The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-05-12
NEwBURY.
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Deacon Wells.

the eight children of John and Betsey
willis Wells, and was in the seventh
generation from William Wells, one of
the oldest and most prominent settlers OF
Southold, New York in $685.. and in the
eighth from Eloer William Brewster of
the Mayflower.
In 1925, the family moved to Bradford,
and in 1884 came to Newbury, living eight
years on ingalls, Hill, making his first
purchase of the farm on which he since
lived in 184l. In 1888 he took the west
ern fever" and went to Illinois, by way
of the Erie Canal and the great lakes.
being Shipwrecked on Beaver Island, near
che outlet of Lake Michigan: Chicago
was then an inconsiderable village, He
spent the winter near Beardstown, ILL.,,
and in the spring Joined party of young
men VINO went up the Missouri, nearly to
what is now jefferson City, then will
derness. Returning home, the journey
from ST. Louis, to Boston by way OF the
Ohio river and Philadelphia took six
weeks, trip which he has since taken in
less than half that number of days.
He learned the stone-cutter's trade of
an uncle, and worked at it seven years,
being employed at the Prescott and Mer-
rimack Mills in Lowell, the court house
at Montpelier, and other buildings. Sept.
IA, 1856, he was married at Bright on,
Maine, to Maria, daughter OF Dudley and
Abigail (Pickering) Palmer. They cele-
brated their golden wedding in 1896, she
dying June Is, 1897.
They were the parents of two Children
Maria Elizabeth, who died in infancy,
and Frederic p, who remains on the
farm.
On March q 1872 his grandfather, Dea.
Selah Wells, died on the farm where the
deceased lived, aged 80 years. He joined
the Congregational church in Bradford
in 1882 before any living member Of that
church was admitted, and the First Con-
gregational church i'll Newbury in 1885,
and was the last survivor in this town OF
the 131 persons who were admitted dur
ing the ministry of Rev. lark Perry of
whom but five are known TO be living
He was chosen deacon in 1858 and con-
tinued to hold the same office in the West
Newbury church, which he joined in 1868,
and of which he has been during the last
twenty-five years, the principal support
er. For about fifty years he was teach
er in the Sunday School, and supposed
fewer than $50 times, besides going
through with vast amount of other
reading.
In politics he was a wing, then repub-
lican. He was very Woodworking man
till about three years ago, when he be-
came infirm, but retained his sight, hear
ing and memory till the end. He seemed
in his usual health the day before, but
about $50 O'Clock on the morning of the
9th was found nearly unconscious, and
died in few minutes, probably from
heart failure. He is survived by his son
and wife, and their child, Mary E., and
by two sisters, Mrs. Barnett of this town
and Mrs. Webster of La Crosse, Wiscon-
sin. Dea. Wells kept diary for AZ years.
without missing day.
Deacon Wells was man who com
manded respect, a man noted for integ-
rity and good citizenship A man
whose home it was pleasure to visit
The writer has had the pleasure of
many visit with Deacon Wells in the
two last years of his life, and invaria-
bly, found him cOntented and full of
intelligent and interesting reminis-
cence. He was interested in current
affairs, especially the writing of the
town history by his son. His remark
ably clear memory, and written record |
of events. made him great helper in
that work. His was the third death
since Jan. LIST in the list of Newbury's
octogenarians. Funeral services were
held on Monday, p. M, sermon by Rev.
j. l.. Merrill, singing by the West New
bury choir. lnterment in the Town
House burying ground.
Two Newbury boys in Chicago write
of their good situation and pleasant
surroundings. Alfred G. Garland, who
is in the employ of Mr.. James, and (
has bicycle building and repair shop,
and Charles Bowen, so well known in
this section as the blind piano tuner,
who is still working at his trade at the
Chicago factory of the Crown Piano
Co. Both boys live in the family of ,
Mr.. James, Mrs. James was formerly
Rachel Lother of this place. Yer
mOnters know good thing when they :
see it and cling together. May good
luck attend this trio of Vermonters.
We regret the determination of
Harness Maker Lowd to return to s
Bradford. We however understand
this to be the case.
Browning, King & Co., the great |
and dealers in fine
clothing, with an immense factory in
the principal cities of the United !
States, recognize merit, for George G.
Fabyan has been promoted to manage
their large Minneapolis store, after !
years service as assistant manager of
their Providence store. Mr.. Fabyan's
family will remain in Newbury until |
fall when they will join him and es- t
tablish western home.
F. R. johnson has a large contract in
Brattlebere, building the power house
for the Street Railway Co.
Tuesday the Supreme court in ses-
sion at Montpelier handed down an
opinion of interest to many people in
this section, relating to preferred
claims in the Bradford bank. The de- I
cision says that all depositors shall be {
treated alike. We are informed that
the prospects for good settlement of /
the bank affairs are bright. d
Don't fail to hear Charles R. Tag '
CART, the Vermont impersonator, at I
Seminary Hall this friday evening, /
May 18th. Mr.. Taggart's readings Z
from Shakespeare, Dickens and Mark
Twain are especially pleasing. The s
proceeds will be for the benefit of the il
Seminary. s.
The following program has been ar 9
ranged for the sixty ninth annual ses- o
sion of the Orange County Conference
of Congregational churches, which n
meets here Tuesday and Wednesday, a
May 23rd and oath.
TUESDAY. {
1890. Devotional exercises, o
A l. Il.