USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Biographical review, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Essex County, Massachusetts > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65
508
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
school for about five years in Liberty, Mo., and in other places in the South, and now resides with her brother, French Ordway, in Amesbury. Hannah, who graduated at South Hadley Academy, in 1840, taught school in Fulton and Columbia, Mo. She married Oliver Cunningham, a teacher of that State, and taught with him until his death in 1859. She subsequently continued teaching in Rich- mond, Mo., for several years. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham arc: Oliver Smith, Lucy Ordway, Mary Lyon, William Thomas, and Emma.
French Ordway, the youngest member of the family, has always made his home in Amesbury. While a carpenter and builder by trade, he is largely occupied in attending to the needs of the tenants of the lands and houses he has inherited. His pleasant home in Ordway Court has been in the family for many generations. On August 15, 1847, he married Abbie B. Dow, of Raymond, N. H., who died July 12, 1852, at the age of twenty- five years.
J OSEPH WILLIS ATTWILL,* City Clerk of Lynn, was born in this city, January 18, 1864, son of Isaac M. and Harriet E. (Sawyer) Attwill. The family has been identified with Lynn for over two hundred years. Mr. Attwill is a descendant of Joseph Attwill, who, according to the rec- ords, was married here in 1692. The great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Zachariah Attwill, served in the Revolution- ary War; and the paternal grandfather, Jesse L. Attwill, was Captain of the Lynn Light Infantry. Isaac M. Attwill has been engaged in the shoe business here for the past forty- three years, and is well known to the trade. He married Harriet E. Sawyer, a native of Watertown, Mass.
Joseph Willis Attwill supplemented his public school education with a commercial course at a business college; and about the year 188 1 he became associated in trade with his father, continuing in business with him until elected City Clerk in 1897.
On October 30, 1889, Mr. Attwill was united in marriage with Effie F. Bascom, of this city. He has one daughter, Dorothy.
In politics Mr. Attwill is a Republican ; and, as a member of the Common Council in 1888, he labored diligently in the interests of good government, and served with ability upon the Committees on Public Property, Fuel, and Street Lights. He is a member of the Lynn Republican and Oxford Clubs.
T HOMAS MARTIN BURCKES,* Mar- shal of the Lynn Police Force and a naval veteran of the Civil War, was born in Charlestown, Mass., May 3, 1847, son of Martin and Rebecca (Blanchard) Burckes. The grandfather, Martin Burckes (first), a native of Quincy, Mass., and a ship- carpenter by trade, during the War of 1812 entered the United States Navy in the capac- ity of carpenter, ranking as Lieutenant, and served on the sloop-of-war "Howet," under Commander Lawrence, for three years. Sub- sequently he was engaged in ship-building in Boston until 1847, when he bought a farm in Waterford, Me. After residing there until 1858, he returned to Charlestown, where he died in 1884, at the advanced age of ninety- seven years. Martin Burckes, a native of Charlestown, was a contractor and builder in Charlestown until 1851. Then he went to California for the purpose of engaging in the same business, and died in San Francisco in 1855. His wife Rebecca was also a native of Charlestown.
509
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Thomas Martin Burckes attended the pub- lic schools of Charlestown and Lynn until he was fourteen years old. After completing his studies, he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for two years. On September 4, 1863, he enlisted at the Charlestown Navy Yard for one year, and was assigned to the south-western blockading squadron, under Admiral Farragut. On board the gunboat "Aroostook," he was engaged during his term of service in shelling shore batteries and chasing privateers. He was dis- charged at Philadelphia, November 4, 1864, having served two months over time. Re- turning to Lynn after this, he followed his trade until 1885, in which year he joined the police force as a patrolman. He was ap- pointed a Lieutenant in 1888, was made a Captain in 1889. On November 14, 1892, he was appointed Marshal of the force - a position he has since filled with marked ability.
In Lynn, on November 4, 1866, Mr. Burckes was united in marriage with Lucy A. Clark, of Dixmont, Me. Of their six chil- dren, five are living; namely, Charles H., Grace B., Stacey R., Myron E., and T. Gor- don Burckes. Grace is now the wife of Harry E. Southwick, of Peabody, Mass.
In politics Mr. Burckes takes an indepen- dent course. He is a member of Golden Fleece Lodge, F. & A. M .; of Bay State Lodge, No. 40, I. O. O. F .; of the Royal Arcanum, Council No. 516; and a comrade of General Lander Post, No. 5, G. A. R.
ILLIAM ABBOTT LOCKWOOD,* one of the proprietors of the well- known tailoring establishment of W. W. Swasey & Co., Lynn, was born in this city, October 20, 1865, son of William M.
and Annie R. (Abbott) Lockwood. His father was a native of Black Rock, Conn., and his mother of Wiscasset, Me. William M. Lockwood was for many years a resident of Lynn, and served in the city government in ISS9. He died in 1892.
William Abbott Lockwood completed his education in the public schools when he was seventeen years old. Then, securing a posi- tion as book-keeper with the Boston commis- sion house of Case, Leland & Co., he re- mained with them for two years. In 1884 he became connected with the tailoring establish- men of W. W. Swasey; and after the death of his employer in 1890 he associated himself with Mr. A. Brodner, and, under the firm name of W. W. Swasey & Co., has since car- ried on a flourishing trade. In politics a Re- publican, he was a member of the Common Council in 1893 and 1894, and served upon the Committees on Claims, Public Grounds, Enrolled Bills, Fuel, and Street Lights. He is a member of East Lynn Lodge, No. 207, I. O. O. F .; Sagamore Tribe, No. 2, Im- proved Order of Red Men; the Oxford and the Ward Three and Four Republican Clubs.
On December 24, 1886, Mr. Lockwood mar- ried Carrie E. Clark, of this city. He has one daughter, Helen E.
A USTIN W. LUNT,* a thriving gen- eral farmer and milk dealer of West Newbury, was born in Newbury- port, Mass., in 1860, son of Jacob W. and Frances (Wood) Lunt. His grandfather, Captain Micajah Lunt, a native of Birming- ham, England, and a ship-master, emigrated to America when a young man, and, settling in Newburyport, became a successful shipping merchant. He owned a fleet of schooners, which were engaged in the coasting trade,
510
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Jacob W. Lunt, Austin W. Lunt's father, was born in Newbury in 1828. He was for some years a seafaring man, but later engaged in the livery business in Newburyport. He died in August, 1896. He married Frances Wood, daughter of Hiram Wood, a well-known mer- chant of Newburyport in his day.
Austin W. Lunt acquired a common-school education. After completing his studies, he went to Boston, where he was employed in. a millinery store for two years. He then went to Lynn, Mass., and for some time was en- gaged as a shoe cutter with his brother. He next entered the shoe business in Lynn, which he carried on for a time, removing sub- sequently to Manchester, N.H., where he was similarly engaged until 1892. He then set- tled upon his present farm, which he is now carrying on with success, and has a paying milk route in Newburyport. In politics Mr. Lunt is a Republican.
In 1890 he was joined in marriage with Agnes W. Dobson, a native of Aroostook County, Maine, and daughter of William Dobson. He has one son, Evans A., born in 1892.
AMES BURNS,* the senior member of the firm of Burns & Bee, roofers in Lynn, was born in East Linton, Scot- land, May 20, 1838. His parents, Richard and Elizabeth (Low) Burns, both of East Linton, reared a family of ten children. For the last fifty years of his life the father was the janitor of the Presbyterian Church of East Linton. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-nine years, and at his death left one hundred and twelve descendants.
James Burns obtained the elements of his education in the public schools of the little town in which he was born, and from his earli- est years was trained to habits of industry,
economy, and thrift. Being one of a large family, he was forced, when but eleven years old, to begin wage-earning in a bakery, where he remained two and a half years. Then he engaged in the business of roofer, at which he worked five years in East Linton, becoming an expert workman. Going then to Hadding- ton, a much larger place, he followed the same business there for three years, and was after- ward engaged at it in Edinburgh until 1869. Sailing then for America, with his family, he disembarked in Boston, Mass., on March 14, and for the following eighteen months was a resident of that city. In the fall of 1870 he came to Lynn, and, with John D. Bee, formed the firm Burns & Bee, which has since con- ducted an extensive business in roofing of all kinds.
For the past five years Mr. Burns has been actively identified with the city government, having been a member of the Common Coun- cil or of the Board of Aldermen. During the first three years of this time he was in the Council, being on the committees of Public Property and State in 1892; the next year on Public Property, Fire Department, and State Aid Committees ; and in 1894 on the commit- tees on Public Property, Fire Department, State Aid, and Charities. In 1895, as an Alderman, he was one of the committee on Public Property, and was chairman of the com- mittees on the Fire Department and State Aid. Next year he was on the committees on Water Supply and Fire Department, and he was the chairman of the Public Property Com- mittee. In politics he is a sound Republican, and he is an active member of the West Lynn Republican Club.
Mr. Burns is a valued member and an ear- nest and faithful worker in many of the frater- nal organizations of Lynn. Among them are the West Lynn Lodge, No. 65, I. O. O. F.,
GEORGE O. GOODWIN.
513
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
of which he is Past Grand, and the president of the board of trustees; Fraternity Encamp- ment, No. 67, I. O. O. F .; American Order of Scottish Clans, being Past Chief of Clan McLean, No. 5 ; Mount Zion Senate, No. 363, of which he is Past Excellent Senator; the West Lynn Odd Fellows Association, of which he is the president; the West Lynn Yacht Club; and the Lynn Veteran Fireman's Asso- ciation. He was married in Haddington, Scotland, May 25, 1860, to Miss Eliza Dun- bar, of that city. Of their six children, two are living, Eliza L. and Maggie D.
AMES VALENTINE FELKER,* city Treasurer of Newburyport, was born there April 9, 1856. The founder of the family came from England, and settled in Lewiston, Me., one hundred and fifty years ago. John Felker, the grandfather of James V., was a farmer in Lewiston, and at one time was Selectman of that place. He was a 're- ligious man and a member of the church. He had seven children, and he died at the ad- vanced age of seventy.
John Franklin, second child of John and the father of James V., born in Lewiston, came to Newburyport when a young man. A carpen- ter by trade, he built vessels under contract, including two schooners, one of which he owned and sent to the fisheries. He died at the age of forty-seven years. Ten years before his death he went to Australia to engage in mining, but returned after one year's absence. A Democrat in politics, he was in the City Council one year ; and he was a regular attend- ant at the Universalist church. He married Polly A. Williamson, of Stark, Me., who still lives, at the age of seventy-nine years. They had seven children, only two of whom are now living. Helen D. married Charles A. Poole,
a painter of Waltham, where she now resides. James Valentine Felker, the youngest child, was educated in the grammar school and high school of Newburyport. After his school-days were over, he entered the office of the City Treasurer, where he remained as clerk for two years. He then became book-keeper for eight years in the Philadelphia & Reading Coal and Iron Company, wholesale and retail. In 1882 he was elected City Treasurer, when he re- signed his former position ; and he has served his city in this capacity ever since that time. Mr. Felker has been auditor of the Newbury- port Five Cent Savings Bank since 1890. He is independent in politics; and was a Council- man in 1880. He is a member of the St. John's Lodge, F. & A. M., and King Cyrus Chapter; of the Knights of Pythias organiza- tion, which he has served in the capacity of treasurer since 1890; and of the I. O. O. F., U. O. A. W., Royal Arcanum, and the Dalton Club. He attends the Unitarian church of Newburyport. In May, 1874, he married Harriet, daughter of Captain Moses Moulton, a sea captain of Newburyport. They have one daughter, Elizabeth. Helen, now ten years old.
EORGE O. GOODWIN, a retired business man of Merrimac and an ex-member of the Massachusetts legislature, was born in Brewer, Me., January 6, 1822. The greater part of his active career has been spent in Brewer, where as a young man he kept a general merchandise store, manufactured brick, and built ships on an ex- tensive scale. In the winter of 1861-62 he represented Penobscot County in the State legislature. In 1874 the failing health of his wife's father caused him to dispose of his large business interests upon the Penobscot River and return to Merrimacport, the home of his
514
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
wife, where he has since resided in retire- ment. Ile has long been prominent in finan- cial circles, and as a trustee of the Merrimac Savings Bank has displayed a deep interest in the welfare of that institution. Public affairs have engrossed his attention to some extent, and as a member of the legislature in 1886 he served upon the Committees on State House and Pay-roll.
On November 10, 1847, Mr. Goodwin mar- ried Emily Sargent, a descendant in the eighth generation of William Sargent, who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1632. Her parents were Patten and Dolly (Sargent) Sargent. Patten Sargent was born August 16, 1793, the second of the eight children of Ichabod B. and Ruth (Patten) Sargent. In his time he was a lead- ing man in Merrimac, and was well known -in the business circles of Boston. At his death, which occurred in Merrimacport, his age was ninety years and one day. He was the father of six children, of whom Mrs. Goodwin was the fourth-born. The Sargents are still prominent in Essex County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin are members of the Congrega- tional Church of Merrimac.
HARLES HENRY SPEAR,* Clerk of Committees and Mayor's Clerk in Lynn, son of Samuel V. Spear, was born in this city, January 29, 1851. His paternal grandfather, George Spear, a native of Chester, Pa., served in the Revolutionary War. The father, born in Chester, Pa., in 1806, when a boy of thirteen years walked to Exeter, N. H., where he spent the following four years, and learned the shoemaker's trade. In 1823 he located in Lynn, and was here actively en- gaged at his trade for nearly half a century. In 1870 he retired from business pursuits. Though now over ninety years of age, he is in
the full possession of his faculties, and keenly alive to the enjoyments of life. He is one of a family of fourteen children, four of whom are living. His wife, whose maiden name was Betsey M. Lewis, was born in Lynn, being a descendant, through several generations, of Edmund Ingalls, the original settler of this city.
The school-days of Charles Henry Spear ended when he was fourteen years old. For seven years thereafter he was an employee of the firm of Graves & Sanborn, shoe manufact- urers. Subsequently he was with the well- known firm Brown & Brothers for eighteen years. Then, as one of the results of the memorable fire of November, 1889, he was thrown out of employment. In 1890, in com- pany with Annie M. Adams, he founded the Adams Elevator Company, which dissolved at the end of a year. In 1891 Mr. Spear was elected by the City Council to his present position, that of Clerk of Committees and Mayor's Clerk, the duties of which he has since discharged with ability and fidelity.
In 1887 he was a member of the Lynn Com- mon Council, serving with efficiency in the committees on Fuel, Street Lights, and Print- ing. In the following year he was in the Board of Aldermen, and did good service as a member of the committees on Elections, Bills in Second Reading, and Drainage Assess- ments ; and as the chairman of the committees on Fuel, Street Lights, and Printing. He was elected Superintendent of Street Lights in 1889, and served in that capacity for the ensuing three years. An earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, he is one of its leading workers. For eight years he was a member and the secretary of the Re- publican Club of Ward Three, and for four years he belonged to the Republican City Committee. A prominent Mason, he belongs
515
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
to Mount Carmel Lodge, Sutton Chapter, R. A. M., and Olivet Commandery, K. T. He was a member of Bay State Lodge, No. 40, I. O. O. F., from 1873 until 1889, when he withdrew, and became a charter member of East Lynn Lodge, No. 207, I. O. O. F.
THOMAS KING,* a well-known citi- zen and business man of Gloucester, was born in this city, July 27, 1862, son of Bourne and Abigail (Blatchford) King. His father, Bourne King, was for many years engaged in the fishing business in Gloucester. His mother was a daughter of George Blatch- ford. Having obtained a practical education in the excellent public schools of Gloucester, he entered the employ of a Mr. Hilton as teamster. Later he was engaged for some time in driving a wagon for George A. Davis. In May, 1898, he started in his present line of business as a wholesale dealer in liquors, and has so far been successful to a degree hardly anticipated. Mr. King attracted the attention of the public in November, 1897, by inaugu- rating a charity ball, the proceeds of which were to be given to the Addison Gilbert Hos- pital Association. It was attended by many of the best-known and most prominent citizens of Gloucester, as well as by plain workingmen - a truly democratic assemblage. During the concert that preceded the ball Mr. King was called to the stage, and presented with a mag- nificent bouquet in recognition of his efforts in making the affair such a brilliant success. The local press pronounced it the largest and one of the best-conducted balls ever held in Gloucester. The receipts, less expenses, were nearly twelve hundred dollars, which were turned over to the Hospital Association.
Mr. King can with aptness be called a self- made man, his present prosperous condition
having been achieved by his own efforts, un- aided either by especially favoring circum- stances or by influential friends. Stage Fort Park, which has recently been taken by the State, became known as a pleasure resort through his efforts, and on account of the at- tractions offered and advertised by him. Mr. King is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, of Lodge 117, Order of Elks, at Lynn, and of the volunteer fire department, being connected with the steamer "Bay View." In the fire department especially he takes a warm interest, and freely contributes both of his time and money to increase its efficiency. Mr. King married Miss Hattie R. Cook, a daughter of Joseph Cook, and a native of the Pine Tree State.
APTAIN CHARLES E. GROVER,* one of Gloucester's best-known citi- zens and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in this city, August 24, 1820, son of William and Harriet (Lufkin) Grover. He is a descendant in the eighth generation of Edmund Grover, whose sister Anne was the wife of Governor John Endicott. The line of descent comes to him from Edmund through Nehemiah, Elder Edmund, Deacon Eleazar, William, Eleazar, and William. Elder Edmund Grover was recommended as a preacher in Gloucester in 1722. Eleazar Grover, the grandfather of Captain Grover, resided in the First Parish at the head of the harbor, served in the War of 1812, and was for some time confined in Dartmoor Prison, England. William Grover, the father, was a sea captain, and for some years was engaged in the Surinam trade.
Charles E. Grover began his education under private instruction, and completed his studies at the Pinkerton Academy in Derry,
516
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
N.H. After leaving school, he accompanied his father on three voyages, in which he ac- quired a dislike for the sea. He then served an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade in Manchester, Mass. In 1840 he became a member of the firm Collins & Grover, cabinet- makers of Gloucester. Upon the withdrawal of his partner some time later, he continued the business alone, with increased facilities, being the first to introduce steam power for manufacturing purposes in the town. About the year 1847 he relinquished manufacturing in order to give his attention exclusively to the sale of furniture and kindred goods. Shortly after, when he received his younger brother into partnership, the firm name be- came C. E. & E. Grover. Messrs. Grover leased an entire block, which enabled them to enlarge their business by the addition of West India goods and groceries. In 1851 they aban- doned the furniture trade in order to engage in the fishing industry, for which purpose they purchased several boats, built others, and soon had quite a fleet at their disposal. After his brother's death in 1857 the senior partner wound up the affairs of the firm, and, going to Dakota, he invested in real estate to a con- siderable extent. He returned in the follow- ing year, thinking he had a handsome fortune in the land scrip he brought back - an illusion that a general panic soon dissolved. Locat- ing then in Boston, he was engaged in import- ing produce from the provinces until early in 1861. In this year, April 19, he opened a recruiting office on State Street, and in the short space of three days raised the first com- pany of three years' men formed in Boston, which was the nucleus of the regiment organ- ized by Fletcher Webster. Having received his commission, investing him with the com- mand of the company on April 23, Captain Grover took his men to Fort Warren, to wait
the completion of the regiment. Recruiting proceeded so slowly, however, that, tired of waiting, he resigned his command, and raised another company, but declined to become an officer of it. Then, in August, 1862, he en- listed as a private in a company raised in Cambridge, afterward designated Company F of the Forty-first Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry. Shortly after reaching the front he was appointed Sergeant, and later Sergeant- major. The Forty-first was subsequently changed by the War Department to the Third Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry, and served upon the Lower Mississippi. Captain Grover was wounded at Port Hudson and Yellow Bayou, but recovered in time to accompany his regiment to the Shenandoah Valley. At the battle of Opequan, September 19, 1864, he was severely wounded, and reported dead; but, thanks to careful nursing at General Sheridan's headquarters, he rallied, and was sent to the officers' hospital in Philadelphia, where he ultimately recovered. In the in- terim he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant for meritorious conduct. After participating in the grand review at Wash- ington, his regiment was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was then assigned to special duty as mustering officer at Fort Kear- ney, was subsequently commissioned Captain, and discharged as such in 1865. He saw much hard fighting during his three years of service, and passed through many exciting scenes, including Sheridan's famous arrival at Cedar Creek in time to turn a defeat into a glorious victory.
Captain Grover married Ann T. Friend, a daughter of William Scott Friend. He has two daughters, namely: Adelia, who is the wife of George Tomlinson, of Boston, and has four children - James, Annie C., Edith, and Adelia; and Clementine, who married Gusta-
517
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
vus L. Lawrence, and has three children. Mrs. Grover, who possessed many womanly virtues and was unfailing in her love and de- votion to her family, died November 20, 1896, leaving, besides her bereaved husband and children, a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. Captain Grover was formerly a prominent figure in the public affairs of Gloucester. He served as chairman of the Board of Selectmen under the town govern- ment when twenty-six years old, was Town Clerk for three years, and was Postmaster by the appointment of President Johnson and the reappointment of President Grant for six years. His unabated interest in the survivors of the Third Massachusetts Cavalry has led him to write a history of the regiment. He has also acquired some celebrity as a poet ; and some patriotic verses from his pen were read at the dedication of a soldiers' monument at Winchester, Va., some years ago.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.