History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896

USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II > Part 27

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" My husband desires to join me in the congratulations suggested by this day, and to beg your acceptanec of this, his last work, as a souvenir of the pleasant hours he has spent with you; and we beth hope this anniversary may come around to you here just as long as you cao greet it in health and happiness."

Photo, by Popkins.

Stephen Fellow.

STEPHEN FELLOWS is a native of Shelburne, Franklin Co., Mass. His grandfather, Samuel Fellows, who was one of the first settlers in that town, served under General Wolfe at the taking of Quebec ; was the chief engineer in erecting the fortifications, and the second man to enter the city after its surrender. He was a member of the Congregational Church, and the first who held the office of deacon in that society.

John Fellows, father of the subject of this sketch, was born May 11, 1751, and died Oct. 29, 1831. He was a native of Harvard, Mass., and came to Shelburne with his father at an early date. He was a carpenter by trade, but also followed agricultural pursuits. He was a captain in the militia, served a number of years in the Revolutionary war, commanded a company at the battle of Stillwater, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was a member of the Congrega- tional Church, and an earnest and consistent Christian. Ile married Mary Poole, widow of Lieut. J. Poole, March 23, 1778. She was a native of Connecticut, and was born June 16, 1754. They had a family of seven children,-Susan, born December, 1778; John, Jr., born April 12, 1780; Eunice, born March 12, 1782; Patty, born March 22, 1784; Joel, born March 2, 1791 ; Igal, born July 13, 1792; and Stephen, born Dec. 30, 1797, and the only surviving member of the family. His advantages, educationally, were very poor and limited to an irregular attendance of the common schools of his native town, but at an early age he showed a disposition to make his way in the world, and manifested the courage and perse- veranee which conquers all obstacles. When seventeen years old he went to Western New York, then a comparatively new country, traveling the entire distance, from Shelburne to Sodus, Ontario* Co., N. Y., on foot, carrying his clothing, etc., and having barely enough money to pay his necessary ex- penses. He remained in Ontario County a few months, and in August of the same year went by way of Niagara Falls to Queenstown, and thence to Long Point in Upper

Canada, where he found employment and remained until the winter set in, when he returned to Shelburne, traveling, as before, afoot. He remained at home but a year, and then returned to Long Point, where for a year he worked at the carpenter trade. This second journey was made on horseback, -a rapid and easy mode of traveling compared with that of his first trip, but how different from the facilities of the present day ! Subsequently he went to Fort Malden, Canada. The journey was made on Lake Erie in a log canoe, in which he also carried his chest of carpenter's tools, weighing five hundred pounds. There he remained a year, at the expiration of which he returned to Shelburne and lived with his parents until their decease. In 1832 he removed to his present resi- dence, purchasing the farm of one hundred and fifty acres ; since when he has steadily pursued the business of farming, taking a special interest in sheep-raising, and for fifty years has fed sheep for the markets. Mr. Fellows has been active in public service in the town, and has discharged the duties of the offices to which he has been called with integrity and fidelity. Ife has been a member of the board of selectmen a great many terms, assessor a number of years, and a mem- ber of the school committee. He has been connected with the Congregational Church forty-seven years, and is a true Christian. He also has been a member of the Masonic lodge fifty-five years, and actively interested therein. He held a commission of captaincy in the militia, and is still known among his friends and townsmen as Capt. Fellows. He has now passed his eighty-first birthday, but is in compara- tively good health, and retains a good deal of bis youthful energy.

Mr. Fellows was married, in December, 1826, to Abigail, daughter of Amos Allen, of Shelburne, by whom he had five children,-Mary A., born March 21, 1828; John, born Aug. 20, 1829 ; Miranda A., born July 11, 1831; Marcellus, born June 3, 1834; and Marion, born Aug. 22, 1838.

Mrs. Fellows died May 6, 1863. He married for his second wife, in 1865, Mrs. Alvord, who died in 1871.

* Now Wayne.

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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

west for all the land there, and told Lawson to take his 50 acres where he found a place to suit him. Subsequently, Lawson bought land enough, at the price of a yard of cloth for an acre of land, to make 200 acres, and the farm thus acquired is now known as the Hardy farm.

Stories of the hardships of the carly settlers, of their strange and hazardous experiences, of the stirring events, and of the difficulties which beset the mothers and fathers of Shelburne, would fill volumes, but they would repeat simply the old story, which has often been told about first settlers in every new country. They faced with brave hearts the burdens, the trials, and the troubles of a frontier life, and steadily held their course,-not without, perhaps, many a gleam of comfort, and even pleasure, but mainly, it is probable, partaking of the unpalatable fruits of existence.

In February, 1780, the settlers in Shelburne, north of the Deerfield River, were as follows: In the northwest, Joseph Whitney, Joseph Whitney, Jr., Ephraim Burrows, Samuel Fisk, Ebenezer Fisk, Levi Fisk, Ebenezer Fisk, Jr., Deaeon Childs, Asa Childs, John Barnard, Daniel W. Wilder, Elijah Severance, John Wells, Elisha Hinsdale, Doctor Childs, Sam- uel Murdock, Samuel HIunter, Oliver Holland, William and Thomas Anderson, Archibald and John Lawson, Joseph llosley, Stephen Long, James lleaton, David Hosley, and Samuel Wilson. In the west, Deacon and Ebenezer Allis, Jr., Martin and Martin Severance, Jr., Jonathan, Aaron, and Elisha Wood, James Shays, Widow Dodge, Ezekiel, Na- thaniel, Azariah, and Samuel Dodge, Jr., John Burdick, Joseph Tubbs, and Daniel Dodge. In the centre, Moses Smith, Jared Skinner, Daniel Nims, John, Benjamin, and Reuel Allen, Lawrence Kemp, Luke Taylor, John Ransom, John Long, John Boyd, Amasa Kemp, and John Anderson. In the northeast, John and Alexander Thompson, Robert and James Wilson, Sylvanus Allen, Alexander Clark, John Stuart, Sylvanus Nash, Hugh McGill, Theodore Barnard, Aaron Skinner, Daniel Worthington, Adonijah Atherton, Benjamin Miller, and John Battis. In the east, Capt. Wells, David Wells, Jr., Newton, Jabez, Eliphalet, Calvin, and Hazael Ransom, Samuel Boyd, Abner Nims, Ebenezer Newcomb, William Neweomb, Stephen Kellogg, David Long, William Boyd, John Taylor, Zeeb Taylor, John Taylor, Jr., Abraham Edwards, and Jason Cady. In the southeast, Moses Ilawks, James, Eliphalet, and Haines Graves, Enoch, Ebenezer, Job, Gideon, and Reuben Bardwell, William Bibber, Mr. Fitch, Joshua and Samuel Knight, Benjamin Randall, and James Butler. Near Charlemont road, Deacon Samuel and Thomas Fellows, Richard Peck, David Boyd, Jeremiah Foster, Daniel and Thaddeus Merrill, Samuel Pool, John Fellows, Benjamin Nash, Parker Dole, Job Coleman, Josiah W. Severance, Thomas Drury, Reuben Nims, Caleb Thayer, Roger Haskell, Levi Kemp, John HIeaton, James Taft, Simeon and Elijah Wells, Widow Bates, Hazael Jones, Abraham Blodgett.

EARLY ROADS.

Among the earliest roads laid out was one from Greenfield bounds to the east road leading to Coleraine, in 1769; in the same year also one from Daniel Nims' farm to Coleraine bounds. In 1771 one from Charlemont road, on Dragon Hill, to the meeting-house, one from Ebenezer Bardwell's to the county road, and one from Charlemont road southwest to Daniel Belding's farm. In 1772 one from John Hawks' to the meeting-house, one from Josiah Severanee's to the meet- ing-house, and one from the Bernardston line south. Other early roads were one from Conway line, by Lieut. Foster's house, aeross tbe Deerfield River to Charlemont road, "east of Lieut. Pool's saw-mill ;" one from the log meeting-house to a road leading across Moses Smith's lot; one from the Charlemont road to John Eaton's (or Heaton's) lot, and then to Deerfield River; one from Charlemont road, on Dragon Hill, by Isaac Forster's and Dr. Long's, to the road leading

from John Boyd's to the meeting-house; and one from the meeting-house by John Anderson's and Elijah Severance's to a road leading from Mr. Fisk's to the Charlemont road.

In 1779 it was proposed to bridge the Deerfield River be- tween Shelburne and Conway, and the General Court was petitioned to grant a lottery, by which money for the bridge was to be raised. Newton Ransom and Thos. Drury were to be paid £200 for building two-thirds of the bridge, and they were to be paid in wheat, at 4s. a bushel.

This plan for securing a bridge proved a failure, but in 1789 it was tried again, and successfully, according to indica- tions in the town records. Long before this there was a foot- bridge at the falls, thrown across by Jonathan Wood, the builder of the first mill at that point, for the accommodation of his patrons.

REVOLUTIONARY RECOLLECTIONS.

In 1773 the district appointed Messrs. Samuel Fellows, David Wells, Robert Wilson, Ebenezer Fisk, John Taylor, Stephen Kellogg, and Moses Hawks a committee to consult upon the resolves of the llouse of Representatives, and their report was subsequently transmitted to Boston.

In 1774, Minute-Men were promised 1s. in lawful money for each half-day spent in training, two half-days each week for four weeks, and such as failed to report twice a week were to be fined 2s. for each half-day they missed.

In 1775 the committee of correspondence consisted of David Wells, Ebenezer Allis, John Wells, Robert Wilson, Stephen Kellogg, Aaron Skinner, and John Burdick. In that year Samuel Fellows was chosen to attend the Congress at Water- town. The General Court was also requested " to petition the Continental Congress to have them take some of the wages of the officers of our army."

In 1776 it was voted that " this town will stand by the Honorable Continental Congress with their lives and fortunes, if their Honors think it expedient to declare us independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, for the safety of our rights and privileges."

Early in 1777 the district refused to raise any money to hire Continental soldiers, but shortly thereafter began to offer a bounty of £18 each for three years' men, £6 to be paid upon the man's passing muster, and £6 annually afterward. Ste- phen Kellogg's negro man, Charles, was one of the reeruits, and it was agreed that he should have as much as the others. A committee of five men was chosen " to prosecute all breaches of an act in addition to and for amending and more effectually carrying into effect an act entitled an act to prevent monopoly and oppression, and of the act preventing monopoly and op- pression."

The last distriet meeting called in his Majesty's name was held in February, 1776.

In 1779 the district resolved to take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America, and declared that all persons refusing to take it should be prosecuted according to law. The General Court was petitioned touching the district's de- linquency of Continental soldiers, and in 1780 renewed efforts to secure men were made by offering £100 per man for three months' men, and £200 for six months' men.

As an evidence of the district's determination to be perse- veringly patriotie, a vote in 1779 recorded that "this town will agree as a town in raising soldiers from the beginning to the end of the war."

In 1783 it was voted,-

" Whereas, this town received a resolve of the town of Boston respecting the return of conspirators and absentees to the State, therefore be it voted that this town will at all times, as it has done to the ntmost of their power, oppose every enemy to the just rights and liberties of mankind, and it is the opinion of this town that those conspirators and absentees ougbt never to be suffered to return? but to be excluded from having a lot or portion among us."

Among the citizens of Shelburne who fought in the war of the Revolution were Martin Severance, Samuel Severance,

646

HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

David Anderson, James Anderson, Abner Peck, Col. David Wells, John Fellows, Lieut. Jacob Pool, Samuel Smead, Deacon William Long, Stephen Long, Reuben Bardwell, Benjamin Nash, Dr. John Long (army surgeon), Asa Nims, and Elisha Barnard (who was present at the excention of Maj. André, the spy).

In 1814 a draft was ordered for troops to march to Boston. Capt. Thaddeus Merrill conducted the draft, and fourteen men were drawn, as follows : Stebbins Allen, Daniel Ander- son, David Anderson (2d), Medad Bardwell, Tra Barnard, George Bull, George W. Carpenter, Thomas Goodnow, David Long, Alexander Fisk, William McCallister, Samuel Nims, William Phillips, Jesse Wilson.

The town voted, in July, 1812, that " under existing cir- cumstances we will not support a war and tight Great Britain, and that we will not form an offensive alliance with France." William Wells was then chosen to attend the peace conven- tion at Northampton.

At the same meeting the records relate,-

"Counted pools on the subject of war, and there were ninety-seven; and Samuel Dodge, Amos Allen, Stephen Taylor, and Nathan Drury voted against the war measure."

NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.

The first child born in " Northwest" (afterward Shelburne) was a daughter to Archibald Lawson, for many years previ- ous to her death known as the Widow Nancy Long.

Shelburne has suffered many periods of general and fatal sickness among its inhabitants, notably during the years of 1777, 1802, 1803, 1808, and 1814. In the former year no less than sixty-six persons died within a space of fifty-three days. The town is a remarkably healthful locality as a rule, and up to 1868 had recorded the deaths within its borders of twenty- six persons who had lived to be over ninety years of age.

In 1788, Shelburne was visited with a violent hurricane, which caused wide-spread destruction, and, leveling forests, fences, and dwellings, entailed a great loss of property, but exacted, happily, no sacrifice of human life.

Concerning the times when slaveholding obtained in this country, it is told that a fugitive slave from New York took up his residence in Shelburne, whence he was, how- ever, kidnapped by those who were in search of him, and carried off toward New York. Shelburne was aroused to re- sentment, and a party, starting in pursuit of captors and eap- tured, rescued the negro and restored him to Shelburne, where he was allowed to remain unmolested until his death.

Until 1822 the people of Shelburne were obliged to go to Greenfield for their mail, but in that year a postal station of their own was established.

When the town used to pay for the services of its repre- sentative at the General Court, there was frequently a dis- inclination to a representative, but a fine imposed in 1788 for a failure to choose one that year effected a permanent cure of that species of neglect.

Shelburne has been the birthplace of many who have dis- tinguished themselves as missionaries in foreign lands, the most notable of these being Fidelia Fisk and Rev. Pliny Fisk, who died in Syria in 1825. It is worthy of mention, too, that Epaphroditus Ransom, once Governor of Michigan, was born in Shelburne.

Shelburne took an active part in Shays' rebellion, and fur- nished much aid in the way of troops for the government serv- ice. One of Shelburne's citizens-John llunter by name- was among those killed in the insurgent ranks on the occasion of Shays' attack upon Springfield, in 1787. Jacob Walker, of Whately, who was killed by Parmenter-a Shays rebel- while attempting the capture of the latter in Bernardston, was the man who completed the building of the second meet- ing-house in Shelburne, erected in Shelburne Centre.

Shelburne boasted once a weekly newspaper publication, called the Shelburne Falls Standard, which was started at the

village of Shelburne Falls in 1877 by Maj. Fleming. It struggled through a feeble existence, and finally expired about six months after the date of its first issue.

June 21, 1868, one hundred years after the incorporation of Shelburne, the town celebrated its centennial anniversary with public rejoicings, speeches, feasting, and musical exercises.

ORGANIZATION.

Early in 1768 the inhabitants of "Deerfield Northwest" petitioned Deerfield to be set off' as a separate district, but the petition was rejected. A second one, however, met with a better fate, and was granted May 9th of that year, and, on the 21st of June following, the General Court incorporated the district of Shelburne, and in 1786 the district became a town, under the act of that year. The name was chosen in honor of William Fitz-Maurice, of England, second earl of Shel- burne, who, in return, sent a church-bell, which, however, never reached Shelburne. The tract incorporated included a section of land on the south side of Deerfield River, but this portion was, in 1780, set off to Conway.

The first district-meeting was held at the house of Daniel Nims, Oct. 31, 1768, and the officers elected were as follows : John Taylor, Moderator ; John Wells, Clerk ; Ebenezer Fisk, Constable ; John Taylor, John Wells, and Robert Wilson, Selectmen ; Stephen Kellogg, Treasurer; Stephen Kellogg and Samuel Fisk, Wardens ; Lawrence Kemp, Tithingman ; Sam'l Hunter and John Wells, Deer-Reeves; Daniel Nims, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Robert Wilson, Sealer of Leather ; John Heaton, John Thompson, and Daniel Nims, Surveyors of Highways; Thomas Wells and Alex. Clark, Hog-Reeves; Ebenezer Fisk and John Taylor, Howards.

Appended hereto will be found the names of the persons who have served Shelburne as selectmen and town clerks from 1768 to 1879:

SELECTMEN.

1768-69 .- John Taylor, John Wells, Robert Wilson.

1770 .- Moses Hawks, John Wells, Agrippa Wells.

1771 .- Moses Hawks, John Taylor, Agrippa Wells.

1772 .- John Wells, Robert Wilson, Eben Fisk.

1773 .- David Wells, Robert Wilson, Samuel Fellows.

1774 .- John Wells, David Wells, Moses Hawks.

1775 .- Robert Wilson, David Wells, Aaron Skinner.

1776 .- Robert Wilson, John Wells, Sammel Fellows.

1777 .- Robert Wilson, Aaron Skinner, Ebenezer Childs.

1778 .- John Long, John Wells, Aaron Skinner, John Taylor, Lawrence Komp. 1779 .- Robert Wilson, Aaron Skinner, John Lung. 1780 .- John Wells, Aaron Skinner, John Long. 1781 .- Robert Wilson, Ebenezer Allis, John Taylor. 1782 .- Robert Wilson, Aaron Skinner, John Wells. 1783 .- Benjamin Nash, Aaron Skinner, John Long. 1784 .- Jolin Wells, Aaron Skinner, Robert Wilson. 1785 .- John Wells, John Long, Benjamin Nash. 1786 .- Robert Wilson, John Long, Benjamin Nash. 1787 .- David Long, John Burdick, Ebenezer Newcumb. 1788 .- John Burdick, Alex. Thompson, Asa Childs. 1789 .- John Burdick, Alex. Thompson, Robert Wilson. 1790 .- Samuel Boyd, Alex. Thompson, John Wells, 1791 .- Samuel Boyd, Aaron Skinner, Benjamin Nash. 1792 .- Theodore Barnard, Aaron Skinner, Benjamin Nash.

1793 .- Adonijah Atherton, Aaron Skinner, Thomas Drury.

1794 .-- Adonijah Atherton, Moses Hawks, Samuel Boyd. 1795,-John Fellows, Moses Hawks, Jared Skinner. 1796 .- Samuel Boyd, Moses Hawks, William Kemp.

1797 .- Martin Severance, Jr., Moses Ilawks, Samuel Fisk. 1798,-Jabez Ransom, Moses Hawks, Isaac Winter. 1799 .- Solomon Severance, Moses Hawks, El enezer Fisk. Jr.

1800 .- Samuel Boyd, Moses Hawks, Solomon Fellows. 1801 .- Col. Long, Moses Hawks, Reuben Nims. 1802 .- David Anderson, Moses Hawks, Aaron Long. 1803 .- William Wells, Moses Hawks, Ast Nims. 1804 .- Amos Allen, Moses Hawks, Eliphalet Stratton. 1805 .- John Fellows, Moses Hawks, Julia Kellogg. 1806 .- Solomon Fellows, John Stewart, Capt. Allis. 1807 .- Solomon Fellows, John Stewart, Solomon Hawks. 1808 .- Ebenezer Childs, James Dickinson, Solomon Hawks. 1809 .- John Fellows, Solomon Severance, Solomon Hawks. 1810 .- Solomon Hawks, Constantine Hardy, Adonijalı Atherton. 1811 .- Solomon Ilawks, Constantine Hardy, John Fellows. 1812 .- Ebenezer Chile's, Martin Severance, Giles Lyman.

Photo. by Popkins.

Oscar Bardwell

OSCAR BARDWELL is a native of the State of New York, and is the fourth child of Wm. E. and Melinda Waite Bardwell.

Wm. E. Bardwell was born in Shelburne, Frank- liu Co., Mass., Sept. 16, 1791. He was a farmer by occupation, and as a man was highly esteemed. He was married to Melinda Waite, of Gilmington, N. H., in 1813. She was born in August, 1791. They were blessed with a family of eight children. Oscar Bardwell was born in Ontario County, N. Y., June 3, 1821. Although not a native of Shelburne he has been a resident of that town during the greater part of his life, and was edu- cated in the common schools and the Academy of Shelburne Falls. He resides upon the farm for- merly owned by his father, and is one of the most

successful, thorough, and enterprising farmers in that section. He is a member of the Congrega- tional Church of Shelburne, and an earnest sup- porter of the cause of religion, and particularly interested in the Sunday-school connected with the church, of which he has been superintendent three years. In politics Mr. Bardwell is a Republican, and takes an intelligent interest in all the questions of the day, but has never been an office-seeker.

He married his first wife, Hannah Peck, daughter of Peter Peck, of Shelburne, June 10, 1852. He married his present wife, Amanda Whiting Kellogg, relict of Captain Henry Kellogg, of Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1874. By this union he has one child, Ethel Hannah, born April 15, 1877.

Photo, by Popkins.

David HVIS

COL. DAVID WELLS was born in Shelburne, Franklin Co., Mass., en the place where he new resides, Dee. 18, 1797. Ilis grandfather (who was also a Col. David Wells) was a native ef Connecticut, and was horn in Colchester on the 20th of September, 1723. He removed with his family to Shelburne in 1772, and settled en the farm now owned by the subject of this sketch. He held the rank of colonel in the militia, and took an active part in the Revolutionary war, during which he displayed a character of great daring and bravery ; he commanded & regiment at the battle of Ticonderoga, and also at Stillwater, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was a member of the Continental Congress, and in many ways rendered his country valuable service. We quote the following from an ebituary notice in a Greenfield paper as a fitting tribute to his memory : " Died at Shelburne, on the 10th inst. (Jan., 1814), Col. David Wells, in the ninety-first year of his age. The life of Col. Wells was protracted to a length which is granted to but few of our ceuntrymen, and was distinguished by an activity which is rarely to be met with among men ef his station. He took an active part in the Revolutionary contest, and was one of thuse patriots whe pledged their lives and fortunes in establishing our national independence; nor was his mind se engrossed by civil affairs as to be unoccupied by those of an ecclesiastical nature. He efficiated as deacon in the church of Christ in that town for many years, and was as constant an attendant upon the ordinances of the gospel as the infirmities ef extreme age would permit, enjoying the use of strong mental powers which were little if any impaired till a short time before his decease. He ever exhibited, both in precept and example, a life ef integrity and piety, and when we reflect upen the virtues that adorned the life of this man, we think that his aged widow, his children, and a large circle of relatives must be led to yield a more cheerful acquiescence in this dispensation of a righteous Providence, trusting that what they deem to be their loss will prove his gain."

Col. Wells was married in Colchester on the 19th ef January, 1749, to Mary Taintor. She was born on the 17th of November, 1727, and died on the 10th of December, 1815, aged eighty-nine years. Their son, William Wells (father of the subject ef this notice), was born in Colebester en the 27th of July, 1767, and was hnt five years of age when he came with his father to Shelburne. At an early age he was

imbued with the principles of honor and integrity, and manifested those traits of character for which he was distinguished in later years. Physically he was a man of commanding presence, in manners social and urbane, and readily won the respect and esteem of his associates. He held a commission as captain in the militia and served about thirty sessions in the Legislature, besides rendering service to the town as chairman of the board of selectmen, in which capacity he acted sixteen years, and also in other minor local offices. In 1812 he was a delegate to the Northampton convention appointed to divide llampshire County. Fe public life pure, in private life above reproach, he will long be remembered as one of the most worthy and influential of the old residents of Franklin County. He died on the 11th of July, 1848. He was married, en the 8th of December, 1794, to Prudence, daughter of Rev. Eleazer May, of Haddam, Conn. She was born en the 14th of September, 1768, and died in her ninety- fourth year (May 16, 1862). To them there were born nine children, of whem enly four are living at the present time (March, 1879). Of this family, David is the second son and child; he received his education in the commen scheels ef his native town, and from boy- hoed to the present time his occupation has been that of a farmer, but with agricultural pursuits he has combined active service in pro- meting all the best interests of the community in which he lives. He held the rank ef colonel in the militia, fer six years was special commissioner, has served as member and chairman of the board of selectmen for many years, and has also held other local offices of trust. In pelities he is a Republican, as have been all the members of the family since the organization ef that party. He is a member of the Unitarian society of Greenfield, and, although net as dis- tingnished in public service as were his father and grandfather, he exerts a strong influence in the social, educational, and religious interests of the community, and is respected and esteemed hy all who know him. The family are remarkable for longevity, and although Mr. Wells has passed his eighty-first birthday, and but just recovered from a severe illness, he still possesses to a fair degree bodily vigor and mental powers.

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. II, Part 27

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 896

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 896