Worcester City (part 38 of 58)

In 1845 he was appointed constalde by Thomas A. Davis, the mayor of Boston, and held that officer's warrant not far from twenty-five years. His promptness in the despatch of business, his accurate and intelligent methods, and above all his thorough honesty in all his dealings made him a popular ofi!icer. Among the leading lawyers of Court Street, Sohier and Welch, Hubbard and Watts, Fiske and Rand, Whiting and Russell, Hutchins and Wheeler, Whitman and Davis, and other attorneys, too numerous to mention, entrusted him with their business, and his income from this source enabled him to make investments in real estate, in which he has found a profitable account. In 1851 he was commissioned by Governor Boutwell as coroner, and the business of that office, by no means insignificant, was added to his regular occupation as c(mstable. This office he held about ten years, and he has since devoted his full time to the management of his real estate and other properties of which he has become possessed.

When Mr. Rice came to Boston, in 1841, he settled in East Boston, and during the forty -seven years which have since elapsed he has lived within fifty feet of his prestnt residence in Saratoga Street. At that time the population of East Boston was about one thousand, and there are now living on the island only four families that were living there then.

Mr. Rice married March 5, 1838, Frances L. Muzzy, of Brookfield, by whom he had no children. His second wife was Abbie E. Brigham of Boston, daughter of Major Franklin Brigham, of Lancaster, whom he married August 13, 1878. He has an only child, Edwin Brigham Rice, who was born December 5, 1879.

Mr. Rice has never sought political preferment, and has declined all participation in the management of enterprises, in which he did not have a substantial interest. He is a large owner in the Quincy Mining Company, and as one of its directors makes an annual visit to its properties in Michigan. He is an enthusiastic Mason, an active member of Joseph Webb Lodge of Boston, and also a member of the National

Lancers. He is connected with the Unitarian Society of East Boston, having been brought up in a liberal faith. His father was active in the settlement of a Universalist churcli in Brookfiekl, and from Universalism to Unitariauism was an easy transition for the son.

Mr. Rice, at the age of seventy-one, is still active in mind and body, and with the enjoyment ofahandaome competence, acquired by his own skill and energy and of a liappy home, he has apparently many years yet before him of usefulness and content.

Chapter Lxxx North Brookfield

North Brookfield is substantially the Second Precinct of Brookfield, which was incorporated March 28, 1750. The petitioners for a separate precinct in the northeasterly part of Brookfield having failed to secure an act of incorporation in 1749, presented a petition at the next session of the General Court in 1750, in which they stated as follows :

Ttiat your petitioiiera under our unhappy and remote situation from the place of ])ublif worstiip in said town liaving often petitioned the town for relief either Iiy Ituilding a nieeting-liouse at or near tiie centre of tlie town as it now lies or to set us off as a distinct parish as per our former petitions may appear ; liut being often denied our request which we thought most rensonaltle ; the town at last made u grant to the inhabitants of the said part of the town that they with such as would join witii them - they entering their names or sending them to the town clerk in writing within the space of tliree months from the date of the gmnt, should be set off as a distinct Parish - provided they and their possessions di<l not exceed one-third part of said town for quantity and quality as per the vote or grant of the town may appear ; upon which vote or grant we agi'eed to build a handsome frame for the public worship of God ; and in April last we preferred a petition to this Honored Court so agreeable (as we thought) to the town's vote that none oppose it ; but to our surprise we found such opposition from the town and some of our petitioners that caused us todesist the proceeding » and being willing to do anything reasonable to satisfy our disaffected brethren we covenanted and agreed for their satisfiction to be at the cost of a committee of uninterested wortliy gentlemen mutually chosen who have been upon the spot and heard tlio pleas and viewed the proposed parish and have returned tlieir judgment that the house stands just and reasonable to accommodate them its well as ourselves as per their return and tlie covenants we entered into may appear. Therefore your pctitionel'S pray that this Honored Court will incorporate ua who have returned our names to the town clerk agreeable to the vote of the town into a distinct Parish and invest us with parish privileges; granting also a liberty of others joyneing with us (not to exceed one-third part of the town as abovesaid) for the space of two years or eighteen monllis or as this Honored Court shall think meet; And your petitit)nei-s further pray that one-third part of the hinds in said town sequestered to ministry and school use or the incomes thereof may be set over and secured to us . and also that the town of Brookfield abate or reimburse to your petitioners and such as join with them llieir proportion of a tax lately assessed on oiir j)oll8 and estates for the settlement and ordination charges of (he Itev l\Ir. Klislia Harding and the repairs of tlie old meeting-house amounling in the whole to about twelve hundred pounds old tenor currency more or less. And your petitioners as in duty bound ghull ever pray.

That the prayer of the petitioners be so far granted as that they with their families and estat-^s, together with such persons and their estates who shall within three months from this time signify that desire therefor under their hands to the clerk of the town of Brookfield, be and they hereby are set off a Distinct Parish and are endowed with all the privileges and subjected to all the duties which the other inhabitants of Pai'ishes are by the laws of the Province endowed with or subjected to - Provided their possessions do not exceed one-third part of the said town of Brookfield for quantity and quality.

After the incorporation of the Second Precinct the Second Parish was organized at the house of Jabez Ayres, Monday, May 21, 1750, by the choice of Capt. Wm. Ayres moderator, Capt. Wm. Ayres precinct clerk and Capt. Wm. Ayres, Capt. Ebenezer Witt, Samuel Gould, Noah Barns and Benjamin Adams precinct committee. Thomas Bartlett was chosen treasurer, Joseph Stone collector, and Wm. Ayres, Samuel Gould, Wm. Witt, Jason Bigelow and Moses Ayres were made assessors. The frame of a meetinghouse was reared April 5, 1749, before the act of incorporation had been secured, and, though occupied, it was not completed for some years. Rev. Eli Forbusli or, as he afterwards called himself. Rev. Eli Forbes, was invited to settle as pastor, and was ordained June 3, 1752. Mr. Forbes was born in Westborough in 1726, and graduated at Harvard in 1751. During his collegiate career he enlisted in the army to engage in the French war, but returned to Cambridge, and graduated seven years after he entered as freshman. During his pastorate he was for a time an Indian missionary, and established a church and school among the Oneidas. He was dismissed at his own request March 1, 1775, in consequence of certain indignities resulting from an undeserved suspicion of his disloyalty ta the patriot cause. He was installed over the First Church in Gloucester June 5, 1776, and died in his pastorate in that town December 15, 1804.

The next settled minister was Rev. Jo»eph Appletnn, of Ipswich, who was ordained October 3, 1776, and died in the pastorate July 25, 1795. Mr. Appleton came from a good stock. He was descended from Samuel Applcton, who was born in Little Waldingfield. County of Suffolk, England, in 1586, and was the seventh in descent from John Apulton, of Great Waldingfield, who was living in 1396. Samuel Appleton came to New England about 1635, and settled in Ipswich, where he had a grant of lands. He married JIary Everard, who came to New England with her husband and probably her children^ - John, Samuel, Sarah, Judith and Martha. Samuel, the second son, wa.i born at Little Waldingfield in 1624, and during the career of Andros, in New England, he took a definite and influential stand against him. He married

North Brookfield

Hannah Paine, and had Hannah, Judith and Samuel. By a second wife, Mary Oliver, whom he married December 8, 1656, he had John, Isaac, Oliver and Joannah. Isaac Appleton, one of the above children, born in 16G4, married Priscilla Baker, and had Priscilla, Mary, Isaac, Elizabeth, Martha and Rebecca. Isaac Appleton, one of the above, born in Ipswich in 1704, married Elizabeth Sawyer, of Wells, in the State of Maine, and had Isaac, Francis, Elizabeth, Samuel, Thomas, John, Daniel, William, Mary and Joseph. Joseph, the youngest child, graduated at Brown University in 1772, and was settled in North Brookfield soon after he had completed his studies lor the ministry. He married Mary Hook and had the following children, all of whom were born in Brookfield - Phineas, born in 1779, who died in 1800 ; Joseph, born in 1781, and died in 1793; Abigail Ellery, born in 1784; William, Sarah Hook and Mary Ann. William, the youngest .son, was born in that part of Brookfield which is now North Brookfield, November 16, 1786, and died in Brookline, Mass., February 15, 1862. He came to Boston in 1807, and after a short career of preparation for mercantile pursuits he advanced step by step until he occupied a place in the front rank of Boston merchants. He was the president of the Branch Bank of the United States from 1832 to 1836 and a member of Congress from 1851 to 1855, and in 1861-62. He was also president of the Provident Association, aud was a large benefactor of the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was a benefactor also of his native town, and as a memorial of him therefore, as well as of his father, this sketch has been introduced into this nairative. On the 16th of March, 1859, he gave to the church and parish, over which his father had ministered, a considerable number of books and the sum of $5000 for the purpose of establishing a Parish Library. He provided that the sura of $2000 should be kept as a permanent fund, and that the remainder, with the income of the fund, could be expended in the purchase of books and paying the current expenses of the library. The parish accepted the gift, and voted that the library should be called " The Appleton Library." It was also voted that the pastor for the time being and four other persons, chosen by the parish, should compose a board of trustees to have the library in charge. The original board consisted of Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell, the successor of Rev. Joseph Appleton, Rev. Christopher Cushing, Charles Adams, Jr., Dr. Joshua Porter, Bonum Nye and Gideon B. Dewing. The chapel was enlarged to receive the library, and, at the present time, there are nearly five thousand volumes on its shelves. Rev. Thomas Snell, the succe-sor of Mr. Appleton, was ordained June 27, 1798, and continued as sole pastor until Septeniber 17, 1851, and senior pastor afterwards until his death, May 4, 1862. His salary, which was objected to by some at the time of his settlement as too large, never during the sixty-four years of his pastorate exceeded five hundred dollars. Dr.

Snell was an early and earnest advocate of the establishment of Amherst College, and in 1828 received from that institution the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was born in Cummington, Mass., November 21, 1774, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1795. He taught an academy at Haverhill one year before going to Brookfield and was licensed to preach by the Tolland Association October 3, 1797. He delivered an oration at Brookfield July 5, 1813 ; a sermon on the completion of his fortieth year in the ministry in 1838, with a short history of the town ; a sermon on the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination in 1848; an historical address containing a sketch of North Brookfield in 1850, and another containing a sketch of his own church in 1852. During his pastorate a new meeting-house was built in 1823 and dedicated January 1, 1824. The house was remodeled in 1842, lengthened twenty feet in 1853 and re-dedicated January 18, 1854, and again remodeled in 1874.

Rev. Christopher Gushing was installed as colleague with Dr. Snell September 17, 1851, and after his death continued as sole pastor until his dismissal, September 17, 1868. Mr. Gushing was born in South Scituate (now Norwell), Mass., and after graduating at Yale in 1844, entered the Andover Thiological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1847. He became secretary of the American Congregational Union in May, 1867, sixteen months before his dismissal. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Amherst College in 1871 and died in Cambridge October 23, 1881.

The successor of Mr. Gushing was Rev. Gabriel H. De Bevoise, who was installed September 17, 1868, and dismissed in 1880. After leaving North Brookfield he was installed at Leominster in 1881.

Rev. Sedgwick P. Wilder, born at Newfane, Vt , May 28, 1847, graduated at Y.ale Theological Seminary in 1875 and was installed June 24, 1880.

No other religious society existed in North Brookfield before its incorporation as a town. The Congregational Church was the nucleus of the town, and in order to make its sketch complete it must necessarily include that part of its history which lies back of the incorporation. The act incorporating the town was parsed February 28, 1812. At a meeting of the parish held in 1810 it was voted to petition the Legislature for an act of separation and a committee was chosen for the purpose consisting of Daniel Gilbert, Jason Bigelow, Luke Potter, Aaron Forbes and Jacob Kittredge. Under the direction of this committee the following petition was drawn up and presented :

The Inhabitiints of the Second Precinct in Brookfield humbly pray that they may be set off from the other precincts in said town, and be incorporated into a Township by the name of North Brookfield ; and that the territorial limits of such incorporation may be the same as these, & hereby the said Precinct is now designated.

And the Kiid Inhabitants would beg leave further to state that from the extensive limits of said town, it being separated into three distinct precincts, together with the necessary mode of transacting the business of the same by annual rotation in each Precinct, they not only find the distance of travel burdensome, but in considering the transacting; of their parochial cuiicerus a two-fold labor and expense ; That tlie of. fleers of said town are of necessity distant from the centre, and that from the number of its inhabitants and the multiplicity of the business of the said town the terra of one day insufficient for transacting the eame.

This petition not meeting with success, another was presented to the Legislature April 15, 1811, which was signed by Jason Higelow, Wm. Ayres (2d), Ezra Batcheller, Luke Potter, Daniel Gilbert, Hugh Cunningham and Amos Bond, committee. As a result of this second effort, the following act of incorporation was passed February 28, 1812 :

Act Of Incoepokation

Sfct. 1. Be it enacted, etc. That all that part of the town of Brook field whicli hiis been heretofore called and known by the name of the Second or North Parish (excepting that part of said territory now lying eoulh of the post road leading from Worcester through Spencer to Springfield), together with tlie inhabitants thereon, be, and the same is hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of North BttoOKFiEi-D. And the said town of North Brookfield is hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and shall also be subject to all the duties to which other corporate towns are entitled and subjected by the consiitution and laws of this Oonmiouwealth.

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, Tliat the inhabitants of the said town of North Brookfield shall be entitled to hold such proportion of all the personal property now belonging to and owned in common by the in^ habitants of the town of Urooktield, as the property of the said inhabitants of North Brookfield bears to the property of all the inhabitants of the town of Brookfield, according to the last valuation thereof.

Sect. 3. Bn if further enacted. That tJie inhabitants of the said town of North Brookfield shall bo boldon to pay all arrears of taxes due from them, together witli their proportion (to be ascertained as aforesaid) of all the debts now due and owing from the said town of Brook field, or which may be hereafter found due and owing by reason of any contract or other matter and thing heretofore entered into, or now existing.

Sect. 4, Be it further enacted, That the said town of North Brookfield shall be holden to support their proportion of the present poor of the town of Brookfield, whicli proportion shall be ascertained by the present valuation of the town ; and all persons who may hereafter bocome chargeable, as paupers, to the town of Brookfield and North Brookfield, shall be considered as belonging to that town, on the territory of which they had their settlement at the* time of passing this act, and shall in future be chargeable to that town only.

Sect. 5. Be it further enacted, That the said town of North Brookfield shall bp holden to pay their proportion of all State, town and county taxes assessed on the inliabitants of tlie said town of Brookfield, until a new valuation shall bo made of the said Towns. Provided, That the said town of North Brookfield shall be holden, until the further order of the Legislutun-, to pay to the town of Brookfield sneh proportion of any of the expenses of maintaining the bridges and causeways over the rivers in the town of Brookfield, as a committee of the Court of Sessions for ihe county of Worcester shall determine ; and eaid Court of Sessions are hereby authorized, on application of either of the inhabitants of Brookfield or North Brookfield, from time to time, to appoint a committee for the above purpose, whose report, made to and accepted by said court, shall be binding on the said towns.

Sect. G. Be it further enacted. That any Justice of the Peace for the county of Worcester, upon application therefor, is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to any freeholder in the said town of North Brookfield, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof to meet at such t'nie and place as shall be appointed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose at their annual town-meetings.

Be it enacted, that Austin Flint, of Leicester, Nathaniel Jones, of Barre, and Joseph Curaminga, of Ware, are hereby appointed a conmiittee to hear and consider the claim of Brookfield on the one part, and of North Biookfield on the other ; and finally to determine whether the town of North Brookfield ought in future to pay any part of the expenses of maintaining the bridges and causeways in the town of Brookfield. . . .

Sect. 2. Be it further enacted. That from and after the time the report of said committee, shall he filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the said fifth Section of said Act incorporating the town of North Brookfield, shall be repealed ; and the duties and liabilities of said North Brookfield, resulting from the said section, shall altogether ceiise. . . .

The first town-meeting was held on Tuesday, March 10, 1812, and Daniel Gilbert wiis chosen moderator, and Moses Bond town clerk. The destruction by fire of the town records renders it impossible to either present in this narrative a list of selectmen and moderators of town-meetings and other officers or to make such extracts as would be desirable in portraying the life of the town. The first town-house was built in 1833. Before that time town-meetings had been held in the Congregational Church, as was the universal custom in the early days of New England towns, when the town and the parish were one and the same. Indeed, the meeting-house derives its name from the fact that it was the general meetingplace of the people. The first t(twn-house in North Brookfield was not built by the town, but was owned by a company called the North Brookfield Town- House Company, and occupied by the parish and the town for town-meetings, schools and other purposes. This bouse was burned in the winter of 1846, and in 1847 a town-house was built by the town which was burned October 14, 1SG2, with all the records of the town and the books of the North Brookfield Savings Bank, whose treasurer, Hiram Knight, was also the clerk of the town. In 1863 the present building was erected at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars.

Though we are unable to furnish a list of town officers and thus show who, in the different generations, have been the men to whom the municipal interests have been confided, the following lii-t of representatives to the General Court, covering for the most part a period when offices sought the men and not men tlie offices, will, to a considerable extent, make up the deficiency. It is taken from the State Register and tbe manual of the General Court, and is believed to be correct,

By an amendment of the Constitution adopted by the Legislatures of 1856 and 1857, and ratified by the people May 1, 1857, it was provided that a census of the legal voters in the Cominoiiwealth on the 1st of May,

1857. should be taken and returned to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on or before the last day of June, on the basis of which the Legislature should provide for the creation of representative districts. Under this arrangement North Brookfield and Brookfield constituted the twelfth Worcester Representative District, and were represented as follows:

Under the appointment of 1866, based on the census of 1865, the towns of Brookfield, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Sturbridge and Warren constituted the Eighteenth Worcester District, and were represented during the ten succeeding years as follows:

Under the apportionment of 1876, based on the census of 1875, the same towns constituted the Twelfth Worcester District, and were represented as follows:

Under the apportionment of 1886, based on the census of 1885, Brookfield, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, New Braiiitree, Oakham, Sturbridge and Warren constituted the Fifth Worcester District, and have been represented as follows:

Section 1. So much of the town of North Brookfield in the county of Worcester as lies soulherl.v of a line beginning at a stone monnment at the old post-road leading to Brookfield, a little noi-thwesterly of what is called W^olcott Mill, and running thence south seventy-seven degrees and thirty minutes east three hundred and seventy-five rods to a stone monument as now estiiblished in the line of Brookfield and North Brookfield on the easterly side of the Stevens Potid, so calU-d, with all the inhabitants and estates thereon, is hereby set off fro[n the town of North Brookfield and annexed to the town of Brookfield ; provided, however, that for the purpose of electing Representatives to the General Court to which the said town of North Brookfield is entitled until the next decennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the thirteenth article of amendment to the constitution, the said territory shall remain and continue to Ilea part of the town of North Brookfield, and the inhabitants resident therein shall be entitled to vote in the choice of such representatives, and shall be eligible to the office of representative in the town of North Brookfield in the same manner aa if this Act had not been passed.

Section 2. The said inhabitants and estates so set off shall be liable to pay all taxes that have been legally assested on them by the town of North Brookfield in the same manner as if this act had not been passed, and until the next general valuation of estates in thisCommonwealh the town of Brookfield shall annually pay over to the said town of North Brookfield the proportion of any State or county tax which the said town of North Brookfield may have to pay upon the inhabitants or estates hereby set off.

Section 3. If any persons, who have heretofore gained a legal settlement in the town of North Brookfield by reason of a residence on the territory set off as aforesaid, onby having been proprietors thereof or who may derive such settlement from any such resident or proprietor shall stand in need of relief or support as paupers, they shall be relieved and supported by the said town of Brookfield in the same manner as if they had gained a legal settlement in that town.

Section 4. The selectmen of the town of Brookfield shall annually until the next decennial census, fourteen days at least before the second Monday of November, furnish to the selectmen of North Brookfield a correct list, so far as may he ascertained from the records of the town of Brookfield or any of its ofiicers, of all persons resident on the territory hereby set off who shall be entitled to vote for representatives as aforesaid in North Brookfield.

The part which North Brookfield took in the suppression of the Rebellion was what might have been expected in view of the character of its leading men. The spirit and energy displayed by these men, some of whom were largely engaged in Southern trade, but whose patriotism controlled and suppressed every unworthy and selfish motive, deserve a commendatory reference in this narrative. A public meeting was held on the evening of the 19th of April, 1861, on the reception by telegraph of I lie news of the »ttack on the Sixth Regiment in Baltimore, "to see if North Brookfield will respond to the call of the President by raising a company of volunteers to offer their services to the government." The meeting was called to order by W. S. Phelps, who was chosen chairman, and it was addressed by J. E. Green, Freeman Walker and others. An enrollment list was opened for signatures, which was headed by Joseph C. Fretts and Charles Perry, whose example was soon followed by others. It is a singular fact that these two men, whose promptness to enlist in the cause of their country inspired the young men of the town to enter the service, should have both been killed at the battle of Antietam. After the adoption of appropriate resolutions the meeting was adjourned to the next evening of Saturday the 20th, and on that occasion the town hall was filled by citizens of North Brookfield and the adjoining towns. The enrollment of volunteers continued and the selectmen were requested to call a meeting of the town at the earliest practicable day. The meeting called by the selectmen was held on Monday, April 29th, and before that time the spirit of the town had been thoroughly aroused by the passage of troops on the railroad bound to the front. At' this meeting it was voted that each volunteer who shall serve in the company now being raised in the town until mustered into the military service shall receive one dollar a day while engaged in drilling and when mustered in shall be supplied with a substantial unifoim and a good revolver, and while engaged in active service his family shall receive eight dollars a month. Freeman Walker, John Hill and Augustus Smith were appointed a committee to procure the supplies voted by the town. At a subsequent meeting these gentlemen resigned and Charles Adams, Jr., J. F. Hebard and A. Woolworth were chosen in their place. On the 3d of June it was voted to pay State aid to the families of volunteers in accordance with an act of the Legislature which had just been passed. On the 3d of March, 1862, it was voted to pay State aid to families of volunteers to the amount the State promises to refund, and on the 3d of July it was voted to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who shall enlist for three years and be credited to the quota of the town before the 1st of August, and on the 22d of August it was voted to pay the same bounty to volunteers for nine months' service. On the 8th of December, 1863, James Miller, Charles Adams, Jr., and T. M. Duncan were chosen to aid the selectmen in the work of obtaining recruits. On the 5th of April, 1864, the bounty to three years volunteers was increased to one hundred and twenty-five dollars, and on the 26th of June it was voted that a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars be paid for ene year's men, two hundred and twenty-five dollars for two years' men and three hundred and twenty dollars for three years' men. The amount of money appropriated and expended on account of the war was $34,825.55, of which the sum of $17,886.47 was expended in State aid and refunded by the State. The following list covers the various enlistments of Brookfield men, some of whom re-enlisted and whose names therefore appear more' than once on the list:

Henry R. Bliss, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 18G2. Thomas S. Bates, died in Washington, Feb. G, 1864. Wm. Bates, killed in the Wilduiness, May 13, 18G4. James P. C'oolidge, killed at Winchestt-r, Sept. 19, 1804. Wm. Clark, killed in Georgia, Liec. lo, 18(34. N. S. Dickinson, died of wounds, Aug. 18, 1804. Peter Devlin, died at Nashville, June 5, 1865. Joseph C. Fretts, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. Andrew J. Fisher, died Aug. G, 18G3. John W. Gilmore, died at Newhern, April 13, 18G2.

Lyman H. Gilbert, killed at Petersburg, Sept. 30, 1864. Thomas Griflin, died at Salisbury, Dec. 7, 1864. Albert T. Hulman, died at Newborn, Sept. 23, 1862. John A. Hughes, died May 16, 1SG3. Wm. F. Hill, died in Virginia, Aug. 28, 18C3. James Heiidei-soii, died at Newbern, Oct. 3, 18G4. J. U. Jenks, killed at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1SG4. James A. Knight, died Aug. 10, 1863. John F. Lamb, killed at Petersburg, June 29, 1864. David S Monlton, killed at Fredericksburg, Dec.13, 1862. N. B. Maxwell, died at Andersonvilie, Aug 23, 1804. Timothy McCarthy, died at Andersonvilie, Sept. 2, 1864. Henry H. Monlton, died at Andersonvilie, Jan. 23, 1865. Charles Perry, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1802. Albert F. Potter, died at Newbern, Jan. 28, 1863. George S. Prouty, killed at Piedmont, June 2, 18154. George L. Sherman, killed at Spottsylvania, 3Iay 12, 1864. Lyman Tucker, died at Alexandria, Sept. 11, 1801.

It has been stated, in an earlier part of this narrative, that the Congregational Church was the onlychurch ia the precinct at the time of its incorporation as a town. Not an inconsiderable number of its people were connected with a Baptist society in Brookfield ; but to that organization outside of the limits of the town, no special reference will be made.

The foundation of the Methodist Episcopal Society seems to have been laid about the year 1829. From that time until 1833 Sabbath services were held, with some intermissions, in the Old Congregational Church. In the latter year, on the 30th of January, a new meeting-house was dedicated, and in 1834 North Brookfield was made a station under the charge of Rev. Henry Mayo. The society, for many years after 1840, held services in the town-hall and other available places until their present church was dedicated, May, 1861. The following list of preachers up to 1885 is given by Mr. Temple in his history :

On the 29th of October, 1853, a second Congregational Society was formed, called the " Union Congregational Society." The church was organized June 7, 1854, and on that day Eev. Levi F. Waldo was installed. After his dismissal, June 13, 1856, the society remained without a pastor until the installation of Rev. William H. Beecher, June 3, 1857. Mr. Beecher remained until May 14, 1801. After a short supply of the pulpit by Rev. J. E. Tower, Rev, Luther Keene was installed in 1862, and continued in the pastorate until April 29, 1867, Rev. Johu Dodge supplied the pulpit about three years and a half from December 2, 1867, and was followed in a supply by Rev. Charles E. Coolidge for about a year and a half. On Sept. 6, 1876, Rev. George W. Wilson was ordained, and remained until June 1, 1878. Rev. John W. Hird was installed March 28, 1879. The meeting-house of this society was built in 1854.

St. Joseph's Parish, the Catholic Society, began to hold services in June, 1851. Soon after that date North Brookfield became a mission church of that in Webster, and later of that in Ware, during which period it was under the charge of the pastors in those towns. While under the charge of Rev. William Moran, of Ware, the present church was begun in October, 18G6, and completed in July, 1867, and placed under the charge of Rev. Edward Turpin. After the death' of Father Turpin, at the close of a single year's service. Rev. Henry M. Smyth was placed in charge, whose pastorate also vtas terminated b}' death at the end of three years.

Rev. Michael Walsh followed, and remained thirteen years, until his death, when Rev. James P. Tuite was transferred from Clinton to North Brookfield. The society has a parsonage, with fifteen acres of land, a church and a cemetery of four acres, and is free from debt. Its membership numbers nearly twenty-three hundred.

The schools of North Brookfield have not been under the care of the old town of Brookfield since the incorporation of the Second Precinct, in 1750. In 1756 the town of Brookfield voted that the schoolmoney raised in each of the three precincts should be expended within said precinct according to its pleasure. The Second Precinct, under this vote, assumed the right to levy and collect a tax within its own limits for the support of its own schools, and this right was always exercised during its life as a precinct. In 1760 the Legislature confirmed the right, and the precinct built its school-houses, appointed teachers, and raised money for the support of schools.

In 1791 the precinct was divided into seven school districts, and, until 1805, chose a School Committee to take charge of all the schools in the precinct. During the four years after that date each district chose its own committee, but in 1809 the old practice was resumed. It is beliered that the districts as formed in 1791 continued until the final abandonment of the school district system, in 1869, except that in the mean time the central district had been divided into two, thus making eight instead of seven. On the abandonment of the district system, the school-houses which had been built at the expense of the districts were appraised at ten thousand dollars, and that sum was raised by tax, and each taxpayer credited with his due share. According to the last report of the school committee there were, at the close of the last year, nineteen schools in the town, including the high school, which was opened August 19, 1857, under the care of 0. W. Whitaker, a graduate of Middlebury College. The high school house, built in

1856-57, was burned May 14, 1878, and a new brick building was erected on the old site. For the year 1887-8 the sum of $8500 was appropriated for schools, in addition to the Dog Fund of $401.28 and the State Fund of S202.95.

The population of North Brookfield, in the early years of its municipal life, did not rapidly increase. In 1820 it was 1095 and in 1840 had only reached 1468. In 1875 it was 3749, in 1880 4459 and in 1885 4201. The advance in population was owing to the introduction and gradual enlargement of the manufacture of boots and shoes in the town. Oliver Ward, of Grafton, first began the business in 1810, and in his shop many of those who, in later years, carried on a large business, served their apprenticeship. Mr. Ward's business rapidly increased, but in the panic of 1837 was so extended and incurred such serious losses that he abandoned and never resumed it.

In the mean time, the well-known firm of T. & E. Batcheller, both of whose members, Tyler and Ezra, had been brought up by Mr. Ward, started in business. The business of this firm was begun in a small way by Tyler Batcheller in 1819, who in 1825 took his brother Ezra into partnership and established the firm above mentioned. In 1830 Freeman Walker was admitted into the firm as a partner and the firm-name was changed to T. & E. Batcheller & Walker. Mr. Walker, however, retired in 1834 and the firm resumed its old name. In 1852 Charles Adams, Jr., Alfred H. Batcheller, Wm. C. King and Hervey I. Batcheller were admitted as partners, and the firm's name was changed to T. & E. Batcheller & Co. In 1848 Tyler Batcheller removed to Boston to take charge of the business, for the transaction of which, in connection with their manufacture, a store had been opened; and in 1860 Mr. Adams retired, followed soon after by Hervey J. Batcheller, and by Mr. King in 1865. Losses in Southern trade during the war caused a temporary suspension of the firm, from which, after the payment of all its liabilities, it soon recovered, and during which Ezra Batcheller died, October 8, 1862. The present firm-name is E. & A. H. Batcheller, and by the employment of not far from one thousand hands the annual product of the concern is not far from two millions of dollars.

The Batcheller family is descended from Joseph Batcheller, who came to New England from Canterbury, England, in 1636, and settled in Wenham. By his wife, Elizabeth, he had Mark, John, Elizabeth and H?nnah. John, the second child, married, in July, 1661, Mary Dennis; and second, in May, 1666, Sarah, daughter of Robert Goodale, of Salem. His children were Joseph, born in 1660 ; John, born in January, 1666-67 ; Mark, born in 1678; Elizabeth, Ebenezer, Hannah, Mary, Sarah and David. David, the last-mentioned child, married Susannah Whipple and had David, 1710 ; Susannah, 1712 ; Joseph, 1713; Nehemiah, 1716; Abraham, 1722; Amos, 1727; and Susannah again, 1731. Abraham, one of these chil- dren, removed from Wenham, the old family home, to Westborough, and theoce to Sutton, and married Sarah Newton. Her children were Abraham, 1752; Abner, 1755; Vashti, 1757; Joseph, 1759; Benjamin, 1762; Ezra, 1764; Sarah, 1706; and Amos, 1768. Ezra Batcheller, one of these children, moved from Sutton to Brookfield in 1802, and married, in 1789, Mary, daughter of Daniel Day ; and second, in 1814, Widow Ann Mayo. His children were Willard,born in 1789, and died in North Brookfield in 1853; Daniel, born in 1791 ; Tyler, born in Sutton, December 20, 1793; Alden, born in 1796; Orra, born in 1799; and Ezra, born in 1801. Tyler Batcheller, one of the above sons, was the founder of the Batcheller business in North Brookfield. He married, April 6, 1819, Nancy Jenks, of North Brookfield ; and second, October 8, 1829, Abigail J. Lane, of North Brookfield. His children were Mary Day, born September 12, 1821, who married Abel Harwood, of North Brookfield; Martha Ann, born December 7, 1823, who married Aaron D. Weld, of North Brookfield ; Emeline, born December 22, 1826, who married Wm. C. King, of North Brookfield ; and Hervey Jenks, who was born in 1828.

Ezra Batcheller, brother of Tyler and his partner, many years, born in Sutton July 21, 1801, married first, April 7, 1824, Kelutia Parks, of North Brookfield, and second, March 25, 1851, Lutheria Cummings, of Ware. His children were Lucius Edwin, born July 6, 1825; Elizabeth Henry, born December 17, 1826; Alfred Hubbard, born July 23, 1830; George Ezra, born December 14, 1833; Mary Eelutia, born October 16, 1835, and married Josiah W. Hubbard, of Boston; George Ezra, again, born December 6, 1838; Sarah Cheever, born October 3, 1844, and Frank Arthur, born October 15, 1852.

Among the corporations and institutions in North Brookfield may be mentioned the North Brookfield Savings Bank, the North Brookfield Free Public Library and the North Brookfield Railroad Company. The Savings Bank was incorporated March 3, 1854, and, according to its last report, its deposits were 1519,427.02. Its officers at the same time were: S. S. Edmands. president; Bon um Nye, treasurer; and Bonum Nye, clerk.

The Free Library may date its origin May 17, 1879, when, at a town-meeting, it was voted to accept various sums of money for its establishment. These sums created a fund to which the past and present scholars of the high school and citizens generally subscribed five hundred dollars; William H. Montague, one hundred dollars; Theodore C. Bates, five hundred dollars, and Alfred ii. Batcheller one thousand dollars, with which trustees, appointed by the town, organized the enterprise. The library, with a readingroom, was opened November 26, 1879. The town makes an appropriation annually for its maintenance, and its shelves now contain about four thousand volumes.

The railroad company was organized January 14, 1875, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollar.s - ten thousand dollars of which was subscribed by individuals, and ninety thousand dollars by the town. The road was opened January 1,1876, and a lease for ten years, which has been renewed for an additional term of fifty years, was made to the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, that company supplying the rolling stock. During the time of the first lease of ten years the company received under its lease $24,443.74, or, in other words, a dividend on its stock of an average of little less than two and a half per cent, per year.

In addition to Oliver Ward and the members of the Batcheller family, who have been prominent in the alfdirs of the town since its incorporation, may be mentioned: Hiram Ward, the firms of Johnson & Edson, and Dewing & Edmands, C. & D. Whiting, Whiting & Haskell, Whiting, Lowe & Co., Bond & Jenks, H. B. & J. N. Jenks,Woodis & Crawford, Jenks & Miller, Gulliver & Jenks, Gulliver, Duncan & I Howe, Gulliver & Stone, P. K. Howe, Fullnian, Livermore & Montague, Olmstead & R. Walker and A. & E. D. Batcheller, all of whom have engaged at various times in the manufacture of shoes for long or short periods. Nor must mention be omitted of Theodore C. Bates, Amasa Walker, Freeman Walker and Charles Adams, jr., all of whom have been not only prominent and useful citizens, but well known and influential in the walks of public life. Of Mr. Bates, who is still among the living, it is not proposed here to specially speak. It is sufficient to say that he is not only honored and esteemed amoiig his neighbors and immediate friends, but has been deservedly the recipientof public honors whose measure, if his life and health be preserved, it is safe to predict, is not yet full.

Amasa Walker was born in Woodstock, Conn., May 4, 1799. He was descended from Augustine Walker, who was in Charlestown in 1641, and was the son of Walter and Priscilla (Carpenter) Walker, who removed while Amasa was yet an infant to the Second Precinct of Brookfield (now North Brookfield). He was educated in the common schools of North Brookfield, and in 1814, at the age of fifteen years, he entered a store in that town and afterwards one in South Brookfield, and finally the store of Moses Bond in North Brookfield. During most of the time from 1817 to 1820 he taught .school, and in the latter year went into business in West Brookfield, continuing his interest until 1823. For a short time afterwards he was the agent of the Methuen Manufacturing Company, and in 1825 he removed to Boston, where he remained until 1840, a partner in the house of Carleton & Walker until 1829 and during the remainder of the time in business alone. In 1833 he delivered an oration before the Young Men's Society in Boston, in 1839 was president of the Boston Temperance Society, and in 1840 retired from business. In 1843 he returned to North Brookfield and in 1844 delivered a course of lectures at Oberlin

North Beookfield

College. In 1848 he was a member of the Free Soil National Cjuvention at Buffalo and was the successful candidate of that party for the State Legislature. In 1849 he was chosen to the Senate and in 1851 Secretary of State. In 1853 he was a member of the convention for revising the Constitution of the Commonwealth and in 1854 was chosen president of the North Brookfleld Savings Bank at the time of its organization. In 1859 he delivered a course of lectures on political economy in Amherst College and in 1862 was chosen a Representative to Congress. In 1867 he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Amherst and died at North Brookfield, October 29, 1875. He married, July 6, 1826, Eraeline, daughter of Jonathan Carleton, of Boston, who was at that timehis partner in business. On the 23d of June, 1834, he married Hannah Ambrose, of Concord, N. H., whose three children survived him.

Francis A. Walker, of Boston, is one of these children and was born in Boston, July 2, 1840. He removed with his father to North Brookfield in 1843 and was educated in its public schools preparatory to his admission to Amherst College in 1856, from which institution he graduated in 1860. He studied law with Charles Devens and George F. Hoar, then in partnership in Worcester, and in 1861 wag made sergeant-major of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Devens. On the 14th of September, 1861, he became assistant adjutant-general on the staff of General Darius N. Couch, and on the 23d of December, 1863, a colonel on the staff of the Second Army Corps. In 1865 he was breveted brigadier-general. He was wounded at Chancellorsville. captured at Ream's Station and confined in Libby Prison, and on his exchange left the service on account of impaired health. After his discharge he taught two years in the Williston Seminary, was then for a time connected with the editorial department of the Springfield Republican, and in 1870, after having had charge for a time of the Bureau of Statistics, was made Superintendent of the National Census of that year. He is now at the head of the Institute of Technology in Boston.

Freeman Walker was the brother of Araasa, and born in North Brookfield December 12, 1803. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, having, in addition, the advantages of one term in the Monson Academy. In the winter of 1822-23 he taught school in Western (now Warren), and in 1823 entered as clerk the store of Newell & Taintor. In the latter part of that year he went to Methuen to take charge of a store connected with the Methuen Manufacturing Company, of which his brother Amasa was agent. In 1826 he joined his brother in Boston, and became a clerk in his employ, in which po.-ition he continued until January 1, 1830, when he became a partner in the shoe manufacturing company of T. & E. Batcheller & Walker at North Brookfield. In 1834 he retired from this firm, and in 1835 began manufacturing shoes on his own account, and so continued until 1842. As moderator, selectman and overseer of the Poor he commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and as Representative to the General Court in 1840 and 1841, and as Senator in 1852, 1853 and 1861 he had opportunities of a wider field of action, He married, June 3, 18iJ0, Mary, daughter of Amos Bond, of North Brookfield, and died July 13, 1883.

Charles Adams, Jr., was descended from Henry Adams, who came from England and settled in Braintree. He was the son of Charles Adams, a physician in Antrim, N. H., and was born January 31, 1810. He received his education partly from the public schools and partly from private instruction under the care of Rev. John Bisbee, of Brookfield, and Rev. Josiah Clark, of Rutland. He went to North Brookfield in 1832, and entered the business office of T. & E. Batcheller, where he remained twenty years as book-keeper. In 1852 he became a partner in the firm and so continued until his retirement in 1860. Besides holding various town offices he was a Representative to the General Court in 1850-51-.52and 1862; a State Senator in 1865-68 ; a member of the Excutive Council in 1867-68-69-70, and treasurer and receiver-general of the Commonwealth from 1871 to 1875 inclusive. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1878, and died at North Brookfield April 19, 1886.

With these sketches, this narrative, short as it is, must be closed. The writer is aware of its imperfections, but they are such as must be attributed to the scantiness of material essential to its completion. As was stated by him in his sketch of Brookfield, he has been indebted in its preparation to Mr. Temple, the historian, who has so thoroughly gathered the harvest that little has been left to th(,se coming after him but the satisfaction of entering his granaries and filching from his store.

Tyler And Ezra Batcheller

The following account of this firm, and the men who were associated in its management, was prepared by Mr. Charles Adams, Jr., and was the last literary work of his life. It is printed, without alteration, from his manuscript.

Of all the men who have been citizens of this town since its incorporation, no one, probably, has done so much to promote its material growth and prosperity as Deacon Tyler Batcheller; and a history of the town, without a brief sketch, at least, of his active and useful career, would lack an essential element. He may truly be called the founder of ihe now large and flourishing central village of North Brookfield. He was born, as will be seen in the genealogical record, December 20, 1793, in the town of Sutton, where he lived with his father till April, 1802, when the ftimily removed to this town, which, however, was then the North Parish, or "Second Precinct in Brookfield;" his father purchasing of Solomon & Edmund Matthews, by deed, August 19, 1801, and for many years occupying the farm ever since known as the " Batcheller place," now (3885) owned by J. Winslow Bryant. At an early age, probably in his fifteenth year, he went to Grafton and learned the trade of shoemaking of Mr. Nathan Johnson. At the close of his apprenticeship there be returned to North Brookfield, and was employed in the establishment of Mr. Oliver Ward, who, in 1810, had commenced in this town the manufacture of "sale shoes," the first and only manufactory of the kind in the State, west of Grafton. In the family of Mr. Ward he found a pleasant and congenial home for about eight years.

In 1819 he commenced business on his own account, at the " Wetherbee bouse," so called, which stood on the spot now occupied by the house of Mrs. Erastus Hill. Having married, the same year, be resided there with his family ; the back part of the house serving as his manufactory. At first his entire business consisted only in what shoes he could make with his own hands; soon, however, taking into his service one or two apprentices, and his brother Ezra, who had already learned the trade of Mr. Ward. The first shoes he made were chiefly of a low-pri:ed quality, especially adapted to the Southern trade. These he packed in empty flour-barrels and consigned to Mr. Enoch Train, who in those days ran a line of sailing packets between Boston and Havana. On these small consignments a large per cent, of profit was realized. In 1821 he purchased the "Skerry house" and farm in the centre of what is now the main village of the town, expecting to enter into possession the first of the following April ; but in February, 1822, his dwelling and shop at the Wetherbee place were totally destroyed by fire, and he at once removed bis family to his new purchase, the "Skerry house," where he resumed and continued his business in an out-building on the premises, until 1824. In that year, having previously taken into his service several additional employes, he built a small two-story shop, which is now a part of the immense structure known far and wide as the " big shop," into which January 1, 1825, he removed his business, and at the same date took into partnership bis brother Ezra, continuing the same business, though somewhat enlarged, under the firm of T. & E. Batcheller. From this time forward to the end of his life the two brothers were associated as partners through all the changes in their business ; and in giving a history of it, their names cannot be dissociated. Tyler, the senior, attended to the purchase of stock and to all other business abroad ; while Ezra was the efficient and popular superintendent, almost always at home.

and at his post, giving direction to all matters pertaining to the manufactory. Harmonious in all their business relations and interests, as well as in all measures devised for the public weal, the act of one was the act of both; and in most matters their names were usually coupled, and they were familiarly spoken of as " the Deacon and Ezra."

They now added to their business the manufacture of " Batcheller's Retail Brogan," an article adapted to the New England trade, and kept for sale in all the stores in this and many of the neighboring towns ; their main business, however, being the manufacture of goods for the Southern and Western Slates. The firm of T. & E. Batcheller continued, with a constantly increasing business, until January 1, 1830, when, by the admission of Freeman Walker, it was changed to " T. & E. Batcheller & Walker." The business having largely increased, the factory was now enlarged to three times its original size. In 1831 they introduced the manufacture of Russet Brogans, specially for the trade of the Southern States - the first that were made in Massachusetts. They soon became a leading article in the shoe trade and continued to be so for many years. Mr. Walker retired from the firm in 1834, and the firm resumed its former style of "T. & E. Batcheller." At this time the business had increased from its small beginnings to what was then considered very large ; but the manufacture for an entire year then was probably no more than the product of a single week iu the " big shop " at the present time. Nothing that could properly be called machinery had been introduced to prepare the stock for bottoming, none of which was done in the factory, but was put out and done by workmen in their small shops in this and most of the towns in the vicinity - in some instances the stock was carried to a distance of twenty to thirty miles.

The firm of T. & E. Batcheller continued until June 10, 1852, when Charles Adams, Jr., Alfred H. Batcheller, William C.King and Hervey J. Batcheller were admitted to the firm, and its style changed to T. & E. Batcheller &Co.; meanwhile a store bad been established in Boston for the transaction of their business, and Tyler Batcheller had found it necessary, for greater convenience, to remove his residence to Boston the latter part of 1848. Mr. Adams retired from the firm January 1, 1860, the firm-name remaining the same, and Hervey J. Batcheller retired soon after. The business had then increased, from the day of small things, to nearly a million and a half of dollars annually. In April, 1861, the Southern Rebellion broke out, paralyzing for a while almost the whole business of the country. This firm suffered with the rest, and their business being very largely with the Southern States, their losses were proportionally large. A suspension was inevitable, and they were temporarily under the general financial cloud. But an arrangement, highly honorable to them, was soon made, and in a few months they were enabled to pay, and did pay, every dollar of their indebtedness, principal and interest. But Tyler Batcheller, the founder and for years the sole proprietor and manager of the business, and the efficient senior partner of the firm from its beginning, did not live to see that fortunate consummation. The disappointment and anxiety caused by the apparent loss of a large fortune - the accumulations of a half-century of successful business - the inability to meet present pecuniary liabilities ; the future darkened by the civil war in which the nation was then involved, the termination and result of which could not be anticipated by any human foresight ; - in the midst of this accumulation of adverse and discouraging circumstances, and probably to some extent in consequence of them, his health failed, and his constitution, never robust, and which had begun to feel the eflfects of advancing years, seemed entirely to give way, and after a brief confinement to his house and bed, and without any clearly-defined disease he died, October 8, 1862, nearly sixty-nine years of age, - apparently of mere exhaustion of the vital powers, accelerated, probably, by mental care and anxiety. Thus ended a life distinguished for industry, energy, perseverance, integrity and usefulness. If his life had been spared but a few months longer he might have seen the cloud, which overhung their business at the time of his death, dispelled, all the pecuniary liabilities of the firm paid in full, an ample competency for himself and family retrieved from the wreck of the old business, and a most favorable prospect for a future business, which, although he did not live to see it, was more than realized by the surviving partners, of whom his brother Ezra was henceforward to the end of his life the able and efficient senior partner. Mr. King retired from the firm in 1865.

In the early years of Tyler Batcheller there were no special indications of the prominent positions he was destined to fill in the community, and in the business world. In boyhood he was noted for his mild and peaceful disposition ; never zealously mingling with his contemporaries in their noisy and boisterous sports; then and always modest and unassuming in his deportment ; improving to the best of his ability the very limited advantages afforded in those days for schooling : a very few weeks in the district school each winter being the extent of his school education - a defect which was ever a source of regret to him.

He was very early inured to habits of industry and economy, which he retained through life. The following incident exemplifies both traits. The first three years of his service with Mr. Ward were the last three years of his minority, and his stipulated wages went to his father; over and above which, during that time he earned and saved five hundred dollars - a large amount for those days - the interest on which, as he told the writer, was his self-restricted annual allowance for clothing for several years - until he went into business on his own account.

He united with what is now the First Congregational church in North Brookfield, June 8, 1817. In the spring of 1818, in connection with Joseph A. (afterward Deacon) Moore, he organized and superintended the first Sabbath-school in town, and for sixteen years he was a member of the supervising committee of the same.

September 15, 1820, he was elected a deacon, when he was twenty-seven years of age, and continued in that office twenty-eight years - until he removed his residence to Boston.

He was married April 6, 1819, to Miss Nancy Jenks, daughter of Mr. Nicholas Jenks, one of the early residents of the town. She was a most estimable lady and helpmeet, the mother of all his children. Her early and lamented death, in 1828, was a great lots to the whole community. She was born August, 1796, and died October 5, 1828, leaving four small children - three daughters and a son. He married for his second wife, Octobers, 1829, Miss Abigail Jones Lane, daughter of Captain Samuel Lane, a very worthy young lady who had been an inmate of his family four years, and had the care of all his children, to whom she was now called to be a second mother; the oldest was only seven years old at the death of their mother. She lived to see the daughters all married, and survived her husband six years. She was born at Bedford, Mass., August 1, 1810, and died at Boston, March 10, 1877.

The "Skerry farm," which he purchased in 1821, covered a large portion of what is now the central village - the whole of the northeast quarter and part of the southeast, on no part of which was there any building except the old Skerry house in which he lived until 1836, when it was demolished, and a new house built on its site, and which was his home until he removed to Boston in 1848. It is now occupied as a part of the " Big Shop,'' and is the southwesterly portion of it. About 1825 the land on the streets by which the fiirm was bounded began to be wanted for building lots. In disposing of them Mr. Batcheller, with a view to the development and growth of the village, rather than to his individual interest, adopted the liberal policy of selling them at only about their value for agricultural purposes, to men of good character who would probably become permanent citizens and to workmen whose services were wanted in or near his manufactory. The first sale was to his brother and partner, Ezra Batcheller, where Frank A. Smith now lives : and in a few years those streets were lined by neat residences owned and occupied by a very desirable class of citizens. When "Grove Street" was opened through his land, and real estate had largely increased in value, he was asked by several individuals at the same time to set a price on building-lots; he declined, giving as a reason that several of his interested friends had intimated to him that at the prices at which he had been parting with building-lots, he was doing less than justice to him- self, and perhaps to them. He accordingly proposed to leare the price to be made by two disinterested men mutually agreed upon, and that he would abide by their decision. The proposition was accepted, and carried into eflect.

In 1848 it became necessary, for the convenience of the extensive business of the firm, that he should remove to Boston, which he did in December of that year, and, as was said at his funeral, " he carried his religion with him." He attended meeting regularly at Park Street Church, and November 2, 1850, he and his wife united with that church, then under the pastoral care of Rev. A. L. Stone, now of San Francisco, Cal. September 17, 18.'i7, he was elected a deacon of that church, and to the close of life remained an active and devoted officer. He was also for several years a member of the Prudential Committee of that society.

Mr. Batcheller was an original member of the Boston Board of Trade: was chosen a member of its Committee of Arbitration, and served on other important committees.

In removing his legal residence to Boston Mr. Batcheller did not forget the town of North Brookfield, where he had passed nearly a century of his life, - nor the church and society there with which he had been connected more than thirty years, as was shown by his frequent visits and acts of liberality and beneficence.

Ezra Batcheller, the junior member of the original firm, if less prominent before the public, was, equally with his brother, an efficient and essential factor in the growth and prosperity of the manufacturing establishment. And to his business tact and energy is largely due the prompt extrication of the concern from their temporary embarrassment in 1861. He was a large-hearted, public-spirited man, of earnest piety ; and his memory is fragrant of good deeds and an honorable and useful life.

The present firm name is E. & A. H. Batcheller & Company ; and this is the only boot and shoe manufactory now in operation in North Brookfield. In 1875, as appears from the census report, they gave employment to 927 males and 150 females, and manufactured goods of the value of $1,817,000. Their facilities for business have been considerably increased since that date.

Hon. Charles Adams, Jr., A.M.

According to his own prepared family record, Mr. Adams is descended from Henry\ who came from England and settled in Braiutree; the line running through Edward- of Medfield, John' of Medfield, Abraham* of Brookfield, Jesse" of Brookfield, Charles, M.D.^ of Antrim, N. H., and Oakham, Mass.

Charles, Jr.', was born at Antrim, in the part then known as Woodbury Village, now South Antrim, January 31, 1810, and died at North Brookfield, April 19, 188G. In addition to the advantages of the common schools, he attended a select school in Brookfield under Rev. John Bisbee, and studied eight months with Rev. Josiah Clark, of Rutland. This completed his school education. He served an apprenticeship of five years in a country store at Petersham, and was employed as clerk, for a single year by J. B. Fairbanks, of Ware. He came to North Brookfield in 1832, and entered the employment of Messrs. Batcheller, shoe manufacturers, as book-keeper and accountant, which position he held for twenty years. In 1852 he became a member of the firm, and so continued until 1860, when he retired with a competence.

Mr. Adams was much in public life - having held by election most of more responsible town offices : was representative to the General Court fVir the years 1850, '51, '52 and '62; State Senator 1865, '66, 77 and '78 ; member of the Executive Council 1867, '68, '69 and '70; Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth 1871, '72, '78, '74 and '75. He was also honored with special trusts ; was commissioner of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad Sinking Fund ; and for many years president of the North Brookfield Savings Bank. Perhaps it is enough to say, that in all these offices and trusts he fully met the expectation of his constituents for industry, ability, foresight, good judgment and integrity.

In manners, Mr. Adams bad the dignity, without the preciseness, of a gentleman of the old school of official station. What was lacking in courtliness was more than made up by self-poise and an unaflected cordiality that won esteem, while it did not lessen respect. Always collected and maintaining a proper self-respect, he yet was at home equally in the kitchen of the farmers and the parlors of the educated. He saw a true manhood in whomsoever it existed, and yielded it due homage ; he detected and did not conceal his contempt for mere pretence and outside show.

Though he often lamented his early disadvantages of schooling, yet he was, in the best sense, an educated man - not "self-made " as the popular phrase is, which implies the creatingof one's surroundings and means. Rather, he subjected those surroundings to his will, and made them the means to develop and furnish his mind ; and thus was educated and trained. He utilized whatever advantages were within his reach, whether at home or at school, behind the counter or in the counting-room ; first as a subordinate and after as partner, owner and director. He was a learner, always and everywhere; seizing the opportunities, which both old and young so often throw away, to gain knowledge of men, and methods, and principles, and business, as well as books. And this early training, and the formation of habits of observation and inquiry and research, and this steady application to the work and duty of the hour, laid the foundation of the self-reliance and power of concentrated effort which fitted him for the higher duties and responsibilities of business life and official position. He succeeded because he had paid the full price 'of success.

Nor was his lack of school privileges apparent. He was well read in general and local history, as well as in political economy, the industrial sciences and finance. His was retentive, and was well stored with available knowledge. He was a good talker; and though commonly very practical in conversation, he yet possessed a mobile fancy and a vein of humor slightly imbued with satire that, combined and incited by refined instincts and pure thoughts and associations, made him a desirable acquisition to any social circle.

In the quiet life of a busy manufacturer, and even in the responsible station of a State official, there is little of incident and few turns of affairs to attract special notice and give interest to a biographical sketch. The startling situations, and conflicts, and triumphs which attach to military and professional life and make the reputation and renown of men of those classes and furnish the emphatic points in their biographies, are either wanting in legislative, and judicial and mercantile experience ; or they are of strictly personal and temporary concern. They may have touched matters of success or popularity, vital in their day ; but that day was a brief one, and results affected mainly the parties immediately interested.

While a member of the Legislature and the Executive Council, Mr. Adams gave his attention largely to matters of banking and finance, and questions growing out of the State's connection with the Troy and Greenfield, and the Boston, Hartford and Erie Railroads, and other corporations. He was chairman, or a member of the appropriate committees. To these committees is entrusted the shaping of the financial policy of the Commonwealth. And as several of his terms of service followed close upon the ending of the late Civil War, his sound views and practical good sense made his influence at that juncture of especial consequence. The reports from his pen are distinguished by a broad grasp, and able reasoning, and safe conclusions.

Mr. Adams did not claim to be a popular speaker, and attempted nothing in the line of oratory. He wrote out his intended remarks ; and as he was a good reader, he made a favorable impression whenever he chose to appear before the public. He had himself and his theme well in hand ; his points were clearly put ; his evident mastery of his subject enlisted the hearer's attention, while his unaffected earnestness made a deep impression, if it did not carry conviction.

His style of writing was largely influenced by his leading pursuits. It was direct, unadorned, and what in Addisonian times would have been called didactic. He used Anglo-Saxon words and idioms ; and the guiding thread of logic was always apparent in his sentences and consecutive sections. Having Scotch blood in his veins, it was only natural that he should have a love for Scottish history and literature. He became particularly fond of the poetry of Gray and Burns, and the poetry and romance of Sir Walter Scott. And the chance he had of going abroad in 1871, to complete the sale of Slate bonds in London, and which opportunity he embraced for extended travel in Scotland as well as on the Continent, intensified the early passion, and gave direction to his study and reflection in later years, after his retirement from office.

In a paper which he wrote in 1873, on " The Life and Times of Robert Burns," he tells us how he was first led into this attractive field. " In the year 1827, when I was in my seventeenth year, in a trade with another young man, to make the bargain even, I received a copy of ' Burns' Poems ' in two small redmorocco bound volumes, without at the time knowing or caring who Robert Burns was. On opening the books I was delighted to find in them several songs which I had often heard sung by my mother - a descendant from clan McAllister - who was a fine singer - of course the finest I had then heard, and you will pardon me if I say the finest I have ever heard to this day (in my estimation). Some of her favorites, which I found in these volumes, were ' Bonnie Doon,' ' John Anderson my Jo,' ' Auld Lang Syne,' ' Highland Mary,' 'The Lea-Rig,' etc. And the reading of these songs in their peculiar dialect, naturally led my thoughts beyond the songs themselves and the singer, and awakened an interest in the author and his life and home ; and thus insensibly I became an ardent admirer of Burns and Scotland." He then relates his visit to the Land of Burns in 1871, and gives expression to the thoughts inspired by the sight of the places and associations amid which the poet lived and wrote.

This paper, filling sixty-three closely-written pages of manuscript, reveals a trait of character which was prominent in all his life, viz., a tender and appreciative regard for his mother; and it furnishes k fair sample of his literary style. It is characterized by vivid descriptions of natural scenery and peasant life. He groups the hamlet, and its occupants and homesurroundings in a spirited picture, charming by its lights and shades, its mingling of the real and ideal, and all enveloped in the fitlul sunshine and mists of the Ayr and Ayrshire. This paper, and a diary kept by him, and since writt^ out in full, take rank above many modern published e-says and books of travel.

Mr. Adams prepared and delivered an address at the semi-centennial of the Oakham Sabbath-School, May, 1868 ; an address at the centennial of Antrim, N. H., June 27, 1877, in response to the toast - "Scotch character: still marked by grit and grace;" an address delivered on Washington's birthday, 1874; and read a paper on North Brooklield family history before the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, February, 1884 ; and had partly completed a Sketch of the Life of Thomas Gray. But his principal literary work was the compilation of family biog- raphies, comprising the leading Brookfield settlers, and filling ten large quarto volumes. These manuscript volumes contain historical matter, personal anecdotes and adventures, and family memorials of great value to genealogists, and are a monument of the author's patient research and discriminating judgment.

Both by nature and self-culture, Mr. Adams was a conservative man. But his was a conservatism that is an element of strength, and not of weakness ; which was a consequent of deliberation and forecast, and not of timidity. He built on well-laid foundations and not on the sand. He made no more " haste " than " good speed." The meteor may outdazzle the evening star, but Jupiter remains king of the nightly heavens.

And this habit of mind fitted him for his work in the State treasurership and his other financial trusts. A wise conservatism always begets confidence, and, when joined with a clear head and habits of investigation, is the common antecedent of permanent .success. This trait appeared as a factor in his daily life, in his friendships, in his views on education, on political and moral reforms, and on questions of theologv and religion. He learned the Assembly's Shorter Catechism from his mother, and was accustomed to recommend it as a safe manual of Scripture doctrines to be taught to children. He was for fifteen years a member of Dr. Snell's Bible class. And he united with the Presbyterian Church because of its steadfiist adherence to the old standards of faith and practice.

Mr. Adams was tender and strong in his social friendshi[)s, and his heart and purse were open to the calls of the needy and suffering. He bestowed his charities freely, but unostentatiously, on those who had a claim on his generosity and kindness. Many a widow and orphan will miss his timely help, and cherLsh and bless his memory.

By Wii-I.Iam T. D.Wis

The town of West Brookfield should have been called Brookfield. It was the first place of settlement on the origin.al grant ; it held the first church, and holds the ancient burial-ground within its borders, and was made the First Precinct when the old town of Brookfield was divided into three. On the 28th of May, 1750, the Second Precinct was incorporated, including substantially the territory now included within the limits of North Brookfield, and on the Sth of May, 1754, the Third Precinct was incorporated (now Brookfield), leaving the west part (now West Brookfield) to retain the name and powers of the First Precinct. The steps taken to obtain the divi-ion of the town into precincts, and the several acts of incorporation, may be found stated in detail in the history of Brookfield in these volumes. A sketch of the church in the First Precinct up to the date of the incorporation of West Brookfield may also be found in that history ; this narrative, therefore, will be confined chiefly to the career of the town since its incorporation.

In 1812 the town of North Brookfield was incorporated. The division of the remainder of the old town of Brookfield, after Warren or Western, as it was originally called, had been set off in 1741, and North Brookfield in ISl'J, was accomplished without contest and by general consent. At a town-meeting held on the 22d of November, 1847, at which Alanson Hamilton acted as moderator, it was voted " that^the town choose a committee of two, one from each Parish, to present a petition to the next legislature to send out a disinterested committee to report to their body the terms upon which the town be divided, and that the town will abide said decision, provided that the town shall not disagree among themselves upon the terms of division pi'evious to the first of January next, in which case said committee will petition the legislature to divide the town upon the terms agreed upon." The committee consisted of John M. Fiske and Francis Howe, the former from the First and the latter from the Third Precinct. A committee of twelve was also appointed, consisting of Baxter Ellis, Baxter Barnes, Nathaniel Lynde, Wm. Adams, Joseph Dane and Avery Keep, from the First Precinct; and Parley Blanchard, Elliott Prouty, Alfred Rice, AV'm. J. Adams, Wra. Howe and Charles Flagg, from the Third Precinct, to consider terms and conditions of a division, and report to the town. At an adjourned meeting, held on the 27th of December, the committee made the following report, which was accepted :

Tlie Committee cliosen by the town of Brookfield to consider and agree upon »n equitiible division of said town into two distinct towns, in such manner and on such terms as shall subject each town to bear its .jt.st proportion of the burdens or expenses, and prevent liabilities of the whole undivided town, submit the following report ; - Having duly considered all the facta and circumstances that we could bring to our minds, tbey are of the opinion that the town should bo divided by the same line that divides the two ancient parishes, and the part lying west of saiil line, exceiit Preston Howe's land, shall be incorporated asanew and distinct town, by the name of West Broolifield. w ith the following conditions or agreement, viz. : - If the County Commissioners fchall order, either the road from Ware to West Brookfield depot, or the road from Fiskdale to South Brookfield depot, or both of them, to be made as they are now located, except a slight alteration may be made without additional expense within two years, each town shall pay an equal portion of the expense of making said road or roads, also of the present debts of the town, if any tliere be ; West Brookfield shall relinquish and give up to Brookfield all their right or int-rest in the town farm, with all the pei-sonal property on or belonging tlu-reto ; Brookfield shall keep and support all the paiipers who are now at the said establishment during their lives, West Brookfield paying to Brookfield lifty cents a week each for one-half the number of saitl paupers now at said alms-house during their lives. The names of the persons to be thus supported areas follows, and no other person, viz. : - Joseph Porter, Abigail Staples, Simeon

West Brookfield

Maiiha Richiinlson, EUzab^lh Ilobbs, Harriet Richards, Sally Forbes, Sally Parker, Huldali Wood, Ulary Walker, Miuy M'ard, Esther Jennings, Srtl'y Thoiuas, Abigail Paddock, John Lindley, William Kicbardson, Emily P. Morso nnd Orin IIjiniiltDn. Ruth Henshaw, insane, is to be supported by the town of Brooktitdd, and Harriet Candy to bo supported in West Bi'oukfield. All persons who may hereafter claim town aid are to be supported or assisted by the town in wliose territorial limits they may have gained a settlement, by the laws of the commonwealth, prior to the division of said town. West Brookfield shall have the right to visit said alms-house, by an agent or committee, for the purpose of seeing that said paupers are well treated or taken care of. The expensfs necessarily incuired by your committee tliey pray may be allowed, and that the town direct the Selectmen to give an order to Parley Blancliard, their chairman, fur the sum of sixteen dollars for that purpose.

On the 4th of February the town voted to petition the Legislature for an act incorporating the new town substantially in accordance with the terms of the report, and on the 3d of March, 1848, the following act was passed :

Sec. 1. All that part of the town of Brookfield, in the Covinty of Worcester, whicli lies westerly cf the line hereinafter described, is hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of West Brookfield, and the said town of West Biookfield is hereby vested with all the powers, privileges, rights and immunities, and shall be subject to all the duties and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the constitution and lawa of the Commonwealth. The dividing line between the two towns shall be and the same is hereby established as follows : Beginning at the north end of said line at a town monument between Brookfield and North Brookfield; thence south eighteen and three-fourth degrees west tliirty-one rods and twenty-two links to a stake and stones ; thence south eighty-six degrees west twenty-four rods ; thence north eighty-four and three-fourths degrees west ten rods and eighteen links ; thence south fifty six and three-fourths degrees west seventeen rods and five links; thence south fifty-four degrees west fif. teen rods and twenly-threo links ; thence south sixty-nine and onethird degrees west fourteen rods and twenty-two links; thence south seven degrees west nineteen rods and seven links ; thence souih twentyfour and one-fourth degrees west nine rodsand nine links; thence north fifty-six and one-fourth degrees west twelve rods; thence north fiftytwo and three-fourths degrees west sixteen rods ; thence south nine degrees west sixty-six rods and twenty links; tht-nce south fifteen degrees west sixty-six rods and twenty links; thence south nine degrees west seventeen rods and seventeen links; thence south eighty-two and one. half degrees west fifteen rods and three links ; thence south five and one-half degrees oast fifty-nine rods and seven links ; thence south fifty, nine degrees west eighteen rods and twelve links ; thence suuih fortythree and one-half degrees west eight rods; thence south ten and onehalf degrees east seven rods and four links ; thence south thirty degrees east seven rods and four links ; thence south fifty-threeand one-half degrees east nine rodsand thirteen links; thence south thirty -four degrees west twenty-six rods and thirteen links ; thence south seventy-five and three quarters degrees east nine rods and twenty links; thence south nine and one-fourth degrees west three rods ; thence south seventy-four degrees east sixteen rods ; thence south twenty and one-fourth degrees west one hundred and tweiity-nino rods to the north bank of the river; thence southerly to the middle of the river; thence down the middle of the river to a point opposite the corner of land of Reuben Blair and the Brigham Farm, lying on the southerly side of said river ; thence southerly to said corner ; thence south thirty-three and one fourth degrees west one hundred and eighty five rods and fifteen links; thence north sixty-eight and three-fourths degrees west thirty-three rods and twenty links; thence south sixteen degrees west two hundred and thirty six rods and twenty links; thence south sixty-seven and three-fourths degrees east thirty-two rods ; thence south seven degrees west three rods ; thence south seventy degrees east sixteen rods and eight links ; thence south seventeen degrees west forty rods and two links ; thence south eighty-four and three-fourths degrees west seven rods and fifteen links; thence south three and one fourth degrees west twenty-six rods ; thence south eighty-five and one half degrees west twenty-five rods and thirteen links ; thence north sevent-- and three fourths degrees west twenty -eight rods and eighteen links ; thence north eighty-six and one-half degrees west twenty-eight rodsand five links; thence south twelve rods; thence south twenty-nino and one-half degrees west forty-four rodsand fifteen links; thoncc south seventeen and one half degrees west fifty-five rods and fourteen links ; thence south seventy five and one half degrees east ninety rods; thence south thirteen and one-third degrees west eightyeight rods and twenty-two links ; thence north seventy-five degrees west sixty-one rods and twenty links; thence south nineteen and three-fourths degrees west eighty rods; thence south forty and one-half degrees east seventeen rods ; thence north twenty-five degrees east twenty-three rods and fifteen links; thence south eighty degrees east fifty-four rods and ten links; thence south thirteen and one-third degrees west one hundred and twenty-seven rods and five links; thence north sixty-five degrees west sixty-eight rods and ten litiks ; thence south sixty-two degrees west eleven rods and twelve links ; thence north forty-nine degrees west five rods and nine links ; thence north si.xteen degrees west twelve rods ; thence north sixty-one and one-half degrees west forty-two rods and twenty links, to a point on the town line between said Brookfield and Warren.

Section 2. The inhabitants of West Brookfield shall be holden to pay to the collector of Brookfield all arrears uf taxes legally assessed on them in the said town of Brookfield before the passage of this act, and also shall !»e holden to pay tlieir proportion of State and County taxes that may be assessed upon them previously to the taking of the npxt State valuation, said proportion to be ascertained and determined by the town valuation of the town of Brookfield next preceding the passage of this act ; and the said town of West Brookfield shall be holdon to pay one-half of the debts due and owing from the town of Brookfield at the time of the passage of this Act, and shall be entitled to receive one-half of all corporate personal property except as hereinafter provided and all assets now owned by said town of Brookfield ; and tlie town of West Brookfield shall i>e entitled to receive one-half of the school fund belonging to or receivable by the town of Brookfield.

Sec. 3. The poor farm belonging to the town of Brookfield shall remain and continue to be the property of the town of Brookfield, together with all the personal property on or attached to said farm. And the said town of Brookfield shall support during their lives the followingnamed persons, provided the same shall continue to be paupera and require support to wit: Joseph Porter, Simeon Johnson, David Snow, Elenor Gilbeit, Abigail Staples, Solon Phipps, Hannah Lawrence, Martha Kichardson, Elizabeth Hobbs, Hannah Kichard.-*, Sally Forbes, Sally Parker, Huldah Wood, filary Walker, Mary Ward, Esther Jennings, Sally Thomas, Abigail Paddock, John Lindley, Wm. Richardson and Emily P. Morse. And the said town of West Brookfield shall pay to the town of Brookfield the sum of twenty fiv.e cents per week for the support of each of said persons respectively so long ds they shall severally live, whether they thall continue paupers or otherwise. And the town of Brookfield shall hereafter support Ruth Henshaw, a pauper, and the town of West Brookfield shall support Harriett Casey, a pauper, so long as they shall respectively requiie support. The towns of Brookfiidd and West Brookfield shall be respectively liable for the support of all other persons who now do or hereafter shall stand in need of relief as paiipers wliose settlement was gained by or derived from a residence within their respective limits.

Sec. 4. If the County Commissioners shall, within two years, order the construction of the road which has been located from Ware to West Brookfield Depot, and the road which has been located from Fiskdale to South Brookfield Depot on either of said roads as the same are located or 80 altered as not to increase the expense, the towns of Brookfield and West Brookfield shall each pay one-half the expense of said road or roads.

Sec. 5. The town of West Brookfield shall continue to be a part of the town of Brookfield for the purpose of electing a Representative to the General Court, St;ite otficers, Senators, Representatives to Congress, and electors of President and Vice-President of the United States, until the next decennial census shall be taken in pursuance of the thirteenth article of amendment of the constitution ; and all meetings for the choice of Siiid officer shall be called by the selectmen of the town of Brookfield in like manner and in the same phices as heretofore called ; and the selectmen of West Brookfield shall make a true list of all persons in said town qualified to vote at every such election, and shall, ten days at least before the day of every such election, deliver the same to the selectmen of Brookfield, to be used by them in the same manner for such elections as if prepared by themselves.

Sec. 0. Any justice of the peace within and for the county of Worcester is hereby authorized to issue his warrant directed to any principal inhabitant of the town of West Brookfield, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitaiite thereof qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at the time and phico tliereiri appointed for the purpose of choosing all auch town nflflcers as towns are by law authorized and required to choose at their annual meetings ; and such justice, or in his absence, such principal inhabitant shall preside till ttio cliuice of a moderator in said meeting.

In conformity with the provisions of the act of incorporation, Elisha Hammond, of West Broolcfield, a justice of the peace, issued a warrant to George S. Duell, a principal inhabitant of West Brookfield, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at tlie town hall in said town on Monday, the 27th of March, 1848, to choose town officers and raise such sums of money as might be needed for town affairs, and also to decide on the manner of calling meeting-* of the town. The town hall, so called, was the Congregational Church, which had in alternate years with the Congregational Church in the south part of the town been used for town meetings. The warrant was dated March 11th and was duly served by Mr. Duell, who made his return of service on the same. At the meeting Alansim Hamilton was chosen moderator, and a prayer was offered by Rev. Leonard S. Parker, then pastor of the Congregational Church in West Brookfield. The following town officers were chosen for the year: Selectmen, Alanson Hamilton, Eli Chamberlain, Baxter Barnes, Mandley Peirce, Bramin Sibley; Town Clerk - Jacob Dupee; Assessors - Alanson Hamilton, William Cowee, William R. Thomas; Tre.isuier - Lucius Tomblin ; Oierseers of the Poor - Jesse Bliss, Seth Crabtree and Avf ry Keep; Visiting School Committee - Leonard S. Parker, William Curtis and William R. Thomas; Fence- Viewers - Nathaniel Lynde, Joseph A. Sprague and John M. Fiske ; Measurers of Wood and Bark - Lucius Tomblin, William Cowee and T. Lindsey ; Measurers of Leather - H. Brown, B. T. Leland and Joseph A. Sprague; Sealer of Weights and Measures - William Barrett; Surveyors of Highways - Horace F. Watson, Bostwick Gilbert, Linus Banister, William Barrett, Augustus Makepeace, Seth Crabtree, Warren Blair, Bramin Sibley, Mandley Peirce and Aretas D. Gilbert; Surveyors of Lumber - George H.Gilbert, Lucius Tomblin, Senate Johnson; Fire- Wards - Avery Keep, J. M. Fiske, H. Brown, G. Crowell, A. C. Gleason and G. W. Lincoln ; Field- Drivers - I. Lincoln, G. Crowell, E. W. Coombs, Joseph A. Sprague, J. M. Fiske, Arad Gilbert, C. T. Cooke and Avery Keep.

It was voted to put out the collection of taxes to the lowest bidder, and George S. Duell took the collection for one and a quarter per cent. George S. Duell and Charles Cutter were chooen constables, and it was voted that warrants for town-meetings should be posted at least seven days at the Congrtgational Church and at the school-house near the hou-e of William Adams.

Josiah Henshaw, Nathaniel Lynde and Isaac Gilbert were chosen a committee to ascertain the financial condition of the town and report at an adjourned meeting on the 17th of April. At the adjourned meeting the committee reported that the outstanding orders of the two towns amounted to §750. Due on account of schools, $80 ; due on account of tax abatements, $50; due on account of poor, $153.52; due on account of contingent expenses, $100.48 - $1,134. Assets deducted, $434.45 - amount of indebtedness, $699..55, one-half of which is West Brookfield's share : $350.

The committee recommended appropriations which were made as follows: One-half of iudebtness of the two towns, $350 ; schools, $900 ; roads, $300 ; contingent and tax discount, $225 ; poor, $450 - total appropriations, $2,225.