for a full generation as Felch Brothers' shop, was built and the firm of Felch Brothers began business there. The original firm consisted of John F. Felch and Oliver A. Felch. In 1873 Harrington Felch, another brother, was admitted. The firm of Felch Brothers was one of the most prosperous and continuously successful concerns in the business of shoe manufacturing in Natick. Oliver A. Felch retired from the firm in 1903, when the business was sold to his nephew, Walter L. Felch, son of John F. Felch. He is a member of Meridian Lodge of Free Masons of Natick; of Parker Royal Arch Chapter, Natick; of Natick Commandery, of Natick Commandery, Knights Templar, Natick; and of the various bodies of Scottish Rite Masonry to the thirtysecond degree in Boston. He is a member of Takawambait Lodge of Odd Fellows, and of the Natick Encampment, Natick. In politics he is a Republican. He is president of the board of trustees of the Fiske Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church of Natick. He is a trustee of the Natick Five Cents Savings Bank, and for a period of twenty years was a director of the Natick National Bank. He is a trustee and president of the North Cemetery Association, and has held many other positions of public and private trust. No man is more generally known and esteemed in the town. Enterprising in business, popular in clubs and social life, influential in party and town affairs, he is counted among the foremost citizens of the town. His influence has always been on the right side, and he has been a source of strength, especially to the temperance cause in a community where public sentiment is nearly evenly divided. He has been for many years a leader in the church, generous in supporting its benevolences, liberal also in private charitv. His house is on the site of Ebenezer Felch's (4) homestead. Oliver A. Felch married, at Worcester, Massachusetts, June 10, 1862, Martha White Gleason, who was born August 7, 1843, and died November 5, 1898, daughter of Phineas Merrill and Sallie (White) Gleason. Children, born in Natick : 1. Sarah Alice, born April 30, 1870, died July 30, 1872. 2. Anna Isabelle, born July 9, 1873, died June 16, 1896. 3. Frederick Oliver, born November 9, 1874, died January 24, 1880. 4. John Edwin, born June 23, 1876, died April II, 1897. 5. Albert Amandus, born October 27, 1878, mentioned below. 6. Charles Henry, born July 12, 1882, died April 3, 1885. (IX) Rev. Albert Amandus Felch, son of Oliver Amandus (8) and Martha White (Gleason) Felch, was born in Natick, October 27, 1878. 27, 1878. He attended the public schools of Natick, graduating from the high school in the class of 1897, and from Boston University in the class of 1901 as class orator. He studied for the ministry at the Theological School of Boston University, class of 1904, and was ordained April, 1903, at Brookline, Massachusetts, by Bishop Andrews, of the Methodist Episcopal church. His charges have been the Methodist churches of Jefferson and Sudbury, and he is at present pastor of the Congregational church at South Natick. He has been a member of the Natick school committee since 1901. He is a member of the Masonic order; Meridian Lodge, of which he is chaplain, and of the Boston Lodge of Perfection, also Independent Order Odd Fellows. He married, June 10, 1903, Jessie S. Keep, born November 14, 1878, daughter of George F. and Mary (Bruce) Keep. Children: 1. Grace Alberta, born August 8, 1905. 2. Emory Albert, born June 29, 1907. (VIII) John Francis Felch, son of Oliver (7) and Hannah Washburn (Fuller) Felch, was born on the old homestead in North Natick, town of Natick, October 7, 1839. He learned the trade of shoemaker, as did also his brothers and most other boys of his day, and when a young man began to manufacture boots and shoes. As stated in the sketch of his elder brother, Oliver Amandus Felch, the factory of Felch Brothers was built in 1864 and the firm did a thriving shoe manufacturing business for many years. He remained in business until his death, October 8, 1899, and was succeeded by his son, Walter L., the present owner. He was a man of high character, spotless integrity and attracted many friends. He was a faithful member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cochituate, Massachusetts. In politics he was a staunch Republican, and served the town as selectman and held other positions of trust and honor in the community. He was married November 4, 1860, by Rev. David Mason, at Cochituate, Massachusetts, to Mary Lucy Loker, born December 25, 1842, daughter of Jefferson and Caroline (Wheelock) Loker. Jefferson Loker was born March 1, 1807, in the village of Cochituate, town of Wayland, Massachusetts, and died March 25, 1900. He was a farmer, and member of the Cochituate Methodist Episcopal church. Caroline (Wheelock) Loker died June 18, 1878. Their children were: i. Abbie Ann Loker, married George Kemp; ii. Willard Wesley Loker; iii. Mary Lucy Loker, born December 25, 1842; iv. Ellen Frances Loker, married 2. Henry C. Dean; v. Leonard Loker. Paul Loker was the father of Jefferson Loker and grandfather of Mrs. Felch. Children of John F. and Mary Lucy (Loker) Felch: I. John Elmer, born February 13, 1862, attended public and Allen school of West Newton; married at Saxonville, August 6, 1883, Nellie L. Whitney; children: i. Marguerite Mae, born May 20, 1890; ii. Gladys Iola, born February 28, 1898, died August 15, 1899; iii. Enid Whitney, born December 6, 1900. Walter L., born September 9, 1863, educated in the Natick public schools and the Allen School of West Newton, learned the business in his father's shoe factory and since May, 1903, has been the proprietor of the Felch Brothers factory and business; married Lauretta Bent, of Sudbury, March 1, 1886. Grace, born April 12, 1865, married, August 1, 1883, John M. Adams, a boot and shoe salesman for J. B. Lewis, Boston; children: i. Bessie Caroline Adams, born November 30, 1885, graduate of Wellesley College, class of 1907; ii. Charles Maxwell Adams, born May 15, 1889, student in Natick high school; iii. Mary Louise Adams, born March 7, 1892, student in Natick high school; iv. Eva Belle Adams, born November 28, 1896; v. Marie Felch Adams, born March 2, 1899. 4. Louise, born September 16, 1870, married, November 20, 1889, Charles A. Goodnow, buyer of Clark Hudson & Co., Boston: son John Ruyter Goodnow, born August 5, 1898. 3. Edward Phelps, the immigrant PHELPS ancestor, was born in England and settled in Newbury, Massachusetts. Very little is known of him. Savage is authority for the statement that he had a son Edward. He re (II) Edward Phelps, son of Edward Phelps (1), was born about 1660 in Andover probably. He was a weaver by trade. moved to Lancaster, Massachusetts, about 1708 with his family. His was the second name on the church covenant dated March 29, 1708-09. The birth of his daughter Elizabeth in 1690 is on the Lancaster records, but as frequently happened, was added after the family came to that town. The family was not there in 1704. In fact the first land record mentioning Phelps in Lancaster is dated May 10, 1710, when he bought of Jeremiah Rogers, of Salem, a wheelwright, and Jehosaphat Rogers, of Topsfield, a tailor, his farm at Lancaster. He had a grant of land April 8, 1717, on his common rights. He and his wife were received by letter from Andover into the Lancaster church, November 4, 1716. He was selectman and town treasurer from 1725 to 1743. His wife Ruth died at Lancaster, February 1, 1744-45, and he died November 30. or December 3, 1747. His will was dated February 28, 1735, and presented for probateFebruary 4, 1748. He bequeathed to his wife Ruth; children: Edward, Ruth Carter, Hannah Fletcher, Elizabeth Willard, Bathsheba Bennett, Rebecca Wilson and Sarah Goodridge, Robert and Joshua. He mentions his commoners rights at "Quasanonum" and the rights bought of Jeremiah Rogers. Children: 1. Edward, Jr., mentioned below. 2. Robert, died March 19, 1749; was soldier in the Indian wars under Captain John White in 1727; settled in Lancaster and had a large family there. 3. Joshua, born about 1700, died July 3, 1784, aged eighty-four; first wife died June, 1738; he was in Captain. Samuel Willard's company in 1725; was member of the First Church of Lancaster in 1748; married (second), 1744, married (second), 1744, Rebecca Beman; children: i. Joshua, born March 23, 1732-33, died April 13, 1733; ii. Rebecca, born May 12, 1734, died young; iii. Elizabeth, born April II, 1736, died young; iv. Joshua. Children of second wife: v. Elizabeth, born July 13, 1745; vi. Rebecca, born October 24, 1746; vii. Sarah, born August 22, 1748; viii. Abel, born August 7, 1750; ix. Lydia, born August 14, 1753; x. Peter, born August 3, 1755, died April 15, 1757; xi. Relief, born October 23, 1757; xii. Deborah, born October 31, 1764; xiii. Joshua, Jr., born September 22, 1766. The will of Joshua, Sr., dated December 12, 1782, and allowed August 3, 1784, mentions Abel, Joshua, Jr., Rebecca Godfrey, Lydia Johnson, Relief Phelps, Deborah Phelps and his grandson, Moses Phelps. (His sons were both in the Revolution). 4. Ruth, married Carter. 5. Hannah, married Fletcher. 6. Elizabeth, born at Andover, January 27, 1689-90. 7. Bathsheba, married, July 23, 1718, John Bennett. 8. Rebecca, Wilson. 9. Sarah, married married Goodridge. (III) Edward Phelps. son of Edward Phelps (2), was born in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1691 or 1694, and died at Lancaster, Massachusetts, aged "ninety or ninety-three," March 7, 1784. He married at Lancaster, November 24, 1718, Mary Bennett, and they lived there all their lives. They were members of the First Church of Lancaster. Children: 1. Mary, born August 13, 1719. Asahel, born July 18, 1721, a prominent figure 2. in the Revolution. 3. John, mentioned below. 4. Lydia, born February 18, 1726. 5. Ebenezer, baptized December, 1726. 6. Edward, born February 13, 1729-30, married Martha who married (second) Joslin ; son Peter, born 1758, settled in Leominster; son Abel; sons Luther and Levi; owned land in Leominster; 7. Phinehas, born January 16, 1732-33. 7. Cliver. (IV) John Phelps, son of Edward Phelps (3), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, February 18, 1723-24, and died there August 14, 1785, aged sixty-three. He was one of the appraisers of the estate of Rev. John Prentice, minister of Lancaster, and doubtless a close friend of his. He married (first) Zipporah Wilder, whose gravestone states that she died June 20, 1758, aged thirty-four, and that she had been previously the widow of Asaph Wilder. The town records give the day of death as the nineteenth. She is buried in the Old Common Burying Ground. On her gravestone is inscribed: "Thou hast by death cut short my days John Phelps married (second), May 12, 1762, Elizabeth Walker, and (third) (intentions May 31, 1766) Achsah Whiting, of Billerica, who died October 15, 1802, aged sixtyone years. Children, born in Lancaster: I. John, born December 13, 1748, married, February 10, 1774, Lois Davis. 2. Joseph, born February 28, 1750. 3. Aaron, born November 9, 1753 (duplicate gives 1754). 4. Josiah, born March 16, 1756. 5. Jacob, baptized June 13, 1758. Children of Elizabeth, his second wife: 6. Elizabeth, baptized May 8, 1763, two days old. 7. Peter, baptized May 5, 1765, died young. Children of Achsah, his third wife: 8. Achsah, born July 15, 1767, baptized May 14, 1769. 9. Martha, born July 17, 1769. 10. Zilpah, baptized February 16, 1772. 11. Peter, baptized July 24, 1774, mentioned below. 12. Lydia, born March 6, 1777. John Phelps died intestate in 1785, and Timothy Whiting, Jr., of Lancaster, was appointed administrator August 25, that year. Timothy Whiting married the daughter Lydia and was guardian of Zilpah, one of the children. Martha and Sally Phelps were witnesses. Aaron Phelps, the eldest son, also agreed to the appointment of his brother-inlaw. John owned forty-three acres of land in Lancaster and his estate was valued at 280 pounds. Jonathan Wilder was also guardian of Achsah, aged eighteen, Martha, sixteen, Lydia and Peter. The real estate of John Phelps was finally divided between Aaron, Jacob, Josiah, Elizabeth, Achsah, Martha, Peter, Lydia and Zilpah. (V) Peter Phelps, son of John Phelps (4), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, July 16, 1774, and was baptized July 24, when about a week old. He died in Lancaster, and is buried there with others of the family. The gravestone gives the date of his death as March 7, 1847, and his age as seventy-two. By his side is the grave of his child Abiel, and of Sally, wife of his brother Aaron; she died April 12, 1794, aged thirty-six; his brother John is also buried there, dying January 14, 1778, in his twenty-eighth year. Peter Phelps left Lancaster when a young man, and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, and Rockport, Maine, but finally returned to his native town. He was a farmer. In politics he was a Democrat. In religion he was liberal, and a faithful member of the Unitarian church, being active in the society, and holding various offices in both church and society. Soon after he came of age, March 19, 1796, he deeded to John Whiting land in Lancaster adjoining Whiting's land, the deed being witnessed by his brother Aaron and brother-in-law, Timothy Whiting, Jr. He was of Boston, October 19, 1803, when with his sister Lydia and her husband Timothy Whiting they deeded their interests in the dower of Achsah Phelps, widow of his father, John Phelps, to Abner Pollard. His will has not been discovered. He married, in Boston, May 30, 1805, Mary Newell, born at Scituate, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, May 27, 1784. Their children (of whom in 1907 Levi W. and Louis alone survive): I. Edward, born in Boston, December 30, 1807. 2. Mary, born in Boston, July 20, 1809. 3. Abiel Smith, born July 21, 1811. 4. Lydia Ann Whiting, born April 17, 1813. 5. Augusta, born May 12, 1815. 6. Jonathan Russell, born April 28, 1817. 7. Barney Smith, born May 28, 1819. 8. Levi Whiting, born April 29, 1821. 9. Jerome, born November 2, 1823- 10. Louis, born October 30, 1826. The two youngest died in infancy; all the others came to maturity. (VI) Levi Whiting Phelps, son of Peter Phelps (5), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, after his father returned from Maine, April 29, 1821, and was baptized there in the First Church, July 15, following. He received his education in the public schools. He left home when he was only ten years old and became a farmer's apprentice to Nathaniel Thayer, the leading citizen of Lancaster. He left Mr. Thayer's house when he was fifteen and worked on a farm in Sterling during the |