USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > North Brookfield > History of North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Preceded by an account of old Quabaug, Indian and English occupation, 1647-1676; Brookfield records, 1686-1783 > Part 32
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288
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
Joseph A. Moore, 1836, '39.
Kittridge Hill, 1837.
Pliny Nye, 1838. Chauncy Edmands, 1838. Freeman Walker, 1839, '40.
Hiram Edson, 1844.
Amasa Walker, 1848, '49, '58.
Charles Adams, Jr., 1850, '51, '52, '62.
John Hill, 1853.
A. L. Poland, 1855.
Levi Adams, 1856.
Warren Tyler, 1857, '74.
J. H. Jenks, 1860.
Edward J. Russell, 1864.
Josiah F. Hebard, 1866.
Daniel W. Knight, 1872.
WV. H. Montague, 1877.
George C. Lincoln, 1878.
Theodore C. Bates, 1879.
Hiram Knight, 1882.
Alden Batcheller, 1884.
STATE SENATORS, Brookfield.
Joseph Dorr, 1780, '81, '82, '83.
Thomas Hale, 1798, '99, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09.
North Brookfield.
Amasa Walker, 1850.
Freeman Walker, 1852, '53, '61.
Charles Adams, Jr., 1865, '66, '77, '78.
Theodore C. Bates, 1883.
COUNCILLORS, North Brookfield.
Thomas Hale, while a member of the Senate.
Charles Adams, Jr., 1867, '68, '69, '70.
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
Amasa Walker, 1851, '52.
State Treasurer.
Charles Adams, Jr., 1871, '72, '73, '74, '75.
GRADUATES. - The following incomplete list of persons, natives or residents of Brookfield and North Brookfield, who have received a
289
COLLEGE GRADUATES.
college education, has been compiled from minutes published in Foot's Discourse, 1828, Dunham's Discourse, 1867, and information gained from private sources.
Joshua Upham, H. U. 1763. Jurist.
Enos Hitchcock, H. U. 1767. Clergyman ; D.D.
Theodore Foster, B. U. 1770. Lawyer. Dwight Foster, B. U. 1774. Lawyer ; Judge ; M. C .; U.S. Senator. Tilly Rice, B. U. 1777. Physician.
Samuel Hinckley, Y. C. 1781. Pelatiah Hitchcock, H. U. 1785. Lawyer.
Merrick Rice, H. U. 1785. Lawyer.
Jabez Upham, H. U. 1785. Lawyer ; Member of Congress. Amos Crosby, H. U. 1786. Benjamin Joseph Gilbert, Y. C. 1786.
Oliver Fiske, H. U. 1787. Physician ; Judge.
George Baxter Upham, H. U. 1789. Lawyer ; M. C. Phinehas Walker, B. U. 1790. Judge of Probate, N.H. Samuel Fiske, H. U. 1793. Lovell Walker; D. C. 1794. Daniel Gilbert, D. C. 1796. Lawyer. John F. Jennison, D. C. 1797. William B. Banister, D. C. 1797.
Joseph Williston, H. U. 1799. Master U.S. Navy.
Jonathan Parsons Hitchcock, B. U. 1799.
Enos Cutler, B. U. 1800. Tutor. Samuel Upham, D. C. 1801.
Charles Gilbert, D. C. 1801, classmate of Daniel Webster, d. 1805. Henry G. Rice, H. U. 1802. John Reed, Y. C. 1803. John Foxcroft, H. U. 1807.
Harvey Jenks, B. U. 1810. Baptist Clergyman. Joel Hawes, B. U. 1813. Clergyman ; S.T.D. Pliny Merrick, H. U. 1814. Lawyer ; Judge. Samuel B. Rice, H. U. 1816. Alfred Dwight Foster, H. U. 1819. Lawyer. Henry Upham, H. U. 1819. John C. Nichols, Y. C. 1824. Clergyman ; Teacher. Lucius W. Clark, B. U. 1825. Clergyman. Caleb Sprague Henry, D.C. Clergyman ; Author ; D.D. Israel Hamilton, Mid. C. 1825. Albert Spooner, U. C. 1826. Arad Gilbert, Y. C. 1826.
290
SECOND PRECINCT- NORTH BROOKFIELD.
Hollister B. Gilbert, W. C. 1826.
Solomon B. Gilbert, ent. A. C. 1832 ; Bang. Theol. Sem. 1837. Josiah A. Cary, A. C. 1832. Clergyman ; Teacher of Deaf-mutes. William B. Bond, A. C. 1835. Clergyman.
Austin Phelps, U. of Penn. 1837. Prof. And. Theo. Sem. Harrison O. Howland, A. C. 1841. Clergyman. William W. Howland, A. C. 1841.
Missy under A.B.C.F.M.
William Boardman Rice, H. U. 1843.
Joshua M. Chamberlain, D. C. 1855. Clergyman.
Edward P. Thwing, H. U. 1855. Clergyman.
Leander T. Chamberlain, Y. C. 1863. Clergyman.
North Brookfield Graduates.
Thomas Adams, D. C. 1814. Clergyman, Vassalboro', Me.
Ebenezer Strong Snell, A. C. 1822. Prof. Math. and Nat. Phil.
Alexander J. Hamilton, H. U. 1826, (son of James). William Bowman Stone, A. C. 1839. Clergyman ; Farmer. Lyman Whiting, A. C. 184 -. Clergyman. S. T. D.
Lucy Stone, Oberlin College. Teacher ; Editor.
Abel Harwood, Jr., A. C. 1841.
Joseph Dexter Poland, A. C. 1849, d. 1853.
Edward H. Spooner, A. C. 1859. M.D.
Francis A Walker, A. C. 1860. Pres. Insti. of Tech., Boston. Moses P. Snell, A. C. 1861.
James Mahoney, A. C.
Tyler Batcheller King, Univ. of Leipsic, Germany.
Michael Howard, Necollette Coll., Canada.
James Hennessy, Montreal Coll., Canada.
James E. Tower, A. C.
Sidney A. Sherman, A. C.
Timothy Howard, A. C.
Henry W. King, Camb. Law School.
Jeremiah Kane, 66
Edgar H. Parkman, member A. C. 1886.
Ralph W. Bartlett, 66 66 66
Henry A. Cooke, 66 66
James Howard, member Coll. of Holy Cross, Worc. 1886. P. H. Sheehan, 66 66
Harry L. May, member Y. C. 1886.
Ernest P. Jenks, member B. U. 1886.
NORTH BROOKFIELD POST-OFFICE. - In earlier times, letters and news- papers were put in charge of post-riders, who made a weekly journey to
29[
SAVINGS BANK - APPLETON LIBRARY.
and from Worcester. Later, all mail matter came to Brookfield by stage, whence it was distributed in various ways over the town. In 1826, a post-office was established in North Brookfield, on the condition that it should be no expense to the government. Jonathan Cary was the first Post Master, and transported the mail to Brookfield and return, once a week, for the income, which then amounted to $50 or $60 a year. About 1830, when the shoe business was largely increased, a tri- weekly mail was established, which was changed to a daily service about 1843. The income of the office in 1850 was $900. In 1854, a mail was sent and received twice each day. Mr. Cary resigned in 1843, and was succeeded by John Hill, who was succeeded in 1849 by William Adams. His successor as Post Master was Kittridge Hill, who held the place till 1861, when Rev. W. H. Beecher was appointed. When Grant's administration came in power, Mr. Beecher was succeeded by William L. Poland, and he by his wife Harriet A. Poland, who held it till March 1886, when George C. Lincoln was appointed.
PROFESSIONAL MEN IN NORTH BROOKFIELD. - Lawyers. Daniel Gil- bert, D. C. 1796, d. 1851 ; Joseph Felton, J. H. Hills, J. E. Greene, Y. C. 1853 ; R. E. Beecher, in practice four or five years ; L. E. Barnes, A. C .; Henry W. King, (firm of Rice and King, Worcester.)
Physicians. Jacob Kittridge, d. 1813 ; Ira Bryant ; - Crossfield ; Daniel Pearce ; Oliver Kittridge ; L. Wright ; Cheney Potter, d. in No. Bkf'd. ; Moses Porter ; Thomas Jones ; Joshua Porter, 1834 to his death in 1874; Warren Tyler, 1843 to the present time; Wilbur F. Witter ; Thomas J. Garrigan ; O. J. Travers ; Samuel H. Colburn ; Julius Gast ; M. A. Warriner.
THE NORTH BROOKFIELD SAVINGS BANK was incorporated in 1854. The presidents of the institution have been, Amasa Walker, Charles Adams, Jr. (two terms) S. S. Edmands (two terms). Treasurers, Hiram Knight, ten years ; Bonum Nye, 1864 to the present time. Amount of deposits, June, 1886, $506,500.79. Assets, same date, $524,368.12.
THE APPLETON LIBRARY. - Mar. 16, 1859, the Hon. William Apple- ton of Boston, son of Rev. Joseph Appleton, second pastor of the Church in North Brookfield, wrote to Rev. Dr. Snell, proposing to do- nate to the First Church and Parish the sum of $5,000, and a consider- able number of valuable books, to lay the foundation of a Parish Library, which should be held and maintained " for the use of the ministers of the said church forever."
At a legal meeting held April 11, 1859, the Parish voted to accept the gift on the terms proposed, and that the name of said library should be 'The Appleton Library. Voted, that the care and management of the library should be vested in a Board of Trustees, to be composed of the minister or ministers of the Church for the time being, and four others
292
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
to be elected by the Parish. The original Board was Rev. T. Snell, D.D., Rev. C. Cushing, Charles Adams, Jr., Dr. Joshua Porter, Bonum Nye and Gideon B. Dewing.
The Parish raised by subscription the sum of $1,246, and added a story to the chapel, thus providing a convenient room for the Library.
$3,000 of the donation was expended in the purchase of books ; and the balance, $2,000, was permanently invested, the annual income to be expended in preserving and caring for the Library.
The pastor is librarian ; and books are loaned to the pastors of the several churches in North Brookfield, without regard to denomination.
Number of volumes in 1886, 4,550.
THE NORTH BROOKFIELD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. - At an adjournment of the annual March meeting, held May 17, 1879, the town voted, "To accept certain sums of money donated to it by the past and present members of the North Brookfield high school and their friends, for the purpose of establishing a Free Public Library and Reading Room."
This fund was made up by subscriptions as follows, viz : the scholars and citizens, $500, of which Wm H. Montague contributed one hundred dollars ; and in addition, T. C. Bates gave $500, and Alfred H. Batch- eller of Boston, $1,000, making in all $2,000, with which the Trustees, (appointed by the town) established and started the enterprise. Rooms were fitted up in the Walker Block, and "on Thanksgiving eve, Novem- ber 26, 1879, was formally opened the first Free Public Library and Reading Room, ever established in North Brookfield, for the free use of every person in the town."
Total number of books in the Library Mar. 1, 1886, 3,417.
Number of books taken out in 1885 20, 182. ยท
Number of visitors to Reading Room in 1885 17,213.
Number of daily newspapers taken IO.
Number of weekly 33.
Number of monthly magazines . 13.
The town makes an annual grant of $1,000, for the current expenses of the Library and Reading Room, and the purchase of new books.
Trustees for 1885 : Theo. C. Bates, Wm H. Montague, James Miller, T. M. Duncan, Patrick J. Downey, N. H. Foster, L. S. Thurston, W. J. Thompson.
THE NORTH BROOKFIELD RAILROAD COMPANY was organized Jan. 14, 1875, and the following Board of Directors chosen : Alden Batcheller, Theo. C. Bates, Bonum Nye, Wm H. Montague, Freeman Walker, John Hill, Liberty Stone, T. M. Duncan and S. S. Edmands. The capital stock was $100,000, $10,000 of which was subscribed by individuals, and the balance of $90,000 taken by the town. This town subscription
293
NORTH BROOKFIELD RAILROAD.
was borrowed of the Commonwealth, on condition that it should be paid in annual installments of $9,000.
The contract for building the road was awarded to George W. Cram of Norwalk, Ct., who commenced work July 20, and finished the con- tract, so that regular trains were running Jan. 1, 1876. The road was leased to the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, which was to sup- ply rolling stock, and operate the same for ten years from Jan. 1, 1876. The lease has been renewed for a term of fifty years from Jan. 1, 1886.
The town has paid all its notes at maturity, and is now the absolute owner of $90,000 of the stock of the company.
In their Eleventh Annual Report, the directors say :
" Your Directors beg leave to submit the following as their Annual Re- port for the year ending with December 31st, 1885. During the year 14,076 tons of freight have been received at North Brookfield, 4,998 tons of freight forwarded from North Brookfield, making 19,074 tons trans- ported over the North Brookfield Railroad, and 44,823 passengers have been carried over it during the present year. The amount received from the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. as the proportion of the gross receipts, as per terms of the old lease, due the North Brookfield Railroad Co. in 1885, has been $2,432.01. The Directors have declared a divi- dend in 1885 of two (2) per cent. on the Capital Stock, which left a cash balance on hand of $463.45, as shown by the Annual Report of the Company's Treasurer, herewith submitted.
The Official Reports of the Auditor of the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. made to the Directors of the North Brookfield Railroad Co. disclose the following interesting facts concerning the volume of freight and num- ber of passengers transported over the North Brookfield Railroad during its ten years of operation.
FREIGHT AND PASSENGER TRAFFIC, FROM JAN. 1, 1876, TO JAN. 1, 1886.
Freight received at North Brookfield.
Freight forwarded from North Brookfield.
Total Tonnage.
Number of Passengers.
1876 . . 8,345 tons.
3,323 tons.
1 1,668 tons.
1876 . . 39,790
I877
9,944
3,55-1
66
1 3,498
66
1877
40,950
1878 .. 8.593
3,275
1 1,868
1878
35,210
1879 . . 11,139
60
3.406
66
14,545
IS79
38,657
1880.
9, 186
5, III
14,297
ISSO
43,450
1881 .
II,830
4,352
16,182
18SI
48,825
1882 .
11,687
4,252
66
15,939
1882
53,218
1883 .. 11,689
4,343
16,032
1883
49,810
1884 .. 10,807
66
3,426
4 6
14,233
66
ISS4
.. 56,366
1885 . . 14,076
4,998
19,074
$6
1885 . . . 44,823
Total, 107,296 tons.
40,040 totis.
147,336 tons.
Total, 451,099
294
SECOND PRECINCT- NORTH BROOKFIELD.
Total income of the North Brookfield Railroad Co. from the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. under first lease for ten (10) years, from Jan- uary Ist, 1876, to January Ist, 1886, inclusive :
1876
$2,489.68
1877
2,860.69
1878
2,383.93
1879
2,333.84
1880
2,285.05
1881
2,563.76
1882
2,480.31
1883
2,493.95
1884
2,120.52
1885
2,432.0I
Total
$24,443.74
The total number of passengers carried over the North Brookfield Rail- road during the ten years it has been in operation has been 451,099, and no one has ever been killed or injured.
The total number of tons of freight transported over the road during this period has been 147,336.
The following significant statement shows what it would have cost the people of North Brookfield to have done the same volume of business by the former methods, namely stages and teams, and what has been saved to them during these ten years by the construction of a railroad.
The regular stage coach fare between North Brookfield and the Boston and Albany Railroad Station at East Brookfield was thirty (30) cents, and the transportation of 451,099 passengers at this rate would have cost $135,329.70.
The amount actually received by the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. for the passenger service over the N. B. R.R. has been $58,326.78, which includes the amount paid by the United States government for the transportation of mails, and the amount received from the American Ex- press Co. for carrying express matter over the road, in all about $8,000, all of which has always been included in the passenger train service, thus leaving the actual amount paid the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. for the actual transportation of passengers over the road, $50,326.78, whereas it would have cost by stages $135,329.70, or a saving of $85,002.92, by the North Brookfield Railroad in its passenger service alone in the ten (10) years.
The cost of transporting 147,336 tons of freight between the station of the Boston and Albany Railroad at East Brookfield and North Brook- field, by teams, (horses or oxen,) at the price charged at the time the
295
NORTH BROOKFIELD RAILROAD.
North Brookfield Railroad was opened, which was the same price that had been paid for many years prior to that time, namely, seven (7) cents per hundred (100) pounds, would have been $206,270.40, whereas the amount actually paid to the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. for this service, has been $59,078.75, thus showing $147,191.65, or about one dollar per ton, saved on the transportation of freight alone during the ten years.
Adding the amounts thus saved on freight and passengers, to the in- come from the railroad, namely :
Saved on transportation of freight $147,191.65
Saved on transportation of passengers 85,002.92
Income from rental of road .
24,443.74
Income from rental of Depot Hall
1,000.00
We have the aggregate sum of
$259,638.31
This sum represents the income and savings to our people by means of our railroad over the former methods of conducting the business during the ten years it has been in operation, and is two and one-half times the entire cost of the Railroad.
The new lease of the North Brookfield Railroad to the Boston and Albany Railroad Co. took effect January Ist, 1886, and is for the contin- uous term of fifty years from that date, at a fixed annual rental of $3,000 per year.
Heretofore the income of this Company has been based on the receipts of the Railroad for each year's business ; hereafter beginning with Janu- ary Ist, 1886, the income of this Company becomes a fixed and assured sum, equivalent to three (3) per cent. per annum on the Capital Stock. There will be no more formulating of tables showing the varying earn- ings of our road, no more fluctuation of income, but one uniform, assured sum of $3,000 each year for fifty years. By the terms of the new lease the entire North Brookfield Railroad, from the station of the Boston and Albany Railroad at East Brookfield, to the end of the track in front of the Boot and Shoe Factory of Messrs. E. & A. H. Batcheller & Co. in North Brookfield, becomes unqualifiedly leased to the Boston and Albany Railroad Co., which was not the case under the former lease, which has just expired.
The absolute removal of all doubts and liabilities on this point, and the consequent benefits to this Company, cannot be over-estimated, and your Directors congratulate you on the assured increased annual rental, for so long a term - fifty years, - and still further on the assured re- moval of all liabilities or responsibilities to this Company on account of the location of the North Brookfield Railroad. Especially do we con-
296
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
gratulate the town of North Brookfield, as the largest and principal Stockholder, on its ownership of so valuable property, from which, for many years, a large income is annually assured, signifying a low rate of taxation and resultant prosperity to its people.
BONUM NYE,
FRANCIS BATCHELLER,
Directors of the
JOHN B. DEWING,
North Brookfield
THEODORE C. BATES,
Railroad Company.
MARCH IT, 1886.
THE REBELLION OF 1861-1865.
The following record of the action of the citizens and town of North Brookfield, and lists of names of volunteers and enlisted men who served in the late Civil War, and are credited to us, has been compiled by a committee appointed by the town, consisting of T. M. Duncan, J. S. Cooke, D. W. Knight, C. H. Bartlett, E. J. Russell, N. H. Foster and A. H. Foster.
Action of the Citizens of North Brookfield, previous to the first legal town meeting in 1861.
On the 15th of Apr. 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers, and commanding the rebels to return to peace within twenty days.
On the 17th, in quick and cheerful response to the President's call, the gallant old Sixth Regiment of Mass. State troops left Boston on their way to Washington to offer their services for the defence of the capital. On the 19th they reached Baltimore, where they were attacked by a rebel mob, and two of their number were murdered while marching on their route through the streets of that city, and seven others were more or less wounded ; when our soldiers turned upon their assailants, and eleven of the rioters forfeited their lives by their cowardly assault, and many others were wounded. A few moments only were required to flash this startling news through all the loyal States.
The whole people were electrified, and at once began to realize that war with all its dreadful realities was upon us.
The peaceful industries of life were to a great extent laid aside, and all began to prepare for the terrible issue. Only a few moments after the occurrence of this brutal assault, the news was received by our telegraph operator, Mr. George C. Lincoln, whose office was then at his store in the old town house. The news spread like wild-fire. The despatch was at once sent to the counting room of Messrs. T. & E. Batcheller & Co., where, upon its being read, Mr. Ezra Batcheller said excitedly, " Some- thing must be done immediately ;" and at his suggestion, after a few words of consultation among those who happened to be present, it was
297
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
decided that a public meeting should be held in the town hall on that same evening (Apr. 19th) to see what could be done to meet the emer- gency.
Accordingly, large sheets of paper were taken from the Batcheller's packing room and quickly converted into flaming placards, and posted in several places in the village where they would not fail to attract immedi- ate attention. The words upon them were nearly as follows :
" War ! War ! ! War ! ! !
Our Massachusetts Soldiers have been murdered in the streets of Baltimore, while marching on their way to Washington to protect the capital of our country.
All our citizens are requested to meet at the town hall this evening to see what can be done."
As this notice met the eyes of eager crowds who gathered around it, a mingled expression of indignation, anxiety and sorrow was depicted upon every countenance.
Evening came. Our hall was filled with interested and anxious citi- zens. The meeting was called to order by Mr. W. S. Phelps, who was chosen chairman, and it was addressed by J. E. Green, Esq., Hon. Freeman Walker and others, who alluded to the barbarous massacre which had that day occurred in Baltimore, and stated the object of the meeting to be "To see if North Brookfield will respond to the call of the President, by raising a company of volunteers to offer their ser- vices to the government."
Some of the older and more conservative of our citizens who had heard from their fathers' lips something of the privations and sacrifices, hardships and dangers of Revolutionary days, and thus knew something of what is involved in the terrible fact of war -ominously shook their heads, saying it cannot be done ; - others in the full strength of early manhood, with warmer blood coursing through their veins, and still retaining all the ardor, impulse and enthusiasm of youth, said " Yes, ours is a glorious country, this is our native land. Ours is the freest and best government upon which the sun ever shone. Traitors' hands are seeking to throttle and destroy it ; to us who have ever shared its boun- ties and enjoyed its protection, in this time of its rarest need and great- est danger, it calls for help, and should we refuse the aid which it implores ? Shall the sons of Revolutionary sires see the old flag which was so heroically borne through seven long years of fire and blood by their fathers, and which has ever since waved in undisputed triumph, - shall we see this glorious old flag torn down by treacherous hands and trampled in the dust by traitors' feet ! No ! Never ! We are ready, we are willing, we are anxious to go to the rescue, and if need be will seal our devotion with our lives."
298
SECOND PRECINCT-NORTH BROOKFIELD.
It was then stated that an enrollment list had been prepared, and it was voted that it should then and there be opened for signatures ; Joseph C. Fretts and Charles Perry were the first to enroll their names, and several others soon came forward and signed the roll amidst the most enthusiastic applause. This was the starting point of Co. F. of the old 15th regiment M. V.
After much excited and interesting discussion, and the adoption of strong and decided resolutions expressive of the willingness and deter- mination of all our fellow citizens to do whatever our duty and the emergency might demand, the meeting at a late hour adjourned till the next evening (Apr. 20th) at 73 o'clock. At the close of the meeting it was decided by those who had thus far been influential in arousing the people, that the town hall should be put in military trim, and accord- ingly all the red, white and blue material in the town was brought into requisition ; not a single piece of bunting could at this time be bought in Boston or New York, while all the principal streets in both those cities were so profusely decorated as to be almost covered with it.
Saturday evening (Apr. 20th) came, and with it such a meeting as North Brookfield had never seen before. The town hall was filled to its utmost capacity. Not only were our own citizens there en masse but many also came from the adjoining towns. The band from Brookfield came over and volunteered their valuable services, and the fine and in- spiring martial music which they discoursed added much to the interest and enthusiasm of the meeting.
The hall had been beautifully decorated, and the military aspect of the place and the stirring appeals of the fathers of the town to the patriot- ism of the young men, urging them to give their services to the coun- try, were such as resulted in the enrollment of several more on that evening who were afterwards connected with Co. F. in the fifteenth regi- ment.
Before the close of the meeting it was voted that the Selectmen be instructed to issue their warrant for a legal town-meeting to be holden at the earliest practicable day. The meeting then adjourned.
It being now late on Saturday evening, a warrant could not be drawn and posted till Monday morning ; the warrant for the first legal town meeting to act upon matters pertaining to the war was dated and posted Monday, Apr. 22, 1861, and the meeting was held on the earliest day on which a legal meeting could be convened, viz. Monday Apr. 29th.
After the close of the meeting Saturday evening, Apr. 20th, many of our citizens, including quite a number of ladies, rode to West Brook- field to see the military companies as they passed through on their way to the seat of war, and it was past one o'clock in the night before they reached home. During Sunday Apr. 21st, a large number of batteries
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