USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 38
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Mr. Rodgers was married December 27, 1835, to Eleanor Baxter, daughter of James Baxter, of Quincy, Mass. Mrs. Eleanor B. Rodgers died March 13, 1893, aged seventy- seven years. Mr. Rodgers has no children living. In politics he belongs to the - Repub- lican party. In his native town, where so many of his days have been spent, and where there are so many of his old friends and asso- ciates that his life is like an open book, he enjoys the good will and respect of all.
HARLES C. FIELD was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton, March 18, 1826, and has been in business in this city over fifty years. His parents were Zophar and Berenice (Howard) Field. He is an uncle of Daniel Waldo and Fred F. Field, well-known shoe manufact-
urers of Brockton, and is a member of an old family, the first representative of which, John Field, settled in Bridgewater in 1665, before the town was divided. Since that time, over two and a quarter centuries, the Field family has flourished where it was originally planted.
The oldest house now standing in Brockton was erected by Jabez Field, grandson of John Field and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, in 1752. Daniel Field, son of Jabez and grandfather of Charles C., kept a general store in what is now Montello for some time, but in the latter part of his life gave his attention solely to the pursuit of agriculture.
Zophar Field was one of the early shoe manufacturers of North Bridgewater, asso- ciated with Charles Southworth, under the firm name of Field & Southworth. He event- ually retired from the shoe business, and was engaged in slaughtering cattle for the Boston market during the rest of his life, also manag- ing the homestead farm. Mr. Zophar Field attended divine worship at the Universalist church. He died in 1865, aged seventy-five years. His wife was a daughter of Oliver Howard, of North Bridgewater. She was the mother of four sons and four daughters: Har- riet; Daniel, who died in November, 1893, aged seventy-eight years; Louisa, who lived but five years; George, who died in May, 1896, aged seventy-eight; Louisa; Hannah ; Charles C .; and William L. The two last named are the only survivors of the family.
Charles C. Field received a common-school education in Montello, going to work at the age of fourteen. At that early age he began to drive a market wagon for himself; and at sixteen he went to Brighton to buy cattle, which he slaughtered. In 1845 he opened a store on the site of the present Enterprise
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Building; and, after ten years of prosperous trade at that stand, he purchased a place where the Field Block now is. He was over thirty years in business at that location, and then moved to his present stand, 20 Spring Street. Three years ago he retired from business; but, soon tiring of inactivity, he bought back his old place, and is again happy, welcoming old customers, and making many new acquaint- ances. He opened the first market in the town, and has had a very successful career in the half-century that he has been in trade. Mr. Field was engaged for a while in market gardening, raising his produce on a piece of land which he afterward sold to the railroad company for a freight yard. This land he purchased of B. E. Jones for five hundred dol- lars; and in 1891 the railroad company paid him seventy-five thousand dollars for it, the transaction being the best real estate deal ever effected in Brockton. Mr. Field was married in 1848 to Lucy Cobb Cross, daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy (Cross) Cross, of North Bridgewater. Their silver wedding was cele- brated in October, 1873. This union has been blessed by four children. The eldest daughter died, and one daughter is yet at home with her parents. Charles is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Medical School, and has practised medicine in East Bridgewater for seventeen years. The other son, George Wilton, is a graduate of Brown University and of Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, and has also studied in Europe for some time, remaining in Italy six months. For the past three years he has filled the chair of Professor of Biology at Brown University.
Mr. Field, who is a stanch Republican, cast his first Presidential vote as a Whig for Zach- ary Taylor in 1848, before the new party was formed. He has been urged to accept dif- ferent offices in Brockton, but has always
firmly refused. He belongs to no secret orders and to no temperance society, though a strong believer in total abstinence, having never drank liquor or smoked or chewed tobacco in his life. The only social organiza- tion with which he is affiliated is the Commer- cial Club, of which he is an honored member.
AMES HORACE WEST, a well-known box manufacturer of North Pembroke, Mass., was born January 25, 1829, in
North Bridgewater, now Brockton. His parents were James and Hannah (Ballard) West. John West, his grandfather, was the earliest-known ancestor in Plymouth County. Living in this region before the days of rail- roads, Mr. John West teamed merchandise from Boston to Randolph and surrounding towns. His last years were spent in that part of Randolph now within the limits of the town of Holbrook. He married Relief Kingman, a native of Randolph, whose father was a black- smith.
Their son James, the father of James Horace West, after acquiring a common-school educa- tion, learned the shoemaking trade. He bought a farm in that part of Abington which has been set off to form the town of Whitman, and continued in the successful management thereof during the rest of his life. He mar- ried Hannah Ballard, of New Hampshire, by whom he had nine children. He died in 1890, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. His wife died at the age of seventy-nine years.
James H. West, leaving school at the age of fifteen, went to Pembroke to work on a farm, and during his minority his father re- ceived his wages. For a time thereafter he was engaged in teaming; and in 1867, buying the mill in North Pembroke, he began the
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manufacture of boxes, which still engages his attention. The mill is admirably fitted with all kinds of machinery; and he employs an able corps of workmen, who make a great vari- ety of boxes. At present the products are sold, almost without exception, to the Walter Baker Company. In politics Mr. West has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He served six years on the Board of Select- men.
The maiden name of his wife, to whom he was married in 1851, was Mary Green Shep- herd. Her parents were Calvin and Mary (Byram) Shepherd, of Pembroke, consistent members of the Society of Friends, their daughter being a birthright member. Mrs. Mary G. S. West died on February 14, 1896, having reared two children - James H., Jr., and Calvin Shepherd. James H. West, Jr., married Hattie Irving Calkins, and has two children - Gilbert Horace and Ada Irving. He and his family are members of the grange. Calvin S. West is a member of the Board of Selectmen of Pembroke. He married Sarah L. Calkins; and they have one son, Lester Daniel West.
ORRILL A. PHILLIPS, .of the firm of E. Phillips & Sons, tack manufacturers, was born in the town of Hanson, Plymouth County, Mass., February 27, 1844, son of Ezra and Catherine (Tilden) Phillips. He came with his parents to Hanover in 1852, and was educated in the public schools and at Hanover Academy. At
the age of nineteen he entered E. Y. Perry & Co.'s store in South Hanover, remaining two years, and he was afterward employed by the same firm in Boston. In 1874 he became associated with his father and brothers, who purchased Mr. Perry's interest in the tack business at South Hanover, the firm being
thereafter known under the style of E. Phillips & Sons. They manufacture nails, roll sheet, zinc, and lead, and when running under full capacity turn out five tons of nails daily, giv- ing employment to sixty-five persons. In 1886 Mr. Edward M. Sweeney entered the firm as partner. In politics Mr. Phillips affiliates with the Republican party.
R. STEPHEN HENRY has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in Marshfield since 1861, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the public, at least three 'generations having tested and proved his ability in his profession. He was born in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Mass., December 4, 1829, a son of William and Lucy C. (Tilson) Henry. On the paternal side his first ancestor to locate in Stoughton settled there as early as 1740; and many members of the family, including our subject's father, were born in that town. William Henry was a millwright by trade. His wife, Lucy C. (Tilson) Henry, who was of Pilgrim stock, was born in the town of Wareham, Mass.
Stephen Henry was reared in Stoughton, and educated in the public schools. He learned the millwright's trade with his father, and fol- lowed it until about thirty years old, then taking up the study and practice of dentistry. In 1860 he started an independent practice, and in 1861 he opened an office in Marshfield. Added to his natural ability, his long experi- ence has perfected his skill ; and he keeps well up with the progress of the times, noting and profiting by every new discovery in his profes- sion.
Dr. Henry married Miss Jane Weston, a native of Marshfield, and daughter of Captain William Weston, a former resident of this
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town, but now deceased. They have one child - Helen M., a young lady of rare abil- ity, who has taken the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery at the Boston Dental College, and is now practising dentistry in Kingston, Mass. Dr. Stephen Henry votes with the Re- publiean party. He is well known in Plym- outh County, and has many friends.
EORGE A. WOODWARD, superin- tendent of the manufacturing plant of the widely-known Hub Gore Com- pany at Roekland, Mass., was born in Derby- shire, England, February 27, 1861, a son of Albert Charles and Esther (Tetley) Wood- ward. Albert Woodward, who was a native of Derby, England, died in Paterson, N.J., at the age of forty-five. Mrs. Woodward was born in Derby, England. She is the mother of nine ehildren, six of whom are living, George A. being next to the youngest.
George A. Woodward was eleven years old when he came to this eountry, and it was here that he aequired his education. He worked as eash boy in a store in Boston until sixteen years of age, in the mean time attending an evening school. Naturally bright, he almost uneonseiously trained himself for a business career through his associations and by observ- ing the ways and methods of successful men. After leaving the Boston store he entered a weaving factory in Chelsea, Mass., and there he remained until he was twenty-three, learn - ing the business practically and thoroughly. He was subsequently employed by weaving firms in Boston and in Wallingford, Conn., and in 1890 he removed to Rockland, going to work in the factory of the Hub Gore Com- pany. Here his ability and trustworthiness were soon recognized, and two years ago he was made superintendent of the factory on
Park Street, Roekland. The Hub Gore is widely known through advertising, and the congress shoes fitted with this gore are un- doubtedly the best in the market. The eom- pany's principal office is at 91 Bedford Street, Boston. They have a large and flourishing plant, and Mr. Woodward's position is one of great responsibility.
Mr. Woodward was married in 1883 to Florenee Whitmore, of Chelsea, Mass., and he has a family of four bright and promising ehildren - Chester Arthur, Ernest Carlton, Florenee Ethel, and Marion Louise. In poli- tics he favors the Republican side. Though in Rockland but a comparatively short time, he stands well in the community, and may be regarded as a representative eitizen. He is a member of Standish Lodge, 177, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
EORGE GUSTAVUS DYER, late President of the Old Colony Na- tional Bank, who died at his home in Plymouth in January, 1891, was during his aetive life one of the most prominent men in the financial and religious eireles of the town. He was born in South Abington, now Whitman, Mass., August 20, 1825. He was a son of Christopher, third, and Betsey (Por- ter) Dyer, and grandson of Christopher, see- ond, and Deborah (Reed) Dyer. The grand- father of Christopher Dyer, seeond, was Will- iam Dyer, of Weymouth, Mass. On the paternal side Mr. George G. Dyer elaimed deseent from Peregrine White, who was born on the "Mayflower " in Cape Cod Harbor.
The Dyer family dates back to the reign of Alfred the Great in the English genealogieal records, and some of its members are now holding titles in the English peerage. Among the first of the name who came to
GEORGE G. DYER.
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America were William and Mary Dyer (or Dyre) ; and the fate of the latter was a tragedy and a blot upon the pages of Boston's Colonial history, for there on the Common Mary Dyer was hanged as a Quaker in 1660. She left a son William, a son Samuel, a Charles, and other children. One Thomas Dyer and his wife Agnes arrived in Boston in 1632, and settled in Weymouth. He had five sons and three daughters. The family motto of the Dyers is: "To affright I would not, to fear I know not," and many of the name have lived up to the standard of the couplet.
George G. Dyer was educated at Andover Academy, and began his business career as a book-keeper in the wholesale boot and shoe store of Samuel Blake in Boston. . From 1852 to the time of his death he was connected with the Old Colony National Bank, holding the offices of Cashier, Director, and President successively. He was its cashier at the time of his marriage in 1852 to Miss Mary A. Bartlett Sampson, daughter of Schuyler Samp- son and Mary Ann (Bartlett) Sampson. Mrs. Dyer's father, Schuyler Sampson, was a lineal descendant of Abraham Sampson, who came to New England about 1629, and whose brother Henry came in the "Mayflower " in 1620, but was too young to have his name appear on the famous compact signed by the Pilgrims on the 27th of November. Abraham Sampson was a surveyor of highways in 1648, and a Constable of Duxbury in 1653. His son George was the father of George (second) and grandfather of Zabdiel, whose son George (third) was the father of Schuyler Sampson. As the second George Sampson married Hannah Soule, a great-granddaughter of Captain Miles Stan- dish and of John Alden, Mrs. George G. Dyer counts among her ancestors the famous mili- tary commander of the Plymouth Colony and John and Priscilla Alden.
The family history abounds in interesting details, of which a few may here be noted. Deborah Sampson, a great-granddaughter of Isaac Sampson, son of Abraham, is renowned for having served three years in the ranks of the Revolutionary army under the name of Robert Shurtleff. Another treasured story of heroism is told of Mrs. Dyer's great-grand- father, Zabdiel Sampson, who, during the French and Indian War of 1756, was taken prisoner by the Indians and was tied to a tree as a target for tomahawks, which were thrown at him, but strange to say did not inflict fatal wounds. His life was preserved through that danger ; and he fell as a brave soldier in the Revolutionary War, some years after, at the battle of Harlem.
Schuyler Sampson was born in Plympton, Mass., January 16, 1797. He was educated in the common schools of that town, and started out in life as a merchant in Western Virginia, where he was engaged in business some years. Later on he was for a while the store-keeper of the Plymouth Cordage Com- pany, becoming afterward Collector of Cus- toms of the Port of Plymouth. The latter office he held for twelve years; and he was also Superintendent of Plymouth Beach for three years, or from 1852 to the date of his death, March 31, 1855. He was connected with the Old Colony Bank from the time of its organization, in 1832, till the end of his life, being chosen one of the first directors, then cashier, and finally President. Mr. Sampson filled many municipal offices. He was a Selectman of Plymouth ; a charter mem- ber of Plymouth Lodge, A. F. & A. M., which was organized in 1825 ; and a Trustee of the Pilgrim Society. He was a member of the Pilgrimage Church, in which he was ac- tively interested, serving as its Sunday-school Superintendent for a number of years.
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He was married August 13, 1823, to Miss Mary Ann Bartlett, a daughter of Captain Amasa Bartlett, of Plymouth, where she was born September 9, 1798. Mrs. Mary A. Bart- lett Sampson passed from earth on the 3d of September, 1825, in the twenty-seventh year of her age, leaving her infant daughter, Mary Ann, a babe of five months. Schuyler Samp- son married September 30, 1827, his first wife's sister, Sarah T. (Bartlett) Bishop, widow of William Bishop, of Plymouth. She died August 23, 1848. The three children born of this second marriage were: Sarah T. B. ; George S., who died at the age of about one year ; and Hannah B. Miss Mary A. B. Sampson was educated at Bradford Academy and in the private schools of her native town, Plymouth. She was twenty-seven years of age when she became the wife of Mr. George G. Dyer. The three children born of their union were: George S., who is at present Town Treasurer of Plymouth ; Horace White, who died at about two years of age; and Mary Schuyler. George S. Dyer married Ada B. . Smith, daughter of Dryden Smith, M.D., of Biddeford, Me. They have two children : George Webster, born May 21, 1888; and Loring, born September 4, 1890. Mary Schuyler Dyer was married June 11, 1891, to James W. Cooper, a druggist. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper have one child - Willard Ashley, now three years of age.
George G. Dyer was one of the Trustees of the Pilgrim Society and was an active worker in the Church of the Pilgrimage, with which he was connected by membership for a quarter of a century. This church is of orthodox doc- trine and creed, and Mr. Dyer was a teacher in its Sunday-school for twenty years, and a Deacon for twenty-five years. In the various relations of life George G. Dyer was faithful and diligent; and his death, at the age of
sixty-five years and eight months, caused uni- versal and sincere sorrow among the citizens of Plymouth, for he was popular, admired, and respected. His widow is still a resident of the old town in which for so many generations her own as well as her husband's family has held such a prominent place.
ALTON HALL, a resident of Marshfield, was born in this town, March 3, 1856, son of Tilden and Hetty (Jones) Hall. His father, Tilden Hall, who was a native of Marshfield, in early man- hood followed the occupation of a ship carpen- ter, but during his last years was engaged in shoemaking. He was for some time Postmas- ter at Marshfield Hills. He died in Marsh- field in 1888. His wife, who was born in Barnstable, Mass., died in 1889.
Walton Hall was educated in his native town, attending school until fifteen years of age. He then entered the employ of Whiton Brothers, cordage manufacturers, of Boston, for whom he worked nine years, at the end of that time becoming a member of the firm. Since 1895 the house has been known as Fear- ing, Hall & Whiton. They act mainly as agents for mills. Mr. Hall has been Presi- dent of the Marshfield Agricultural and Horti- cultural Society for two years. In 1885 Mr. Hall purchased the old Daniel Webster estate, and while carefully preserving all its historic features, he has made many improvements in the property, materially increasing its value. The original house in which Webster spent so many pleasant hours was burned in 1880. The present house stands far back from the road, and the grounds in front are shaded by mag- nificent trees, standing just as they did in the great stateman's day. The estate contains about eight hundred acres, and to the fruit-
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trees planted in Webster's time Mr. Hall has added many others, so that he is now owner of one of the finest orchards in Plymouth County, and that yields in a fruit year two thousand barrels. He has in his possession many ar- ticles that once belonged to Webster.
EACON NATHANIEL ELLIS is a well-known citizen of Plymouth, Plymouth County, Mass., and by oc- cupation a farmer. He was born in Ellisville, in the town of Plymouth, November 1, 1818, a son of Nathaniel and Remember (Swift) Ellis. He is a representative of an old and respected family of Plymouth County.
From the Ellis records given in Mr. Will- jam T. Davis's "Ancient Landmarks," we gather that the elder Nathaniel, who was mar- ried in 1810, was the seventh child of Thomas and Jerusha (Clark) Ellis, who were married in 1767. Thomas, born in 1764, is said to have been a son of William Ellis, Jr., and grandson of William, Sr., who was "perhaps son of Matthias " Ellis.
The first Nathaniel Ellis had his birth in this famous town, and, like his father, fol- lowed here during all of his mature years the honored calling of a farmer. He married Miss Remember Swift, also a native of Plymouth, and of their union were born five children, namely : William, who is now deceased; Cur- tis, also deceased; Nathaniel; Betsy; and Lucy. Mr. Nathaniel Ellis, Sr., departed this life on November 26, 1858, in his sixty: seventh year, and his wife on May 14, 1877, at the venerable age of eighty-one years.
Their son, Nathaniel Ellis, now Deacon Ellis, attained to man's estate on the ances- tral farm in Plymouth, enjoying but limited educational privileges in his youth. On reaching his majority he began life for him-
self, shipping on a coasting-vessel. After remaining on board that craft about a year he sailed for half a dozen years on a steamboat, and at the termination of that period he came back to Plymouth, where he has made his home from that day to this. He owns and carries on about sixty acres of land, tilling the soil and feeding stock; and he likewise devotes considerable attention to teaming. On No- vember 26, 1845, he married Miss Nancy Swift, a native of Plymouth, and a daughter of William Swift. One child was born to them, a son, Wallace H. by name, who passed away in his seventeenth year.
Deacon Ellis has ever taken an active inter- est in the civic and social affairs of his community, and he has served his fellow- townsmen for four years in the capacity of Road Surveyor. In national political views he is identified with the Republican party. Religiously, he is intimately associated with the Congregational church of Plymouth, which he serves in the important and respon- sible position indicated by his title, partici- pating freely and earnestly in its Christian work.
LGERNON S. CHANDLER, a well- known citizen of Kingston, was born in Duxbury, November 22, 1838, son of Captain David and Edith (Chandler) Chandler. He is a descendant of one of the carly settlers of Plymouth County. His grandfather, Asa Chandler, was a resident of Duxbury.
Captain David Chandler, father of Algernon S., was born in Duxbury, and acquired a com- mon-school education. In his earlier years he followed the sea, and as master of vessels visited many parts of the world. He served in the War of 1812; and, after his retirement from the sea, he settled in his native town,
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where he presided for many years. He took an active and leading part in local affairs, being especially interested in educational matters; and, as he was well versed in com- mon law, he rendered much service to his neighbors as a legal adviser, and in the settle- ment of estates. Toward the latter part of his life he moved to a farm in Kingston, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He also operated a mill for the manufacturing of box boards and shingles, and achieved marked suc- cess as a business man. In politics he was originally a Whig, but later joined the Repub- lican party. In his religious views he was a Unitarian. He died in Kingston in his eighty-third year. His wife, Edith Chandler, who was a native of Kingston, was a daughter of Nathan Chandler, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. Of her children there are three survivors : Rebecca, widow of Francis Sears, a late resident of Duxbury ; Algernon S., the subject of this sketch; and Edith, who is the wife of Walter Baker, of Kingston.
Algernon S. Chandler was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at the age of sixteen he accompanied his parents to Kingston. He assisted upon the farm and in the mill until his father's retirement, when he took charge of the business, and carried it on successfully for several years. Some time since he retired from active business pursuits, and, moving to the village, is now occupying a pleasantly located residence on Main Street. Mr. Chandler wedded Sophia Wright Maglath - lin, daughter of Elisha Maglathlin, late of Kingston, and has one daughter, Edith W., who is the wife of Preston E. Foss, of South Braintrce, Mass. Politically, Mr. Chandler favors the Democratic party, but votes inde- pendently. He has served with ability as Road Surveyor, and is numbered among the prominent well-to-do residents of Kingston.
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