Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901, Part 11

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Boston, Graves & Steinbarger
Number of Pages: 924

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At the age of fourteen Nehemiah Mayo Dyer, having completed his course of study in the public schools of Provincetown, began the life of a sailor, and from that time on for six

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years was in the merchant service. He then engaged in various mercantile employments in a clerical capacity. During the winter of 1860-61, being at that time employed in the counting-room of Parker, Fowle & Sons, he joined the Fourth Battalion of Rifles, with which organization he served as a private in garrisoning Fort Independence from May to July 29, 1861, the battalion in the meantime having been recruited to a full regiment, and mustered into the United States service, July 16, 1861, for three years, and designated as the Thirteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Vol- unteer Militia. Mr. Dyer was a member of Company A of that regiment, and credited to Melrose, Mass., which town he had for several years made his home. In April, 1862, Mr. Dyer was discharged by special order of the War Department, to accept an appointment as acting master's mate in the navy, and on May 2, 1862, he reported at the Charlestown navy- yard for instruction in gunnery.

Ordered to the "R. R. Cuyler " on July 7, 1862, he served in the East and West Gulf Squadrons; and on the night of May 17, 1863, with a boat's crew from that ship, burned the rebel schooner "Isabel," while aground under the walls of Fort Morgan, bringing off her crew and papers. For this he was promoted by Admiral Farragut to Acting Ensign, and appointed to command the "Eugenie," re- named the "Glasgow," engaged in blockade and despatch duty. Promoted on January 12, 1864, for further faithful and meritorious ser- vice to Acting Master. In July he relin- quished a grant of leave of absence, and, so- liciting orders, was assigned on July 19 to the "Metacomet," and took part in the passage of the Mobile forts and capture of the rebel fleet, receiving in person the surrender of the "Selma." In October, after a brief leave of absence, he was ordered to the "Hartford," the flagship of Admiral Farragut. In the winter of 1864 and 1865, as commander of the "Ro- dolph," he co-operated with the forces under General Grasyer. The "Rodolph " was sunk by a torpedo on April 1, 1865, and on the 22d he was promoted to Acting Volunteer Lieutenant, and, after the surrender of the rebel fleet in the Tombigbee River in May,

he commanded successively the "Black Dia- mond, " the "Morgan," the "Elk," and the "Stockdale," in the latter vessel proceeding to Mississippi Sound to "cultivate friendly rela- tions with the people lately in rebellion." After brief terms of command on other vessels he was ordered North in April, 1866, to spe- cial duty in the Bureau of Navigation at Wash- ington, D.C. His commission as Lieutenant in the regular navy was dated March 12, 1868. Joining the "Dacotah," South Pacific Squad- ron, at Valparaiso, August 27, 1868, he was commissioned December 18 as Lieutenant Commander. At San Francisco, where he arrived on the "Dacotah" in September, 1869, he was ordered to Sitka, Alaska, in command of the "Cyane," and from Sitka in March, 1870, he was ordered to the "Pensa- cola " at San Francisco, and in July to the "Ossipee" on a cruise to the coast of Lower California and Mexico.

It was while on this cruise, on the morning after a hurricane leaving a troubled sea, that he leaped into the water from the poop-deck, where he was taking an observation, and res- cued from drowning a man who had fallen over- board from the maintopsail-yard, and had been rendered helpless by the fall. For this Cap- tain Dyer (then Lieutenant Commander) was specially commended by the Secretary of the Navy and by Commodore Taylor, and he re- ceived the silver medal of the Massachusetts Humane Society. Ordered in September, 1870, to the South Pacific Station, he was detached and ordered home in August, 1871 ; in November ordered to the Boston navy- yard; in September, 1873, to the Torpedo School at Newport, R. I. ; in November placed in command of the torpedo boat "Mayflower " at Norfolk; from April 10, 1874, to February, 1876, he commanded the "Pinta "; from the latter date till December he was executive of the "New Hampshire "; from 1877 to August, 1878, he was on equipment duty at the Boston navy-yard; afterward he was successively executive officer of the "Wabash " and the "Tennessee " (flagship). His promotion to be Commander was dated April 23, 1883. He was Lighthouse Inspector at Buffalo, N. Y., from September, 1883, to August, 1887; was

8 I

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at the Naval War College from September to November, 1887; Commander of the "Ma- rion," Asiatic Station, to May 22, 1890; In- spector of Ordnance at Portsmouth navy-yard from October, 1890, to April, 1893; waiting orders until June, 1895, then assigned to duty at Boston navy-yard until June, 1896; was lighthouse Inspector at Portland, Me., until August 1, 1897. He was commissioned Cap- tain July 13, 1897, and in August, 1897, was ordered to the command of the "Philadelphia," flagship of Admiral Miller, on the Pacific Sta- tion, then lying at Honolulu. In October, 1897, he put the "Philadelphia " out of com- mission at Mare Island, her officers and crew being transferred to the "Baltimore," which vessel was assigned as the flagship of Admiral Miller in place of the "Philadelphia."

On February 15, 1898, the battleship "Maine," United States Navy, was blown up in Havana Harbor, and on March 25 the official report said the "Maine " was destroyed by a mine. The cruiser "Baltimore," United States Navy, Captain Dyer commanding, then at Honolulu, was ordered, in anticipation of the beginning of hostilities between the United States and Spain, to proceed to Hong-Kong, with a supply of ammunition sent from San Francisco. At Hong-Kong, accordingly, on Friday, April 22, the "Baltimore " arrived, and "in forty-eight hours," as described by an eye-witness, "was docked, bottom scraped and repaired, painted, coaled, and provisioned, and ready for further service. It was re- markable despatch, but Captain Dyer did not lose an instant, and his ship was a scene of busy, bustling life, surrounded by a swarm of coal-junks, water-boats, provision-junks, and sampans, all pouring their loads aboard the 'Baltimore,' the painting going on at the same time." On the morning of May Day, at about 5. 15, the batteries of Manila opened fire on Admiral Dewey's fleet, which was steaming up the bay, the flagship "Olympia " leading, closely followed by the "Baltimore," the "Raleigh," the "Concord," the "Petrel," and the "Boston." "Five times the fleet ranged up and down before Cavite, each vessel pour- ing in broadsides upon the Spanish fleet and the batteries of Cavite." The "Baltimore,"

standing high up out of the water, was the most conspicuous target for the Spanish gun- ners. One shot took effect, entering at the upper deck line and scattering splinters, which slightly wounded five or six men. At 7.30 signal was given for the fleet to draw off. At 10.45 the attack was renewed, the "Balti- more" leading by order of the Admiral. Nothing in the whole engagement, it is said, showed more nerve than the dash made by the "Baltimore " and the "Olympia" up to the Cavite batteries. Both ships steamed full speed straight for the fort. The firing from the "Baltimore " at close range was incessant for twenty minutes. Then the "Olympia " took her turn. At five minutes past one the white flag was seen flying from Cavite.

As briefly reported, "the business of the American fleet was concluded during the after- noon, and the ships moved up to a safe anchor- age in front of Manila."

On March 27, 1899, Captain Dyer was de- tached from the "Baltimore" and ordered home, being granted three months' sick leave. February 1, 1900, he was ordered to the Charlestown navy-yard, where he is now (June 20, 1900) on duty.

LBRIDGE HENRY GOSS, author of the Life of Colonel Paul Revere, is a resident of Melrose, Mass., where for more than twenty-five years he has held the position of treasurer of the Melrose Savings Bank. He was born in Boston, De- cember 22, 1830; and, although his father, Henry Goss, was a native of Vermont, he comes of substantial Massachusetts stock, his grandfather, Zebulon Goss, who married De- lana Prouty, having been born and bred in Mendon, Worcester County, this State.

Henry Goss was one of a large family of children. He was born in 1806, and was married in 1829 to Betsy, daughter of Luke Kendall, of Vermont. Hle and his bride soon came to Boston, where he was engaged in the restaurant business till his death in 1845. He reared three children, of whom Elbridge is the only survivor.

Elbridge II. Goss was educated in the Bos-

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ton public schools, after leaving the Adams School attending the English High School a year. At the age of sixteen he began the active duties of life in earnest, and the follow- ing two years was a clerk in the clothing store of Kimball & Fisk on Washington Street. The next two years he was cashier in the dry- goods house of Chandler & Co., then on Sum- mer, now on Winter Street, after which he spent five years with W. F. Shaw & Co. on Washington Street. He then accepted the po- sition of book-keeper for A. L. White & Co., leather dealers, and was with that firm and its successors, Emerson & White, thirty consecu- tive years. In the meanwhile, in 1856, he had settled in Melrose, where in 1875 he be- came treasurer of the Melrose Savings Bank, a position that he still holds, although he has resigned as a book-keeper. Since coming to this town he has taken an active part in public matters, and filled many important offices. He was Auditor several years, was Water Regis- trar four years, in 1870 was elected a trustee of the public library, and is now and has been for several years chairman of its Board of Trus- tees. In 1874 and 1875 he represented the town in the State Legislature, where he served during his first term on the Committee on Libraries and during the second as chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills. He was a Deacon of the Melrose Orthodox Congre- gational Church, has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for more than twoscore years has been treasurer and collector of that church organization. He is a member of the Bostonian Society, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the American Historical Society, and the Bunker Hill Monument Asso- ciation. He also belongs to several beneficiary organizations.

Mr. Goss is deeply interested in everything associated with the early life of the New Eng- land colonies, and to the historical literature of this part of Massachusetts (Middlesex County) he has made many valuable contributions, among his published works being the follow- ing: The Melrose Memorial; or, History of Melrose in the Rebellion, written in 1868; "Early Bells of Massachusetts," which was issued in pamphlet form ; "Centennial

Fourth "; History of Melrose, for Drake's History of Middlesex County, published in 1880; A History of Melrose, for J. W. Lewis & Co.'s History of Middlesex County, written in 1890; and the Life of Colonel Paul Revere, in two volumes, printed and published in 1891, by Joseph G. Cupples. bookseller, of Boylston Street, Boston, and now in its third edition. He has likewise contributed interesting articles on the eair history of New England to the Magazine ci American History, the New England Maga- cine, and other publications; and in ISSo he published the Bibliography of Melrose.

On December 22, 1853, Mr. Goss married Hannah Jane, daughter of Martin and Pru- dence (Richardson) Baker, of Boston, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Goss have two children, namely : Frank Martin, born May 26, 1855; and Mary Alice, born January 1, 1863. Frank Martin Goss, who was educated in the Melrose publis schools, was for some time manager of the educational publications of Lee & Shepard, a: 10 Milk Street, Boston. He married Abbie Daniels, daughter of Robert S. D. Symonds. of Peabody, Mass., and resides in Melrose. Mary Alice is the wife of Edward Evere :: Babb, of Melrose, and has one son, Edward Everett Babb, Jr., born March 9, 1894. Cop- ied from BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW of Middlesex County. Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, 1898.)

By a unanimous vote at the town meeting. April 8, 1898, Mr. Goss was requested : write the History of Melrose. This work he has now nearly completed.

REDERICK LEEDS PIERCE, of Boston, a retired builder, resident in the Dorchester district, was born in Dorchester, Mass., March 20, 1829, a son of Captain Thomas and Martha ( Leeds) Pierce.

Captain Thomas Pierce, who also was a na- tive of Dorchester, born June 1, 1790, after receiving a common-school education, served an apprenticeship to the wheelwright's trade. Subsequently he abandoned this to engage in farming and also in butchering, which com-

FREDERICK L. PIERCE.

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bined occupations he followed for nine years. Later he went into business in Quincy Market, Boston, and was thus engaged for the rest of his life. His death occurred April 3, 1875. He married Martha Leeds, who was born September 26, 1794, and was a daughter of Samuel Leeds. Her father, who was a rep- resentative of an old New England family and a pilot by occupation, furnished provisions to the American troops during the War of 1812. Captain and Mrs. Thomas Pierce had five children, as follows: Martha; Robert, who died in 1894, at the age of about seventy years, and who in early life was a seafaring man; Samuel II. L., now a resident of Dor- chester; George, who died in 1896; Frederick Leeds, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. l'ierce died July 27, 1865.

Frederick L. Pierce was educated in the common schools of Dorchester; and after completing his studies he began industrial life in the carpenter's trade, at which he worked one year, this being followed by three years' employment as a mason. Then for about a year and six months he worked as a joiner. In November, 1852, he went to Niagara, N. Y., in March of the following year taking the boat up the river to Buffalo, from which place he made the journey up the lakes to Milwaukee. During this trip the vessel was stuck fast for three days in the ice. In Mil- waukee Mr. Pierce remained but six months, returning home on account of impaired health. In search of a milder climate he went to Sa- vannah, Ga., where he entered into the build- ing business, but was driven away from that city by the yellow fever, and, coming North again, stayed for a while in New York, soon, however, continuing his journey to Boston. lere he entered into business as a mason and builder, and was very successful, giving em- ployment to as many as from twenty to seventy-five hands. This he continued till 1897, when he retired, having been engaged in business for more than forty years. Mr. Pierce owns a good estate, the product of his own perseverance and industry, and is known as a man of his word, a good neighbor, and a firm friend to those who merit his friendship. Hle belongs to the I. O. O. F., and also to

the Masonic order, being a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M.

Mr. Pierce was married February 6, 1856, to Miss Ann Frances Tucker, a daughter of Elisha Tucker, of Milton, Mass. She was born April 30, 1837, and died November 13, 1879, leaving one child, George Frederick, born September 24, 1858, who is his father's successor in the business. George F. Pierce was married October 9, 1883, to Antoinette Louise, daughter of William Augustus and Antoinette (Read) Pierce. To them have been born seven sons, namely: one, the first- born, who died at birth; Allen Tucker, born February 23, 1887; Roger Grenway, born July 20, 1888; Harold Winslow, born Janu- ary 31, 1892; Frederick William, born Octo- ber 14, 1895; Winthrop Leeds, born August 12, 1897; and Robert, born January 20, 1900. The father of these children has advanced in Free Masonry to the thirty-second degree.

OHN CALVIN LOUD, the twentieth Mayor of Chelsea, Suffolk County, Mass., was born in Plymouth, Me., July 26, 1844, a son of George B. and Susan (McIntire) Loud. He was a grandson of Ephraim Loud, born 1793, whose father, Benjamin, born 1756, was a soldier in the Continental army. The father of this Benja- min was Benjamin Loud, Sr., born in 1722, being a son of William, who was married in 1708. The first of the family to settle in Plymouth, Me., was Ephraim Loud, who mi- grated thither with his wife and children from Jackson, N. H., and cleared a farm.

George Bickford Loud, son of Ephraim and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Plymouth, Me., and followed farming there during the entire active period of his life. He died in that town, February 25, 1885. His wife, Susan, was born in Winterport, Me., a daughter of John and Nancy (Chick) McIntire, and removed with her parents when quite young to Plymouth, Me. Mr. and Mrs. George B. Loud had eight children - John Calvin, Ephraim A., George Willis, Charles M., Ella, Addie, Jennie N., and Walter.

John Calvin Loud was educated in the public

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schools of Plymouth, Me. At the age of eighteen he enlisted from that town in Com- pany H, Twenty-second Maine Volunteers, and with that regiment took part in the siege of Port Hudson, the Red River expedition, and other military operations and engagements, until it was mustered out in the fall of 1863. Then, returning home, he spent six months in comparative inactivity, endeavoring to recuper- ate from a severe attack of malaria, or chills and fever-an old-fashioned fever and ague, in fact, contracted, doubtless, in the marshy distriets of the South. Upon his recovery he attended an academy at Corinna for six months, and later taught school for some time in Etna, Me. In the spring of 1864 he went to Boston, Mass., and, learning the baking business, was engaged in it there till 1885. In 1875 he took up his residence in Chelsea, and in 1887 removed his business to this city, where he subsequently carried it on with gratifying suc- cess until his retirement in 1897. His several stores are now conducted by two of his sons. In 1897 Mr. Loud spent four months travelling in England and through Europe in search of health.

In public affairs Mr. Loud had long practi- cal experience. He served as Councilman in the early eighties, then for four years on the Board of . Aldermen. In 1891 and 1892 he was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature, and served on the Committees on Finance and Expenditures, and took an active part in agitating for an elevated bridge over the Mystic River between Charles- town and Chelsea. During this time he had won by his zeal and untiring interest in the city's welfare the love and esteem of his fellow-citizens, and in 1894 he was nominated as Republican candidate for Mayor. On Janu- ary 6, 1896, Mr. Loud was invested with the power of Mayoralty by Judge Bosson. His taking the oath of office meant clean politics and no license for Chelsea and a sound finan- cial policy. Opposed to the acts passed by the Legislature allowing cities and towns to borrow money beyond their debt limit, he said in his inaugural address, "Special loans are to be particularly avoided"; and this policy he followed throughout his administration. Y'et, 1

while keeping the public expenditures within reasonable bounds, he by no means neglected public improvements. Washington Avenue was widened from the bridge to Cary Avenue, the police signal service introduced, and a street watering-plant established. The Boston & Maine Railroad was compelled to place signal gongs at Everett Avenue, Spruce Street, and West Third Street crossings; and he also signed an order to compel the placing of electric wires underground. On December 1, 1896, Mr. Loud, on account of ill health, was forced to transfer the duties of his office to John T. Hadaway, president of the Board of Aldermen ; and at the end of his term he de- clined re-election. His death, which caused a shock to the entire community, occurred on June 25, 1899.

Mr. Loud was a director of the Winnisimmet National Bank from its establishment. He belonged to the Masonic order, being a mem- ber of Robert Lash Lodge, and for the last ten years was its treasurer, and a member of Palestine Commandery. He also belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and to Theodore Winthrop Post, No. 35, G. A. R., of Chelsea. He was a prominent member of Mount Bellingham Methodist Church, and for the past nineteen years of his life was on the Board of Stewards. For a number of years, also, he was treasurer of the church, and for several years was superintend- ent of the Sunday-school.

In 1872 Mr. Loud married Josephine Ross. She died in 1873, leaving one child, Joseph Herbert, born April 8, 1873. For his second wife Mr. Loud married April 27, 1875, Mrs. Abby Adams Low, a daughter of Dudley Gilman and Mary Ann (Saunders) Adams, of Boston. The children of this union were: John Adams, born June 10, 1876; Ernest Augustus, born in January, 1878, who died in infancy; Harold Garfield, born August 21, 1881 ; Norman Dud- ley, born May 20, 1SS5; and Ruth, born De- cember 28, 1890, who died in infancy .. Joseph Herbert Loud, class of 1896, Amherst College, is now engaged in the bakery business in Chelsea. John Loud, a graduate of Harvard, class of 1898, is now in Germany studying

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music and German. Harry is associated in. the bakery business with his brother Herbert in Chelsea. A daughter of Mrs. Loud by her former marriage, Grace Low, who became a member of the Loud family, and was more frequently called Grace Loud than Grace Low, married Robert Elmer Evans, and resides in Chelsea. She has four children : Robert Elmer, Jr., born in 1892; Sidney Low, in 1893: Gil- man Adams, in 1895; and John Loud Evans, January 30, 1900.

The Adams family, of which Mrs. Loud is a representative, is that which has furnished so many distinguished men to this country. Her grandparents were Ebenezer and Abigail (.Adams) Adams. Ebenezer was a son of Cap- tain Joseph Adams, who was a son of Dr. Joseph Adams. Dr. Joseph was a son of the Rev. Joseph Adams and grandson of Joseph 3 and Hannah (Bass) Adams. Rev. Joseph Adams was a brother of Deacon John Adams, who married Susannah Boylston, they being the parents of John Adams, second President of the United States. John Adams married Abigail Smith, of Weymouth; and they were the parents of John Quincy Adams, also Presi- dent of the United States. John Quincy Adams married Louise C. Johnson, of Mary- land; and they were the parents of Charles Francis Adams, United States Minister to England during the Civil War.

The Hannah Bass who was the wife of Joseph 3 Adams was a daughter of John and Ruth (Alden) Bass, and was a grand-daughter of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden.

ON. THADDEUS COFFIN DE- FRIEZ, Judge of the Probate and Insolvency Court of Nantucket, was born in this town, October 14, 1822, being a son of Henry John Ingman and Elizabeth (Coffin) Defriez. lle was named tor his maternal grandfather, Captain Thad- deus Coffin, who was descended in two lines from Tristram Coffin, the immigrant progeni- tor of the Coffin family in New England. His paternal grandparents, Richard and Eliz- beth Defriez, were, so far as is known, life- long residents of England.

Henry J. I. Defriez, father of Judge De- friez, was born in London, England, in 1791; and he and his brother William were the only members of the family to settle in America. William Defriez married a Miss Milnor, whose father was a baker on Washington Street, Boston. He subsequently succeeded to his father-in-law's business, which he con- ducted successfully for many years. Henry left England when about fourteen years old as cabin boy in a vessel commanded by one Cap- tain Fanning. Continuing the life of a sailor, he applied himself to learn the art of navigation, and with such zeal that he became master of a vessel while still in early man- hood. After making many voyages to differ- ent parts of the world, he retired from the sea with a competency when about forty years old, and settled at Nantucket. He then became interested in whaling; and was for many years, and up to the time of his death, in his eighty- first year, a director of the Pacific National Bank. His first wife, Elizabeth, mother of Judge Defriez, was a daughter of Captain Thaddeus and Ann (Parker) Coffin.

Her father, who was a native of the island, commanded whaling-vessels for many years, sailing aiso from England and France. He retired from the sea in middle life, and built a dwelling-house on the highest point of land on Orange Street, where he resided for the rest of his days. He was a prominent citizen of the community, always interested in public affairs, and was at one time asked to accept a nomination for Congress. His wife, Ann, whom he married in Europe, was of English birth. She survived him a number of years.

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Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901, Part 11

Author: Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Boston, Graves & Steinbarger Number of Pages: 924

Author:
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Boston, Graves & Steinbarger
Number of Pages: 924