The Press., 1907-12-04
THIRTY YEARS AGO.
items of local interest taken from the columns Of The Press, thirty years ago.l
December 6. 1877.

Schools III QlSGrlcC NO DtRhu on Monday, Miss L s. Cady retaining the primary department, and Miss Jennie R. Puffer of Stafford Hollow taking the grammar department In the third district schools begin next Monday, Miss Hattie Ellithorpe talk ing the primary school. and Mrs. T. | 0. Lathrop continuing in charge of the grammar school
 A horse driven by Mrs. Wm Bur. well, frightened by hog which was being driven through the street on Tuesday, took a short cut acr' ss tue corner by the Congregational church lot, the buggy striking large stone and being overturned Mrs B. was somewhat cut and bruised about the head, and her little grandchild, who was with her, sustained a sprained ankle, though the injuries of neither are considered serious, and on the whole the issue may be regarded as a fortunate one, the horse being soon stopped, with small damage to the buggy or himself.
 At the annual meeting of the Staf- ford Library association, held on Tuesday. Alvarado Howard, James Mclaughlin, O. c. Painter, R B. Fowler. Mrs. Julius Converse, Miss E. M. Baker, Mrs M A Smith, Mrs o. J. Holmes were elected trustees W. H Smith and F. F Patten audi. tors. At the subsequent meeting of trustees A Howard was elected presi dent; c. c Painter, vice, president Miss E M. Baker, secretary. and A. Howard, treasurer. R B. Fowler and Miss Baker were appointed libra rians, and Mrs. F. A. Wartield, R B Fowler and Miss B M. Baker com. mittee of selection,
 Capt. Solva Converse, who died ir this village on the 22d ult., was the son of Capt solvin Converse, and wal born in 179O, in house which stood very near the site of the old batl house near tie mineral spring, where his father lived at that time. After ward his father lived on Crow Hill 8 short distance southwest iron Woodlawn. The road upon whicl this house stood no longer exists ex cept as private cart path, and { cellar grown up with young growth From this place the elder Captai1 Converse removed to house neal where now standst he residence of G 0 Parkess, which has also since dis appeared, and at this place his son Capt. Farley Converse, was born May +, 1a12, Captain Solva wal married to Miss Esther Blodgett Mrs Converse is the daughter o Deacon Alden Blodgett of Stafford Village, aud granddaughter of Joshut Blodgett, the first white male chilt born in Stafford, whose father anc three brothers were the first settlerl of the town, coming from Woburu Mass and locating at the Furnace Hollow Joshua Blodgett and wife were among the first that joined tho Congregational church in Stafford Street. The marriage of Captai1 Solva and wife was solemnized by Rev. MT. Bloss, Baptist clergyman Etae couple commenced housekeeping in the yellow house now standing or the Ellington road, just beyond ths fair grounds. The dowry of Mrs Converse, the gift of her father, con sisted of COW and some furniture all valued at $2OO-a pretty comfort able "setting out" for those days After living in this place for fou years they removed to the presen homestead Eleven children havt been born to them, of whom five now survive, all the others having eithe died young, or without issue Thost surviving in the order of their age are: Almeda, the first born, widow of l.. H Wilton, Orrin, Josiah anC Julius, the sixth, seventh and eightl born, respectively, and Hannah B. the ninth born, wife of M. H Wash burn of Barritan, N. all except tn, latter being residents of this village The two brothers, Solva and Farley who have probably left to their heirl larger estates than any persons wht have ever deceased in Stafford, were in the truest sense self.made men Their success was earned by hart knocks, close attention to business anC shrewd management. All their life they kept up their industrious habit! so long as they were able, and alwayl seemed to find enjoyment in labor Besides farming in their early life they did large business in runniue freight teams to Hartford, keeping many teams, both of horses and oxen employed. The oxen were generally used in g .therinR together the load! which the horse teams drew to Halt ford. For a long time Capt Solvs was engaged in butcherinR, and sup plying meat to the neigi.b ring regie n In 1839, the first wooden mill in thil village was built by the Minera Springs Company upon the site of th' present mill An old log dam theI stood on the privilege, furnishing power for aaw and grist mill, ane the old Told forge" the owners o which were Lewis and Preston Park ess. The newly organized company bought the water power. building tho present stone dam just below the olc dam, and built a two set mill. The capital stock of the company $16 OO( divided into $25 shares. and sharel being owned as follows: Solva Con verse, 12O; Jasper H Hyde. 80 Moses B Harvey, 2S; Lewis Parkess 10; Geo ". Washburn, 32; FL Howe, 20; Henry c. Baker, 20 Elijah Fairman, 60; James McNary 2O; Horatio SpelIman, 20; .Euc ct w. Daniels, 20: Preston Parkess. 40