George Darling was listed as a "grocer" on his marriage certificate and lived in the south end of Boston. From 1850 to 1852, he was in partnership with Josiah Proctor in the firm known as "Darling and Proctor" located at 29 Elm St. Apparently this partnership was dissolved. In 1854, we find a "George Darling and Company" located at 19 Elm St. (formerly #29). This company was a partnership as there is a record, in 1863, of "the partnership of George Darling and Charles H. Knox, Jr. known as George Darling and Company was dissolved by mutual consent." The obituary of George Darling appearing in a newspaper in 1888 (name of the newspaper is unknown, the clipping of the obituary in our possession) states that "he was in the wholesale grocery business at Elm St. and later on at Blackstone St." Boston City directories list him as "grocer at 65 Blackstone St." as early as 1870.

In 1853, George purchased a "lot with brick dwelling house" at #1 Livingston St., Boston. In 1859, this property was sold and he bought a house on Canton St. "being the third house on the southerly side of Canton Street, West of Tremont Street." Apparently George and Eliza lived there until 1864 when there is a record of purchase of a house on Springfield St. In 1872, Boston city directories list George as living at #31 East Springfield St. at which time two of his sons, George, Jr., and Francis, were listed at that address. In 1878, a Boston city directory lists George at #24 Worcester St. with his son, Francis, as a "boarder."

Eliza Darling died in 1885 and, according to George Darling's obituary, George closed his business and maintained an office with his son, Francis, at 21 Exchange St., Boston. He died at the home of his son, Francis, on Central St., in Hyde Park, MA.

George and his wife Eliza (Duncan) Darling had four children, all born in Boston:

• George G., b. 28 Nov. 1845; d. 30 Jan. 1847.
• George, Jr., b. 1847; d. 19 Feb. 1873.
• William Edward, b. 25 Oct. 1849; d. 1 Jan. 1850.
• Francis Woods, b. 16 Dec. 1852; d. Hyde Park, MA 27 July 1932; m. in Rockland, ME, 28 Jan. 1880, Anna Evelyn Keene.

Francis W. Darling grew up in Boston. In 1870, he graduated from Boston English High School where he was Class Poet. The following four years, he was employed in the grocery store of Stedman, Thayer and Co., Boston. He began the study of law at Boston University Law School but had to stop his studies due to ill health. He was employed by the Boston agent of the Cobb Lime Company of Rockland, ME, until 1878 when he formed the Company of Darling and Stebbins. The company controlled two wharves, one at 445 Commercial St. and the other at 278 Albany St., Boston, doing a retail business dealing in coal and building materials.

He dissolved the Darling and Stebbins Company in 1890 and established the F. W. Darling & Company, which dealt in coal and wood with offices in Boston at 17 Exchange Place and in Hyde Park at 10 Fairmount Ave. At the time of his death, the firm which he still owned and operated had the Hyde Park office and a warehouse on Walnut St., Hyde Park.

Francis Woods Darling and Anna Evelyn (Keene) Darling (Click on picture to enlarge)

Probably it was through his employment with the Maine firm of Cobb Lime Co. that he met his future wife, Anna Keene, of Rockland, ME. They were married in January 1880 and lived in Roxbury, MA, until 1885 when they moved to the town of Hyde Park which did not become part of Boston until 1912.

In politics, Francis was a Republican and served two years (1892-1893) in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and two terms in the State Senate. After his first term in the House, he was re-elected by the largest majority ever given in Hyde Park to any candidate. He was endorsed for the speaker of the House but lost out to the Representative from Boston. While in the House, Francis was chairman of the committee on Railroads and served on the Taxation Committee plus other committees.

In 1893, at the Republican convention to nominate a senator to represent the First Norfolk District, Representative Darling was the unanimous choice of all the delegates. In 1894, he was elected to that office with five times the majority ever before given, receiving 62% of the vote. This was the first time a citizen of the town of Hyde Park became the Senator from this district. In 1895, he was re-elected to a second term with a greater majority, receiving 65% of the vote.

Although Francis did not run for re-election in 1895, he did seek membership on the Governor's Council in 1900. This seat for the Second District included six Boston wards in Suffolk County. Although he received strong support from Bristol and Norfolk Counties, he was not successful and withdrew from the race.

After Francis and his family moved to Hyde Park from Roxbury about 1885, he took a leading interest in the civic and social affairs of the town. He was one of the founders and first president of the Hyde Park Club, president of the Hyde Park Board of Trade, head of the Hyde Park Business Men's Association for 25 years, town moderator (I believe that he may have been a selectman at one time but I have not verified this), and was active in the Unitarian Church.

In the newspaper, Hyde Park Times, of 14 Feb. 1896, we find an article that says, "Senator Darling seems to be in great demand as a public speaker, and why shouldn't he? He is called one of the brightest and best on Beacon Hill today." Also, Francis made a study of Shakespeare and was called upon often to lecture on the works of Shakespeare many parts of which he could recite from memory.

Edward K. True, my father, writes, "Francis and Anna Darling were my maternal grandparents. I do not have the date when they bought and remodeled the large house they lived in for over 50 years at 1045 River St. in Hyde Park, MA. I remember the parlor-music room and my grandfather pacing up and down the large living room-library (probably practicing his speeches) and my grandmother presiding over elegant dinners as they entertained their families and their many social and political friends. Anna Darling was a leader in her community, was active in their church and maintained a large circle of friends throughout her lifetime."

Francis and his wife Anna Evelyn (Keene) Darling had two children:

• Harold Duncan, b. Boston, MA 5 Nov. 1880; d. 28 Sept. 1965; unmarried. Harold attended Dartmouth College and later graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He practiced dentistry with an office at 47 Winter St., Boston until his retirement. He loved languages and was fluent in German and French, writing throughout the years many of his notes in French. He was a sportsman and was active in a rifle and shooting club and a riding club.
• Laura Keene, b. Hyde Park, 17 March 1886; d. Littleton, MA 13 Oct. 1966; m. in Hyde Park 14 Sept. 1914 Edward Payson True.