USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 20
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On January 29, 1862, Mr. Cogswell married Miss Frances A. Dodge, who was born in Ips- wich, a daughter of Manning Dodge, a former merchant of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Cogs- well have had three children; namely, Lucy K., Annie S., and Edward S. Annie S. is the wife of Dexter M. Smith, of Boston. Ed- ward S. on October 27, 1897, married Miss Lizzie Damon, of Ipswich. They reside in this town. Lucy K., the eldest daughter, was graduated in 1884 from the high school and afterward from the Boston Conservatory. She was a young lady of fine traits of character, a general favorite, and was looking forward to a happy future in a home of her own when her sudden death, on December 31, 1889, at the age of twenty-four years, occurred at the hos- pital on Federal Street, Salem. She went
there for a slight surgical operation. This was successfully performed, and she was far on the road to a speedy recovery when she was taken ill with the prevailing influenza, which proved fatal. Mr. Cogswell and his family had the sincere sympathy of hosts of friends, who with them mourned their loss, paying gracious tribute to a loving, gentle life departed : -
"The memory of thy loveliness Shall round our weary pathway smile, Like moonlight when the sun has set, --- A sweet and tender radiance yet. Thoughts of thy clear-eyed sense of duty, Thy generous scorn of all things wrong, The truth, the strength, the graceful beauty Which blended in thy song,- All lovely things by thee beloved Shall whisper to our hearts of thee."
ILLIAM H. GOVE, a prominent lawyer of Salem, was born in South Berwick, York County, Me., on September 4, 1851, son of Levi and Mary (Meader) Gove. One of the oldest families of New Hampshire, the Goves have been asso- ciated with the history of Seabrook almost since that town was settled. John Gove came to Charlestown from London, England, in 1646. He died in the following year, leaving two sons - John and Edward. Edward re- moved to Salisbury and later to Hampton, N.H., settling on the site of the present Seabrook. He bought a farm there in 1665, that is now owned by William H. Gove, the house on which was built by his son, John, in 1713. Edward was in the insurrection against Governor Cranfield, and was impris- oned in the Tower of London for three years. He had previously served in the legis- laturc. His death occurred in 1691. Ed- ward's son was John. Then came John (sec-
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ond), Daniel, Daniel (second), Moses, and Levi. John (second) was a Quaker, as have been most of his descendants. Daniel (sec- ond) was one of the pioneer settlers of Weare, N.H. Levi Gove, born in Weare, was a farmer of South Berwick at the time his son William H. was born; but the greater part of his life was spent at Lincoln, Vt. He died at the age of eighty-three. His wife, Mary, who was a native of Sandwich, N. H., is still living at the age of eighty-one.
William H. Gove was the youngest but one of ten children. He attended the common schools, and subscquently studied for two terms at Oak Grove Seminary, Vassalboro, Me. In 1866 he removed with his parents to Lynn, and entered the Lynn High School, from which he was graduated three years later. He then passed the examination for admission to Harvard University, but for lack of funds was unable to enter. Then he began to read law in the office of John W. Porter, of Salem, and in 1872 was admitted to the bar in Essex County. In September of that year he en- tered Harvard College, and in the summer of 1876 was graduated, ranking second in a class of one hundred and thirty-five members. He received his degree from the Harvard Law School in the following year. Mr. Gove began the practice of his profession in Salem, although he retained his residence in Lynn up to the time of his marriage. A loyal Republi- can, he has been keenly interested alike in local, State, and national affairs, and is thor- oughly informed on all questions of public im- portance. From 1879 to 1881, inclusive, he was an active member of the Lynn School Committee, for which he prepared a very thor- ough and careful revision of its rules and reg- ulations. Since 1890 he has been on the Re- publican City Committee of Salem, was its secretary from 1892 to 1897, inclusive, and
has been its chairman since 1898. In 1894, 1895, and 1896 hc was Alderman, being the president of the board during the last two years.
On January 5, 1882, Mr. Gove was united in marriage with Aroline Chase, a daughter of Isaac and Lydia E. Pinkham, of Lynn, and a descendant of one of the oldest Lynn fami- lies. Mr. and Mrs. Gove have four children. Mr. Gove is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Bay State Lodge, No. 40, of Lynn, and Naumkeag Encampment, of Salem; of Essex Lodge, F. & A. M., Salem; of the Essex Institute, which he has served in its council for five or six years; and of the Essex Bar Association. He is a trustee of the Salem Athenaeum and the chairman of the Prudential Committee of both the Barton Square Congregational Church and the Second Church in Salem, which have been consoli- dated.
OHN MORTON DANFORTH, a highly respected resident of Lynnfield Centre and an Essex County Commis- sioner, was born January 1, 1840, in the house he now occupies, son of John and Sarah H. (Perkins) Danforth. His great-grand- father, John Danforth (first), who was a Cap- tain in the Revolutionary army, and who served in the troops sent from Sudbury at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill, retired to Lynnfield at the close of the war, and set- tled on a farm that was a part of the original Bancroft tract of land. John Danforth (sec- ond), who married Betsey Fowle, of Woburn, and settled on the farm now owned by John Morton Danforth, spent his last years here, and died at the age of eighty-four years. He had three sons - John, Nathaniel, and Henry. Nathaniel, who was a physician residing in
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Chatham, Mass., died some thirty-five years ago; and Henry, now seventy-three years old, is a resident of Lynnfield.
John Danforth (third), the father of John M. Danforth, bought out the interests of his brothers in the homestead, and devoted him- self to general farming. He was born No- vember 14, 1814, on the old Bancroft farm, once owned by Captain John Danforth, and which is not far distant. At the age of three years he came with his parents to the farm he subsequently owned. At twenty-six he mar- ried Sarah H. Perkins, a daughter of Deacon John Perkins, who represented one of the old and prominent families of the town. Born on August 3, 1822, she is now in. her seventy- eighth year. John Danforth (third), besides making extensive improvements, added to the land of his estate so that it contained about one hundred and twenty-five acres of farming land and one hundred acres of woodland lying about a mile and a half distant. The old house, a part of which had been built in 1744, received an addition from him; and he expended about five thousand dollars in im- proving the various farm buildings. He was Town Clerk from 1857 to 1876 and a member of the Board of Selectmen from 1852 to 1876, being the chairman of the board for most of the time. In politics he was successively a Whig, Free Soiler, and abolitionist. He served in the legislature of 1853-54 as a Free Soiler and in that of 1860 as a Republican. At the time of the opening of the railroad through Lynnfield Centre he was the station agent. A prominent and active member of the Essex Agricultural Society, he was one of its trustees for some years. In religious be- lief he was a Universalist. He died Novem- ber 1, 1880. His children were: John M., George F., Sarah E., Mary T., Charles H., and Hannah B. Danforth. George F., who
resides at Malden, Mass., is engaged in the leather business at 83 High Street, Boston. Sarah E. is now Mrs. Albert R. Bryant, of Wakefield, Mass. Mary T. is Mrs. Sam- uel A. Clough, of Wakefield. Charles H., who resides at Salem, Mass., and is at pres- ent a member of the Board of Aldermen of that city, is in business in Boston, dealing in hides. Hannah B. is Mrs. William E. Nor- wood, of Hyde Park.
When sixteen years of age John Morton Danforth was sent to the academy at Tops- field, where he remained for a year. Return - ing home at the end of that time, he assisted on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age, when he took charge of the property. Succeeding to its possession after his father's death, he has since been engaged in general farming and dairying and in raising some high-grade stock. In 1883 he was elected Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes. Two years later he was elected to the Board of Se- lectmen, on which he has since served for twelve years, being the chairman of the board for eleven years. During the session of 1891-92 he served in the State legislature, and was a member of the Committee on Water Supply for both years. He has made a careful study of the water supply systems throughout the Commonwealth, and has gathered a large amount of valuable information regarding the subject. In one year, while he was a member of this committee, it held sixty hearings, be- sides attending to other matters. On it Mr. Danforth gave most efficient service.
In the fall of 1892 Mr. Danforth was elected County Commissioner, and has since held that important office. His associates during the present year are E. B. Bishop, of Haver- hill (chairman), and Samuel D. Smith, of Marblehead. A stanch Republican in poli- tics, he has attended conventions of his party
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since he was a young man, both local and State, and has always been an active worker. On June 6, 1866, he married Emily A. Bur- dett, of Wakefield, daughter of William Bur- dett. He is a member of the Golden Rule Lodge of Masons, of Wakefield, and has been a trustee of the local library. In 1890 he was elected secretary of the Essex County Agricultural Society, which office he has held since. This society has large exhibition grounds at Peabody, where the annual ex- hibit is held, and is now making extensive improvements.
RS. MARY ANN WEFERS, widow of the late Bernard Wefers and a well-known milliner of Lawrence, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, daughter of Peter Cunningham, of that city. Mr. Wefers, who died in Lawrence on March 12, 1883, was born in Prussia at Emstetten, in the Province of Munster. His father, Bernard Wefers, had a family of four sons and two daughters, of whom the sons all came to America. Bernard Wefers, Jr., came first in 1855, being then in his twenty-fifth year. Having graduated shortly before at one of the great German universities, he was familiar with the classics, and spoke several modern languages. Besides possessing literary abili- ties of a high order, he was a skilful per- former on several musical instruments, and had a fine tenor voice. After coming to Law- rence he was for twenty-three years the leader of the choir in St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was in business in Lawrence for many years. In his store at the corner of Hampshire Street, on the common, he car- ried a stock of books, paintings, picture frames, etc. The millinery store at the cor- ner of Essex Street was managed by Mrs.
Wefer, whom he married in Lawrence on July 20, 1857.
Mrs. Wefers came from Scotland with her aunt when twelve years of age. Having re- ceived a good practical education, at the age of sixteen she learned the milliner's trade, in which she has ever since been engaged. She has been the mother of nine children, six of whom died in infancy. A daughter and two sons are living. The daughter, Minnie, who is a skilful and artistic milliner, does most of the designing for her mother's trade, and has a large share in the management of the store. The two sons, Bernard J. and James A. Wefers, are medical students in the class of 1900 at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Bernard prepared for his medical course in Holy Cross College, Worcester, and James in Boston College. Both sons are stalwart and finely formed men, six feet in height, of dignified presence, and of mental and moral worth.
Bernard J. Wefers, whose name is known wherever athletic sports are carried on, is one of the world's champion sprinters. When a lad he was the swiftest runner among all the boys of his acquaintance. In the fall of 1894, when he began to run with other col- lege men, he at once showed his remarkable powers. He first put himself under regular training in 1895 for the international races to be held in New York City. The English athletes who took part in the contest were beaten, the Americans winning eleven events and breaking six world's records. Of these, Mr. Wefers broke two-the hundred yards dash, which he ran in nine and four-fifths seconds; and the two hundred and twenty yards dash, which he covered in twenty-one and one-fifth seconds. The following sched- ule shows his record for distance and time as it stands to-day: twenty yards, two and three-
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fifths seconds; thirty yards, three and three- fifths seconds; forty yards, four and three- fifths seconds ; fifty yards, five and two-fifths seconds : seventy-five yards, seven and three- fifths seconds; one hundred yards, nine and four-fifths seconds; one hundred and nine yards, eleven seconds; one hundred and twenty yards, eleven and two-fifths seconds; one hundred and fifty yards, fourteen and two- fifths seconds; two hundred and twenty yards, twenty-one and one-fifth seconds; three hun- dred yards, thirty and two-fifths seconds. These records were all made in straight races, excepting the last, which had a turn. His quarter-mile record is forty-eight and four- fifths seconds. Mr. Wefers was the American champion in 1895, 1896, and 1897 for the one hundred and the two hundred and twenty yard dashes; of Canada in 1896 and 1897 for the same distances; Southern champion in 1898 for the quarter-mile; intercollegiate champion in 1896 for one hundred and for two hundred and twenty yards and in 1897 for one hundred yards. In the Metropolitan championship contest of 1897 the New York relay team, comprising Burke, Long, Lyons, and Wefers, won the contest from the Knickerbockers of New York, breaking the world's record time --- one mile in three minutes twenty-one and two-fifths seconds, Mr. Wefers making the last quarter-mile in forty-eight and four-fifths seconds. The remarkable powers of Mr. Wefers as a runner present a strong illustra- tion of heredity. His father was a remarka- bly fleet-footed man, as were others of his ancestors. £ During the summer of 1897 young Mr. Wefers broke a number of world records, and was beaten only once, by John V. Crumm, the celebrated "Western Wonder," whom, however, he afterward defeated. In one of his most famous races he had the satisfaction of snatching a victory from defeat in a mile
relay, by running the last quarter of a mile at a wonderful speed, and that, too, after having previously run two other races on the same day. The gold medals and other trophies won by him form a rich and interesting dis- play. He has many warm friends who hope and expect that he will be equally successful in the race of life.
LBERT C. ANDREWS, an honored veteran of the Civil War, now suc- cessfully engaged in the livery business and as agent in Gloucester and vi- cinity for Frank Jones's celebrated ales and for the Pacific Wine Company (Charles Stein & Sons), was born in Holliston, Mass., March 14, 1844. A son of Albert W. and Cynthia (Mann) Andrews, he traces his descent on the maternal side to a passenger of the "May- flower." His maternal grandfather was a First Lieutenant in the War of 1812.
His mother having died when he was thir- teen, Albert C. Andrews was apprenticed to a farmer, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years old, receiving as compensa- tion his board and clothes. During this time he took care of a milk route. Upon reaching the age of sixteen he worked out for the season, and at the expiration of his time received eighty dollars in gold. His schooling was limited to attendance at the public schools of Holliston, supplemented by a course at the United States Business College in New Haven, Conn. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry; and on January 4, 1864, he re-enlisted. During his service he partici- pated in thirty-three general engagements and skirmishes, and he did not suffer from disease for a single day, though he was wounded sev- eral times. At Petersburg a singular event
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befell him. While lying on his back munch- ing hardtack, with one leg thrown over that of a comrade, a shell exploded in such a man- ner as to carry away the calf of his comrade's right leg, leaving Mr. Andrews uninjured. The latter had barely returned from carrying his wounded comrade to the rear, when he was himself hit in the shoulder by a bullet. Then, turning half-around, he was hit in the right breast ; and, starting for the rear, he was struck in the back. It was six months before these wounds permitted him to rejoin his regi- ment, which he did January 1, 1865. In the February following, at the battle of Hatcher's Run, he was wounded in the right knee, and amputation was found necessary. So poorly was this work done that a further amputation was subsequently necessary, and a third opera- tion, due to an accident, before the wound left by the second had healed. Having gone to the front as a private, he was soon made Corporal and later a Sergeant; and he was acting as First Sergeant, with a prospect of receiving a commission, when the loss of his limb made further service in the army impos- sible. While recovering from the surgeon's work, he was transferred from the hospital at Point Lookout, Md., to Worcester, Mass., where he served as Quartermaster until he was honorably discharged, October 20, 1865. At that time through the influence of General Butler he was tendered a position in the Bos- ton custom-house, which he did not accept, engaging instead, through the advice of friends, in the grocery business in Holliston. Three years later he removed to Gloucester, and on January 1, 1869, opened the store which he has since conducted, with the excep- tion of a short time spent in a hotel in Brad- ford, Pa.
On January 1, 1866, Mr. Andrews was mar- ried to M. Lizzie Holmes, a daughter of Ste-
phen Holmes, of Holliston. She is an ac- complished woman and an elocutionist of high rank. They have two daughters - Mabel A. and Mildred. Mabel A., a graduate of the State Normal School at Framingham and the third in her class, obtained a position at once as assistant in the high school at Glouces- ter, which she still retains. Mildred is the wife of Dr. Fitz A. Oakes, of South Fra- mingham. In 1884 Mr. Andrews was ap- pointed Pension Attorney by President Cleve- land. He is now a Notary Public, a Justice of the Peace, and a qualifying officer. In Colonel Allen Post, No. 45, G. A. R., of which he is a prominent member, he has held all the offices but that of Commander, in which he declined to serve, though elected thereto. The present Commander has ap- pointed him Aide-de-camp for this section of the State; and he is the chairman of the Coun- cil of Administration, Department of Massa- chusetts. Mr. Andrews is also a member of Ocean Lodge, No. 91, I. O. O. F., which he has served as chaplain and secretary.
ILLIAM MARSHALL, a son of William and Lucy (Butler) Mar- shall, and who owns one of the best farms in the town of Essex, was born in Salem, Mass., February 7, 1826. His grandfather, Moses Marshall, was born in Essex. Moses was a prosperous farmer through life and a highly respected citizen of his day. He married Hannah Choate; and his children, all now deceased, were: Moses, Joseph, Caleb, William, Tirzah, Sophronia, Polly, and Susannah.
William Marshall, Sr., father of the sub- ject of this sketch, also born in Essex, was reared to agricultural pursuits. He culti- vated farms in Essex, Ipswich, and Salen,
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and died in his native town. His wife, Lucy, likewise a native of Essex, was a daughter of Captain John Butler, a ship-master, and Abi- gail (Lovekin) Butler, both of this town. William and Lucy B. Marshall were the par- ents of seven children, three of whom are liv- ing, namely: William, the subject of this sketch; Nehemiah, a cabinet-maker, who mar- ried Frances May, of Manchester, N.H .; and Joseph, who married Abbie Kingman, of Ips- wich, and is a thriving farmer of that town. The others were: Harriet, who married John Low, of Essex; Lucy, who was the wife of Edward Eveleth, of this town; and Mary and John, both of whom died in infancy.
William Marshall attended the common schools, and assisted his father upon the farm until he was twenty-two years old. Since 1848 he has resided upon his present farm, which was formerly known as the Burn- ham place, and was the property of his first wife's parents. He owns about ninety acres of land, twenty-five of which are meadow. Besides raising fruit, hay, and other products he keeps an average of thirty-two cows. As a dairy farmer he is widely and favorably known throughout this locality, and he is still actively engaged in attending to his every-day duties.
On December 26, 1849, Mr. Marshall mar- ried for his first wife Mary Ann Burnham, who was born in Essex, April 23, 1825, daughter of Francis and Mary (Proctor) Burn- ham. By that union there was one daughter, Mary Lucy, who died at the age of four months. The mother died February 4, 1872. Mr. Marshall's present wife, whom he wedded December 5 of the same year, was before marriage Mary J. Goodhue. She was born in Essex, October 13, 1833, daughter of Abel and Mary Jane (Rutherford) Goodhue, natives respectively of Essex and Newburyport, Mass.
Mrs. Marshall's father, who was a blacksmith by trade, died July 10, 1867, aged fifty-seven years; and his wife, March 10, 1879, aged seventy-seven. They were the parents of two children - Mary J. and Helen Maria. The latter, who was born March 7, 1837, married Warren Eveleth, of Essex, and lives in the village, having one daughter, Helen R. In politics Mr. Marshall is a Republican. Al- though he has never taken any active part in public affairs, he is deeply interested in the welfare of the town. Both he and Mrs. Mar- shall are members of the Congregational church.
EORGE H. STEVENS, the present City Clerk of Newburyport, was born at Needham, Mass., Norfolk County, April 15, 1829, son of George G. Stevens. The father, a native of Needham, followed the occupation of farmer in that place, and died at the age of seventy years. In the Unitarian church, of which he was a member, he held the office of Deacon. His wife, whose maiden name was Russell, and who came from Vermont, had seven children, four of whom are now living, George H. being the eldest child.
George H. attended the State Normal School at Bridgewater, having previously com- pleted the course of the graded schools in Needham. After graduation he taught school successfully for some time. Eventually he gave up his profession to go into the milli- nery, straw bleaching and dyeing business with his brother, A. S. Stevens, who is now de- ceased. Ten years later he was elected City Clerk of Newburyport, which office he now holds. He married Abigail Bartlett Sumner, a daughter of Michael Sumner, of Newbury- port, and has one child, a daughter, now the
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wife of the Rev. Arthur S. Burrill, settled in Conway, N. H.
Mr. Stevens was a soldier in the Civil War. In 1864 he enlisted for three months at Salem in the Third Unattached Company as a Color Sergeant; was in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Company B, Eighth Regi- ment, and advanced to the position of First Lieutenant. He is a member of A. W. Bart- lett Post, No. 49, G. A. R., of Newburyport, Mass. He is also a Mason of St. Mark's Lodge and R. A. Chapter, King Cyrus; also of Newburyport Commandery, No. 3, of which he has been Recorder for the past twenty-five years; and he is a member of the I. O. O. F. An untiring and zealous member of the North Congregational Church, he has led the choir for many years, and in other ways has been active and useful in the parish.
) UFUS KIMBALL, associate editor of the Lynn Item and the president and treasurer of the Lynn Mutual Fire Insurance Company, was born March 13, 1829, in Ipswich, Essex County, Mass. A son of Josiah Kimball, he is a direct descendant of Richard Kimball, who came to the country in 1634 from Ipswich, England, in the ship "Elizabeth." Richard landed in Boston, and a few months later made a permanent location in Ipswich, Mass., where many of his name and blood are still living.
Josiah Kimball was born, lived, and died in Ipswich. For several years he was Captain of a company of militia, for which reason he was familiarly known as Captain Kimball. He was a carpenter by trade. Active in local affairs, he served as Selectman, and was prominent in the Congregational church. . He married Ilannah Ross, likewise of Ipswich. She was a daughter of Thomas Ross, who
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