covert. Five minutes later, a whimper was heard. It soon spread
into a chorus, and then a fox dashed out from the opposite side;
followed, in a couple of minutes, by the whole pack.

"Well, that is fun, is it not, Captain Bullen?" said a girl, to
whom he was talking, in one of the carriages.

"It is a pretty sight," he said, "and if the fox always got away, I
should like it. As it is, I say honestly that I don't."

The meet now broke up, and the carriages dispersed. Hallett and
Lisle accepted an invitation to lunch with the ladies to whom they
were talking. Two hours later, Lisle was on the point of leaving,
when a groom rode up at full speed.

"Is Captain Bullen here?" he asked.

With a presentiment of evil, Lisle went out.

"The colonel has had a bad accident, sir. He was brought in, half
an hour ago, by the servants. I understand that he asked for you;
and three of us at once rode off, in different directions, to find
you."

Lisle called Hallett and, in five minutes, they were mounted and
dashed off. As they entered the house, they were met by the
surgeon.

"Is he badly hurt'?" Lisle asked, anxiously.

"I fear that he is hurt to death, Captain Bullen. His horse slipped
as it was taking a fence, and fell on the top of him. He has
suffered severe internal injuries, and I greatly fear that there is
not the least hope for him."

"Is he conscious?" Lisle asked, with deep emotion.

"Yes, he is conscious, and I believe he understands that his case
is hopeless. He has asked for you, several times, since he was
brought in; so you had better go to him, at once."

With a sinking heart, Lisle went upstairs. The colonel was lying on
his bed.

"I am glad you have come in time, my dear boy," he said faintly, as
Lisle entered. "I am afraid that I am done for, and it is a
consolation for me to know that I have no near relatives who will
regret my loss. I have had a good time of it, altogether; and would
rather that, as I was not to die on the battlefield, death should
come as it has. It is far better than if it came gradually.

"Sit by me, lad, till the end comes. I am sure it will not be long.
I am suffering terribly, and the sooner it comes, the better."

The ashy gray of the colonel's face sufficed to tell Lisle that the
end was, indeed, near at hand. The colonel only spoke two or three
times and, at ten o'clock at night, passed away painlessly.

Upon Lisle devolved the sad work of arranging his funeral. He wrote
to the colonel's lawyer, asking him to come down. Hallett had left
the house at once, though Lisle earnestly begged him to stay till
the funeral was over. The lawyer arrived on the morning of the
funeral.

"I have taken upon myself, sir," Lisle said, "to make all the
arrangements for the funeral, seeing that there was no one else to
do it."

"You were the most proper person to do so," the lawyer said,
gravely, "as you will see when the will is read, on our return from
the grave."

When all was over, Lisle asked two or three of the colonel's most
intimate friends to be present at the reading of the will. It was a
very short one. The colonel made bequests to several military
charities; and then appointed his adopted son, Lisle Bullen,
Lieutenant in His Majesty's Rutlandshire regiment, the sole heir to
all his property.

This came almost as a surprise to Lisle. The colonel had indeed
told him that he had adopted him, and he was prepared to learn that
he had left him a legacy; but he had no idea that he would be left
sole heir.

"I congratulate you, sir," the lawyer said, when he folded up the
paper. "Colonel Houghton stated to me, fully, his reasons for
making such a disposition of his property and, as he had no near
relations, I was able to approve of it heartily. I may say that he
has left nearly sixteen thousand pounds. The other small legacies
will take about a thousand, and you will therefore have some
fifteen thousand pounds, which is all invested in first-rate
securities."

"I feel my good fortune, sir," Lisle said quietly, "but I would
that it had not come to me for many years, and not in such a
manner."

The meeting soon after broke up, and Lisle went up to town and
joined Hallett at the hotel they both used.

"Well, I congratulate you heartily," Hallett said, when he heard
the contents of the will. "It is a good windfall, but not a bit
more than you deserve."

"I would rather not have had it," Lisle said, sorrowfully. "I owe
much to the colonel, who has for the past three years given me an
allowance of two hundred pounds a year; and I would far rather have
gone on with that, than come into a fortune in this manner."

"I can understand that," Hallett said; "the colonel was a
first-rate old fellow, and his death will be an immense loss to
you. Still, but for you it would have come three years ago and,
after all, it is better to be killed hunting than to be shot to
pieces by savages.

"Well, it will bring you in six or seven hundred pounds a year, a
sum not to be despised. It will enable you to leave the army, if
you like; though I should advise you to stick to it. Here are you a
captain at twenty-one, a V. C. and D. S. O. man, with a big career
before you and, no doubt, you will get a brevet majority before
long."

"I have certainly not the least idea of leaving the army. I was
born in it, and hope to remain in it as long as I can do good
work."

"What are you going to do now?"

"I shall go down there again, in a fortnight or so."

"Would you be disposed to take me with you?"

"Certainly I shall, if you will go. I had not thought of asking
you, because everything must go on quietly there, for a time; but
really I should prize your company very much."

"Well, the fact is," Hallett said, rather shamefacedly, "I am
rather smitten with Miss Merton, and I have some hopes that she is
a little taken with me. I heard that she has money but, although
that is satisfactory, I would take her, if she would have me,
without a penny. You know I have three hundred pounds a year of my
own; which is quite enough, with my pay, to enable us to get on
comfortably. Still, I won't say that, if she has as much more, we
could not do things better."

Lisle laughed.

"I thought you were not a marrying man, Hallett! In fact, you have
more than once told me so."

"Well, I didn't think I was," Hallett admitted, "but you see,
circumstances alter cases."

"They do, Hallett, and your case seems to be a bad one. However,
old man, I wish you luck. She is an exceedingly nice girl and, if I
were ten years older, I might have been smitten myself; and then,
you know, your chance would have been nowhere."

"I quite feel that," Hallett said; "a V.C. is a thing no girl can
stand against.

"If you will take me, I will go down with you and stay a little
time, and then try my luck."

"That you certainly shall do. I can hardly do anything in the way
of festivities, at present; but there is no reason why you should
not enter into anything that is going on."

So they went down together. Ten days later, all the families round
came to pay visits of condolence; and to each Lisle said that,
although he himself could not think of going out, at present, his
friend Hallett, who had come to stay with him for a month, would be
glad to join in any quiet festivity. So Hallett was frequently
invited out, Lisle accompanying him only to the very quietest of
dinners.

One evening Hallett returned in the highest glee.

"Congratulate me, my dear fellow," he said. "Miss Merton has
accepted me and, after she had done so, I had the inevitable talk
with her father. He told me, frankly, that he had hoped that his
daughter would make a better match. I of course agreed with him,
heartily; but he went on to say that, after all, our happiness was
the first consideration, and that he felt sure that it would be
secured by her marriage with me. He said that he should allow her
four hundred pounds a year, during his and her mother's lifetime.
At their death there would be a small addition to her allowance,
but naturally the bulk of his property would go to her brother. Of
course, I expressed myself as infinitely grateful. I said that he
had not enquired about my income, but that I had three hundred
pounds a year, in addition to my pay; and should probably, some
day, come into more. He expressed himself as content and, as I had
expected, asked me whether I intended to leave the army. I said
that that was a matter for his daughter to decide; but that, for my
part, I should certainly prefer to remain in the service, for I
really did not see what I should do with myself, if I left it. I
said that I had been very fortunate in having, to some small
extent, distinguished myself; but that if, after some experience of
India, she did not care for the life, I would promise to retire."

"'I think you are right,' he said. 'It is a bad thing for a young
man of seven or eight and twenty to be without employment. Your
income would be insufficient to enable you to live, with comfort,
as a country gentleman; and you would naturally find time lie heavy
upon your hands, if you had nothing to do.'

"He was good enough to say that he thought his daughter's happiness
would be safe in my hands and, as she would be able to have every
luxury in India, he thought that the arrangement would be a very
satisfactory one. It is awfully good of him, of course, for she
could have made an infinitely better match."

"You have, of course, not settled anything about the date,
Hallett?"

"No; I expect we shall settle about that when I see her, tomorrow.
Of course, it must be pretty early, as we had letters, yesterday,
to go up to town to be examined by the board; and we have both
picked up so much that, I fancy, we shall be ordered back to our
regiments pretty sharply. You see, every man is wanted at present
and, as we both had a year's leave before we went out to West
Africa, it is not unnatural that they should send us off again, as
soon as they can. I dare say, however, they will give us a couple
of months; and I suppose we shall want a month for our honeymoon,
in which case we ought to be spliced in a month's time; if she can
get ready in that time, which of course she can do, if she hurries
up the milliners and other people."

"I have no doubt she could, in the circumstances," Lisle laughed.
"Well, old man, I do congratulate you most heartily. She certainly
is a very charming young woman. I expect I shall not get leave
again, till the regiment comes back; which will be another five
years yet, and perhaps two or three years longer, if there is any
action going on anywhere. I can tell you I am not so hot about
fighting as I used to be. The Tirah was sharp, but it was nothing
to West Africa, which was enough to cure one of any desire to take
part in fighting.

"If we are going to have a fight with Russia, I certainly should
like to take part in that. That would be a tremendous affair, and I
fancy that our Indian soldiers will give a good account of
themselves. If it is to be, I do hope it will come before I leave
the army. I am certainly in no hurry to do so."

"You would be a fool, if you were," Hallett said. "Thanks to your
luck in getting a commission at sixteen, and to the loss of so many
officers in the Tirah, you are now a captain at twenty-one,
certainly the youngest captain in the service. Of course, if there
is no war, you can't expect to continue going up at that pace; but
you certainly ought to be a major at thirty, if not before. You may
command a regiment within five or six years later, and be a
brigadier soon after that, for you will have that by seniority. Of
course, if you marry you will have to consider your wife's wishes;
but she is not likely to object to your staying on, if you get to
be a major, for a major's wife is by no means an unimportant item
in a regiment."

"Ah! Well, we needn't think about that," Lisle laughed, "especially
as, if there is war with Russia before we come home, a good many of
us will certainly stay out permanently. Well, old man, I do
congratulate you, most heartily."

Miss Merton, after some demur, agreed that it would be just
possible for her to be ready at the end of a month. Three days
later the two friends went up to town and, after undergoing a
medical examination, were told that they must rejoin their
regiments in a couple of months. As both regiments were in India,
they decided to return in the same ship.

"I am not sorry that we are off," Lisle said, when they met on the
deck of the P. and O. steamer. "I was getting desperately tired of
doing nothing and, after you had gone off with your wife, on the
afternoon of the marriage, I began to feel desperately lonely. Of
course, I have always been accustomed to have a lot of friends
round me; and I began to feel a longing to be with the regiment
again and, if we had not agreed to go out together, I think I
should have taken the next steamer."

Six weeks later Lisle rejoined his regiment, where he was heartily
welcomed.

"Now you are a brevet major, Mr. Bullen, I am afraid that you will
cease to be useful to us all; for of course we cannot be sending an
officer of that exalted rank about to do our messages. However,
several nice boys have joined, while you have been away."

"I shall always be happy to be employed," Lisle laughed, "and I
dare say I am no older than many of the subalterns."

"I suppose you have had hard times?"

"Very hard. I thought that the Tirah business was about as hard as
one would have to go through, in the course of one's soldiering;
but I was greatly deceived. When I say that for six months I hardly
ever had dry clothes on, and that I waded something like a hundred
rivers, you may guess what it was like.

"And we had our full share of fighting, too. I was very fortunate
in only getting hit three or four times, with slugs; but as we were
for the most part fighting against men hidden in the bush, it was
unsatisfactory work, though we always did lick them in the end. I
can assure you that I do not wish for any more service of that
kind.

"Have the tribes been quiet since I went away?"

"Quiet, as far as we were concerned. Of course, there have been a
few trifling risings along the frontier but, as a whole, even the
Zakka-Khels have been quiet. I don't think there will be any
trouble, on a large scale, for some time to come."

"Then there is a prospect of a quiet time; that is to say, if the
Russians will keep quiet."

"That is a very strong 'if,' Major Bullen; but I think that, if
there is trouble, it will be in China."

"In that case, no doubt a good many regiments will be sent from
here. I hope that it will be our good fortune to be among them."

"Well, in that case," the colonel said, with a laugh, "you will
have to restrain your ardour, and give a chance to other men. You
have got the V.C. and the D.S.O., which ought to satisfy you; to
say nothing of having got your company, and brevet majority, at the
age of twenty-one. You must be content with that, otherwise the
regiment will rise against you."

"That would be very unpleasant," Lisle said, with a laugh. "I will
try to suppress my zeal. I can assure you that I am perfectly
conscious of the incongruity of being in such a position, at my
age."

At present Lisle is with his regiment, and the prospect of a war
with Russia is no nearer than it was.


E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor, ellinora, and the Online Distributed
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Note: Images of the original pages are available through
      Internet Archive/American Libraries. See
      https://archive.org/details/sketchesoffiftee00davi

Transcriber’s note:

      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

SKETCHES OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS OF WORCESTER FIRE SOCIETY,

by

ISAAC DAVIS.

Worcester:
Printed by Charles Hamilton,
Palladium Office.
1874.

                     ADDRESS BY HON. ISAAC DAVIS,

                 AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING, APRIL, 1874.

The history of the Worcester Fire Society is intimately connected with
the history of Worcester, of Massachusetts, and the United States. Ten
of its members have been Mayors of Worcester, three have been Governors
of the State, three have been Speakers of the House of Representatives,
and many have been Councillors, Senators and Representatives. Five have
been judges of the Supreme Judicial Court, five have been judges of the
Superior Court or Court of Common Pleas, ten have been Members of
Congress, and many have held office under the United States Government,
and one has been a Foreign Minister.

This Fire Society, organized in 1793, was precisely like one formed by
Benjamin Franklin, in the city of Philadelphia, in 1735:—The number of
members limited to thirty, the same equipments, the same rules and
regulations. No person could be admitted under thirty years of age, and
none over sixty. The Fire Society in Philadelphia was in existence when
this was formed.

Governor Lincoln gave his reminiscences of the twenty-two original
members in 1862. Eight years after, in 1870, a member of this society
gave a written account of the next _fifteen_ members. Both of these
historic papers were published by this society. Subsequently Judge
Thomas, in his fascinating language, gave a graphic biography of the
_next_ fifteen members, commencing with Governor Lincoln, and ending
with Edward D. Bangs. The object of the present historic sketch is to
give some account of the members from Edward D. Bangs to the oldest
living member, all of whom have long since passed to the “spirit land.”
Among them were distinguished scholars, statesmen, lawyers and
physicians, and five of them were graduates of Dartmouth College.

                            SAMUEL JENNISON

Was no ordinary man. He did not enjoy the advantages of a college
education, still he became a learned man and a very able writer. Some of
the choicest articles in periodical literature were from his pen. He was
born in the town of Brookfield, in 1788, and at the age of twelve years
came to Worcester to reside with his uncle, Hon. Oliver Fiske. In April,
1810, he was elected accountant in the Worcester Bank. In August, 1812,
he was elected cashier of said Bank, and continued to hold the office
and discharge the duties with promptness, fidelity and accuracy, for
more than thirty-four years. During much of the time while he was
cashier he was treasurer of the American Antiquarian Society, treasurer
of the State Lunatic Hospital, treasurer of the Worcester County
Institution for Savings, treasurer of the town of Worcester, and clerk
of the town, discharging all the duties of these offices, much of the
time without any assistant. No _irregularities_ were ever found in his
accounts. He was one of the Council of the American Antiquarian Society,
and was a member of many historical and literary societies. He was
admitted a member of this Society in October, 1816, and remained an
active member more than forty years, till his death, March 11th, 1860.

Mr. Jennison was a modest, unassuming man, a gentleman in his
deportment, a man of rare taste and discrimination, and of wonderful
executive talent. He would accomplish more business in a given time than
any man I ever saw; yet it was done quietly. He was loved and respected
by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. He wrote much in prose
and verse; his style was clear and lucid as a mirror. He gathered much
valuable biographical material, part of which he passed over to the Rev.
Dr. Allen just before the publication of the second edition of his
Biographical Dictionary. The large remainder is now in possession of the
American Antiquarian Society.

                             REJOICE NEWTON

Was born in Greenfield, October 18th, 1782. He was graduated at
Dartmouth College, in 1807, and was a classmate of George Ticknor and
Sylvanus Thayer. He commenced the study of the law with Judge Newcomb,
of Greenfield, and finished his studies in the office of Hon. Elijah H.
Mills, of Northampton, in 1810.

Mr. Newton then removed to Worcester, and formed a co-partnership in law
with Hon. Francis Blake, which continued till April, 1814. He was
selected by the citizens of Worcester, in 1814, to deliver an oration on
the fourth of July. This oration was published, and accelerated his
rising fame. Soon after, he was appointed County Attorney, which office
he held for ten years, when he resigned the position. In 1825 he formed
a co-partnership in law with William Lincoln. His talents and capacity
were appreciated by his fellow citizens, and he was elected to the House
of Representatives in Massachusetts, in the years of 1829, 1830, and
1831, and a State Senator in 1834. He had great equanimity of character,
and never lost or gained a case but the result was precisely what he
expected. Hence he was perfectly satisfied with the result of every
case. He was honest, confiding and capable. He became a member of this
society in October, 1816, and remained an active member for forty-seven
years, when his health became poor and he withdrew. He was long a member
and officer in the American Antiquarian Society. He died in Worcester,
February 4th, 1868. Major Newton married a sister of the late Governor
Lincoln, and was a resident in Worcester for more than half a century.
He was honored with important and responsible positions in the military,
legislative, and executive departments of the government of the State;
all the duties pertaining to these offices he discharged with ability
and fidelity, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.

                          SAMUEL M. BURNSIDE.

His ancestors were Scots. He was a son of Thomas Burnside, and was born
in Northumberland, New Hampshire, July 18th, 1783. His education was at
the common schools in New Hampshire, except nine months at an academy,
preparatory to his entering Dartmouth College.

After he was graduated from college, in 1805, he took charge of a Female
Academy in Andover, Mass., for two years. He read law with Hon. Artemas
Ward, so long Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. He was
admitted to practice in 1810, commenced the practice of the law in the
Spring of 1810, in the town of Westborough, in this County, and removed
to Worcester in the autumn of the same year. He married the daughter of
Judge Foster of Brookfield.

Mr. Burnside was a well read lawyer, and it is no disparagement to any
lawyer of the Worcester Bar to say that none excelled him in his
extensive knowledge of the law. He was also well posted in theology, and
took a deep interest in our public schools. He was trustee in Leicester
Academy, and for many years was a member of the School Committee of
Worcester, a member of the American Antiquarian Society, and one of the
Council of said Society at the time of his death. He delivered an able
address before the schools of Worcester in 1826, and represented the
town in the Legislature the same year. In 1831 he was selected by the
citizens of Worcester to deliver an oration on the fourth of July, which
was considered a very able production. He was admitted to this society
in January, 1817, and remained an active member for thirty-three years.
He died in Worcester, July 25th, 1850, much respected by a large circle
of friends.

Mr. Burnside was a good classical scholar, an upright and honored
citizen, and a kind christian gentleman.

                             REUBEN WHEELER

Was a member of this society from 1817 to 1822. He came from Rutland,
where he was born, to Worcester, to execute the purposes of certain
members of the Fire Society, who had become convinced that the business
of _tanning_ was very profitable. They raised thirty thousand dollars to
put into the business—Mr. Wheeler was superintendent and manager—a large
yard was built on Market street, the largest in the county—Mr. Wheeler
built a spacious house on the corner of Main and Thomas streets, and
business went on swimmingly for five or six years, Mr. Wheeler always
assuring the proprietors that the business was very profitable. Some of
the proprietors having had no dividends for several years, succeeded in
raising a committee to investigate the affairs of the company, when it
turned out that the concern was bankrupt. It was a South Sea bubble on a
small scale. Wheeler left town, and the tannery rotted down. “_Sic
transit gloria mundi._”

                          BENJAMIN F. HEYWOOD

Was the son of Hon. Benjamin Heywood, of Worcester, who was judge of the
Court of Common Pleas for nine years.

Benjamin F. was born in Worcester, April 24th, 1792, and graduated at
Dartmouth College, in the class of 1812. He attended the medical
lectures at Dartmouth College, and at Yale College, and took his degree
of M. D. at Yale, in 1815. He formed a co-partnership with Dr. John
Green, in the practice of medicine, which existed for twenty years. Dr.
Heywood was councillor and censor in the Massachusetts Medical Society,
and became a member of the Society of Cincinnati in 1859, in the right
of his father, who was an original member. As a physician he was very
popular among his patients. He had the confidence of his fellow
citizens, being repeatedly elected to both branches of the City
Government. His manners were pleasant and agreeable—a man of good
judgment and sound discretion. He was admitted a member of this society
July, 1817, and remained an active member for more than fifty-two years,
till his death, December 7th, 1869.

Dr. Heywood married for his first wife, and also for his second wife,
sisters of Dr. John Green. He was a skillful physician, a good citizen,
honorable in his dealings; a man of few words, kind and courteous,
honored and respected by those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

                             ABIJAH BIGELOW

Was born in Westminster, county of Worcester, Dec. 5th, 1775. He was
graduated at Dartmouth College, in the class of 1795, studied law, and
was admitted to practice in 1798, and opened an office in the town of
Leominster, served the town as town clerk for five consecutive years,
was twice elected by his fellow citizens a member of the General Court
of Massachusetts, and was elected a member of Congress in 1810, and held
the position till 1815.

Mr. Bigelow removed to Worcester in 1817, was elected a member of the
American Antiquarian Society, and a trustee of Leicester Academy. From
1817 to 1833 he held the office of Clerk of the Courts in the County of
Worcester.

In 1838 he was appointed Master in Chancery for the county of Worcester.
He held the office of Justice of the Peace for about fifty years. He was
admitted to this society about a year after he was appointed Clerk of
the Courts, to wit, in 1818, and continued a member till 1848, when he
withdrew from the society. In the evening of his life he devoted much of
his time to horticulture, agriculture, literature and poetry. Some of
his choice poetical productions are in print. He died in Worcester,
April 5th, 1860, at the ripe old age of eighty five years, and is well
remembered by most of the living members of this society.

                               JOHN MOWER

Was a son of Ebenezer Mower of Worcester; he received his education at
the common schools and at Leicester Academy. He entered the mercantile
business, and opened a store on the corner of Main and Thomas streets.
He married Dolly Chamberlain, a daughter of William Chamberlain. He was
a bright, intelligent and well educated young man; was popular with the
young men of the place, and especially with the young lawyers.

Soon after he was twenty-one years of age, high sheriff Ward appointed
him deputy sheriff for the county, and for years, by the prompt and able
manner in which he discharged his duties, he did a larger business than
any other officer in the county. He was a member of this society less
than a year, when he emigrated to the South, and died at Fort Gibson,
Mississippi, April 15th, 1828.

                              SAMUEL WARD

Was born in Guilford, Vermont, June 9th, 1793. He was educated by his
uncle, Capt. Ward, of Lancaster; came to this place when a young man,
and married into one of the oldest and most respectable families of
Worcester.

He was admitted to this society in 1819, and remained an active member
for eleven years. In the military department of the government he was
deeply interested. At this time every able-bodied citizen, between the
ages of eighteen and forty-five years, was obliged to perform military
duty at least five days in each year. Worcester, then with a population
of little more than three thousand, had full and well disciplined
companies of artillery, cavalry, riflemen, and two very large companies
of infantry. Mr. Ward took great pleasure in military affairs, and was
ambitious to excel and become a good disciplinarian; and he succeeded
remarkably well. He was promoted from one position to another, till he
was finally elected Colonel of the Sixth Regiment.

The next morning after he was promoted from Major to the office of
Colonel, he was walking down Main street, in his most dignified manner,
very straight—a little more than perpendicular, when Israel Whitney, who
wanted to see him on business, called out, “Major Ward!” Ward walked on.
Whitney called a second time, louder, “Major Ward!” No attention was
paid to the call. He called a third time, “_Colonel Ward!_” Ward turns
immediately and walks towards Whitney, and says, “Good morning, Mr.
Whitney. I am glad to see you. _I did not hear you the first two times
you called!_”

Colonel Ward was a gentleman in his manners, intelligent, kind and
courteous; prompt, energetic and faithful in the discharge of his
duties, and agreeable and entertaining in conversation. He died in
Boston, March 1st, 1842.

                            SAMUEL HATHAWAY

Came to Worcester in the early part of this century, from the town of
Taunton, in this State. He became the owner of the Central Hotel, on
Main street, standing where the Bay State House now stands. At that time
there was a large farm connected with the hotel, and Mr. Hathaway
carried on the farm and kept the hotel. He was admitted to this society
in 1819, and remained an active member as long as he lived.

The society frequently held its meetings at his hotel, where the members
were always sure of having good fare.

About 1823 Samuel Hathaway sold out his estate on Main street, purchased
a farm at Washington Square, and built a hotel. His farm included all
the land occupied by the Boston & Albany Railroad, and on both sides of
Grafton street. He became a wealthy man, and built for himself a house
on Front street, retired from business, and died in Worcester, March
16th, 1831, much respected by his fellow citizens. Mr. Hathaway was a
man of good common sense, fond of wit and anecdote, very pleasant and
agreeable in conversation, and was willing to give and take a joke in a
pleasant and agreeable manner.

                             WILLIAM EATON

Was a lineal descendant from the first settlers of Worcester. His
influence with his fellow citizens was seldom surpassed. For twelve
years, from 1810 to 1830, he was elected one of the selectmen of the
town of Worcester. For ten years he represented the town in the
Legislature of Massachusetts. He held office under the United States
Government in the war of 1812. For many years he was one of the County
Commissioners for the county of Worcester, and for many years a deputy
sheriff within and for said county. All the duties of these various
offices he discharged with kindness and ability. He was a man of strict
integrity, upright and honorable in all business transactions, and
commanded the respect and esteem of all who had the pleasure of his
acquaintance. He was a member of this society for thirty-three years. He
died in Worcester, May 4th, 1859, at the age of ninety-three. His
daughter now owns and occupies the estate on the west side of Main
street, where Mr. Eaton resided most of his lifetime.

Very few men have lived in Worcester who understood the workings of the
human mind among the masses better than William Eaton. Hence he never
was at loss to know how to approach a man and control him under any
circumstances. His gentle and kind manner enabled him to exert a
powerful influence over his fellow citizens. This was the secret of his
great power among the people.

                           GEORGE A. TRUMBULL

Was born in Petersham, in 1793. He removed to Worcester and opened a
book store on the site on the west side of Main street where the house
of Harrison Bliss now stands. His agreeable manners attracted customers
to his store, and he had a lucrative business for ten years, till he
sold out his stock and store to Clarendon Harris.

He was elected cashier of the Central Bank in 1829, and held the office
till 1836, when he resigned, and was chosen cashier of the Citizens
Bank. He held this office for eighteen years, when he resigned, and his
son-in-law was elected in his place. Mr. Trumbull wrote a beautiful
hand, was a good accountant (never any irregularities in his accounts),
strictly honest, easy and agreeable in his manners, a gentleman in his
deportment, modest and retiring, always declining any public office
offered him by his fellow citizens, and always had about him a large
circle of warm friends. He was a member of this society for eleven
years. Few men have lived in Worcester more respected than George A.
Trumbull. He was the father of a large family, and moved in the first
society in Worcester, lived in a house situated on what is now called
Trumbull Square, and now occupied by Mrs. Trumbull, which was occupied
by his father before he came into possession of it.

                            JOHN W. HUBBARD

Was a relative of Rev. Samuel Austin, D.D., so long the pastor of the
Old South Church. Dr. Austin adopted him and gave him his education. In
1811, at the age of seventeen years, he was selected by the Federal
Party to deliver a fourth of July oration at Worcester, which was
printed. His production was well received and gave him character for
talent and ability. He was born in Brookfield, Vermont, in 1794, and
graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1814, in the same class with the
famous Thaddeus Stevens and Governor Dinsmore; studied law with Governor
Van Ness, of Vermont and Samuel M. Burnside, of Worcester, was admitted
to the Bar in Worcester County in 1817, and practiced law in Worcester
till his death, September 19th, 1825. Mr. Hubbard possessed a well
cultivated mind, clear and discriminating, and had an extensive
practice. He formed a co-partnership in law with the late Judge
Kinnicutt, but lived only a few weeks after the co-partnership was
formed. He was a member of this society only four years. Mr. Hubbard
owned and occupied an estate on Main street, including some ten or
fifteen acres of land on each side of Austin street. He was a gentleman
in his manners, upright and honest in business transactions, energetic
and persevering in his profession; an able and well read lawyer.

                              OTIS CORBETT

Was a native of Milford, came to Worcester in the early part of this
century, and opened a jewelry store on the west side of Main street,
opposite Mechanics Hall, where he acquired a very snug property in his
business. He was much respected by his fellow citizens, and was elected
a representative to the General Court from Worcester in the years 1824,
'26, '27, '28, '30 and '31. He was also chosen one of the selectmen of
Worcester in the years 1825, '26 and '29. In May, 1829, he was chosen
cashier of the Central Bank, and resigned the office in the autumn of
the same year. Mr. Corbett remained an active member of this society for
twenty-seven years. He was a man of stern integrity, strictly honest,
and commanded the confidence of all who knew him intimately. For many
years he was one of the trustees of the Worcester Academy, and took a
deep interest in the public schools of Worcester, and was for many years
a member of the School Board.

Mr. Corbett owned and occupied a house on Front street, where the
meeting house of Dr. Cutler now stands, for twenty years. He then became
the owner of the house on High street, where Deacon Upham now lives.
Here he lived until his death, February 6th, 1868. Mr. Corbett received
his education in the common schools, still he was better educated than
many who had received a collegiate education. A man of sound judgment,
discreet and honest, kind and courteous, and a wise counsellor.

                            CHARLES WHEELER

Was a son of Theophilus Wheeler, so long Register of Probate for the
county of Worcester. He was born in Worcester, August 10th, 1793; was
educated a merchant and kept a store for many years, on the east side of
Main street, in the modern building next north of the Wheeler mansion.
He was somewhat eccentric in his character, had no fondness whatever for
womankind, and always lived a bachelor. He was very modest in his
deportment, and strictly honest in all his dealings. He was admitted a
member of this society July, 1823, and withdrew from it in April, 1826,
and died in Worcester, March 6th, 1827.

                           SAMUEL B. THOMAS,

While he resided in Worcester, was a portly, polite and pleasant
landlord. He succeeded Col. Reuben Sikes, one of the founders of the
first line of stages from Boston to New York, as the proprietor of the
public house on Main street, now called the Exchange Hotel. It may not
be inappropriate to mention here, that all the fuel that Capt. Thomas
used for heating his hotel for years, was Worcester anthracite coal,
procured at two dollars a ton. This coal was found in the northeasterly
part of the city, where there is an abundance, when the enterprise of
citizens shall develop it. He was admitted to this society in October,
1824, and after his admission the society held its quarterly meetings at
his hotel. The fare was crackers and cheese, ham, or tongue, and wine,
and each member paid twenty-five cents for his entertainment. At the
annual meetings a sumptuous supper was provided, with wines and liquors,
and the charge was one dollar for each member.

Of course Capt. Thomas was a popular member, and remained an active
member for sixteen years, until his death.

He was born in Brookfield in 1779, and died in Worcester, April 24th,
1840. Capt. Thomas was pleasant and agreeable in his manners, popular
with his fellow citizens, and was chosen a representative to the General
Court, from Worcester, in 1834, and had many warm admirers.

_Gentlemen of the Society_:

In obedience to a request of your Committee on Publication, I have
hastily drawn up these historic sketches of the fifteen members of the
Society next preceding the oldest living member. If I have been so
fortunate in my sketches as to meet the approval of the members of the
society, I shall feel myself amply compensated for the labor of
gathering facts from history, and from the records of towns and
counties, and taxing the recollections of our venerable citizens, in
order to accomplish the object requested of me by the Committee.

                                                            ISAAC DAVIS.

WORCESTER, April, 1874.

                                                 [Handwritten:
                                                 W^m. J. Burton Esquire
                                                 with the regards of the
                                                 Author]

                                SKETCHES

                                   OF

                            FIFTEEN MEMBERS

                                 OF THE

                        WORCESTER FIRE SOCIETY.

Transcriber’s note:

Capitalization and inconsistencies in spelling have been left as in the
original.

Inconsistencies in punctuation in headings have been left as printed;
the person’s name seems to be treated as the first word of the paragraph
of text that follows.