USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Rehoboth > Historic Rehoboth: record of the dedication of Goff memorial hall, May 10th, A.D. 1886 > Part 2
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Musket, captured from the British during the Revolutionary War, Sylvanus L. Peck.
l'air knee buckles, Mrs. Thos. W. Carpenter.
History of Worcester County,
Book case and desk, Rodolphus Luther. Jeremiah Taylor, D.D.
Sixty-five old books,
Deed, on parchment, 1692,
Snow shoe, 150 years old,
Charles W. Goff. Albert C. Mason.
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HISTORIC REHOBOTH.
Surcingle, Hiram Martin.
Bread trough and bread pail, owned and used by Martha Martin, wife of Col. Chris- topher Blanding, of Rehoboth, who died in 1856, on her 95th birthday,
Lucy Blanding Pearse.
Plume, worn by T. W. Carpenter, T. W. Carpenter. Lead window sash and four old almanacs, A. T. Read. Ancient hat box, Joseph H. Pierce. Report of Old Colony Historical Society, 1886, S. H. Emory.
Picture of the old Powder House, Attleboro, 1768, Darius Goff.
List of soldiers in Lieut. Brown's Company, in Col. Carpenter's Regiment, during the Revolution, Joseph Brown.
Receipt given by soldiers, May 22d, 1781, for payment of wages,
Receipt from Daniel Perrin to Capt. John Per- ry, July 12, 1779,
Pair of slippers, 150 years old, Amanda Wheaton. Handkerchief, "
Looking-glass, which has been in the possess- ion of the ancestors of Cyrus W. Bliss, 150 years, Angeline Monroe.
Old skimmer, formerly owned by the Abel J. J. Chaffee. family of East Providence,
Eight old almanacs,
Rodolphus Luther. Two old razors, Bill, 1806, deed, 1752,
First warrant issued from the Secretary of State, to the Selectmen of Rehoboth, to assess a State tax, Wm. H. Bryant. Deed from Richard Hart to Philip Wheeler, 1736,
The Charter granted by Charles II, to the Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island, in 1704, Thomas R. Fenner.
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
Fac-Simile of the Boston News Letter, the first paper printed in North America, No. 1, April 17th, 1704, Thomas R. Fenner. A narrative of the rise and progress, and issue of the late lawsuits, relative to property held and devoted to pious uses, in the first precinct, in Rehoboth, 1795, J. J. Chaffec. Secretary's book, and Constitution book of Anawan Lodge, No. 274, I. O. G. T.,
Book, 1724, and pepper-box,
Indian pestle, and two stones,
Warming pan and saucer,
Lucy B. Nash. Mrs. Tim Temple. Charles A. Briggs. Mrs. John Newell.
Two old books, Laura Bett. John C. Marvel.
Oration of Henry Wheaton, Esq.,
Minutes of the Taunton Baptist Association, containing Rev. J. J. Thatcher's ad- dress,
Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts,
Brown's Estimate, printed 1758,
66
Welle's Geography, 3 volumes, printed 1728, "
Old book, printed 1717,
Fourteen old books,
Six town reports, two pamphlets,
Ledger, day book, cash book, time book, sketch book, pattern book, used by the Reho- both Union Cotton Mfg. Co., in 1810, “ 66
Eight old letters from R. U. C. M. Co.,
66
Letter written by Wm. Marvel, 2d,
Order written by Rev. Otis Thompson, in 18II,
Receipt written by Dexter Wheeler,
Note written by Edward Mason, Agt., 6 6
Three old letters,
Secretary's report of the meeting of the Reho- both Union Library, June ye 2d, 1800, "
Record of doings of Methodist Conference, in Mansfield, August 22, 1810,
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
Constitution of the Rehoboth Village Tem-
perance Society, February, 1834, John C. Marvel. Secretary's book of Rehoboth Institute, or- ganized November 19, 1846, Deed given by Benj. Buffington, 1782, Letter from Owen Fowler, member of Con- gress from this district in 1850,
Grammar, and Present State of the Kingdoms of the World, 1788,
Gazetteer of Conn. and Rhode Island,
Report on the fishes, reptiles and birds of Massachusetts, 1839, Cobbett's American Political Register, Vol. XXX,
An account of Louisiana, Trial of Thomas O. Selfridge,
Speech of Hon. Daniel Webster, 1832,
Report of the Geology of the Public Lands of Maine and Massachusetts,
Review of the Rev. Thomas Andros' essay on the doctrine of Divine Efficiency of Rev. Otis Thompson, History of Jemima Wilkinson, The Paradise of Doctors,
Trial of Ephraim K. Avery,
A Golden Sermon, by Rev. Elias Smith, "
A statement of facts relative to the six princi- pal Baptist churches in Cranston, R.I., " Address on the present condition of the Abo- riginal Inhabitants of North America, " Voyage of discovery to Corea and Loo-Choo Islands, "
Compendium of the Minutes of the Warren Baptist Association from 1767 to 1825, " Christian Palladium, 1834. Christian Observatory, 1848,
A discourse of Abner Jones by Warren Hath- away, Manual of Congregational church of Rehoboth, 1858,
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IIISTORIC REIIOBOTII.
Minutes of the Taunton Baptist Association, 1837, John C. Marvel. Agreement between Rememberance Simmons, schoolmaster, and Jonathan BuffIngton and Samuel Slade, committee in 1753, " Bond for collection of taxes for the town of Swansea, given by Benjamin Buffington and Isaac Chace, 1729,
Indenture of Edward Lord to Jonathan Buf- fington, 1744,
Deed from Edmund Batter to Thomas Buf- fington, 1715,
Receipt for U. S. Tax, 1814,
Deed from Jonathan Buffington to Joseph Buffington, 1744,
Order to yoke and ring Hogs, 1752,
Inventory of the estate of Jonathan Buffington of Swansea, 1762
Inventory of the estate of Benjamin Buffington of Swansea, 1732,
Wooden plate and pewter plate, Miss Eliza Bliss
Old book and bonnet,
Old Teapot,
Mrs. Caroline A. Cummings.
Mustard cup, Mrs. H. N. Wheeler.
Winchester Record, 3 vols. Rev. Leander Thompson.
Centennial official catalogue, 1876, Wm. H. Marvel.
Visitors' guide to Centennial,
Proclamation for Fast Day by John A. An- drews, 1863,
One copy Taunton Whig, 1840,
Letter from Marshal P. Wilder, ,
Letter from J.C.Greenough, President of Mass. Agricultural College,
Letter from Jonathan Brown of the Governor's Council,
Letter from Robert T. Davis, M. C. from First Massachusetts district, -
Letter from Robert Howard, Senator, Second Massachusetts district,
HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
Letter from Judge George M. Carpenter of Rhode Island, Wm. H. Marvel.
Letter from Lieut.Gov. Oliver Ames,
Magazine, "The Englsh Pulpit of To-day,"
A vindication concerning dietetic abstinence, "
The Manufacturing Jeweler, edited by Walter
B. Frost, formerly of Rehoboth,
Four copies of Pawtucket Chronicle, printed in 1830, edited by Samuel A. Fowler, son of Dr. Fowler of Rehoboth,
Specimen of silk, made in Rehoboth, Wm. A King.
Tea pot, formerly belonging to Shubeal Goff, son of Elder Enoch Goff,
Caroline E. Cummins. Mrs. H. N. Wheeler.
Mustard cup,
Spray of cotton plant from Georgia, Mrs. S. A. Stearns. Section of Castor bean tree, pods of the horse bean, a lemon, piece of sugar cane, spe-
cimens of spanish moss, pine needles, cabbage palm, a cane from orange tree, all from Orange Co., Florida, ..
Book, Eliza Bliss.
A pewter and a wooden plate, Indian stone mortar Mrs. G. W. Trafton.
Of all the antique and curious implements in the hall, none are more interesting than those used in spinning. Our illustration on the next page will repay examination, as it performs a three-fold office. It gives a specimen of the relics preserved in the Antiquarian Room, and as they are grouped in the south-west corner of the hall on the upper floor, gives an idea of the interior finishing of this apartment; lastly it shows the implements employed in making linen from flax and yarn from wool. On the left is the flax as it is grown and cured; next comes the "break" with a handful of flax between its ponderous jaws; the upright board is the "swingling board," with the "swingling knife" leaning against it, and the flax hanging submissively over the top; next we see the beaten
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
flax on the box which supports the "hatchel," through whose comb-like rows of teeth the flax is drawn to rid it of all its "shives"; then it goes to the "distaff" on the "little wheel" and is spun into linen thread.
The three implements on the right illustrate the spin- ning of wool. The wool is first taken between the "cards" lying on the floor, just under the "big wheel," with a roll of wool hanging over them; when carded into these rolls the wool goes to the "big wheel," where it is spun, and wound off as yarn on the "reel" at the extreme right.
AN ANTIQUARIAN CORNER.
April 23rd, 1886, was a notable day in the history of the Antiquarian society, both from the nature of the exhi- bition given in its behalf, and the substantial addition made to its treasury. Mr. Abiah Bliss, aged 86 years, with a corps of able assistants, whose combined ages were 464, revived for the benefit of younger genera- tions the "lost arts" of spinning flax and wool by hand. Capt. Geo. W. Bliss manned the "flax break," and in spite of his 77 years, yeilded the ponderous implement with
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
deafening and crushing effect; Mr. Baylies Goff, erect as a boy, though nearly 87 years old, handled the "swingling knife" with dazzling swiftness and sent the "shives" flying in all directions; Mrs. Hannah Darling sat by the "hatchel" and by drawing the flax through its parallel rows of comb- like teeth, straightened the fibres for the "distaff"; Mrs. Abby Carpenter, also more than an octogenarian, spun the flax from the "distaff" upon the "little wheel," and during the evening produced quite a skein of linen thread. This is a very difficult process, and Mrs. Carpenter showed wonderful skill, at her age, in doing the work so well.
The wool industry, or spinning of yarn was illustrated by Mrs. Eliza Goff and Mr. Leonard Peterson. Mr. Peter- son took the "cards" which in the picture lie on the floor in front of the "big wheel," and taking the wool carded it into rolls, and when they were rolled fine and close enough passed them to Mrs. Goff, who spun it into yarn on the "big wheel" and wound it off on the "reel." This, too, requires great skill, and was deftly donc. During the spinning, Mr. Abiah Bliss explained the various steps in handling both flax and wool, and passed samples among the audience, who kept them as souvenirs. When the curtain dropped there was a round of applause that would not cease until the venerable craftsmen and craftswomen came out and bowed their acknowledgements. Mr. Abiah Bliss sang a song by way of response, and the pleasant evening closed.
Biographical Sketches.
It seems quite appropriate that the active factors in the building of the hall should be recognized in this pamphlet. Three men have been selected as representing three different classes of agents-those who contributed means; those who contributed enterprise and effort; and those who helped to fittingly dedicate the completed struc- ture. As chief among contributors stands Mr. Darius Goff, for whom the memorial was named; as first among the workers in the enterprise is Rev. Geo. H. Tilton, its originator and leading spirit; as most prominent of those who officiated at the dedication, is Hon. Thomas W. Bicknell, LL.D., of Boston, orator of the day. Portraits and biographical sketches of these gentlemen are included in these pages, those of Mr. Goff and Mr. Bicknell being immediately subjoined, while that of Mr. Tilton appears in connection with the presentation of his picture to the Society, which occurred during the afternoon exercises.
DARIUS GOFF, ESQ.
Darius Goff, son of Lieut. Richard and Mehitable (Bul- lock) Goff, was born in Rehoboth, Mass., May 10, 1809. His father was a manufacturer, and in 1790 built a fulling and cloth dressing mill, and furnished it with the best of machinery. His mother was a daughter of Hon. Stephen
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
Bullock. His grandfather, Joseph Goff, lived in Barring- ton, and his great grandfather was Richard Goff. The children of Lieutenant Richard and Mehitabel Goff were, Richard, Otis, Horatio, Patience, Nelson, Darius and Mary B. Darius Goff was educated at home and in the common schools. At an early age he entered his father's factory in Rehoboth, and spent four or five years in the coloring department of the mill, and in trade in a variety store. He was subsequently employed for a short time in the woolen mill of John & Jesse Eddy of Fall River, Mass., and for six years served as clerk in the grocery business, first with William Woodward, and afterward with Tillinghast Almy, in Providence. Returning to Rehoboth, he and his brother, Nelson, purchased the Union Cotton Mill and commenced, in 1835, the manufacture of cotton batting, which business they prosecuted with success. Soon afterward, they began to make glazed wadding, sizing it by hand, a sheet at a time, on a table covered with sheet lead, then hanging it on racks with a common lath to dry. Finally they conceived the idea of making it in a continu- ous sheet, and after experimenting for about two years accomplished the object, placing the cards over an endless apron, conveying the web of cotton from each doffer of the cards to the apron, which run at the same speed with the surface of the doffer, the thickness of the wadding being determined by the number of cards operated. This plan of making wadding is now universal. Its success called for a larger mill, which not being attainable then, experi- ments were made to color the continuous sheets as they came from the cards, and were, after two years or more, successful in the object. A new mill was built, about two hundred feet long, and the old machinery was started in it about 1842, but in about a month it was destroyed by
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HISTORIC REHOBOTH.
fire, at a loss of over six thousand dollars. E. A. Brown of Rehoboth soon afterward bought out the interest of Nelson Goff, and a new firm was formed, Goff & Brown, who changed the business to the manufacture of carpet warps and twine, and this was continued under the special direction of Mr. Brown, till 1868, when the firm was dis- solved.
As early as 1836, Mr. Goff had given special attention to the business of buying and selling cotton waste as paper stock. This material hitherto had literally been thrown away. In this new business, in 1846, he formed a copartnership with George Lawton of Waltham, Mass., and commenced dealing in waste paper stock, in Boston, on Gray's wharf. Mr. Goff came to Pawtucket and in 1847 erected a wadding mill near the railroad sta- tion. It was run by a steam engine, the cotton being carded in the white state, carried through all the processes of coloring and sizing, and brought out in endless sheets. The mill was burned in 1851, but was at once rebuilt on a larger scale. In 1859 the partnership of Goff & Lawton was dissolved, Mr. Lawton taking the Boston business in paper stock, and Mr. Goff taking the wadding mill in Pawtucket. Mr. Goff then united with John D. Cranston and Stephen Brownell of Providence, under the firm-name of Goff, Cranston & Brownell, and carried on a general business in paper stock and wadding. The mill was burned in 1871 and rebuilt in 1872, in larger proportions and with more perfect machinery. It is driven by a Corliss engine of 300 horse-power. The mill and neces- sary adjoining buildings occupy an area of about four acres. There are about two hundred cards run, turning out an average of about seventy-five miles of yard-wide wadding and batting per day, being twice the size of any
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HISTORIC REHOBOTH.
wadding manufactory in the world. In 1878, the two companies-Goff, Cranston & Brownell and Union Wad- ding Co .- the latter of which though previously formed, was chartered in 1875, with a capital of $300,000, were merged into one under the name of The Union Wadding Co. The capital stock has since been increased to $750,000, with Darius Goff, president; Lyman B. Goff, treasurer, and Henry A. Stearns, superintendent. The company runs machinery of its own invention and con- truction, which in a large measure accounts for the re- markable success of the business.
In 1861 Mr. Goff with his son, Darius L., and W.F.and F. C. Sayles formed the American Worsted Co., for the man- ufacture of worsted braids-then a new industry in this country. This company was dissolved in 1864, and a new firm for the same business was immediately organized, the name being D. Goff & Son, Mr. Goff's son, Darius L., being the junior member. Lyman B., the younger son, was admitted in 1876. During the years 1867 and 1868, by the efforts of Mr. Goff, the business received protective legislation from Congress, and at once became an immense and flourishing branch of industry, the product, alpaca braids, being well known in the market as "Goff's Braids." In 1884 the firm was incorporated, with a capital stock of $600,000; Darius Goff, president. and D. L. Goff, treas- urer. The firm is the leading one of the kind in America.
Mr. Goff served in the Town Council of Pawtucket, and in 1871 was elected State Senator. He was a director in the Franklin Savings Bank from its incorporation to a re- · cent date; has been director of the Pawtucket Gas Co., and the Pawtucket Hair Cloth Co., from their origin, and is also one of the directors of the First National Bank. For many years he has been a devoted and influential
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HISTORIC REIIOBOTII.
member of the Pawtucket Congregational Church, and has largely contributed to its support, being one of four to enlarge the old church. He was also a member of the Building Committee in the erection of the new edifice, and in the liquidation of the debt subscribed ten thousand dollars. Politically he has been a Whig and a Republican and was always a strong opponent of slavery. During the Rebellion his voice, hand and purse were given to the support of the patriot army and the Union. To every good cause he has freely and earnestly given his aid and his influence. Notwithstanding his extensive business re- lations he has found time to indulge his taste and in- crease his knowledge by travelling over nearly all parts of our country. His vigor of body and mind, sterling qual- ities of heart and executive abilities, well entitle him to be counted as a representative man of New England. He married first, in May, 1839, Sarah Lee, whose only child died; second, Harriet Lee. These were sisters, and daughters of Israel Lee of Dighton, Mass. The children by the second marriage are Darius L., Lyman B. and Sarah C. Mr. Goff's sons, as already stated, are now associated with him in business. His daughter, Sarah C., married Thomas Sedgwick Steele of Hartford, Conn.
HON. T. W. BICKNELL, LL.D.
Hon. Thomas. W. Bicknell, orator of the day at the dedication of the Memorial Hall hereafter described, descended from that Zachary Bicknell who, in the spring of 1635, set sail from Gravesend, Kent, England, for America and settled in Weymouth, the first home of the founders of Rehoboth. His grandson of the same name came to Swansea, now Barrington, about 1705, and there in 1834, the subject of this sketch was born.
Thomas normal Dr. Bicknell
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHI.
He received his early education in district and private schools in Barrington until sixteen years of age, when he left home to attend school at Thetford Academy, Vt., liv- ing in the family and working the farm of Enoch Slade, Esq. While at the Academy, under the very efficient principalship and instruction of Hiram Orcutt, he decided to take the studies preparatory for college, and in 1853 graduated from the Academy, delivering the Greek oration on Grecian Mythology. He taught his first school at See- konk, Mass., 1853-4; was admitted by examination to Dart- mouth and Amherst Colleges, and entered the Freshman class of Amherst, September, 1853. At the close of Freshman year he was elected by his class as a prize-de- bater. He left college in 1854, to recruit in health and funds. He taught school as principal of the public school and high school, Rehoboth, 1854-5. Went West in 1855, and taught as principal of the academy at Elgin, Ill. In the summer of 1856, he joined a Chicago emigration company to settle in Kansas; was taken prisoner by border ruffians on Missouri River, and sent back to St. Louis under escort of Colonel Bufford's South Carolina and Virginia sharpshooters. He came East and conducted the Rehoboth High School from September, 1856, to December, 1857,and entered the Sophomore class of Brown University February, 1858, and graduated with degree of A. M., 1860.
He was appointed Commissioner of Public Schools of Rhode Island by Governor Padelford, June 1869, and continued in office till January 1, 1875. While Commis- sioner, he secured a State Board of Education, of which he was Secretary; the re-establishment of The Rhode Island Scholmaster, of which he was editor for nearly ten years; the re-establishment of the State Normal School;
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HISTORIC REHOBOTHÌ.
secured town school superintendents in each town in the State; dedicated over fifty new school-houses; advanced the school year from 27 to 35 weeks average, throughout the State; and school appropriations were nearly trebled during his administration. He aided in the revival of the American Institute of Instruction, and in the establish- ment of the New England Journal of Education, and as joint proprietor and publisher with C. C. Chatfield, edited the Journal, which united the several monthly magazines of New England in one paper, issued weekly at Boston, Mass; established and edited the Primary Teacher, a monthly magazine, in 1876. In 1880, he estab- lished and became conductor of Education, a bi-monthly Review on the Science, the Art, the Philosophy, and the History of Education; at the same time continuing the editorship of the Journal, and Presidency of the New England Publishing Company, formed in 1875. His present business is that of editing and publishing educa- tional papers, books and magazines.
The events and honorable positions of his active life are many, some of the more important of which are here given. He has been president of the Rhode Island Insti- tute of Instruction, the American Institute of Instruction, and the National Educational Association. He aided in the formation of the Boston Congregational Sunday-school Superineendent's Union, and was elected its president May, 1880. Was a delegate to and attended the Raikes Sunday-school Centenary at London, 1880. He is a mem- ber of the Massachusetts Historic Genealogical Society, of the Rhode Island Historic Society, of the American As- sociation for the Advancement of Science, of the American Social Science Association, and an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. The Bicknell Family
35
1128739
HISTORIC REHOBOTH.
Association was formed in Boston in December, 1879, and Mr. Bicknell was elected its president. In 1872, he was elected an honorary member of the Phi Beta Kappa, and received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Amherst College in 1880, and LL. D., Drury College, 1882. Mr. Bicknell was President of the R. I. Sunday-school Union from 1872 to 1875; was a delegate from the Rhode Island Conference to form the National Congregational Council, and was a delegate from the Suffolk South Conference to the Triennial Council, held in Detroit, Mich., October, 1877; was Commissioner from R. I. to the Universal Exposition at Vienna, Austria, in 1873, and a member of the Postal Congress held in New York, 1878, in forming the Postal Code, adopted by Congress in 1879. Also, he was president of the following societies: Massa- chusetts Congregational Sunday-school Union, 1881-1885; New England Sunday-school Association, 1885-1886. International Sunday-school Union, 1884-1887; Chautau- qua Teachers' Reading Union, 1886.
Mr. Bicknell has travelled extensively through the United States, and has made three European trips. In 1873, he travelled through Scotland, England, France, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Austria, and Bavaria. In 1879, he revisited England, and in 18So, with his wife, visited Scotland, England, France, Belgium, and Holland. He cast his first Presiden- tial vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and still holds fast to the Republican party. He was married in 1860, to Amelia Davie Blanding, daughter of Christopher and Chloe Blanding of Rehoboth. The Blanding Library of the new Memorial Building is named in honor of her contributions to it,
The Dedication.
If every man and woman interested in the Dedication of the Memorial Hall in Rehoboth had had a voice in making the weather which greeted them Monday morning, May 10, they would have been unanimous in saying they had just what they wanted. A clear, cool atmosphere, no dust on the roads, and not the slightest indication of the moisture which came along in the afternoon by way of · variety. At an early hour all was bustle and expectation. The arriving carriages brought guests from Providence, Pawtucket, East Providence, Seekonk, Swansea, Attle- boro, Mansfield, Taunton, Fall River, New Bedford -in fact there was hardly a town or city in the Old Colony which was not represented. At least five hundred people were in and around the building.
When half past ten o'clock, the hour for beginning, arrived, every seat in the hall and all standing room in aisles and entry was occupied. Among the distinguished guests on the platform were Hon. Thos. W. Bicknell, LL. D., of Boston; Rev. Jeremiah Taylor, D. D., of Providence ; President E. G. Robinson, of Brown Univer- sity ; Messrs. Henry B. Metcalf, Olney Arnold, Darius Goff, D. L. Goff, and L. B. Goff, of Pawtucket; Hon. Amos Perry, Rev. F. Thompson and Henry T. Beckwith, of Providence ; Hon. Frank S. Stevens, of Swansea ; ex. Gov. Littlefield, of Rhode Island; Rev. E. G. Porter, of
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