USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 41
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In politics Mr. Keith affiliates with the Republican party, and for a number of years was clerk of the Republican City Committee of Brockton. Officially, he is a Director in the Boot and Shoe Sole-Laying Company of Boston, and a Trustee in the Brockton City Hospital. Fraternally, Mr. Keith is a Mason, and at the present time he is Senior Warden of St. George Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Campello; a member of Satucket Royal Arch Chapter; Organist of Brockton Council, Royal and Select Masters; and Senior Warden of Bay State Commandery, Knights Templars, all of Brockton. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, being a member of the South Church and Parish. In the parish he has officiated as clerk for the last twelve years.
AMES A. VAUGHN, Postmaster and Town Treasurer of Carver, Plymouth County, Mass., was born on the Vaughn homestead in this town, April 26, 1849. He is a son of Thomas and Mercy Carver (Sher- man) Vaughn, both natives of Carver. His parents had nine children, of whom six are living; namely, Theodosia B., Christiana C., Mercy J., James A., Edwin A., and Theodore T. Theodosia B. Vaughn married Augustus L. Thomas, and resides in Middleboro, Mass. ; Mercy C. became the wife of Andrew F. Barrows, who died December 17, 1880; Edwin
A. Vaughn is a resident of Whitman. The homestead came into possession of Thomas Vaughn, father of the subject of this sketch, in 1837.
James A. Vaughn was reared on the home farm, obtaining his early education in the public schools. Though he went to work when quite young, he did not consider his ed- ucation finished, but took up special studies when twenty-two years of age, attending a business college in Boston. He began to support himself when seventeen years of age, selling nursery stock for Mr. Watson, of Plymouth, in whose employ he remained three years; and, after finishing his commercial course of study at Boston, he went into the nursery business himself on the homestead, where he remained until 1883. In that year he removed to his present location, purchasing twenty-five acres of land; and his business prospered to such an extent that a few years later he bought one hundred acres more adjoin- ing his first purchase. His land includes some fine meadows; and, in addition to his nursery business, he is extensively engaged in cran- berry culture, and also does some lumbering in a small way. As a nurseryman he controls an extensive trade, selling besides well-started trees and plants, seeds of all kinds. Thrifty and enterprising, he has developed an exten- sive business, where another man would be likely to meet with failure, and has won from his fellow-men the respect always given to merited success.
Mr. Vaughn was married October 3, 1883, to Miss Desire A. Osborn, daughter of Captain James C. and Achsa Anna Osborn, of Edgar- town, Mass. They have one child, an adopted son, Henry Herbert Vaughn. In political matters Mr. Vaughn is independent, voting for the candidate that he considers best quali- fied to serve the interests of the people. He
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was chosen Town Treasurer in 1893, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Griffiths, and proved so efficient that he has been retained in office ever since: and he has been Postmaster of Carver since March IO, 1 890. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn are members of the Baptist church, and he is very active in church work, and has served as clerk and as Deacon. He is a representative citizen of Carver, active in business, political, and re- ligious affairs.
G EORGE S. RANDALL, of Marsh- field Hills, whose violin-case factory at Sea View is one of the important industrial plants of this locality, has long been interested in the manufacture of musical in- struments; and before the piano had sup- planted the cabinet organ in the homes of the people, he made many organs for the music trade. He was born in Winthrop, Me., No- vember II, 1833, a son of Penuel and Emily (Baker) Randall.
Penuel Randall was a son of Asa Randall, one of the pioneer settlers in the State of Maine. It is said that Asa Randall's wife, Mr. George S. Randall's grandmother, was taken by the Indians when ten years old, dur- ing one of their raids on the white settle- ments, when they carried into captivity all whom they did not butcher. She was held by them until twenty-one years of age, and then, tomahawking seven of the savages while they were asleep, she made her escape, and found her way through the wilderness to a white settlement Penuel Randall was a native of the Pine Tree State. A natural mechanic, he earned a livelihood by expert and skilful man- ual labor, his fine workmanship insuring him constant employment. He was also a music teacher of note. He died in 1847, during the
Mexican War. Mrs. Randall, after her hus- band's death, married a Mr. Adams, and is still living.
George S. Randall in his boyhood attended the common schools of Winthrop, Me., and when he was seven years old he also began to work at shoemaking. Thrown on his own re- sources at the age of fourteen by the death of his father, at the age of seventeen he was a skilled workman in the "gentle craft of leather." At nineteen he began to learn the trade of cabinet and chair making, which he followed for a number of years. In April, 1856, he went to Ansonia, Conn., to learn to tune organs; 'and the following year his em- ployer, Mr. Fisk, took him into partnership, the firm becoming Fisk & Randall. They engaged in the manufacture of organs and melodeons for six years at Woodbridge, Conn., and then removed to New Haven, where they built a large factory. A few years later Mr. Randall disposed of his busi- ness in New Haven to the Schoeninger Organ and Melodeon Company, and removed to Providence, R.I. There was formed the firm of Baker & Randall, cabinet organ manu- facturers, with which he was connected about four years.
In 1872 he removed to Marshfield, and with his brother, William W. Randall, under the firm name of Randall Brothers, established a cabinet organ manufactory. In 1884 the plant was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Randall's brother retired from the business, Mr. Randall himself erecting the Sea View factory, of which he is sole proprietor. Here he carries on a flourishing business, and employs a number of hands, in the busy season working over time. Mr. Randall is considered one of the finest mechanics in the State, whether in wood, iron, or steel, but particularly excelling in wood-work. He has been very successful
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as a business man, perseveringly working his way, and surmounting all difficulties.
He was married September 8, 1856, to Marion A., daughter of Joel and Caroline (Cook) Wilkinson, of Connecticut, her native State. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson died some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Randail have one of the pleasantest homes in the village of Marsh- field Hills, where pretty residences are the rule. Mr. Randall votes the Republican ticket. He is a public-spirited citizen, es- pecially interested in the cause of education, and is a zealous advocate of good schools.
PARKER WELCH, a retired busi- ness man and prominent farmer of Scituate, Mass., was born in this town, November 5, 1833, son of Michael and Sarah (Brown) Welch. His father was a na- tive of Ireland, and his mother a descendant of an old New England family.
Michael Welch emigrated to America about the year 1815. He landed at St. John's, Newfoundland, where he was engaged in fish- ing for one summer, and he subsequently worked for a short time in the coal mines of Nova Scotia. From the latter province he came to the United States, and for four years was employed at the United States Marine Hospital in Chelsea, Mass., then under the charge of Colonel Charles Turner. About the year 1830 he settled in South Scituate, now Norwell, where he purchased a small farm; and, after residing there for several years, he bought the old Turner farm in Scituate, where his son, E. P. Welch, now resides. Michael Welch was an industrious farmer, and an honorable, upright citizen. In the latter part of his life he supported the Republican party in politics. He lived to reach his nine- tieth year, and died in 1892. His wife,
Sarah Brown, who was a native of Scituate, died in 1884. She was of patriotic and mili- tary stock. Her great-grandfather and grand- father lost their lives while fighting in the Revolutionary struggle for American indepen- dence; and her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. Of her children there are two survivors, namely: E. Parker, the subject of this sketch; and Sarah E., who resides in Bridgewater, Mass.
E. Parker Welch was but a child when his parents removed to the farm which he now owns, and he was here reared to manhood. After acquiring his education in the schools of Scituate he worked at farming. He later engaged in trade, and was for a number of years senior member of the firm of E. P. Welch & Son, dealers in lumber, furniture, and agricultural tools. In 1891 he retired from the business, which is now conducted by his son, George F., and has since devoted his attention exclusively to agricultural pursuits. The farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres which he occupies is one of the historical es- tates in Scituate. It is a part of a grant given to a colony of settlers from Kent, England, and consists of two allotments. The part on which the residence now stands was allotted in 1628 to Humphrey Turner, and upon the other portion of the property one William Gilson erected a wind-mill, which was the first of its kind in Scituate.
In 1858 Mr. Welch married Mary L. Collier, a native of Scituate. Her father, Captain Peleg Collier, who was a ship-master, was lost at sea. Mrs. Welch died in 1895, leaving six children, as follows: Charles P. ; George F .; William H .; Mary E., wife of George Walbach: Minnie L .; and Edith, wife of Ansel Sevan.
Mr. Welch is an earnest advocate of tcm- perance and total abstinence, in practice sets
E. PARKER WELCH.
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a good example, having never used intoxicat - ing liquors or tobacco. For a number of years he has been associated with the Massa- chusetts Humane Society, as agent of several stations along the coast, and he takes a great interest in this work. He attends the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and in politics he acts with the Republican party.
G EORGE G. WALBACH, of Scituate, who has a beautiful residence at First Cliff, is well known as a mem- ber of the legal fraternity of Boston. A son of Captain Louis A. B. and Penelope R. (Williams) Walbach, he was born in Pikes- ville, Md., September 29, 1852.
His grandfather, Brevet Brigadier-General John B. Walbach, was an Alsatian, born in 1766. On coming to this country he joined the regular army, and in 1799 was commis- sioned Lieutenant of Cavalry. During the War of 1812 he was in action at various places, notably Chrystler's farm; and he was in command of the forces at Portsmouth, N. H., during and after that war. It was he who built the Walbach Tower in Portsmouth. He was promoted through the various- grades of military rank, retaining his connection with the army up to the time of his death in 1856.
Louis A. B. Walbach was born in Ports- mouth, N.H. He was graduated from the military academy at West Point, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Fourth United States Artillery, being after- ward commissioned First Lieutenant of Artil- lery and Captain of Ordnance. He saw much active service, fighting in the Seminole War in Florida, and in the Mexican War. His death occurred in June, 1853. Captain Wal- bach's wife, a native of Boston, was a daugh- ter of Samuel K. and Elizabeth Winslow
(Whitman) Williams. Samuel K. Williams was born in Taunton, Mass., in November, 1785, was educated for the bar, and began the practice of law in Boston in 1804. He was a resident of that city until his death in Novem- ber, 1874. Mrs. Williams was born in Pem- broke, Mass.
George G. Walbach was reared in the home of his maternal grandfather, Samuel K. Will- aims, in Boston. He attended the Boston public schools, being in the primary school two years, in the Brimmer School three years, and in the Latin School six years, and, enter- ing Harvard University in 1869, was gradu- ated in 1873, having taken the regular course. He studied law with Chandler, Ware & Hud- son, of Boston, and subsequently at the Boston Law School, graduating in 1879. Ad- mitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1880, he began to practise in Boston in that year. Mr. Walbach had from boyhood been accustomed to visit Scituate in the summer time, and in 1888 he became a permanent resident, moving into his pleasant dwelling at First Cliff. In politics Mr. Walbach is a Republican. He was married June 2, 1888, to Mary E., daugh- ter of E. Parker Welch, an extensive farmer and prominent business man of Scituate.
ORACE E. BAKER is one of the foremost men of Marshfield, a suc- cessful contractor and builder, and a popular member of society. He was born in Duxbury, Mass., October 27, 1831, a son of Captain Otis and Sally (Sampson) Baker.
Otis Baker was born in Duxbury, and at- tended school in that town until fourteen years of age. He began to follow the sea when quite young, and sailed for a number of years, commanding different vessels sailing from Duxbury. During the War of 1812 he
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was in the United States service. He event- ually retired from the sea, and, purchasing a farm at Marshfield Neck, devoted the rest of his life to the pursuit of agriculture. He married Sally, daughter of Oliver Sampson, whose father, Anthony Sampson, of Duxbury, was a great-grandson of Henry Sampson, one of the "Mayflower " Pilgrims. (See "Samp- son Genealogy.") In politics Captain Baker was a Democrat. Mrs. Sally S. Baker, who is a native of Kingston, Mass., and is now in her ninety-eighth year, is to-day one of the few surviving pensionaries on account of ser- vices in the War of 1812, her late husband's claim having been recognized by the govern- ment. Four of her children are living: Leonard C .; Horace E. ; Henry A .; and Ann Maria, widow of Charles A. Walker, of Marshfield.
Horace E. Baker was educated in the com- mon schools of Marshfield, his parents remov- ing to this town when he was about five years old. His schooling was limitcd, being con- fined to attendance in the winter season only, and ending when he was seventeen years old. At that age he began to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of three years with John Gray, a well-known con- tractor and builder of North Bridgewater. He was away from home some ten years in all, following his trade, and then scttled where he now resides. In Marshfield he worked for some time as a journeyman, finally establish- ing himself in business as a contractor and builder. He has now been thus engaged for a number of years, and has been very successful, erecting a great many residences at Brant Rock and elsewhere in this vicinity. His business is seldom dull, and he keeps a num- ber of workmen employed both summer and winter.
Mr. Baker was married in 1845 to Miss
Julia A. S. Eldridge, a native of Cape Cod. Her father, Captain Sylvester D. Eldridge, commander of the brig "Gustavus," while sail- ing from Smyrna to Boston was lost at sea, the brig foundering, and all on board finding a watery grave. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have two children: Horace E., in Somerville, Mass .; and Florence, wife of Joshua Brewster, of Whitman, Mass. In politics Mr. Baker is a Democrat. He is a member of Tremont Lodge, No. 15, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with headquarters at 515 Tremont Street, Boston. He has a wide circle of ac- quaintance, and is esteemed by all who know him.
ENERAL SILVANUS LAZELL, one of the most active and progres- sive citizens of East Bridgewater in the early part of the nineteenth century, was born May 28, 1753, in what was then the East Parish of the old town of Bridgewater, Mass., now East Bridgewater, and died here October 10, 1827. He was a son of Isaac Lazell. Commencing life with few advan - tages, by energy and industry he attained to a position of prominence in the county, and ac- quired a handsome estate. His ideas were far in advance of his time, and he engaged in many enterprises conducive to the business growth and prosperity of the town. He was largely influential in the construction of the turnpike from New Bedford to Weymouth, which connects with the turnpike running from Weymouth to Boston. In the State mil- itia he held for some time the rank of Briga- dier-General, being placed in command of the Plymouth County Brigade in 1810.
General Lazell and Miss Abigail Robinson, a native of East Bridgewater, were married in 1775. They became the parents of three daughters, namely: Lucy, who married Ben-
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jamin Hobart, of South Abington, Mass., and died without issue: Betsy, who became Mrs. Bartholomew Brown, of East Bridgewater, and the mother of five children; and Nabby, who was married to Judge Nahum Mitchell (author of the "History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater "), to whom she bore five chil- dren, as follows: Harriet, Silvanus Lazell, Mary Orr, Elizabeth Cushing, and James Henry.
Harriet Mitchell, born in 1796, married the Hon. Nathaniel Morton Davis, of Plymouth, Mass., in 1817, and passed away in 1847; Silvanus Lazell Mitchell, born in 1798, was graduated at Harvard College, and in 1820 wedded Miss Lucia, a daughter of Judge Ezekiel Whitman, of Portland, Me .; Mary Orr Mitchell, born in 1801, married in 1827 David Ames, of Springfield, Mass .; Elizabeth Cushing Mitchell, born in 1807, now de- ceased, became the wife of Nathan D. Hyde, a resident of Bridgewater; and James Henry Mitchell, born in 1812, and deceased in 1871, prepared for Harvard College at Exeter Acad- emy, and married in 1833 Miss Harriet Lavinia, a daughter of John and Lavinia (Hathaway) Angier, of Belfast, Me. The Angier family was an old one, settling origi- nally in East Bridgewater. Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Mitchell had seven children; namely, Henry Hedge, Grace Webster, Helen Angier, Sophia Ripley, Jennet Orr, William Davis, and Lavinia Hathaway.
Henry Hedge Mitchell, who was born in 1839, received his education abroad. He served in the Civil War as assistant surgeon, and later as Surgeon in Massachusetts regi- ments, and also in regiments of colored troops. In 1864 he married Miss Mary T. Whitehurst, of Norfolk, Va .; and at his de- cease in 1887 he left a widow and two daugh- ters - Maud Angier and Harriet Lavinia.
The former became the wife of Charles Gas- kins, of Philadelphia, and is the mother of two children - Grace Chandler and Oliver Bruce.
Grace Webster Mitchell in 1865 was united in marriage with Horace Parker Chandler, son of the Hon. Peleg W. and Martha (Cleve- land) Chandler, of Boston, Mass. They have six children - Cleveland Angier, Grace, Whitman Mitchell, Ellen, James Mitchell, and Peleg Whitman. Helen Angier Mitchell married in 1822 Thomas B. Hedge, a son of Thomas and Lydia Hedge, of Plymouth, Mass., but in the same year Mr. Hedge passed away. Sophia Ripley Mitchell in 1875 be- came the wife of Frederick Westwood, of England, to whom she bore one child, a son, Arthur by name, who died in 1886.
Jennet Orr Mitchell in 1872 married Charles White Copeland, a son of Pardon and Alice (Ames) Copeland, of West Bridge- water. Her husband departed this life in 1893. Mrs. Jennet O. M. Copeland, now a widow, has one daughter, Alice Ames by name, who in 1894 became the wife of James Sumner Draper, a son of Thomas B. and Sarah (Turner) Draper, of Canton, Mass., and is the mother of a daughter, Ruth Sumner. William Davis Mitchell died in 1870, at East Bridgewater. Lavinia Hathaway Mitchell in 1880 became the wife of Theodore Winthrop Stedman, a son of Daniel and Miriam Sted- man, of Boston, Mass. At his decease in 1885 Mr. Theodore W. Stedman was survived by a widow and two children ; namely, Helen Mitchell and Theodore Winthrop.
The handsomest residence, in East Bridge- water was erected by General Lazell, and con- stituted his home. Here all his children were born, also several grandchildren and great- grandchildren. After his decease it became the home of Judge Nahum Mitchell, and it is now the property of Henry Hobart, Esq.
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APTAIN JOSEPH E. HADLEY, after following the sea nearly half a century, the greater part of the time as ship commander, is now living retired at his home in Marion, Plymouth County, Mass. He was born February 17, 1817, in that part of Rochester, Mass., that is now Marion, a son of Joseph and Susan (Delano) Hadley. His parents reared four children, as follows : Elizabeth, who died in 1887; Stephen D., a sea captain, who died in March, 1894; Joseph E., the special subject of this sketch; and Andrew J.
Joseph E. Hadley was but four years old when his father died, and, being obliged when young to partly depend upon his own re- sources, his educational advantages were neces- sarily limited. At the age of sixteen he went on board a merchant vessel as a seaman, in which position he sailed to foreign ports three years. On his next voyage he went as second mate, and on the succeeding trip as first mate. In 1842 he was made master of a vessel, and from that time until his retire- ment he occupied the same prominent position in the merchant marine service. During his years of seafaring Captain Hadley became familiar with every capital city of Europe, twice circumnavigated the globe, and visited all the countries of the earth, excepting China and Japan. Fifty times or more he crossed the Equator, eight times doubled Cape Horn, and four times the Cape of Good Hope. With few exceptions the Captain sailed from New York, and in most cases was part owner of the vessel which he commanded. He met with varied experiences, both on land and water. In 1875 he lost a vessel on Rocas Reefs, near the coast of Brazil, but saved the entire crew, his ship running aground on ac- count of an error in the chart. In 1875 he erected his present comfortable residence at
Marion, in which, since 1879, he has lived re- tired from active pursuits, enjoying the fruits of his many years of venturesome toil and re- sponsibility.
On May 9, 1851, Captain Hadley married Miss Mary Miller Leonard, who died March 19, 1879, leaving no issue. On July 9, 1885, he married Mrs. Georgiana Leonard Luce, daughter of Seth C. Leonard, and widow of the late Alfred Luce of Marion.
Politically a sound Republican, Captain Hadley is a man of sterling character, highly respected by all who know him. He is a self-made man, having won his way up the ladder of prosperity by his own persistent energy. On his first trip to New York, then a beardless youth, he worked his passage, and, on returning a few years later, he came as the master of the ship - a significant fact, show- ing the ambitious diligence, ability, and suc- cess with which he pursued his calling from the beginning.
YDNEY T. NELSON, one of the prominent citizens of Lakeville, Mass., a Selectman and a member of the School Board, was born in this town, August 12, 1845. The son of Job P. and Fatima (Baker) Nelson, he belongs to one of the old New England families, tracing his de- scent from William Nelson, an Englishman who came to America in 1631, and settled in Plymouth. From William Nelson the line is continued through William (second), three Thomases, and Abiel, to Job, the father, above named. The farm on which Sydney T. Nel- son was born was purchased in 1713, and is still in the possession of the family. It was tilled by Job Nelson, who spent his life and reared his children there. Of these children there were four besides Sydney T .; namely,
ANSEL S. GURNEY.
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Abiel, Elizabeth P., Thomas M., and Car- oline.
Sydney T. Nelson was educated in the dis- trict school and Peirce Academy. He took charge of the homestead in his twenty-fourth year, and managed it until 1879, living on the premises. In 1880 he moved to his pres- ent abiding place, a good farm of twenty acres, where he has since been successfully engaged in general husbandry. He is one of the lead- ing farmers of the locality, and is a member of Nemasket Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Nelson was married in 1872 to Miss Emma Parkhurst, who died in 1881, leaving three children - Thomas S., Maude B., and Clifton W. These children are the sixth generation born on the ancestral homestead. In 1886 Mr. Nelson married a second wife, Miss Lizzie Parkhurst. By this union he has no children.
In politics Mr. Nelson favors the Republi- can side, and he has been elected to several offices of trust. He has been Selectman and Assessor some six years, a member of the School Board fifteen years; and he was in the Massachusetts legislature in 1888. He is a man of much force of character and good judg- ment, and has the respect of all who know him.
APTAIN ANSEL S. GURNEY, now engaged in general farming and cran- berry raising in the town of Marion, Plymouth County, where he owns ninety acres of land, was in his earlier days identified with the fishing and commercial interests of this section of New England. His birth occurred in Marion, near Rochester, November 6, 1823, he being one of a family of six sons and three daughters born in the early part of the century to Captain Sullivan and Jenny (Whitney) Gurney. His paternal grandfather, who bore
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