Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 15.

[p. 46] both public and private business with which he had to do. After a long and successful career, he was succeeded by his sons, under the name of Stetson & Stetson; but he kept up his daily visits to the office, retaining the service of coachman and ‘sleek horse’ instead of modern automobile.

A few years since, the Register's editor was happily surprised in receiving a letter from Mr. Stetson, which by his permission appeared in our columns (Vol. XIII, p. 93), and which was of much interest. From time to time he wrote us encouraging and appreciative letters, indicative of his interest in the Register and of his boyhood's home and haunts. One day when we were absent from Medford for months, he sent a carefully prepared article (Vol. XVII, p. 73), that in our need at the time was ‘a bridge that brought us safely over.’ It was our wish to have presented his likeness with the ‘Medford Octogenarians’ but his modesty forbade; and so the old schoolhouse he knew was substituted.

By the courtesy of the New Bedford Evening Standard we are now able to do so.

In the stress of his professional life, Mr. Stetson had not been in Medford for years, and upon receiving the map of the city he requested, found it difficult to locate some old places by present names. Consequently, an article he intended to prepare, came from the able pen of our townsman Hooper (Vol. XVIII, p. 25), and in this, Mr. Stetson expressed a lively interest and satisfaction. It was our intent in the spring to visit him, and hear from his own lips something of our home city in the old days.

His son informs us that he awaited with interest the Register's coming, and read with pleasure its last number; and only the day before his passing away told of his boyhood pleasures along the old canal's banks and especially of the great aqueduct over the river. We would have been pleased to have welcomed him in our editorial sanctum, from whose pleasant windows he might