Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
TALKED ABOUT IN WESTERLY
Local Interest Benefactions of Mir. Miranda w Lux San Societys Outing Friends Hear of Brown University Honors for Henry Robinson Palmer.

Some Westerly people are interested in an institution of unique character which was formally dedicated in San Francisco May B with picturesque ceremonies which included an invoca- ton of the spirit of light symbolizing the Lux school and the conservation of the Lux hearth. To train girls to make homes is the avowed purpose of this institution, which was founded under a bequest contained in the will ef Miranda W. Lux. who was born in Cranston, R. |. Dec. 23. 1925. She was daughter of Jeremiah and Sally (Aidrtch Wilmarth) Sheldon and was brought up in Chepachet. where she married Jesse Potter in 1846. Two years later she and her husband took up their residence in California, where in 1854 MT. Potter met an accidental death. Her marriage with Charles Lux. one of the leading cattle raisers of California, took place in 1857, and his death 30 years later left Mrs. Lux q widow a second time with a large fortune. Among her beneficiaries are grandson, Jesse Sheldon Potter, living in San Francisco, an only sister, Sarah Sheldon Loyeland, of Westerly, and two nieces, Mrs. Albert H. Langworthy bard of Providence. Her nephews are John L. Sheldon of Wakefield and Jeremiah c. Sheldon of Providence.
 There were no children by the sec Ouo <uuSbdll0, dIlO OlIly tliCs d SOti, py the flrst, but Mrs. Lux practically ''mcthered" 6 whole orphan asylum. A most benevolently inclined woman, member of Calvary Presbyterian church and director of the Protestant Orphan asylum in San Francisco and a leader in the kindergarten movement, sine devoted her life to good works. Her interest was specially enlisted for girls and grew with years to include the general problem of industrial and vo-> cational education, eliminating in the generous endowment of the Lux school portion of her fortune.
 Mrs. Lux died on Sept. 20, 1894, and in her will she designated that the residue of her estate be divided into three equal portions. of which one was bequeathed in trust to Louis Sloss, Sarah B. Cooper, Charles Holbrook, George c. Sargent and Thomas B. Bishop for the purpose of promoting schools for manual and industrial training and for teaching trades to and particularly in the city and county of San Francisco.
 The members of the Westerly His terleal society will have an outing next Wednesday and will visit historical points in Wickford. They will have dinner at the Wickford inn. which has been established for over 200 years.
 The places te be visited are: St. Paufs church, commonly known as the Narrasansett church, which stands in the village of Wickford. On the original site of St. Pauls, MacSparran ts zts IT. was ersstea in 1889 graceful memory of James MacSpar- Ten, D. D., by authority of the diocese of Rhode Island, in 1868, missionary of the venerable society for the propaga- ton of the gospel in foreign parts and rector of the church here from 1720 to 1T5T. He was buried beneath this stone. Here also lie the remains of Samuel Fayerweather, his successor, from 17So to 1Ts1. St. PauTs church, Narragansett, was built in 1707 and moved to W1ckford in 1Soo:"
 The party will then visit Smiths castle. The first house in Narragan- sett was g. block house built by Rich ard Smith, which stood near the Pe- quot path on the site of what is now known as the Updike house in Wick ford. A tablet to Richard Smith in St. PauPs church has this inscription: ITO the glory of God and the memory of Richard Smith, first English settler of the Narragansett country, born in the year 1596 of an ancient family res 1dent near North Nibley. in the hun dred of Berkeley Worcestershire of good descent and fair possessions. He ennigrated for conscience sake and af- ter sojourning at Taunton, Mespath, and New Amsterdam. about the year 1887, chose Narragansett for his home. For many years he was chief land owner and a leading man in this part of New England. He lived near. Wick ford at Cocumseussuc. commonly called Smiths castle, and there Roger, Will Hams often preached to the Indians, and William Blackstone held the first regular service of the church of Eng land (of which there is record), ir the colony of Rhode Island He led a sober, honorable and religious life until the year 1696, to use the words of Roger Williams: Tn his own house is much serenity of soul and comfort he yielded up his spirit to God (the Father of Spirits) in peace.'.
 After the great swamp fieht in 1875 the whole New England army of 1900 men retreated in. the cold winter weather to Smiths castle, then occu- pied by Richard Smith, Jr. His home was partially destroyed during King Philips war, but was rebuilt by him largely out of the old materials. This house is the one now known as the Updike house.
 The other place visited was the Babbitt farm. near the site of Richard Smiths garrison, whereon the Swamp Fight graves are located. and where