218 FITCH. FLAGG. On his mother's side Mr. Fiske was descended from Samuel Morse, who came from England in 1635, and after a short stay in Watertown, settled in Dedham. He counts among his maternal ancestors, Lieut. John Bacon, who was killed in the battle of Lexington, and whose son, also honored with a commission, served in the revolutionary war. FITCH, ROBERT GERSHOM, son of Gershom M. and Almeda L. Fitch, was born at Sheffield, Berkshire county, May 19, 1846. Until twenty years of age he worked on the farm, when he fitted for college at the South Berkshire Institute, New Marlbor- ough, graduating at Williams College in 1870. While at college he was editor of the "Williams Quarterly, took an honorary oration at commencement, and was elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. In i8yo-'7 2 he was connected as jour- nalist with the " Springfield Republican," and the latter year he associated himself with the " Boston Post," serving as editor in various departments, up to editor-in- chief. Although his tastes and labors have been mainly in the direction of journalism, yet in May, 18S6, he became a member of the board of fire commissioners in the city of Boston, and was soon after chosen chair- man of the board. Under the administration of Mr. Fitch, the paper with which he was last connected grew in public estimation, and by its posi- tive, independent course made many warm and staunch friends. The present efficient status of the Boston fire department, now, as for many years, justly a matter of pride to the inhabitants of the city of Boston, is due in no small measure to the liberal policy and practical efficiency of the chair- man of the board which controls its man- agement. Mr. Fitch was married in Detroit, Mich., September 26, 1878, to Emma H., daughter of Burton and Minerva Emmons. She died in 1888, leaving as issue : Helen M. and Emma M. Fitch. FITZ, EUSTACE CAREY, son of Jeremiah and Hannah (Eaton) Fitz, was born in Haverhill, Essex county, Februarys, 1833. He removed to Boston in 1S34, and from thence to Chelsea in 1S41, where he was educated in the public schools. Excepting a residence in Cambridge from 1856 to '59, he has continued to reside in Chelsea. He was .1 member of the common council in 1 86 1, '6_>, and '63, and president during the last two years. He was mayor of Chelsea in 1864, '65 and '66, and trustee of the public library for eighteen years, closing his term of service with a gift to the city of a library building costing upward of twenty-five thousand dollars. He was in the House of Representatives in 1873 and '74 ; in the Senate in 1875 and '76, and in the governor's council in 1881 and '82. He is now chairman of the commissioners of prisons. He is a member of the firm of Fuller, Dana & Fitz, iron merchants, of Boston ; is a member of the Baptist denomination, and president of the trustees of Newton Theological Institution. EUSTACE C FITZ. On the 10th of January, 1856, he was married to Sarah Jane, daughter of Alfred and Margaret C. Blanchard, of Chelsea. Of this union are four children : Frank E., Emma |., Alfred W., and Robert F Fitz. FLAGG, SOLOMON, son of Solomon and Esther (Brown) Flagg, was born in Boston, August 24, 1804. He received his early education in the schools of Need- ham, where he has ever since resided, in the portion incorporated in 1SS1, and known as the town of Wellesley. His fust service to the public was in 1825, as teacher in the public schools of Sherborn, Dover, Natick, Needham, and Wellesley,
