USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Plymouth County, Massachusetts > Part 52
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Winsor, "was an office of high trust and rc- sponsibility, and none werc clccted to it but men of high standing." Henry Sampson died December 24, 1684. He was married Febru- ary 6, 1635, to Ann Plummer, who bore him nine children. llis youngest son, Caleb, born in Duxbury in 1660, marricd Mercy, daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Alden) Standish, all of Duxbury. Alexander Standish was the eldest son of Captain Milcs Standish, and his wife was a daughter of John Alden, the Captain's rival in love. Mrs. Smith is of the sixth generation in direct line from Caleb and Mercy (Standish) Sampson, tracing her descent through their son Caleb, Caleb's son Paul, Paul's son Chandler, and Chandler's daughter, Sarah B. Sampson. Mrs. Sarah B. (Sampson) Bessey died in 1884. Mrs. Smith is a member of the First Congregational Church. A worthy representative of the fam- ilies from which she springs, she is very pop- ular in society. She is the mother of three children - Persis J., Bessie, and Henry P.
OSEA J. STOCKBRIDGE, one of the town fathers of Scituate, was formerly a successful merchant. He was born February 21, 1839, in Norwell, Mass. (once a part of old Scituate), son of Joseph and Deborah (Dwelley) Stockbridge. The Stockbridge family is of English origin. The first member of it in this section of the country was Samuel Stockbridge, whose son, Joseph, was the grandfather of Hosea J. Jo- seph Stockbridge, Jr., a native of Scituate, worked at carpentry in his young manhood, and at shoemaking in his maturer ycars. In politics he was a Whig. Hc spent his life in Plymouth County, and died in 1872. His wife was born in Hanover, Mass.
Hosea J. Stockbridge, who is the only sur-
viving member of his father's family, was cd- ucated in the common schools of Norwell. When he was eightcen years old he began to work at shoemaking, which he followed until 1870. In that year he moved from Norwell to Scituate Harbor, and there engaged in the sale of general merchandise and grain as a partner in the firm of C. A. Cole & Co. In 1873 he retired from business, and located on his present farm, where he has since found pleasure and profit in the pursuit of agricult- ure. On October 27, 1869, he was united in marriage with Julia E. Brown, a daughter of the late William Brown, of Scituate. A pop- ular member of the Democratic party, Mr. Stockbridge has been twice nominated for Representative. He has been a Justice of the Peace for some time, and was first elected in 1890 to the Scituate Board of Selectmen, on which he served three years in succession. In 1895 he was again elected, and in 1896 he was honored with re-election. He has also served as Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and as a member of the Board of Health. Always in favor of progress, but never overstepping the bounds of prudence, his opinions are listened to with respect, and have much influ- ence with his townsmen. Mr. Stockbridge is a member of Connihasset Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; and of Cohasset Lodge, No. 192, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows.
ON. FRANKLIN W. HATCH, the popular proprietor of the Brant Rock and Green Harbor coach line, is one of the best-known citizens of Marshfield, where he was born February 12, 1836. A son of Colonel Charles and Mary (Ames) Hatch, both of whom were also natives of this town, he is a descendant in the seventh generation of Kcnclem Winslow, who came to
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this country about the year 1630, and whose brother, Edward Winslow, of Plymouth, was a Colonial governor. Charles Hatch, grand- father of Franklin W., was born in Marsh- field. His son, Colonel Charles Hatch, was engaged in farming in this town during a great part of his life. In his earlier manhood he had managed a stage line between Duxbury and Boston. His military title was obtained in the State militia. In politics he was suc- cessively a Whig and a Republican. He died in 1870. Of his children, five are living, namely: Mary, the wife of Ezra Ford, of Marshfield; Almera, the wife of Nathan Ford, of Weymouth, Mass .; Ellen, the wife of B. F. H. Keen, of Marshfield; Franklin W., the subject of this sketch; and Susan A., the wife of John Magoun, of Marshfield.
Franklin W. Hatch acquired his early edu- cation in the common schools of his native town. He remained with his father until he was of age, and then for three years was en- gaged in driving a stage for his brother, Charles T. Hatch, who was the proprietor of a coach line. Afterward he entered into part- nership with his brother; and then, after another interval, became the sole proprietor of the line, which he has successfully carried on since. In the the summer his coaches, ply- ing between Brant Rock and Green Harbor, often carry a thousand passengers a week. He has also government contracts for four mail routes, which are in operation the year round.
On December 18, 1860, Mr. Hatch was married to Vesta, daughter of Sidney Howard, of Brockton, and has one daughter living, named Marcia E. His political principles are Republican, and he has served in a number of public offices. He was Constable of Marsh- field for a number of years; Deputy Sheriff for twelve years; and he sat in the State
legislature of 1888. He is a member of Corner Stone Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Dux- bury, in which at one time he held the rank of Master. Mr. Hatch is well known to a large contingent of summer visitors, and is very popular with all classes. His success in business has been won entirely by personal effort, as he started on little more capital than industry and pluck.
APTAIN JOHN G. DEXTER, of Rochester, who has had a remarkably successful career in whale hunting, was born in Rochester, February 28, 1834. He was reared on a farm, receiving much of his early education at Rochester Academy. At the age of sixteen he shipped before the mast on the whaling ship "Canton " of New Bedford, and was gone a year and a half, cruis- ing in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Okhotsk Sea. Having become an expert sailor on this voyage, he was next engaged as boat steerer on the ship "Pacific," which was out thirty months, hunting whales in the same waters, and in Chinese and Japanese seas. He went on the next trip of the "Pacific " as third mate, was gone forty-four months, cruising in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and returned as second mate. Holding this rank, he made four more voyages in the Pacific, and became very familiar with the whaling grounds of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the Okhotsk Sea. He then became Captain of the bark "Hercules," and commanded her on a voyage from New Bedford, lasting forty months. Captain Dexter has circumnavigated the globe more than once, and sailed around Cape Horn six times; and the vessels on which he served obtained at an average over a thousand barrels of whale oil per year. In 1866 he retired from the arduous life which
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he had followed for sixteen years, and settled in his present home.
Captain Dexter was married in 1869 to Miss Catherine Ruggles, of Rochester. They have had seven children, of whom Frank G. and Hattie are deceased. The others are: John W., Ellen R., Lucy R., Charles R., and Mary S. Politically, he favors the Republi- can party. He was Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Trustee of the Public Library for some time; Selectman of the town for four years; and he was sent to the legislature in 1893. He takes much interest in literary matters and educational projects. His wide and diversified knowledge of men and things, gained by actual observation and experience, gives much value to his opinion on numerous subjects.
OT PHILLIPS, of the firm of Lot Phillips & Company, large box manu- facturers in Plymouth County, own- ing mills in various places, is a substantial citizen of the town of Hanover. He was born in Hanson, Mass., February 13, 1841, a son of Ezra and Nabby Phillips, being the only child of his parents. He received a public- school education, after which he learned the routine of farm work, remaining on the home farm in Hanson until 1863, when he was twenty-two years of age.
The eight years following, from 1863 to 1871, were spent in the work of a millwright. In 1871 he erected a plant for the manufactur- ing of boxes and the grinding of grain, and established the business now, as then, con- ducted under the firm name of Lot Phillips & Co. Besides this they own a saw-mill in Hanson, another in East Pembroke, a third in West Duxbury, and the Alihab mills, located at West Hanover, the dimensions of the box factory being eighty by one hundred and sixty
feet, and of the grist-mill, forty by one hun- dred feet. Mr. Phillips's partners in this enterprise were E. Y. Perry and Josiah Hink- ley. They cut annually about three and one- half million feet of lumber into box boards, and saw about seventeen hundred cords of wood, which is sold in the Boston market. Mr. Phillips carries on a farm of about onc hundred and seventy-five acres owned by the company. He was also connected for seven- teen years with the grain business in Hanover and Rockland.
Mr. Phillips and Miss Sarah E. Phillips were joined in marriage in 1863, and to them seven children have been born, as follows: George W., who died in 1878; Mabel G .; Fred W .; Flora E .; Ezra Burt; Lee; and Hugh. Mr. Phillips is a Republican in poli- tics. He is a member of North River Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Han- over. He attends the First Congregational Church of Hanover, and has been Treasurer of the parish for several years.
ENRY S. BATES, of Hanover, who closed a successful business career in 1896 by retirement, was born in his present home on November 10, 1821. He was educated in his native town, making the most of the limited opportunities offered at that time. Ship-building was one of the lead- ing industries of Plymouth County in his boy- hood, when the docks were thronged with busy workmen. It was this fact that prompted him at the age of seventcen to learn the ship- carpenter's trade. Having done so, he fol- lowed it for thirteen years, during which he saw launched many a vessel which he had helped to build. In 1851, when he was thirty years old, he and his brother John opened a general store in Hanover, stocking
LOT PHILLIPS.
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it with the variety of goods made necessary by the demands of country trade. This was very large then, as there was no railroad con- nection with the cities, and goods had to be transported overland by team from Boston, or shipped by way of the North River. Hanover is about seven or eight miles from the mouth of the river as the crow flies; but following the windings of the stream, the distance is much greater. The river, however, was the great highway of commerce when Mr. Bates was a young man, and the transportation of goods was necessarily slow and uncertain. With a natural aptitude for business, he was able to make his store a commercial centre of the district for forty-five years.
In the course of his long life Mr. Bates has made a great many friends. Aside from the respect accorded him as a successful business man, he has won the lasting regard of many by the intrinsic worth of his character. A lifelong resident of Hanover, he has witnessed many changes in the pleasant little town, the advent of railroads, and of steam-power in manufacturing. Mr. Bates was first married in 1861 to Miss Angeline S. Gardner. Sub- sequently he contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Emeline (Pratt) Sylvester, who died January 12, 1897, leaving no children.
ANIEL D. DEVEREUX, the well- known and popular manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office at Duxbury, was born in Providence, R. I., March 26, 1839, a son of Ralph P. and Phebe (Chase) Devereux. The family is one of the oldest in New England, John Devereux, its American founder, having come to this country and settled in or near Marblehead about the year 1630. Ralph P. Devereux, a native of Marble- head, Mass., and a son of Nathaniel K. Dever-
eux, was engaged in business in Boston and Providence, but always resided in the latter city.
In 1854, after receiving his education in the elementary schools and High School of Provi- dence, Daniel D. Devereux went to New Bed- ford, Mass., where he secured a position as messenger boy for the New York and New England Telegraph Company. While so em- ployed he improved his opportunities to learn telegraphy, and was shortly after promoted to the position of telegraph operator. Finding him an entirely competent man the American Telegraph Company, after it absorbed the New York & New England, and the Western Union after the American had joined it, successively retained him in their employment. He was in the State Street office in Boston for a quarter of a century, during the greater part of which he had charge of the company's city lines, and was inspector of its branch and suburban offices. In May, 1882, he came to Duxbury, and has since been in charge of their office here.
On December 11, 1862, Mr. Devereux mar- ried Abbie E. Mott, of Providence. They have three children - William F., Lizzie A., and Charles A. Mr. Devereux is a Republi- can in politics, has been for many years a member of the Republican Town Committee, of Duxbury, of which he served as Secretary, and he took an active part in public affairs while living in Malden. He is a member of the Duxbury Yacht Club, and its present Sec- retary and Treasurer. He is also affiliated with Columbian Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Boston, St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter of that city, being a life member of both these bodies. He is an honorary member and Past Master of Melrose Council at Malden, Mass. ; also a member of the Hugh De Payens Commandery, of Melrose, Mass. ; and he is a Thirty-second
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Degree Mason. At present he is Chairman of the Board of Registrars of Voters for Duxbury.
ENJAMIN F. H. KEENE, Town Collector of Marshfield and the Post- master of Centre Marshfield, is one of the most esteemed residents of the town. He was born here January 20, 1832, son of Benjamin and Nancy (Sherman) Keene, both also natives of Marshfield. His grandfather, Benjamin Keene, Sr., resided here for a num- ber of years. His father, who passed his life in the town, died in 1859. His mother, who was a daughter of Amos and Nancy (Holmes) Sherman, lived until 1895. The other surviv- ing children of his parents are: Kate L., the widow of J. Thaxter Damon, of Marshfield; and Elsie J., the wife of Charles L. Ford, of East Pembroke, Mass.
Benjamin F. H. Keene was educated in the common schools of his native town. He learned the trade of ship-caulking in his early manhood, and followed it continuously after- ward for about fifteen years. Many years have elapsed since he was appointed Postmaster at Centre Marshfield. All who call on him for mail are pleased to exchange greetings with him, and would miss him sadly were he not in his accustomed place. He is besides engaged in farming, and also deals in agricultural im- plements. In politics Mr. Keene is a stanch Republican. He believes in the principles so eloquently advocated by Daniel Webster, who was in the height of his forceful manhood when Mr. Keene was a young child, and whose home in Marshfield is still an object of interest to visitors. Mr. Keene served for four years on the Board of Selectmen, and has been Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He has now been in office as Collector some four years.
On January 1, 1860, he was united in mar-
riage with Ellen L., daughter of Colonel Charles Hatch, of Marshfield. Colonel Hatch, who was an officer in the State militia, and at one time managed a stage line between Dux- bury and Boston, afterward engaged in farming in Marshfield, where he died in 1870. Of his children four, besides Mrs. Keene, are living. These are : Mary, the wife of Ezra Ford of this town; Almera, the wife of Nathan Ford, of Weymouth, Mass. ; Franklin W., the proprie- tor of the Brant Rock and Green Harbor coach line; and Susan A., the wife of John Ma- goun, of Marshfield. Mr. and Mrs. Keene have had two children - Nellie F. and Flor- ence L. Nellie F. is now deceased. Mrs. Keene and her daughter Florence are members of the Congregational church. They, with Mr. Keene, take an active part in the social events of the town, and are well known and popular.
I HOMAS F. BAILEY, Selectman of Scituate, and a well-known and success- ful contractor and builder, is a native of . Dorchester, Mass., born November 22, 1838. His parents were Sewall and Elizabeth (Gerv- ing) Bailey. Sewall Bailey, who was born in Scituate, was a son of Israel Bailey, an old settler of this town, and a soldier of the War of 1812. The mother of Thomas F. was born in the State of Rhode Island.
Thomas F. Bailey spent the first seven years of his life in Dorchester. His parents then removing to Scituate he acquired his education in the schools of this town, ending with a course of study at the high school. When he was seventeen years old he began to learn the carpenter's trade at Dorchester. He had served three years and seven months of his apprenticeship when, answering the first call for troops from President Lincoln, he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company K, Eleventh
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Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. His regi- ment was assigned to the army of the Potomac, after which, until his discharge, he was almost constantly in action, sharing in some of the most momentous battles of the war. He was in the disastrous rout of the first Bull Run; in the terrific conflict of the second Bull Run; in the engagements of Seven. Pines and Fair Oaks; at the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded; in the conflicts of the Wilder- ness; and in the battle of Cold Harbor. Hon- orably discharged on June 14, 1864, he re- turned to Scituate, where, excepting a period of three years spent in Boston, he has since made his home. He has been in business as a contractor and builder some twenty years, win- ning the confidence of the public by his close attention to business.
Mr. Bailey married Miss Marion L. Mott, daughter of Paul Mott, of Scituate, and has one son, George S. A popular Republican he was elected Selectman in March, 1894, and has been twice re-elected since. He is a member of George W. Perry Post, No. 31, Grand Army of the Republic of Scituate Centre, of which he was Commander for a year; and also belongs to Hatchet Rock Assembly of Good Fellows.
ABEZ P. THOMPSON, a large land owner and a successful farmer of Hali- fax, was born July 24, 1853, on the farm where he now resides, son of Ephraim B. and Eliza R. (Soule) Thompson. The founder of the family came from Wales in 1622, and settled in Halifax, which has been the birthplace of its lineal representatives since, namely : Thomas; Ebenezer, Sr. ; Eben- ezer, Jr. ; Jabez P .; Ephraim B .; and Jabez P. Ephraim B. Thompson and his wife had five children - Jabez P., Ellen A., Sarah B.,
Lucy M., and Susan. Lucy M. died in 1865, and Susan in 1860. The father, who died in 1889, aged seventy-six, was a member of the Congregational church, served several years as Selectman, and was also a Representative in the Lower House of the State legislature for two or three terms. Grandfather Thompson was a State Senator about the same time, somewhere in the forties.
Jabez P. Thompson, the only son of his parents, remained on the homestead, attending the district school at intervals until eighteen years of age. Thereafter he devoted his time to farming and lumbering. Since his father's death he has become the owner of the home- stead, a farm of about two hundred acres. In addition to this he owns forty acres of timber land. He also succeeded to some of the official honors bestowed upon his father. He was Selectman for thirteen years, during three of which he was Chairman of the Board. He has served the community as Overseer of the Poor, Assessor, Tax Collector; was Town Treasurer for ten years, Justice of the Peace three years, and in 1893 he was a member of the State legislature. Like his father he is a communicant of the Congregational church ; and he is affiliated with the Knights of Honor, of Middleboro.
On December 19, 1878, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Miss Abbie P. Wood, daughter of Aspah S. and Abbie L. Wood, of Halifax. He has now four children, as fol- lows: Frederick P., Clifford B., Myron W., and Helen L.
SA J. MERRITT is a respected busi- ness man of Scituate, long identified with the building trade in this town as a member of the firm of Merritt Brothers, contractors. He was born in Scituate, No- vember 22, 1828, son of Asa and Betsey (Cud-
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worth) Merritt. (For a further account of the Merritt family see the biography of Henry Merritt, of Scituate.)
Asa J. Merritt made the most of the edu- cational advantages offered by the district school. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner from his father, with whom he worked for a number of years. Subsequently, for many years, he was in partnership with his brother Henry, with whom he formed the firm of Merritt Brothers, contractors and builders. In the pursuit of this business he was an influential factor in the development of Scituate and adjoining towns. His contracts were always fulfilled promptly and honestly.
Mr. Merritt was married January 1, 1856, to Hannah A. Curtis, a daughter of Norton and Mary P. (Chesbrook) Curtis, of Scituate. The Curtis family, which is of English origin, was established by one of four brothers who came to this country in Colonial times. This brother settled in Scituate, and here Thomas Curtis, Charles Curtis, and Norton Curtis, re- spectively the great-grandfather, grandfather, and father of Mrs. Merritt, were born. Nor- ton Curtis, a lifelong resident of Scituate, was respected as an exemplary citizen. His wife, who was born in Camden, Me., bore him a large family of children, six of whom, besides Mrs. Merritt, the eldest, are living. These are : Mary N., the wife of Ira B. Pratt, of Cohasset, Mass .; Emeline F., the wife of B. B. W. Litchfield, of Scituate; Henry N. and Job E., both residents of Weymouth, Mass. ; Arthur H., residing in Boston; and Sarah E., a resident of Scituate. Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have three children, namely : Asa E., born February 12, 1857; Wesley C., born June 29, 1859; and Anna F., who is now wife of John F. Turner, a constable of Scituate. Mr. Merritt votes the Re-
publican ticket. A public-spirited citizen, he is much interested in the welfare of the community.
OSHUA W. SWIFT, Treasurer and Collector of Duxbury, was born in this town, January 19, 1821, son of Lot and Mercy (Weston) Swift. The Swift family is said to be of English origin, and Mr. Swift's grandfather was a native of Massachusetts, who resided in Wareham. Lot Swift was born in Wareham, but the greater part of his life was spent in Duxbury, where he followed agri- cultural pursuits, and his wife was a native of this town. Of their children but two now survive, namely: Joshua W., the subject of this sketch; and his sister Lydia, who also resides here.
Joshua W. Swift in his early years attended the common schools of his native town, and at the age of seventeen he went to New Bedford, where he served an apprenticeship at the har- ness and trunk-maker's trade. Returning to Duxbury on November 1, 1841, he established himself in the harness business, and has since followed it successfully.
In 1842 Mr. Swift was married to Caroline Kirby, daughter of Noah Kirby, late of West- port, Mass. Of four children born to them there are two survivors - Amanda M. and Edgar W. The two who have passed away were: Alvah L. and Herbert. Mrs. Swift died in 1863.
In politics Mr. Swift is one of the most prominent and active supporters of the Demo- cratic party in Duxbury. For ten years he served as a Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, these positions coming to him un- sought. He was Deputy Collector of Customs for the Plymouth District for three years, and has acted as a Justice of the Peace for a num- ber of years. He has held his present offices
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of Treasurer and Collector of this town for the past twenty-one years, which is ample testi- mony of his ability and faithfulness, especially as he was not a seeker after office. In 1876 he was a candidate for Representative, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, George Bradford, who was elected by a small majority, although Mr. Swift polled the largest vote ever accorded a Democratic candidate in this district. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been an Odd Fellow for over fifty years. As a public-spirited citizen and an able official he is widely and favorably known, and is highly respected by all classes irrespective of politics.
ARREN LITCHFIELD, one of the oldest residents of Scituate, belongs to a prominent and numerous family, native here for over one hundred and fifty years, and active in promoting the interests of the place. Sketches of other members of this family will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Litchfield was born here June 3, 1813, son of Stephen and Rebecca (Cudworth) Litch- field. Stephen was a son of Isaac Litchfield, and both were natives and lifelong residents of this town. An extensive land-owner, Stephen was engaged in agriculture during his active life. In prosperous circumstances himself he gave freely to the deserving poor. His death on December 23, 1843, was mourned in Scitu- ate as the loss of a benefactor of the commu- nity. He was married three times. Of his children the only survivors are Turner Litch- field, of Scituate, and Warren Litchfield.
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