Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-02-25

with her parents when IA years of
age. They were equally rich in
energy, perseverance and self-reli-
ance, and commenced life with a.
mutual agreement to lay by a GER
tain sum daily for future need.
After a few years of pecuniary
prosperity in Ashburnham, Mass,
they removed to Haverhill, N. H.
Mr.. Rich purchased the fine farm
few rods north of the court house,
now owned by Ex-Governor Page.
While living in Haverhill he was
employed by government to furnish
supplies to the continental army.
His oldest son John was also in the
service of his country under Col.
Timothy Bedle. In March, 1884, he
moved to Maidstone. AS there were
no roads, the journey was made on
the Connecticut river through many
perils to himself and family, as we'll
as the stock which he drove. Here
he bought large tract of land on
the river, supposed then to be in
Guildhall, of the Sawyers, who had
built three log houses and made
some improvements on the same.
The beautiful intervals known as
the Rich meadows were then cover
ed with heavy growth of rock
maple, elm and butternut.
After some length of time another
claimant came for the land, and as
there was no alternative, it was
again paid for. Of this tract of
land he made four farms, one each
for three sons, John, Henry and
Jacob, reserving the homestead for
his youngest son, Moody, who has
lived on the same 70 years, and is
now at the advanced age of 81, the
only person in town who was an in
habitant of the same when it was
organized. The three sons above
named lived and died leaving fami-
lies on the farms purchased by their
father.
Mr.. Rich was an energetic, enter
prising man for the times, zealously
engaged in whatever would promote
the welfare of the town, not willing
to entrust its interests committed to
him in other hands, as one anecdote
will show. He spoke with the brogue
of his native land, and when in the
legislature at one time he had an
unusual amount of business to lay
before the house: A yourg lawyer
proposed to do the necessary talking
on the occasion, saying, Some may
not readily understand you" M. R..
replies DO you understand me?"
80 yes, perfectly we'll sir" Then
that is enough for you, | will do my
own talking" He was strongly
democratic in principle, regarding
the right Of suffrage as a sacred in
heritance, and enjoined its observ-
ance upon all freemen as a duty on
which depended the freedom of the
country-believing that through
neglect of this the liberty of Ger
many was lost, and consequently
the tyranny he had witnessed in his
fatherland. He was moreover a
warm friend of religion, and the OBJ
servance of the Sabbath-always at
tending religious meetings when
possible, and frequently hiring min
listers for occasional services and
paying them from his own purse.
He was honest and upright in all
business transactions; in his domes-
tic relations kind and pleasant tenn
pered. He died Sept. 81, 1918, aged
"a years and 6 months.
Mrs. Catharine Sophia Rich was
remarkable for industry, economy
and liberality, as we'll as an accumu-
lating faculty that filled her house
with an abundance from which she
dispensed with bountiful hand to
those in need, none such going
empty-handed from her door. She
died April IA, 1918, aged 50 years.
THE HUGH FAMILY.
Among the earliest settlers of
Maidstone was John Hugh, who was
born in Musselborough, Scotland, in
the year 1877. He was only eight
years of age when the celebrated
battle of Preston Pans was fought
in the same town, and well remem.
bered his fathers returning home
after the battle was over.
IL II