The Press., 1912-05-08
DEATH OF ". P. BIDWELL.

Wesley Potter Bidwell died sudden
 ly Tuesday morning about ?. A from
 the effects of cardiac asthma, from which he had been a sufferer for several years. He had been around the house and out of doors as usual,
 and went to bed apparently feeling in
 his usual health. He was taken with bad spell about 1 o'clock, but soon seemed to feel better and went to Esleep. He passed away without awakening MT. Bidwell had spent large part of his life in this town, and had he lived until the 9th of next month would have been 83 years old. His early education was received in the schools of Eastford and Willing ton, has parents removing to the latter town when he was ten years old. MT. Bidwell started his active busi- ness career by learning the shoe- makers trade. Later he was em- ployed in the woolen business in Mon son, and still later he was engaged in the oil business in Pennsylvania for about five years. In l s65 he returned to Wilmington and bought the old Potter farm, where his father was brought up In 1874 he came to this borough, built the house on High land Terrace in which he died and formed a partnership with A. D. Wakefield to engage in the meat busi- ness. After about year and half he became associated with Mark Smith in the same line for about two years. In 1882 he bought out Dimock Bros. and formed a partnership with his step-son, William H. Webster. This partnership existed to the time of MT. Bidwell's death, 8 period of over 30 years. MT. Bidwell was twice mar ried, the first time to Miss Harriet Fuller, who died in 1862. In 1865 he married for his second wife Mrs. Susan B. Webster of Belchertown, who died in August, 1915. By his second marriage he had two children, daughter, Mrs. Frank Mercy of Westford, who survives him, and a son, Charles, who died when nine years of age. Besides his daughter and granddaughter, Miss Eva Mercy, who made her home with him, a sister, Mrs. Martha Brockbank, of Berkley, Cal, survives him. The deceased was one of the oldest Masons in town and was a member of Ionic lodge, which he joined in 1870. Dur ing his residence in Wilmington he held various town offices and was a member of the general assembly in 1870. MT. Bidwell was a man high ly respected in the community. He was a good citizen and his genial disposition made many friends. The funeral will be held from his late home Friday afternoon at o'clock. Rev. L. G. Horton of the Methodist church will officiate.
 A. W. Kingsbury is driving a Grout automobile.
 Regular meeting of the Foresters on Thursday evening.
 Woods orchestra will furnish music for a dance at Wales Saturday even- ing.
 A committee of the Foresters are planning for a dance May go, the night before Decoration day.
 Measles are reported in the family of Fred Moore in the borough and of Arthur Spellman at Orcuttville.
 The Girls club of the Congrega- tional church will meet with Miss Gertrude Pease Tuesday evening at 7.3O.
 Miss Hattie Ellithorpe, who has been quite i'll, has recovered sufficient ly to return to her duties as a teacher at Staffordville.
 Miss Annie Sullivan has returned to her home in Brooklyn, NY, after spending few days of the past week with Mrs. Jane Carroll on Center street.
 Mrs. Charles Curnan fell down stairs last Thursday and sustained fracture of the arm, besides number of bruises. She was attended by Dr. c. B. Newton.
 The prohibitionists will hold a caucus on Friday evening at Society hall at '. 30 p. m., to elect delegates to a state convention to be held at Hartford May 21 and 22.
 Wauseon lodge, I. O. O. F., have elected A. H. Adams and P. P. Davis representatives, and Louis Fedler and A. Snow alternates to the grand lodge. which will meet at New Haven | May Is.
 There has been a number of tags4 stolen from licensed dogs the past year and placed on dogs not licensed. | One case has been traced, and a de- termined effort is to be made to dis | courage this form of peculation.
 By the irony of fate Attorney Willis Reed, one of the most careful auto mobile drivers in the state, ran into Henry H. Hart last Thursday at the corner of State and Main streets, Hartford, and broke one of the victim's | ribs. The case was continued against | MT. Reed last Friday morning for further investigation, MT. Hart being unable to appear.
 The last song service of the present | series will be given in the Congrega- tional church Sunday evening, May 18th. The Rockville male chorus, comprised of thirty of the best male voices of that city, will give the musical part of the service The above chorus has been under the di- rection of Organist A. E. Waite the past season and is doing most credit able work. Thirty male voices render inO a ehurch nrOOran aro mot oftoD