No. 4.] SPECIAL MEETING. 11 



William Bancroft of Chesterfield, the delegate to this 

 Board from the Hillside Agricultural Society, died suddenly 

 at his home on the farm where he was born, seventy-one 

 years ago, respected and beloved not only in the imme- 

 diate community where he lived but in a large circle of 

 acquaintances and friends in the western part of the State. 



Mr. Bancroft's father was a lawyer as well as a farmer, 

 and much respected in the county. Our friend was born 

 and reared on the farm, but early went into mercantile and 

 commercial pursuits ; but after many years of successful 

 business, the love of the farm and of his boyhood's home 

 brought him back to till the paternal acres. The house of 

 his father where he was born having been burned, Mr. 

 Bancroft built on the same spot a house and very fine barn, 

 in which he took great pride for its beauty and convenience. 

 It was on the floor of that barn, while attending to the 

 farmer's early duties of feeding and caring for his cattle, 

 that he dropped dead from paralysis of the heart at the age 

 of seventy-one years. 



In memory of him we would say that, while the commu- 

 nity in which he lived has lost a kind neighbor, a willing 

 assistant and a good and helpful counsellor, we mourn a 

 greater personal loss. Mr. Bancroft became a member 

 of this Board in 1890, and immediately took rank as one of 

 the brightest, most intelligent and best informed of all 

 our members. Eeady and alert, he performed cheerfully, 

 promptly and faithfully every duty assigned to him, while his 

 genial presence and ready wit enlightened and brightened 

 our meetings. 



Resolved, That the secretary of our Board be directed 

 to send a copy of this resolution to his family, and to 

 the " Springfield Republican" for publication. 



Commemoratory remarks were made by Messrs. Avery, 

 Barton, F. H. Appleton, Pratt, Horton, Lyman, Ward and 

 Tucker, and by Mr. Newhall of Conway, a former member 

 of the Board. 



On motion of Mr. Hartshorn, the resolution was adopted 

 by a rising vote. 



