History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record, Part 38

Author: Hubbard, C. Horace (Charles Horace); Dartt, Justus
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Boston : G.H. Walker & Co.
Number of Pages: 756


USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Springfield > History of the town of Springfield, Vermont : with a genealogical record > Part 38


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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CHARLES SANDERS, son of Levi and Betsey (Lewis) Sanders, was b. in Weathersfield.


He came to Springfield in 1840, learned the cabinet-maker's trade in the shop of Horace Hawkins, and continued to manufacture furniture until 1872, and then was engaged in the furniture trade up to 1893, when he retired from busi- ness. He m. Augusta Brown, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Stocker) Brown. Mr. Sanders bought the fine homestead of the late Frederick A. Por- ter, and having thoroughly repaired and improved it, made it his home. Ch. :


I. Nellie A., b. June 11, 1850; m. Geo. H. Burke, Nov. 27, 1871. (See Burke family.)


II. Grace V., b. Aug. 15, 1852; m. John Hart; d. -.


III. Abby C., b. Sept. 26, 1856; m. Isaac L. Dodge. Ch. :


1. Clinton W.


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


DR. LANGDON SAWYER, son of Joseph and Ruth (Page) Sawyer, was b. in Newport, N. H., Sept. 7, 1815, and was educated at the academies of Unity, Newport, and Hopkinton. He studied medicine with Dr. J. L. Swett of New- port, and graduated at the Castleton, Vt., Medical College in 1843. He was one year in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York and in the hospital of the city, and in 1844 began the practice of medicine in Springfield, where he continued in his profession for thirty-five years, until his death, Nov. 8, 1879.


In early life he was a successful teacher, and always retained his interest in educational matters. He worked vigorously to have the graded system in- troduced into the schools of Springfield village, and for several years was a member of the School Board. He had a great love for his profession, and was ever ready to aid in anything he thought would prove for its advance- ment; was one of those who organized the Connecticut River Valley Medical Association, and at one time was honored with the presidency of the Associa- tion. The honorary degree of M. D. was conferred upon him by the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1869. He united with the Congrega- tional church in 1867.


Dr. Sawyer was successful in his practice, had a large and lucrative busi- ness, and the respect and confidence of the community.


He first married Marcia Smith, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth Smith of Springfield, who d. March 29, 1862. They had three children; two d. in in- fancy and the oldest, Frank P., d. April 22, 1864, at the age of eight years.


His second wife was Sarah G. Gregg, daughter of Dr. James A. Gregg of Newport, N. H., who is still living (1894). Ch. :


I. Helen Frances, b. May 4, 1865 ; m. George Earle.


II. Frederick Langdon, b. Aug. 12, 1867.


III. William Gregg, b. July 10, 1869.


IV. George, b. April 26, 1871.


SAMUEL SCOTT, one of the pioneers with Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, and others, came in 1763, and settled on the Crown Point Road not far from where Colman Haskins now lives.


He was one of the seven signers of the call for the first town meeting, and the second representative of the town in the State Legislature, in 1778. He m. Mrs. Abigail Taylor, who had one daughter, Isabella Taylor, who afterwards became the wife of Simon Stevens. He was one of the early members of the Congregational church, uniting in 1805, by letter from the church in Weathersfield.


He and his wife were cared for in their old age by David Stimpson, who accepted their property for their support. He was an officer in the militia, and had the title of captain.


He d. Oct. 2, 1814, aged 84 years, and was buried in the cemetery near the common. His wife d. March 20, 1814, aged 86.


JOSEPH SELDEN, son of Joseph and Susannah (Smith) Selden, was b. in Haddam, Conn., Dec. 23, 1772, and was the sixth in line from Thomas Selden, an English emigrant who settled in Hartford, Conn., in 1630.


When a young man he became clerk in the store of Eleazer May of West-


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


minster, Vt., and so much confidence was placed in him that he was sent to Springfield with a stock of goods to open a store, and in 1792 or 1793 he occupied a store adjoining the tavern of Roger Bates, on the Ellis farm, now owned by H. M. Arms.


In 1796 he bought land above the common, and in 1798 made a purchase which included the place now owned by H. T. Boutell, and extending to the river and south as far as the bridge.


He was a useful and consistent member of the Congregational church, and was chosen deacon in 1814, and held the office more than forty years.


He had the respect of all who knew him, was eighteen years treasurer of the town, and in 1810 the representative to the Legislature of the State. He sold his property in the village and moved to "Selden Hill," so called, in the west part of the town, in later life, and d. Dec. 22, 1855, aged 83. He m. Huldah Bates, daughter of Roger Bates, Aug. 17, 1794. She d. Nov. 15, 1848, aged 72. Ch. :


I. Fanny, b. Aug. 31, 1806; m. Sept. 22, 1831, Salmon Whitcomb, son of Perez and Priscilla (Litchfield) Whitcomb. (See Whitcomb family.)


II. James B., b. 1816; d. March 5, 1837.


THOMAS SEXTON, son of Michael and Margaret (Corbett) Sexton, was b. in Ireland, Dec. 29, 1837 ; m. Oct. 26, 1856, Ann Brady of Springfield. Ch. :


I. John H., b. Jan. 20, 1858.


II. Mary A., b. Nov. 11, 1860.


III. Katie E., b. Sept. 6, 1861.


IV. Edna, b. May 6, 1863 ; m. Feb. 14, 1886, Timothy O'Leary.


V. Edward, b. May 6, 1863; d. Oct. 8, 1864.


VI. Alice, b. Jan. 22, 1865; m. Oct. 5, 1886, Michael Tully.


VII. Thomas, b. Dec. 9, 1867 ; in grocery business in Springfield.


VIII. Frank, b. Aug. 24, 1871.


IX. George.


X. Martin.


DAVID SEYMOUR, b. in 1769, son of Israel Seymour, was a descendant of Richard Seymour, who settled in Hartford, Conn., before 1639. He was a civil engineer, carpenter, and bridge builder. He came to Springfield about 1792, with Samuel M. Lewis. He built a house between the present residence of James Whitney and Thomas J. Olney, where he lived. He was killed July 15, 1806, by falling from a bridge he was building over the east branch of the Oswegatchie River, at Hamilton, Ont., and buried in the cemetery near Ogdensburgh.


He m. in 1793, Nancy, daughter of Levi Nichols. Ch. :


I. George N., b. 1794.


II. Harriett, b. 1797.


III. Isaac, b. 1798.


IV. David Lewis, b. 1801.


V. Nancy A., b. 1805.


Isaac and David settled in Peekskill, N. Y., and both rose to prominence.


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


CHARLES F. SHELDON, son of William and Bedy Ann (Tolles) Sheldon, was b. in Weathersfield, Vt., Jan. 7, 1843.


Began selling goods on the road for F. & F. Rice of Boston iu 1870, and fol- lowed the business until 1892, when he opened a store in Springfield in com- pany with George H. Dodge, under the firm name of C. F. Sheldon & Co. The firm is now (1894) Sheldon & Witt. During the twenty-one years as commercial traveller he sold goods for F. & F. Rice, Saville, Somes & Co., and Martin Hall & Co., all of Boston.


Soon after eugaging as commercial traveller Mr. Sheldon purchased the David M. Smith homestead in Springfield, made extensive repairs and altera- tions, and fitted up a fine residence, where he has since resided.


He m. Jan. 2, 1866, Jane Elizabeth Henry of Perkinsville, Vt., daughter of Hyren and Caroline (Parker) Henry, b. Dec 1, 1844.


CHARLES P. SHERWIN,. son of Stephen P. and Mary M. ('Tarbell) Sherwin, was b. in Ludlow, Vt., May 20, 1851; m. Sept. 6, 1868, Estelle D. Cox, daughter of Benjamin and Delia R. (Edson) Cox. Ch. :


I. Benjamin F., b. Nov. 11, 1870.


II. Perry E., b. Dec. 8, 1873.


III. Ernest R., b. Jan. 10, 1878.


IV. Myron C., b. June 7, 1881.


V. Elwell E., b. March 13, 1884.


SOLON SHERWIN, son of Jonathan and Margaret (Christy) Sherwin, was b. in Grafton, Vt., Sept. 18, 1830. He worked for many years for the firm of Ellis, Britton & Eaton, afterward the Vermont Novelty Works Co. He m. Ist, May 10, 1855, Frances Kidder. She d. -. He m. 2d, June 4, 1862, Emma Goodnough, daughter of Henry G. and Sarah Goodnough, b. in Grafton, Vt. Ch. :


I. Solon Christy, b. in Grafton, Vt., July 8, 1856; m. Aug. 7, 1886, Anna E. Baldwin. ..


REV. ISAIAH H. SHIPMAN was b. Oct. 15, 1810, in a farmhouse in Westmin- ster, Vt.


When six years of age he removed with his parents to Andover, where he attended the common schools, and grew up into farm life until he was eight- een. He was said to have been a wide-awake young man, full of life and en- ergy, fond of society, fun-loving aud good-natured.


In 1834 he came to North Springfield, where he worked at his trade, shoe- maker. While a resideut of that place he was converted through the preaching of William Huuter, a Christian Baptist minister, whom he went on purpose to hear in Woodstock. The following year he married Charlotte R. Cook, at the age of twenty-five years. In his thirtieth year he was ordained as minister, and at once took charge of the Christian Baptist Church at North Springfield. A revival soon followed, which was the characteristic result of his labors throughout his ministry. About this time, under the preaching of Mr. Will- iam Miller, he became interested in the Advent doctrine of the second coming of Christ, and ever after was a firm believer. This resulted in his becoming pastor of the Advent Church at Sugar Hill, N. H., where he remained some twenty-three years. He spent one year at Worcester, Mass., two at Water-


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


A.LITTLE.


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


bury, and once or twice went south on account of failing health. The last years of his life were spent at Lisbon, N. H., where he died in April, 1882, aged seventy-two years.


JOHN A. SLACK, youngest child and only son of John and Hannah (Taylor) Slack, was b. in Springfield, Dec. 28, 1818. His father purchased the farm on which John A. now resides, and settled on the same in 1805. It is pleasantly situated on the west side of Black River, and is now known as " Riverview." The daughters of John and Hannah (Taylor) Slack were: Sally, who d. single ; Emily (deceased), m. Stephen P. Cady of West Windsor; Pluma, a widow, res. in Clinton, Iowa; Hannah (deceased), m. John W. Heath. John A. Slack, after attending the district school, became a student at Kimball Union Academy, at Meriden, N. H.


His early life was spent on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-one he went to Lowell, Mass., and was for about two years employed in the carding-room of the Tremont Cotton Mills in that city. Returning to Spring- field he carried on farming besides working in the cotton mill of Fullerton & Martin. In 1846 he learned the machinist trade, and has since been engaged with the Parks & Woolson Machine Co.


An old-time Whig in politics, he cast his first presidential vote for General William Henry Harrison. Since the organization of the Republican party he has always voted that ticket. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for about fifty years.


Mr. Slack m. 1st, Jan. 1. 1843, at Lowell, Mass., Mary A. McAllister, a native of Fryeburg, Me. Ch. :


I. William H. H. (See sketch.)


II. Eliza A., b. Nov. 12, 1845; in. Sept. 8, 1864, James P. Way.


III. Frances, A., b. Aug. 27, 1848 ; m. Prof. J. W. Freley of Wells College, Aurora, N. Y.


IV. Mary E., b. April 6, 1855; m. W. R. Jacobs.


V. John T., b. Aug. 3, 1857; m. Lilla Bowman Springfield. He is W. H. H. SLACK. a member of the firm of W. H. H. Slack & Brother.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


VI. Effie H., b. Oct. 3, 1859; m. Elmer T. Merritt; res. in Springfield.


Mr. Slack m. 2d, Mrs. Jane C. (Kights) Jacobs; and was m. 3d, Junne 1, 1881, to Emma M. Cady of Springfield.


W. H. H. SLACK, son of John A. and Mary (McAllister) Slack, was b. Feb. 21, 1844. After attending the district, schools he finished his education at Springfield Wesleyan Seminary. His boyhood was spent on his father's farm. At the age of cighteen he enlisted in Co. E, 16th Reg't Vermont Volunteers, and was mustered out in the fall of 1863. Previous to his enlist- ment he had commenced to learn the trade of machinist with his father, who was then engaged with Parks & Woolson, and on returning from the war he continued his trade and remained in the employ of the company until 1871. At this time he began, at his present location, the manufacture of shoddy and flocks, and has successfully continued the business to the present time (1894).


Mr. Slack has also been connected with many of the other successful enter- prises of the town. He has always taken great interest in all that pertains to the prosperity and advancement of his native place.


He was the first commander of Jarvis Post, No. 43, G. A. R., and has been honored with appointments from two national commanders of the order; was aide-de-camp with the rank of colonel on Major William Warner's staff, and assistant inspector general on Col. Wheelock Veazey's staff. In politics Mr. Slack has always been a worker in the Republican ranks, and has been called by his fellow- citizens to positions of trust ; was the representative of Springfield in the Legis- lature of 1888, and chairman of the committee on military affairs during that session. He was aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Carroll S. Page in 1890.


He m. 1st, Nellie L. Wyman, daughter of Hiram F. and Lucia A. (Wilson) Wyman. Shed. Jan. 2, 1877. Ch. :


1. H. Carleton, b. Nov. 17, 1869; was ed- ucated at the Springfield High School and Ver- mont Academy, Saxton's River. He studied vocal music with Ivan Moraw-


ALLEN L. SLADE.


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


ski of Boston, later at Florence, Italy, with Signor Vincenzo Vannini, and at Paris, France, with Signor Sbriglia. He is now teacher of vocal music in Boston, Mass.


2. Walter W., b. Aug. 9, 1876.


Mr. Slack m. 2d, Anna M. Corbet, July 7, 1879. Ch. :


3. J. Milton, b. Sept. 26, 1883.


4. Virginia F., b. Aug. 12, 1893.


ALLEN L. SLADE, son of Ora and Lucia (Dean) Slade, was b. in Winhall, Vt., Sept. 27, 1837. He has occupied positions of trust; is now on the Board of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor. He. m. March 4, 1862, Ellen E., daughter of William S. and Oril G. (Wood) Wolfe. Ch. :


I. Carrie E., b. in Rockingham, Feb. 23, 1863; m. Jan. 5, 1884, Fred C. Hammond. Ch. :


1. George.


2. Ruth.


II. Harry A., b. in Rockingham, Sept. 20, 1864; druggist in Montpelier.


III. Alice F., b. in Arlington,"Vt., June 27, .1870; m. Clarence Higgins. Ch .:


1. Ned.


GEORGE M. SLADE, son of Franklin and Esther (Woodard) Slade, was b. in Springfield, May 9, 1854; is a carpenter. He m. Jan. 1, 1883, Amelia Gris- wold, daughter of Norman and Lucy J. (Davis) Griswold. Ch. :


I. Frank C., b. March 13, 1884.


II. Harry N., b. June 2, 1885.


III. Agnes M., b. Aug. 16, 1887.


DANIEL W. STAPLES, m. Mary H. Perham. He served in Co. D, 9th Reg't Vermont Volunteers, in the Rebellion.


OTTO N. STAPLES, daughter of Daniel W. and Mary H. (Perhamn) Staples, was b. Feb. 7, 1859, at Charlestown, N. H .; m. Emma D. Siemsen. Ch. :


I. Mary H., b. April 19, 1886, in Linden, Cal.


SMITH FAMILY.


NATHAN SMITH and his wife Rebecca became settlers in Shirley, Mass., in the early part of the eighteenth century. Rebecca d., and was buried in the old cemetery at the centre of the town in Shirley.


He m. for his second wife Mary Jupp, who d., his widow, Dec. 14, 1826. It is not known where Nathan Smith died.


He had seven children, who in order of birth were, Nathan, Sylvanus, Ephraim, Ezra, Anna, Daniel, and Priscilla.


Four of these sons, Nathan, Sylvanus, Ephraim and Ezra, were in the Revo- lutionary War, enlisting from Shirley in the early part of 1777, and serving in the 15th Reg't, which was recruited from Worcester and Middlesex Counties, and assisted in the capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga, endured the sufferings at Valley Forge, fought on the plains of Monmouth, and participated in the crown- ing glory of Yorktown.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


Nathan also made himself conspicuous as a leader in the Shays Rebellion.


Capt. Sylvanus was a member of the Society of Cincinnati, established by the commissioned officers of the American army in 1783. He built the first dam across the Nashua River at what is now called Mitchelville Dam in Ayer, Mass.


He was b. in 1740; m. Agnes Moore of Boylston, and had seven children : Sylvanus, Ruth, Hugh, Lucy, Daniel, Jerusha, and Agnes.


Hugh, the third son, was b. at Shirley, July 23, 1769. Soon after becoming of age he moved to Springfield, Vt. His youngest brother Daniel accompanied him and settled in Hartland, Vt.


Hugh Smith m. Betsey Tower, and they had nine children :


I. Sylvanus, b. in 1804 (dead).


II. Isaac Tower, b. in 1806 (dead).


III. Hiram Moore, b. in 1809; lives in Richmond, Va.


IV. Elizabeth Louise, b. in 1812 (dead).


V. Amelia, b. in 1814 (dead).


VI. Hugh, b. in 1817 (dead).


VII. Jerusha, b. in 1819 (dead).


VIII. Marcia, b. in 1821 (dead).


IX. Daniel, b. in 1823; lives in Illinois.


Hiram Moore Smith, third son of Capt. Hugh Smith, was b. in Spring- field on the farm known as the Capt. Smith place, now owned by Levi R.White. When about fifteen years old he induced his father to let him learn to be a machinist, and he entered a shop of his uncle, Noah Safford, under a promise to earn the sum of six dollars a month. In about one year he commenced with a carpenter and assisted in building a church in Chester. He then went to Richmond, Va., and in a few months was the foreman in Jabez Parker's machine shop, and after Parker's death became the proprietor of the establishment he had helped to become conspicuous.


Ile was doing a very successful business up to the time of the seces- sion of the Southern States. He made the fuses for the first shells fired at Fort Sumter. He m. Dec. 26, 1837, Elizabeth Ames of Albemarle County, Va. His wife was also b. in Springfield, Vt., but they first inet in Richmond. They had seven children :


1. Elizabeth Victoria, b. in 1838.


2. Isaac Tower, b. in 1841 (dead).


3. Virginia Willey, b. in 1843.


4. Mary Evelyn, b. in 1846; m. I. S. Tower.


5. Charles Moore, b. in 1851 (dead).


6. Frederika Marx, b. in 1856.


7. Henry Maston, b. in 1859.


The youngest, Henry Maston Smith, is the Commonwealth Attorney for the city of Richmond, Va.


JESSE STEADMAN, b. Dec. 14, 1781, in Ashburnham, Mass., son of David Steadman, who settled in Chester, Vt., in 1794. He obtained a good education, and for a time taught schoool. He engaged in business in Chester with


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


HIRAM M. SMITH.


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


Barnard & Sheldon, and came to Springfield in 1847. He m. Sarah Ingrahanı of Chester. After her death he in. Eliza Burton of Springfield.


On the 4th of July, 1864, after making a speech at a picnic in Springfield, he sat down and almost immediately expired. The bier was brought from the cemetery near by, his body wrapped in the national flag was placed thereon, and a long procession of nearly all present followed the deceased to the house which he had left but an hour before in apparent health. Thus died in the eighty-second year of his age, an honest, intelligent, and industrious towns- man, a man of extensive reading, a strong temperance man, an able politician, and an abolitionist of the Garrison school.


In a brief letter of regret, in answer to an invitation to a public dinner in Chester in 1837, he wrote this toast :.


"Martin Van Buren; the wonder of the age; the world has not produced his like since the days of Haman.


" Like Haman he seeks to be honored.


"Like Haman may he be exalted."


SIMON STEVENS was the most prominent of the early settlers of Spring- field.


He was b. in Canterbury, Conn., Dec. 5, 1736, was a soldier in the French and Indian War, and was taken prisoner by the Indians on Lake George iu 1758 and carried to Oswego and Onondaga. After three attempts he finally escaped, and travelled alone hundreds of miles through the forests with no guide but a pocket compass, protecting himself from the wild beasts and Indians as best he could. This experience, together with his courage and other noble traits of character, admirably fitted him to be the leading man in the early settlement of this town.


Some of his papers fortunately have been preserved, and from these we learn the main facts of his history. His name appears on the roll of Capt. Johnson's company of Rangers, and though this paper has no date, it states that Capt. Johnson died of his wounds, and another paper gives the " names of Capt. Simon Stevens's company present in camp," and as most of the names are the same as those on the roll of Capt. Johnson's company, we are led to infer that after the death of Capt. Johnson, Simon Stevens took the command. It is believed that Capt. Stevens and his company were with Col. Goffe, and were the pioneers in cutting the Crown Point Road. The first camping ground of the soldiers was under the west side of what is now called "Camp Hill " on the flat south of the town buildings.


It was here that Mr. Stevens located in 1762, after his term of service in the army expired. Tradition has it that he selected the place when cutting the road in 1760.


Mr. Stevens was the first constable in the town, and issued the call for the first town meeting to organize the town in 1764, by direction of seven of the inhabitants, as given elsewhere, and at this meeting was chosen first select- man, with Abner Bisbec second, and Jehiel Simmons constable. At a meeting of the proprietors of Springfield, held in Northampton, June 18, 1764, these. men, Stevens, Bisbee, and Simmons, were appointed acommittee and empow- ered " in behalf of the proprietors to receive possession of the lands in the


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OF SPRINGFIELD, VT.


said township of Springfield which the said proprietors have recovered judg- ment for, and title and possession of; and also to receive the possession of any lands in said Springfield, which the said proprietors shall recover judg- ment for, and title and possession of hereafter." By this we understand that these three men were to have the care and management of all the lands owned by the proprietors in the town. At a meeting of the proprietors, held in Springfield, at the block-house, Aug. 27, 1771, Simon Stevens was moderator, and John Barrett clerk. At that meeting Simon Stevens, Abner Bisbee, and John Barrett were appointed to survey and lay out the fourth division of lots in the town. At this time Mr. Stevens had built a frame house and kept a tavern. There were then but three framed houses in town, and twenty-seven families, mostly on or near Crown Point Road. Soon after the organization of the town Mr. Stevens was appointed justice of the peace, and was ever after known as Esquire Stevens. This title comported better with the dig- nity of his character than any other of the half score, both military and civil, that he afterward received. It was to him that the young men and maid- ens came to be married in those days of the absence of any minister. He carefully kept a record of these marriages in-a book which is among the pa- pers preserved. '


He received a commission from Sir Henry Moore, Governor of New York, as captain of the 8th Company of Foot for the regiment of which Thomas Chand- ler of Chester was colonel. He was chosen colonel of the Upper Regiment of Cumberland County in 1775, and among his papers is a list of the officers of this regiment in his handwriting. In 1776 he was appointed major of the brigade of the militia of Cumberland and Gloucester Counties, and commis- sioned by the convention of New York. Possessing the confidence of the proprietors and the people, he was chosen to nearly all the offices and posi- tions of honor in their gift, and by his integrity of character and great indus- try he contributed in a large degree to the happiness and prosperity of the town.


He was first married Nov. 22, 1767, to Isabella Taylor, daughter of the wife of Samuel Scott by her first husband. She d. Jan. 11, 1771, aged nineteen years, and left one son, Simon Stevens, Jr.


Mr. Stevens's second wife was Lydia Silsby of Acworth, N. H., who died Feb. 20, 1781, aged 34, also leaving one son, Silsby Stevens.


He was again married to Anna Field of Springfield, who d. Sept. 27, 1832, aged 86 years.


There was one son by the last marriage, Major John Stevens, who was a physician, and lived in Springfield, was one of the promoters of the first li- brary in town. He m. Fanny Nichols, daughter of Levi Nichols. He d. April 28, 1833, aged 45 years. Six children.


In the year 1800 Esquire Stevens built a large two-story brick house where once stood his log cabin, and lived there till his death. His place was pur- chased for a town farm, and the house was burned in 1862, after coming into possession of the town.


He early espoused the cause of Christ, and was active in organizing the first church in town, of which he was an honored member. He d. Feb. 18, 1817, in


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HISTORY OF THE TOWN


the eighty-first year of his age, aud was buried in the village cemetery, where a stone with the following inscription marks his grave :


" Deus ipse jubet te meminisse mortis .*


" Simon Stephens, Esq., was b. in Canterbury, Conn., Dec. 5, 1736. He was taken prisoner by the Indians on Lake George in 1758, carried from thence to Oswego and Onondaga, where he resided more than a year, and after enduring many hardships made his escape.


" He settled in this town in 1762, was captain in 1776, brigade major in the Revolutionary War, and lieutenant colonel under the Governor of this State. He was a member of the Provincial Congress, first justice of the peace in this town, which office he sustained more than fifty years, and several years represented the town in the general assembly. He early professed the religion of Christ, walked upright, and on the 18th of February, 1817, exchanged his life for a more glorious immortality."




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