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