The Newtown bee., 1889-02-08

Three score years and ten is the allot-
ted length of Mans days. Compared
with the vast aggregate of mankind, how
few surpass it! When one more decade
has passed over his head and he has
reached the ripe old age of so, his friends
are justified in speaking of his age with
veneration. Each succeeding year whit
ems his hair and burrows his brow, but
makes him more and more patriarch.
When mans life has been spent in the
peaceful pursuits of business life and
toll, crowned with the success which ac-
companies and requites persistent, well
directed labor, he may well be content to
spend the eqenlng of Life in quiet, as
sured that his work is fnishe d and that
the good that he has done will live after
him. With some men, however, the
habit of daily labor Is 80 strong that,
even in old age, they continue their bus
mess.
Such man il Horace Staples Of West
port, who celebrated his SSth birthday,
Thursday, January 81 and who dis
charges his daily duties rs president of
the First National bank Of Westport.
Vigorous in mind and body, enjoying ex-
cellent health and continuing the simple
ways of living for which he has always
been noted, there Is no reason why he
should not enjoy many more years of
active and useful life.
Horace Staples was born in the parish
of Greenfield Hill, January 81, 1902. He
was the second child and eldest son of
John and Patty (Banks) Staples. Both
father and grandfather were deacons in
the Greenfield Hill church, two and a
half miles northeast of which they lived.
Dea John Staples, jr, had four children:
Deborah, named after her grandfather's
grandmother, who flourished early in the
18th century. The first Deborah is said
to have accompanied the devoted band
of pilgrims who, in 1920, disembarked
from the Mayflower and landed on Plym-
outh's desolate shore. The second Deb
orah married Nathaniel Sllliman of East
ON In 1924. His death, about 10 years
ago, resulted from injuries received in an
accident. A son, Charles Silliman, was
member of the last Legislature; Hor-
ace, spoken of elsewhere; Sidney, about
two and n half years younger thru Hor-
ace. He lives in Easton, is deacon in the
Baptist church Alonzo, five years young
err than Horace, lives within n stones
throw of the old place at Greenfield HILL
After he was ten years old, Horace
Staples attended school but little; none
at all in the Summer and but part OF
the Winter. Neither grammar nol
geography were taught. Mr. Staples at
tended the school taught by Bryant GLOW
err, the best district school teacher in tho
vicinity and was for 40 days pupil o.
William Bibbins, then teacher of the OLE
Greenfield Hill Academy. He had NJ
other education, save that acquired b!
diligent and judicious reading. NJ
Staples spent six years teaching, tire
on Long Island and three at Greenfield
Hill. He was 81 years old when he wen
10 Long Island TO teach and he spent
year at home after his six years as peds
gogue.
In 1927, Mr. Staples married Miss Eliz
Ann Hull and removed to the hous
which he had built in Norwalk, no.
Westport, where he has since lived. Nh
Staples died In 1892, leaving son, Wi
liam C.Staples. In 1883, Horace Marie
Miss Charry Couch, who died few yea
ago. Mr. Staples has been lie business
Westport since 1927, when he began
deal In everything to make house,
lumber, lime, nails, paint, etc." CONT
uIng it until 1868, when the store WI
burned. He rebuilt and rented it, b
was obliged to take active charge at Il
end of year. His son, William G., h
had charge of the store for the last eig
years. Since January |, 1864, Mr. Stapl
has been ut the head of the First Natio
al bank of Westport and is @ director
the Westport and Saugatuck horse ra
road. Never In politics and seeking
Aclle honors, he says laughingly tn
only once was an office teniered him n
that was the proud position of sergea
In local military company, which
respectfully declined. lie lived 25 yea
In Fairfield, eight years in Norwalk a
55 years In Westport and yet has NOV
but once.
The browning work of the life of
Staples IL the stately and beautiful bui
ing which bears the name Of Slap
High School. He was prompted 70 Blu
this by seeing SO many young peol
leave Westport to obtain an educate
and, more than likely, to remain awi
He determined to erect building VIII
should bear his name, be equipped
his funds and give the youth OF Westp
high school education nc home. As
now says, 1T ought to have been d.
70 years ago" About q mile from sau
tuck, the Westpors station, ON slil
emincnce overlooking the winding Sa
atuck river stands the Staples II
school, u commanding brick structt
which bespcalss the generosity Of
founder. In the Fall of 1892 work on
foundations was begun; All was 2