USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 23
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together with a great variety of general mer- chandise, and by promptness and fair dealing has secured a good patronage.
Mr. Parker is highly esteemed, both in bus- iness and social circles, and has been Post- master in Plympton since 1884.
OHN DARLING CHURCHILL, the pioneer station agent of the Old Colony Railroad in Plymouth, was born here, November 8, 1817, son of Sylvanus and Lydia (Churchill) Churchill. Mr. Churchill's grandfather, Zenas Churchill, who was a native and a lifelong resident of this town, passed the active period of his life in sea- faring.
Sylvanus Churchill, Mr. Churchill's father, was born in Plymouth. At an early age he began to follow the sea as a means of liveli- hood. In the course of time he became an able seaman, acquiring a reputation for his agility aloft. One of his feats was to coil a rope while making his way to or from the mast-head. A man of strong constitution, he weathered the storms of the Atlantic for many years, and he lived to the age of eighty-two. He married Lydia Churchill, daughter of Thaddeus Churchill, of Plymouth. By her he became the father of seven sons, of whom John D., the youngest, is the only survivor. The others were: Sylvanus (first), who died in in- fancy; Sylvanus (second), who lived to be eighty-two years old; Hiram, who died at seventy-nine; Thomas, who died at eighty-six ; Benjamin, who lived to the age of eighty- three; and Josiah, who died at seventy-two years. They were all strong, able-bodied men and worthy citizens. The parents were members of the Orthodox church.
John Darling Churchill was educated in the common schools. While still a youth, he
engaged in seafaring on coasting-vessels. In his young manhood he was for a time em- ployed as a clerk in a general store for the fit- ting out of fishermen. Later he ran a packet between Plymouth and Boston. Upon the completion of the railroad in 1845, he was tendered the position of station agent at Plym- outh, to the exclusion of fourteen eligible applicants for the post. Though he did not desire to relinquish his packet business, he was finally prevailed upon to accept, and for five years he attended to the company's busi- ness here, having entire charge of this end of the line. He then resigned in order to devote his entire attention to the fishing industry. Having entered this business with two small vessels, he gradually increased his equipment to six stanch, seaworthy craft, which necessi- tated the use of two wharves. He was pros- perously occupied in this way until 1875, when he retired from active business pursuits. His vessels were kept constantly in commis- sion, making regular trips to the fishing banks, generally returning with good catches. He was exceptionally fortunate in keeping them above water, his only serious loss having been the seizure of one of them by the British au- thorities, upon a false charge of fishing within their territory.
In politics he has been a Republican since the formation of the party, and he has voted at every election for the past fifty-seven years. The pressure of business obliged him to de- cline the nomination to public offices at dif- ferent times.
Mr. Churchill married for his first wife, Marcia J. Holmes, daughter of Thomas Holmes, of Plymouth. By this union there are three children, namely: John Franklin, who was born January 11, 1841; Frederick Lee, who was born February 8, 1846; and Josiah D., who was born October 24, 1853.
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John Franklin Churchill attended the United States Naval School at Annapolis, Md. At the age of eighteen he entered the United States Navy, in which, during the Civil War, he held the rank of Ensign. At the siege of Fort Fisher he was highly complimented by Admiral Porter for his gallant conduct, He is now an accountant. Frederick Lee Churchill is the present Postmaster in Plym- outh, and Josiah D. Churchill is carrying on a flourishing mercantile business here. The mother died in 1882. The father's second marriage was contracted November 30, 1883, with Julia A. Hawley, of Plymouth. He has been a member of Plymouth Lodge, A. F. & A. M., for about thirty years; and of the Pil- grim Society of Plymouth for several years.
YRUS H. HARDY, dentist .- In these days of specialties, when it is the fashion for a professional man to restrict himself to one narrow path, the fact is sometimes lost sight of, that, to insure success, it is well to have some knowledge of things outside of one's particular work. Dr. Hardy has studied medicine, and can deter- mine whether the state of the teeth is due to the condition of the system, or that of the sys- tem to the teeth; and he understands thor- oughly the methods of administering ether or other anæesthetics without danger to the patient. Established for a number of years in Hingham, Mass., he has won the confidence of the public, and occupies a front rank in his profession. He was born in Wilton, Me., September 10, 1833, a son of Dr. Daniel and Lucinda (Teague) Hardy.
The Hardys are an old New England family. Two of the earliest colonists bearing this sur- name were: John, who settled in Salem in 1634; and Thomas, who was one of the first
twelve settlers of Ipswich, Mass., in 1633, and who died in Bradford in 1678, leaving several sons. Dr. Cyrus H. Hardy's grand- father, Daniel Hardy, was one of the early settlers in Wilton, Mc. He was a man of means and of strong character, the owner at one time of nearly half the township, and exercised, by his upright living and general example for good, a healthful influence on the community.
Dr. Daniel Hardy, his son, was a successful and popular physician, a native and lifelong resident of the Pine Tree State. In his early . life he had an extensive country practice, cov- ering a large territory; and he was subse- quently actively engaged in professional duties in the city of Portland, where he was not obliged to take such long and tiresome rides. He lived to be ninety-four years old. His wife died at the age of seventy-three. Four of their children are living: Josephine W., wife of Rufus Teague, of Turner, Me. ; Ade- line P., wife of Judge Davidson, of Sierra County, California; Francis A., in Bucksport, Me. ; and Cyrus H., now of Hingham.
Cyrus H. Hardy obtained the fundamental part of his education in the common schools of his native place, which were very good schools. He early took up the study of medi- cine, for which he had a natural taste, with his father, who was anxious for him to become a regular physician ; but he had a mechanical bent, and dentistry had a peculiar charm for him, notwithstanding the fact that his father was opposed to his being a dentist. He began to practise when he was only sixteen years old, pulling teeth for those who would trust themselves to him. Teeth in those days were extracted by means of the old turn-screw, a clumsy tool with which the boy dentist was much dissatisfied. He applied to the town- blacksmith for something better, and that arti-
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san told him if he would furnish a pattern he would make the tool for him. The lad accord- ingly fashioned a pair of forceps of wood, and the blacksmith made for him a finely finished pair of steel. These forceps did excellent service, for people came far and near to "the boy with the pincers" to have their trouble- some teeth removed.
In the mean time the lad was studying med- icine with his father, and he subsequently took a course at a medical school of the eclec- tic order on Boylston Street, Boston. He was graduated at Beach's Medical School when he was twenty-two years old, and he subse- quently studied the formation and use of chemicals and manufactured chemicals and chemical combinations ; then, after practising medicine for a while with his father, he took up the study of dentistry, and going to California with his brother, a regular physi- cian, he practised medicine and surgery there for a while, making a specialty of dentistry. About twenty-three years ago he became a resident of Hingham, and at that time he was still making a study of the science of den- tistry. After a term under the excellent in- struction of Dr. Sargeant, of Tremont Temple, he opened an office in Hingham. This was fourteen years ago, and Dr. Hardy now has a large and lucrative patronage, his work being its own advertisement. His office is in the Water Company's building.
Dr. Hardy married Julia Roby, of Charles- ton, S.C., who died in 1890, leaving the fol- lowing children: Ida Blanche, who is still with her father; Herbert O., foreman of the Journal printing office in this town; Cyrus Daniel, a graduate of the Massachusetts Col- lege of Pharmacy, now in charge of a labora- tory in Providence, R.I .; and Forrester, who is still at home. In politics the Doctor is a Republican. He is superintendent of the
Sunday-school connected with the Methodist church, and takes an active interest in the work of the society. His home, which is on Lafayette Avenue, stands on an elevation, and commands a beautiful view of the surrounding country. The Doctor is a genial, pleasant - mannered man, and has a large circle of friends.
RED C. SPARROW, carpenter and builder, is one of the intelligent and successful business men of Middleboro, Mass. He was born in this town, January 19, 1857, a son of James P. and Persis L. (Smith) Sparrow, and is of the third generation of his family in the vicinity, his paternal grand- father, James Sparrow, having been an old resident of Fall Brook. James P. Sparrow, son of the elder James, was born in Middle- boro, and was for a number of years in busi- ness here as a carpenter and builder. He died July 5, 1885, at the age of sixty years. His wife died February 17, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven. They reared six children, namely : Alice L., wife of W. F. Davis, of Duxbury, Mass .; Albert S., a resident of Middleboro; Samuel J .; Fred C., of Middle- boro; Priscilla E., wife of John C. Starbuck, of Elmwood; and Sarah L., wife of T. A. F. Washburn, an undertaker of Middleboro.
Fred C., the second son, as he grew to man- hood attended the schools of his native town, and, making rapid progress, entered the high school before he was thirteen years old. He had a natural aptitude for the use of tools, and when a boy was always busy upon some mechanical contrivance. At the age of eigh- teen he went to work for his father, and his apprenticeship was a very short one, as he seemed to know by intuition all the mysteries of the joiner's craft. He was associated with his father some ten years, and just before his
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father's death he assumed charge of the busi- ness. It is needless to say that he has been successful, and has finished many important contracts.
Mr. Sparrow was married by the Rev. N. J. Dyer (it being his first marriage ceremony), September 22, 1878, to Miss Sarah F. C. King, a most estimable lady of superior intel- ligence and ability. They have two children. The elder, Fred S., who was born August 15, 1882, is an active-minded lad and a great reader - apparently as fond of brain work as his father at the same age was of handicraft. He rises at daybreak in order to give more time to his beloved books. The other child, Sarah K., died June 13, 1892, having lived but thirteen months.
Mr. Sparrow is Vice-President of the Re- publican Club of Middleboro, has served at many elections as ballot clerk, and has been in office as Constable for the past nine years. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and the Junior Order of American Mechanics; and he is insured in a number of life, endowment, and accident companies, in- cluding the Massachusetts Mutual Benefit As- sociation, the Union Relief Association, and the Citizens' Aid Society. His wife is an active member of the Congregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow have a very pleasant home at 21 Plympton Street. The house is the same, remodelled, in which his father was born, and where he died. It also was the birthplace of Mr. Sparrow ; and here he hopes to die as soon as his days of usefulness are over. The house was erected as a parsonage by the Rev. Sylvanus Conant, the fourth pastor of the First Congregational Church in Middleboro, in 1752. It was afterward occu- pied by the Rev. Joseph Barker, the fifth pastor, who sold it to James Sparrow, the
grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Although it is one of the historic landmarks of old Middleboro, it stands to-day as erect and well preserved as any of the modern houses, and bids defiance to the storms of another century.
APTAIN ALDEN BESSE is a re- tired ship-master, residing in the vil- lage of Wareham, Plymouth County, Mass., where he was born on April 9, 1821.
His father, Samuel Besse, was a lifelong resident of Wareham, and was engaged in sea- faring pursuits during his early manhood. In the War of 1812, when he was visiting his brother at West Island, he was taken by the English, who made him pilot of their vessel, up as far as Bird Island. Eventually he was given his liberty at Martha's Vineyard. He married Elizabeth Young, a native of Ware- ham, and they became the parents of six chil- dren, as follows: Charles H., who died Janu- ary II, 1892, aged seventy-six years, eight months, seven days; Samuel B., who died June 22, 1860, aged forty-three years, three months, twenty days; Isaac Y., who died March 27, 1849, aged thirty-two years, three months, twenty days; Zeruiah Y., who died March 28, 1851, aged thirty-two years, one month, six days; Rodolphus, who died March 5, 1878, aged fifty-four years, ten months, fourteen days; and Alden, the only one now living.
Samuel Besse, the father, died August 16, 1863, aged seventy-seven years, eleven months, seventeen days; and the mother, Elizabeth Besse, died April 5, 1863, aged seventy-seven years, four months.
Alden Besse left home when but twelve years old to go on board a coasting-vessel, on which he was employed six years. He then
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shipped before the mast on the whaling brig "Inga," which cruised in the North and South Atlantic seven months. He subsequently made a second voyage of the same length on the same vessel, and cruising over the same waters, but held the position of boat-steerer. His third and fourth voyages also were made on the "Inga," but he had been promoted in each case, going out first as second mate and later as first mate. He then sailed from New Bedford on the bark "Charleston Packet, " as master, being away from home eighteen months at that time. The following three years he had command of the bark "Hecla," spending the time chiefly on the North Pacific. Captain Besse on his return remained with his family six months, and then returned to New Bedford to take charge of the ship "John Wells," going to the Okhotsk Sea, where he cruised two seasons. After spending a year in Wareham, he next went out on a sperm whaling trip, as master of the ship "Hunter," to the coast of New Zealand, this time being away four years. Two years later he made a cruise in the. same vessel on the Atlantic Ocean for nearly two years, that being his last voyage. He was engaged in whaling from 1839 until 1868, being master of a vessel from 1846, and in his voyages meeting with invari- able success. He is a good business man, noted for his honest and upright dealings, and in the course of his career has accumulated considerable property, having been the owner of several vessels engaged in freighting for foreign ports, and he is still interested in these pursuits to some extent.
Captain Besse was married December 26, 1852, to Mrs. Betsey S. (Jenney) Besse, the widow of his brother Isaac. Mrs. Besse had two children by her first marriage, namely : Charles A., who lived but nine months; and Adelaide S., wife of Gideon M. Washburn, of
Brockton, Mass. Captain and Mrs. Besse have had two children, of whom Frank A., a book-keeper in the National Bank of Ware- ham, is the only one living, Isaac H., the youngest child, having died at the age of two years and five months.
In politics Captain Besse is a strong advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in local affairs, having served in nearly all the offices within the gift of his fellow-townsmen. From 1868 until 1880 he was one of the Selectmen of Wareham, and at the same time was Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He has also filled an unexpired term as Town Treasurer and Col- lector. In 1871 and 1872 he represented his district in the State legislature. The Captain has been a member of the Board of Directors of the National Bank of Wareham for fifteen years, and is a Vice-President, Trustee, and ,one of the Investment Committee of the Ware- ham Savings Bank.
LBERT CULVER, of Rockland, Mass., senior member of the firm of A. Culver Company, dealers in coal, wood, hay, flour, and grain, and other merchandise, is a self-made man, who has won his way from a hard-working boyhood to a mature manhood, blessed by wealth and position. He was born in the town of Poultney, Rutland County, Vt., January 10, 1838, son of Isaac C. and Maria (Mead) Culver, natives of the Green Mountain State.
Isaac C. Culver, who was a farmer, removed about 1841 to Niagara County, New York, and there followed the pursuit of agriculture for fifty-six years. He died at the age of eighty- six, his wife living to be fourscore and four. They had a family of eleven. children, two of whom died in infancy. A son, John M., also
ALBERT CULVER.
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is deccased, and a daughter, Julia, died in North Abington. The survivors are: Fran- cis, residing in Compton, Cal .; Frederick and Ann M., in Niagara County, New York; Mary J .. in Detroit, Mich .; Charles and Louisa, in Niagara County, New York; and Albert, the subject of this sketch.
Albert Culver was three years old when his parents removed to New York State, and he was there reared on a farm. He was given scant educational privileges, being obliged, from the time that he was ten years old, to work in the growing season, and to make the most of his opportunities for schooling in the winter; but he was naturally intelligent, and in course of time acquired a store of practical knowledge, his teachers being necessity and experience. He remained on the home farm until eighteen years of age, and then went to work for his brother John, a merchant who dcalt in feed and coal in North Abington, Mass. With his brother he remained about fifteen months; and he was subsequently in the employ of Deacon Ford, a North Abington grocer, for fifteen months; in the Union Store at the same place, two years; and in a grocery store at East Abington, three months.
While employed in these various places he had perfected himself as an accountant, and he was next engaged as book-keeper in a shoe factory, where he remained eleven years. Although almost wholly self-educated, he was an expert at this kind of clerical work; and when the Hanover branch of the railroad was built, Mr. Lane, one of his employers at the factory, being Treasurer of the railroad com- pany, gave Mr. Culver full charge of the rail- road accounts. His duties included the issu- ing of notices and the receipt and expenditure of funds; and he displayed such good judg- ment and practical ability that, on Mr. Lane's death, he was appointed Treasurer of the cor-
poration. lle was in office some ten years, until the road was sold to the Old Colony Company.
In his present business he was at first asso- ciated with the Lane Brothers and others. The Lanes retired after a while, and for eleven years the firm was Culver, Phillips & Co. Seven years ago Mr. Culver purchased the entire business, which has since been under his direction solely. There were originally a number of branch stores, one of which was in Hanover, Mass. It has required firmness and determination to carry on this extensive busi- ness, for there was opposition to be overcome, not only from men, but also from naturc. The large warehouse on Union Street, oppo- site the railroad station, is built partly on swampy ground, and it required patience and skilful engineering to establish a firm founda- tion. Mr. Culver was not to be turned aside from his purpose by an obstacle. He went steadily on, and accomplished all that he had intended. He is a Director of the Rockland National Bank, which he was active in organ- izing; and he is a Trustee of the Savings Bank, and a member of the Investing Com- mittee.
Mr. Culver was married in 1862 to Nancy S. Howland, of East Abington, daughter of Jonathan Howland, and they have two chil- dren : Annie M., born September 23, 1867, wife of E. B. Church, of Rockland; and Ethel M., born October 24, 1875, who has not yet left her parents.
Politically, Mr. Culver is a stanch Republi- can. He takes a lively interest in local im- provements, and contributes liberally to every- thing calculated to advance the interests of the town. He was quite active in the organiza- tion of the Rockland Commercial Club, an association of business men, of which he is a charter member; and he is a member of
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Standish Lodge, Odd Fellows, of Rockland. Mr. Culver has a handsome residence at 8 School Street.
JDWARD A. GAMMONS, Cashier of the National Bank of Wareham, and Treasurer of the Wareham Savings Bank, was born in South Wareham, Mass., January 15, 1842, a son of William and Deb- orah B. (Gallt) Gammons. Soon after his birth his parents removed to East Weymouth, but two years later settled in Wareham, near Parker Mills. Here their son Edward was educated, attending the common schools of this town.
At the age of eight years he began working in the Parker mills, where he was employed during the winter for several years, while in the summer months he followed the sea. In 1862, in the month of October, Mr. Gammons enlisted as a private in Company B, Third Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Camp Joe Hooker. Going thence to North Carolina with his regiment, he was stationed at New Berne, and took an active part in various battles in that locality, being in the midst of the conflict at Kingston, Whitehall, and Goldsboro, and in various minor engagements. In June, 1863, at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, he was discharged from service at Camp Joe Hooker. On returning to Wareham, Mr. Gammons entered what is now known as the National Bank at Wareham as a clerk, a posi- tion which he had filled twelve years when he was appointed Assistant Cashier. Ten years later he was made Treasurer and Cashier of the above-named bank, succeeding Thomas R. Miles, who died in March, 1885, and who was connected with the bank as Cashier from the date of incorporation in 1833, excepting five
years. Mr. Miles entered banking business at the age of twelve, having his first experience at Newport, R.I., being there about ten years. He then accepted the position of Paying Teller in the Merchants' Bank at Providence, R.I., where he remained until 1833, when he 'came to Wareham. He was a man highly re- spected and valued in the community, having good judgment in financial matters, and an extensive acquaintance. His memory is held sacred by the inhabitants of Wareham and vicinity.
On January 15, 1867, Mr. Gammons married Mary B. Billings, a daughter of Warren and Mary F. (Caswell) Billings, of Wareham. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gammons three children have been born, namely: Mary B., wife of Frank A. Besse; William, a clerk in the employ of the Boston Dry-goods Company ; and Henry Elliott, who is employed in the Compressed Steel Shafting Works at South Boston. Politically, Mr. Gammons affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a valued member of Social Harmony Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he is now Secretary ; and of the General William T. Sherman Post, No. 208, Grand Army of the Republic.
LEXANDER R. GURNEY, the engi- neer in charge of the Middleboro Pumping Station, is a man of unusual ability. He was born in Marion, Mass., March 23, 1848, son of Rufus H. and Phœbe (Cahoon) Gurney. Rufus H. Gurney was a ship-carpenter by trade. He followed the sea for some time in his youth, and again, after 1869, when he was ship navigator, and visited several of the West India Islands. He had many tales to tell of the strange sights and peoples he had seen. After settling perma- nently on land, he gave his attention to
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mechanical work, in which he was naturally skilled. In December, 1861, he enlisted for three years' service in the Civil War, joining Company H, Twenty-ninth Regiment, Massa- chusetts Volunteers. At the end of this term he joined the ranks again, and served till the close of the war. Shortly before Lee's sur- render he was captured, and spent two weeks in the hands of the Confederates. His mechanical skill caused him to be in much demand in the surgeon's department. He died in 1887, aged sixty-four years, six months, nine days. His wife, who was a Plymouth girl, after surviving him about four years, died aged sixty eight years, nine months, twenty days. Their children were: Mary, Alexander R., Freeman F., and Anna F. Mary is now the wife of Benjamin S. Keyes, of Middleboro; and Anna F. is the wife of G. H. Bourne.
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