USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 45
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Captain Brown was married August 22, 1864, to Lydia B. Burrows, daughter of Cap- tain Thomas Burrows, and has two children - George W. and Stella H.
The Captain votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of Cohasset Lodge, No. 192, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Co- hasset ; and belongs to George W. Perry Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Republic.
The Burrows family, it will be remembered, is one that has distinguished itself in Ameri- can history. Captain Thomas Burrows, Mrs. Brown's father, was a nephew of William Burrows, Lieutenant Commander of the "En- terprise," who, in September 5, 1813, won the victory over the British "Boxer" in the famous naval engagement off the coast of Maine. Lieutenant Burrows was mortally wounded, but remained on deck, and received the sword of his fallen foe. With military honors the remains of the two brave com-
manders were buried side by side in Portland. Governor Beadle, of Keyport, N.J., was a cousin of Captain Thomas Burrows, and an uncle was a judge.
ORRILL ROBINSON, M.D., for many years an able and highly esteemed physician of North Middleboro, Mass., died at his home in this town, March 16, 1873. He was born in South Raynham, Bristol County, Mass., August 15, 1803, son of Godfrey and Abigail (Pierce) Robinson. Godfrey Robinson, who was a surveyor, and drew the first map of the town of Raynham, was the son of Josiah Robinson, the son of Captain Ebenezer Robinson, son of Increase Robinson, the son of William Robin- son, who emigrated to Boston in 1635.
Godfrey Robinson was a well-to-do farmer of South Raynham. After his death, which oc- curred when the future Doctor was thirteen years old, the farm was afterward carried on by his sons. His wife, Mrs. Abigail Pierce Robinson, a native of Middleboro, Mass., was a woman of more than ordinary ability and force of character. She was the mother of five sons, each of whom lived to be nearly seventy years old.
Morrill Robinson acquired his knowledge of the elementary branches of learning in the town schools of Raynham, and he prepared for college under the tutorship of the Rev. Silas Hall. In 1827 he graduated from the Medical Department of Brown University, where he was a classmate of Dr. W. W. Comstock, and in the same year he located in North Middle- boro. He practised his profession in this town without interruption for nearly fifty years, occupying the same residence all the time, and by an unconscious display of those noble qualities of heart and mind which form
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the principal characteristics of an honorable, upright man, he endcared himself to all with whom he came in contact. He was a member of the State legislature in 1842 and 1843, serving on important committees. He united with the Baptist church in South Raynham when a young man, and continued a member until his death, which took place as above stated, when he was sixty-nine years old. His loss was the cause of sincere mourning and regret by the entire community in which he lived.
On February 12, 1828, Dr. Robinson was united in marriage with Mary Shaw, daughter of Calvin Shaw, of Abington. They became the parents of nine children, six of whom are living; namely: Thomas D., Mary A. J., Frances C., Lucy M., Lydia S., and Ella C. Thomas D. Robinson, a lawyer, is practising his profession in company with his son in New York City; Mary A. J. Robinson married Colonel Timothy S. Atwood, formerly of the United States Army, and is now residing in Brockton; Frances C. Robinson married Lukc B. Noyes, a native of Whitman, who was in business in Whitman, Brockton, and Boston, until his death in 1886, and she is now resid- ing with her daughter in Malden, Mass. ; Lucy M. Robinson, M. D., and her sisters, Lydia S. and Ella C., are residing at 28 Glen- wood Street, Brockton. Mrs. Morrill Robin- son, the mother, died December 27, 1884.
Lucy M. Robinson was born in North Middleboro, and her preliminary education was pursued under her father's care. She entered the Women's Medical College of Philadelphia, one of the oldest medical schools for women in America, and was graduated in 1888. Since completing her studies she has practised medicine in Brockton with success, and is fitted both by nature and educational training for an honorable and useful carcer.
She is connected with the Massachusetts Med- ical Society, and the New England Hospital Society.
HARLES OTIS ELLMS .- Readcrs of the department of the Boston Tran- script, bearing the caption "Notes and Queries," have observed from time to time valuable contributions in regard to his- toric and genealogical matters signed "Scitu- ate." It is not, perhaps, generally known that the author of these contributions is Charles O. Ellms, of Scituate, who is as well versed in agricultural as in antiquarian lore, and has written many widely read articles for the papers. Mr. Ellms was born on Merrimac Street, Boston, December 13, 1830. His parents, Charles and Sally (Bryant) Ellms, were both connected by ties of kinship with prominent actors in the early settlement of the country, and events known to most of us through books alone were familiar to them through the relation of eye-witnesses.
The Ellms family is of English origin. In the Massachusetts Ploughman for August 13, 1881, we find the following: "Rodolphus Ellms, the ancestor of all his name in this country, came over from England in 1640, being one of the 'Conihasset' partners, with grants of land from the king, who was the first Charles. On their arrival at Scituate, which had then just assumed its new name, he openly sympathized with the Quakers, and was sub- jected to a finc of ten shillings for being present at a Quaker meeting."
The subject of this sketch is descended from Rodolphus through Jonathan, Robert, Robert, Jr., Captain Charles, and Charles. Captain Charles, Charles O. Ellms's grand- father, was a noted ship-master. When Na- polcon Bonaparte issued his famous Berlin de- cree to retaliate on England, he was captain
CHARLES O. ELLMS.
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and owner of a vessel sailing in the West Indies. Captured by a French privateer, he was taken to the island of Guadaloupe in February, 1800, and his vessel confiscated. Thus he became one of the plaintiffs in the French spoliation claims.
Charles Ellms, son of Captain Charles, was born in Seituate in 1805. He removed to Boston when he was five years old, and there he was educated in a private sehool. For a number of years he was engaged in pub- lishing and selling books on Cornhill, Court, and State Streets; and he is pleasantly re- membered by the old citizens of Boston who can look baek fifty or sixty years. "He orig- inated and published the celebrated 'Davy Crockett,' 'People's' and 'Comic' almanacs, which had such a remarkable circulation for those days. On the decease of his mother . he relinquished business, and retired to the homestead farm at Scituate, disposing of the copyright of those popular publications to the late S. N. Diekinson, whose genius as a Bos- ton printer won a wide and enduring reputa- tion." Mr. Ellms, the publisher, was also the author of a number of popular books, in- cluding "Shipwrecks, and Disasters of the Sea," "Tragedy of the Seas," "Crusoe's Own Book." and "The Pirate's Own Book." He died in 1865.
He was a great-grandson of Samuel Thaxter, third, of Hingham, Mass., known as Major Samuel, born in 1723, graduated at Harvard College in 1743, whose grandfather, Samuel Thaxter, first, was Captain of the Aneient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1728, and a little later Colonel of the regiment in which the Hingham men served. His son, Samuel Thaxter (second), also a Colonel, was graduated at Harvard College in 1714. He died in 1732, survived by his second wife, Mary Hawke. Major Samuel was his son by his
first wife. The widowed stepmother married the Rev. John Hancock, of Braintree, and they were the parents of Governor Hancock. Major Samuel Thaxter was an offieer in Colo- nel Riehard Gridley's regiment in the French and Indian War. He was captured by the Indians at the massaere at Fort William Henry in August, 1757, but eseaped through the connivanee of the French officers, and arrived at Hingham after Dr. Gay had preached his funeral sermon. His daughter Sally, grand-aunt of Charles Ellms, was the wife of Mr. John Pulling, who, it has been asserted, was the man who hung the lantern in the tower of the Old North Chureh, as a signal for Paul Revere to ride and apprise the wait- ing patriots of the approach of the British. Certainly the daring deed was well done, whether by John Pulling, ehureh warden, or by Robert Newman, the sexton, to whom it has been aseribed quite as confidently. (For different authorities see "Boston Memorial History, vol. iii. p. IOI.)
Major Samuel Thaxter's daughter Mary, grandmother of Mr. Charles Ellms, married Joshua Otis, an ardent Whig and patriot. He was second cousin to James Otis, the patriot and orator. Mrs. Mary Thaxter Otis, though the wife of a patriot, surrounded by patriotie associations, and a frequent visitor at Governor Hancock's house, was a devoted roy- alist. When a son was born, she insisted that he should be named George after the king. Her husband promised that he should bear that name, and, taking the child to ehureh, had him christened George Washing- ton. This George Washington Otis was the father of James Otis, now deeeased, who was at one time Mayor of San Franeiseo. Mrs. Otis's Tory proelivities were excited to the utmost during the war of 1812. She and her husband were eye-witnesses of the fight in
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Boston Bay between the "Chesapeake" and the "Shannon," Joshua Otis anxiously wishing for the victory of the hero Lawrence's ship, his wife glorying in the eventual triumph of the British vessel. Frederick William Greenleaf, famous the world over as the "Harry Wads- worth" in Edward Everett Hale's "Ten Times One," was a cousin of Charles Ellms.
Mrs. Sally Bryant Ellms, mother of Charles O. Ellms, was born in Lexington, Mass., in 1809, and came from a family who have borne a prominent part in the affairs of that historic town. She was one of the young ladies selected to welcome Lafayette on the Lexing- ton battle-ground when he visited this country in 1824, and made the tour of the States. Jonathan Harrington, the last survivor of the Battle of Lexington, was accustomed to give his young lady friends as a wedding present, a rolling-pin of his own make. Mrs. Ellms, who received one, gave it long after to the Historic Society of Lexington, in whose rooms it is now on exhibition, among other relics of ye olden time. Mrs. Ellms was connected with prominent Boston families. The brother of the late Mayor Shurtleff married her sister ; and Parker H. Pierce, a prominent Boston merchant, was her uncle. He commanded the Ancient and Honorable Artillery in 1830, at the two hundredth anniversary of the settle- ment of Boston, and has left a sealed letter to be handed down and read before that company in 1930, at the three hundredth anniversary of that event. Mrs. Sally Bryant Ellms died in 1893.
Charles Otis Ellms was educated in the public schools of Boston, being one of the original members of the Brimmer School; and he has a letter of recommendation from his master, Joshua Bates, which he prizes highly. He remembers as a pleasing incident of his boyhood seeing the Indian chiefs Black Hawk
and Keokuk in Boston, when they were being taken on a tour through the United States after the Black Hawk War, and giving to Black Hawk a peacock's feather, with which the chief was delighted; and another never-to- be-forgotten event was the visit to the school of General Bertrand, a short, white-haired gentleman, Napoleon's favorite general, and his companion at St. Helena.
In 1852 Mr. Ellms went to California, trav- elling by the Nicaragua route; and he spent nearly seven years in the gold regions, endur- ing the hardships and braving the perils of a miner's life. Returning by the Panama route, he arrived in Scituate in 1858, about the time of the Pike's Peak excitement. Going back to the West a little later, he started from Leavenworth, Kan., with ox teams, and, the progress being necessarily slow, he had much time to see the country, and to observe the mode of living of different Indian tribes. Kansas was under territorial government at this time, and the Border Ruffians and Free State men were at war. As gold was not found in sufficient paying quantity to warrant a protracted stay, Mr. Ellms returned to Scit- uate, and settled on the home farm, an estate of forty acres.
He has been successfully engaged for years in breeding Jersey stock, and was the owner of the celebrated cow, " Jersey Belle, of Scitu- ate," which produced seven hundred and eight pounds of butter in one year, and twenty-five pounds, three ounces, in one week. This ani- mal was of such national reputation that when the news of her death flashed over the wires, the Chicago Board of Trade, then in session, adjourned to talk about her. Mr. Ellms has been for twenty-five years a Director in the Marshfield Agricultural and Horticultural So- eiety, and Secretary of Satuit Grange of Nor- well, from the time of its organization; and
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he has written much for The Massachusetts Ploughman, The New England Farmer, and other kindred publications, on cattle breeding and various topics. An enthusiastic anti- quary, he is a member of the Pilgrim Society, and has a store of knowledge in regard to the early days and inhabitants of New England.
"T. W. T." (Thomas W. Tucker), a former editor of the Boston Herald, writes in the Transcript : "You have an occasional corres- pondent signed ' Scituate,' in the 'Notes and Queries,' whose articles I value highly for their accuracy and interesting matter. This gentleman is Mr. Charles O. Ellms, an old Boston boy of intelligent observation, who has many antique curiosities. He resides in Greenbush, Scituate, Mass., and takes great pleasure in exhibiting his unique collection. He is a member of the Old Schoolboys of Boston ' society."
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The Boston Transcript, in another issue says, editorially: "That is a pretty incident mentioned by . Scituate' in the 'Notes and Queries' department to-day, of rabbits running in and out the cannon of the old Boston Arsenal. What a contrast of timid peace and grim and bloody war! Would that there were no further use for any cannon in the world than to serve such purpose as this!" This last quotation shows that Mr. Ellms has an eye for the poetic as well as the practical, and his writing covers a wide range.
ALTER PETERSON, a general merchant and the postmaster of Brant Rock, was born in Marshfield, February 24, 1848, son of Zephaniah S. C. and Harriet (Taylor) Peterson. The Peter- sons are one of the old families of this vicin- ity. Esias Peterson, Walter's grandfather, as well as his father, was a native of Duxbury.
The latter, who was a shoemaker, worked at his trade, and also managed a small farm. He died when his son Walter was eleven years old. His wife, who was born in Marshfield, died when Walter was eighteen years of age. Of the several children born to this couple, two are living to-day, namely: Walter, the subject of this sketch; and Zephaniah W., who resides in New Bedford, Mass.
Walter Peterson, being the eldest of the family, was called upon to take his father's place before he entered his teens. The re- sponsibilities then thrown upon him quickly developed his self-reliance. He attended the common schools of Marshfield until he was sixteen years of age, and then began to learn the shoemaker's trade. While serving his apprenticeship, and for a short time afterward, he made shoes on his own account. Subse- quently, for a number of years, he was in the employ of Gardner & Arnold, shoe bot- tomers and manufacturers at Sea View. While working for this firm he tried the ex- periment of conducting a refreshment tent at Brank Rock for a year. It was quite success- ful, and in the following year he erected a small building. Thereafter this business in- creased year by year. He now has one of the best-equipped general stores in this part of the State, carrying in stock a general line of gro- ceries and produce, hardware, furniture, boots and shoes, paints and oils, and furnished with a Bell long-distance telephone, for the con- venience of the public. He is also the pro- prietor of the popular Ocean House at Brant Rock, with its special restaurant and recrea- tion facilities, keeping pleasure boats for hire, and summer cottages for sale and to let. Be- sides employing a number of hands in the busy season, both he and other members of the family are in constant attendance on his pa- trons. While fortune has smiled upon him
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in all his ventures, he has done much to de- velop the summer life of this popular resort.
On January 24, 1873, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage with Sarah A. Walker, who was born in Scituate, Mass. They have seven children; namely, W. Leslie, H. Annie, E. Lloyd, Julia C., Bertha E., Sarah E., and Lizzie B. The father has been post- master of Brant Rock for a number of years. Ilaving been in business for about thirty years, he is now known to all the regular visitors as well as the residents of the place, who respect him for the qualities by which he has acquired his present measure of pros- perity.
ON. GARRISON B. BLACKMER, one of the prominent and influential residents of Rochester, was born May 1, 1825, on the Blackmer farm, his pres- ent home, son of Captain John and Nancy (Mullen) Blackmer. The homestead farm, which covers one hundred and fifty acres, has been owned by Blackmers for a full century, having been purchased in 1796 by Salisbury Blackmer, the grandfather of Garrison B. Captain John Backmer, who commanded a merchant vessel, was lost at sea with his en- tire crew in 1827. His wife was left with six children ; namely, James, John, Mary F., Eliza- beth, Garrison B., and Nancy S. -- Elizabeth and Garrison B. being the only survivors.
Garrison B. Blackmer obtained a part of his cducation in a private school held in his father's house. Much of the knowledge that now marks him as a man of more than ordinary intelligence was acquired without a teacher. He took charge of the farm when fifteen years of age, and it has now been under his direc- tion for over half a century. Besides plenti- ful crops, his farm produces good pasturage for cattle. Hc has been very successful in
general farming. In politics Mr. Blackmcr is a Republican. Active in affairs for a number of years, he has efficiently filled several public offices. In 1857 he was a member of the State legislature. For five years he served as Selectman of the town of Rochester. For four years he was Town Treasurer and Col- lector. He was qualified as a Justice of the Peace twenty years ago, and he is still exer- cising the functions of that office. He was on the School Committee for a number of years, and he has also served as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Highway Surveyor. A Free and Accepted Mason in good stand- ing, he belongs to Pythagorean Lodge, of Marion, Mass. In religious matters he favors the Christian sect. Industrious, intelligent, and law-abiding, and a member of an old Rochester family, he is highly regarded in this town.
ORENZO D. BRALEY, of Rochester, Mass., who has achieved success in several branches of industry, was born June 20, 1829, in Freetown, Bristol County, son of Bradford and Patience (Parker) Braley. His first knowledge of books was ac- quired in the district school near his home. When he was eighteen years old he went to New Bedford, where hc spent a ycar and a half learning the moulder's trade. In 1849 he was one of a company which fitted out the brig "Zoroaster " for a voyage to California. Taking the route around Cape Horn, it reached San Francisco in six months and two days. Here Mr. Braley thought it better to work as a laborer for seventeen dollars a day than to engage in the uncertain occupation of gold prospecting. He had been employed in this way for about three months when he fell sick of typhoid fever, and was taken to a hos- pital on the Sandwich Islands. He remained
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seven months in the Sandwich Islands, acting as steward of the hospital for a few months after his recovery. When the opportunity offered, he started for home, engaging as boat steerer on the brig "Sarah." After reaching Freetown, he remained there a year and a half. Then he returned to California, travel- ling this time by way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama, in a company of eighty. During his second visit he engaged in prospecting and mining, and was fairly successful. After re- maining about eighteen months in the Golden State. he came home by the Nicaragua route. By this time he was tired of the rough and law- less life of the West, and decided to remain in his native State. He subsequently worked at his trade in Freetown for two years. Then he moved to Rochester, and, after living in that town three years, he erected the residence which has sheltered him since. In the mean time he learned the cigar-maker's trade, and thereafter followed it for seven years at home as the employee of a tobacco dealer. He afterward manufactured cigars for twenty years on his own account for the wholesale trade, and was very successful at the business. He has also achieved success in farming and lumbering. His land covers about one hun- dred and seventy-five acres, including sixty acres of homestead, and ten acres of cranberry meadow. On the latter he has raised quanti- ties of cranberries in the past ten years.
Mr. Braley was married in 1851 to Miss Charity P. Rounsville, by whom he became the father of six children -- William, Ida, Jennie, Dora, Nellie, and Herbert. In 1876 he entered a second marriage, contracted with Miss Helen M. Tinkham, who has borne him no children. In politics he follows an inde- pendent course, voting for the best interests of the public. He has served Rochester as Selectman, and in other minor offices. A
Mason in good standing, he belongs to Eureka Lodge, of New Bedford.
APU ELVIN S. LITCHFIELD, of North Scituate, a retired shoe manu- facturer, comes of an old Plym- outh County family, which has given to the Bay State patriotic soldiers, sturdy farmers, successful financiers, and able statesmen. He was born in Scituate, September 28, 1822, a son of Enoch and Eliza (Collier) Litchfield. His grandfather, Isaac Litchfield, as well as both parents, was also a native of the town. (For an account of the origin and early gener- ations of the family, see the biography of William H. Litchfield, of Scituate.) Isaac Litchfield, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier, worked at his trade of carpenter for many years in Scituate. Enoch Litchfield learned the shoemaker's trade, followed it during a great part of his life, and died in the seventies. Of his children, besides Melvin S., there are living: Zenas H., George W., and Eliza J.
Melvin S. Litchfield acquired a rudimentary education in the district schools of Scituate, attending the winter sessions chiefly until he was twelve years old. At the age of seven he began to help his father in making shoes, so that, on reaching his majority, he was an ex- pert shoemaker. Then, starting in life for himself, he worked at his trade, and engaged in fishing. In 1847, with his brother, Zenas H., he started in the manufacture of shoes, under the firm name of M. S. Litchfield & Co., opening a small place, measuring twelve by thirteen feet, located at the corner of Cedar and Summer Streets, in North Scituate. The business increasing with the lapse of time, they were frequently obliged to enlarge their establishment. At one period they had
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seventy-five employees, residents of Scituate and adjoining towns. The brothers also car- ried on a general mercantile trade. In 1885 Mr. Melvin S. Litchfield retired from the manufacturing branch of the business. He re- tains his interest in the other department, which is still conducted by the original firm.
Mr. Litchfield has been twice married. By his first wife, who was Mrs. Nancy (Ellms) Clapp, daughter of Cushing O. Ellms, of Scituate, and the widow of Hiram Clapp, he has two children. These are: Arthur E., re- siding in Brockton, Mass., and Ella G., the wife of C. H. Waterman, of the same city. The present Mrs. Litchfield was formerly Mrs. Maria (Read) Elliot, the widow of Lyman F. Elliot, and a daughter of Leonard Read (deceased), of Mason, N.H. Mr. Litchfield has no children by his second union. In pol- itics he favors the Republican side. Both he and Mrs. Litchfield take an active part in the social events of the town, and are very popular members of society.
ILLIAM F. BONNEY, who has resided for a number of years on a pleasant farm on Brant Rock Road, a short distance from Marshfield station, is a well-informed man, his mind broadened by travel and observation. He was born April II, 1831, in Hanson, Mass., and his parents, too, Cephas and Deborah (Soper) Bonney, were natives of that town, the home of his family for generations. His grandfather, Na- thaniel Bonney, was interested in the iron works in the town of Carver, this county.
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