USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 18
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(1) Addison D., the eldest son, was born March 28, 1820. In 1847 or 1848, he associated himself with Joseph Proctor, and purchased the box factory owned by his father, which they operated successfully until he en- gaged in the sash, door and blind business with Sumner R, Morse and his brother Charles Horr, in Detroit, Mich., in 1852. At the same time he was engaged in the box business, he was also engaged with others in the sash, door and blind business in a shop just across the stream from the box factory. He remained in Detroit until the
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spring of 1856, when he went to Boston, where he en- gaged in business and built a house. He returned to Athol. and served on the board of selectmen in 1862 and 1863, having much to do with recruiting soldiers for the suppression of the rebellion. He was also for some time associated with Lyman W. Hapgood, in the manufacture of matches. He never married, and died in Boston Aug. 5.1890.
(2) Lucy Ann and Eliza, both died young, the former being only four years old, and the latter two years.
(3) Susan Graves, was born Jan. 24, 1825. She married Matthew Cheney, a native of North Orange, and their residence for many years was Boston, Mass., where he was engaged in the Chickering & Sons piano factory. They had one daughter, Ella Bowker Cheney. Mrs. Che- ney died in Boston, Aug. 13, 1892, and Mr. Cheney Dec. 3. 1896, in Dorchester.
( 4) Christopher C. Horr, was born March 9, 1827. He was employed for many years by the Vermont & Mass. R. R. Company, first as brakeman, and later as conductor of freight and passenger trains. He married Mrs. Lucy F. Wadsworth, Dec. 20, 1868. She died June 14, 1886, and he married Miss Louisa Darling, Jan. 28, 1888. He died Dec. 15, 1889.
(5) Charles Horr, was born Aug. 9, 1830. He was associated with his brother Addison D., and Joseph Proc- tor, in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds for about two years, when he went to Detroit, Mich., in the fall of 1851, and was associated with his brother and Sumner R. Morse, in the same business that he had been engaged in
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Athol, where he remained until 1856. He then returned to Athol, and was soon after associated with Samuel Lee in building the Summit House at the Centre, which was opened to the public, April 1, 1858. He has never married.
FREDERICK E. HORR, the only child of Timothy and Hannah H. ( Ellis ) Horr, was born in Athol, April 11, 1853. He married Miss Ellen H. Dimond of Concord, N. H., Feb. 15, 1882. He has for some years been in the United States post office service as carrier in and about Boston, being now in the Brighton district.
The family of Geo. W. Horr are descendants of Jona- than Hoar of Taunton and Middleboro, Mass., who was a grandson of Daniel, of Concord.
THE MORSES.
The Morses of Athol are descended from Samuel Morse, of whom history gives the following: Born, in England, 1585 ; emigrated to New England 1635 ; settled at Ded- ham, 1637, and died at Medfield, April 5, 1654.
It further says, that he belonged to that class of Puri- tans who strove to separate from the corruption of the English church. yet continued in her communion until the embarkation for this country. His emigration evidently originated in the same circumstances, and was undoubted- ly dictated by the same well known motives as that of the earlier emigrants to New England.
The first member of the family of whom we have any record as being a resident of Athol, was William Morse, of the sixth generation, son of Paul, who resided at Hollis- ton and Medway. Wm. Morse was born May 10, 1738,
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and died in Athol, Feb. 6, 1830, aged eighty-eight years. He was in the second French war, and was compelled with his company to march fourteen miles on the bed of a river in water ; he was with his companions seized with a fever, with which half of the company died ; the remainder be- came temporarily insane. His insanity regularly returned at intervals of fourteen years during the remainder of his days, and finally led to his exposure and death in a snow storm, among the Bear's Den hills, near where he lived.
PAUL MORSE, the fourth son of William, was born in 1780, and died Aug. 29, 1838 ; he married Sally Rice of Ashby, and had eight children. Two died in infancy. He was one of the early manufacturers of Athol, and estab- lished a tan yard on Mill Brook in 1807 where he carried on a flourishing business for many years, being assisted in his later years by his son, Laban Morse, who continued the business until 1845, when the works were destroyed by the great freshet of that year. The six sons of Paul Morse who grew to manhood were, Sumner R, Laban, George, John Edwin, Cushing B., and Charles W., and these six brothers are said to have measured thirty-six feet in height, and weighed twelve hundred pounds.
SUMNER R. MORSE, the second son of Paul Morse; was born Dec. 8, 1808 ; he married Nancy Stratton, April 25, 1833. With his brothers, Laban and Cushing B., he pat- ented an improved grate, called the Air Distributor, for burning light fuel, such as sawdust and bark, for which they were awarded a silver medal at the State Fair in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1848. He was a merchant in Athol and Wendell for many years, and was also engaged in
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various business enterprises, among which was the palm leaf hat business. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Church. He married for his second wife Mary Stratton, and died Dec. 11, 1870.
LABAN MORSE has been more prominently identified with Athol and its manufacturing interests than any of the children of Paul Morse, of whom he was the third son. He was born in Athol, Jan. 30, 1812. In his early life he worked with his father in the tannery, and when that was swept away by the freshet of 1845, he turned his atten- tion to furniture making, beginning with towel racks and cribs, in a little shop in the rear of the homestead, where he was born and always lived. In 1865, he took his sons Leander B. and Henry F .. in company with him, the firm being known as L. Morse & Sons, in which he continued until 1877, when he retired from business.
He married Esther Fish, April 16, 1838, by whom he had three children, Henry T., Leander B. and Frank F. Personally, Mr. Morse was a quiet man, never seeking publicity, but always interested and helpful in local affairs. He was prominently connected with the fire department for many years, and took a great interest in it, was a mem- ber of the board of Selectmen, and was elected to the Leg- islature of 1855 by the Know-Nothing party. During the war of the Rebellion, he was a great worker in behalf of the soldiers, and in 1862, when the reports of the suffer- ings and loss of the Athol soldiers who were in the thick- est of the fight at Newbern reached Athol, he was appoint- ed the agent of the people, to repair at once to Newbern, and to aid in every possible way, our sick and wounded
LABAN MORSE.
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soldiers. He left home the next morning, March 21, and arrived at Newbern March 25, where he was most joyfully greeted by the soldiers. He slept, rolled in his blanket upon the floor of the hospital, that he might be ready for any service, and devoted all his energies to the welfare of the soldiers. After an absence of more than five weeks, he returned with a number of sick and wounded soldiers, and at a public meeting called to hear his report, May 5, 1862, a unanimous vote of thanks was extended to him for his faithful and laborious services. For all his time and labor Mr. Morse declined any renumeration. His name will ever be held in grateful remembrance by the many whom he relieved and comforted. He died Jan. 31, 1890.
A sketch of Henry T. Morse will be found in the Grand Army chapter.
LEANDER B. MORSE, the second son of Laban Morse, was born in Athol. March 29, 1842. He attended the common schools and the High School the first term it was opened, and then worked in the shop of his father until he enlisted in the Band of the 27th Regiment. He was on duty at Roanoke Island and Newbern, and was discharged in August, 1862, by a government order discontinuing the Regimental Bands. After returning home he went to Boston in April of the following spring, and was Fore- man on Boston Common and Public Garden until Novem- ber, 1863, when he reentered the service as a musician in the 56th Regiment, and was mustered out of service July 22. 1865. In the fall of 1865, he engaged in business with his father and brother, Henry T., in the manufacture of towel racks, settees, cribs and other furniture, under
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the firm name of L. Morse & Sons, in which business he has continued to the present time.
Mr. Morse has been prominently identified with the political affairs of the town and district ; he was elected by the Democrats and Greenbackers as Representative to the Legislature of 1879, was a delegate to the National Dem- ocratic Convention at Chicago in 1884; has been the Democratic candidate for State Senator and Councillor from this district, and for many years was a member of the Democratic Town Committee. He has not held town office with the exception of being one of the Engineers of the Fire Department for several years. He is a member of Parker Post, G. A. R., and of Athol Lodge of Masons, Union Royal Arch Chapter, and Athol Commandery of Knights Templars. He was married November, 1868, to Martha E. Brooks of Athol, and has one son, Sumner L. Morse.
FRANK F. MORSE, the youngest son of Laban Morse, was born in Athol, Nov. 7, 1848 ; attended the common schools of the town, and then went to work in the shops of his father, becoming a member of the firm of L. Morse & Sons in 1877, in which business he has since continued. He was married May 19, 1872, to Maria L. Smith, daughter of the late Russell Smith of Athol. Mr. Morse was for several years leader of the old Athol Brass Band, and is a prominent member of all the Odd Fellow organizations of the town.
GEORGE MORSE was born Oct. 31, 1813, and married Sophia Proctor, Nov. 5, 1835. He was engaged in the manufacture of boots, in the building now occupied by
LEANDER B. MORSE
FRANK F. MORSE
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Newton & Call. He enlisted in Co. B., 27th Mass. Regi- ment. His son, John R., also enlisted in the same Com- pany, and another son, Frederick P., was in the 56th Mass. Regiment.
JOHN EDWIN MORSE was born May 12, 1817. He went South when a young man, and lived for many years in Washington, D. C., where he died. He was clerk in some of the prominent hotels of the city, and was also at one time employed on the public parks. He married Eliza- beth Stratton, in 1845.
CUSHING B. MORSE, was born September 16, 1820. He was for several years engaged in the palm leaf hat busi- ness, and later in the manufacture of shoes, at one time with Andrew Chubb. and afterwards with W. D. Lee. He also travelled several years selling shoes, and had a shoe store where the Centre post office now is. He married Julia Munsell. Nov. 24, 1847. They have two children, Mary A., who married Charles Sanderson, and now lives in Amherst, and Walter E., who lives in Athol, and is en- gaged in the trucking business.
CHARLES W. MORSE was born July 1, 1825. He mar- ried Hannah Cheney of Athol, a sister of Amos L. Che- ney, and was employed for many years in the Chickering piano factory in Boston, being one of the oldest employees of that company. They had two children, Charles Edgar, who is head bookkeeper in the North Packing and Pro- vision Co. of Boston, and Evelyn, who is a teacher in the Boston schools. Mr. Morse died April 18, 1896. His remains were brought ro Athol and buried in the High- land Cemetery.
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THE HAVENS.
The Havens of Massachusetts are descended from one Richard Haven, who came from England and settled in Framingham. His grandson, John Haven, came from: Framingham to Athol about 1760, and was one of the first settlers of Chestnut Hill. He was one of the most promi- nent men in town, having been one of the first board of Selectmen, was the first Town Clerk, the first Representa- tive to the Great and General Court, and was chosen dea- con of the old First Church, Nov. 10, 1774, which office he probably held until his death, July 12, 1807, at the age of eighty-one years. He had two sons, John Haven, Jr., and Daniel. John Haven, Jr., was in the Revolution, and on his return in 1777, built the house now standing on the Josiah Haven farm. He had six boys and five girls, all of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood. The boys were, Levi, John, Asa, Samuel, Chauncey and Jotham. Levi lived near the brick yard, and removed to Vermont ; John married a Miss Death of Wendell, and lived on the place now occupied by Merrick Sly, near South Athol. Among his children were Samuel S. Haven, who died in Athol in 1894, at the age of seventy-seven years, and Ezra Haven, who is now living near South Athol. Of his daughters, one married the late Edmund Gage, and another, William G. Fay ; Asa lived in Hard- wick and Barre, and died in the latter town ; Samuel died when twenty-two or twenty-three years of age ; Chauncey went to Girard, Pennsylvania, where he died, over eighty years of age; Jotham lived in Athol, on the old home- stead. He married Hannah Taft, and had seven child-
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ren. Oramel, Josiah, Eunice, Jotham F., Hannah M., John H. and William La Roy.
(1) Oramel lived at home on the farm, and died at the age of fifty-two years.
(2) JOSIAH HAVEN was born March 16, 1818. He learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1850, when he took his father's farm, and during the re- mainder of his life was engaged in farming. He was of- ten called upon by his fellow townsmen to assume offices of public trust, having served on the Board of Selectmen thirteen years. between the years 1851 and 1883, and al- so held various other town offices. He was a member of the Know-Nothing party, and in 1853, was elected Repre- sentative to the Legislature by a majority of one, after an exciting contest of two or three days, and served in the Legislature of 1854. He married Susan Wiley, Oct. 14, 1857, by whom he had four children, Herbert, who is en- gaged in the drug business at Seattle, Washington ; Er- win J., who lives on the old homestead ; Evelyn, who was teacher in the Athol schools for several years, and married Fred Judkins of Worcester, and Viola E., who is a gradu- ate of the Athol High School, and has been a teacher in Athol, Phillipston and Petersham.
(3 ) Eunice, born in 1820, married Deacon James G. Smith of Phillipston, and died in Athol in 1894.
(4) Jotham F. Haven was born in 1825. He married Mary Prouty, and had two children, John, who is a clerk in the grocery store of O. T. Brooks & Co., and Isabella. who married Frank W. Whitney. He died in 1886.
(5) Hannah M., born in 1829, married Levi W. Car-
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ruth, and is now living with her brother, Wm. La Roy in Morristown, N. J.
(6) John H., born in 1833, died in 1855, of consump- tion.
(7) WILLIAM LA ROY HAVEN was born May 24, 1835, and lived at home working on the farm and attending the district school for ten or twelve weeks in the winter, until twenty years of age. He then taught school during the winter season, attended school in the fall and spring, and worked on the farm summers until the fall of 1860, when he entered Williams College, from which he graduated in 1864. The two following years he taught school in Wis- consin, and in the fall of 1866, was appointed Principal of Plattsburg Academy, Plattsburg, N. Y. The following year the public schools of the town were graded, and the Academy was merged into the High School, when he was appointed to take charge of the schools of the town, re- maining in that position two years. In the fall of 1869, he received the appointment of Principal of the High School and Superintendent of the public schools in Morris- town, N. J., which position he still holds. In December, 1867, he married Florence A. Watson of Fredonia, N. Y. She died in 1870, and in 1873 he married Elizabeth Stuart Tweed, of Williamstown, N. J., by whom he has two sons, Samuel C., who has graduated at Amherst Col- lege, and Wm. La Roy, Jr., about thirteen years of age.
THE STOCKWELLS.
John Stockwell, who emigrated from Scotland to Amer- ica in 1626, was the father of the American Stockwells. His grandchildren settled in Sutton, Mass., about the year
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1700. Among the children of John Stockwell, Jr., of Sutton, was Noah Stockwell, who was born in Sutton, May 6, 1746, and came to Athol about 1796. He bought the farm on the Petersham road, which has been in pos- session of the Stockwell family ever since, and the owner of the place when he purchased it was one John Stockwell. Noah Stockwell was married twice, and had twelve child- ren, all of whom were born in Sutton. He died Oct. 19, 1839, aged ninety-three years.
NOAH STOCKWELL. JR., who was born in Sutton, July 10, 1784, came with his father to Athol. He married Polly Briggs, daughter of Elder Isaac Briggs of Athol. He was a farmer, a worthy and respected citizen, served the town several years as Selectman, and was Deacon of the Baptist church for many years, until his death, Feb. 9, 1846. His children were : Freeland, Cyrus, Stillman, Mary, Sarah, Nancy and Francis J.
( 1) Freeland Stockwell was born March 19, 1808. He married Minerva Ball, by whom he had two children, Harrison, who served in the Union army, and lives in Springfield, Mass., and Maria, who married E. Hopkins, a merchant of Belchertown. Mr. Stockwell was a mill- wright by occupation. He died June 17, 1887.
(2) Cyrus Stockwell was born in 1809, married Ruth Bancroft of Erving, Dec. 3, 1835, and died Sept. 29, 1895. He had one child, George Stockwell, born Dec. 27, 1836, who married Diantha P. Burrill, of Auburn, May 1, 1860, by whom he had two children, George F., who died in childhood, and Lena B., born in August, 1872. Mr. Stockwell is a farmer, and a deacon in the Second Advent Church.
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(3) Stillman Stockwell was born March 31, 1812, and married Wealtha Spencer of Westfield in 1833. She died in 1838, and he married for his second wife Jane Seaver of Phillipston, in 1839, by whom he had three children, Spencer Stockwell who enlisted in the army and died while in the service, Alfred, who died at the age of sixteen years, and Wealtha J., born in 1844, who married Albert J. Battersby, and lives in Petersham.
(4 ) Mary, born April 5, 1819, married Kimball Cole, and resided in Laconia, N. H. She had four children.
(5 ) Sarah, born Jan. 4, 1821, married Amos Drury of Wendell. They lived in Athol, and left one child, Henry Drury.
( 6) Nancy, born July 22, 1825, died when twenty years of age.
( 7) Francis J. Stockwell, born July 25, 1830, mar- ried Harriet Whitney, by whom he had one child, Frank J. Stockwell, a machinist. He married for his second wife Ruth L. Alexander, by whom he had two children, both of whom are dead. He lives at East Walpole, Mass.
John Stockwell, brother of Noah, Jr., was born Sept. 21, 1793. He married Betsey Briggs of Athol in 1815. They had six children, all of whom removed from town.
Another Stockwell family settled in Phillipston, near Prospect Hill. Josiah Stockwell of this family, was one of the old-time stage proprietors, and run a stage route from Worcester to Winchester, N. H. Ginery Twichell commenced his career driving stage for Mr. Stockwell.
Sylvester Stockwell, a son of Josiah, was born in Phillip- ston in 1808. He carried on the sash and blind business
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with Chandler Skinner, in the Upper Village, where the John E. Woodis shop now is, and later came to the Lower Village, and carried on the same kind of business in a building that stood where the shop of Horace Hager is now located, until his shop was destroyed by fire. For many years he did all the teaming for the shops of the Lower Village. He married Polly Fay, Sept. 4, 1832, and had six children, two boys and four girls. He died March 27. 1890. His sons are Sylvester J. and Otis J.
OTIS J. STOCKWELL was born in Athol, Sept. 26, 1844. He was clerk in the grocery store of S. E. Fay two years, and in the dry goods and clothing store of Thorpe & Sloan five years. He also for many years carried on a store in the Main street block, which he bought in 1869. He is now engaged in farming just over the line in Orange. He married Eliza A. Wheeler of Athol, July 7, 1868. and has three boys and two girls. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church and one of its trustees.
Sylvester J. Stockwell has been for many years a fore- man in the C. M. Lee shoe shops.
THE FAYS.
Solomon Fay came from Shrewsbury, Mass. to Athol, and was deeded a grant of land from Massachusetts Bay Co. in 1760. He was in the French and Indian War. and participated in the battle on Abraham's Heights. He settled on the place now occupied by William Oliver. His brother Joseph, settled on the place known as the Hiram H. Gage farm. Solomon and Joseph were mem- bers of a family of twenty-five children. Solomon had hree sons and eight daughters. The sons were Arte- mas, Nahum and Jonas.
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ARTEMAS FAY married Delight Cleveland of Walpole, Mass. Their children were: Sabra, who died in child- hood, Emerson and Lysander.
EMERSON FAY was the father of Farwell F. Fay and Celestina M. He married Nancy A. Foster of New Salem. He was a prominent citizen of New Salem, and represent- ed that town in the Legislature.
REV. LYSANDER FAY was born in Athol, May 3, 1805. His parents were poor and hard-working people, and his early educational advantages were very limited. He how- ever, made the most of the opportunities offered by the district school, and by hard study at home by the light of the pine knot, supplemented with a few weeks study at New Salem Academy, at the age of seventeen was ready for his first experience in teaching school. From this time for seventeen years, he was engaged as a teacher, having taught twenty-eight district and select schools, ninety-three writing schools, and having under his charge at different times more than four thousand pupils. He was desirous of taking a college course, and had nearly fitted himself to enter college, when failing health and the care of his aged parents, changed his plans. In the summer of 1828, when twenty-three years of age, he was baptized by Elder Briggs, and united with the Baptist Church, of which he was ever after an honored member. In September, 1831, he was licensed to preach, and from that time onward, was a successful preacher of the gospel, being pastor of the church in Orange nearly eleven years. at Royalston Centre five years, at Warwick about the same length of time, and at Winchendon for eleven years. Be-
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REV. LYSANDER FAY.
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SERENO E. FAY.
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sides these regular pastorates, he labored in other church- es, having preached over four thousand sermons, baptized one hundred and seventeen persons, and attended nearly five hundred funerals. As was truly said at his funeral, " all along these hills and valleys are scattered the faithful witnesses of his godly life and noble service". He served several years on the School Committee, and in 1848, rep- resented the town in the Legislature. In 1830, he mar- ried Priscilla E. Chamberlain. They had eight children . Adoniram J., Sereno E., Lovinia E., Josephine A., Deb- orah M., Othello A., Priscilla E., and Clara L. In 1880, Mr. and Mrs. Fay celebrated their golden wedding. Mr. Fay died July 9, 1881. His widow is still living, at the age of ninety-one years.
(1) ADONIRAM J., married Altamiah A. Smith, and resides in Athol. They have had five children, three of whom are now living: Charles L., of the firm of Fay & Fay, grocers, Rosa and Clarence.
(2) SERENO E. FAY was born in 1833. In early life he was a school teacher, having taught for six years in Athol and adjoining towns. He engaged in the grocery business in 1861, in what is now known as the City Hotel block, where he remained five years, when he purchased the property on the opposite side of the street, where he continued in the grocery business for twenty-two years. When he retired from business, in 1888, there was not a person in the village in trade that had continued in busi- ness that length of time. He was for several years a member of the School Committee, and has been promi- nently identified with the Baptist Church for many years,
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having been clerk of the Church for more than twenty years, and also for several years was Superintendent of the Sunday School. He married Emma P. Holton of Gill, in 1862. They have two children: Frederick H., en- gaged in the grocery business in the firm of Fay & Fay, and Perley E., who is connected with W. E. Wood in his hotel and railway eating houses in Greenfield.
(3) Lovinia E. married Deacon Amos Breck of Ster- ling, and died about 1868, leaving one son.
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