THE INDIVIDUALS (chronologically by date of birth)   FRED L. ADAMS November 3, 1856 - March 24, 1944   AUGUSTUS S. WENTWORTH  February 26, 1860 - January 19, 1927 CHARLES FRED GOWEN September 6, 1861 - June 3, 1914 FLORENCE “FANNIE” (JORDAN) (WENTWORTH) (BATCHELDER) (WALLACE) TIBBETTS  August 12, 1867 - 1953 HARVEY EARLE ADAMS May 21, 1881 - December 21, 1918 CHESTER ARTHUR EMMONS February 5, 1882 - January 10, 1965 NELLIE ARLETTA (WENTWORTH) (ADAMS) WELCH September 20, 1890 - September 23, 1988 VICTOR STANLEY GOWEN SR. November 15, 1897 - December 9, 1961 FRANKLIN KING HURD April 4, 1901 - July 23, 1965 GRACE MABEL (JONES) (GOWEN) HURD September 7, 1902 - December 1962 PIERRE L. BLUTEAU September 30, 1909 - (body found March 13, 1975) CHARLES AUGUSTUS ADAMS November 28, 1910 - January 26, 1987 ALMEDA FRANCES (ADAMS) (TREW) HURTEAU April 2, 1916 - March 13, 1997 EDMUND "PHILLIP" LADD BADGER September 28, 1917 -  December 1, 1951 LAURA MAY (ADAMS) (...

 A sheriff noticed a late model car parked at a turnout in Tolland, Massachusetts, on Saturday, August 10, 1963. On Monday, the sheriff saw that the car had not moved, so he took the vehicle's registration and notified town officials. Selectman George Wolford checked the car at dusk. In the glove compartment, he found two suicide notes. Massachusetts State Police, Tolland residents, and members of the Tunxis Club searched the area. Joseph Clark of Burnt Hill Road found the body of a man in the woods about 50 feet from Route 57 near New Boston Road. Papers on the man identified him as 30-year-old Robert C. Ford of 157 Marshall Street, Torrington, Connecticut. He shot himself with a .45, believed to be a Colt. Robert's family, more than likely his wife, the former Dorothy Evelyn Webb, reported him missing on August 9. Robert was a salesman for Prudential Life Insurance Company. He was also a musician performing as part of The Four Specs. Robert served in the United States Navy be...

Southwick's Board of Selectmen held a special town meeting in Consolidated School's auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on December 20, 1950. Articles up for vote included authorizing the board to purchase roughly 10 acres of land on College Highway from the heirs of the late Walter Stenstrom to expand the town's cemetery. Walter's mother, Johanna Marie ("Maria"), his younger sister, Margit, and his older brother, Edward, had no use for the property since they lived in New York. Back on September 15, Edward visited Walter's home. Not finding his brother in the house, he checked the barn outback and saw his brother's body hanging from the rafters. The medical examiner estimated that Walter had been dead for about six hours. He ruled the cause of death as suicide by hanging. Walter was only 47. The vote to expand the cemetery passed. (The sale did not include Walter's house and barn.) In 1949, Walter's wife, Sophie Rose (Simcak), filed for divorce. Sophie cl...

William Smith of Westfield, Massachusetts, went to Walker Wright's house in neighboring Southwick on Sunday, February 5, 1854. He traveled there with a man named Brooks, who lived with him. The men brought a quart of gin, taking two or three swigs along the way. In anticipation of seeing some rabbits in the woods, William also brought his musket. When they arrived at Wright's home, William placed his musket in the corner and sent for a pint of brandy. The drinking continued. Three unknown Irishmen arrived at Wright's house. The men had been drinking. As one of the men picked up the gun, Brooks said, "Smith, you better take care of your musket. It is loaded." As William started towards the man to retrieve his gun, it fired. The charge hit William's side, just below his arm, killing him instantly. Everyone was so drunk that they did not realize what had happened, except for the Irishmen, who fled, taking the musket with them. On Monday afternoon, someone discove...