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| Orlin includes a short biography of Beriah Ward Fay:
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 He was born in 1819. His education was obtained in the public schools of and at New Salem Academy. In early life he was a popular school teacher, having taught in the Athol schools for eleven winters, conducted several select schools, and was teacher of penmanship.
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About 1850, he took up surveying, and for nearly half a century he did much of that work in the towns of northwestern Worcester, and throughout Franklin County.
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He was prominently identified with town and public business. In 1801, he was appointed a justice of the peace and in 1872 was elected one of the special commissioners of Franklin County, both of which positions he held continuously for over 25 years. In 1865 he was a member of the legislature, representing the district including New Salem, Orange and Wa4rwick. For 39 years he was a member of the school committee of New Salem, serving most of the time as chairman of the board. He also served his town for several years as selectman, assessor and overseer of the poor and was recruiting officer for the town in 1864.
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