USA > Vermont > Windham County > Rockingham > History of the town of Rockingham, Vermont, including the villages of Bellows Falls, Saxtons River, Rockingham, Cambridgeport and Bartonsville, 1753-1907, with family genealogies > Part 79
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ii. HIRAM F., b. Jan. 8, 1826; forty years engaged with Parks & Woolson in the manufacture of shearing machines at Springfield, Vt .; m. Lucia A. Wilson; still living in Springfield. Child : I. Lucia Neila :7 m. W. H. H. Slack of Springfield ; she d. Jan. 2, 1877. Children : i. Harry Carlton,8 b. Nov. 17, 1869; studied music in Florence, Paris, and London ; m. May Brown of Wilm- ington, Del. Two children : Carlton Roberts9 and Theodore Wyman. ii. Winnie B. ; d. 1872. iii. Walter Wyman, b. Aug. 9, 1876; musician and business man ; in. Tirzah Montgomery. Children : I. Wilson Montgomery.9 2. John Taylor.
iii. ELI NELSON, b. Jan. 20, 1828; d. Oct. 28, 1845.
iv. ANDREW A., b. Mar. 12, 1830; became a prominent and influential citizen of Athens; d. at Montpelier, Vt., while a member of the legislature from Athens, Nov. 21, 1894; m. Ist Martha Eastman ; m. 2d Abbie A. Wellman. Child by Ist wife : 1. Stella S.,7 b. Jan. 13, 1859.
v. MARTHA, b. July 28, 1832 ; d. Nov. 26, 1842.
vi. CHAUNCY M., b. Dec. 20, 1834; teacher and composer of music ; m. Jennie Louise Alexander ; he d. Sept. 6, 1870.
vii. SOPHIA EMELINE, b. Dec. 21, 1837; m. Stratton W. Westgate. Children : 1. Edwin Seymour,7 d. 1844. 2. Charles Ellery, m. Carrie Belle Houghton. Children : i. Gladys.8 ii. Ralph Wyman. 3. Lena Sophia, m. Fred H. Whitney ; she d. 1899.
viii. EDWIN S., b. May 27, 1844 ; d. Aug. 29, 1848.
ADDITIONAL FAMILIES
BROWN
AMOS H.I (s. of Abel, gr. s. of Brigadier, a Revolutionary soldier who settled in Springfield, Vt., in 1792), b. Springfield, Feb. 4, 1822 ; cotton-mill proprietor at Perkinsville, Vt., until 1862, then rem. to Springfield, later in wholesale grain business in Claremont, N. H. ; rem. to B. F. in 1878 in stove and tin trade and plumbing, firm of A. H. & F. H. Brown until he retired in ISSS; invested in real estate, erecting "Brown block " on the east side of Canal street in 1890; res. on north side of Henry street 27 yrs. ; a man of excellent judgment, of a cautious nature, much sought for his advice, and held many public offices ; m. Jan. 3, 1849, Susan A. Atwood of Chester, Vt .; she res. B. F. ; he d. B. F., June 28, 1906.
AMOS H. BROWN. IS22-1906.
807
Brown-Burt-Gorham-Granger
Children :
i. NELLIE ADELIA,2 b. Perkinsville, Dec. 10, 1850; was a teacher in public schools, and of music, in Springfield; now res. with her mother at B. F.
ii. FRANK HENRY, b. Perkinsville, Feb. 13, 1854; employed in National Bank in Springfield; engaged with his father in mercantile busi- ness in B. F. after 1878, and in newspaper work 10 yrs. ; rem. to Wellesley, Mass., in 1890, where he owns a paper-mill ; m. Dec. 25, 1879, Hattie Maria Wheeler of Fitchburg, Mass. Children both b. in B. F. : 1. Annie Rena,3 b. Mar. 26, 1883; grad. Dana Hall, Wellesley, 1901. 2. Mildred, b. Nov. 23, 1889.
BURT
(Additional to facts given on page 60S-which see.)
GEORGE PRESTON3 (Jonathan,2 Jonathan1), b. in R. Dec. 18, 1808; a carpenter and joiner ; m. Ist Dec. 31, 1834, Sophia, dan. of Samuel Billings of R., b. Apr. 7, 1816, d. Galva, Ill., Aug. 25, 1860; m. 2d Mar. 12, 1862, Frances M., dau. of Alpheus Willard of R., b. in R. June 15, 1830, d. Galva, Oct. 10, 1906; he d. Galva, Apr. 17, 1896.
Children all b. Galva, Ill. :
i. FRANK HENRY,4 b. Feb. 3, 1863; m. at Galva, May 5, 1896, Lola Maddox, b. Nov. 28, 1864, res. Oak Park, Chicago, Ill. Children : I. Roland Willard,5 b. Oak Park, III., June 18, 1899. 2. Helen Maddox, b. St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 28, 1901. 3. Margaret Jennings, b. St. Louis, May 5, 1903.
ii. THERESE WILLARD, b. Oct. 31, 1864.
iii. FLORA MARIA, b. May 24, 1866.
iv. SOPHIE SANBORN, b. Dec. 15, 1867.
ELIJAH FRANKLIN3 (Jonathan2 Jonathan1), m. Fanny, dau. of Elias Olcott. (See record of children under Olcott, p. 723.)
GORHAM
DR. GEORGE HENRY9 (Freeman,8 David,7 Matthias,6 Matthias,5 John,4 James,3 John,2 Ralph,1 came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1637), b. West- minster, West Parish, Vt., Oct. 9, 1857; attended Brattleboro and Vermont academies, and University of Vt .; grad. University of N. Y., 1882; has practised medicine in N. Y. city and Alstead, N. H. and came to B. F. in 1892, since which he has practised here as a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat ; has been village bailiff numerous terms; member of the Masonic fraternity ; holds office in various medical societies.
He m. June 1, 1897, Abigail C. (Veazey) Hitchcock of B. F., b. West- moreland, N. H. ; no children.
GRANGER
SANFORD6 (Eldad,5 Jonathan,4 Benjamin,3 Abraham,2 Launcelot,I emigrated from England and settled on Kents Island in Newburyport, Mass., Harbor, 1654), b. Chesterfield, N. H., Mar. 12, 1796; came to R. from West- moreland, N. H. about 1820 and built a dam at the foot of the ravine at Law- rence Mills, some rods down the river from the present mills there. Before his saw-mill was erected a freshet took out the dam causing so great financial loss that he abandoned the project and in later years purchased the inill at
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History of Rockingham
Gageville and owned it many years, selling it to Wm. P. Gage. Erected the brick block on the east side of Westminster street always known by his name, and res. in it until his death; prominent in establishing the Meth. chh. of B. F., and previous to the building of the Meth. chh., in 1835 he purchased the old school building on Westminster street ( described on page 240) for use of the society until they had a building ; an ardent Abolitionist and active in assisting to Canada many a fugitive slave ; his son, Albert S., speaks of often seeing the negroes come from the hay mow and go into the house in the morning with a pail for the breakfast so freely given ; a prominent mechanic, millwright and bridge builder ; a strong advocate of temperance.
Eldad,5 the father of Sanford, d. in Alstead in 1865, lacking but 14 days of 100 years old. He was a captain of boats upon the Connecticut river pre- vions to the building of the canal at B. F. It was a practice to unload the flat boats at the " lower landing," and with teams draw both the freight and the boat itself up through the woods where the village now stands and reload for the further journey. Upon one trip during high water the owner of the boat was with Captain Granger. The water was so high the captain advised not putting the boat back into the river until it was safer. The owner insisted. The captain remarked, "obey orders if you break owners," and placed the boat in the water. It was immediately caught in the current and destroyed by being carried over the falls. He remembered when there were only two houses in the vicinity of the falls where the village is now.
Sanford6 m. Feb. 26, 1826, Abigail Stevens of Chester, Vt., d. in B. F. Nov. 18, 1877 ; he d. in B. F., May 17, 1882.
Children all b. at B. F. :
i. ALBERT SANFORD,7 b. Nov. 10, 1834 ; a mechanical engineer, resided in Concord, N. H., Springfield, Mass., B. F., South Framingham, New York city and now res. West Springfield. Mass .; m. Ist Mar. 16, 1857, Loretta E. Carpenter, b. Surry, N. H., d. June 16, 1870; m. 2d Oct. 19, 1876, Sarah Hodgkin, b. Ludlow, Vt , ; m. 3d Jan. 17, 1889, Adelaide Cilley Hayes, b. Farmington, N. H., May 12, 1837, d. Port Richmond, Staten Island, Nov. 4, 1904. Children : 1. Clement Alfred,8 b. Dec. 15, 1857 ; grad. B. F. H. S. '76, in first class of the school; d. Brooklyn, N. Y., Jan. 8, 1881 ; unm. 2. Carrie Augusta, b. Mar. 12, 1861 ; m. Israel M. Charl- ton ; res. W. Springfield, Mass. ; no children. 3. Rose B., b. Nov. 1, 1863 ; ateacher ; res. Brooklyn, N. Y. ; unm. 4. Ruth Elizabeth, b. Nov. 15, 1865 ; a teacher and principal; res. Brooklyn, N. Y. 5. Sanford Thomas, b. Oct. 9, 1868; d. Apr. 21, 1870.
ii. HARRIET ABIGAIL, b. May 14, 1837; m. Nov. 25, 1856, Joseph Miller, a printer, d. Springfield, Mass., Nov. 11, 1873; she d. Springfield, Jan. 23, ISSO. Child : 1. Annie Green,8 b. Dec. 13, 1863 ; m. Geo. H. Gilmore, foreman freight departmant B. & M. R. R .; res. Springfield, Mass. Children : i. Fred Asa,9 b. Nov. 14, 1886. ii. Howard Miller, b. June 22, 1891.
iii. EDWIN, b. Apr. 21, 1843 ; d. May 5, 1843.
iv. EDWARD LORING, b. Aug. IS, 1844; m. Oct., 1867. Angelina M. Roc of South Manchester, Conn. Child : 1. Lionel Edward,8 b. Aug. 4, 1868; unm.
V. MARY GEYER. b. May 8, 1846: d. Aug. 31, 1846.
DR. SETH MARSHALL BLAKE. IS17-1904.
-
SANFORD GRANGER. 1796-1SS2.
JOSHUA HOBART WEBB. IS37-1903.
CALVIN LYSANDER BARBER. 1843-1900.
809
Noursc
NOURSE
PETER5 (Dea. Francis,+ Samuel,3 Samuel,2 Francis,I whose wife, Rebecca Town, b. Yarmouth, Eng., Feb. 1, 1621, d. a Christian martyr in 1692 on Gallows Hill, Salem, Mass., beheaded under a charge of witchcraft), b. Danvers, Mass., Mar. 25, 1744 (o. s.); became a resident of R., coming from Jaffrey, N. II., in 1789 or 1791. Family tradition says he retained his Jaffrey home for the first year after coming to R., and that he and his elder sons travelled on foot from there to this place, 40 miles, bringing with them food enough to last a few weeks at a time. They erected a log house in a small clearing, put in crops and as often as the food was exhausted they returned to the Jaffrey home to get fresh supplies, making the trip between the two places in a day each way. The next year when the home was ready the family came. His farm, portions of which were purchased in various years, was located near the northwest corner of the town, about one and one-half miles west of Bartonsville, and here he spent the remainder of his long life, taking active part in town and church affairs; was a valued member of the Congregational church over 60 yrs.
He m. June 5, 1766, Lydia Low, b. Ipswich, Mass., Aug. 7, 1744 (o. s.), d. in R., June 25, 1840; he d. in R., Apr. 16, 1834. Both are buried in the old cem. at R.
Children :
i. SAMUEL,6 b. June 1, 1767 ; many yrs. a merchant in the village of R. ; d. May 14, 1860; unm.
ii. FRANCIS, b. Danvers, Mass., Dec. 11, 1769; d. Apr. 20, 1808; left a widow and two children.
iii. PHILIP, b. Fitchburg, Mass., Sept, 13, 1771 ; in. 1796, Annis -- , b. Aug. 11, 1782, d. Apr. 6, 1858; he d. Bartonsville, May 12, 1857 ; they res. In R. and Grafton, Vt. Children : 1. Peter,7 b. Apr. 7, 1797; m. Ist, July 10, 1821, Grata Emery ; m. 2d, Apr. 6, 1830, Nancy Fisher ; always res. in R. Children : i. Abigail,8 b. Oct. 8, 1825; was m. Mar. 6, 1844. ii. Lucien P., b. Nov. 23, 1833 ; m. Sept. 6, 1855 ; d. Jan. 22, 1864. iii. Mary N., b. Jan. 1, IS39 ; m. Feb. 11, 1858. iv. Henry P., b. July 6, 1841. v. Homer E., b. June 6, 1843; res. at S. R. ; unm. vi. Helen C., b. June 23, 1848; res. at S. R. ; unm. 2. Sarah, b. Apr. 14, 1799; m. Jan. 2, 1834, at Watertown, N. Y., Preston Brooks, and rem. to Fillmore, N. Y., where she d. Feb. 5, 1870, and where her only son, William P.,8 is a prosperous merchant. 3. Abigail, b. Nov. 3, ISO1 ; m. Mar. 31, 1830, Jonathan Emery ; res. at Fillmore, where they and their only three sons are buried. 4. Cynthia, b. Oct. 23, 1803 ; m. Sept. 3, 1833, Henry Wheeler ; res. Fillmore ; d. there May 30, 1875 ; no children.
iv. EUNICE, b. Fitchburg, Apr. 2, 1773; was a tailoress ; res. one and one-half miles west of S. R. on what is now the Patten Ober place, and 14 yrs. before her d. she rem. to Waitsfield, Vt., where she d. Feb. 17, 1851 ; unm.
V. PETER, b. May 27, 1775; about the year 1826 was " porter " at the Charlestown bridge across the Connecticut ; was also a tailor ; in 1844 rem. to a farm in Waitsfield, Vt., later lived in Alleghany Co. N. Y. and Bloomingdale, Ill., where he and his wife d. within a short time of each other. He m. July 20, 1800, Martha ( or Patty) Chamberlain ; he d. May 16, 1859. Children : 1. Uriel,7 d. Apr. 7, 1846. 2. Solon. 3. Urban. 4. Mary, m. Milo Barnard of
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History of Rockingham
Waitsfield, had a dau., Mrs. Walter Allen8 of Lake Geneva, Wis. 5. Marcia : m. - Joslin.
vi. JEREMIAn, b. Fitchburg, Nov. 26, 1777; as a young man assisted in building the canal at B. F. : later lived in Newbury and Bradford, Vt. ; m. Dec. 25, 1806, Ruth Bailey, d. in 1863; he d. Bradford, Jan. 1, 1856. Children : 1. Maria,7 b. Feb. 25, 1809; m. May, 1826, James George; had seven children, four living in 1905. 2. Sophila, b. June 14, 1811 ; m. Israel Hinckley and has a son living in Lowell, Mass. 3. Ruth, b. Sept. 4, 1813; m. Jas. II. Patterson ; d. leaving no children. 4. Alonzo, b. May 19, 1815, d. Mar. 20, 1816. 5. Alonzo, b. Mar. 28, 1817; m. Isabel Renfrew; two children. 6. William Harvey, b. July 4, 1821, m. May 22, 1844, Lydia Renfrew ; three sons all d. ; she res. at Bradford.
vii. DANIEL, b. Fitchburg, Mass., Dec. 9, 1779; res. on the old farm in R. caring for his father and mother as long as they lived; then rem. to Waitsfield, Vt., living near his brother and sister: m. Ist Nancy George, d. Jan. 18, 1839; m. 2d Emily Darby, d. 1869; he d. at S. R., Jan. 7. 1865. Children : 1. Lydia Ann;7 b. R. Dec. 4, 1809, m. Harvey Smith; rem. to Alleghany Co., N. Y., later to Elkhorn, Wis. Child : Antoinette ;8 unm. 2. Clara Sophia, b. R., Apr. 26, 1813: m. Dr. C. C. Chaffee; rem. to Springfield, Mass. (After her death Dr. Chaffee m. again and his wife's death was recorded in 1903 as " Mrs. C. C. Chaffee, owner of the fugitive slave Dred Scott, died at Springfield, Mass., aged SS.") Children : i. Emma ;8 m. Sam'l Wilder, a merchant of Rochester, N. Y. ii. Clemens Clifford; grad. of West Point. 3. Daniel George, b. in R., Jan. S, 1819; res. on a farm one mile north-west of S. R. ; was owner of Lawrence mills, 1858-1873; rem. to No. Hadley, Mass. ; m. Ist Mary Wheeler of S. R. ; m. 2d Eliza, sister of the Ist wife ; he d. No. Hadley, Apr. IS, ISSI. Children : i. Lucius W. ; 8 d. Mankato, Minn., in 1902 ; unm. ii. Charles A. ; m. Alice Cook of Chester, Vt. ; rem. to Brockton, Mass., where he was killed in a mill, Dec. 5, 1879. Child : Geo. D .. 9 druggist at Charlestown, N. H. ; unm. iii. Geo. Romayne, a machinist ; m. Nov. 3, ISSI, Elsie M. Adams of So. Charlestown, N. H. ; res. B. F: ; no chil- dren. iv. Frank, is manager of Elec. Light Co. at Winchendon, Mass. ; m Josephine Holmes of Alstead, N. H. Child : Chas. A.9 v. (by 2d wife ) Mary, b. 1868; m. W. H. Faulkner ; res. Andover, Mass. ; no children.
viii. DAVID, b. Jaffrey, Apr. 19. 178I ; m. Feb. 2, 1809, Lucy Whiting of R. ; in 1831 rem. to East Pike, N. Y., later to Hume, N. Y., where he d. Aug. 18. 1860. Children : 1. Allen,7 settled in Minnesota. 2. Almon ; d. in Washington, D. C., June, 1864. 3. Almena ; m. Rev. Mr. Twitchell. 4. Livera : m. Jabez Parker. 5. Angeline : m. Jerome Griffith of Hume, N. Y.
ix. LYDIA, b. Jaffrey, June 6, 1783 : m. Jan. 17, 1805, David Boynton, d. Dec. 14, 1813 : she d. Oct. 16, 1874. Children : 1. Jeremiah,7 b. Sept. 29, 1805 ; was a stone mason: m. Ist in 1831, Deborah Bailey of Newbury, d. 1861 ; m. 2d in 1865, Jane -.; he d. in Newbury, Mar. 6, 1876; no children. 2. Elvira, b. Dec. 4, 1806 ; m. Sept. 9, 1829, Daniel B. Lake ; res. Chatauqua Co., N. Y. ; she d. Sept. 23, 1890. Children : i. Riel B.,8 b. Oct. 5, 1830; d. Feb. II, 1831. ii. Sarah C., b. Mar. S, 1834; d. Sept. 27, 1835. iii. Edwin F., b. Aug. 20, 1836; in 1905 was res. on the old farm in Charlotte, N. Y. ; had 3 children and S gr. children living. iv. Ellen C., b. Nov. 9, 1838, m. Apr. 12, 1860, II. E. Kimbel ; is living in Charlotte Center ; two sons d. leaving no children ; a dau. living and m .; no children. 3. Clarissa. b. Mar. 12, 1808; m. in 1836, Freeman, s. of Henry Lake of R. ; res. Chautauqua Co., N. Y. ; she d. Nov. 25, ISSS: no children. 4. David F., b. Feb. 24, 1809 ;
Noursc-Rudden-Capron-Hyde
m. Mar. 23, 1837, Lydia Roberts of Groton, Vt. ; res. Westfield, Vt., where he d. Oct. 22, 1894; has had 7 children, 5 are living, of whom Jefferson,8 is a well known attorney of Boston.
x.
PHEBE, b. Jaffrey, Nov. 16, 1784; lived with her sister, Eunice, near S. R .; partially crippled by burns received in childhood; rem. with her sister to Waitsfield, where she d. Jan. 4, 1864.
xi. ALLEN, b. Jaffrey, Apr. 10, 178; res. on a farm adjoining the W. H. Wright place near S. R .; in 1831 rem. to Hume, N. Y .; m. Ist Persis Willard, d. in R., Apr. 8, 1825; m. 2d Lettice Moore; he d. Fillmore, N. Y., Aug. 10, 1870. Children by ist wife: 1. Ceman- tha ;7 m. Almon Whiting. 2. Lorenzo. 3. Lysander ; d. Fill- more, May 13, 1900. 4. Persis ; d. Fillmore, Apr. 1899. 5. Wil- lard. By 2d wife : 6. Henry L. 7. Eliza.
RUDDEN
DR. JOHN THOMAS? (Patrick]), b. Lawrence, Mass., May 10, 1866; grad. Exeter academy 1890 and medical department University of Vt., '92 ; established practice of his profession in B. F. in Sept., 1892, which he con- tinues ; has occupied various public positions, among them health officer and member of board of trustees of R. Free Public Library 6 years ; m. Apr. 24, 1895, Mary Catherine, dau. of John Brennan of B. F .; res. B. F.
Children both b. in B. F. :
i. REGIS,3 b. Mar. 13, 1896.
ii. BARBARA, b. May 10, 1899.
CAPRON
CHARLES EDWARDI (s. of Curtis Warren), b. Marlboro, N. H .. Aug. 5, 1849 ; came to B. F. in 1871 and has been continuously in the tailor- ing business here since ; has held various positions of trust ; now treasurer of the town, and of the village of B. F. ; m. Emma A., dau. of George H. Mabury, b. Portland, Me., Apr. 4, 1850, d. B. F., Nov. 8, 1894; he res. B. F. Children :
i. MABEL DEFORREST,2 b. Springfield, Mass. ; m. Waldo M. Edson of B. F., now travelling auditor of Am. Express Co. ; res. Boston, Mass. Child: 1. Waldo Capron,3 b. New London, Conn.
ii. BERTIIA IRENE, b. Rutland, Vt., June 15, 1873; m. Frederick W. Burbank, employee in office of International Paper Co., N. Y. city ; res. Brooklyn, N. Y. Child : 1. Richard,3 b. Brooklyn.
iii. GUY EDWARD, b. B. F., May 6, 1876; employee of office of treas. of International Paper Co., N. Y .; m. Margaret, dau. of A. N. Bur- bank of Newton, Mass. ; res. Newton. Child : 1. Robert.3
iv.
CHARLES D., b. B. F., Oct. 12, 1878; is buyer for Marshal Field & Co .; res. Chicago, Ill .; unm.
v. HENRY CURTIS, b. B. F., Jan. 30, 1884; is an employee of Ameri- can Express Co. : res. B. F. ; unm.
HYDE
(Additional to facts given on pages 684 and 685 - which see.)
RUSSELL (Children numbered i. ii. iii. are given on p. 685).
iv. CHARLES BRENTON,2 b. in B. F., Mar. 10, 1840; was a civil engi- neer and later postal clerk on the Conn. River Line; m. Dec. 9, 1869, Mary Louise, dau. of Alanson Houghton of Putney, Vt .; they always res. in B. F .; he d. in Londonderry, Vt., Dec. 2, 1889 ; she res. B. F. ; no children.
ADDENDA
THE BELLOWS FALLS BOARD OF TRADE
In the history of Bellows Falls there have been numerous attempts to establish effective boards of trade which were unsuccessful until the formation of the present organization, for which a preliminary meeting of fifty-two business men was held in Banquet hall on the evening of September 20, 1901. The organization was perfected November 18, 1901 by the adoption of a constitution and election of the following officers : President, J. C. Day ; vice-president, H. D. Ryder ; secre- tary, Geo. R. Wales : treasurer, Carroll A. Moore ; directors, Rev. Alfred Hammatt, Geo. H. Babbitt, M. F. Davis, J. J. Fenton and J. C. Denison.
Mr. Day has remained president, and to his energetic and aggressive work is due in a large measure the success attained by the organization. Semi-annual meetings have been held at which some noted speaker has been a feature of interest, and either a lunch or banquet has been served. The board of directors, divided into committees for various purposes, have held frequent meetings and many marked improvements about the village have resulted, together with the establishment of some new industries.
Among the improvements are those about the railroad yards and the rebuilding of the station. The agitation of this matter, with complaint of want of local facilities to the railroad commissioners, coupled with their admission that they had no power to act, brought about a change in the state law giving that commission greater power. This was effected through the efforts of the town representative, George B. Wheeler. Through the village improvement committee many unsightly places have been cleaned up, and flower beds have appeared each year at the intersection of streets. For this purpose the board have appropriated from $100 to $150 annually.
SI3
Board of Trade-Woman's Club
The new industries committee has been successful in inducing two manufactories to locate here, Simons, Hatch & Whitten's overall factory and the Bogart & Hopper Manu- facturing Co., box manufacturers, the two industries employ- ing about eighty people.
The present officers of the board are : President, J. C. Day ; vice president, H. D. Ryder ; secretary, T. E. O'Brien ; treasurer, A. H. Chandler ; directors, J. C. Day, G. B. Wheeler, C. W. Osgood, A. L. Field and E. L. Walker.
THE BELOWS FALLS WOMAN'S CLUB
The Bellows Falls Woman's Club was organized in Sep- tember, 1901, and became identified with the Vermont Federa- tion the following month. At once upon its formation it took a leading part among the active associations of theplace, in the " mental and social culture, the promoting of educational, literary and benevolent objects and encouraging a generous public spirit in the community," as was stated in its constitu- tion. The number of charter members was one hundred, while the present membership is two hundred and thirteen. The influence of the club for good is being felt in a multitude of ways.
Its work has been carried along in various lines, most important of which is the support of a permanent district nurse since January, 1904. Miss Amy G. Frizelle from the New England Deaconess' Hospital has filled this position from the first, and hundreds of poor families have had the burdens of illness lightened.
Among other deparments have been those of domestic science ; current events ; art, with an art exhibit early in its history, and the presentation of three copies of famous paint- ings to the schools ; lectures by prominent men and women upon a variety of subjects, to some of which the public have been invited and the opera house crowded; music, the club having a double quartette and chorus from its members, and concerts have been given in which eminent talent from a dis- tance has been a prominent feature ; dramatic, with repre-
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History of Rockingham
sentations of Dickens characters, and among its plays "The Ladies of Cranford," " A Scrap of Paper" and "Bachelor Hall," each of which has been a decided success.
Early in its history the club made strenuous efforts to establish a hospital, and funds to a large amount were raised, the fruition of which endeavor is an expectation for the future.
Each year the organization has planned something of interest for the children of the town, at which eminent lectur- ers, with stereopticon, story tellers and entertainers have interested the little ones. During the last three years a stamp savings department has been successful in encouraging the children in habits of thrift and economy. In its social depart- ment the club has given one or more receptions each year and frequent teas, a charity ball and May festival.
Its first board of officers were : Mrs. Josephine H. Arms, president ; Mrs. Albert Hammatt and Mrs. George E. Welch, vice presidents ; Mrs. Edward Kirkland, secretary ; Mrs. J. C. Day, treasurer ; directors, Mrs. George H. Babbitt, Mrs. John H. Reid, Mrs. H. W. Mitchell, Mrs. W. W. Sawyer, Mrs. W. F. Hazelton and Mrs. S. M. Folsom ; chairmen of departments : music, Mrs. F. G. Flint; art, Mrs. E. G. Osgood ; domestic science, Mrs. W. A. Ferguson ; current events, Miss Mary A. Read.
Mrs. Arms retained the presidency two years, as did her successors, Mrs. Francis G. Flint, and Mrs. George E. Welch, the present incumbent.
The present officers are: Mrs. Mary E. Welch, presi- dent ; Mrs. Cora D. Sawyer and Mrs. Mary C. Bancroft, vice presidents ; Mrs. Theresa R. Welch, recording secretary ; Miss Blanche A. Webb, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Har- riette T. S. Clark, treasurer ; directors, Mrs. Bertha M. Howard, Mrs. Lorena E. Day, Mrs. Ruth C. Walker, Mrs. Katherine S. Tuttle, Mrs. S. Grace Ray and Mrs. Lucy H. Leavitt ; Mrs. Mary E. Welch, federation director.
815
Local Option
LOCAL OPTION IN ROCKINGHAM
After fifty years of prohibition, as poorly enforced in this town as the average of others, the state of Vermont passed a local option liquor law in 1902. Rockingham has since fluctuated between license and no-license as follows :
For license.
For.no-license.
1903
579
355
1904
38I
.
444
1905
ยท
542
. 558
1906
537
501
1907
542
526
The first board of license commissioners in 1903 were James H. Williams (2d), John P. Riley and John F. Alexan- der. The next two years being no-license there were no commissioners again until 1906, when the board consisted of George B. Wheeler, Eugene E. Keefe and Henry C. Bacon. This board has been reappointed in 1907.
Under the law Rockingham could have eight licenses.
In 1903 five licenses were granted as follows : one each of the first class to the three hotels in Bellows Falls, a second class located on Bridge street and a third class at the railroad restaurant. The next two years three drug store licenses were granted by the selectmen to Bellows Falls stores, only. In 1906 four first class licenses were granted, three to Bel- lows Falls hotels and one to a saloon on Bridge street, with one drug store in addition. The licenses granted for 1907 are first class ones to the three hotels and the Bridge street saloon, and three drug stores have druggists' licenses. No licenses have, during these years, been granted in any other part of the town.
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