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 FLOWER. FLOWER. 22 I I Douglas) Hyde. Of this union were two children: John Amos and Charles Richard- son Fletcher. He was married the second time, in Chelsea, May 25, 1864, to Mary Gould, daughter of John and Phebe Cor- nish (Gould) Brown. Of this union were live children : Marion Ware, Lawrence Brown, Annie Brown, Alice Mary and Albert Tripp Fletcher. Mr. Fletcher was several years director of the Winnisimmet Benevolent Society, Chelsea ; lieutenant in the state artillery, Maine, seven years ; lieutenant 43d Massa- chusetts regiment, in the war of the rebel- lion, serving in the signal corps ; captain in 36th United States colored troops. He is a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has served as president of the common council, member of the board of aldermen, and mayor of Chelsea i87i-'72 ; represen- tative to the General Court from Chelsea, 1S73 and '74, and president of the Chelsea water board three years. FLOWER, Richard Charles, son of Alfred and fc^lizabeth (Orange) Flower, was born in Albion, Edwards county, 111., December 1 1, 1849. Private schools in his native town gave him advantages for his early educational training until he was eleven years of age. He then was sent to Northwestern Univer- sity, Indianapolis, Ind., where he was thoroughly prepared for a university course, and pursuing it, was graduated in the class of 1868. He studied law and was admitted to practice, but upon the solicitation of family and friends, he relinquished his plans, and entered the ministry. In this field he was blessed with remarkable success, preaching in the W^est — Illinois, Indiana and Ken- tucky. His last call was to the city of Alliance, Ohio, December, 1875. About this time Dr. Flower was impressed with the feeling that he was not laboring in the sphere to which nature had ordained him. During his whole life he had felt called to another line of activities. From boyhood having a trend toward the natural sciences, and acquiring by study a love for organic structure — both animal and vege- table — he soon after graduation felt the longing for the professional career he ulti- mately must adopt. He was further inclined toward this by a belief in his own intuitive knowledge in the diagnosis of disease. His strong desire to become a healer of the sick at last directed his action, and he entered the Cincinnati Health College, having previously gone through a thorough preparation with Andrew Strong, M. D., of Troy, N. V., who was so long connected with Bellevue Hospital. His early practice after graduation from the medical college was successful. He >^n RICHARO C FLOWER. built up a phenomenal business in Phila- delphia and New York, but always being anxious to live in Boston, he removed there in 1SS2, where he continued his regular practice, distinguishing himself by his peculiar manner of diagnosis, and immense volume of business. In the early part of 1889 Dr. Flower built and opened the now well-known " Hotel Flower," on Columbus Avenue, Boston. This institution combines the features of the home, hotel and hospital, without the disagreeable accompaniments of the latter. Palatial in its construction and appointments, it is fitted with every known style of bath, electro-remedial appli- ances, and convenience for the comfort of the resident, guest or invalid, furnishes first-class hotel accommodations and thoroughly trained medical attendance. This institution, the first of its kind opened in the Commonwealth, is an ornament to the city and a credit to its founder. Dr. Flower was first married in Jeffer- sonville, Ind., in December, 187 1, to Ella,