USA > Vermont > Orange County > Gazetteer of Orange County, Vt., 1762-1888 > Part 61
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Jefferson Moulton's distillery was built by David Moulton about 1860. In 1874 it was purchased by the present proprietor, who employs two men and manufactures $500 worth of cedar, wormwood, tansy and spruce oils per year.
J. A. Keenan & Co.'s saw-mill is located at the foot of Milligan pond, on road 5. The first mill on this site was built by James Milligan, about sixty years ago. This was destroyed by fire, as was also another erected soon after. The site came into the possession of Mr. Keenan in 1858, when the present building was erected by him. The firm employs six men in the manu- facture of all kinds of dressed lumber.
Ward P. Carpenter's saw-mill and chair stock mauufactory, located at West Topsham, was built by Robert Sanborn about 1856. It became the property of Mr. Carpenter in 1871. He employs four hands and manufactures about $4,000 worth of bent felloes, chair stock and spruce lumber annually.
William H. Chalmers's carriage shop, located in the village of East Top- sham, was built by William Dickey about 1870, and came into the possession of Mr. Chalmers in August, 1855. He employs one man and manufactures all kinds of wagons and sleighs.
William W. Chalmers's carriage shop, on Tabor Branch, road 46, was built by a Mr. Pattridge about 1852. Mr. Chalmers purchased the property of Volantine Weed in 1873. He employs three men and does a business of $1,500 yearly.
Henry A. Jackman's bobbin factory, on road 51, was built by William Mills about 1836, as a grist-mill. Mr. Jackman bought the property in 1872, of Horace G. McDuffee, and immediately began the manufacture of bobbins, which business he has since continued. He does the largest business of this kind in this section, employing fifteen hands, and manufactures $16,000 worth of bobbins per annum.
The town was organized March 15, 1790, by Samuel Hazeltine, Esq., of Corinth, at a meeting held at the dwelling house of Lemuel Tabor. At this meeting Lemuel Tabor was elected town clerk ; Lemuel Tabor, Robert Mann, and William Carter, selectmen ; and Samuel Carter, constable. The first rep- resentative was William Thompson, in 1801. Polly, daughter of Thomas and Sarah McKeith, was the first child born in the town, October 1, 1783. The first death was that of Samuel P. Crown, son of Samuel and Lydia Crown, August 9, 1790, aged nearly one year. The first marriage recorded is that of Samuel Crown and Lydia Foote, June 18, 1788. Lemuel Tabor built the first grist-mill in town, in 1787, on Tabor Branch, where East Topsham vil-
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lage now is, and received therefor, from the proprietors, a tract of about 200 acres of land, and was to keep the mill in repair fourteen years.
The early settlers were principally from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The first to settle in the town was Thomas Chamberlin, in 178r, in the eastern part. He was soon followed by Thomas Keith and Samuel Farn- ham. In 1783'they were joined by Robert Mann, Samuel Thompson and John Crown. Crown was one of the original grantees of the town, and it appears the only one who settled here. After the organization of the town, its town meetings were held in different dwelling houses until 1806, when a town house was built at East Topsham, at a cost of $203.48. From 1798 to 1801 Nathaniel Mills, Dea. David Bagley, Dea. Jonathan Sanborn, John Nutt and others settled in the western part of the town, and Nathaniel Mills built the first saw-mill in that locality, in 1799, in the village of West Top- sham. Jonathan Jenness built the first grist-mill in the western part of the town in 1807.
Jonathan Hood came to this town with his father, in 1782, when four years of age. He married Susan Fairwell, by whom he had nine, children, viz .: Sophila, Charles, and Susan (Mrs. Benjamin Green), now dead ; Sargent, who resides in Vershire ; Levi, in Groton; and Mary (Mrs. Aaron Hosmer), Angeline (Mrs. Elisha Moulton), Maria (Mrs. Gideon Gilbert), and John, in this town. John married Diana Avery, November 8, 1846. Of his eleven children, Almira, born November 18, 1848, died November 9, 1853; Isabell (Mrs. John Wright) was born December 9, 1849, and resides in Canaan, Vt .; Alonzo, born in January, 1851, resides in this town ; Almira (Mrs. Moses Smith), born December 3, 1851, also resides in this town; John C., born March 24, 1854, married Eusebe Clark, of Ryegate, and has one child ; Frank C., born March 29, 1855, is a leading physician at Marysville, Cal. Amanda E. (Mrs. Rufus Rowland), born April 27, 1856, and Jennie (Mrs. Charles W. Smith), born February 15, 1859, reside in this town; Charlie E., was born May 19, 1866, and George E., June 24, 1868. One child died in infancy. Alonzo, the eldest son of John, married Alvina, daughter of Calvin Whitehill, November 27, 1878, by whom he had three children, two, Jennie and Fred, now living.
William Hood removed to this town with his father in 1872, at the age of four years. He married Sally Crown, by whom he had eleven children, two dying in infancy. Of his other children, Enos and Eliza (Mrs. Sabin John- son) are dead ; Susan (Mrs. James Batten), William, Jr., Roxanna (Mrs. Ephraim Weed), and Lucinda (Mrs. Zachariah Pierce) reside in Stannard, Vt .; Gilbert and Royal in this town; and Anthony in Newbury. Royal married Clarissa Batten, September 24, 1835, by whom he had seven children, as follows: Diantha (Mrs. Almon Johnson), of West Fairlee; Eliza A. (Mrs. Alvah Sawyer), Martha (Mrs. James Merritt), Warren and Elmer in this town ; and Edwin M., born October 5, 1854, married Ruth Merritt, October 23, 1875, and has one child, Walter M., born November 1, 1876. Henry E.,
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son of Anthony, born November 18, 1859, is a manufacturer of butter tubs. on road 59.
Zachariah Richardson came to this town from Francestown, N. H., about 1800. He was twice married, the second time to Mrs. Betsey Harding, after coming to this town. Six or more of his children preceded him here, among them being Robert F., who married Dorcas Hardy, of Bath, N. H., by whom he had ten children, seven now living, viz .: Robert, Lovisa, Lucinda, Dorcas, Lydia, Dolly, and Irene. Robert married Rosina Healy, of Washington, N. H., who bore him eight children, five of whom are living, viz .: Robert F., 2d, Rosina J., Nathaniel H., Eveline J., and Henry C., of this town. Henry C. was a farmer until the breaking out of the Rebellion when he enlisted, December 2, 1861, in Co. D, 8th Vt. Vols., and was discharged July 18, 1865. He participated in the battles of Fort Bisland, Bayou Techt, the running fight from Berwick City to Pattersonville, Winchester, Opequon Creek, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. At Fort Bisland, May 13, 1863, he was struck in the head by a piece of shell. He was also wounded at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, by four different balls, the principal one penetrating the right side, passing between the spine and the large intestines, and coming out through the left hip joint. In October, 1865, he bought the mill now owned by H. A. Jackman, on road 51, which he sold to Horace G. McDuffee in 1867, when, in partnership with his brother Nathaniel H., he opened a furniture store at Lancaster, N. H., which was burned in 1869. In 1870 he removed to Newton, Iowa, where he followed the occupation of farming until 1876, when he returned to this town and bought a farm on road 18. Here he remained until 1881, when he removed to the farm where he now lives, on road 54. He was twice married, first to Jennie L. Whicher, of Newbury, October 12, 1865, by whom he had two daughters, Cora and Carrie, she dying September 6, 1868. For his second wife he married Lydia M. Whitehill, a widow, of Groton, Vt., March 17, 1869, who bore him five children, viz .: Robert H., William C., Mary V., George H., and Albert N. She died March 26, 1886. Of Robert's other children, Robert F., 2d, lives in Washington, Vt .; Rosina J. (Mrs. David E. Stevens) in Elgin Minn .; Nathaniel H. in Lancaster, N. H .; and Eveline I. (Mrs. George Thompson) in Grand Meadow, Dak.
David Bagley settled in this town previous to 1800. He married Sally Andrews and reared twelve children. Three, John A., of Piermont, N. H., Charles W., of Chelsea, and Gilman, of this town, are living. One son, Enoch, now dead, married Fanny Jewell, by whom he had five children, Sarah A., Jane E., (Mrs. Edwin M. Kidder), Charles, Enoch, Jr., and Newell C. The latter, who never married, lives in Topsham, being the third gen- eration to occupy the old homestead. In the early days, before a church was erected in the town, the Baptists used to hold their meetings in this house, and when the house would not contain them all, they would adjourn to a barn still standing on the premises. The Bagley family have been promi-
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nent in the town. David Bagley, Jr., was born in this town. He was thrice married, first to Lois Bullard, by whom he had four children, two of whom are living, David, 2d, in Canaan, N. H., and William in this town. His sec- ond wife was Ploomy Simpson, by whom he had three children, two, Oramel and Gilman, now living in this town. The latter married Sarah B. Smith, November 10, 1864, by whom he has had one child, David E., born Septem- ber 1, 1865. David, Jr., marrried for his third wife Voda Page, of Corinth, who survives him, a resident of Manchester, N. H. He died October 29, 1882.
Zachariah Cilley was born in this town July 10, 1800. He married Jane Dickey, in October, 1836, and reared five children, viz .: Lucinda, Elizabeth, Joann, Lydia and James M. Mr. Cilley died September 18, 1852. His widow married James Croffrin, by whom she had one child, Charlie, who was born October 14, 1860, and died April 14, 1876.
John Ford came to this town from Cape Ann, Mass., about 1800, with his wife and three children. Five children were born after coming here. Deacon William Ford, son of John, married Bethiah Gleason, September 20, 1827, by whom he had five children, viz .: Julia, Lois S., Olive G., John and Hannah E. William died October 16, 1880.
William Cilley was born in Francestown, N. H., in 1773, came to this town in 1795, and settled on road 32. He married Nancy Richardson, by whom he had six children, viz .: Lorenzo D. and Susan, now dead ; Nancy (Mrs. Jacob Taplin) and Daniel C. reside in this town; Mariah (Mrs. Thomas J. Wadleigh), in Plainview, Minn., and Benjamin F. in Dover, N. H. Daniel C. married Harriet E. Chamberlain, who died March 9, 1877. They had four children, Lorenzo D., Marion (Mrs. Frank Scribner), Josiah and Willie D. Mr. Cilley married for his second wife Harriet (Fletcher) James.
Cutting Cook, from Campton, N. H., settled in Topsham about 1858 or 1812, nearly midway between the villages of Wait's River and West Topsham, where he cleared a farm. He died in Orange some fifteen years since, aged eighty-five years. By his first wife, Ruth Dolbie, he had a large family, of whom are now living Samuel, of Cranston, R. I .; Mary A. (Mrs. John Mills) ; William B., of Norwich; Eliza (Burroughs), of Barre ; George J., of Orange ; and Edwin S., of Post Mills.
Benjamin Green came to this town from Newbury in 1808, and settled on road 28. He married Judith Randall, by whom he had four children, as fol- lows : Louisa, now dead ; Benjamin, Jr., and Nelson, who reside in this town ; and Erastus, who married Laura Butterfield, by whom he had three children- Matilda, who married George Corruth, and has four children living, Charles E., Nancy, Laura B. and Hattie ; Welcome M., who resides in this town, and Laura J., who died young. Erastus has lived in this town seventy five years, and is now, at the age of eighty-two, a vigorous and healthy old gentleman. Welcome M. was born here in 1837, and married Julia Orn, of Albany, Vt., in 1862. He is one of the leading farmers of the town. Edwin, son of Ben-
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jamin, Jr., and Susan (Hood) Green, was born in this town January 28, 1855- He married Mary E. Cluff, July 6, 1881.
Abner Currier came from Amesbury, Mass., about 1818, bringing with him his wife and two children, Ebenezer and Miriam. Ebenezer married Judith Weed. One of his sons, Ebenezer, Jr., married Margaret Keenan, by whom he had four children, one dying in infancy ; Eveline, born September 5, 1856, dying February 4, 1871 ; Leila A., born October 3, 1854, now living in this town ; and Ira, born January 7, 1859, also a resident of this town. Margaret, wife of Ebenezer, Jr., died February 3, 1866, his death occurring April 4, 1881. Both were devout Christians, and attended the Presbyterian church.
Abner Currier, son of Ebenezer and Judith Currier, who settled here at an early day, married Mary A. Garland in 1843, and had born to him seven children, viz .: Mary (Mr. Albert Patten), of Stannard, Vt .; Judith (Mrs. William Burgess), of East Corinth ; Garland A., of this town ; Adelaide (Mrs. Proctor Norris), of Lowell, Mass .; Charles E., of Brattleboro, Vt .; Lois (Mrs. Rodman Blake), of Corinth ; and Olive T., who died in 1879. Garland A. married Betsey A. Smith, of this town, October 11, 1869, by whom he has had three children, viz .: William H., Effie L., and Chancy H. He has held the office of town auditor for three years.
Asa Divoll, son of Josiah and Jane M. (Wain) Divoll, of Westminster Vt., was the first of that name to settle in this town. He was born February 6, 1768, married Lydia Sabin in 1799, by whom he had thirteen children, only four of whom are living, viz .: Willard, in New York city, Asa, Jr., Persis (Mrs. Timothy Meserve) and Josiah in this town. Josiah married Lucinda Pea- body and reared five children -- Albert, Charles, Emily, Morris L., and Mary J. Emily (Mrs. John Taggart), of this town, and Mary J. (Mrs. Chester Dickey) of Washington, are the only ones living. Charles and Morris L. gave their lives in the service of their country during the late war, the former dying of wounds re- ceived in the battle of the Wilderness, and the latter of fever at Fredericks- burg. After the death of his first wife, in 1844, Josiah married Christiana Shield, in 1842, by whom he had no children.
John Clark immigrated to this country about 1776, and settled in New- bury, Vt. He reared a family of ten sons and one daughter. One son, Timothy, a shoemaker and farmer, married Betsey Ladd, who bore him eight boys and three girls, Hiram A., of this town, being the only one now living. After the death of his first wife Timothy married Martha (Whitman) Gerould, by whom he had no children. Hiram A. was born in Newbury, April 4, 1811. He was engaged in various occupations, at one time being employed in rafting logs on the Connecticut river. He also run a boat from Wells River to Hartford, Conn., carrying lumber down and returning with a cargo of merchandise, propelling the boat by means of a long pole. He was twice married, first to Affa Temple, January 27, 1831, who bore him five children, viz .: Alvira and Lorenzo D. B., now dead ; Betsey (Mrs. Rufus C. Blodgett), of Monroe, N. H .; Jane W. (Mrs. Ora Kittridge), of Walden,
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Caledonia county ; and Joel T., of this town. His second wife was Barbary Batchelder. Joel T. was born in 1838, married Clara Dickey, June 16, 1870,- and has one child, Hattie B. He was a member of the Constitutional con- vention in 1870, and in 1872 was appointed postmaster at Topsham, which position he now holds. In early life he followed the occupation of a cooper and farmer. In 1878 he was employed as salesman in the store of Duncan Stewart. In 1881 he bought the stock of goods of Stewart, and continued the business until 1883, when he sold to G. H. Pillsbury. Mr. Pillsbury sold to J. R. McLam, the present proprietor, who employs Mr. Clark as salesman.
Robert Forsythe came to this town from Ryegate, Vt., with his parents, when quite young. He has been twice married, first to Avis Jones, who bore him one child, now deal, and second to Adeline Boice, by whom he has had two children, Everett, who resides with his father in this town, the other dying in infancy. Mr. Forsythe has been selectman fifteen years, and overseer of the poor and lister several times.
William Chalmers, Sr., came from Scotland to Newbury in 1835. He married Isabel Barker and reared a family of eleven children, only six of whom were born in this country. One son, George, came from Scotland about 1839, married Elizabeth Fairful!, by whom he had eleven children, only three of whom, Christian, Margaret, and William W., are living. William W., who resides in this town, married Almira A. Olmstead, who bore him eleven children-William H., Ella M., Clara B., Martha A. and Mary E., twins, Henry W., Lizzie E., Anna A., Florence E., John A. and George I. William H. was born May 28, 1862. He married Minnie Buxton, of Brookfield, and has two children, Fanny A. and James R. Mr. Chalmers is a carriage-maker, in the village of East Topsham.
Henry A. Jackman was born in Barre, Vt., in 1829. When a young man he went to Boston, Mass., and engaged in the trucking business, which he continued for eight years. In 1861 he enlisted in the 2d Mass. Lt. Art., in which he served four years. He then, in company with his brother Daniel P., bought a grist-mill in East Corinth. He continued here four years, when he engaged in the bobbin business, in this town. Mr. Jackman married Nancy M. Rowland in 1869, and has four children, Alfred C., Winthrop T., Henry A. and Mary E. He was a member of the legislature in 1876.
Samuel Dickerman was the first of the name to settle in the town. He was twice married, and had seven children by his first wife and five by the second. Several of his children remained in this town, married and reared families ; but none of them are here now. One son, Lewis, married Diantha Ordway, of Tunbridge, who bore him five children, two of whom, Mary (Mrs. John F. Philbrick) and Palmer J., are living in this town, the latter on the old homestead, on road 51. Lewis was a generous, noble hearted man. - He died very suddenly April 6, 1877.
John Willey, who died in Wheelock, Vt., at the remarkable age of 105 years, was the paternal ancester of the Willeys of this town. His son John,
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Jr., reared a family of five girls and five boys, all of whom are now dead. One son, William, married Mary Ladd, who bore him ten children, five of whom are living, viz .: David in Dakota ; Tamson ( Mrs. Benjamin Dow), in Goffstown, N. H .; Mary J. (Mrs. Nahum Barry), in Sheffield, Vt .; and John and Horace in this town. John has been representative from this town two terms. He was twice married, first to Catharine Danforth, who bore him eight children, viz .: Emily (Mrs. Israel Wood), and Eugene E., of Barry, Vt .; Delia (Mrs. John Foss), of Plainfield; Frances (Mrs. George Lovering), of Rutland, Iowa ; Lucian E., of Humboldt, Iowa; George K., of Springfield, Mass .; Everett E., who married Jennie Wood, May 21, 1885, a resident of this town ; and Oramel D., who married Lucinda Kimball, April 28, 1868, also of this town. The latter has two children,-Katie R. and Arthur K. John Willey's second wife was Cynthia Cheaney, by whom he had no ·children.
Albert P. Newman, son of Curtis C. and Emily Newman, was born in Washington in 1847. He married Cordelia Morse and reared five children, viz .: Robert, George, Mertie, Bernard and Hazzle. Mr. Newman has two brothers and a sister now living, in Boston, Mass.
Capt. Welbee J. Butterfield, son of Welbee and Eliza F. (Brown) Butter- field, was born in this town April 18, 1828. He married Sarah J. Moody, of Parsonfield. Me., in 1852, by whom he has had four children-Cora H. .(Mrs. Claudius Brock), who died November 3, 1875 ; Edward N., who died May 28, 1862 ; Eliza (Mrs. Stephen W. George), and George F., who mar- ried Susie A. Sawyer, and has one child, Mary A. Mr. Butterfield acquired his military title as captain of Co. K, 3d N. H. Regt., with which company he was in active service two years. He was a merchant in Dover, N. H., for ten years ; but since the war, owing to poor health, has been engaged in no business. He has been justice of the peace four years.
Samuel F. Downing, Jr., son of Samuel and Lucinda (Fifield) Downing, was born in Williamstown in 1820. He married Mary P. Richardson, who bore him two children, Albert F., now dead, and Oscar V. The latter mar- ried Hannah R. Sherman, of Littleton, N. H. They have two children, Fred A. and Frank O., both of whom are living with their parents in this town.
Caleb Emery was born in Washington, in 1810, and died April 16, 1866. He married Eliza Pepper, who bore him four children-Loren, of Corinth ; Lucy (Mrs. Roswell Adams), of Northfield; Edward, of Washington ; and Harry, of this town. Harry married Sarah Locke, of Corinth, December 31, 1860, and has had born to him nine children, viz .: Mary C., Clayton L. and Clinton L., twins, Clinton L., 2d, Abbie J., Frank L., Willard J., Annis J., and Anna L.
Richard Miller was born in Marlow, N. H., in 1808, came to this town about 1856, and first settled near Jackman's bobbin factory, on road 51. He married Ruth Carter, of Stanstead, Canada, about 1848, by whom he had ·seven children. One son, John H., born August 10, 1844, in Fairlee, Vt.,
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married Marion Heath, November 12, 1870, and had five children, viz .: Edward, Emma, Elliot, and Albert, and one who died in infancy. John H. served in Co. G, 9th Vt. Regt., from January 4, 1864, till December 1, 1865 ..
Lorenzo D. Cilley was born in this town February 20, 1850. He learned the blacksmith's trade, and in 1879 opened a shop in East Brookfield, which he continued for one year. He is now engaged in setting up engines. July 5, 1871, he married Marilla James, of this town, who bore him three chil- dren -- Willie D., Bertha L., and Josiah E. 3
Thomas W. Dickey, son of William G. and grandson of Robert, was born August 26, 1835. His father married Susan Brown, by whom he had eight children, viz .: Polly A. (Mrs. Robert Lang), William G., Jr., Martha J. (Mrs. William B. Stearns), and Hattie B. (Mrs. Moses Shereff), of Manchester, N. H .; Michael C., who died in 1861; Petry D., also dead ; Clarissa (Mrs. Joel Clark), and Thomas W., of this town. The latter enlisted in Co. D, Ist Vt. Regt., was discharged, when he enlisted in Co. D, 8th Vt. Regt. He mar- ried Nettie E. Wright, of Ryegate, Vt., and has nad born to him five children, viz .: Willie W., Nella J., Carrie B, Cora E., and Martha A. Mr. Dickey now follows the occupation of a cooper and carpenter.
James Buchanan was born in Scotland about 1816, and came to this country when quite young. He married Mary Whicher, of Newbury. One child, Emma, died in Boston. George L. was born July 26, 1848, in New- bury. He enlisted as a sailor on the U. S. sloop Vandalia, and served in the engagement at Fort Fisher, and in the Cape Fear expedition. While unloading the guns from the gunboat Maratansa he was so se- verely injured that the amputation of his leg above the knee was nec- essary, for which he now draws a pension. He married Ella A. Page, of Ryegate, Vt., December 5, 1874, by whom he had one child who died in infancy.
John McLam came from Scotland to Ryegate, Vt., about 1836, bringing with him a wife and eleven children. He died in Ryegate, aged seventy- seven years, as did also his widow, at the age of ninety-nine. Of his chil- dren, Andrew, John, James, Catharine (Mrs. William Hunter) and Margaret (Mrs. James Whitehill) are dead; William J. resides in Ryegate ; Jane (Mrs. . William Young), in Peacham, Vt .; Ann (Mrs. William Whitehill), in Groton ; Robert in Ryegate; Walter in the West ; and Alexander in Canada. James McLam married Agnes Leitch, by whom he had nine children, viz .: Mary J. (Mrs. William Gibson), of Barnet, Vt .; Isabell (Mrs. James M. Doe), of Ryegate ; Joseph B., who married Ruby A. Bell, has four children,-James F., Louise J., Charles E., and Harry C.,-and resides in this town ; Elizabeth, who died at the age of five years ; John A. and Agres L., twins, the former now a resident of Ryegate, the latter dying when about eighteen years of age ; Sarah E., of Newton, Mass .; Sophia M. (Mrs. Charles H. Taplin), of this town ; and James R. The latter, on arriving at his majority, went to Boston, Mass., and engaged in the trucking business, which he followed for about.
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TOWN OF TOPSHAM.
three years. He then taught school in Ryegate one term, when he removed to Iowa, in April, 1865, and there remained one season. He returned to Ryegate, where he worked on a farm until January 1, 1869, when he came to this town and, in company with Duncan Stewart, opened a store in East Top- sham village. In 1873 he sold his interest in the store to Mr. Stewart. In 187 1 he was chosen town clerk and treasurer, which positions he has held for fourteen years. After disposing of his mercantile interests he devoted him- self to insurance, pension and town business, with some farming, until November 1, 1885, when he purchased the store he now has. He is also engaged in the undertaking business, having establishments in East Top- sham, West Topsham and Groton villages. He has been an active partici- pant in town affairs, being representative in 1882-83. February 1, 1871, he married Susan J. Wormwood, who has borne him four children-Elmer D., George L., Cora J. and Agnes M.
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