USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 31
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evening school. After finishing his appren- ticeship he worked at his trade for some time as a journeyman in England. Coming to America in 1871, he settled in Gloucester, Mass., where he soon secured employment. From Gloucester he came subsequently to Manchester, and worked here for a num- ber of years for Phillips & Killan, builders. He then became a member of the firm of Friend, Roberts & Hoare, which later be- came Roberts & Hoare, its present style, Mr. Friend being no longer connected with it. For some fifteen years the firm has carried on a very successful business, and to-day is the leading firm of contractors in Manchester. They employ about sixty carpenters besides other workmen.
Mr. Hoare married N. Jessie Hodgess, who was born in Devonshire, England. He has a family of five children, as follows: Emma F .; Jessie M., a well-known music teacher of established reputation; William W .; Abbott H .; and Mabor T.
Mr. Hoare is interested in all matters per- taining to the welfare of Manchester, and is one of the men to whose vigorous and tireless efforts the town is indebted for its splendid system of water-works. He was one of the first three members composing the Water Board, and served as a member for five years.
Mr. Hoare is an active member of the Congregational church. Fraternally, he be- longs to Magnolia Lodge at Manchester. A good representative of the Anglo-American citizen, he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who have dealings with him.
ARON PARSONS, chief clerk at the Gloucester custom-house, was born in this city, May 4, 1844, son of Winthrop and Susan (Riggs) Parsons. He is
a descendant in the seventh generation of Jef- frey Parsons, who was born in England in 1631, emigrated to America when quite young, and in 1655 bought land in Gloucester. He served as Selectman several terms, and died in 1689. In 1657 he married Sarah Vinson. His son, Ebenezer, who was born in 1681, was three times married. By his union with Lydia Haskell, Ebenezer had a son Isaac. Isaac was frequently elected a Selectman, and was prominent in the church, serving as Dea- con and Ruling Elder. He died in 1761. His son, Isaac Parsons, second, who was also Deacon of the First Church, died in 1767. In 1734 he married Hannah Burnham, of Ips- wich. Aaron Parsons, son of Isaac, second, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1759, and became a merchant. He married Mary Dolliver, and died in 1809.
Aaron Parsons was educated in the public schools and at Comer's Commercial College, Boston. His home has always been in Gloucester, where he is well known in busi- ness circles. Since 1861 he has occupied his present responsible position of chief clerk at the custom-house. Mr. Parsons contracted the first of his two marriages with Georgia Shackleford, who bore him four children, namely : Frank W., born in May, 1870; Ralph, born in 1872; Willis E., born in 1874; and Roy N., born in 1881. Frank W., who is book-keeper at Luce's Furniture House, mar- ried Marion Pierson, daughter of Charles B. Pierson, of this city. Ralph married Laura McIntyre, and has two children: Georgianna, born in 1892; and Richard S., born in 1897. Willis E. is employed on the Gloucester Times as reporter. Roy N. is attending the high school. Mr. Parsons married for his second wife Sarah E. Lynch; and of this union there is one child, Aaron Lester, born in 1895. Mr. Parsons belongs to Gloucester
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Council, Royal Arcanum, and has been its secretary sinec 1879. He has also held the appointment of Notary Publie and Justice of the Peaec for the past twenty-five years, and has been executor and trustee in the settle- ment of a number of estates. His ability and experience make him a very efficient officer at the custom-house, and he is personally popular among the business men of the city.
BENEZER KNOWLTON FOGG, a prominent citizen of Lynn and one of its ex-Mayors, was born October 24, 1837, in Northwood, N.H., son of Jeremiah Fogg. He comes of Revolutionary stoek, his grandfather, Jonathan Fogg, a native of New Hampshire, having been one of the patriotic heroes that fought in the great struggle for independence.
Jeremiah Fogg, born and reared in Pitts- field, N.H., spent many ycars engaged in agricultural pursuits in the town of North- wood. In 1867 he removed to Lynn, and here made his home until his earthly career ended, on July 4, 1883. His wife, whose maiden name was Abigail Hill, was born in Strafford, N.H. They had a family of ninc children; namely, Enoch P., Vienna H., John C., Eliza A., E. Knowlton, Moses True, Jeremiah Monsen, Charles O., and Ellen A.
E. Knowlton Fogg obtained his early edu- cation in the district schools of Northwood. Subsequently he studied at New Hampton Academy, an institution that held and has sinee maintained a high rank among the New England academies. When twenty years old Mr. Fogg began working at the shoemaker's trade in Lynn. From that time until the great fire of 1889 he was engaged in the shoe business, becoming familiar with its every
detail. From 1889 until 1891 he was cm- ployed as a salesman in the furniture storc of Titus & Buckley. Since then he has been a manufacturer of shoes and shoe supplics on his own account.
Mr. Fogg is a strong Republican, and has always taken a lively interest in local matters. His sound judgment, executive force, and cour- tesy have made him a valuable official of the municipality. In 1888 he was a member of the Lynn Common Council, and during the ensuing two years he was one of the Alder- men, being in 1890 the president of the board. In 1891 he was elected Mayor of the city. In 1896 he was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives, and in 1897 he was re-elected to the same high position. While in the House he served on the Metropolitan Committee; and he was instrumental in setting aside ward assessments, in 1896 having a readjustment of the laws. Fraternally, he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Golden Fleece Lodge, F. & A. M., and being a charter mem- ber of East Lynn Lodge, No. 207, I. O. O. F., of which he has been the treasurer for the past three years. He is also a director and the vice-president of the East Lynn Odd Fellows Building Association. He was appointed Postmaster for Lynn for four years by Presi- dent MeKinley, his commission dating from May 25, 1898. On January 5, 1862, he was married to Miss Fanny S. Batehelder, of Northwood, N.H. They have had two chil- dren - Bertha Grace and Wilbert Kirkland. Wilbert Kirkland dicd March 31, 1898, after a protracted illness of several years.
LBERT NEWELL HOLT, the pro- prietor of a popular summer boarding- house in North Andover, was born in Andover, November 10, 1841, son of Jonas
AMOS B. COFFIN.
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and Pamelia Porter (Frye) Holt. The family is one of the oldest in this section of the county, having resided in Andover for the past two hundred and fifty years; and they were the first to come up the Merrimac River in a boat from Newburyport. A company raised in Andover during the Revolutionary War con- tained fifteen men named Holt, one of whom was its Captain. The original house is still standing; and the homestead remained in the family's possession until 1873, when it was sold by Lewis G. Holt, who moved to Law- rence. The paternal great-grandfather of Al- bert Newell was Ezekiel Holt. The grand- father, Isaac Holt, born in 1773, who died in 1843, married Abigail Blunt, a descendant of a family that came to Andover a short time after the arrival of the Holts. Isaac and Abi- gail Holt were the parents of six sons and four daughters. All the sons and one daugh- ter married. Warren, the youngest of the family, who became an educator, went to California in 1865, and is supposed to be living there now.
Jonas Holt, born December 8, 1800, was a lifelong resident of Andover, occupying the Holt farm, which he cultivated with energy. Prominently identified with local affairs, he served as a Selectman, Town Treasurer, and Collector. He married Pamelia Porter Frye, who was a daughter of Timothy Frye and a grand-daughter of Colonel James Frye, an officer in the Revolutionary War under Gen- eral Washington. She became the mother of ten children, five of whom are living, namely : Caroline Charlotte, the wife of James Flem- ing, of Tewksbury, Mass .; Lewis G., a resi- dent of Lawrence; Albion T .; Brooks F .; and Albert N. Holt. The Holt family is the object of especial interest to the people of Andover to-day on account of its identity with the early settlement of the town. Further
information concerning it will be found in the biography of Lewis Garrison Holt.
Albert Newell Holt attended the Punchard Free School and Phillips Academy. In 1866 he went to Boston, where he entered the em- ploy of Daniel Gregory, a meat and provision merchant. Upon his return he established himself in the same line, and carried on a thriving business for the succeeding eight years. Failing health then compelled him to seek a less arduous employment, and he opened a boarding-house. This he had conducted successfully for six years, when he sold out in 1892. Then he came to North Andover, where he has since been the proprietor of a large and handsome resort for summer boarders.
Mr. Holt married his brother's widow, Ettie Buck Holt, and has no children. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M .; of St. Paul's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and of Boston Commandery, Knights Templar. He attends the Congregational church.
MOS BUSWELL COFFIN, boat- builder, a prominent citizen of Salis- bury, Mass., a native of the town, and representative of one of the old families, was born on February 16, 1828, son of Joseph Moulton and Hannah (Buswell) Coffin. He is of the ninth generation in direct male line from Peter and Joanna (Thember) Coffin, of Brixton, England, county of Devon, among whose posterity bearing this surname have been men of note in business and professional cir- cles throughout New England and in other parts of the country, and in many instances men who have won more than local fame.
Peter Coffin died in 1628; and in 1642 his widow, with her daughters Mary and Eunice and her son Tristram and his family, came to
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Massachusetts and settled in Salisbury, in the north-east part of Essex County. The mother died in Nantucket in 1661. Tristram, who was born in England, married, and had five children before coming to America. He died at Nantucket, October 2, 1681. His wife was Dionis Stevens, daughter of Robert Stevens, of *Brixton, England. Their second son was Tristram, Jr., born about 1632. He lived in Newbury, and all the Coffins of that town are descended from him. His house was standing in 1869, two hundred years old. He was a very active and influential citizen; was made Lieutenant of the first military company of Newbury, May 16, 1683; was Representative to General Court in 1695, 1700, 1701, and 1702; and was a Deacon in the church for twenty years. He married March 2, 1652-3, Judith, daughter of Edmund and Sarah Green- leaf, and widow of Henry Somerby. He died in Newbury in 1704.
He had nine children, the eighth of whom, named Stephen, was born August 18, 1664, and died August 31, 1725. His wife was Sarah, daughter of John and Sarah (Mirick) Atkinson. They had a large family of chil- dren. Their son Stephen, Jr., born in 1698, married August 16, 1722, Sarah Boardman, and had seven children. The second son was Stephen, third, who was born August 30, 1730, and died May 26, 1822. He married January 30, 1752, Sarah Knight, who died June 20, 1823.
Of their five children, John, the fourth, was born December 1, 1762. He was a gentleman of the old school, courteous and high-minded. He was County Squire and did considerable writing of legal documents. He was a large property owner. He carried on a boat-building business, and also did some farming and operated a grist-mill, which was standing until recently, when it was torn
down. His wife was before marriage Anna Pettengill. Their five children were: Beniah ; John; Samuel Pettengill who died in the West Indies when young; Joseph Moulton; and William Boardman.
Joseph Moulton Coffin was born February 4, 1798. He succeeded his father in the boat business, building chiefly for the fishing traffic. He married Hannah Buswell, a daugh- ter of Amos and Nabby (Eaton) Buswell. She was born September 8, 1802 ; and she died January 8, 1883, having long survived her hus- band, the date of whose death was September 4, I 865.
Of their two sons, Amos B., the sub- ject of this sketch, is the elder. He was edu- cated in the public school of Salisbury, which for a time was taught by his mother's sister. He began boat-building with his father, and carried on a large business, as many as a hun- dred boats being built in a single year. Always interested in educational matters, he served a year on the School Board, long before the change in the town's boundaries, in 1886; and since that change he has been chairman of the board for a number of years and practi- cally in charge of the schools. When the flag was first unfurled from the March School at sunrise on July 4, 1891, Mr. Coffin made the speech as his daughter unrolled the stars and stripes to the breeze. This was a very inter- esting occasion, and many persons were pres- ent, and a collation was served.
On June 14, 1855, Mr. Coffin married Ann Eliza Haskell, of Newburyport, daughter of Caleb, third, and Fannie M. (Betts) Haskell. Her grandfather, Caleb Haskell, second, was a fifer in the Revolutionary army. He en- listed May 6, 1775, under Captain Ezra Lunt, of Newburyport, was at the battle of Bunker Hill, the siege of Boston, and in Arnold's ex- pedition to Quebec. The children of Mr. and
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Mrs. Coffin are Hannah Buswell and Mary Haskell, the former of whom, educated at the Putnam Free School, has been for some years a most successful teacher. Her first school was the Salisbury school, numbering fifty pupils; and she afterward taught in Deerfield and Amesbury. She is now at home.
In politics the men of this branch of the family for generations, it may be remarked, have been Whigs and later Republicans. Although never aspiring to public office, they have always taken an active interest in public affairs, and have always been found at the polls on voting day.
A number of the descendants of James, second, son of Tristram Coffin, Sr., during the Revolutionary period adhered to the crown. The story of two of these - namely, Admiral Sir Isaac and General John Coffin, born in Boston, sons of Nathaniel Coffin, his majesty's Receiver-general - has been well told by a distinguished representative of the name, the late Charles Carleton Coffin, in his "Daughters of the Revolution," and is quoted here : "Isaac Coffin obtained an appointment in his majesty's navy in 1773. Upon the outbreak of the war he proffered his resigna- tion, not being willing to fight against his countrymen, but, being assured he would not be sent to North America, remained in the service of the king, rising by merit to the posi- tion of Rear Admiral. He retained through life a deep affection for his countrymen, and endowed a school on the island of Nantucket. His younger brother, John, sided with the king, joined the British forces, became a Cap- tain of a company of loyalists, served under Colonel Tarleton in South Carolina, becoming Major, Colonel, and after the war Major-gen- eral. He received a grant of several thousand acres of land in Nova Scotia. Though main- taining allegiance to the king, he had great
respect and admiration for those who espoused the patriotic cause."
LIVER T. ROBERTS, a member of the well-known firm of Roberts & Hoare, of Manchester, contractors and builders, was born April 12, 1850, son of Captain Oliver and Ruth (Foss) Roberts. The Roberts family is of Scotch-English de- scent. Andrew Roberts, grandfather of Oli- ver T., was a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife, who was a Leach before her mar- riage was descended from one of that name, who emigrated to America in 1629, and settled in Manchester. Captain Oliver Rob- erts, who resides in West Manchester, has reached the age of seventy-five years. He was born and reared in this town, which he has made his home all his life. He has been engaged in the cod and other fishing business, having gone to the Grand Banks as master of various sailing-vessels. For many years he has been one of the Deacons of the Congre- gational Church of Manchester. Mrs. Ruth F. Roberts, who is now deceased, was a native of Strafford, N. H.
Oliver T. Roberts received his elementary education in the public schools of Manchester. When eighteen years of age he was appren - ticed to Phillips & Killan, builders of this town. After serving an apprenticeship of three years he worked for a number of years as journeyman for the same firm. He first engaged in business for himself in Manchester in the firm of Friend, Roberts & Hoare, which existed until Mr. Friend withdrew, when it became the firm of Roberts & Hoare. This firm does an extensive business, and employs an average of sixty men the year round.
Mr. Roberts has taken an active part in town affairs. He is well informed on all mat-
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ters of general and local interest, and has made a study of political questions. £ He married Adaline M. Larcom, of Beverly Farms, and has one son, Hollis L. Mr. Roberts is an active member of the Congrega- tional Church of Manchester, and has served for some ten years as superintendent of its Sunday-school. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, of Manchester, also of North Shore Lodge, American Order of United Workmen, being Past Master in both lodges.
HARLES HENRY CHASE, a mem- ber of the Lynn School Board, was born October 26, 1847, in Swanzey,
N.H. His mother, whose maiden name was Lydia C. Chadwell, born in Lynn, was a daughter of William Chadwell, who was the first depot master at the Eastern Railway sta- tion, and for some years served as Deputy Sheriff of Essex County. Charles Henry ceased to attend the public schools of Lynn when he was fourteen years old. Desirous then of finding some profitable employment, he entered the factory of S. S. Ireson, from whom he obtained his first knowledge of the shoe business, and remained with him eleven years, at the end of which Mr. Ireson retired from active life. He then secured a situation with B. F. Spinney & Co., and for five years worked in their factory at Norway, Me. In 1881 he returned to Lynn, and since that time has been connected with the firm of John Donnallan & Son.
Mr. Chase has always been intensely inter- ested in public affairs, especially those per- taining to the municipality in which he lives; and for some time he has been officially con- nected with its government. From 1893 until 1896, inclusive, he was a member of the Com-
mon Council, serving for the first year on the Committees on Water Supply, Printing, and Enrolled Bills. In 1894 and 1895 he was president of the Council and as such ex officio member of the School Board, serving during that period on the Committees on Finance, Education, Water Supply, and Incidental Ex- penses. In 1896 he was a member of the Committees on Finance and Education. He is now serving a three years' term as a mem- ber of the School Board, to which he was elected in 1896. In 1893 he was elected a trustee of the Lynn Public Library, and he was re-elected in 1896 for another term of three years, being now the secretary of the board.
Mr. Chase is a member of Richard W. Drown Lodge, No. 106, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand; of Lynn Encampment, No. 58, I. O. O. F., being a Past Chief Patriarch and its Scribe since the organization of the lodge; and of the American Legion of. Honor, being Commander of Fraternity Coun- cil, No. 26. He is a prominent and useful member of the Boston Street Methodist Church, the secretary and treasurer of the Boston Street Methodist Sunday-school Asso- ciation, and for the past eight years has been the secretary of the Y. M. C. A. On October 31, 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Poole, a daughter of Stephen D. Poole, of this city. One child has been born to them, a daughter, Bertha P. Chase.
EORGE CLEVELAND HIGGINS, a well-known business man of Lynn, was born November 19, 1845, in Orleans, Barnstable County, Mass., where his parents, Jonathan and Mary Doane Higgins, spent the larger part of their lives. His boy- hood was passed in Orleans, attending the
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public schools until he was sixteen years old. Coming then to Lynn, he served an appren- ticeship at the trade of a morocco dresser and finisher with Pevear & Co., a firm with which he was connected for thirty-one years, carry- ing on a substantial business in this city and Boston. In 1892, leaving the company with which he had so long been identified, he opened an office as notary, conveyancer, etc., a business in which he is still actively engaged. Other interests occupy a portion of his time. He has been the treasurer and a director of the Guild Pianoforte Company since its incor- poration in 1895.
Taking an intelligent interest in things per- taining to the municipal life of the city, Mr. Higgins has rendered valuable aid in inaugu- rating enterprises advantageous to the place both by counsel and service. From 1881 until 1883, inclusive, he was a member of the Common Council. In 1888 he filled the Mayor's chair, performing his duties in a most creditable and satisfactory manner; and in 1893 and 1894 he represented his district in the State legislature. When but eighteen years of age he enlisted in the Eighth Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served from July, 1864, until he was mustered out on No- vember 10 of the same year. The memories of those few weeks spent in defence of the Union are still cherished by him. With many other brave comrades he is a member of General Lander Post, No. 5, G. A. R. He is likewise connected with Mount Carmel Lodge and Sutton Chapter, F. & A. M., and with Providence Lodge, No. 171, I. O. O. F. In politics he is an uncompromising Republi- can, and he had the honor of being the first Mayor elected in Lynn on the straight Re- publican ticket.
On the first day of January, 1868, Mr. Hig- gins married Miss Ellen S. Irving, who was
born in Waterville, Me., daughter of Asa and Abigail H. Irving. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins have three children; namely, Arthur J., George H., and Mabel C. He is a man of strong religious faith and a member of the Washington Street Baptist Church.
EORGE B. KING, the janitor of the Superior Court building at Law- rence, was born January 23, 1848, in Lowell, Middlesex County, son of the late William King. The father, born in 1810 in Paisley, Scotland, son of a weaver, while yet a lad, learned the weaver's trade from his father, and in 1830 emigrated to America. After a tedious voyage of two months on the Atlantic he landed in New York, whence he went to Philadelphia, where he was employed during the subsequent five years at his trade. Coming then to Massachusetts, he worked as a carpet weaver for several years, after which he invested his savings in a farm in Fremont, Sullivan County, N. Y. In 1867 he removed to Lawrence, Mass., and in company with his eldest son, William A. King, engaged in the manufacture of dress braid for a number of years. Selling out his business, he thereafter made his home in Pelham, N.H., until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith, born in Scotland, died in Pelham, having survived him two years. They had five children - Anna, William, George B., James, and Jennie. Jennie died in Pelham at the age of twenty-two years.
George B. King received such educational advantages as were offered by the district school, which he attended irregularly, as the opportunity offered. At the age of eighteen he began learning the painter's trade, which he followed continuously until 1884, when he
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was appointed by the County Commissioners to his present office as janitor, a position which he has since filled to the satisfaction of all concerned. Although his school days were limited in number, Mr. King has ob- tained a good knowledge of various sciences. He is well versed in geology, which he studied from boyhood, and in palæontology and entomology. On the latter subject he is considered an authority in this locality. In his laboratory, a room in the south-east corner of the upper story of the court building, he has a rare collection of insects, the acquirement of which has cost him years of study and toil. The cases and drawers devoted to ants alone would cover some forty square feet of space, while those filled with other interesting species dear to the entomologist would occupy nearly twice as much room. In his investiga- tions he has necessarily worked at a great disadvantage, having had no preparatory knowledge to guide him. Yet what he has accomplished is marvellous when compared with that of students having easy access to every department of learning. On July 6, 1871, Mr. King married Julia, daughter of Daniel and Eliza (Nichols) Eastman, of Law- rence. Of their six children, one died in infancy. The five living are: George, of Lawrence; Lillie; Ada; Ella; and Charles. Charles, a bright boy of thirteen years, is as much interested in natural history as his father, and makes regular pets of insects. Mr. King is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Scottish Clan.
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