vide "two barrels of powder and lead and flints answerable for a town stock of ammunition." (Lrom the first the town had kept some "stock" of these articles.) They " Established a Resolve," appointing a committee of thirteen men to have an eye on the conduct of any persons that should "Do or speak anything that tends to Render LTniting of the People in opposing ye kings laws yt Infringed on their rights," and to adjudge to such persons "a Certain Competency of Punishment to be Inflicted on them not Exceeding the punishment of Contempt and Neglect"; and they added the restriction, "Yt the said Committy nor no Other p<^rson shall not have power to go out of this town Except it be to assist a mob in the General Good Cause (viz.) in Prohib- iting Persons taking or holding Commissions under the Present Constitution, Except it be for their own perticular Bisness." This committee of thirteen, as at first chosen, consisted of Deacon Samuel Wells, Deacon Joel Baker, Lieut. Thomas French, Jonas Rice, Oliver Wetmore, Cyrus Rice, Consider Arms, Robert Oliver, James Dickinson, Israel Gates, Josiah Boyden, Elisha Clark, and Alexander Oliver. In July, 1775, the old committee was dismissed. Captain Arms and some others beginning to hold back from extreme measures, and Samuel Crittenden, Jonathan Whitney, Malachi Maynard, James Gilmore, John Thwing, Jonas Rice, Isaac Amsden, Captain Clark, and Israel Rice were put in their stead. On the 24th of May, 1776, being assembled at the meeting house, and having appointed a committee to frame the vote, they proceeded to declare that "If the Honorable Continantial Congress Should think it Requisit for the Safety of the North- american Coloneys on this Continent to Declare a State of In- dependency of Greatbriton that we will abide By and Conform to their wisdom to the Expense of our lives and fortunes." Im- pressed, it seems, with the weightiness of the occasion, the 58 HISTORY OF CONWAY. recording officer adds: "N. B. The above menchaned meeting was Called on purpose for the above business and the Town Voted Affairmative 83, Negative 6. Cyrus Rice, Moderat or. A trew coppy from the Minits, attest, Oliver Wetmore, Town Clerk." They stood resolutely by this pledge through the war. The number of men they furnished is not known. It was as many as was called for. The names are not all preserved ; many have been already mentioned. In 1777, when Burgoyne was marching from the north, every able-bodied man went out to meet him. It was thought when he sent off Baum toward Bennington, that he meant to strike across the country eastward to the seaboard. The alarm was beat on the Sabbath day by the meeting house. Boys were sent to spread the call. One of them, a son of Robert Hamilton, seven years old then, was living three years ago and could tell of the errand he went on. He could remember, too, how there was left in that neighborhood but one, a lame man, who helped the women and boys gather in the corn on the farms. Mother and boy were little ready for the work. It was the year of the great sickness and the saddest autumn harvest our town has ever known. One was taken of nearly every twelve of all its inhabitants. And of the children there must have been buried one for every three or four. The fear of invasion this year led to more apprehension con- cerning the resident Tories. At a town meeting held August 24, it was resolved "to proceed to some measure to Secure the Enemical persons Called Tories amongst us"; and the account goes on, "then the Question was Put Wheather we would draw a line between ye Continent and Great Briton. Voted in the affiarmative. Voted that all those Persons that Stand on the Side of the Contanant Take up arms and go on hand and hand with us in Carrying on the war against our Unnatural Enemies, Such we Receive as Friends and all others treat as Enemies. Voted that the Broad alley be a line, and the South end of the meeting hous be the Continant Side, and the North End the British Side then moved for Trial and found 6 persons to stand on the British Side (viz.) Elijah Billings, Jonathan Oakes, Wm. Billings, Joseph Catlin, Joel Dickinson and Elias Dickinson. Voted to set a gard over those Enemical persons. Voted the THK FIRST CENTURY. 59 Town Clerk Emmediately Desire Judge Mather to Issew out his warrants against those Enemical persons returned to him in a list heretofore." These six only, of the score or so of Tories that may have been in the town, seem to have chosen to at- tend the meeting that day. They were less malignant than in some other towns. And there was little or no violence used against them. A sharp eye only was kept on them at critical times, and their guns were taken away. After the war. Captain Arms, by much persistence, got his gun again in his own keeping. In 1778 the town voted to accept the propositions made by the Continental Congress for a union between the states. The towns were of consequence in those early times. Both in this case and in deliberating a little later upon the adoption of a state constitution, the business was conducted almost as if the local organization had been an independent nation. There was no returning of votes for and against to be counted along with votes from other towns, as is now done. The town voted, bodily, one way or the other on the whole proposition, or if it saw fit, on each of its parts, accepting or rejecting; or advising to such modifications as were desired. Throughout the Revolutionary period the currency was in a very unsettled state. The government issued paper money to carry on the war. This caused inflation and high prices. Our fathers, not wiser than others of their generation, undertook to check the rise by establishing fixed rates for work and com- modities. The following are specimens, from among many, of the prices settled upon: "Men's labor three shillings per day in the summer season;" "fresh Poark of the best quality," three pence per pound; "good grass fed beef," two pence one farthing; "Best Cheas," six pence; "good Spanish potatoes in the fall of the year, " one shilling; "Yern Stockings of the best sort," six shillings "a pare"; "good Sap berials," three shillings, and "all other cooper work in proportion"; "good common meals of Victuals at Taverns Exclusive of Sider, " nine pence, and "other meals in proportion"; " Horsekeeping a Night, or twenty-four howers," ten pence; "shoeing horses all round. Steal, tow and heal," six shillings four pence; "good yerd wide toa cloth," two shillings three pence, and "other cloth in propor- tion"; "a man with a sufficient team to plow or drag shant 60 HISTORY OF CONWAY. exceed" six shillings per day; "hors travel" two pence "per mile"; "to pasturing a horse on good feed," one shilling six pence; "a yoak of oxen," two shillings, and all other creatures in proportion. It is hard to keep the stream from rising while the rain continues to fall. This legislation did not prevent the town from subsequently paying Daniel Newhall fifteen dollars per day for "ten days riding to hire money" to pay soldiers; and twenty dollars for a man's work on the highway. Near the end of the war it was voted in town meeting to ask the General Court for liberty to make a Lottery with Deer- field to raise money to build a bridge over Deerfield River,— an item which I note for the comfort of those who are pained by the corruption of these degenerate days. When independence came it did not bring at once prosperity with it. The war had made people poor; and they were poor before. Large sums of money had been called for. Many were brought into debt, and this, together with the depreciation of the continental money to almost utter worthlessness, caused great distress. The times came when without law a man worked a day for twenty cents in silver. Meanwhile, and out of these causes, arose the disreputable troubles connected with Shays' rebellion. Poverty and debts brought it on. The pressure of them is to be admitted in palliation. But for the reason in what was attempted, impartial history and all sober reflection have pronounced it folly. Courts were to be broken up and govern- ments overthrown that debts might not be collected. Yet the delusion bore away men of clear minds and of unquestionable patriotism. Malachi Maynard, Captain Dinsmore, and our "Captain Barefoot" and many others, mostly from the southern half of the town, went into the riotous and revolutionary pro- ceedings. There was great sympathy with the movement through the whole town; and a very few only resolutely opposed it. Along with much other action of the same sort it was voted, October 24, 1785, to instruct our representative to use his in- fluence in the General Court "to have a Bank of Paper money emitted that shall sink one penny a pound per month." The clearness that belongs through all time to what is financial is in this. We cannot wonder that, meditating on such matters, the men of the south end concluded to rebel. THE FIRST CENTURY. 61 POPULATION. During all this period Conway was growing rapidly in pop- ulation, both by natural increase and by immigration from abroad. Of those who came in were the Howlands — of whom we have the orator of to-day — with a pedigree straight from the "Mayflower," the Wares and the Billingses, with Clary, Parsons, Childs, Field, Dunham, Hopkins, Bigelow, Hayden, Stebbins and Andrews, with \-ery many others. The jxjpulation of Conway in 1790 was 2,092. There were but iwo larger towns in the county of Hampshire, embracing what are now the three river counties. These were West Springfield and Westfield. The rank of some of the principal towns as then was follows: West Springfield 2,367, Westfield 2,204, Conway 2,092,. Northampton 1,628, Springfield 1,574, Greenfield 1,498, Deerfield 1,330. The figures for Conway throughout its first hundred years may here be given. Date of incorporation, estimated population 200. 1769 estimated by Mr. Emerson between 400 and 500; 1776, 905; 1790. 2,092; 1800, 2.013; 1810, 1,784; 1820, 1,705; 1830, 1,563; 1840,1,409; 1850,1,831; 1860,1,689. The number was at the highest between 1790 and 1800. The farmhouses stood thickly over all the hills. There were thirty on the road from the old meeting house over Field's Hill and Popple Hill, to the Whately line. These houses were well filled withal; ten or twelve children being often found in one dwelling. The schools also were large, much beyond what they are now. In the Broom- shire district there were once nearly one hundred scholars; now there are scarcely twenty. As late as 1816 William A. How- land kept a school of more than sixty scholars in his own, the East side district (late No. 2), which district, having almost no children, has ceased to have a separate existence. These are but specimens. At this period Conway, suitabh- to its position as a leading town, had its newspaper. It was the Farmers' Register, pub- lished weekly in the years 1798 and 1799, by Theodore Leonard. It was printed first in the house now occupied by Osee Adams (then standing a little southeast of where the Baptist meeting house now is, and afterwards used as a tinshop), and later "a few rods north of the meeting house" in Pumpkin Hollow, in 62 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the building recently occupied by Lucy Severance. It had for its motto the lines from Thomson: — "Here truth unlicensed reigns, and dares accost Even kings themselves, or rulers of the free." Both truth and error must in fact have "reigned" with^ out license or other control in Mr. Leonard's paper. He had no editorial sentiments, and published with a looseness whatever came to his hand, on all sides. Part was Federal, part Republi- can, part moral, part more thoroughly the opposite than would be tolerated in any paper now circulating among us, — which again it is hoped rnay comfort a little those that mourn for the times. News from Washington was published in Conway in twenty days, and from London, sometimes in sixty, sometimes in ninety days. The advertisements were largely of stock, lost or taken up. Asahel Wood, the negro, gave notice to the people that he "proposed to discontinue ringing the bell but once a day, unless some encouragement was given him, by subscription or other- wise." The poet's corner is full of Delias and Clorindas, after the dull manner of all the poetry of the 18th century. The population of the town, as has been said, was greatest near the close of the last century. It was at this period that there began the great outward flow of emigration from us to the westward, which has not ceased to the present time. It went first to Central and Western New York, then to Northern Ohio, then beyond to Michigan and Illinois, and then still further to Iowa, or wherever now the West may be. How many have gone is not known. But the descendants of these children of Conway towards the West must far outnumber those that still remain upon her soil. One may travel over all that region and rest morning, noon, and night, in the homes of these Conway men. Viewed in all its results the going out from us of this great emigration is not perhaps to be regretted. We may wish, however, that it had not been accelerated and indeed necessitated by the improvident husbandry of the first generations of farmers. The soil was thriftlessly drawn from and its riches spent. The steep and fruitful hillsides were plowed and sowed, and suffered to be washed by the rains, often for many successive years, until THE FIRST CENTURY. 63 they would yield no more. The effects of this wretched cul- ture are still too plainly visible. The process of waste has been arrested; and it may be hoped it is being reversed. It is believed that the productive capacity of the soil is at present increasing rather than diminishing. As interested in the pros- perity of the town we must regret however that so much of the best pasturing ground we have, in the east and south, is passing into the poSvSession of non-resident owners. It is to be said, moreover, that the men of this middle period of our history did not make in all cases the most profitable use of what the soil could produce. Enormous crops of apples were raised, which went into cider, and then into brandy. It seemed to be making rich those that sold, but it made poor more that bought, or that drank of their own production. There were probably fifty cider mills and upwards, and there were at the least six distilleries, all in operation at the same time. One of them consumed a thousand barrels of cider annually. Brandy took off much barn boarding, and overthrew many fences and men. Parson Emerson, in 1819, congratulated the town that it had "so few comparatively downright sots." Yet he speaks with earnestness against the evil. And there was need that the word "comparatively" should then be introduced. The change from that time, if it is not complete, is a great and happy one. INDUSTRIES. The first gristmill was built about the year 1767, by Caleb Sharp. Another was built in 1770 or 1771, below the Thwing place, in the north part of the town. There was also a third for a few years on Bear River, above the Macomber bridge. Every one bolted his own grist at first, in a hand-bolt. Saw- mills were in operation all along South River, and on some other streams. There were several tanneries while the hem- lock bark held out. One establishment of this kind is now in operation, located on South River, near the post office, and owned by William T. Clapp. Very near the site of this tannery Aaron Hayden set up a "fulling mill," about 1780. About 1797 Dr. Moses Hayden, with R. Wells (his son-in-law), made an addition of an oil mill. The cakes of meal rolled into the river, save as the boys took them to play "grindstone." In 1810 64 HISTORY OF CONWAY. there was established here a broadcloth manufactory, and again a cotton mill; and with changes and disasters the concern was finally destroyed by fire, in 1856, while under the management of B. W. Wright. The woolen mill of the Conway Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1837, was built nearly half a mile higher up the stream. A larger one, which now stands, replaced the first not far from 1846. It was under the direction and subsequent ownership of Edmund Burke, whose name the upper village bears. And it has now passed into the possession of Edward Delabarre. Midway between these two is a cotton mill, erected in 1846, by Gen. James S. Whitney and Charles Wells, burned in 1856, while owned by L. B. Wright, replaced, and now owned by the firm of Tucker & Cook. These parties built in 1866 a fine stone dam, making a large reservoir, a mile westward up the river. Three quarters of a mile below the post office, Messrs. Tucker & Cook also own a cotton mill, erected in 1837 by Gen. Asa Rowland. A large manufactory of tools was established in Burkeville, under the direction of Alonzo Parker, not far from 1845, about forty rods above the woolen mill. The building was burned in 1851, and the company removed to Greenfield. The South River Cutlery Company began operations in 1851, erecting a building in Burkeville, on the right bank of the river, toward the old center of the town. Here for four or five years were made knives, forks, and great losses, until the business was closed up, and the buildings at length mostly removed. Besides these comb manufacture was formerly carried on by Deacon Jonathan Ware, and by his sons, at the place now occupied by Lemuel S. Boies. And tinware has been made from an early period, at one time largely in Sherman Corner, and since then at various establishments in the middle of the town. The Conway Stock and Mutual Fire Insurance Company began business in 1849. The Stock Com- pany subsequently went to Boston, and to final grievous disso- lution. The Mutual department remains and prospers. The Conway Bank has a capital of S150,000. and has been in suc- cessful operation since 1854. POLITICS. The first record of voting for Governor of the State appears in September, 1780, soon after the adoption of the State Constitution. THF FIRST CENTURY. 65 For many years when John Hancock, patriot and RepubH- can, was candidate for Governor, he took almost the entire vote; though on other offices there was division. As parties began to form near the end of the century Conway became Federalist. There are strong reasons for thinking that purely political considerations would not, in our town, have led to this result. There were tendencies, from the time of Shays' re- bellion, and from the Revolution, looking in the other direction. But the supposed, or real, pointing of the great figure of Wash- ington w^as towards the Federal side. And the dread especially of infidel sentiments in religion associated with the name of Jefferson, proved decisive here, as it did throughout most of New England. Yet there were Republicans in respectable numbers. In 1804 the vote stood. Federal 134, Republican 63. In 1808 Gore (Fed.) had 142 votes for Governor, and Sullivan (Rep.), 123. In 1812 Strong (Fed.) received 181, Gerry (Rep.), 136. These figures represent the ordinary relative strength of the two parties. The town representatives were all one way. The first gap in the Federal succession occurs in 1824, when John Arms was chosen. But this was after the lines were broken, and while we were "All Republicans, all Federalists." During the earlier years, embracing the period from the beginning of the century to the close of the war with P^ngland, the contest was carried on, as it was over all the country, with great zeal. There was also a degree of personal animosity which has not been equaled since, so far as relates to our town or this section of the country, in the history of our politics. Political feeling entered then far more than now into the relations of social life. Opposition of party between some families at times seriously disturbed neighborly intercourse. Political agreement, on the other hand, aided more powerfully perhaps than it has since in the formation of friendly connections. Many incidents are preserved from those times, illustrating the liveliness of political feeling that then existed. When either party raised a "liberty pole," it was not an easy thing to keep the flag on its staff. Upon the day before a Fourth of July the Republicans lifted one in and above the elm tree by the Baptist meeting house. That flag they declared should fly undisturbed; and that the thing might be made sure, they set an armed watch 66 HISTORY OF CONWAY. through the night in the meeting house. But Jesse Severance walked carelessly under the tree and leaned against it, and Levi Parsons ran up from his shoulders, whereafter what seemed the one man walked leisurely away. But with the morning light the Republican w^atchers saw not the flag of their country. The adventure also of the old Deerfield gun into our town at this period should be recorded. This gun is a legacy that the town had from the Indian wars. It appeared to some of our younger Republicans that, since Conway was early a part of Deer- field, and since Deerfield had become Federal, and since before in the Revolution it was always near to being Tory, — it appeared to them that the cannon should be allowed a breath of different air. The unusual circumstance of the election in Massachusetts of a Republican Governor greatly confirmed them in this impression. So it was that year that on the morning of the "old-fashioned Election," or Inauguration Day, the voice of the gun was heard, deep and strong, and frequent, from the ConAvay hills. The Deerfield men listened and comprehended. But they also dis- approved. They armed themselves and swarmed out in great anger upon the Conway road. General Hoyt being military leader, and all together the posse of Sheriff Saxton. The report of the coming invasion spread, and a crowd w^as collected to hold the gun ; or to see how the matter would go on. But the business grew serious, and the end was near to have been made in blood- shed. The cannon was carried into William Redfield's boarding house. "Bill Redfield" was of violent temper, and stood at nothing; and there were others w4th him of the same sort. They were ready to try keeping the house and the gun against all the Federalists of Deerfield. But the law looked the other way, — and so, after reflection, did the more sober men of the party. The piece was finally surrendered ; but with a distinct agreement that it should not be fired by the Deerfield men within the bounds of the town. So the old cannon went sullenly back along the road over which it had passed as it came up with a brisk step and sounding cheer. The contest over this gun has been continued in more recent times by the young men of Greenfield, which town was also for- merly included in Deerfield. The right of the matter is clear, and has happily become well fixed by time. The ownership of the THK FIRST CKNTHRY. 67 gun belongs with Deerfield only; and Deerfield has a right to keep ic, while Conway and Greenfield have no right except to remove it whenever they can from Deerfield. The second war with England made little stir among us of a military sort, except that in 1814, when there was an alarm of British invasion on the coast, there went down a regiment from this section. The late Gen. Thomas Langley, of Hawley, was in command as Colonel, and Gen. Asa Howland, of our town, was Major. This was "Gov. Strong's war." The British prudently determined to have no part in it. When new political connections began to be made in the times of John Quincy Adams, and of Jackson, the town swung to the Whig side. Yet there was again a strong minority with what had then become the Democratic party. Questions growing out of the temperance reform entered here also largely into town pol- itics. And between 1830 and 1840 the choice of representatives was influenced by these nearly or quite as much as by national politics. The voice of the town in the Legislature for most of these years was given against the reform. But in this respect that was an exceptional period. In 1840 the Presidential vote stood: Harrison (Whig) 171, Van Buren (Dem.) 134. In 1844, Clay (Whig) 147, Polk (Dem.) 119. In those years respectively. Dr. E. D. Hamilton and Capt. Otis Childs represented the town in the Legislature. In 1848, Taylor (Whig) had 132, Cass (Dem.), 89. In 1852, Scott (Whig), 181, Pierce (Dem.) 131. Our townsman. Gen. James L. Whitney, whose presence we miss to-day, was on this Democratic electoral ticket. He had been representative in 1850, and he was chosen again in 1853. Saving these years all had been Whigs since 1838. These were the days of "the Coalition," a species of union which I am not now able very exactly to describe, made in Massa- chusetts between the Democratic party and the "Free Soil" party, then rising in numbers. For several years our town was more evenly divided between Whiggery and Coalition than it has ever been before or since on any other political issue. And as the choice of governor frequently devolved upon the Legisla- ture, no one having the popular majority then required, the contest for representative became active and exciting. There may be some of us still li\ing who have faint recollections of those 68 HISTORY OF CONWAY. times. We may have heard, also, of committee meetings late and early, of diligent study of the voting list, of hunting trips and cattle driving expeditions, planned for election day for patriotic young men and others, and of various reported chicaneries, said to have been devised for effect upon the doubtful ballot. These and such like things, — being unwilling to rest upon mere re- port, — I record not. But I willingly recall these traditions, and the memories also of much Whig and Coalition feasting and merriment, in the narrow halls of the Conway hotel, because there was good temper in it all; and because, looking back upon it from across the sterner days we have known, the sight is pleas- ing. May there be in the coming times contests for principles and laws and policies, or even for men, but not struggles for government and national existence itself. The passage of the "Nebraska Bill" in the spring of 1854, destroyed the national Whig party, weakened before, and brought into life the modern Republicanism. In 1856, Conway gave to Fremont (Rep.) 139 votes, to Buchanan (Dem.) 81. The vote for governor for the same year stood, Gardner (Native American, or "Know Noth- ing") 129, Quincy (Rep.) 104, Beach (Dem.) 81. In 1860 all was Republican, Lincoln receiving 218 out of 260 votes. And at his re-election in 1864 there were given him 223, and to Gen. McClellan 62. It needs not here to be marked that these were the years of war for the Union, and for Freedom. The shock of the open- ing fight, the shouts of the early enthusiasm, the days of gloom, the alternations of fear and of hope that followed, the steadfast purpose that did not change, the noise at last, crash after crash, as the rebellion fell, and ringing over all the mighty sound of triumph for Liberty and Union, proved to be inseparable, and both made certain to abide, — all these are hardly yet as of yesterday. The citizens of the town — though political divisions still subsisted — were united, with only here and there an exception, which I forbear to name, in the maintenance of the govern- ment and the defense of the national life. The patriotic deter- mination approached nearer to unanimity than even in the first great war of independence. The women of Conway are meant to be included in these general statements. They were not behind THE FIRST CENTURY. 69 those of any part of the country in abundant labors for the soldiers in the field, or in efforts of any sort to sustain the high and steady tone of public feeling and to keep the great purpose fixed. To complete this review of our political history lists are here given of Representatives to the General Court, and also of the Town Clerks and Treasurers. These lists, though they have been re-examined in nearly every part, were made out as far as 1844 by Captain Childs. REPRESENTATIVES. 1776. C\rus Rice. 1816. David Childs. 1777. ■" 1816. Samuel Warren. 1779. Jonathan Whitney. 1818. Joel Parsons. 1780. " 1821. " " 1780. Oliver Wetmore. 1824. John Arms. 1781. Lucius AUis. 1826. Ira Amsden. 1782. Prince Tobey. 1827. John Arms. 1783. 1828. Joseph Avery. 1785. " 1829. " " 1786. Robert Hamilton. 1829. Samuel Warren. 1787. 1830. Charles E. BiUings. 1788. Consider Arms. 1831. " " 1791. William Billings. 1832. " " 1792. 1832. Darius Stearns. 1793. " " 1833. Billings & Stearns. 1794. " 1834. 1795. Oliver Root. 1835. C. E. Billings. 1796. " 1835. John Arms. 1797. 1836. C. E. Billings. 1798. William Billings. 1837. Phineas Bartlett. 1799. Ma lac hi Maynard. 1838. Christopher Arms. 1800. " "' 1839. E. D. Hamilton. 1801. " " 1840. " " " 1803. Reuben Bardwell. 1842. Otis Childs. 1804. 1843. " " 1805. " 1844. Nathaniel P. Baker 1806. Capt. Bannister. 1846. John Clary. 1807. " 1847. " " 1808. " 1850. James S. Whitney. 1809. , ohn Williams. 1851. Otis Childs. 1809. saac Baker. 1852. E. Fisher .\mes. 1810. John Williams. 1853. ames S. Whitney. 1811. " " 1854. '.. Fisher Ames. 1811. David Childs. 1855. Edwin Cooley. 1812. Williams & Childs. 1856. R. A. Coffin. 1813. Elisha Joinings. 1857. Wm. C. Campbell. 1813. David Childs. 1861. Emory Sherman. 1814. Billings & Childs. 1862. Franklin Pease. 1815. 1866. Austin Rice. From its incorporation to the end of town representation in 1856 the town failed to send a representative in 24 years, includ- ing eight years before 1776. For many years the town, and not 70 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the state, paid its representative; a circumstance which doubt- less had weight in deciding the question whether to send. TOWN CLERKS. 1767 to 1775. 1776 to 1783. 1784 to 1806. 1807 to 1826. 1827 to 1836. 1837 to 1841. 1767 to 1775. 1776. 1777 to 1783. 1784 to 1796. 1797 to 1799. 1800 to 1811. 1812 to 1815. 1816. 1817 to 1840. Consider Arms. Oliver Wetmore. Oliver Root. David Childs. Elisha Billings. Otis Childs. 1842. 1843 to 1851. 1852 to 1854. 1855. 1856 to 1860. 1861 to 1867. TOWN TREASURERS. Consider Arms. Elisha Amsden. Benjamin Pulsifer. Malachi Maynard. John Williams. Malachi Maynard. Elisha Billings. Malachi Maynard. Phineas Bartlett. 1841 to 1845. 1846 to 1849. 1850 to 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854 to 1855. 1856 to 1863. 1864 to 1867. Otis Leach. James S. Whitney. E. F. Ames. Eurotas Wells. Franklin Childs. H. W. Billings Anson Shepherd. Wm. C. Campbell. Gurdon Edgerton. T. S. Dickinson. Gurdon Edgerton. T. S. Dickinson. Gurdon Edgerton. H. W. Billings. PROFESSIONAL MEN. The physicians living and practicing in Conway have been as follows: Doctors Moses Hayden, Samuel Ware, Kit- tredge, R. Wells, Halloway, W^illiam Hamilton, George Rogers, Washington Hamilton; and E. D. Hamilton, who is now in practice. And of the homoeopathic order: Dr. H. A. Collins, Dr. Wilson; and Dr. D. T. Vining, who is still practicing. There have gone abroad from us, Dr. Joseph Emerson, son of John Emerson, and Doctors Eben Wells, Elisha Clark, William Billings, Lyman Bartlett, and Oliver D. Root. Of resident lawyers the town has had William Billings, father and son; Albert Clark, now of Independence, Iowa; and for a short time, Edward P. Burnham, now of Saco, Me. It has sent abroad a larger number. Among them are William Maynard, son of Malachi, and inheritor of his father's strength, going to Central New York, and not now living; Moses Hayden, Judge in New York, and not living; Samuel Eliot Perkins, Judge in Indiana; Henry Billings, Judge in Illinois, and first Mayor of Alton; Israel Billings, late of Hatfield; Caleb Rice, first Mayor of Springfield; Lincoln Clark of Chicago; Harvey Rice of Cleve- land, Poet of to-day; Charles Baker, not living; William How- land of Lynn, and William Whitney. THE FIRST CENTURY. 71 Passing out of these professions, the remarkable men of Conway are so numerous as to be beyond reckoning. DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. I am able to give a list of conllagrations, which I hope will "be found to include nearly or quite all that have occurred. We are indebted again to Captain Childs for a part. Dwelling houses have been burned belonging to the following persons: Nathaniel Marble, Heman Hitchcock, Luther Boyden, Consider Bond, Samuel Ware, Zelotus Bates, Josiah Halloway, Sally Murphy, S. P. Sherman; and the boarding house of Tucker & Cook. Other buildings burned have been Tucker & Jones' store, two gristmills, both on the site of the present mill, Christopher Arms' shop, Levi Gunn's blacksmith shop, David Newhall's shop, Jerry Severance's blacksmith shop, Aaron Colton's blacksmith shop, three schoolhouses, the academy building, Edwin Burke's first woolen mill, the Conway tool shop, L. B. Wright's cotton mill, and the old fulling, oil, wool, and cotton mill near the post office. OLD FARMS. There are sixteen farms that are still occupied by the descend- ants of the first owners and occupants. I give the names in the family down to the present owner: the farm of Jonas Rice, Joel, Calvin, Joel; of Josiah Boyden, Josiah, Josiah (owned and tilled, but not lived on) ; of John Wing (owned but not lived on by him), Isaiah, Lucius B.; of Consider Arms, in Hoosac (not lived on by him), Henry, Consider; of Israel Rice, Joseph, Austin; of Theophilus Page, Levi, Elijah; of Timothy Thwing, where the venerable Amariah, his son, still lives; of Samuel Newhall, James, Austin, Joseph; of Jabez Newhall, Bethia, wife of Daniel Rice, Rodolphus; of Solomon Eield, Joel, Consider; of Isaac Amsden, Ira, Minerva, wife of W^alter Guilford; of Consider Arms, John, Elijah; of Richard Collins (but not kept uninter- ruptedly in the family), Erastus, Hiram; of Malachi Maynard, occupied by Zelotus Bates, husband of his late daughter, Lydia, and by his daughter Lucy; of Abel Dinsmore, John, Alvan; and of Lucius Allis, Solomon, John. Three or four more might be added b>- counting those who, though perhaps the first clearers 72 HISTORY OF CONWAY. and tillers of their farms, were not early either in occupying or owning them. Few even of the families of the children are where their fathers were. From these and from all the ancient places the fathers and the mothers themselves have long since passed. Of the second generation there remain with us a few, a number too quickly counted, and too soon to fail from counting. In the third rank are our elder men and women, looking toward the declivity of life. We of middle age are in the fourth. They of the fifth and sixth generations are coming swiftly on and will soon occupy alone, in their brief possession, these seats of the fathers. Our town has given to those who have lived here before us her fresh air, her clear springs and streams of water, and her hearty soil. She has set their homes on her pleasant hills, and has kept them in plenty and in peace. She has furnished for them the opportunities of knowledge; she has called them to the duties and comforts and hopes of the Christian religion; and she has taken them, when their course of nature failed, to their last earthly rest within her bosom. Upon those who will come after us she will bestow the same, and, we may hope, en- larging bounties of the present life; and she will set before them with increasing care, we may confidently think, the light of that same precious faith which may bring both them and us to the land that does not change the generations of its people, and from whose established homes the blessed inhabitants "go no more out forever." \ Chapter III. FIFTY YEARS MORE. By Rev. Ch.\rles Stanley Pe.\se. The Centennial Celebration of Conway took place on Wednesday, June 19, 1867. A large committee of leading citi- Centennial Elm, Makklng Site of P'irst Schoolhouse zens had been appointed at a town meeting to make the neces- sary arrangements. This committee had appointed a number of sub-committees to assist in carrying out the details of the programme. Mr. D. C. Rogers was the president of the day and Mr. Thomas S. Dickinson was the chief marshal. At sunrise the bells were rung and a salute was fired from a cannon placed on Prospect Hill. At seven a. m. a procession was formed, led by the Greenfield Drum Corps and consisting of a cavalcade headed by Mr. Amariah Thwing, who was ninety years of age, and Gen. Asa Howland, who was in his eightieth year. Following the horsemen was a long vehicle decorated 74 HISTORY OF CONWAY. with evergreens and drawn by two yokes of oxen. In this were a number of men and women dressed in antique costume W'ho were busily engaged in various industrial employments belonging to olden times. This was followed by a carriage with girls dressed in white, carrying banners which represented the states of the Union. Last in order came a team drawing an elm tree of considerable size. The procession, after marching through the principal streets of the village to Pumpkin Hollow, stopped at the site of the first schoolhouse erected in town. Here, after a few appropriate remarks by Rev. Charles B. Rice, the selectmen set out the elm tree since known as the "centennial elm." At nine A. m. another procession w^as formed for Arms' grove where the outdoor exercises were held. It w^as estimated that more than three thojisand persons were present. An ode written for the occasion by R. A. Coffin was sung by the audience, after which Rev. Charles B. Rice of Danvers, Mass.. a native of the town, delivered the historical address. Hon. Harvey Rice of Cleveland, Ohio, a grandson of Cyrus Rice, the first settler in Conway, then read an extended poem based upon the century's history. In the afternoon William Howland, Esq., of Lynn, Mass., another son of Conway, delivered an oration and a number of people made brief addresses. An interesting feature of the afternoon was the presentation to the audience of Mrs. Mary Crittenden, who lacked at the time only a few weeks of being one hundred years old. She lived a year and six months after her own centennial. Dinner was served in a large tent on the land recently acquired for a community athletic field, then owned by Capt. Charles Parsons. Seats were provided for one thousand persons. That number of dinner tickets was sold at one dollar each, but the demand for them could not be supplied. It was truly a home gathering. Welcome was expressed by banners hung in conspicuous places but was felt most of all in the glad greetings of old friends. Many living in town to-day who were then children remember vividly the enthusiastic crowds and the festive appearance of the village on that notable occasion. Many things contributed to make the day joyous. The war cloud was but recently dispelled and the surviving sons of FIFTY YEARS MORE. 75 Conway were still regarded as restored from the dead. More- over, the town was at this time enjoying a boom in its business conditions. Mr. Edward Delabarre had shortly before this acquired the woolen mill property and Burkeville had taken on new life and activity. Richard Tucker and Chelsea Cook were reorganizing the cotton manufacturing. The local correspond- ent for the Greenfield Gazette and Courier contributed a column article in September of the centennial year setting forth the prosperity of Conway in glowing terms. This correspondent, who signed himself "Senex," was Mr. Abner Forbes, a retired school-teacher from the vicinity of Boston highly respected for his character and intelligence. It is interesting to get his point of view regarding the general outlook in Conway fifty years ago. We quote in part from his letter to the Gazette and Courier: — "There is no town in F'ranklin County that offers more encouraging inducements for investment of limited capital than Conway. South River could naturally furnish a large amount of power, but the recent improvement made by Tucker & Company in the construction of their reservoir with its granite dam has increased that power very much. There are at present below the reservoir seven wheels. And there might be from Ashfield to the mouth of the river many more sites where a vast amount of machinery might be operated especially by additional reservoirs for which the track of the stream is admi- rably adapted. Unquestionably at no distant day a railroad will cross the town. Several routes have been surveyed and in none of them does any serious obstacle interpose. Already has business been revived and increased. Mr. Delabarre has recently purchased, improved, and put in operation the Burke- ville woolen factory. Tucker & Company and Tucker & Cook in their cotton mills give employment to a large number of hands. John Sprague has lately purchased the ancient Arms gristmill and is now in progress of enlarging and improving this valuable property. William Clapp purchased twenty-one years ago a small and almost dilapidated tannery. He does a business of from $50,000 to vS75,000 a year. The energies of the inhabitants generally are not sleeping, and there appears nothing wanting but outside capital to make Conway a flourish- ing place with proliably a population of ten to tweKe thousand. 76 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Judging from what small means has already accomplished this is not an extravagant calculation. Where Burkeville now is, a few years since there was not a tenement or building. The street from the gristmill to the village bridge now lined with dwellings, shops, and storehouses was almost an impassable gorge. In the vicinity of the bank at the same period there were only two dwelling houses, a schoolhouse and a blacksmith's shop. In Pumpkin Hollow the old church, Newhall's tavern. Captain Williams' store, Bartlett's harness shop. Lawyer Billings' office and a few other buildings constituted Conway's middle of the town. A manifest change for the better has been pro- duced and this change has been effected by determined energy and struggling enterprise aided by but meager capital. It is confidently trusted that the bright vision of hope that beams in the prospects of Conway is-not a delusion." This letter to the Gazette and Courier without doubt expressed the general sentiment of the community at that time. The town was prosperous and confident of increased prosperity. RAILROAD SURVEYS. One ground for this expectation was the prospect that a railroad would be built through the village. Mr. Forbes refers to surveys already made. These surveys were taken seriously by the community. The town at its annual meeting on March 9, 1868, voted to ask the Legislature for permission to subscribe for stock in a contemplated railroad from Williamsburg through Conway to Shelburne Falls. Different routes through Conway had been considered, but the one most in favor with the sur- veyors would have located a depot at Burkeville near the lower bridge. The railroad would have crossed South River near the shoe shop, then passing in front of Arms' grove and on the north side of Emerson Hollow would have kept along the side hill following the valley of South River for about a mile, then turning to the left and tunneling the ridge would have emerged in the valley beyond G. F. Hamilton's. From this point the survey led through the farm of I. G. Boyden toward the Ashfield line where a natural valley winds through Shirkshire to Shel- burne Falls. The town was to be disappointed, however. The FIFTY YEARS MORE. 77 Williamsburg extension did not go beyond that point and the line from Northampton to Shelburne Falls was built by way of South Deerfield and the valley of the Deerfield River. C\)n- way's station was located four and a half miles from the Niilage, which added very little to the convenience of traffic. The agitation for a steam railroad to Conway \ illage extended over a period of many \cars. Before the sur\eys were made for the proposed road from Northampton and Williamsburg, the Troy and Greenfield railroad had seriously considered running its road over the Hoosac Mountain instead of tunneling through it, and had sur\eyed a route through Conway, Ashfield, Hawley, and Savoy to North Adams. This was in 1849. As late as 1889 the town was aroused by still another plan to secure a railroad. This time surveys were made for a branch of the Connecticut River railroad from South Deerfield. An item appeared in the Gazette and Courier under date of August 31, 1889, beginning, "Attention, every- body! We are going to have a railroad through Conway." A special town meeting was called and a committee was appointed to confer with the officers of the railroad. The surve>s were not completed until 1891, when the project was dropped. Thus it would appear that each of the three railroads in this vicinity has in turn seriously considered locating a station at Conway village, but was deterred by various considerations, chiefly the rugged character of the country and the impossible grades. THE ELECTRIC STREET R.AIL\VAY. Fortunately for the town the advent of electric railroads in New England offered a new plan for communication with the outside world. And no sooner had hope of a steam road been given up than thoughts turned toward the building of an electric road. It was seen that this was wholly practicable and enthusiasm ran high. It was ascertained that the* cost would be about $25,000. Soon $20,000 was secured by private subscription and the town at a special meeting held June 30, 1894, voted to subscribe for the last five thousand. This was appropriately celebrated on the night before the Fourth of July. There was a parade headed by a drum corps. Large paper lanterns were carried on which were emblazoned the words, 78 HISTORY OF CONWAY. "Conway Electric Road," "Money All Raised." A cannon was fired throughout the night and there was great rejoicing. Hopes deferred during forty years were about to be realized, at least in part. The subscribers met at once and organized, with the following board of directors: Carlos Batchelder, Ernory Brown, Arthur P. Delabarre, John B. Packard, Charles Parsons, Franklin Pease, and F. A. Delabarre. The directors in turn elected the following officers: President, Carlos Batchelder; clerk. Dr. J. B. Laidley; treasurer, W. G. Avery. In August a contract for building the road was made with Daniel O'Connell & Son of Holyoke, and by September the work was well under way, beginning at Conway Station. A power house was located at Harding brook, and in October the big boiler, drawn by eight horses, was moved up from South Deerfield. Remarkable progress was made in the construction of the road, so that by November first the track was laid as far as the lower cotton mill with most of the poles set and wire strung. The greatest delay was occasioned by the construction of two new iron bridges; but even these were practically finished before winter. In the early spring of 1895 the tracks were cleared of snow and work was resumed with such vigor that on March 29 a trial trip was made successfully from the upper cotton mill to Conway Station. Three days later the road was open for trafiic. The Conway electric road was the first to operate in this vicinity and the first to carry freight anywhere in the state. The Greenfield and Turners Falls electric line opened three months later and for several years there was hope of connecting the two. In harmony with this general plan efforts were soon put forth to extend the Conway line across the Deerfield River. This was accomplished in 1897 after heroic exertions both to raise the necessary funds and to overcome the opposition of the N. Y.. N. H. & H. railroad. This extension gave connection with the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad as well as with the New Haven. In 1899 a dam was built across South Rixer near Conway Station to furnish power to run the electric road and also to furnish electric lights and power for the townspeople. This dam was made of logs and crushed stone faced with plank. FIFTY VF:ARS more. 79 The work was done by lumbermen from Maine. About three thousand trees cut in the vicinity went into the construction. The dam was one hundred and thirty-two feet in length extend- ing from a natural ridge which reached nearly half across the valley. The reservoir thus secured not only furnished power but also made a beautiful lake nearly a mile in length bordering on Wildwood Park, an attractive resort developed with the building of the electric road. In 1908 the Conway electric road was sold to the Boston & Maine railroad, a special act of the Legislature of 1907, granting permission to do this, having been obtained with much difificulty. In taking over the electric road the Boston & Maine also acquired the power dam and other water privileges along Soutih River. The same year the old log dam was replaced by one made of cement. For several years the townspeople were dependent for their electric lights upon the electricity which the street railway could spare. But in 1916 the Greenfield Klectric Light and Power Company acquired the business of furnishing light and power in Conway and with unlimited resources are furnishing continuous light and any amount of power reciuired. TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. The telegraph came into town in the fall of 1880. Mr. Charles C. Burdette, who had recently opened a drug store in the village, arranged with the telegraph company to run a line from Bardwell station to his store. The citizens of the town furnished the poles and Mr. Burdette received and sent the messages for one half of the receipts. The following summer the store of Lee & Dodge at Pumpkin Hollow was connected with the line. The telegraph was a great convenience to the town and was much appreciated until the coming of the tele- phone reduced the amount of service to a point where it ceased to be profitable, and for several years telegrams have been telephoned to and from Shelburne Falls. The New England Telephone Company began business in town in the spring of 1897 with six subscribers. This number gradually increased, yet little effort was made to accommodate the outlying farms. In 1901 a local company in the neighboring town of Heath came to Conway and established a farmers' 80 HISTORY OF CONWAY. line, to the great satisfaction of the people. The Heath Com- pany began with forty subscribers and eventually secured all of the local business. There were, January 1, 1917, one hundred and twenty-five subscribers in Conway, representing every corner and neighborhood of the town. IMPROVED MAIL SERVICE. As a means of communication with the outside world the town is greatly indebted to improvement in the mail service during recent years. The rural free delivery was established July 1, 1901, with Charles Page as carrier. The mail is now carried into every neighborhood and within a reasonable distance of every farmhouse. The parcel post arrangement, which went into effect January 1, 1913, has been extensively utilized by Conway people in purchasing supplies through mail orders. AUTOMOBILES. Automobiles began to appear in town during the summer of 1902. With their rapid increase throughout the state came a demand for better roads and Conway has profited by this agitation. A state road already nearly completed runs through the town from South Deerfield to Ashfield and thence to the Berkshire Valley. For the past two summers an auto-bus line has been maintained by the Patterson Auto Garage between Conway village and South Deerfield railroad stations. About sixty automobiles are now owned by the townspeople. THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL. The Fourth of July, 1876, was appropriately celebrated by the town of Conway. There was a salute with cannon at sunrise. A parade of antiques and horribles was followed at 10 A. M. by a procession to Arms' grove. Mr. John Sprague was chief marshal. Gordon H. Johnson, Charles Parsons, and Chelsea Cook were his assistants. The order of march was as follows: President of the day, Carlos Batchelder; invited guests; Conway Band; fire company; Sunday schools; citizens. The programme at the grove consisted of opening prayer by Rev. David Pease, a former pastor in town, now venerable with age; FIFTY YEARS MORE. 81 singing by a quartette; reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence by Miss Ada Patrick; music by the band; address by Rev. Charles B. Rice of Danvers, Mass.; singing by the quartette; collation; poem by Mr. Olin Clark; after-dinner speaking with Charles Parsons, Jr., as toastmaster. The exer- cises closed with the singing of America. PATRIOTIC AND SOCIAL ORCiANIZATIOXS. The Francis A. Clary Post, No. 164, G. A. R., was organized in 1883 with the following charter members: Samuel Bigelow, Elias Bradford, George Braman, C. C. Burdette, John Connelly, Horace Dill, F. M. Freeman, Joseph Greenyer, George Hassell, Gordon H. Johnson, Franklin Lee, Theodore Lombard, Henry Nye, W. D. Sanderson, Alexander Sinclair, Henry A. Stearns, C. G. Townsend, J. W. Turner, William Watson. The first commander of the Post was Gordon H. Johnson. The present commander is Alexander Sinclair. The Woman's Relief Corps of the Francis A. Clary Post was organized January 18, 1888, with Mrs. Horace Dill as president. The Corps has been of invaluable assistance to the Post, espe- cially as the number of veterans decreased. The present mem- bership is twenty-five. The president is Mrs. Almeda Mann. The Chauncey G. Townsend Camp, No. 40, Sons of Veterans was organized in 1892 with George C. Lee, captain. The membership soon reached twenty-five, and the total enrollment has been about fifty. On November 6, 1892, Mrs. Townsend presented to the Camp a large and beautiful silk flag in memory of her husband for whom the Camp was named. The Camp flourished for a number of years until the members became so scattered that meetings ceased to be held. The last records were dated June 3, 1904. The Morning Sun Lodge of Masons was organized in Ashfield in 1826. The first master was Rev. Orra Martin, pastor of the Baptist church of South Ashfield. The senior warden was Horace B. Childs of Conway. The Lodge was removed to Conway in 1830. It prospered for a few years but finally surrendered its charter about 1840. The charter was restored in 1870 when the present Lodge was formed, retaining the name of the earlier organization. Charles Parsons, Jr., was the first 82 HISTORY OF CONWAY. master of the reorganized Lodge. Meetings were held for a number of years in rooms built and furnished for its special use at the Conway hotel. Masonic Hall was completed in 1896 and was opened with a public reception in July of that year. The building furnished quarters for the post office and the office of the Electric Street Railway, in addition to the con- veniently arranged assembly and banquet rooms of the Lodge. The Wequanock Tribe of Red Men was organized in Conway, December 1, 1899. A wigwam was specially constructed for them in the upper story of the Hawkes block and, except for a few years in the old Masonic rooms at the hotel, this has been their place of assembly. George Rhood is the present sachem of the tribe. A Lodge of Good Templars was formed in 1894 and flourished for a time. For many years a Young Men's Christian Association held regular meetings. It was officered by young men who afterward became the leading town officials. Entertainment courses were arranged under its auspices and lectures by men of wide reputa- tion were given for the benefit of the public. In 1891 there was a Farmers' League with Micajah Vincent as president. Its meetings were devoted to the discussion of fruit growing. Later the Grange flourished for a time, holding its meetings in a room of the town hall still known as "Grange hall." The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was an influential organization for a number of years. In 1905 it presented to the public a granite drinking fountain conveniently located at Masonic Square. A Fire Company was formed in Conway in 1852. The large hand engine procured at that time is still in use. The chief dependence, however, in recent years has been placed in two chemical engines stored, one at the bank building and the other in Burkeville. The fire company has been very important to the town, always responding promptly to alarms at any hour of the day or night. Thomas Dickinson, John Sprague, Charles Parsons, Jr., and Clarence A. Smith each served for a number of years as fire chief and rendered most efficient and heroic FIP^TY YEARS MORE. 83 service. The officers in 1916 were: Chief, Daniel McKenzie; first assistant, Edgar Jones; second assistant, Edward Parsons. The Conway Cornet Band was organized in 1876 with John R. Holcomb, leader. It passed through man\' changes in its personnel but continued its existence and services to the community for about fifteen years. In 1907 another organization was formed taking the name of the Conway Brass Band. It made its first public appearance on the Fourth of July of that year. Music has since been furnished for all public occasions, and open-air concerts have been given at frequent intervals during the summer, to the great enjoyment of the townspeople. Mr. Fred Holcomb has been its only leader. The Conway Club, organized for social purposes, was popular with the young men for several years. It had rooms, fitted up at considerable expense, in the Hawkes block. The rooms were required for a tenement in 1916 and the club disbanded. The Conway Sportsmen's Club was formed in 1913 with the assistance of Game Warden Ruberg of Greenfield. Its influence is exerted to protect game from lawless destruction. It is also actively engaged in stocking the streams. Large-mouthed bass, pike perch, and hornpout from the state hatcheries have been placed in Lake Wequanock. Trout fry and fingerlings have been put into the various brooks of this locality. Pheasants have been received from the State Game Commission and turned loose in the woods. The annual supper of the club is a very popular event when members of the State Commission and other speakers of reputation have addressed the club and its guests. The officers in 1916 were: President, Alexander Sinclair; secretary and treasurer, A. A. Belair; directors, Edward Affhauser, Allen R. Cook, Edward Graves, Alexander Sinclair, A. A. Belair. DISASTERS. The great freshet of 1869 is still vividh- remembered 1)> the older residents of the town. It began to rain on Saturday, October 4, and poured in torrents for forty-eight hours. The earth wings of the granite dam at the Tucker & Cook reservoir gave way, and with the water in the reservoir added to the stream, already a raging Hood, a clean sweep was made of 84 HISTORY OF CONWAY. practically everything in its path. The covered bridge at Burkeville was the only bridge remaining on South River from Ash field line to the Deerfield. Fourteen bridges were washed away in various parts of the town. All of the mills were more or less seriously damaged. The tannery of William Clapp, which had been an important industry of the town, was completely wrecked. The business did not recover from the loss. Several dwelling houses were moved from their foundations and Main Street between the present Field Library and the bridge was the center of a sizable lake. It was estimated that the total damage to the town in public and private property, including dams, roads, and bridges, was about $50,000. The same flood conditions prevailed all over Franklin County and the tracks of the Troy and Greenfield railroad, now extended as far as the almost completed tunnel, were wrecked along the whole length of the Deerfield River. Another flood equally dangerous to life, though less destruc- tive to property, occurred in 1878. The cause of this was a heavy fall of snow followed by rain and a south wind on the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, December 10. During the night all of this mantle of snow, holding the rain like a sponge on the frozen ground, melted and literally slid, as from the roof of a house, into the river valleys. The Ashfield and Conway reservoirs gave way at about the same time, making an interval of about an hour between the two floods as they reached Conway village. This was fortunate for Conway, for had the flood from Ashfield been added to the volume of water in the Conway reservoir the consequences to Conway village must have been serious indeed. As it proved, the property loss, though heavy, was much less than in 1869. There were many narrow escapes but no loss of life during either disaster. The town has been visited with serious fires, some of them involving heavy financial loss, others destroying buildings prized for their associations. In the spring of 1898 the old farmhouse built in 1820, by Gen. Asa Rowland, burned to the ground together with barn and sheds. The fire left practically nothing but the stone foundations. These buildings had been the pride of the town as the residence for many years of one of her most prominent and widely known citizens. Another house whose lU'rV VKARS MORE. 85 value consisted chiefly in its historical associations was consumed by fire on the night of February 20, 1916. This house, owned by Dennis Childs, and occupied by Mr. Forbes Batchelder, was built about the time of the incorporation of the town by Deacon Joel Baker. It was the first frame house built in town. After the fire the most prominent object, and about all that was left, was the old brick oven built by Mrs. Joel Baker herself, one hundred and fifty years ago. A number of business blocks have been destroyed by fire. The bank building, with town office and rooms occupied by the public library, was totally destroyed on the night of January 11, 1878. This fire was an exceedingly dangerous one, threatening for a time to sweep the entire street. The following year the upper cotton mill of the Tucker & Cook Company was burned. These important buildings were at once rebuilt. Other buildings in and about the village have burned and been replaced. Yet in many instances fire has been the means of closing out a business or of obliterating a home. The destruc- tion of the Lawrence block and Foote house on December 24, 1898, left a vacant place in the center of the village. The Burkeville Woolen Mill, once so important to the town, was destroyed by fire on the sixth of March, 1904. A smaller building has since been erected to utilize the water power in the making of taps and dies, but the era of woolen manufacturing in Conway seems to have closed with the burning of the old woolen mill. Of similar importance to the agricultural interests of the town was the loss by fire, on August 1, 1905, of the buildings of the Conway Co-operative Creamery. The Congregational meeting house burned in 1885 but was promptly replaced by a modern and more beautifully furnished edifice. DIPHTHERIA. Conway was afflicted with an epidemic of diphtheria in 1874. Beginning with October 21 there were, within a year, thirty-six deaths from diphtheria. In several homes there were two and even three deaths in close connection. Rev. James De Forest, pastor of the Methodist church, lost two children and was himself buried with them. The town was in deepest gloom for several months. 86 HISTORY OF CONWAY. CEMETERIES. The first burial place in town was a part of what is now known as Howland Cemetery. This cemetery dates with the town's organization. In 1772 land was purchased in the rear of the meeting house for another burial place. This old church- yard at Pumpkin Hollow has long been unused. It contains, however, the remains of people who were prominent citizens in their day, including two olificers of the Revolution, Capt. Lucius Allis and Capt. Elisha Amsden. Other old cemeteries, used as the burial place of the early settlers and the founders of the town, are the ones at Cricket Hill, South Part, Poland, and North Shirkshire. The Pine Grove Cemetery was opened for use in 1845. This made seven town cemeteries besides a number of family graveyards in various parts of the town. Dr. Rice gives the number of deaths from the settlement of the town to the time of the centennial as 2,183. The number since the centennial up to January first, 1917, is 1,321, making the total number of deaths in Conway during the entire history of the town 3,504. In 1901 the owners of burial lots in the Howland and Pine Grove cemeteries formed themselves into "The Conway Ceme- tery Association," and became incorporated under the laws of the state by a special act of the Legislature. The incorporators named in the act were Henry W. Billings, Charles D. Ives, Gordon H. Johnson, Carlos Batchelder, W. E. Hawkes, A. R. Stearns. The first ofihcers of the Association were : A. P. Dela- barre, president; H. W. Billings, clerk; Carlos Batchelder, treasurer. As a result of this organization there has been a great improvement in the appearance of both cemeteries. Much needed grading has been done and ornamental shrubs have been tastefully placed. The turf is neatly kept and owners of lots are encouraged to provide for their perpetual care. The present Board of Trustees are; C. D. Ives, president; E. T. Cook, secre- tary; A. C. Guilford, treasurer; Emory Brown, A. P. Delabarre, C. F. Elmer, H. B. Hassell. TOWN OFFICIALS. The previous chapter gives a list of representatives to the General Court, also a list of town clerks and treasurers for the FIFTY YEARS MORE. 87 first century. We will complete those lists for fifty years more. Each town in the state sent its own representative in 1856. After that date the towns were grouped together into Repre- sentative Districts. Conway taking turns with other towns has sent the following men to. the Legislature since 1867: Carlos Batchelder, 1870; Dr. David Vining, 1881; Henry W. Hopkins, 1886; John B. Packard, 1889, 1896, 1897; Horace E. Miller, 1892; Charles F. Elmer, 1907, 1908. It is easy to complete the list of town clerks and treasurers, as H. W. Billings continued in both offices until his death in 1915. He was then succeeded by Charles Parsons as clerk, and by Alvin C. Boice as treasurer. No list of selectmen was given in the previous chapter. We therefore make this list complete from the first town meeting: — 1767. Thos. French, Consider Arms, Samuel Wells. 1768. Thos. French, Joel Baker. 1769. Joel Baker, Jos. Catlin, EHas Dickinson, Nathaniel Field, Simeon ("iraves. 1770. Thos. F"rench, Joel Dickinson, C^tus Rice. 1771. Thos. French, Samuel Wells, Jonathan Whitney, Joel Baker, Israel Rice. 1772-73. Jonas Rice, David Parker, Daniel Newhall. 1774. Consider Arms, Israel Gates, Robert Oliver. 1775. Elisha Amsden, Samuel WellSj,,Noah Balding. 1776. Isaac Amsden, Jonas Rice,'' and affords basis for a claim that Conway produced the first carriage in America. William M. Howland was another wagon maker who flour- ished about 1840 or 1850 where George Howland now lives. Manley Hemenway was a builder of wagons at his shop above the reservoir for a great many years. He died in 1913. John S. Holcomb started as wagon maker on River Street in 1849 and made a great many wagons in his day. Since his death in 1898 the business has been continued by his sons, J. R. and F. Holcomb. A bakery was started by J. E. Robertson in the old Hamilton house on Main Street in 1899. He moved to the new building built by him next the bridge in 1901. Later the business was run for a couple of years by Frank Ward, but the business declined and it was closed in 1906. Before the days of the electric railroad, li\ery stables flour- ished. With no other public means of transportation except the stages there was of necessity a good livery business and the carting of freight for the mills made a lot of heavy teaming. The stable in Burkeville did the bulk of the heavy teaming. This was run for some years by Walter Guilford, who sold out to Solomon Pease about 1870. Mr. Pease ran the stable until closing it out about 1908. Henry and Solomon Pease ran a stable on Main Street for a number of years. Gordon H. Johnson bought this stable in 1869 and ran it until closing it out and retiring from business in 1916. Alpheus and Dennis Bates ran a stable for many years on Baptist Hill where Charles Wildes now lives. 120 HISTORY OF CONWAY. The stages carried the mail and passengers and light freight and express. The mail route was let from South Deerfield to South Adams and a stage ran daily from Ashfield to South Deerfield and return and three times a week from Ashfield to South Adams. Cephas Crafts was one of the earlier stage drivers. Then Cross & Phillips, who ran the Ashfield House, ran the stage for many years. They were followed by Payson Eldridge and about 1870 by Julius and Arthur C. Guilford. In 1879 Arthur Guilford went into the hotel and his brother, Julius, ran the stage until his death in 1887. Wilder Truesdell then ran the stage about two years for Mr. Guilford's widow and afterwards on his own account until the Electric Street Railway was built in 1894. Levi Dole also ran a stage to Bardwell's Ferry and, after the building of the Shelburne Falls & Northampton railroad, Edward Wing ran a stage to Conway Station. Phineas Bartlett was a harness maker and ran a shop in Pumpkin Hollow for many years. He lived in a house which stood where Mrs. W'illiam Wilder's house now stands and the shop was a separate building standing in the yard. About 1850 he retired and his son, Theodore Bartlett, took the shop. A year or two later Theodore Bartlett built the house now^ occupied by Gordon H. Johnson and the shop was moved to a front room in this building. In 1869 Theodore Bartlett built the house next to the Methodist church and moved the shop there. After his death, in 1890, his son, William M. Bartlett, conducted the business until his death in 1910. David Lyons ran a cabinet making and undertaking shop on Main Street. He was followed by Benjamin Cloyes and afterward Emerson Foote conducted the shop for many years until the building was burned in 1898. The first tavern keeper in town was Thomas French. His house stood on Baptist Hill a little way up the road toward the Tichenor place. Here the first town meeting was held, in 1767. It is probable that he kept tavern there some time previous to that date. Landlord French was a great man in those days and his house a place of popular resort. He was also a great landowner and it was his boast that he could walk to Deerfield without stepping off his own broad acres. Reverses overtook BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 121 him later in life and he died a pauper. Another tavern for many years was in what has since been known as the Kearns house on Baptist Hill and of which only a pile of rubbish remains. Col. Jabez Newhall was another famous innkeeper. He ran a tavern in Conway for forty-five years, first for a few years at the place where Dwight Weston now lives and afterward in Pumpkin Hollow at the place now occupied by his grandson, Harry T. Newhall. The hotel building on Main Street was built by Franklin Childs some time before 1850 and many landlords have come and gone in the years that have elapsed. One of the first was Mr. Aiken, followed by Mr. Barrus. Then came Amos Stetson, who was landlord in 1867, and provided the Centennial dinner for a thousand people in a tent back of the town hall. Succeeding him came William Baker, William Orcutt, Horace & Gilbert Arms, Jerome Talmadge, E. E. Lyman, A. C. Guilford from 1879 to 1898, Joseph Liichapelle, Joshua King, Joseph Lachapelle again, W'. F. Brown, and from 1908 the present landlord, William J. Stack. Conway was the possessor, in 1798 and 1799, of a village newspaper, called the Farmers' Register, published weekly by Theodore Leonard. It was printed first on Baptist Hill and later in Pumpkin Hollow, and on its title page proclaimed its fearless independence in the following couplet: — "Here truth unlicensed reigns, and dares accost Even Kings themselves, or rulers of the free." Both truth and error must in fact have "reigned" without license or other control, in Mr. Leonard's paper. He had no editorial sentiments, and published with a looseness whatever came to his hand, on all sides. Advertisements were few and news generally mildewed with age when printed in the Register, although it would sometimes get Washington news only three weeks old and London news in about sixty to ninety days. Mr. Leonard also printed a hymn book compiled by "Elder" Josiah Goddard, an early pastor of the Baptist church. Conway was without a newspaper from that time until 1885 when for about two years Horace E. Miller printed a weekly paper called the Comcay Banner. 122 " HISTORY OF CONWAY. The first post office in Conway was situated on Baptist Hill in a hatter's shop where the barn of Mrs. Mary Stearns now stands. Christopher Arms was the first postmaster. Two men were killed by lightning in the doorway of this building in 1824. The post office was afterwards moved to the place now occupied by the barn of A. C. Guilford. This building was burned in 1856. The office was next moved to the building now occupied by Hassell's store, and then for a short time was in the building now the home of Gordon H. Johnson. It was next moved to the Lawrence block and afterward to the Foote block. Both these buildings were burned in 1898. The post office was moved to its present location in the Masonic building in August, 1896. The following persons have served as postmasters: Chris- topher Arms, Gen. James S. Whitney, Anson Shepard, Gurdon Edgerton, Thomas S. Dickinson, 1853 to 1861; Richard Tucker, 1861 to 1875; .Harvey Townsend, 1875 to 1886; Daniel Eldridge, 1886 to 1889; Charles C. Burdette, 1889 to 1893; Austin Stearns from 1893. Many attempts had been made to secure a railway into Conway, but the ever-present hills about her had successfully barred the way until the advent of electricity. Meanwhile, the town, like others around her, had declined steadily in population until in the decade from 1885 to 1895 she lost four hundred and eighty-three of her population and one eighth of her valuation. Realizing the seriousness of this condition and believing that only improved transportation facilities and better connection with the outside world would stem the tide and enable the town to maintain its prosperity and industrial life, several of her citizens started the project of an electric railway. Surveys were made and the route to Conway Station on the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad selected. After strenuous efforts the money was raised and the road built. The first trip was made March 29, 1895. It soon became evident that the road to be a success must be extended across the Deerfield River and connect with the Fitchburg division of the Boston & Maine railroad. This meant raising a great deal more money, but the battle was taken up and, after some delays, the Deerfield was bridged and the extension finished to South River Station, which was built for the accommodation of the electric road. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 123 In 1906 Dr. J. B. Laidley, the president of the road, suc- ceeded in interesting the directors of the Fitchburg railroad in the development of the water powers on South River, and an arrangement was entered into for the purchase by the Fitch- burg railroad of the control of the electric road. Permission, however, had to be first obtained from the Legislature, and this entailed a tremendous struggle which took most of the session of 1907, and the echoes of which have hardly yet died away. A great antagonism was encountered because of the suspicion entertained by many that this inoffensive looking act was an opening wedge by which the railroads would obtain control of the electric roads of the state, but all opposition was finally overcome and the measure passed. The agreement was then carried out and the electric road has since been con- trolled by the Fitchburg railroad. The new management has spent large sums in improving the condition of the road and its equipment. In 1909 the new concrete dam at Wildwood was built at an expense of about $35,000. The road carries passengers, mail, express, and freight and was the first electric railway in Massachusetts to obtain a charter for hauling freight. With side tracks to each of the mills for the easy handling of freight and rates just half the former rates for hauling freight by team, it at once became an important factor in the town's economic development. It arrested the decline in the growth of the town and justified its existence and the hopes and foresight of its builders, and stands as a monument to their courage and enterprise. The original officers of the Conway Flectric Street Railway Co. were: Carlos Batchelder, president; William G. Avery, treasurer; Arthur M. Cook, auditor; John B. Laidley, clerk; Arthur C. Guilford, superintendent; Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, Emory Brown, Charles Parsons, Arthur P. Delabarre, Franklin Pease, and Fred A. Delabarre, directors. The officers at present are: J. H. Hustis, president; A. P. Delabarre, vice- president; W. M. Alden, superintendent. The Conway Electric Light & Power Company was organ- ized in 1896. The company acquired about one hundred acres of land on South River adjacent to and including Wildwood Park. The following year the first dam and power house were 124 HISTORY OF CONWAY. built. The dam was of timber and stone crib construction, fifty-five feet high, giving a ninety-foot head at the wheels two hundred feet below and capable of developing three hundred to five hundred horse power. After the completion of the plant, power was sold to the Conway Electric Street Railway and the electric road discontinued the use of their steam plant except for emergencies. In 1900 the electric lighting plant was added, transmission lines constructed, and the town wired for lights. The current was turned on and the town lighted by electricity for the first time in November, 1900. In 1904 this company was dissolved, having transferred its dam, water power, and electrical plant to the Conway Electric Street Railway Com- pany, and a new company was formed under the name of the Deerfield River Electric Light Company for the distribution of electricity in Conway. The officers of the company were: John B. Packard, president; Fred A. Delabarre, clerk and treasurer; John B. Packard, Arthur P. Delabarre, Emory Brown, John B. Laidley, Fred A. Delabarre, directors. By 1916 the Street Railway Company found that its own requirements for electric current were at times sufficient to use all that could be produced at this plant. The demand for current for light and power had also constantly increased until it became neces- sary to provide a new source of supply, and the franchises, property, and business of the Deerfield River Electric Light Company were sold to the Greenfield Electric Light and Power Company. The latter company has entirely rebuilt the dis- tribution lines, and with its unlimited power and resources will be able to supply any demand which may be made upon it. The Conway Mutual Insurance Company was organized in 1849 and in 1854 changed to the Conway Stock and Mutual Insurance Company. In 1860 it transferred its stock depart- ment to Boston and in 1876 went out of business. Dr. E. D. Hamilton was president and H. W. Billings, treasurer. For a time the company did an extensive business. The first Conway bank was chartered by the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1854, and was one of the pioneers among the financial institutions of Franklin County. The original corporators named in the act creating the bank were Edmund Burke, Charles Parsons, and Austin Rice. Another prime BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. 125 mover in its organization was Gen. James S. Whitney*. The first officers were Lewis Boclman, president, and William B. Hale, cashier. The institution was uniformly successful during its existence of a little more than a decade and in January, 1865, was reorganized and conxerted into the Conway National Bank with John D. Todd as first ]:)resident and Samuel Swan as first cashier. The career of the bank has been prosperous; it has always maintained a high position among its sister institutions of Western Massachusetts and has paid in dividends nearly $400,000. The following is a statement of the bank's condition, Jan- uary 1, 1917:— Loans and Discounts, 848,108.00 U. S. Bonds to Secure Circulation, 50,000.00 Bonds, Securities, etc., 47,538.13 Banking House, 3,000.00 Furniture and Fixtures, 1,000.00 Due from Banks, 11,265.71 Due from Federal Reserve Bank, 5,911.28 Cash, 3,838.34 Redemption Fund with U. S. Treasury,. . . 2,500.00 Total $173,161.46 Capital Stock, sS50,000.00 Surplus Fund, 5,025.00 Profit and Loss, 452.35 Circulation, 50,000.00 Deposits, 67,684.11 Total, $173,161.46 The presidents of the bank have been John D. Todd, E. Darwin Hamilton, Carlos Batchelder, and John B. Packard; cashiers, Samuel Swan, Edwin L. Munn, William D. Luey, William G. Avery, and Edwin T. Cook. The directors are A. P. Delabarre, John B. Packard, A. C. Guilford, Fred A. Delabarre, and Alvin C. Boice. 126 HISTORY OF CONWAY. An act of the Legislature approved by his Excellency Oliver Ames, March 10, 1887, constituted Richard Tucker, Edward Delabarre, Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, and William G. Avery a corporation by the name of the Conway Savings Bank and the institution was opened for business April 16, 1887. The growth of the bank has been healthy and continuous. At the end of its first year of existence the deposits were $31,318.91. At the present time the deposits are $455,000 with a guarantee fund and surplus of $27,000. The bank has paid 4 per cent interest on deposits annually. The present officers are: A. P. Delabarre, president; H. D. Pease and Allison Howes, vice-presidents; A. C. Guilford, treasurer; Max Antes, C. L. Boyden, Victor Bardwell, Charles Parsons, A. J. Patterson, C. L. Hassell, C. F. Elmer, and J. B. Packard, trustees. Congregational Baptist Catholic Methodist The Conway Churches. Chapter VI. THE CHURCHES. The Congregational Church. By Ri;v. Kdward L. Chute. Religious services were held within the limits of the town as early as 1767, but it was not until the following year that a church was organized. On July 14, 1768, thirty-two persons, sixteen men and sixteen women, signed the covenant and thus constituted the First Congregational Church of Conway. Pre- vious to the organization of the church, at an adjourned town meeting held at the house of Capt. Jonathan Whitney, a com- mittee was appointed to fix the center of the town, so that the meeting house would be convenient to the residents of the township. The committee reported that the place selected was "ye nole" about fifteen or twenty rods north of the southeast corner of the Center Street, and upon that spot the house was erected. The next thing was to choose a "Learned and Orthodox Minister." Rev. Mr. Strong was engaged to preach two months on probation, beginning the middle of April, 1768. For the convenience of those attending worship horse sheds were erected near Mr. Whitney's house, and the people continued to worship there, and at Nathaniel Field's and Joseph Catlin's until the meeting house was ready. In 1769 a committee was chosen to procure a settled minister. April 9 of the same year the Rev. John Emerson preached his first sermon in a barn in the southeastern part of the town on land belonging to Josiah Boyden. The previous Sunday Mr. Emerson had preached in the Brattle Street Church in Boston. In view of the circum- stances there was some truth in the dominie's remark that his sermon in Conway was "John preaching in the wilderness." Mr. Emerson, however, was far from being a self-seeker or a weakling. For fifty-six and one-half years he labored assidu- ously and faithfully. Perhaps no other name is more honored among the early inhabitants, certainly no other individual did more to build and make secure the educational, moral, and 130 HISTORY OF CONWAY. religious foundations of the growing settlement. An extract from Mr. Emerson's letter of acceptance written November 25, 1769, shows his devout spirit as well as a glimpse of the native shrewdness for which he was noted : — "Notwithstanding by settling in this place I am under a necessity of subjecting myself to several peculiar difficulties, yet considering that the great Head of the church has, as I trust, inclined your hearts to give me so unanimous an invitation, and as there appears a hopeful prospect of usefulness, I hereby manifest my cheerful acceptation, not being insensible at the same time of my unworthiness of the honor as well as unfitness for the important work to which I am devoting myself. With respect to the outward support which you have offered me I indeed expected that in consequence of my being your first minister I should be entitled to an interest in the land which I understand was appropriated to that use, but which now it seems is a matter of some doubt. However, I presume I shall enjoy in addition to the settlement you have offered me, likewise my fire wood, an article which I look upon as necessary to my support. Though not specified in the contract, yet inasmuch as the committee informs me of your readiness to give it I shall depend upon you complying with the same." Mr. Emerson's ministry was richly blessed of God in respect to its effect upon the religious life of the people. During the last quarter of the eighteenth century the town grew steadily in population; the highest point was reached at about the year 1800 when the number was 2,000. It is worthy of notice that in 1789, Mr. Emerson received 121 new^ members into the church, 118 of them on profession of faith. Again in 1816 he welcomed 54 more. When he ended his care of the church in 1821 the membership was nearly 300. In July, 1816, the town or society voted to grant a colleague to the pastor although they seem not to have carried out this purpose for the next five years. In June, 1821, Edward Hitchcock was ordained as colleague. Mr., afterwards Dr., Hitchcock remained four years and four months and then accepted the professorship of Chem- istry and Natural History in Amherst College. In 1844 he became president of the college, in which capacity he labored with distinguished success for the ensuing ten years. After THE CHURCHES. 131 resigning the presidency he remained on the college faculty as lecturer in the. department of Geology and Natural Theology until his death in 1864. Dr. Hitchcock was one of the great men of his time, known and honored at home and abroad. Besides his professional duties he published more than twenty volumes on scientific and kindred subjects. He was a man of God, a friend of youth, and a pioneer and leader in the scien- tific advance of the nineteenth century. The succeeding pastors were: Daniel Crosby, 1827 to 1833; Melancton G. Wheeler, 1834 to 1841; Samuel Harris, 1841 to 1851; George M. Adams, 1851 to 1863; Elijah Cutler, 1863 to 1868; William A. Thomp- son, 1868 to 1872; Arthur Shirley, 1872 to 1881; Albert B. Christy, 1881 to 1884; WilHam A. Thomas, 1886 to 1888; Elias B. HiUard, 1889 to 1893; Caldwell Morrison, 1893 to 1895; Eugene F. Hunt, 1895 to 1904; John T. Berry, 1904 to 1906; Edward L. Chute, 1906 to 1916; F. A. Sanborn, 1916—. Referring to the list of pastors who have served this church during the century and a half of its existence attention is arrested by the name of Samuel Harris. Mr. Harris began his career as preacher and theologian in Conway, being ordained to the ministry here and serving this church in the pastorate from 1841 to 1851. He resigned to take charge of the South Church of Pittsfield, IVIass. Afterwards he became professorof Theology at New Haven, Conn., and later president of Bowdoin College. Whether the sterling qualities of the people made the men or the exceptional men made the people cannot be determined. Perhaps both factors were employed. It is certainly true that the Conway church, at least during its earlier years, enjoyed the ministry of able men who were trained and de\eloped here to become distinguished in later years. Some reference to the work of the church for children seems appropriate. The long list of baptisms recorded during the first one hundred years shows that 1,633 children received this rite upon the faith of those who exercised parental care over them. For the first fifty years the church had no Sabbath School. July 3, 1818, the school was organized by the following vote: "Voted, to choose a committee consisting of seven persons, four of the church and three of the congregation, to superintend said school, select catechists and jjrovide for its orderly and useful 132 HISTORY OF CONWAY. operation." Since that time the Sunday School has had a con- tinuous and useful history. During its one hundred and fifty years of life the church has received a large number of persons into its membership. It began with 32. At the end of fifty years 523 had been received. At the centennial year 956 more had been added; at the year 1900, 311 more. The whole number received from the beginning to the year 1917 was 1,860. On the other side of the account we find that at the end of its first century it had dismissed to other churches over 650 of its members, while more than 400 of its members had dropped into the grave here at home. The highest point in membership was reached in the decade between 1850 and 1860. The num- ber then rose to 334. Great fluctuations and inevitable de- crease in membership has been the experience of most rural churches during the past fifty years. This by no means spells failure. Numbers are not all. It is an inspiring thought that this church, in common with many others, has for more than a century been pouring its best blood into the currents of life the world over. It is no disparagement to other churches to say that the First Church of Conway has had a distinguished share in the fruitful work. Men and women in almost every walk of life, many of whom have gained distinction as merchants, bank- ers, lawyers, and teachers, are credited to this ancient church. Not the least of its ministry also has been found in the untitled and uncrowned children who have been trained here to virtue, honesty, and Christian faith and who are still sending forth these abiding qualities to the present and to the future generations. During all these years the church has been in touch with missionary and reform movements. It has always been a giving church. Though affected by the shrinkage of population and the changes which have depleted the number and value of the farms within the township it has stood and still stands for Christian fellowship and for the leadership of Jesus Christ in saving men and building up the kingdom of God. This sketch maV not improperly close with a brief description of the three houses of worship occupied by the church. (Many of the following facts are taken from a sermon by Charles B. Rice, D.D., preached at the dedication of the present building, December 16, 1885.) THK CHURCHES. 133 The first of the buildings referred to was built in the summer and fall of 1769 a few months before the ordination of Rev. John Emerson, the first pastor. It was located on a spot deemed to be the exact center of the town, upon a slight elevation on which the South Center schoolhouse was afterwards placed. This point continued for more than seventy years to be the municipal center of the town and largely, also, its ecclesiastical and religious center — for the town and parish then were one. The town building committee of this meeting house consisted of Joseph Catlin, Nathaniel Field, Elias Dickinson, Jonathan Whitney, and Thomas French. The first town meeting held in this house was on the twenty- fifth of September, 1769. Religious meetings began to be held there at about the same time. After about twenty-five years the house was greatly enlarged and improved. It must be remembered, however, that these improvements were not for luxurious ends; for the building was never heated artificially and the pews or "slips" were rude and bare. But these were occupied. This was the period when the town had its largest population, and on a Sunday few if any vacant seats were found within this ancient temple. The final dimensions of the building were 100 feet by 60. There were doors at either end and also a principal door at the middle on the eastern side. From this eastern entrance the main aisle ran to the lofty pulpit on the west. The pews were square and aisles ran round the whole room, distant from the outer wall by the width of a single line of pews. This structure was no doubt well suited to the needs of the times in which it was built. It was judged necessary, however, at length to replace it with another. The question of location again came up. This was considered of vital importance and many and long were the discussions over the mooted point. By a large addition from Shelburne on the northwest the territorial center of the town had changed materially. Still the old site had its advan- tages through the associations which cluster around a sacred spot. After long deliberation a compromise was effected and finally upon the narrow edge of the ravine where the present house of worship, stands in the year 1841 the second meeting 134 HISTORY OF CONWAY house was erected. The building committee were Asa Rowland, Joseph Avery, Austin Rice, John Howland, and Gardner Dickin- son. Second Congregational Meeting House. Built 1841. Burned 1885. The size was 52 feet by 80 and the cost $7,000. There was a single shapely steeple at the eastern end within which the bell from the former house was put. The town contributed $500 toward the building and it had the use of the hall in the basement for its public meetings. It was dedicated August 31, 1841, Rev. Samuel Harris, the pastor, preaching from the text in I. Cor. 1: 18. THE CHURCHES. 135 This house was destroyed by fire February 27, 1885. Meas- ures were taken at once for another edifice. A builcHng com- mittee was appointed consisting of Carlos Batchelder, John B. Packard, Darwin Sanderson, Edwin Cooley, Jabez C. Newhall, and Addison Brown. Daniel Rice, a son of the town and of the church, and a workman also upon the former building, returned to direct the work of construction. The house was placed lipon the same spot as that occupied by the preceding structure and wlicn completed was regarded by all as "comely, commodious, and substantial." Many individuals and families contributed to the erection of this house and its furnishing. The Field brothers gave liberally to furnish the large room in the vestry. The family of General Whitney presented a pipe- organ. Fisher Ames and others gave a new bell and the young ladies of Mrs. Perry's school furnished the pulpit with a Bible. Many hands and hearts were united in the enterprise until the entire cost of $12,000 was provided for. The house was dedicated December 16, 1885, Rev. Charles B. Rice, a native of the town, preaching the sermon. Our story is told. Men and events change but God and truth abide. The things for which the church stands are vital to every community. The rural church is just now under special strain but at the same time it faces great opportunities. The character and achievements of the fathers who founded the town of Conway and its first Christian church permit the hope that their descendants will rise to the full measure of privi- lege and accomplishment in days to come. THE BAPTIST CHURCH. Bv Rev. Charles Stanley Pease. The history of the Baptist church and society in Conway begins with the year 1788. The church records open with the following: — "At a Conference Meeting of the Baptist order in Conway at the house of Mr. William Salisbury on Thursday the 4th of September, 1788. The meeting opened by singing and solemn prayer. 136 HISTORY OF CONWAY. "First, Made choice of Brother Shevi leader of the meeting. Second, Brother Enos Smith, scribe. Third, Proceeded to see how many of the brethren of Ashfield church, Hving in Conway, are for joining to build a church in Conway. They now being asked, brethren David Whitney, Caleb Rice, Elnathan Tobey, John Beal, gave their voices to build, and also brother Noah Tobey." Then follows an account of what seems to have been a prayer and conference meeting, during which other brethren made confession of faith and expressed the desire for membership in a Baptist church. A council was accordingly convened which met October 1, 1788, at the house of William Salisbury, who lived in the southwest part of the town. There were present as delegates Elder Adam Hamilton and two brethren from the Westfield church and Elder Enos Smith and two delegates from the Ashfield church. Two days were spent in religious exercises. Elder Hamilton preached the first day from Prov. 14:32, and on the second day from Col. 3:17. Eight persons were then baptized by Elder Hamilton, "after satisfaction being given of their union to Christ by faith." On the third day of the council, viz., October 3, 1788, the church was formally organized, and the fact attested by Adam Hamilton, moderator, and Enos Smith, scribe. The following Sunday fourteen others were baptized by Elder Hamilton and the ordinance of the Lord's Supper was admin- instered. On the 19th of the same month, seven more were baptized, and on the 18th of the following month, eleven others, making forty baptisms within a few weeks to encourage the new church. It is impossible to determine the exact number of the charter members, as no attempt was made in the records to distinguish between the early members and those subse- quently added by baptism and letter. By a strange oversight even the names of the eight who were the first to be baptized are unrecorded. The following are the names which are mentioned of those connected with the church during the year of its organization: — Noah Tobey, Ebenezer Tolman, Barzillah AUis, Solomon Hartwell, Jr., Amos Shevi. THE CHURCHES. 13? Received from Baptist church in Ashfield by letter: — EInathan Tobey, Caleb Rice, David Whitney, Deborah Tobey. Received by baptism, October 5: — ■ Samuel Allen, Seth Salisbury, William Salisbury, Ebenezer Thacher, Zac'cheus Tobey, Hannah Salisbury, Stephen Salisbury, Rhoda Salisbury, Joel Allis, Betty Tobey, Josiah Beal, Lewis, Asa Curtis, Sarah Hartwell. Received by baptism, October 19: — Zadock King, David Tobey, Abner Packard, Daniel Lewis, Joseph Tobey, Elizabeth Tobey, Sarah Tobey. Received by baptism, November 18: — Aaron Howe, Lydia Beal, Jason Harrington, Abigail Hartwell, Samuel Allen, Jr., Deborah Tobey, Calvin Keyes, Elizabeth Tobey, Isabel Hamilton, Ann Sadler, Jane Tobey. The church organized with the choice of W'ilHam SaHsbury as "scribe," but as he did not assume that ofhce Abner Packard became the first acting clerk of the church and performed the duties of the office for three years. EInathan Tobey and William Salisbury were chosen deacons, to which number Caleb Rice was soon afterw^ards added. Amos Shevi, one of the members of the church, was called to the office of pastor, but seems not to have been ordained and virtually became an occasional supply. The church was served by temporary sup- plies for a number of years. Among this number should be mentioned Rev. Josiah Goddard, a resident of the town, who as a member of the church rendered pastoral service as needed. Calvin Keyes seems to have been the first recognized pastor of the church. He was baptized November 18, 1788, and thus, as we have noted, was virtually one of the charter members. Having been invited on several occasions to "improve his gifts," he at length was called to the pastorate, and accepting the office was regularly ordained on November 7, 1799, as attested 138 HISTORY OF CONWAY. by Rev. Asa Todd of Whately, moderator, and Rev. Enos Smith of Ashfield, scribe. He evidently received much assistance in pulpit ministrations from neighboring and visiting clergymen, but continued to be the recognized pastor of the church for more than twenty years. He lived on his farm in the southwest part of the town, near the present Poland schoolhouse. During much of this time the church as a matter of principle withheld any fixed salary. Elder Keyes continued to reside in Conway and remained a member of the Baptist church till his death, September 16, 1843. Two extensive revivals occurred during his ministry, one in 1807-08 when fifty-six persons were added to the church by baptism, and another in 1816 when thirty-seven persons were baptized. He was connected with the church as pastor and layman for fully fifty years and served its interests with unselfish devotion. In 1818 a call was extended to Rev. David Pease of Belcher- towh to become the pastor with a stipulated salary of $250 a year. The call was accepted and from this time on the succes- sion of pastors becomes clearly indicated. The following is a list of pastors with length of service: — Rev. Calvin Keves, 1799-1818 Rev. David Pease, 1818-1819 Rev. Paul Himes, 1821-1822 Rev. Calvin Keyes, 1824-1827 Rev. David Pease, 1827-1831 Rev. Cooley, 1832-1833 Rev. Phineas Howe, 1834-1835 Rev. Wm. H. Rice, 1835 Rev. Foster Hartwell, 1838 Rev. David Wright, 1840-1841 Rev. Henry Rouse, 1841-1843 Rev. Joel Kenney, 1844-1846 Rev. Perley P. Sanderson, 1846-1847 Rev. Richard Lentell, 1847-1848 Rev. Chas. A. Buckbee, 1848-1851 Rev. Martin Byrne, 1851-1853 Rev. David Pease, 1854-1856 Rev. Payson Tyler, 1857-1858 Rev. A. J. Chaplin, 1858-1860 Rev. C. F. Nicholson, 1861-1862 Rev. Daniel Robinson, 1862-1863 Rev. J. V. Lentell, 1863-1866 Rev. J. J. Townsend, 1866-1868 Rev. A. J. Chaplin, 1869-1874 Rev. Dwight Ives, D.D., 1875-1876 Rev. Alfred Colburn, 1876-1877 Rev. Everett D. Stearns, 1877-1880 Rev. H. R. Mitchell, 1880-1885 Rev. F. S. Weston, 1885-1889 Rev. J. P. Hunter, 1889-1890 Rev. B. S. Morse, 1891-1892 Rev. W. C. Whitaker, 1892-1896 Rev. C. S. Pease, 1896-1903 Rev. H. A. Calhoun, 1903-1904 Rev. J. E. Dame, 1905-1909 Rev. Edward Cooper, 1910-1914 For some time after the church was organized, meetings were held in the house or barn of different members, evidently rotating from one section of the town to another as suited convenience. The people residing in the southwest part of the town met by themselves during winter by mutual agreement. THE CHURCHES 139 Within a year, howexcr, of the (hue of organization, plans were under way for a meeting house. The distance was meas- ured to the extreme families and a central location was sought. As a wide difference of opinion made agreement difihcult a council was called with delegates from sister churches "to assist in choosing a si)ot for the meeting house." The site selected is described as "on ilie ccjunty road at the bend of the river." It was near where the Roman Catholic church now stands. A strip of land was purchased of Capt. Consider Arms three rods wide and twenty rods in length. Here a meeting house was erected 30 by 40 feet in dimensions. The burden of the work was curiously apportioned. One brother was to get out the heavy timber, another the "scantling," etc. The following vote was duly recorded: "Made choice of brother Ebenezer Redfield to provide lOd nails, and brother Prince Tobey to get the 4d nails." Benjamin Wheat was engaged as master workman. The work was begun May 26, 1790, and the building was evidently in use the following year, but probably was never really completed. It was seldom, if ever, used in winter, the records of meetings held during that season of the year being dated at various private houses. In 1810, for reasons not given, it was decided to change the location. A long string of oxen was attached to the building, and under the efficient direction of John Arms drew it bodily for a number of rods along the side hill to some point near the present residence of Mrs. Edward Delabarre where it was found necessary to take the building apart. From this point it was moved in sections and reconstructed on the site of the present building, which replaced it in 1840. The follow- ing list of pewholders is preserved under date of December 10, 1812:— Dr. Moses Hayden, Jonathan Smith, Luther Newhall, Jason Harrington, Henry Huxford, Capt. D. Stearns, Wm. Redfield, Augustus Leonard, Caleb Sherman, John Arms, No. L Col. Rice, No. 2. John Broadrick, No. 3. Caleb Beal, No. 4. Capt. Wrisley, No. 5. Solomon Goodale No. 6. Daniel Newhall, No. 7. John Batchelder, No. 8. George Stearns, No. 10. . ohn Arms, No. 11. 3enjamin Tobey, No. 12. Josiah Goddard, 140 HISTORY OF CONWAY. No. 13. Lieut. Nathaniel Goddard, No. 14. Barzillah Allis, Israel Rice, No. 15. Elisha Goddard, No. 16. . oel Bacon, Cornelius Dunham, No. 17. . onathan Whitney, Stephen Sanderson, No. 18. 3r. Moses Hayden, No. 19. Amaziah Tobey, No. 20. Jonathan Bartlett, Aaron Hale, No. 21. Capt. William Stow, No. 22. Lieut. Caleb Beal, Benjamin Rice, Wm. Salisbury, No. 23. James Newhall, Rufus Harrington, No. 24. Ebenezer Redfield. Pews in the Gallery. No. 27. Silas Redfield, Dudley Redfield, No. 28. Ethan Billings, No. 29. Asa Allis, Joseph Wheelock, No. 30. Lieut. George Stearns, ^enry Allis, No. 31. Benjamin Tobey, Caleb Sherman, No. 32. Jonathan Whitney, Abijah Stearns, No. 33. Jonathan Whitney, John Broadrick, No. 34. Capt. Wrisley, Capt. Wm. Stow, No. 35. Capt. Stearns, John Batchelder, No. 36. Daniel Newhall, No. 37. Amaziah Tobey, No. 38. Augustus Leonard, Timothy Goodale, No. 39. Aaron Hale, Jeduthan Bartlett, No. 40. Capt. Consider Amsden, No. 41. Capt. Consider Amsden, No. 42. . oseph Pulsifer, No. 45. i^leazer Flagg, No. 44. Samuel Hartwell, No. 45. Chauncey Goodrich, No. 46. Francis Hartwell, No. 47. Stephen Sanderson. It is interesting to note the array of military officers in this brief Hst, i. e., one colonel, four captains, and three lieutenants. The present edifice was built on a larger plan that the first, measuring 55 by 38 feet. The old-time high-backed pews with doors and the elevated pulpit have disappeared, and the building has been raised to make room for the vestry beneath the audi- torium, but the essential features of the meeting house remain as when built in 1840. The specifications and contract were signed July 25, 1840, by George Stearns, Jr., Thomas Dinsmore, Joseph Wheelock, and Charles B. Stearns as committee for the church, and by Alonzo Parker, contractor. Ihe building was to be completed within seven months from date, for which service Mr. Parker was to receive the old building and the sum of $2,000. THE CHURCHES. 141 The parsonage was built in 1849. No record of that impor- tant acquisition is preserved except the deed of the land which was given by John Arms, under date of April 4, 1849, to George Stearns, Jr., T. Dinsmore, and H. Cole, as tru,stees of the Baptist society. The land was then the corner of Mr. Arms' property nearest the meeting house. In the summer of 1883 water was brought to the house from a spring in Arms grove. In 1914 extensive repairs were made on the parsonage, including an addition built on the north side of the house and a piazza sixty feet in length built on two sides of the house. For many years the meeting house had no bell. The first building had no steeple, but the second building was provided with a tall, graceful spire and spacious belfry. In 1868, largely through the generosity of Edward Delabarre, a large clear- toned bell was hung in place. It was rung for the first time on the third Sunday in August. In 1871, during the pastorate of Rev. A. J. Chaplin, extensive repairs were undertaken on all of the church property. The foundations of the meeting house were relaid and a furnace was provided. The pulpit was remodeled and refurnished. A bap- tistery was built. The edifice was repainted, the roof tinned, and the parsonage was reshingled. The total expense was $2,262.87. The sum was all raised within three years, prin- cipally through voluntary subscriptions. The membership of the church at this time was sixty-five. Further changes were made in 1884, when Rev. H. R. Mitchell was pastor. The entire building was raised five feet and the basement deepened, giving two vestries, a kitchen, and a coal room with nine feet ceiling beneath the audience room. During the years 1894-96 $500 was expended in general repairs upon the meeting house and parsonage. This money came to the church as a legacy from Mrs. Delia R. Foster, who, though a brief resident of the town and not a member of the church, desired to express in this way her sympathy with the Baptist interests in Conway. In 1899, the sum of $200 having been left to the church by a devoted sister. Miss Martha Hassell, it was voted to renovate the larger vestry and make it a memorial room to perpetuate her memory. The old plaster was covered with a steel ceiling and the entire room was repainted. At the first annual meeting 142 HISTORY OF CONWAY. of the church held after the repairs were completed, the following resolutions were adopted by vote of the church and recorded in the minutes: — "Whereas, in God's loving providence, we have received a timely gift toward the renovation of our prayer-room and other church property, through the faithful and kindly thoughtfulness of our late beloved sister, Martha B. Hassell; and "Whereas, this last act of material helpfulness is only one of many generous expressions of years past of her true and fervent love to God and His church; and "Whereas, the gentle and holy influence of one so pure in heart was for long years a benediction to our work and to our workers; therefore, "Resolved, that the fragrance of this tender and sacred memory is breathed into our church life and work of to-day, and still lives in our hearts to bless and to sanctify, to strengthen, and to bind us more closely together; and "Resolved, that our renovated prayer-room, in its bright and cleanly dress, be made a memorial to her name; and that it be our sacred care to add to it, as we may be able, new features of attractiveness and beauty, that, as an expression of our love to God, it may be more and more a meet place to invoke the presence of His Holy Spirit." In 1902, the vestry and social rooms were wired for electric lights and in 1911 the small vestry was given a steel ceiling and otherwise renovated. This church, like many others in early days, was for years much exercised with cases of discipline. Three occur during the first year of its organization. In 1819, dissensions arose beyond the power of the local body to control, and the assistance of neighboring churches was invoked. We find this entry in the minutes under date of March 10, 1819: "Voted unanimously to send for a number of the neighboring Elders and delegates to give us counsel respecting our critical situation as a church, and how we shall proceed toward our delinquent brethren." This entry was followed by another under date of March 24, 1819, which we give in full because -of its important bearing upon what is evidently the most critical period of the history of the THE CHURCHES. 143 church: "An ecclesiastical council convened by the request of the Baptist church in this place to give them such advice and counsel as shall be viewed proper by the council after hearing their statement of difficulties." Churches represented in council with list of delegates — Shelburne: Joel Jones, Simon Dewolf; Colerain: Elder George Witherall, Isaac Chapin, David Purinton; Le^'erett: Elder Montague, Kene Whitmore, Nathan Ripley; Belchertown: Elder Thomas Marshall, Isaace Robins, David Lyon. Deacon Hubbard being present was added to the council. The council made choice of Elder Marshall, moderator, and Elder Witherall, clerk. Prayer by the moderator. After hearing a statement of difticulties the council retired and formed the following result: — "Dear Brethren, after deliberate consultation we are unani- mously of the opinion that it is the duty of the church in this place to dissolve their visibility. And for those who can be agreed to form themselves into a church and select or form such articles and covenant, to which each member shall set their names, as shall be approved by a regular council who may be requested to assist in organizing them into a visible church. "By order and behalf of the council. "(Signed) Thomas Marsilvll, George Witherall." The church organization was accordingly dissolved and remained so until June 12, 1820, when acting upon the second recommendation of the council twelve men and thirteen women agreed upon certain articles of faith and a covenant which met the approval of a council again regularly convened. This council formally recognized the now organized church, and the moderator. Elder Montague of Leverett, extended to a repre- sentative of the church the hand of fellowship as attested by Rev. David Pease, clerk of the council. In 1842 the "Articles of Eaith" were revised, to which were added "Articles of Prac- tice" and "Rules of Discipline." A new church "Covenant" was also adopted which differs little from the one in use at the present da\-. The purpose of these statements concerning Christian faith and conduct was merely to summarize the teachings of the Bible upon these points. 144 HISTORY OF CONWAY. The early minutes were not kept with the order and exact- ness one could wish. Deacon Robert A. Coffin, who was elected clerk in 1850 and served in this capacity for twenty-six years, rendered an enduring service to the church by the system which he inaugurated in keeping the records. The following served as clerks of the church till the year of federation: Abner Packard, 1788-91; Jason Harrington, 1791-1808; Benjamin Rice, Jr., 1808-; Franklin Stowe, 1836-37; Foster Hartwell, 1837-39; Rufus Smith, 1839-44; Samuel Dinsmore, 1844^47; George Stearns, Jr., 1847-50; Robert A. Coffin, 1850-76; C. D. Ives, 1876-89; R. G. Rice, 1889-1914. Owing to evident omissions in the early minutes it is impos- sible to ascertain the total number of members who have been connected with the church since its organization. More care, however, was taken in recording the baptisms as they occurred, and the total number of those who united with the church by this public confession of faith in Christ is probably six hundred and twenty. The most remarkable revival occurred in 1843, during the pastorate of Rev. Henry Rouse, when beginning with February 19 there were baptisms on almost every Sunday for several weeks. As there was at that time no baptistery in the church and the ordinance was accordingly administered in the river, the following entry in the minutes during that winter will be appreciated: "Visited our baptismal grave again, where Elder Rouse administered the ordinance of baptism to right willing converts amid ice and snow." The total number baptized by Elder Rouse during that winter and spring was fifty. During his pastorate of two years eighty-six were added to the church by baptism and letter. From the first there have been constant depletions in numbers through removals. Young people have grown up under the influence and training of the church only to remove to some other place for permanent residence. For this reason the membership has not varied greatly from year to year. It has received constant additions but has also suffered as constant depletions. Probably its largest membership was in 1851 when one hundred and fifty-five were enrolled. The church has given seven ordained ministers to the world: Rev. Josiah Goddard, Rev. Calvin Keyes, Rev. Foster Hartwell, Rev. Edmund H. THE CHURCHES. 145 Smith, Rev. Horace Jenkins, D.D., Rev. Harrison Stearns, Rev. Wilbur F. Rice. Elder Goddard is the author of a book of hymns published in Conway in 1798. Elder Keyes, as above noted, was the regular pastor of the Conway Baptist Church twenty-two years, and an active worker in the church for over fifty years. Dr. Jenkins was born in Ashfield in 1832 but remov^ed to Conway when ten years of age. He studied in the public schools and received special instruction from Deacon Robert Coffin, a veteran teacher of Conway. He united with the Conway Baptist Church in 1849. He was appointed a missionary to China in 1859. He died in China in 1908. He was the author of several text-books in the Cliinese language and for twenty years was president of the Baptist Theological Seminary at Shaohsing. Rev. Wilbur F. Rice was baptized in Ashfield, Mass., whither his father removed when he was twelve years old; but he had been a member of the Sunday School in the Conway church, where his father, Franklin E. Rice, and his grandfather. Deacon Benjamin Rice, had been faithful members. The Sunday School department was organized in 1830 through the efforts of the following committee chosen b\- the church for that purpose: Benjamin Rice, Abijah Stearns, Cyrus Alden, Foster Hartwell, Samuel Montague, and William Bacon. The early records of the church "Society," so called, or parish, have not been preserved and the date of its formation can only be conjectured. It is probable from all indications that the two forms of organization are co-extensive. When the church temporarily disbanded in 1819, the "Society" con- tinued its organization and held the property. Its annual business meeting has "been held on the first Monday in April, announced by a warrant posted at the door of the church. In April, 1914, the Baptist and Methodist people of Conway united in the formation of a Federated church holding their services in the Methodist house of worship. The same year the Baptist Church and "Society" together deeded all of their church property, both meeting house and parsonage, to the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society. As the Baptists were no longer maintaining separate services there remained 146 HISTORY OF CONWAY. no further service for the parish society to render and it has practically ceased to exist. The articles of federation provided, however, for the individuality of each church in membership, missionary offerings, and in control of church property. The Baptists accordingly continue to hold an annual church meeting for the election of officers and the transaction of business relating to their separate denominational existence. The last public service held in the Baptist house of worship was on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1914, when the pastor. Rev. Edward Cooper, having resigned to facilitate the federation, preached an appropriate sermon. The Baptist meeting house was built in the plain but imposing style of early New England church architecture. Its white spire is the most conspicuous object in the village. A background of giant elms has added to its quiet dignity; and for more than a century the commanding elevation and pleasant neighborhood of which this church was the religious and social center has been known as "Baptist Hill." THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. By Rev. Charles Stanley Pease. The exact beginning of Methodism in Conway cannot be ascertained. It has been stated that the first sermon ever preached by a Methodist minister in this community was by the eccentric Lorenzo Dow about 1825. An extensive revival began with this sermon. Rev. Parmele Chamberlain is said to have preached about the same time and also Rev. Samuel Luckey. From an early class book it is learned that on the eighth of June, 1826, a Methodist class was organized in the South Part with Rev. Parmele Chamberlain, the preacher in charge, and Dwight Sanderson, class leader. There were eight members in this class. The next record shows that the class was reorganized in 1843 with fourteen members, Dwight Sander- son still leader. It was called the "Whately class." At Shirk- shire a class was formed in 1835 by Rev. William Gordon when he was stationed at Buckland. A. M. Field was the leader. But in the southwest and Poland districts the most system- atic work was done in those early years. In 1826 and 1827 the Rev. Josiah Hayden, who is spoken of as a "powerful exhorter," THE CHURCHES. 147 in company with a local preacher by the name of Lewis, held meetings in the old Poland schoolhouse and at the house of Shubel .Bradford. A camp meeting was held in that neigh- borhood as early as 1831 under the direction of the Presiding Elder of the Springfield District, Rev. Orange Scott. These meetings resulted in a notable revival. A number of people in the Poland and Brier Hill districts identified themselves with the Methodist movement. A schoolhouse in that section was enlarged and a room fitted up for religious meetings. The building was used for many years both as a school and as a church. It was known as the "Chapel." A beautiful cascade in the mountain brook which runs by the site of the chapel has since been known as "Chapel Falls." This society was at first a part of the Northampton circuit, then for a time was included in a circuit with Worthington and Buckland. Rev. William Gordon, Rev. Windsor Ward, Rev. John Cad well, Rev. Philo Hawks, and other "circuit riders" supplied them with occasional preaching. In 1842 Rev. Orange Scott having identified himself with the anti-slavery movement and having lost hope of his own church becoming an anti-slavery power, withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal Church and with others organized the "Wesleyan Methodist Connection" of which body he became the first president. Many in the Chapel Society sympathized with their former leader in his anti-slavery sentiments and following his example withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal body. This division continued for some years and led to the extinction of the society in Poland. Preaching services at the chapel became infrequent and were discontinued about 1855. Meanwhile the center of Methodist activity had been trans- ferred to the village. In 1852 Rev. W. F. Lacount, then stationed at South Deerfield, was invited to Conway to hold a Methodist service in the hall over the store at Burkeville. A class was formed with Philip Lanigar as class leader. A Sunday School was also organized with thirty-nine members. The Presiding Elder, Rev. Charles Baker, often preached at these meetings. Pastors from South Deerfield and from Shel- burne Falls preached Sunday evenings. After a time the meetings were transferred to the old Burkeville schoolhouse on the hill just north and opposite the present Catholic church. 148 HISTORY OF CONWAY. In 1855 Rev. Thomas Marcy, then Presiding Elder of the Springfield District, organized a Quarterly Conference with Philip Lanigar, Joseph Town, David Hastings, and D. Houston as stewards. Alfred A. Presby was appointed exhorter and class leader. Mr. Presby was at this time working in the Burkeville mills but was an active Christian worker and a good speaker. He preached to the satisfaction and profit of the people both in the Burkeville schoolhouse and the church at Baptist Corners. He later became an ordained minister. In 1858 or 1859 a small hall was fitted up over the schoolhouse as a place of worship and A. M. Field was placed in charge of the church. A little later the society was joined to the church at South Deerfield and one pastor preached at both places. Objections having been made to their use of the school- house, a room was fitted up in 1863 in the upper story of the brick house in Burkeville, which was occupied for a year, when the meetings were transferred to a hall rented of Samuel Bige- low on River Street. In 1868 Oliver Field built a hall specially for the use of Methodist meetings. This building was in the rear of his residence, near the village bridge. It was plain and roughly finished but served the purpose of a church for some time. A great impetus was given to the Methodist movement in 1870 by a revival conducted by Mrs. Van Cott, an evangelist. A "praying band" from Shelburne Falls continued the meetings. The hall became too small to accommodate the attendants and steps were taken to perfect a permanent organization and to erect a suitable house of worship. Rev. William H. Cook was appointed a resident pastor in April, 1871, and the same month Dr. L. R. Thayer, Presiding Elder for the Springfield District, organized a Quarterly Conference. This official board was composed of the following members: Philip Lanigar, class leader; L. F. Brown, Sunday School superintendent; L. T. Brown, Philip Lanigar, E. L. Packard, stewards; Oliver Field, L. T. Brown, Philip Lanigar, R. M. Tucker, trustees. At the next Quarterly Conference, held July 6 of the same year, William Watson was added to the board of stewards and Richard Tucker, Franklin Pease, and Oliver Lawrence were added to the trustees. Subscriptions were started for a church building. Land was THE CHURCHES. 149 bought where the Methodist church now stands and ground was broken in September. The corner stone was laid in October and the work of building was pushed rapidly so that the vestry- was used for worship on Sunday, December 18. The building committee were Richard Tucker, F'ranklin Pease, and L. T. Brown. John Sprague was the master workman. The com- pleted edifice was dedicated on March 6, 1872. The weather was extremely cold and the roads badly drifted, nevertheless the attendance was large and enthusiastic. The services were in charge of Dr. Thayer, the Presiding Elder. The sermon of dedication was preached by Rev. I. G. Bidwcll. Rev. Cieorge E. Reed, afterwards president of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn., preached in the evening. The cost of the building was about $9,000. When the church was dedicated there were thirty-six mem- bers in full standing. But during that month nineteen additions were received, making the total number of those who may be regarded as charter members of the present organization fifty- five. Their names follow: Mrs. Elizabeth Bannister, L. T. Brown, Mrs. Martha E. Brown, Varney Boyden, Henry Boyden, William Bidwell, Mrs. William Bidwell, Mrs. Fannie E. Bradford, Mrs. Hannah Carrier, Olin D. Clark, Daniel Clark, Mrs. Laura Clark, Wilbur F. Clark, Mrs. Lucy A. Clark, Mrs. Jane Deverall, Miss Josephine Deverall, Mrs. Laura Dickinson, Oliver C. Field, Mrs. PZlccta S. Field, Miss Hattie Flagg, Lewis Franklin, Mrs. Sarah L. Franklin, George W. Irvine, Mrs. Maria Irvine, Philip Lanigar, Alvin Lawrence, Mrs. Maria Lawrence, Sarah Merri- field, Mrs. Martha May, Charles D. Naylor, Mrs. Effie Naylor, E. L. Packard, Mrs. Melvina Packard, Mrs. Lucinda Peck, T. J. Shepardson, Mrs. Desire Shepardson, Dwight Sanderson, Mrs. Priscilla Sanderson, William Stowe, Mrs. Lydia Stowe, Richard Tucker, Mrs. Delia R. Tucker, Richard M. Tucker, Mrs. Julia A. Tucker, John Tucker, Mrs. Harriet Tucker, Miss Eliza Tucker, Miss Eva Tucker, William Watson, Mrs. Maria Watson, Daniel Watson, Daniel Walker, Mrs. Carrie Walker, Austin Wells, and Mrs. Sarah Wells. Rev. A. C. Manson succeeded Rev. Mr. Cook in April, 1872, and the work prospered under him for two years. Thirty were added to the church. The next pastor was Rev. James A. De ISO HISTORY OF CONWAY. Forest, who began his labors in April, 1874. That year is one of the sad memories in many of the families of Conway. An epidemic of diphtheria spread through the town. Mr. De Forest was very attentive to the sick and officiated at many funerals of those who died of this disease. Two of his own children died, and a few days later the father and beloved pastor, exhausted with watching and sorrow, succumbed to the same disease. He died November 28, 1874, at the age of thirty-eight. He was buried beside his children in the Howland Cemetery in Conway. Mr. De Forest was a graduate of the Theological School of the Boston University and had served in the ministry seven years when he came to the Conway charge. He was sincerely loved by his people and his untimely death was felt to be a loss to the entire community. During the years following the building of the house of worship the prosperity of the church was very marked. It now had a spacious auditorium and convenient rooms for Sunday School and social purposes. During the pastorate of Rev. I. A. Mesler, 1877-79, a bell costing S296 was hung in the belfry. A parsonage was purchased in April, 1885, and first occupied as such by Rev. George H. Clark. The fifteenth anniversary of the church was celebrated with special exercises on Sunday and Monday, March 6 and 7, 1887. The historical address given by Rev. Mr. Clark on that occasion has been used freely in this sketch. In the course of time repairs on the church property became necessary. During the years 1890 and 1891 the interior of the church was repainted and frescoed, the auditorium was carpeted, and a new chandelier hung, costing altogether with other minor repairs about $700. In 1902 the church building was wired for electric lights and repainted on the outside. The church has been served by de\'oted pastors. For many years it was customary to hold schoolhouse meetings at frequent intervals in all of the outlying neighborhoods. Many gracious revivals have been enjoyed. Shortly before Mr. Clark came to the Conway charge the Congregational people lost their meet- ing house by fire and their pastor having resigned, they worshiped with the Methodists during the first eight months of Mr. Clark's pastorate. The records at this time mention congregations of THE CHURCHES. 151 250 to 300 people. During this period Mr. Clark was virtually pastor of the two churches. The largest membership in the history of the church was one hundred and twenty, reported by Rev. George Sanderson in 1888. In this connection tribute should be paid to the long and faithful service rendered by Philip Lanigar as class leader. He was appointed to this position when the Methodists first organized at Burkeville in 1852 and was reappointed when the church was reorganized with a resident pastor in 1871. He continued in this office until his death, July 14, 1894. Many of the present members remember with gratitude his earnest words of Christian exhorta- tion. Following is a list of the resident pastors beginning with the building of the house of worship: — R€v. W. H. Cook, Rev. A. C. Manson, Rev. J. A. De Forest, Rev. E. R. Thorndike, Rev. W. N. Richardson, Rev. I. A. Mesler, Rev. Henry Matthews, Rev. J. W. F"iilton, Rev. George W. Clark, Rev. George E. Sanderson, Rev. William S. Jagger, The Sunday School reached a high degree of efficiency under the leadership of the following superintendents: L. T. Brown, Chelsea Cook, W. F. Clark, Richard H. Cook, Charles L. Cook, and Mrs. James Robertson. Of the young people born in C\)nwa\- and reared in Methodist families four became Methodist ministers, viz.. Rev. Chester Field, Rev. I. B. Bigelow, Rev. Alvin Billings, Rev. Henry Bannister, D.D. Dr. Bannister was professor of Theology for twenty-six years in the Garrett Biblical Institute, Evans- Ion, 111. We are unable to give a complete list of the official members but special mention should be made of at least three. Richard Tucker was the chairman of the building committee of whom the church records say that "he rendered assistance which cannot be too highly estimated." He was made a member of the Quarterly Conference of the reorganized church in 1871 and remained an official member of the church until his death, 1871-72 Rev. J. A. Day, 1893-96 1872-74 Rev. J. P. West, 1896-97 187-1 Rev. Albert Beal, 1897-99 1875-76 Rev. E. V. Hinchliffe, 1899-02 1876-77 Rev. W. J. Kelley, 1902-05 1877-79 1879-82 Rev. A. S. Gregg, 1 Rev. C. H. Hanaford,/ 1905-06 1882-85 Rev. Wilbur T. Hale, 1906-09 1885-88 Rev. C. W. Comstock, 1909-10 1888-91 Mr. J. C. Hayes, 1910-11 1891-93 Mr. A. H. Miles, 1911-12 152 HISTORY OF CONWAY. November 30, 1889. Franklin Pease was made a trustee with Mr. Tucker in 1871 and also remained a member of the ofificial board during life. He came into the full membership of the church October 14, 1874, and to the day of his death, April 5, 1903, was loved and honored by all who knew him. His busi- ness judgment and his moral and financial support made him a tower of strength to the church. Chelsea Cook united with the church by letter February 2, 1873. He had already been elected a trustee and now became a steward. These offices as well as appointments on all important committees of the church were held by him until his death March 8, 1905. There were many other devoted and self-sacrificing official members whose hearty co-operation made possible the prosperity of the church. But these three seem to be in a class by themselves. The passing years have only made it more apparent how irrepa- rable was their loss to the church. Following the death of Chelsea Cook business depression in the town caused the removal of several Methodist families and in other ways weakened the financial strength of the church. For years bright and promising young people trained in the church to Christian service went away to seek larger oppor- tunities, leaving the home church to suffer for the lack of their assistance. Want of recruits to make good the loss through deaths and removals proved at length so serious that in 1912 the Quarterly Conference requested that no pastor be sent to them. For two years no services were held, and the church was practically extinct. Then an arrangement was made with the Baptists to unite in the support of a Federated church. THE FEDERATED CHURCH. By Prof. Alvah J. Norman. To properly understand the reasons for this federation it is necessary to know something of the previous condition of the two churches entering into it. With the vote of the Methodist Episcopal Church to close its doors at the end of the Conference year in April, 1912, there ended for them a period of almost hopeless endeavor to maintain regular public worship. This condition was due largely to the death of, and the moving away from town of, loyal self-sacrificing members until not THE CHURCHES. 153 enough were left to maintain an efficient service. With the closing of the Methodist church came a pronounced change in the reHgious situation in the village. The Baptist and Congrega- tional people each hoped that the Methodist membership would affiliate more or less closely with their church. Yet few, if any, of the Methodists united with either of the other churches and as the months passed it became evident that only a very limited number were taking an active interest in church work. No one questions the motives or the reasons for this condition but it became a matter of grave importance not only to those who had the religious welfare of the community at heart locally, but to denominational officials as well. Meanwhile the situation at the Baptist church was far from encouraging. Services in winter months were held in the vestry largely because it was impossible to heat the upper room. Attendance was small and financial support was inadequate for efficient service. A number of conferences were held with Rev. W. E. Waterbury, Field Secretary of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, and the only hopeful outlook pointed toward a federation with the Methodist church. An informal conference w^is held between Secretary Waterbury and Dr. J. P. Kennedy, Superintendent of the Springfield District of Methodist churches, and when it was known that both of these denominational leaders favored a federation the matter began to be considered seriously by all concerned. Much credit is due the last pastor of the Methodist church, Rev. A. H. Miles, who, continuing to reside for a time in Conway, gave moral support and personal effort to the federation of the Methodists with the Baptists. The personal relationships and friendships existing between the members of these two churches was a very hopeful factor in bringing about a federation. On Sunday, January 11, 1914, Rev. PZdward Cooper, pastor of the Baptist church, recognizing that the federation movement could not be launched successfully without all parties fully understanding that the new organization would have a free hand in choosing a pastor, resigned his pastorate. The resignation was to take effect in three months. On January 27, 1914, the Baptist church held a business meeting and appointed a committee consisting of Alvah J. Norman, Z. B. Kemp, and R. G. Rice 154 HISTORY OF CONWAY. with instructions to meet a like committee from the Methodist church for the purpose of forming, if possible, a plan of federa- tion, said plan to be reported back to a meeting of the church for action thereon. The Methodist people without official action requested Edwin T. Cook, William M. Hall, and William Forsythe to represent them. This joint committee met at the bank Friday afternoon, February 13, 1914, with all members present except Mr. Forsythe. Mr. Norman was made chairman. After much careful consideration a plan was agreed upon which in forni was a tentative constitution and by-laws of the con- templated church. The constitution and by-laws were later revised in joint conference of the churches with Dr. Kennedy and Secretary Waterbury advising. Both churches accepted its provisions. The first three articles indicate the distinctive form of the organization: (1) Name — This church shall be called the Federated Church of Conway. (2) Members — Present mem- bers of the Baptist and Methodist Episcopal churches shall be members of the Federated Church, also members of other evangelical churches may become Charter Members of the Federated Church by enrolling or signifying to the clerk a wish to become a member. Members of evangelical churches may be admitted by letter according to prevailing custom. Persons wishing to unite with the church by baptism shall be free to follow their individual convictions as to mode of administration. The pastor of the church may, if he chooses, secure the services of a neighboring clergyman to administer the ordinance in the form desired by the candidate. Letters of dismissal from either church may be granted to members in good standing upon their request. (3) Denominational Individuality — Each of the churches entering this federation shall maintain its own organization. Each denomination shall retain control of its property of whatever kind. Each individual may contribute to the missionary and benevolent work of the denomination with which he or she is now affiliated. Either church desiring to discontinue the federation may do so by giving a six months' notice of the same in writing. The first public service of the united churches was held in the Methodist meeting house on Sunday, April 19, 1914. The pulpit was supplied by Rev. Horace A. Sibley of East Northfield THE CHURCHES. 155 Mass. 0ther clergymen supplied the church with preaching during the summer until September 1st, when Rev. Charles Stanley Pease, a former pastor of the Baptist church, became the pastor of the Federated Church. The Baptist parsonage was enlarged and thoroughly repaired for his use. The Meth- odist meeting house, being more centrally located than the Baptist and in better repair, was used as the house of worship. The Federated Church was regularly organized at a specially appointed business meeting, April 29, 1914, when the following officers and committees were elected: Clerk, Mrs. Perkins Batchelder; treasurer, Edwin T. Cook; deacon, Willi^mi For- sythe;. chairman of finance committee, Z. B. Kemp; chief usher, W. M. Hall; chairman of missionary committee. Miss Anna Hopkins; music committee, Mrs. E. T. C^ook, Mrs. A. J. Norman, Mrs. \V. M. Hall; executive committee, Alvah J. Norman, chairman, Mrs. Perkins Batchelder, E. T. Cook, Z. B. Kemp, and \\\ M. Hall. SAINT MARK'S CHURCH. By Rev. P. H. Gallen. St. Mark's Catholic Church of Conway has always been a mission church, the congregation never having been numerous enough to support a resident priest. Until 1883 Conway formed part of the parish of Greenfield. The first recorded Catholic service in Conway was in 1845. The first mass was said in a schoolhouse by Rev. H. L. Robinson, a convert to the faith, and the pastor of Greenfield. The church was built in 1879 by Rev. Jeremiah McCarthy. He was succeeded in 1880 by Rev. T. E. Smith. Rev. D. E. O'Neil took charge in 1881 and Rev. M. E. Purcell in 1882. In 1883 Conway was attached to Sheli)urne Falls of which Rev. John Lee was pastor. He was succeeded by the following pastors of Shelburne Falls, who said mass in Conway twice a month: Revs. A. Legnier, 1885-87, Rev. J. H. Jeannotte to 1891, Rev. J. E. AUord to 1893, Rev. J. Balthasard to 1899. In January, 1899, Conway became a mission of ^outh Deer- field and was placed in charge of Rev. A. O'Grady. Mass has been celebrated everv Sundav and Holvdav since. Rev. A. 156 HISTORY OF CONWAY. O'Grady was succeeded in April, 1902, by Rev. W. C. Mc- Caughan. In April, 1904, Rev. W. Hartigan became pastor. In 1908 Rev. P. F. Doyle came to assist Rev. W. Hartigan and remained until January, 1910, when Rev. J. F. McGrath replaced him. In June, 1910, Rev. P. H. Gallen, the present pastor, succeeded Rev. W. Hartigan. Rev. J. F. McGrath was trans- ferred in April, 1914, since which time Rev. F. C. Burnes has been assistant. The mission of Conway has about one hundred and forty souls. Ministers born in Conway. Congregational. — William F. Avery, Joel Baker, Elisha Billings, Richard S. Billings, Olin Clark, Abel B. Clary, Dexter Clary, Stolham Clary, David Dickinson, Harrison G. O. Dwight, D.D. (missionary), Samuel M. Emerson, Samuel Fisher, William Fisher, Sylvester Hover, John A. Nash, Augustine Root, Edward W. Root, Charles B. Rice, D.D., Joseph K. W^are, Samuel Ware, William Ware, Charles H. W' heeler. Baptist. — Josiah Goddard, Foster Hartwell, Calvin Keyes, Horace Jenkins, D.D. (missionary), Edward H. Smith, Harrison Stearns, Wilbur F. Rice. Methodist. — Henry Bannister, D.D., Alvin Billings, Increase R. Bigelow, Chester Fields. Episcopal. — John Avery. Unitarian. — Luther Hamilton. Universalist. — Otis W. Bacon, W^ W^ilcox. Roman Catholic. — George Dacey. Ministers' Wives born in Conway. Sabra Adams married Rev. H. H. Benson, Pres.; Harriet Arms married Rev. Charles E. Sylvester, Cong.; Julia Arms married Rev. Dwight Ives, Bapt.; Martha Arms married Rev. Horatio N. Graves, Cong.; Mary Avery married Rev. R. M. Loughridge, Cong:; Paulina Avery married Rev. Oscar L. Woodford, Cong.; Martha Baker married Rev. W'illiam Car- ruthers, Cong.; Alma Bartlett married Rev. W. Wilcox, Univ.; Abby Billings married Rev. Mr. Young, Cong.; Elizabeth Billings married Rev. Hiram Mead, Cong.; Jerusha Billings THK CHURCHES. 157 married Rev. Bela Edwards, Cong.; Louisa Billings married Rev. Ezekiel Russell, Cong.; Mary Billings married Rev. Ogden Dwight, Cong.; Elizabeth Childs married Rev. H. D. Perry, Cong.; Abby Clark married Rev. Jared Stone, Cong.; Elizabeth Clark married Rev. Mr. Thompson, Cong.; Hannah Clark married Rev. Gideon Dana, Cong.; Mary Clark married Rev. J. A. Nash, Cong.; Mary Clark married Rev. Mr. Rossiter, Cong.; Ada C. Coffin married Rev. A. J. Chaplin, Bapt.; Julia Cooley rnarried Rev. Thomas S. Norton, Cong.; Louisa Dunham married Rev. Lucien Farnham, Cong.; Olivia Dunham married Rev. Romulus Barnes, Cong.; Mary Emerson married Rev. Royal Reed, Cong.; Sabra Emerson married Rev. Joseph Field, Unit.; Sophronia Hall married Rev. L R. Bigelow, Meth.; Lucy Harris married Rev. Edwin P. Parker, Cong.; Emily Meekins married Rev. William Arms, Cong.; Minerva Nash married Rev. Henry Eastman, Cong.; Armenia Pulsifer married Rev. Samuel Skinner, Univ.; Elizabeth Rice married Rev. Walter Twing, Cong.; Florence Stearns married Rev. Arthur E. Hartwell, Cong.; Mary Stearns married Rev. Mr. Frary, Bapt.; Achsah Stowe married Rev. James M. Coley, Bapt.; Lottie Walker married Rev. Fred Stray, Cong. Bethiah Ware married Rev. Moses Miller, Cong.; Elizabeth Ware married Rev. Theoph- ilus Packard, Cong.; Sally Ware married Rev. William Bonney, Cong.; Maria Wheelock married Rev. Foster Hartwell, Bapt.; Elizabeth Tobey married Rev. Josiah Goddard, Bapt. Chapter VII. THE SCHOOLS. Written in part by Rev. W. F. Avery, and completed by the Editor, assisted by miss florence howland. The Great and General Court of Massachusetts in granting leave to proprietors to settle in the various townships made it invariably a condition that they should within three years build a meeting house and schoolhouse, settle a learned Orthodox minister, and that they should constantly maintain and duly support a minister and schoolmaster among them. Conway, like the other towns in New England, has ever regarded the education of youth as of primary importance, and has from its incorporation provided quite liberally for educational purposes. The first law, establishing public schools in America, was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts on the 27th of October, 1647. The following is a copy of the preamble: "It being one of the chief projects of Satan to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times, by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted by false glosses of deceivers; to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers, in church and Commonwealth; the Lord assisting our endeavors: — It is therefore ordered by the Court, and authority thereof, that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall forthwith appoint one within their towns to teach all such children, as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided that these who send their children be not oppressed by paying more than they can have them taught for in other towns." This was the origin of our common school system, which has contributed in a large degree to the prosperity and glory of New THE SCHOOLS. 159 England, by rearing up a class of men fitted for all the active duties of life, not only within its own jurisdiction, but through- out the United States. Shortly after the incorporation of (\)nwa\', the voters gave their attention to the subject of education by a vote which se- lected a committee for the purpose of hiring a "school dame" for five months that year. The sum of seven pounds was ap- propriated in 1767. In 1770 it was voted in town meeting to engage a singing master two months in the winter. The follow- ing year the town voted to raise the sum of ten pounds to be laid out in schooling and that the selectmen shall be a committee to proportion said sum in divers parts of the town, where they shall think proper. In 1772 it was voted to raise twelve pounds for the use of schooling and that the same shall be proportioned in manner and form as it w^as last year by the selectmen. It was voted to have three months' schooling that winter, two months the school shall be kept at Capt. Jonathan Whitney's and one month at Capt. Lucius Allis' house. School was taught for several years in private houses, a favorite place being the Whitney residence. In December the assessors were instructed by vote of the town to raise the sum of six pounds to pay the present school. In 1773 it was voted to build a schoolhouse as near the meet- ing house as the ground will admit and that the dimensions of said house shall be as follows, viz.: twenty-five feet in length and twenty-two feet in breadth; and that Jonathan Whitney, Elias Dickinson, and Alexander Oliver be a committee to build said house. A century elm tree was in 1867 planted upon the exact spot supposed to have been occupied by this primitive institution. It was also voted to have six months' schooling the present year. Two months of said schooling shall be kept in the center of the town, and the other four months to be divided in the extreme parts of the town by the selectmen where they shall think proper. For thie year 1774, the town voted to allow thirty pounds to be laid out in schooling in the following manner, viz.: one third to be kept at the house of Samuel Hooker, one third at the school- house, and one third at the house of Deacon Allis. Israel Gates, Jonas Rice, and Daniel Parker were chosen a new committee 160 HISTORY OF CONWAY. mittee to finish the schoolhouse. In 1775 the voters were en- grossed with the matters relating to the Revolutionary War and at the town meeting in March it was voted not to raise any money for schooling the ensuing year. After a lapse of a year, during which no school was opened in the town, it was voted in 1776 to have a public school, and to divide the town into five equal parts or squadrons. There was but one public schoolhouse — the one at the center — until 1783, after which temples of learning began to multiply to meet the demands of a rapidly increasing population. Reading, writing, spelling, and arithmetic were the subjects set before the scholars of those days, although about 1791 a town vote decided that Latin and Greek should be taught. The absurdity of this remarkable effort to leap at a single bound from the rudiments of English into the classics presented itself, however, without much delay and the vote was hastily rescinded. Who was the first school-teacher is not known, but one of the early ones, known as Master Cole, is preserved in tradition as a singular pedagogue. It is told of him that when he came over from England he brought not only his military manners, — for he was a soldier there, — but his uniform and his sword, and these he used to wear each morning to school; where arriving, he would awe his scholars into trembling submission by his fierce dignity and military discipline. In March, 1777, it was voted to appropriate thirty pounds to be divided as heretofore for school purposes. The following year it was proposed by the voters that the children of both sexes be numbered and taken from five years old to thirty-one, and that each draw his proportion of money that the town shall raise for schooling the present year; and that each squadron, when squadroned out, shall be obliged to lay out its propor- tionable part of money aforesaid within said year, provided each man have liberty to send his children to what squadron he please; provided also that no man shall send to more than one squadron. This resolution was acted upon and it was voted to proceed to the above projects with regard to schooling the en- suing year. Eighty pounds was appropriated for the use of the school this year. A committee of seven, consisting of Noah Look, Israel Rice, Israel Gates, Noah Belding, Oliver Wetmore, THE SCHOOLS. 161 Lucius Allis, and Robert Hamilton, were selected to squadron out the town for schooling and take the number of children according to the proposals aforesaid. Each of the squadrons was empowered to select its own master. As the town continued to increase in population the school districts were increased in number until at one time there were sixteen schoolhouses, located as follows: Pumpkin Hollow, Center, Burkeville, Poland, South West, Guinea, Cricket Hill, Hardscrabble, South Part, Boyden, Hoosac, Broomshire, The Burkeville School. Harding, North Shirkshire, South Shirkshire, and Franklin. With the adoption of a graded school system leading up to the high school, the schoolhouse at Pumpkin Hollow, which had been built on the first site of the Congregational church, was used exclusively for the grammar grade. In 1902 a modern four-room building adapted to the work of all grades under the high school, was erected at Burkeville. One by one the out- lying districts have ceased to maintain separate schools until now only five of these schoolhouses are in use, viz.: at Broom- shire, Boyden, South Part, Poland, and South Shirkshire. The aggregate attendance of these five schools in 1916 was seventy- four. The total enrollment of all pupils below the high school was one hundred and ninety-seven. 162 HISTORY OF CONWAY. In 1888 the state passed a law permitting two or more towns to unite for the employment of a superintendent of their schools. Conway was one of the first towns in the state to avail itself of the provisions of this law. It united at once with Williams- burg, Whately, and Sunderland. They obtained for their first superintendent, in 1889, Hon. Justus Dartt, formerly state superintendent of schools in Vermont. The plan has resulted in great benefit to the schools of the town. The present district for the employment of a superintendent is composed of Conw^ay, Deerfield, Whately, and Sunderland. HIGHER EDUCATION. The people of Conway have always cherished high educa- tional ideals. As we have seen, Greek and Latin were once proposed for the district school curriculum. Without however going to this absurd extreme, young men were encouraged to continue their studies and in many cases to enter college. An old catalogue of Westfield Academy gives the names of si.x young men from Conway enrolled in 1813. They were Henry Clary, Solomon Farnum, Nathaniel Goddard, Luther Hamilton, Pliny Merritt, and Austin Rice. When Amherst College was founded in 1821 Conway citizens contributed two thousand four hundred and twenty-five dollars. Elisha Billings, himself a graduate of Yale before coming to Conway, served as trustee of Amherst from 1821 to 1825. George Howland served as trustee from 1879 to 1888 and Walter Howland, Esq., served as trustee from 1895 to 1905 and as treasurer of the college from 1903 to 1908. Conway has been represented at Amherst by the following graduates: John A. Nash and Joseph K. Ware in the class of 1824; Lincoln Clark, 1825; Henry W. Billings, 1834; Daniel Rice, 1837; William W. Howland, 1841; William Howland, 1846; Richard S. BilHngs, 1847; William F. Avery and George Howland, 1850; John Avery, 1861; Walter M. Howland, 1863; Francis A. Clary, 1864; John Howland, 1876; Edmund B. Delabarre, 1886; Frank A. Delabarre, 1890; Everett M. Delabarre, 1906. When Mount Holyoke Seminary was chartered in 1836 Conway people contributed one thousand four hundred and five dollars. Joseph Avery served as trustee from 1836 until his death in 1855 and Austin Rice served as trustee from 1858 until THE SCHOOLS. 163 his death in 1880. Mrs. EHzabeth Mead, president from 1890 to 1900, was born in Conway, the daughter of Col. Charles Billings. Mrs. Mead was the last president of the Seminary and the first president of the college. The following graduates are from Conway: Caroline Avery and Lois W. Rice of the class of 1845; Paulina Avery, 1850; Clara L. Dickinson, 1855; M. Elizabeth Childs, 1856; Susan M. CUxry, 1863; Sarah G. Clark and Myra M. Jenkins, 1864; May E. Field, 1905; Harriet E. Totman, 1914; C. Pauline Sikes, 1915; Dorothy W. Pease of the class of 1918 is taking the full course. The following have taken special or partial courses: Elmira Barr, Mary Avery, Harriet Arms, Mary Bates, Caroline Dickinson, Phebe Allen, Mary Batchclder, Elizabeth Howland, Charlotte Rice, Martha Clary, Susan Tilton, Aurora Clark, Harriet Godfrey, Fannie Barber, Mary Fiske, Fannie Stearns, Sarah Page, Alice Aldrich, Elizabeth Perry, Clara Dickinson, Mary Billings, Anna Newhall, Lenora Dill, and Sylvia Parsons. Five of the above, including Presi- dent Mead, have been members of the faculty. Paulina Avery taught 1852-53; M. Elizabeth Childs, 1859-70; Susan M. Clary, 1863-77, and Myra M. Jenkins, 1864-66. Records, gathered more or less at random and necessarily in- complete, show that the following young people graduated from colleges other than Amherst and Mount Holyoke: Yale, John Avery about 1830; William C. Whitney, 1863; Frank E. Wing, 1886. Williams, Harvey Rice, 1824. Hamilton, H. G. O. Dwight, 1827. Wesleyan, Henry Bannister, 1836. Clark, Albert Sanderson, 1897. Holy Cross, George Dacey, 1913. Massa- chusetts Agricultural, Herbert J. Stack, 1912. Goucher, Ger- trude Pease, 1901. Smith, Marguerite Dobson, 1916. The number of those who in various schools have pursued courses of study more or less extended beyond the high school grade is literally too numerous to mention. Teaching has been a favorite occupation with both sexes, yet eight Conway boys have been physicians and fourteen have been lawyers. Of the latter four became judges and one, William C. W^hitney, LL.D., was Secretary of the Navy in the Cleveland administration. Thirty-seven have been ministers of the Gospel. The youth were encouraged to seek a higher education. The pastors of the churches often tutored their promising young 164 HISTORY OF CONWAY. people. Mary Lyon after graduating from Sanderson Academy studied for a time with Rev. Edward Hitchcock, then pastor of the Conway Congregational Church. Mr. Hitchcock soon after became a professor at Amherst College and later the president. Mary Lyon taught a select school in Conway about 1821 and later founded Mount Holyoke Seminary with Dr. Hitchcock as her trusted adviser. Thus Conway has always felt a peculiar interest in these two institutions. MRS. PERRY'S SCHOOL. Miss M. Elizabeth Childs, a daughter of Horace B. Childs of Conway, graduated from Mount Holyoke Seminary and as we have seen taught: there for eleven years. She married Rev. H. D. Perry and came to Conway in 1870 to care for her aged father. She soon began to tutor students from Mount Holyoke who had failed in examinations and this led to the opening of a boarding school for girls. The school was appropriately named for its beautiful situation "Hill View." The first class to grad- uate was in 1874. The school continued for twenty-four years and about two hundred young ladies in all were enrolled as pupils. The students came from twenty different states and territories of the Union, and from three provinces of Canada. Three pupils were enrolled from Bulgaria. A large portion of the graduates went direct to Mount Holyoke, for which they were especially prepared. SELECT SCHOOLS. Deacon John Clary kept a select school in the South Center from 1831 to 1843 and gave it such high rank that many pupils from other towns attended it. His dwelling was two miles and a half from the school, to and from which he went each day, and during the twelve years he traveled about nine thousand miles. Then a similar private school was kept up for several years in the old Town Hall at the South Center. The building was owned by different individuals, who gave the use of it for this purpose. The school was taught chiefly by young men from college. John Emerson, grandson of the first pastor, FoUet, Fletcher, and Henry J. Patrick were long remembered as men of inspiring personality. The pupils of this private school paid tuition, and bought their own books and supplies. THE SCHOOLS. 165 CONWAY ACADEMY. But a better building, devoted exclusively to the school, was felt to be needed. Many made sacrifices in erecting it. Among these numerous contributions were four hundred dollars bequeathed by Calvin Bartlett, one hundred and fifty dollars presented by Gen. James S. Whitney, one hundred dollars by Asa Howland, and one hundred dollars by Rufus Graves. So general was the interest that the voluntary gifts amounted to twenty-three hundred dollars. Academies were doing a great work in those days and this school was given that name. It was controlled by a corporation called a prudential committee, consisting of fifteen men, among whom were Rev. George M. Adams, who was president. Dr. E. D. Hamilton, treasurer, and David C. Rogers, secretary. These men bought four acres of land as the site for the new building. This site was admirably selected, midway between the three villages, almost in the exact center of the town, retired, and with a beautiful outlook to the east. The building was of two stories, and the first term opened in December, 1853, with Charles D. Fitch and Miss Felicia H. Emerson as teachers. Later John W. Underhill and his sister. Miss Laura P. l^nderhill, had charge of the school for two or three years. The chief funds were still expected to come from the pupils. Hence as many as possible were secured, irrespective of any definite standard of scholarship, and these were favored with a great variety of recitations, suited to their degree of progress. A catalog printed in 1858 gives the names of two hundred and thirty-one pupils as having been connected with the school up to that time. These pupils represented twenty-seven towns in four states. Meanwhile it was necessary to eke out the salary of the teachers by voluntary contributions. Among others, Mrs. George M. Adams, wife of the C^ongregational pastor, contributed three hundred dollars from her private funds, to meet these current expenses. A picnic brought in one hundred and eighteen dollars for the same purpose. After less than ten years of such exertions to support the school, its fine building was destroyed by fire in 1861. But there was no disposition to give up effort to furnish the boys and girls a fair education, without going out of town for it. Insurance on the old building was recovered to 166 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the amount of fifteen hundred dollars. A one-story building was planned, of the same dimensions on the ground as its prede- cessor, being about twenty-five by fifty feet, with seats for nearly fifty pupils in its larger room. Subscriptions were again started. Several, as Whitney, Tupper, L. Stearns, gave one hundred dollars each, others fifty dollars, and a long list twenty- five dollars. The new building cost two thousand, five hundred and seventy dollars, and was not fully completed until 1864. For many years the school was run on the old plan of securing as many scholars as possible for the price of their tuition. Those wishing to study the languages must pay five dollars a term; those desiring a good English course must pay four dollars; while a passable English education might be secured for three dollars and fifty cents a term. Teachers of varied capacity were obtained according to the prospects of a small or large school. Discipline must not offend parents, or there would be a loss of scholars and shortage in funds. But in 1886 the prudential committee turned o^'er the control of the school to the town, a general committee was appointed, and the, academy changed to a high school. This was in line with the evolution of the school system in other places. CONWAY HIGH SCHOOL. In 1886 there came another important step in the school's evolution, through the adoption of regular courses of study, patterned after the best high schools in the state. The English course extended three years; the Latin and English, four. Graduation exercises were to mark their completion and merit to be recognized in the appointments. The first class graduated was that of 1888. The graduates by classes under the present system have been: 1888 — Elizabeth Johnson, Lila Sinclair; 1889 — Angie L. Freeman, Emma F. Adams, Jennie A. Rice; 1890 — Irene L. Boyden, Nellie M. Brown, Louise Townsend, Luna Rice, George W. Townsend, Charles J. Higgins; 1891 — Belle Holcomb, Charlotte Howland, Susie Pease, Harold Howes, Charles D. Rice, Franklin Stowe; 1892 — no graduates; 1893 — Florence Howland, Mamie Cook, Grace Pease, Agnes Stowe, Minnie Cook, Robert Burnham, Albert Sanderson, Leroy SefTens, Ella Howes, Nettie Hopkins, Hattie Field, Amy Hopkins, THE SCHOOLS. 167 Eva Day, Etta Keyes, Mabel Batchelder; 1894 — no graduates; 1895 — Mary Bartlett, Mary D. Rice, Sylvia Parsons, Earl E. Miller, Harold Day, Delos Atkins; 1896 — Darwin Sanderson, Bertha AUis, Alice E. Rice; 1897— Hattie Clary, Edith Field, Elizabeth Field, Gertrude Pease, Loula Pulsifer, MoUie A. Mullins, ■ Alice Mason, Ellen Dougherty, Charles T. Field; 1898 — Jessamine Sikes, Clarence Flagg, William D. Field, Marcellus Cook; 1899 — Fannie Clary, May E. Field, George H. Hopkins, I\I. Gertrude Peck; 1900 C. i'auline Sikes, Alfred C. .#■ ;%'■ y^w'^- '4L^-'^^'-' ^ IHQ^^' ,;(;'^^ft^*V :-m mm'^ Bfe.'!^?:/: I^^L, K^^^H ^H^ . ^M J^k HHHjjkr ^^^Bb' ■ -J bJfljM ^K '■Bn^*^ ' ■ s "■ ^^ ' - • M |^^H|^j - ^■'^ '^^VH^K^^^^K Academy Buildixg^Present High School. Field, Winifred AUis, Winifred J(jhnson, H. Merrill Pease; 1901— Cora M. Hassell, Mary F. Sanderson; 1902— Minnie Batchelder, Jessie Cook, Louise Cook, Minnie Mason, Bertha Rice, Sarah Totman; 1903 — Margaret Sikes, Arthur Forgette, Wilbur C. Field; 1904— Mabel Bond, Winifred Field; 1905— Anna Bement, Walter Buck, Mary Holcomb, Elizabeth King, Gertrude Leonard; 1906 — Blanche Fortin, Grace E. A. Field, Mary Hopkins, Ethel King, May Turner; 1907— Leon Bardwell, Lucy Bement, Bertha Stone, Lucy Wilder; 1908 — Maud Bond, Helen Johnson, Isabelle McFarland, Viola Morton, Eva W^ells; 1909 — George Dacey, Roy Hart, John Parker, Bertha Connelly, 168 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Ruth Hopkins, Harriet Totman; 1910 — Bertha Adams, Gertrude Howland; 1911 — Anna Chute, Margaret Dacey, Leslie Rice, Mary Totman, Ruth Totman, Leon Wells; 1912 — Raymond Boyden, Sumner Boyden, Winifred Laidley, Newell Morton, Sylvia Morton, Myrtle Parker; 1913 — Mildred Mason, Edward Parsons; 1914 — Sherman Arms, Charles Cooper, Richard Totman, Edna Graves, Clara Twining, Jeanette Sinclair; 1915 — Howard Boyden, E. Ray Hardie, Charles McKenzie, Louise Burnham, Vera Eldridge, Marion Jones, Beatrice Reed; 1916 — Mark Germain, Harold Hassell, Russell Wells. Of the one hun- dred and thirty-three graduates named above, nine continued their studies in college and twenty-one in other educational institutions. In 1889 an effort was put forth to arouse added interest and support for the High School through giving a public dinner at which men of note were invited to give addresses. These dinners were given annually for ten years and were occasions of much enjoyment. Prominent among the speakers were Dr. Samuel Harris, Dr. Edward Hitchcock, son of President Hitchcock, George W. Cable, George Howland, Dr. Charles B. Rice, Dr. Benjamin Hahn, Dr. Charles F. Rice, and Dr. Sidney W. Bridg- man. Marshall Field was invited to attend one of the dinners and this led to his presenting a check for five hundred dollars. William C. Whitney sent a gift of one hundred dollars and a like sum came from Fisher Ames, and from Marshall Field's brother, Henry Field. These presents, with the receipts from the dinners, put a fund of about twelve hundred dollars for the school into the hands of the school committee. In 1916 a field of about five acres in the rear of the town hall was purchased with 'this fund for a public park and playground. In addition the town holds a bequest of one thousand dollars from George Howland, the income of which is to be applied to books of reference for the use of the High School. An Alumni Association was formed in 1910 and each year a pleasant reunion is held with a banquet and after-dinner speak- ing. The enrollment of the High School for the year ending June, 1916, was thirty-four. '^^in^^tJ^'^ ^^^-^^ .^Uc'^Z-i^^ Chapter VIII. THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. By Rev. Charles B. Rice, D.D. It is not purposed to follow in detail the events in the life of Marshall Field any further than as they are connected with the gift of the Field Memorial Library to his native town. The out- lines only, or what might be thought of as the natural metes and bounds of that remarkable life, are given. In the early years of their family life the home of John Field and Fidelia Nash, his wife, stood upon what is known as Field's Hill — toward the southeastern part of the town of Conway and about a mile from the center. The twin summits, rounded and grass covered, are conspicuous objects from every direction. They command beautiful prospects on every side; but especially eastward over the wide valley of the Connecticut River which they overlook by an elevation of a thousand feet. Marshall Field in his later life w^as accustomed to say that one might travel far over the world and see nothing finer. The house stood at the highest point of the road, but sheltered a little by a hundred feet of the higher land rising above it toward the west. The building has since been removed; and the family seat indeed in later years was changed. There were born to John and Fidelia Field nine children, three of whom died in infancy. Of the remaining six. Chandler, the elder, became a farmer and died in early manhood. The second, Joseph Nash, was for a time a banker in Iowa, but has now lived for several years in England as the head of the English branch of Marshall Field & Company. The youngest brother, Henry, was a member of the Chicago firm and is not now living. There were two sisters, Helen E., who became the wife of Lyman D. James of Williamsburg, and Laura, who married Henry Dibblee of ("hicago. Marshall Meld received his early education in the public schools, and largely in the district known as Pumpkin Hollow — a district long a classic center despite its name. When he was seventeen years of age he took a place at Pittsfield in what was 172 HISTORY OF CONWAY. then a country store. At twenty-one he went to Chicago and obtained employment with Cooley, Wadsworth & Company, afterward Cooley, Farwell & Company, one of the leading com- mercial houses of the city. His ability soon made itself known. In 1860 he became a junior partner in the firm. In 1865 he united with Potter Palmer and L. S. Leiter in organizing the firm of Field, Palmer & Leiter, which afterward became Field, Leiter & Company. Outliving the great fire of 1871, the firm became Marshall Field & Company, and it rose swiftly and steadily to a foremost place among the mercantile houses of the whole world. From 1821 there had been in Conway what was called The Social Library. It was owned in shares and was long kept at the house of John Rowland at Pumpkin Hollow. The drawing of books was usually on Thursdays of each second week, after the church prayer meeting. The books were few, mostly histories, biographies, and sketches of travel. Their quality was of more account than their number; and they were in their day of in- estimable value. In 1870 this library, with eight hundred books, was removed to the town office then in the building of the Conway Bank. By the burning of the bank building January 12, 1878, all the books were destroyed excepting about one hundred. The proprietors then made this library over to the town, and at a meeting held March 4, 1878, a Town Library was established. Marshall Field had knowledge of these things, and he gave liberally to aid in this new enterprise. Generous contributions came also from R. R. Graves, from Richard Tucker, and from Mrs. R. R. Graves, with $400 from the estate of William B. Fay, a man who knew the worth of the old library. The opening of this Town Library took place November 15, 1878. There were at first 710 volumes, including those saved from the fire. The town itself gave for several years its share in the "unexpended dog tax" — by which indeed in like ways of enlightenment the dogs made themselves useful in many towns — the amount in Conway being in all about $1,000. Books also valued at about $1,000 came from the State Library Commission. Anticipating here a little the record, it may be stated that when Mr. Field's gift of the free public library had been made. THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 173 the town, at a meeting held November 5, 1901, voted to make over its library containing then 2,800 \olumes to Mr. Field; and he in turn directed the trustees of the Memorial Library, after keeping whatever books they might wish to use, to give the rest to some Franklin county towns that might then have no library. About 2,500 volumes were accordingly distributed in nearly equal shares to the towns of Hawley, Heath, and Lev- erett. The matter of a free library had thus been long in Mr. Field's mind. In 1899 he visited the town with a landscape architect and chose the site for the building, and engaged distinguished architects to prepare the plans. The Act of Incorporation for the library was approved May 4, 1900. By the terms of the Act the Corporators, or Trustees, were to be five in number, and were all to be citizens of Conway. By a modification later it was required that four at least should be Conway men. These Trustees were empowered to fill vacancies in their own number. The Trustees as originally appointed were: William G. Avery, Eugene F. Hunt, Samuel H. Clary, Henry W. Billings, and Arthur P. Delabarre. By the Fourth of July, 1900, the cornerstone was in re^idiness to be laid. There had been a tendency in Conway, not uncom- mon in all our towns, to gather public observances of every patriotic quality about that anniversary day. On that day, too, the farmers with a sense of propriety, and with consequent meas- urable comfort, could leave their fields and their crops. On this occasion there was a large assemblage of the people with visitors from abroad upon the parsonage grounds of the Congre- gational church. Here a hospitable dinner was served by the ladies of the society. A procession was then formed with Henry W. Billings, P2sq., as marshal, and with music by the Sunderland Band. They marched down and around the hill and assembled beneath an elm near the northwest corner of the parsonage lands. Rev. Edward D. Hinchliffe, of the Methodist church, read appropriate selections from the Scriptures, and Rev. Charles S. Pease, of the Baptist church, led in prayer. Walter M. How- land, Esq., of Chicago who is also a son of Conway, delivered the address, which is here given in full. 174 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Address of Mr. Rowland. Citizens of Conway, Ladies and Gentlemen: — It was with sincere pleasure that I accepted your kind invi- tation to take part in the joyous proceedings of this happy and memorable day. This pleasure is now greatly increased when I find you celebrating the day in a manner that tells of the happi- ness that is in your hearts, and of the prosperity that is within your homes. On such a year as this, when your fields are all waving in their luxuriant and fruitful green, when the trees are spreading their well filled branches in the summer air, when the country around you is at peace, and happy homes your portion, it is with peculiar fitness that we meet to celebrate and to honor this birthday of American Independence. The history of the past two years has been at variance with the traditions of our fathers, and our. responsibility has greatly increased. For the present, at least, this departure has brought new power to our country and new luster to its name, but what the final outcome will be no one can as yet foretell. We feel assured, however, that it was not by mere chance that our new and large possessions were made over to the United States. It was not by a sudden impulse that an able, farsighted secretary, himself a native of Conway, created for this country a powerful navy in time of peace. It was not simply an incident that our warships were manned and controlled by surpassingly skillful men. It was not a mere accident that an ofificer of our navy sailed into the harbor of an illustrious foe and overwhelmed them with defeat and won the victory. It was not a mere bit of good fortune at Cuba that enabled our men-of-war to meet one after another of that proud Spanish fleet and send them down ingloriously. What shall we say then? Can we not see that each of these events was a part of one great plan formed by a wisdom more than mortal? that ''Behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Iceeping watch above his own." On this anniversary day, while a loyal people are recalling the wisdom and the glorious deeds of their fathers, out and bevond our former boundaries, and in the islands of the sea. THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 175 men and women of another race are many of them now, for the first time, tuning their v^oices to unite with ours in singing the sweet and inspiring songs of Hberty. Long may this country stand! Long may this union of states be welded and strengthened! Long may this nation truly be, the home of the brave and the land of the free! All through our vast domain we are rejoicing to-day in our country's prosperity and power. Here in Conway we have also another insj^jiring theme. On a beautiful June day six years ago, close by the banks of a great inland sea, a large concourse of people, estimated at 10,000, and embracing the leading representative citizens of the great central city of this continent, were wending their way to Jackson Park, one of the largest and finest in that city, to listen to a scholarh- address about to he delivered by (Mie of her most accomplished citizens. It was an ideal day. A gentle breeze swept over Lake Michigan and stirred its silvery waves. The fleecy clouds shut out the sun's fierce glare, and all was quiet, serene, and beautiful. The occasion for the gathering of this vast concourse was the dedication of the great Field Columbian Museum, presented to C^hicago by several of her citizens, of whom by far the largest contributor was a son of Conway, in whose honor the great museum was named. The primary purpose of this splendid gift was to retain in that city many of the beautiful exhibits which the nations of the world had sent to the world's great fair just closed, and which exhibits they were willing to lea\e in grateful recognition of what the city had done for them and for the world's advancement. The imperial gift of this fine museum appealed to the municipal i)ride of that large audience, and filled them with gratitude to him who had the ability and the desire to gi\e this great impulse to the city's progress in the cause of an enlightened education. Scattered through that vast throng there were here and there those who felt not only a municipal but almost a fraternal pride in him whose generosity had made that great acciuisition possible, for they had known him from the beginning; they, like you, had watched his marvelous career, and, with you, felt that they might still claim him as almost their \er\- own. 176 HISTORY OF CONWAY. To-day separated from that scene by more than one thousand miles, as well as by six years of constant progress, we have gath- ered in this beautiful New England town to lay the corner stone of a new library building, to be erected, furnished, and equipped by that same son of Conway, and, on its completion, to be pre- sented by him to the village of his birth. The museum was a graceful tribute to the city of his adoption, where his entire business life had been passed. The library is a loving tribute to his native town, and to be dedicated to the memory of his father and mother. Many in this audience knew those parents well. They lived, labored, and died here in Conway, and left to their children and to this town the priceless legacy of honorable and blameless lives. They rest together in yonder cemetery, and there among their neighbors and friends quietly await the bright dawning of the eternal day. We know that the citizens of this town will protect and guard well that sacred burial place, and we also know your recent action will awaken the interest and the grati- tude of the sons and daughters of Conway all through this land who have also placed their loved ones there. The library is the storehouse of the world's knowledge, and through it the dim light of ancient history sends down to us its illuminating rays. It was on tables of stone that God made known his will. In the ruins of Nineveh, tablets of baked clay have been discovered. Seventeen hundred years before the Christian era, Chaldean libraries are said to have been formed, and we read that fourteen hundred years before Christ, a library was placed in the tomb of an Egyptian king. The first public library described in history was founded at Athens five hundred years before Christ ; the first private library was that of Aristotle three hundred and thirty-four years before the Christian era. It was forty-eight years before Christ that the great library at Alexandria was destroyed. It is said to have included every known literary work of that time, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, Latin, Phoenician, Chaldean, Syrian, and Persian, and the world will never cease to mourn its loss. A collection of books in the modern sense requires an advanced and elaborate civilization. The art of printing gave a great impulse to the formation of libraries; for in this way numerous copies of books may be re- THE FH:LI) memorial LIHRARY. 177 produced, and all through the civilized world libraries have been established. Conway has long had the desire to possess a valuable library, but never until now has this desire been sure of its fulfillment. This one we know will be carried forward to a beautiful com- pletion. A social library was formed in Conway by Edward Hitchcock in 1821, when he was the pastor of the Congregational church. He afterwards, as you know, became the president of Amherst College. The library formed by him was managed and used by its members until 1870, when it was transferred to the town and opened to the public. Eight years after, it was nearly destroyed by fire, but the town had learned its value, and felt keenly the loss. At the annual town meeting two months later, a new town library was established, a few books were purchased, and in the following autumn it was opened, but it was not made free to the citizens of the towm until six years ago. A more complete library has been greatly needed. A fine library is at once a guide, a help, and an inspiration. It brings to us the wisdom of the ages, and puts us in communication with the best thought of the world. Its influence is refined and elevating and can be enjoyed by all. All that is required is the ability to read, but with this there should be cultivated the habit of thought and of reflection. The library should make of every man a student, and it serves, perhaps, more than any other influence to broaden the life of a people. It opens up new subjects for study. We go to the library as to the source of knowledge. The reading of the same books creates kindred thought, and furnishes subject for pleasant conversation. The use of a library by persons of difi^erent tastes enables each to pursue his favorite study, and then by free discussion to lead others along his own path, and in either way, the intellectual life of a community will be broadened and enriched. The people will become united in intellectual growth and friendship; by a long continued study of the best authors of our race, the life of every man should become purified and exalted. The library will become a social center in the com- munity, where each can find congenial companionship. When this library is completed, no citizen of Conway need say, " I have no place to go." Go to the library. Read there of the world's needs and of the world's progress. Learn of the great and beauti- 178 HISTORY OF CONWAY. ful world lying all around you. It is during the quiet hours of study and reflection that great results are most frequently achieved. In the realm of agriculture, in mechanics, in science, and in literature, there are many interesting subjects, both old and new, and many questions waiting, it may be, for you to solve. In the old familiar ways or in new and untried paths, there is room for all. With eyes wide open, and with mind alert, with a fine library close at hand, there is room for every thoughtful, practical man to find his opportunity. He will find here books which will suggest new subjects for his thought and reflection, and in his own pursuit, whatever it may be, he should find delightful companionship. There will be books to teach the artisan, to help the inventor, to increase the knowledge of the manufacturer, and to broaden the life of the merchant. The library will furnish the professional man with food for his thought, facts for his arguments, and subjects for his illustrations. The library will bring to your home, yes, to your very fireside, not the bodily but the intellectual presence of the most learned and thoughtful the world has known. They will discourse to you in their most elevated and purest strains, and furnish you with the results of their long continued study and meditation. They will lead you along the pleasant paths which they have traveled, they will disclose to you their thoughts and their experience, and their signboards will mark the way. They will walk by your side and point out to you their discoveries, until, by their com- panionship, your own life may become enriched and benefited. Are you fond of history? A Pliny, a Gibbon, or a Macaulay will tell you the story of the glorious past. Do you care to hear of more modern life? A Bancroft, a Parkman, or a Fiske will narrate to you in a delightful way facts and circumstances with which you may be already somewhat familiar. Are you in- terested in astronomy? Take to your home the works of Herschel, and then with Chambers or Todd for your guide go out and study the beauty and the glory of the heavens. I^ocate the constellations. Learn their names, and become familiar with the stars. Study the mystery of other worlds, all moved and directed by the same Almighty hand. Are you interested in electricity? Come and read of recent discoveries. Study the unfolding of this marvelous power, and THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 179 meditate upon its wonderful possibilities. Are >'ou fond of poetry? Read again, and yet again, the dramas of Shakespeare; listen to the splendid verse of Scott; the charming lines of Byron and to the rhythmic verse of Moore and of Burns. Tennyson may bring you unfailing pleasure; Lowell may be your delight; Whittier your friend; and Longfellow your charming companion. Will Homer and Virgil interest you more? Here they are, await- ing the touch of your friendly hand. Would you learn of war and the formation and leadership of armies? Come, enter the chariot of C?esar while he makes known to you his plans. Ride out to the war with Napoleon, and become acquainted with his wonderful career. Spend your evenings with Grant and with Sherman, and study their plans, their battles, and their victories. Would you know" of the world's great orators? Come and listen to the inspiring orations of Cicero, to the thrilling words of Demosthenes; read in the quiet of your own room Webster's reply to Hayne; listen to Patrick Henry's clarion call; and let your soul be stirred with the burning eloquence of Wendell Phillips. All these, men of superior thought and of power, will come to you again and again, and give you always of their \'ery best. Not the passing of transient thought, but the result of their study and reflection. Fear them not. They will not weary of you, and will allow you to close the interview at will, and with no semblance of discourtesy. The founding of a library is a grand conception and a great blessing.' It is a double blessing; it blesses him that gives and him that takes. It is a great privilege for one to have the ability to make this fine gift. It is much more to ha\e the disposition to help and benefit mankind. Many of you will remember Leigh Hunt's beautiful conception of one "Who awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom, An angel writing in a book of gold. ******* The names of those who loved the Lord." But you will remember that when the book was finished the 180 HISTORY OF CONWAY. first on that roll of honor was, "The name of one who loved his fellow-men." The founding of a public library brings with it an increase of responsibility. Such an influence cannot be created in your midst and the town remain the same. The intellectual standing of this community may be greatly elevated by its presence; but there comes the obligation to use it; if used faithfully and intelligently, this obligation will become a pleasure, and be ever a new source of happiness. But the community, like the in- dividual, cannot remain at rest. There is, in fact, no time for inaction. The years are hastening by and neither you nor I can stay the resistless progress. Not long ago I heard an able minister picture to his congrega- tion the many delightful pursuits in which in early life he had hoped to engage, and as one intellectual pleasure after another was described, he ended each with the sad words, "But alas! there is no time." Are you more than familiar with your own life's pursuit, and do you sometimes become wearied with the daily routine? Are you occupied day after day with the same thoughts, and walking on in paths well worn? By means of some interesting book, which you wall find in this library, you may seek another's guidance. In the same path with you or in kindred pursuits you may find new pleasure in his thoughts and experience. You may with him pass beyond the usual limitations of your own reflections, and enter his world of thought and of investigation. You will there find much that is old, but you may find much more that is new. We live in a progressive age. The mind is reaching out in all directions. There seems to be no limit to its investigations and its discoveries. The wisdom of yesterday is ignorance to-day. Have you ever reflected how down through the ages there has existed a wonderfully marvelous power close at hand unknown to our ancestors, unknown to the world, almost wholly beyond human knowledge? Franklin had a suggestion of this power in the lightning, but the limitations of his busy life pre- vented any complete investigation. But within the last twenty- five years how much has been revealed! In one way a power is generated almost beyond our comprehension. By a mere contact THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 181 of wires, we see trains of cars filled with their living freight speeding along through city and country, and up and down our hills. By another method, a heat is produced almost beyond human measurement. In still another way, a light shines forth, too intense for mortal vision to endure its splendor. Still again, by this power, the thought, even the human \'oice, is borne through space with the speed of the lightning, and the mystery of life is also within its grasp. And yet, all through the ages, this power has existed the same as now, but the wisest men of the world failed to discover its properties and barely recognized its existence. What are the limitations of electricity? and when will electric discovery reach its full development? Probably not in your lifetime or mine. To-day I am reminded that more than forty years have passed since some of those who are gathered here went out from this town to take their part in the world of men, but it requires no words of mine to assure you that forty years are not long enough to destroy the love or weaken the loyalty which the sons of Conway cherish for their native town. "\Vc love her rocks and rills, Her woods and templed hills." And when I came to-day, walking up from my early home, and stood once more on yonder hill where each day the first rays of the morning sun stream down into your village, "My heart with rapture thrilled" at this familiar and ever inspiring scene. I could not but notice that during the last forty years changes have been going on in Conway. I missed the old church with its lofty spire. The old academy with its delightful memories and associations has given place to one more conii)acl in its dimensions. Forests wave where fields were bare. And now the electric cars are speeding along yonder hillside. Instead, too, of the old friends, we then knew so well, we look into the faces of another generation. But the outline of the village re- mains unaltered, and the old hills are just the same. Far to the north I could discern the familiar outline of Shelburne's Moun- tain, while close at hand Arms's beautiful grove still casts its grateful shade; and over and beyond the village, I noticed the modest home of the first pastor of the town, who for more than 182 HISTORY OF CONWAY. forty years led, preached, and prayed for this people. His life with those long years of service is now well-nigh forgotten. But the old home is still conspicuous by reason of the two fine elms of lofty branch and of great beauty, one of which, tradition says, was brought home as a riding switch and planted there by the Id pastor on returning from one of his long horseback rides to oston. On each Sabbath morning one hundred years ago, when the church bell sounded the hour of worship, the old pastor could be seen, with his Bible, his hymn-book, and his sermon, walking down to the village church, while at the same appointed hour, down from the neighboring hills, and up from their valley homes, his faithful parishioners were gathering in. It was the Sabbath, and each one knew his duty and his place. The father of the family took his seat at the head of the pew; the faithful mother sat in quiet dignity at the other end; and each one recognized the fact in those early days, that no family could be regarded as complete until at least six little boys and girls occupied the intervening space. John Emerson came to this town when the population was about 400, and, as he afterwards expressed it, "It was literally John preaching in the wilderness." During his pastorate, the population increased to 2,000. He was eminently a prayerful and devoted minister, of dignified presence, and ready of speech, until in later years an impediment somewhat marred his pulpit utterances, but it w^as scarcely perceptible in his devotional exercises, showing, it was said, that it was more natural for him to pray than to converse. Two other distinguished men have occupied the Congrega- tional pulpit in this town, and left their impress here, — men who commenced their ministerial life in Conway. They were pastors and students, and afterwards both became college presidents, both were teachers and leaders of men. One was Edward Hitchcock, whose active mind and desire for knowledge led him to organize the first library here, and also led him in his investi- gations out among the woods and fields of Conway, until be became at length one of the greatest geologists and teachers of his time; he became "That Reverend sage who loved to trace Creation through the rocks, And on the Rock of Ages, place His academic flocks. THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 183 Oil, the grandest man of men, good sirs, In the days when we were boys, Held royal reign o'er heart and brain, In the days when we were boys." Still later Samuel Harris served his first pastorate here, and here acquired those habits of thought and reflection that enabled him also to become one of the leading theologians and teachers of his generation. One year ago he passed away, a grand old man, wise and full of years. For each of us, I am sure, these hills, these valleys, these dwellings and these streets, are filled with i)leasant memories and interesting traditions. Citizens of Conway, do you appreciate the marvelous beauty of these valleys and hills? Didst thou ever drive down along the old hill road to Whately, and pausing before that scene of beauty, look out over the Connecticut valley clad in the varie- gated carpeting of its summer loveliness? Didst thou in the early morning ever climb to the summit of Field's Hill and look out on that surpassing scene? Years ago when I was a boy, the young people went up there again and again to watch the rising sun, and in memory's light I see it still. Out to the right we looked on the undulating summits of Mounts Holyoke and Tom. Directly in front we could see the tower and surrounding build- ings of Amherst College. Farther to the north, stood old Sugar Loaf "Gazing with changeless brow upon a scene changing to fairer beauty evermore," while still further to the left we could discern on a clear morning, out on the dim and distant horizon, where "A score of i)iney miles still smooth the rough Monadnock to a gem." Do you know, my friends, that these charming scenes also have an influence in shaping the characters of your daughters and your sons? There is the library of books, there is the library of nature, and both will soon be beautifully blended in this fair New England town. I remember a few years ago Dr. Richard Salter Storrs, that fine scholarly old man who has so recently passed away, came to Chicago, and a meeting was called of the alumni 184 HISTORY OF CONWAY. of his college to do him honor, knowing well that his presence would also honor us. I remember that after referring to the fine opportunities for acquiring an education which a New England college offers to her sons in its regular course of study, he said that if any young man who had no especial liking for the regular routine of college requirements was given a congenial book and placed out under one of New England's fine old elms, if he spent the most of his time among the fields, in the forests, along her water brooks, or in climbing her hills, that if he there studied nature from nature's purest source, and if he had the heart to take it in, all this of itself would be an education, and of this class, back in its early days, Amherst College had one distinguished representative. She numbers among her alumni no more brilliant name than that of Henry Ward Beecher. Some years ago I heard him deliver a public address in a neighboring town. During that address he left for a moment his subject, and referred to his early life in New England. He pictured to us the hills and the valleys, the forests, the rivers, and the skies, as no other man could picture them. He opened our eyes and our under- standings that we might see and appreciate these charming scenes, which could so bless and illumine our lives. Yes, it was while living among the hills and valleys of Western Massachusetts that Beecher's soul went out to nature, and through those studies of nature up to nature's God, so completely that in after life when he referred again to these charming scenes, with which in youth he was so familiar, the word, the thought, was never wanting, but only time to give them their full expression. To those of us who live out on the wide level plains of the West, I know of nothing more delightful than to come back in the early days of summer and look again on these New England hills. To those of us who are passing our lives amid the engross- ing activities of the great central city of this continent, I know of nothing more restful, more helpful, than to come back to this fine old town and enjoy here a few days of summer rest and recreation; so quiet it is, so distinct from the busy whirl of metropolitan life. I scarcely know of a greater pleasure than on some charming morning, with rod in hand, and with basket on one's arm, to stroll along your water-brooks, and fill the basket with flower THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 185 and fern, with a lower tier of speckled trout gathered by many a rock and shady nook. I rarely find a day which brings me more quiet pleasure than when I wander through these forests and listen again to the songs of the wood birds, the drumming of the partridge, the barking of the squirrel. It is restful on a quiet summer day to repose on some hillside in the shadow of a great rock, where it was placed by its Creator. It is interesting and suggestive to sit by some crumbling hearthstone, by the old cellar of a deserted and forgotten home, now given over to the wood- chuck and the fox, where happy children once played, where old flowers still grow, where the rose and the lilac linger; or, it may be, to repose in the shade of some old elm or maple planted there long ago by loving hands long since at rest. With this fine building, whose plans we all admire, the street and the town should be in harmony, both well kept, each a thing of beauty. How can the beauty of this town be increased? In no way better, I think, than in the cultivation and preservation of your trees. Years ago in the old academy, which stood up there on yonder hill, I learned to translate from the Latin this sentence, "The good husbandman plants trees the fruit of which he may never enjoy." It is said that Webster's advice to young people about to establish a home was, "Plant trees. Adorn your grounds. Live for the benefit of those who shall come after you." Down in the river towns of Connecticut valley their chief adornment is found in their fine old elms which it has taken centuries to pro- duce. I have referred to the old elms which parson Emerson once planted in front of his Conway home. I have said that he preached in this town for more than forty years, and he was a man of ability cmd of power. I have in my young days occa- sionally found a sermon of his laid away on some closet shelf quite forgotten. I have seen somewhere a list of his personal expenses preserved as a curiosity. But after these many years, and as a result of his long and able pastorate in this town, I know of nothing to-day more beneficial, more beautiful, more enduring than the two old elms, which in one-half day, he may have planted. Down at my early home there are several maples, which were planted by two boys nearly one hundred years ago. Two of them 186 HISTORY OF CONWAY. are trees of unusual beauty. Those two boys lived their long lives here in Conway, each lived to be more than eighty years of age, and several years ago both of them passed away. Five generations have played beneath their shade, but those fine old maples still wave their branches in the summer air, and give to the old home one of its chief adornments. I knew another tree, a maple that once stood in this town, large, old, and beautiful. It was a shapely tree. It was strong and healthy, an ornament and a delight. It must have stood there more than one hundred years to have reached such full perfection. It stood on a neighboring farm, and many a time in my happy boyhood I have climbed into its branches, or rested in its cooling shade. A subsequent owner, who has also passed away, cut it down for fuel one winter's day, and only a decaying stump marks its side. I feel in passing like "Walking backward with averted gaze to hide the shame." To remove such a tree is a calamity beyond description. I remember another; an elm of later growth and of unusual promise. It spread its fine branches with wondrous symmetry. It was young and thrifty, and shaded not a foot of valuable soil. That, too, has gone. It is, indeed, a pity to remove so charming an ornament. And so I say, citizens of Conway, observe your Arbor Day, plant your trees, and guard their growth. There is no other and better way to make this town beautiful. At my distant home in the West, men are employed on account of their discernment and taste to beautify and care for the parks and boulevards. They plant forest trees, the elm, the maple, the birch, the oak, and the ash, and water and tend them well. The trees are regarded there, and I think everywhere, as the finest ornament a park or boule- vard can have. Here in Conway the elm, the maple, the ash, and the birch thrive and flourish in their native soil. Spare then your trees, and they in turn will reward you with their surpassing beauty. I have read that the chestnut, the walnut, and the maple may be planted here with fine success on barren hills. It is well worth a trial. Pardon one more suggestion. Fine state roads are being built in Massachusetts. You have able men in Conway. Bring this road to your town; and then on some fine day drive out among your valleys and hills and thank the good Lord that your THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 187 "lines are cast in such pleasant places, and that you hav^e so goodly a heritage." I have in mind another way in which this town can be made more attractive. There is a Fish Commission in this Common- wealth, and Conway is entitled to its share of the spawn. Secure that share. Place them in your clear, cool brooks and ponds, and then there will be enough for all. In various ways this town can be mtide, not only more attractive, but exceedingly beautiful. Nature has done so much. Keep all in harmony with the fine adornment about to be erected here. Many a loyal son of Conway shared in your indignation a few months ago when some unhappy writer wrote his article on the decadence of New England towns, and published his unkind criticism. He could not have made his observations here. He could not have been familiar with your growth, your prosperity, and your people. He could not have noticed your new reservoir while speeding along on your electric cars. It may be that these cars propelled by invisible power would have impressed the writer less than the old stagecoach of a past generation, drawn by its six prancing horses, as it hastened through your village. That, however, was the show, but this the substance. The invisible powers are often the mightiest. The quiet depths of ocean are more potent than the foaming spray. It may be that there have of "late been greater opportunities in the West for financial success or for professional distinction than are to be found in the Eastern states; but we are all thankful if we were born in Conway. We are thankful to have had around us, in our early days, the sweet and pure influences of New England. We like to send our children here that they may attend your schools, become attached to your hills, and have the same quiet, ennobling joys that we are so glad to remember. Every man who is out in life's busy whirl looks back with fondness to his origin, and longs for the time when he can return and be one of you again. I can still recall some of the places we selected when we were boys in Conway as the sites for our future homes in our maturer years; and now, when we speak of "home," we still refer to Conway, and when we speak of Heaven, we often think of those who have passed up yonder from your hills. 188 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Those of us who were born in Conway remember well the fine old men and charming women of the last generation, grand men and beautiful women. Let me recall some of their individual and family names. There were Deacon Avery, Colonel Rice, Deacon Clary, the Drs. Hamilton, old and young. General Howland, General Whitney, Captain Childs, Captain Parsons, Dr. Rogers, Colonel Billings; and then there were the Clarke family, the Fields, the Arms, the Bartletts, the Boydens, the Newhalls, the Packards, and many more whose lives and whose memories are closely identified with the history of this town. A few years ago a loyal old resident of Massachusetts, one of her leading citizens, was returning from the West by the Hoosac Tunnel route. On his journey he had made the acquaintance of a bright newspaper man of the West, who had been invited to come East and take charge of one of your leading papers. He was then on his way, for the first time, to look this country over, and was examining all closely arid with great interest. In the early morning, as the train emerged from Hoosac Mountain, and came winding along down among the rugged hills of Zoar, he called my aged friend to the platform and asked him to look around. "What a country!" he exclaimed. "All woods, rocks, and barrenness. What is it good for? Nothing. What will it produce? Nothing." "Wait a moment," replied the loyal old son of Massachusetts, "let us see. Did you ever hear of Mary Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke Seminary?" "Oh, yes." "Those hills up there to the right are the hills of Buckland. It was her native town. Do you see those fine hills beyond?" "Yes." "They are in Cummington. It was there that William CuUen Bryant was born, and there he still loyally and lovingly maintains his summer home. Just beyond us here (he said as the train was flying on) we shall come to the handsome hill town of Conway. It was there that Marshall Field and William C, Whitney were born." And then this loyal old statesman, with pardonable pride, exclaimed, "I tell you, my friend, this country has produced something." The gift of a free public library is an event of the greatest moment in your history. Filled with books and pictures, and with things of beauty, it will stand here at the head of this, your principal street, as a help and an inspiration long after those who THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 189 have gathered here to-day have passed away, and most of us been forgotten. In the years to come it will be a constant reminder to the \()ung men and w^omen of Conway of Hfe's great possibilities. It will stand here, an ornament, an incentive, and a guide. It will place, within reach of all, the means whereby each one can choose more intelligently, the path which to him w^ill be the most attractive, the pursuit in life which will please him best. "Free to all" w'ill be its welcome. It will recognize no privileged class. It will be a blessing, alike to all. When this gift was first announced, I read in your papers this simple direction: "Make it as large as necessities require, and make it as fine as any in New England." It wall stand here in Conway a monument to its founder, but those who know^ him well, know that this is not his purpose. He needs no such monument. In the memory of his early home, he builds this library, and in the upbuilding of the town, he will find his rew^ard. He is to-day placing in your midst the finest, the most beauti- ful of all your material possessions. When, then, the history of this town shall be written, when the record is completed, of those sons and daughters of Conway who in this generation have done the most to adorn and beautify this town, and to bring happiness and blessing to its citizens, I am sure we all admit that first on that list of the deser\ing shall be placed the honored and honorable name of MARSHALL FIELD. A copper box had been prepared to be deposited within the corner foundation stone. It contained a catalogue of the Town Library, as it then existed, a copy of the Chicago Times Herald of May 24, 1900, which contained a description and picture of the Field Memorial Library; a copy of the Springfield Republican of April 15, 1900, with a picture and description of the library; a copy of the Greenfield Recorder of May 16, 1900, containing an illustrated article fully describing the library and giving a sketch of Marshall Field ; a copy of the Gazette and Courier of Greenfield of June 30, containing an announcement of the laying of the corner stone July 4, 1900; a copy of the Springfield Republican of July Fourth containing a programme of the day's observance; 190 HISTORY OF CONWAY. pages of "Picturesque Franklin" illustrating and describing Conway; a copy of the Act of Incorporation of the Library, and photographs of Marshall Field, the donor, and of his father and mother, in whose memory the library was to be built. The box was deposited in its place by Mrs. Helen Field James amid the applause of the people. Words of dedication and invocation were spoken by Rev. Eugene F. Hunt of the Congrega- tional church. The hymn, America, was sung by the assembly, with the leadership of the band, and Rev. William F. Avery pro- nounced the prayer of benediction. The work of building went on with skill and with generous carefulness. Messrs. Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge of Boston were the designing architects, the construction being under the special direction of Mr. Coolidge. The library, which is of purpose distinctly monumental in character, is built in the classic style of architecture in Greek detail. The exterior is of limestone with copper dome and roofs. The building measures 41 feet from sill to the top of the dome. The dome is 25 feet in diarcieter. The vestibule opens into the rotunda, which is 30 feet square, with floor of marble mosaic in rich colors and surrounded by Ionic columns of solid Brescia Violet marble with a high dado of Brescia Violet marble between the columns. There is a reading room, rectangular in shape, about 21 feet by 23 feet on either side of the rotunda. In the rear of the rotunda is the stack room, which will accommodate 25,000 or 30,000 volumes. With the early summer of 1901, the building was ready for its use. Friday, July 13, was appointed for the opening services of dedication. Our native town gives us beautiful days for great observances, with air and sunlight befitting to the occasion. Many recalled the enlivening skies and fields of that day in June, twenty-four years before, when the One Hundredth Anniversary of the incorporation of the town was commemorated. It is probable that no other events since the first occupation of the place have awakened such universal interest, or brought together assemblages so large, as these two. But from the early times there have been many gatherings in Conway in the groves and open fields, and our thoughts go back on these occasions to the I .. 192 HISTORY OF CONWAY. reports of the great patriotic and political celebrations on Independence Day, especially in the opening years of the nineteenth century; or we have in mind, perhaps, the traditional memories of that sterner call which brought every able bodied man to the Common by the old Meeting House when the cry of Burgoyne's coming ran through the land. The record is long and varied, but thus far there has been no observance that is likely to hold about itself associations and remembrances more pleasing and grateful than those which belong with the opening of this Memorial Library. Special invitations had gone to all throughout the place; the occasion was for all; all, almost, were there. Many sons and daughters of the town long absent had returned ; many strangers were there but not as strangers; county and town officials were there, and librarians, in numbers, from towns near and distant; many personal friends of Mr. Field were with him. A stand had been erected and seats prepared upon the green in front of the library — upon the spot, where long before had been the open playground about the old Brick Schoolhouse. Mr. Field was early upon the ground. In a walk with Mr. Hunt toward the tent which had been spread for dinner he spoke of the perfect day, of the decorations, of his appreciation of the interest shown in the occasion by the people of the town, and of his own strong affection for the town of his birth. He expressed his belief also that farming, the leading occupation of the town, could be made as profitable as ever, and as profitable in Conway as anywhere else. Referring to the exercises of the day Mr. Hunt expressed his deep appreciation of the fact that Mr. Field had consented to present the library in a brief address. To this Mr. Field replied that he had much doubt as to the wisdom of his promise to do that. He said that he had never made a speech in his life. He referred to the fact that the young people at the present time become accustomed to speaking in their religious societies and elsewhere more than they did when he was a boy. He said that it was too late for him to begin to make speeches, but that he had promised to say something, and that he was quite willing to do it if it would give the people of the town any pleasure. He added that he had purposed to give the day to Conway, THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 193 and that he h^id told his Chicago friends that they would have to take care of themselves. While the assembly was gathering, and before the formal opening of the service, a concert was given by the band of the Second Regiment from Springfield. Upon the speakers' stand were: — Marshall F"ield. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman 1). James. Mr. and Mrs. Dwight James and Mrs. Lizzie James. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dibblee, Miss Bertha Dibblee. Mrs. Delia Spencer Caton. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Eddy. Mrs. Helen Wells Field. Mr. and Mrs. John W. Gillette. Mrs. Z. M. Humphrey. Mr. D. P. Clapp and Family. Mrs. Captain G. D. Sigsbee. Mr. Hezekiah S. Russell. Mr. Franklin W. Russell. Miss Jane A. Russell. Mr. Harry R. Russell. Mr. Charles Coolidge. Rev. Eugene F. Hunt and Mrs. Hunt. Mr. Henry W. Billings. Miss Mary A. Billings. Mr. William G. Avery and Mrs. Avery. Rev. Wm. F. Avery. Rev. Charles S. Pease and Mrs. Pease. Rev. E. B. Hinchliffe. Rev. Charles B. Rice and Mrs. Rice. Prof. Charles E. Norton and Daughter. Mr. Arthur P. Delabarre and Mrs. Delabarre. Mrs. Belle H. Johnson. Miss Esther Owen. Mrs. Julia A. Ray. William G. Avery, Master of Ceremonies, made an appro- priate opening and welcoming address; and he directed the order of procedure. 194 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Prayer was offered by Rev. Edward B. Hinchliffe, pastor of the Methodist church. Selections of Scripture were read by Rev. Charles S. Pease, pastor of the Baptist church. Rev. Charles B. Rice of Danvers, a native of Conway, gave the Address of Dedication which here follows: — Address of Mr. Rice. Mr. Chairman and Friends: — We are here again together in the town we love. An occasion of common interest and common gladness brings us from our homes far away or near at hand. Again the summer sun shines here upon us. Again we see around us the bending lines of all these graceful hills, clothed with woods and grasses to their tops. Again we hear the sound of the rapid river that never sleeps, and the voices of the sweet springs and brooks that run among the valleys. Again the place puts its spell upon us with all its changing aspects and its everlasting beauty. Here are the trees the fathers planted, or the forests the fathers spared. Here are the fields they tilled. Here are the houses they built — or the spots where the houses stood. Here they kept the Sabbath days, and met to worship God. Here are the graves in which they from whom our natural lives are sprung were laid in sorrow and in hope. Gathering around us here are the sentiments, the memories, and the imaginations that mark our human lot, the associations and influences of every sort that lighten our days and that hallow the life of man. Memorial observances are distinctive of man. The other animal tribes that occupy the earth with us, the inhabitants of the sea, the land and the air, have indeed their powers of recollec- tion. They know the places where they have found food or shelter or rest. They come back, some of them, from long migrations to their former homes. But they do not, so far as we can tell, keep in mind, or plan to keep in mind, the events of the past, or the associations they have had with their own companions in life who have ceased to be with them. We may not know all the thoughts they have. But we see no signs with them of gatherings upon days or spots that might be memorable. The beast and the bird have no burial rites; and they do not mark with flower or twig or trodden paths the places of their THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 195 dead. The ties of natural kinship are not strong with them. In a few days or weeks the bird and beast forget parentage and chiklhood. They do not appear either to look forward to the coming times, or to plan in anything as if they wished to be themselves remembered after they w^ere gone. They have their grateful satisfactions in life; but they have not the thoughts that gather about them the events and the generations of the past, and the generations of the years that are to come. To us alone, of all the living things upon the globe, there is allotted this endowment of life in perpetual present remembrance and foresight, and in constant discernment of sentiments and sym- pathies and obligations and hopes that seem imperishable. Thus to-day with all these remembrances and anticipations gathering upon us, we offer thanks and grateful homage to the Author of universal life for these vast distinctions He has put upon us, and for this inestimable heritage of our human and rational being. We stand in our thoughts before Him; and we consecrate this memorial in His presence and powder. These memorial acts confirm the things most strong and hopeful in our human lives. They remove our thoughts from the immediate passing days and bear them out, somewhat, upon enduring sympathies and unchangeable hopes. From the failing foothold of our natural life we seem to look abroad upon the fields of immortality; and we draw nigh to the eternity of God. Such memorials testify also to the coming times of the most precious endowments of human life. They declare their purpose. They perpetuate the thoughts out of which they spring. Thus the man who plans and rears this building speaks to future times of things not perishable, of human affections, of human character and human hopes. Thus we who are permitted to join with him in these services of dedication join also in this testimony to the coming generations concerning the constant worth of all that is rational and sacred in man. This building speaks for its builder. There are wonderful instruments that catch and record the tones of the human voice, and that can bring them forth again in years and it may be in ages afterward to be heard. This building cannot so preserve the sounds alone of the natural voice. But its speech is more impressive than that of talking mechanisms. It is a recording 196 HISTORY OF CONWAY. instrument of reason and of affection and of generous public purpose, revealing now and transmitting to the coming times the sentiments out of which it sprang. It can take and hold forever upon itself its builder's thoughts, and give them forth to be re- newed forever upon the hearts of those that look upon it. The building testifies thus to its giver. It makes it to be known that he has cherished the remembrance of his home and the place of his early life. It shows his wisdom in the forming of a beneficent purpose, practically useful, and elevating and far reaching in its results. It records his enterprise, his capacity, his prosperity, which have enabled him to rear and fill and endow this edifice. The building testifies to the place where it is set. It does credit to the town. The community has had some share in its purpose and rearing. The first years of the giver's life were here, and here were the lives of his father and mother. The influences of every kind pervading this community have entered into their lives and his life. There are lands and places and social conditions where there could neither be such parents nor such a son. This building implies a recognition in the giver's mind of the worth of the community itself. It expresses, I am sure, a measure of obligation to the place in which his life was nurtured; and it is in a manner a memorial not only to those of his own family stock, but also in part to the men and the women — the living and the dead — of all these surrounding households. It represents churches and schools, laws, freedom and public order. It stands for the companionship of playmates, the kindness and helpfulness of neighbors and friends in all the daily intercourse and occupation of life. It commemorates all the quickening powers of that social state which has made these New England towns to be fountains of intelligence and enterprise and public force. It is a memorial of the things common and sacred with us all. The building testifies to the worthiness of the father and mother of the man who gives it. This is a primary purpose. This is the mark he has put himself upon it. It is erected and endowed in memory of John and Fidelia Nash Field. John Field was a man direct and distinct in purpose, of practiced sense and capacity. His wife was gracious, refined, and lovely. THE FIELD MEMORIAE I,1BRARV. 197 Between them both they balanced the reasons and motives and forces of life. Together they gave stock, substance, sentiment, and quality to the family they nurtured and reared. From these parents these children had the first endowments and appoint- ments of life. This memorial which their son has raised bears witness to the worth of the inheritance he recei\ ed. It is a costly monument. The inheritance was of inestimable value. The building itself is befitting to its purpose. It is laid out for use and beauty and permanence. It is built in thoroughness, without stint of money. It shows the craft of the finest of all outward arts; and its lines in the lasting stone are firm and graceful. Its appointments within are tasteful, well ordered, and ample. Our state is adorned and enriched throughout by beautiful buildings, devoted to the same public uses, and bearing often similar personal memorials; but there are few among them that can be at all compared with this in appropriateness and completeness of elegance. Unlike to some costly structures the building befits its place, and the eye will soon learn to rest upon its strong and shapely lines as if it were itself a part of the wide surrounding natural beauty in the midst of which it stands. The building answers to its design. The library within will correspond also to the wise and generous purpose of its giver. The collection of books will be choice and sufficiently large. It will be well arranged and cared for and maintained. And it will be free to all for use. Books themselves belong naturally with memorial uses. Writings are things of remembrance. With a few visible signs they hold the whole story of the life of man. Letters are the chief memorials of our human state. They are the main record- ing instruments and depositories of all that man has known or believed or imagined concerning himself and concerning the range of universal being in which he is placed. Here upon these lettered shelves are the records of man, and the records of the things before man was. Here are the histories of the earth and the heavens. Here are the prophecies of the paths of the stars. Here upon these pages are the lights of kindling suns, and the shadows of the suns that have faded and that are to fade. Here about us are the living men of the earth, full themselves of memory and forecast. Here are the philosophers speaking of 198 HISTORY OF CONWAY. the things accounted by them eternal. Here are the orators stirring the hearts and bending or stiffening the purpose and the will. Here are the poets, awakening newly and forever the sentiments, the hopes, the imaginations that never die. Here are the souls of men, in their sadness, their fears and their con- cerns, in their affections and sympathies, in their weakness and their courage, their aspirations and their faith — mortal, but human and laying hold on immortality. It is a vast assemblage of moving and animating companionship. Into this association with all the recorded life and thought of mankind the people of these surrounding households, and all that shall come after them in future times, are to be here invited to enter. It is a benefit of immeasurable value which is thus brought within their reach. It is not necessary that all or the most of those that use this library should ever read all or any very large proportion of the books that it will contain. The quickening power of books may come of a few as truly as from many. For special purposes many are needed, volumes of reference and volumes of treasured facts and conclusions in many departments of knowledge. But for the inspiration and hope of life, not many. And of great books for such ends there are in fact but few. I do not know but one might find in a hundred volumes, the work of thirty men, the most of what is greatest and best. There is a pleasure and a use in a far wider range and variety. But the busy men and women, young or old, in these households, need not any of them miss the main advantage of this ample furnishing. They may be straitened for time, but they can take from these shelves enough for all the most needful stirring and widening of the mind, and for solace and rest and strength of heart. The keepers of this library will help, we may be sure, so far as they have occasion, in the selection of books to be read. And it may be expected that the teachers in our schools and the pastors of our churches, and all the wise men and women indeed among us, will be ready with aid to the same end that these stores of reading may be most effectively used. The library will be an attractive feature in our town. It will be a center of much life and thought. It will have its pleasing social uses. The new books will be watched for and talked of. THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 199 The young people will be here. I do not suppose that these rooms themselves are intended to be places of resort, exactly, for conversation. But I presume that outside the doors these younger people will [)e allowed to speak in low tones, conversing altogether — as in Conway they naturally would — upon literary or patriotic themes. Perhaps they will be setting out early to add themselves to this collection with poetry and romance. It is likely that there will soon be set apart a shelf for Conway authors, and in time an alcove. I suppose a beginning might even now be made. In many ways and more and more the building will have a great place in all the life of the town. Mr. Field has made wise provision for the continuing main- tenance and care of the Memorial Library. Nothing that generous sagacity could suggest has been left undone. He himself will perform in the presence of this assembly the signifi- cant act by which this building will pass into the keeping of the appointed board of trust. His gift will be received with most grateful appreciation. It will bring long-continuing benefits to the people of our town. It will carry to distant times its testi- mony to his own filial affection, to his public spirit, and to him- self. And it will make return, we trust, in abundant satisfac- tions, that will still more enrich his own life and that will abide with him forever. Marshall Field then made formal presentation of the library in these words: — I am exceedingly gratified to see so many of the citizens of Conway here to take part in the dedication of this building. It is now fifty years since I left you, but I have never lost interest in the town or in its inhabitants. It is now my privilege and great pleasure to present this token of my friendship, as I now do, in memory of my father and mother; and to you, Mr. Hunt, in behalf of the trustees, I deliver the deed of the property, the endowment fund and the keys, with the hope that the library will give pleasure to all the inhabitants of Conway, that it will be a power for good and a lasting benefit to this community. Mr. Field was greeted with long-continuing applause. Rev. Eugene F. Hunt responded in behalf of the trustees and of the town. 200 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Address of Mr. Hunt. To say that one rarely has the high privilege accorded to me to-day, is to speak very far short of the truth. Many of our towns have received library buildings at the hands of friends, but I do not know of another the recipient of such a princely gift as this we now accept in trust. The building itself, in material, in architecture, in finish, as a work of art, is, as you intended it should be, the finest of its size in New England. The endowment is abundant to meet all necessary expenses for care, repairs, and the purchase of books for an unlimited term of years to come. The 6,000 volumes already upon the shelves have been so care- fully selected that they have the approval of the best librarians in the country. This, in a word, is the legacy you leave to your native town, in memory of your father and mother. And what does all this mean, such a building, such an endow- ment, such a collection of books? Emerson has said, "Give me a book, health and a June day and I will make the pomp of kings ridiculous." And Mrs. Browning has declared, "No youth can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books." But best of all, is the motto you, sir, have given us and caused to be placed in full view as we enter the building, "He that loveth a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, or an effectual comforter." Any number of beautiful things might be said about the gift and the thoughtful generosity that prompted it, all of them true, but the genuineness of gratitude, the extent of appreciation, are always best shown not by what we say, but by what we do. After the provision you have made, it goes without the saying, that the work about the building and in the building and every way connected with the building will be religiously attended to, so that we shall always be in a presentable condition whenever you and your friends may come, as we hope you often will come. This, of course, is not a mark of gratitude, any more than the faithful performance of any other task for which one is paid, is a mark of gratitude. It is simply plain duty. But there are ways in which our feelings can be shown, our appreciation declare itself. The pains we take with our other public buildings and their surroundings, with our homes and their surroundings; the care to make our streets and little squares attractive ; the attention THE FIELD MEMORIAL LIBRARY. 201 we give to our schools, that our youth may become intelHgent readers and lovers of books; the effort we put forth to interest all classes in this varied, extensive, and choice collection, so that "free to all" shall have a meaning; the careful, conservative, impartial management of the affairs of the library — these things will best reveal the genuineness of our gratitude, the full extent of our appreciation. With a hope, sir, that all these conditions will be so fully realized, that in years to come you will look upon this as one of the best investments you have ever made, with a determination that this shall be so, as far as the supervision of the trustees goes, we receive in trust for the whole town, without distinction, this beauti- fully constructed classic building, with its well e(]uipped library. Mr. Avery extended the thanks of the trustees and the community to Mr. Coolidge for the satisfactory manner in which, as one of the architects, he had superintended the construction of the building. Rev. William F. Avery offered the prayer of benediction. The assembly then marched in procession with music to the tent where caterer Barr of Springfield had prepared ample and choice supplies of food. More than twelve hundred people were gathered about the tables here spread. The bearing and manner of Mr. Field throughout the day were altogether unostentatious and altogether dignified. This attracted attention the more in that it was meant to attract none. It remains in the minds of the people of the town and of all that were gathered on that day that the most pleasing and the most significant feature of the occasion was not the costly library and its equipment, but the man himself — quiet, self- composed, and strong — by whom the gift was made. It is a grateful office here to record this universal satisfaction with Mr. Field's own personal bearing, and to prolong its remembrance. It has been brought to mind, also, in connection with Mr. Field's care for his native town, that whenever a man from Conway called upon him in his place of business, he would find space even in the most crowded days for courteous greetings and friendly inquiries. Mr. Field was not a man of business only. He was a man of memories and friendly instincts. And thus his own memory abides in friendliness and honor. Chapter IX. MILITARY HISTORY. By Rev. Charles Stanley Pease. THE REVOLUTION. The military history of Conway began with the struggle for American Independence. The inhabitants at Boston, under the leadership of Samuel Adams, had voted to appoint a "Committee of Correspondence consisting of twenty-one persons, to state the rights of the Colonists, and of this province in particular, as men, as Chris- tians and as subjects; and to communicate and publish the same to the several towns." During the year 1774, the town officials of Conway received a communication from the Boston Committee of Correspondence and at the first town meeting thereafter on the 5th of August, the matter was acted upon. Lieut. Thomas French, Deacon Samuel Wells, Robert Oliver, Nathan Gould, and Consider Arms were elected a committee to prepare a suitable answer to the letter. The town meeting was adjourned without action to the latter part of the week in order to allow the committee time to prepare suitable response. Four days after the first meeting the com- mittee reported at a special town, meeting called for the purpose as follows: "At a legal town meeting of the inhabitants of Conway held on the first day of August, 1774, Lieut. Thomas French chosen moderator. After having read and considered the letters sent us from Boston respecting the rights of the colonies and of the infringement of those rights, we fully agree with you that these rights and privileges are invaded, and of this province in particular. We shall join with you in all lawful and salutary measures for the recovery of those inestimable privileges wrested from us and firmly to secure those that remain; for we are sen- sible that should we renounce our liberty and privileges, we should renounce quality of men and the rights of humanity. We freely pay our proportion of money desired by the General Court in order to the support of the Honorable Committee of Congress greatly relying and depending on their resolutions." The town MILITARY HISTORY. 203 clerk, Oliver Wetmore, was instructed to send the report of the town's action to the Boston Committee of Correspondence. At this same meeting, Consider Arms was selected to represent the town at the Provincial Congress to be held at Concord the fol- lowing month. The first week of September another special town meeting was called and a committee of thirteen was selected to correspond with the other towns of the province with regard to obtaining their liberties. The committee consisted of Deacon Samuel Wells, Deacon Joel Baker, Lieut. Thomas French, Jonas Rice, Oliver Wetmore, Cyrus Rice, Consider Arms, Robert Oliver, Jonas Dickinson, Israel Gates, Josiah Boyden, Elisha Clark, and Alexander Oliver and they were also empowered to regulate the town with respect to mobs for the space of fourteen days. They were requested to lay before the town further articles in relation to the fast approaching crisis. As matters began to present a more threatening aspect the selectmen were directed to provide two barrels of powder and lead and flints for a town stock of ammunition. At the March town meeting, 1775, it was voted to allow the minute men one barrel of powder and lead and flints to be in readiness when they are called upon to march to Boston in defense of this country. Also that the town would provide forty bayonets and the same number of cartridge boxes. The town also voted to pay to each soldier $40 out of the treasury on their being called on to march. The selectmen were instructed to see that the above resolutions were fully carried out. The second Tuesday in April, the town selected Capt. Daniel Dunham as delegate to the Provincial Congress at Concord. He was also selected as the delegate in May following. On the morning succeeding the battle at Lexington the Massachusetts Committee of Safety sent a communication to the several towns in the state as follows: "We conjure you, by all that is dear, by all that is sacred; we beg and entreat you, as you will answer it to your country, to your consciences, and above all, to God Himself, that you will hasten, and encourage, by all possible means, the enlistment of men to form the army; and send them forward to headquarters at Cambridge with that expedition which the vast importance and instant urgency of the affair demanded." The citizens of Conway promptly responded. All arrange- ments had been made in anticipation of the expected summons 204 HISTORY OF CONWAY. and on April 22, Capt. Robert Oliver led forth the following "Minute Men": Ebenezer Allen, Caleb Beals, Lamberton Cooper, Daniel Davidson, Reuben Dickinson, Jonathan Dunham, Abel Dinsmore, Gershom Farnsworth, James Gilmore, John Goodale, Matthew Graves, Robert Hamilton, Jason Harrington, Josiah Horton, Ebenezer Hart, Aaron How, Sherebiah Lee, Malachi Maynard, Daniel Newhall, Thomas Nutting, Alexander Oliver, Aber Packard, Joseph Rice, Benjamin Whitney, and Jonathan Whitney. Abel Dinsmore and Jonathan Whitney served as sergeants. Both became captains in the Continental Army. Gershom Farnsworth and Aber Packard were corporals and Alexander Oliver was the clerk of the company. The men reported for duty at Cambridge where they were assigned to a regiment commanded by Col. Samuel Williams of Warwick. Other enlistments followed throughout the war as men were needed. Dr. Rice in his review of the first century of the town, the second chapter of this book, tells us that every able-bodied man took some part in the war for longer or shorter periods. Records of enlistments were not carefully kept by the town and the exact number is not known. The following names are taken chiefly from the published state records of Massachusetts soldiers and sailors in the Revolutionary W'ar: Job Abbott, William Abbott, Amos Allen, Ebenezer Allen, Lucius AUis, Elisha Amsden, Isaac Amsden, Simeon Amsden, John Attset, Joseph Attset, Selah Baldan, William Bancroft, Solomon Bard- well, Samuel Barnes, Moses Bascom, Caleb Beals, Jon- athan Belding, Selah Belding, John Bond, John Boyden, Josiah Boyden, Simeon Bigelow, Edward Burgess, Walter Boardman, Patrick Brown, Samuel Brown, Jonathan Bruce, Daniel Butter- field, Thomas Cathcart, Richard Caton, Mosfes Childs, Judah Clark, Corp. Samuel Cooley, Sergt. Lamberton Cooper, John Crittenden, Lieut. Benjamin Crockett, Joseph Cross, Sergt. Daniel Davidson, Maj. James Davis, Elias Dewey, Eli Dickinson, James Dickinson, Corp. Joel Dickinson, Reuben Dickinson, Corp. Jonathan Dunham, Capt. Abel Dinsmore, Lieut. Abiather Eastman, Corp. Gershom Farnsworth, Sergt. William Farns- worth, Prince Freeman, Capt. Thomas French, Israel Gates, William Gates, Corp. John Gilmore, James Gilmore, Alexander Glover, John Goodale, Fifer Nathan Goodale, Solomon Goodale, MILITARY HISTORY. ^ 205 Matthew Graves, Samuel Gray, Lieut. Robert Hamilton, Jason Harrington, Josiah Horton, Corp. Solomon Hayward, Ebenezer Hart, Aaron How, Jaazaniah How, Solomon Howard, Christo- pher Huntress, Joseph Huxford, Eber Isbel, John Kelley, Shel- burne Lawrence, Jeremiah Leach, Sherebiah Lee, James Lock. Henry Lovejoy, William Mallery, William Marble, William Merrill, Oliver May, Malachi Maynard, Asa Merritt, Simeon Merritt, Isaac Nelson, Daniel Newhall, Thomas Nutting, Lieut. Alexander Oliver, Maj. Robert Oliver, Corp. Aber Packard, Ephraim Paine, Lieut. Joel Parsons, Thomas Purdie, Jonas Rice, Joseph Rice, Luke Rice, Joseph Toby, Ebenezer Tolman, Elipha- let Wells, Bela Wetmore, Benjamin Wheat, Benjamin W'hitney, Capt. Jonathan Whitney, Samuel Wilson, James Wing, Josiah Wing, John Wright, and Samuel Wright. We do not need to repeat what has been so well told l^y Dr. Rice regarding the contentions with the Tories, the financial difficulties, and Conway's connection with the Shays' rebellion. Capt. Abel Dinsmore, minute man and leading patriot, became so much involved in the insurrectionary disturbances following the war that his arrest with Shays and others was ordered by the governor of the state. After the rebellion those who had partic- ipated in it returned to their farms and thereafter conducted themselves as law-abiding citizens. At the first annual town meeting following the close of the trouble and for some years afterwards, the newly elected town officials were required to take a specially worded oath of allegiance to the stale and nation. THE WAR OF 1812. The declaration of war in 1812 did not meet with Conway's approval and in that year Elisha Billings and John Bannister represented the town at a peace convention held in Northampton. Yet in July, 1812, a petition was circulated in town of which the following was the preamble: "Whereas the United States are at present engaged in a war with Great Britain and a united support of the National Government has become more than ev^er necessary in order that the war may be terminated by a happy and honor- able peace; and whereas a conspiracy is believed to exist to sepa- rate the states and thus to involve the country in a civil war. Now therefore, we do solemnly pledge ourselves to our country 206 HISTORY OF CONWAY. individually that we will do all in our power to support the national government, that w^e will obey the orders of the President of the United States, when called upon to do it, to support the laws; and that we will discountenance and oppose any attempt to dissolve the union." This petition was signed by one hundred and forty-three citizens. In 1814 England having threatened to devastate the Atlantic coast, Governor Strong of Massachu- setts issued a call for the state militia. Several Conway men went in the Hampshire regiment commanded by Col.. Thomas Longley of Hawley and Maj. Asa Rowland of Conway. They saw no fighting, however, and soon returned in peace to their homes. D-uring all this period and for many years afterwards military training was given to all of military age. Lists of citizens as we find them in church and town records during the first century show many titles of army officers won for the most part on the local training grounds. In 1845 the town voted to sell its "guns and munitions of war" at public auction. THE CIVIL WAR. Fort Sumter capitulated on April 14, 1861. The following day President Lincoln issued a call for troops. Governor An- drews of Massachusetts had been anticipating for weeks some such emergency and within three days dispatched three regi- ments to Washington. Town meetings were held everywhere as soon as they could be legally called. In Conway the selectmen posted warrants on the 23d of April and the meeting was duly held on May 1st. Dr. E. D. Hamilton was chosen moderator and, according to the purpose of the meeting, a committee was appointed to secure the enlistment of soldiers. The following citizens were chosen by ballot to serve on this committee: Edward Burke, Rev. G. M. Adams, Dr. E. D. Hamilton, John Ingham, and Gurdon Edgerton. ■ It was voted to furnish each volunteer with an outfit not to exceed twenty-five dollars and to pay him six dollars a month for the period of a year. Soldiers' families were to receive, at the discretion of the committee, from six to ten dollars a month for their support. Forty-two of the Conway young men volunteered the first summer. They enlisted principally in three regiments, viz.: the 10th and 31st Infantry and the 1st Cavalry. All were three- MILITARY HISTORY. 207 year regiments and saw hard service. The 10th Regiment was recruited in the five western counties and went out under the command of Col. Henry S. Briggs of Pittsfield, who was sub- sequently promoted brigadier general for gallant conduct on the field. The 10th Regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac and participated in all of the great battles fought in that locality including Gettysburg. The 31st was also a Western Massachusetts regiment, at first designated as the "Western Bay-State" Regiment. It was raised under orders from General Butler, who sailed with this regiment from Boston and selected it as his bodyguard in the occupation of New Orleans. It was actively engaged in opening the lower Mississippi River. The 1st Regiment of Cavalry was recruited at Readsville, Mass., and like the 10th Infantry was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. The year 1862 was perhaps the darkest year of the war. All summer the tide of battle appeared to be against the North. The president in July appealed for three hundred thousand troops and a month later called for three hundred thousand more. Conway held a special town meeting on July 23, when it was voted unamimously "that the selectmen be, and hereby are instructed to offer and pay the sum of one hundred dollars to each volunteer from town not exceeding our quota." This bounty was increased in January, 1865, to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Fifty-seven men from Conway enlisted in 1862 in response to the appeals of President Lincoln. Eight enlisted in July in the 37th Regiment, recruited at "Camp Briggs," Pittsfield. Nine went to recruit the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry already in the field. Thirty-four enlisted in the 52d Regiment recruited in Scptcmlicr at "Camp Miller," Green- field. The 52d Regiment was commanded by Col. H. S. Green- leaf of Shelburne Flails and was composed almost wholly of men from Franklin and Hampshire counties. Nearly all of the Con- way men went into Company D under Capt. F. M. Patrick. Captain Patrick soon resigned because of a severe illness and was succeeded by Lieut. Horace Hosford also of Conway. Oliver P. Edgerton of Conway became 2d Lieutenant, and four Conway men served as corporals in the same company. This regiment was assigned to the Department of the Gulf and with the 31st assisted in opening the Mississippi River. 208 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Conway is credited by the Adjutant General of Massachusetts with one hundred and fifty-eight enUstments, which he says was a surplus of eleven over and above all demands. This number, however, includes re-enlistments and thirty-one non-residents who were hired by the town at various times to fill its quota. The following list from the town records gives the names of one hundred and six men who were residents of Conway and person- ally represented the town in the great conflict: — 10th Regiment. — William H. Adams, J. Dickinson AUis, Alonzo Bates, John P. Clark, Welcome F. Cone, Edward R. Gardner, Horace W. Graves, F. E. Hartwell, E. G. Hayden, W. Rollin Smith, Lathrop Smith, Alonzo H. Warren. 31st Regiment. — Adelbert Bailey, Liberty Burnett, Francis A. Clary, S. H. Dyer, John W. Goland, Patrick Hayes, Fred D. Howland, James F. Hunter, John Island, Gordon H. Johnson, James Johnson, William C. Maynard, Edward Metivier, Pliny F. Nims, S. R. Walker, Sylvester M. Ware, C. George Wells, John White, Charles F. Wright. 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. — George A. Abell, Henry C. Allen, George F. Arms, Elias F. Bradford, E. A. Burnham, Lieut. George W. Flagg, Hiram A. Gray, Eliphalet L. Hall, Baxter Harding, Tyler Harding, Albion F. Hubbard, John W\ Jackson, Orrin D. Remington, Charles M. Smith, Henry A. Stearns, Samuel W'are, Henry J. Wilder. 37th Massachusetts Regiment. — \\'illiam H. Averill, Samuel Bigelow, E. A. Blood, Lyman A. Bradford, Otis F. Childs, George C. Johnson, Lucius W'. Merrifield, Fred E. Rowe, Sumner Warner. 52d Regiment. — W^illiam D. AUis, A. Judson Andrews, Na- thaniel Bartlett, John W. Bradford, George D. Braman, William H. Clapp, Charles E. Crittenden, George F. Crittenden, Lieut. O. P. Edgerton, W^ilson G. Field, Manley Guilford, E. W. Ham- ilton, Medad Hill, Charles A. Hocum, Capt. Horace Hosford, Marcus Howland, M. S. Jenkins, Franklin B. Lee, Charles Ma- comber, Henry F. Macomber, Patrick Manning, Henry C. Mun- son, Henry Nye, Capt. F. M. Patrick, E. W. Richardson, Oscar Richardson, William D. Sanderson, H. G. Scott, George Shep- pard, Alonzo O. Sikes, James S. Stebbins, Chauncey G. Town- send, William Townsend, Jr., William Watson. 20th Regiment. — Henry Bowman. MILITARY HISTORY. 209 27th Regiment. — George H. Smith, J. W. Smith. 32d Regiment. — Lieut. James H. Clapp. 34th Regiment. — Patrick Gallivan, Peter Hackett, Ira N. Hitchcock. 38th Regiment. — Silas N. Peterson. 57th Regiment. — John Connelly, Dennis Lee. 7th Co. Heavy Artillery. — Horace Dill. 2d New York Infantry. — Fred Wrigley. 5th New York Cavalry. — George W. Dinsmore, John Lanigar. Connecticut Regiment. — Charles Richardson. From this list it will be seen that Conway furnished five com- missioned officers. The cost to the town for the enlistment and equipment of soldiers during the war was S9,350. The aid furnished to the families of soldiers, afterwards refunded by the state, was $5,228, making 814,578 actually raised and expended for the expenses of the war. In addition to this the Ladies' Aid Society sent supplies for the army and the hospitals to the value of $4,600. This large contribution in money must have seemed trifling, however, in comparison with the contribution in men. The following died upon the field of battle or of wounds and disease contracted in the service: J. Dickinson Allis, William D. Allis, William H. Averill, Nathaniel Bartlett, Ebenezer T. Blood, Francis A. Clary, Welcome F. Cone, George W. Dinsmore, Edward R. Gard- ner, John W. Goland, Manley Guilford, Marcus Howland, Albion F. Hubbard, John Lanigar, Dennis Lee, Silas N. Peterson, Harrison G. Scott, Alonzo O. Sikes, Lathrop Smith, James S. Stebbins, Samuel Ware, Sumner Warner, Henry Q. Wilder, and Fred Wrigley. When the Conway Post of the G. A. R. was formed in 1884 it was named in honor of one of these "fallen heroes," Francis A. Clary, who was killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. Francis Amsden Clary, son of Deacon John Clary, was born in Conway, August 19, 1836. When the war began he was a student in Amherst College preparing himself to be a missionary to China. He enlisted in the fall of 1861, in the 31st Regiment, of which he was made color-sergeant, January 5, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel Hopkins of the regiment writing of Clary's death paid him the following tribute: "He was early selected for color-sergeant of the regiment on account of his soldierly 210 HISTORY OF CONWAY. bearing and the accuracy of his marching. From the first every one felt that the colors were safe in the hands of Clary; for there was in him that quiet but intelligent determination which stamped him as a gallant man even before his bravery was ever tested. He was reserved as a sacrifice for the last fight of that siege which finally opened the Mississippi River." The year 1862 was the centennial of the settlement of the town and it had been planned to hold a celebration in October of that year. But as the time approached the people were in no mood for a celebration and none was held until the centen- nial of incorporation in 1867. The country's peril and the thought of so many loved ones at the front in mortal danger took away the voice of song and gladness. It was a case of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted. The citizens of Conway at their annual town meetings appro- priate a sum of money for the observance of Memorial Day which is still kept reverently with tender memories. THE WAR WITH SPAIN. On the Uth of April, 1898, President McKinley sent his message to Congress recommending ai-med intervention in Cuban afTairs. The 2d Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry began at once to recruit its numbers to a complete enrollment. Six young men from Conway offered to enlist but only one passed the phys- ical examination. This was Peter A. Greenia, who was received into Company L at Greenfield, commanded by Capt. Frederick E. Pierce. The company was called into service on May 3, and joined the other companies of the 2d Regiment at the state muster grounds, at South Framingham, from which place the regiment took its departure for Cuba on May 12. It joined in the advance movement against Santiago and suffered heavy loss at the battle of El Caney. After suffering in the malarious camps of Cuba for many weeks the 2d Regiment was taken on board of the transport "Mobile" and on August 19 arrived at Montauk, L. I., with 306 men on the sick list. Among the sick was Peter Greenia, who died September 1, at his home in Conway, of typhoid malaria, caused by lack of food in the advance toward Santiago and exposure in a weakened condition to the unhealthful climate. MIIJTARY HISTORY. 211 Conway was represented in the occupation of the PhiHj)pine Islands by Leo Paul Furkey, who enlisted in the spring of 1899, and was mustered into the service, June 12, 1899, at Albany, N. Y. He was assigned to Company G of the 17th U. S. Regiment of Infantry, which he joined at Manila, in August of the same year. He at once saw active service in skirmishing and resisting night attacks, receiving a wound in the wrist from the thrust of a bolo knife. He remained in the Philippines three years, part of which time he was detailed to the postal service. He returned to this country in 1902, and received honorable discharge at the U. S. military station, at Vancouver, Wash. He arrived in Conway on June 18, and called it the happiest day of his life when he saw the village from the top of Parsons Hill. Other Conway boys have served from time to time in the standing army. Myron Dorset, Company H, 10th U. S. Infantry 1913-16, helped to guard the Canal Zone, and Dan Brady, who enlisted December, 1914, in the 23d U. S. Infantry, was with the 2d Battalion of Engineers in the notable pursuit of Francisco Villa into Mexico, in 1916. Chapter X. USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. Reminiscences Written in 1900 by Rev. William Fisher Avery. I have been asked to trace briefly the history of those famiUes most conspicuous for their usefulness, in the first two or three generations of the town. We must pass by a far greater company of those who have been truly useful in the home, the schools, and the churches, but less observed. We have in Conway now many whole-hearted workers, equal perhaps to any who have gone before them. But my task refers rather to previous generations, whose memory is growing dim and in danger of being altogether lost to most of their townsmen. Let our rapid survey of one district after another have its beginning at the house of God. In imagination we will go back sixty years and join the long row of plain, but full wagons, as they leave the old Congre- gational church. It is taking the winding road toward Cricket Hill. An equally long black line is seen across the valley, crawling up Field's Hill, and another, somewhat smaller, worming its way over as steep pitches to the east. "Cricket Hill!" What a queer name to be linked in all its history to one district of the town just because some early hunters or surveyors were annoyed by crickets when camping for the night. But up Cricket Hill we are toiling on a warm Sabbath afternoon, the women and small children riding, numer- ous boys and men walking, and some with coats hanging upon their arms. It will take many of us an hour to reach our homes, hungry, but lifted up, if spiritually minded, by the weighty truths impressed upon us in the two preaching services and Sabbath School. I loved to walk in the rear of the carriages with the men, and hear their discussions of great gospel truths. Up three or four long hills we have been passing in diminished numbers to the first house of Captain Dunham, four or five carriages having turned to the right, on the road to the Eldridges' and Crittendens'. Captain Dunham was a lame, but energetic man. One tells me he would mend his fence on horseback. USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 213 patiently drawing a rail up and balancing it before him and then as perseveringly ending it off to the place desired. I remember Mrs. Dunham as a woman of large frame, benignant face, and, at the neighborhood prayer meeting, always helpful to it in her quiet way. It does not surprise me to learn that two daughters went out from this plain farmhouse as wives of Congregational ministers. Louisa married Rev. Lucien Farnham, Olivia, Rev. Romulus Barnes. Tracing the stream from thai hillsidr fountain a little further, I am delighted, when told that Mrs. Farnham 's daughter became the wife of Owen Lovejoy, a most valiant champion for freedom, whose blood was shed because he pleaded the cause of the slaves so effectively. I spoke of Mrs. Dunham as a helper in that neigh- borhood prayer meeting, kept up, on Tuesday evenings, for a generation or more. Ascending the hill from her house we come to the place of those meetings, and of the district school. It stood upon the top of a great hill, with wide views, and steep descent to the east down which our boys' sleds glided in the winter as did our skates upon the smooth ice of the pond in the rear. But the gathering of so goodly a company of neigh- bors every week for worship was a power to cement and uplift the whole neighborhood, as truly as did the day school in another way. Going west from this point half a mile, to the next hilltop, we come to where Malachi Maynard established himself in 1768, one year after the town was incorporated. He is described, in the address of Charles Rice at our Centennial, as strong bodily and mentally, a sturdy Puritan, who came from Westboro, in Worcester County, Mass. He enjoyed only six weeks of schooling in boyhood, but was made treasurer of the town for twenty-six years, and was sent to the Legislature three years in succession — a noble, reliable, and useful man. One son became a lawyer, in Central New York, vigorous, like his father. A daughter married Zelotes Bates, and lived long upon the old place. With them were two maiden sisters, Lucy and Anne Maynard. They were generous givers to Mount Holyoke Semi- nary at its very beginning. A dreadful calamity came upon this whole household. I remember it well, though a mere child. We were returning from church on Thanksgiving day, when, 214 HISTORY OF CONWAY. as our wagons came in sight of Mr. Bates' home, the flames were seen just bursting from it. A fire had been left to bake the Thanksgiving dinner, while the family were faithful to the public duties of the day. Alas, it burned down the house leaving little but some nicely baked potatoes in their large bin. A few silver dollars laid aside for the seminary were drawn out of the ashes, considerably marred. These two sisters went to work and patiently earned the remainder of the two hundred dollars, which had been subscribed, not permitting the proposed school to suffer from their loss. Those scorched coins were laid up in the archives of the seminary. Going a quarter of a mile west from here, we then came to the house of Deacon John Avery, about as early a settler, from Dedham, Mass. He spent a long, useful life there, dying September 1, 1847. Look now at the precious influences for good which went out afar from his family. His eldest son, named John, in youth fell from ^ tree, and drove a sharp stub far up into his foot. This very painful wound proved a rich blessing. It laid him by for a long time, in which his attention was drawn to reading. A thirst for education was aroused. He graduated at Yale, and at length became an honor to the Episcopal church, laboring successfully in North Carolina and then in Alabama. He never attained the dignity of bishop, as some of his northern friends supposed, but he became a fine linguist, mastering several languages and accumulating a valu- able library of about five thousand volumes, some of them rare treasures. In the midst of great usefulness he was suddenly snatched away, leaving a widow with one son and two daughters. It was with very limited means that the children struggled up to a good education and positions of great usefulness. William became a physician, Fanny married the Episcopal rector in Greensboro, Ala., and Mary has lived in her family and taught a select school in the place, to the present time. Greensboro was the home of the Hobsons. There was trained by a noble Christian mother, Richmond Hobson, who periled his life to bottle up Cervera's fleet, in Santiago harbor. The Hobson children have been in Mary's private school and Sabbath School class, and under the preaching of Fanny's husband. Richmond's younger brother was asked, if it was not about time for him to leave USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 215 Mary Avery's Sabbath School class, but replied, "I want only one teacher." All through his youth Richmond Hobson manifested the same qualities of daring courage and generosity which he displayed at Santiago. Soon after that exploit the Outlook had a sketch of him in which it justly remarked that if there were more ministers like Rector Cobbs there would be more heroes like Richmond Hobson. At a dinner given in honor of Hobson, Mary Avery, who happened to be in New York at the time, was given the first seat at the hero's side. I then conclude that our country is much indebted to influences which had their source in the firstborn son of this early settler on Cricket Hill. A daughter, named Rebecca Avery, married a farmer of Charlemont, Mass., whose name was Silas Hawks. Of several children only one lived to maturity. After the early death of the father, this William Hawks and his mother removed to Williamsburg, Mass. He became deacon of the Congregational church there and prominent in all its Christian work. Being of rather slender constitution, he was unable to do much physical labor, but was a great reader and no mean thinker. Book after book was added to his private library. With painstaking care he fostered the Utile library in the village, thus helping much to turn public attention to the great advantages of a larger one. One of its citizens at length gave a munificent sum for the purpose. A handsome library building has been erected, with cases well filled. A son of Dea- con William Hawks was selected to give the address at the dedica- tion of this valuable library. Our neighboring town will readily admit that through Deacon John Avery's daughter, Rebecca, a refreshing stream of blessings has flowed to her also. A boy, named W^illiam Fisher, was taken into John Avery's home, and helped in education, until he became a Congrega- tional minister. I conclude he was a man of influence, or my parents would not have named me William Fisher, in his honor. Recently I visited the spot where stood my grandfather's home. Only an old shed was standing, at a little distance from the cellar hole, and the flourishing lilac bushes back of it; I discovered the old well and carefully pushing aside the half decayed boards upon it, dropped in a stone. The sound showed that it plunged into deep water. I said to myself, as this well, 216 HISTORY OF CONWAY. dug a century and a quarter ago, yields refreshing supplies still, so healing streams are yet flowing afar, from this early home, to bless many communities. Two other children of Deacon John Avery I wish to mention, in connection with their own homes, who will greatly increase the fulfillment to this good man of the promise, "His seed shall be blessed." But now look a quarter of a mile north, to where Samuel Crittenden planted himself as early as 1772. In my boyhood his son Medad was filling his place, an old man with silvery locks but still erect, though very deaf. He used to stand close at Dr. Harris' side in the pulpit, and, with upturned ear, try to catch as much as possible of the sermon. It was a beautiful sight, for everybody loved and revered him, as like one of the ancient patriarchs, loaned to us for a time. In the midst of our Centennial addresses, his wife, Mary B. Crittenden, was presented to the great audience, as lacking only sixty-six days of being one hundred years old. She still lived almost two years. Turning from this point a mile southward, we come to the place of another early settler, Elijah Nash. I thought my father far enough from church, the roads being so steep and stony. But this neighbor, next south, had to go almost half a mile further and up a steep hill. When the young wife was brought to this out-of-the-way place, to be cleared by hand toil, it may have seemed like throwing her life away. How little society could she expect outside her own family! Perhaps that concentrated the energies of those parents more upon the training of their own little ones. The rocky pastures, narrow mowings, and the distance from the village may have made those children, as they grew toward maturity, aspire to wider spheres of activity. Those parents could not have foreseen the greatness of the harvest for which they were sowing. I find Rev. John A. Nash one on the list of Congregational ministers who originated in Conway. I think I am safe in saying that he came from this home. He was born in 1789,. graduated at Amherst College in 1824, being thirty-five, married Mary, the eldest daughter of Scotto Clark, over on Field's Hill, and lived till 1877, or eighty- eight years. What may not such a life have accomplished ! His son Henry graduated at the same college in 1851 and for twenty USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 217 years taught a boys' school on Mount Pleasant, a little north of his alma mater. The daughter Minerva of this early settler married Rev. Henry Eastman. They went as home missionaries to Michigan. One pastorate was at Somerset. When at length her husband died, Mrs. Eastman removed to Ann Arbor and educated her two sons amid its fine literary privileges. Afterwards one studied at West Point and became an officer in the army, the other became a physician. Mrs. Eastman's last years, spent in her native town, were a benediction to all about her. Her sister, Fidelia, married Mr. John Field and was the mother of Marshall Field. Nor are these all the streams of influence which have flowed from that distant farmhouse. Within my memory Elijah Nash removed to the next town, Williamsburg, and a family by the name of Meekins came in his place. From that second home came Emory, who became partner in the great firm of Meekins, Packard & Wheat, Springfield, Mass. At his recent death very hearty tributes were paid his incorruptible integrity and Chris- tian activity by different papers of the city. Every Conway man read with pride of such worth and usefulness in one of its sons. Let us now retrace our steps half a mile to the plain farm- house of Deacon Joseph Avery, son of Deacon John Avery, already mentioned. He married in 1788, Sylvia, sister of Deacon John Clary, living at the other end of the town. Their happy married life continued forty years and my father reached his seventy-eighth year. Not long before the death of Samuel Harris I met him in New Haven, when he at once alluded with much warmth, to my parents, remarking, "^'our father's biog- raphy ought to ha\e been written," and "\-our mother would have graced any circle in the land." For nine years he was their pastor and intimate associate in ijll Christian work. I am asked to speak freely of this Joseph Avery, as one of Conway's truly useful men. I think I have never met persons more thoroughly consecrated to the upbuilding of Christ's kingdom than my father and mother. The brief sentence upon our mother's tombstone expresses her life purpose, "Live for Christ." Some might say that the father in this small and plain house 218 HISTORY OF CONWAY. ought to have done a little more to enlarge it, and make the entertainment of cultivated company easier for the wife and daughters. But father would sometimes say, "When we reach heaven, I do not think we shall feel that we have made too great sacrifices for Christ." His farm, of about one hundred and fifty acres, was an exceptionally rocky one but as soon as the debt of six hundred dollars for it, with which they started, could be paid, this young couple put in execution their fixed purpose, to give to the Lord, year by year, all that they earned above current expenses. My father was a natural mechanic. By means of the good stock of tools in our little shop he readily shod a sled, made a yoke, or handled this and that tool. His boys took solid comfort in that "good room" on many a rainy day. I count it a great blessing that we were taught to work regularly and perseveringly. But a boy learns such a habit much more easily if he works side by side with his father, who does the hardest part, and allows some time for rest and sport. Hoeing with my father, I can still remember wishing the dinner horn would blow and wondering where I could find, among the many stones, dirt enough to round up the hills of corn. But, at noon, a full hour was given us to read the books we had drawn from the town library. If it was Thursday, a little less work was laid out, that there might be leisure to attend the church prayer meeting. Father did thoroughly whatever he undertook. Hence, although a great deal of town business was put upon him, his three boys were taught to carry everything for- ward in the regular way during his frequent- absences. It must have been the silent impress of our parents' sacrifices for our good which made their children scarce ever think of any other way than promptly obeying. In Deacon Avery, Mary Lyon found a most congenial helper for the great work of founding Mount Holyoke Seminary. He, with Deacons Safford and Porter, was placed upon its board of trustees from the very start. I find in the history of the seminary the statement that but for the co-operation of these three, the farmer, the smith, and the manufacturer, it did not appear how the enterprise could have gone forward. Father joyfully gave the work of his hands, and from his well-worn purse, to the erection of that first seminary building. I do not USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 219 know how so much money for benevolence could have come out of his little flock of sheep, his few fatted cattle, and his stony acres, except by the fulfillment of the promise, "Give, and it shall be given unto you." The wife has much to do with her husband's ability to give. A graduate of the seminary tells me of Mary Lyon's bright look and zest in describing to her pupils incidents like this. In her great need of money, she came to Deacon Avery after he had already given most generously. He looked toward his wife questioningly, as he said, "I had set aside a sum of money for shingling my house this year." But she interposed, 'T can set the milk pans under the leaky places another year." So the money went to what they regarded a greater necessity. Miss Lyon thought she uttered the truth when saying, "In the last twenty years prob- ably no man in New England has given so much to benevolence, in proportion to his means, as Deacon Avery." Although he denied his children some things we craved, yet he gave us most needful and best things with an exceedingly liberal hand. His three daughters were carried through a thorough course of study at Mount Holyoke, my younger brother and myself at Williston Seminary and Amherst College. With little over a year's teaching I pushed on through three years at Andover, and then was helped by him to the beginning of a good minister's library. He would have sent his eldest son to college had it been desired. My parents planned a thorough education for their children, in order to their greatest usefulness, and then meant they should take care of themselves. It would have been, no grief to them if they could have foreseen that only the mother and a little infant daughter would sleep in the Conway burial place, while others would await the resur- rection morn in Wisconsin, the Indian Territory, Kansas, Alabama, New Jersey, and Maine. These parents lived to enjoy many labors of their children. Such benevolent parents often have more comfort in reading letters from children, dili- gently at work for the Master, than they could have by their presence, round about the old home. We paid twenty-five cents postage on the letters of Mary, as she went to teach Cherokee children at Park Hill, Indian Territory. She aroused an interest in the seminary, at which she had just graduated, so that, in 220 HISTORY OF CONWAY. due time, several of her pupils and daughters of the missionaries made the long journey and themselves were broadened and inspired by a course at Mount Holyoke Seminary. This at length brought the son of the Cherokee chief East to examine the different schools. He decided that the Holyoke system was the best, and so there was founded a Cherokee Female Seminary. My younger sister, Pauline, was one of three or four graduates of Mount Holyoke to teach in it. And to-day the daughters of that tribe are about as cultivated, and ambitious to do good, as those in New England. Not only did Mary and Pauline help to being about this great change, but, like Ruth of old, they found the best of husbands by obeying the feeling of duty and going far away to a different service. The eldest married Rev. Robert Loughridge, missionary in the neighboring Creek tribe. He published a dictionary of that language and the little Robert, whom she trained with so much care, is now instructor in the University of California. Pauline married Rev. Oswald Woodford, one of the brightest in his large class at Yale, and they left teaching the Cherokees to be home mis- sionaries to Kansas just when she was in the throes of that bloody strife between raiders from Missouri and sons of New England, armed with rifles and determined to prevent slavery getting root there. Our second sister, Caroline, taught some years and then married a lawyer of Buffalo, who added to his professional duties great success in Sabbath School work. Joseph, the oldest son, inherited his father's fondness for mathe- matics and mechanical contrivances. When a mere youth he constructed the model of a railroad bridge which should be so stiff as to support a long train with hardly any vibration. On applying for a patent he found the principle had been virtually used in building the bridge below Niagara. He rose as civil engineer to be a large constructor of railroads. He felt that work in the South had a great civilizing influence. He was appointed to help in surveying the Isthmus of Tehuantepec for a ship railroad. They published an interesting volume of reports. Although he died in Alabama, just at the breaking out of the Rebellion, Southerners erected a handsome monument over his grave. When I was at home on vacations and used to tell my little USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 221 brother John stories, as he stood by my milking stool, I little thought ot hini as becoming so eminent a scholar. While professor of Languages in Iowa, and then in Bowdoin College, he not only put enthusiasm into the studies of his classes, but also carried on the study of Sanskrit, and mastered several modern languages of India. At his early death he had accu- mulated many materials for an extended work on India. At my own graduation from Andover, my mother having died, father disposed of his farm and went West with me to do over again the thousand helpful things he had been doing for the church in his native town. Thirteen years of his long life yet remained and, although he was already sixty-five, he threw himself into the work of building up a thriving young town in the WY^st with the enthusiasm of young manhood. The field assigned us was Sparta, Wis. I have not mentioned another line of usefulness which my parents' lives took on in their Massachusetts home. Very plain though it was, and attended with some hardships, yet families of some eminence desired their sons, exposed to city temptations, to come for a time under the influence of these wise parents. Dr. Muzzey, a surgeon of note in Cincinnati, had his boy Dela- van with us for quite a time. He became private secretary of President Johnson. Deacon Safford of Boston first sent Daniel, bright but rather wild. He became a merchant in New York City. His younger and more scholarly brother George followed, who for over lhirt\- years was pastor of the College Church at Burlington, \t. Dr. Anderson, of the American Board, sent his son Edward, who has preached to important churches, as in Quincy, 111., Norwalk and Donaldsonville, Conn. Going half a mile north from the home of my parents, some sixty years ago, we should have come to the family of Isaac Marsh. It was his little granddaughter whom the pastor. Rev. Samuel Harris, adopted, as he had no children of his own. Thus, this little Lucy exchanged great poverty for the best of home life and training in the schools of Pittsfield, Mass., and Bangor or Brunswick, Maine. Finally she was prepared to be the wife of Dr. Edwin Parker, for forty years pastor of the Second Congregational Church, Hartford. On the eastern slope of Cricket Hill is a small burying ground 222 HISTORY OF CONWAY. in which is a headstone, bearing the name EHsha Clark. He came, with a family of little children, from Harwich, Barnstable County, Mass., in 1774. His farm lay a little east, so that he belonged to the AUis District, or South Part. Other children were born to him, till their number reached ten. Follow this stream into the next generation, and see how it broadened and deepened. Marcy had eight children, Hannah ten, Elisha, 2d, ten, Scotto five, Oliver fifteen, Tabitha thirteen, Thomas five, and Thankful five. Here were seventy-seven grandchildren of that one Elisha. They spread to many towns, and some have a noble record in Conway, as we shall now see. Scotto Clark married a daughter of his pastor, John Emerson, and one of their children became the wife of Rev. Adams Nash, as we have already seen. A second daughter, Sabra, won the heart of a young instructor in Amherst College, the son of Rev. Thomas Snell, D.D., of North Brookfield. They were married in 1828 and he was appointed professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in 1834. Both lived to a good old age. Professor Snell's pupils cherish his memory as of one genial, accurate, and thorough. How we enjoyed those beautiful experiments he performed in natural philosophy, mostly with instruments which his own hands had constructed. Said an Amherst lady recently, "Professor Snell had a lovely family of daughters." Another family of Clarks was that of Ebenezer, who lived in that district, near Whately line. In this was Rodolphus, who practiced dentistry here for a time, and was a deacon of the Congrega- tional church. He removed to Dubuque, Iowa, to be followed by his brothers, Albert, a lawyer, Asa, a druggist, and Lincoln, a dentist. These four young men had fine opportunity to help mould society in that vigorous state. Only a little north of Scotto Clark's home was that of Marshall Field's father. It stood just over the brow of almost a mountain, with a fine view to the east and south. By climbing • the higher peak close by, the village of Conway and the pretty hills all about it are spread out like a map, at one's feet. This surpassing beauty of view together with that rugged hillside to be climbed, whenever he went to the village for church, school, or an errand at the store and post ofiftce, must have been a very valuable force in shaping this boy's, Marshall's, I USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 223 young life. Winter storms often howled fiercely round his home and blocked the road either way. A neighbor tells me that he was driving by this John Field's home, when a gust carried his sleigh quite out of the road, and up against Mr. Field's barn. Climbing that hill had something to do with the energy Mr. Field has shown in accumulating his vast estate. Had not the wide and charming views ever spread out about him in childhood, a tendency to broaden him, so as to be the master mind, capable of managing a business, reaching to distant lands, yet systematizing it, so that he can leave each department to its proper superintendent and himself rest from care of details? Besides these striking features of nature envi- roning Marshall Field's home, we love to think of that mother, for whom a tablet has been placed by his sisters on the walls of the Congregational church she loved from childhood. It reads: "In Loving Memory of our Mother. Fidelia N. Field entered into Rest Sept. 22, 1865. By her Daughters." It is interesting to think that Conway has given the country three so able business men. Besides Mr. Field in Chicago, is William C. Whitney, former Secretary of the Navy, and now prominent in New York's great business enterprises; and his brother, Henry M. Whitney, who has been hardly less noted for similar energetic work in Boston. Their father was noted, while living among us, as a ready and forcible speaker. At one town meeting the question of purchasing a fire engine was debated. A gentleman from the northern part of the town made an impassioned appeal against laying burdens upon the out parts to support the center. He seemed likely to carry the day. But General Wliitney rose and most skillfully turned his argu- ment round, securing a unanimous vote for the engine. After the Whitneys left here, Mrs. Whitney presented the Congregational church with a pipe organ, and Marshall Field gave two thousand dollars toward rebuilding its church, which had burned down. Other useful families lined that road which passed over Field's Hill, as the Browns, the AUises, the Footes. But let us turn to the Hoosac neighborhood. Close by Francis How- land's was the birthplace of Lincoln Clark, grandson of Scotto Clark, and one of Conway's best contributions to the good of our country. He was born in 1800; at twenty-five graduated from 224 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Amherst College; taught and at the same time studied law, for the next five or six years; then married Julia A. Smith of Hadley, Mass. She was a lady of much refinement and prepared to be his efificient helper in all noble aims. From 1831 to 1836 he is described as a very successful lawyer in Alabama, being twice sent to the State Legislature, made a judge of the Circuit Court, and attorney general. He then moved to Iowa, and became member of Congress. Afterwards he practiced law in Chicago for years, until a very severe attack of typhoid fever broke down his health completely, and he came to loved Conway for his last days. Two daughters and four sons were given to him, and the history of the Clark family describes him as always the side of justice and right. Conway has sent out a noble band of ministers, and another scarcely less useful one of lawyers. The old homestead of William Avery Rowland, close by that of Lincoln Clark's father, had a little later children that were to make their mark in the world. An oration delivered at our Centennial by William Rowland, Esq., of Lynn, Mass., shows finely his patriotism and broad views of our country's needs. Many were the honors won by his younger brother George. For about five years he was instructor in Amherst College, and later one of its trustees, as has been and is his brother Walter. We were proud to hear of George as so successful, at the head of the Chicago High School for twenty years, then superintendent of all the schools in that great city, and finally president of the State Board of Education. The family of William Avery Rowland furnished others to worthily represent the town in different spheres of labor. We were all delighted with the address of Walter M. Rowland, Esq., at the laying of the corner stone of our new library building. Its beauty and appropriateness made the large audience rejoice that this duty had been assigned to one so capable and so hearty in his regard for the welfare of Conway. Not without a just pride does this family trace its genealogy, on the mother's side, to Thomas Clarke, mate of the "Mayflower," and, on that of its father, to John Rowland, who came in the "Mayflower." Very properly has the present representative of the family, Walter M. Rowland, been made governor of the Mayflower Association in Chicago. USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 225 Let us now turn to two very useful families living near each other fifty years ago, in the north district of Broomshire. Many still remember Col. Austin Rice's erect form and dignified bearing. Some can recall his lovely wife and bright, happy family. A few still remember the large Bible class Colonel Rice taught in the southeast room of the old church vestry. I remember rather dreading the searching questions, which came round to each of us in turn. He died in 1880, having rounded out, to within two days, a long and useful life of eighty-six years. Having been for many years a trustee of Mount Holyoke Seminary, his death called out this tribute of affection, which appears in the history of that institution: "He was remarkable for the symmetry and consistency of his Christian character. While firm in his adherence to principle, he waS most kind and genial. In business matters he was active, enterprising, and judicious, yet a liberal and systematic giver, who lived to help the Lord's work — a minister to the poor. Humility was joined to unfaltering trust, and the Friend, who had walked with him in life, did not fail him in death." We are not surprised that of such noble parents sprang a son, Charles Baker Rice, who has been quite a favorite of the town. To him was assigned the duty of gathering up the chief events in our town's history, and presenting them on the inter- esting occasion of its one hundredth anniversary. That address shows him an indefatigable worker and original thinker. How delightful that he is closing a long and useful ministry by his present great service in bringing happily together many pastor- less churches and unemployed ministers! Opposite the hilltop where stood the home of Austin Rice was that of Deacon John Clary. His father, Joseph Clary, was born in 1751, and early established himself in a house thirty or forty rods southeast of the present brick house, built in 1808. From Joseph Clary's family came a daughter, who married Deacon Christopher Arms, and another, the wife already named of Deacon Joseph Avery. Deacon John Clary, a son of Joseph, became one of Conway's notably useful men. In attempting to go through Amherst College, he was checked, by hemorrhage of the lungs, and obliged to spare himself from severe physical labor all his days. Born in 1802, temperate habits prolonged 226 HISTORY OF CONWAY. his valuable life to the good age of seventy-seven years. His select school, of twenty-nine consecutive terms, was a very great blessing to our young people at a time when the higher grade of schools was not as abundant as now. That his average of pupils was thirty-six, during all these years, shows a hearty appreciation of the school's value. He inspired great numbers of these pupils to attempt teaching themselves, and sent others forward upon more full courses of study. Deacon Clary was a leading worker in many other ways. He earnestly studied God's word, using Burns's notes, then freshly published, as his chief aid and was admirable in church and neighborhood prayer meetings. With the help of Colonel Rice and Dr. Rogers he maintained a large Sabbath School in Shirkshire on Sabbath afternoons. Deacon Clary's son, Francis, was one of our choice young men, who left college to be a color bearer of the 31st Massachusetts Regiment in the Civil War. The little book in which the lady whom he was intending to marry sketches his life as a soldier shows him as brave a soldier of Jesus Christ as he was of his country. Death ended very beautifully this nobly useful life. With his fellow soldiers, he was lying low be- fore Port Hudson, to escape its sharpshooters, and to await further orders. A companion, lying a few feet away, was ex- ceedingly thirsty, and young Clary raised himself slightly to toss his canteen of water, when a bullet struck him fatally in the neck. His words were: "I am wounded, some one else must take the colors now." To teach the slaves Francis helped to liberate, his sister Martha gave her best years, wearing herself out in this generous service. Her younger sister, Susan, taught about fifteen years in the seminary at South Hadley, and then accepted an invita- tion to help build up a little center of instruction in Pretoria, South Africa. She made the voyage safely, but could reach Pretoria only by a very severe ride on a rude stage conveyance over the hills and across immense plains. So rapidly did they proceed that she could hardly cling to her seat. Her school had to be commenced in the damp vestry of a church, and this precious life ended only a year after she left her pupils at South Hadley. Other workers have succeeded her. A fine building was erected, and her spirit of consecration cannot but USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 227 have found fruit, where such great events have since tran- spired. Passing from Broomshire to the district of Poland on the west, a very pleasant recollection comes to me of a small boy who came from Poland to do chores at my uncle's, and attend our Cricket Hill school. We became (luite fast friends. I remember speaking a dialogue with him, in which we smoked the pipe of peace together, using bits of dried grapevine for pipes. His name was Austin Bond. When the state undertook the herculean task of building Hoosac Tunnel and afterwards run the cars for a time upon the road thus opened, Austin Bond kept its books and handled about twenty-seven millions of its money. At the close of this great responsibility the Springfield Republican humorously dwelt upon an error in Mr. Bond's accounts, to the enormous amount of three or four cents. This has not prevented his being made the auditor of accounts for North Adams ever since. Going west from Poland schoolhouse half a mile, and there turning to the right, you will, after a few rods, find traces of an old road. Following this down the hill ^ind bearing to the left you soon come to an old cellar hole beside a pile of rocks and un- der the overhanging hill. Here in 1804 was born the world's greatest telescope maker, Alvan Clark. Those beautiful Chapel Falls furnished the power for a gristmill, which led Alvan's father to build down in this depressed and out-of-the-way hollow. The foundation stones are still visible where his mill stood, at the base of the falls, evidently catching the water at its last plunge to turn the overshot wheel of those days. Was it the beauty of those falls which made the boy so fond of sketching pictures? As he grew to manhood one face painted itself upon his heart. It was that of Maria, the eldest sister of Newton and Franklin Pease. He lived only a few hundred yards over the line in Ashfield, and she just this side in the edge of Conway. If we cannot claim the whole of him, we can his better half. He rose gradually to fame, painting miniature pictures, engraving on copper, inventing a new and valuable instrument for measuring the exceedingly minute angles in estimating the distances of remotest stars. Then with exceeding patience he fashioned the great lenses which have brought those 228 HISTORY OF CONWAY. stars near. One of his telescopes is mounted at Yerkes Observa- tory, Lake Geneva; another at the Naval Observatory, Wash- ington. The Russian government ordered one of monster size. He himself discovered many double stars through his own instruments, and honors were showered upon him from this and other lands. But they were gained by persevering toil. He did not begin to make lenses till he was over forty. And so we may believe that she who bore him two sons and two daughters was a sympathetic helper in all his high aspirations. Going north a little ways from the early home of Maria Pease, we should have come to that of Gideon Cooley. His daughter, Julia, married Rev. Thomas Norton. One of their parishes was the old town, out of which was carved the large manufacturing city of Brockton, Mass. Did the bustle of incoming business, and the starting up of machinery, make of their son an inventor? We have noticed heavy doors brought, by what is called the "hand spring," swiftly together, and then as gently closed, as by a human hand. Young Norton invented this contrivance, to prevent the discomfort of slamming doors. We have now glanced at the six school districts of Conway, naming some useful men and women in the history of its outer parts. Let us come to the threefold village which forms its center and heart. Pumpkin Hollow claimed for a long time the principal church, town hall, store, tavern, harness shop, and was as much the center of business as of the town's scattered population. Let us begin with its cluster of useful families. Good old Doctor Rogers lived sixty or seventy years ago where is now Arthur Delabarre. Often might he be seen with saddle bags and faithful horse threading the hilly roads, to bring relief to weary patients. I shall never forget his cheerful and devout exclamation as he entered my sick room. A too quick exposure after an attack of scarlet fever had brought me to the borders of the grave but, by counsel with neighboring physicians. Dr. Rogers was guided to some simple remedies which wrought in twenty-four hours a marked change for the better. As he opened the door of my room, on the following morning, his first and reverent utterance was: "How strange SL harp of thousand strings should keep in tune so long!" USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 229 Almost opposite Dr. Rogers lived William Billings. His grandaughter is now the wife of Judson Smith, D.D., an honored secretary of the American Board. Next south of Mr. Billings was Phineas Bartlett, a man of sound judgment and stanch integrity, who was town treasurer for twenty-three years in succession and justice of the peace for a like long period. An- other useful family was opposite, that of John Rowland, whose wife was the granddaughter of that early and prolific settler, Elisha Clark. Here were eleven children and here, too, was long kept the library owned by many and a blessing to the town. On the hill south of John Rowland's lived Capt. Henry P. Billings. We were then favored with quite a number of gen- erals, colonels, and captains. This Mr. Billings married a sister of President Hitchcock. The family has well served this and other communities. Many of our youth have been helped to higher attainments in music, and the town's business continues to be as honestly and carefully looked after as in the days of Malachi Maynard or Phineas Bartlett. Henry W^ Billings, Esq., a son of Captain Billings, has served the town continuously as clerk since 1861, and as treasurer since 1864. North of John Rowland's lived the family of Newhall blest like so many others with the best of mothers. She was first Mrs. Josiah Tilton, who came with her husband from Brighton, Mass. Mr. Tilton had there a good business in supplying the Boston market with beef. The cattle were brought by drovers, a veteran one coming all the way from Conway. A desire to change his busines to that of farming was thus awakened. Mr. and Mrs. Tilton came here in their own carriage with S3,000 or S4,000 in a trunk swinging from its axle. Every night this precious trunk was unstrapped and placed beside their bed. They bought a farm two or three miles north of the center and after her husband's death Mrs. Tilton married Mr. Jabez Newhall. This worthy mother and grandmother had much to do with the usefulness of the family in church music and other ways. As we ascend the hill to the west John Packard is on our right, who is president of the Savings Bank, the Electric Railroad, and the Co-operative Creamery. Re is a brother of Azel Packard, cousin of Emory Meekins, partners in the 230 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Springfield firm to which I have alluded. I recall it again to say that Mr. Meekins' sister married a returned missionary, Rev. William Arms, who has since been the esteemed pastor of a church in Sunderland, Mass., and of one in Terry ville and in Essex, Conn. Halfway up this little hill, west of the old first meeting house, we come to a house notable for the many valuable workers who have gone out from it. First let us speak of the early family of Wares living there. The father was a physician. His son, Rev. Samuel Ware, won the title of D.D. Bethiah Ware became the wife of Moses Miller, long the minister of Heath, Mass. Sally Ware married Rev. William Bonney, and Eliza- beth, Rev. Theophilus Packard, for a long time pastor in Shelburne, the next town north of us. I remember well hearing him on exchange, and thinking him a forcible preacher. After moving West his wife was quite carried away with the "Woman's Rights" movement, published some books, gave addresses, and carried the idea so far that she ceased to be helpful in her own home and parted from her distressed husband. After the Wares left, my uncle, William Avery, sold the old John Avery farm on Cricket Hill and came to this house to live. For some fifteen years he was a great invalid. His good wife did everything to keep up his spirits. She gathered up the news from all quarters and kept his mind alive with interest in it. He was rolled about the house on a little bed that he might see as much as possible. He amused himself with the study of French, and by such sensible recreations almost completely recovered health. So grateful and eager for work had he grown that he delighted to work not only for the comfort of his own home, but also for poorer homes among the factory operatives. Sometimes he used to be called "the missionary of the village." His death, in middle life, left Mrs. Avery with strength for a great work which was soon laid upon her. A kind Providence has many striking compensations for the labors and trials of God's servants. This noble wife had nursed her husband through all manner of cares, and with utmost tenderness, but without the joy of any little ones. Now children were intrusted to her training who would love her as though their owm mother. I barely remember when her brother, Rev. William Howland, USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 231 married a teacher, Susan Reed, in the seniinar\- at South Hadley and went as foreign missionary to Ceylon. A large famih' of children brought that sharp trial to missionaries of sending them away from the foul atmosphere of heathenism for education amid our greater privileges. What the delightful missionary homes at Auburndale and Oberlin are doing for companies of such children, Mrs. Avery was permitted to do for these of her brother. Four were taken into her own home, and three others placed in three of the best families not far away. Their aunt was the mother and center to which all might resort. All our church and school privileges were open to them and several were aided to secure a thorough course of study in higher institutions. William went to India and repeated his father's work, doing excellent service in the Madura mission. Samuel became the head of a theological training school in the Ceylon mission, John has long been preaching under the American Board in a large town in Mexico. In Ceylon is a flourishing seminary for young ladies. The veteran Miss Agnew was its principal for forty years. On retiring from her work it was stated that about seven hundred had been under her training and not one left the seminary with- out apparently Christian principle. Miss Susan Rowland re- turned to this place of her birth, and for twenty-five years has been carrying on Miss Agnew's great work. She now has about one hundred and fifty pupils under her care. As we go from this house, on the hillside, west of Pumpkin Hollow, what precious memories of the Wares, the Averys, the Rowlands, cluster around it! We walk on to the top of the hill, and look out to the village eastward and to the beautiful prospect south and west and feel that the name "Rillview" has been aptly given to this home once occupied by Rorace Childs. A daughter of his, Mrs. M. Elizabeth Perry, was in the little primary class with Marshall Field, down at the foot of the hill in the district school. Re took the course toward business, she toward teaching. Rer first schqols were in town. Then she was honored with a place among the teachers at Mount Rolyoke Seminary for eleven years and since 1870 has had, at this her birthplace, a school, to prepare young ladies for the same institution. Who can estimate the worth of impressions made by one such teacher upon so 232 HISTORY OF CONWAY. many young minds! How many have gone out from her earnest drill to further years of profitable study and then to all kinds of Christian work, in this and other lands! We next pass over to the Arms place, on the north side of Burkeville. Its pleasant view, and smooth fei^tile mowings, make it one of our finest residences. Consider Arms came here, in the humble beginnings of Conway, and built opposite where Burkeville. Charles Ives now lives, with the venerable Elijah Arms. The house now there looks southward and is about one hundred years old. Here John Arms reared a very large family, possess- ing much of his quite remarkable energy. His daughter Judith married the manufacturer, who gave to Burkeville its name. She still lives at Waukegan, a little north of Chicago, having reached the great age of ninety-two. Julia Ann married Rev. Dwight Ives, who preached for a time in the West, then in Springfield, Mass., and for thirty years in Sufifield, Conn. He there helped to build up not only his USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 233 large church, but also Suffield Institute and was honored with the title of D.D. He closed his useful life with service in Conway, during his last two years. John Arms' daughter, Wealthy, married Deacon Robert Coffin, who was a teacher all his days, at one time in Ashfield Academy, also in Northampton and Ipswich, Mass., and Warren, R. I. About fifteen of his last years were passed in Conway. He compiled our Centennial pamphlet, and not only taught, but also was visitor of schools here, walking, as some say, fifteen hundred miles in his old age, to do it. There came to Mr. Cofifin's home, a boy named Horace Jenkins, from Ashfield. He paid for his room ten cents a week, and managed to get his board for the merest trifle. At a prayer meeting, in a neighboring house, he first confessed his loyalty to Christ. He united with this Baptist church and was helped forward in study, so as to obtain a liberal education. Since then he has labored forty years on the eastern coast of China, part of the time at the head of a valuable school. He is now on furlough, and making ex- cellent addresses, but hopes yet to put in ten more years of work in China. A daughter of Deacon Coffin, Ada, married Rev. Adoniram Judson Chaplin, who preached in Conway for a time. Her pen did good service, as in writing Sabbath School books. A near neighbor of Mr. Coffin was Deacon Christopher Arms of the Congregational church. His three daughters, Fanny, Pauline, and Harriet, were good Christian workers and their father very active in our social religious meetings. Harriet was a missionary teacher, for some years, among the Choctaw Indians, and then married Rev. Charles Sylvester. His ministry closed only a few years since, at Feeding Hills, Mass. Coming down from Baptist Hill to River Street, there was years ago, as now, a blacksmith shop and the name of the smith was Ames. Out of this stock came Fisher and John, who went to Montreal, Canada, and there built up a fine business. Fisher was a favorite while here, and represented us in the Legislature in 1854. He did noble Christian service in Montreal, and his son is still working for housing the poor there in better tenements. While on River Street we must not forget the Tuckers and Cooks, who have done so much for the Methodist church and given 234 HISTORY OF CONWAY. employment in their factories to so many families. Near by are the Holcombs, earnest helpers in the Baptist church. Another of its families was that of Leonard Stearns. This has sent West a son, who is superintendent of Home Missions in one of the newer states. Joseph Pulsifer close beside the Baptist church, though blind, can quote accurately a great many passages from the Bible. It is to him the Book of books, bringing a light within, though the outer world be dark. The families of Hamiltons have long served the town and none of them better than Dr. Darwin Hamilton. He was a man of excellent judgment, long president of the National Bank, and often called to preside at town meetings. William G. Avery, grandson of Deacon Joseph, has made himself useful to many in the service of both the National and Savings Banks. By Marshall Field's special request he is president of the trustees to the new library. Just east of the village, where Charles Parsons now lives, and one of our most delightful sites for a home, once lived Col. Charles Billings. He took delight in all public questions, and loved now and then to cross over to John Arms and discuss them. His family ranks among our best. A son, named Salter Storrs, for the illustrious Brooklyn preacher, through relationship on the mother's side, became a minister, preaching with success at Shelburne and Dalton, Mass., and also in Connecticut. Jerusha Billings married Prof. Bela B. Edwards, one of the distinguished teachers in Andover Theological Seminary. Mary Billings married Rev. Ogden Dwight, and went with him as missionary to India. After his death, she became the wife of Rev. Myron Winslow, a missionary there of note. Elizabeth married Rev. Hiram Mead, pastor at South Hadley and then a professor at Oberlin. Mrs. Mead was president of Mount Holyoke Seminary and College, for ten years. There are still others, born in Conway, who have been emi- nent for their usefulness. One was Rev. H. G. O. Dwight, D.D., long time missionary at Constantinople. He worked especially for the Armenians, who have recently been called to great sufferings, for their love of Christ. Dr. Dwight must have been an indefatigable worker to have written so much for publica- tion amid his many missionary cares. One of his books was USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 235 about the revival of Christianity in the East. That prince of biographers, Professor Park, would not ha\'e written his life, had it not been one of very great usefulness. He was born here in 1803; studied at Hamilton College; went as missionary in 1830 and died, through a railroad accident, when on a visit to this country, in 1862. I have reason to be grateful for another of Conway's noble men, Rev. Dexter Clary. He was superintendent of Home Missions in Wisconsin, when I began my ministry on its western side. We soon formed a little church of twenty-three members at Sparta, and he made the long journey round, I think, by the north part of Illinois to aid in organizing it, and preach my installation sermon. When, a little later, we had erected quite a nice church, he came again and preached the dedication sermon. I remember him as an able preacher and very genial, benevolent man, doing a noble w^ork for that growing state. At his first visit there were only three Congregational ministers, besides myself, in the west part of the state. Two of these had come nearly forty miles, and the other about thirty, to help form our church. We five ministers were just finishing breakfast and Mr. Clary was then to start back for his home at Beloit, when he said: "Oh, I have a present for you in my satchel. I put my hand in a missionary box, before starting, and drew it out for you." He rose and brought quite a small package. Undoing it, we saw four jackknives. He gave one to each, and said: "Now, boys, cut your way through the world." We have by no means exhausted the list of ministers and wives of ministers furnished by Conw^ay. And in other depart- ments of useful labor she has been exceedingly serviceable. Hon. Harvey Rice, LL.D., a grandson of the first settler, Cyrus Rice, became an editor and distinguished man of letters in Cleveland, Ohio. He published several books of travel and of poetry, and was the poet of our Centennial celebration. Mr. Rice was graduated at Williams College in 1824 and in 1867 gave to his x\lma Mater the now famous Haystack Monument in Mission Park to commemorate the birthplace of American foreign missions. In 1898 the citizens of Cleveland erected a bronze statue to his memory as the "Father of the Ohio School System." 2M> iiisiom' ()!• (()N\\A^'. Aiiollici (li:.l iiii;iiislit'(l son ol ( Oiiw.iN, now .iliiiosi loii^ol (I'li, is ( "licslci ll.iidiiu',, ihc |M.ili.ii( p.iiiilci. lie w .is 1 xmi Sfi)tcm- l»ci I, I '/<).', ill Ihc S.,iilli I'.iil ..I ( '..iiw.iN oil Ihc old 10,1.1 Ic.idin^; (<) VVh.iIcK (.1.11. lie |).iiiil((l |>oili.iils loi lu.iiiN ol Ihc ro\.il liiiiiilics ill I'liiopc .111(1 ihc lllo^.l disl iiii.',iiislic( I ciii/ciis in ihis «-oiiiili\. A ll.iidiiiv; |ioili.iil (il ihc I'.iii ol Ahcrdccn ii.iiii^s in Ihc Mciiioii.il diiiiiiK loom .il II.iia.ikI ( ollci;c. Mis List woilv w.is .1 |)(Mli.iil ol (m'iici.iI Shciiii.in, |>.iinlcd in IS()(>. Mr died ihc s.iiiic \c.ii in Kosloii. I low (.line Ml iii.iiiN iiolilc h\cs lo oriv^in.ilc here.'' Id nic )ir.l n.iiiic ihicc ol oiii |ii iiK ip.il ciiises, used ol ('.od, lo .iccoiii- pli-.h ihc r.ic.il w 01 k. I'ii .1, .iiid loicino.l. w.c. .Ill .iMc .ind l.iilhliil ininisli\. I knew Id". I .oiiic ol il s ( oiuM ci^il K ui.il iiiiiiisl ci s. And \ d when .1 l)o\ , I I el I I he loK f ol s|)c( i.il ic\ i\ .il nicel iiiv;s .1 1 I he K.iplisI (IiiikIi I\cii Mi. Inieison's p.isloi.ilc lell in ins mind .1 disliiKl iiii|>icsr.ioii, llnoiiidi wli.il m\ motliei used lo lell ol hei riilhood, \ol oiil\ w ei e ihc Noimv; .hilled upon llii- r.ile- (hi. Ill, l>iil llie\ wiol.- p,i|.cis, I., lie le.id piiMi.K. \'\]v\ w ere dc.piN ml.ieslc.l in llie iliiii.h .ind il'. p.isloi, il I iii.u in.lv;e li\ wli.il m\ niolh.i r..iid, .iiid l>\ hei own (h.ii.uler. ('.iiiw.iN' h.is I..VI1 l.l.-,s.-.l, I1..111 111,- lii:-l, wilh .111 .il.le .ind l.iilhlni minisliN. The liiiil'. ol lli.ii nmcmilliiiv; l.>il e.in now l>c ponile.l ..III. .111.1 .h-.liii.ll\ se.ii .ill ..\.i llie town. .\ll llii.>ni;h Ihc e.iiK .111.1 mid. lie p.nlioiis ..! .nil hisl.>i\ (he S.iMi.ilh W.1-. iev',.iidcd I'cnci.ilU .is .1 s.iiic.l d.iN scl .ijt.lll loi sj.iiilil.ll iiiipi..\eiiiciil . MosI ..I .nil S.1I.I..11I1 ,111. lien. cs siMll.T.-.l lo t|iiicl II. lines, .1111. »iiy; ihc hills, when- llie\ loiil.l u-llc.l iip.)il wh.il lli.\ li.i.l seen .111. 1 Ii.mi.I .>ii this l).-s( d.i\ .>! .ill llie week. Ihc pi. mis .»! I u;lile.i||siiess spiiiii;iiii; up li.nn llu- v.oni\ seed li.i.l .1 .li.iiHc lo l.iki- i.>.»l. Merc, ihen, is .)ne chiel insdu- iiiciil .ilil \ 111 pio. hu'ini;, .IS ( ..>. I mlciulcd, ch.n .ulei ol line .iii.ihly 111 .ilm...i .ill 0111 h.>mrs. I II. nil.', .IS .inolhei . .ii^.c, ill.' \ cr\ riii;i;edncss ol om hills .111.1 lo.kmc:.'. .>l .>ni l.iiiiu., miiujiiii; with llu- lo\.'l\ \ie\\s seen liom llicii hilk.ides Ui.lc lioiii (In- Iwo 01 ihi.'c ihiiuhes, .Il ill.' i.'iil.'i, III .lllllo^^l .iii\ .liie.lion, .md \.>n will tiiid ni.iny .1 hill li.ii.l lo .isi-.'ii.l 01 .l.'s.cnd, eic \.>n ic.uli llic lown limits, loi .1 iciiliiiN .111.1 .1 lliiid, .>iii chiMii'ii li.i\.' li.i.l .'\pi'iienre USEFUL MEN AND WOMEN. 237 of clambering up and down these stony, steep hills in coming to church or going out of the village. Their muscles have grown strong, and ability to do good honest work perseveringly has been cultivated by the abundant rocks all over our farms. But, with Conway's ruggedness, comes her charming beauty of scenery. Those who know all about the attractiveness of Williamstown, Lenox, Stockbridge, Lanesboro, and other towns in Berkshire County feel that many of our views are as fine. Take a ride to Broomshire, a little beyond Brainard Graves', look east from Samuel Clary's, climb the Arms Hill and ride ■on for half a mile. Look north and east from the top of Field's Hill, or go down to where Lincoln Clark once lived near Francis Howland's, ride along by Charles Ailis's, then climb the ascent back of Levi Lee's. If you have any poetry in your soul, any admiration for God's handiwork in nature, you will be abun- dantly rewarded for rides about Conway, with this one object in view. Our fathers appreciated this beauty. Many early sites of houses were evidently selected to command these best views and often before the house there was set a fine row of shade trees, now^ grown venerable. This bold outline of hill and valley impressed itself silently upon lives which I have been trying to call back from the already shadowy past. Now add to a faithful ministry, and to the physical features of the town, a third influence, tending to form strong and noble character. I refer to the value put upon good education in Conway's past history. Schools have been a care from the first. Within three months of incorporation the town appointed a committee to select a teacher, and provide a place for a school. Such first schools were held in private houses. After six years a fairly good sized schoolhouse was erected, near the first church. The older boys and girls and even young men and women came, we are told, from all parts of the town to this school, in which those early settlers thought about having Latin and Greek taught. Even this desire proves the high estimate they put upon a thorough education. The select school of Deacon John Clary, continued for twelve years from 1851, had a strong influence in making the people intelligent and ambitious to be useful. Conway Academy was started in 1853 and, when the building was destroyed by fire ten years later, hardly a year 238 HISTORY OF CONWAY. was suffered to pass before another building was erected in its place. We have seen evidence that here and there a son was sent away to college near the beginning of the century. John Avery went to Yale, Harvey Rice to Williams, H. G. O. D wight to Hamilton, and Henry Bannister to Wesleyan previous to 1840. When Amherst College was founded in 1821, Conway citizens contributed about twenty-five hundred dollars, and when Mount Holyoke Seminary was founded in 1837, Conway sent fourteen hundred dollars. Imperfect records show that over forty of Conway's young people have graduated from colleges besides an almost innumerable number who have taken various courses of study beyond the high school grade. We have taken a brief and imperfect survey of a little more than the first one hundred years in the history of our town. Have not causes which I have named worked out truly stupen- dous results? Many other towns in Western Massachusetts may perhaps equal them. I have not tried to promote town pride, but to encourage a fidelity to our duties, like that shown by the generations which have gone before us. Such splendid results in the past ought to make present workers for God hopeful and energetic. As bright children will be born in the future as in the century now closing. We have good ministers, good schools, and shall soon have a large and well-equipped library. Our homes are far more pleasing and commodious than they were a hundred years ago. Heaven's rich blessing will surely attend now, as in the past, all hearty efforts to build worthy character and keep bright our fair names as a nobly useful town. Family Genealogies. Revised and Arranged by Miss Ada Patrick. The genealogy of the families that came here in the first hundred years has been gathered from the town records, family Bibles, published and unpublished genealogical records, from descendants of the original settlers, and from various obscure places. In this work the ancestors of the first settlers in the town have been traced back to the original immigrant, which has required a vast amount of investigation and considerable correspondence. The genealogies here given are as correct as we have been able to procure. No work of this kind was ever printed without mistakes, and we hope to be pardoned for ours. To assist in tracing the various lines of descent, the sons who became heads of families residing in Conway are marked with an asterisk (*). GENEALOGIES. ADAMS. William Adams of Ipswich, was. of Cambridge, as early as 1635, removed to Ipswich where he was a farmer, and died in 1661. One of his sons was Rev. William Adams, a noted divine of Dedham, Mass., and the first graduate of Harvard College by the name of Adams. Joel Adams (Benjamin, Thomas, Nathaniel, William), b. North Brookfield, April 19, 1752, m. July 4, 1776, Joanna Hale, daughter of Capt. Thomas of Brookfield. She was b. Jan. 19, 1754, d. here Oct. 12, 1846. He was born on the place in Brookfield and married there; moved to Montague and finally settled in Conway. Children recorded in Conway. Nancy, b. Aug. 4, 1777, m. Samuel Dunham. Polly, b. Nov. 11, 1779, m'. Nathaniel Holmes. Mordecai, b. Apr. 1, 1782, m. Thankful . Persis, b. Aug. 10, 1784, m. John Emerson. Betsey, b. June 29, 1786, d. Sept. 8, 1803. Joel, b. Aug. 4, 1788, d. Feb. 18, 1831. Charles, b. May 25, 1790, m. Pollv ; m. (2) Katherine Adams. Joanna, b. Apr. 20, 1792, m. May 1, 1827, Scotto Clark. *Osee, b. Aug. 5, 1794, ni. Mary C. Phinney. 242 HISTORY OF CONWAY. OsEE Adams (Joel, Benjamin, Thomas, Nathaniel, Wil- liam), b. Aug. 5, 1794, m. May 6, 1839, Mary C. Phinney. She d. April 24, 1907. Children. William Hale, b. Mar. 5, 1840. Henry Harrison, b. Nov. 20, 1847. Homer, b. May 1, 1852. Rawson Adams (Isaiah, John, Thomas, John, Ensign, Edward, Henrv), b. Sept. 20, 1822, m. Mav 30, 1849, Almira E. Grant of Rowe. She d. 1854. He m. (2) 1859, Fidelia Knowlton of Conway. She d. 1869. He m. (3) 1870, Ella E. Thompson of Conway. He d. April 9, 1893. Children. Cora Irene, b. 1859, m. 1881, Charles L. Williams. William Ellsworth, b. 1861, m. Clara Kenley. Almira Elizabeth, b. 1863, m. Theron Totman. Fred, b. 1868. Frank, b. 1868, d. 1870. Emma Fidelia, b. 1872, m. Arthur Paddock. Ella. b. 1874. ALDEN. John Alden, ancestor of most persons bearing the name of Alden in this country, was one of the Plymouth Pilgrims, and the last male survivor of those who came in the "Mayflower," d. at Duxbury, Sept. 12, 1687. He married in 1621, Priscilla, daughter of William Mullins. John Alden (John, John, Joseph, John), b. 1797, m. Sarah Brooks. He d. here Feb. 23, 1851. Children. *Abner Brooks, b. Oct. 1, 1828, m. Malvina L. Alden. John Wesley, b. June 5, 1836, m. Fannie DeWolf. Abner Brooks Alden (John, John, John, Joseph, John), b. Oct. 1, 1828, m. April 13, 1864, Malvina L. Alden. He d. here July 24, 1876. Children. Hattie Belle, b. Feb. 8, 1865. Rosa Dell, b. Sept. 8, 1866. Melvin R., m. Mary Stearns. Harlem A., b. May, 1870, d. Feb. 27, 1875. John E., b. Aug. 9, 1873, d. Aug. 30, 1873. William Melvin Alden (Melvin, Abner, John, John, Joseph, John), b. Oct., 1875, m. Jan. 1, 1900, Alice Maud Flagg. Children. Hazel Irene, b. Apr. 16, 1902. Lillian Louise, b. Dec. 24, 1904. Bernice, b. June 14, 1908. Priscilla, b. Oct. 22, 1911. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 243 AMES. Ebenezer Ames (Ebenezer), b. 1767, m. Elizabeth Jewett of Deerfield. Children. *Ebenezer, b. Nov. 19, 1793, m. Eunice Montague. Samuel, b. May 4, 1795, d. Oct. 3, 1798. FiLENA, b. Dec. 31, 1797, m. Mallory; res. Fredonia, N. Y. Elizabeth, b. June 21, 1799, m. Elmer. Ebenezer Ame.s (Ebenezer, Ebenezer), b. Nov. 19, 1793, m. Dec. 15, 1815, Eunice Montague of Sunderland. She was b. March 10, 1789, d. Sept. 2, 1880. He d. June 5, 1873. Children. *Ebenezer, b. Sept. 1, 1816, m. Caroline Shaw. Emily L., b. Apr. 6, 1818, m. Sept. 14, 1840, Wm. C. Campbell. Edwin, b. June 4, 1820, m. Sept. 12, 1843, Harriet J. Thompson of Amherst. He d. Dec. 24, 1850. *Evan Fisher, b. May 10, 1822, m. Electa C. Childs, m. (2) Caroline M. Brown. *JoHN Mont..\gue, b. Aug. 10, 1824, m. Caroline P. Bates. Elizabeth E., b. Aug. 29, 1825, d. Dec. 14, 1838. Elihu Carlos, b. Sept. 11, 1828, d. Apr. 29, 1848. Emily Houghton, b. Sept. 30, 1831, d. Nov. 16, 1846. Ebenezer Ames (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Ebenezer), b. Sept. 1, 1816, m. Nov. 29, 1848, Caroline Shaw. She d. in Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 9, 1892. He d. in Holyoke, Nov. 22, 1880. Children. Elihu Burritt, b. Oct. 20, 1849, m. Dec. 2, 1873, Faith Bannister. William C, b. Aug. 26, 1852. Eben, b. . Eunice, b. . Frank, b. . Evan Fisher Ames (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Ebenezer), b. May 10, 1822, m. Sept. 20, 1848, Electa C. Childs. She d. Aug. 11, 1850. He m. (2) Aug. 4, 1853, Caroline M. Brown. She was b. Nov. 29, 1822. He was a boot and shoe manufacturer, resided in Conway and removed to Montreal, Can., and d. there June 13, 1895. Mrs. Ames is still living (4917). Children. Herbert B., b. June 27, 1863, m. Louise M. Kennedy. He is now a member of the Canadian Parliament and was knighted by George, King of Eng- land, in 1913. John Montague Ames (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Ebenezer), b. Aug. 10, 1824, m. Feb. 13, 1851, CaroHne P. Bates. She d. in Montreal, Dec. 9, 1886. He was a boot and shoe manu- facturer and died in Montreal, Oct. 14, 1874. Children. Eva Gertrude, b. in Conway, Apr. 28, 1854, d. in Montreal, Mar. 6, 1866. Minnie B., b. in Conway, Aug. 10, 1856, d. in Conway, Sept. 8, 1857. Carrie Montague, b. in Montreal, Apr. 5, 1864, m. in Conway, Sept. 30, 1891, Ale.\ander J. Patterson. 244 HISTORY OF CONWAY. AMSDEN. The only immigrant to this country by this name was Israel of Cambridge, who Hved there in 1654 and married Frances Perriman. She was a sister of Mrs. Daniel Farrabas, the ancestor of the Forbush and Forbes family in this country. Isaac Amsden (John, John, Isaac, Isaac), b. Sept. 27, 1722, m. May 3, 1777, Hannah Catlin of Deerfield. She d. in Conway, March 15, 1822. He was a soldier at Louisburg in 1745 and in the Revolutionary War in 1777. Children. *Ira, b. Mar. 1, 1783, m. Minerva Bond. Eunice, b. Apr. 22, 1789, m. Edward Forbes of Buckland. Consider, m. Mary Rice. Submit, m. Spinning. Ira Amsden (Isaac, John, John, Isaac, Isaac), b. in Conway, March 1, 1783, m. Minerva Bond. Shed. April 16, 1862. Children. LucRETiA, b. Jan. 11, 1813, m. Lemuel Cross. John, b. Sept. 6, 1814, Louisa, b. Mar. 30, 1816, m. Manley Smead. Harriet, b. Oct. 26, 1819. Minerva, b. Oct. 13, 1821, m. Walter Guilford. Capt. Elisha Amsden (John, John, Isaac, Isaac), b. Oct. 3, 1733, m. Sarah Billings of Sunderland. Children. Elisha, b. Jan. 18, 1767, m. Sarah . Amos, b. Apr. 23, 1778. Samuel, b. June 30, 1780. ZiLPHA, b. Mar. 3, 1782. ANDREWS. James Andrews, b. at Dighton and m. Susanna -j — . He d. here in 1822. Children. James, b. May 19, 1774. Mary, b. Nov. 19, 1775, d. Oct. 13, 1795. David, b. June 17, 1778, d. Apr. 20, 1779. John, b. July 2, 1780. *Benjamin, b. Aug. 10, 1782, m. Cynthia Warriner. Benjamin Andrews (James), b. Aug. 10, 1782, m. Cynthia Warriner. He d. here Aug. 6, 1865. Children. Lewis Warriner, b. Oct. 4, 1815, d. here unm. Feb. 15, 1888. ♦Benjamin Allen, b.Feb. 5, 1819, m. Apr. 25, 1867, Mrs. Elizabeth H. (Dyer) Elmer. James, b. Nov. 26, 1820. ' *Hezekiah, b. May 26, 1822, m. Mary . Cynthia Olivia, b. Oct. 19, 1824. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 245 Benjamin Allen Andrews (Benjamin, James), b. Feb. 5, 1819, m. April 25, 1867, Mrs. Elizabeth H. (Dyer) Elmer. Children. Bertha, b. Apr. 8, 1868, m. Warren Crafts of Whately. Bessie, b. Apr. 17, 1871, m. Arthur Hale of Conway. Hezekl\h Andrews (Benjamin, James), b. May 26, 1822, m. Mary J. Children. Hezekiah O., b. Dec. 24, 1851. Alfreda a., b. June 23, 1853, d. Oct. 13, 1855. RoLLiN B., b. Apr. 16, 1855. Rosetta, b. June 22, 1857. ALLIS. Lieut. William Allis came from Scotland and was one of the first settlers in Hatfield in 1661, was a deacon and lieutenant of cavalry. Rev. Samuel Allis (Ichabod, John, William), b. Deer- field, Dec. 12, 1705, m. Nov. 4, 1729, Hannah Sheldon, daughter of John. She was b. 1708 and d. July 22, 1779. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1724. Children. *JULlus, b. Sept. 18, 1732, m. Hannah Dickinson. John, b. Nov. 12, 1734, m. Sept. 13, 1764, Sarah Burt, and (2) Esther Dwight. Jabez, b. Nov. 12, 1734, d. young. Samuel, b. 1735. *Lucius, b. May 19, 1737, m. Jemima BHss, m. (2) Mary Wells, m. (3) Mehit- able Graves, m. (4) Lois Graves. Abel, b. Oct. 22, 1745, m. Hannah Porter. Lemuel, b. June 22, 1747, m. Elizabeth Davis. He was in the Re\olutionary War. Julius Allis (Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. Sept. 18, 1732, m. Nov. 14, 1755, Hannah Dickinson, daughter of Obadiah of Hatfield. She was b. 1735, d. Sept. 3, 1814. He d. in Sullivan, N. Y., Aug. 16, 1817. Children. Mary, b. Oct. 4, 1756, m. Apr. 19, 1782, Abijah Brown of Whately. Timothy, b. July 12, 1759. He was in the Revolutionary War and d. Oct. 6, 1776. Lydia, b. July 25, 1761, m. Elijah May. Hannah, b. Nov. 9, 1765, m. May 15, 1794, Jonathan Smith of Whately. Sylvia, b. Nov. 3, 1767, m. Joseph F"rost. Joel, b. Feb. 12, 1768, m. Sarah Lee. Submit, b. Sept. 22, 1772, m. Eliphas Hiskok. Rachel, b. Oct. 11, 1775, d. Apr. 23, 1815. Martha, b. Apr. 30, 1777, d. Apr. 19, 1803. Capt. Lucius Allis (Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. May 19, 1737, m. Dec. 10, 1761, Jemima Bliss. She d. June 10, 1764. Hem. (2) Aug. 14, 1765, Mary Wells. Shed. 246 HISTORY OF CONWAY. July 2, 1776. He m. (3) June 16, 1777, Mehitable Graves. Shed. lulv 31, 1800. He m. (4) May 25, 1801, Lois Graves. She d. March 12, 1822. Children. Zelinda, b. Jan. 7, 176v3, m. Aug. 10, 1786, Isaiah Williams of Conway. *Samuel, b. June 20, 1767, ni. Hannah Dickinson. Lucius, b. July 19, 1768, ni. Jane Cottel. *SoLOMON, b. Oct. 26, 1769, m. Mar. 14, 1794, Anna P. Dickinson. Sarah, b. Apr. 15, 1771, m. Barnabus F. Howell. He d. and she m. (2) Mar. 1, 1827, Graves Crafts of Whately. He was in the Revolutionary War. The night before the execution of Major Andre, he stood on guard with Abel Scott, one of his neighbors. Thomas Wells, b. Aug. 16, 1772, m. Sally Allen. -Elijah, b. Dec. 5, 1773, m. Lydia Warren. John, b. Aug. 3, 1778, m. Nov. 27, 1805, Lois Weston. Samuel Allis (Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), 1). Jime 20, 1767, m. Hannah Dickinson. Children. Polly, b. Apr. 22, 1791. *Israel Dickinson, b. Julv 23, 1793, ni. Pattv Butler. Oliver, b. Mar. 18, 1799, d. here unm. Mar. 17, 1887. S.\MUEL, b. Sept. 26, 1805. Mercy, b. Aug. 13, 1808. William, b. Aug. 31, 1812. Israel Dickinson Allis (Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. July 23, 1793, m. Dec. 3, 1818, Pattv Butler of Buckland. She was b. Mav 5, 1797, d. March 24, 1876. Hed. Oct. 18, 1869. Children. *THt)MAS Lawrence, b. Dec. 4, 1821, ni. Esther Dickinson of Whatelv, m. (2) Apr. 4, 1848, Mrs. Julia Ann (HoUis) Johnson. ' • *SoLOMCW D., b. Jan. 24, 1825, m. Nov. 25, 1847, Eliza J. Allis; shed. Oct. 7, 1851; m. (2) Sally Munson Allis; she d. July 23, 1909. Mary A., b. Feb. 28, 1835, m. Deacon Samuel Wilder. Thomas Lawrence Allis (Israel D., Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. Dec. 4, 1821, m. Esther Dickinson of Whately. He m. (2) April 4, 1848, Mrs. Julia Ann (Hollis) Johnson. He d. Jan. 1, 1878. She d. July 23, 1909. Children. Martha, b. [an 8, 1849, ni. June 20, 1867, Orrin D. Reirington. *Darwin Fremont, b. Nov. 27, 1855, m. Dec. 24, 1875, Ida T. Rhood. Darwin Fremont Allis (Thomas L., Israel D., Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. Nov. 27, 1855, m. Dec. 24, 1875, Ida T. Rhood. Children. Winifred Blanche, b. Oct. 9, 1882, m. Oct. 9, 1905, Walter H. Barker. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 247 Solomon D. Allis (Israel D., Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), h. Jan. 24, 1825, m. Nov. 25, 1847, Eliza J. Allis. She d. Oct. 7, 1851. He m. (2) March 4, 1852, Sally Munson Allis. She d. July 23, 1909. He d. Dec. 27, 1906. Children. Sarah E., b. Mar. 7, 1849, m. Roswell Rice. She d. Aug. 30, 1874. ♦Charles Fisher, b. Aug. 4, 1851, m. Mar. 17, 1875, Clara M. Boyden. Eliza J., b. Dec, 1853. She d. Mar., 1862. ♦William Dickinson, b. Aug. 9, 1865, ni. Feb. 16, 1886, Susie R. Wood. CiiARLKs F'lSHER Allis (Solomon 1)., Israel D., Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. Aug. 4, 1851, m. March 17, 1875, Clara M. Boyden. He d. Feb. 9, 1917. Children. ♦George Dwicht, b. Dec. 17, 1875, m. Oct. 16, 1907. Marian L. Laidley. Mal-d W., b. May 3, 1877, d. Feb. 15, 1886. Bertha L., b. July 3, 1879, m. Jan. 7, 1906, Albert Nickerson Stanle\-. George Dwight Allls, b. Dec. 17, 1875, m. Oct. 16, 1907, Marian L. Laidley. Children. Clara Elizaheth, b. Jan. 15, 1909. Mildred P^rances, b. July 20, 1911. Gertrude Helen, b. July 23, 1913. William Dickinson Allis (Solomon D., Israel D., Samuel, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, W^illiam), b. Aug. 9, 1865, m. Feb. 16. 1886, Susie R. Wood. Children. Luna Helen, b. Oct. 9. 1892, ni. Oct. 9, 1916, Lester F. Lewis. Ruth McKinley, b. Nov. 13, 1896, ni. Sept. 5, 1916, Geo. Rhood. Solomon Allis (Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. Oct. 26, 1769, m. Anna P. Dickinson. She d. Nov. 4, 1864, aged 92 years. He d. Nov. 6, 1823. Children. Parthenia, l>».Jan. 17, 1794, ni. Willard Crittenden. Lucius, b. Sept. 2, 1796, ni. Sept. 6, 1825, Fannie A. Griswold. Thomas Wells, b. Aug. 3, 1798, m. Elizabeth Clen.ent. *JOHN D., b. June 22, 1801, m. Oct. 4, 1826, Lvdia Smith, m. (2) Hannah Hail, m. (3) Delia B. Taylor. Emily W., b. Oct. 1, 1803, m. Lyman Smith. Elijah B., b. Mar. 14, 1805, m. Melissa Tobey. Lois, b. Apr. 3, 1807, m. Asabel Stone. Mary Wells, b. July 3, 1809, jii. Lot Hall of Ashfield. Elliot Clark, b. Feb. 13, 1816, m. Alvira Dickinson and (2) Cornelia Johnson. Edward P., b. Feb. 9, 1819, m. Apr. 2, 1851, Isabella H. Jennings. John Dickinson Allis (Solomon, Lucius, Samuel, Icha- bod, John, William), b. June 22, 1801. m. Oct. 4, 1826, Lydia Smith of Whately. She d. Dec. 20, 1836. He m. (2) May 7, 248 HISTORY OF CONWAY. 1840, Hannah Hall. She d. Oct. 22, 1852. He m. (3) March 23, 1853, Delia Butler Taylor. She d. Oct. 10, 1886. Children. Eliza Jane, b. May 1, 1827, m. Nov. 25, 1847, Solomon D. Allis. She d. Oct. 7, 1851. Sally Munson, b. Apr. 7, 1829, m. Solomon D. Allis. *RuFUs Wells, b. June 21, 1834, m. Hattie Ann Ballou. John Dickinson, b. Dec. 19, 1836, d. Jan. 15, 1863. He was the first person in this town to enlist in the Civil War and was the first soldier whose funeral was held here. He was wounded in action and died at the hospital on Davids Island, N. Y. Lois Stone, b. May 22, 1842, m. May 22, 1866, Chas. M. Smith. She d. Aug. 26, 1874. Luna, b. July 15, 1844, m. May 22, 1866, Eugene W. Woods, d. Jan. 4, 1870. Paulina, b. Nov. 24, 1848, m. July 1, 1874, Geo. Thayer, d. Feb. 17, 1901. Hattie Alona, b. Sept. 25, 1856, d. Apr. 2, 1876. Samuel Baxter, b. May 10, 1858, d. Nov. 16, 1879. Mary Lincoln, b. July 1, 1861. Her home is in Amherst. RuFUS Wells Allis (John D., Solomon, Lucius, Samuel, Ichabod, John, William), b. June 21, 1834, m. Oct. 22, 1874, Hattie Ann Ballou. He d. April 7, 1907. She d. Feb., 1917. Children. John Ballou, b. Aug. 8, 1875, d. Aug. 26, 1876. RuFus Dickinson, b. Sept. 16, 1876. Edna Lillian, b. July 19, 1881, d. Aug. 3, 1881. Sarah Paulina, b. Jan. 14, 1884. George Edwin, b. Apr. 28, 1888, d. Sept. 22, 1888. Nicena Pearl, b. Nov. 22, 1893, d. Nov. 25, 1893. ARMS. William Arms was the ancestor of the Arms family in America. He came from either the Isle of Jersey or Guernsey in the English Channel. The first that is known of William was his marriage at Hadley in 1677 to Joanna Hawkes. He resided in Hatfield and Deerfield. He was a good farmer, industrious, religious, and economical. He would knit a pair of stockings while going to and returning from the mill in Hatfield. He held various town offices and was a soldier in the Indian fight at the Great Falls in 1676. He d. in 1731, aged 77. Capt. Consider Arms (Daniel, William), b. in Deerfield, Oct. 14, 1736, m. Dec. 11, 1765, Mercy Cathn. She was b. Sept. 13, 1741, d. Feb. 12, 1822. The first member of the family to settle in Conway was Capt. Consider. He came here before its incorporation and was a very large landholder. The deed of his first land here is dated 1762. This deed is still in possession of the family. He was the first town clerk FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 249 and treasurer. His home is now in possession of his great- grandson, Charles D. Ives. Consider left his farm to his son John. Bought land in Hoosac for his son Henry. He d. June 19, 1792. Children. Daniel, b. July 23, 1766, ni. Laura Crosby and Nancy Thompson. Israel, b. Oct. 24, 1767, d. unni. Sept. 25, 1795. *Henrv, b. July 10, 1769, m. Experience Gates. SoPHLA., b. Dec. 10, 1770, m. Apr. 21, 1791, David Abbev. Rem. to Mississippi. Dorothy, b. Oct. 31, 1772, m. Jan. 10, 1792, Elisha VVright. *JoHN, b. Feb. 26, 1774, m. Martha Boltwood. Polly, b. Nov. 17, 1775, m. Feb. 10, 1799, Enoch Bennett. Mercy, b. Dec. 1, 1776, d. unm. Dec. 29, 1825. *Christopher, b. Oct. 7, 1777, m. Fannie Allen and Paulina Clary. Oliver, b. June 26, 1780, m. Sarah Hale and Nancy Williams. Abner, b. Aug. 16, 1781, m. Electa Hoyden. Louisa, b. Dec. 18, 1783, m. Oct., 1808, Job Risley. Clarisa, b. Dec. 17, 1786, m. July 29, 1812, Jonathan Allen of Pittsfield. She d. Sept. 14, 1841. Henry Arms (Consider, Daniel, William), b. in Conway, July 10, 1769, m. Jan. 31, 1798, Experience Gates. She was b. April 16, 1765, d. Dec. 30, 1848. He d. May 7, 1848. Children. Philena, b. Oct. 19, 1798, m. Oct. 15, 1818, Elijah Field. She d. June 10, 1838. Marinda, b. Aug. 31, 1800, m. June 15, 1826, Augustus Wells. Eliza, b. Feb. 9, 1802, m. May 20, 1832, Ichabod F. Nelson. LuciNDA, b. May 18, 1804, m. Aug. 16, 1837, Samuel Barber, m. (2) Samuel Stebbins. *Consider, b. Mar. 8, 1806, m. Electa Boyden. Henry, b. Jan. 29, 1808, m. Lucy Hamilton. *Frank;lin, b. Nov. 5, 1809, m. Mary Williams. Cephas, b. Oct. 5, 1811, m. Hannah Clark and (2) Laura A. Taylor. Fannie, b. July 19, 1814, m. Jan. 1, 1834, George Stearns. Oliver, b. Mar. 26, 1816, m. Elizabeth Sprague and (2) Nancy Ann Williams. William, b. Mar. 31, 1818, m. Ann Eliza Smith. Clarisa, b. May 9, 1820, m. Apr. 4, 1856, Edgar Metcalf. Consider Arms (Henry, Consider, Daniel, William), b. March 8, 1806, m. June 4, 1839, Electa Boyden. He d. julv 13, 1886. She d. March 27, 1878. Children. Luther Boyden, b. Mar. 17, 1840, d. unm. Aug. 3, 1876. William Edgar, b. Sept. 26, 1843, d. Oct. 27, 1843. *Arthur Consider, b. Oct. 15, 1849. Arthur C. Arms (Consider, Henry, Consider, Daniel, William), b. Oct. 15, 1859. m. Carrie M. Sherman. She d. Dec. 18, 1898. He m. (2) 1902, Mrs. Sarah Miller. He d. in 1903. Children. Anna Winifred, b. Nov. 17, 1883, d. young. H. Sherman, b. Oct. 8, 1895. 250 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Franklin Arms (Henry, Consider, Daniel, William), b. Nov. 5, 1809, m. April 26, 1837, Mary Williams of Deerfield. She was b. Oct. 31, 1813. They celebrated their golden wedding here April 26, 1887. He d. Aug. 29, 1888. She d. April 25, 1906. Children. Charles Williams, b. Apr. 23, 1838, d. May 31, 1863. William Alois, b. Oct. 18, 1839, m. June 6, 1870, Martha Cornell. George Franklin, b. Aug. 12, 1842, m. July 7, 1870, Marv Wilkins. Gilbert Wheeler, b. June 20, 1846, m. Apr. 24, 1872, Lo'is W. Baker. He d. Aug. 29, 1898. Horace Williams, b. Oct. 28, 1853, m. Nov. 9, 1875, Lottie Hayden of Deerfield. Hon. John Arms (Consider, Daniel, William), b. in Conway, Feb. 26, 1774, m. Jan. 23, 1800, Martha Boltwood of Amherst. She was b. in 1779 and d. Feb. 22, 1867. He d. July 24, 1856. Hon. John Arms was a farmer in Conway, a member of the Constitutional Convention in Massachusetts in 1820, and of the Massachusetts Legislature three times — 1824, 1837, 1848; was county commissioner for several years. Children. Wealthy, b. Aug. 25, 1801, m. Mar. 13, 1828, Prof. Robert A. Coffin. She d. June 1, 1886. He d. Sept. 4, 1878. Dorothy, b. Feb. 25, 1803, d. unm. Oct. 30, 1883. Israel, b. Feb. 29, 1804, m. Julia Ann Parsons. Solomon Boltwood, b. Oct. 6, 1805, d. unm. F"eb. 25, 1896. Judith N., b. Aug. 13, 1807, m. May 20, 1827, Edmund Burke. He d. Oct. 8, 1865. She d. Apr. 19, 1903. Julia Ann, b. June 6, 1809, m. Apr. 5, 1836, Rev. Dwight Ives. He was born Sept. 20, 1805. He was graduated at Brown Univ. in 1835, a Baptist clergyman in Alton, 111., and in Suffield, Conn., for thirtv yrs. He d. here Dec. 22, 1875. She d. Feb. 22, 1898. John, b. Sept. 29, 1811, d. unm. May 28, 1836. Martha, b. Mar. 25, 1813, m. Mar. 25, 1834, Rev. Horatio Nelson Graves. Elijah, b. Aug. 11, 1815, d. Apr. 23, 1908. Catherine, b. Oct. 8, 1817, d. unm. Nov. 27, 1842. Mary Jane, b. Feb. 16, 1818, m. Sept. 24, 1839, Rufus Rowe Graves. Their home was in Brooklyn, N. Y. Edward, b. Feb. 12, 1819, d. Feb. 27, 1819. Cornelia J., b. Oct. 21, 1820, m. Aug. 25, 1845, Erastus Augustus Graves. Their home was in Brooklyn, N. Y. Caroline, b. Aug. 14, 1822, d. unm. Apr. 20, 1845. Deacon Christopher Arms (Consider, Daniel, William), b. in Conway, Oct. 7, 1777, m. in 1803, Fannie Allen. She was b. Oct., 1779. She d. Sept. 14, 1810. He m. (2) Paulina Clary. She was b. in 1786 and d. July 3, 1858. He was a hatter and postmaster for 20 years, and died April 27, 1855. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 251 Children. \ Infant, b. Dec. 13, 1803, d. same day. Frances M.\ria, b. June 3, 1805, d. July 27, 1805. Frances M.\ria, b. June 20, 1807, d. July 15, 1807. Thomas Allen, b. Mar. 6, 1810, m. Dec. 22, 1840, Elizabeth Hawkes. He d. Jan. 20, 1867. She d. Sept. 16, 1874. Frederick Clary, b. Oct. 14, 1815, m. Martha Allen. Fannie, b. July 14, 1817, m. Eliakim Sylvester. Res. in Lyons, N. Y. Paulin.\, b. Aug. 28, 1819, d. unm. Harriet, b. Oct. 13, 1823, ni. Rev. Chas. Sylvester. She d. in Feeding Hills, Sept. 16, 1868. AVERY. Deacon William Avery (William, William, William. Robert, William, Robert), b. Aug. 30, 1716, m. Dec. 10, 1741, Bethia Metcalf. She was b. Nov. 15, 1715. She d. Dec. 25, 1792. He d. Aug. 5, 1796. Children. William, b. Oct. 3, 1742, m. Sarah Farrington and (2) Jerusha Neal. Jonathan, b. Sept. 15, 1744, d. Feb. 7, 1799. Katherine, b. Aug. 3, 1746, m. Oct. 22, 1766, Jonathan Fisher. Bethiah, b. Jan. 26, 1748, m. Jan. 24, 1771, Dr. Samuel Ware. Joseph, b. Oct. 14, 1751, m. Mary Allen. Grace, b. Aug. 17, 1755, m. John Howland. *JoHN, b. Sept. 9, 1758, m. Mary Cushman and (2) Beulah Briggs. Deacon John Avery (William, William, William, Wil- liam, Robert, William, Robert), b. Sept. 9, 1758, m. May 26, 1784, Mary Cushman. He m. (2) Beulah Briggs. She d. June 26, 1862, aged 91 years. Children. John, b. Jan. 9, 1786, m. Nov. 14, 1827, Ann Paine. Mary, b. Sept. 29, 1787, d. unm. Dec. 8, 1829. ♦Joseph, b. Aug. 30, 1789, m. Dec. 5, 1817, Sylvia Clary. Lendemine, b. Apr. 7, 1791, m. James Bond. Rebecca, b. Nov. 30, 1793, m. Nov. 16, 1826, Silas Hawkes. *William, b. Sept. 16, 1795, m. Maria Howland. Bethiah, b..Feb. 20, 1800, m. in 1825, Benjamin Bond. Deacon Joseph Avery (John, William, William, William, William, Robert, William, Robert), b. Aug. 30, 1789, m. Dec. 5, 1817, Sylvia Clary. She d. Sept. 5, 1851. He d. in Sparta, Wis., in 1870. He was noted for his unostentatious benevolence and piety, for showing his faith by his works. Although not rich, yet he gave annually large sums in \'arious ways to spread the gospel. He was elected trustee of Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1836. 252 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Mary, b. Dec. 13, 1818, m. Dec, 1847, Rev. Robert McGill Loughridge. They were missionaries to the Creek Indians. She d. Jan. 20, 1850. He d. in Waco, Tex., July 8, 1900. Joseph Clary, b. Feb. 1, 1823, d. in 1862. He was a civil engineer and surveyed a route for a railroad across the Tehuantepec Isthmus. Caroline, b. Jan. 20, 1825, m. Jan. 17, 1850, Norton A. Halbert. *WiLLiAM Fisher, b. Dec. 4, 1826, m. Eunice Smith Wright. Amelia, b. July 22, 1829, d. Aug. 29, 1829. Pauline, b. Jan. 14, 1831, m. Rev. O. L. Woodford. She d. Feb., 1858. John, b. Sept. 18, 1837, m. Cornelia A. Curtiss. Rev. William Fisher Avery (Joseph, John, William, William, William, William, Robert, William, Robert), b. Dec. 4, 1826, m. Sept. 19, 1854, Eunice S. Wright of Huntington. She was b. Aug. 12, 1829, and d. April 24, 1890. He d. Nov. 6, 1903. Children. *WlLLiAM GooDELL, b. May 31, 1856, in Sparta, Wis., m. Nov. 1, 1882, Elizabeth Benson Hall of Rockland, Me. William Goodell Avery (William F., Joseph, John, William, William, William, William, Robert, William, Robert), b. May 31, 1856, in Sparta, Wis., m. Nov. 1, 1882, Elizabeth Benson Hall of Rockland, Maine. He was cashier of the Conway Bank for over 20 years, a member of the school board, and was one of the trustees of the Field Memorial Library. Children. William Frederick, b. Nov. 27, 1887. Webb Reed, b. June 24, 1889. Deacon William Avery (John, William, William, Wil- liam, William, Robert, William, Robert), b. Sept. 16, 1795, m. Maria Howland. He d. April 25, 1853. She d. June 1, 1888. BAKER. Edward Baker, born in England, came to this country in 1630, moved to Northampton in 1639- One of his sons was Lieut. Timothy Baker of Northampton. He was prominent in public affairs, selectman, ensign of the Train Band. His son, Capt John, b. in Northampton, Feb. 3, 1680, m. June 1, 1709, Rebecca Clark, daughter of Deacon John Clark. She was b. in 1651 and died in 1740. One of Capt. John's sons was Rev. Noah Baker, m. Sarah Burt and moved to Sunderland. His homestead there is now owned by his great-grandson, Isaac S. H. Gunn. Some of the silverware which belonged to Sarah Burt is now in the possession of some of the descendants living in Conway. Deacon Joel Baker, one of the sons of Rev. Noah Baker, was born in Sunderland in FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 253 1741, m. Oct. 22, 1761, Sarah Graves. She was b. in 1739 and d. Aug. 12, 1819. They moved to Conway in 1768, and he d. July 28, 1817. He was deacon for 30 years. Children. *Is.\AC, b. Oct. 31, 1762, m. Lois Wright. LoviXA, b. Oct. 7, 1764, m. Mar. 4, 1784, Daniel Newhall. Joel, b. May 7, 1768. Pamelia, ni. in 1793, Simeon Merritt. Isaac Baker (Joel, Noah, John, Timothy, Edward), b. Oct. 31, 1762, m. Feb. 6, 1786, Lois Wright of Deerfield. She d. Oct. 5, 1858, aged 92. He d. March 20, 1839. Children. *WiLLiAM, b. Jan. 5, 1787, m. Hannah Frary. Lois, b. Aug. 24, 1789, m. Feb. 22, 1821, Chas. Hitchcock. Charles, b. June 14, 1798. He was killed by lightning while on a visit to his native town, May 29, 1829. Charlotte, b. May 21, 1802, m. Col. Austin Rice. William Baker (Isaac, Joel, Noah, John, Timothy, Edward), b. Jan. 5, 1787, m. Hannah Frary. She d. July 31, 1856. He d. March 5, 1870. Children. Sarah Gr.wes, b. Aug. 12, 1819, m. Dennis Stearns. *Willl\m, b. May 31, 1821, m. Miriam Frary Orcutt. William Baker (William, Isaac, Joel, Noah, John, Timothy, Edward), b. May 31, 1821, m. Nov. 17, 1840, Miriam Frary Orcutt. Children. Isaac P., b. Dec. 19, 1844, ni. Julia E. Nye of Fall River. Lois Wright, b. Dec. 19, 1850, m. Apr. 24, 1872, Gilbert W. Arms. BARTLETT. The gcneaiogA- is known to go back to three brothers, John, Richard and Thomas, who came to America in 1634. The two former settled at Newbury, Mass. Thomas Bartlett (Richard, Richard, Richard), b. July 14, 1695, in Newbury, m. March 12, 1719, Mary Bartlett of Brookfield. She d. Jan. 12, 1751. He d. Dec. 7, 1754. Children. Joseph, b. Jan 24, 1720. Aaron, b. Oct. 28, 1721, m. Jan. 31, 1845, Hannah Jennings. Moses, b. Mar. 3, 1723, m. June 8, 1744, Marv Bell. Elijah, b. Mar. 6, 1725, m. Jan. 10, 1749, Bathsheba Gilbert. Miriam, b. Mar. 25, 1727, m. May 1, 1775, Ithamar Bowker. Matthew, b. July 8, 1728, m. Mrs. Susanna Bell. Obadiah, b. Apr. 5, 1730, m. May 9, 1753, Rebecca Adams. Hannah, b. Oct. 31, 1/31, m. June 5, 1755, Jeremiah Gould. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 8, 1733, m. Jan. 17, 1765, Deliverance Lee. *Adoniram, b. Sept. 10, 1735, m. Miriam Marsh. Mary, b. Feb. 2, 1740, m. Dec. 9, 1757, Samuel Barnes. Lvdia, b. Apr. 26, 1742, m. Jan., 1770, Moses Barnes. 254 HISTORY OF CONWAY, Adoniram Bartlett (Thomas, Richard, Richard, Rich- ard), b. in West Brookfield, Sept. 10, 1735, m. Feb. 4, 1761, Mir- iam Marsh. She d. Jan. 26, 1822. He d. Sept. 23, 1805. Children. *Amos, b. in Brookfield May 27, 1762, m. Lucy Merritt and Susanna . *Jeduthan, b. Dec. 15, 1763, m. Mercy Glover. *Samuel b. April 15, 1774, m. Sarah Graves. *LuTHER, b. May 29, 1782, m. Anna Nims. Adoniram, b. Sept. 12, 1785, m. Anna . Amos Bartlett (Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. in Brookfield, May 27, 1762, m. Oct. 29, 1787, Lucv Merritt. She d. May 20, 1808. He m. (2) Susanna . Hed. Dec. 11, 1834. Children. *Chester, b. Sept. 6, 1788, m. Betsey — ^, ni. (2) Sophia . Clarissa, b. Jan. 10, 1790. *Prescott, b. Aug. 8, 1791, m. Narcissa Robinson. Lucv, b. June 5, 1793. Lyman, b. May 21, 1796. D WIGHT, b. May 8, 1798. Coram, b. Apr. 18, 1800. Miriam, b. Nov. 10, 1811, d. Dec. 23, 1815. Sarah, b. Feb. 19, 1813. DwiGHT, b. Mar. 11, 1816, ni. Clarissa Pike Vincent. Lyman, b. June 2, 1818. Isaac Chaney, b. June 2, 1822. Chester Bartlett (Amos, Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. Sept. 6, 1788, m. Betsey . Shed. Nov. 22, 1813. M. (2) Sophia . Children. Betsey, b. Sept. 6, 1813. Celia Sophia, b. Mar. 29, 1826, m. Luther Bartlett, Jr. Chester Dewey, b. Mar. 5, 1828. Capt. Prescott Bartlett (Amos, Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. Aug. 8, 1791, m. Narcissa Robinson. He d. Oct. 12, 1832. Children. Narcissa, b. Sept. 10, 1815, d. June 27, 1831. Watson Robinson, b. Mar. 21, 1817. Clarissa, b. Oct. 22, 1819, m. George Francis Wilson. Shed. June 12, 1880. He d. Jan. 19, 1883. Prescott, b. Aug. 23, 1821. Benjamin F., b. Feb. 19, 1823. Emerson, b. Sept. 14, 1827. Jeduthan Bartlett (Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Rich- ard, Richard), b. Dec. 15, 1763, m. Mercy Glover. He d. Oct. 21, 1845. I FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 255 Children. Harriet, b. Mar. 17, 1792, m. Silas Redfield. Billy, b. Nov. 30, 1795. Samuel Bartlett (Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Rich- ard, Richard), b. April 15, 1774, m. Oct. 5, 1799, Sarah Graves. He d. May 19, 1845. Children. *r)EXTER, b. Nov. 3, 1800, m. Sarah Sherman. Edward, b. Oct. 5, 1802. Zeviah, b. Julv 26, 1804, in. Willard Lee. Miranda, b. Nov. 18, 1806. Sarah G., b. Feb. 17, 1813. Dexter Bartlett (Samuel, Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. Nov. 3, 1800, m. Sarah Sherman. She d. March 1, 1867. He d. Jan. 3, 1877. Children. Ophelia, b. in 1832, m. May 1, 1851, Jonathan W. Dickinson. Sarah, b. in 1836, m. Sherman, she d. Jan. 19, 1863. Amelia, b. Aug., 1838, d. unm. Jan. 12, 1866. Clara, b. in 1842, d. Dec. 25, 1872. Luther Bartlett (Adoniriim, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. May 29, 1782, m. Jan. 15, 1807, Anna Nims of Deerfield. She was b. Jan. 12, 1782, d. May 3, 1850. He d. Jan. 26, 1855. Children. Lyman, b. Nov. 21, 1807, m. Rebecca Gooding and Elizabeth Swaine. Franklin, b. Mar. 27, 1809, m. Esther Coolev Anderson. Julia Elma, b. Sept. 21, 1810, d: Jan. 24, 1815. Edwin, b. Oct. 6, 1812, m. Eliza Hamilton and Mary Smith. Julia Elma, b. Aug. 19, 1814, m. Mar. 26, 1841, Wm. Wilcox. She d. Feb. 16, 1879. Luther, b. Julv 21, 1817, m. Sophia Bartlett. Dares, b. Aug.' 14, 1821, d. at Benetia, Cal., Dec. 29, 1849. *Alfred, b. Oct. 4, 1827, m. Lydia Sherman. Alfred Bartlett (Luther, Adoniram, Thomas, Richard, Richard, Richard), b. Oct. 4, 1827, m. Dec. 21, 1850, Lydia Sherman. She was b. Sept. 24, 1830. He d. 1914. Children . Dares E., b. Apr. 3, 1852, m. Harriet J. Field. Emily S., b. Apr. 3, 1854. Edwin L., b. Nov. 29, 1856, d. June 28, 1896. Anna C., b. Nov. 14, 1864. Dr. Phinehas Bartlett (Moses), b. at Portland, Conn., Feb. 15, 1745, m. in Ashfield, Sept. 14, 1768, Mehitable Annable. She was b. Sept. 9, 1750, d. Oct. 31, 1780. He m. (2) March 20, 1781, Mrs. Sarah (Symonds) Ballard. She d. Jan. 9, 1882. He d. Oct. 29, 1799. When he came to Ashfield in 1756 from 256 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Connecticut, it was an almost unbroken wilderness. There were only fifteen families in the township. Conway was not discovered. He bought a farm to help support his family. He had quite a wonderful personality, which brought him the esteem of the community. Children. Mehitable, b. Nov. 14, 1769, m. Smith, lived in Marcellus, N. Y. Moses, b. Apr. 22, 1772, m. Feb. 1, 1801, Persis Ranney. H.\NNAH, b. Apr. 27, 1774, m. Calvin Hale of Greenfield. Lydia, b. Jan. 17, 1782, d. unm. June 15, 1809. *Phinehas, b. Aug. 8, 1783, m. Pamelia Pomeroy. Jercsha, b. Apr. 31, 1785, d. unm. Jan. 7, 1861. Horatio, b. Oct. 8, 1790, d. unm. Feb. 23, 1836. William, b. Jan. 7, 1793, m. Stata Saxton Hawkes. Phinehas Bartlett (Phinehas, Moses), b. in Ashfield, Aug. 8, 1783, m. March 15, 1809, Pamelia Pomerov of Buckland. She was b. Dec. 2, 1787, and d. March 29, 1850. He d. Nov. 21, 1865. He came to Conway in early life as a harness maker. He was for years a justice of the peace and something of a lawyer. Children. *Theodore, b. Nov. 27, 1809, m. Fidelia McGee and (2) Mrs. Lucy W. Fiske. William, b. Mar. 12, 1815, m. Aurora Clark. Pamelia Pomeroy, b. Feb. 19, 1817, ni. Jan. 5, 1842, Joshua Knowlton Rogers. Phinehas Pomeroy, b. Oct. 5, 1821. Levi Lyman, b. Sept. 25, 1823, d. Nov. 27, 1851. Phinehas, b. Aug. 28, 1826, m. Lydia Ingraham of North Adams. Sarah Achsah, b. Sept. 2, 1829, d. in Syracuse, N. Y., in 1910. Theodore Bartlett (Phinehas, Phinehas, Moses), b. Con- way, Nov. 27, 1809, m. May 4, 1841, Fidelia McGee of Colerain. She was b. June 15, 1815, d. April 18, 1867. He m. (2) June 9, 1868, Mrs. Lucy W. Fiske. She d. in 1890. He d. Dec. 16, 1880. Children. *William M., b. Aug. 21, 1842, m. Lucy C. Barlow. Joshua Allen, b. May 15, 1844, d. Nov. 16, 1847. *Henry Dawes, b. July 31, 1846, m. Alice (Dickinson) Burnett. Phinehas Allen, b. Nov. 3, 1848, m. Lizzie Gray. Levi Lyman, b. Nov. 15, 1851, m. Cora Arms. Charles McGee, b. May 31, 1854, m. Fannie F. Griener. Francis Sydney, b. June 27, 1856, m. Fannie ^ — — . Anna Fidelia, b. Aug. 31, 1862, m. Nov. 18, 1886, Chas. C. Gray. William Myrtle Bartlett (Theodore, Phinehas, Phin- ehas, Moses), b. Aug. 21, 1842, m. Oct. 25, 1882, Lucv C. Barlow. Hed. in 1911. Children . Mabel Fidelia, b. Oct. 12, 1883, m. Walter Brown. Ethel B., b. Dec. 5, 1887. Theodore A., b. June 26, 1900. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 257 Henry Dawes Bartlett (Theodore, Phinehas, Phinehas, Moses), b. July 31, 1846, m. Jan. 30, 1872, Mrs. Alice (Dickinson) Burnett. She was b. June 16, 1847. Children. Charles Henry, b. Oct. 19, 1875, d. Oct. 21, 1875. May P'iDELlA, b. May 19, 1877, m. Aug. 10, 1898, Frank B. Stowe. George Henry, b. Feb. 2, 1880. BATCHELDER. The first of the name was Joseph, who emigrated to America in 1636. He came with his wife, Eliza- beth, settled first in Salem and later in Wenham. He was the first representative of the town of W'enham in 1644. Amos Batchelder (Amos, David, John, Joseph), b. in Wenham, Dec. 17, 1761, m. June 9, 1786, Huldah Kimball. She was b. Jan. 23, 1763, d. Feb. 14, 1846, the daughter of Deacon Caleb and Huldah Cue Kimball. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was one of the early pioneers of Francistown, N. H., making their way there through the woods by following marked trees. Here he made his home, building a house in which he H\ed until he died, Sept. 20, 1843. Children. *Amos, b. N(n-. 10, 1788, m. Frances Hawkes. Moses, b. in 1790, ni. Lucy Nash. Huldah, b. July 29, 1791, m. Aug. 15, 1815, John Richardson. Israel, b. Sept. 20, 1793, ni. Lydia Dole. *KiMBALL, b. Aug. 8, 1796, m. Armenia Siearns. Levi, b. Dec. 20, 1798, m. Cornelia Balch and (2) Asenalh Pitcher. Perkins, b. May 20, 1802, d. Julv 2, 1829. ROXANA, b. Jan. 19, 1805, in. May 22, 1832, Buckman Fairbanks. Amos Batchelder (Amos, Amos, David, John, Joseph), b. in Francistown, N. H., Nov. 10, 1788, m. in Deerfield, Mass., Jan. 25, 1814, Frances Heiwkes. He d. Sept. 22, 1836, a resident of Conway. He was a merchant. She d. Dec. 11, 1880. Children. *Lansford, b. Oct. 29, 1815, m. Freelove Bates. Warren, b. Oct. 7, 1818, d. May 27, 1844. Amos Perkins, b. Mar. 6, 1827, d. May 29, 1831. Lansford Batchelder (Amos, Amos, x-Xmos, David, John, Joseph), b. in Conwav, Oct. 29, 1815, m. in Ashfield, Mass., Jan. 2, 1840, Freelove Bates. He d. March 7, 1899. She d. Feb. 24, 1904. Children. Perkins, b. Feb. 20, 1843, ni. Jan. 13, 1869, Nellie C. Abel of Southwick. 258 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Kimball Batchelder (Amos, Amos, David, John, Joseph), b. in Francistown, N. H., Aug. 8, 1796, m. Nov. 9, 1825, Armenia Stearns. He d. April 6, 1876. She d. Dec, 1880. Children. Mary S., b. Sept. 1, 1826, m. Nov. 28, 1850, George Atwood Waite. Caroline, b. Jan. 16, 1829, m. Oct. 3, 1850, Elias A. Wilson, Francistown, N. H. *Carlos, b. Jan. 16, 1829, m. Minerv-a A. Forbes. Fannie Amelia, b. Dec. 19, 1831, ni. Jan. 4, 1855, Edwin Andrews of Shel- burne, Mass.. She d. June 10, 1856. Roxana, b. Dec. 26, 1833, m. June 4, 1856, Caleb E. Forbes of Buckland. Hon. Carlos Batchelder (Kimball, Amos, Amos, David, John, Joseph), b. in Conway, Jan. 16, 1829, m. May 28, 1851, Minerva A. Forbes of Buckland. She was b. Aug. 25, 1830. He d. Dec. 20, 1901. She is still living. Childreji. *WiLLiAM K., b. Oct. 1, 1854, m. Josephine L. Foote. *Frederick C., b. Aug. 15, 1861, m. Mary E. Vining. Minnie E., b. Dec. 29, 1873, d. Jan. 25, 1875. Carrie, b. Jan. 11, 1875, d. Jan. 17, 1875. William K. Batchelder (Carlos, Kimball, Amos, Amos, David, John, Joseph), b. Oct. 1, 1854, m. Josephine L. Foote. She was b. Nov., 1856. Childre7i. Mabel L., b. Aug. 19, 1875, m. Aug. 17, 1894, Wilham Brown. Anna S., b. Jan. 19, 1878, m. June 5, 1895, William T. Graves. W. Forbes, b. Sept. 6, 1880, m. June 5, 1901, Julia I. Mason. Minnie A., b. Feb. 23, 1883, m. Mar. 1, 1905, Byron Brown. Mary J., b. Aug. 15, 1884, m. Feb. 22, 1908, Chas. L. Fessenden. Carlos F., b. May 6, 1887, m. June 26, 1906, Lillian Schneck. Emerson F., b. Nov. 12, 1891, m. Dec. 17, 1914, Helen Stone. ■ Harold W., b. Apr. 20, 1897. Frederick C. Batchelder (Carlos, Kimball, Amos, Amos,, David, John, Joseph), b. Aug. 15, 1861, m. Feb. 14, 1889, Mary E. Vining. She was b. Oct. 7, 1858. For the past 35 years he has been station agent for the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R, at Conway Station. Children. Amy v., b. Aug. 1, 1891, d. Jan. 3, 1892. Walter F., b. Apr. 23, 1893, d. Mar. 9, 1894. BATES. Zelotus Bates (Ephraim), b. in Hawley, May 12, 1795, m. in Conwav, Dec. 27, 1828, Lydia Maynard. She was b. March 3, 1790, and d. March 10, 1866. He m. (2) Jan. 20, 1869, Mrs. Sarah (Porter) Coats. He d. April 24, 1884. Children. ♦Austin Turner, b. Sept. 29, 1829. i FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 259 Austin Turner Bates (Zelotus, Ephraim), b. Sept. 29, 1829, m. in Colerain, June 22, 1854. Sarah Sabin Porter. He d. March 29, 1900. She d. Aug. 9, 1906. Children. Laura Turner, b. Nov. 1, 1857. Henry Austin, b. Mar. 29, 1861. Mary Cornelia, b. June 27, 1865. Ira Bates, b. 1792, m. Rosilla Burnett. She d. July 18, 1883. He d. May 4, 1856. Children. *Alpheus G., b. 1826, ni. Lucy Bishop. ■M.A.RIA, m. Leonard Stearns. Sabra, m. May 10, 1849, Wm. Stearns. Freelove, m. Lansford Batchelder. Dennis, m. Laura W. Elmer. Mary, b. 1835, d. unm. Dec. 3, 1853. Alpheus G. Bates (Ira), b. 1826, m. Lucy Bishop of Cummington. He d. in Conway, Aug. 7, 1878. Children. *Ira Clifford, b. Nov. 14, 1850, m. Dec. 26, 1872, Laura B. Culver. William Clinton, b. Nov. 26, 1854, m. Leanora Dailey. Carrie Rosilla, b. Aug. 26, 1860, m. Oct. 31, 1877, G. W. Boyden. Ira Clifford Bates (Alpheus, Ira), b. Nov. 14, 1850, m. Dec. 26, 1872, Laura B. Culver. He d. June 8, 1916. Children. Fred Clarence, b. Nov. 8, 1873, ni. Lulu Pulsifer. Adelbert G., b. Jan. 27, 1876. Henry WiLGUS, b. Nov. 21, 1883. Howard Edison, b. Feb. 19, 1885. Walter Clinton, b. Aug. 7, 1890. BEMENT. Chester Bement (Samuel), b. Sept. 3, 1795, m. Polly Newhall. She d. May 1, 1867. He d. Dec. 10, 1864. Children. *Stephen Hosmer, b. Sept. 21, 1820, m. Paulina Clark. *Chester Newhall, b. Jan. 2, 1825, m. Loretta Fisher. Louisa Ann Elizabeth, b. Sept. 9, 1829. *WiLLi.\M, b. Mar. 25, 1832, m. Sarah M. Taylor. Lovinta, b. June 22, 1834, m. Hosea A. Jones. Stephen Hosmer Bement (Chester, Samuel), b. Sept. 21, 1820, m. PauHna Clark. He d. in 1867. Children. Paulina, b. June 1, 1849, m. Dec. 1, 1876, Alva Eldredge. 260 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Chester Newhall Bement (Chester, Samuel), b. Jan. 2, 1825, m. Loretta Fisher. She d. Julv 15, 1875. He d. Jan. 3, 1885. Children . Charles N., b. May 12, 1859, d. Sept. 19, 1863. Frederick A., b. Jan., 1862, d. June 15, 1884. William Bement (Chester, Samuel), b. March 25, 1832, m. Sarah M. Taylor. She d. Oct. 29, 1874. Children. *WiLLiAM HosMER, b. Sept. 16, 1863, m. Cora Lee. Chester B., b. Aug. 10, 1865. Pauline H., b. . Cora M., b. Julv 13, 1869, d. Apr. 28, 1886. Herbert, b. Julv 17, 1871, d. Oct. 21, 1874. George Newhall, b. Nov. 18, 1873, d. Oct. 31, 1874. William Hosmer Bement (William, Chester, Samuel), b. Sept. 16, 1863, m. March 30, 1886, Cora Lee. She was b. Jan. 23, 1865. Children. Anna Maud, b. Mar. 19, 1887, ni. June 27, 1906, Joseph Antes. Lucy Sarah, b. June 27, 1888, ni. June 10, 1909, Alonzo Graves. BIGELOW BIGLO. John Biglo is the ancestor of the American Bigelows. John, the elocjuent, was a blacksmith, and was located in Watertown. John Bigelow (Joshua, Joshua, John), b. in Weston, Mass., Jan. 4, 1715, m. Nov. 29, 1739, Grace Allen. He was in the Indian wars and was a soldier in 1757 in Capt. Samuel Davis' Company. Children. Lucy, b. May 27, 1740, m. Joseph Dutton, Jr. Beulah, b. Sept. 20,. 1741, m. Jonas Hall. *JoHN, b. Nov. 8, 1743, m. Molly Melvin. Nathan, b. Nov. 8, 1743, ni. Elizabeth Oakes. Sarah, b. F"eb. 12, 1745, m. in 1766 Thomas Dalton. Silas, b. Mar. 17, 1750, m. Rachel Pitts. Simeon, b. Apr. 12, 1752, m. Sarah Foster, m. (2) Elizabeth Avery, m. (3) Mrs. Sarah Avery. Molly, b. Apr. 6, 1754. Grace, b. Apr. 22, 1757, ni. Stephen Hall Ashley. Eunice, b. Sept. 14, 1760. John Bigelow (John, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. in Weston, Nov. 8, 1743, m. Sept. 11, 1770, Molly Melvin. Removed to Conway, where he d. Feb. 14, 1822. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 261 Childrefi. *JONATHAN, b. Jan. 25, 1773, m. Susanna Brooks. Silas, b. May 7, 1775, ni. Anna Brooks. Isaac, b. Oct. 27, 1780, m. Betsey Peck. Abner, b. Oct. 25, 1783, ni. Cynthia Louise Guilford and Eliza Pullcn. *Samuel, b. Aug. 22, 1785, m. Electa Wilder. Molly, b. July 9, 1787, m. William Medister. Rebecc.\, b. Apr. 21, 1790, m. Cheney Look of Peru. Clarissa, b. Oct. 14, 1794, ni. Orra Sherman. Moses Foster, b. in 1798, m. Mary Bardweli. JoxATiiAX Bi(;i<:l()\v (John, John, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. Jan. 25, 1773, ni. in 1798, Susanna Brooks. He d. Nov. 12, 1819. Shed. Oct. 30, 1861. Children. Ihi.DAH, 1). Oct. 1(), 17'>8, ni. in 1821, Wilder Truesdeli. Jonathan Brooks, b. Apr. 12, 1800, m. Relief Xevvhall. Mary, b. Sept. 25, 1801, d. unm. Anna, b. June 23, 1804, m. Zebulon Paine. Sullivan, b. Mar. 26, 1806, m. Nov. 12, 1837, Prudence .Augusta Dyer. Samuel, b. Feb. 22, 1807, m. Anna Jane Brooks. Jane, b. Jan. 18, 1809, m. William Warren. *H.\RVEV, b. Aug. 25, 1810, m. Sarah Jane Brooks. Esther, b. Jan. 15, 1813, m. Nathan Emerson. Sumner, b. July 6, 1815, m. Hannah . Amos, b. Apr. 2, 1817, m. Mary Ann Curtis. Harvey Bigelow (Jonathan, John, John, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. Aug. 25, 1810, m. Sarah j. Brooks. She d. Jan. 29, 1843. He d. Oct. 7, 1874. Children. Harvey Willaru, b. Feb. V^, 1834, d. unm. Feb. 25, 1874. *HuBBARU, b. May 16, 1836, m. Mary J. Bates. Moses, b. Feb. 23', 1840. Hubbard Bic.elow (Harvey, Jonathan, John, John, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. IVhiy 16, 1836, m. Nov. 9, 1864, Mary J. Bates. She d. Sept. 11, 1868. Children. Nellie M., m. to Chas. Dole. William H., b. Aug. 6, 1867. Samuel Bigelow (John, |ohn, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. Aug. 22, 1785, m. Electa Wilder. She was b. 1791, and d. Nov. 23, 1872. He d. May 29, 1839. Children. Consider Wilder, b. July 19, 1814, m. Elizabeth R. Hunt. Increase Briggs, b. June 28, 1817, m. Sophronia Hall. Samuel, b. Mar. 12, 1819, m. Calista Look. Silas, b. Apr. 25, 1820, m. Jane Tower. Electa, b. Aug. 4, 1822, m. Samuel Bigelow. *WiLLiAM, b. June 16, 1827, m. Sarah Louise Puffer. Franklin, b. Mar. 31, 1829, m. Juliet Dickinson. Mary S.\LINA, b. May 12, 1831, m. Noah Graves. 262 HISTORY OF CONWAY. William Bigelow (Samuel, John, John, Joshua, Joshua, John), b. June 16, 1827, m. Sept. 17, 1850, Sarah Louise Puffer of Leominster. He d. Dec. 22, 1866. Children . William Franklin, b. July 13, 1851, m. Frances Elizabeth Hamilton. Flora Electa, b. July 22, 1857. BILLINGS. Richard Billings and his wife Margery came from England and were in Hartford before 1640, and removed to Hatfield about 1661. One of their children was Samuel, who was born in England and was ancestor of the Conway line. Ebenezer Billings (Samuel, Richard), b. in Hatfield, Oct. 29, 1669, m. 1690, Hannah Church. He was one of the forty proprietors and first settlers of Sunderland. He d. Nov. 14, 1745, and his wife d. Oct. 11, 1756. Children. Samuel, b. June 7, 1693. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 19, 1695, m. Editha Gunn. John, b. Nov. 26, 1698, m. Mary Chapin and Mary Bodman. Mary, b. May 24, 1701, m. Jonathan Field. *Fellows, b. Feb. 15, 1704, m. Mary Eastman of Hadley. Edward, b. Aug. 10, 1707, m. Lucy Parsons. Jonathan, b. June 10, 1710, m. Mary Root. Hon. Fellows Billings (Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. Feb. 15, 1704, in Hatfield, m. Nov. 27, 1735, Mary Eastman of Hadley. She d. in Dec, 1799. He d. June 29, 1784. He removed to Conway in 1775-80. Children. Aaron, b. Aug. 15, 1736, m. Caroline Adams. Mary, b. Sept. 15, 1738, d. June 12, 1744. Ruth, b. July 10, 1742, m. Oct. 20, 1763, Joseph Ashley, Jr. *WiLLiAM, b. July 20, 1744, m. Jerusha Williams. *Elisha, b. Oct. 1, 1749, m. Betsey Williams; m. (2) Mrs. Mary (Storrs) Hovey. Hannah, b. Feb. 24, 1754, m. Dec. 31, 1781, Elisha Dickinson. Deacon William Billings (Fellows, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. in Sunderland, July 20, 1744, m. Jan. 1, 1772, Jerusha Williams. She was b. July 18, 1747, d. April 3, 1821. He removed to Conway and practiced law here, being the first lawyer in this place. He d. Nov. 8, 1812. Children. William, b. Feb. 9, 1777, m. Abigal Smith of Hadley. Mary Williams, b. Feb. 21, 1779, m. Veh. 4, 1798, Dr. John Stoddard of Northampton. *Charles Eugene, b. Dec. 2, 1781, m. Sally W. Storrs of Longmeadow. Israel Williams, b. Jan. 12, 1784, m. Hepsibeth D. Partridge. Jerusha Williams, b. June 4, 1786, d. unm. July 4, 1813. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 263 Col. Ch.vrlks Eugene Billings (William, Fellows, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. Dec. 2, 1781, m. Nov. 9, 1808, Sally Williston Storrs. She d. Jan. 4, 1864. He d. Sept., 1869. Children. Jerusha Williams, b. Oct. 3, 1809, m. Nov. 3, 1831, Rev. Prof. Bela Bates Edwards. She established a school for young ladies in Andover which was continued for manv years. S.\RAH Williston, b. Apr. 6, 1812, d. unm. Oct. 18, 1844. Charles Storrs, b. Apr. 6, 1812, m. Hannah Eggert. William, b. Nov. 8, 1816, d. unm. Jan. 13, 1848. Was a physician in Spring- field. Richard Salter, b. Sept. 29, 1820, m. Mary H. Hurlbut. Maria Louisa, b. Aug. 7, 1825, m. Rev. Wm. C. Mosher. She d. Jan. 4, 1863. Edw.\rd Payson, b. July 9, 1828, unm., res. in San Francisco, Cal. H.\rriet Storrs, b. May 21, 1832. Elizabeth Storrs, b. May 21, 1832, m. Aug. 5, 1858, Rev. Prof. Hiram Mead, D.D. She was for twelve years president of Mount Holyoke College. She died March 25, 1917. Deacon Elisha Billings (Fellows, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. in Sunderland, Oct. 1, 1749, m. Feb. 9, 1780, Betsey Williams of Hatfield. She d. March 17, 1786. He m. (2) Oct. 28, 1805, Mrs. Mary (Storrs) Hovey. She d. July 4, 1856. He d. Aug. 7, 1825. Children. *Henry Percy, b. Dec. 24, 1780, m. Emily Hitchcock. Elisha, b. Jan. 9, 1785, d. unm. in 1858. Louise Storrs, b. Oct. 27, 1806, m. July 13, 1836, Rev. Ezekiel Russell. Mary Williams, b. Mar. 8, 1808, m. Sept. 21, 1835, Rev. Robert Ogden Dwight. She d. Apr. 22, 1852. He d. in Madura, India, Jan. 8, 1844. Capt. Henry Percy Billings (Elisha, Fellows, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. Dec. 24, 1780, m. Jan. 7, 1826, Emily Hitchcock, sister of President Edward Hitchcock of Amherst College. She d. Aug. 22, 1854. He d. Jan. 2, 1856. Children. *Hexry Williams, b. Dec. 9, 1826, m. Mary Jane Bates. Charles Hovey, b. July 9, 1832, m. Matilda Andrews Young. Henry Williams Billings (Henry P., Elisha, Fellows, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard), b. Dec. 9, 1826, m. June 10, 1856, Mary Jane Bates. She was b. April 20, 1831. She d. Aug. 4, 1883. He d. June 15, 1916. Children. Charles Williams, b. Oct. 11, 1857, d. Sept. 19, 1859. Harry Hitchcock, b. May 7, 1859. Mary .\xdrus, b. Feb. 15, 1861, m. Sept. 26, 1910, George C. Holcomb. Amy Louise, b. Nov. 19, 1864, d. Aug. 21, 1865. Edward Coke, b. Aug. 6, 1868. 264 HISTORY OF CONWAY. BOND. John Bond (John, Nathaniel, WilHams, Thomas, Jonas), b. in Watertown, March 16, 1724, m. Nov. 21, 1751, Silence King of Worcester. She was b. in 1729, d. Dec. 25, 1812. Hed. June 30, 1808. Children. Ruth, b. June 7, 1752, m. Nathan Barrett. Adonijah, b. Nov. 14, 1753,- m. Rachel Childs. *Benjamin, b. Apr. 5, 1755, m. Miriam Mantor. *JosiAH, b. May 10, 1756, m. Margaret Stiles. Sarah, b. Nov. 11, 1757, m. Aug. 6, 1788, Amos Wilcox. Silence, b. Nov. 11, 1757, d. unm. Apr., 1842. *JoHN, b. June 16, 1761, m. Charlotte Brown. Jonah, b. July 17, 1763, m. Elizabeth Howe. Ezra, b. June 16, 1765, m. Mercy Whitney. Consider, b. Oct. 16, 1767, m. Jane Robey. Submit, b. Aug. 9, 1769, m. Joseph Packard. He d. and she m. (2) Sylvester Davis. Molly, b. Oct., 1771, m. Joseph Eaton. Seth, b. Mar., 1774, m. Lydia Harrington. Benjamin Bond (John, John, Nathaniel, William, Thomas, Jonas), b. April 5, 1755, in Barre, Mass., m. Dec. 15, 1782, Miriam Mantor. She was b. Sept. 25, 1755, and d. March 10, 1846. He d. March 18, 1848, aged 92. Children. James, b. Apr. 9, 1786, m. Lindamine Avery. Betsey, b. July 12, 1789, m. Jan. 10, 18 11," Jonathan Snow of Goshen. *Lucius, b. Apr. 6, 1793, m. Sally Allis Lee. Patty, b. Aug. 5, 1795, m. Oct. 20, 1816, Samuel Wing. Benjamin, b. Aug. 7, 1797, m. Bethiah Avery. Lucius Bond (Benjamin, John, John, Nathaniel, William, Thomas, Jonas), b. April 6, 1793, m. June 29, 1820, Sallv Allis Lee. She was b. Jan. 9, 1799, and d. Dec. 15, 1882. He d. Sept. 9, 1863. Children . Julia A., b. Feb. 27, 1823, m. Nov. 25, 1847, Thomas Sherwin. *Austin, b. Jan. 9, 1825, m. Jane A. Arnold of North Adams. Bertha, b. F'eb. 25, 1826, d. Apr. 24, 1826. *RussELL, b. Mar. 28, 1827, m. Ophelia Sanderson. Mary Ette, b. Apr. 11, 1830, m. June 6, 1850, Wm. M. Skiff. Alfred, b. Feb. 3, 1832, d. Mar. 6, 1879, in Cal. Adeline, b. Mar. 8, 1835, m. Nov. 19, 1883, Capt. Lucius H. Stone of Green- field. Lucius Vinal, b. Sept. 23, 1837, m. Jennie Porter. Newton R., b. Dec. 12, 1841, m. Julia A. Gould. Austin Bond (Lucius, Benjamin, John, John, Nathaniel, William, Jonas), b. Jan. 9, 1825, m. Sept. 25, 1849, Jane A. Arnold of North Adams. She was b. Sept. 9, 1824, d. March 24, 1895. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 265 Children. Edward A., b. Dec. 23, 1850, m. Annie Eliza Robinson. John A., b. Mar. 2, 1852, m. Anna B. Kimball. Jennie M., b. Aug. 14, 1855, m. June 19, 1879, F. W. Sikes. Sarah Ellen, b. Oct. 8, 1858, m. May 20, 1885, Walter A. DeMerritt. Alfred Lucius, b. Oct. 25, 1861. Charles E., b. Sept. 30, 1865. James Crawford, b. Sept. 30, 1865. Russell Bond (Lucius, Benjamin, John, John, Nathaniel, WilUam, Jonas), b. March 28, 1827, m. Feb. 6, 1856, Ophelia Sanderson. He d. Oct. 30, 1910. Children. *DwiGHT S., b. Julv 11, 1858, m. Nora Denton. Mary E., b. Dec. 24, 1860, ni. Dec. 24, 1878, Wni. Peck. Ophelia, b. Aug. 25, 1864, m. Nov. 4, 1882, Alexander Sinclair. Lena B., b. Mar. 17, 1867, ni. Nov. 5, 1889, Herman S. King. DwiGHT Sanderson Bond (Russell, Lucius, Benjamin, John, John, Nathaniel, William, Jonas), b. July 11, 1858, m. Jan. 18, 1882, Nora Denton. Children. Emma Ophelia, b. Dec. 5, 1882, d. Nov. 2, 1891. Mabel L., b. Sept. 23, 1885, m. Sept. 22, 1906, Fred Brown. Maud, b. June 16, 1889, m. Oct. 5, 1910, Henry Nve. Lincoln D., b. Sept. 21, 1891, m. July 3, 1912, Edwina Moore. Lyman G., b. Sept. 21, 1891. JosiAH Bond (John, John, Nathaniel, William, Thomas, Jonas), b. May 10, 1756, m. 1789, Margaret Stiles. She was b. in 1758 and d. Feb., 1827. He d. July 20, 1795. Children. Theodosia, b. Apr. 8, 1790, m. Aug. 6, 1811, Luther Boyden. Minerva, b. Apr. 7, 1792, m. Apr., 1813, Ira Amsden. She d. Mar. 3, 1872. Harriet, b. Dec. 15, 1794, m. in 1816, Isaac Baker. He was b. Sept. 17, 1792. John Bond (John, John, Nathaniel, William, Thomas. Jonas), b. June 16, 1761, m. April 19, 1795, Charlotte Brown. She d. 1849. He was in the Revolutionary War. He d. 1848. He adopted, as his son, Bradley Packard of Conway. BOYDEN. Josiah Boyden (Jonathan, Thomas), b. in Groton, Sept. 21, 1701, m. there, Jan. 7, 1729, Eunice Parker. Shed. Jan. 1, 1745. He m. (2) Jane Reed. He d. Oct. 17, 1772. 266 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Eunice, b. May 22, 1733, m. June 25, 1752, Ebenezer Woods. *JosiAH, b. May 22, 1734, m. Sarah Butting. *JoHN, b. Jan. 12, 1735, m. Sarah Frye and Mrs. Esther Farnsworth. Mary, b. Sept. 2, 1740. Jonathan, b. Sept. 6, 1741. Samuel, b. May 25, 1751. Sarah, b. Nov. 14, 1752, m. in 1778, Wm. Dalrymple. Jane, b. July 24, 1754, m. in 1786, Joseph Keyes. JosiAH BoYDEN (Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. May 22, 1734, m. May 10, 1789, Sarah Butting. She d. Jan. 19, 1822. Hed. Oct. 20, 1821. Children. Joseph, b. Feb. 14, 1760, m. Priscilia Luce. *JosiAH, b. Nov. 19, 1761, m. Anna Gates. David, b. 1764, d. unm. Apr. 7, 1791. Nehemiah, b. 1765, d. unm. Apr. 27, 1791. Mary, b. Aug., 1767, m. Medad Crittenden. She d. Mar. 13, 1869, aged 101 yrs. Josiah Boyden (Josiah, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Nov. 19, 1761, m., 1791, Anna Gates. She d. April 19, 1840. He d. April 4, 1845. Children. *David, b. Aug. 30, 1792, m. Freelove Parker. Sophia, b. July 16, 1794, m. Oct. 14, 1819, Capt. Pliny Merritt. Nancy, b. June 7, 1796, m. Oct. 1825, Chas. Leonard. *Josi.\h, b. June 9, 1798, m. Emily Stearns. S\T.viA, b. Oct. 30, 1800, m. Oct. iO, 1823, Capt. Charles Parsons. Willard, b. Feb. 5, 1803, d. unm. Luther, b. Aug. 5, 1805, d. Apr. 18, 1868. Louisa, b. Aug. 5, 1805, m. Dec. 24, 1827, Columbus Nelson. She d. July 8, 1852. Israel, b. Nov. 5, 1807, d. unm. 1836. Philena, b. Dec. 5, 1809, m. Dec. 9, 1830, Joel Stearns. Electa, b. Mar. 26, 1812, m. June 4, 1838, Consider Arms. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 8, 1814, d. unm. Mar. 6, 1838. Marianne, b. Nov. 26, 1816, d. unm. Aug. 13, 1830. David Boyden (Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Aug. 30, 1792, m. May 31, 1826, Freelove Parker. He was drowned Sept. 17, 1831. Children. Mariette Marie, b. Apr. 17, 1828, m. Nov. 25, 1852, Clark M. Rowland. She d. Mar. 23, 1871. George Washington, b. 1830, m. Minerva D. Graves and Louisa C. Wright. David Wtllard, b. Aug. 11, 1831, m. Rachel Slater. Josiah Boyden (Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. June 9, 1798, m. Dec. 19, 1833, Emily Stearns. She was b. Feb. 5, 1804, and d. Dec. 25, 1879. He d. June 9, 1872. P'AMILY GENEALOGIES. 267 Children. *Francis, b. Dec. 30, 1834, m. A-Iartha L. Jones. *IsRAEL Gates, b. Feb. 3, 1837, m. Jennie Totnian. Nancy Maria, b. July 8, 1839, m. Oct. 2-1, 1860, George B. Wing. E.MILY Stearns, b. July 10, 1841, m. May 26, 1863, Rufus J. Patterson. Francis Bovdex (Josiah, Jcjsiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jona- than, Thomas), b. Dec. 30, 1834, m. June 1, 1864, Martha Louise Jones. She was b. April 25, 1846. He d. Jan. 29, 1875. Children. *Charles Luther, b. Sept. 27, 1865, m. Mary Ellen Pfersick. Francis Willard, b. July 6, 1867, m. Anna Boyden Newhall. *JosiAH DvviGHT, b. Feb. 23, 1870, m. Jane Amelia Rice. Edward J., b. Dec. 17, 1871, d. Jan. 27, 1875. Frederick C, b. May 26, 1873, d. June 8, 1873. Frank Edward, b. July 6, 1874. CH.A.RLES Luther Boyden (Francis, Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Sept. 27, 1865, m. in Ashfield, Sept. 27, 1892, Mary Ellen Pfersick. Children. Charles Sumner, b. Jan. 15, 1895. Everett Lawrence, b. Dec. 6, 1896. Howard Merton, b. Feb. 2, 1898, d. Jan. 23, 1917. Camillus Rogers, b. Jan. 17, 1900. Gr.\ce Marie, b. Sept. 19, 1902. Gladys Helen, b. Oct. 28, 1907. Josiah Dwight Boyden (Francis, Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Feb. 23, 1870, m. Nov. 22, 1893, Jane Amelia Rice. Children. Josiah Raymond, b. Oct. 2, 1894, m. Nov. 29, 1916, Edna Graves. Leroy, b. June 5, 1896, d. June 8, 1896. Ruth, b. Dec. 11, 1897. Charles Francis, b. July 14, 1900. Clarence Wilbur, b. July 5, 1903. Luna, b. June 29, 1908. Emma .May, b. Mav 24, 1915. Israel Gates Boyden (Josiah, Josiah, Josiah, Jos than, Thomas), b. Feb. 3, 1837, m. June 8, 1871, Jei lan. He d. Jan. 24, 1875. Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Feb. 3, 1837, m. June 8, 1871, Jennie Totman. He d. Jan. 24, 18 Children. Hattie Sophia, b. June 23, 1873, ni. George Archer. Israel G.\tes, b. Aug. 8, 1875, m. ALiy 1, 1909, Minnie R. .Mason. John Boyden (Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Jan. 12, 1735, m. Sarah Frye. She d. July 29, 1785. He m. (2) Aug. 16, 1786, Mrs. Esther (Gilmore) Farnsworth. She d. Aug. 10, 1803. Hed. Oct. 10, 1819. 268 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. *JoHN, b. Jan. 29, 1764, m. Eunice Hayden and Mary Jones. *James, b. in 1766, m. Susanna Norton and Lydia Burnham. *Frederick, b. in 1768, m. Rachel Wright and Mrs. Susan Hawkes. Simeon, b. in 1770, m. Rhoda Watriss and Lucy Eaton. Sally, b. Oct. 6, 1772, m. • Nims. Hannah, b. Dec. 13, 1773, m. Oct. 25, 1795, Thomas Arms. Lucy, b. Oct. 23, 1774, m. Oct. 15, 1801, James Nims. *Daniel, b. in 1776, m. Charlotte Goodnough, Mrs. Anna Anderson, and Airs. Susan (Hawkes) Boyden. Samuel, b. Mar., 1779, d. Sept. 22, 1782. Ambrose, b. Sept., 1789, m. Mahala Hill. David, b. Feb. 14, 1791, m. Lucy Ann Scott. Israel, b. July 15, 1793, m. Lorinda Graham and Sophia Cooley. Samuel, b. June, 1798, m. Ann Crane. John Boyden, Jr. (John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas),, b. Jan. 29, 1764, m. Sept. 7, 1785, Eunice Hayden. She d. Nov. 29, 1833. Hem. (2) May 16, 1835, Mary Jones. He d. Oct. 2, 1857. She d. Aug. 7, 1876. He was in the Rev- olutionary War at Saratoga and at West Point when the treason of Arnold was discovered. Children. William, b. Nov. 30, 1786, m. Martha Nash. Luther, b. Sept. 30, 1788, m. Theodosia Bond. Augustus, b. Aug. 22, 1790. Electa, b. July 8, 1792, m. Abner Arms and Theodore Hale. Dexter, b. Sept. 16, 1794, d. Oct., 1795. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 16, 1796, m. Ruth Martin and Mrs. Jane C. Mitchell. Moses Hayden, b. Aug. 20, 1798. Dennis Frye, b. Sept. 19, 1800. Eliza, b. May 22, 1802, d. Jan. 3, 1811. *Lester, b. July 31, 1803, m. Cynthia Leonard. Lester Boyden (John, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. July 31, 1803, m. Oct., 1825, Cynthia Leonard. She d. Aug. 28, 1899. He d. May 22, 1882. Children. Augustus Leonard, b. Dec. 24, 1828. Spencer, b. Aug. 25, 1832, m. Belinda Sherman. George Dwight, b. Aug. 11, 1838, d. unm. Feb. 27, 1895. Katherine Eliza, b. Apr. 5, 1840, m. Dec. 30, 1858, B. Russell Hamilton. John Trumble, b. Sept. 5, 1846, m. Flora Warner. Mary Jones, b. Dec. 25, 1848, m. July 3, 1876, Jeremiah J. Friend. Frederick, b. May 24, 1851, m. Edith Brewster. He d. Sept. 24, 1896. James Boyden (John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. in 1766, m. Feb. 29, 1789, Susanna Norton. He m. (2) Lydia Burnham. She d. March 11, 1851. He d. Feb. 4, 1838. Children. Dorothy, b. Oct. 20, 1793, m. Socrates Nelson, m. (2) Daniel Brown of Whately. *Cephas, b. Dec. 5, 1794, m. Electa Moore. *B.arnard, b. Jan. 19, 1796, m. Clarissa Lee and Leanthy W. Chapman. Julia Ann, b. June 22, 1799, m. Jan. 28, 1822, Elbridge E. Stebbins. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 269 Cephas Boyden (James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Dec. 5, 1794, m. Electa Moore. He d. Feb. 14, 1864. She d. June 20, 1855. Children. ♦William, b. Feb. 9, 1818, ni. Hannah M. Bardwell. John Moore, b. Aug. 11, 1819, m. Almira Bardwell. CoRXELi.\, b. Mar. 27, 1821, m. Sept. 16, 1840, Dennis Lee. She d. Sept. 4, 1849. Lydi.\ Burnham, b. Oct. 22, 1823, m. May, 1840, Franklin Robbe. She d. Aug. 26, 1897. Augustus, b. Mar. 22, 1825, m. Mary Ann Lyon. Alinda, b. Jan. 9, 1830, m. Aug. 18, 1848, Levi Cross. She d. Feb. 2, 1897. Nancy, b. Aug. 12, 1834, m. (1) Mar. 26, 1857, Henry Murphy, ni. (2j Aug. 12, 1880, Mark Emery Stanton. William Boyden (Cephas, James, John, Josiah, Jona- than, Thomas), b. Feb. 9, 1818, m. Hannah Maria Bardwell. He d. Oct. 11, 1874. She d. Feb. 20, 1876. Children. *Cyrus J.\mes, b. Oct. 7, 1850, m. Flora Abbott. Charles Henry, b. Feb. 10, 1852, m. Feb. 19, 1875, Annie M. Kearney. Varnum Taylor, b. Aug. 10, 1853, ni. Pxlith A. Lawrence. *George William, b. June 26, 1855, m. Carrie R. Bates. Cyrus James Boyden (William, Cephas, James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Oct. 7, 1850, m. Flora Abbott. She d. July 3, 1887. Children. Henry Winthrop, b. Feb. 14, 1882. Merrill Otis, b. May 14, 1884, d. June 10, 1907. George William Boyden (William, Cephas, James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. June 26, 1855, m. Oct. 31, 1877, Carrie R. Bates. He d. March 2, 1908. Children. Lucy Gertrude, b. May 6, 1882, m. William Callahan. George Alpheus, b. Mar. 22, 1886. Annie Maria, b. May 12, 1890. Barnard Boyden (James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Jan. 19, 1796, m. (1) Jan. 1, 1824, (^larissaLee. She d. Feb. 4, 1833. He m. (2) Dec. 8, 1833, Leanthy W. Chapman. She d. April 11, 1892. He d. Feb. 11, 1866. Children. *Charles Barnard, b. Nov. 20, 1824, m. Sept. 9, 1852, Donna M. Oakes. James Dwight, b. Apr. 16, 1828, d. Aug. 6, 1839. Daughter, b. Mar. 1, 1832, d. Mar. 21, 1832. *James Dwight, b. June 14, 1842, m. June 15, 1869, Mary E. C. Rice. 270 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Charles Barnard Boyden (Barnard, James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Nov. 20, 1824. He m. Sept. 9, 1852, Donna M. Oakes. She d. June 11, 1889. He d. Dec. 19, 1899. Childreii. Clara L., b. Oct. 21, 1853. Albert Charles, b. July 5, 1865, m. July 31, 1895, Mary Louise Patterson. James Dwight Boyden (Barnard, James, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. June 14, 1842, m. June 15, 1869, Mary E. C. Rice. He d. Jan. 4, 1899. Childre>i. Lena Leantha, b. Jan. 25, 1873. Frederick Boyden (John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. in lt68, m. Aug. 26, 1793, Rachel Wright. She d. July 17, 1834. He m. (2) Mrs. Susan Hawkes. He d. April 12, 1842. She d. Feb. 2, 1879. Children. Theodosl\, b. Feb. 28, 1794, m. Joshua Lee Harwood of Whately, m. (2) Dr. G. W. Hamilton of Conway. Ora Sprague, b. Oct. 12, 1797, ni. Dec. 8, 1825, Capt. Loring Thayer. Martha Sprague, b. Jan. 23, 1801, m. Apr., 1819, Samuel Stebbins. Elihu Wright, b. Jan. 14, 1804, m. Irene Osgood. George Washington, b. Nov. 21, 1806. Daniel Boyden (John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. 1776, m. May 6, 1800, Charlotte Goodnough. She d. Feb. 2, 1837. He m. (2) Mrs. Anna Anderson. She d. Oct. 3, 1841. He m. (3) Mrs. Susan (Hawkes) Boyden. He d. May 27, 1858. Children . Charles, b. Oct. 5, 1801. Maria, b. July 4, 1803, m. June 18, 1829, John Horton, Jr., of Newburvport. Minerva, b. July 26, 1804, m. June 26, 1825, Esek Saunders. Mary Nims, b. Feb. 14, 1806, m. Orrin Brown. Emily, b. Dec. 20, 1807, m. Apr. 17, 1828, Cephas Clapp. Frederick, b. Nov. 20, 1809, m. Charlotte Stearns and Julia K. Merrill and Delia H. Taylor. *Dwight, b. Sept. 15, 1811, m. Clarissa Hamilton, m. (2) Fannie Maria Ma- comber, m. (3) Minerva Wait. *Daniel Whitney, b. Oct. 14, 1813, m. Miranda Bartlett and Mrs. Betsey (Day) Whitcomb. Samuel, b. Mar. 6, 1817. Dwight Boyden (Daniel, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Sept. 15, 1811, m. Jan. 2, 1842, Clarissa S. Hamilton. She d. March 4, 1845. He m. (2) Fannie Maria Macomber. She d. Oct. 29, 1850. He m. (3) March 2, 1851, Minerva Wait. He d. Oct. 2, 1896. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 271 Children. *Herbert Dwight, b. Feb. 3, 1844, m. Josephine D. Hall. Arthur Henry, b. July 11, 1847, d. CVt. 11, 1850. Clar.\ M.\ri.\, b. Feb. 5, 1850, ni. .Mar. 17, 1875, Chas. F. Allis. Slsan Emkline, b. Dec. 22, 1852. Arthur Henry, b. Aug. 31, 1856, d. Aug. 1, 1859. Herbert Dwigiit Boyden (Dwight, Daniel, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Feb. 3, 1844, m. Josephine D. Hall. Shed. July 13, 1893. Hem. (2) Mattie Di.xon. He d. Jan. 19, 1915. Daniel Whitney Boyden (Daniel, John, Josiah, Jonathan, Thomas), b. Oct. 14, 1813, m. Sept. 17, 1840, Miranda Bartlett. She d. June 3, 1864. He m. (2) June 4, 1865, Mrs. Betsey (Day) Whitcomb, of Bernardston. She d. Nov. 25, 1894. Hed. Oct. 4, 1875. Cliildren. James, b. July 14, 1841, d. Sept. 15, 1843. Samuel, b. Jan. 9, 1843, d. Jan. 18, 1843. Harriet M., b. Jan. 16, 1844, m. Jan. 16, 1865, Silas H. Field. She d. Dec. 21, 1871. Mary J., b. Feb. 8, 1847, m. May 4, 1869, Chauncey M. Bryant, South Deer- field. Samuel E., b. Feb. 3, 1849, m. May 14, 1872, Elizabeth Bartlett of South Deer field. BRADFORD. William Bradford, governor of Massachu- setts Colony, was the ancestor of the Bradford family in this town. He was born in England, came over in the "Mayflower," and was governor for many years. SiiUBAL Bradford (Shubal, Samuel, Samuel, John, Wil- liam, Gov. William) b. Oct., 1762, m. Anna Hadlock. She d. June 29, 1851. Hed. Mar. 26, 1837. Children. *JoHN, b. Aug. 13, 1791, m. Susanna Farley. Parmeli.a, b. Aug. 21, 1793, m. May 26, 1824, Silas Bassett. Abigail, b. Mar. 8, 1796, m. Stoddard Nims. Phoebe, b. Feb. 18, 1798, m. Joel Farley. Parthena, b. Dec. 29, 1800, m. Hosea Blake. Anna, b. Dec. 22, 1803, d. young. Minerva, b. Aug. 28, 1807, m. Oct. 13, 1826, Leonard Dwight. *Shub.\l, b. July 13, 1809, m. Mary Ford. John Bradford (Shubal, Shubal, Samuel, Samuel, John, William, William), b. Aug. 13, 1791, m. Susanna Farley. Shed. Jan. 28, 1870. He d. Jan. 14, 1869. 272 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Anna C, b. Jan. 17, 1815. George Washington, b. Feb. 22, 1817, m. Roxanna Howes. Lydia F., b. Mar. 8, 1818, m. Oct. 27, 1852, Lemuel B. Churchill. Mary F., b. May 11, 1825, d. July 17, 1843. John Barron, b. Jan. 5, 1831, m. May 15, 1857, Elmie J. Whitney. He d. Apr. 29, 1887. Shubal Bradford (Shubal, Shubal, Samuel, Samuel, John, William, William), b. July 13, 1809, m. Dec. 6, 1832, Mary Ford. She d. Feb. 27, 1889. He d. Jan. 6, 1897. Children. Melvin Monroe, b. Mar. 4, 1834, m. Maggie J. Nelson and Mrs. Eliza Miranda Jones. Josephine Maria, b. Dec. 15, 1835, d. Aug. 23, 1853. *Elias F., b. Nov. 21, 1837, ni. Lottie M. Howe and Fannie E. Flagg. John Wrisley, b. Oct. 14, 1842, m. Mary E. Wheeler. Susan Farley, b. Oct. 14, 1842, m. Nov. 5, 1862, Willis xN. Howe. Caroline Elizabeth, b. Oct. 9, 1849, m. May 5, 1875, Clarence E. Brown. Elias F. Bradford (Shubal, Shubal, Shubal, Samuel, Samuel, John, William, William), b. Nov. 21, 1837, m. in Barre, Feb. 29, 1860, Lottie M. Howe. She d. March 12, 1861. He m. (2) May 13, 1862, Fannie E. Flagg. Children. Lottie Josephine, b. Dec. 7, 1867. Mary R., b. Oct. 8, 1869, m. June 25, 1907, Allen L. Towne. Samuel Frank, b. Apr. 25, 1875. Walter Leroy, b. May 1, 1878, m. Alice E. Rice. BROWN. Erastus Brown (William, William, Edward), b. 1791, m. Philinda Meekins. She d. Aug. 22, 1865. He d. April 21, 1864. Children. Philinda, b. Nov. 19, 1812. Sally, b. May 11, 1814, m. Guilford. Submit, b. Dec. 14, 1815. Martha, b. Aug. 16, 1817. Caroline, b. June 21, 1819, m. Nov. 27, 1843, Samuel Felts. *Erastus, b. June 5, 1821, m. Levey Easton and Wealthea E. Naramore. Climena, b. Apr. 1, 1823, m. Lemuel S. Boice. Champion, b. Apr. 5, 1825. Infant, b. Feb. 26, 1827. Sarepta, b. Apr. 13, 1828. Marah, b. Feb. 21, 1830, m. Oct. 20, 1847, Sumner O. Policy. Lucelia; b. Feb. 12, 1832, m. Nov. 29, 1848, Edwin C. Fairchild. Jerome, b. Mar. 2, 1834, m. Sept. 9, 1854, Sarah A. Hines. Erastus Brown (Erastus, William, William, Edward), b. June 5, 1821, m. Oct. 28, 1846, Levey Easton. She d. Sept. 11, 1857. He m. (2) March 27, 1858, Wealthea E. Naramore. He d. in 1892. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 273 Children. Clarence Eaton, b. July 20, 1847, m. Caroline Bradford and Katherine Shipman. J. Merrill, b. Mar. 11, 1853, m. Ella C. Jenkins. Isaiah Brown (Isaiah, Edward), b. Nov. 23, 1782, m. Jan. 6, 1803, Demmis Billings. She d. in 1842. Children. *IsAL\H Morris, b. May 28, 1810, m. Mary Dinsmore. Maria, m. Alvin Dinsmore. Lydia Billings, b. Aug. 17, 1813, m. George W. P'airfield. She d. Oct. 11, 1875. Isaiah Morris Brown (Isaiah, Isaiah, Edward), b. May 28, 1810, m. Mary Dinsmore. She d. June 4, 1881. He m. (2) Oct. 12, 1887, Mrs. Anna Shuttleworth. He d. in 1889. Children. *Addison, b. Apr. 15, 1834, m. Esther Stebbins. Mary Ann, b. Jan. 25, 1840, m. C. C. Flagg. *Emory, b. Jan. 13, 1844, m. Lottie Sanderson Field; m. (2) Mrs. Hattie (Wright) King. Myron, b. Aug. 20, 1847, m. May 11, 1869, Mary J. Malcolm. Addison Brown (Isaiah M., Isaiah, Isaiah, Edward), b. April 15, 1834, m. Esther Stebbins. He d. Aug. 4, 1915. Children. Charles A., b. Mav, 1857, d. Dec. 10, 1863. George E., b. Jan. 6, 1860. . Lottie A., b. Mar., 1861, d. Sept. 13, 1875. Mary D., b. Mar. 30, 1864, d. Sept. 22, 1875. Nellie Maria, b. Sept. 27, 1871, m. George Griggs. Emma Sophia, h. June 15, 1875, d. Sept. 26, 1875. Ernest Winfred, b. Oct. 13, 1877, m. Oct. 7, 1914, Esther Ney. Fr.\nk H.\ll, b. Sept. 22, 1880, m. Lura Crafts. Emory Brown (Isaiah M., Isaiah, Isaiah, Edward), b. Jan. 13, 1844, m. March 12, 1873, Lottie Sanderson Field. She d. May 16, 1893. He m. (2) Mrs. Hattie (Wright) King. Children. Ada Sophia, b. Sept. 30, 1878, d. Aug. 18, 1895. BURKE. Edmund Burke, m. Judith Arms, May 20, 1837. He d. in 1864. She d. April 19, 1903. Children. Charles E. John A. Edmund B. 274 HISTORY OF CONWAY. BURNETT. Lionel Burnett (Daniel, Archibald), b. in Florida, Mass., in 1811, m. Dec, 1834, Minerva Rice. She d. Oct. 29, 1851. Hem. (2) June 2, 1853, Lucy H. Andrews; He m. (3) Mary Lawrence. He d. Feb. 17, 1867. Children. Maria, m. Alvin Lawrence. Alfred, b. Sept. 8, 1839, m. Ellen Z. Willis. *Daniel, b. June 1841, m. Alice Dickinson. LoNZO, b. 1844. Emeline, b. 1846, m. Payson Eldredge, m. (2) Albert Packard. William, m. Smith. Theodore, b. July 4, 1850. Louisa, d. Sept., 1852. Willis, . Twins, b. Sept. 22, 1857. Daniel Burnett (Lionel, Daniel, Archibald), b. June, 1841, m. Alice Dickinson. He d. Nov. 22, 1870. Children. Fred, m. Anna Fisher. CAMPBELL. William Clark Campbell (Thomas), b. Sept. 16, 1810, in New Boston, N. H., m. Sept. 15, 1840, Emma L. Ames. He d. June, 1886. Children. Almira French, m. Jan. 19, 1870, Hollis D. Graves of Sunderland. Elizabeth Ames, d. Sept. 12, 1846. Emily Elizabeth, m. Oct. 19, 1870, J. Forbes Bannister. Emma Electa, m. Sept., 1873, Anson D. Guilford. Mary Ann, res. in Montreal. Jessie, d. Sept. 13, 1860. William Frederick. CATLIN. Timothy Catlin (Nathan, John, Joseph, John, John), b. in Deerfield, Nov. 5, 1753, m. March 29, 1779, Silence Bartlett. Children. Nathan, b. Jan. 22, 1780, m. Sarah Russell. Gratia Thankful, m. Aug. 12, 1804, Silas Field. She d. Jan. 6, 1867. Timothy, b. Mar. 18, 1790, m. Electa . CHILDS. This name in common with many others is derived from Hildr of the Norse Mythology. Its real sig- nificance and its descent from mythical to historical times can be traced in that beautiful epic "The Nibelungenlied," and the "Iliad of the North." Richard Childs, the ancestor of the Conway branch lived and died in Barnstable. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 275 David Childs (Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. in Shutesburv, Nov. 4, 1760, m. March, 1784, Clarisa Dickinson of ( Goshen. She d. April 27, 1804. He d. March 15, 1828. Children . PoLiXANA, b. Jan. 2, 1785, m. June, 1806, Stephen Sanderson of Whately. Calista, b. Feb. 18, 1787, m. Oct. 7, 1812, Dr. Geo. Rogers of Conway. *Otis, b. Apr. 4, 1790, m. Sally Field, m. (2) Electa Clary, ni. (3) Lois Parsons and m. (4) Mrs. Anna Dickinson. Silas Dickinson, b. May 29, 1794, m. Roxana Parker. JusTi-s, b. Oct. 6, 1799, d. June 19, 1828. *Franklin, b. June 28, 1802, m. Lucinda Field and Mrs. Sarah (Xewhall) Clary. Capt. Otis Guilds (David, P2benezer, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. April 4, 1790, m. Jan. 13, 1813, Sally Field. She d. Dec. 29, 1819. He m. (2) Dec. 14, 1820, Electa Clary. She d. July 28, 1826, and he m. (3) Feb. 22, 1827, Lois Parsons. She d. Feb. 22, 1844, and he m. (4) Aug. 28, 1844, Mrs. Anna Dickinson. He d. May 20, 1860. She d. March 22, 1864. Childreti. Edward, b. Dec. 31, 1813, m. Sarah Ann Adams and Emily Porter. William, b. May 28, 1816, m. Lydia Frary. Henry, b. Jan. 28, 1818, m. Mary A. Graves, Esther L. Kingsley and Mary D. Phillips. Sally Fikld, b. Dec. 21, 1819, m. Oct. 5, 1842, Samuel W. Barber. Charles, b. Jan. 20, 1822, m. Elizabeth W. Webster. Silas Dickinson, b. Julv 19, 1826, m. Harriet A. Warren. Electa Clary, b. Jan. 24, 1828, m. Sept. 20, 1848, F. Fisher Ames. David, b. Nov. 11, 1830, m. M. EHzabeth Ladd. Lois Parsons, b. Sept. 28, 1838, m. Andrew Wood. Franklin Childs (David, Ebenezer, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. June 28, 1802, m. July 24, 1828, Lucinda Field. Shed. March 4, 1868. He m. (2) Julv 12, 1868, Mrs. Sarah (Newhallj Clary. He d. March 13, 1880. She d. Feb. 26, 1894. Children. Justus, b. Sept. 11, 1831, m. Sept. 2, 1856, Susan J. Brown. He d. July 13, 1866. Reuben Childs (Asa, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. in Deerfield, Feb. 16, 1755, m. Oct. 20, 1782, Thankful Scott. She d. May 25, 1835. He d. here Oct. 15, 1843. Children. Joshua, b. Nov. 29, 1784, m. Jan. 30, 1810, Susan King. Sophia, b. May, 1787, d. unm. Jan. 13, 1864. Seth, m. Emily Kneeland. ♦Horace B., b. Mav 17, 1797, m. Mary C. Jennev. Dennis, b. Jan. 31, 1800, m. Apr. 21, 1836, Clarissa Keyes. Sylvester, b. Nov. 6, 1803, m. Mary Keyes. Thankful, b. July 13, 1807, m. Mar. 26, 1829, Oliver Smith. 276 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Horace B. Childs (Reuben, Asa, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. May 17, 1797, m. Mary C. Jenney. Shed. Dec. 19, 1866. Hed. March 19, 1876. Children. Elizabeth, b. July 22, 1835, m. June 1, 1871, Hezekiah D. Perry. She'd. Jan. 18, 1910. He d. Sept. 25, 1892. Calvin K. Childs (Dennis, Reuben, Asa, Samuel, Richard, Richard), b. Aug., 1847, m. Elizabeth Achres. She d. in 1889. He d. Aug. 6, 1903. Children. Martha, m. George Willis. Jennie. Dennis, b. Apr. 2, 1883. Raymond. CLAPP. William Taylor Clapp (Levi, Charles, Simeon, Roger, Preserved, Roger), b. Jan. 17, 1821, m. May 19, 1846, Ophelia E. Billings. They removed to California and both died there. Children. Frederick Arthur, b. Apr. 27, 1850. Jennie Huntington, b. Nov. 4, 1856. William Billings, b. Apr. 11, 1861. CLARK— CLARKE. Thomas Clarke of Plymouth was the first ancestor of the family in this town. Thomas was a deacon of the Plymouth Church and was buried on the summit of Burying Hill. Capt. Elisha Clark (Scotto, Scotto, Andrew, Thomas), b. in Harwich, May 14, 1734, m. Feb. 14, 1760, Hannah Hopkins. They settled here in 1774. He d. Sept. 9, 1811. She d. Oct. 21, 1813. Children. *JuDAH, b. Nov. 22, 1760, m. Abigail Freeman. Mercy, b. Apr. 24, 1762, m. Nov. 7, 1786, Consider Morton of Whately. Hannah, b. Nov. 30, 1763, m. Nov. 10, 1785, Benjamin Hickcox. *Elisha, b. Aug. 29, 1765, m. Lucinda Keith. *ScoTTO, b. July 14, 1767, m. Rebecca Emerson and Joanna -Adams. Oliver, b. Julv 5, 1769, m. Deborah Lester. " / Tabitha, b. Nov. 1, 1771, m. Sept. 5, 1790, David FieldV Thomas, b. Nov. 16, 1774, ni. Ruth Morse. Thankful, b. Sept. 7, 1776, m. Feb. 27, 1808, Mordecai Adams. JuDAH Clark (Elisha, Scotto, Scotto, Andrew, Thomas), b. Nov. 22, 1760, m. Oct. 12, 1788, Abigal Freeman. She d. Oct. 10, 1833. He d. May 19, 1805. He was in the Revo- lutionarv War. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 277 Children. Elkanah, b. Sept. 11, 1789, cl. in New Orleans, Julv, 1820. Hannah, b. Oct. 4, 1790, d. Oct. 31, 1790. Freeman, b. May H, 1795, m. Frances Lincoln, Nancy W. Stevens and Sarah Goodwin Hyde. Henry, b. Feb. 26, 1797, d. June 3, 1832. Edmitnd, b. Jan. 27, 1799, d. Dec. 30, 1861. VVlLLi.wi, b. May 9, 1801, d. Aug. 30, 1827. Abigail, b. Apr. 28, 1803, d. Sept. 2, 1803. VViNSLOW, b. Aug. 29, 1804, m. Betsey L. Bardwell. Elisha Clark (Elisha, Scotto, Scotto, Andrew, Thomas), b. Aug. 29, 1765, m. Feb. 22, 1798, Luanda Keith. She d. July 4, 1858. He d. Apiril 15, 1847. Children. Juu.\, b. Dec. 28, 1798, ni. Dec. 12, 1827, Luther White. *LiNCOLN, b. Aug. 9, 1800, m. Julia Annah Smith. Fessenden, b. Sept. 23, 1802, d. Sept. 16, 1803. Elisha F., b. July 24, 1804, d. unm. Caroline, b. Sept. 16, 1806, d. Sept. 20, 1818. LuciNDA A., b. Sept. 14, 1808, m. Apr. 22, 1833, Ralph Ware. Abigail, b. Oct. 12, 1810, m. Apr. 8, 1836, Rev. Jared M. Stone. Ch.\rles L., b. Oct. 30, 1812. Hannah, b. June 18, 1815, m. June 17, 1839, Cephas Arms. Edward, b. Nov. 5, 1817, m. Agnes A. Bean. Hon. Lincoln Clark (Elisha, Elisha, Scotto, Scotto, Andrew, Thomas), b. Aug. 9, 1800, m. Sept. 24, 1836, Julia Annah Smith. He d. here Sept. 15, 1886. She d. May 20, 1892. Children. Catherine Lincoln, b. Feb. 26, 1838, d. unm. Mar. 2, 1897. Julia Annah, b. Nov. 13, 1840, m. Sept. 9, 1864, Dr. Chas. H. Ray of Chicago. She was for several years ladv principal of V'assar College. She d. Aug. 5, 1913. Lincoln Ellis, b. May 2, 1843, m. Getta Glennon. Edward Fessenden, b. May 9, 1845. Charles Conway, b. Dec. 21, 1846, d. Dec. 24, 1846. Robert Keith, b. Mar. 8, 1851. Scotto Clark (PZlisha, Scotto, Scotto, Andrew, Thomas), b. July 14, 1767, m. Nov. 7, 1804, Rebecca Emerson, daughter of Rev. John. She d. May 4, 1825. He m. (2) Joanna Adams, Hed. May 1, 1851. Children. Mary Moody, b. Sept. 26, 1805, m. May 26, 1826, Rev. John .Atlams Nash. Sabra Cobb, b. Sept. 1, 1807, m. Sept. 8, 1828, Prof. Ebenezer S. Snell of Amherst. Fidelia, b. Jan. 22, 1811. Rebecca Emerson, b. May 26, 1813. Louisa Strong, b. Apr. 11, 1818, m. Feb. 4, 1846, Jonathan D. Porter. 278 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Ebenezer Clark (Ebenezer, William, John, John, William, Thomas), b. May 28, 1781, m. April 13, 1808, Sally Griffith. She d. July 18, 1837. He d. Oct. 28, 1832. Children. Almira, b. July 3, 1809, d. July 28, 1810. *Albert, b. Nov. 6, 1810, m. Elizabeth Adams. Almira Griffith, b. Jan. 15, 1813, m. Dec. 21, 1833, Prof. O. N. Stoddard. *RoDOLPHUS, b. Feb. 16, 1815, m. Clarissa Dickinson Rogers. Asa Bement, b. June 8, 1817, m. Miranda Crosby, Abbie H. Kimball and Margaret Hedges. Aurora, b. Feb. 21, 1820, m. Oct. 28, 1841, William Bartlett. Ebenezer Lincoln, b. Nov. 2, 1822, m. Emily H. Canfield and Sarah R. Walker. Albert Clark (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, William, John, John, Thomas), b. Nov. 6, 1810, m. April 7, 1847, Elizabeth Adams. She d. Jan. 13, 1873. He d. Dec. 25, 1868. Children . Charles Adams, b. May 22, 1848, m. Lucelia Hollett. Dr. Rodolphus Clark (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, William, John, John, Thomas), b. Feb. 16, 1815, m. Nov. 29, 1839, Clarissa Dickinson Rogers. She d. Oct. 18, 1867. He removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where he d. May 1, 1897. Children. Sarah Griffith, b. Sept. 25, 1841, d. June 21, 1865. Aura Bartlett, b. Jan. 27, 1844, m. Charles H. Arms of Chicago. Infant Son, b. Julv 15, 1846, d. Aug. 3, 1846. Clara Elizabeth, b. Jan. 29, 1850, d. Aug. 7, 1866. Mary Calista, b. Oct. 18, 1852, d. July 3, 1853. Ada Moulton, b. Dec. 18, 1856, m. Nov. 20, 1879, William P. Bingham, Dubuque, Iowa. CLARY. John Clary was an early inhabitant of Water- town and married there in 1643, Mary Cassel. His second wife was Sarah — ■ — . Their son John came to Hadley in 1678. Lieut. John Clary (Joseph, John, John), b. Jan. 24, 1722, in Sunderland, m. Nov. 23, 1749, Rachel Eastman of Hadley. She d. April 9, 1782. He m. (2) Nov. 18, 1785, Mrs. Mary Frary of Hatfield. He d. July 20, 1798. Children. Mary, b. Sept. 24, 1750, m. Nov. 14, 1773, Daniel Cooley. Elijah, b. Aug. 25, 1752, m. Electa Dickinson. *JosEPH, b. Sept. 19, 1756, m. Polina Frary. LuciNDA, b. Oct. 12, 1760, m. July 7, 1785', Martin Root. Lucy, b. Sept. 20, 1764, m. Sept. 24, 1788, Bani Wing. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 279 Joseph Clary (John, Joseph, John, John), b. Sept. 19, 1756, m. April 10, 1786, PoUna Frary. She d. Sept. 9, 1820. Hed. May 16, 1827. Children. PoLiNA, b. Apr. 14, 1788, m. Dea. Christopher Arms. S\T.viA, b. Mar. 3, 1793, m. Joseph Avery. H.\RRY, b. Mar. 19, 1796. *JOHN, b. Mar. 30, 1802, m. Sally Maria Amsden and Mrs. Clara (Moulton) Hale. Deacon John Clary (Joseph, John, Joseph, John, John), b. March 30, 1802, m. Dec. 14, 1831, Sally Maria Amsden. She d. Sept. 3, 1836. He m. (2) P>b. 22, 1838, Mrs. Clara (Moulton) Hale. He d. June 19, 1879. She d. July 13, 1886. Children. Francis Amsden, b. Aug. 19, 1836, killed at Port Hudson June 14, 1863. Martha Hale, b. July 24, 1839, d. in Beaufort, S. C. Susan Miller, b. Mar. 5, 1841, d. in Pretoria, S. Africa. Harriet Arms, b. June 22, 1843, d. Aug. 15, 1844. *Samlel Harris, b. June 6, 1845, m. Mattie R. Peck. Deacon Samuel Harris Clary (John, Joseph, John, Joseph, John, John), b. June 6, 1845, m. June 10, 1875, Mattie R. Peck of Shelburne. Children. Hattie May, b. May 14, 1878. Fannie Maria, b. May 25, 1880. John Albert, b. Sept. 26, 1892. Oliver Clary (Elijah, John, Joseph, John, John), b. Jan. 10, 1784, m. Jane . Childreyt. Emily, b. Aug. 22, 1810, d. in Holvoke aged 88 years. Polly, b. Dec. 14, 1813, m. Hastings. Sophia, b. Jan. 30, 1816. Henry, b. in 1821, m. Nov. 2, 1849, Sarah S. Newhall. He d. in 1861. COFFIN. Robert A. Coffin (Matthe^v of Martha's Vineyard), b. in Williamsburg in 1801, m. Wealthy Arms, March 13, 1828. He d. Sept. 4, 1878. She d. June 1, 1886. Children. Emily F., b. 1839, d. June 16, 1851. Ada C, b. 1841, m. Rev. A. J. Chaplin Sept. 18, 1860, d. Dec. 9, 1883. COLLINS. Simeon Collins, m. Aug. 25, 1802, Dorcas Andrews of Ashficld. Children . *Erastus, b. Feb. 19, 1804. 280 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Erastus Collins, b. Feb. 19, 1804, m. Lucy Blake of Goshen. He d. Jan. 31, 1866. She d. July 25, 1872. Children. *HiRAM, b. 1834. Laura Ann, b. 1837, m. Nov. 25, 1858, Sanford Boice of Ashfield. She is still living. Hiram Collins, b. 1834, m. Apr. 28, 1865, Emma C. Jones. He d. Jan. 11, 1917. She d. Feb. 23, 1903. Children. *George Baxter, b. July 5, 1867. Harvey H., b. Apr. 20, 1877. George Baxter Collins, b. Julv 5, 1867, m. Feb. 18, 1904, Grace Clarke. Children. Mildred Grace, b. March 30, 1912. CONNELLY. John Connelly (Thomas), b. 1821, Ire- land, m. Catherine Cavanaugh. She d. June 28, 1908. He d. Sept. 17, 1902. Children. Johanna, b. 1854, d. 1861. Thomas, b. June 29, 1856. Catherine, b. June 29, 1856, d. 1862. *James, b. May 18, 1858, m. Bridget E. Keyes. Mary, b. Aug., 1860, m. Michael Kelley. James Connelly (John, Thomas), b. May 18, 1858, m. Jan. 4, 1890, Bridget E. Keyes. He d. April 23, 1898. Children. Bertha Ellen, b. July 13, 1891. Marion Keyes, b. Aug. 12, 1896, d. May 13, 1907. COOK. Chelsea Cook (Stephen, Aaron), b. March 4, 1828, Tolland, Conn., m. Nov. 24, 1850, Julia R. Tucker. She d. June 30, 1867. He m. (2) Oct. 6, 1867, Helen M. Jennison. He d. March 8, 1905. Children. *Arthur Milton, b. Jan. 5, 1852, m. Clara A. Hamikon. Marcellus T., b. Mar. 9, 1854, d. Nov. 20, 1864. *RiCHARD H., b. Jan. 25, 1857, m. Minnie Olive Lawrence. *Charles L., b. Aug. 5, 1860, m. Sarah P. Riddell and Anna Wiswall. Edward Stephen, b. Aug. 26, 1862, d. Aug. 15, 1866. Chelsea, Jr., b. June 25, 1865, d. Dec. 11, 1882. Julia Rose, b. Mar. 16, 1869, m. Wm. F. Delabarre. Edwin Tucker, b. Jan. 29, 1871, m. Mary Truesdell. Silas Walden, b. July 24, 1874, m. Minnie Cole. Mary Delia, b. Nov. 28, 1877, m. Clarence P. Hassell. Helen Amy, b. Sept. 27, 1881, m. Robert Jose. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 281 Arthur Milton Cook (Chelsea, Stephen, Aaron), b. Jan. 5, 1852, m. June 3, 1874, Clara A. Hamilton. Children. Minerva Augusta, b. Oct. 9, 1876, m. Oct. 15, 1902, William E. Tylander of Fort Pierce, Fla. Richard H. Cook (Chelsea, Stephen, Aaron), b. Jan. 25, 1857, m. Nov. 13, 1879, Minnie Olive Lawrence. Children. Marcellus, b. Aug. 8, 1880, m. June 6, 1905, Minnie A. Darby. Louise, b. May 3, 1884, m. May 1, 1910, Fred Harmon. Charles L. Cook (Chelsea, Stephen, Aaron), b. Aug. 5, 1860, m. Sept. 25, 1883, Sarah P. Riddell. He m. (2) Anna Wiswall. Children. Jessie Waldron, b. May 12, 1885, m. Elisha Brewster. Chelsea P., b. Sept. 20, 1887, m. Emeline Huseman. Catherine G., b. Aug. 2, 1898. Warren C, b. July 22, 1900. COOLEY. Gideon Cooley (Abner, Simon, Daniel, Benj£imin), b. May 6, 1750, m. April 10, 1775, Sarah Thwing. She d. July 10, 1812. He d. Dec. 13, 1815. Childre7i. John, b. Aug. 18, 1777, d. July 2, 1798. Leonard, b. Apr. 1, 1779. ♦Gideon, Jr., b. Apr. 17, 1781, m. Julia Waite. QuARTUS Thwing, b. June 23, 1783, m. Hattie Ludden. Sally, b. Oct., 1786, d. unm., July 24, 1873. Gideon Cooley, Jr. (Gideon, Abner, Simon, Daniel, Benjamin), b. April 17, 1781, m. in 1808, Julia Waite. He d. Oct., 1845. She d. Jan. 23, 1871. Children. Justus Ruggles, b. Apr. 26, 1810. Charles, b. Sept. 10, 1812. Julia Ann, b. Jan. 21, 1815, m. Sept. 8, 1842, Rev. Thomas Snell Norton. Austin, b. Mar. 5, 1817. *Ed\vin, b. Mar. 24, 1819, m. Grace K. \'ining and Mrs. Caroline E. Owen. Calista, b. Mar. 29, 1821. Cutler, b. Oct. 17, 1823, m. Lucy Roxana Adams. Sarah W., b. Feb. 3, 1826, m. Harvey H. Miller. Amelia, b. Apr. 3, 1828. Edwin Cooley (Gideon, Gideon, Abner, Simon, Daniel, Benjamin), b. March 4, 1819, m. Grace K. Vining. Shed. May 6, 1854. He m. (2) June 15, 1856, Mrs. Caroline E. Owen. 282 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. *Edwin Homer, b. Dec. 1, 1857, m. Mattie G. Page. Lizzie Grace, b. July 3, 1859, m. Sept. 24, 1885, William A, Green. Clara White, b. Oct. 3, 1862. Edwin Homer Cooley (Edwin, Gideon, Gideon, Abner, Simon, Daniel, Banjamin), b. Dec. 1, 1857, m. Mattie G. Page, July 24, 1882. Children. George Edwin, b. Apr. 10, 1884. Elijah Carleton, b. Aug. 11, 1886. Roy Bardwell, b. Dec. 29, 1887. CRITTENDEN. Abraham Crittenden came from Cran- brook, Eng., in 1609 with his wife Mary and three children and settled in Guilford, Conn. Samuel Crittenden (Abraham, Abraham, Abraham) was the jfirst in Conway, b. Feb. 17, 1734. Birthplace not given, m. Rebecca Mason. He d. May 31, 1816. Children. Samuel, b. 1755, m. July 30, 1774, Elizabeth Rice. Ebenezer, b. Oct. 18, 1757, m. Oct. 7, 1779, Love Booth. . John, b. Oct. 16, 1761, ni. Submit Dickinson. *Medad, b. 1765, m. Mary Boyden. Immer, b. Mar. 17, 1767, m. June 25, 1789, Experience Whitney. OsEE, b. 1769, m. Nov. 29, 1789, Lydia Reed. Medad Crittenden (Samuel, Abraham, Abraham, Abra- ham), b. 1756, m. Mary Boyden. He d. Aug. 13, 1856. She d. Feb., 1869. She was b. Aug 24, 1767, the day of the first town meeting, and was present at the Centennial Celebration of Conway in 1867. Children. Solomon, b. Feb. 1, 1785. Mary, b. Dec. 17, 1786. Medad, b. May 7, 1789, d. Nov. 7, 1809. S.\LLY, b. Oct. 13, 1790. Nehemiah Bovden, b. Sept. 30, 1797. Calista, b. July 16, 1800. Fidelia, b. Dec. 13, 1803. *David, b. Apr. 12, 1808, m. Harriet A. Hopkins. *AsAPH, b. June 3, 1810 m. (1) Lucretia Marsh, m. (2) Jane M. Foote. Maria, b. Sept. 20, 1812. David Crittenden (Medad, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham, Abraham), b. April 12, 1808, m. Feb. 8, 1827, Harriet A. Hopkins. She d. Jan. 22, 1873. He d. Oct. 15, 1856. Children. George F., b. Nov. 24, 1842, m. May 15, 1867, Kate C. Woodworth. I FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 283 Asaph Crittenden (Medad, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham, Abraham), b. June 3, 1810, m. Lucretia Marsh. She d. Aug., 1850. He m. (2) Jane M. Foote. He d. Aug. 27, 1862. Children. Henry Lyman, b. July 11, 1834, m. Apr. 26, 1854, Sarah Orvis. He was killed in the Civil War. Calista Maria, b. Aug. 19, 1835, m. John P. Hartwell. Adeline Louisa, b. Apr. 19, 1837, d. Jan. 3, 1866. Ellen Lucretia, b. June 22, 1839, m. Edward W. Hamilton. Mary Fidelia, b. Jan. 22, 1841, m. George S. Pond. Charles Eastman, b. Aug. 29, 1845, m. Dec. 31, 1868, Mary H. Handforth. Dr. Rufus Asa, b. Dec. 29, 1846, m. Annie Judson Murray. Sarah Ella, b. Sept. 29, 1848, m. Charles Spruce. Alice Judson, b. Mar. 15, 1850, d. May 15, 1866. WiLLARD Crittenden (Samuel, Samuel, Abraham, Abra- ham, Abraham), born Sept. 14, 1793, m. Parthenia Allis. Children. Mary Ann, b. Oct. 19, 1825, m. Theodore Field. Lyman, b. Feb. 26, 1829. Edwin, b. Jan. 15, 1831. Solomon, b. Mar. 6, 1837. William, b. Dec. 28, 1840.' DANIELS. Amos Daniels, b. [une 7, 1763, m. Dec. 17, 1795, Lydia Montague. She d. April 11, 1851. He d. April 8, 1851. Children. *Eliphalet, b. Apr. 12, 1797, m. Amanda Rice and I-vdia (Shaw) Rice. Submit, b. Oct. 25, 1799, d. unm. in 1847. Dexter, b. Sept. 30, 1801, m. Aug. 30, 1830, Maria Averv. Dickson Montague, b. Aug. 19, 1804, m. Nov. 9, 1831, Almira Farland. She d. Mav 29, 1833. He m. (2) Feb. 19, 1834, Electa Thayer Chapin. Obed, b. Nov. 23, 1807, m. Nov. 22, 1837, Eliza Gardner Martin. Elipitalet Danipzls (Amos), b. April 12, 1797, m. Oct. 18, 1821, Amanda Rice. She d. Dec. 9, 1839. ^e m. (2) April 9, 1840, Lydia (Shaw) Rice. Children. Emery Rice, b. Oct. 13, 1822, m. Ellen Wear and Pha?be Silliman. William Cullen, b. June 22, 1825, m. Harriet Louisa Bean. Amanda R., b. Mar. 20, 1827, d. Aug. 28, 1865. Charles Franklin, b. Dec. 24, 1829, d. Jan. 2, 1852. Eliphalet, b. Aug. 21, 1832, m. Emma M. Dickinson. DELABARRE. Edward Delabarre (Jacques Francois, Cornelie Joseph), b. Oct. 23, 1822, in Belgium, m. April 2, 1856, in Reading, Maria L. Hassell. He d. Julv 31, 1897. 284 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. ♦Arthur P., b. June 3, 1857, m. Carrie A. Merrill. Walter Edward, b. June 14, 1858, m. Elizabeth AI. Belt, and Mrs. Frances Freeland Hageman. He d. Oct., 1911. Louise D., b. Feb. 12, 1860, m. June 30, 1897, Frank C. Penniman. He d. Jan. 18, 1907. *Fred a., b. Oct. 20, 1861, m. Carrie Shepard Terrill. Edmund Burke, b. Sept. 25, 1863, m. Dorothea Cotten. *WiLLiAM F., b. Oct. 9, 1865, m. Julia R. Cook. Frank A., b. Apr. 8, 1868, m. Annie Sweeney. Laura A., b. Mar. 24, 1869, d. Apr. 27, 1871. Fannie, b. Jan., 1870, d. Apr. 5, 1871. Clara, b. 1872, d. 1872. Flora, b. 1873, d. 1873. Cora E., b. Aug. 9, 1877, m. Dr. Raymond Hunter of Greenfield. Arthur P. Delabarre (Edward, Jacques F., Cornelie J.), b. in Blackstone, June 3, 1857, m. Sept. 22, 1880, Carrie A. Merrill of Wilbraham. Children. Edward Ferdinand, b. May 19, 1882. Everett, b. Aug. 21, 1883. Madeline, b. Feb. 4, 1894. Fred A. Delabarre (Edward, Jacques F., Cornelie J.), b. Oct. 20, 1861, m. Nov. 24, 1886, Carrie Shephard Terrill. Children. M.\rion, b. May 29, 1890. William F. Delabarre (Edward, Jacques F., Cornelie J.), b. Oct. 9, 1865, m. Dec. 28, 1892, Julia R. Cook. He d. in Port Angeles, Wash., March 20, 1913. Children. Margaret, b. June 14, 1895. DICKINSON. Gardner Dickinson (Noah, James, James), b. July 15, 1804, m. Sept. 2, 1828, CaroHne Wells. She d. April 12, 1836. He m. (2) June 27, 1837, Mary Smith. She d. Dec. 3, 1862. Children. Parsons Fiske, b. Oct. 7, 1829, d. unm. Apr. 3, 1851. Clarissa Lee, b. Mar. 14, 1833, m. Sept. 8, 1858, Wlllard Merrill. Emily Minerva, b. Sept. 19, 1834, m. Aug. 20, 1856, Eliphalet Daniels. EuROTAS Dickinson (Jehu, Abner, Ebenezer, Samuel, Nathaniel), b. Jan. 31, 1787, m. Oct. 27, 1812, Sarah Ann AUis. She d. July 28, 1886, aged 98 years. He d. Aug 26, 1880. They lived together 68 years. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 285 Children. Henry A., b. Oct. 20, 1813, m. July 27, 1837, Sarah Bartlett. *Jehu Pomeroy, b. Jan. 17, 1815, m. Fannie Bardwelland Sarah A. Sanderson. *Thomas Sanderson, b. July 24, 1818, m. Mary S. Marsh. Elias Allen, b. Feb. 5, 1820, m. Nov. 17, 1842, Remembrance Bardwell. Salmon White, b. May 7, 1822, m. Nov. 22, 1853, Sarah Hvde. Sarah Ann, b. June 13, 1827, m. Jan. 2, 1858, Charles C. P. Bardwell. George E., b. June 13, 1829, m. July 28, 1868, Emma Hayden. Mary Ann, b. Aug. 4, 1833, m. Dec. 2, 1857, Charles Frary. Jehu Pomeroy Dickinson (Eurotas, Jehu, Abner, Ebenezer, Samuel, Nathaniel), b. Jan. 17, 1815, m. Fannie Bardwell and Sarah A. Sanderson. Children. Henry A., b. Mav 11, 1841, d. in the Civil War. DwiGHT L., b. Juiv 2, 1843. Fannie S., b. Jan. 9, 1846. Joseph Clinton, b. Jan. 12, 1851, d. Aug. 9, 1852. Mary Ellen, b. Oct. 6, 1854, d. Nov. 7, 1854. Clara Amelia, b. Jan. 16, 1856, m. June 11, 1880, Frank Sikes. Thomas Sanderson Dickinson (Eurotas, Jehu, Abner, Ebenezer, Samuel, Nathaniel), b. July 24, 1818, m. Jan. 4, 1843, Mary Smith Marsh. She d. July 22, 1915. He d. July 1, 1912. Children. Baxter Allis, b. Nov. 16, 1843, m. Fannie Eleanor Gunn. Alice Cl.ara, b. June 16, 1847, m. Oct. 10, 1867, Daniel Burnett. He d. Nov. 22, 1870. She m. (2) Jan. 30, 1872, Henrv D. Bartlett. George Buchanan, b. Feb. 14, 1857, d. Jan. 13, 1879. DINSMORE. Capt. Abel Dinsmore (Thomas), b. in Bedford, Mass., Sept. 27, 1736, m. Esther . Shed. Dec. 25, 1831. He d. here in 1803. He was in the Revolutionary War as captain. Children. Thomas, b. Mar. 18, 1757, d. Jan. 2, 1798. Ruth, b. Oct. 10, 1758, m. Nov. 29, 1779, Hon. Medad Montague of Sunder- land. Eri, b. Mar. 12, 1761. Muriel, b. Dec. 19, 1762, m. Jan. 16, 1784, Phineas Rice. Zimri, b. Feb. 3, 1764, m. Abigail . Serene, b. Feb. 9, 1767, m. Mar. 26, 1787, Daniel Mavnard. Abel, b. Feb. 19, 1771. Asa, b. July 28, 1772, m. Betty . *JOHN, b. Sept. 12, 1774, m. Mary Gates. *Samuel, b. Aug. 26, 1776. William, b. May 30, 1780, m. Submit Avery. Lieut. John Dinsmore (Abel, Thomas), b. Sept. 12, 1774, m. March 3, 1795, Mary Gates. She d. March 1, 1848. He d. Dec. 11, 1851. 286 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Moses, b. July 18, 1796, m. Sanderson. Thomas, b. Mar. 24, 1798, m. Sally Waite. Louisa, b. July 5, 1800, m. Stebbins. Clara, b. May 28, 1802, m. Horatio Lee. RuFUS, b. June 17, 1804, m. Louisa Stebbins. Ruth, b. Sept. 12, 1806, m. Nehemiah Leonard. *Alvin, b. Nov. 28, 1808, m. Maria Brown, Lucinda Wells and Mrs. Lydia Daniels. Lydia, b. Nov. 21, 1810, m. Sylvester Cheesboro. Mary, b. Sept. 26, 1813, m. Isaiah Morris Brown. Sally, b. Mar. 11, 1816, m. Stevina Rice. Alvin Dinsmore (John, Abel, Thomas), b. Nov. 28, 1808, m. Nov. 8, 1833, Maria Brown. She d. July 12, 1856. He m. (2) Dec. 24, 1857, Lucinda Wells. She d. Oct. 28, 1865. He m. (3) Nov. 15, 1866, Mrs. Lydia Daniels. She d. April 6, 1898. He d. Aug. 4, 1873. Childroi. Lucy M., b. Aug. 17, 1836, m. Mar. 16, 1859, Daniel G. Rice. Eliza J., b. Aug. 21, 1839, m. Nov. 21, 1861, Joseph Severence. RuFus F., b. Aug. 17, 1848, m. Hattie E. Vining and Clara Morgan. Charles Wells, b. Apr. 20, 1849, m. Jennie May Newcomb. Samuel Dinsmore (Abel, Thomas), b. Aug. 26, 1776^ m. Calista May. He m. (2) Anna . Children. Charles D., b. Mav 6, 1836, d. Feb. 25, 1855. Eliza Ann, b. Apr. 6, 1837, m. Mar. 23, 1859, Otis W. Lawrence. William, b. Apr. 16, 1839. George Wayland, b. Dec. 25, 1842. Ellen, b. July 9, 1844. Carlos, b. 1849, d. Aug. 17, 1859. DENHAM— DUNHAM— DUNHAME—DONHAM, on old records. John was the original immigrant and was in Plymoutli in 1633. Hed. in 1669. Capt. Samuel Dunham (Cornelius), b. Sept. 16, 1763, m. Nancy Adams. She d. Feb. 18, 1802. He m. (2) Matilda Goodale. She d. July 26, 1850. He d. June, 1849. Children. Nancy Adams, b. July 18, 1800, ni. Oct. 13, 1826, Daniel Eldridge. Samuel Adams, b. Feb. 17, 1802. Louisa, b. May 16, 1804, m. Sept. 14, 1830, Rev. Lucian Farnham. Butler, b. July 25, 1805. Olivia, b. Feb. 22, 1807, m. Rev. Romulus Barnes. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 287 DWIGHT. John Dwight, the common ancestor of all who now bear this name, came to America in 1634 from Dedham, Eng., and settled in Dedham, Mass. Seth Dwight (Josiah, Seth, Henry, Timothy, John), b. Dec. 15, 1769, in Williamsburg, m. Dec. 30, 1790, Hannah Strong. She d. April 15, 1813. He m. (2) Mrs. Susan Hewson. Hed. April 3, 1825. Children. Harriet, b. Feb. 21, 1792, m. Mav 7, 1812, James Dana. Delia Jane Holgombe, b. Mar. 8, 1794, ni. Jan. 1, 1817, Rev. John White of Dedham. Cornelia Strong, b. Dec. 8, 1801, m. William Justus Buck. ♦Harrison Gray Otis, b. Nov. 22, 1803, m. Elizabeth Barker and Mary Lane. Rev. Harrison Gray Otis Dwight (Seth, Josiah, Seth, Henry, Timothy, John), b. Nov. 22, 1803, m. Jan. 4, 1828, Elizabeth Barker of North Adams. She d. of plague at St. Stefano, Constantinople, July 7, 1837. He m. (2) April 16, 1839, Mary Lane, Sturbridge. She d. in Constantinople, Nov. 16, 1860. Dr. Dwight was a missionary in Turkey. On a visit to this country he was killed in a railroad accident, Jan. 25, 1862. Children. James Harrison, b. Malta, Oct. 9, 1830, m. (1) Aug. 6, 1855, Susan Eaton Schneider, Broosa, Turkey. She d. Feb. 13, 1860. He m. (2) Josephine C. Wilder. William Buck, b. Constantinople, May 22, 1833, m. Nov. 17, 1859, Eliza Howe Schneider. Henry Otis, b. Constantinople, June 3, 1843, m. Mar. 1867, Mary A. Bliss of Constantinople. Cornelia Porter, b. Nov. 12, 1846. Was a missionarv in Turkey. Sarah Hinsdale, b. July 17, 1848, m. May 29, 1869, Rev. Edward Riggs of Constantinople. Susan Elizabeth, b. Feb. 5, 1850. ELDRIDGE. Daniel Eldridge (Samuel), b. in 1803, m. Oct. 13, 1826, Nancv Adams Dunham. She d. Feb. 23, 1873. He d. Jan. 30, 1875. Children. ♦Samuel D., b. Mar. U, 1829, m. Susan Lilley. Nancy, d. Nov. 29, 1860. Louisa, b. in 1831, m. Sept. 7, 1863, William H. Sears. Lucien F., b. in 1839, m. Dec. 27, 1864, Eliza F. Sikes. Samuel D. Eldridge (Daniel, Samuel), b. March 23, 1829, m. Susan Lilley. She d. in 1899. He d. Dec. 1, 1884. Children. *L. Butler, b. 1857, m. Clara B. Weston. Daniel, b. May 14, 1864, m. Nov. 29, 1889, Emma L. Warfield. 288 HISTORY OF CONWAY. L. Butler Eldridge (Samuel D., Daniel, Samuel), b. in 1857, m. Oct. 10, 1889, Clara B. Weston. He d. in 1900. Children. Ralph Weston, b. Aug. 28, 1890, m. Gladys Graves. Vera E. Walter Lyman. EMERSON. Thomas Emerson was in Ipswich in 1639 and d. there May 1, 1666. Rev. John Emerson (Joseph, Edward, Joseph, Thomas), b. Maiden, Nov. 20, 1745, m. June 23, 1770, Sabra Cobb of Boston. She d. May 25, 1806. He m. (2) Mrs. Betsey Dunbar, Belchertown. He d. Dec. 8, 1821. Children. Waldo, b. Aug. 27, 1771, d. Sept. 18, 1771. Sabra, b. Apr. 11, 1773, m. May 4, 1798, Rev. Joseph Field. Hannah, b. Sept. 1, 1774, d. Oct. 26, 1813. Lois Cobb, b. Oct. 1, 1776, m. June 5, 1795, Simeon Strong. Rebecca, b. Sept. 14, 1777, m. Nov. 7, 1804, Scotto Clark. William, b. May 10, 1778, d. Feb. 6, 1802. John, Id. Dec. 21, 1780, m. Persis Adams. Joseph, b. Sept. 5, 1782, m. Sarah E. Cheney. Charles Lee, b. Mav 4, 1784, m. Lydia Clapp and Rhoda E. Edwards. Samuel M., b. Nov. 17, 1785, m. Charlotte Bulkley. FARNSWORTH. The Farnsworths in America are of Eng- lish origin and derived their name from a place in Lancashire. Mathias Farnsworth came to America in 1657. Gershom Farnsworth (Gershom, William, Ebenezer, Mathias, Mathias), b. Nov. 22, 1779, m. Dec. 31, 1810, Dollv Hinckley. She d. July 25, 1861. He d. Jan. 20, 1863. Children. *John Randolph, b. Dec. 3, 1811, m. Martha E. Anthony. Dolly Ann, b. Mar. 31, 1814, m. Apr. 4, 1853, James Bennett. Gershom, b. Aug. 17, 1816, d. unm. Apr. 24, 1865. Esther, b. Oct. 12, 1820, d. Julv 30, 1822. ♦Richard R., b. July 19, 1822, m. Feb. 18, 1848, Nancy S. Torrey. John Randolph Farnsworth (Gershom, Gershom, Wil- liam, Ebenezer, Mathias, Mathias), b. Dec. 3, 1811, m. March 18, 1840, Martha E. Anthony. He d. Nov. 10, 1873. Children, Eliza, b. Julv 26, 1841, m. June 6, 1862, Henry Nye. William R., b. Dec. 2, 1846, m. Aug. 15, 1869, Alice L. Sherman. Esther A., b. Oct. 8, 1850, m. Oct. 28, 1875, Clarence Williams. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 289 Richard R. Farnsworth (Gershom, Gershom, William, Ebenezer, Mathias, Mathias), b. July 19, 1822, m. Feb. 18, 1848, Nancy S. Torrey. Children. Charles D., h. July 16, 1852, m. Carrie A. Stockwell. FAY. Putnam Fay (Hezekiah, Hezekiah, John, David, John), b. Feb. 29. 1780, in Southboro, m. Nov. 1, 1806, Elizabeth Wilson. She d. here April 21, 1862. He d. May 18, 1858. Children. Putnam Benjamin, b. Jan. 27, 1808, d, unm. June 1, 1874. Waterman Burr, b. Sept. 4, 1809, m. Ruth Moore Parsons. George Willard, b. July 9, 1810, m. Abbie P. Tufts. Samuel Larned, b. Aug. 1813, m. Marv Mercer. Eliza Ann, b. Feb. 26,^1816, d. unm. July 20, 1871. William Brower, b. Oct. 16, 1818, d. unm. Aug. 8, 1879. Martha B., b. Oct. 23, 1820, d. Mar. 18, 1837. FIELD. The name of Field is an ancient and honorable one in England and can be traced far back of the conquest. Probably not a dozen families in England can prove so high an antiquity. Zechariah Field was the American ancestor of the Conweiy branch. He was born in East Ardsle\\ Yorkshire, in 1596, m. about 1641. Marv . She d. about 1670. He d. June 30, 1666. John Field (Eliakim, John, John, Zechariah), b. Hatfield, Aug. 25, 1760, m. in 1789, Lucv Look of Conwav. She d. July 29. 1854. He d. Jan. 19, 1824. Jl ^ Children. . Polly, b. Apr. 27, 1790, d. Oct. 25, 1816. ^^j- "/ A^i-w-it , M Nancy, b. Oct. 20, 1791, m. Elijah Page. ^' *WiLLiAM, b. Dec. 8, 1793, m. Submit Hamilton. *JOHN, b. June 8, 1796, m. Fidelia Nash. LuciNDA, b. June 8, 1798, m. Franklin Childs. Prudence, b. Aug. 20, 1800, d. Xov. 30, 1839. Edithia, b. May 6, 1803, d. Aug. 1, 1804. WiLLL^M Field (John, Eliakim, John, John, Zechariah), b. Dec. 8, 1793. m. Oct. 7, 1828, Submit Hamilton. He d. June 7, 1845. She d. in Jackson, Mich., aged 86 years. Children. Lucy Ann, b. July 19, 1829. Dencie Lucretia, b. July 29, 1831. Samuel Grimes, b. Dec. 8, 1833, m. Anna Green. Leonard Hamilton, b. July 8, 1838, m. Mrs. Alia P. (Rayner) Perkins. Mary Jane, b. Jan. 9, 1841, m. June 11, 1867, Henry J. Durant. 290 HISTORY OF CONWAY. John Field (John, Eliakim, John, John, Zechariah), b. June 8, 1796, m. Sept. 25, 1828, FideUa Nash. She d. Sept. 22, 1865. He d. June 13, 1876. Children. *Chandler Augustus, b. Sept. 19, 1829, m. Helen M. Wells. Joseph Nash, b. Sept. 28, 1831, m. Jane Hayes and Catherine Blackwell. Marshall, b. Sept. 18, 1835, m. Nannie Douglass Scott, m. (2) Mrs. Delia (Spencer) Caton. He d. Jan. 16, 1906. Helen Eliza, b. Feb. 3, 1837, m. Hon. Lyman B. James. Henry, b. May 25, 1841, m. Florence Lathrop. Elizabeth Page, b. Sept. 25, 1843, d-. Dec. 27, 1854. William E., b. Feb. 17, 1845, d. May 22, 1845. Laura Nash, b. Oct. 30, 1848, ni. Henry Dibble. Chandler Augustus Field (John, John, EHakim, John, John, Zechariah), b. Sept. 19, 1829, m. Feb. 27, 1869, Helen M. Wells. He d. Jan. 11, 1875. She d. Jan. 11, 1917. Children. Henry N.. b. Nov. 15, 1874, d. Nov. 15, 1874. Solomon Field (Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. June 28, 1746, m. Oct. 25, 1770, Mary Wright. She d. June 24, 1821. He d. April 20, 1828. Children. Persis, b. Sept. 9, 1771, d. unm. May 12, 1853. Anna, b. Jan. 14, 1774, m. Samuel Childs. Solomon, b. Nov. 1, 1776, m. Ruth Porter. Reuben Wright, b. Apr. 4, 1779, m. Polly White and Abigail L. White. *SiLAS, b. Sept. 3, 1781, m. Martha Harrington and Gratia Catlin. *Horace, b. Apr. 14, 1784, m. Seviah Burnham. *Joel, b. Oct. 27, 1786, m. Philinda Wilder. *Chester, b. Dec. 22, 1788, m. Sophia Loveridge and Rebecca (Johnson) Munson. *Elijah, b. Nov. 13, 1791, m. Filena Arms and Nancy Grey Ranney. Electa, b. Feb. 17, 1794, m. David Edson. Silas Field (Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zech- ariah), b. Sept. 3, 1781, m. Martha Harrington. He m. (2) Aug. 12, 1802, Gratia Thankful Catlin. He d. May 19, 1862. She d. Jan. 6, 1867. Children. *Charles Nelson, b. Oct. 31, 1810, m. Anna Newhall and Rebecca D. Tolman. Gr.\tia, b. Jan. 15, 1817, m. Jonathan M. Thompson. Charles Nelson Field (Silas, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Oct. 31, 1810, nl. Dec, 1833, Anna Newhall. She d. March 4, 1846. He m. (2) Sept. 23, 1846, Rebecca D. Tolman. He d. Oct. 14, 1884. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 291 Children. Wealthy Ardelia, b. Mar. 1, 1836, ni. Mar. 1, 1854, Ebenezer A. Biirnham. ♦Silas H., b. Mar. 23, 1838, m. Harriet M. Boyden. Emily Annie, b. Feb. 18, 1846, m. Dec. 25, 1866, Albert S. Edgarton. *Charles Theodore, b. May 26, 1850, ni. Fannie Maria Jones. Silas H. Field (Charles N., Silas, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. March 23, 1838, m. Jan., 1865, Harriet N. Boyden. She d. Feb. 5, 1877. He d. March 9, 1909. Children. Emory Whitney, b. Oct. 16, 1866. Anna Miranda, b. July 25, 1868, ni. June 9, 1891, Charles Williams. Charles Theodore Field (Charles N., Silas, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. May 26, 1850, m. April 28, 1875, Fannie Maria Jones. Children. Cynthia Rebecca, b. Mar. 5, 1876. Harriet Maria, b. Dec. 1, 1877. Charles Theodore, b. Apr. 4, 1882. Winifred, b. Nov. 5, 1886. Grace, b. Aug. 31, 1889. Horace Field (Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. April 14, 1784, m. Dec. 3, 1808, Seviah Burnham. She d. Aug. 26, 1862. He d. Oct. 11, 1831. Children. Horace Loren, b. July 2, 1809, m. Mary S. Sherman. Lovina Bardwell, b. Oct. 17, 1812, m. May 31, 1837, Stephen Averill. Alvin S., b. Nov. 2, 1814, m. Sylvia Crafts. Elijah, b. Dec. 16, 1817, m. Emerette L. Hill. Electa, b. F'eb., 1820, d. Aug. 29, 1822. *MosES B., b. Oct. 25, 1822, m. Lucinda Edson. Abigail B., b. Mar. 29, 1825, m. Feb. 15, 1841, Emerson C. Foote. Electa, b. Aug. 1, 1827, m. Dec. 28, 1842, Edward Howland. Moses Burnham Field (Horace, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Oct. 25, 1822, m. March 16, 1848, Lucinda Edson. She d. June 2, 1894. He d. March 14, 1867. Children. El win, b. Nov. 5, 1849, d. Feb. 23, 1871. Charlotte, b. May 16, 1855, m. Mar. 12, 1873, Emory Brown. Joel Field (Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zech- ariah), b. Oct. 27, 1786, m. Feb. 10, 1820, Philinda Wilder. She d. Sept. 15, 1890. He d. Sept. 3, 1838. 292 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. *CoNSiDER Wilder, b. Dec. 4, 1820, m. Marv Ann Macomber. *IsRAEL Wilder, b. Feb. 20, 1823, m. Elizabeth A. Ranney. Mary Wright, b. Apr. 11, 1825, m. Apr. 16, 1846, Samuel Jackson. Joel, b. Sept. 20, 1827, m. Fannie Mellen. Rebecca, b. Nov. 19, 1829, m. Samuel Ward. Mercy Philinda, b. Feb. 17, 1831, m. George C. Dole. Consider Wilder Field (Joel, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Dec. 4. 1820, m. Nov. 28. 1850, Mary Ann Macomber. He d. Dec. 13, 1876. She d. July 14, 1905. Children. Franklin Edgar, b. July 3, 1857. Etta Frances, b. May 21, 1861, m. Apr. 9, 1878, Frederick W. Dowding. Mary Wilder, b. Dec. 19, 1863, m. Oct. 17, 1893, George A. Roberts. Elizabeth Maria, b. Nov. 20, 1866. Israel Wilder Field (Joel, Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Feb. 20, 1823, m. July 1, 1851, Elizabeth Ann Ranney. He d. Dec. 27, 1863. Children. Eleanor Jane, b. Jan. 27, 1856, m. Charles Fisher. Edgar A., b. Feb. 10, 1860, m. Gertrude Judd. Chester Field (Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Dec. 22, 1788, m. Oct. 18, 1813, Sophia Loveridge. She d. April 3, 1841. He m. (2) Rebecca (Johnson) Munson. He d. Oct. 22, 1855. She d. April 10, 1876. Children. Chester, b. Sept. 4, 1816, m. Louisa Blanchard and Marietta Curlev. Sophia, b. Oct. 20, 1818, d. Mar. 5, 1829. Persis, b. Oct. 4, 1821, m. Apr. 11, 1844, Porter Mitchell. Austin, b. Sept. 10, 1825, m. Sarah Rockwood and Mrs. Martha (Butler) Chapin. Elijah Field (Solomon, Moses, Ebenezer, Samuel, Zechariah), b. Nov. 13, 1791, m. Oct. 15, 1818, Philena Arms. She d. June 10, 1828, He m. (2) Nancy Grey Rannev, Jan. 13, 1829. She d. Aug., 1872. He d. Sept. 18, 1871. Children. Harriet Pamelia, b. Nov. 28, 1819, d. Nov. 18, 1843. Henry Arms, b. Sept. 9, 1823, m. Oct. 1853, Ellen M. . Philena, b. Jan. 23, 1826, m. Oct., 1850, Liberty Pease. George, b. May 13, 1829, m. Sarah Lyon Pierce. Eliza Arms, b. Mar. 18, 1832, m. Oct. 18, 1851, Charles A. Forbes. Solomon Elijah, b. July 8, 1834, m. Celestia I. Eastman. Helen Lucinda, b. Mar. 2, 1837, m. Nov. 27, 1856, Charles E. Williams. Amelia Sophia, b. Nov. 5, 1839, m. June 17, 1866, Truman Bowman. Franklin Herbert, b. Sept. 19, 1849, m. Laura Weston. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 293 Theodore Tobey Field (Theodore, Elijah, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Zechariah), b. Dec. 9, 1816, m. Nov. 19, 1845, Marv A. Crittenden. She d. April 22, 1880. He d. Dec. 22, 1877. Children. ♦Egbert, b. Oct. 11, 1847, ni. Sarah A. Rice. *CEcn., b. June 12, 1850, m. Lucy P. Rice. *Ir\vix, b. Apr. 17, 1857, m. Cora B. Hamilton. M.\RV E., b. Feb. 17, 1859. Cynthi.a. E., b. Mar. 29, 1860, m. F~eb. 20, 1878, James B. Rice. Egbert Field (Theodore T., Theodore, l^lijah. Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Zechariah), b. Oct. 11, 1847, m. Jan. 16. 1878, Sarah A. Rice. Children. Claren'ce Theodore, b. Nov. 30, 1878. Ernest P.^rker, b. Jan. 3, 1881. Roy Cutler, b. Aug. 20, 1883. Eva Lucy, b. Oct. 16, 1885, d. Nov. 27, 1909. Cecil Field (Theodore T., Theodore, Elijah, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Zechariah), b. June 12, 1850, m. Jan. 31, 1872, Lucy P. Rice. Children. Arthur Shirley, b. Dec. 25, 1873. Elizabeth Bell,!^. . , ,, io io-- Edith S.arah, ')Tw.ns, b. May 18, 18/ /. May Elsie, b. Mar. 6, 1881. Alfred Cecil, b. Sept. 4, 1883. Wilbur Chauxcev, b. Jan. 15, 1886. Irv.tn Field (Theodore T., Theodore, Elijah, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Zechariah), b. April 17, 1857, m. Nov. 19, 1878, Cora Bell Hamilton. He d. Oct. 4, 1881. Children. Albert Irwin, b. Oct. 5, 1879. Louise Ellen, b. Apr. 19, 1881. Thomas Carter F"ield (Theodore, Elijah, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Zechariah), b. Aug. 5, 1815, m. Nov. 5, 1840, Content Sanderson. He d. May 27, 1872. She d. Jan. 2, 1883. Children. Edmund Sanderson, b. Sept. 17, 1841, d. Nov. 11, 1883. Wilson Eugene, b. Nov. 15, 1843, m. Susan W. Flagg. UiANA Ameli.\, b. Sept. 22, 1847, d. Sept. 15, 1862. Abbott Wesley, b. Julv 20, 1855, m. Eunice Ames. Addie Leora, b. Mar. 2'5, 1857, d. June 23, 1886. George Adams, b. Feb. 15, 1861. m. Carrie xM. Packard. 294 HISTORY OF CONWAY. FLAGG. Thomas Flagg was probably the ancestor of all families bearing the name in this country. He came to Boston in 1642. Eleazer Flagg (Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Thomas), b. Jan. 10, 1767, m. Feb. 3, 1793, Elizabeth Warren. She d. May 15, 1844. He d. May 28, 1847. Children. Chandler, b. Nov. 21, 1794. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 9, 1796. LuRA, b. Mar. 16, 1798. Eleazer Fletcher, b. Jan. 8, 1800. Sarah, b. July 27, 1801. Fidelia, b. Feb. 23, 1803, m. Nov. 1, 1829, Josiah Bond. *Samuel, b. Dec. 3, 1804, m. Rhoda G. Macomber. Jeremiah, b. Aug. 5, 1807, m. Clarissa Munson. Miranda, b. Feb. 25, 1809. Tabitha, b. Sept. 1, 1811, m. Jan. 30, 1841, Josiah Bond. EuciBiA Naville, b. Apr. 13, 1815. Samuel Flagg (Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Thomas), b. Dec. 3, 1804, m. Apr. 12, 1838. Rhoda G. Macomber. She d. July 12, 1900. He d. July 26, 1876. Children. *Charles Chandler, b. Jan. 7, 1839, m. Mary A. Brown. George Washington, b. Nov. 22, 1840, m. Charlotte C. King. Fannie Elizabeth, b. Aug. 6, 1843, m. Aug. 13, 1862, Elias F. Bradford. Susan W., b. Jan. 22, 1846, m. Oct. 8, 1867, Wilson E. Field. *E. Fletcher, b. Mar. 3, 1848, m. Ella M. Lawrence. Hattie M., b. June 27, 1851, d. Sept. 21, 1887. Charles C. Flagg (Samuel, Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Thomas), b. Jan. 7, 1839, m. Oct. 24, 1860, Mary A. Brown. Children. Alton Ellsworth, b. May 26, 1862, d. Aug. 26, 1871. Charles Dwight, b. Oct. 10, 1864, m. Oct. 10, 1888, Bertha M. Quinn. Mary Claire, b. Apr. 14, 1867, m. June 11, 1890, Daniel McFarland. She d. Sept. 3, 1899. William M., b. Apr. 14, 1870. Grace Edna, b. Nov. 19, 1872. Edith Eliza, b. July 12, 1875, m. Oct. 4, 1904, Harry Clough. Elwin Chandler, b. July 12, 1875. Lottie Stella, b. Feb. 27, 1878, m. Nov. 1, 1899, George Robertson. Alice Maud, b. May 30, 1880, m. Jan. 1, 1900, William Alden. E. Fletcher Flagc, (Samuel, Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Eleazer, Thomas), b. March 3, 1848, m. May 24, 1874, Ella M. Lawrence. Children. Minnie Rhoda, b. June 27, 1876, ni. Sept. 11, 1898, Frederick Chapman. Clarence A., b. July 1, 1878, m. June 23, 1908, Gertrude Peck. Lawrence F., b. Oct. 10, 1881, d. Mar. 4, 1883. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 295 FOOTE. Nathaniel Foote was one of the first settlers at Wethersfield, Conn. David Foote (David, Daniel, Nathaniel), b. Washington, Conn., March 13, 1775, m. Dec. 21, 1800, Betsey Minor. She d. Sept. 27, 1838. He m. (2) Nov. 20. 1841, Eliza Gardner. She d. Feb. 14, 1844. He m. (3) Oct. 21, 1844, Rhoda Waterbury. Children. Ermina, b. Jan. 27, 1802, m. Jan. 30, 1823, Jonathan Xash, Jr. Harlow, b. Jan. 31, 1804, m. Nov. 29, 1827, Euretta Rockwell. Amanda, b. Mar. 18, 1806, ni. Aug. 1, 1826, Jonathan A. Rathbone. Eliza, b. Aug. 10, 1808, m. Mar. 8, 1825, William Thomas. *David Austin, b. Dec. 10, 1810, m. Nov. 13, 1839, Esther E. Hill, m. (2) Luzetta F~elton. Amelia Ann, b. Apr. 25, 1813, m. Nov. 28, 1838, David C. Rogers. Mariette, b. Nov. 16, 1815, m. Apr. 30, 1840, Porter Wells. *Emerson Cogswell, b. June 10, 1818, m. ¥eh. 16, 1841, Abigail Field. *Alden Amelius Gay, b. Sept. 9, 1820, m. Julia E. Wells. Jane Maria, b. Apr. 6, 1823, m. Asaph Crittenden. David Austin Foote (David, David, Daniel, Nathaniel), b. Dec. 10, 1810, m. Nov. 13, 1839, Esther E. Hill. She d. in 1858. He m. (2) Luzetta Felton. He d. Dec. 18, 1869. Children. Bessie, b. Nov. 26, 1843, m. Nov. 11, 1868, Daniel Ballard, Jr. Mary, m. Alfred Ballard. Etta E., b. Jan. 1858, d. Dec. 15, 1878. Frances Eliz.\, b. May 11, 1861, d. Nov. 5, 1879. Emerson Cogswell Foote (David, David, Daniel, Nathaniel), b. June 10, 1818, m. Feb. 16, 1841, Abigail Field. She d. Dec. 30, 1908. Children. Sevi.\h Eliza, b. May 19, 1843, m. John B. Packard. Josephine, b. Nov., 1856, m. William K. Batchelder. Anna, b. in 1859, m. Fred Holcomb, Dec. 30, 1880. Alden a. G. Foote (David, David, Daniel, Nathaniel), b. Sept. 9, 1820, m. Jan. 5, 1848, JuHa E. Wells, She d. Aug. 31, 1858. He d. June 2, 1858., Children. Lucy Ellen, b. June 24, 1850, m. Lloyd. Frances Ermina, b. Aug. 6, 1855. Julia, b. July 28, 1858, m. Charles Austin. FRENCH. John French came from Rehoboth to North- ampton in 1676. Was a property owner in Deerfield at the time of his death. 296 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Capt. Thomas French (Thomas, Thomas, John), b. April 22, 1732, m. July 29, 1752, Miriam Billings. He d. here Dec. 8, 1813. Cliildren. Tryphena, b. June 6, 1753, m. David Childs and Dr. Moses Hayden. Tertius, b. Mar. 6, 1756, m. Joanna Billings. AcHSAH, b. Feb. 4, 1759. Lucy, b. May 2, 1761, m. Sept. 16, 1783, Joseph Pratt. Lucius, b. Sept. 13, 1763. Patty, b. Feb. 3, 1765, m. Sept. 22, 1788, Jeremiah Dunbar. GATES. Stephen Gates from Norwich, Eng., was the first immigrant of this name in America. Israel Gates (Benjamin, Simon, Stephen, Stephen), b. in 1727. The following children of Israel Gates are noted in different places and without connection with each other. Children. *Peter, b. in 1753, m. Anna Childs and Experience Arms. Anna, b. Mar. 2, 1771, m. Josiah Boyden, Jr. Experience, b. Apr. 16, 1775, m. Jan. 31, 1798, Henry Arms. Luke, m. Rebecca Kittridge. Peter Gates (Israel, Benjamin, Simon, Stephen, Stephen) b. 1753, m. Feb. 18, 1778, Anna Childs. He m. (2) Dec. 19, 1782, Experience Arms. She d. April 2, 1824. He d. Dec. 15, 1821. Children. Israel, b. Nov. 17, 1783, m. Hannah Lincoln. Anna, b. June 10, 1785. Daniel, b. Jan. 23, 1787, m. Lydia White. Electa, b. Jan. 8, 1789, m. Samuel Childs, "The Lawyer." Henry, b. Nov. 25, 1791, m. Julia Case. Sumner, b. Apr. 15, 1796, m. Mary . Spencer, b. Aug. 14, 1798. WiLLARD, b. June 28, 1802. GRAVES. William Graves (Selah, Oliver, Nathaniel, John, Thomas), b. Nov. 22, 1787, m. Aug. 31, 1836, Wealthy Smith. She d. Dec. 16, 1862. He d. July 23, 1867. Children. *Brainard S., b. Apr. 20, 1842, m. Eliza M. Parker, m. (2) Clara Skiff. Mary A., b. May 1, 1844, d. Dec. 8, 1863. Brainard S. Graves (William, Selah, Oliver, Nathaniel, John, Thomas), b. April 20, 1842, m. Dec. 14, 1860, Eliza M. Parker. She d. May 1, 1895. He m. (2), Feb. 1, 1900, Clara SkifT. He d. Jan. 16, 1914. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 297 Children. Anna Maria, b. Oct. 27, 1866, m. Sept. 10, 1890, George S. Irvine. Jennie E., b. Nov. 30, 1867, d. Sept. 1, 1869. *VViLLiAM T., b. Apr. 6, 1869, m. Anna S. Batchelder. Charles N., b. Dec. U, 1870, d. Sept. 23, 1886. *Ed\vard B., b. May 21, 1872, m. Grace S. Lyman. William T. Graves (Brainard S., William, Selah, Oliver, Nathaniel, John, Thomas), b. April 6, 1869, m. June 5, 1895, Anna S. Batchelder. Children. Carl, b. Feb. 28, 1900. Lyman William, b. Dec. 15, 1907. Kenneth Batchelder, b. Jan. 13, 1910. Frederick, b. July 18, 1913. Edward B. Graves (Brainard S., William, Selah, Oliver, Nathaniel, John, Thomas), b. May 21, 1872, m. Dec. 21, 1893, Grace S. Lyman. She was b. Nov. 24, 1874. Children. Edna Winifred, b. Oct. 17, 189-1, m. Nov. 30, 1916, Ra> mond Boyden. Hazel, b. Aug. 23, 1898. Ph\xlis, b. Jan. 24, 1911. GUNN. Hon. Jasper Gunn was the immigrant ancestor of this family. He came to New England in the ship "Defense" in 1635. John Gunn (John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Jasper), b. Dec. 6, 1739, m. Oct. 1, 1767, Jerusha Oakes. Children. Susanna, b. Aug. 7, 1768. Cynthia, b. Jan. 7, 1770, m. Jan. 30, 1788, Stephen Scott. Lucius, b. Jan. 20, 1772. William, b. Aug. 10, 1775. Levi Gunn (John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Jeisper), b. April 29, 1757, m. May 1, 1788, Mary Jewett. He d. June 2, 1795. She d. April 5, 1840. Children. Caroline. *Levi, b. Dec. 28, 1792, m. Mrs. Delia (Dickinson) Gunn. Levi Gunn (Levi, John, Samuel, Nathaniel, Jasper), b. Dec. 28, 1792, m. Dec. 26, 1816, Mrs. Delia (Dickinson) Gunn. She d. Feb. 7, 1881. He d. July 18, 1862. 298 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Caroline, b. Dec. 10, 1817, m. Alonzo Parker. Mary, b. in 1821, m. Horace Hubbard. Delia, b. Apr. 16, 1824, d. June 20, 1832. Eleanor, b. Nov. 25, 1825, m. May 23, 1855, Gurdon Edgarton. Fannie, b. Apr. 1, 1828, m. Nov. 17, 1852, Alvin C. Hitchcock. Levi J., b. June 2, 1830, m. Esther C. Graves, m. (2) Catherine A. Graves. Lyman, b. May 10, 1833, m. Lucy Perry. HAMILTON— HAMBLETON. James Hamilton, a native of Scotland and said to be the son of a clergyman, came to Bos- ton in 1716 with about one hundred other families. They were accompanied by their pastor, Rev. Robert Abercrombie. James Hamilton, b. in Scotland, m. there Rebecca . He d. in Worcester in 1735. Children. Thomas. *MiCHAEL, b. in Scotland, m. Forbush. John. Frances. Michael Hamilton (James), b. in Scotland, m. in Worces- ter, Forbush. Children. James, b. Worcester, m. Mary Knapp and Margaret Mahan. *Robert, b. Mar. 31, 1732, m. Margaret Conkey. Margaret, m. James OHver. Capt. Robert Hamilton (Michael, James), b. in Barre, Mass., March 2,\, 1732, m. Oct. 1, 1767, Margaret Conkey. Shed, in 1847. He d. in 1844. Children. Benjamin, b. Sept. 1, 1768, m. Electa . Micah, b. Mar. 26, 1770, m. Submit Bliss. -^ *WiLLiAM, b. Mar. 29, 1772, m. Rhoda Thwing. Alexander, b. Jan. 12, 1775, d. July 6, 1803. Patty, b. Mar. 15, 1777, d. Aug. 20, 1803. Robert, b. June 14, 1779, d. July 28, 1782. Rebecca, b. Jan. 6, 1782, m. Robert Webster, Jr. Polly, b. June 17, 1784, m. Josiah Rice. Robert, b. Oct. 4, 1786. *Washington, b. May 24, 1789, m. Clarissa Bartlett, Hannah Wells, and Theodosia (Boyden) Harwood. Dr. Wtlliam Hamilton (Robert, Michael, James), b. March 29, 1772, m. Feb. 25, 1796. Rhoda Thwing. She d. June 6, 1832. He d. Sept. 27, 1810. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 299 Children. Luther, b. Nov. 11, 1796, ni. Delia Williams. Elbridge Gerry, b. Sept. 7, 1799, d. Oct. 5, 1818. William, b. Jan. 12, 1802, ni. Louisa B. Johnson. Benjamin Franklin, b. F'eb. 18, 1809, ni. Hannah Gleason. Dr. Washington Hamilton (Robert, Michael, James), b. May 24, 1789, m. June 2, 1811, Clarissa Bartlett. She d. Feb. 28, 1826. He m. (2) Aug., 1826, Hannah Wells. Shed. March 9, 1838. He m. (3) Nov., 1838, Theodosia (Boyden) Harvvood. She d. July 18, 1868. He d. May 16, 1861. Children. ^Erasmus Darwin, b. Dec. 18, 1811, m. Minerva Dickinson. William Cullen, b. Apr. 13, 1813, d. Nov. 19, 1835. *GoRHAM, b. July 14, 1815, m. Fidelia Childs and Elizabeth Mather. Lrcv, b. July 25, 1817, m. Henry Arms, Jr. *George Washington, b. Dec. 7, 1820, m. Lota Harding and Emma A. Bra man. Clarissa, b. Dec. 8, 1823, m. Dwight Boyden. Fannie, b. Feb. 24, 1826, m. Dwight Look. *Benjamin Russell, b. Jan. 31, 1829, m. Kate E. Bovden. He d. Nov. 27, 1911. Alexander, b. Aug. 11, 1831, d. Aug. 4, 1852. Henry, b. July, 1833, d. Dec. 3, 1835. Martha A., b. July 13, 1836, d. Mar. 21, 1854. Dr. Erasmus Darwin Hamilton (Washington, Robert, Michael, James), b. Dec. 18, 1811, m. Jan. 15, 1834, Minerva Dickinson of Shelburne. He d. July 18, 1883. She d. Jan. 12, 1892. Children. Caroline Dickinson, b. Mav 3, 1836, m. Oct. 8, 1856, William C. Aniidon. Shed. Oct. 11, 1912. William Cullen, b. June 12, 1839, m. Mary Pomeroy. Darwin P'reeman, b. Aug. 2, 1846, m. Julia Goddard. Cl.\ra a., b. Apr. 21, 1853, m. June 3, 1874, Arthur Cook. Gorham Hamilton (Washington, Robert, Michael, James) b. Julv 14, 1815, m. Nov. 27, 1837, Fidelia Childs. He m. (2) Elizabeth Mather. He d. Feb. 17, 1879. She d. Nov. 3, 1901. Children. Louisa Augusta, b. Sept. 11, 1838. *Edward William, b. Nov. 15, 1840, m. Ellen Crittenden. Fannie E., b. Dec. 25, 1852, m. William Bigelow. Fidelia C, b. Aug. 6, 1854, m. F>ed Tucker. EuwAKi) WiLT.LVM HAMILTON (Gorham, Washington, Robert, Michael, James), b. Nov. 15, 1840, m. Ellen L. Critten- den, Dec. 24, 1860. She d. Nov. 17, 1913. 300 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Cora Belle, b. Oct. 11, 1861, m. (1) Irwin Field, m. (2) Edson S. Boutwell. Louisa Augusta, b. May 27, 1864, m. Roger C. Lawson. William Edward, b. Jan. 10, 1868, m. Ada Greenough. Frank Luther, b. Apr. 20, 1871, m. Lydia Esther Goodnow. George Washington Hamilton (Washington, Robert, Michael, James), b. Dec. 7, 1820, m. Lota Harding. She d. July 10, 1862. He m. (2) Emma A. Braman. He d. Feb. 10, 1878. Children. *George Fred, b. Dec. 12, 1854, m. Mrs. Maria (Newhall) Briggs and (2) Mrs. Ellen Merrill. Fanme I., b. June 12, 1858. Flora J., b. June 12, 1858. Charles E., b. May, 1863, d. Sept. 14, 1863. John B., b. Aug., 1865, d. Sept. 3, 1866. George Fred Hamilton (George W., Washington, Robert, Michael, James), b. Dec. 12, 1854, m. Oct. 9, 1875, Maria (Newhall) Briggs. He m. (2) May 24, 1913, Mrs. Ellen L. Merrill. Children. Lota M., b. Sept. 4, 1876, m. Mar. 10, 1896, Herman Victor Hale. Benjamin Russell Hamilton (Washington, 'Robert, Michael, James), b. Jan. 31, 1829, m. Dec. 30, 1858, Kate E. Boyden. She d. Oct. 10, 1906. He d. Nov. 27, 1911. Children. Nellie Maud, b. Apr. 4, 1861, d. Oct. 1, 1861. William Alexander, b. Aug. 5, 1862, d. Nov. 23, 1868. HARDING. Abraham Harding came to America in 1638 when he was admitted as an inhabitant at Dedham. He married his wife, Elizabeth, in Boston. He later moved to Medfield. At the latter place he erected a costly residence and d. in 1655, aged about forty years. Abiel Harding (Samuel, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham), b. Woodstock, Conn., Aug. 1, 1760, m. Aug. 14, 1786, Olive Smith. He d. in 1849. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. After the w,ar he settled in Conway where his children were born. Children. John, b. June 3, 1787. Sophia, b. July 26, 1789, m. Elisha Smith. Elijah, b. Oct. 30, 1790. Chester, b. Sept. 1, 1792, m. Caroline M. Woodruff. Horace. Dexter. Sophronia, b. May 14, 1799. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 301 Abijah Harding (Samuel, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham), b. Woodstock, Conn. He m. Lydia Dickinson of Whately. She d. Aug. 31, 1808. He m. (2) Mar. 22, 1809, Elizabeth Scott. He d. March 3, 1844. She d. April 20, 1844. He was in the Rcxolutionary War. Children. Abijah, b. Jan. 9, 1787, m. Jane Clark. Esther, b. Feb. L3, 1790, ni. Jan. 7, 1840, Consider Dickinson. She was the founder of the Dickinson Academy and Free Library in Deerfield. *Lym.\n, b. Feb. 7, 1792, m. Sylvia Smith. JCLi.\, b. Dec. 23, 1793, d. unm. Nov. 8, 1869. St.\tir.\, b. Mar. 3, 1796, m. Dec. 3, 1840, Othniel Hannum. Parisatas, b. Mav 3, 1798, m. Nov. 20, 1820, Abel Scott of Whately. Electa, b. Mar. 26, 1800, m. Apr. 14, 1825, Caleb Dodge of Worthington. Lewis, b. May 20, 1804, d. 1888. Lyman Harding (Abijah, Samuel, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham), b. Feb. 7, 1792, m. April 28, 1819, Sylvia Smith of Sunderland. He d. July 18, 1868. She d. April 4, 1873. Children. Ruby E., b. Feb. 22, 1820, m. Oct. 19, 1845, Samuel P. Billings. Smith, b. Feb. 28, 1822, m. Eunice A. Tilton and Jennia A. McAnnully. Austin, b. June 6, 1824, d. May 27, 1850. Charles, b. Nov. 21, 1827, m. Julia Ferry and Elizabeth Vallintine. He was 40 yrs. a missionary in Sholapur, India. Lota Jane, b. Mar. 12, 1829, m. Dec. 29, 1852, George W. Hamilton. Ouartus, b. Feb. 9, 1831, m. Susan Nash. Henry, b. Mar. 14, 1833, m. Amelia Conant. *Baxter, b. June 30, 1835, m. Philena Stearns and Martha J. Bridges. Sedgwick, b. June 30, 1838, m. Ella Bradford. Tyler, b. Dec. 30, 1840, m. Clara Louise Stearns. Baxter Harding (Lyman, Abijah, Samuel, Samuel, Abraham, Abraham), b. June 30, 1835, m. Jan. 24, 1866, Philena Stearns. She d. March 25, 1871. He m. (2) Oct. 1, 1873, Martha J. Bridges. He d. July 17, 1875. Children. Mary Elizabeth, b. Sept. 12, 1870, d. Sept. 30, 1870. HASSELL—HASSALL— HASSULL— HASEWELL. Richard was an early inhabitant at Cambridge. He was born in 1622. His wife was Joanna. Children. Elizabeth, who married Joseph Wright. Joseph, m. Anna Perry. Esther, m. Obadiah Perry. 302 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Benjamin Hassell (Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard,) b. Sept. 19, 1791, m. Feb. 3, 1826, Sarah Parker. She d. Dec. 3, 1861. He d. May 11, 1880. Children. Sarah, b. Feb. 18, 1829, m. Oct. 15, 1851, David Anderson. *GiLMAN P., b. Dec. 28, 1830, m. Sarah A. Robinson. Maria L., b. Dec. 15, 1832, m. Edward Delabarre. Martha A., b. Aug. 1, 1834, d. Aug., 1898. Joseph E., b. June 23, 1836, d. Jan. 18, 1904. Phoebe S., b. May 11, 1838, m. Otis Gibson. Appleton, b. Nov. 10, 1842, d. Dec. 28, 1865. *George a., b. Sept. 16, 1844, m. Louise Counter. Harriet E., b. Oct. 10, 1846, m. 1887, Augustus Chandler. Oilman P. Hassell (Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. Dec. 28, 1830, m. Sarah A. Robinson. They both d. in 1897. Children. *Charles Lincoln, b. May 8, 1860, m. Nov. 24, 1881, Hattie Buckley. Cora, b. Aug. 8, 1864, d. Oct. 21, 1874. *Harry B., b. Nov. 8, 1869, m. Elizabeth Johnson. Charles Lincoln Hassell (Oilman, Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. May 8, 1860, m. Nov. 24, 1881, Hattie Buckley. Children. Cora, b. Sept. 1, 1882. Emma, b. Dec. 4, 1885. *Arthur, b. July 9, 1887, m. Florence Ames. Sarah, b. Oct. 31, 1891. Harriet, b. Aug. 13, 1903. Arthur Hassell (Charles, Oilman, Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. July 9, 1887, m. Florence Ames of Elgin, 111. Children. Arthur Ames, b. Oct. 9, 1911. Faith, b. Dec. 21, 1912. Harry Benjamin Hassell (Oilman, Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. Nov. 8, 1869, m. Nov. 2, 1898, Elizabeth Johnson. Childreii. Stanley G., b. June 3, 1902. Dorothy W., b. July 18, 1905. Richard G., b. Apr. 23, 1909. Galen Hollis, b. Nov. 1, 1910. Oeorge a. Hassell (Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin, Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. Sept. 16, 1844, m. Aug. 21, 1872, Louise Counter. Children. George, b. Aug. 2, 1874, ni. Nettie Hopkins. ♦Clarence, b. May 23, 1876, m. Mary Delia Cook. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 305 Clarence Hassell (George, Benjamin, Jason, Benjamin^ Joseph, Joseph, Richard), b. May 23, 1876, m. Mary Delia Cook. Children. Harold, b. Dec. 20, 1898. HAWKES. A. Carter Hawkes, b. in 1821, m. Louisa Gould. He d. in 1882. She d. in 1899. Children. Frederick C., b. Oct. 20, 1854, m. Cora Letson. He rl. Oct. 20, 1896. ♦William E., b. Jan. 4, 1859, m. June 4, 1884, EUa A. Batchelder, ni. (2) Mrs. Flora (Bailey) Hardy. He d. Nov. 14, 1915. William E. Hawkes (A. Carter), b. Jan. 4, 1859, m. June 4, 1884, Ella A. Batchelder. She d. Sept. 2, 1896. He m. (2) Oct. 6, 1903, Mrs. Elora (Bailey) Hardy. He d. Nov. 14, 1915. Children. Ella Louise, b. Oct. 12, 1887, d. in 1904. HILLM AN. John Hillman (Lot) , b. April 8, 1 786, m. Sept. 11, 1810, Reliance Keves. She d. May 4, 1825. He d. Feb. 2, 1858. Children. Phila C, b. Mar. 3, 1812, d. Aug. 4, 1835. Lyman J., b. Mar. 19, 1814, d. Nov. 23, 1866. Elizabeth, b. Jan. 19, 1816, d. Mar. 31, 1816. Calvin Keves, b. May 18, 1817, m. Marietta Bramun. Nancy Keyes, b. July 31, 1820, m. Thomas Hopkins. HoLLis E., b. Feb. 28, 1822, m. Malinda Collier. Sakepta, b. Dec. 3, 1827. Hervev, b. Nov. 15, 1829, d. June 25, 1832. Harriet Pease, b. Feb. 22, 1832, ni. Franklin Clapp. Mary Keyes, b. Nov. 22, 1834, m. Ebenezer C. Rogers. HOLCOMB. John S. Holcomb, b. Jan. 19, 1814, m. Aug. 10, 1842, Sophronia S. White. He d. May 13, 1898. She d. March 25, 1915. Children. Ellen E., b. Aug. 18, 1842, m. Oct. 4, 1865, J. Madison Stearns. Alice A., b. Jan 8, 1846, m. Oct. 11, 1865, George Austin Abell. *JoHN R., b. Nov. 13, 1847, m. May 29, 1872, Fannie E. Stearns. Janette, b. Aug. 22, 1850, d. Sept. 21, 1851. George C, b. June 30, 1852, m. June 12, 1878, E. Isabel Colburn, m. (2) Sept. 26, 1910, Mary A. Billings. Mary S., b. Sept. 23, 1854, m. Herbert Russ. *P'red, b. V&h. 28, 1857, ni. Anna Foote. Fr.\nk, b. Dec. 11, 1859, d. Julv 5, 1861. Willis, b. Dec. 27, 1861, d. May 13, 1895. Albert, b. Sept. 8, 1865. 304 HISTORY OF CONWAY. John R. Holcomb (John S.), b. Nov. 13, 1847, m. May 29, 1872, Fannie E. Stearns. Children. Belle Frances, b. Sept. 26, 1875, m. Oct. 6, 1897, George G. Johnson. Fred Holcomb (John S.), b. Feb. 28, 1857, m. Dec. 30, 1880, Anna Foote. Children. Mary White, b. June 21, 1887. HOPKINS. Seth Hopkins (Stephen, Joseph), b. in East Brewster, July 1, 1753, m. Mercv Rogers. She d. Oct. 6, 1788. He d. April 26, 1841. ' ' Children. Thomas, b. Aug., 1778, d. unm. 1795. Mercy, b. Feb. 12, 1780, m. Wells. Betsey, b. Oct. 26, 1781, m. in 1818, Elisha H. Dix. Polly, b. Apr. 9, 1783, m. Asa Dickinson. *Reuben, b. Feb. 5, 1785, m. Lydia Bacon. Reuben Hopkins (Seth, Stephen, Joseph), b. Feb. 5, 1785, m. Lydia Bacon. She d. March 6, 1850. He d. Oct. 10, 1879. Children. Electa, b. Jan. 2, 1808, m. May 28, 1829, Justus Nims. Julia E., b. Sept. 17, 1810, d. June 19, 1873. *Thomas, b. Dec. 29, 1813, m. Nancy K. Hillman. Harriet Atwood, b. Oct. 10, 1816, m. David Crittenden. *AusTiN, b. Aug. 19, 1819, m. Hulda Susanna Truesdell. Elvira Mercy, b. May 26, 1823, m. George Rodney Smith. Thomas Hopkins (Reuben, Seth, Stephen, Joseph), b. Dec. 29, 1813, m. Nov. 30, 1843, Nancy K. Hillman. He d. Nov., 1888. Children. Charles. Edwin Alonzo, b. July 3, 1847, m. Roxanna . Austin Hopkins (Reuben, Seth, Stephen, Joseph), b. Aug. 19, 1819, m. June 4, 1846, Hulda Susanna Truesdell. She d. Dec. 30, 1892. He d. Nov. 3, 1906. Children. , Lewis Austin, b. June 23, 1847, d. Oct. 7, 1850. *Henry Wilder, b. Dec. 3, 1851, m. Mary Ann (Baker) Bigelow. George Lewis, b. Sept. 21, 1853, d. June 8, 1878. ♦Lemuel Truesdell, b. May 8, 1859, m. Aug. 15, 1894, Lucy Maria Clarke. Fannie Louise, b. Jan. 19, 1862, m. Jan. 19, 1887, Frederick L. Wing. She d. June 17, 1916. He d. June 13, 1890. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 305 Henry Wilder Hopkins (Austin, Reuben, Seth, Stephen, Joseph), b. Dec. 3, 1851, m. Sept. 23. 1874, Marv Ann (Baker) Bigelow. He d. March 31, 1900. She d. May 4, 1910. Children. Amy Bigelow, b. I\Lir. 17, 1875. Nettie Harriet, b. May 9, 1876, m. George Hassell. Anna Louisa, b. Apr. 14, 1879. George Henry, b. Feb. 6, 1883. Mary Calista, b. June 1, 1888, d. Aug. 22, 1912. Ruth Baker, b. Mar. 24, 1891. Raymond Austin, b. June 11, 1894, d. Apr. 27, 1895. Lemuel Truesdell Hopkins (Austin, Reuben, Seth, Stephen, Joseph), b. May 8, 1859, m. Aug. 15, 1894, Lucy Maria Clarke. ROWLAND. John Rowland, b. in England 1592, came with tiie Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620 and was the thirteenth who signed the contract on board the "Mayflower." He m. Eliza- beth Tilley. He d. Feb. 23, 1672. He was the last man that was left of those that came over in the "Mayflower." Job Rowland (John, John, John), b. Barnstable, June 17, 1726, m. June 12, 1753, Hannah Jenkins. She d. Sept. 21, 1781. He d. Jan. 5, 1794. Most of the sons and grandsons of the daugh- ters of Job settled on Cape Cod and many of them became master mariners. All Job's sons moved away. Children. Mary, b. July 21, 1755, ni. Samuel Bassett. *JoHN HowLAND, b. Mar. 31, 1757, in. Grace Avery. Shove, b. Dec. 28, 1759, m. Elizabeth Hastings. Hannah, b. May 20, 1762, m. William Chipman. *JOB, b. July 24, 1764, m. Mary Fisher. Joanna, b. July 28, 1766, m. John Chipman. Benjamin, b. June 18, 1770, m. Hepsibah Hastings. Mehitable, b. June 23, 1773, m. Jan. 24, 1799, Heman Nye. *SouTHWORTH, b. Mar. 29, 1775, m. Esther Allen, m. (2) Polly Ware. Timothy, b. Sept. 17, 1777, m. Lydia Putnam. John Rowland (Job, John, John, John), b. Barnstable March 31, 1757, m. Jan. 6, 1786, Grace Avery. Re d. June 18, 1843. She d. Jan. 12, 1841. Re settled in Conway, where he was a builder. Children. *AsA, b. Oct. 25, 1787, m. Phoebe Thompson and Mrs. Nancy Tilton. *John, b. June 8, 1789, m. Nancy Morton and Mrs. Olive (Hall) Bates. Grace, b. Oct. 29, 1791, m. May 17, 1825, Luther Thompson of Heath. *William Avery, b. Mar. 17, 1/94, m. Hannah Morton. Timothy Metcalf, b. May 14, 1796, d. Mar. 30, 1811. 306 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Gen. Asa Rowland (John, Job, John, John, John), b. Oct. 25, 1787, m. Oct. 25, 1818, Phoebe Thompson of Heath. She d. April 11, 1860, and he m. (2) March 16, 1861, Mrs. Nancy A. Tilton. He d. June 29, 1870. She d. Jan. 9, 1882. John Howland (John, Job, John, John, John), b. June 8, 1789, m. Jan. 6, 1816, Nancy Morton. She d. Jan. 2, 1859. He m. (2) Mrs. Olive (Hall) Bates. He d. Dec. 5, 1878. She d. March 1, 1871. John Howland was of the sixth generation of the John Howland who came in the "Mayflower." Children. Harriet Newell, b. June 24, 1817, d. May 31, 1840. Asa Allen, b. Feb. 8, 1820, m. Cornelia White Collins and Emma Lane. John Mills, b. May 5, 1822, m. 1848, Cornelia Woolworth. *Clark Morton, b. Mar. 20, 1824, m. Marietta M. Boyden and Abbie R. Bruce. DwiGHT, b. May 7, 1826, d. Mar. 2, 1862. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 19, 1828, d. Aug. 24, 1870. Charles Morton, b. Nov. 25, 1830, d. Oct. 10, 1853! Nancy Judson, b. Jan. 27, 1833, d. Feb. 20, 1852. Samuel Fisher, b. Aug. 21, 1835. Mary Morton, b. Mar. 18, 1839, d. Aug. 25, 1857. Clark Morton Howland (John, John, Job, John, John, John), b. March 20, 1824, m. Marietta Maria Boyden, Nov. 25, 1852. She d. March 21, 1871. He m. (2) Abbie R. Bruce. Children. Charles Dwight, b. Jan. 4, 1854, d. Sept. 12, 1860. Hattie Clark, b. May 24, 1857, ni. July 28, 1880, Eugene F. Swan. Kate Boyden, b. Jan. 29, 1859, m. Thurlow S. Chandler. Emma Boyden, b. Nov. 30, 1860, m. Aug. 11, 1881, Anson F. Cobb. Mary Dwight, b. July 17, 1862, m. Apr. 9, 1887, Herbert N. Luey. Frederick, b. Apr. 18, 1864. John Frank, b. July 1, 1868. Herbert Russell, b. Mar., 1871, m. Luna Rice. William Avery Howland (John, Job, John, John, John), b. May 17, 1794, m. Dec. 9, 1819, Hannah Morton of Whately, She d. Aug. 30, 1875. He d. June 24, 1878. Children. Edward, b. June 28, 1821, ni. Electa Field and Mrs. S. Maria Farrell. William, b. Dec. 12, 1822, m. Carrie G. Russell. George, b. July 30, 1824. Henry, b. Mar. 29, 1827, m. Jane Eliza Gray. Allen, b. Jan. 20, 1832, d. Jan. 13, 1857. Eliza Sophia, b. Nov. 13, 1833, d. Aug. 30, 1836. Francis, b. June 11, 1836, d. Apr. 1, 1838. *Francis, b. Sept. 3, 1838, m. Vashti A. Tilton. Walter Morton, b. Julv 22, 1840, ni. Florence C. Reynolds, Mida D. Warne, and Anna J. Prettinian. He d. Oct. 22, 1911. FAMILY GENKALOGIES. 307 Francis Howland (William A., John, Job, John, John, John), b. Sept. 3, 1838, m. Oct. 15, 1863, Vashti A. Tilton. She d. July 8, 1896. He owns and occupies the Howland Farm, purchased by his grandfather in 1786. Children. Eliza Agnes, b. Dec. 4, 1864. *George Fr.\ncis, b. Oct. 18, 1867, m. Kate I. Dickinson. Charlotte Ames, b. Oct. 18, 1871. Walter Morton, b. June 5, 1874, d. Apr. 25, 1875. Florence Reynolds, b. June 14, 1876. George Francis Howland (Francis, William A., John, Job, John, John, John), b. Oct. 18, 1867, m. Oct. 6, 1897, Kate Irene Dickinson. Children. K.\THERiNE Eleanor, b. Oct. 15, 1899. W'lLLARD Francis, b. Mar. 5, 1904. Julia Cl.\rk, b. Sept. 19, 1905. Walter AIorton, b. May 19, 1907. Priscilla R., b. Dec. 22, 1913. Job Howland (Job, John, John, John,), b. Barnstable, July 24, 1764, m. in Dedham, Nov. 29, 1792, Mary Fisher. He d. March 13, 1847. She d. April 23, 1849. Children. Katherine, b. Nov. 7, 1794, d. July 22, 1803. Otis, b. Nov. 15, 1796, d. July 25, 1843. Warren Shove, b. Aug. 31, 1798, m. Sarah Wood. Fisher, b. Dec. 10, 1800, d. Julv 18, 1803. Mary, b. Oct. 9, 1803, m. Oct. 'lO, 1848, Chester Crosset. Katherine, b. Dec. 29, 1805, m. Nov. 11, 1847, Charles 11. .Adams. Job Fisher, b. Apr. 26, 1808, m. Emily Alvord. Jonathan Otis, b. Apr. 22, 1810, m. Sarah Ann Denio and Elizabeth Farns- worth. Charles Jenkins, b. May 23, 1814, m. Lucinda H. Jones. William Milton, b. May 10, 1817, ni. Louisa Sophia Look. SoUTHWORTH HowLAND (Job, John, John, John), b. Barn- stable, March 29, 1775, m. Nov. 24, 1797, Esther Allen. She d. Oct. 12, 1814. He m. (2) March 13, 1816, Polly Ware. She d. Feb. 11, 1870. Children. Southworth a., b. Sept. 11, 1800, m. Esther Allen. Maria, b. Aug. 22, 1802, m. June 17, 1830, William Avery. H.vrriet, b. Mar. 18, 1806, m. Mar. 11, 1845, Hezekiah Perry. Louisa, b. Mar. 26, 1808, m. Apr. 9, 1839, Galen Carpenter. He d. July 3, 1867. She m. (2) Apr. 5, 1870, Dr. Henry O. Adams. Henry J., b. Oct. 26, 1810, m. Hannah O. Bailey. Wn I iam Ware, b. Feb. 25, 1817, m. Susan Reed. Samuki., b. .Aug. 2, 1819, d. June 24, 1843. JosLi'H Avery, b. Feb. 19, 1821, m. Adeline Henshaw. Mary E., b. Aug. 28, 1823, m. Edward Smith. Elizabeth S., b. Apr. 3, 1826, m. Feb. 25, 1852, Rev. 11. D. Perrv. 308 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Rev. William Ware Rowland (South worth, Job, John, John, John), b. Feb. 25, 1817, m. Oct. 14, 1835, Susan Reed. He d. in 1892. He served an apprenticeship in printing with G. & C. Merriam at Springfield and later graduated from Amherst College and Andover. Soon after his marriage he and his wife went as missionaries to Ceylon under the A.B.C.F.M. Forty-six years he resided in Ceylon, returning only once in that time to America. Children. William Southworth, b. July 8, 1846, in Jaffna, Ceylon, m. June 19, 1873, Mary Louisa Carpenter of Monson. Samuel Whittlesey, b. Mar. 4, 1848, in Ceylon, m. Apr. 29, 1873, Mary E. K. Richardson. Susan R., b. Nov. 15, 1849, res. in Ceylon. Edward Hitchcock, b. Apr. 15, 1851, in Ceylon, m. Sept. 22, 1877, Maria A. Phinney. She d. Apr. 12, 1900. He m. (2) Mar. 12, 1901, Nellie A. Wilder. She d. Dec. 1, 1905. He d. Apr. 11, 1905. John, b. Mar. 13, 1854, in Ceylon, ni. Aug. 9, 1882, Sara B. Chollar. Daniel Poor, b. in Conway, Nov. 7, 1856, d. here Aug. 14, 1858. Henry Martyn, b. in Conway, Dec. 21, 1858, m. in 1882, Elizabeth Perry. David Brainerd, b. in Conway, May 8, 1861, m. Emma Starkweather. JOHNSON. Gordon Hollis Johnson (Gordon, Obadiah),b. Windsor, July 28, 1842, m. Whately, Dec. 20, 1865, Hannah Arms Brown. Children. Fred, b. Nov. 12, 1866, d. Sept. 18, 1868. Elizabeth, b. Oct. 1, 1870, m. Nov. 2, 1898, Harry Benjamin Hassell. George CxOrdon, b. Oct. 15, 1874, m. Oct. 6, 1897, Belle Frances Holcomb. He d. Mar. 19, 1899. Winifred, b. Sept. 14, 1882, m. Arthur Reed. JONES. Ambrose Jones (Russell, Jehiel, Jabez, Thomas, Thomas), b. about 1800, m. Oct. 5, 1821, Anna Lover- idge. She d. Feb. 18, 1842. He m. (2) Nov. 28, 1844, Lucinda Chapman. She d. Nov. 1, 1849. He m. (3) Feb. 5, 1850, Mrs. Lucretia Jones. She d. Aug. 4, 1850. He m. (4) Sarah Stebbins. She d. Dec. 3, 1871. He d. Dec. 2, 1868. Children. Charlotte, b. Aug. 9, 1823, m. Orson B. Jones. Eliza Ann, b. Aug. 12, 1825, m. Salmon Chapman. Cynthia, b. Apr. 18, 1827. *Chauncey, b. 1831, m. Feb. 12, 1852, Cynthia Hunter. He m. (2) Nov. 25, 1858, Lucretia Burnham. Albert R., b. Apr. 4, 1847, m. Susan Cantrell. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 309 Chauncey Jones (Ambrose, Russell, Jehiel, Jabez, Thomas, Thomas), b. 1831, m. F'eb. 12, 1852, Cvnthia Hunter. He m. (2) Nov. 25, 1858, Lucretia Burnham. He d. Feb. 28, 1882. Shed, in 1891. Children. Fannie, m. Charles E. F"ield. Martha A., b. 1860, m. May 5, 1880, Charles L. Mason. Edgar, b. Oct. 28, 1861, m. Myra Briggs. Chauncey. Clifford. Ira W. Jones, m. Clarissa Rice. He m. (2) April 6, 1848, Clarissa Stearns. Children. Emma C, b. 1844, m. Apr. 28, 1865, Hiram W. Collins. Mattie L., b. 1846, m. June 1, 1864, F" ranees Boyden. Mary, b. 1850, m. Aug. 24, 1876, Jacob Leucot. KEYES. Rev. Calvin Keyes (Stephen, Oliver, Elias, Elias, Robert), b. Lancaster, March 17, 1765, m. Feb. 22, 1785, Reliance Tolman, Deerfield. She d. Feb., 1850. He d. in Conway Sept. 15, 1843. Children. Calvin, b. Dec. 6, 1785, m. Jemima Hilman. Luther, b. Sept. 10, 1787, d. in infancy. Reliance, b. Aug. 11, 1788. Lydia, b. Mav 28, 1790. Phila, b. Apr. 22, 1792. Luther, b. July 9, 1795. Rhoda, b. May 10, 1796, m. George Barrows. *Joel, b. Aug. 11, 1798, m. Hannah L. Porter. Nancy, b. May 1, 1800, d. Sept. 23, 1876. Mary, b. Mar. 16, 1803, m. Mar. 16, 1829, Sylvester Childs. Almira, b. June 23, 1806, d. June 8, 1815. Clarissa, b. June 22, 1808, m. Dennis Childs. Joel Keyes (Calvin, Stephen, Oliver, Elieis, Elias, Robert). b. Aug. 11, 1798, m. April 26, 1827, Hannah L. Porter. She d. Sept. 16, 1876. He d. May 20, 1884. Childreyi. Sylvester \V., b. 1827, d. July 26, 1831. Miranda Jane, b. Sept. 18, 1828, d. young. Christopher C, b. Oct. 4, 1830, m. Sophronia Smith. *James p., b. July 2, 1832, m. Aug. 2?>, 1856, Jane E. .Abercrombie. Wealthy R., b. Mar. 31, 1834, ni. William Rhood. Miranda Jane, b. June 2, 1837, m. .Apr. 6, 1854, .\\\\n B. Stone. Viola, b. .Apr. 4, 1839, m. Rodnev Blodgett. *JoEL, b. Jan. 28, 1841, m. May 24, 1865, Sarah D. Brown. Fidelia H., b. June 12, 1844, m. Stephen Smith. *SiMEON P., b. Sept. 12, 1847, m. Frances Allen. Sylvester P., b. Nov. 12, 1849. William Dwight, b. Aug. 5, 1854. 310 HISTORY OF CONWAY. James P. Keyes (Joel, Calvin, Stephen, Oliver, Elias, Elias, Robert), b. July 2, 1832, m. Aug. 23, 1856, Jane E. Aber- crombie. Children. Frank P., b. July 5, 1857. Fred, b. Aug. 23, 1859, m. Mrs. Lucia Twining. Arthur A., b. Apr. 23, 1877. Joel Keyes, Jr. (Joel, Calvin, Stephen, Oliver, Elias, Elias, Robert), b. Jan. 28, 1841, m. May 24, 1865, Sarah D. Brown. He d. July 25, 1916. Children. John. Byron C, b. Auo. 2, 1879. Herbert F., b. June 19, 1884. Simeon P. Keyes (Joel, Calvin, Stephen, Oliver, Elias, Elias, Robert), b. Sept. 12, 1847, m. Julv 11, 1867, Frances A. Allen. He d. Jan. 4, 1910. Children. Allen. Darwin. Arthur. Adelbert W. Etta M. •Grace. William Keyes (Edward), b. Nov., 1832, Clonmel, Ire., m. Ellen Brazil, 1860. She d. Sept. 2, 1875. He d. March 26, 1894. Children. Mary, b. Apr. 1, 1862, d. 1868. Ellen, b. Dec. 22, 1864, d. Dec. 24, 1874. Bridget Ellen, b. Sept. 20, 1866, ni. James Connelly, Jan. 4, 1890. William, b. July 9, 1868, d. infancy. Mary Agne.s, b. Manchester, la., Apr. 1, 1870. William Edward, b. Dec. 21, 1874, d. Sept. 17, 1875. LEE. Levi Lincoln Lee (Horatio, Joseph, Benjamin, Henry, Joseph, John), b. Oct. 9, 1827, m. June 4, 1855, Lucy Orinda Benson. She d. Nov. 23, 1915. He d. Nov. 24, 1904. They never had any children but adopted two. Children. Cora L., b. 1865, m. Mar. 30, 1886, William H. Bement. ♦Herbert Russell, b. Mar. 1871, m. Aug. 12, 1895, Luna Rice. Herbert Russell Lee, b. March, 1871, m. Aug. 12, 1895, Luna Rice. Children. JVIerton, b. Feb. 2, 1899. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 311 Dennis Lee (Eber, Eber, Benjamin, Henry, Joseph, John), b. Mav 15, 1819, m. Sept. 15, 1840, Cordelia Boyden. She d. Sept. 4, 1849. He m. (2) Mar. 10, 1853, Ruth Maria PhiUips. He d. Sept. 2, 1864, and is buried at Arlington, D. C. Shed. July 28, 1889. Children. Laura May, b. Dec. 10, 1841, m. July 23, 1862, Myron Dickinson. Mary Lutheria, b. Mar. 14, 1843, m. Jan. 16, 1860, George Truesdell. Lucy Jane, b. June 8, 1845, d. June 25, 1846. WiLLARD, b. Apr. 2, 1847. *George Clifford, b. Dec. 26, 1855, m. Mary Augusta Dole. Frank Wh.bur, b. Mar. 23, 1857. Captain Eber, b. Ot. 10, 1858. Nettie Isador, b. Jan. 31, 1860, ni. Feb. 16, 1881, Ahiion B. Eddy. George Clifford Lee (Dennis, Eber, Eber, Benjamin, Henry, Joseph, John), b. Dec. 26, 1855, m. May 21, 1879, Mary Augusta Dole. Children. Edgar Phillips, b. Apr. 11, 1882. Levi Dole, b. Oct. 6, 1883. Au.sTiN Lee (Eber, Eber, Benjamin, Henry, Joseph, John), b. April 13, 1811, m. Submit Stebbins. She d. Sept. 16, 1840. He m. (2) Dorothy Beales. He d. March 4, 1861. She d. in 1878. Children. Clarissa, b. June 2, 1838, m. George Taintor. Frank, b. July 2, 1842. *Henry, b. Jan. 2, 1847, m. Ella N. Rice. Emery, b. June, 1849, m. Feb. 17, 1875, .■\ddie A. Phelps. Henry Lee (Austin, Eber, Eber, Benjamin, Henry, Joseph, John), b. Jan. 2, 1847, m. Ella N. Rice. Children . Mary Louisa, b. July 23, 1889. Charles Clough, b. June 24, 1891. Frederick, b. 1898. LOOK. Peter Look, Jr. (Peter, Noah, James, Thomas, Thomas), b. Aug. 5, 1785, m. Sophia Healey. She d. June 12, 1834. He d. Nov. 5, 1830. Children. Mary Healey, b. Mar. 19, 1809. Lovina, b. Sept. 11, 1810. Harvey Dix, b. Sept. 7, 1812, m. Althena Munson. Louisa Sophia, b. Nov. 4, 1816, m. Oct. 10, 1843, William H. Howland. Joseph Allen, b. Apr. 22, 1818, ni. Alvira P. Wrisley. DwiGHT B., b. Apr. 19, 1820, ni. Fannie A. Hamilton and Emily Newhall. Editha, b. Aug. 29, 1824, d. in 1880. 312 HISTORY OF CONWAY. MANNING. John Manning (Edward), b. in Ireland, 1841, m. Jane Carmody. Children. John, b. 1871. Edward, b. 1873. William, b. 1877. Frederick, b. 1878. Anna, b. 1880. Agnes, b. 1882. Daniel, b. 1887. MAYNARD. Hon. Malachi Maynard, b. Westboro, 1746, m. Elizabeth . He m. (2) Feb. 22, 1876, Anna Hale. He was town treasurer for twenty-six years, and a representative in the Legislature three terms. He d. Feb. 29, 1824. She d. May 9, 1825. Ciiildren. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 16, 1777, m. Porter. William Hale, b. Nov. 23, 1786. Was a lawyer in New York. Anna Ta\tlor, b. June 7, 1788, d. Mar. 14, 1851. Lydia, b. Mar. 3, 1790, m. Dec. 27, 1818, Zelotus Bates. Oliver, b. June 13, 1792, m. Electa . Lucy, b. Dec. 24, 1796, d. Apr. 24, 1876. MEEKINS. Truman Meekins (Joseph, Thomas, .John, Thomas, Thomas), b. Williamsburg, Aug, 20, 1804, m. Nov. 25, 1825, Polly Packard. She d. June 16, 1871. He d. Dec. 27, 1880. Children. Lucius, b. June 30, 1826, m. Lucy A. Sanderson and Mrs. Florence A. Dickin- son. Truman, m. Harriet Williams. LuTHERA, b. July 25, 1833, m. June 6, 1855, Milo L. Smith. Emery, b. Nov. 10, 1837, m. Sarah Parsons. Emily, b. Nov. 10, 1837, m. Jan. 3, 1860, Rev. William Frederick Arms. MERRITT. The Conway branch is of English ancestry and the family to which they belong is descended from two brothers, who came to this country in 1638, one of whom settled in Massa- chusetts and the other in New York. Asa Merritt, b. Broomfield and m. Anna . She d. June 21, 1821. He was drowned in Cohoes, N. Y., in 1838. Children. *Simeon, b. July 17, 1762, m. Pamelia Baker. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 313 Simeon Merritt (Asa), b. July 17, 1762, m. Xov. 14, 1792, Pamelia Baker. He d. Jan. 29, 1829. She d. July 1, 1843. Children. *Pliny, b. Jan. 19, 1794, in. Sophia Bovden. Sar.^h, b. Sept. 8, 1796, m. Joel Wells. ' Pameli.\, b. Apr. 15, 1800, d. Dec. 16, 1854. LUCRETIA, b. Mar. 18, 1804, d. Nov. 1, 1872. Clarissa, b. Apr. 24, 1806, d. Apr. 11, 1879. Capt. Pliny Merritt (Simeon, Asa), b. Jan. 19, 1794, m. Oct. 14, 1819, Sophia Boyden. She d. Feb. 19, 1867. He d. Oct. 15, 1863. Children. *Charles Baker, b. Mar. 3, 1823, m. Mary A. Stearns. Charles Baker Merritt (Plinv, Simeon, Asa), b. March 3, 1823, m. Nov. 26, 1857, Mary A. Stearns. He d. April 29, 1899. Shed. April 1, 1906. Children. Ella E., b. Jan. 14, 1859, m. Oct. 24, 1887, Charles F. Elmer. MORSE. Eliphaz Morse, m. Sally . He d. in 1862. Children. Lucy A., b. July 12, 1830, m. June 29, 1848, Benjamin Wells. Sarah S., m. Bosworth. NASH. James Nash was the first comer to this country in 1628. His son, Thomas, was of New Haven, Conn., in 1640. Elijah Nash (John, Thomas, Thomas, Lieut. Timothy, Thomas), b. Williamsburg, June 12, 1772, m. Feb. 14, 1796, Paulina Warner. Rem. to Conway and he d. here Jan. 2, 1855. She d. Oct. 9, 1855. Children. W^E.\LTHY, b. Feb. 8, 1797, m. May 31, 1821, Solomon L. Russell. John Adams, b. Sept. 8, 1798, m. Mary M. Clark. Laura, b. May 10, 1800, d. Sept. 5, 1803. Fidelia, b. Nov. 23, 1801, d. July 4, 1803. ^'■ Laura, b. Sept. 10, 1803, m. Oliver Field. ,-•' Fidelia, b. Feb. 5, 1806, m. John F~ield. Minerva Sheldon, b. Apr. 11, 1808, m. June 1, 1836, Rev. Henry E. Eastman. Joseph, b. Sept. 14, 1810, d. Oct. 29, 1824. NELSON. Philip Nelson came from England in 1636, graduated from Harvard College in 1664. Jeremiah Nelson (Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Joseph, Philip), b. in 1767, m. Sarah Spencer. He d. June 2, 1846. She d. Dec. 12, 1853. 314 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children . Sarah, m. May 2, 1816, Lesley Kent. Socrates, m. Dorothy Boyden. ICHABOD, m. May 30, 1832, Eliza Arms. *CoLUMBUS, b. Aug. 22, 1803, m. Louisa Boyden and Lucinda Williams. Columbus Nelson (Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Joseph PhiUp), b. Suffield, Conn., Aug. 22, 1803, m. Conway, Dec. 25, 1827, Louisa Boyden. She d. July 8, 1848. He m. (2) Nov. 19, 1851, Lucinda WilHams. She d. April 4, 1852. He d. Dec. 11, 1886. Children. Lorenzo Willard, b. June 17, 1830, m. June, 1855, Marcia Sophia Redfield. Elizabeth Amelia, b. June 2, 1834, m. Feb. 14, 1855, Charles Williams. Helen Sophia, b. Dec. 3, .1837, m. Oct. 23, 1866, George H. Robbins. Anna Louisa, b. Sept. 5, 1840. Margaret Viola, b. Sept. 19, 1843, m. Oct. 31, 1872, Norton M. Redfield. Christopher Columbus, b. June 19, 1846, d. Mar. 1, 1.872. Eugene Clarence, b. June 28, 1848, d. Mar. 4, 1880. NEWHALL— NEW ALL— NEWELL. The earliest reference to the name is to one Thomas Newhall, whose will was written in Latin in 1498 and proved in 1499. Thomas Newhall was of Lynn in 1630. He had several children and Thomas, Jr., was the first white child born there in 1630. The Newhalls have always been innholders. The second tavern in Conway was kept by Col. Jabez Newhall. Daniel Newhall (Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. at Maiden, Dec. 12, 1707, m. Dec. 26, 1728, Tabitha Upham. Children. Tabitha, b. Sept. 28, 1730, m. Aug. 9, 1750, Benjamin Garfield. *Daniel, b. 1734, m. Elizabeth Stebbins. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 15, 1737, m. Jan. 7, 1760, Stephen Proctor of Danvers. Phineas, b. Sept. 28, 1742, m. Sept. 21, 1763, Lydia Wilson. *Samuel, b. Aug. 15, 1744, m. Anna Reed of Conway. *Jabez, b. Dec, 1746, m. Lydia Shaw. Daniel Newhall (Daniel, Daniel Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Leicester, 1734, m. April 17, 1755, Elizabeth Steb- bins. Children. James, b. 1756. Sarah, b. 1757. *Daniel, b. July 5, 1760, m. Lovina Baker. John, b. Dec. 11, 1762, m. Beulah Stearns. Elizabeth, b. June 20, 1765, m. Samuel Abbey. Jabez, b. May 20, 1767. Mai(y, b. Nov. 28, 1768, m. Asa Frary. Olive, b. May 5, 1771. RuFUS, b. Mar. 31, 1773. Luther, b. Sept. 13, 1779. P^AMILY GKNEALOGIES. 315 Daniel Newtiall (Daniel, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thonuis, Thomas), b. July 5, 1760, in Leicester, m. Jan. 29, 1784, Lovina Baker. Childreyi. Orrin, b. Nov. 8, 1787. Daniel, b. July 26, 1791, m. Harriet Whitney. LoRiNDA, b. Nov. 19, 1793, in. Grover. Polly, b. Aug. 19, 1796, m. Chester Benient. Lovina Ann, b. Sept. 4, 1798, m. Hendricks. Elishet, m. Hendricks. Sarah B., b. Apr. 1806, m. Franklin Siowe. Samuel Newhall (Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Leicester, Aug. 15, 1744; m. Anna Reed of Conway. Children. Esther, b. Dec. 1, 1770; d. Oct. 18, 1818. Sally, b. Feb. 28, 1772. Samuel, b. April 22, 1774; d. Mar. 30, 1814. Phinkhas, b. Julv 18, 1776; m. Wealthy W. Newcomb. *James, b. Aug. 23, 1778; m. Sophia Burt. Relief, b. Nov. 15, 1780. Naihan, b. June 4, 1783; m. Greaty Bardwell. ♦David, b. Mar. 29, 1788; m. Hadassah Moran. James Newhall (Samuel, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Aug. 23, 1778, m. Aug. 31, 1802, Sophia Burt. He d. Aug. 25, 1862. She d. Aug. 18, 1871. Children. *AusTiN, b. June 3, 1803, ni. Abigail Arzealia, b. Sept. 24, 1804, ni. Stebbins. Ezra Tobey, b. Oct. 3, 1808, d. Aug. 24, 1836. Austin Newhall (James, Samuel, Daniel, Daniel, ThonKis, Thomas, Thomas), b. June 3, 1803, m. Feb. 15, 1829, Abigail Briggs. He d. Jan. 2, 1866. She d. Aug. 16, 1882. Children. Israel Briggs, b. Sept. 30, 1835, d. Sept. 3, 1863. ♦Joseph Allen, b. Feb. 1 1, 1838, m. Sarah L. Cady and Kathcrine N. Yeomans. Sinai AIjba, b. Sept. 2, 1840, d. Oct. 13, 1870. Arzealia Maria, b. July 9, 1843, d. June 3, 1845. Arzealia Maria, b. May 12, 1846, m. E- S. Briggs and G. Fred Hamilton. Joseph Allen Newhall (Austin, James, Samuel, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Feb. 11, 1838, m. Sept. 30, 1863, Sarah L. Cady. She d. Sept. 26, 1869. He m. (2) Oct. 12, 1870, Katherine N. Yeomans. She d. June 2, 1898. Children. Merton Allen, b. June 10, 1866, m. Lottie Hollingsworth. Elias Smith, b. Aug. 16, 1871, d. June 12, 1886. ♦Austin Jackson, b. June 3, 1874, m. Maud L. Clark. 316 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Austin Jackson Newhall (Joseph A., Austin, James, Samuel, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. June 3, 1874, m. Oct. 26, 1897, Maud Lena Clark. He d. Nov. 14, 1907. Children. Evelyn Viola, b. Sept. 28, 1899. Burt Elias, b. Aug. 7, 1902. David Newhall (Samuel, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. March 29, 1788, m. Hadassah Moran. He d. Jan. 7, 1864. Children. Mary, b. Apr. 19, 1819. Delia, b. Jan. 1, 1822, ni. Joseph M. Pulsifer. Richard, b. Aug. 10, 1825, d. July 28, 1831. Amelia, b. Nov. 24, 1834. Lieut. Jabez Newhall (Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Dec. 1746, m. May 5, 1768, Lydia Shaw. She d. Mayl, 1835. He d. May 28, 1835. Children. Tabitha, b. Jan. 20, 1769, m. Jan. 16, 1795, Noah Dickinson. Bethia, b. Apr. 14, 1771, m. Mar. 10, 1796, Daniel Rice. *Jabez, b. Feb. 29, 1777, m. Sally Stearns and Mrs. Eunice L. Tilton. Lydia, b. Aug. 11, 1779, m. Joel Bardwell. Dorothy, b. Sept. 7, 1782, m. Timothy Rice. LuciNDA, b. Jan. 1, 1787, m. Zeeb Wells. Col. Jabez Newhall (Jabez, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Feb. 29, 1777, m. Sally Stearns. She d. June 14, 1820. He m. (2) Mrs. Eunice (Livermore) Tilton. He d. April 2, 1858. She d. March 27, 1871. Children. Sarah Stearns, b. Nov. 12, 1822, m. Nov. 7, 1849, Henry Clary. *Jabez Clinton, b. Aug. 12, 1825, m. Adeline Parsons. Emily, b. Oct. 5, 1827, m. June 18, 1850, Dwight B. Look. Jabez Clinton Newhall (Col. Jabez, Jabez, Daniel, Daniel, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. Aug. 12, 1825, m. May, 25, 1854, Adehne Parsons. He d. Nov. 27, 1901. She d. Dec. 16, 1904. Children. Eunice L., b. Mar. 20, 1857, d. June 12, 1914. Ruth L, b. Oct. 23, 1862. Anna B., b. June 12, 1865, m. Francis Willard Boyden. Harry Tilton, b. Jan. 6, 1869, m. Nov. 14, 1894, Rose Estella Abell. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 317 NIMS. Justus Nims (Israel, Jeremiah, John, Godfrey), b. Nov. 11, 1802, m. May 28, 1829, Electa Hopkins. Shed. June 30, 1892. He d. June 2, 1871. Children. Israel Barnard, b. Oct. 21, 1830, d. Apr. 23, 1851. Edward Everett, b. June 22, 1832, d. Mar. 23, 1855. Adeline Philena, b. May 2, 1835, m. June 17, 1857, Edward M. Stearns. Pliny Fisk, b. Sept. 3, 1838, ni. M. Antoinette Goss. Harriet E., b. Apr. 25, 1845, ni. Apr. 22, 1879, Calvin B. Kingsley. Ellen E., b. Sept. 16, 1849, ni. Feb. 7, 1870, James A. Cox. NYE. Calvin E. Nye, b. 1822, m. Elizabeth E. Pease. Hed. Oct. 21, 1833. Children. Caroline, b. 1829, m. Nov. 19, 1879, Thomas Packard. *Henrv, b. July 23, 1836, m. Eliza Farnsworth. Theresa, b. 1838, d. Sept. 21, 1851. Emma L., b. 1842, d. Sept. 20, 1851. Homer, b. 1845, d. Sept. 29, 1851. Henry Nye, b. July 23, 1836, m. June 6, 1862, Eliza A. Farnsworth. He d. Feb. 7, 1905. Children. George H., b. Oct. 25, 1864, m. Jan. 3, 1889, Mattie P. Brown. She d. Apr. 23, 1890. ORCUTT. Walter Orcutt (Stephen, Stephen, Ichabod, Josei)h. William) b. May 7, 1799, m. Ann EHza Blachford. He d. March 1, 1854. Children. Miriam F., m. William Baker. *Eleazer F., b. Nov. 1, 1825, m. Lydia Ann Graves. Carrie E., m. Alvin Warner. li^LEAZER F. Orcutt (Walter, Stephen, Stephen, Ichabod, Joseph, William), b. Nov. 1, 1825, m. Dec. 12, 1850, Lydia Ann Graves. He d. Oct. 25, 1889. Children. William Baker, b. Jan. 11, 1852, m. Mary E. Kingsley. Walter Eleazer, b. Apr. 15, 1855, ni. Lizzie Ellen Hubbard. Anna Eliza, b. July 15, 1865, m. Ryland C. Howes. Ella Louise, b. Oct. 4, 1871, m. George A. Elder. PACKARD. Bradley Packard (Joseph, Timothy, Jo- seph, Joseph, John, Samuel), b. June 23, 1808, m. Dec. 2, 1831, Mary W^ebster. She d. June 2, 1860. He d. March 5, 1881. 318 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Frances Submit, b. June 23, 1833, m. Nov. 23, 1858, Giles W. Barney. *JoHN Bond, b. Feb. 22, 1837, m. Seviah Footeand Mrs. Augusta M. Newton. Elvira E., b. Aug. 16, 1839, m. Apr. 5, 1871, William C. Howes. AzEL A., b. Sept. 22, 1849, m. Mary Villes. John Bond Packard (Bradley, Joseph, Timothy, Joseph, Joseph, John, Samuel), b. Feb. 22, 1837, m. March 22, 1864, Seviah E. Foote. She d. May 21, 1872. Hem. (2) Oct. 8, 1874, Mrs. Augusta M. Newton. Children. Willie Bradley, b. Jan. 21, 1865, d. Aug. 28, 1865. PAGE. One of the earliest emigrants in this country by this name was John Page and his wife Phoebe. He was born in England in 1586, came from Dedham, Eng., in 1630. Timothy Page (Timothy), b. in 1700, m. Nov. 27, 1722, Thankful Doolittle. Children. Timothy, b. June 29, 1728. Thankful, b. Mar. 27, 1730. Sar.\h, b. Mar. 6, 1732. Susanna, b. May 4, 1734. Asa, b. Dec. 21, 1735. David, b. May 11, 1738. *Theopolis, b. Aug. 18, 1740, m. Mabel Merriman, m. (2) Rebecca Look. Theopolis Page (Timothy, Timothy), b. Wallingford, Conn., Aug. 18, 1740, m. 1773, Mabel Merriman. She d. Oct. 8, 1785. He m. (2) April 6, 1786. Rebecca Look. She d. Nov. 23, 1827. He d. March 27, 1824. He came to Conway and pur- chased 75 acres of land which constituted the basis of the Page farm in Broomshire. This deed was given in the reign of George HI, Aug. 14, 1774. Children. Nathaniel, b. Dec. 6, 1774, d. Oct. 29, 1778. Phineas, b. Nov. 18, 1776, m. Lynthia Macomber. *Levi, b. Jan. 14, 1779, m. Patty Gould. Nathaniel, b. May 24, 1781, m. Prudence Allen. Joel, b. Oct. 31, 1784. Elijah, m. Nancy Field. Betsey, b. June 26, 1791, m. Oct. 10, 1819, Lucius Bliss Wing. Levi Page (Theopolis, Timothy, Timothy), b. Jan. 14, 1779, m. Jan. 25, 1815, Patty Gould of Lyme, Conn. She d. Sept. 18, 1878. He d. Feb. 1, 1855. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 319 Children. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 27, 1816, d. Oct. 3, 1817. Nancy Field, b. Oct. 15, 1818, m. Oct. 12, 1840, Jonathan Lyman Root. *Levi, b. Jan. 21, 1821, m. Rhoda Maria Fisk. *Elijah, b. Aug. 26, 1823, m. Kezia Foster Bardwell. Martha Ann, b. Oct. 16, 1826, m. Oct. 25, 1853, John Reniele. Levi Page (Levi, Theopolis, Timothv, Timothy), b. Jan. 21,182L m. Nov., 1848, Rhoda Maria Fisk. ' He d. Jan. 15, 1891. Shed. 1901. Cliildreu. Sarah Elizabeth, b. May 25, 1850, m. Feb. 14, 1877, John W. Tilton. Levi, b. Nov. 8, 1857, d. Jan. 20, 1877. Harlan, b. Feb. 12, 1863, m. Marv Y. Ferris. James Fisk, b. Jan. 17, 1868, ni. Dec. 31, 1892, Dora French. Elijah Pa(;e (Levi, TheopoHs, Timothv, Timothy), b. Aug. 26, 1823, m. Nov. 6, 1849, Kezia Foster Bardwell. He d. May 4, 1890. She d. May 3, 1907. Children. *Joel Bardwell, b. Sept. 5, 1850, ni. Mary E. Hubbard and Clara A. Bradford. Alice Gould, b. Nov. 3, 1852, m. Sept. 3, 1881, Ezra Bonny Vining. Lyman Root, b. Aug. 25, 1855, d. June 26, 1857. M.\TTiE Georgiana, b. Apr. 23, 1860, m. July 24, 1882, Homer Cooley. Joel Bardwell Page (Elijah, Levi, Theopolis, Timothy^ Timothy), b. Sept. 5, 1850, m. Meirch 17, 1874, Mary E. Hubbard. She d. June 12, 1882. He m. (2) March 28, 1883, Clara A. Brad- ford. He d. 1902. She d. 1903. Children. Lyman R., b. Mar. 30, 1875, d. Oct. 4, 1876. Wilbur Hubbard, b. Sept. 16, 1876, d. Oct. 9, 1891. Eleanor P., b. May 13, 1886, d. July 24, 1891. Harry B., b. Feb. 18, 1889, d. Apr. 3, 1890. Hettie, b. Feb. 18, 1889, d. Apr. 17, 1891. Robert Blake, b. Aug. 26, 1891, d. Feb. 11, 1915. PARKER. James Parker (James, Nathaniel, Nathan- iel, Isaac, Jo.seph, James), b. Nov. 3, 1810, m. 1837, Lucy Rice. She d. Dec. 25, 1847. He m. (2) Aug. 16, 1853, Lucy Jane Steele. He d. Dec. 20, 1863. She d. Jan. 12, 1901. Children. Charles Wing, b. Oct. 23, 1839, m. Emma A. Hastings. Eliza Maria, b. Mar. 9, 1845, m. Dec. 14, 1865, Brainard S. Graves. William Avery, b. Mar. 30, 1855. *James Frederick, b. Apr. 17, 1858, m. Hattie A. Newton. 320 HISTORY OF CONWAY. James Frederick Parker (James, James, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Isaac, Joseph, James), b. April 17, 1858, m. May 9, 1890, Hattie A. Newton. Children. John Harold, b. May 22, 1891. Myrtle, b. 1895, m. Mar. 7, 1916, Renfrew Nye. Eugene Hunt, b. Jan. 30, 1901. PARSONS. The name of Colonel Joseph Parsons first appears in the records of Springfield in 1642. His oldest son, Benjamin, had seven children. Benjamin's oldest son, Samuel, settled in Enfield, Conn. Samuel's youngest son was Nathaniel, whose youngest son was Chadwell and his second son was the first settler of this name in Conway. a. . / Joel Parsons (Chadwell, Nathaniel, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph-), b. Somers, Conn., Jan. 28, 1753, m. July 31, 1775, Tryphena Booth. He d. here Aug. 9, 1831. Children. Joel, b. Mar. 31, 1778. Levi, B. July 9, 1780, m. Philinda Warren. LuCY.'b. Aug. 3, 1782, m. Oct., 1804, Asahel Lyman. Laura, b. July 5, 1787, m. Apr. 7, 1808, George Root. i c William, b. July 7, 1789, m. Silence Macomber. . - -^i- /f/ ^ , /T^l) Myra, b. Nov. 22, 1792, m. Camillus Chapin. - ^2, Off -* tU.>Jf^^y Lois, b. Mar. 8, 1795, m. Feb. 22, 1827, Capt. Otis Childs. *Charles, b. June 22, 1798, m. Sylvia Boyden. Captain Charles Parsons (Joel, Chadwell, Nathaniel, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph), b. June 22, 1798, m. Oct. 30, 1823, Sylvia Boyden. She d. Aug. 9, 1876. He d. May 14, 1889. Children. Adeline, b. Dec. 29, 1826, m. Jabez C. Newhall. Nancy, b. Sept. 29, 1828, m. June 4, 1851, Gurdon Edgerton. Tryphena, b. Dec. 28, 1831, d. Mav 21, 1858. Charles Lyman, b. Sept. 2, 1836, d; Oct. 9, 1836. *Charles, b. Apr. 2, 1839, m. Helen A. Wickham. Charles Parsons, Jr. (Charles, Joel, Chadwell, Nathaniel, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph), b. April 2, 1839, m. Oct. 29, 1861, Helen A. Wickham. Children. Minnie A., b. Aug. 13, 1864. *Charles Lyman, b. Feb. 10, 1868, m. Laura Wilson Wing. Lizzie, b. July 18, 1871, d. Nov. 5, 1890. Lois, b. Mar. 1, 1874. Sylvia, b. Apr. 2, 1877, m. Aug. 21, 1906, Darwin Sanderson FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 321 Charles Lyman Parsons (Charles, Jr., Charles, Joel, Chadwell, Nathaniel, Samuel, Benjamin, Joseph), b. Feb. 10, 1868, m. Oct. 18, 1893, Laura Wilson Wing. Children. Charles Edward, b. Nov. 22, 1894. Howard, b. Mar. 28, 1902. Sidney, b. Mar. 6, 1905. PATRICK. Frederick E. Patrick (Ebenezer, Matthew, Thomas), b. Stillwater, N. Y., Feb. 17, 1807, m. Hoosick Falls, Jan. 24, 1833, Eliza M. King. He d. May 4, 1862. She d. July 5, 1882. Children. Frederick Mayor, b. Apr. 22, 1834, d. Mar. 22, 1905. Charles Haryey, b. May 15, 1836, m. Nov. 19, 1875, Amanda (Kelsey) Janes. Ada F. R., b. Nov. 15, 1841. PATTERSON. Rufus J. Patterson (Edgar, William, John), b. Nov. 19, 1834, m. May 26, 1863, Emily Stearns Boyden. Shed. Jan. 15, 1905. Children. *Ale.\ander Josiah, b. Aug. 8, 1865, m. Carrie M. Ames. Mary Louise, b. June 20, 1867, m. July 31, 1895, Albert C. Boyden. Alexander Josiah Patterson (Rufus J., Edgar, William, John), b. Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 8, 1865, m. Conway, Sept. 30, 1891, Carrie Montague Ames. Children. F. Ames, b. Oct. 11, 1893, d. Oct., 1893. PAYNE. Zebulon Payne, m. Annie Bigelow. He d. Oct. 1, 1859. Shed. 1883. Children. VVashingtox, b. Feb. 15, 1822. *Zebulon, b. Apr. 30, 1824, m. Elizabeth Harris. Sarah Jane, b. Mar. 16, 1827, d. Nov. 9, 1827. Hilda ^L\ria, b. Jan. 25, 1829, m. Nov. 17, 1846, William W. Underwood. *SiLAS, b. Sept. 21, 1830, m. Alvira Elmer. Bexjamix, b. Jan. 31, 1833. Elizabeth Jane, b. Sept. 9, 1836, m. Jan. 23, 1866, John H. Elmer. Alonzo, b. July 3, 1839, m. May 17, 1860, Mabel Phillips. Zebulon Payne (Zebulon), b. April 30, 1824, m. Eliza- beth Harris. Children. Lorenzo W., b. Oct. 2, 1844. William R., b. 1849, m. Abbie E. Hicks and Rose A. Denton. Henry, b. May 21, 1851. 322 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Silas Payne (Zebulon), b. Sept. 21, 1830, m. Oct. 4, 1854, Alvira Elmer. He d. March 27, 1889. Children. Frank M., b. May 4, 1857. George W., b. Feb. 1, 1859, m. Ella S. Quinn. Frederick A., b. Oct. 5, 1860, m. Dec. 16, -1882, Alvira Phillips. PEASE. John Pease (John, Pelatiah, Jonathan, John, Robert), b. Enfield, Conn., Aug. 23, 1777, m. April 25, 1799, Hattie Allen. He moved to Conway in 1800. He was a farmer and a common school and sacred music teacher. Children. Martha, b. May 19, 1800, m. Sumner Graves. John, b. Nov. 24, 1801, m. Louisa Bartlett. Miriam, b. Nov. 14, 1804, m. Lovell H. Oakes. David A., b. Dec. 9, 1805, m. Sophia Wilcox. LuMAN, b. Aug. 26, 1808, m. Gracia Hawks. Diantha, b. Feb. 11, 1810, m. Daniel Clark. HartF., b. Feb. 27, 1811. Maronett, b. Nov. 21, 1813, m. James Childs. Reuel, b. Oct. 6, 1815, m. Sarah Macomber. Solomon Pease (Reuel, John, John, Pelatiah, Jonathan, John, Robert), m. Jan. 17, 1871, Myra A. Taft. He d. Nov. 25, 1908. Children. Ida F., m. Mar. 5, 1892, Orson H. Graves. Susie. Charles, m. Carrie Demming. Arthur, m. Mabel Stroud. George, m. Lottie Alden. Harry, m. Gertrude Brown. AsHER Pease (John, Pelatiah, Jonathan, John, Robert), b. Enfield, Conn., Sept. 21, 1781, m. Elizabeth Chaffee. He d. Nov., 1872. Children. Eliza, b. Mar. 21, 1802, m. Dec. 9, 1826. *Newton, b. Nov. 17, 1805, m. Sarah Dwight and Martha (Wilbur) Ogden. Maria, b. Nov. 30, 1808, m. Alvin Clark. Beulah, b. 1810, m. Josiah Dwight. Harriet, b. Oct. 13, 1813, m. David Valentine. Caroline, b. Mar. 1, 1816, d. Jan. 29, 1831. Loring, b. 1818, d. Feb., 1831. ♦Franklin, b. June 27, 1823, m. (1) Minerva Nims, m. (2) Mrs. Sarah (Leon- ard) Hathaway. Newton Pease (Asher, John, Pelatiah, Jonathan, John, Robert), b. Enfield, Conn., Nov. 17, 1805, m. Nov. 26, 1833, Sarah Dwight. She d. Sept. 16, 1866. He m. (2), Sept. 22, 1874, Mrs. Martha (Wilbur) Ogden. He d. Nov., 1901. F"AMILY GENEALOGIES. 323 Children. Sarah Caroline, h. Dec. 9, 1834, m. June 18, 1862, Charles Oakes. Ellen Maria, b. Jan. 4, 1840, m. Oct. 7, 1869, William R. Purple. ♦Harris Dwight, b. Apr. 13, 1842, m. May 14, 1874, Luella Jackman. Jane Eliza, b. March 3, 1844, d. Apr. 6, 1861. Henry Elbridge, b. May, 1846, d. young. Harriet Amelia, b. Jan. 5, 1849, m. May 14, 1874, Oramel G. Waterman. Gr.\ce, b. Feb. 15, 1877, m. June 29, 1907, Charles F. DeWolfe. Gertrude, b. Oct. 26, 1879, m. Oct. 9, 1902, Irying Camp. Harris D\vk;ht Pease (Newton, Asher, John, Pelatiah, Jonathan. John, Robert), b. April. 13, 1842, m. May 14, 1874, Luella Jackman. Children. Florence Mabel, b. Noy. 9, 1875. Harris Merrill, b. Aug. 8, 1882, m. May 27, 1913, Rena Maltby, Spokane, Wash. Hon. Franklin Pease (Asher, John, Pelatiah, Jonathan, John, Robert), b. June 27, 1823, m. Nov. 5, 1850, Minerva Nims. She d. and he m. (2) Jan., 1895, Mrs. Sarah (Leonard) Hathaway. He d. April 5, 1903. PECK. Simeon Peck (Simeon, Simeon), b. June 25, 1825, m. Lucinda Allis. Children. Fannie, b. 1853, m. Oct. 1, 1871, Barron Stowe. *WiLLiAM, b. May 12, 1854, m. Mary Emma Bond. Simeon, d. young. *Charles, b. June 15, 1857, m. Nettie M. Irvine. Julia, b. Sept., 1860, d. July 11, 1880. Hattie, b. 1861, m. Dec. 13, 1882, Moses P. Stanton. William Peck (Simeon, Simeon, Simeon), b. May 12, 1854, m. Dec. 25, 1878, Mary Emma Bond. Children. Mary Gertrude, b. June 23, 1881, m. June 23, 1908, Clarence A. Flagg. Clarence William, b. Dec. 8, 1884, m. Mar. 25, 1909, Myrtle A. Bliss. Newton Charles, b. Noy. 8, 1889, m. Sept. 15, 1915, Marion R. Jones-. Harry Raymond, b. Noy. 23, 1897, d. young. Charles Peck (Simeon, Simeon, Simeon), b. June 15, 1857, m. Aug. 8, 1883, Nettie M. Irvine. He d. Dec. 22, 1916. Children. Eleanor L., b. 1884, d. Sept. 10, 1895. Lillian E., b. May 12, 1889. Harold I., b. Jan. 24, 1893. E. Gr.\ce, b. July 10, 1899. 324 HISTORY OF CONWAY. PHILLIPS. Simeon Phillips (Philip, Thomas, John), b. June 1, 1768, m. Ruth Andrews. She d. Dec. 11, 1851. He d. Oct. 16, 1854. Children. *James, b. Feb. 23, 1793, m. Mary Ann Wheeler. *Philip M., b. Apr., 1797, m. Dolly Carrier. Simeon, b. Feb. 22, 1815, m. Emily Irene Welton, Louisa Carrier, and Lucy Wade. Capt. James Phillips (Simeon, Philip, Thomas, John), b. Feb. 23, 1793, m. April 12, 1821, Mary Ann Wheeler. She d. Nov. 12, 1868. He d. Feb. 26, 1869. Children. *JosEPH Wheeler, b. Dec. 15, 1821, m. Celicia Rice. Harriet Parmelia, b. Sept. 15, 1834, m. July 6, 1854, Almon Parker Eldred. Joseph Wheeler Phillips (James, Simeon, Philip, Thomas, John), b. Dec. 15, 1821, m. July 1, 1847, Celicia Rice. She d. Feb. 6, 1883. Children. Charles Joseph, b. Apr. 2, 1849. James Andrews, b. Aug. 15, 1850. Philip M. Phillips (Simeon, Philip, Thomas, John), b. April, 1797, m. Dolly Carrier. She d. 1881. He d. Oct. 22, 1879. Children. Ruth, b. 1826, m. Dennis Lee. Mary J., b. 1838, m. Mar. 23, 1859, Emerson P. Markham. Julia, b. 1839, m. Nov. 24, 1859, Richard M. Tucker. PULSIFER— PULCIFER. The first of this name in this country was Benedict, who settled in Ipswich in 1662. His attack upon a party of Indians at North Yarmouth, Me., and the rescue of a prisoner precipitated the Indian wars in Maine in 1688. Joseph R. Pulsifer (Elijah, Joseph, Benjamin), b. 1818, m. DeHa Newhall. She d. Feb. 16, 1884. Children. Emily M., b. Oct. 25, 1843, m. Nov. 27, 1862, M. E. Ballou. Anna Amelia, b. July 10, 1846, m. June 16, 1868, David H. Bidwell. ♦William B., b. July 15, 1848, m. Nov. 23, 1875, Nettie C. Wilson. William Billings Pulsifer (Joseph R., Elijah, Joseph, Benjamin), b. July 15, 1848, m. Nov. 23, 1875, Nettie C. Wilson. Shed. 1898. He d. 1903. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 325 Children. Ethel B., b. Sept. 17, 1879, d. Sept. 18, 1879. LouLA May, b. Feb. 17, 1881, m. Frederick Bates. Joseph William, b. Oct. 6, 1884, d. June 17, 1885. Leon Wilson; b. June 6, 1888. REDFIELD. Ebenezer Redfield (Capt. Peleg, Theophilus, James, William), b. Nov. 15, 1750, m. Jan. 14, 1774, Mehitable Dickinson. She d. May 7, 1821. He d. Jan. 4, 1823. Children. Joel Dickinson, b. Sept. 7, 1774, m. Mary Boyden. Rachel, b. July 21, 1776, m. Caleb Beal. Orrin, b. Dec. 31, 1780, m. Anna McCormack and Mrs. Elizabeth Carl. William, b. 1785, m. Rebecca Porter. *SiLAS, b. Sept. 16, 1787, m. Harriet Bartlett. Ebenezer Dudley, m. Mehitable Phillips. Sarah, b. May 8, 1789, m. 1807, Israel Beal. SoPHRONiA, ni. Aaron Hale. Nathaniel Peleg, m. Louisa Dickinson. Silas Redfield (Ebenezer, Peleg, Theophilus, James, William), b. Sept. 16, 1787, m. Nov. 25, 1812, Harriet Bartlett. Shed. Aug. 3, 1870. He d. July 20, 1839. Children. LuciNDA Glover, b. Sept. 16, 1813, m. Henry Wilbur. Joseph Bartlett, b. Jan. 20, 1816, d. Jan. 26, 1822. Eliza Maria, b. June 7, 1825, d. July 19, 1868. Harriet Janette, b. Mar. 17, 1828, m. David F. Elmer. Mercy Sophia, b. Sept. 8, 1830, m. Williard L. Nelson. Silas Bartlett, b. Sept. 20, 1835, d. Mar. 2, 1841. Lucy Cordelia, b. Dec. 24, 1838, m. Jan. 20, 1870, Chauncev G. Townsend. He d. Feb. 10. 1885. RICE. Edmund Rice, ancestor of the family in America, was born in England about 1594, came to America with his wife and seven children in 1638, and settled in Sudbury. He was a large landowner, his farm remaining in the family for many generations. Cyrus Rice (Josiah, Ephraim, Thomas, Edmund), b. Worcester, Dec. 10, 1726, m. May 27, 1750, Mrs. Elizabeth (King) Eaton. He m. (2) Oct. 19, 1767, Elizabeth Wright. She d. Feb. 16, 1779. He m. (3) Nov. 29, 1779, Mrs. Ruth Lamb. She d. Oct. 3, 1803. He d. Aug. 4, 1804. He was the first settler in Conway. 326 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 12, 1753, m. Samuel Crittenden. Sarah, b. Aug. 26, 1755, m. Samuel Daniels. Levina, b. June 28, 1757, d. Mar. 7, 1782. Cyrus, Jr., b. Aug. 10, 1759, m. Abigail Rice. JosiAH, b. Aug. 15, 1761, d. Oct. 9, 1776. Beulah, b. Jan. 10, 1764, m. Sept. 22, 1797, Bethel Benton of Ashfield. She was the first child born in Conway. Henry, b. Jan. 10, 1766, m. Zillah Rice. ♦Stephen, b. Mar. 16, 1769, m. Mrs. Lucy (Baker) Harvey and Mrs. Abigail Hamilton. Lydia, b. Sept. 16, 1771, m. Russell Loomis. EzEKiEL, b. Jan. 21, 1774, m. Hannah BilHngs. Josiah, b. July 23, 1780, m. Polly Hamilton. Obed, b. Dec. 6, 1782, m. Sarah Kinney. Asa, b. Oct. 3, 1785, m. Relief Rice. Lavinia, b. Aug. 13, 1787, m. Walter Kinney. Stephen Rice (Cyrus, Josiah, Ephraim, Thomas, Ed- mund), b. March 16, 1769, m. Oct. 4, 1799, Mrs. Lucy (Baker) Harvey. Shed. Aug. 2, 1804. He m. (2) Feb. 27, 1814, Mrs. Abigail Hamilton. She d. Aug. 8, 1836. He d. Aug, 4. 1850. Children. Harvey, b. June 11, 1800, m. Fannie Rice. Was a lawyer and prominent citizen of Cleveland, Ohio. Jonas Rice (Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. 1732, m. Worcester, Dec. 3, 1751, Bathshebah Parmenter. Removed to Conway after 1766. She d. May 3, 1817. He d. Nov. 1, 1824. Children. *JOEL, b. May 17, 1752, m. Lydia Farnsworth. Bathshebah, b. Apr. 4, 1754. Jonas, b. Oct. 5, 1756. Prudence, b. Apr. 14, 1768. Hannah, b. Oct. 1, 1771. Joel Rice (Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. May 17, 1752, m. Lydia Farnsworth. She d. April 2, 1840. He d. Dec. 16, 1834. Children. *Calvin, b. Nov. 25, 1784, m. Ruth , m. (2) Betsy Hartwell. *Daniel, b. Oct. 22, 1777, m. Sarah Brown. Calvin Rice (Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. Nov. 25, 1784, m. Ruth . She died Oct. 2, 1807. He m. (2) Betsy Hartwell. She d. Sept. 30, 1850. He d. March 21, 1865. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 327 Children. Lucy, b. Aug. 8, 1814, m. 1837, James Parker. *JoEL, b. Oct. 4, 1815, 111. Mary Baker and Liicina A. Thayer. Zebina, b. Mav 26, 1817, m. Sally Dinsniore. S.\RAH, b. Mar' 13, 1819, iii. Lysander Hillman. Louisa, b. Jan. 29, 1821, m. Franklin Rice. Fidelia Dwight, b. Dec. 26, 1822, d. June 9, 1842. Mary Elizaheth, b. Dec. 19, 1836, in. Franklin B. Kingsbury. JoKL Rice (CaKin, Joel, Jonas, Jona.s, Jonas, Thomas, Kdmund), b. Oct. 4, 1815, m. June, 1842, Mary Baker. She d. Jan. 21, 1876. Hem. (2) Aug. 23, 1876, Lucina A. Thayer. She d. Nov. 9, 18%. He d. Oct., 1880. Children. Sarah Ann, b. Jan. 1, 1846, ni. Egbert Field. Lucy Parker, b. Jan. 7, 1848, ni. Cecil Field. *WiLLiAM Henry, b. May 15, 1850, in. Mary E. Hartwell, m. (2) Mrs. Fannie C. Hartwell. *James Brain'ARD, b. May 25, 1852, m. Cynthia E. Field. WiLLLVM H. Rice (Joel, Calvin, Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. May 15, 1850, m. June 20, 1876. Mary E. Hartwell. Shed. June 16, 1895. He. m. (2) Aug. 13, 1895, Mrs. Fannie C. Hartwell. Children. Mary Letitia, b. Apr. 19, 1879, ni. Jan. 5, 1898, Joseph E. Turner. William G., b. Sept. 17, 1880, ni. June 3, 1908, Maud Walker Hartwell. Elizaheth, b. July 27, 1882, m. Jan. 3, 1905, Walter C. Thwing. Hartwell W., b. Sept. 9, 1885. Everett W., b. Apr. 18, 1887. Helen M., b. Xoy. 27, 1888. Robert H., b. Dec. 25, 1891. Austin, b. \oy. 17, 1894, d. Feb. 10, 1895. James Brainard Rice (Joel, Calvin, Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. May 25, 1852, m. Feb. 20, 1878, Cynthia E. Field. Children. Alice Elizabeth, b. .Aug. 19, 1880, m. Aug. 26, 1902, Walter Leroy Bradford. Ethel Cynthia, b. Aug. 8, 1882, d. June 17, 1883. Herman Brainard, b. Mar. 19, 1885. Leslie Smith, b. July 3, 1892. D.\niel Rice (Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. Oct. 22, 1777, m. March 3, 1802, Sarah Brown. She d. Dec. 23, 1867. He d. Sept. 10, 1867. I 328 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Lydia, b. June 8, 1803, m. Benjamin Remington. Stalham, b. Nov. 25, 1804, d. Dec. 16, 1887. Charlotte B., b. Sept. 24, 1806, d. Sept. 16, 1886. Charlaine, b. Sept. 22, 1809, d. Oct. 3, 1888. *Champion B., b. Sept. 10, 1811, m. Lena Jane Mollis. Joanna, b. Sept. 16, 1813, m. George Hunt. Sarah C., b. Sept. 6, 1815, m. Erastus G. Harridan. Daniel, b. Apr. 15, 1818, m. Fannie Dean Tobey. SoPHRONiA, b. Oct. 6, 1824, m. Alonzo Graves. Champion B. Rice (Daniel, Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. Sept. 10, 1811, m. 1837, Lena Jane Hollis. He d. Jan. 19, 1880. She d. Feb. 6, 1908. Children. Harlan H., b. Feb. 12, 1842, d. Aug. 18, 1858. *RoswELL G., b. Sept. 7, 1846, m. Sarah E. Allis and Anna C. Sherman. RoswELL G. Rice (Champion B., Daniel, Joel, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Jonas, Thomas, Edmund), b. Sept. 7, 1846, m. May 15, 1870, Sarah E. AlHs. She d. Aug. 30, 1874. He m. (2) Feb. 26, 1879, Anna C. Sherman. She d. March 11, 1908. Children. Charles D., b. Aug. 28, 1874. Bertha M., b. Sept. 25, 1884, m. Mar. 14, 1914, Frank Trumble. Ruth B., b. July, 1897, m. Dec. 11, 1915, John Wasner. Joseph Rice (Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. May 24, 1712, m. Sarah . She d. Dec. 31, 1738. He m. (2) July 16, 1739, Hannah Leland. She d. 1794. He d. Feb. 12, 1789. Children. Phineas, b. Sept. 2, 1735, m. Abigail Livermore. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 14, 1740, m. Benjamin Pulsifer. *IsRAEL, b. Nov. 10, 1742, m. Lydia Sherman. Sarah, b. Jan. 22, 1744, m. Henry Prentice. Hannah, b. Mar. 23, 1746, d. July 20, 1748. *TiMOTHV, b. Feb. 10, 1748, m. Mary Thwing. Daniel, b. Jan. 19, 1750, d. May 29, 1760. Caleb, b. Mar. 20, 1753, m. Lucy Leland. Hannah, b. Aug. 28, 1755, m. Josiah Brown. Mary, b. Feb. 16, 1758, m. Asa Cxoodale. Daniel, b. Sept. 11, 1762, m. Anna Holbrook. Israel Rice (Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Nov. 10, 1742, m. Nov. 22, 1764, Lydia Sherman. He d. June 10, 1833. Children. Caleb, b. Oct. 14, 1766, d. 1767. *Joseph, b. Dec. 2, 1768, m. Betty Dickinson. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 329 Col. Joseph Rice (Israel, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Dec. 2, 1768, m. Jan. 16, 1790, Betty Dick- inson. She d. Dec. 25, 1843. He d. March 7, 1823. Children. Caleb, b. Apr. 4, 1792, m. Mrs. Mary Etta (Parsons) Stebbins. *AUSTIN, b. July 16, 1794, m. Charlotte Baker. Col. Austin Rice (Col. Joseph, Israel, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. July 16, 1794, m. Oct. 23, 1822, Charlotte Baker. She d. Aug. 6, 1889. He d. July 15, 1880. Childrefi. Lois Wright, b. July 11, 1825, m. Thomas E. Hale. Charles Baker, b. June 29, 1829, m. Claire Austin Lord and Henrietta Hyde Stanwood. Charlotte M., b. June 15, 1835, m. Zeno Russell. Elizabeth Caroline, b. Feb. 13, 1838, m. Henry Tracy. Timothy Rice (Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Ed- mund) b. Feb. 10, 1748, m. April 6, 1770, Mary Thwing. Shed. Aug. 23, 1825. He d. March 18, 1827. Children. *Daniel, b. June 28, 1771, ni. Bethiah Newhall. Isaac, b. Oct. 18, 1773, m. Anna Ware. Thankful, b. Sept. 24, 1775, m. George Stearns. Mary, b. Dec. 14, 1777, m. Consider Amsden. *Timothy, b. Feb. 14, 1780, m. Dorothy Newhall. Sarah, b. Feb. 14, 1782, m. Joel Stearns. Electa, b. Apr. 5, 1784, d. Sept., 1787. Elisha, b. Apr. 24, 1786, d. Nov. 14, 1805. Leonard, b. Aug. 12, 1789, m. Charlotte Billings. Daniel Rice (Timothy, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. June 26, 1771, m. March 10, 1796, Bethiah Newhall. She d. Feb. 12, 1860. He d. April 27, 1863. Children. *RoDOLPHUS, b. Aug. 1, 1798, m. Charlotte (Bond) Rice. Amanda, b. Jan. 10, 1800, m. Eliphalet Daniels. Electa, b. Apr. 11, 1802, m. Ruel Severance. Clarinda, b. Mar. 12, 1805, m. Ebenezer Bardwell. Bethiah, b. June 28, 1808, d. June 16, 1818. Emery, b. June 5, 1811, d. Oct. 26, 1816. Sarah, b. Sept. 20, 1813, m. Elisha Barnard. Rodolphus Rice (Daniel, Timothy, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Aug. 1, 1798, m. 1826, Charlotte (Bond) Rice. She d. Sept. 16, 1886. He d. July 20, 1881. 330 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. Almaria Long, b. June 14, 1827, m. Jan. 4, 1849, Caleb Dickinson. Jane Amelia, b. Oct. 30, 1828, d. June 26, 1845. Albert, b. Nov. 5, 1830, m. Margaret L. Ames. Sarah, b. Aug. 19, 1832, m. Sept. 20, 1855, Joseph Eln.er Wight. Daniel Gilbert, b. Nov. 16, 1834. Edwin Rodolphus, b. Dec. 12, 1838, d. Mar. 23, 1863. *Charles William, b. Sept. 22, 1843, m. Martha J. Stearns. Walter Byron, b. Jan. 3, 1847. Charles William Rice (Rodolphus, Daniel, Timothy, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Sept. 22, 1843, m. Jan. 1, 1868. Martha J. Stearns. He d. Dec. 19, 1897. She d. Sept. 23, 1908. Children . Jane Amelia, b. Sept. 23, 1870, m. Nov. 22, 1893, Josiah D. Bovden. Luna, b. Julv 3, 1872, m. Aug. 12, 1896, Herbert Lee. Henry Dawes, b. Oct. 23, 1874, m. Oct. 1, 1896, Inez Crafts. Mary D.wis, b. Aug. 25, 1877, m. Apr. 25, 1901, John G. March. Timothy Rice (Timothy, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Feb. 14, 1780, m. Dorothy Newhall. He d. April 19, 1850. Children. *Larned, b. Feb. 4, 1803, m. Miranda Colton. Elihu, b. Aug. 23, 1805, m. Lovilla Stearns and Aurelia Stearns. Jabez Newhall, b. Oct. 29, 1807, m. Sophronia Cobb. Lydia S., b. May 24, 1810, m. Eliphalet Daniels. Franklin, b. Oct. 30, 1812, d. Jan. 16, 1813. Timothy F., b. Nov. 29, 1815, m. Louisa Rice. Joseph, b. Mar. 1, 1818, m. Eveline Blood and Elizabeth Prescott. Mary A., b. May 8, 1821, m. William Colwell. KiNGSLEY, b. Sept. 15, 1824, d. 1825. Earned Rice (Timothy, Timothy, Joseph, Phineas, Phineas, Joseph, Edmund), b. Feb. 4, 1803, m. Feb. 28, 1829, Miranda Colton. He d. Nov. 28, 1884. Children. Louisa M., b. Mar. 20, 1830, d. Apr. 29, 1874. Juliette A., b. Fee. 22, 1832, d. Nov. 12, 1834. LuciLLA D., b. Mar. 17, 1838, m. June 5, 1878, John Degraff. William King-ley, b. Jan. 1, 1840, m. Caroline R. Sturtevant. ROGERS. Dr. George Rogers, b. Tisbury, Aug. 6, 1779, m. Oct. 7, 1812, Calista Childs. She d. Sept. 9, 1850. He d. June 8, 1852. Came to Conway and married at the age of 28 .and began to practice. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 331 Children. *David Childs, b. May 25, 1813, ni. Amelia Ann Foote. Joshua Knowlton, b. Dec. 21, 1814, m. Parmelia Bartlett. Clarissa Dickinson, b. June 14, 1817, m. Rodolphus Clark. Edwin Clark, b. July 1, 1821, m. Sebuette S. Stephens. Calista Childs, b. Oct. 23, 1823. George, b. July 13, 1826, d. Oct. 11, 1844. D.wiD Childs Rogers (George), b. May 25, 1813, m. Nov. 28, 1838, Amelia Ann Foote. She d. Sept. 8, 1896. He d. Jan. 1, 1889. Children. Martha Ann, b. Oct. 10, 1839, m. May 18, 1864, Charles G. Parsons. Frances Nash, b. May 20, 1842, m. Apr. 21, 1880, William P. St. Germain. George Edwin, b. June 10, 1849, m. Clara Mary Clark. ROOT. Thomas Root, the emigrant ancestor was from England. He is found among the first settlers at Hartford, Conn. Was one of the petitioners of the town of Northampton and a settler there in 1654. Was one of the leaders in the church. Was a selectman. He d. July 7, 1694. [osEPH Root (Joseph, Joseph, Thomas), b. Northampton, July 13, 1686, m. Feb. 16, 1710, Mary Russell, Hatfield. She d. Jan. 27, 1738. He d. Feb. 9, 1728. Children. Mary, b. Apr. 30, 1711, m. Jonathan Billings and Samuel Montague. Joseph, b. June 16, MM, m. Abigail Bridgman and Mrs. Mary Bascom. *Jonathan, b. ¥eh. 1, 1716, m. Sarah Clary. Hannah, b. Mar. 2, 1718, m. John Gunn. EcNiCE, b. July 18, 1720, m. Caleb Montague. LvDiA, b. Mar. 12, 1722, m. Moses Clark. Deacon Jonathan Root (Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Thomas), b. Hatfield, Feb. 1, 1716, m. Feb. 15, 1744, Sarah Clary, Sunderland. She d. Nov. 17, 1796. He d. Jan. 14, 1808, Conway. His children were born in Sunderland. Children. *Oliver, b. Dec. 16, 1744, m. Catherine Smead, m. (2) Merah Allen. Jonathan, b. July 16, 1748, m. Susanna Clapp. Sar.\h, b. Apr. 21, 1751, m. Job Bardwell. Dorc.\s, b. July 30, 1753, d. Oct. 25, 1800. Phineas, b. 1756, d. 1830. Oliver Root (Jonathan, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Thomas), b. Dec. 16, 1744, m. Feb. 11, 1773, Catherine Smead. She d.Feb. 17,^1804. He m. (2) Dec. 4, 1805, Merab Allen. He d. Dec. 5, 1807. Was town clerk from 1783 to his death; was schoolmaster for manv years. 332 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. *Abner, b. July 1, 1774, m. Dec. 6, 1808, Christiana M. Hall. Luther, b. Sept. 3, 1775, m. Jan. 14, 1800, Sally Hayden. LucRETiA, b. May 15, 1777, d. June 15, 1849. Susanna, b. May, 1779, m. Dec. 22, 1803, Julia Wright. Francis, b. Nov. 5, 1781, m. Cynthia Newhall. George, b. Mar. 25, 1785, m. Laura Parsons. Abner Root (Oliver, Jonathan, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Thomas), b. July 1, 1774, m. Dec. 6, 1808, Christiana M. Hall. He d. Oct. 3, 1844. She d. Aug. 29, 1869. Children. Oliver Dean, b. Sept. 29, 1809, d. Apr. 19, 1828. *James Lincoln, b. May 29, 1812, m. Lydia Warren. Christiana, b. Sept. 28, 1814, m. Calvin W. EUinwood. Henry Francis, b. Nov. 15, 1816, m. Elizabeth Ann Hunter. Edward Warren, b. Mar. 15, 1820, m. Mrs. Mary Bunyan. Augustine, b. Felj. 5, 1824, m. Mary F. Stearns. Oliver Dean, b. Aug. 24, 1830, m. Mary Elizabeth White. James Lincoln Root (Abner, Oliver, Jonathan, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Thomas), b. May 29, 1812, m. Aug. 30, 1842, Lydia Warren. Children. James Francis, b. June 16, 1843, d. July 1, 1844. Edward Woolsey, b. Sept. 16, 1845. Mary Winslow, b. July, 1849, d. Mar. 9, 1851. Lydia Eldora, b. June 15, 1855. SANDERSON. Joseph Sanderson (Joseph, Joseph Joseph, William, Robert), b. Deerfield, May 4, 1772, m. Sept. 12 1799, Content Dickinson. She d. May 10, 1867. He d. Dec. 1 1848. Children. *DviGHT, b. Feb. 25, 1800, m. Betsy Hall and Priscilla Still. Joseph, b. Dec. 29, 1801. \ . i Elizabeth, b. Feb. 26, 1805, m. Stalham Allis. / ^^^ ' '^ IElecta, b. June 23, 1806, m. Mar., 1849, Oliver Field. "^4 '' Alonzo, b. June 24, 1808. Fidelia, b. Dec. 21, 1810, m. May 16, 1833, Otis Sikes. Sarah A., b. Apr. 30, 1813, m. J. Pomeroy Dickinson. Content, b. Nov. 1, 1816, m. Thomas C. Field. DwiGHT Sanderson (Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, William, Robert), b. Feb. 25, 1800, m. Aug. 10, 1826, Betsy Hall. She d. Aug. 26, 1853. He m. (2) Priscilla Still. She d. June 16,1888. He d. Dec. 27, 1890. FAMILY GEXKALOGIES. 333 Children. Sarah Adeline, b. Aug. 24, 1827, d. Apr. 27, 1902. Eliza Sears, b. Aug. 16, 1829, d. Julv 9, 1836. Ophelia, b. Feb. 2, 1832, ni. Feb. 6. 1856, Russell Bond. *WiLLiAM Darwin, b. Apr. 11, 1834, ni. Mary F. Dyer. Lot Harlan, b. Jan. 23, 1837, m. Lizzie E. Smith. Ellen Maria, b. Mar. 2, 1840, d. Aug. 30, 1853. Mary Elizabeth, b. Apr. 30, 1843, d. Sept. 6, 1853. Emma Dwight, b. Apr. 11, 1848, m. June 18, 1868, Albert H. Webber. William Darwin Sanderson (Dwight, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, WilHam, Robert), b. April 11, 1834, m. Dec. 9, 1875, Mary Frances Dyer. He d. Feb. 25, 1888. She d. Nov. 18, 1910. Children. Albert Dyer, b. Sept. 21, 1877, m. Edith Burpee. Darwin Fordyce, b. Feb. 18, 1879, m. Sylvia Parsons. Mary Frances, b. Aug. 20, 1883, ni. Harrv S. Elkins. SEFFENS. Daniel Seflfens, b. July 8, 1842, m. April 10, 1873, Mattie L. Thwing. Children. Leon Henry, b. May 22, 1874, m. Anna Williams. Leroy Linwood, b. Mar. 12, 1876. Annie Maid, b. Sept. 7, 1880, m. Guy Tower and Fred Cousins. SHERMAN. There were seyeral early settlers in New Eng- land of the name of Sherman, three of whom first settled in Water- town, yiz.: Edmund, Capt. John, and Rev. John. Capt. John was a cousin of the other two, who were l)rothers. Caleb Sherman (John, Joseph, John, Joseph, John), b. Grafton, May 14, 1762, m. Aug. 17, 1785, Eunice Bacon. She d. Noy. 25, 1845. He d. Sept. 18, 1847. Children. Joseph, b. Feb. 25, 1786, m. Grace Ellis. John, b. Dec. 12, 1787, m. Mary Warren. Orra, b. Feb. 7, 1790, m. Calista Bigelow. William, b. Apr. 5, 1792. C.A.LEB, b. Dec. 14, 1794. Mary, b. Mar. 25, 1797, m. Bulfinch. Chh)e, b. June 10, 1800, m. Lvon. Lydia, b. Feb. 10, 1803. *Emery, b. Aug. 24, 1805, m. Emily Newhall and Ann Maria Pulsifer. Eunice, b. Apr. 17, 1808, m. William Forbes and Maj. John Tobey. F^MERY Sherman (Caleb, John, Joseph, John, Joseph, John), b. Aug. 24, 1805, m. 1826, Emily Newhall. She d. Sept. 15, 1851. Hem. (2) May 12, 1853, Ann Maria Pulsifer. She d. Dec. 3, 1904. He d. Aug. 26, 1882. 334 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Children. *0rra, b. Feb. 9, 1827, m. Caroline F. Hayden and Mary A. WiUson. Mary Ann, b. Oct. 13, 1828, m. 1847, Stephen Taber. Lydia, b. Sept. 24, 1830, m. Alfred Bartlett. Eunice, b. Sept. 17, 1832, d. Aug. 16, 1853. Emery, b. Dec. 18, 1835, m. Eva G. McKenzie. John Alonzo, b. May 22, 1842, d. June 3, 1843. Carrie Maria, b. Dec. 29, 1854, m. A. C. Arms. Anna Long, b. Jan. 17, 1859, m. Roswell G. Rice. Orra Sherman (Emery, Caleb, John, Joseph, John, Joseph, John), b. Feb. 9, 1827, m. Nov. 27, 1851, Caroline F. Havden. She d. Nov. 11, 1864. He m. (2) Jan. 28, 1869, Mary A. Willson. He d. June 11, 1909. Children. Emery L., b. June 22, 1870, d. July 1, 1870. Orra W., b. Dec. 3, 1871. Eva Emily, b. Sept. 26, 1875, m. June 7, 1899, Dr. William Darling. STEARNS— STERNE— STERNES— STERNS— STARNS. It is probable that all the families of this name in America are descended from three early emigrants. Charles Stearns, the ancestor of the Conway branch, resided in Watertown and was made a freeman in 1646. George Stearns (Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Milford, April 7, 1741, m. Oct. 29, 1765, Kezia Palmer. She d. Nov. 12, 1819. He d. Jan. 1, 1812. Children. Joel, b. 1766, m. Sally Hayden and Sally Rice. *George, m. Thankful Rice. *Darius, b. May 12, 1770, m. Margaret Broderick. *Abijah, b. Feb. 21, 1779, m. Polly De Wolfe, m. (2) Clara Burt. Beulah, m. John Newhall. Sally, m. Col. Jabez Newhall. John. George Stearns (George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), m. Thankful Rice. She d. March 3, 1860. He d. April 5, 1856. Children. Gardner, b. Feb. 29, 1801, m. Nancy Green. Armenia, b. May 4, 1803, m. Kimball Batchelder. *George, b. June 3, 1805, m. Fanny Arms. Mollie, b. Mar. 4, 1808, d. Jan. 28, 1823. *Leonard, b. Oct. 7, 1811, m. Maria B. Bates. *WiLLiAM, b. Apr. 29, 1817, m. Sabra Bates. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 335 George Stearns (George, George, Jonathan, George, John. Charles), b. June 3, 1805, m. Jiin. 1, 1834, Fanny Arms. She d. Dec. 18, 1884. He d. May 4, 1887. Children. Is.\BELLA Abbv, b. Jan. 1835, ni. Feb. 24, 1857, Nicholas Lester Green" G.ARDNER, b. Feb. 9, 1836. *Henry Ar.ms, b. June 17, 1837, m. Mary E. Rowe. Edg.\r, b. June 17, 1837, d. 1842. Cl.\r.\ Loi'is.\, b. June 13, 1843, ni. Sept. 25, 1866, Tyler Harding. Harriet E., b. Apr. 10, 1845, m. Oscar Belden. Fannie E., b. Nov. 21, 1847, ni. May 29, 1872, John R. Holcomb. Jennie M., b. June 8, 1853, m. Dec. 13, 1893, Dr. C. M. Barton. Henry Arms Stearns (George, George, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. June 17, 1837, m. Nov. 20, 1867, Mary E. Rowe. He d. Feb. 22, 1910. Children. Minnie E., b. Jan. 5, 1879, d. in infancy. Leonard Stearns (George, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Oct. 7, 1811, m. Dec. 26, 1837, Maria B. Bates. She d. Feb. 4, 1901. He d. Sept. 1, 1884. Children. *jAMEs Madison, b. Jan. 3, 1840, m. Ellen Elizabeth Holcomb. William Harrison, b. Oct. 17. 1843, m. Mary F. Miller and Annette Irish. Ellen Maria, b. May 25, 1846, m. Rueben Belden. George Palmer, b. Feb. 22, 1851, m. Abby Delia Hill. James Madison Stearns (Leonard, George, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Jan. 3, 1840, m. Oct. 4, 1865, Ellen Elizabeth Holcomb. She d. May 21, 1915. Children. ♦Clayton Ellington, b. Nov. 18, 1867, m. Mabel Maria Leach. Clayton Ellington Stearns (James M., Leonard, George, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Nov. 18, 1867, m. Amherst, Nov. 4, 1896, Mabel Maria Leach. Children. Carl Leonard, b. Oct. 2, 1897. Paul Sanford, b. Sept. 26, 1899, d. Mav 21, 1915. Margaret, b. June 27, 1902. Francis Elliot, b. Jan. 6, 1906. William Stearns, (George, George, Jonathon, George, John, Charles), b. April 29, 1817, m. Mav 10, 1849, Sabra B. Bates. She d. Aug. 25, 1908. He d. Oct.'l2, 1893. Children. Mary, b. Sept. 12, 1857. m. Melvin Alden and George H. Hart. 336 HISTORY OF CONWAY. Darius Stearns (George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. May 12, 1770, m. Feb. 15, 1795, Margaret Broderick. He d. May 18, 1843. Children. Orrin, b. July 25, 1797, d. Aug. 2, 1824. Electa, b. Mav 7, 1800, m. Tilton. Lewis, b. Nov.' 12, 1801. LoviLLA, b. June 6, 1805, m. Pine. AuRELiA, b. Sept. 28, 1809, d. 1843. *Dennis, b. July 12, 1812, m. Sarah G. Baker. Sally, b. Sept. 2, 1815, d. Dec. 31, 1833. John B., b. Mar. 20, 1817, m. Mrs. M. S. Allen. Dennis Stearns (Darius, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. July 12, 1812, m. Sarah G. Baker. She d. Aug. 17, 1883. He d. May 14, 1895. Children. ♦Austin Rice, b. Dec. 22, 1859, m. Anna L. Dickinson. Austin Rice Stearns (Dennis, Darius, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Dec. 22, 1859, m. Aug. 21, 1890, Anna L. Dickinson. Children. George Austin, b. May 18, 1893. Harry Dickinson, b. Nov. 21, 1898. Abijah Stearns (George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Feb. 21, 1779, m. July 5, '1803, Pollv De Wolfe. She d. July 30, 1808. He m. (2) Dec. 4, 1808, Clara Burt. She d. Dec. 21, 1856. He d. Dec. 11, 1856. Children. Emily, b. Feb. 5, 1804, m. Josiah Boyden. *JoEL, b. Feb. 14, 1806, m. Philena G. Boyden. Polly, b. Jan. 7, 1808, m. Rev. Milo Frary. Charles Baker, b. Oct. 25, 1812, d. Feb. 27, 1846. Joel Stearns (Abijah, George, Jonathan, George, John, Charles), b. Feb. 14, 1806, m. Dec. 9, 1830. Philena G. Boyden. She d. Jan. 7, 1878. He d. Sept. 24, 1886. Children. Mary Ann, b. Mav 24, 1832, m. Nov. 26, 1857, Charles B. Merritt. Israel G., b. Oct. 4, 1834, d. Feb. 27, 1837. Philena, b. Oct. 8, 1840, ni. Jan. 24, 1866, Ba.xter Harding. Martha J., b. Feb. 3, 1844, in. Jan. 1, 1868, Charles W. Rice. John H., b. June 9, 1847, m. Ellen J. Hesco.x and May Rainer. STOW. Capt. William Stow (Daniel), b. Middle- town, Conn., 1773, m. Pollv Hu.xford. She d. Oct. 13, 1869. He d. Nov. 28, 1858. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 337 Children. Angeline, b. Aug. 12, 1799. Heroine, b. Dec. 18, 1801, d. Jan. 15, 1877. ♦Fr'^nklin, b. July 7, 1804, m. Sarah Baker Newhall. Henry C, b. Oct. 19, 1806. AcHSAH G., b. Apr. 7, 1812. Statira, b. May 7, 1814. William F. Franklin Stow (William, Daniel), b. July 7, 1804, m. Sarah Baker Newhall. She d. June 28, 1884. He d. June 6, 1869. Children. *\ViLLiAM, b. Mar. 30, 1829, m. Lydia V. Townsend. ♦Robert Hall, b. Mar. 28, 1832, m. Caroline Owen. Emogene Ildefonsa, b. Sept. 21, 1837, d. Sept. 4, 1851. Cleopatra Delmorea, b. Sept. 25, 1840, m. .Nov. 4, 1862, Warren Leach. *Barron, b. July 28, 1843, m. Oct. 1, 1871, Fannie Peck. William Stow (Franklin, William, Daniel), b. March 30, 1829, m. Jan. 15, 1851, Lydia B. Townsend. Children. Effie Ildefonsa, b. June 28, 1852, m. Jan. 1, 1870, Charles D. Naylor. ♦William Franklin, b. Apr. 22, 1855, m. Mrs. Fannie (Peck) Stow. Carrie Statira, b. Jan. 27, 1865, m. June 1, 1885, Hezekiah Simmons. Mattie •\lice b. Apr. 8, 1871, m. May 9, 1890, Edward T. Nye. Nellie Maud, b. Mar. 11, 1876, m. Feb. 13, 1892, Arthur Groves. William Franklin Stow (William, Franklin, William, Daniel), b. April 22, 1855, m. June 1, 1876, Mrs. P^annie (Peck) Stow. Children. Fannie Agnes, b. Mar. 10, 1877, m. Robert Burnham. Annie Louise, b. Mar. 14, 1883, m. Robert Gould. Bertha Elizabeth, b. June 4, 1888, m. George Nourse. Robert Hall Stow (Franklin, William, Daniel), b. March, 28 183^ m. April 27, 1862, Caroline Owen. She d. June 30, 1902. He d. Nov. 17, 1887. Children. Fred Newhall, b. Jan. 27, 1865, d. Dec. 7, 1874. George W'ashington, b. Feb. 22, 1867, d. Dec. 8, 1874. John Owen, b. June 15, 1870. Henry, b. Nov. 24, 1874. Daniel Newhall, b. Aug. 13, 1876. Victoria, b. June 17, 1879. Albert G., b. May 9, 1881. Barron Stow (Franklin, William, Daniel), b. July 28, 1843, m. Oct. 1, 1871, Fannie Peck. He d. March 8, 1875. Children. Franklin Barron, b. July 11. 1873, m. May Fidelia Bartlett. 338 HISTORY OF COXWAV. Frank Barron Stow (Barron, Franklin, William, Daniel), b. July 11, 1873, m. Aug. 10, 1898. May Fidelia Bartlett. Childroi. Barron Ralston, b. Oct. 26, 1899. SWAN. Guy Swan (Joseph, Benjamin), b. May 20. 1798. m. Aug. 27. 1831, Eliza Nims. She d. March 13, 1854. He m. (2) Lydia Palmer. She d. Oct. 30, 1873. He d. Aug. 28, 1872. Children. Abbie N., b. 1836, d. Oct. 22, 1862. THOMPSON. Jonathan M. Thompson (Joseph), b. 1802, m. Gratia Field. He d. June 23, 1879. She d. March 16, 1912. • Children. Marshall, b. Apr. 15, 1839. Myra, b. 1842, m. Henry Chadbourne. Mary A., b. 1844, m. John H. Wells. Margaret, b. 1849, m. Charles A. Kelly. Ella E., b. 1851, m. Rawson Adams. Joseph W., b. 1855, m. Musette Staples. THWING. Timothy Thwing (John, John, John, John, Benjamin), b. Mendon, Sept. 9, 1744, m. Sept. 21, 1771, Mary Rawson of Grafton. He d. Feb. 17, 1836. She d. March 23, 1838. Children. Luther, b. Sept. 18, 1773, d. 1777. Rhoda, b. 1774, m. Feb. 25, 1796, Dr. William Hamilton. *Amariah, b. Sept. 6, 1777, m. Clarissa Chamberlain. Amariah Thwing (Timothy, John, John, John, John, Benjamin), b. Sept. 6, 1777, m. May 27,1804, Clarissa Chamber- lain. She d. March 9, 1866. He d. May 10. 1875. Children. Helena Frances, b. July 28, 1805, m. Col. David Wells. Luther, b. Nov. 2, 1806, m. Lucinda Andrews. Mary Ann, b. July 20, 1809, m. Richard xM. Sanderson. Rhoda Hamilton, b. Dec. 26, 1812, m. Alvin Hall. Alexander, b. May 5, 1814, d. Aug. 24, 1816. Clarissa, b. Feb. 1, 1817. LuANA, b. Jan. 4, 1820, m. Leonard Stebbins and Charles H. Munn. *Elbridge Gerry, b. Nov. 11, 1822, m. Esther Vincent. Edwin, b. June 3, 1825, m. Julia Hitchcock. Elbridge Gerry Thwing (Amariah, Timothv. John, John, John, John, Benjamin), b. Nov. 11. 1822. m. Sept. 29, 1842. Esther W. Vincent. She d. Oct. 29, 1889. He d. Nov. 4, 1889. Children. JMattie Lunetta, b. July 6, 1849, m. Apr. 10, 1873, Daniel Seffens. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 339 TOWNSEND. William Townsend (George), b. Minot, Me., lulv 22, 1800, m. Trvphena Harvev. He d. Sept. 27, 1868. Children. H.XKVEV, !). I'cl). V), 1S2';, m. Eunice Clark. She d. Apr. 1, 1W2. He d. Oct. 19, 1916. Luther, b. July 1, IS.Sl, ni. Sarah Crafts, d. Jan 12, 1912. Lydi.\, b. Apr. 26, 1834, ni. William Stow. William, d. Feb. 9, 19 U. Ch.^uncey, b. 1838, m. Jan. 20, 1870, Lucy Cordelia Redfield. He d. Feb. 10, 1885. TRUESDELL. Wilder Truesdell, m. Huldah Bigclow. She d. April 8, 1864. He d. May 5, 1861. Children. Gardner Wilder, b. May 27, 1822, m. Mellissa Stott. Huldah Suzannah, b. Sept. 11, 1823, m. Austin Hopkins. Mary Jane, b. Dec. 29, 1827, m. John Ingham. Rebecca S.\lina, b. Mar. 4, 1830, m. Sylvenus Sherman. Clarissa, b. May 20, 1832, m. George Peabody. Asabell Julia, b. Sept. 27, 1834, m. Lucius Wise. Mellissa Amelia, b. Nov. 22, 1836, m. Henry Dunbar. *George Lemuel, b. Jan. 20, 1839, m. Mary L. Lee. RosiNA Sylvena, b. May 20, 1841, m. Ransom G. Dunbar. Georce Lemuel Truesdell (Wilder), b. Jan. 20, 1839, m. Jan. 17, 1860, Mary L. Lee. She d. April 7, 1900. Children. Wilder, b. Alay 24, 1861, m. Nov. 2, 1889, Josephine McCormack. George, b. June 7, 1864, d. Nov. 22, 1874. Mary Alice, b. May 20, 1869, d. Oct. 23, 1874. Minnie Bell, b. Oct. 27, 1872, d. Dec. 4, 1874. Mary Jane, b. Dec. 3, 1875, m. Dec. 5, 1900, Edwin T. Cook. Rosabelle, b. Julv 31, 1877. TUCKER. Richard Tucker (John, Richard, John), b. Savbrook, Conn., Feb. 20, 1812, m. Nov. 11, 1831, Delia Rose Walden. She d. July 2, 1892. He d. Nov. 30, 1889. Children. Julia R., b. 1832, m. Chelsea Cook. David K., b. Mar., 1834, m. Mary A. Hutchinson. ♦Richard M., b. Aug. 28, 1842, m. Julia A. Phillips. Richardson Madison Tucker (Richard, John, Richard, John), 1). Aug. 28, 1842, m. Nov. 4, 1859, Julia A. Phillips. Children. William Madison, b. Aug. 4, 1862, d. Jan. 21, 1863. 340 HISTORY OF CONWAY. VINING. Dr. David Taylor Vining (David, Asa), b. Hawlev, Mass., Oct. 19, 1821, m. April 18, 1849, Emily Sears. She d.'july 28, 1872. He d. Feb. 18, 1888. Children. Mary Emm.\, b. Oct. 7, 1858, m. Frederick Batchelder, Feb. 14, 1889. WARREN. One of the first settlers of Conway, Mass., buy- ing land here in 1762. Took his family to Conway, in 1766. Lived in that part of the town known as " Broomshire," the name originating from the walnut brooms which Mr. Warren made and sold in Deerfield; one broom for a pound and a half of pork. He was out of meat for several years during the winter, and took this means of supplying his need. He used to walk first to Deerfield to procure a horse and "pung" to carry his brooms. William Warren (Samuel, John, John, John), b. Grafton, May 29, 1740, m. Elizabeth . She d. July 29, 1813. He d. Nov. 20, 1822. Children. Lydia, b. Feb. 5, 1767, m. Sept., 1784, Nathan Bacon. Mehitable, b. Feb. 21, 1769, m. Aug. 22, 1793, Joel Bacon. Elizabeth, b. July 17, 1770, m. Eleazer Flagg. Tabitha, b. June 23, 1772, d. young. William, b. July 20, 1774, d. 1822. *Samuel, b. Dec. 18, 1775, m. Abigail Williams. Rebecca, b. Mar. 29, 1778. Philanda, b. Dec. 2, 1782, m. Parsons. Tabitha, b. May 25, 1785, m. — — Stearns. Mary, m. Milford. Samuel Warren (William, Samuel, John, John, John), b. Dec. 18, 1775, m. Abigail Williams. She d. Dec. 15, 1850. Children. Rebecca, b. May 27, 1804, m. Apr. 19, 1827, Timothy Packard. *WiLLiAM Warren, b. Oct. 28, 1805, m. Jane Bigelow. Ephraim Williams, b. May 24, 1807. Mary, b. June 30, 1809. Lydia, b. Feb. 1, 1811. Esther Packard, b. June 29, 1812, m. Alonzo Howland. Abigail Williams, b. May 9, 1814. Samuel Fletcher, b. Aug. 5, 1816, m. Lucretia . Moses Hallock, b. Apr. 2, 1821, m. Philinda . William Warren (Samuel, William, Samuel, John, John, John), b. Oct. 28, 1805, m. March 21, 1829, Jane Bigelow. He d. Feb. 4, 1851. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 341 Children. Jane Elizabeth, b. Sept. 2, 1830, m. William C. Wilder. William Williams, b. May 7, 1833, ni. Maria Woodard. Franxis Henry, b. Oct. 2, 1838, ni. Minerva Ckiilford. Alonzo Harrison, b. Jan. 1, 1841, m. Nov. 15, 1866, Ella J. Ranney. WELLS. Benjamin Wells (Ebenezer, Thomas, Eben- ezer, Thomas, Hugh), h. Jan. 29, 1760, m. Feb. 11, 1781, Hannah Russell, m. (2) Jan. 20, 1801, Lydia Parsons. She d. Oct. 1, 1825. He d. March 4, 1826. Children. *Zeeb, b. May 22, 1782, m. Lucinda Newhali. Henry, b. June 29, 1784, d. Apr. 9, 1852. John, b. Nov. 22, 1788, d. Julv 8, 1855. Orrah, b. July 16, 1791, d. Feb. 28, 1817. Ebenezer, b. Aug. 21, 1793, d. Aug. 12, 1803. Hannah, b. Nov. 16, 1797, m. Dr. Washington Hamilton. Russell, b. Jan. 6, 1800, d. Feb. 16, 1820. Caroline, b. Oct. 5, 1804, m. Gardner Dickinson. Zeeb Wells (Benjamin, Ebenezer, Thomas, Ebenezer, Thomas, Hugh), b. May 22, 1782, m. Feb. 13, 1809, Lucinda Newhali. She d. Feb. 13, 1867. He d. Nov. 17, 1862. Children. Charles, b. F~eb. 22, 1811, d. Nov., 1864. Ebenezer, b. May 26, 1813, d. Feb. 25, 1882. Lucinda, b. Oct. 22, 1815, m. Dec. 24, 1857, Alvin Dinsmore. ♦Benjamin, b. Apr. 14, 1822, m. Lucy A. Morse. Marietta, b. June 13, 1824, d. Oct. 10, 1846. Benjamin Wells (Zeeb, Benjamin, Ebenezer, Thomas, Ebenezer, Thomas, Hugh), b. April 14, 1822, m. June 29, 1848, Lucy A. Morse. He d. June 25, 1876. She d. Jan. 5, 1915. Children. Gilbert M., b. Dec. 8, 1860, d. Apr. 9, 1865. William Henry, b. Sept. 5, 1862, d. Sept. 19, 1878. Francis Clary, b. June 19, 1863, m. Nov. 24, 1887, Minnie E. Leonard. Christopher Wells (Rodolphus), b. 1810, m. Louise M. Dickinson. He d. Oct. 15, 1863. Children. Christopher George, b. June 27, 1841, m. Dec. 25, 1870, Emma Seaver. Henrietta, b. Aug. 8, 1842, m. Albert Rice. Charles, b. Mar. 5, 1844. Gerry Sanderson, b. Apr. 14, 1846, d. Apr. 6, 1885. Elliot Washington, b. Aug. 29, 1853, d. Dec. 29, 1861. 342 HISTORY OF CONWAY. WHITNEY. John, the first of the name in America, was baptized in England July 20, 1592. Came to this country April, 1635, with his wife, Eleanor, and sons, John, Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Jonathan, Capt. Jonathan Whitney (Jonathan, Jonathan, Benjamin, John), b. Milford, July 26, 1737, m. Nov. 7, 1760, Esther Park- hurst. He was one of the first settlers in Conway but removed to Milo, N. Y., in 1791, where he d. Aug. 22, 1792, and she d. Dec. 6, 1812. Children. Nathan, b. Oct. 18, 1761, m. Olive Whitney and Thankful Caldwell. Abigail, b. Mar. 12, 1764, m. Apr. 2, 1787, Simeon Anisden. Joel, b. Nov. 13, 1766, m. Sybil Whitmore. Esther, b. Dec. 16, 1769, m. Aug. 31, 1789, Solomon Gates. Experience, b. June 6, 1772, m. June 25, 1789, Immer Crittenden. Jonas, b. May 12, 1775, ni. Catherine Parker. Ami, b. Jan. 18, 1781, m. Anna Amsden. Parkhurst, b. Sept. 15, 1784, m. Celinda Cowing. Asa, m. Oct. 1, 1786, Lucretia Murphy. As far as I can learn the sons of Mr. Whitney went with him to Milo, N. Y., the daughters remaining in Conway. Gen. James S. Whitney (Stephen, Josiah, Josiah, Richard, Richard, Richard, John), b. South Deerfield, May 19, 1811, ♦ m. Somers, Conn., Nov. 23, 1836, Laurinda Collins. She d. 1907. He d. Oct. 24, 1878. Children. Mary A., b. South Deerfield, Sept. 16, 1837. Henry M., b. Conway, Oct. 22, 1839, m. Oct. 3, 1878, Margaret Foster Green. William Collins, b. July 5, 1841, m. Flora Payne. Susan C, b. Mar. 24, 1845, m. Henry F. Dimock. Henrietta B., b. Apr. 6, 1847. Laurinda C, b. July 4, 1852, m. Charles T. Barney. WILDER. Thomas Wilder was made a Freeman at Charlestown in 1651. He was admitted to the church in 1640, and was the American ancestor of the Conway family. Samuel Wilder (Aholiab, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Thomas), b. June 20, 1752, m. 1772, Rebecca Nims. He d. July 21, 1819. Children. Ephraim, b. Feb. 12, 1773, d. May 26, 1775. Erastus, b. Mar. 3, 1775. Clarissa, b. Jan. 27, 1777, m. Samuel Truesdell. Rebecca, b. Mar. 12, 1779, m. Richard Sheldon. Consider, b. Oct. 1, 1787, d. July 12, 1817. *Israel, b. Oct. 16, 1789, m. Marv Childs. Electa, b. Apr. 10, 1792, m. Silas Bigelow. Samuel, b. July 25, 1797, m. Sally Merrill. Joshua, b. Sept. 7, 1799, m. Lovina Long. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 343 Israel Wilder (Samuel, Aholiab, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Thomas), b. Oct. 16, 1789, m. 1827, Mary Childs. She d. July 6, 1852. He d. Nov. 26, 1875. Children. *WiLU.\M C, b. June 25, 1828, m. Jane E. Warren and Sarah D. Fiske. *Samuel C, b. Apr. 17, 1830, m. Mary Partridge Allis. Mary S., b. Nov. 1, 1835, m. Sept. 9, 1852, Henry S. Swan. Francis E., b. Sept. 6, 1837. Israel Henry, b. Apr. 27, 1840, m. Mar. 7, 1864, Maria E. M. Graves. \\'iLLL\M C. Wilder (Israel, Samuel, Aholiab, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Thomas), b. June 25, 1828, m. Sept. 9, 1852, Eliza- beth J. Warren. She d. Nov. 18, 1881. He m. (2) Dec. 31, 1885, Sarah D. Fiske. He d. March 16, 1910. CJiildren. *Arthur William, b. May 28, 1855, m. Dec. 7, 1886, Minnie J. Bradford, m. (2) Ida \'. Thaver. Nellie Maria, b. Aug. 10, 1860, m. Mar. 12, 1901, luhvard II. Howland. Lottie E., b. May 2, 1864, m. Mar. 19, 1885, Frederick A. Davis. Lucy Ellen, b. Nov. 8, 1889, m. Frank Leonard. Lillian Grace, b. Nov. 8, 1889, d. Nov. 14, 1889. Arthur William Wilder (William C, Israel, Samuel, Aholiab, Nathaniel, Neithaniel, Thomas), b. May 28, 1855, m. Dec. 7, 1886. Minnie J. Bradford. She d. Feb. 17, 1889. He m. (2) July 24, 1901, Ida V. Thayer. Children. Evelyn L., b. Feb. 13, 1889. Deacon Samuel C. Wilder (Israel, Samuel, Aholiab, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, Thomas), b. April 17, 1830, m. March 3, 1853, Mary Partridge Allis. He d. Feb. 14, 1917. She d. Oct., 1899. Childreji. Laura Alice, b. Sept. 8, 1855. Charles S. Henry A., b. Apr. 12, 1867, m. Jessie M. F"arrington. WING. Widow Deborah and four sons, Daniel, John, Stephen, and Mathew, were the first Wings to appear in America, landing in Boston June 5, 1632, from the ship "William Fran- cis." From the second son, John, came the Conway branch. The first to come was John, who was born in Harwich, May 8, 1732, moved to Conwav in 1774. 344 HISTORY OF CONWAY. John Wing (John, Ananias, John, John, Mathew, Godfriedus, Theodore), b. Harwich, May 8, 1732, m. 1773, Abigail Snow. She d. 1775. He m. (2) Abigail Isham. She d. He m. (3) Jane Truscott. He d. Dec. 7, 1822. Children. Peter. James. Eli. *ISAIAH. Bani. Nathan. Enoch. John. Peter. William. Oliver. Freeman. There were daughters in the family but their names are not mentioned. Isaiah Wing (John, John, Ananias, John, John), b. Harwich, July 26, 1761, m. Aug. 21, 1786, Zelanda AUis. She d. April 3, 1797. He m. (2) Sept. 6, 1798, Ruth Wood. She d. Dec. 26, 1807. He m. (3) Esther Clark. They removed to Oswego County, N. Y., and d. there. Children. Walter S., b. June 10, 1787. Was a physician. *Lucius B., b. Jan. 30, 1789, m. Elizabeth Page and Abigail Wilson. Mehitable, b. Dec. 4, 1790, m. Silas Sanderson. Achsah, b. Dec. 25, 1794. Zelanda, b. Mar. 28, 1797, m. W. Smith. Ruth, b. July, 1799, d. 1816. SoLOMOM, b. June 5, 1801, d. Aug. 5, 1803. Esther, b. Dec. 26, 1807, m. Isaac Miller. Lucius Bliss Wing (Isaiah, John, John, Ananias, John, John), b. Jan. 30, 1789, m. Oct. 10, 1819, Elizabeth Page. She d. March 20, 1822. He m. (2) March 10, 1824, Abigail Wilson. He d. April 1, 1871. She d. June 28, 1867. He was the only child who remained in Conway. Children. Francis Wilson, b. Feb. 7, 1825, m. Dec. 16, 1852, Marv Catherine Fry of Elkins Mills, S. C. Elizaheth Page, b. Jan. 7, 1827, d. Apr. 15, 1835. Sarah Fish, b. Oct. 10, 1828, d. Aug. 6, 1851. Laura Ann, b. Sept. 17, 1830, d. Dec. 11, 1856. ♦George Bliss, b. Oct. 1, 1832, m. Oct. 24, 1860, Nannie Bovden. Esther Clark, b. Aug. 29, 1834, d. Sept. 16, 1862. Elizabeth P.\ge, b. Nov. 29, 1839, d. May 2, 1885. *Edward Everett, b. Aug. 10, 1836, m. Helen J. Newman. FAMILY GENEALOGIES. 345 George Bliss Wing (Lucius, Isaiah, John, John, Ananias, John, John), b. Oct. 1, 1832, m. Oct. 24. 1860. Nannie Boyden. He removed to Tacoma. Wash., in 1892. where he now resides. His wife d. in 1910. Children. George. Walter. Gr.\ce. Edward Everett Wing (Lucius, Isaiah, John, John, Ananias, John, John), b. Aug. 10, 1836, m. June 1, 1859, Helen J. Newman. He d. Aug. 15, 1911. Children. Frederick Ll-cius, b. Aug. 8, 1861, m. Jan. 19, 1887, F"annie L. Hoi)kins. He d. June 13, 1890. She d. June 17, 1916. Frank Edward, b. June 27, 1865, m. Sept. 28, 1892, Edith May Smith, Athol. Laura Wilson, b. July 24, 1868, m. Oct. 18, 1893, Charles Lyman Parsons. George Homer, b. Apr. 9, 1870, m. Feb. 28, 1900, Laura Josephine Snell. * ., ., o ' aO' .0^ V aX^' -r. %' ^^ . ^,^' v^^^> ^rv^ ^' ./. * I) 1 \ - \V ^^" '^^ ■>' ^, v^\$i .^^^- ^ '. >0o. U ,xx^ .^•^ ', ''^^'.^^ ;^'^, ='^7:'^}^r n:^^'-'^ .^^ . - - ' :^ '^ ^^Hiiij^\.C ,<^ ^,. .V w; ^"'^ -^^^^^^y^^' <^'- ^*^. --^ o^- '•^r. aX^ ^ ^> ^,~^W^\" A^' ^r'^. ^^:^"' % xOo^ '■^.,A ^.c^' r' v^^ -"^^ Jt <. , V ^0 O. ,' r^0 :/ V^' Z^^^' ■%^^ -, '^■.^^- ■.#^^-.,^3^/_/'< ,\ =■.. "' .-- -1" , ,. .A C^^ ^ >' -^ 'OO^ «^ t ^0 O^. • ,0'^ ,> .. c- '•^. * •' N ' ^ > f^ "ii «. T-< ^^.^' -S^'^ 'X O. ■'''/ •0' s' LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 079 172 6 #