Levi Badger Chase (1833 - 1931)

Born 24 Oct 1833 in Canterbury New Hampshire

Ancestors

Husband of Flavia Elizabeth (Lyman) Chase — married 9 Sep 1855 (to 9 Nov 1856) in Canterbury Merrimack New Hampshire

Husband of Matilda Fiske Plimpton — married 24 Oct 1858 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

Died 18 Feb 1931 at age 97 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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Biography

This obituary appeared in the Jan-Apr 1931 issue of the Chase Chronicle.

DEATH OF LEVI B. CHASE

(From Southbridge Mass. Press, February 20, 1931

Levi Badger Chase, aged 97 years, veteran of the Civil War and throughout his life his long life an outstanding citizen. died at his home in Starbridge Wednesday forenoon, February 18, 1931, following a period of declining health incident to his advanced age. Up to the last he retained his faculties clear and undimmed and maintained an interest in the progress of events. The marvelous changes which came about in science , discovery and all things affecting humanity in his closing years awakened in him a responsive chord in keeping with his whole forward looking life.

There is no one now left who united the incidents and historic events of the past in this region with the present in so complete and distinct a way as Mr. Chase. To his industry and intelligent research for the leading events in the history of Sturbridge and Southbridge the community will always be indebted for information gathered and put in durable form and language. No historic spot or incident in this region but had received his careful study and each set in its due relation to a comprehensive historic whole.

He had a lively fancy and a power of expression that gave charm to all that he said and wrote, and all who enjoyed his friendship and conservation have always paid willing tribute to his great worth. His was an intellectual mind, and it was in things of the intellect that he found his greatest satisfaction. He delighted to meet people of a literary turn of mind, and especially those imbued with a love for the pioneers, men and women, who settled this part of the state. His closing years were passed almost wholly in and around his home, where he enjoyed the wealth of flowers and the beautiful natural, almost primitive scenery that lay in pleasing prospect all around his estate. This and occasional automobile rides as far as Southbridge and other nearby towns helped to ease his declining days.

Like all soldiers of the Civil War he lived over again the stirring days of the great strife between the states and for many years was active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic. During a long period of years he gave of his time and talent to the educational interests of the town in which he dwelt, serving on the school and library boards and on special committees of the town charged with matters affecting the advancement of the community in spiritual as well as material matters. Thus for at least 75 years Mr. Chase stood for all that was good and progressive in the community and his influence will long be felt and his name held in kindly remembrance.

He was born in Canterbury, N.H., Oct. 24, 1833, the youngest of 11 children of Levi and Sarah (Page) Chase. On coming to Sturbridge as a young man, in the year 1856, he lived at the foot of Fiske hill not far from the Southbridge line. But he went to the spot where he died many, many years ago.

During the Civil War he served in the 51st Massachusetts Regiment. Mr. Chase was a member of the Hyde Library committee from 1878 to 1912, and served for 10 years on the school committee. Mr. Chase was a member of the New England Historical Society and a member of the old Worcester Antiquarian Society. Mr. Chase leaves his wife, and three daughters, the Misses Millie, Nellie and Clara Chase. ____ Following are some of the outstanding facts and achievements of Mr. Chase, handed us since the above appreciation was put in type:

Levi Badger Chase, son of Levi and Sarah Page Chase, was born in Canterbury, N.H. He has been a resident of Sturbridge since 1857. During the Civil War he enrolled as a Private in Co. F, 51st Regiment on Sept. 8, 1862, for 9 months, and on May 30, 1863, received an honorable discharge.

Mr. Chase became a member of the G.A.R. No. 173, on May 30, 1885, the year after its organization. He wrote the Plimpton Genealogy and published it in 1884. After thirty years of research work Mr. Chase wrote and published "The Bay Path and Along the Way in 1919.

He was a member of the Sturbridge School Committee from 1897 to 1907, and a member of the Library Committee from 1888 to 1912. Mr. Chase has been a member of Worcester Society of Antiquity, and the Gov. Thomas Dudley Family Association. In 1906 he was given the task of copying the Sturbridge Vital Records for publication.. In 1889 he wrote historical sketches of Sturbridge and Southbridge for the Worcester County History.

Mr. Chase was keenly interested in the formation of the Quinebaug Historical Society and two of his articles, "Early Indian Trails Through Tantiusque" and "Interpretation of Woodward's and Saffery's Map of 1642" were published in the Society's Leaflets. These writings were also printed by the Worcester Society of Antiquity as was "The Old Harding Bible" read by the author at a meeting June 7, 1892.

GENEALOGY: Levi Badger (8) Chase, the son of Levi (7) and Sally (Page) Chase; Edward (6), Jonathan(5) and (4), Ens. Jonathan (3), Thomas (2), Aquila (1), was born in Canterbury, N.H., 24 Oct. 1833 and died in Sturbridge, Mass., 18 Feby, 1931, having reached an age attained by no other Chase so far as the writer is aware. - John Carroll Chase.

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