Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-06-20
Almost A cENTENNARIAN.
services in Honor Of Mrs. Sally feicn
at ROyaltOn.

Al tVSA
services in Honor Of Mrs. Sally feicn
at Royalton.
Tn the Congregational church Sunday
oftarnoon. June 9th, service was nelu ~
memory Of Mrs. Sally Felch, IN Wnicn
- used portion OF the program NJ
ronoed for the celebration OF her one nun
dredth birthday, which occurred June "a,
had not death called her away nVe uays
previously. a.4;rc,v ~
the power OF the Christian life as sno"n
he deceased were sung by the choir, ana
the following sketch OF the life OF MIS-.
Eelch. which had been prepared LOT tne
birthday by Mrs. Gertrude }. LAIRD was
given by her with reverent expression
and feeling for the dead:
When we consider all the Wonderiui
events which have traDspired during tne
last century, how much OF history ma
been made within this time; that II covers
almost the entire period OF our countrys
independent existence ana tne marvel
Ions development OF it's unlimited re-
sources which have made it one OF tne
great powers OF the earth; that during
fhis time steam and electricity have been
harnessed to do mans bidding, ana
thousand wonderful inventions thougnt
ont. saw, when we think OF all this,
life which covers one hundred years ana
has witnessed these extraordinary events
becomes remarkable thing ana fuli OF
interest.
was about half through his second term
OF office when, in Enfield, N. H., June 2,
! 1895. Sally Gould came to brighten the
home OF Joseph and Sarah Gould, which
sometime before had been made desolate
by the death OF four little ones within two
weeks.
We know something Of her early home
training from the story which she used TO
tell OF her father taking her on his knee
and teaching her the hymn, beginning
"Jesus, my air to Heaven has gone" This
hymn She repeated to the writer the Gay
before her death, and spoke 'of the great
advantage OF teaching little children good
things.
When about six years old she began to
90 to school, not in schoohouse, you
understand, but in private house IN a
room where was standing large loom.
1t is said that human nature is the same
in all ages, and story told by Mrs. Felch
OF the beginning OF her school life proves
that children in 1900 had many OF the
characteristics OF fin de steele children.
One of the big boys in that school said
he was going to smash that loom. Such
dreadful threat Mortified the other pupils,
but they did not dare to tell tales about
this big boy. Finally they induced the
little Sally, who was too young to under
stand their scheming, to tell the teacher,
and the dark deed was prevented. We
have proof that the faithful service for
others which characterized her whole life
was begun in her girlhood; for when she
left the employ OF Maj. Cheney OF New.
port, N. H., be said II he could Lot nave
Sally Gould be wanted some one who was
related to her, and went to Enfield K
get her cousin to work for him: while
Mrs. Cheney said il Sally would stay witt
her five years she would give her at thu
! end of that time the best feather bed II
the house Ia gift more highly price
then than now and one OF the clerks IL
her husbands store.
She was also employed by DR.. jane
Corbin OF Newport, the grandfather 0
Austin Corbin, whose name is associated
with railroads and Croydon Park. Tn
wages for which she worked severa
years were seventy five cents week, ant
she managed to save part Of this small
sum. At the time OF her death she had
piece OF a pink print dress bought II
, 1912, which cost one dollar yard.
At DR.. Corbin's she met David Stock
well, and in the year 1877, the yea
when James Monroe became presi
, dent and the Erie canal was begun
she became his wife. Seventy EIGHT year
ago the 30th OF May (but you know Ma
3Oth was not Decoration Day till fit.
+ years later she attended church in tn
forenoon, and in the afternoon, dresse'
in white. she rode on horse behind MI
I, Stockwell, for wagons were then un
m ha min in (yru
H., and was married. MIR. Stockwell wa
. eleven years her senior and had six boy
by former wife, five OF whom lived g
I home. To him and his second wife wer
\ born five children. Mrs. Stockwell care
for this large family OF children and step
children, doing the work connected wit
farm besides making all their clothin
l from the raw wool and fax.
@ In those days the head OF family wen
@ to a tanner once year and bought sid
: OF leather, then engaged shoemaker I
. come to the house and make shoes for ever
member OF the family, and even tn
, shoe thread had to be made by the wifi
; Mrs. Stockwell spun and wove cloth
G clothe the entire family, and also had
I spin the thread used In making up tn
garments, bleaching the white thread an
coloring the darker shades. In additio
to this, stockings had to be knit for tw
: grown persons and ten children,
b Notwithstanding this immense amour
! OF work she found time to bring up he
children in ''the nurture and admonitio
I OF the Lord, and had the great satisfat
ton OF seeing them all Christians.
The entire family was musical. He
Il father was singer Of some note, and sh
herself sang the old hymns until within
: few weeks OF her death. This musici
talent has been inherited by grandchi
dren and great grandchildren.
After Mrs. Stockwel's children entere
homes of their own her loving ministrs
tions did not cease and she had the sa
comfort OF caring for them all in thel
last illness, her youngest child havin
died thirty eight years ago.
Mr.. Stockwell owned a valuable farm
but lost it through signing note for
friend who failed to make his paymen
The grief and worry which this occasion
ed fastened his death, and at the age {
fifty. one his wife was lefta widow wit
almost no property.
About two years later she marie
Thomas Felch of Henniker, N. H., VIII
was also widower and had eight chill
dren. They moved to the part of Royal
ton known as Onionville and lived ther
till Mr.. Felch's death, which occurred i
1859. After this Mrs. Felch came to Roy
alton Center and lived here, with the ex
ception OF short time spent with grand
H. o<>L.. 4 L 4 A.