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 362 LADD. LAFORME. Soule, of Springfield, who were then in partnership, and both of whom were after- wards justices of the supreme judicial court. There he was admitted to the bar in 1862, and opened a law office, and there he still resides. In 1870 he was ad- mitted to practice in 4 the supreme court of the United States. Though a man thoroughly devoted to his profession, he has found time to serve the public in various official capacities. In 1872 and '73 he was president of the common council of Springfield. He is a director of the City National Bank, and at the time of his appointment to the supe- rior court in 1881 was a director of the Springfield & New London Railroad Com- pany, and trustee and treasurer of the Springfield City Hospital. In 1878 he was sent as representative to the Legislature, where he served on the com- mittees on judiciary, liquor law, state detec- tive force and constitutional amendments, gaining for himself an enviable reputation as one of the leading members. He declined a renomination, but was sent to the state Senate in 1880, where his independence, integrity, and ability won for him the high- est esteem, and resulted in a re-election. In August, 1881, he was appointed a justice of the superior court, and in September, 1887, was promoted to the supreme judicial court. On the 18th of July, 1867, at Spring- field, Mr. Knowlton married Sophia, daugh- ter of William and Saba A. (Cushman) Ritchie, who died at Springfield, on the 1 8th of February, 1886. LADD, CHARLES R., son of Ariel and Mary (Winchell) Ladd, was born in Tol- land, Tolland county, Conn., April 9, 1822. His early education was obtained in the public schools, and by two years' attendance at Westfield Academy. Mr. Ladd chose the profession of law, and pursued his legal studies in Tolland, Conn.; was admitted to the bar in 1847 ; removed to Chicopee in 1848 ; in 1857 removed to Springfield, and became interested in the insurance business in the office of his brother, R. E. Ladd, in which business he is still engaged, the firm name being Ladd Brothers & Co. . Mr. Ladd was married in Hyde Park, April 3, 1886, to Ella M. Weaver, daughter of William G. and Rebekah G. (Ayers) Morse. They have no children. Mr. Ladd has held many offices and posi- tions of honor and trust in city, county and state ; was selectman in Chicopee two years ; representative to the General Court from that town two years, 1853 and '54 ; register of probate, Hampden county, two years ; treasurer of the county nine years ; member of Springfield common council two years; member of the board of aldermen two years ; state senator, 1st Hampden district, two years, 1869 and '70 ; represen- tative from Springfield to the General Court two years, 1873 and '79. In 1879 he was appointed auditor of accounts of the Commonwealth to fill a vacancy ; was elected on the general ticket in November following, and has been re- elected to the same office every year since, and now holds the position, having retained the office longer than any incumbent since the department was created. He was in early life a quarter-master in the Connecticut militia. He is now a di- rector in three paper manufacturing com- panies, and also in the Third National Bank of Springfield. His temporary resi- dence is in Maiden — his home in Spring- field. In boyhood Mr. Ladd worked on a farm and in a saw-mill ; taught school five win- ters while securing an education, and by industry, pluck, and integrity, has carved his fortune with but little assistance other than his own hands and brain. LAFORME, VINCENT, was born in Rheine, Westphalia, on the 25th of June, 1823. His father was Anthony Laforme (who was descended from Peter Laforme, of St. Omer, France, an officer in the French army), who, in the year 1833, emi- grated to Boston, where he was engaged in the manufacture of silverware until his death in 1846. Vincent Laforme was educated in the public schools of Boston, where he gradu- ated with honor, and subsequently entered his father's business, in which he has since continued. He was married to Sarah Jane Field of Boston, in 1845, and is the father of nine children. Mrs. Laforme was a descend- ant of John Sealy, a citizen of Boston in 1776, who left the town at the evacuation of Boston by General Howe ; he went to Halifax with the British and settled there. Mr. Sealy had two sons in the Federal