The Press., 1904-03-03
THIRTY YEARS AGO.


The first arrival of bluebirds in
town was registered by Mr.. Larned Is
people at "the Street. on Tuesday
morning.
Four persons were baptized in the
Methodist church last Sunday, and
four others received into the church.
Thirty-four have been baptized in
this church since the first of January.
Dimock Bros. have bought of John
Brown the "stone house" or Parkess
place on Main street. Price "a, 600.
The purchase includes frontage of
115 feet, and an average depth of ia
feet, making a very desirable proper
ty, with room for the erection of a
market if they desire.
The following is from among the
first records of the town of Stafford,
made before it was incorporated, cop
led from the records by Rev. f. l..
Batchelder, our town clerk -
SAT a town meeting legally warned
and held at Stafford, April 80, 1923,
Lieut.. Joseph circuit was chosen mod
orator for that day. At the same
meeting Ensign Howard was chosen
to go to the general court to procure
a liberty to ordain Mr. Graham to
the work of the ministrey, also it was
agreed to and voted that the select
men take care to provide for the elders
and messengers that wee sent for to
the ordination. It was also voted
that every man in the town shall have
liberty to sell drink at the time of
the ordination. Also it was agreed
to and voted to give Richard Coomse
the towne's part of the fine laid upon
him by Justis Strong of Coventry,
for selling of drink, also to release
the Gum that hee promised to give the
town for his freedom. 1t was also
voted to give Lieut.. circuit a liberty
to break 30 acre lot and to lay 30
acres to his own lot or land, and 20
acres to Benjah Stevenson
Col. VIM. A. Foster died on Mon
day morning last after an illness of
several weeks. His illness was fever,
beginning with a shock, which it is
thought affected his head, and from
which he never seemed to rally, his
mind wandering during the greater
part of his illness. He was a man
of very strong constitution, and seem
ed fair to live for many years. Col.
Foster during his lifetime las filled
very large place in the history OF
the town. Of strong convictions, OF
which he was fearless in the express
sion, and taking deep interest in ev-
cry public matter, a deep thinker and
an easy talker, he has welded a great
influence in behalf of every interest
which has enlisted his sympathies.
A ready debater, in our town meet.
ings he has been a tower of strength
to any measure which he advocated,
and a formidable foe to any to which
he did not give his countenance.
Col. Foster was born in West Stafford.
He received a liberal education, ii
being the purpose of his grandfather,
who reared him, to train him for
one of the learned professions. His
inclination, however, did not lie in
that direction, and in early life he
followed a mercantile business, hav
ing a store near where his residence
has since been in Stafford Street.
Afterwards he turned his attention
entirely to farming, which was the
business of his life. When quite 6
young man he was sent to the state
senate from this district, being at the
time the youngest member of thai
body. His title of colonel was &C
quired in his younger days from ser
vice in command of a cavalry regi
ment of the state militia. From 1856
to 1862 he was high sheriff of Tolland
county. He has always been a repub.
lican since the formation of that par.
ty. though his admiration of Greeley
and Sumner led him into the liberal
party in 1879. Since the presidential
election of that year he has acted
with his old political associates. He
was 63 years of age at the time of his
death, though younger in appear
ance. He was the owner of much
real estate in the town, including two
blocks of stores in this village. The
settlement of the affairs of the Stat
fordville savings bank was in his
hands at the time of his death. The
funeral was attended at his residence
on Wednesday at l p. m, and was
very largely attended depsite the rain,
most of the prominent men of the
town being present. Rev. F. L.
Batchelder conducted the services.
The interment took place at the GEM
etery at the Street.
Union. Marcy Bros. & Go. have
since Nov. LIST put up 500 cases of
shoes, and for the six months ending
May LIST, their product will fully
reach 600 cases.
Born. Stafford Springs, Feb.
9th, 1874, q son to Munroe Wright.
In Somers, Feb. 27th, q son to l..
w. Russell.
Married. -Mashapaug, Feb. 10th.
by Rev s. B. Chase, Rev. George
Hunt of Eastford and Matte E. Craw-
ford of Mashapaug.
In Staffordville, Feb. oath, by Rev.
Mr.. Ransom, Charles L. Case and