USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 43
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AMUEL HAWKES, one of the town fathers of Saugus, was born on the homestead he now occupies, December 4, 1816. A son of Ahijah and Theodate (Pratt) Hawkes, he belongs to an old New England family. His immigrant ancestor, Adam Hawkes, born in 1608, was in Charlestown in 1634. Adam moved to Saugus early in 1636 or in the latter part of 1635, locating on Close Hill, so named from an enclosure on his farm. In 1638 he re- ceived one hundred acres of land by an appor- tionment of the town. The first iron works in America were situated about a mile below his home, and iron ore was taken from his farm. The iron company's Great Pond on one occasion flowed back, and covered his meadows, floating a bridge and doing other damage. In 1652 he sued the company, and in 1660-62 entered another suit. Having won both suits, he was awarded, among other damages, according to the records of Essex County Court in Salem, a tract of meadow land now owned by Samuel Hawkes; a tract of woodland, now including Walden Lake and Dexter's Marsh in Lynn Woods; certain loads of hay; and an annual payment of ten shil-
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lings. He owned a large tract of land be- sides, His first chimney was made of bricks manufactured in England, one of which was marked 1601. His death occurred in 1672. His only son, John, fell heir to his property. John, born in 1633, who died in 1694, had four sons, among whom the farm was divided.
Ebenezer Hawkes, son of John and a direct ancestor of Samuel Hawkes, took the tract now occupied in part by the latter. A black- smith by trade, he made anchors and chains; and he had a large store. He lived for some time on the land now occupied by the heirs of Lewis P. Hawkes, and then moved to Marble- head. He purchased land in Windham, Me., on which he settled his grandsons. Ebene- zer's son, Samuel, succeeded his father as owner, during life, of the Saugus property. Samuel, born in 1706, died in 1771 or 1772. In 1723 he was married to Philadelphia Estes, of Marblehead, who bore him two sons - Ebenezer and Joseph. He lived and died on the homestead. His sons inherited it directly from their grandfather, who willed it to them. It was at first divided between them. Then Joseph sold his portion to Ebenezer, who was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. A successful business man, Ebenezer invested largely in real estate. The house that he erected is still standing. Like his father, he was a member of the Society of Friends. His death occurred in 1792. He married Miss Rebecca Alley, of Lynn, who had by him three sons: Ebenezer, who had no family; Ahijah, the father of the subject of this sketch; and William, who never married.
Ahijah Hawkes, born in 1768, inherited a third of the farm, and built the house now owned by his son Samuel. He was a pros- perous farmer, took an interest in public affairs, and was in religious faith a Friend.
He died in 1839. His wife, Theodate Pratt Hawkes, was a native of Lynn. They reared a family of ten children, namely: Rebecca, who died recently in California, and was the wife of George Taylor; Ahijah, also deceased, who resided successively in Enfield, N. H., Westbrook, Me., and various places in Massa- chusetts; Ebenezer, who passed his life on the homestead; Richard, now deceased, who purchased his uncle William's farm; Stephen, who lived and died on the old place, unmar- ried; William, who died in early manhood; Samuel, the subject of this sketch; Tacy P., the wife of Nathan Hawkes, of Lynn; Debo- rah, now deceased, who never married; and Lewis P., who lived on a part of the old Hawkes farm in Saugus. Richard bought his uncle William's farm, partly from his aunt Anna and partly from the Society of Friends, it having come into their possession on his aunt Abigail's death; and his son, Richard, is now living there. His wife's maiden name was Lucy Going. His brother, Lewis P., married her sister, Mary Ann Going, who bore her husband four children -- Levi, Lewis W., Theodate P., and Lizzie. An enterprising farmer and good business man, Lewis P. lived on his grandfather's old place, and made many. improvements on the estate. His children are now living there.
Samuel Hawkes has passed a great part of his life on the old Hawkes homestead, of which he is the owner, and which is in the vicinity of his present residence. His brother Rich- ard owned the property on which he now lives, and Samuel is now residing with Rich- ard's son Richard. An able business man, he has made many improvements on the estate. He has sold two hundred acres to the city of Lynn, retaining sixty acres for his own use; and he has purchased a number of wood- lots, from which he has cut timber for mar-
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ket. At present he is one of the Sinking Fund Commissioners of the town. In politics he is independent, but favors the Democratic side. He cast his first Presidential vote for Van Buren. For thirteen years he was Se- lectman, presiding as chairman for a part of the time, He has also been Overseer of the Poor, and was in the State legislature in 1853- 54. He has been especially active in school affairs, serving on the School Committee, and taking an initial and leading part in bringing about the construction of the modern two-story school buildings and the establishment of the Saugus High School. He was opposed to the attempted annexation of Saugus to Lynn. As a proof of the confidence placed in his ability and judgment, it may be stated that he has had his estimate of the town expenses for the year accepted at the town meeting without extended discussion. Though not a church member, he contributes freely to church enterprises. Close Hill, the site of the original Hawkes homestead, has for years been the scene of frequent reunions of the family, sometimes as many as five hundred attending.
HARLES WESLEY WOODS, an extensive fruit-grower of Newbury, was born in Newburyport, January 25, 1838, son of William W. and Mary (Brown) Woods. The father was reared and educated in Newbury, and at an early age began to learn the trade of ship-rigger in Newburyport. That he became a skilful and reliable workman is fully attested by the fact of his remaining in the employ of one con- cern, that of the Pritchards, for fifty-two con- secutive years. He was an active member, and for many years an Elder of the Methodist Episcopal church; and he was connected with
Quascacunquen Lodge, No. 39, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a citizen and an earnest worker in church affairs, he was highly esteemed; and his former associates have pleasant recollections of his kind dispo- sition and cordial manner. In his younger days he was an active member of the New- buryport Fire Department. He died in Janu- ary, 1883, aged seventy-three years. Born of his first marriage, which was contracted with Mary Woods, were six children, namely : William, now an overseer in a shoe factory of Hampstead, N. H. ; Mary, who died at the age of five years; George, a sea captain, who died in 1881; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; Charles's twin brother, John Wesley, who died in infancy; and Edward, who died at the age of eleven years. Captain George Woods was engaged in the foreign trade, and during his long career as a mariner he made twenty-eight voyages around Cape Horn. After the mother died in 1846, the father en- tered his second marriage with Eliza Barker, who became the mother of five children. These were: Frank O., now the cashier of the Mechanics' National Bank in Newburyport and the treasurer of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association; Elizabeth, now the wife of Joseph Adams, a carpenter of Newbury; Alice, who is still unmarried, and resides in Newburyport ; Edwin A., who died at the age of seventeen years; and James, who died in infancy.
At the age of sixteen, when he had com- pleted his education at the Brown High School of Newburyport, Charles Wesley Woods commenced to serve an apprenticeship at the painter's trade. He subsequently fol- lowcd that business for nine years, having been for a part of that period associated with A. D. Woods, in the firm of A. D. & C. W. Woods, which was quite successful during its
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existence. After selling out his interest in that firm, he engaged in the ice business with William C. Langley, forming the firm of Langley & Woods. Eight years later this partnership was dissolved; and Mr. Woods prosperously continued the business alone for ten years, reaching an annual average output of four thousand tons, for the delivery of which he employed six teams. In 1889 he disposed of his ice business in order to devote his entire attention to agricultural pursuits and fruit-growing on Sea View Farm, which he had purchased some twenty-five years pre- viously. This place is picturesquely situated on the seacoast, just outside Newburyport and in the immediate neighborhood of Salis- bury Beach. An orchard on it has over one thousand trees, including apple, pear, and plum trees, and several acres planted with currants and other small fruits. The annual shipment of apples alone from here amounts to six hundred barrels."
Mr. Woods married first Ferolin F. Lang- ley, daughter of William C. Langley, of Newbury. She bore him four children, namely: Nettie; William L., who married Lizzie Hughes, and is a carpenter in New- buryport; Jennie M., who is unmarried; and Gertrude W., the wife of Thomas Gould, of Newburyport. The mother died June 2, 1877. Mr. Woods married for his second wife Sarah F. Bailey, daughter of Captain Robert Bailey, of Newburyport ; and they have one child, Eliza O., who is residing at home with her parents.
Taking a general interest in agriculture, Mr. Woods is a member of the Newbury Farmers' Association, of which he was the president for some years; and just now he is the acting president of the Amesbury and Salisbury Agricultural Society. He is favor- ably known throughout the county for his able
and instructive addresses upon plant food and other subjects of interest to farmers. He is also a member of the Board of Trade, of the Newburyport Veteran Firemen's Association, of the Historical Society, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Order of the Golden Cross. His connection with Quascacunquen Lodge, No. 39, I. O. O. F., has lasted twenty-eight years. He has been Guide in Merrimac Encampment for nearly twenty-five years, and has enjoyed the privi- leges of the Grand Encampment of Massachu- setts for ten years. A handsome gold-headed cane in his possession bears the inscription, "Presented to C. W. Woods, P. C. P., by Pilgrims guided through Merrimac Encamp- ment in twenty-six years as Guide. New- buryport, Mass., December 23, 1891."
HERMAN NELSON, one of the representative business men of Georgetown and a son of Asa and Ruth (Perley) Nelson, was born in 1834. He belongs to the eighth generation in the direct line of descent from Thomas and Joan Nelson, who with their sons, Philip and Thomas, came to this country from England in 1639. The Nelsons and the twenty other families who came over with the Rev. Ezekiel Rodgers, together with about forty more, settled first in old Rowley. Since 1641, when Thomas Nel- son was selected as the first Representative from Rowley to the General Court of Massa- chusetts, the Nelsons have been identified with the best interests of the town. At the beginning of hostilities between the mother country and the French in Canada, Thomas Nelson, Jr., was one of the thirty men who went out from Rowley on an expedition to Canada, and was afterward made Lieutenant of his company. He married Ann Lambert ;
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and his son, Francis, born in Rowley in 1676, married Mercy Ray. Solomon, son of Fran- cis, born in the same town in 1703, married Mercy Chaplin. Their son, Asa, born in Rowley in 1739, enlisted in 1757 in Captain Thurston's company and went to the siege of Fort William Henry. In 1776 he was a member of the Town Committee appointed to determine the time of service and settle the amount to be paid to the men who enlisted in the Continental army. He enlisted in that army in 1777, and his regiment afterward helped to guard the captured army of General Burgoyne.
The next in line of descent, David Nelson, son of David and Rachel (Spofford) Nelson and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Rowley in 1760. After enlisting in the Revolutionary army, under Captain Benjamin Adams, of Colonel John- son's regiment, in November, 1777, he went to New York State, and was subsequently dis- charged from the service at a place distant two hundred and seventy-two miles from Rowley. He married Eunice Scarls. Their son, Asa, born in Rowley in 1790, was a cur- rier and tanner by trade, and followcd that business for many years in addition to farm- ing. He owncd a large farm in Georgetown, and he was at one time engaged there in the manufacture of shoes. An active and indus- trious man, he was much honored by his townsmen. Up to the time of his death, in 1855, he was much interested in church work. · His wife, Ruth, was a daughter of Nathan Perley.
Having obtained his elementary education in the public schools of his native town, Sherman Nelson studied at Thetford (Vt.) Academy. After completing his education he worked upon the farm until 1867, and then carried on a grocery business in Georgetown
for some time. Beginning in 1870, he and his brother conducted a livery for five years, after which he sold out to his brother. At the end of another year spent in business he sold out again, and has since been engaged in farming, giving his personal supervision to each department.
In politics a strong Republican, Mr. Nel- son has taken an active part in promoting the interests of his party. He has held office in the town a number of times. In 1862 he was elected Selectman, and he was re-elected in the following year and several times after- ward. He is now chairman of the board. In 1875 he was chosen to represent the town in the Massachusetts legislature of 1876, and was a member of the Committee on Prisons, which considered and reported the bill to establish a State prison at Concord. Mr. Nelson is now one of the trustees of the Peabody Library Association of Georgetown. A member of the Charles C. Dame Lodge, F. & A. M., he was its second Worshipful Master, and therein took all the chapter and commandery degrees. He also belongs to Lodge No. 39, I. O. O. F., of Newburyport; and he is an active member of the First Con- gregational Society. In 1866 he was married to Catharine S., daughter of Lcander and Mary (Perley) Spofford.
TEPHEN MADISON GALE, M.D., was for many years a distinguished medical practitioner of Newbury- port. A native of the State of New Hamp- shire, he was born in Kingston Plains, Octo- ber 20, 1809. The Gales for several genera- tions have been devoted to the practice of medicine, and have produced at least thirty physicians, including Dr. Gale's grandfather, his father, several uncles, and four brothers.
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The maternal grandfather, Dr. Josiah Bart- lett, was one of the most distinguished men New Hampshire has produced. He was the first signer of the Declaration of Indepen- dence after John Hancock, the first Senator elected from New Hampshire to the Federal Congress, and the Chief Justice of the State, and its first Governor. A man of irreproach- able character, inflexible integrity, and wide information, he occupied a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
Stephen M. Gale studied medicine with his brothers, Ezra B. Gale, of Kingston, and Levi B. Gale, of Boston. Then, having com- pleted a course of lectures at the Harvard Medical School, he graduated from that insti- tution in 1837, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He began practice in Derry, N.H., whence in 1839 he removed to Methuen, Mass. In 1850 he came to New- buryport, where he built up for himself a large practice, and where he was the first phy - sician to successfully practise homœopathy. The latter step, which was taken as the re- sult of careful deliberation, caused his expul- sion from the Massachusetts Medical Society, whereupon the homœopathists tendercd him the presidency of their State society. His death occurred January 26, 1882. He was a member of the Essex County Homoeopathic Medical Society, which, when he dicd, passed resolutions of condolence, and set apart a page of its record book to his memory. The es- teem in which he was held by the medical fraternity in general was evidenced by the large number of physicians that gathered to pay the last honors at his obsequies. Among them were all the physicians of the city ex- cept one, whom illness kept at home, and many distinguished practitioners from abroad.
The first of the Doctor's thrce marriages was contracted March 28, 1843, with Hannah
W. Johnson. She bore him two children - Alice Bartlett and Anna Bartlett. Anna is now Mrs. E. Moody Boynton, of West New- bury. On the second occasion he was united with Phobe Jane How, a sister of the Hon. Moses How, a former Mayor of Haverhill. She had one son, George How Galc. Dr. Gale's third wife, in maidenhood Mary H. How, was a sister of his second wife. A de- voted member of the Baptist church for many years, Dr. Gale was clerk of the society for some time; and he was urged to become a Deacon. Few men have had greater opportu- nities than he to work for the good of human- ity and to relieve misery and suffering, and few men have more faithfully improved those opportunities.
OHN L. STANLEY, who occupies a prominent place among the business men of Gloucester, was born in Bev- erly, Mass., August 27, 1842, son of Herbert and Lydia (Stanley) Stanley. He is a grand- son of David Stanley, and the family has been identified with Beverly for several genera- tions.
John L. Stanley began his education in the public schools, fitted for his collegiate course at Phillips Academy, Exeter, and was gradu- ated at Dartmouth College with the class of 1869 with honors, and made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Turning his atten- tion to educational pursuits, he was principal of the Bradford (Mass.) High School for six years, and for the succeeding seven years was principal of the Concord (N. H.) High School. Subsequently settling in Gloucester, he en- tered the fishing business, and is now a mem- ber of the well-known firm of William Parsons (second) & Co. His recognized business ability has led to his appointment to various
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responsible positions, which he has filled with great efficiency. At the present time he is vice-president of the Cape Ann National Bank, a director of the Gloucester Mutual In- surance Company, and a member of the Fish- ery Committee.
Mr. Stanley married Annette P. Parsons, daughter of William Parsons, second, a repre- sentative of a highly reputable Gloucester family and senior member of the firm with which Mr. Stanley is associated. Mrs. Stan- ley is the mother of two children; namely, William Parsons and Louise Le Favour.
Mr. Stanley kceps up his interest in educa- tional matters, and has been a valuable mem- ber of the Gloucester School Committee for fifteen years. While residing in Concord, he joined White Mountain Lodge of Odd Fel- lows. He belongs to the Baptist church, hav- ing served upon the Parish Committec for some years, and is a trustee of the Young Men's Christian Association.
ETER HOLIHAN, a well-known merchant of Lawrence, was born in Kilkenny County, Ireland, on March 4, 1828, the eldest of six children born to James and Ellen (Doyle) Holihan. His father, who was a carpenter, died in the old country in 1847, in the prime of life. Young Holihan received a good English education, thoroughly mastering the science of numbers as presented in the school text-books. His father intended that he should be a car- penter, and to that end had him well drilled in mathematics. But his want of inclination toward that trade and the circumstances of his environment decreed that he should do otherwisc. Shortly after the death of his father, unknown to his mother and in spite of the efforts of friends at Liverpool, who
endeavored to dissuade him, he sailed for America, believing that there good fortune and happiness awaited him. On the day following that of his arrival he was visited by a gentleman who had been in the coun- try some years and was an intimate friend of the family. This friend urged him to send to Ireland for his mother, brothers, and sisters, saying that "it would be the wisest thing he could do." Young Holihan replied that he had first to earn the money necessary to defray the expenses of the voyage across. The gentleman, however, promised to lend him the amount needed, saying that it might be repaid at Mr. Holihan's conven- ience. The young man accepted without a moment's hesitation, and in a few hours the money had started on its way to Ireland. In due course the mother and children reached America safely, and the good fortunc that came to them here has proven that the move was a wise one. Among the children were: Patrick, who died in 1881, leaving three sons; Mary, who became the wife of H. C. Clay, of Vermont; and Bridget, who became the wife of William J. Smith, of Wisconsin.
Mr. Holihan first sccured employment in Andover, Mass., on the North Reading branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad, where he was employed for somc three months at fair wages. In the spring of 1850 he began learn- ing the moulder's trade at North Andover, working at one dollar and a half a day. He remained in this place for nearly cight years, or until the panic of 1857, working from five o'clock in the morning until scven in the evening. In 1858 he started modestly in the grocery business on Common Street, Law- rence. Subsequent to 1861 he received his brother Patrick into partnership, forming the firm Holihan Brothers; and after Patrick's death he admitted his threc nephews, sons of
PETER HOLIHAN.
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Patrick, who are now indispensable to the business. The firm's handsome brick block, located at the corner of Hampshire and Com- mon Streets, having a floorage measuring ninety-three by fifty feet, was built in 1885.
In 1849 Mr. Holihan was united in mar- riage with Kate MeDermott, of Lawrence, a native of Fall River, who died about a year after. He subsequently married Jane Bren- nan, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, daugh- ter of James and Rose (Bulwer) Brennan. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan came to America when their daughter Rose was about ten years old, bringing with them their family of nine chil- dren. Of these, all are now deceased except Mrs. Holihan. Mr. and Mrs. Holihan have no children. Mr. Holihan's fine residence of two and a half stories at 52 Bradford Street was built in 1877. He also owns the house on the lot adjoining. Independent in poli- tics, he votes for the best man, and in 1877 he was elected Alderman on the Independent ticket.
ATHANIEL PORTER PERKINS, chairman of the Board of Selectmen of the town of Wenham, was born in Topsfield, Mass., November 7, 1840, son of Nathaniel Perkins, Jr., and Lucy (Porter) Perkins. The family, of which the subject of this sketch represents the eighth generation in this country, is said to be of English ori- gin. Nathaniel Perkins, Jr., who was a na- tive of Topsfield, died about fifty years ago. During the latter part of his life he kept a grocery store in Wenham. His wife Lucy, who was born in Wenham, was a daughter of Paul and Nancy Porter and a grand-daughter of Isaac Porter, a Revolutionary soldier.
N. Porter Perkins lost his father when very young; and his widowed mother returned with him to the home of her own father, Paul Por-
ter, where he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools of Wenham, and also a pri- vate academy at Topsfield. During his vaca- tions he worked on his grandfather's farm. He has been engaged in agriculture since he became self-supporting, and now owns a well- improved farm of ninety acres in West Wen- ham, that he devotes both to market gardening and general farming. He also sends dairy products to market.
In 1872 Mr. Perkins was married to Char- lotte E., daughter of the late Henry and Eliz- abeth W. Patch, of Wenham. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have had two children, namely: Marion F., who died in 1891, at the age of nearly thirteen years; and George A., born March 22, 1874, who assists his father in carrying on the farm. George A. Perkins married Lottie W. Jewett, daughter of John W. and Alice Jewett, of Danvers. He has two children - Myron A. and Porter J.
Mr. Perkins has held various official posi - tions in Wenham, and is one of the most trusted and respected citizens of the town. When but twenty-one years old, he was elected a member of the School Board, in which posi- tion he served twenty years in all. For thir- teen years he has been a member of the Wen- ham Board of Selectmen, having served as chairman for several years. For thirteen years he has served also as Overseer of the Poor and Assessor. In 1885 he represented Wenham and Danvers in the General Court, and was appointed a member of the Commit- tee on Agriculture. In 1895 and 1896 he was a member of the Republican State Committee, representing the then Fifth Essex County Senatorial District. For many years he has been a trustee of the Danvers Savings Bank. Fraternally, he belongs to Golden Star Coun- cil, United Order of American Mechanics, at Beverly, and to the Sons of the American
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