Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

512 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-1886.
a subsequent arrangement Mr. Trask was made the candidate for
lieutenant-gOA'ernor on the Worcester ticket, and Oliver Warner Sec-
retary of State. Springfield was also represented that year by George
Walker on the republican senatorial ticket, and William L. Smith,
his democratic opponent, and Heman Smith, American candidate, for
county commissioner. R. A. Chapman supported the Banks ticket,
and his old partner, George Ashraun, came out strong for Banks
also. Banks was elected, and so was Walker. In the legislative
contest Marvin Chapin and Henry Vose, republicans, and Hiram Q.
Sanderson, democrat, were elected.
The whole Banks ticket was renominated in 1858, and reelected.
So was Senator Walker. The most important local item in the No-
vember election was the defeat of William Kice, who for over a
quarter of a century had been register of deeds or county treasurer.
He was defeated by James E. Russell, democrat. Mr. Norton, a
son-in-law of Mr. Rice, withdrew from the office of county treasurer
at the same time, so that the change was the more marked. Mr.
Rice had been first chosen register in 1830. There were heard upon
all sides hearty tributes to Mr. Rice's fidelity and eflficiency in the
public service, and he was followed into private life by the honor and
respect of all. Mr. Russell, who succeeded him, was for man}'^ years
a conductor on the day express between Boston and Springfield, and
had been the popular landlord of the Russell House. Mr. Russell
always has shown an intelligent interest in Springfield history, and
he has a fund of stories which then, as now, was a source of enter-
tainment to his friends. One of his best relates to Daniel Webster,
who was a passenger on the Boston & Albany Railroad one day when
Mr. Russell was conductor. The distinguished statesman lost his
hat out of the window, and he remarked to Mr. Russell that he would
have some trouble in getting another large enough. When the train
stopped at Palmer Mr. Russell stepped off, and approaching Bill
Childs, the station agent, who had the largest head in the county,
asked, " What will you take for that hat? " Childs named his price