following two years. During the following three years he lived in Leominster, Massachusetts, where many of his relatives had settled, and while in that town learned and followed the trade of carpenter. He established himself in business in Pepperell, Massachusetts, and became the owner of a saw mill and lumber planing mill. In 1854 he removed to Ayer, Massachusetts, continuing to have a lumber mill there ever since. At the age of eightysix he attends to his daily duties at the mill, although the responsibility and care of the business have been transferred largely to his son and partner. He is one of the most prominent, successful and influential business men of the town. In politics Mr. Phelps is a Republican. He is a member of the Lodge of Free Masons. He is an active member of the Unitarian church, in which he has held all the important offices from time to time, and to which he has been a liberal contributor. He is a benevolent public-spirited

citizen.

Mr. Phelps married, January 15, 1853, Shirza J. Wright, born in Pepperell, Massachusetts, March 1, 1833, daughter of Franklin and Amanda (Ames) Wright, both of Pepperell. The children of this marriage are: I. Emma Augusta, born in Pepperell, March 1, 1854. married Daniel W. Fletcher, and has four children: i. Ethel, married Ira W. Dwinell, and has daughter Marion; ii. Howard, married Beatrice Robbins; one daughter Marjory; iii. Frank; iv. Dorris; 2. Ella Frances, born October 26, 1855, at home. 3. Lena May, born November 2, 1863, married George M. Moore, of Plymouth, Vermont; two children: Levi Phelps, born February, 1891, and Milton George, born August, 1901. 4. Albert McCallister, only son of Levi W. Phelps, born at Ayer, November 9, 1866. He was educated in the public schools, and then entered the employ of his father, learning the carpenter trade, and becoming proficient in every branch of lumber manufacturing in his father's extensive establishment. He is a Republican in politics, and attends the Unitarian church. He married, August 26, 1881, Annie C. Morrison, of Ayer, daughter of Charles and Mary (Cox) Morrison. They have one child, Bertha M., born January 1, 1900.

(For the first three generations see Daniel 3).

(IV) Daniel Felch, son of Dr. FELCH Daniel Felch (3), was born at Seabrook, New Hampshire, April 5, 1718. He was a soldier at the capture of Louisburg, June 17, 1745, in Captain Ed

ward Williams's company. He married, February 14, 1749, Jane Page, of Hampton, New Hampshire. He and his brother Joseph were appointed administrators of their father's estate March 28, 1753. Daniel sold his homestead in Hampton Falls, containing about a half-acre of land with a dwelling house, to Jonathan Moulton, of Hampton, by deed dated October 17, 1756. This site was subsequently occupied and owned by Goshen Griffith as a tavern stand, and at last accounts the house was still standing and well preserved. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the homestead, where he subsequently lived and died; he was a farmer. His wife died June 20, 1787. Children, born in Hampton Falls: 1. Molly, January 22, 1750, died February 24, 1803, aged fifty-three; married (first), about 1769, William Cilley, who died at sea in 1772; married (second), December 13, 1774, David Boyd, who died July 23, 1834. 2. Benjamin, October 3, 1751, died in infancy. 3. Benjamin, March 28, 1754, mentioned below. 4. Rhoda, June 21, 1756, died May 26, 1785, aged thirty-one years; married, about 1775, Joseph Hook, of Saybrook. 5. Daniel, June 18, 1759, died July 12, 1763 (?). 6. Amos, born October 13, 1761, died February 9, 1780, aged eighteen, in the British war prison, New York City. 7. John, February 23, 1763, married, March 8, 1787, Ruth Switcher, who was born January 22, 1763.

(V) Benjamin Felch, son of Daniel Felch (4), was born March 28, 1754. He settled after the Revolution in Topsham, Vermont, about 1804. about 1804. Married Sarah Campbell, who died in 1854 at Racine, Wisconsin, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. They lived at Deering, New Hampshire, for a time and also at Francestown, where his brother John settled and lived in the north part of the town near the Deering line, until 1814, when he moved to Sutton, where he died two years later; his wife Ruth Sweetser died September 5, 1826; they left many descendants in Francestown, and vicinity. Benjamin was a soldier in the Revolution in the company raised for the expedition against Canada in 1776 under Second Lieutenant Timothy Worthley, of Weare, Captain Dearborn's company and Colonel Daniel Moore's regiment. His wife was a remarkable woman, retaining her faculties to the time of her death at the age of ninety-four, and possessing a wonderful memory. During her active life she was very energetic and industrious, and was always bright intellectually and an interesting conversationalist.

Children: 1. Daniel, born at Deering, October 27, 1780,mentioned below. 2. Hezekiah, resided at Topsham. 3. William, removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota. 4. Enos. 5. Eli. 6. Benjamin, born February 14, 1790, married Jerusha Steele Jackson, who died in 1864; he died in 1865; (of him, his son, Benjamin F. Felch, of Chicago, writes: "My Father, Benjamin Felch, was a healthy, robust man, five feet, ten inches in height, weighed one hundred and eighty to two hundred pounds, and measured forty-four inches around the chest. He was remarkable for his strength, especially the grip of his hands; he would catch a wild steer by the top of the neck with one hand and hold on until he could get hold of the horns; I saw him once, when he was seventy years old, catch a shy horse by the mane and hold on until carried several rods, and the horse was glad to stop. He came from Topsham, Vermont, to Cattaraugus county, New York, when twenty-one years old. When he arrived, he had but one dollar in money and an ax as capital. He took a contract from the Holland Company for one hundred acres of land, which he afterwards paid for; he cleared one hundred acres of very heavy timber land with his own hands; soon after commencing to clear his land, he married Jerusha Steele Jackson, only daughter of Abraham Jackson. As the fruits of this union, twelve children were born to them, ten of whom lived to be men and women. He removed to Racine, Wisconsin, with his family about 1835, and settled about six miles southwest of Racine, where he bought quite a large tract of land; about 1856 he removed to Steven's Point, Portage county, Wisconsin, where he died, aged nearly seventy-five, and was buried at Amherst. Wisconsin, with his wife and son.") 7. Mehitable. 7. Mehitable. 8. Jane.

(VI) Daniel Felch, son of Benjamin Felch (5), was born in Deering, New Hampshire, October 27, 1780, and died February 26, 1845. He married Ruth Walker. His son, Benjamin F. Felch, writes of him: "Daniel Felch was born in Deering, New Hampshire. The facilities for culture during the period of his childhood and youth were poor, the school far away, the stucture rude, and the teacher not always master of the rudiments he endeavored to teach; his literary acquirements consequently were small. He was six feet in height, very muscular, and possessing great physical ability. At the age of twenty-three he married Ruth Walker; by this union they were blessed with fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to the full stature of men and

women, eleven of whom married and have children. His pecuniary circumstances were such as to induce him to labor early and late, in wielding the ax, tilling the soil, or making shoes, to supply the needs of his large family, and by industry he acquired the frugal means. of support. He was strongly imbued with a sense of his reliance upon God, and endeavored so to live as to finally receive the welcome plaudit, 'Well done, good and faithful servant.' He died while on a visit to his daughter in Groton, Massachusetts, February 26, 1845, in the sixty-fifth year of his age, and was buried at Mason Center, New Hampshire." Children: Betsey, Ruth, Ruhamah, Rhoda, Daniel, Henry, Levi, mentioned below; Sarah J., Mary, Hannah, Benjamin F., Andrew W., Mary J., Mercy.

(VII) Levi Felch, son of Daniel Felch (6), was born at Antrim, New Hampshire, May 18, 1813, and died April 18, 1890, in Ayer, Massachusetts. He was educated in the common schools and raised on a farm. He learned the trade of machinist and followed his trade in Ayer, Massachusetts, for many years. In politics he was a Republican from the time that party was formed, but never sought public office. He was one of the original members of the Baptist church at Ayer, and active in church affairs throughout his life. He was engaged in the florist and market gardening business in his later years, and was very successful, especially with his green-houses, acquiring a fair competence. quiring a fair competence. He married, November 5, 1835, Clarissa M. Wright, in Goffstown, New Hampshire. She died in Ayer, Massachusetts, January 21, 1896. Children: Eli and Eri (twins), born May 13, 1838. Andrew Walker, born in Lowell, October 8, 1845. Eugene A., born in Groton, September 3, 1849. Gilbert E., born in Lawrence, October 23, 1852. George Edgar, born September 22, 1855, mentioned below.

(VIII) George Edgar Felch, son of Levi Felch (7), was born September 22, 1855. He was educated in the public and high schools of Ayer, his native town. He established himself in the business of florist about 1878 and has followed this calling to the present time with uniform success, building up a large and flourishing trade. Mr. Felch is a Republican, but not active in politics. He is an active member and liberal supporter of the Baptist church. He is a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Ayer. He married, January 2, 1886, Nellie Ann Fuzzard, born at Brighton, Massachusetts, May 18, 1859, daughter of John and Ann (Spinner) Fuzzard, natives of England.