Who am I and where did I come from? My father is a Vandegrift and my mother is a Reynolds. However, I am not half Dutch and half English. When I consider my grandparents, the names extend to Colby and Meader. When I consider great grandparents, the hodgepodge begins. We add Edwards, Keeve, Pearson and Roff. There are eight surnames when I consider my great grandparents. I know that I am not only a Vandegrift but it is the name I proudly use.

Where did I come from? I came from the Netherlands and England to New England; Massachusetts, Vermont and New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; Illinois, Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska and a host of other places.

Our ancestors were part of the western movement and lived on the edge of the frontier or on the frontier, itself. Some were adventurers. Some were poor and others were prosperous. Some lived greatly and there were others who struggled to survive. Some were religious and others were not.

I believe each one passed a gene to make me what I am today. None passed on a basket full but, perhaps, each one a smidgen.

I study those who came before me with honor, both those who were the poorest of the poor as well as those who gathered success during these short years we call life.

References

50 Great Migration Colonists, J. B. Threlfall

History of Amesbury and Merrimac, Massachusetts, Joseph Merrill

The Winthrop Fleet of 1630, Banks History of Amesbury and Merrimac, Massachusetts, Joseph Merrill

The Great Migration Begins, Robert Charles Anderson

Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury

Essex County Probate Records Ancestors of American Presidents, Gary Boyd Roberts, 1990

History of the Colby Family with Genealogical Tables, by James W. Colby, Waltham & Brockton, Mass.: The Colby Music House, Copyright, 1885

"Life" Greatest Of All Gifts, Clarence H. Colby,1977

Three Pictures

I.

We see a boat's-crew of big, blonde barbarians on a shore, -- fur clad, with long hair wildly tangled. As they lade the boat they laugh uproariously. The place is a cove in a Danish island. The date is away back to the era of the Jewish prophets, before the time of Christ.

They are talking about certain desirable herds of cattle which some of their number have seen on the British coast; and anon about the puny people who own them.

They are telling what sport it will be when they land there and take possession; and how droll it will be to surprise and capture the owners also, keeping them for slaves and wives.

And now they embark from this harbor of Coldby, -- or, in their language, Koldby, the cold town, -- and, joining with many other boats from the Danish shore, start on one of those immense marauding expeditions so common in early times.

What were the names of these men?

No one knows.

It is doubtful if they had any names, more than the wolves in a pack would have. Very likely each bore a nickname, the gift of his neighbors; with a change from time to time.

But, like all savages, they had a copious vocabulary of place-names, and a fondness for them.

It is a thousand miles they are going; but they will skirt along the shores, and help themselves to supplies

II.

Next we see our Danish fishermen awkwardly trying to milk their new cows. Some of the Briton women are giving them instruction.

It is a fine grazing country the men have come to; and they seem greatly pleased with their new quarters. Their jollity is boisterous and rough, as they slap each other on the back, or clinch for a tumble.

The conversation is quite upon the advantage of owning cattle, the happy life on one who is both a fisherman and a herdsman. They seem pleased to settle into this quiet life, and abandon their desultory warfares.

Here are the houses left by the native Britons; their former occupants are mostly slain or fled into the wilderness. But the swarm of burly Danes seems altogether countless along the British coast. Yet Denmark has not been left vacant; and this emigration will never be noticed.

Ignoring the British place-names, every spot is soon re-christened with some fondly remembered home-name, and the whole Kingdom of East Anglia becomes a New Denmark. "KOLDBY" is not forgotten, and a village receives the pleasant title; yes, three or four villages.

More than a thousand years now pass away, but the same familiar name clings to the place. A thousand wars have changed its occupants a hundred times, and its language as many. Not one old family who may have once lived, has escaped being cast out and lost sight of over and over again in the steady swirl of contending streams and currents of freebooting races.

III.

An now we see three knights on noble palfreys mounted. Beside them stands a clerk resting his ponderous book upon his saddle. Into the inkhorn at his belt he dips a feathern pen.

"What name bearest thou?" he asks the eldest knight. The question is in French.

"An thou?"

"Warine de Norfolk."

"and this young man, thine other brother, is called Simon?"

"Then, in the name of good King Jack, who primarily owns all purparty in Anglia, I now endow you brethren three jointly with half this village of Colby to hold in his name so long as in fealty you wield your swords for him when he hath need. These yeomen are your villains. - People, salute your masters!"

"Long life to Robert, master of Colby!" they cry.

And at this moment the men of single name become men of a new double name; henceforward the local designation will be their family name forever down the years. "COLBY"

COLBY THE PLACE

Thus Colby was the name of a place long before it was the name of a man; and there is no doubt that it was the name of the place in Denmark long before it was the name of the villages in England.

The eastern peninsula of England, designated in part at present as the Counties Norfolk and Suffolk, is fringed with meadow-land. Before the art of farming had progressed so far as to raise grass from seed on high ground the meadows were the valuable part of a country. Hence this district has been fought for by every clan and tribe and nation near, till its intermixture of peoples is an inexplicable race-problem. The Norfolk shore without doubt was first overrun by the Danes before even Julius Caesar conquered England, as well as occationally afterward.

Many of the eastern towns have Danish names. There are 256 villages, near this coast, named after Scandinavian ones; and in all England 432 ending in "by;" - 17 here in Norfolk.

All these are town-names in Denmark or Sweden, and all are descriptive terms, with a meaning. Koldby is Danish for Cold Town, with an uncomfortable meaning, or Cool Town, denoting comfort, according to the season; but in both cases describing an island-town with a northeasterly exposure in the North Sea.

The Norfolk English are chiefly descendant of the old Danish sea-kings; the type of their features is Danish, and their speech is interspersed with semi-Danish words. There is an alertness about this Norse blood, wherever it flows, which is readily noticed, and by very many of the Colby family it is exemplified.

Let us trace our name back to Denmark.

Far around the eastern shore of the Danish peninsula are several islands, great and small. One is called Samso. It is fifteen miles long, very fertile; and is occupied by farmers. There are three townships, -- one called Koldbyh, -- but no villages at present. Without doubt here is the birthplace of the name.

A thousand years ago there were no men named Colby; and we have here tracked only the word.

Surnames were first assumed near the year 1000, in France. Before that time only families of renown could trace their lineage by the distinct historical path they left. When the Normans came across the Channel from France to England under William the Conqueror in 1066, they took possession of England body and soul; and it has had Norman owners and rulers ever since.

They brought the new fashion of naming a rich man from his property, and a poor man from his trade or his appearance. So, as our family owned half of this little town, they were called Robert de Colebi and Warine de Colebi and Simon de Colebi.

What race were these men of? We have no claim from the mere fact that the town-name of Colby came from Denmark five hundred years earlier, to call our family Danes. The town had changed occupants almost as often as a tenement-house in those five centuries. Not till William skimmed the cream of all races, culled out the most energetic of all warmen, and made a new race fit to take command of civilization, did British property have settled ownership. But the warranty-deeds he recorded in that warm red ink have this time held intact for wellnigh a thousand years.

The English were a mixed race from time immemorial. The names recorded in the time of Edward the Confessor - 1050 - are of many tongues. The Anglo-Saxons were german types on both sides. The native Britons have never, since the time of Caesar, figured particularly in English history.

It is conceded that the Colby blood is in chief of Danish antecedency. To go back of that, all our Aryan grandfathers once dwelt in the Asian highlands, whence were brought cattle and general farming stock; and they have kept headed westerly ever since.

Generation 1

Matthew Colby, Grandfather

Matthew Colby was born about 1530 in Lincoln, England and died on October 10, 1591 in Lincolnshire, England. He was buried in the Sempringham churchyard, Lincolnshire, England. His mother’s name was Agnes. He married Mary about 1555.

The Will of Mathew Colby of Poynton, Sempringham parish, county Lincoln was dated October 8, 1591. It read: "husbandman ... sick in body ... to be buried in the churchyard of Sempringham ... to John Colbye my son one cow & a quoye (heifer), to Edward Colby one cow & a quoye, to Agnes Colby one cow & a quoye, to William Colby one cow & a quoye, to Elizabeth Colby one cow & a quoye, to Thomas Colby the younger one cow & a quoye, to Thomas Colby the elder half a quarter of barley and half a quarter of pease, to Robert Colby my brother one stricke of barley, to Alise my syster one stricke of barley, to Agnes Colby the daughter of Thomas colby of Horbling two stricke of barley, ... all the rest of my goods & cattells ... to Mary Colby my wyfe ... she to be sole executrix ... Roger Lawrence to be supervisor. Witnesses: Robert Baxter, Roger Lawrence, Thomas Colbye and Francys Barton. Proved 22 October 1591 (C. C. of Lincoln, 1591, Book 1:235).

Generation 2

Thomas Colby was born about 1567 in Lincoln, England and died there on December 11, 1625. He was buried in Sempringham, Lincolnshire, England. He married Anna Jackson on May 4, 1595 in Lincoln, England.

His occupation was Tailor. The Will of Thomas Colbie of Horbling, county of Lincoln, was dated December 10, 1625. It reads: " ... taylor, sick of body ... to my five sons William Colbie, Richard Colbie, Anthony Colbie, Mathew Colbie & Rob’t Colbie half of my goods to be equally divided amongst them, but my will is that my son William Colbie shall have my house at Dunnington (Donington) for part of his portion of goods aforesaid, which cost me eight pound ... if any of these my sons die before age 21 at which time the legacies shall be due unto them, then his or their shares to be divided amongst the overlivers. Residue to wife Agnes Colbie whom I make executrix. Robert Allen supervisor. Witsnesses: Rob’t Allen, Thomas Baxter. Signed by mark. Proved 21 Apr 1626 (Lincoln consistory Court Wills - 1626/292).

Generation 3

Anthony Colby was christened on September 8, 1605 in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England and died February 11, 1660/61 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts. He was a Planter and Sawmill owner. His religion was Puritan and he married Mrs. Susannah Waterman about 1632. Anthony was buried at Amesbury’s first burying ground, Golgotha. No stones remain to mark the graves of the earliest settlers, but a plaque lists their names. Tradition says there were around forty graves on this bluff overlooking the Powow River – on Macy Street, in Amesbury.

Anthony in Boston

In 1630, John Winthrop sailed on the flagship Arbella with a fleet of eleven ships from England to the New World. In his company, on the ship Confidence, was Anthony Colby. Anthony was the first Colby in America. The Confidence sailed on April 8, (or April 30), 1630 from Yarmouth and reached Boston on June 12.

We have no means of knowing whether it was sudden impulse which led Anthony on shipboard that Spring day or whether he had long been a member of the Puritan church

A full account of the voyage can be found in Winthrop's "History of New England," - of the tempests and the hostile fleets. They first saw land at Mt. Desert, then coasted by the places where he afterwards dwelt. They mention with delight the land-breeze, "so pleasant a sweet air as did much refresh us, and there came a smell off the shore like the smell of a garden."

While waiting for the tide and making the port at Salem, Mass., most of the people went ashore at Cape Ann, "and gathered store of fine strawberries." The land seemed much like England, but with fowl and fish in great plenty.

The name of "Anthony Chaulby" appears upon the record of the Boston First Church as No. 93, beside that of Jared Haddon.

The first covenant with 150 names is dated Charlestown, August 27, 1630.

Then comes a list marked "Added Names," and another dated 1633. The first arrival numbered 800. The church covenant which they signed was as follows: -- "We promise to walk in all our ways according to the rule of the gospel, and in all sincere conformity to God's holy ordinances, and in mutual love and respect to each other, so near as He shall give us grace." Mr. Colby was evidently a thorough going Puritan; for not all that came joined a church.

He and Susannah were christened in Boston on September 8, 1633. He was listed as a freeman on May 14, 1634. He was a "planter," who received land in the first division in Salisbury, Massachusetts in 1640, and again in 1643. His association with John Bosworth, Garrett Haddon and Joseph Redding implies that he may have been a servant of Simon Bradstreet, who also came from Horbling. As early as 1642, a meeting of the freemen of Salisbury, Massachusetts ordered that thirty families must move to the west side of the Powow River, where they eventually formed the town of Amesbury.

Rev. John Cotton, one of the great preachers of England, came in 1633. He escaped the sheriffs there with great difficulty, who were sent to arrest him. He became pastor of the First Church. On the second Sabbath afternoon he made the customary confession of faith for himself and wife; and then gave his reasons for not himself baptizing, while at sea, their son, -- born on the passage and therefore named Seaborn: -- because there was no church gathered there, and also because he was not a minister except when connected with a church. So the child was baptized here, the father presenting it. Then another father presenting another boy, it was baptized with the name of John Colby, son of Anthony and Susannah.

Mr. Cotton remarked that this beautiful symbol was not employed for any effect upon these baby boys, but for its influence upon their fathers, being "an incentive for the help of their faith." And thus the deep impression made upon the minds of those present caused it to be chronicled by more than one, for us who live later.

But a fatal disease broke out among them, attributed to unwholesome fare at sea, and proved infectious. - Consternation seized upon them, and a hundred returned home within a year. Those remaining dwelt for months in a few huts and tents, and suffered indescribably from the inclemency of a New England winter. We will not wonder if Susannah wanted now to move away from the water's edge, and give their little one the shelter of the Cambridge woods.

The earliest inhabitants of Amesbury is dated March 19, 1654-5, and contains the name of Anthony Colby. Anthony was a "planter" and owned an eighth share in a saw mill. He once was fined one shilling for disorderly behavior during a town meeting. In 1654, Amesbury’s first town clerk Thomas Macy was accused of harboring a Quaker and had to flee Amesbury. His flight is the subject of the poem, "The Exiles" by John Greenleaf Whittier. His misfortune was Anthony and Susannah’s gain; they bought the house and added to it to accommodate their large family. The price of the house was written as: 38 pounds, to be paid as follows: by a mare fole at ten pounds, three pounds in boards and in course, twelve or fourteen pounds in money, rest in pipe-staves or hogshead staves, cattle all at prices current; Indian corne at three s., wheat & Barley five s." The bill of sale was dated 23d, 2d mo, 1654.

Anthony added a meeting room and dining room to the front of the house, raised the roof to add two bedrooms, and added sleeping space for children behind and above the two bedrooms. The house was occupied by Colbys until the Twentieth Century, when it was donated by Luther Colby to the Amesbury Historical Cemetery Society to be kept as a museum by the Daughters of the Revolution.

The Colby house is a well-preserved, unspoiled example of the colonial saltbox style of house. It can be visited at 259 Main Street, Amesbury, Massachusetts.

In William Pynchon’s accounts as colony treasurer for 1632-4 is the following item: "paid Anthony Colby for 2 days attendance at court to witness against William Coling and 3 others for drunkeness."

Anthony lived in this house until his death February 11, 1660, when the "dwelling house and barne and 14 acres of upland in tillage" were valued at seventy pounds. After his death, Susannah married William Whittridge. .

In Cambridge

He was in Cambridge in 1635. There was not much chance for farming in Boston, and all the good pasturage was across the river. Anthony lived in Cambridge several years. He took the oath of freeman here in 1634. But he did not like Cambridge, and soon departed. What was the matter with Anthony, was he a rover? No; Cambridge was overcrowded.

We seem to see Susannah and the new baby and little Johnny in a long cart, which held their scanty valuables, while the father drove a couple of scrawny cattle and carried his piece of heavy artillery.

In Ipswich

Rowley and Ipswich included a marshy stretch between Salem and Newbury. The list of first settlers is dated 1634, and three years later a name is added which has always been called "Arthur Colebeye." No such party is ever heard of again, and Mr. Savage guesses he may have been a brother of Anthony. A better guess would have been that "Arthur" was bad writing for "Anthony;" for the latter lived some years in Ipswich before he went to Salisbury in 1640.

Inventory of the estate of Anthony Colby, late of Salisbury, deceased, taken Mar. 9, 1660, by Sam. Halll, Tho. Bradbury and Tho. Barnett: His waring Apparrell, 2 li 10s.; 1 feather bed and bolster and old Cotten Rugg, a payer of course sheets & a course bed case, 4li. 15s.; one old warming pan, 3s 4d.; an other feather bed, feather pillow, feather bolster & a payer of sheets & Cotten Rugg, 4li. 10s.; about 8li. of sheeps wooll, 10s. 8d.; five pound of cotton wooll, 5s.; 10li. of Hopps, 6s. 8 d.; a bed case, feather pillow & bolster case, a payer of sheets & old cotten Rugg, 1li.; an Iron pott, pott hooks & Iron skillett, 6s. 8d.; a copp. Kettle & a payer of tramells, 1li.; a little old brass skillett & old morter & pestle, 3s. 4d.; trayes & other dary ware, 15s.; a landiron, gridiron, frying pan, old cob iron, 5s.; in old peuter, 3s. 4d.; 4 seythes, 8s.; 2 pillow beers, 3s.; table, two joynstooles, 2 chayres, 1li.; old swords & 2 old muskets, 1li.; one chest & one box, 10s.; an old saddle & a pillion, 10s.; old lumber, 10s.; a grindle stone with an Iron handle, 3s. 4d.; a new millsaw & 1-2 an old one, 1 li.; a croscutt saw & half a one, 1li.; a broad how, 3 forkes, a rake, 2 axes & an Iron Spade, 12s.; 5 yoakes, 10s.; 2 Iron cheynes, 10s.; halfe a tymber cheine & a new draft cheyne, 1li. 15s.; an old tumbrill with an old payer of wheeles, 1li.; 2 sleades, 1 li.; a long cart & wheels & Spanshakle & pin & 4^th pt. of an other cart, 2li.; a plough & plough Irons, 10s.; 2 Canoas & 1-2 a canoa, 3 li. 15s.; 6 oxen, 42li.; 6 Cowes, 27li.; 2-3 yeare old steers, 7li.; 2 Yearlins, 3li.; 2 calves, 1li.; 7 swine, 5li. 5s.; 8 sheep, 4 li.; 1 mare & colt, 20li.; 1 horse 10s.; a dewiling house & barne & 14 acres of upland in tillage, 70li.; a pasture of about 30 acres 20li.; 2 lotts att yt wch is cald Mr. Hall’s Farme, 5li. 10s.; about eighteen acres of fresh meadow, 40li.; ye accoodacon bought of Mr. Groome, 6li.; 2 lots of sweepage & one higgledee piggildee lott, 4li.; 60 acres of upland towards pentucett bounds with meadow to be laid out, 10li.; ye 8^th pt. of ye old saw mill, 30li.; 40 bushells of wheat, 9li.; 10 bushels of barley & 6 of rie, 3li. 4s.; about 60 bushels of Indian corne, 9li. 19s. 4d.

Copied from the files of the Norfolk county court records, and sworn to by the widow Colby, Tho. Bradbury, rec. "Anthony Colby, debtor: To Sam. Worcester, 1li. 2s. 6d.; Abram Morrill, 2li., 10s. 10d.; John Tod 10s.; Tho. Clarke, 9s.; Mr. Russell of Charlstown, 10li.; Mr. Gerish, 5li. 8s. 6d.; Mr. Woodman, 2li. 14 s.; Jno Bartlett, 2li. 2s. 1d.; Steven Sweat, 2li, 5s. 5d.; John Webster, 13s.; Steven Greenleif, 13s; Goodman Peirce, 10s.; Goodman Cillick, 3li.; Jno. Lewis, 1li. 10s.; Orlando Bagly, 5li. 19s.; Jno Blower, 6s.; Mr. Worcester, 1li. 13s. 6d.; Mr. Bradbury, 16s. 9d.; to the widow Colby, 10li.; Henry Jaques, 2li. 10s.; Willi. Huntington, 11s.; John Severans, 1li. 13s. 8d.; Jno. Clough for grass, 6s.; for 9 weeks worke, 8li. 2s.; total, 68li. 14s. 7d.

Debtor p Contra: Rodger Eastman, 10s.; Robert Clements, 1li. 5s.; from ye town, 9s.; Jno. Maxfiend, 2li.; Leonard Hathorlee, 1li.; Sam. Worcester, 14s. 6d.; Goodman Morrill, 1li. 10s.; Steven Flanders, 6s.; Goodman Randall, 6s.; boards at ye saw mill, 3li. 7s. 6d.; loggs to make 2000 of bord, 2li. 5s.; for work done to ye estate, 1li. 2s. 6d.; total 11 li. 15s. 6d. Norfolk Co. Quarterly Court Files, vol. 1, leaf 33.

"The division of the estate of Anthony Colby of Salisbury late deceased, made by Tho. Bradbury and Robert Pike, Apr. 9, 1661, by order of the county court held at Salisbury. To ye widdow for hir part & the two youngest children: ye dwelling house, barne and 14 acres of upland in tillage, 70li.; ye ferrie meadow, 30li.; ye household goods, 19li. 19s. 4d.; a yoake of Oxen 14li.; 3 Cowest, 13li. 10s.; 7 Swine, 5li. 5s.; in sheep, 2li. 10s.; in Corne, 21 li. 4s.; the boggie meadow, 10li. To John Colby: an acre of land aded to his halfe acre at his house, 2li. 16s.; two cheyns, 10s.; a yoake of oxen, 15li. 10s.; Mr. Groom’s accomodacons, 6li.; in sheep, 1 li. 10s.; a cart & wheels, span, shackle & pin & ye 4^th pt. of another cart, 2li. To Sarah, ye wife of Orlando Bagly: one Cowe & One 3 yeere old steere, 8li.; a young horse, 10li.; another Cowe, 4li. 10s.; p. Isaac Colby, 5 li. 16s. More payd by Isaac Colby to Orlando Bagly for ye which the estate was debtor, 5li. 19s. 8d. To SAMUELL COLBY: one yoake of oxen, 13li.; the pasture, 20li. To Isaac Colby: the eleven lotts of marshe at Mr. Hal’s farme, 2 lotts of sweepage & one higledee pigeledee lot, 9 li. 10s.; To Rebecka Colby: a Cowe, one 3 year old steere, & ye mare colt, 14li.; two calves, 1 li.; a bed & bolster, 4 li. 10s.; p. Isaac Colby, 2 li. 11s.; p. Sam. Colby, 5li. 4s.; in corne, 11s. This division was consented to by the widow Colby and all the children who were of capacity. Confirmed by the Norfolk county court at Salisbury, 14: 2: 1663, and recorded by Tho. Bradbury, rec. Norfolk Co. Quarterly Court Files, vol. 1, leaf 34. ++

"Upon the petition of Susanna Whittredge formerly Colbie the Ipswich court Mar. 28, 1682 granted her power with the advice of Samuell Colbie and Thomas Colbie to sell enough of the estate left in her hands by her former husband for her necessary support in her old age, not exceeding the value of two of the parts or shares which the court Apr. 9 1661 allotted to her for her part of the estate." ++ "Petition of Thomas Challis, Orlando Bagly, Ephraim Weed and Ebenezer Blasdell for some part of the estate of their grandfather Anthony Colby formerly of Salisbury left in the hands of their grandmother Susanna widow of Anthony, administratrix to his estate, afterward Susanna Whithredg, deceased: the Court Ordered the division of the estate Apr. 9, 1661, and it was allowed 14:2m:1663. Also such of us as have married the daughters of John Colby, deceased, eldest son of said Anthony and Susanna by virtue of the last will of John Colby, as we are informed that Samuell Colby of Amesbury the only son surviving (although not the eldest) of said Anthony and Susanna, hath letters of administration granted him unto the estate of Susanna Whithredg, deceased, and hath exhibited a large account of debt from the estate and also he designeth a further application for liberty for alienation of more of said estate. "We address ourselves to the court "where we think we ought for ye interposing & improvement of ye authority for ye prevention of ye evacuation of ye estate whereunto we have right (as we think) out of half gills or gills, and ye exhausting & wasting thereof by such embezelling trifles," also crave your advice whereby we may be orderly possessed of our rights. Dated Sept. 28, 1698. Citation to Samuell Coleby to appear before Jonathan Corwin, Esq, at the house of Mr. Frances Elles to take administration on the remaining estate of Anthony Coleby of Amesbury, deceased. Dated Salem, Nov. 16, 1699. Said citation read to Samuell Coleby Nov. 18, 1699 by Ebenezer Blasdell, Constable of Amesbury."

Anthony and Susannah were ancestors of President Chester A. Arthur.

Generation 4

Anthony’s, John, was known as "Planter of Amesbury". John and Rebecca Williams lived and died in Havrell.

Children of ANTHONY COLBY and SUSANNAH are:

i. JOHN3 COLBY, d. February 11, 1673/74; m. FRANCES HOYT, June 14, 1655. John Colby was known as "Planter of Amesbury" His Blessing was September 08, 1633, Boston, Suffolk, MA

FRANCES HOYT was the daughter of John Hoyt. Frances Hoyt, widow of John, married John Barnard, 27 Dec 1676

ii. SARAH COLBY, d. May 18, 1663; m. ORLANDO BAGLEY, March 06, 1653/54. Her Blessing was March 05, 1636/37.

iii. SAMUEL COLBY, b. Abt. 1639, Rowley, Essex, MA; d. Aft. 1699; m. ELIZABETH SARGENT, Bef. 1668.

ELIZABETH SARGENT was the daughter of William Sargent.

iv. ISAAC COLBY, b. July 06, 1640, Salisbury, Essex, MA; d. Aft. 1699; m. MARTHA JEWETT, Bef. 1670.

v. REBECCA COLBY, b. March 11, 1642/43, Salisbury, Essex, MA; d. Bef. 1675, Haverhill, Essex, MA; m. JOHN WILLIAMS, September 09, 1661. She lived and died in Haverhill.

vi. MARY COLBY, b. 1647, Salisbury, Essex, MA; m. WILLIAM SARGENT, JR, September 23, 1668.

3. vii. THOMAS COLBY, b. March 08, 1649/50, Salisbury, Essex, MA; d. March 31, 1691, Amesbury, Essex, MA.

viii. AMOS COLBY, b. 1654; d. Bef. 1699.

Generation No. 5

3. THOMAS3 COLBY (ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born March 08, 1649/50 in Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts, and died March 31, 1691 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts. He married HANNAH ROWELL September 16, 1674 in Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts, daughter of VALENTINE ROWELL and JOANNA PINDER. She was born January 1652/53.

Thomas Colby received the Oath of Allegiance, 20 Dec 1677. He died before 30 Mar 1691.

Marriages for Children:

(1) Thomas to Frances Willoughby, 1698; (2) Isaac to Hannah Getchell, 5 Dec 1701; (3) Jacob to (1) Hanna Hunt, 9 Apr 1711, and (2) Elizabeth Elliot, 11 Nov 1724.

Hannah was the daughter of Valentine Rowell and Joanna Pinder. Joanna was the daughter of Henry Pinder of England, who was an early settler of Amesbury.

Hannah married (2) Henry Blaisdell, about 1691. No Issue.

Children of THOMAS COLBY and HANNAH ROWELL are:

4. i. THOMAS4 COLBY, b. July 01, 1675, Amesbury, Essex, Massachusetts; d. June 04, 1741.

ii. HANNAH COLBY, b. 1676; d. Aft. 1700.

iii. ISAAC COLBY, b. 1679; m. HANNAH GETCHELL, December 05, 1701.

iv. ABRAHAM COLBY, b. Aft. 1679; d. Aft. 1700.

v. JACOB COLBY, b. April 13, 1688; m. (1) HANNA HUNT, April 09, 1711; m. (2) ELIZABETH ELLIOT, November 11, 1724.

4. THOMAS4 COLBY (THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born July 01, 1675 in Amesbury, Essex, MA, and died June 04, 1741. He married FRANCES WILLOUGHBY Abt. 1698, daughter of WILLOUGHBY. She died Aft. 1748.

Marriages for Children: (1) Ezekiel to Mary Elliot, 24 Dec 1724; (2) Sarah to John Elliot (of South Hampton), 20 Dec 1721; (3) Judith to Enoch Chase (of Amesbury), 25 Jan 1726/7; (4) Orlando to Keziah Rowell (daughter of Job Rowell),

12 Sep 1726/7; (5) Thomas to Mary; (6) Frances to Moses Lowell; (7) Hannah to Theodore Hoyt (son of Robert Hoyt), abt 1736; (8) Abraham to Elizabeth Blaisdell (daughter of Jonathan Blaisdell, 23 Mar 1742; (9) Willabee (or Willoughby), married about Jun 1748

Thomas Colby served as "Snowshoe Man" in 1708.

FRANCES WILLOUGHBY received her Blessing: 1698.

Children of THOMAS COLBY and FRANCES WILLOUGHBY are:

i. EZEKIEL5 COLBY, b. April 12, 1699; m. MARY ELLIOT, December 24, 1724.

ii. SARAH COLBY, b. December 23, 1700; d. Bef. 1743; m. JOHN ELLIOT, December 20, 1721.

iii. JUDITH COLBY, b. May 22, 1703; m. ENOCH CHASE, January 25, 1725/26.

5. iv. ORLANDO COLBY, b. February 03, 1705/06.

v. THOMAS COLBY, b. July 16, 1708; m. MARY.

vi. FRANCES COLBY, b. November 17, 1710; m. MOSES LOWELL, June 06, 1730; b. Abt. 1704, Essex, MA.

MOSES LOWELL was the son of Gideon Lowell and Mary Swett.

vii. HANNAH COLBY, b. Abt. 1714; m. THEODORE HOYT, Abt. 1736.

viii. NATHANIEL COLBY, b. January 10, 1714/15.

ix. ANNE COLBY, b. March 28, 1718; d. Bef. 1742.

x. ABRAHAM COLBY, b. Abt. 1720, Amesbury, Essex, MA; d. 1809, Concord, Merrimack, NH; m. ELIZABETH BLAISDELL, March 23, 1741/42.

xi. WILLOUGHBY COLBY, b. September 23, 1723; d. Aft. 1748.

Generation No. 7

5. ORLANDO5 COLBY (THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born February 03, 1705/06. He married KEZIAH ROWELL September 12, 1726, daughter of JOB ROWELL. She was born Abt. 1720.

Marriages for Children: (1) Moses to Anna Tuxbury, about 1755; (2) Jonathan to Ruth Flanders; (3) Rowell to Lydia Pettengill; (4) Ruth to Mr Davis; (5) Joanna to Mr Straw; (6) Keziah to Mtr Kingston.

Orlando Colby was born 3 Feb 1705/6. Orlando Colby and Keziah Rowell were married 12 Sep 1726/7. Keziah Rowell was the daughter of Job Rowell, blacksmith, living in Chester, Rockingham, NH in 1748.

Children of ORLANDO COLBY and KEZIAH ROWELL are:

i. JONATHAN6 COLBY, m. RUTH FLANDERS.

ii. ROWELL COLBY, m. LYDIA PETTENGILL.

iii. RUTH COLBY, m. DAVIS.

iv. JOANNA COLBY, m. STRAW.

v. KEZIAH COLBY, m. KINGSTON.

6. vi. MOSES COLBY, b. 1731, Sandown, Rockingham, NH; d. 1777, Danville, Rockingham, NH.

6. MOSES6 COLBY (ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born 1731 in Sandown, Rockingham, New Hampshire, and died 1777 in Danville, Rockingham, NH. He married ANNA TUXBURY Abt. 1755, daughter of TUXBURY.

Marriages of Children: (1) Enos to Hannah Page, about 1781; (2) Moses to Jane Pilsbury

Moses Colby was Selectman, Hawke, VT. Occupation: Blacksmith.

Children of MOSES COLBY and ANNA TUXBURY are:

i. DOROTHY7 COLBY, b. Abt. 1759.

7. ii. ENOS COLBY, b. May 13, 1761, Hawke, Rockingham, NH; d. May 30, 1827, Danville, Rockingham, NH.

iii. RHODA COLBY, b. Abt. 1768.

iv. MOSES COLBY, b. Abt. 1769, Hawke, Rockingham, NH; m. JANE PILSBURY.

Generation No. 9

7. ENOS7 COLBY (MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born May 13, 1761 in Hawke, Rockingham, NH, and died May 30, 1827 in Danville, Rockingham, NH. He married HANNAH PAGE Abt. 1781, daughter of THOMAS PAGE. She was born Abt. 1766.

Marriages for Children: (1) Thomas to Miriam French; (2) Moses to Eunice Goodrich, 23 Aug 1823; (3) Enos to Rebecca Sanborn; (4) Mary to Page Sanborn; (5) Dorothy to Mr George; (6) Nancy to John Page.

Enos (1761) was a blacksmith and in(1802) resided in Hampstead, Rockingham, NH.

Children of ENOS COLBY and HANNAH PAGE are:

i. MARY8 COLBY, m. PAGE SANBORN.

ii. DOROTHY COLBY, m. GEORGE.

iii. NANCY COLBY, m. JOHN PAGE.

iv. THOMAS COLBY, b. Abt. 1783, Hawke, Vermont; m. MIRIAM FRENCH.

8. v. MOSES COLBY, b. May 20, 1799, Hawke, Rockingham, NH; d. Abt. 1872.

vi. ENOS COLBY, b. Abt. 1802, VT; m. REBECCA SANBORN.

8. MOSES8 COLBY (ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born May 20, 1799 in Hawke, Rockingham, NH, and died Abt. 1872. He married EUNICE GOODRICH August 23, 1823, daughter of SAMUEL GOODRICH and TRYPHENIA OWEN. She was born April 18, 1806 in Barrie, Washington, VT.

Moses Colby was born and lived in Hawke Town. The town of Hawke was renamed "Danville".

Children of MOSES COLBY and EUNICE GOODRICH are:

9. i. ERASTUS MOSES9 COLBY.

ii. MARY JANE COLBY.

iii. HANNAH S COLBY.

iv. DELPHINE LUELLA COLBY.

10. v. ENOS PAGE COLBY, b. July 04, 1824, VT; d. May 13, 1875.

Generation No. 11

9. ERASTUS MOSES9 COLBY (MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) He married ELLEN SIMPSON.

Children of ERASTUS COLBY and ELLEN SIMPSON are:

i. FRED10 COLBY.

ii. MYRTLE COLBY.

iii. FLORA COLBY.

10. ENOS PAGE9 COLBY (MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born July 04, 1824 in VT, and died May 13, 1875. He married SARAH MOSES AYERS September 27, 1815, daughter of JOHN AYERS and SALLEY MOSES. She was born March 03, 1826 in VT, and died February 1883.

Children of ENOS COLBY and SARAH AYERS are:

11. i. CLARENCE ENOS10 COLBY, b. June 05, 1847, Plainfield, Washington, VT; d. November 20, 1922, Spokane, Spokane, WA.

12. ii. BURTON A COLBY, b. September 07, 1849.

iii. JULIA COLBY, b. October 10, 1851; d. June 30, 1876.

iv. WALTER P COLBY, b. February 08, 1855; d. August 21, 1927; m. NELLIE PORTER.

13. v. EDWARD J COLBY, b. May 18, 1857; d. February 20, 1939.

14. vi. LUCIA COLBY, b. October 24, 1863; d. May 20, 1949.

11. CLARENCE ENOS10 COLBY (ENOS PAGE9, MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born June 05, 1847 in Plainfield, Washington, VT, and died November 20, 1922 in Spokane, Spokane, WA. He married JOSEPHINE MARIE KEEVE September 09, 1874 in Chicago, Cook, IL, daughter of JOHN KEEVE and JUDITH SIMPSON. She was born May 19, 1853 in Rochester, Monroe, NY, and died February 01, 1924 in Spokane, Spokane, WA.

Clarence Enos Colby was born a few miles south of Plainfield, on the farm of his grandfather Colby, who had built the fine old home in 1843. Up the road was another brick house, the home of his grandfather Ayers. And west a mile or so on the edge of the hill, a third old place, built in 1830, roomy like the others. "Uncle Jim" lived there.

High on the hillside, that lovely old house looked to the west, to the mountains and the sloping green fields fenced by hand-gathered rock. The place was for sale. Clarence’s father bought it, moved his family there, and there he reared his children.

Boyhood on a Vermont farm could teach rough lessons and Clarence knew hard work, but there were plenty of good times, good neighbors, aunts and uncles, cousins, and much jollity, with church on Sunday and prayer meeting during the week.

Schooling in those days, in that region, had to be irregular. The boys were needed in farmwork, the girls in housework. Yet there was great respect for education and the parents did their best by the children. After country school and village school, Clarence went to Montpelier for as many terms at the Seminary as could be managed. He would finish a term, then work on the farm, and work on other farms to earn money for another term in school. All of the children regarded schooling as a great privilege.

On March 17, 1869, according to his diary, Clarence was buying canvas for another oil painting in classwork on Seminary Hill. May 4, he was bargaining for a frame for his eagle picture and paid $2.50. But he was then nearing 22 years of age, which in those times was considered beyond the age of youth. He did not return to school that fall, and on Tuesday, December 14, of the same year, he wrote: "Started for the West at 4 p.m., arrived at Burlington about 6, and left for Troy about 9 p.m." Two days later he reached Chicago.

He lived in and around Chicago during the next four and a half years, visiting relatives, seeing the country, earning his keep by working as an apprentice carpenter, and in general having a real experience. One year he worked for a Mr. Russell, rebuilding in Chicago after the great fire of October 8-10, 1871.

He had made friends. One in particular, Miss Josephine M. Keeve, lived at 11 Cornell Street in Chicago.

Clarence Enos Colby married Josephine Marie Keeve, daughter of John Keeve who was born April 12, 1829, Lincolnshire, England, and Judith Marie Simpson, born in Ireland, daughter of William Barton Simpson.

They honeymooned by boating up Lake Michigan into Lakes Huron, Erie, and Ontario, visited Niagara Falls, traveled up the St. Lawrence through the Thousand Islands, packed off from Ogdensburg to cross Lake Champlain into Vermont, and so back to the village of Plainfield, where Clarence brought his bride home to the old brick house on the hill.

The autumn of 1875 especially held promise, for Clarence and his wife were expecting a child. She arrived January 3, 1876. They named her Sarah Mabel Colby, and she had scarcely made her presence felt when her brother arrived December 14 of the same year, and was named Burton Enos Colby. A second son was born July 12, 1878, Arthur Lane Colby. The old New England home once more rang with children’s laughter. It must have gladdened the grandmother’s heart. She had lost father, husband, and daughter within three and a half years. Julia had died June 30, 1877.

Eddie, the youngest brother in the home, was now past 21 years of age and had proven capable and adept with the farm. Walter had gone West. Burton and his wife and children were in Iowa. Clarence began to consider following their example. Accordingly, in the year 1879, he and Josie with their three little ones made the journey west and settled on a farm near Alta, Iowa. The home was next door to a little country cemetery and the children had fascinating, though forbidden, play among the gravestones. They put pennies on the railroad track across the field. They listened to thunder-storms. Little Burt thought the thunder sounded as if God had dropped some plates.

The town of Alta being small, offered limited opportunity for Clarence’s work as a carpenter. The family decided to move near a bigger place and settled on a farm just south of Madison, South Dakota.

There was a small lake near the farm, and from the kitchen door one could see the white sailboats on the water. In a few years the older boys, Burt, Art, and John, 12, 10, and 8 years of age, were able to help with the field work. The soil was good and the crops good, also, in years when there was sufficient rain. But times were very hard. The country was in a depression. Money was scarce, and work scarce, too.

There were days when Clarence and Josephine were not sure where staple food such as flour, sugar, tea, and the like, would come from. Clarence worked on the farm and also followed his trade as carpenter in the town of Madison, but there was seldom enough money to clothe the large family adequately. Finally, in the year 1889, he and a friend, A. H. Marsland, decided to try for work in Denver, Colorado. They spent the better part of a year there and were able to send home enough cash to provide for their families, but a man’s hand was needed on the farm, so early in 1890 Clarence returned home.

He did not leave again until July 5, 1894, when he set forth to commence on a new venture, working as a carpenter and teacher of carpentry on the U. S. Indian Reservation at Rosebud, in the southwestern part of the State, some 250 to 300 miles from his home. There, he spent the next four years, only occasionally getting home for brief visits, but it was steady work, and he was supporting his family. He enjoyed the experience immensely; felt a great respect for the Indians, and developed a keen interest in their handicraft and artistry. He gradually acquired a sizeable collection of Indian bead and leather work. Some of these pieces he sent to relatives as gifts, for he treasured them and felt that others would.

Clarence continued at the Reservation from 1894 through 1897, but all the while he was deeply concerned because Josephine and the boys were having to run the farm as best they could in his absence. It was not a good situation. On the other hand, in Nebraska, just over the line from Rosebud, there was land available for homesteading in Cherry County. He wrote to Josephine about it, and after due consideration it was decided to sell the farm and move to Nebraska.

The family left Madison, South Dakota in a covered wagon on June 26, 1898. Their destination was Goose Creek, about thirty miles southwest of Woodlake.

The wagon was hauled by a small team of horses called Dolly and Dan and one saddle horse. A family of nine children traveled in the wagon. When they came to a hill everyone except the mother and four year old Clarence would get out of the wagon and help push it up the hill.

Clarence and the children, May, Burt, and Art, who were all old enough to take up homesteads of a quarter-section (160 acres) each. Of that period, Josephine wrote to relatives in Vermont: "This is a lonesome country. Low hills and bunch grass and hay flats are all you can see. Sandy, but excellent for cattle. We are living in primitive fashion. It is quite a change from my home in Chicago and I get homesick sometimes.

Clarence continued working at Rosebud, but finally in 1903 he had to leave due to failing health. In 1907 he traveled west to Spokane for a visit with two daughters who had settled there. He also visited friends on the Pacific coast. What he saw of the west impressed him, and although he returned to Nebraska, it was only to settle his affairs and make plans. By 1910, Josephine, their daughter Alice and son Clarence were on their way to Spokane, arriving there December 21^st of that year. Clarence was blessed with quite good health in the remaining twelve years of his life, and enjoyed the leisure which he so richly deserved. He had attained the age of 75 years, five months, and 15 days when on November 20, 1922, death came.

He was a gentle man who carried with him to the last a quality of the hills of home, those scenes of "Old Vermont" – the loving memories of a devoted wife – the respect and admiration of his large family, and an enviable reputation for honesty and integrity.

Josephine died fourteen months later.

Children of CLARENCE COLBY and JOSEPHINE KEEVE are:

15. i. SARAH MABEL11 COLBY, b. January 03, 1876, Plainfield, Washington, VT; d. 1955.

Mabel Sarah Colby was born January 3, 1876, the oldest of a large family. She was a tiny little person, never very strong or able to do hard work. The younger children might have been a bit jealous of her, for she was a great favorite of both Clarence and Josephine. At times her mother would put her in charge of the younger ones.

Her father had her homestead the best piece of land, much better than the one he filed on himself. Each year the family would harvest her hay crop with no expense to her, and when it was sold the money was given to Mabel. She never was able to help with the haying but she helped her mother some with the cooking during the summer.

The 1902 Colby hay crop was sold to a large ranch called the BOX-T. Ed Brahmstadt, the cowboy who came to feed the cattle, boarded with the family and soon became young Clarence’s first friend. Ed and Clarence seemed to hit it off from the start. Clarence was only eight years old. When Ed called Clarence his pal, Clarence would fairly burst with pride. Later Ed taught Clarence to shoot a rifle, and often took him along while hunting prairie chicken. They would hunt from a buggy and as they drove over the rolling hills Ed’s beautiful dog, a black pointer, would range wide, and when finding a chicken would point and hold the bird until Ed would flush and shoot it. He was a good shot and seldom missed.

Ed and Mabel fell in love, and a short time later when he became foreman of the BOX-T, they were married. Their little daughter, Alice, their only chjild, was born September 30, 1906.

Ed had been an early day cowboy and had been making his own way since he was very young, so never had the opportunity to enjoy much home life. Now with his own family, he was very happy but his happiness was soon to end. He contracted tuberculosis and after a lingering illness passed away in 1913.

After his death, Mabel sold the ranch and moved to Spokane. There she bought a nice little house that must have been about an acre of land with some fruit trees and plenty of room for a garden. She had been left ample to provide for her and the daughter.

16. ii. BURTON ENOS COLBY, b. December 14, 1876, Plainfield, Washington, VT; d. September 1962.

The Colbys were a normal family, and at times they did not always agree. So it was between the brothers Burt and Clarence. There was a burning friction between them.

When Clarence was very young he hardly knew this brother, for Burt was away at college much of the time and for several years was principal of a large high school.

About 1906 he returned to Nebraska to live with our family, and it was during those years that the two personalities clashed so badly.

Burt left his well paying teaching position and returned to Nebraska to take up another homestead. About that time there was a law passed called the Kincaid Act, and it allowed all previous homesteaders to file on an additional 480 acres of land and get title in three years.

It was during his college or teaching days that he became acquainted with a lovely young lady, Pearl Ochoner, who later became Mrs. Burton Colby. Her parents, who were quite prosperous, wanted her to marry a boy that was from a wealthy family, but Pearl loved Burton and was not interested in the local boy.

Pearl’s father told Burton that he could marry his daughter but must have at least $10,000.00 before he would give his consent. That was a small fortune.

As he dreamed of the coming marriage, brother’s heart must have been filled with great hopes.

Burton was an excellent teacher and taught the little Goose Creek School for three terms. His teaching was a great improvement over that of the little girls who had previously taught at the school.

Clarence, the father, started work on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in the fall of 1894. He was in charge of all construction, the buying of building material, and training of workmen. The Government at that time was endeavoring to get the Indians to go to school and was building schoolhouses in many locations throughout the reservation.

His position required knowledge, skill, and honesty, and the responsibility was killing. Nine years later he suffered a slight stroke and was obliged to resign. Returning to the ranch, he was in semi-retirement and never again was able to do hard labor. His salary at that time was only seventy-five dollars a month and form that he had to pay his board and room.

The family had a little income from the hay crop each year and that, with Clarence’s salary, was barely enough for the family to exist. Yet Burt took every cent that he could get his hands on and bought calves that soon grew into money.

Never once during those years did he buy any groceries or help in any way with the ranch expense. All equipment, horses, and everything that the family needed for the ranch was furnished by the parents.

The children, three sisters and a boy, and some years Josephine hired a man, worked in the hay field all through the haying season. Much of that hay was used to feed Burt’s cattle, for he soon had many more than his parents owned.

Burt, by saving every cent that he could get his hands on, did in those three years, accumulate the ten thousand dollars and won the lovely "Pearl Ochoner" for his bride.

At the time of life that should have been most rewarding to him, Burton experience a great loss, even to the point of seeing his lifetime savings disappear. With financial help from Clarence, and although he was well along in years, he recovered and was able to make a new start.

In 1963, when 86 years old, his life’s mission ended. He was gifted with an outgoing personality. Probably, to others, one of the most likeable of the Colby family; and he bestowed these enviable characteristics on his two sons.

iii. ARTHUR LANE COLBY, b. July 12, 1878, Plainfield, Washington, VT; d. October 1971, Oakland, Alameda, CA.

1904 found a young lady, Ethel Martindale, from Exeter, Nebraska, teaching the little school. She boarded with the Colby family.

Arthur, fell madly in love with this school teacher, and just to be near her would go to their farm each fall and gather their corn crop. He would work for his board and room while trying to persuade her to become his wife. Getting no results, he finally gave up, but in the next few years she changed her mind and felt that they could be happy together. Arthur, by that time, had the feeling that he could not support her properly so they never married. It was a great tragedy in Arthur’s life, one from which he never recovered.

It seemed to have been difficult for Arthur to make friends easily, and the years must have been very lonely as he lived much of the time by himself. He was a devout Christian and active in church work. He often told of his prayers being answered with what seemed to be little less than a miracle. His love of Christianity was a great source of pleasure to him.

During the summer of 1971 he was injured when a young driver, traveling at great speed, rounded a corner and knocked him to the pavement. Being 93 years of age he never recovered from the shock, and a short time later passed away.

Arthur died in October, 1971 in Oakland, California. His body was taken to Spokane for burial in the family plot.

17. iv. JOHN EDWARD COLBY, b. July 13, 1880, Alta, Buena Vista, IA; d. December 25, 1949, Berkeley, Alameda, CA.

18. v. JULIA EMMA COLBY, b. June 12, 1882, Alta, Buena Vista, IA; d. October 18, 1907, Omaha, Douglas, NE.

Julia was quite different from any of other children in the Colby home.

Just before the turn of the century Julia married Elza Vandegrift, a young neighborhood boy; handsome, suave, and a bit spoiled. He was not a man’s man but was irresistible to the ladies.

Julia was lovely, almost beyond description; probably as near to being an angel as any living person could be; gracious, kindly, unselfish, a devoted wife and delightful mother of two sons and two daughters.

She had been given the name of her father’s oldest sister who had passed away when only about twenty years old. From the old diaries, both of her father’s and Julia’s, as one read through them, one cannot help but love this gracious lady who passed away so young.

Isn’t it strange that these two Julias had been given so many similar and likeable characteristics? And also that they both passed away while quite young?

A former neighbor of the Colbys, Ed Riser, is buried in the grave next to Julia. It is a tall stone which overlooks hers sort of in a way which says he is watching over her.

Ed was a young German immigrant who homesteaded and secretly had loved her, even though he had never called on her but she had been aware of his admiration.

Ed helped prepare her last resting place, and her passing must have brought him great sorrow. Ed never married although there were times when he could have. In the years to follow he became wealthy; buying land and raising cattle, and as the years passed he watched over Julia’s grave.

He knew that relatives all lived far away and other than a headstone being placed on the grave, it appeared to have been forgotten by the family. He cared for the grave and told his family that he wanted to be buried next to her. The family knew nothing of Julia, only that their uncle had loved her.

vi. GRACE COLBY, b. February 06, 1884, Alta, Buena Vista, IA; d. August 22, 1890, Madison, Lake, SD.

vii. ELIZABETH LORENE COLBY, b. September 21, 1885, Madison, Lake, SD; d. 1960.

viii. AVA BLANCHE COLBY, b. June 19, 1887, Madison, Lake, SD; d. November 1963.

19. ix. ALICE LUCIA COLBY, b. April 22, 1889, Madison, Lake, SD; d. June 1974, Colville, Stevens, WA.

x. LILLA BRACE COLBY, b. May 31, 1891, Madison, Lake, SD; d. February 03, 1896, Madison, Lake, SD.

xi. ZELLA COLBY, b. April 17, 1893, Madison, Lake, SD; d. April 30, 1893, Madison, Lake, SD.

xii. CLARENCE HENRY COLBY, b. May 31, 1894, Madison, Lake, SD; d. February 15, 1981, Spokane, Spokane, WA.

Author: Life, The Greatest Of All Gifts. In the foreward to this book, Mr. R. Bruce Carrick, Former Director of the Spokane, Washington Public Library wrote:

This book is the very readable and interesting story of the life of a man who grew up on a cattle ranch in Nebraska in a family where there was little money, and upon reaching the age of sixteen heeded the lure of the romantic West, coming to Spokane in 1910 where he has lived ever since; and where in his profession of pharmacy and through wise investments he attained considerable financial success.

Clarence Colby’s autobiography reminds one a bit of an Horatio Alger hero. From a poor boy he rose step by step to affluence by dint of hard work, honesty, and thrift with perhaps a bit of good luck thrown in. Now over 82 years of age, and somewhat ailing with a heart condition, he has in a leisurely way stretched over a 2 ½ year period put his memoirs together. His task was interrupted when the manuscript was almost finished by a stay of several months in the hospital. When first hospitalized Clarence was unable to walk, but in a miraculous cure he regained the full use of his legs. His strong determination to complete his literary labors and get this book published, I feel certain, helped mightily toward his recovery. His intention in writing his autobiography is to let his relatives, present and future, and his many friends know of the happy and useful life he has led. If there is any moral or precept that Clarence would like to emphasize it is that his readers be reminded to honor their parents, as he has stressed in his book, for bringing them into the world. Indeed the very title of his book indicates the theme Clarence wishes to accent: honor thy parents for they have, often at great sacrifice, given you the gift of life for which you should be eternally grateful.

I am sure that Clarence’s relatives and legion of friends will welcome this history. It explains very ably the philosophy of a man who has experienced much. He expresses himself simply and clearly and what he says is eminently worthwhile.

Diligence, fair dealing, and a reputation for integrity are among the main qualities that contributed to Clarence’s success while operating his drug store, and later on when he retired. An ambition and hard working man, Clarence would agree with Ella Wheeler Wilcox who wisely remarked in one of her poems: "The fault of the age is mad endeavor to leap to heights that were made to climb." Clarence, by slow degrees and through sheer industry and close attention to his pharmacy business, putting in long hours and doing the work of two men, was able by the age of fifty to attain financial independence, and so could dispose of his business holdings to enjoy a comfortable retirement which has extended over thirty years.

Many men would have grown stale with so much leisure. Not Clarence. He acquired real estate investments, took up carpentry as a hobby, learned how to bind books, and became fascinated with photography, among other things. Anything he turned his hand to was done with an eye to perfection. He has won many trophies and medals for his pictures and has exhibited his prints and slides widely. In fact Clarence has kept so busy with his hobbies that he just hasn’t had time to grow old!

In 1963 he suffered a severe heart attack (probably from working too hard in his drug store). He has watched his health carefully ever since. He became a great advocate of the virtues of vitamin E, and has preached the gospel of vitamin E to anyone who would listen and has made many converts. He attributes his present ripe age of 82 to its regular use. He also believes in a simple diet.

There are some things that Clarence hasn’t touched on in his life story. Due to his great modesty he omits any mention of his benefactions: for example, in recent years it has been his custom to make a sizeable donation to the Spokesman-Review newspaper Christmas fund to bring cheer to the needy. I happen to know that he opens his purse for charity on many occasions, but he would never be induced to tell of them.

From his parents Clarence inherited a very fine group of Sioux Indian objects which his father had gathered before the turn of the century, from the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota. Rather than sell to avid collectors, who would have paid many thousands of dollars for it, Clarence chose to give the collection outright to the Pacific Northwest Indian Center in Spokane, where it is displayed for the public to enjoy. Though he has been careful with money all his life, Clarence has never let money gathering become an obsession. Money is useful to him for the good it can do.

Clarence believes that the very finest way for a man who has had some measure of success in the world to discharge his debt to society is by passing back through a helping hand some of the wealth that he has accumulated. Among his charitable interests is the Morning Star Boys’ Ranch in Spokane.

Though Clarence never married, he never became any sort of a recluse. In his younger years he was an ardent hunter of deer and game birds; he belongs to two camera clubs and the Photographic Society of America; he travels over the countryside in his Volkswagen camper, sometimes out-of-state, to take pictures with his cameras, often with a companion. His days are filled with activity. He has scores of friends young and old, of both sexes. Indeed he has a genuine talent for making friends. When any of them become ill he shows great sympathy, and is a faithful visitor at the hospital or nursing home.

He is a church-goer, and attends the Fowler United Methodist Church in Spokane. Never the one to parade his beliefs, nevertheless in all his dealings Clarence firmly adheres to the Golden Rule: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

Clarence died on Sunday, February 15, 1981 in a local Spokane hospital and cremation was conducted by Hazen and Jaeger’s.

12. BURTON A10 COLBY (ENOS PAGE9, MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born September 07, 1849. He married LIL.

Children of BURTON COLBY and LIL are:

20. i. JOSIE11 COLBY, b. February 11, 1875; d. February 08, 1941.

21. ii. BESSIE COLBY, d. 1949.

13. EDWARD J10 COLBY (ENOS PAGE9, MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born May 18, 1857, and died February 20, 1939. He married ELLEN R. WALDO March 26, 1884.

Children of EDWARD COLBY and ELLEN WALDO are:

i. ETHEL R11 COLBY.

22. ii. BURNHAM AYERS COLBY.

14. LUCIA10 COLBY (ENOS PAGE9, MOSES8, ENOS7, MOSES6, ORLANDO5, THOMAS4, THOMAS3, ANTHONY2, THOMAS1) was born October 24, 1863, and died May 20, 1949. She married DAN BURNS.

Children of LUCIA COLBY and DAN BURNS are:

23. i. LOIS11 BURNS.

ii. MILDRED BURNS.

24. iii. HELEN BURNS.

iv. CATHARINE BURNS, m. GOODSELL.