Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

in 1735, was a soldier of the French and
Indian War, and was engaged in the
operation around Crown Point, New
York. He married Rosanna Patterson.
Their son, Jonathan Smead, born in 1773,
married Lucy Purple, and resided at
Greenfield, Massachusetts. Their son,
Jonathan Smead, born April 8, 1812, died
January 21, 1866. He married, October
25, 1835, Lucy B. Adams, a descendant of
Samuel Adams, of Newbury, Massachu-
setts, born February 18, 1799, owned land
in Suffield, Connecticut, and is believed
to have died there, September 4, 1836.
His wife, Elizabeth Adams, died in West
Haven, Vermont, September 2.7, 1820.
Their son, Horace Adams, was a native
of Massachusetts, from whence he removed
to Suffield, Connecticut, and later
to West Haven, Vermont, where his death
occurred November 28, 1866. He mar-
ried Ora Billings, who died June 16, 1857,
daughter of Ebenezer Billings, of Green-
field, Massachusetts, a son of the Rev.
Edward Billings, a Congregational minis-
ter, the first settled pastor of the first
church at Greenfield, Massachusetts.
Ebenezer Billings married a daughter of
William and Sarah (Bishop) Joyce, and
granddaughter of John Joyce, a native of
London, England, where he died about
the year 1736. He was at one time high
sheriff of Bridgetov/n, Barbadoes, West
Indies, and from there his son, William
Joyce, and his mother, emigrated to the
American colonies, locating in Middle-
town, Connecticut.
Edwin Billings Smead, son of Jonathan
and Lucy B. (Adams) Smead, was born
in Greenfield, Massachusetts, January 19,
1849. He was educated in public schools,
including the high school, and in the
Massachusetts Agricultural College at
Amherst, being a member of the class of
1 87 1, the first class graduated from the
Agricultural College. He had obtained a
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1
practical knowledge of civil engineering,
and after completing his course at col-
lege was engaged in that profession in the
South, and with the State Line & Juniata
Railroad in Pennsylvania. Later he was
engaged in the coal business with Diggs
Brothers, in Baltimore, Maryland, and in
the flour and grain business with Bushey,
Carr & Company in the same city. In
1884, the year the Watkinson Farm
School was established, the trustees ap-
plied to the Massachusetts Agricultural
College for assistance in selecting a man
to fill the responsible position of princi-
pal. That college being his Alma Mater,
and he being an applicant for a position,
the college authorities gave him so strong
an endorsement that he was engaged.
The choice was an admirable one, and
under his principalship the "School" has
been developed along the lines intended
by the founder, David Watkinson. While
the "School" is under the management of
a board of trustees, Mr. Smead, during
his long term of service, had a voice in
all matters relating to the courses of
study and school management. He had
the capable assistance of an assistant
principal and a corps of instructors. The
Handicraft Farm is located at Albany and
Bloomfield avenues, Hartford, and all
pertaining to school or farm is thoroughly
modern, the boys being taught
those useful occupations which, with the
intellectual training they receive, will
fairly equip them for the battle of life.
Principal Smead was thoroughly imbued
with the spirit which actuated the founder
of the school, and was devoted to the
interests of the boys whom he trained to
become useful citizens. In 191 5, Princi-
pal Smead tendered his resignation to the
board of trustees, but they did not accept
the same until 191 7, and in appreciation
of his faithful services they gave him an
annuity for life. With his resignation