USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 49
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of the leading agriculturists of this section. Mr. Denham was married in 1850 to Miss Diana Barstow, and has three children - Henry L., Nathan B., and Sarah M. He is interested in politics so far as they subserve the general good, but is not a party man.
DWARD W. WINSOR, of the firm Winsor & Peterson, Duxbury, dealers in fine groceries, was born in this town, May 19, 1839, son of Captain Benjamin and Hannah B. (Freeman) Winsor, and grand- son of John Winsor. Samuel, the father of John, was the founder of the Massachusetts branch of the family, which is supposed to be of Scottish origin. Captain Benjamin Winsor was a well-known and popular sca captain, who made voyages principally to ports in the Mediterranean Sea. In the efforts to make his orders heard by his men aloft, during a severe storm off the coast of Gibraltar, he in- jured his lungs, so that consumption found him an easy prey; and he died after a short ill- ness, only reaching the age of forty-four years. Keen of intellect, he had a good, practical ed- ucation and a thorough knowledge of naviga- tion. He never lost a vesscl. In politics he was an earnest Jacksonian Democrat. His strong sympathy with that party prompted him to name a sloop that he owned the "Andrew Jackson." His wife, who survived him, lived to be seventy-four years old. Of their four children, two are living, namely: Eudora, the widow of Columbus Whitten, residing at Mel- rose Highlands, Mass. ; and Edward W., the subject of this sketch. The others were: Claudius B. and Benjamin.
The home life of Edward W. Winsor has been spent in Duxbury, where he was reared and educated. For a number of years he was in the employ of Cyrus Wakefield, of Wake-
field, Mass., making rattan chairs. In 1880 he was engaged by W. S. Freeman as manager of the store in which he now owns an interest, and acted in that capacity for four years. He then bought out Mr. Freeman, and carried on the business for one year in his own name, being the sole proprietor. In the following year he took in as a partner W. O. Peterson, with whom he has prosperously conducted the place since, under the firm name of Winsor & Peterson. They give their attention chiefly to handling standard groceries. In politics Mr. Winsor is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Mattakesett Lodge, No. 110, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and has been Chaplain of the lodge. His religious belief is that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ON. BENJAMIN GAMMONS has been long identified with the indus- trial interests of Rochester, and at one timc represented it in the State legis- lature. He was born here, February 12, 1832, son of Noble and Roxanna (Swift) Gam- mons. Noble Gammons, who was born in Middleboro, Mass., settled in Rochester when a young man. He died on the farm now occu- picd by his son, at the age of eighty-one. His wife, a native of Wareham, Mass., dicd at the age of sixty-eight. Their six children were: John F., Abigail, Ann, Benjamin, Roxanna, and Albert.
Benjamin Gammons received a good practi- cal education in his native town. He went to work at the age of sixteen, obtaining employ- ment first in a carriage factory in Fall River, Mass., where he remained a year. After spending a few months at the same kind of work in Wareham, Mass., he learned the shoe- maker's trade, and thercafter followed it in Middleboro for about four years. When the
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old Bay State was called upon to furnish her quota of men for the Civil War, Mr. Gammons was one of the first to respond from the shoe shops. He enlisted on April 15, 1861, as a private in Company D, Eighteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry, and was mustered in at Readville. The first serious engage- ment in which he took part was at Old Church, Va. During a great part of his term of ser- vice his regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, in Fitz-John Porter's division. Having gone through his full share of the hardships and trials of a soldier's life, he was honorably discharged on September 2, 1864. From 1865 to 1867 he worked at his trade in New Castle, Pa. He then returned to his na- tive town, and was engaged in the manufacture of shoes until 1894, when he retired. He has a valuable farm, on which he has lived since 1867, and where he carried on his business of shoe manufacturing.
Mr. Gammons was married in 1866 to Miss Mary J. Dieringer. He has no children. He is a member of the Republican party. He has served with credit on the School Com- mittee, and represented the town in the State legislature of 1891. A Mason in good stand- ing, he belongs to Pythagorean Lodge of Marion, Mass. Mr. Gammons is well known and highly esteemed in Rochester and vicinity.
ENRY MERRITT, a reliable and suc- cessful contractor and builder of Scituate Centre, was born in Scitu- ate, September 5, 1825, son of Asa and Betsey (Cudworth) Merritt. The Merritt family, which is scattered over the States, is de- scended from Henry Merritt, who was a mem- ber of the colony from Kent, England, that settled in Scituate in 1628, and whose memory is perpetuated by a monument erected in the
old cemetery at Seituate Harbor. The great- grandfather of Henry Merritt was James Mer- ritt, and the grandfather was Asa Merritt. Both were lifelong residents of Seituate.
Asa Merritt, the father, was a native of this town; and for some years he followed the trade of a carpenter. During his long useful life he held various town offices, ineluding that of Seleetman ; and he served as a soldier in the War of 1812. When he died in 1866, he left the reputation of a worthy citizen. His wife, Betsey Cudworth, also a native of this town, eame of an old Scituate family of English origin, sprung from General Cud- worth, who served in the colonies under the British crown. Of the children born to Asa and Betsey Merritt, Henry and Asa J. are the only survivors.
Henry Merritt obtained his education in the publie sehools of his native town and at a pri- vate school. At the age of seventeen he com- meneed to learn the carpenter's trade, serving his apprenticeship with his father. Subse- quently, after working as a journeyman for a time, he established himself in the business of eontractor and builder, which he has sinee prosperously followed. For many years past he has also been engaged in agricultural pur- suits. On December 25, 1849, he was united in marriage with Lydia B. Merritt. She is a daughter of James L. and Emily (Litehfield) Merritt, both of whom were natives of Scitu- ate. James Merritt served in the War of 1812, and died in this town in 1859. His other surviving children are: Emily C., Har- vey, and Amos W. Henry Merritt is a mem- ber of the Unitarian chureh. In politics he is a Republican. Frequent invitations to ac- cept office have been invariably declined by him, he preferring to devote what leisure time he can spare from his business to the enjoy- ment of the home circle. Yet he takes a
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lively interest in public affairs, and is ever ready to promote the good of the general com- munity. He occupies the residence which was built by his father in 1817, and which by the aid of a few necessary repairs still wears a well- preserved appearance. Highly esteemed, and one of the representative men of Scituate, he is a worthy representative of his historic family.
APTAIN JOHN C. DAWES, a suc- cessful coal dealer, and the agent of the Standard Oil Company in Kingston, was born in Duxbury, this county, June 20, 1850, son of Captain James H. and Abbie (Chandler) Dawes. The father is a native of Duxbury, and the mother of Ver- mont. An account of the family ancestry will be found in the sketch of Captain James H. Dawes.
After residing in Duxbury until he was twelve years old, John C. Dawes moved with his parents to Kingston, continuing, however, to attend school in his native town. He grad- uated from the Partridge Academy when he was fifteen years old, and then took a course at French's Commercial College in Boston. At the age of sixteen he began to follow the sea. His first voyages were made with Captain Justus Bailey, who was engaged in the foreign trade. Beginning a year later, he made sev- eral voyages with his father. He next served with Captain Walter L. Joslyn, of Duxbury, and then became master of the "Matchless," a twelve-hundred ton ship owned in Boston. He had been engaged in the foreign trade as commander of the "Matchless " for eight years, when early in the eighties he retired from the sea. In the course of his seafaring life he doubled Cape Horn fourteen times and thrice circumnavigated the globe. Subse- quently he resided for a time in Mexico, as
purchasing agent for the Plymouth Cordage Company. Returning to Kingston, he became a dealer in groceries, grain, hay, and coal. In 1894 he sold the grocery department to E. S. Wright, and became the local agent of the Standard Oil Company. He continued in the coal business, which he has since con- ducted with success.
Captain Dawes wedded Mary T. Whitman, daughter of Deacon Seth Whitman, of Pem- broke, Mass. ; and now has one son, Theodore F. In politics he is a Republican, and the present Secretary of the Republican Town Committee. At one time he served the com- munity as Town Auditor. He is a Director of the Kingston Cemetery Association, and a life member and a steward of the Boston Marine Association. He is a member of Corner Stone Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Dux- bury; and of Adams Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Kingston. Taking much interest in yachting, he conceived and organized the Kingston Yacht Club, which was duly chartered May 1, 1895, and of which he is the Commodore. He has every reason to feel proud of this club, which is the largest in the State, having two hundred and eighty . members; while the club has every reason to be proud of its Commodore.
ILLIAM H. LITCHFIELD, a rep- resentative man of Scituate, was born here, September 15, 1825, son of Hubbard and Eliza (Litchfield) Litchfield. He belongs to the seventh generation of Litch- fields in this town, descended from Lawrence Litchfield, who settled here in 1636. From Lawrence the line was continued by Josiah, Josiah (seeond), Nicholas, Isaac, and Abner H., to the father of William H.
Hubbard Litchfield was one of three ehil-
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CHARLES WILLIAMSON.
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dren borne by his mother August II, 1796, the others having been a brother and sister. When of a suitable age, he began to learn the ship carpenter's trade, at which he afterward worked until about twenty-eight years old. He then settled on the estate now occupied by William H. Litchfield, whose dwelling, how- ever, is some distance from that of his father, devoted the rest of his life to agriculture, and died in his eightieth year. He was a member of the Republican party. His wife, also a native of Scituate, bore him several children, of whom the only other survivor is Thomas P., of Abington, Mass.
William H. Litchfield grew to manhood on his father's estate, which has been in the pos- session of the family for over one hundred and fifty years. He was educated in the Scituate public schools, attending chiefly during the three winter months, and leaving school at the age of sixteen. In his early manhood he worked for a while at blacksmithing. He subsequently engaged in general farming and the business of live stock dealer. During two years of the war period he was in the pro- vision business in Boston with John H. Litch- field (now deceased), under the firm name of John H. Litchfield & Co. Beginning several years ago, he is now engaged in probate busi- ness and conveyancing, in connection with the office of Justice of the Peace. He is a Director of the South Scituate Savings Bank, serving also as a member of the Investment Commit- tee. A prudent and careful business man, Mr. Litchfield has been successful in his life- work. His judgment in real estate and other matters has been sought by friend and neigh- bor. Practically speaking, he is a self-made man.
Mr. Litchfield was married February 13, 1851, to Sarah E., daughter of Thomas and Chloe (Jenkins) Vinal, all natives of Scituate.
The Vinals, too, arc one of the old familics of this town. Mrs Litchfield is descended from Widow Annic Vinal, one of the original Connihasset proprietors who settled here in the seventeenth century. Thomas Vinal, who followed the business of auctioneer, was a prominent man of Scituate, a Mason in good standing, Selectman, Town Clerk, and a Rep- resentative in the State legislature. His wife's father, Gideon Jenkins, was a Revolu- tionary soldier. Mr. and Mrs. Vinal rcared a large family, four members of which, besides Mrs. Litchfield, arc living. These are: Han- nah C., the wife of Robert T. Delano, of San Francisco, Cal. ; Henry G., residing in Plym- outh, Mass. ; Cordelia T., the wife of David B. Litchfield, of Scituate; and Annie E., re- siding in Scituate. A member of the Rcpub- lican party, Mr. Litchfield was first clected Selectman in 1867, and served eighteen years in succession, being annually re-elected. During eight years of this time he was Chair- man of the Board. While Selcctman he was also Town Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He has been a Justicc of the Peace for a pro- longed period. Mrs. Litchfield is a member of the Unitarian church.
HARLES WILLIAMSON, who died in December, 1890, at his home in Marshfield, near Humarock, was a well-known, useful, and highly respected citi- zen, ranking in his day, and for the greater part of half a century, as one of the most successful farmers of Plymouth County. Mr. Williamson was born in the neighboring town of Duxbury in November, 1825, and was a son of Samuel and Ann (Gulliver) Williamson.
Timothy Williamson, who is said to have settled in Marshfield in 1649, was probably the founder of the family in Plymouth County.
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Mr. Charles Williamson's grandfather, Sam- uel Williamson, was a resident of Marshfield; and in this town his son Samuel, Jr., was born. Samuel Williamson, Jr., resided in Duxbury for a number of years, but spent the latter part of his life on his farm in Marsh- field. He was one of the leading men of this town, active in public affairs, and served as Overseer of the Poor. An industrious and thrifty husbandman and a sagacious financier, he accumulated considerable property.
Charles Williamson acquired the most of his education in the common schools of Marshfield, being twelve years of age when his parents removed to this town. He grew to manhood on the homestead near Humarock, and he here followed farming from boyhood to old age, in the winter seasons, for quite a period in his early active life, working dili- gently at shoemaking - a common practice with New England farmers forty years ago and more. Like his father before him, Mr. Will- iamson exerted his energies to good purpose, and secured the fruits of his toil by making wise investments. In politics he was a strong Democrat. He was frequently urged by his townsmen to accept public office; but, though he served for some time as Road Surveyor of his district, he would not consent to assume other responsibilities, modestly preferring the privacy of his home life. Mr. Williamson was identified for a number of years with the Methodist Episcopal church. He died a little more than six years ago, mourned as an ex- emplary citizen and a kind and obliging neighbor.
Mr. Williamson married Sarah A. Richards, of Weymouth, Mass. ; and she bore him three children, namely: Emma R., now wife of Abbott F. Lapham, of Marshfield Hills; Charles Henry; and Lizzie C., wife of John H. Flavell, of Marshfield.
Charles Henry Williamson, the only son, was born in Marshfield, March 31, 1855. Reared on his father's farm, he adopted agri- culture as a life pursuit, and is recognized as one of the most capable and progressive farmers in this locality. His estate, the an- cestral homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, well located, is known as Walnut Grove Farm. It is furnished with comely and con- venient buildings, the residence commanding a broad sea view, and bears everywhere the marks of good care and cultivation. Mr. Williamson farms intelligently, and raises excellent crops. He gives considerable atten- tion to horticulture, growing strawberries and raspberries, as well as apples, cherries, and other orchard fruits. He has recently set out a large number of apple, peach, walnut, and other fruit and shade trees, beautifying his place, and adding to its value.
He was married May 12, 1888, to Alice M. Edwards, daughter of James H. Edwards, of Charlestown, Mass. Four children have blessed their union, but of two of them - Willie and Blanche - they have been bereft. The living are: Paul R. and Olive . F. Mr. Charles H. Williamson is independent in pol- itics. He is a worthy representative of an old Marshfield family, and has the confidence and esteem of the community.
OODBRIDGE R. HOWES, M.D., of Hanover, whose active life has been devoted to the practice of medieine, was born August 12, 1817, in Mat - tapoisett, Plymouth County. His parents, Abel and Deborah (Ruggles) Howes, natives respectively of Fairhaven and Rochester, Mass.
Dr. Howes' early life was spent in his native town, where he attended the district
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school. At a later date he went to Peirce Academy in Middleboro, Mass., and subse- . quently to Fairhaven Academy, distinguish- ing himself in both institutions by rapid ad- vancement in his studies. At the age of six- teen he began teaching district schools, which occupation he followed for ten years. About the year 1852 he began the study of medicine. After further prosecuting the study, for two years in the office of Dr. Sparrow, of Matta- poisett he entered the Berkshire Medical School. Later he became a student in the Harvard Medical School, from which he was duly graduated. He first located in Westerly, R.I. He had been there but a short time when the Civil War broke out, and he, in 1861, enlisted in Company D of the Eigh- teenth Massachusetts Infantry. He was mustered in at Readville, receiving a Lieu- tenant's commission before starting for the field of action. His regiment was sent to the Potomac, where the men were engaged in building fortifications. In April, 1862, Dr. Howes was taken sick. Later on, being dis- charged on account of his illness, he returned home. In October, 1863, having regained his health, he re-enlisted as assistant surgeon of the Fourth Massachusetts Infantry, with which he served nine months. He then ac- cepted a position in a counting-room in Matta- poisett for a few years. After this he came to Hanover, resumed his profession, and ac- quired a large and lucrative practice. In 1884 he turned over his business to his son, and retired from active labor.
In 1848 Dr. Howes was married to Miss Mary W. White. By her he became the father of two children, namely: Clarence L., an able physician, and his father's successor; and Mary W., the wife of Orrin Beals, an architect. He is a comrade of the Joseph E. Wilder Post, No. 83, Grand Army of the Re-
public, of Hanover, which he has served as Commander and in other offices; and a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
EORGE W. HUMPHREY, a promi- nent and highly esteemed resident of Rochester, was born in Jericho, Vt., October 12, 1826, son of Eddy and Phebe (Lee) Humphrey. The father, who was a farmer in Jericho, died aged about seventy years, and the mother at the age of eighty- three. They had four children - James L., Edwin, Albert O., and the subject of this sketch. All, are living except Edwin, who was killed by lightning when about thirty-five years old. George W. Humphrey received a good education at Jericho Academy. Begin- ning at the age of twenty-one, he taught school for three years near his home. Then, moving to New Bedford, he taught for about eight months at Fairhaven, Mass. For seven years thereafter he was employed as clerk in the grain store of P. G. Macomber in New Bedford, and for the six years following he was in the clothing business with his brother James L., as partner. In 1862 he moved to the farm in Rochester, which has since been his home. Here he has followed general farming and dairying, and now takes rank among the successful farmers of the locality. He has a valuable estate of two hundred and ten acres, and keeps a number of fine milch COWS. Mr. Humphrey is not so active as he was before he was hurt in a railroad collision at Wareham, Mass., in 1881, while discharg- ing his duties as agent for the Hingham Fire Insurance Company.
In 1854 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Macomber, of New Bedford. Four children have blessed their union - Carrie F., George E., Chester W., and Bessie
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A. George E. is now deceased. The father is a member of the Congregational church in New Bedford. In politics Mr. Humphrey favors the Republican side. He was in the State legislature in 1872, and he was a Select- man of Rochester for four years. He has also been Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and School Committee man some time.
HARLES H. PAINE, of Halifax, now living in retirement, will be readily remembered as Commis- sioner of the county, which office he held for thirty consecutive years. His birth took place in the town of Middleboro, Plymouth County, January 5, 1820, and he is a son of Emerson and Lydia R. (Pendelton) Paine. The father, a minister of religion, was born at Foxboro, Mass., and the mother was a na- tive of Dighton, Mass.
When but three years old, Charles H. Paine removed with his parents to Little Compton, R.I., where the next twelve years of his life were spent, and his education was acquired chiefly in the schools of that place. He is, however, for the most part a self-educated man, having received but little schooling after that time. From Little Compton he returned to Middleboro, and a year later went to Bos- ton, where he was successively employed in a wholesale drug store and clothing store for a year cach. At the age of eighteen he shipped before the mast on the whaling vessel "Roman," for a two years' cruise in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Pacific. After this he went on a six months' trip aboard a merchant vessel, sailing from New York to Rio Janeiro. He then came to Halifax, and learned shoemaking, after which he undertook the manufacture of shoes, and was success- fully engaged in that business, for twenty
years. In 1860 he was chosen County Com- missioner, and held the office until 1890. While serving in this capacity he took up sur- veying and civil engineering, at which, in time, he acquired a large business. In 1890, when he reached the age of threescore and ten, he retired from active occupation.
On Christmas Day, 1845, Mr. Paine and Miss Cordelia Bryant, of Halifax, were united in marriage. They have had six children, as follows: Lydia R., now deceased; Charles I., foreman of the Herod shoe shop in Brockton; Annie, the wife of Samuel Alden; Frank, an electrician, residing in Plymouth; Emer- son, who died in 1886; and Lena, the wife of Frank Woodward, of Bridgewater, who is en- gaged in the manufacture of boxes at Brock- ton. Since the organization of the Republi- can party, Mr. Paine has been one of its stanch supporters. He served as Town Treas- urer and Selectman in the fifties, and he has been a Justice of the Peace for about forty years, having received the commission origi- nally under Governor Banks.
EWIS N. CURTIS was a well-known and much esteemed resident of Egypt. He was born in Scituate, March 3, 1812, son of Charles and Abigail (Litchfield) Curtis. Both parents were natives of Scitu- ate. The family is one of the oldest and most prominent in this town.
Having attended the common schools for the usual period, Lewis N. Curtis learned the shoemaker's trade, and afterward followed it for many years. The latter part of his life was spent exclusively in cultivating a good farm located in Egypt. He labored industri- ously for the affluence that rewarded him. By those manly traits of character which uncon- sciously assert their presence in those who
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possess them he gained the sincere good will of his neighbors and fellow-townsmen. He took a deep interest in all matters of public importance, and in politics he acted with the Republican party. His death occurred at his home in the village on July 9, 1894, at the age of eighty-two years, since which his fam- ily mourn him as a kind, affectionate, and in- dulgent husband and father.
On November 28, 1843, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage with Harriet T. Litchfield, who survives him. She was born in Scituate, September 30, 1822, daughter of Paul and Harriet (Vinal) Litchfield. The great-grand- father of Mrs. Curtis was Thomas, and her grandfather was Roland . Litchfield. Her an- cestry is traced through several generations to the original founder of the family in America, who settled in Scituate during the early Co- lonial period. Paul Litchfield, who passed his entire life in Plymouth County, and died in Scituate, October 1, 1876, was the father of several children. Of these, Harriet T., now Mrs. Curtis, is the only one living. Mrs. Curtis has one daughter, Harriet M. The homestead, which she still occupies, was formerly her father's property. She and her daughter fully merit the sincere estimation in which they are held by their numerous friends and acquaintances. Both ladies are prominent members of the Congregational church.
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