USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Illustrated history of Kennebec County, Maine; 1625-1892 > Part 88
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
starvation and the almshouse. "One morning, in 1817, with an empty stomach-not a mouthful in the house for breakfast-I brought with the ox team a half cord of hemlock bark to the river bank, bor- rowed a boat, ferried my bark to Gardiner, and sold it to William Bradstreet for $1.25-just enough to buy a half bushel of corn of Mc- Clellan, who kept the Great House Tavern-got my little grist ground at the old wooden mill-hurried back, every step quickened by pangs of hunger and the thoughts of a famishing family." In 1825 he mar- ried Hannah Jewett. Their children were: Hannah E., Thomas H., Anna D., Ellen A. and George W. The second and last two are still living.
Captain Andrew J. Erskins, born in 1834, is a son of David and Betsey (Waltz) Erskins, grandson of Alexander and Betsey (Boland> Erskins, and great-grandson of Captain Robert Erskins, who settled at Bristol, Me., and took up one thousand acres of land, giving each of his nine sons a farm from it. Alexander was captain of a company in the revolutionary war, and in 1812 he had charge of the fort at Bristol, Me. Captain Erskins began going to sea in 1846 and attained to master in 1855, which position he continued to hold until 1881, when he retired. He married Margaret, daughter of George King, of White- field. They have one daughter, Ella (Mrs. Everett E. Brookings). On Captain Erskins' lot in Pittston is a mineral spring which Gen- eral Dearborn used. He walled it as it now is, with curved brick burnt for the purpose, and over it still stands the spring house which the general built.
James Farrell, born in 1834, is a son of Thomas and Catherine (Finity) Farrell, who came from Ireland to Boston, and in 1830 came to Pittston and settled on the farm where Mr. Farrell now lives. He married Mary Jane, daughter of Patrick Gilson. Their children are: Mamie E., Eugene J. and two that died. Mr. Farrell was several years in the lumber business in California, but since 1870 has been a farmer at East Pittston.
William O. Foye, son of James and Harriet (Stickney) Foye, and grandson of Joseph and Polly (Chase) Foye, was born in Pittston in 1865, and is a farmer and milkman. He married Georgia, daughter of S. Willis Dunton, of Whitefield.
Jonathan Gilman, born in Whitefield in 1815, died March 26, 1892, was a son of Jonathan and grandson of Peter Gilman. He was a farmer in Pittston for fifty years; the farm where he lived was owned for many years prior to his purchase of it by Asa Averill. Mr. Gil- man married Abigail, daughter of Asa and Abigail (Bickford) Averill, and granddaughter of David Averill.
Charles C. Goodwin, born in 1838, is a son of Abial and Susan (Small) Goodwin, and grandson of Samuel Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin was in the late war in Company C, 19th Maine, from August, 1862,
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TOWN OF PITTSTON.
until July, 1865. He married Alwilda, daughter of William T. Blair, and has one daughter, Charlena F.
Fred B. Gould, born in 1853, is the only surviving child of William and Lydia A. (Moore) Gould, grandson of Dennis and Elizabeth (War- ren) Gould, and great-grandson of Joseph and Ruth (Renwick) Gould (or Goold, as then spelled). Mr. Gould now owns the homestead and occupies the house built by Dennis Gould. He has been a farmer since 1879, and prior to that he was in business in Gardiner. William Gould was a tinsmith and tin-ware merchant at Gardiner several years prior to 1845. Mr. Gould's wife is M. Avesta, daughter of Van Buren Hathorne.
James Gould, 2d, born in 1833, is the eldest son of James and Rachel (Rollins) Gould, grandson of Dennis, and great-grandson of Joseph and Ruth (Renwick) Gould. He drove a team for twelve years in granite quarries. He is now a farmer. His first wife was Lucie Moody and his present wife was Cora B. Cunningham. They have one child, Jennette A.
Edward E. Hanley is a son of Franklin and Catherine (Doyle) Han- ley. He has had charge of the East Pittston creamery since April, 1891, and previous to that he was a merchant four years. He was town auditor in 1888 and 1889, and selectman in 1890, '91 and '92. He has been secretary of the East Pittston Agricultural and Trotting Association.
George R. Hanley, born in 1833, is a son of Michael and Effie Han- ley, and grandson of Patrick Hanley. He is a farmer and carpenter, and lives on the farm where his father settled when he came to Pitts- ton. He married Margaret, daughter of Patrick Gilson. They have two children: George A. and Mary E.
Alfred Hanley, son of Michael and Effie (Howard) Hanley, was born in 1836. He is a farmer on the farm formerly owned by Patrick Gilson. He married Catherine, daughter of Patrick Gilson. They have two daughters: Gertrude M. and Tesa I.
Van Buren Hathorne, born in 1835 in Dresden, is a son of War- ren and Mary (Bickford) Hathorne, and grandson of John Hawthorne. He has been a farmer in Pittston since 1868. He married Joanna L., daughter of Hiram Pottle, and their children are: Maria Avesta (Mrs. F. B. Gould), Jenette M., Jefferson W. and Herman F.
Thomas B. Heath, son of John Heath, married Miriam C. Pottle, and of their eight children only two sons are living. Rufus E., born in 1846, is a farmer, and married Hattie L., daughter of Franklin and Sarah (Smith) Colburn. Their children are: Charles, Ella, Maud. Maria, Amy B., Eugene R. and Clarence. The other son is George P., born in 1856, married to Nellie, daughter of Joseph E. and Abbie
47
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
(Marson) Soper, and granddaughter of Joseph and Susan (Woodward) Soper. Their children are: Rena M. and Harold R.
Henry W. Hunt, son of Winslow and Mahala (Clark) Hunt, was born in 1851. He is a blacksmith; he worked six years at East Pitts- ton, two years at Sagamore, Mass., and is now with the P. C. Holmes Company, Gardiner. He married Emma L., daughter of Daniel Thompson. They have three children: Ralph L., Clarence C. and Florence M.
Samuel A. Jewett, born in 1831, is the eldest son of Samuel H. and Mary (Pottle) Jewett, and grandson of Jonathan Jewett, who came from Londonderry, N. H., to Pittston in 1798, with his five children, all of whom lived to be over seventy years of age. Mr. Jewett was in California from 1853 to 1858, engaged in mining. Since that time he has been a farmer. He is now (1892) serving his fifth term as select- man. He married Lovina, daughter of Freeman Cooper. Their chil- dren are: William B. and Carrie A., living, and three daughters de- ceased-Mary S., Hattie L. and Georgia.
Benjamin H. Knight is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Hodgden) Knight, and grandson of John Knight. Mr. Knight came to Pittston in 1864 and settled on a part of the Rev. David Young farm, where he has since been a farmer. The farm and its duties he has now intrusted to his son, Alden. Mr. Knight married Sarah, daughter of John Decker. They have had nine children: Warren R. (died in May, 1892), Benjamin F., Joseph A., Adoniram J., Fred W., Dummer C., Clara E., Allen and Alden, who married Abbie E., daughter of D. C. Little, and is now at the home farm caring for his aged parents. He has one son, Wallace L., born March 31. 1892.
Henry Knight, born in 1829 in Pittston, is a son of Robert and Mary (Pratt) Knight, grandson of Robert and Betsey (Davis) Knight, and great-grandson of Robert Knight, of New Hampshire, who was killed by the Indians about 1780. Mr. Knight is a house and ship car- penter. He has lived at East Pittston since 1859, where he has been a farmer and kept a mill; from 1864 until 1887 it was a water mill and since the latter date it has been a steam mill. Mr. Knight is a dispenser of viands and his residence is the nearest approach to a hotel that East Pittston affords. He married Rose B., daughter of David H. and Polly (Knight) Howe, the latter a daughter of Robert and Betsey (Davis) Knight, as above. Their only daughter, Lydia A., is now Mrs. Daniel Moore.
William Alonzo Knight, son of William and Asenath (Thompson) Knight, and grandson of Amos Knight, was born in 1834. He is a lumberman and lives where his father settled when he came to Pitts- ton from North Wayne in 1834. He married Sarah J., daughter of Abner P. McFadden. Their two sons are William W. and Harry C.
Elephalet It Lapham
PRINT, E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.
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TOWN OF PITTSTON.
Edward Augustus Lapham, born in 1835, is the youngest son of Isaac and Dorcas (Cutts) Lapham, and grandson of Rogers Lapham. Mr. Lapham is a farmer. He served several years as buying and sell- ing agent for the Pittston Grange, P. of H., but since 1886 has run a store of his own. He has been postmaster at Pittston since 1889. He married Myra E, daughter of James Beedle. Their children are: Addie L., Frank M. and Isaac N. They lost two: Ivane V. and Alice I. Frank M. has been town clerk since 1890, and is timekeeper and pay- master for the Great Falls Ice Company.
ELIPHALET H. LAPHAM, son of James and Hannah (Troupe) Lap- ham, and grandson of Rogers and Mary (White) Lapham, was born in 1820 on the old farm south of Smithtown, where lived and died the three generations mentioned. From the Lapham Family Register we learn that the parent stock came from England, and that the Pittston branch has descended from Thomas Lapham, of Massachusetts.
Eliphalet's early life was without incident. He enjoyed the usual winter schooling only to the age of fourteen. From that time to the day of his death farming was the occupation to which he gave exclu- sively the attention and energies of a vigorous life. He loved and clung to his calling with such a single purpose that none of the attrac- tions of public affairs or speculative ventures allured his fancy, or swerved his feet from the soil his fathers had tilled. Unlike many farmers, who know and care for little beyond their immediate neigh- borhood, he was well informed and took an active interest in affairs of general importance. He early became a life member of the Maine Agricultural Society, attended its fairs, frequently taking the products of his farm for exhibition, particularly his cattle, for the excellent quality of which he was noted. He took great delight in raising and training oxen, and derived his principal income from the sales of live stock. The productive condition of his farm of two hundred acres bore ample proof of his constant care and hard work. He was an ac- tive member of the Pittston Grange, giving the land on which their hall was built. In politics he was always a democrat and a staunch temperance man. With his family he attended the Congregational church, though not a member.
The termination of his useful life was unusually sad. On the morn- ing of February 27, 1889, he hitched several yoke of cattle to a heavy load of logs and started north on the road to Randolph. He was found an hour later in the road near Smithtown, lying in a dying condition under the bob-sleds. He was an excellent teamster, and how he fell under the crushing load must always remain a mystery.
Mr. Lapham, in 1853, married Emeline R. Follansbee, daughter of Benjamin and Betsey (Kenney) Follansbee. Benjamin Follansbee and his father, who was also Benjamin, came from Salisbury, Mass., to Pittston in 1806, and were shipbuilders at Smithtown. An ice house
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
now stands where their yard was located, and the Knickerbocker Ice Company of Philadelphia owns the old Follansbee house, using it for a boarding house. Mrs. Lapham, who has no children, still lives in the old home where for thirty-six years she enjoyed the society and affection of a worthy man and a devoted husband.
Roger M. Lapham, born in 1838, is a son of Roger and Lucinda (Brown) Lapham, and grandson of Rogers and Mary (White) Lapham, who settled where Roger M. now lives. Mr. Lapham is a farmer. He married Ruth Ella, daughter of Hiram and Elizabeth (Peasley) Pottle. Their children are: Sophia M., Elmer W., Roger H. and Elsie.
Washington Lawrence, born in 1812, was a son of Edward and Abigail (Wells) Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence was a farmer. He died in 1890, since which time the farm (which was formerly owned by Cap- tain William Crowell) has been carried on by David and Charles, his sons. He married in 1837, Hertilla, daughter of Captain William and Mercy (Parker) Crowell. Their children were: Henry C., David A. and Charles W., and three that died-George W., Lucy E. and Hertilla.
Frank M. Little®, born in 1855, is a son of Eli' and Mary (Bailey) Little (Samuele, Joshua®, Samuel', Davids, Joseph2 and George Little1). Mr. Little has been employed for several years as a cotton mill opera- tive; the last three years he was an overseer. He married Belle, daughter of William and Lizzie (Stilphin) Cheney. They have one daughter, Eulela M., and lost one, Lela M.
F. Willis Mansir, son of George W. and Margaret (Brown) Mansir, and grandson of George W. Mansir, was born in 1852, and has been a wagon manufacturer at East Pittston since 1871. He married Ida, daughter of William Reade.
George R. Mansir, son of Charles B. and Martha A. (Murphy) Man- sir, and grandson of George W. Mansir, was born in 1855. Mr. Mansir is a farmer and owns the Blair homestead. He was tax collector one term and is now (1892) filling his fourth term as supervisor of schools. He has taught five terms of school. He married Hattie E., daughter of Benjamin Elkins. They have two children: George L. and Mat- tie L.
Henry S. Marson, born in 1846, is the youngest of four children of Jacob and Harriet (Glidden) Marson, grandson of Samuel and Rachel (Fountain) Marson, and great-grandson of Samuel and Janette (Miller) Marson, who were among the first settlers of Pittston. Mr. Marson is a farmer on the farm where his grandfather settled. He married Faustina Houdlett. Mr. Marson has two brothers and one sister: Isaac R., Amanda H. and George W. Isaac R. Marson was born in 1833. He was a carpenter twenty years, eight years superintendent of the Cedar Grove ice houses, and since 1885 has been a farmer. He
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TOWN OF PITTSTON.
married Helen J., daughter of James P. Wheeler. Their children are: Henry F., Alpheus M., Mary L. and one that died, Alice, the eldest.
Captain Joseph A. Marson, born in 1838, is a son of Captain Hiram and Ann G. (Waitt) Marson, grandson of Stephen, and great-grandson of Abner Marson. Captain Marson has followed the sea since 1852, and since 1862 has been in command of vessels. He married R. Augusta, daughter of George W. Nickels. They have two daughters: Adelle B. and Annie A. They lost one, Nettie L.
George E. Moody, born in 1840, is one of eleven children of Royal and Eliza (Nickerson) Moody, and grandson of William and Polly (Hunt) Moody. Mr. Moody's mother was a daughter of Salathial Nickerson, of Chatham, Mass. Mr. Moody is a farmer, and since 1887 he has kept a store opposite his house. He married Luetta, daughter of Eli Little. They have two sons: George A. and Arthur B.
Fred P. Morrell, son of Samuel and Eliza J. (Dorr) Morrell, was born in 1848, and was a farmer until 1881, since which time he has been a merchant at North Pittston. Since 1886 he has been post- master at North Pittston. His first wife, Lucy L. Gould, died, leaving one son, Walter F. His present wife was Carrie M. Blodgett.
S. Winter Moulton, born in 1843, is a son of Samnel H. and Ellen (Winter) Moulton, and grandson of Oliver Moulton. He is a farmer; his house faces Lake Nehumkeag, and he devotes some attention to summer boarders. He married Abbie, daughter of Gideon Meserve, and they have two sons: Burton M. and F. Guy.
Francis Nash, born November 20, 1824, is a son of Peter and Mehet- abel (Blodgett) Nash, and grandson of Peter Nash. He is a farmer, having bought the farm where he now lives in 1846. He married Mary E., daughter of Dennit Waymouth. She died leaving four chil- dren: Fannie W. (Mrs. Charles Bliss), Helen W. (Mrs. Herbert Thomp- son), Alfred H. and Frank H., deceased. His present wife is Anna, daughter of William Lamson.
Henry Nash, brother of Francis Nash, was born in 1813, and is a farmer. His first marriage was with Mrs. Charlotte McMillen, daughter of Archibald Stuart. She died leaving one daughter, Octavia, now Mrs. William Rundlett. His present wife was Mary E. Lamson.
John Nash, born in 1828, is a brother of Francis Nash, and like his two brothers, is a farmer. He married Hannah Jane, daughter of Jo- seph Ware, and they have two sons: William W. and Orrington W.
George W. Palmer, son of Lewis and Eliza (Laforce) Palmer, was born in 1835, and is a blacksmith and farmer. He spent eight years in Massachusetts, a part of that time being employed as shipsmith for the government. He married Hannah J., daughter of Reuben Mes-
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
erve, and their children are: Hattie E., Reuben L., Georgia M., Arthur B. and Ernest C.
Seth Palmer is the only survivor of eleven children of Samuel and Abigail (Pratt) Palmer, and grandson of Samuel Palmer, who was a son of Samuel Palmer, and came from Rowley, Mass., to Maine. Mr. Palmer is a farmer on the farm where his father settled in 1800. He married Lydia A., daughter of Edward and Mary (Woodbridge) Palmer, grand- daughter of Thomas, and great-granddaughter of Samuel Palmer, as above. She died October 20, 1891. Their children are: Oscar A., died June, 1874; Clara E .; Orrie C., died October, 1891; Irwin W., died March, 1872; Fred W., settled in New Bedford, Mass., and Oakes M.
Franklin Powers, son of Luther, was born at Georgetown, Me., in 1825. He is a ship carpenter by trade, having worked in Maine sev- eral years, and in Cincinnati, O., for a number of years prior to 1866, when he came to Pittston and bought a farm of 140 acres. He was foreman for the Independent Ice Company from 1876 to 1883, and dur- ing that time all the buildings now owned by the company were built. His first wife, Sarah B. Pinkham, died, leaving one daughter, Annie. His second marriage was with Elmira P. Plummer. Their children are: Melville J., Asbury M., of Boothbay Harbor, and Laura F. (Mrs. C. W. Church).
Melville J. Powers, son of Franklin and Elmira (Plummer) Powers, was born in 1857. He has been employed since 1874 by the Independ- ent Ice Company, and in 1883 he succeeded his father as superintend- ent of the business. He married Laura E. Goud, of Dresden. They have had one daughter, Alice F., who died February 28, 1892.
William S. Pulsifer, son of Alfred and Ruby (Moody) Pulsifer, was born in 1844, and is a farmer. He married Amanda, daughter of Madison and Martha (Bailey) Balcom. They have one son, Eddie D.
John B. Ripley, son of Joseph and Betsey (Barker) Ripley, was born in 1831, at Rumford, Me. Mr. Ripley came to Pittston in 1864, where he has been engaged in farming and carpentering. He was selectman in 1886, town clerk in 1889 and 1890, and chairman of board of selectmen in 1891. He married Mary F., daughter of John Went- worth. They have three children: Arthur C., Ellen F. and George H.
John C. Rollins, born in 1853, is a son of Oliver C. and Sarah Ann Rollins. He has been employed by the Knickerbocker Ice Company since 1872. He married Maria F., daughter of J. Warren Vaughn. They have one son living, Oliver H., and lost one, Arthur.
William Rollins, son of Oliver C. and Sarah Ann (Cutts) Rollins, and grandson of Joseph Rollins, was born in 1838. He spent six years in California prior to 1867, and since 1885 has been superintendent of the Knickerbocker Ice House at Smithtown. He married Sophia J., daughter of Roger Lapham, and has one son, George R.
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TOWN OF PITTSTON.
Alfred L. Stilphin, born in 1848, is a son of Alfred and Mary (Call) Stilphin, grandson of George and Betsey (McCan) Stilphin, and great- grandson of George, whose father, Michael Stilphin, came to America from France at the time the edict of Nantes was revoked. Mr. Stil- phin followed the sea for two years, spent two years in Boston, and since then has been a farmer in Pittston. He married Georgia A., daughter of Thomas Hayland. Their three sons are: George Fred, Harry L. and Everett C.
C. C. Stilphin, son of William and Sarah (Pushard) Stilphin, was. born at Dresden, Me., in 1832. His grandfather was Francis Stilphin. He was in California from 1855 until 1858. In 1860 he came to Pittston, where he was a farmer for five years. Since that time he has been a carriage maker at East Pittston. His first wife, Eveline M. Crie, died leaving two children: Edgar D. and Ada I. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Sarah T. Linscott, daughter of Eli Little.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH B. THOMAS .- An important and interesting topic for consideration in the history of Pittston is the eminent career of those who, natives of the town, have been best known by their achievements beyond her borders. Among those men, if not the fore- most of them, was Captain Joseph Brown Thomas, the facts of whose life are worthy of statement and of study. He came of Welsh stock, a people of strong, manly traits. His father, Samuel, and his grand- father, Samuel, were natives of Biddeford, Me. The former came in 1799 to the Kennebec valley and became a farmer in Pittston, where Joseph B. Thomas was born June 23, 1811. Here was his home dur- ing the years of his early manhood. At the age of fourteen he went to sea, where he was rapidly promoted. While still a young man he became master of a ship and visited the principal ports of the world. When the gold excitement of 1849 swept over the country Captain Thomas saw a great opportunity and seized it.
In command of the ship Thomas Watson, which a dozen years later became a rebel privateer, he took a cargo to California, the profits on which were the first of a series of remarkable successes. San Francisco was booming, and his keen judgment led him to quit the sea, still retaining an interest in its commerce, and establish a large shipping and commercial house. From the age of forty, in the meridian of a vigorous manhood, the next seventeen years were filled with great undertakings and crowned with gratifying re- wards.
He was a man of public spirit, never shrinking public duties. He belonged to the law and order party, and was chairman of the vigi- lance committee of San Francisco in one of the bitter struggles with outlaws. During the great civil war he was a co-worker with T. Star
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HISTORY OF KENNEBEC COUNTY.
King in the difficult work of holding California true to the Union, and his purse was ever open in aid of the sanitary commission and other agencies that needed large sums of money. He was prominent in the board of trade, a bank director, a real estate owner, and be- longed emphatically to the stalwart band of strong, true men who gave a right direction to the life of San Francisco at the formative period of its growth.
In 1866, having satisfied the ideals of a reasonable ambition, Cap- tain Thomas most suitably laid down business cares and with his family traveled two years in Europe. Returning to America he pur- chased the John Wade Damon mansion, in Charlestown, Mass., where the remaining years of his life were enjoyed.
But he did not retire from business. His mastery and love of ex- act methods and his wonderful ability in guiding great enterprises belonged to a nature that must have occupation. He purchased the Standard Sugar Refinery, of Boston. When the famous sugar trust was formed he was elected director, and when it was reorganized, in January, 1891, he was elected its vice-president. It was in returning from this meeting that he took a cold, resulting in a fatal attack of pneumonia.
He was married November 5, 1841, to Martha T. Seran, of Phila- delphia, who still survives him. They had two children, who are his business successors: Joseph B. Thomas, who was born in 1849, and Washington B. Thomas, born in 1857.
Captain Thomas' mother was Betsey Brown, one of the family mentioned at page 756. Captain Thomas was a hearty supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church and society, whose parsonage on High street, Charlestown, was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.
The shock of sorrow and the words in which it found expres- sion when the tidings weut forth, January 13, 1891, that Captain Joseph B. Thomas was dead, made it plain that the great public heart was deeply touched. With singular accord these words bore one prominent thought-that not only a rich man, but a good man had gone.
It was something to have amassed so princely a fortune, but a greater thing to have built up such a character. He loved business methods, hated shams, was a devoted friend, helpful to the poor, and was guided by a conscientious love of right. His upright life and Christian character stand a shining example before the world, over- shadowing all his other successes.
George P. Thompson was born in 1852, in Pittston, where he now resides, and is a farmer. His marriage was with Ella A., daughter of Philip T. Pierce. Their five children are: William F., Ada A., Charles P., Harvey and Fannie O.
J. B. Thomas
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TOWN OF PITTSTON.
John Scott, born in 1828. is the only son of John and Thankful (Eastman) Scott, and grandson of Daniel and Elizabeth (Nelson) Scott, who came from Rowley, Mass., to Wiscasset, and in 1803 came to Pittston. Mr. Scott operates the farm which his father and grand- father both carried on before him. He married Mary C., daughter of Jonas Emory, of Buxton. Their children are: Eva E. (Mrs. Alvin Cutts), Fred E., Walter C. and Bert W.
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