Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II > Part 1

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Alphonse Juff

HISTORIC HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS

AND

GENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL MEMOIRS

WORCESTER COUNTY

MASSACHUSETTS

WITH A HISTORY OF

WORCESTER SOCIETY OF ANTIQUITY

PREPARED UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF ELLERY BICKNELL CRANE

Librarian of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, and Editor of its Proceedings; Author of "The Rawson Family Memorial." "Crane Family," two vols., Etc.

"Knowledge of kindred and the genealogies of the ancient families deserveth the highest praise. Herein consisteth a part of the knowledge of a man's own self. It is a great spur to virtue to look back on the work of our lines."-Lord Bc 2. " There is no heroic poem in the world but is the bottom the life of a man."-Sir Walter Scott.

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WORCESTER COUNTY

THE TAFT FAMILY, of Worcester county, Massachusetts, trace their ancestry to Robert Taft, who was a housewright by trade, and settled in Mendon, Massachusetts, in 1669, to which place he came form Braintree, which was then a provinee. His wife, Sarah Taft, bore him five sons: Thomas, born 1671; Robert, 1674; Daniel, 1677; Joseph, 1680; and Benjamin, 1684. The father. Robert Taft, died in February, 1725; the mother, Sarah Taft, in No- vember of the same year.

Captain Joseph Taft, fourth son of Robert and Sarah Taft, was born in 1680, died in 1747. He married, 1708, Elizabeth Emerson, granddaughter of the first minister of Mendon, Massachusetts. They were the parents of nine children, among whom were the following: Moses, born 1713; Peter, 1715; Jo- seph, 1722; and Aaron, April 12, 1729.

Captain Peter Taft, second son of Captain Jo- seph and Elizabeth (Emerson) Taft, was born in 1715. He was a farmer in Uxbridge, Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth Cheney, and the sons born of this marriage were: Henry, Gershom, Aaron and Peter.

Aaron Taft, third son of Captain Peter and Elizabeth (Cheney) Taft, was born May 28,_1743. His early education fitted him for Princeton Col- lege, but the exigencies of the family called him home before be had finished his college course, but not before he had established a good reputation as a scholar. He then turned his attention to farming in his native town of Uxbridge, from which, after a residence of thirty years, he removed in March, 1799, to Townshend, Vermont, where he died March 26, 1808. About 1768 he married Rhoda Rawson, daughter of Abner and Mary ( Allen) Rawson, and great-great-granddaughter of Edward Rawson, sec- retary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1650 to 1686. Mrs. Taft, who was a woman of superior intelligence and ability, died June 9, 1827. Their children were: Milley, born July 29, 1769; Selina, February 20, 1771 ; Cynthia, August 17, 1773; Raw- son, October 15, 1775, died 1776; Nancy, August 20, 1777; Jeremiah, November 21, 1779; Mary, July 12, 1783; Peter Rawson, April 14, 1785; Sophia, December 3, 1787, died 1843; Judson, November 6, 1791, died 1794; Samuel Judson, October 4, 1794.

Peter Rawson Taft, third son of Aaron and Rhoda (Rawson) Taft, was born April 14, 1785. In 1810 he married Sylvia Howard, and settled in Townshend, Vermont, where he taught school and later was admitted to the bar. Ile was judge of the court of common pleas, the probate court, county court of Windham county, also one of the commis- sioners of the county and for many years a mem- ber of the legislature of Vermont. In 1841 he re- moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died in 1867,

aged eighty-two years, leaving one son, Alphonso Taft.

HON. ALPHONSO TAFT, son of Peter Rawson and Sylvia ( Howard) Taft, was born in Townshend, Windham county, Vermont, No- vember 5, 1810. Through the hard work and self-sacrifice of his parents, who possessed a large amount of ambition for their son, and the boy's own intense desire for a thorough education, heentered Yale College in 1829, and graduated therefrom with high honors in 1833. For two years thereafter he taught in Judge Hall's Academy, in Ellington, Connecticut, and was after- ward tutor at Yale. He studied law in the Yale Law

School, and was admitted to the bar of Connecticut in 1838. The following year he began the practice of his profession in Cincinnati, Ohio, rose steadily and rapidly in his profession, was engaged in many important cases and became a leader of the bar of Ohio. In 1857 he argued successfully before the United States supreme court the claim of the city for the bequest of Charles MeMicken, which se- eured the fund forming the nucleus of the endow- ment of the University of Cincinnati.

In 1865 Mr. Taft was appointed by the governor of Ohio to a vacaney in the superior court of Cin- cinnati. He was afterward twice elected to the office by the people, the second time having the unusual honor of being chosen by the votes of both parties, no opposing candidate being presented. fle was considered a model judge. It was said of him that "no young man was ever turned away with the impression that his case was too small for the judge's patience ; no experienced lawyer ever felt that his case was too large, or the questions in- volved too intricate, for the judge's capacity and learning." Perhaps the most important case which came before him as judge of the superior court was that of "The Bible in the Public Schools." The Catholics and Jews, who formed a large proportion of the citizens of Cincinnati, complained of the in- troduction of religious instruction in the schools as violating the spirit of the Constitution, and doing them an injustice. The school board stopped the reading of the Bible in the schools. The court was appealed to on the ground that the board had no power to take such a step. A violent contest arose on the question. Feeling ran high, and it was cvi- dent that the judge who dared face the storm must incur great unpopularity. To Judge Taft, however, there seemed absolutely no question of the right of the school board to take such action. His mind clear on that point, it was not in the nature of the man to consider for a moment popular clamor or the effect of the decision on his own career. The other two judges decided against the school board.

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WORCESTER COUNTY

Judge Taft delivered an elaborate dissenting opin- 1011. When the case was taken to the supreme court of Ohio, this opinion was sustained in every pont by a unanimous court of five judges, and has since become the law throughout the United States. "The Bible in the Public Schools" case arose in his path several times later and probably prevented his being governor of Ohio. When, however, the storm of prejudice and bigotry had subsided and people had time to consider the matter. Judge Taft's reputation as a judge who knew neither fear nor favor was inevitably increased. In 1872 he resigned from office in order to join his two sons in the practice of law under the style of A. Taft & Sons. In 1876 Judge Taft was appointed secretary of war by President Grant, succeeding General Belknap, and the following May was transferred to the office of attorney general, which he held until the end of the administration in March, 1877, when he re- sumed the practice of his profession in Cincinnati, Ohio. In April, 1882, he was appointed by Presi- dent Arthur, United States minister plenipotentiary to Austria, and in 1884 was promoted to the Court of Russia, remaining until August, 1885. In the spring of that year he had a severe attack of pneumonia, followed by typhoid fever, being one of the numerous Americans who have fallen victims to the Russian climate. The disease broke down his extraordinary rugged constitution and he re- turned, shattered in health, to private life. He sought relief in southern California, but his death occurred in San Diego, May 21, 1891, aged eighty years.

Judge Taft was exceedingly fond of historical and genealogical research, and gave considerable attention to tracing the lineage of the Taft family. He delivered the historical address at the Taft fam- ily re-union at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, August 12. 1874. Judge Taft took an active interest in all educational matters, and served more than twenty years as trustee of the Cincinnati high school. He was a member of the corporation of Yale College and was honored with its degree of LL. D. in 1867. His five sons graduated from that well-known in- stitution, and his grandsons keep up the family tradition. In politics Judge Taft began life as a Whig and an ardent supporter of Webster. He joined the Republican party at its formation, and was always a warm supporter of its principles. In 1850 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention, which nominated John C. Fremont for president. In the same year he was nominated by the Republicans of Cincinnati for congress, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate, George H. Pendleton. In every position to which Judge Taft was called he rendered most able, effective and loyal service. He was a gentleman of scholarly attain- ments, of the highest personal character, and a kind- liness and sweetness of disposition which endeared him to all who came in contact with him.

Judge Taft was twice married. He married (first) in September, 1841. Fanny Phelps, daughter of Judge Charles Phelps, of Townshend, Vermont. She died in 1851. Of their five children three died in infancy; the surviving children were :

1. Charles Phelps. born December 21, 1843. Ile graduated from Yale College, class of 1864. after which he passed three years of study in Europe. taking the degree of J. U. D at the University of Heidelberg. Returning home he began the practice of law with his father, but subsequently devoted himself to journalism. He married Anna Sinton. daughter of David Sinton, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and four children were born to them: Jane Ellison,

married Albert Ingalls, of Cleveland, Ohio, and has two sons: David Sinton and Albert Ingalls; David Sinton. died at the age of fifteen years: Annie Louise, and Charles Howard, a graduate of Yale, class of 1906.

2. Peter Rawson, graduated from Yale, taking the valedietory of the class of 1867 with the highest record then attained by any graduate. He afrer- wards studied three years abroad, and also took a degree at Heidelberg. On his return he took up the practice of law with his brother in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1876 he married Matilda Hulbert, danghter of William Hulbert, of Cincinnati, Ohio, issue, one son. Hulbert, a graduate of Yale, married in 1904 Nellie Phillips Leaman. Peter Rawson Taft died in 1888.

Judge Taft married ( second), December 26. 1853, Louisa Maria Torrey, daughter of Samuel D. Toz- rey (see sketch of Samuel D. Torrey), of Millbury, Massachusetts. They had five children :

I. Samuel Davenport, died in infancy.

2. William Howard, born September 15, 1857, see forward.

3. Henry Waters, born May 27, 1859, in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. After his graduation from Yale Col- lege in the class of 1880, he studied law in Cincinnati and Columbia, and established himself in practice in New York city, being now a member of the firm of Strong & Cadwalader. One of his ablest and most important arguments recently was in the United States supreme court, where he was employed. by the government to prosecute its suit against the Tobacco trust. The decision of the court was a complete triumph for principles which have far- reaching consequences. This important case is re- ported as Hale vs. Henkel in volume 201 of the United States Supreme Court Reports, In 1905 Mr. Taft received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Yale. He married in 1883. Julia Walbridge Smith, daughter of Hon. Levi Smith, of Troy, New York, and their children are: Marian Jennings, died in infancy: Walbridge Smith, of the class of 1007 at Yale: William Howard, class of 1900 at Yale: Louise Witherbee.

4. Horace Dutton, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, De- cember 28. 1861. He graduated from Yale College in 1883. studied law and was admitted to the bar, but decided to pursue the vocation of teaching. He was for three years a tutor of Latin in Yale College. In 1890 he established the Taft School for boys, at Pelham Manor. New York. but in 1803 moved the school to Watertown, Connecticut. The school has prospered and has now about one hun- dred pupils. The catalogue announces that "the object of the school is to give boys a thorough preparation for the best colleges and scientific schools, and to make them strong. healthy and manly men." In 1893 Mr. Taft received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Yale. He married in 1891, Winifred Shepard. daughter of Mrs. Helen Bierstadt Thompson, of Niagara Falls, New York. 5. Fanny Louise, the only daughter, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. July 18. 1865. She was educated in Cincinnati and at Farmington. Connecticut. com- pleting her studies abroad in music and the languages. In 1800 she became the wife of Dr. William A. Edwards, a physician and surgeon. form- erly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, now residing in Los Angeles, California.

TION. WILLIAM II. TAFT. second son of Judge Alphonso and Louise Maria (Torrey ) Taft. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. September 15. 1857. He attended the public school of his native city, in-

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THE ASA WATERS' MANSION Built in 1827.

THE S. D. TORREY HOMESTEAD, MILLBURY, MASS.

BUSIU. PUT '

WORCESTER COUNTY

cluding Woodward high school, from which he was' graduated in 1874. He was a student in Yale Uni- versity four years, graduating in June, 1878, with degree of Bachelor of Arts, second or salutatorian in a class of one hundred and twenty-one, also elected by his class, class orator. He entered the law school of Cincinnati College, 1878, graduating in May. 1880. with degree of B. L., dividing first prize. He was admitted to the bar of supreme court of Ohio, May. 1880. He served in the capacity of law reporter for the Cincinnati Times and subsequently Cincinnati Commercial in 1880. He received the appointment of assistant prosecuting attorney. January, 1881, but tendered his resignation in March, 1882, to become collector of internal revenue, first district of Ohio, under President Arthur. He resigned the collector- ship in March, 1883, to enter the practice of law, continuing the same until March, 1887, holding mean- time from January, 1885, office of assistant county solicitor of Hamilton county. In March, 1887, he was appointed by Governor Foraker judge of the superior court of Cincinnati to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Judson Harmon, and in April, 1888, was elected to succeed himself. serving five years. He resigned in February, 1890, to become solicitor general of the United States under ap- pointment of President Harrison, and resigned in March, 1892, to become United States circuit judge for the sixth judicial circuit and ex-offico member of circuit courtof appeals of the sixth circuit. In 1896 he became professor and dean of the law department of University of Cincinnati, and in March. 1900, re- signed the circuit judgeship and deanship to be- come, by appointment of President Mckinley, presi- dent of the United States Philippine commission. July 4, 1901, by appointment of President Mckinley, he became first civil governor of the Philippine Islands, and November 1, 1901, on account of ill- ness, turned over his office to Vice-Governor Wright. December 23, 1901, by order of secretary of war, hie visited the United States and Washington to testify before the senate committee on the Philippines and louise committee of insular affairs, his testimony before both committees covering a period of six weeks. By order of President Roosevelt and Secre- tary Root, he sailed from the United States to Rome, May 17, 1902, to confer with Pope Leo XIII con- cerning the purchase of agricultural lands of Re- ligious Orders in the Philippines. He held con- ference with committee of Cardinals in June and July and reached a general basis for agreement. He sailed from Naples for the Philippines, July 10, 1902. reached his destination August 22, 1902, and resumed his office of civil governor. December 23, 1903, he sailed to the United States to accept the responsible position of secretary of war, succeeding Elihu Root, and February 1, 1904, entered upon the duties of the office. The fact that Secretary Taft throughout his long and honorable public career has received promotion continuously is ample evi- dence of his capability and reliability and of his sterling integrity of character. In November, 1904, Secretary Taft, by direction of President Roosevelt, visited the Republic of Panama to confer with that government upon diplomatic questions, and in November-December, 1904. visited Panama to confer with the Panama authorities upon questions arising with reference to the government of the Canal Zone, this by direction of President Roosevelt. In July. August and September, 1905, he, with a party of senators and representatives, made a tour of inspec- tion of the Phillippine Islands and in November, 1005, again visited the Republic of Panama to ob- -erve the report on the progress of the canal. In October, 1906, he was sent by President Roosevelt

to Cuba to direct in the restoration of order, and discharged his delicate duties with sagacity and signal success. In June, 1903, he received the honor- ary degree of LL. D. from Yale University, also received the same degree from University of Penn- sylvania, February 22, 1902, and from Harvard and Miami, 1905.

Secretary Taft married, June 19. 1886, Helen Herron, daughter of Hon. John W. Herron, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States district attorney and state senator. and their children are: Robert Al- phonso, born September 8, 1889; Helen Ilerron, born August 1. 1891; and Charles Phelps, born Septem- ber 20, 1897.

SAMUEL DAVENPORT TORREY, was born in Mendon, Worcester county, Messachusetts, April 14. 1780. and died at his home in Millbury. same county, December 23, 1877. His ancestors came to the province of Massachusetts Bay in the year 1640, from the parish of Combe, St. Nicholas, in the county of Somerset, England, and settled in the town of Weymouth, Massachusetts. The genealogical line of descent has been traced from William Torrey, of Combe, St. Nicholas. Somersetshire, whose will was dated in 1556, through Philip, his son, and the second William, and then through the second Philip to the third William, who was born in 1608, and came to America in 1640. This William Torrey was a conspicuous character in Massachusetts, for many years a member of the house of deputies, and al- ways chosen clerk; a magistrate, and a captain of militia. He died in 1690. He was a man of affairs, with education, having some knowledge of Latin, and also fair literary ability, which appears through a printed essay on "The Futurities," a quaint pro- duction still extant.

He had three brothers who settled severally : Philip in Roxbury, James in Scituate, Plymouth Colony, and Joseph in Newport, Rhode Island. William's oldest son was the distinguished scholar and preacher, Rev. Samuel Torrey, who lived in Weymouth , and died there after a pastorate of fifty years. He was educated at Harvard College, and it is recorded that he subsequently twice declined the presidency of the college. He had also the tin- usual honor of preaching three "election sermons" before the "Great and General Court of Massachu- setts." He left no descendants. His brothers were Wil- liam, Micajah, Josiah, Jonathan and Angell, the youngest, who settled in Mendon in 1680. and from whom the line comes down through a fourth Will- iam, and through Joseph to a fifth William, the father of Samuel Davenport Torrey, the subject of this sketch. Tradition credits the family with unusual physical proportions. the last William be- ing fabulously reported as six feet and seven inches in height. His wife was Anna Davenport. daughter of Seth and Chloe ( Daniels) Davenport, of Mendon, by whom he had six children-Samuel, Joseph, Louisa, Stephen, Benjamin and George.

The oldest son, Samuel Davenport Torrey. es- tablished himself early in life in Boston, in the West India trade, at No. 25 South Market street. near Faneuil Hall, where the business has ever since con- tinued in the family name. In 1831, his health being somewhat impaired, and having acquired what he regarded as a competency, Mr. Torrey retired from business and located himself permanently in Mill- bury. For forty-six years he was one of the sub- stantial citizens of the town, bearing an important part of its affairs, as also of the Congregational church. of which he was a member. His life was a model of courtesy and uprightness, and his genial and cordial manners were a true index of his rare

WORCESTER COUNTY

character. Mr. Torrey was twice married. His

first wife, Delia Chapin, died in 1821, about a year after their marriage. In 1824 he was again mar- ried to Susan Holman Waters, the eldest child of Asa Walters, the founder of Armory Village, and granddaughter of Colonel Jonathan Holman, who raised and commanded regiment in

the revolution. Mrs. Torrey was a woman of rare en- dowments and character and well educated for that period, and her highest interest was always in the world of thought. She had an irrespressible desire to know the best that had been written in literature and philosophy, and she had the courage to follow the new views of truth, which her active and pro- gressive mind attained, to their conclusions. She died in Millbury, February 3, 1866. Her memory is cherished by her children as a precious legacy. Five children were the fruit of this marriage- four daughters and one son:

I. Delia Chapin, the eldest, born in Boston Sep- tember 30, 1825, has resided in Millbury most of her life. She has never married, the gentleman to whom she was betrothed, Rev. Dr. Samuel Dutton, of New Haven, Connecticut, having died suddenly of pneumonia, at her father's house, whither he had come to arrange for their approaching marriage. Her mother died the same week of the same dis- ease. She was prostrated with grief, but hence- forth devoted herself to the care of her father as long as he lived. Except for travels abroad and in California, she has ever since occupied the old homestead.

2. Louisa Maria, born in Boston, September II, 1827, married Alphonso Taft of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was Secretary of of War, and also Attorney General under General Grant, afterwards United States Minister to Austria, and later to Russia.

3. Samuel Davenport, died in infancy.

4. Susan Waters, born in Millbury, August 26, 1835: married Samuel A. Wood, of San Francisco; died February 1, 1904, leaving two sons: I. William F., in business in California ; 2. Samuel Austin, mar- ried Romola, daughter of Lemuel Bigelow, banker, of San Francisco; they have two children-Austin Bigelow and Helen Torrey. 3. Nellie Susan, a daugh- ter of Samuel A. and Susan Waters (Torrey) Wood, died in infancy.

5. Anna Davenport, born November 1, 1840, wife of Edward Orton, LL. D., president and Pro- fessor of Geology in Ohio State University at Colum- bus, and State Geologist. She died June 25, 1900, leaving two children : I. Louise Taft, wife of Francis C. Caldwell, Professor of Electricity in the Ohio State University. They have two children: Anna Davenport and Edward Orton Caldwell. 2. Samuel Torrey, graduate of Ohio State University, and of the medical department of the University of Penn- sylvania.

Mr. Torrey will long be remembered as a man of marked individuality, of thorough business methods, of inflexible integrity, with a decision and force of character which left a lasting impression wherever he was known. In Millbury be devoted his attention to the care of his farm, to his family and his friends, taking also a lively interest in passing events. As he advanced in life his health became so far established that he was spared many of the painful infirmities of old age. It happened to him to be called upon to assist in the burial of many of his juniors.

Belonging to the heroic age of New England, he never for a moment lost the bearing of a gentleman of the old school. Without office, or the desire of office, he enjoyed the respect and confidence of all. To an unusual degree he possessed

"That which should accompany old age,

As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends."

PHILLIPS FAMILY. Jonathan S. Phillips (I), the immigrant ancestor of Horace Wendell Phillips, is said to be of English descent. The first record of him is at Westminster, Massachusetts, where lie 'appears to have settled during the revolution. He was a resident of Westminster in 1780, when he married there Elizabeth Bemis, daughter of William and Rezina (Wilder) Bemis, of one of the old county families. He bought the place on which he was living at Westminster of Samuel Gerrish, No- vember 9, 1793. He seems to have been a quiet citizen, devoting his life strictly to the business of farming. When his son grew up, they moved to- gether to Templeton, an adjacent town. The son's name is given as Jonathan, Jr. and as Jonathan S. Phillips in different records. The father signed a mortgage of what was called the son's farm at Templeton, July 28, 1819, to Peter Peirce, chair maker. This farm contained only eleven acres. Jonathan Phillips, Sr., sold his farm at Westminster, August 16, 1806, to Samuel Whitney. Ile seems to have prospered for we find him holding a mort- gage on the land of Elisha Hall, of Westminster, in 1802, before his removal. He died at Templeton, in 1826, at an advanced age. Joel Bartlett was ad- ministrator of his estate.

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Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 1

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 732

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732