Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-16
OBITUARY.
Nathaniel Babcock Williams.

Nathaniel Babcock Williams, a life long and highly respected resident of Lebanon, and the oldest man in the town, died on Saturday at his home, Buckingham Place" at the age of 96.
 MT. Williams was the second child of Henry and Harriet (Babcock) Will Hams. He was the seventh generation from Robert Williams of Roxbury, England, and was born in Lebanon on May P, 1922. He had an older sister, Harriet Cornelia. and younger sister. Hewitt. He attended the old time dis trict school, boys boarding school in Goshen Society, Lebanon, Lebanon academy, Bacon academy, Colchester, Suff1eld Literary institute and West field academy. Mass.
 May 1st. 1S45, he married Miss Jane Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Linus and Sophia (Churchil) Parker. of Pittsfeld. Mass. Rev. MT. Kingsbury omciated.
 His first home, after marriage was at the Tisdale place, afterward Grove place, Phelps Hill. Lebanon. It was where Master Nathan Tisdale and his brother Elkanah, the artist, once i resided.
 1 While he desired to study law, agree able to his fathers wishes, he followed 1 farming until 1869, the year after his 1 fathers decease, and also dealt in live stock, purchased at the Brighton mar i ket. Mass
 1 In politics, he was at first a whig, and cast his first vote. for Henry Clay, | but later he became a republican. He was very active in aiding refugees I from slavery to Canada and had some l thrilling experiences along that line. l on mi 1 assessor, chairman of the board of se- 1 1ectmen and held other minor offices. | He united with the First Congrega- tional church of Lebanon in 1851, when Rev. John c. Nichols was pastor, at which time Rev. Charles O. Reynolds was preaching at the Brick church, and his wife fas received by letter at the same time, having been member of Rev. John Todd's church. the first Congregational church organized in Pittsfeld, Mass.
 i school superintendent for nearly 20 years. He was a life member of the New London County Fair association and 1 director for several years in the Uncas National bank.
 He was representative to the state | legislature of Connecticut in 1882 and was a member of an important com : mittee on railroads.
 During his term in legislature he introduced bill requiring temperance instruction in the public schools This idea was formulated in the mind of the
 late Rev. H. L. Reade of Jewett City Conn. The bill became law in spite of strong opposition. Other states passed similar laws but Connecticut
 was the first to enact such by legisla-
 ture.
 His home from 1S6s until his de-
 cease was Buckingham Place." Leba-
 non Conn, the birthplace of our, Civi
 war governor, William A. Buclzing
 ham.
 As years closed in he was anxious "to go hence,' and often expressed his
 abiding faith that it is better further
 on." He wanted his last message
 sounded abroad: "Be ye also ready"
 His wife died April 2s, 1903. H.
 leaves two daughters, Mrs. Ellen c
 Williams Livermore, wife of the 1att Rev L. E. Livermore, of Independence
 N. Y, and Mrs. Mary s. William. Throop, wife of Sands Williams
 Throop. There is none remaining t ; perpetuate his branch of the Williams family, in name.
 Mrs. Fernando Wheeler. (Contributed.)
 Mrs. Josie E. Avery, wife of Fer
 nando Wheeler. who died Sunday
 September Sth, after several months !. illness, was born at Preston Plains f 1 Conn, the youngest daughter 0 F Ulysses and Lucy Williams Avery. He l early life was spent in Preston, wher |. she was ucted in marriage with MI 7 Wheeler, October sth, 1889, and ha : since resided at the Center Farm I StoninAton. During all the years 0 . her married life Mrs. Wheeler ha