USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 46
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History of Bridgeport.
vant died in the spring of 1886, when Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, who was vice-president, was elected president.
The following ladies, who have done their work so nobly and left their influence to cheer the generation of to-day, many of them were managers from twenty to forty and more years : Mrs. Abijah Ilawley, Mrs. William Peet, Mrs. H. K. Harral, Mrs. Longworth, Mrs. Dr. Simons, Mrs. L. H. Cole- man, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Reuben Tweedy, Mrs. Henry Shelton, Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, Mrs. W. S. Knowlton, Mrs. Matilda Hawley, Mrs. S. F. Hurd, Mrs. Sherman Hartwell, Mrs. Ira B. Wheeler, Mrs. Isaac Hinman, Mrs. Capt. Daniel Sterling, Mrs. Alfred Bishop, Mrs. Jessie Sterling, Mrs. Dr. William B. Nash, Mrs. Kirtland, Mrs. Joseph Thompson, Mrs. Ezra Curtis, Mrs. P. T. Barnum, Mrs. Gideon Thompson, Mrs. Tallman Perry, Mrs. G. B. Waller, Mrs. James Moore, Mrs. Henry Wheeler, Mrs. S. B. Furgeson, Mrs. Capt. John Brooks, Mrs. H. L. Sturdevant.
Ex-managers now living : Mrs. Dr. David Nash, Mrs. P. C. Calhoun, Mrs. D. B. Nichols, Mrs. James C. Loomis, Mrs. Henry Thompson, Mrs. S. J. Patterson, Mrs. Frederic Lyon, Mrs. William Sherman, Mrs. James Moore, Mrs. Thomas Cruttenden, Mrs. George Burroughs, Mrs. Stephen Silliman, Mrs. Gasford Sterling, Mrs. John Knowles, Mrs. Edward Sterling, Mrs. D. C. Peck, Mrs. Benjamin Ray, Mrs. S. M. Middlebrook, Mrs. Legrand Sterling, Mrs. William H. Noble, Mrs. Samuel Baldwin, Mrs. Levi Parrott.
The present officers are : President, Mrs. Russell Tomlin- son ; Vice-President, Mrs. Friend W. Smith ; Secretary, Mrs. L. H. Norton; Treasurer, Mrs. George W. Barker; Direc- tresses : Mrs. Frederic W. Parrott, Mrs. E. L. Gaylord, Mrs. E. A. Lewis. Advisory Committee : Hon. William D. Bishop, Mr. James Staples, and Henry R. Parrott. The present Board of Managers : Mrs. Bronson Hawley, Mrs. I. H. Whit- ing, Mrs. M. A. Garland, Mrs. Munson Hawley, Mrs. F. W. Parrott, Mrs. C. B. Hotchkiss, Mrs. James Staples, Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, Mrs. Friend W. Smith, Mrs. L. H. Nor- ton, Mrs. G. W. Barker, Mrs. E. L. Gaylord, Mrs. E. A. Lewis, Mrs. C. R. Hayward, Mrs. George Somers.
The work of the managers has materially changed since
499
Ladies' Charitable Society.
the organization of this society. The community in the early days was comparatively small, there was no risk of harming the poor and degrading them to the condition of paupers ; the giver and receiver of alms did not loose sight of each other, so that gifts were made with moral benefit to both. But such a state of things could not last: as the population increased the classes became more widely separated, and at this day it is found necessary to thoroughly investigate all cases-through the kindness of the city officers, who give the society the use of rooms in Wheeler's Block, where its execu- tive meetings are held weekly, where the poor make known their wants ; a detailed account of all applications are made, and after thorough investigation, in order that all cases of real distress may at all times be reached, and those who are in health and not in need of assistance may receive no further support from this society, but are directed to the care of the Industrial Relief Society, where they are taught to help themselves.
Mr. Alfred Bishop endowed this society with the interest of five thousand dollars, and the following legacies have been received : Mrs. Fayerweather, $500; Mrs. Lorenzo B. Ster- ling, $1000; Mrs. A. A. Pettengill, $2000; Mrs. William S. Pomeroy, $500.
The Associated Charities for Industrial Relief, organized in March, 1886, has far exceeded the expectations of the faithful women who have for so many years been engaged in the various charities of Bridgeport, and discussed the great question : How are we to prevent the pauperization of our poor? How are we to be loving and yet wise in our charity ? By thorough investigation it has been proved that other methods must be devised ; that nine-tenths of the desti- tution and suffering of the poor has its origin in the home, the ignorance and improvidence of themselves. and unless the homes are reached and the poor can be weaned from habits of dependence by pointing out, in a kindly spirit, the disgrace it entails, no permanent good can be obtained.
About forty ladies met at the house of Mrs. L. H. Norton to consider this subject ; the meeting was called to order by
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History of Bridgeport.
Mrs. Russell Tomlinson, Mrs. Henry H. Pyle was made pre- siding officer, and Mrs. L. H. Norton, Secretary. The follow- ing Saturday, in a room in Wheeler's Block, provided by the mayor of the city, a committee of five or six ladies met those poor women who would show a disposition to help themselves, and finding much interest manifested, continued to do so for several months, teaching the mothers and children to make garments and paying them for the time in garments or gro- ceries. The growth of the work necessitated a change and the residence of the late Capt. John Brooks, corner Main and Gilbert streets, was rented, a matron secured, and with the noble women who compose the board of managers, the work will grow to be an example of true charity.
The leading idea of the society is to help the poor ulti- mately to do without help; in case of those already pauper- ized to induce them to rely more upon themselves and less upon others-the first object is to interest the children, who meet at the "home" every Saturday afternoon, where they are taught to sew, and some of the little girls have made such progress that they from the overhand seam, are now able to make a garment, and some are in advance of their mothers, who meet every Thursday afternoon.
The department of domestic service includes the training of young women in all branches of household work, with a view to better meet the requirements of domestic service ; the aim is to inculcate the right estimate of the dignity of household service, to encourage a class of girls to choose the family as a means of support. Cooking classes have been arranged covering all grades of family cooking, giving young women opportunity for practical instruction ; in many homes where the food is not properly prepared, there is much waste, and the husband and father become discouraged and resort to the saloons for the free lunch to satisfy their appetites, when if the table at home was supplied with properly prepared, nutritious, though not expensive food, it would soon wean him from such resorts and the family would be united and happy. The laundry gives work to those who wish to be taught in that department. The day nursery, an interesting department where poor women who are anxious to be self-
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Ladies' Charitable Society,
dependent can leave their children through the day, while they are providing for themselves rather than asking charity.
This work was commenced with small contributions of the ladies at the first meeting and used for material to work with at the first Saturday meeting. Other amounts were generously contributed by charitably disposed ladies; with the fees of the managers and members the work went on.
July 13, 1886, a lawn party was suggested. Mr. E. C. Bassick very kindly opened his house and grounds, corner of Hancock and Fairfield avenues, the grounds were brilliantly lighted and the public manifested by their contributions and attendance a great interest in the work, and the sum of three hundred and seven dollars and twelve cents ($307.12) was realized. After having assumed the rent of a house, matron, etc., more funds were needed and the "Feast of the New Moon," a very successful entertainment, both socially and financially, was given in the Armory building for five suc- cessive nights, the first week in December, realizing about five thousand six hundred dollars.
A meeting of the executive committee is held weekly and the result is submitted at the monthly meetings of the board of managers ; also, each department has a standing committee and meet as circumstances require and report either to the executive or board of managers.
The payment of one dollar per year will entitle to mem- bership and a vote in the annual meetings.
Officers: President, Mrs. Henry H. Pyle; Vice-Presi- dents, Mrs. Henry R. Parrott, Mrs. David M. Read ; Corre- sponding Secretary, Mrs. Curtiss H. Bill; Recording Secre- tary, Mrs. Lucian H. Norton; Treasurer, Mrs. William B. Hincks. Executive Committee with the above: Mrs. E. C. Bassick, Mrs. J. P. Omans, Mrs. D. B. Lockwood, Mrs. W. H. Perry, Mrs. F. W. Smith, Mrs. T. B. Warren, Mrs. A. Steward. Board of Managers: Mrs. P. T. Barnum, Mrs. E. F. Bishop, Mrs. N. Wheeler, Mrs. L. H. Norton, Mrs. A. Wheeler, Mrs. J. A. Joyce, Mrs. Conrad Becker, Mrs. E. Sterling, Mrs. J. P. Omans, Mrs. D. B. Lockwood, Mrs. E. A. Lewis, Mrs. H. R. Parrott, Mrs. W. H. Perry, Mrs. F. W. Smith, Mrs. E. C. Bassick, Mrs. A. A. Howes, Mrs. Edwin
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History of Bridgeport.
Sanford, Mrs. E. L. Gaylord, Mrs. R. Tomlinson, Mrs. D. M. Read, Mrs. S. Grumman, Mrs. J. S. Atkinson, Mrs. S. W. Baldwin, Mrs. W. Platt, Mrs. G. W. Barker, Mrs. Susan Olds, Mrs. C. E. Wilmot, Mrs. H. H. Pyle, Mrs. J. C. Loomis, Mrs. E. W. Marsh, Mrs. Julia Nichols, Mrs. J. Whitney, Mrs. A. Steward, Mrs. Godfrey Veit, Mrs. C. H. Bill, Mrs. Henry Sanford, Mrs. H. M. Harrington, Mrs. William E. Seeley, Mrs. C. K. Averill, Mrs. 1. De Ver Warner, Mrs. W. B. Hincks, Mrs. T. B. Warren, Mrs. W. F. Gilman, Mrs G. B. Richard- son, Miss Matilda Lewis, Miss Julia Sanford, Miss Fannie Lewis. Advisory Committee: Hon. P. T. Barnum, Hon. Nathaniel Wheeler, Hon. Henry H. Pyle, Hon. C. Fones, Hon. William D. Bishop, G. C. Waldo, Edward Sterling, D. M. Read, H. R. Parrott, James L. Gould, I. De Ver War- ner, D. B. Lockwood, E. F. Strong, James Staples.
Beside the board of managers there are about five hun- dred members.
Benjamin Brooks was son of Capt. Benjamin Brooks. son of John Brooks, Esq., of Stratford, Conn. His mother was Rebecca Sherman, daughter of James and Sarah (Cooke) Sherman, of New Haven. Sarah Sherman was a descendant of Governor William Leete, of the Colony of Connecticut, and daughter of the Rev. Samuel Cooke, Congregational minister of Stratfield. James Sherman was a grandson of Mr. Samuel Sherman, of Stratford, Assistant 1662 to 1664, Deputy to the General Court, etc. Benjamin Brooks was born in East Bridgeport (New Pasture Point), March 3, 1778. At an early age he went many voyages to sea with his father, and having relatives at Berlice-his father's sister had mar- ried Governor Van Battenburg of that province-he was induced to enter mercantile life at Nassau, New Providence. He was married in 1810, to Harriet Jones, daughter of Isaac Jones, Esq., of New Haven, and Sibyl Benjamin, of Stratford. Isaac Jones, her father, was a great-grandson of Deputy-Gov- ernor William Jones, who married Hannah, the daughter of Governor Theophilus Eaton, first governor of the Colony of New Haven-from 1638 to 1657. Sibyl Benjamin was a daughter of Colonel John Benjamin, of Stratford, and Lucre-
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Biographical Sketches. 503
tia (Backus) Benjamin, who came, through a line of notable ancestors, from William Backus, of Saybrook and Norwich, and William Bradford, of the Mayflower.
Three children were born to Mr. Brooks at Nassau, New Providence, and in 1816 he returned with his family to his native place, East Bridgeport, and purchased the house, now nearly one hundred years old and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. William H. Noble. He made many improvements in the house and grounds and added some 300 acres from this homestead to Old Mill. This, as he had been lame from youth with rheumatism, he put under the charge of an over- seer. The land was highly cultivated, 300 sheep besides cattle raised thereon, and this interested and engaged his attention for many years, until from ill health it became a burden, and was sold in 1837.
After his return from the West Indies he took great interest in his native place, entering into all its improvements, sometimes, as his health would allow, filling public offices of the town, and until his death an honored member of the masonic fraternity. He was for many years vestryman of old St. John's Church, giving freely of his means for its support, and a silver christening bowl and ewer for its ser- vice, which are still used. Never did he absent himself from church or allow his children to do so except on account of illness. His wife died at the age of 39, leaving him with nine young children ; of these, seven daughters were all confirmed in the old St. John's Church.
He was a man of the most hospitable and generous nature, always keeping a room and bed in the basement of his house for any wayfarers, never turning his face from any poor man, and not one was known to abuse his hospitality. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas he sent a feast to the inmates of the Poor House, and one of his daughters with a purse to divide its contents among the aged and infirm.
He was a man of high honor and good integrity, a gen- tleman of the old school of politeness, was of great independ- ence and originality of character, but very genial in his nature, drawing around him a host of friends and beloved by the poor whom he assisted, not alone with money, but with
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History of Bridgeport.
good advice and interest in their welfare. He always enter- tained a most humble opinion of his own merits and was most charitable in his judgment of others, speaking kindly of them or keeping silent. A man of intelligence and something of a philosopher, he was beloved and respected by every one, many of those he had befriended following his remains to the grave, April 7, 1847.
Charles Theophilus Nicholls, son of Philip and Mary (Prince) Nicholls, was born at Newfield, now Bridgeport, July 21, 1771, and was educated at the celebrated Dwight Academy at Greenfield Hill, Fairfield County, Conn. As early as 1794 he began as a merchant, in connection with his father's coasting vessels, in his native village, in the first store in that locality, which store was built by his father. Not long after he sailed as supercargo from New York to New Orleans, West Indies and foreign ports. When about thirty-five years of age his brig was wrecked near Key West, and he being exposed for forty-eight hours on the waters, passed through a severe sickness with fever, from which he suffered greatly at times through the remainder of his life. Returning home he again engaged as a merchant under the firm name of Foote and Nicholls. At that time he became engaged in military matters and held the position for some years of paymaster on the staff of Colonel Enoch Foote, of the 4th regiment of cavalry of the 4th brigade of Connecticut cavalry, from which he received an honorable discharge from General Joseph Walker.
In 1815 he purchased the house and land on the corner of what is now Stratford avenue and Pembroke street, East Bridgeport, of Hon. R. G. Van Polanen, which house had been built about the year 1800, and occupied some years by General Enoch Foote. He also purchased considerable land property at that time and engaged in farming enterprises. In 1817 he was a member of a copartnership under the name of Hyde, Nichols and Company, for general trade, on the corner of Main and State streets. In 1828 he became a silent partner with Hyde and Shelton, Mr. Henry Shelton, his nephew and faithful friend, assuming his position in the old
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Biographical Sketches.
company and afterwards conducting the business in his own name many years.
Mr. Nicholls for twenty-five years preceding his decease, was debarred from all active business by ceaseless suffering, which he endured with calm and patient fortitude, and for the last ten years of his life was unable to leave his house.
He was confirmed by Bishop Seabury and became a communicant in St. John's Church in 1788, of which his brother-in-law, Rev. Philo Shelton, was the rector for forty years from 1785. He was for years warden of this church, but resigned because of illness, and hence inability to serve. In the ecclesiastical designation of those days he was called a high churchman and sympathised with the views of Bishop Hobart, of whom he was a great admirer.
On February 17, 1808, Charles T. Nicholls married Sarah Lewis Tomlinson, daughter of Jabez H. Tomlinson, of Oronoque, in Stratford, born February 27, 1789. They had two children : Ann Eliza, who married William Sumner Johnson, of New York, and George Huntington Nicholls, D.D., now of Hoosac Falls, N. Y.
Mrs. Sarah L. Nicholls, the devoted wife, departed this life April 3, 1821, aged 32 years.
Mr. Nicholls married for his second wife Mrs. Harriet (Heller) Morris, widow of David Morris, of New York. Her father, the Rev. James Heller, was chaplain of one of the Hessian regiments serving in the English army during the war of the Revolution. She died at Yonkers, N. Y., about 1860, where she spent the later years of her life.
Mr. Charles T. Nichols died October 9, 1849, aged 78 years.
George Kneeland Nichols, the great-grandson of Capt. Joseph Nichols and son of Hezekiah Nichols and Avis Peet, was born in the old Nichols house at Nichols' Farms, January 23, 1818. He married Armina deLyon Seeley, eldest daugh- ter of Munson Seeley, of Easton, Conn., who was descended from John deLyon and the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorn. Mrs. Nichols, through both of her grandmothers, who were cousins, is a lineal descendant of Lady Jane Stuart. On her father's side she is in direct line from Colonel Seeley, who
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History of Bridgeport.
held the military occupancy of Long Island under the British crown. She is distantly related to ex-Governor Seeley, of New Jersey, and through the Osborne-Seeleys connected with Albert Bierstadt, the celebrated painter.
With the patrimony inherited from the Nichols estate George K. Nichols embarked with his brother, David Stiles Nichols, in the manufacture of coaches at Nichols' Farms, their business relations being mostly in Texas and the South- ern States. David S. Nichols was succeeded by James K. Nichols, a brother of George K. Nichols, and who married Elizabeth Seeley, the sister of Mrs. George K. Nichols. The firm of Nichols and Brother, whose business was of large proportions and of wide repute, encountered heavy losses in the war of the rebellion. Before the war Mr. George K. Nichols, who had successfully conducted a carriage repository in Broadway, New York, in the interest of the firm, had to return to Nichols' Farms to help supply the demand for car- riages from the South. The Mexican coaches made by the firm were of high repute.
After the financial losses at the outbreak of the war, the business was revived on a much smaller scale, the present stock company being formed under the name of Nichols, Peck and Company, but Mr. Peck soon died, since which time the business has been chiefly owned by the Nichols brothers. In 1862 George K. Nichols went to Rochester, N. Y., remaining through the war in charge of the repository of the firm in that. city, and while there was president of a paint manufacturing company formed in that city. Nichols, Peck and Company had all along received orders for carri- ages from Australia, and a large and lucrative trade with that country ensued for years. In 1873 the Nichols Brothers removed their business to Bridgeport, of which city Mr. George K. Nichols remains a resident. His brother James K. Nichols, died about 1883, and since then the business bas been chiefly owned and managed by Mr. George K. Nichols, the trade being almost exclusively with New York City. Mr. Nichols was in former years somewhat active in gold and silver mining stocks, and also the invention of a spring perch for carriages.
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Biographical Sketches.
The children of George K. and Armina (Seeley) Nichols are : Charles Wilber deLyon Nichols and Lavinia Armina Nichols; the latter deceased in 1872.
The children of James K. and Elizabeth (Seeley) Nichols were : Harriet, deceased ; Eliza, who married Walter Nichols, of New York; Frances S .; Mary L., who married J. V. Sin- gleton, of Waterbury ; and Carrie Josephine.
Eden Burroughs, D.D., son of Stephen Burroughs, the first, and Ruth (Nichols) Burroughs, was born in what is now North Bridgeport, Conn., in January, 1738. He was graduated at Yale College in 1757; licensed by Fairfield East Association, May 30, 1759, and was ordained pastor of the South Church, Killingly, in January, 1760. He was dismissed from this church in 1771, and installed pastor of the church in Hanover, New Hampshire, September 1, 1772, and died May 22, 1813, aged 75 years. He was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Dartmouth College in 1773, and was one of its overseers from that year until his death.
Stephen Burroughs, son of the above Dr. Eden Bur- roughs, was born in 1765 and became a notorious imposter and counterfeiter. He published an autobiography, partly in justification of his course of life, in 1811, and a reprint of it was issued in New York in 1852. The copies are seldom met with, but are still extant. In 1799, and for a few years, he and his family resided with his father in Hanover, New Hamp- shire. He afterwards removed to Canada and died in that country at Three Rivers, January 28, 1840. He visited his relatives in Stratford several times, and is said to have been an intelligent, fine appearing person. He had an only son, who went to England and became a member of Parliament, and a daughter, who became Mother Superior in a convent at Three Rivers.
Fayerweather .- The husband of Abigail (Curtis) Fay- erweather lived at Long Hill, on the Newtown road, about four miles north of Bridgeport. He was killed in the French war about 1760, on or near Lake Champlain. The family afterwards removed to the northwestern part of the present
Jo mbiblidadT
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History of Bridgeport.
town of Easton, known as the Blanket Meadow District. The mind of the widow was greatly unsettled, which impaired her usefulness, but she lived to a great age. Her children were :
I. Joseph. +
2. Zalmon. +
3. Samuel, b. in 1761; d. in 1848, aged 87.
1. Joseph Fayerweather, son of and Abigail (Curtis) Fayerweather, married Rachel Beers in March, 1789, and had :
4. Curtis, who married Sally John- son, and had John, Julia, William and Walter.
5. Eunice, who married Eben Sher- man, son of Ebenezer, of New- town, and lived in Redding.
6. Lucretia, who married Elias San- ford, of Sandy Hook.
7. Anna ; died young.
8. Ruth Ann; married William
Hayes, of Stepney and Sandy Hook.
9. Phebe ; died young.
IO. Abigail ; married David Beach, of Trumbull.
II. Sally ; married Seth Andrews, of Bethel, Conn.
12. Peter, who married Eliza Green, and had John and a Daughter.
13. Polly, who married Hiram Par- melee.
2. Zalmon Fayerweather, son of and Abigail (Curtis) Fayerweather, married Ist, Jerusha Adams, Jan. 25, 1787. He married 2d, Eunice Turney. His children by his first wife were :
14. Anna, who married William Curtis, of Trumbull, and had Carlos Curtis, of Bridgeport, and Spencer Curtis, of Trumbull.
15. Elnathan, who went West.
16. Ransom, who went West.
17. Roswell, who married Alonzo Gilbert, of Birmingham, Conn.
3. Samuel Fayerweather, son of - and Abigail (Curtis) Fayerweather, married Charity Burton, daughter of Joseph Burton, of Long Hill. She was born April 12, 1760.
18. Lucius, b. Jan. 17, 1792, and died June 30, 1828. He mar- ried Amelia, daughter of Aaron Beardsley, Nov. 9, 1814, and had Charles Beardsley, b. Feb. 15, 1816, and died May 21, 1828 ; William, b. May 4, 1818 ; Daniel Burton, b. Mar. 12, 1822 ; Aaron B., b. July 12, 1825, died July 4, 1824.
19. Stephen, who married Almy, daughter of Thomas Lyoi, of Easton, and had Samuel, of Mich- igan, Rebecca, Jane, George, Jos- eph, Stephen, Eliza and James.
20. Daniel Burton, who married Na- omi, daughter of Aaron Beards- ley, Dec. 22, 1819, and had Mar- cus, who died young.
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The Scientia Club.
The Old Fort of 1812, at Bridgeport, was located on Welles' Tongue, it being still visible at the east end of the Seaside Park pavilion, at Bridgeport outer harbor. In its construction an embankment was raised several feet high, oval shaped, and about ninety feet by fifty. Within was a magazine and places for two cannon. The testimony of all persons who have been consulted is that it was a fort made in 1812.
The Scientia Club, a new society in Bridgeport, has for its general object the acquirement and dissemination of knowledge, and for its utilization or application all methods which may seem best to subserve the interests of society at large. It was, however, specially organized for the " Pre- vention of premature burial, or burial alive," and to teach "Giving, first aid to the injured, to provide for the training of nurses, who shall render skilled service for humane reasons, gratuitously, or at economical rates; to give instruction in the culinary art, household management and domestic econ- omy, hygiene and sanitary conditions, and to otherwise seek to ameliorate and improve the conditions of the living." The society dates its existence from August 18, 1886. Its organ- izers and promoters are: T. E. Peck, H. E. Bowser, F. Hindsley, and others.
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