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Salem, and in 1856 and 1857 was its Mayor. He was 

 a member of this society in 1856. 



Benjamin S. Newhall, of Salem, died April 3, 1886, 

 aged 79 years, 7 months. He was clerk of the contract- 

 ors who built the Eastern Railroad, and was afterwards 

 a farmer in Danvers several years. He became a member 

 in 1853. 



Joseph Pulsifer died in Salem Oct. 19, 1886, aged 

 over 88 years. He was born in Ipswich, and went to 

 Salem at the age of 14 years to learn painting, and led 

 a life of industry, economy and honest dealing, and earned 

 success. He was one of the founders of Barton Square 

 Church, and Naumkeag Fire Club, of Salem, and the 

 pioneer in manufacturing painted carpets. He joined this 

 Society in 1839. 



Elbridge Merrill, of West Newbury, died in 1886, 

 aged 72 years. "Deacon Merrill "has been one of our 

 oldest and most valued members. For more than twenty 

 years he has attended our annual gatherings, serving as 

 trustee for several years, always with credit to himself and 

 the society. All who knew him mourn his loss. 



George G. Peirce, of West Newbury, died in 1886, at 

 about 25 years of age. He joined our Society in 1882, 

 and was awarded two premiums this year for fruit crops. 

 He was a young man of much promise, and was loved and 

 esteemed by all who knew him. 



Moses Hill, of Revere, a non-resident member of the 

 Society, has died in 1886. 



Again the busy reaper, Death, has passed through our 

 county, gathering for the better land a bountiful harvest 

 during the year, from the members of this society. One 

 from every thirty-five has been taken home ; in Glouces- 

 ter, one from every thirteen. Those who have left us 

 have contributed each in their own way to the success and 



