USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 31
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
Street, and which has lately been sold for the purpose of erecting a church on the ground. Those who assisted in building the shop received their pay in black- smithing.
With him his four younger brothers learned the blacksmith's trade, and Brooks Kimball, the oldest of the four, was associated with him as partner for a number of years.
For many years he was closely allied with the manufacturing interests of the town, indeed with everything that pertained to Springfield's prosperity and advancement. Woollen manufacture first engaged his attention, and among other industries in which he was interested might be named the cotton mill, paper mill, comb shop, shoe pegs, hames, etc. About 1840 he began the manufacture of horse-rakes, which had an extensive sale all over the country, even to the Pacific coast. He continued this business while he lived. He was also a large contractor and builder. He opened up new streets, and built within the limits of the village at least sixty-five dwelling houses. He proposed and forwarded many other valu- able improvements, and was always ready with purse and hand to make Springfield a successful business town, and by his business energy and enterprise he contrib- uted very largely to its prosperity and success.
He died Nov. 17, 1875.
CAPT. GEORGE KIMBALL. He was for many years captain of the artillery company, whence he derived the title by which he was most familiarly known, "Captain Kimball."
He m. 1st, Nov. 18, 1823, Abigail Bisbee of Springfield, daughter of Abner Bisbee; m. 2d, Nov. 27, 1868, Martha B. (Wolfe) (Wood). Ch. :
I. George Kimball, b. Oct. 3, 1824. Learned blacksmith's trade of his father, and carried on the business at the old stand for many years,. until failing health compelled him to retire. He m. Jan. 4, 1848, Rindilla M. Cheney. He d. in 1894. Ch. :
1. George Eugene, b. Nov. 14, 1848; d. at Everett, Mass., Jan. 19, 1892.
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
2. Lillian L., b. Sept. 3, 1855.
3. Addie A., b. Dec. 2, 1859; d. July 29, 1864.
II. 'Marcia A., b. July 16, 1827; m. John C. Holmes; d. June 4, 1858.
III. Francis J., b. Ang. 24, 1837 ; m. Jan. 1, 1863, Lydia C. Tannt of Spring- field.
AARON L. KIRK, son of William and Lydia (Brnce) Kirk, was b. at Spring- field, Sept. 5, 1828. He m. 1st, Nancy D. Spaulding; she d. April 22, 1859; m. 2d, Fanny Long, daughter of Joseph and Gillias (Rice) Long. Ch. by 2d marriage :
I. Eva B., b. at Springfield, Dec. 2, 1865.
II. George Edgar, b. at Swanzey, N. H., June 6, 1867.
DR. EBENEZER ADAMS KNIGHT, son of Deacon Aaron and Rebecca (Adams) Knight, was b. in Hancock, N. H., Oct. 19, 1819. He studied medicine under private instructors in Han- cock, N. H., and Boston, Mass., attended medical lectures at Woodstock, Vt., and graduated at the medical school in Pittsfield, Mass. He came to Springfield in 1843 as superintendent of the paper mill, which was afterward burned, and prac- tised in his profession at first only as advisory conn- sellor. In 1846 he began an independent practice, and for twenty-six years was one of the leading physicians in this vicinity, having a very large practice. Dr. Knight was noted for his genial companionship, his large- hearted generosity, his love of the beautiful in art and nature, and his deep interest in all that was for the good of the community or of in- dividuals, in business, educa- tion, social and religions life. He was one of the first in DR. EBENEZER A. KNIGHT. moving for an academy here, and gave his money, infinence and professional lectures for its es- - tablishment, and was ever urging the young to seenre a higher education. His patients were his personal friends, and especially the children. He had an intuitive perception of disease, had trained himself to careful observation and a close study of critical cases, and the demand for his services far ex-
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
ceeded physical endurance. Worn out by the arduous duties of his profession in working for others, his constitution yielded to disease, and he d. May 6, 1872, mourned by all.
He married Mary Wheeler, daughter of Nathan and Polly Wheeler, Aug. 2, 1843, who d. at Elmira, N. Y. Ch. :
I. Mary Wheeler, b. Aug. 28, 1844; m. July 30, 1879, Hon. Eaton M. Frisbee of New York, a prominent railroad contractor, and presi- dent of the Schuylkill & Lehigh Valley Railroad. He d. Nov. 19, 1893. Ch. :
1. Josephine, b. -, 1880.
Eaton N., b. -, 1882.
II. Nathan Wheeler, b. July 28, 1846; drowned in Black River, Dec. 20, 1852.
DR. GRANVILLE KNIGHT, son of Aaron and Melinda (Patten) Knight, was b. in Limerick, Me., July 5, 1836. He came to Springfield in 1850, and studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. E. A. Knight, finishing his course at the medical department of Ver- mont University, Burling- ton, Vt. He began the practice of his profession in Enfield, Mass., in January, 1863. In April, 1867, he located in Springfield, where he soon acquired a large practice, and was one of the most trusted and successful physicians of the vicinity. Of a genial and social tem- perament, a keen observer in his practice, generous and obliging in all relations of life, he won for himself the confidence and highest esteem of a large circle of patrons. In 1888, his rides having become too hard and wearing, he sold his practice and residence to Dr. A. A. Haig, and removed to Malden, Mass., where he is DR. GRANVILLE KNIGHT. still a popular and successful practitioner (1894).
He m. Sept. 16, 1862, Addie II. Fay of Weathersfield. Ch. :
I. Herbert G., b. Aug. 16, 1866; a successful druggist in Wellesley, Mass.
II. Charles Adams, b. Oet. 17, 1875 ; d. -.
III. Frank H., b. Dec. 9, 1877.
C.K. LABAREE.
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
LABAN KNIGHT was one of the early settlers of this town, and located upon the farm afterwards owned by his son Samuel. He d. in 1855. His wife was Margaret Cummings, who d. in 1857.
NAHUM KNIGHT, son of Laban, was b. June 9, 1805; m. April 2, 1831, Sarah Williams, daughter of Isaac and Abigail (Kenney) Williams, b. in Springfield, Aug. 22, 1815. Nine children.
CHARLES K. LABAREE; son of William and Parthena Labaree, was b. in Hartland, Vt., Feb. 16, 1830. At the age of 14 began work in a woollen mill at Hartlaud, Vt., and worked in various mills for manufacture of woollen goods till 1849, when he came to Springfield to work for Holmes & Whit- more. In July, 1853, he bought the grocery business of Marble Putnam, then in the old Hotel Block, and managed so successfully that, after eighteen months, he formed a partnership with B. T. Lombard, and bought the dry goods and grocery business of B. F. Dana, the firm being C. K. Labaree & Co. After two years H. W. Thompson was taken into the company, and the firm became Labaree, Lombard & Co., which continued three years, the last two of which they did a cash business, with no ledger accounts.
At the end of three years Mr. Lombard sold his interest, and removed to West Randolph, and the firm then became Labaree & Thompson. In 1867 Mr. Thompson sold out to Mr. Labaree, who continued alone until 1871, wheu he sold to Carpenter & Green, and moved to Charlestown, N. H., going into the manufacture of boots and shoes with Briggs & Co. July 1, 1873, he re- moved to Webster, Mass., and was for a number of years iu the mercantile business for S. Slater & Sons, manufacturers, doing a very large business to the satisfaction of all. Later he engaged in business at Bellows Falls.
Mr. Labaree married Nov. 2, 1852, Alzina M. Royce of Royalton, Vt. Ch. :
' I. Ada M., b. in Springfield, July 4, 1857.
II. Ella Parthena, b. in Springfield, Dec. 12, 1863.
III. Charles William, b. in Springfield, July 9, 1869.
MAXIM LAFOUNTAINE, son of Peter and Katharine (Roseo) Lafountaine, b. in Canada, Oct. 19, 1827. He is a tailor, and has worked at his trade a great many years in Springfield. M. Aug. 19, 1847, Julia Parizo, b. in Can- ada, Jan. 6, 1832. Ch. :
I. Maxim, b. at Colchester, Aug. 19, 1848. He is a machinist, and is
. superintendent in the shop of the Parks & Woolson Machiue Co., where he has been many years. He m. July 24, 1871, Sophy Lonzo, b. at Winooski, May 8, 1848. Ch. :
1. Emma Sophy, b. May 11, 1872, at Winooski.
2. Augusta, b. June 21, 1873, at Winooski.
3. Maximilian Samuel, b. Sept. 29, 1874, at Springfield.
4. Julia Mary, b. Sept. 29, 1874, at Springfield.
5. Ida May, b. Jan. 11, 1876, at Springfield.
6. George Henry, b. Aug. 28, 1877, at Springfield.
7. Malvina, b. June 14, 1879, at Springfield.
8. Josephine, b. Jan. 13, 1881, at Springfield.
9. Edward James, b. Sept. 27, 1882; d. June 17, 1883.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
10. Eva Grace, b. May 25, 1884.
11. Florence Alida, b. July 20, 1886.
12. Edgar Edward, b. Dec. 3, 1888.
13. Richard Guy, b. Nov. 9, 1894.
II. Matilda, b. Dec. 30, 1849.
III. Joseph, b. March 2, 1851.
IV. William, b. Aug. 4, 1854 ; d. Jan. 2, 1856.
V. Charles, b. Aug. 14, 1856 ; d. June 9, 1858.
VI. Julia, b. March 10, 1858.
VII. Mary, b. Jan. 2, 1860.
VIII. Henry, b. April 1, 1862; m. Sarah MeIlvaine.
IX. Arminia, b. Sept. 1, 1863.
X. Francis, b. April 20, 1867.
XI. Albert, b. Sept. 10, 1868; m. Dec. 14, 1892, Helen Betsey Church of Chester. Ch .:
1. Mark Church, b. Nov. 23, 1893.
XII. Julia F., b. Feb. 1, 1870, at Springfield.
XIII. Sarah, b. Oct. 19, 1871.
XIV. Thomas P., b. July 1, 1873.
AUGUSTINE LANE, son of Amos and Luania (Amsden) Lane, was b. at Reading, Vt., Feb. 28, 1825 ; m. 1st, Sarah J. Piper ; she d. Jan. 24, 1870; m. 2d, Sarah A. (Allbe) Herrick, daughter of Lewis and Sarah K. (Thayer) Allbe. Ch. by Ist marriage :
I. Henry A., b. Jan, 7, 1849; d. Oct. 20, 1866.
II. Ida J., b. Jan. 7, 1855 ; d. July 9, 1862.
By 2d marriage :
III. Albert A., b. Oct. 11, 1872.
IV. Frank A., b. Oct. 30, 1876.
Everett Allbe Herrick, son of John S. and Sarah A. (Allbe) Herrick, was b. March 3, 1865; m. June 30, 1887, Marion L. Brown.
MERRILL L. LAWRENCE, son of Artemas and Patty K. (Woodburn) Law- rence, b. at Windham, Vt., June 14, 1841. He came to Springfield in 1853, and learned the machinist's trade, in the shop of Parks & Woolson, which he followed until 1863, working in Hartford, Conn., Keene, N. H., and Spring- field. Then studied vocal music two years, part of the time in Boston. He taught two years in the Genesee Wesleyan Institute, at Lima, N. Y ; then re- turned to Springfield, and was two years in the furniture business, the firm being Brown & Lawrence. During these years he held musical conventions in various towns of this State and New Hampshire. Afterwards was Deputy Sheriff, and employed as book-keeper by Parks & Woolson. In 1880 and 1881 he was in the livery business, under the firm name of Lawrence, Brink & Lovell. Later he entered into the insurance business, and is now of the firm of Lawrence & Wheeler, insurance and real estate agents. In 1883 he was elected to the office of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, and appointed Notary Public, which offices he still retains. For twenty-six years he has been continuously leader of the choir, and had charge of the music at the Congregational church. He m. July 8, 1867, Kate L. Locke, daughter of
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L
GED.H. WALKER & Co. LITH. BOSTON,
Abril L'Laurence
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
Oren and Naney (Williams) Locke, b. at Chester, March 19, 1847. She has been for many years organist at the Congregational church. Ch. :
I. Frederick Locke, b. Jan. 19, 1869; composer and teacher of music; graduated at Northwestern University, Chieago,-Ill., in 1887, taking a special course in music, during which time he was one year under the instruction of Prof. C. W. Eddy. He is now director of the Conservatory of Music at Claverack College, Claverack, N. Y. He m. Dec. 24, 1892, Marie Sehoonmaker.
II. Bertha Kate, b. Jan. 22, 1872 ; m. April 28, 1893, William H. Tinker. He is in the banking business at Chicago, Ill.
III. Jessie Merrill, b. Sept. 7, 1876; studied music at Conservatory of Clav- erack College, and was a pupil on violin of Emil Mahr of Boston.
IV. Aliee W., b. Feb. 10, 1880.
V. Russell L., b. May 19, 1892; d. Sept. 20, 1892.
WILLARD L. LAWRENCE, son of Artemas and Patty K. (Woodburn) Law- rence, was b. at Windham, Vt., Nov. 4, 1843; m. June 10, 1874, Mary E. Cutler, daughter of Enos B. and Adaline (Whitney) Cutler. Ch. :
I. Alvin W., b. at Brookline, Vt., Oct. 6, 1878.
II. Merrill E., b. at Brookline, Vt., July 20, 1880 ; d. April 24, 1893.
III. Willard C., b. at Springfield, Dec. 28, 1888.
SIMEON E. LATHAM, son of Harvey and Jemima (Ellis) Latham, was b. in Springfield, Jan 3, 1823 ; m. Sept. 4, 1843, Zilpha Dinsmore, daughter of James and Zilpha ('Taylor) Dinsmore, b. at Chester, Nov. 19, 1824; she d. -. Ch. :
I. Geraldine T., b. at Springfield, April 8, 1848; m. Sept. 4, 1865, George D. Decamp.
GRANVILLE A. LELAND, son of Otis and Nancy (Spaulding) Leland, was b. at Lowell, Vt., Feb. 17, 1830. He is a millwright by trade; res. at North Springfield ; m. May 28, 1857, Marcia G. Paine, daughter of James and Lucy (Ellison) Paine. Ch .:
I. Hattie J., b. Oct. 21, 1862, at Springfield.
II. Ida M., b. May 28, 1871, at Springfield.
WILBUR A. LEONARD, son of Jesse W. and Mary (Abbott) Leonard, was b. at Woodstock. He m. Jan, 6, 1885, Kate Knight, daughter of Lorenzo and Celestia (Austin) Knight. Ch .:
I. Gladys, b. at Windsor, April 28, 1887.
BENJAMIN LEWIS was b. in Sterling, Mass., July 24, 1789. He came to Springfield about 1810, and taught school. In 1814 he bought a farm in the west part of the town, now owned by Lyman Whiteomb. He m. Barbara G. Stimpson. She d. July 20, 1875. He d. April 20, 1877. Ch. :
I. George E., b. in Springfield, July 13, 1814. He is a clergyman, was ordained to preach in 1850, and for many years preached at the Reformed Methodist Church at West Springfield. He has travelled over many of the New England and Middle States, supplying pulpits of the denomination. He m. Mary Redfield of Springfield. Ch .:
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
1. Henry E., b. Jan. 3, 1840; a carpenter by trade; res. in Spring- field. He m. 1st, Jane Burbank; she d. Jan. 1, 1862; m. 2d, Feb. 8, 1865, Angeline Wyman.
2. John T., b. March 12, 1848. Served in the 9th and 11th Reg'ts Vermont Volunteers; he d. July 6, 1883; m. Sept. 28, 1873, Achsa Abbott.
II. Benjamin A., d. April 20, 1877.
III. Joseph S., d. in Springfield; left no children.
IV. Martha A., widow of Edward Davis; res. in Springfield.
V. Barbara Elizabeth (deceased), m. Samuel O. Walker.
VI. John Thomas, d. at sea.
VII. William A., b. in Springfield, and a well-known business man in the town. He served in Company D, 9th Reg't Ver- mont Volunteers, in the Re- bellion. Was for some years engaged in the manufacture of churns. Later, in com- pany with Dexter B. Lock- wood, he managed the freighting business, until lie sold out to William Love- land in 1894. He has dealt in lumber, and is at present a large dealer in coal. He m. Aug. 29, 1872, Lydia M. Lovejoy, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Austin) Lovejoy, b. in Weston, March 13, 1842.
WILLIAM A. LEWIS.
HENRY L. LEONARD, son of Eli and Clarissa (Ward) Leonard, was b. in Weathers- field, Oct. 23, 1841; m July 29, 1865, Emma J. Fairbanks, daughter of Edward and Emily J. (Randall) Fair- banks, b. in Springfield, July 25, 1847. Ch. :
I. Granville E., b. at Springfield, Sept. 18, 1867.
II. Alice G., b. at Springfield, March 7, 1870.
III. George H., b. at Springfield, April 28, 1876.
IV. Hattie E., b. at Springfield, June 29, 1882.
SAMUEL M. LEWIS, son of Ephraim and Lois (Ransom) Lewis, was b. in 1765, and came to Springfield about 1792, probably from Hartford, Conn. His
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
father, Ephraim Lewis, was a graduate of Yale College, a teacher and mer- chant in Colchester, Conn., and came to Springfield with his son. He d. July 18, 1808.
Samuel M. Lewis was a carpenter by trade. He built Gen. Lewis R. Morris's house, and assisted in building the first Congregational meeting-house. With David Seymour and Lester Fling, he built, in 1798, a gristmill where the present mill of Cobb & Derby stands. About this time he also built a house for himself, where that of F. G. Ellison stands, and he had an office on the site of the Methodist church. He was a large land-owner, and with his part- ner, David Seymour, bought of Gen. Morris a part of the land on the east side of the river, where the village was built. In 1801 he was chosen town clerk, and held the office seventeen years, and he was for thirteen years one of the selectmen. He was also justice of the peace, and did a large amount of town business in the most satisfactory manner. Next to Simeon Stevens, he was probably the most prominent business man of those times. He d. in 1827, aged 62.
He m. Nov. 23, 1803, Nancy Oakes of Springfield. Ch. :
I. Samuel Seymour, b. Sept. 4, 1804, was an Episcopal clergyman in Mobile, Ala.
II. George Worthington, b. July 1, 1806, was a merchant in Boston.
III. Isaac Matthew, b. Sept. 5, 1808; m. Leura Hoskins, and settled on the farm now owned by C. Horace Hubbard. For twenty-five years he was deacon of the Congrega- tional church. Late in life he sold his farm and lived on Seminary Hill. He d. Nov. 26, 1866. An adopted daughter :
1. Minerva E. Lewis, m. Curtis Taylor; res. in Springfield.
IV. Nancy, b. Sept. 14, 1811, unm .; d. April 21, 1847.
ASA LANGSFORD was one of the earliest settlers west of Seminary Hill. Mr. Isaac Howe says that he lived in
CHARLES A. LELAND.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
a house that stood not far from where his father, Daniel Howe, lived, but the house was gone before his remembrauce. He knows where it was, and the spring, which was stoned up, is still to be seen.
CHARLES A. LELAND, son of Joshua and Betsey (Boynton) Leland, was b. at Baltimore, Vt., Nov. 15, 1832. He came to Springfield in 1866, and was for a time in business at the North Village. In 1882 he bought the stock of goods of Cobb & Derby, and in company with his son, George F., has since carried on an extensive trade in dry goods, groceries, and general merchan- dise. Later they bought the block of Randall & Heury, added another story, and now have a fine store and residence in the same building.
He m. March 24, 1867, Susan Farnham, daughter of John and Mary (Parker) Farnham, b. in Springfield, April 25, 1833. Ch .:
I. George F., b. Jan. 25, 1858. Now in trade with his father, under the
GEORGE F. LELAND.
firm name of C. A. Leland & Son. He is a thorough business man, possessing the con- fidence and esteem of his townsmen. He has been honored with posi- tions of trust, and rep- resented the town in the Legislature of 1892. He m. Nov. 8, 1881, Nellie Pierce, daughter of Edson X. and Mary (Barrett) Pierce. Ch. : 1. Arthur F., b. Aug. 28, 1886.
2. Mary Alida, b. June 20, 1890.
AZOTUS LITCHFIELD, son of Capt. Daniel Litchfield, came to Springfield in 1816, from Scituate, Mass., and bought a farm of his brother Josiah, in the west part of the town. Afterward moved to Ticonderoga, N. Y. He m. Mercy Cudworth of Co- hasset, Mass., who d. June 21, 1839. Five children. He
m. 2d, Mary Jenkins, who d. July 12, 1849, aged 44. Ch. : I. Thirsa Janc, b. in 1842.
JOSIAH LITCHFIELD, son of Capt. Daniel Litchfield, was born in 1777. His father was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and a prominent citizen of Scituate, Mass. He was representative of the town seven years in the Gen-
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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.
eral Court of Massachusetts. Josiah came to this town with Perez Whit- comb from Scituate, about 1798, and they bought the Smiley place, lately owned by Smith K. Randel. They afterward sold this, and bought a lot of wild land in the west part of the town, and divided it, Mr. Litchfield building where Otis Spurr now lives, and Mr. Whitcomb taking the farm lately oc- cupied by Cushing Whitcomb. About 1817 Mr. Litchfield sold his farm to his brother Azotus, and moved on to the hill where Perez Whitcomb now lives, where he died in 1849, aged 72.
He m. Abigail Litchfield, and they had eight children, two of whom died young.
I. James, b. 1796, in Scituate, Mass .; m. Orpha Aldrich, and went to Patten, Canada. Eight children.
II. Alden, b. Aug. 20, 1798, in Scituate, Mass .; m. Mrs. McClintock. Three children.
He and James Litchfield cleared the farm where James Whitcomb now lives, and built the house. Alden afterwards moved to Pittsford, Vt.
III. Martin, b. Oct. 15, 1799 ; m. Oct. 27, 1828, Sally Aldrich, daughter of Benjamin Aldrich of Springfield, a woman who for intelligence and business capacity had no superior and few equals among those of her own sex.
They first located on the farm where Foster Piper now lives, and after moved to the farm occupied by Enoch Wetherbee, living on the north side of the farm, in a house that has since been torn down. They accumulated a large property, and later moved to Aus- tin, Minn., where their children had settled. Mr. Litchfield is still living (1889) at the age of 90 years. They had five ch. :
1. William. 2. Sarah.
3. Abbie.
4. Franklin B.
5. George.
All well educated and successful teachers, several of them graduates of colleges and prominent in the town of their adoption.
IV. Sarah, b. 1802; m. Olney Bates, and lived in Springfield. Four chil- dren living.
V. Daniel, b. 1810; m. Luthera Estabrook; now lives in Westmore, Vt. Large family of children.
VI. Ansolum, b. March 14, 1814; m. March 14, 1839, Abigail Bates, daughter of James Bates, and lived on the homestead with his father. He was very successful as a farmer, making a business of fattening cattle. He secured a competency, and in 1860 he sold his farm and moved into the village, having bought a house on Seminary Hill. March 14, 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield celebrated their golden wedding, and received the congratulations of. a large number of friends and relations. Ch. :
1. Abbie, b. April 30, 1841; m. Merrill Hulett. 'Two children.
Abbie m. 2d, George Marrs. One child. They live in Indian Territory.
2. Carrie, b. April 28, 1862; m. Will F. Stone; res. in Springfield. Ansolum Litchfield d. April 16, 1893; his wife d. July 12, 1892.
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN
JAMES LITCHFIELD came to Springfield in 1792 from Scituate, Mass., and settled near Pudding Hill, west of where Parker Grimes now lives, where he built a log house and went to farming. After the road was opened in 1798, he bought more land of John Barrett and extended his farm to the road, and built the house where Horace Rumrill now lives. In 1802 he sold to James Taylor, and bought a farm of Lewis & Seymour, on what was then called " Pine Hill," where Lincoln Ellis now lives, and here spent the rest of his life. He d. May 29, 1856, respected and mourned by all.
He m. Rebecca Bates, daughter of Levi Bates, who d. July. 26, 1854, aged 80. Ch. :
I. Lilla, b. Sept. 1, 1792; m. Nov. 13, 1808, Gad Bisbee.
II. Fanny, b. Oct. 29, 1794; d. in infancy.
III. Joanna, b. Jan. 5, 1797 ; m. June 27, 1823, Lettis Randall, and lived on the homestead, near Pudding Hill. She d. April 13, 1880.
IV. Otis B. Litchfield, b. Aug. 22, 1798, in the log house built by his father near Pudding Hill. He attended the district school until eighteen years of age, then taught school winters, and worked on the farm summers: He afterwards had a store at the North Village, with . one Frost. . This store was burned, and Mr. Litchfield took charge of his father's farm on the hill, where Lincoln Ellis now lives, and after a useful and industrious life, he d. Sept. 2, 1868.
Before the days of cheese factories, the Windsor County Agricul- tural Society offered a premium of $10 for the best six cheese made by any one family in the county. Mr. Litchfield, well knowing that his wife's cheese was unsurpassed, selected six, and carried them to the fair. The committee began testing the different entries in that department by boring in the usual way, and, after sampling, replaced the part taken out so the cheese would look as before. When they reached Mr. Litchfield's they found him waiting with a long-bladed cheese knife, and asking the committee to select a fair sample, he cut it in quarters, saying, " This is the way to sam- ple cheese," and then distributed generous slices to those standing by, as well as to each of the committee, not forgetting to eat a large slice himself. All were unanimous in the verdict that it was " A No. 1," and the premium was taken in triumph by Mr. Litch- field.
He was a man of sound judgment, and his ability was recognized. He was lister a number of years, and justice of the peace, and his opinions on all town and business matters were held in great re- spect. He possessed an active mind and great conversational powers, and it was his custom to " lay down the law " on matters in gen- eral to those of smaller capacity and less self-confidence. He had a strong voice, and was very willing to do all the talking. If he was somewhat dictatorial in his discourses, it might be explained by the undisputed assent with which his oracles had long been re- ceived. Occasionally, however, he would meet an opponent who had not the usual respect for his opinions. " But e'en though van- quished, he could argue still." He used large quantities of snuff,
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