USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 16
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JOHN D. MORTON.
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mation of the present " Boston Associated Board of Trade," and served as its first vice president. Among the various clubs and associations of which he is a member are: The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, Bostonian Society. Boston Art Club, Boston Commandery of Knights Templars, Boston Chamber of Commerce, Rox- bury Club. Boston Young Men's Christian Union, Ameri- can Unitarian Association, and many others. He was in 1889 and 1890 President of the Worcester Northwest Agricultural and Mechanical Society. He married Mar- cia E. Wesson, daughter of William C. Wesson of Hard- wick, Oct. 7, 1862. They have three children, two daughters and a son. Arabel, the oldest daughter, mar- ried in 1887, Joseph H. Goodspeed, treasurer of the West End Railroad Co., and Clara married George F. Gray of Boston, who is associated with the Shephard & Morse Lumber Co. George C. is associated with his father, and is a director of the Carpenter-Morton Co.
(3) Abraham, the third son of Richard Morton, born Dec. 25, 1735, was the first white child born in Athol. His supposed tragic death is related in the chapter on Ancient Pequoig.
(4) Margery, born Oct. 28, 1737, was the first white female born in Athol. She lived a maid. The following poem was written of her by Mrs. Clare H. Burleigh for ยทยท Picturesque Worcester:"
"No poet, or painter, no hero of fame We sing, but of Athol's first baby," whose claim The records preserve undisputed. Her name Was Margery Morton.
We know not the tint of her hair or her eyes, If sombre, or gleaming with light from the skies ; If sober. or smiling, if foolish or wise, This Margery Morton.
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But " Athol" her baby lips learned to repeat, The dust of the highway, the first village street Was trodden oft-times, by the wee toddling feet Of Margery Morton.
No garment of her's bright with cochineal hues, No apron of jean, dyed with indigo blues, Have we, but one of the queer little shoes Of Margery Morton.
She looked from her home, on the valleys below, On hills clad with verdure, or covered with snow ; The famous old "fort tree " began first to grow With Margery Morton.
For her, all the wild flow'rs made haste to unfold Their petals of crimson, of purple and gold ; As lovely as now, were the blossoms of old, For Margery Morton.
Perchance a fierce savage, with dark painted face Frowned on her young beauty, her innocent grace, And danger may always have haunted the place For Margery Morton.
We follow her not through life's devious way, A fair winsome maiden, or sad spinster gray ; We sing but of Athol's first daughter to-day, Our Margery Morton.
(5) Benjamin, son of Richard Morton, was born Oct. 20, 1739, and married Mary Dexter, Sept. 28, 1760. They resided in Orange, and had nine children.
( 6) Mary married Stephen Lord of Athol.
(7) Submit married Caleb Smith of Athol.
Samuel Morton, who came to Athol with his brother Richard in 1735, was born at Hatfield, Sept. 8, 1708, and married Lydia Smith, daughter of Nathaniel Smith of Hatfield, June 23, 1731. They had nine children : Lydia married Robert Bradish, Abigail married James Stratton, Jerusha married Jonas Bradish, Lois married Samuel Humphrey, a brother of Rev. James Humph- rey, and Martha married Daniel Lamson, all of Athol.
JULIUS STERLING MORTON, who is descended from Sam- uel Morton, is the most distinguished descendant of the old Athol families. He was born at Adams, Jefferson
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County, New York, April 22, 1832, a son of Julius Dewey Morton and Emeline ( Sterling ) Morton. When he was but two years old his parents removed to Monroe, Michigan. Until he was fifteen years old he attended a private school in Monroe, and was then placed in the Wesleyan Seminary at Albion, Mich. In 1850, he en- tered the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and after nearly four years at this institution, he went to Union College, and in 1854 received his degree of A. M., from
Dr. Eliphalet Nott, the famous president of that college. During the last two years of his college life he was a fre- quent contributor to the editorial columns of the Detroit Free Press. Soon after graduating he married, and in the fall of 1854, started for the newly organized territory of Nebraska, where he pre-empted a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and in true pioneer style built a log cabin, which was the home of himself and wife for a year. The cabin then gave place to a cottage, and that spot has ever since been Mr. Morton's home. His early purpose had been to become a lawyer, and he practiced that pro- fession until 1860. when his office and library were burned, when he abandoned law for business, and occupations more congenial to him. In April, 1855, he established the Nebraska City News, which he edited for many years, and which is still in existence, being the oldest paper in the state. He took a lively interest in public affairs, and became a member of the territorial legislature, and was appointed by President Buchanan, Secretary of the Ter- ritory, in 1858, which position he held until 1861, and during a portion of this period he was the acting governor.
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Mr, Morton has been repeatedly the candidate of his party for governor, and a seat in the United States Senate, but during his entire political career, his state has been stead- fastly Republican, and it was not until 1893 that he came into power as a member of President Cleveland's Cabinet, when he was selected as Secretary of Agriculture. It was exceedingly appropriate that this importaut position should be conferred upon one whose devotion to agricul- ture and forestry had become of national renown, as being the originator of Arbor Day, and through whose influence the treeless lands of the. West, are being transformed in- to gardens and orchards, and dotted with vigorous forest growth. As a farmer and stock raiser, he has labored un- tiringly to promote the agricultural interests of his state. His entire course of public life has been characterized by an uncommon independence of merely popular and super- ficial movements. His wife died twenty years after their removal to Nebraska. He has four sons, who have grown to manhood and become heads of families.
Abner Morton, son of Samuel, was born Jan. 17, 1736. He married Sophia Goddard, May 14, 1764. They be- longed to the church in Athol, he joining in 1765, and she in 1774. The records give the names of four children as born to them.
Dr. Joshua Morton, another son of Samuel, was born in Athol, Oct. 20, 1744. He married three times, his first wife being Azubah, daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Graves, the second Rebecca Rich, and the third Azubah Williams. Seven children are recorded as having been born to him. A brief sketch of him is given in the Medi- cal chapter.
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Noah Morton, who came to Athol a few years after his brothers, Richard and Samuel, was born in Hatfield, Dec. 5, 1718, and died in Athol, March 19, 1798. He mar- ried Rhoda Waite, and they had three children.
THE GODDARDS.
Several of the Goddard families of Athol are descend- ants of one Edward Goddard of Norfolk County, England. His seventh son, William, was a wholesale merchant in London, and came to New England in 1665 to look after property that he had in this country. He liked so well that he sent for his family and settled in Watertown, Mass. His son, Benjamin, born in 1668, married Martha Palfrey, and lived in Charlestown. They had a son, Benjamin, born in 1705, who married Mary Kidder, and resided in Grafton, Mass. Their son James, born in 1740, came to Athol sometime between 1760 and 1765, with his second cousin, Josiah Goddard, and settled on Chestnut Hill, Josiah on the last farm in Athol, since known as the Flint farm, and Lieut. James Goddard on the next farm south on the east side of the road.
JOSIAH GODDARD, or "Squire Goddard," as he was called, was for more than a quarter of a century, probably, the most prominent man in public affairs in town. In the opening days of the Revolution, he was one of the commit- tee of Inspection and Correspondence, and was from 1778 to 1800, one of the selectmen. He was moderator of town meetings for many years, was on many important commit- tees, and was Representative to the Great and General Court for six years.
JAMES GODDARD married Miss Betty Goddard of Shrews- bury, a sister of Josiah Goddard, in 1767. They had five children.
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ELIJAH GODDARD, the second child of James Goddard., was born in 1771. He married Miss Mehitable Goodell - in 1794, and had twelve children, most of whom died young. He was a staunch supporter of the old First Church, and was one of its deacons from 1807, until the separation of the Evangelical Church in 1830, when he went with the new church, and was one of its deacons un- til his death, in 1854. He was the Superintendent of the first Sunday School in town, until the division of the church, and was for several years one of the selectmen.
GOODELL GODDARD, the second son of Elijah, was born May 1, 1797. He married Miss Hannah Paine of Green- wich. He rebuilt the house of his grandfather, Lieut. James Goddard, where he lived until after the death of his mother in 1836, when he returned to his early home to care for his father. He remained on this farm until about 1858, when he removed to the village and occupied a house that he had built on the corner of Park and Central Streets, where he lived during the remainder of his life. He never cared for office of any kind, but loved a quiet life. He dealt largely in real estate, and had an interest at different times in three or four stores, the last one be- ing where Dr: H. M. Humphrey's drug store now is. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church, of which he was elected Deacon, May 1, 1863. He was a member of the church for forty-six years, and a deacon fourteen years. Quiet and unobtrusive in manner, yet firm to the truth at all times, he was respected and be- loved in the community. He died July 12, 1877, being the last survivor of his family.
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THE SWEETSER FAMILY.
During the first half of the present century the Sweet- ser family was one of the most prominent families of Athol. but for the last thirty or forty years there has been no descendant in town bearing the family name. Samuel Sweetser, son of Phillip and Sarah (Richardson) Sweetser, was born in Leominster, Mass., Oct. 16, 1764. Before his marriage he kept a store in Warwick for a year or two, and then moved to Athol. where he bought the tav- ern at the Centre. In 1792 he married Miss Hannah Moore of Cambridge, and their home was at the tavern until 1806, when Mr. Sweetser sold to Thomas Lord. The family then moved to the substantial house which Mr. Sweetser had just built on the opposite side of the street from the tavern and further to the north. Upon the death of Mr. Sweetser, this house was occupied by his son Sam- uel until his death in 1847. when it was sold to Mr. Ly- man W. Hapgood.
Mr. Sweetser was for many years widely known as a grazier, owning large farms and pastures in Athol, Royal- ston, Wendell. Petersham, Phillipston, Northfield, Heath, and Warwick. He drove great numbers of cattle to the Brighton market. and there, his ruddy face. and portly figure in its long white coat, and his reputation for business ability made him a person of note. One year it was said that he pastured and sent to Brighton 400 head of cattle. Mr. Sweetser was kind and generous to the poor and un- fortunate, especially to women deprived of their natural supporters, and many supplies from his abundant larder found their way to the needy. He died in 1842 ; but Mrs.
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Sweetser, whose home was for five years with her son Samuel, and afterward with her daughter, Mrs. Frederick Jones in Boston, survived him fifteen years. Mrs. Sweet- ser was a sister of Mrs. Prescott Jones of Athol. She directed her large household skillfully, and without bustle, and lived in the fear of God. The Sweetsers had nine children, all of whom lived to maturity.
(1) Mary, born in 1794, the exemplary and beloved eldest sister died unmarried at the age of twenty-four.
(2) Abby, born in 1795, was an intellectual and deep- ly religious woman ; a teacher in the first Sunday school in Athol. In 1818 she married Mr. Joel Wood of West- minster, by whom she had five children. The three sons died in youth. Her oldest daughter, Mary, is better known in Athol than any other descendant of the Sweetser family. After a wide experience as a teacher, she mar- ried in 1860 Rev. Geo. J. Tillotson of Connecticut, in which state she has since resided, and for some years in the town of Wethersfield. Her sister Abby Maria, lived for some years with her uncle, Luke Sweetser, in Am- herst, and married in 1855, Rev. Daniel Bliss, who was first a missionary, and is now president of the College at Beirut, Syria.
(3) Samuel Sweetser, Jr., who was born in 1798, and died in 1847, always resided in Athol, and was associated with his father in business. His house, until the death of the father, was that now occupied by Roswell Beard. He was a deacon in the Orthodox Church, and justly re- spected and beloved. To him were fitly applied the words, "Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving
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the Lord." Mr. Sweetser married in 1823, Anna R. Humphrey of Athol, who died in 1835, three of whose children are living. Hannah A., who in 1847 married Wm. B. Washburn, afterward Governor of Massachusetts. Her home is in Greenfield. George D., of the firm of Sweetser. Pembrook & Co., large jobbers in dry goods in New York, and Wm. Penn, with Charles Fox of Stafford Springs, Conn. Mr. Sweetser was married the second time in 1836 to Nancy Maria Harbach of Worcester, who died in 1847, and their son, Charles H., who died in 1871, was a journalist of ability.
(4) Luke Sweetser, born in 1800, went to Amherst, Mass., at the age of eighteen. After serving Mr. Wright Strong as clerk for a short time, he bought Mr. Strong's store, and was a successful merchant for thirty-eight years. He represented Amherst in the Legislature and served the town, the college and the church in various offices with fidelity. In 1833, Mr. Sweetser married Abby G. Mun- sell in New York. and their son. John Howard, is also of the firm of Sweetser. Pembrook & Co., of New York. Mr. Sweetser died in 1882. and his wife survived him less than a year.
(5) Abel Sweetser, born in 1802. resided in Worces- ter, where he engaged in mercantile business, and later in Springfield, Mass., where he had a milk and fruit farm and nursery, and where, in 1845. he died from an ac- cident. His first wife was Almira Jennison of Phillipston, whom he married in 1833, by whom he had two children, Horatio, a house decorator in New York city, and Sarah, now Mrs. Fish of Quincy, Ill. In 1841 he was married
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the second time in Lowell to Eunice White, whose son Luke resides in Peoria, III.
(6) Miranda, born in 1804, was married in 1827 to James Goldsbury of Warwick, and their life together was numbered by almost 65 years, when her death occurred, November 6, 1891. Mr. Goldsbury, who throughout his life has possessed the confidence and esteem of his towns- people, still retains health and a clear mind at the age of 96. Their daughter, Ann Maria, lives with him, while the son James resides in Minneapolis, Minn., engaged in real estate business. A younger son, Sweetser, died in early manhood. Mrs. Goldsbury held strong convictions concerning a Christian living and duty, and when, ten years before her death she was crippled by an accident, maintained a lovely spirit of submission to God's will. She outlived all her brothers and sisters, and looked for- ward with clear faith to the life beyond our sight.
(7) Maria, born in 1806, married Frederick Jones of Athol in 1831. Mr. Jones continued his father's business, as a tanner, and early commenced the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which he secured a large fortune. In 1836 he removed to Boston, which was ever after his home. The Athol boot and shoe factory was owned by Mr. Jones and Mr. Milton Baker. For half a century, the hospitality of Mr. Jones' city home was enjoyed by the large family circle and many friends, and with it are con- nected delightful memories Mrs. Jones' character was singularly well balanced. With a quick perception of character. and of the humorous side of things, and the rare faculty of saying much in few words, she had the
OLD ATHOL FAMILIES. 245
charity that never faileth. Although deeply interested in the church and a wide range of charities, chief of which was the Boston Y. W. C. A., her tastes were preeminently domestic and womanly. She died suddenly of apoplexy, July 16, 1884, and Mr. Jones' death, June 7, 1887, was from the same cause. Two sons died in infancy and a daughter Jane M., at the age of 21. The older daughter. Caroline S., the wife of F. F. Emery, Mr. Jones' partner, died Oct. 1, 1890.
(S) Joseph Artemas, born in 1809, early removed to Amherst, and in 1835 married Catherine, daughter of Samuel Dickinson of that town. Mr. Sweetser became a dry goods merchant in New York City, and their home was first in Brooklyn, then for many years in New York, and after his retirement from business, upon a large estate in Poughkeepsie. He was a man of cultivated tastes and agreeable manners, and much attached to the Madison Square Church and to its pastor, Rev. Wm. Adams. In January, 1874, when the family were boarding in New York. Mr. Sweetser fell upon the ice, striking the head severely. It is supposed that inflammation of the brain ensued, for after a few days of prostration, he walked away from the hotel on the evening of a dense fog, and has never since been heard from. Mr. and Mrs. Sweetser had eight children, of whom three only are living. The oldest, Henry E. was a valued member of the staff of the New York World. Two children died in childhood, and two daughters, Emma and Kate, in young womanhood. Samuel, connected with the Metropolitan S. S. Co., of New York, and Mary, Mrs. Charles H. Sweetser, reside
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with their mother in Orange, N. J. The youngest daugh- ter, Mrs. Edward Winslow, resides in New York.
(9) Caroline, born in 1814, was married in 1838 to Ebenezer L. Barnard of Worcester. Of their five child- ren, Lewis died in infancy ; Edward L., in the civil war ; Caroline, wife of John K. Tiffany of St. Louis, in 1871. The second son, Frederick J., a lawyer, and Eliza, reside in Worcester. Mr. Barnard died in 1850, and in 1870 Mrs. Barnard married Alphonso Wood, author of the standard works on botany, and their home was in West Farms, New York City. After Mr. Wood's death in 1881, Mrs. Wood resided with her son in Worcester, until her death in 1885. She was a woman of strong character, ardent temperament and wide interest ; and it is to her care in collecting and recording the history of the family that this record is due. The Sweetser family were charac- terized by intelligence, industry, and thrift ; by strong con- viction of duty, sometimes sternly held ; and by devotion to the church and to the needy.
THE ESTABROOKS.
The Estabrooks are descended from a ministerial family, their ancestor, Rev. Joseph Estabrook, coming from Eng- land in 1660 with two brothers. He entered Harvard College, where he was graduated in 1664, and was settled in Concord in 1667, as colleague with Rev. Mr. Buckley, where he continued till his death, which happened in 1711. He had four sons, of these, Joseph Estabrook. the oldest, was born in 1669, and died in Lexington in 1733 ; he was a deacon in the Lexington church, and filled almost every office in the gift of liis townsmen, and also com-
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manded a military company. He was a man of more than ordinary education for that day, was often employed as a surveyor, and was engaged to teach the first mans school in the town. His son Joseph, who was born Oct. 10, 1690. and died Aug. 19, 1740, was like his father, captain of the military company, deacon of the church, and filled almost every important office in town.
His son, Benjamin Estabrook, was born Dec. 20, 1729, and married Hannah Hubbard of Concord, May 9, 1757. He was for many years a coroner and a justice of the peace, and was in the campaign to Ticonderoga in 1776. He died March 8. 1803.
His son. Joseph Estabrook, was born in Lexington, March 4. 1758. Although but a boy of seventeen when the memorable Lexington fight of April 19, 1775 oc- curred. he was one of those who resisted the advance of the English troops on that eventful morning ; after having assisted his father in carrying his mother, with a young in- fant, to a place of safety, he seized his musket and did valiant service in checking the invaders of his country. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1782, and after pursuing his theological studies with Rev. Jonas Clarke, the minister of his native town, he came to Athol, and was ordained as pastor of the Athol church Nov. 21, 1787. The town was most fortunate in securing for its second minister, one whose remarkable abilities and tact were not only able to bring harmony and peace to a community rent by years of discord and bitter feeling, but who also exerted a most salutary influence upon his associates in the min-
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istry and the people of this whole region, where his name has always been held in blessed memory.
He was a man of large perceptive powers, and pos- sessed a rare knowledge of human nature, which enabled him to win the confidence and love of all ; courteous and affable, he was every one's friend, and thus was often let into many family secrets and difficulties where his soothing words and friendly counsel and advice acted like oil upon the troubled waters, and he became known far and wide as a peace-maker. The older residents, even at the pres- ent day, relate many amusing stories of the tact displayed by him in settling troubles among his parishioners and fellow townsmen. Not only was he a peace-maker in the domestic affairs of his people, but among his ministerial associates at that time, when the theological controversies of the day were being hotly contested, and were distracting many of the churches throughout the state. He would not preach upon these doctrines, nor did he wish others to do so in his pulpit. He wished to keep free of human creeds, and advised his brethren in the ministry to do the same. He used repeatedly to say. "I am neither a Trini- tarian nor a Unitarian, but a Bibletarian." To the close of his long ministry, Mr. Estabrook retained fellowship with all the neighboring clergy, and all respected him.
Soon after his settlement in Athol, Mr. Estabrook was married (Sept. 3, 1788,) to Miss Lucy Cushing of Pem- broke, Mass. Her parents were wealthy residents of the old colony, and she was their only daughter. Born and educated in affuence, she left her home and came into a land of strangers, at that time almost a wilderness. She
REV. JOSEPH ESTABROOK.
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acquainted herself with the duties of her situation, and resolutely and successfully performed them. She pos- sessed a strong mind, which study and reflection had dis- ciplined and stored with useful knowledge. For nearly forty-three years, Rev. Mr. Estabrook continued the faith- ful minister of a happy people, and finally closed his life on the morning of Sunday, April 18, 1830, lamented by the entire community.
He had seven children, four boys and three girls. Lucy Cushing Estabrook married Col. Abner Young, Marcia married Theodore Jones, Esq., and had a large family, and Fidelia married Rev. Preserved Smith, who became one of the most prominent clergymen of western Massachusetts.
Turner Estabrook went South and died young. Gen. Nathaniel Estabrook. attained distinction in the militia, and removed to Leominster, where he died at a good old age.
Dr. Joseph H. Estabrook graduated from Williams Col- lege in 1818, was also a graduate of the Harvard Medical school, and studied in Boston with Dr. Ezekiel Cushing, and settled in Camden, Me., about 1825, where he prac- ticed fifty years. He was demonstrator of Anatomy in the Brunswick Medical school, and was for two years Presi- dent of the Maine Medical Association. He died at Port- land, Me., in 1885, at the age of eighty seven years.
Benjamin Estabrook, the youngest son, was born Nov. 23, 1803. He remained at home with his father until the decease of the latter, when he came into possession of the " home place." He always remained a resident of the town, and on the place of his birth, and became the most prominent man of his day, wielding a powerful influence
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in the moulding of the town affairs of those days, and by his energy and prudence accumulated property, until at the time of his death he was reported to be one of the wealthiest men of the town. He held almost every office in the gift of his townsmen, having been for many years a member of the board of selectmen, was town clerk, town treasurer, member of the school committee, post-master, represented the town for a number of years in the Leg- islature, and in 1843 was State Senator, and in all the offices that he held there was never a question as to his faithfulness, honesty and capability. The words of condo- lence to friends from one intimately acquainted with him, at the time of his death, are exceedingly appropriate ; " Like all men he had his faults, yet he was a noble heart- ed, philanthropic gentleman of the old school, always hon- est and honorable, possessing a character among his fellow men, that you can feel a just pride in being one of the same blood. That greatest and grandest of human virtues, -that which Christ himself personified and impressed on mankind-charity, " Uncle Ben " practiced to a large and commendable degree." He died October 19, 1872.
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