USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the churches and ministers, and of Franklin association, in Franklin County, Mass., and an appendix respecting the county > Part 17
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"On the morning of Friday, the 9th of September, after the manifestation of unusual sprightliness on the previous day, in anticipation partly of his return to New York city, he was found to have been visited by a paralysis of the throat and other organs of speech, so as to be utterly in- capable of articulation and deglutition. He was brought to the city of New York by the first train of cars, and placed under the care of some of the most eminent medical prac- titioners of the city, but without avail. I saw and prayed with him on the morning of his last Sabbath on earth, when I found him sensible but speechless. He continued to sink under the pressure of his disease until Thursday, the 15th of September, when, at six o'clock in the morning, his wish and prayer were granted, his earthly labors and conflicts brought to an end, and his burdened spirit was received into rest. On the afternoon of the following day, after a solemn funeral service, at which several of his brethren and former companions in study were present, his remains were taken to Andover; the sad funeral train being increased at Fall River by the addition of several of the people of his former charge ; and his body was laid to rest in the rural graveyard where repose the remains of his deceased wife."
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As illustrative of the fearlessness, independence, and de- cision of Mr. Washburn, the following incident is related. On one occasion, during his ministry in Greenfield, the choir of his congregation declined to sing after he had read the hymn. After waiting a short time he arose and remarked that sacred music was an important part of public worship, and, as that part was not to be performed, he should, at that time, dispense with performing the other parts, and then left the house, and the congregation followed. Mr. Washburn was the seventh generation from Mr. John Washburn, who settled in Duxbury as early as 1632. Mr. Washburn's min- istry in Greenfield was about four years.
6. REV. LORENZO L. LANGSTROTH was installed as the sixth pastor of this church, Dec. 20, 1843, and Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon preached the sermon ; and he was dismissed from there, Feb. 15, 1848. Mr. Langstroth was born in Philadelphia, Penn., Dec. 25, 1810 ; graduated at Yale in 1831 ; studied theology at New Haven ; was settled as pastor at Andover, May 11, 1836, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Jackson ; was dismissed from there in the spring of 1839; taught the Female High School in Greenfield from 1839 to 1843 ; after leaving Greenfield in 1848, taught a Young Ladies School in Philadelphia till 1852 ; and since then has resided chiefly in Greenfield, and preaches more or less in the vacant neighboring churches. In 1853, he published an ingenious and valuable work on the honey bee. Mr. Langstroth's ministry in Greenfield was a little more than four years.
7. REV. GEORGE C. PARTRIDGE was installed as the seventh pastor of this church, May 18, 1848, and the sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. Amos Bullard, then of Barre. Mr. Partridge was born in Hatfield, Aug. 27, 1813 ; gradu- ated at Amherst in 1833; studied theology at Amherst and Andover ; was a tutor in Amherst College from 1836 to 1838; was settled as pastor at Nantucket, Nov. 21, 1839, and the sermon was by Rev. Dr. Silas Aiken, then of
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Boston ; was dismissed from there, Aug. 10, 1841; was installed as pastor at Brimfield, Feb. 9, 1842, and the ser- mon was by Rev. Dr. John Nelson of Leicester ; was dis- missed from there, Feb. 24, 1847 ; in 1838-9 supplied a few months in Rochester, N. Y., and in the Seamen's Bethel, Portland, Me. Mr. Partridge is a grandson of the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield. He is still a pastor in Green- field, in the sixth year of his ministry there.
Of the seven pastors of this church, six were dismissed ; five are now living ; and the average length of their pas- torates in Greenfield is about three years and a half.
CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS WHO ORIGINATED FROM GREENFIELD.
1. Mr. Edward Billings, Jr., son of Rev. Edward Bil- lings, first pastor of the first church in Greenfield, is supposed to have been born in Belchertown in 1750; removed to Greenfield at four years of age, where he lived till his death ; graduated at Cambridge in 1775 ; was licensed by the Hamp- shire Association in 1776, but was never ordained ; preached but a short time, and became a physician ; and died in Greenfield, May 8, 1806, aged 56. The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. :
" Some hearty friend shall drop a tear On our dry bones, and say, These once were strong, as mine appear, And mine must be as they."
2. Rev. Charles C. Corse was born in Greenfield, May 23, 1803 ; graduated at Amherst in 1830 ; finished the the- ological course at Princeton in 1834; began to preach in Kingston, Penn., in 1834, and preached in the Valley of Wyoming, Penn., till 1837 ; settled as pastor in Athens, Penn., Feb. 27, 1838, and the sermon was by Rev. Isaac W. Platt ; dismissed from there in June, 1847; in 1847 removed to East Smithfield, Bradford County, Penn., where he has con-
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tinued to preach as a stated supply till the present time. Mr. Corse was licensed by the Hampshire Association, Feb. 5, 1834, and was ordained as an Evangelist by the Presby- tery of Susquehanna, Penn., Aug. 27, 1836, and the sermon was by Rev. John Dorrance. Mr. Corse buried his wife, Ang. 7, 1851, and was left with five children.
3. Rev. John F. Griswold was born in Greenfield, April 14, 1795 ; graduated at Yale in 1821; finished the theologi- cal course at Andover in 1824; was ordained as an Evan- gelist at Shelburne by the Franklin Association, Nov. 8, 1825, and the sermon was by Rev. Josiah W. Canning ; in- stalled pastor at South Hadley Falls, Dec. 3, 1828, and Rev. Dr. Edward Hitchcock preached the sermon ; dismissed from there in 1832; settled as pastor in Newfane, Vt., April 10, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. Jonathan McGee ; dis- missed from there, July 31, 1839 ; settled as pastor at Hart- land, Vt., in 1839, and President Lord, of Dartmouth College, preached the sermon ; dismissed from there in 1844; from 1844 till the present time he has preached as a stated supply in Washington, N. H., where he still resides. Mr. Griswold buried his first wife in 1832, and his second wife about 1836, and married his third wife in 1838. In 1829 the name John was prefixed by Legislative authority to the other part of his name.
4. Rev. Charles P. Russell was born in Greenfield, April 3, 1801 ; pursued collegiate studies for a time at Amherst, but never graduated at any college ; was licensed by Frank- lin Association, Aug. 11, 1830 ; settled as pastor in Candia, N. H., Dec. 25, 1833. After a few years he relinquished preaching on account of ill health, and has since resided in Greenfield, Boston and Washington, D. C. He studied the- ology a short time at Andover ; was dismissed from Candia, N. H., in 1841. He is now employed in the Post Office Department in Washington, D. C.
5. Rev. Samuel M. Woodbridge was born in Greenfield, April, 5, 1819 ; is the son of Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge,
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formerly a pastor in Greenfield, and removed from that place in 1823 ; graduated at the New York University in 1839 ; studied theology at the Reformed Dutch Seminary, in New Brunswick, N. J. ; was licensed in July, 1842 ; was ordained as pastor of the South Dutch Church, in Brooklyn, N. Y., in December, 1842; dismissed from there in 1850; in April, 1850, he accepted a call from the Dutch church in Coxsackie Landing, N. Y. ; in November, 1852, was installed as pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch Church in New Brunswick, N. J., where he still remains as pastor. Mr. Woodbridge, his father, and his three brothers, are now preaching in five different States of the Union.
Of the five preachers here reckoned as sons of Greenfield, four were natives of the town ; one is connected with the Reformed Dutch church ; four were graduates ; four were ordained ; two were the sons of ministers ; and four are now living.
Several other Congregational ministers have spent some portion of their early life in Greenfield. Rev. Hiram P. Arms commenced learning a trade in the town, and lived here some two years. Rev. Jubilee Wellman was born in that part of Greenfield which was, about six months after his birth, incorporated as the town of Gill. Rev. Avery Williams taught school for a considerable period in the town in early life.
OTHER DENOMINATIONS.
BAPTISTS. The Baptist church in Greenfield was formed February, 1852, with eighteen members. Mr. Joseph H. Seaver, a licentiate, preached a few months ; and Rev. William F. Nelson has since been their stated supply. The number of members in 1853 was 59.
EPISCOPALIANS. The Episcopal church in Greenfield was organized Sept. 24, 1812, with five members. Rev. Titus Strong, D. D., was constituted Rector of the Parish in May, 1815, and still continues in this relation. Episcopal ministers
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originating from Greenfield : Rev. George T. Chapman, D.D., and Rev. Allen C. Morgan.
METHODISTS. The Methodist church in Greenfield was formed in 1835, with seventy-five members. The following preachers have supplied this church, viz. : Revs. Paul Towns- hend, R. Ransom, L. C. Collins, C. Barnes, I. B. Bigelow, I. Marcy, J. Mudge, R. Kellen, S. Marcy, J. Nickols, D. Ames, J. Paulson, and Linus Fish in 1853. Methodist ministers who originated from Greenfield, viz .: Revs. W. R. Clark and C. W. Ainsworth who died in Milford in 1852.
UNITARIANS. The Unitarian church in Greenfield was organized in August, 1825, with eight male members. Rev. Winthrop Bailey was installed pastor in October, 1825, and died March 16, 1835, aged 51. Rev. John Parkman, Jr., was installed pastor, Oct. 11, 1837, and was dismissed at his request in 1839 ; since which time several ministers have preached as stated supplies. One Unitarian minister, Rev. George Ripley, originated from Greenfield.
The Roman Catholics have occasionally held meetings in Greenfield for a few years past.
SUMMARY of preachers originating from Greenfield : Or- thodox Congregationalists, 5 ; Episcopalians, 2 ; Method- ists, 2 ; Unitarians, 1. Total, 10.
HAWLEY.
This town is said to have been named after Joseph Haw- ley of Northampton. It was incorporated Feb. 7, 1792. Its population in 1850 was 881. Two churches have been organized in the town, both of which are of the Con- gregational order.
CONGREGATIONALISTS.
FIRST CHURCH. The first church in Hawley was formed Sept. 16, 1778, with twenty members. Revs. Messrs. Por- ter of Ashfield, Leavitt of Charlemont, and Emerson of
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Conway, were on the council. This church and people built their first Meeting-house in 1794, and their second in 1824, and their third in 1847, which is located not far from a mile and a half south of the site of the first house of wor- ship. Frequent revivals were formerly enjoyed by this church ; one in 1794, and seventeen additions to the church ; in 1795, and fourteen added ; in 1797, and eighteen added ; in 1807, and thirty-three added ; in 1816, and one hundred and eighteen added ; in 1822, and eighteen added ; in 1825, and forty-four added ; in 1828, and fourteen added ; in 1831, and sixty-four added ; in 1832, and thirty-one added. A mutual council for the settlement of difficulties was held, June 11, 1804; and an ex parte council for the same purpose, Sept. 24, 1812. The amount contributed to the cause of christian benevolence in 1853 was $81 78. The Sabbath School in 1852 numbered 125. The church in 1853 con- tained 97 members. Previous to the settlement of the first pastor in 1793, Rev. Jacob Sherwin of Ashfield preached for this people more or less.
In the seventy-five years since the organization of this church, it has had pastors about fifty-three years, and been destitute of the same about twenty-two years. Three pas- tors have been settled over this church.
PASTORS. 1 .* REV. JONATHAN GROUT was ordained as the first pastor of this church, Oct. 23, 1793, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Joseph Lyman of Hatfield, which was published. Mr. Grout continued pastor of the church nearly forty-two years, and till his death, June 6, 1835. For a few years previous to his death he was unable fully to perform pastoral duties, and a colleague pastor was set- tled about one year before his decease. Mr. Grout was born in Westboro', in 1763; graduated at Cambridge in 1790 ; studied theology with Dr. Lyman of Hatfield ;. was licensed by the Northern Association of Hampshire County, Aug. 7, 1792 ; and spent his ministerial and pastoral life in Hawley. In 1802, according to a prevalent practice among many pas-
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tors of that time, he performed a mission of sixteen weeks among the destitute settlements in Maine. He published several occasional sermons ; one preached at Northampton before the Hampshire Missionary Society, in 1820 ; one preached at Cummington, on Sacred Music ; and one preached at the installation of Mr. Smith in Rowe, in 1812. Four of his children have deceased, one of whom was drowned at the age of 15 ; and five of his children and his widow are now living. His aged widow annually receives a liberal share of the Congregational ministerial funds of the Convention and Charitable Society of Massachusetts.
Mr. Grout's colleague preached his funeral sermon, and thus speaks of him : "He was a peacemaker, a man of ex- cellent spirit, sound in the faith, and, I believe, a good preacher, as well as a very successful one." A pastor, who was a neighbor and a cotemporary with Mr. Grout, writes as follows respecting him : " Mr. Grout was a diligent, labori- ous, and successful minister. He loved his people, and they loved him. He was truly a practical man. His sermons were not highly wrought, but contained important truth adapted to the circumstances of his people. He was em- phatically a social, hospitable, kind-hearted man. And the impression which he left behind him was such that his people generally appreciate the ministry and respect the minister. And no people, so far as I know, have recently made greater sacrifices to support christian institutions than the people in Hawley." " Rev. Mr. Grout," says a minis- terial friend of his in Maine, " was a bright, noble, generous, sociable and free-hearted man. He was not the highest Calvinist, but was a good man and a popular preacher. He had a loud and commanding voice, and was one of the most popular missionaries that went into the State of Maine."
The following is the epitaph on his gravestone, viz. : " This stone was erected by the first parish in Hawley to the memory of the Rev. Jonathan Grout, who departed this
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life June 6, 1835, in the 73rd year of his age, and the 42nd of his ministry. He was the first minister in Hawley. Great unanimity among his people prevailed during the ministry of this devoted servant of Christ." He was sole pastor of the church about forty years, and retained the nom- inal relation about forty-two years.
2. REV. TYLER THACHER was installed as the second pas- tor of this church, May 14, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. Otis Thompson of Rehoboth. He was settled as a colleague with Rev. Jonathan Grout, and was dismissed from there, Jan. 31, 1843. The ministerial element in Mr. Thacher's ancestry deserves a brief notice. His paternal grandfather was Rev. Peter Thacher of East Attleboro', who was the son of Rev. Peter Thacher of Middleboro', who was the grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher of Milton, who was the great-grandson of Rev. Thomas Thacher of Bos- ton, who was the great-great-grandson of Rev. Peter Thacher of Salisbury, England ; and the last-named Peter Thacher's ancestors in England are said to have been ministers for nine or ten successive generations. Rev. T. Thacher has one brother who is a minister, viz., Rev. Moses Thacher.
Rev. Tyler Thacher was born in Princeton, Sept. 11, 1801, and in 1803 removed to Harford, Penn .; graduated at Brown University in 1824; studied theology with Rev. Otis Thompson ; was licensed by Mendon Association, April 26, 1825 ; ordained as an Evangelist, by Mendon Associa- tion, at North Wrentham, Dec. 4, 1827, and Rev. Otis Thompson preached on the occasion. Previous to his set- tlement in Hawley, he supplied in Hanover and Paris, N. . Y. ; Carver and Franklin, Mass. ; Guildhall, Vt. ; in 1828, in Ohio; from 1829 to 1833, in Staunton, Va. Subsequent to his dismission from Hawley, he preached as a stated supply in North Wrentham. On the 20th of Sept. 1851, after a voyage of ten and a half months, he, with his family, arrived at San Francisco, California, and has since then been employed in teaching in Marysville, California. On his sea-
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voyage to California, he discovered a "new method of de- termining the longitude at sea without recourse to the chronometer." He has published four treatises, entitled " Taylorism Examined," "Arminianism Examined," " Per- fectionism Examined," and " Christianity and Infidelity." He married Miss Fidelia, a daughter of Rev. Otis Thomp- son, by whom he had three children, and who died in Haw- ley. His second and present wife was Miss Nancy Newton of Hawley. His eldest son, a pious, promising youth, prepar- ing for the ministry, was drowned in North Wrentham. Mr. Thacher's ministry in Hawley was eight years and eight months. He is still teaching, and occasionally preaching in Marysville, California.
Between the pastorates of Mr. Thacher and his successor, this people were supplied four years by Rev. John Eastman, and by Rev. William A. Hawley two years.
3. REV. HENRY SEYMOUR Was installed as the third pastor, Oct. 3, 1849, and the sermon was preached by Rev. T. Packard, Jr. Mr. Seymour has been pastor of the church four years, and still preaches in Hawley. A more full notice of him is given in the account of the pastors of the Orthodox church in Deerfield. Mr. Seymour's first wife, who was Miss Arabelle Fisk of Shelburne, died in Hawley.
Of the three pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; two are now living ; and the average length of their pasto- rates in Hawley is about eighteen years.
SECOND CHURCH. The second church in this town is sit- uated in what is called West Hawley. The great difficulty experienced by the people in the west part in attending public worship at the centre of the town, led to the organ- ization of the second church, Aug. 24, 1825. Forty-three members were organized. A revival was enjoyed in 1831, and twelve were added to the church; also in 1843, and twelve were added. The first Meeting-house belonging to this people was built in 1825, and the second in 1847.
In 1834, by request of this church, Franklin Association,
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by a committee, investigated a case of difficulty between said church and Rev. Anson Dyer, a licentiate and member of the Association, who had been supplying the church as a preacher. The committee held two lengthy sessions for this purpose in West Hawley; and, upon hearing the report of this committee, the Association, April 29, 1834, deposed Mr. Dyer from the christian ministry, for unministerial conduct. This church called a council to advise them in relation to admitting Mr. Anson Dyer to their membership; and the council held one session, Nov. 22, 1843, and one, March 12, 1844. This church began to receive missionary aid in 1830, and has received $1,320. It is not now assisted. Among the preachers who supplied this people previous to the set- tlement of their first pastor, are Revs. Urbane Hitchcock, Dr. Packard, T. Packard, Jr., Anson Dyer, Mr. Bingham, and Joshua Crosby. The amount contributed by this people to the cause of christian benevolence, in 1853, was $12. The Sabbath School, in 1852, numbered 80. The number in the church, in 1853, was 59.
In the twenty-eight years since the formation of this church, it has had pastors twelve years, and has been desti- tute of settled pastors sixteen years. This church has had two pastors.
PASTORS. 1. REV. MOSES MILLER was installed as the first pastor of this church, May 20, 1840, and after a ministry of six years and five months, was dismissed, Oct. 20, 1846. A more full notice of him may be found in the account of the pastors of the Heath church.
2. REV. JOHN EASTMAN was installed as the second pastor of this church, Nov. 11, 1847 ; has been the pastor six years, and still continues in the same relation.
Mr. Eastman was born in Amherst, July 19, 1803 ; never graduated at any college ; had the honorary degree of A. M. conferred upon him by Amherst College in 1851; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Packard ; was licensed by Franklin Association, Feb. 12, 1833; ordained as an Evangelist at
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Charlemont, Aug. 13, 1834, and Rev. T. Packard, Jr., preached the sermon ; ordained as a pastor at Fulton, N. Y., September, 1834, and the sermon was by Rev. William Lusk; and he was dismissed from there, Oct. 10, 1837; settled as pastor in Mexico, N. Y., November, 1837, and the sermon was by Rev. William Benedict ; and was dismissed from there in January, 1840; settled as pastor at Evans' Mills, N. Y., January, 1841, and the sermon was by Rev. Mr. McGregore ; and was dismissed from there, July, 1843 ; then supplied in Whately, and four years in the first church in Hawley. Mr. Eastman has two brothers in the ministry, viz., Rev. Ornan Eastman of New York, and Rev. David Eastman of Leverett.
Of the two pastors of this church, one was dismissed ; both are living ; and the average length of their pastorates in West Hawley is about six years.
CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS ORIGINATING FROM HAWLEY.
1. Rev. Orramel W. Cooley was born in Hawley, Jan. 18, 1816; graduated at Williams, 1841; finished the the- ological course at Bangor in 1846; was licensed by Frank- lin Association, Nov. 12, 1845 ; ordained as pastor at Dover, May 4, 1848; dismissed from there in 1850. Rev. Sereno D. Clark preached his ordination sermon. For several years Mr. Cooley has been in Illinois ; and in May, 1853, was commissioned as a Home Missionary to labor in Granville, Illinois.
2 .* Rev. Marshall L. Farnsworth was born in Hawley about 1799, and removed to Madison County, N.Y., when about eighteen years of age ; graduated at Union in 1825 ; studied theology at Auburn ; was licensed and ordained as an Evangelist in Western New York, and preached there till failure of health constrained him to seek the warmer climate of South Carolina; in 1829 preached in Danby, . N. Y .; was then pastor of the church in Elmira, N. Y., about three years ; then labored a year or two as an agent of
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the American Sunday School Union in Connecticut ; then taught a select school in Norwich, Ct. ; and, in 1838, was constrained by declining health to relinquish active service, and he removed to the residence of his father-in-law, Mr. Jonathan B. Gosman, in Danby, N. Y., where he died, Nov. 27, 1838, in the 40th year of his age. Rev. William Clark, pastor of the church in that place, performed the funeral services. On his tombstone is the inscription, " I have kept the faith."
His character is thus described by Mr. Gosman : " Mr. Farnsworth was a warm-hearted, fervent, practical preacher ; well instructed in the kingdom of heaven himself, he sought to make his people not merely christians but intelligent christians. The religion which he recommended was that of the heart, but not to the exclusion of the mind. He was a doctrinal preacher. He loved to exhibit the doctrines of the gospel, but he preached them practically, not merely as theories which good men ought to understand, but as sub- stantial facts, upon which christians ought to live, and grow, and thrive. He was a conscientious preacher. The great ends of the christian ministry, the glory of God in the con- version of sinners and in the edification of saints, were ever before him. He was an earnest preacher. O how earnestly did he beseech sinners to be reconciled to God ! Everybody felt that he was in earnest. There was the power of his: preaching. He was a dignified preacher. Commanding in: his appearance and demeanor, his preaching was fully cor -- respondent. He had no taste for, nor any affectation of,, pulpit wit. Nothing calculated to excited a laugh was heard. from him. He was a direct preacher. Thou art the man, went to the heart of many a hearer. He was a useful preach -. er-useful in gathering the flock, and useful in feeding and. guarding the flock. He did not serve his Lord on earth as. long nor as much as he wished ; but his Lord knew best where to employ him, whether with those of the family on earth, or with those in heaven. 'His record is on high.''>
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The following notice of Mr. Farnsworth was published in the New York Evangelist, Dec. 22, 1838 : " He lived de- voted to the work to which he had consecrated his days, the spread of the everlasting gospel ; and he died in the full possession of those consolations which that gospel furnishes. In private life, his unblemished course, and the pious and affectionate and generous feelings of 'his heart, commended him to the best regards of his numerous friends. In his public walks, as an ambassador of Christ, his fervency and zeal in winning souls, his ability in stating, and his dignified earnestness in enforcing the truth, with his prudence and moderation in relation to the exciting circumstances of the church at this time, and yet more, the success with which his ministry was crowned, attested his value and furnish cause of mourning for his loss to all who seek the peace and prosperity of Zion. He had been laid aside from the public service of the sanctuary by the slow progress of pulmonary consumption, but he ever manifested a warm heart for the church and for the spread of vital piety. 'Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth.'" His widow married Mr. James O. Towner of Albany, N. Y.
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