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 37
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Although he purchased his goods when prices were high, and has had to combat with recent busi- ness depression, he has been uniformly successful, and from year to year has increased his capital, and, by strict attention to business, good judg- ment, and integrity, gained a large patronage and the confidence and support of the publie. In poli- tics he is Republican, and a staunch supporter of
the men and measures of that party, but chooses rather to be a worker for the success of others than a seeker of office for himself. He has been assistant postmaster in Conway eight years, and still holds that position.
Mr. Tucker is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Conway, in which he is also steward and trustee. Ile aided in the ercetion of the new church edifice, bothi pecuniarily and in other ways. He is a teacher and an earnest worker in the Sunday- school.
In the public enterprises of the town and com- munity he takes a prominent part, and is a liberal contributor to all measures calculated to promote the general welfare. While these varied interests occupy his chief attention, he is not wholly absorbed by them, but enjoys with a keen zest the amenities of social life, and in his intercourse with friends is one of the most hospitable of men. He was married, on the 4th of November, 1859, to Julia A. Phillips. She is the daughter of Philip M. Phillips, formerly of Ashfield, but now a resident of Conway. They have had one child,-Willie M. (deceased), born Ang. 4, 1862.
CHARLES PARSONS, Jn .:
Charles Parsons, Jr., was born in Con- way, Franklin Co., Mass,, April 2, 1839. He is of English descent, und traces his ancestry to Benjamin l'arsons, whom it is supposed came to this country in the Mayflower. Ho settled in Springfield, Mass., and bis unme first appears there in the records in 163G, when he was chosen deacon of a church, and he was afterward known an Deacon Benjamin. He had seven children, who were born between 1636 and 1675.
Ilis oldest son, Samuel, settled in Enfield, Conn., and married Hannah Hitchcock, by whom he had five children; and of these, Nathaniel, the youngest, married Mary Prase, by whom he had three sons, the youngest of whom was Chudwell, who also had three children, viz., Chadwell, Joel, and Ruth.
Joel, the second son, was the grandfather of the subject of this notice, and was born in Somers, Conn., on the 28th of Jun., 1753. He married Trypbrna Booth, oo the 31st of July, 1775, and during the same year removed to Conwny, Mass., making the journey on horseback, carrying his wife on the horse behind him, and, upon his arrival in that place, had but twenty-five cents in money with which to commence business and housekeeping. He was a man of great courage and physical strength, and very frequently, after working all day on the faro, would spend the greater part of the night in hard labor at his trade, which was that of a blacksmith, lle was niso scrupulously honest in all his deal- ings, but he believed in being just to him- self us well as to others, and required prompt payment of what was due him. Besides physical endurance, he possessed considerable financial ability, for, com- mencing with nothing, he accumulated what in those days was considered quite IL fortune.
llis sun, Charles Parsons, was born in Conway, on the 221 of June, 1798. Pos- sessing both enterprise and industry, he turned his attention entirely to agricul- ture, and became one of the most thorough and progressive farmers in that locality. He has also taken & prominent part in the various public interests of the towa, as- sisted in organizing the Conway Nation- al Bank, the Conway Fire Insurance Company, and also the Mutual Fire In-
Charles Farsono $7
surance Company, of that town; has been a member of the Board of Selectmen, and assessor, and is liberal in his contributions to the support of churches and schools.
He married Sylvia, daughter of Josiah Boyden, of Conway, on the 30th of Octo- ber, 1820, hy whom he had five children, viz. : Adeline, wife of J. C. Newhall, of Conway; Nancy (deceased), who married Gnerdon Edgerton; Tryphena B. (de- ceased); Charles Lyman (deceased); nmil Charles, Jr., the youngest son and child, and the subject of this notice.
lle was born and reared on the place where he now resides, and attended the common schools and the Conway Acuile- my. When twenty-three years of nge he united with his father in managing the farm, and remained in that partnership three years. At the expiration of that time he took the entire charge of the farm, which he has continued to do to the pres- ent time. In 1867 he commenced breeding short-horn, or Durham cattle, and is now one of the most successful breeders in Massachusetts. His herd numbers sixty head, of which forty are thoroughbred, the remainder being graded stock.
His baros are models of neatness and adaptation, being furnished with all the modern improvements. Inderd, Mr. Pai- sons is a model farmer, and is identified with all the best farming interests of that locality.
For the past twelve years he has been a member of the Franklin Harvest Club, and is also a member of the Franklin County Agricultural Society, of which he lias been vice-president and trustee a number of years.
In politics he is a Republican, and actively interested in the measures of thet party, but has never sought office for himself.
He is a member of the Congregational Church of Conway, and for twenty years has been connected with the choir, of which he is now the lowler.
Mr. Parsons is also a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, of which he has been a member since 1862. Ile has been Master of the Lodge at Conway, and was largely instrumental jo its organization.
lle was married, on the 29th of October, 1861, to ITelen A., daughter of D. M. Wick- ham, of Albion, N. Y., by whom he has fivechildren. They are Minnie A., Charles Lyman, Lizzie, Lois, and Sylvia.
G
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES PARSONS, JR., CONWAY, FRANKLIN CO., MASS.
675
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Conway has become famous as the home of aged people; two of its residents-the Widow Farnsworth and Widow Crittenden-each lived upward of one hundred years. A list, published in 1867, of the persons in Conway who, up to that time, had lived to be ninety and over, places the num- ber at 48. Of these, three were ninety-nine, two were ninety- eight, one was ninety-seven, two were ninety-six, one was ninety-five, five were ninety-four, four were ninety-three, eleven were ninety-two, eight were ninety-one, ten were ninety, and one was one hundred. There are now in the town three persons each of whom is more than ninety years of age.
Conway celebrated its centennial, June 19, 1867, in Con way Centre with a gala gathering of citizens, many of whom owned the town as a birthplace, or as the birthplace of anees- tors. Merry-making, speech-making, and feasting filled the measure of the day's enjoyment.
In late years two disastrous floods have visited Conway. The one in 1869 worked serious damage to mill property, bridges, ete., and later, in December, 1878, the waters inun- dated Conway Centre to the depth of several feet, and, depop- ulating the village, put a sudden stop to business and in- flicted upon that section and the surrounding country a serious calamity.
ORGANIZATION.
Early in 1767 the inhabitants of Southwest, having grown to be quite numerous, petitioned to Deerfield to be set off, and Deerfield, agreeing to the petition, suggested the boundaries as follows : " East upon the seven-mile line, so called, until it comes to Deerfield River ; west upon Ashfield bounds, or the west line of Deerfield; south upon Hatfield bounds; north partly upon Deerfield line until it comes to the Northwest di- vision, so called" (to the Shelburne line), " and thenee by the said Northwest division until it comes to the west line of the town. "
The Northwest division was subsequently incorporated as the town of Shelburne, and its south line was a straight one crossing Deerfield River at the place now known as Bardwell's. In February, 1781, the territory in Shelburne south of the river was annexed to Conway. The northwest corner of that annexation was afterward set off to Buckland.
June 17, 1767, Conway was, in accordance with the peti- tion, incorporated as a district, and was named in honor of Gen. Henry Conway, a member of the British ministry, who was popular in the colonies for the prominent part he assumed as the government leader in the House of Commons at the repeal of the Stamp Act.
Under the act of 1786, Conway became a town. The war- rant calling for the first meeting of the district was issued Aug. 8, 1767, by Elijah Williams, a justice of the peace, and, on August 24th, the meeting was held at the house of Thomas French, "innholder." The officers chosen at that meeting were Consider Arms, Moderator and Town Clerk ; Cyrus Rice, Constable; Thomas French, Consider Arms, and Samuel Wells, Selectmen and Assessors; Consider Arms, Treasurer; Israel Gates, Thomas French, and Joel Baker, Surveyors of Highways; David Parker, Tithingman; Elisha Amsden, Warden ; Thomas French and Simeon Graves, Fence-Viewers; Silas Rawson, Sealer of Leather ; Ebenezer Allis, Sealer of Weights and Measures; Joseph Catlin and Joel Baker, Ilog-Reeves; Cyrus Rice, Deer-Reeve; James Gil- more and Josiah Boyden, Haywards; David Parker and Ebenezer Allis, Surveyors of Lumber.
The names of the persons who have served as seleetmen and town clerks from 1767 to 1879 will be found below :
SELECTMEN.
1767 .- Thos. French, Consider Arms, Samuel Wells.
1768 .- Thos. French, Joel Baker.
1769 .- Joel Baker, Jos. Catlin, Elias Dickinson, Nathaniel Field, Simeon Graves.
1770 .- Thos. French, Joel Dickinson, Cyrus Rice.
1771 .- Thos. French, Samuel Wells, Jonathan Whitney, Joel Baker, Israel Rice.
1772-73 .- Jonas Rice, David Parker, Daniel Newhall.
1774 .- t'onsider Arms, Israel Gates, Robert Oliver.
1775 .- Elisha Ams len, Samuel Wells, Noah Belding.
1776 .- Isaac Amsden, Jonas Rice, Sam't Crittenden, Elisha Clark, Alex. Oliver.
1777 .- Cyrus Rie, Isaac Amsden, Israel Rice, Jonas Rice, Elisha Clark.
177> .- Samuel Wells, Jonathan Whitney, Elisha Clark.
1779 .- Abel Dinsmore, Jonathan Whitney, Israel Rice.
17>0 .- Elisha Amsden, Josiah Boyden, Nathaniel G uldard. 1781 .- Alexander Oliver, Prince Tobey, Lucius Allis.
1782 .- Prince Tobey, Alexander Oliver, Mala-hai Maynard.
1783 .- Israel Gates, Abel Dinsmore, Malachai Maynard.
1784 .- Caleb Allen, Abel Dinsmore, Jesse Severance.
1785 .- Prince Tobey, Caleb Allen, George Starns, Elisha Clark, Josiah B yden. 1786 .- Caleb Allen, Oliver Ro it, Timothy Thwing.
1787 .- Lient. Clary, William Wetmore, Oliver Root.
1788-89 .- Ethan Billing, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root. 1790 .- William Gates, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root.
1701 .- John Bani -ter, Elisha Clark, Oliver Root.
1792-95 .- John Banister, Caleb Allen, Oliver Root.
1796 .- Abel Dinsmore, Jabez Newhall, Oliver Root.
1797 .- Malachai Maynard, Jabez Newhall, Oliver Root.
1798 .-- Malachai Maynard, Reuben Bardwell, Oliver Root.
1799,-Malachai Maynard, Joseph Rice (21), Oliver Root.
1800 .- Caleb Allen, Joel Parsons, Joel Adams. 1>01 .- Caleb Allen, Joel Pars ms, Oliver Root, 1802 .- Priace Tobey, Isaiah Wing, Oliver Root.
1803-4 .- Joel Parsons, Jabez Newhall, Jos. Rice (21).
1805 .- Joel Parsons, Renben Bardwell, Jos. Rice (21).
1806 .- John Arms, Samuel Wrisley, Jos. Rice (21). 1507-8 .- John Arms, David Childs, Jos. Rice (21).
1809-10 .- Isaac Baker, David Childs, Isaiah Wing.
1×11 .- Isaac Baker, David Childs, Nathaniel Baker.
1812 .- Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Isaiah Wing. JN13-14 .- Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Elijah Nash. 1×15 .- Isaac Baker, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns. 1816 .- Charles E. Billings, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns.
1817 .- Samuel Warren, Joel Parsons, Darius Stearns.
INIS .- Elijah Nash, Charles E. Billings, D. Stearns.
1×19 .- Elijah Nash, Joseph Rice, Isaac Baker.
1820 .- Charles E. Billings, William Stow, Noah Dickinson.
1821 .- C. E. Billings, Joseph Rice, Noah Dickinson.
1×22 .- C. E. Billings, Darius Stearns, Noah Dickinson.
1×23 .- C. E. Billings, Darius Stearns, John Arms.
1824 .- C. E. Billings, Elisha Clark, John Arms.
1825 .- C. E. Billings, Joseph Rice, John Arms, 1×26 .- Jos. Avery, Levi Page, Ira Amsden.
1×27 .- Jos. Avery, C. E. Billings, Darins Stearns.
1824 .- Austin Rice, C. E. Billings, Luther Bartlett. 1829 .- Austin Rice, John Arms, Jos. Avery. 1×30 .- Charles E. Billings, Darius Stearns, Luther Bartlett.
1831 .- Jos. Avery, Darius Stearns, Phineas Bartlett. 1832-35 .- Charles E. Billings, William Stow, Jas. Phillips.
135 .- C. E. Billings, Jos. Avery, Charles Parsons.
1836 .- George Stearns, Jos. Avery, Charles Parsons.
1837 .- C. E. Billings, Eber Lee, Jas. Phillips. 183s .- Luther Bartlett, Eber Lee, Jas. Phillips. 1839 .- Jos. Avery, Austin Rice, George Stearns.
1840 .- Kimball Batchekler, A. Rice, Chester Bement.
1×41 .- Luther Bartlett, John Cotton, C. Bement.
1×42 .- Chester Bement, Josiah Dwight, Joseph Avery.
1843 .- Jas. Phillips, Anstin Rice, John Allis
1844 .- Jas. Phillips, A istin Rice, Josiah Dwight. 1×45 .- Emery Sherman, A. Rice, Daniel Eldredge. IN46 .- Emery Sherman, John Clary, D. Eldredge.
1×47 .- Emery Sherman, John Clary, Kimball Batchelder.
1×48,-Wm. A. Howland, E. D. Hamilton, Alvin Dinsmore.
1849 .- Dennis Lee, E. D. Hamilton, Elwin Couley.
1850 .- Win. C. Campbell, Edwin Cooley, George Stearns.
1:51 .- Wm. C. Campbell, Asa Howland, George Stearns. 1852 .- Chester Bement, Daniel Eldredge, M. Dickinson. 1×53 .- John Bradford, L. L. Boyden, M. Dickinson.
1834 .- Isaac Farley, Joel G. Rice, M. Dickinson.
1855 .- Emery Shannon, Joel G. Rice, Dennis Lee.
1856 .- Wm. C. Campbell, Consider Arms, Franklin Pease.
1857 .- W. C. Campbell, Levi Page, Joel G. Rice.
1858 .- Asa Howland, Levi Page.
1859 .- Asa Howland, Wm. A. Howland, F. Arms.
1800 .- Edwin Cooley, Paul Jenkius, Denuis Lee.
18G1 .- Edwin Cooley, W. C. Campbell, Carlos Batchelder.
1862 .- Edwin Cooley, Newton P'ease, C. Batcheller.
1863-65 .- Wm. C. Campbell, Consider Arms, C. Batchelder.
1866 .- W. C. Campbell, Win. Stearns, C. Batchelder.
1867 .- W. C. Campbell, L. F. Eldredge, C. Batcheller.
1868 .- Charles B. Merritt, L. F. Ebridge, C. Batchelder.
1869 .- W. C. Campbell, Thomas L. Allis, C. Batchelder.
676
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
1×70 .- Levi Page, Franklin l'ease, L. F. Ellredge, 1871-72 .- Thomas L. Allis, Chelsea Cook, L. F. Eldredge. 1873 .- T. L. Allis, Edwin Cooley, Carlos Batehelder. 1874 .- T. 1. Allis, Edwin Cooley, T. S. Dickinson. 1875 .- John B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, T. S. Dickinson. 1×76 .- J. B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, Alfred Bartlett. 1877-78 .- T. S. Dickinson, Edwin Cooley, L. F. Ekhedge. 1879 .- J. B. Packard, Edwin Cooley, G. P'. Hassell.
TOWN CLERKS.
(konsider Arms, 1767-76; Oliver Wetmore, 1776-84; Oliver Root, 1784-1807 ; David Childs, 1807-27 ; Elisha Billings, 1827-37 ; Otis Childs, 1837-42; Otis Lench, 1842; Jas. S. Whitney, 1843-52; E. F. Ames, 1852-55; Eurotas Wells, 1855; Franklin Chills, 1856-62; H. W. Billings, 1862-79.
REPRESENTATIVES AT THE GENERAL COURT.
From 1776 to 1857, when the town lost its exclusive repre- sentation, Conway was represented at the General Court by the following persons :
Cyrus Rice, Jonathan Whitney, Oliver Wetmore, Lucius Allis, Prince Tobey, Robert Hamilton, Consider Arms, Wm. Billings, Ohver Root, Malachai May- nard, Reuben Bardwell, Capt. Banister, John Williams, Isaac Baker, David C'hills, Elisha Billings, Samuel Warren, Joel Parsons, John Arms, Ira Annien, Joseph Avery, Charles E. Billings, Darius Stearns, Phineas Bartlett, Christopher, Arms, E. D. Hamilton, Otis Chills, N. P. Baker, John Clary, Jas. S. Whitney, E. F. Ames, Edwin Cooley, and R. A. Cotfin.
VILLAGES.
The two villages in the town-Conway Centre and Burke- ville-adjoin each other, and are usually regarded as one.
THE CENTRE
occupies a deep valley shut in by towering bills, and is, in the mild seasons of the year, an inviting spot. It contains nu- merous handsome dwellings, two stores, a bank, hotel, public library, high school, three elmurches, and a fire-engine company, called Protection, No. I, organized in 1858, and now number- ing upward of 80 members.
Just east of the village centre is the cotton-mill of Tucker & Co., and, beyond that, BURKEVILLE, so called because Ed- mund Burke created the village in 1837, when he built a mill there. Here Delabarre & Hackstaff have a cloth-mill and a store, and their mill-operatives comprise the village population.
v PUMPKIN HOLLOW,
half a mile cast of Conway Centre, was the chief village for some years after the town's first settlement, which was made at that point. It now contains a store, school-house, and half a dozen dwellings.
An effort was once made to expunge the name of Pumpkin Ifollow, which was then thought severely unpoetical, and at a christening-party held by residents of the place the village received the new designation of Church Green ; but modern innovation has been unequal to the task of beating down tra- dition, and thus the old name has continued to assert itself.
CHURCHES.
As can be best ascertained, a Mr. Strong was the first preacher who ministered to the people of Conway, his minis- trations being conducted in 1767. In 1768 a Mr. Judson preached early in the year at the house of Mr. Whitney, and in July of that year a Congregational Church was organized, with a membership composed of 16 men and 16 women. A meeting-house was built in 1769 at Pumpkin Hollow, on the site of the school-house now at that place.
The matter of building a house of worship was attended with much controversy and much uncertainty, chiefly because of trouble in selecting a site satisfactory to all. At the town- meeting of September, 1767, it was decided to build at the centre of the town, and a committee was appointed to find the centre. Their report was rejected, as was the report of a committee called from adjoining towns to settle the vexed question. It was afterward decided to build a small house "near Jonathan Whitney's," but this resolve was rescinded, and early in 1769 it was settled that "ye Nole, about fifteen
or twenty rods north of the southeast corner of ye Center lot, where is a large stump, with a stake Spoted, standing within ye same, be established for a spot to build the meeting-house upon ; " and upon that spot the house was erected.
Rev. John Emerson began to preach in April, 1769, and delivered his first sermon in Josiah Boyden's barn, " which," Mr. Emerson wrote, " was surrounded with thick-growing wood, except a small adjacent spot cleared, which admitted ve light of heaven,-a place different, indeed, from those costly and splendid edifices erected and dedicated to the wor- ship of ye Most High since that day, and very dissimilar from that in ye ancient church in Brattle Street, Boston, where I had been called only ye Lord's day before to preach."
The people were so well pleased with his preaching that he was given a call to settle, and in December, 1769, was ordained, with " an encouragement" of a salary of £50 annually, to advance £3 yearly until it should reach £80, and £150 as a settlement.
The meeting-house was not finished for several years after it was begun, and it is said that a carpenter's bench did duty as a pulpit on the occasion of the preaching of the first sermon. The house was not furnished with a stove until 1819, and in the winter season Mr. Emerson frequently preached arrayed in overcoat and mittens.
Near the church was a small structure called the " Little House," or the "Sabbath House," where a roaring fire was kept on Sundays, and where the people gathered to get warm before attending service.
Benches sufficed for pews up to 1772, but in that year a pro- longed agitation upon the subject of seating the church and providing it with pews resulted in a determination to dispose of the privileges to the bighest bidders, and Dec. 31, 1772, the pew-ground in the meeting-house was sold at publie vendue to the following persons : Elias Dickinson, James Davis, Wm. Galloway, Isaac Amsden, Robert Hamilton, George Stearns, Lucius Allis, Consider Arms, David Field, Jabez Newhall, Samuel Newhall, Jonathan Whitney, Moses Hayden, Benja- min Pulsipher, Israel Rice, Timothy Rice, Ebenezer Hart, Noah Belding, Samuel Wells, Samuel Crittenden, Cyrus Rice, Daniel Davidson, Samuel Wares, Daniel Newhall, Epb- raim Smith, John Boyden, Thomas French, Joseph Catlin, Elijah Wells, Adoniram Bartlet, Prince Freeman, Amos Wilcox, Roger Farnam, Ebenezer Redfield, Josiah Boyden, John Bond, Jason Harrington, Solomon Goodale, John Gil- more, Cornelius Parker, Abel Dinsmore, Gorham Farnsworth, Timothy Chadwick, James Gilmore, Joel Dickinson, Na- thaniel Field, Aaron Howe, James Oliver, Oliver Stephens, Alexander Oliver, Israel Gates, Jonas Rice, William Gates, David Whitney, Reuben Hendrake, John Sherman, Sherebiah Lee, Eber Lee, John Langdon, David Parker, James Dickin- son, Robert Oliver, Isaac Nelson, William Bancroft, Jr., Ebenezer Maynard, Nathan Gould, David Smith, John Good- ale, Samuel Gould, Joel Baker, Elisha Amsden, and Jonathan Oaks.
Mr. Emerson served the First Congregational Church dur- ing the remarkably extended period of fifty-seven years, from 1769 to 1826, in which latter year he died, while yet in the pastoral office.
During his ministry he received 580 persons into church membership, wrote upward of 3500 sermons, attended the funerals of 1037 of his people, and in the first fifty years of his service baptized 1219.
- The church building was enlarged in 1796, and supplied with porches, steeple, and elock. In 1842, the structure having outlived its usefulness, the present edifice was erected, a short distance north of the old one, and the latter taken down. Six of the windows which were in the first church are now set in the front of the cabinet-shop of E. C. Foote, at Conway Cen- tre, and the works of the old steeple clock are to be found in Howland's carpenter-shop, at Pumpkin Ilollow.
FRANKLIN PEASE is the youngest son of Asher and Eliza- beth C. Pease. He was born in Conway, Franklin Co., Mass., June 27, 1823.
Asher Pease, his father, was born in Enfield, Conn., Sept. 21, 1781. Elizabeth Chaffee, his mother, was born in the same town, in 1782.
The earlier years of Mr. Pease's life were spent in work- ing upon his father's farm in Conway. His opportunities for acquiring an education were very meagre, but such as they were he well improved. When eighteen years old he commenced teach- ing during the winters, and when he reached his majority wasgiven an interest in his father's farm, and remained in this partnership
until his father's decease, when he inherited the property.
He still resides upon the old homestead. His occupation has always been that of a farmer and stock-dealer, but he has filled various offices in the town and county. In 1863 he was a memu ber of the Legislature, and for two years past has been select- man; also assessor for three years. Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an exemplary Christian. lle is also an active member of the Agricultural Society.
Mr. Pease was married, Nov. 5, 1850, to Minerva Nims, daugh- ter of Stoddard Nims, of Ash- field. She was born in Ash- field, Franklin Co., Mass., June 22, 1824.
Franklin Dease
[VIEW FROM THE SOUTH
RESIDENCE OF FRANKLIN PEASE, CONWAY, MASS.
JABEZ C. NEWHALL Was born in Conway, Franklin Co., Mass., on the 12th of August, 1825. Col. Jabez Newhall, his father, was born in the same town, on the 29th of February, 1776. He was a farmer and hotel-keeper, and was in the last-named business forty-five years. Ile was colonel in the State mi- litia, and well known and highly respected in the com- munity in which he lived.
lle died on the 20 of April, 1858. Eunice L. Tilton, his wife, was born in Conway, Dec. 25, 1786.
Jabez C. Newhall, subjeet of this notice, was one of a family of six children, all of whom lived to reach man- hood and womanhood. He received his education in the common school, and his
0
LITTLE
A to Merhall
time was mostly employed in working upon his father's farm. After his father's de- cease he took charge of the farm, and has since been en- gaged in dairying and stock- raising, in which he has been generally successful. In poli- ties he is Republican, and has been assessor of Conway for two years.
Mr. Newhall was married, in 1854, to Adeline Parsons, daughter of Capt. Charles Parsons, of Conway. She was born Dec. 29, 1827. They have a family of four children,-Eunice L., born March 20, 1857; Ruth I., born Oct. 23, 1862; Anna B., born June 12, 1865, and Harry T., born Jan. 6, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Newhall are members of the Congrega- tional Church of Conway.
KEEEE
EEEE
RESIDENCE OF J. C. NEWHALL, CONWAY, FRANKLIN CO., MASS.
677
IHISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Mr. Emerson's successor and colleague was Rev. Edward Hitchcock, D.D., LL.D., who was ordained in 1821 and preached until 1825, when he was dismissed. lle became subsequently professor of chemistry and natural history in Amherst College, and in 1845 the president of that institution. Prof. Hitchcock achieved also a national distinction as an author, especially of works upon geological researches. Among his successors were Revs. Daniel Crosby, Melanethon S. Wheeler, Samuel Harris, Geo. M. Adams, and Elijah Cutler. Rev. Arthur Shirley is the present pastor (1879).
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