Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901, Part 29

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

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Lieutenant Gerrish was married in Chicago, June 11, 1872, by the Rev. Robert Collyer, to Emily Gertrude, daughter of Artemas Spof- ford and Susan Wheeler (Turner) Patten. His children are four in number : Susan Louise,

born April 12, 1873; William Patten, born September 10, 1874; Charles Victor, born May 15, 1876; and George Howard, born Au- gust 15, 1877, of Harvard University, 1901.

ENAS DILLINGHAM LINTON, Treasurer and Collector of the town of Cottage City, Dukes County, where he is engaged in mercantile business, was born at Holmes's llole (now Vineyard Haven) on August 19, 1836. His parents were John and Sophronia J. (Dilling- ham) Linton.

The origin of the Linton family has been traced by Mrs. Clara Linton Allen, of De- troit, Mich., in England back to the time of William the Conqueror. The name occurs occasionally in Northern Europe, but is more frequent in England in the neighborhood of the Scottish border. Mrs. Allen found also that John Linton, a Quaker preacher, landed at Philadelphia, November 8, 1692; and it is supposed that he was the progenitor of most of the Lintons in the United States to-day.

Joseph Linton, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Dobbs County (now Lenoir County), North Carolina, on January 6, 1763. In July, 1780, in the war of Ameri- can independence, he enlisted in Captain Samuel Caswell's command for eighteen months, and served until the expiration of his term in January, 1782, when he was dis- charged. Subsequently he served for two months, on a privateer, sailing from Beaufort, S. C. In 1783 he was drafted into the army, and served three months, being still thus en- gaged when peace was declared. In 1798 he came to Dukes County, Massachusetts, and settled in that part of Edgartown now com- prised in Cottage City, being subsequently a resident of this vicinity until his death in 1845. As a soldier of the Revolution, he was in his latter years in receipt of a pension, granted in 1832. Joseph Linton was twice married. Ilis first wife was Sally Doggett, a native of Edgartown, born March 2, 1772, and a lifelong resident of the island. She was the mother of three children - Joseph J., John, and Betsey. For his second wife, Joseph

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Linton married Eleanor Allen, who reared one child, Edward Dobbs.

John Linton, son of Joseph and Sally (Doggett) Linton, was born within the limits of the present town of Cottage City on June 28, 1805. When a young man, he entered the merchant marine service, in which he re- mained for many years, making numerous voy- ages. Ile always had his home in his native town, where he died at the age of eighty-eight. Ilis wife, Sophronia, was a native of Barn- stable County. She died at the age of seventy years, having reared three children - Eliza- beth, Sarah, and Zenas Dillingham. Eliza- beth married first Joseph M. Mayhew, and sec- ond Captain Alexander Fisher. Sarah died in 1 866.

Zenas D. Linton began sailing at the age of sixteen years in the merchant marine ser- vice, and subsequently acted in every capacity from cabin boy to master of a vessel in both the merchant and whaling services. During his maritime career, which extended over a period of twenty years, he visited all or most of the principal ports of the world, and became acquainted with almost every nation and tribe of mankind dwelling near the sea. For many years he kept a diary in which he chronicled daily events, together with comments on places he visited or people that he met. These notes are still in his possession, and might well form the basis of an interesting and instructive book. Retiring from the sea in 1872, he engaged in mercantile business at Cottage City, and has continued thus occupied up to the present time.

A Republican in politics, he has served as Town Treasurer and Collector since 1886. Ile is Past Master of Oriental Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was married in 1871 to Miss Maria Pease, a native of Edgartown and a daughter of Captain Tristram D. and Nancy W. Pease. Mr. and Mrs. Linton have no children.

PRANK E. WELLS, an enterprising young business man of Dorchester, Mass., takes a prominent part in pub- lic matters, and is a member of the city

council, representing Ward Sixteen. He is a son of James E. and Fannie B. (Green) Wells, and was born in Worcester, Mass., January 4, 1874.

James E. Wells is a native of New Bruns- wick. In early manhood he came to Massa- chusetts, and in 1877 settled in Dorchester, Mass., where he has since been prosperously engaged in mercantile pursuits. He married Miss Fannie B. Green, of Portland, Me.

Frank E. Wells obtained his elementary education in the public schools of Dorchester, and then took the course of study at the Eng- lish High School in Boston, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. For a year and a half thereafter he was employed in a mercantile house in the city, but since that time he has been in business with his father as a dealer in provisions and groceries, ably assisting in the management of their finely equipped and well-stocked store in the Dor- chester District. In the city council, to which he was elected in the fall of 1898, Mr. Wells is an active and useful member of the following committees: City Clerk Depart- ment, Health Department, Building Depart- ment, Public Grounds, the Registry Depart- ment, and Street Laying-out Department.

He is a member of the Clifton Club, the South Boston Yacht Club, and of the Boston Social Fishing Club, three of the leading pleasure organizations of the city.

ILLIAM LEACHI, M.D., a well- known and highly respected physi- cian of Vineyard Haven, Dukes County, was born in the town of Kittery, York County, Me., on September 23, 1825, son of Captain William and Nancy (Welch) Leach. His paternal grandfather, Captain Daniel Leach, was a native of York, Me. A master mariner, he followed the sea during his active period, and then, retiring, spent his last days in Eliot, Me., of which town carlier progenitors of the family were pioneer settlers.

Captain William Leach, who was born in Kittery, Me., began a seafaring life when a boy. By the time he was eighteen years old

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he was commander of a coasting vessel, and he subsequently commanded different vessels in the merchant service, following the sea most of his life. He died in Salisbury, Mass .; at the age of sixty-three. His wife, Nancy, who survived him many years, died on Martha's Vineyard at the age of eighty-one. She reared eight children - Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Caroline, William, Emily, George, Augustus, and Sarah.

William Leach, second, the direct subject of this sketch, received his elementary educa- tion in the district school, and fitted for col- lege at Newmarket Academy. He then turned his attention to the study of medicine, enter- ing in 1852 the medical department of Har- vard University, from which he was graduated in 1856. After practising in Boston till 1863, he came to Martha's Vineyard, and has since resided here, engaged in the successful practice of his profession. - He is a member of Martha's Vineyard Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; of Vineyard Lodge, No. 228, I. O. O. F .; and of the Massachusetts Medical Society.

Dr. Leach was married in 1842 to Abby Marshall, of Mechanicsville, Rutland County, \'t. She died in 1859; and in 1861 he mar- ried for his second wife Mrs. Althea Luce Cottle, a native of Martha's Vineyard, daugh- ter of Jonathan and Sally Luce, and the widow of Captain Silas Cottle. Dr. Leach had seven children by his first marriage; namely, Jud- son A., Frank E., Josephine, George W., Etta. Alice, and Frederick, of whom the only ones living are Judson and Frank. Josephine married John HI. Crowell, and died at the age of thirty-eight years. George died at the age of forty-three. Etta became the wife of Dr. John D. O'Connell, of Lexington, Mass., and died at the age of twenty-nine. Alice and Freddie passed away in childhood, the former at the age of eight and the latter at that of ten years.

ON. WILLIAM HENRY LOTT, · State Senator for the Seventh Suffolk District, and a well-known resident of Boston, was born in Woolwich, . iengland, September 17, 1852, a son of Adol-

phus and Ellen Margaret (Bridges) Lott. Ilis father was a soldier in the British army, and fought at the battle of Alma and other deci- sive battles in the Crimean War, receiving medals for bravery. In 1861 Adolphus Lott emigrated with his family to America, and settled first on a farm at Falmouth, Me. Sub- sequently he went to Illinois, where in 1873 his wife died. Ile then removed to Fort Worth, Tex., where the rest of his life was spent. Hle and his wife were the parents of five children - William H., Ellen M., Albert W., Adolphus B., and Alice M., of whom William II. was the eldest.

William Henry Lott, instead of accom- panying his parents to the West, remained in New England. Ile received his education in Falmouth, Me., New Gloucester and Acton, Mass., leaving school, however, at an carly age to begin the battle of life, his chief equip- ment being a pair of strong arms and a willing heart. Oftentimes in those early days he scarcely knew where the next meal was to come from. In 1865 he came to Boston, and obtained employment driving a wagon for Cushman's Brighton Express Company; and he subsequently worked for other express com- panies, among them the Adams Company. Later he became connected with the cigar business, and continued as an employee of different firms until 1895, in which year he engaged in the wholesale cigar business for himself under the firm name of Lott & Co., and has since built up an excellent trade. His interest in public life dates back to ISSS, at which time he had come to be recognized as a man of good judgment in political matters. In 1897 he was elected Alderman at large for the city of Boston, to which office he was re-elected in 1898. His record during these two terms of public service was the cause of his election to the State Senate from the Seventh Suffolk District in 1899, and his re- election in 1900. During the first term he served on the Committees on Public Health, Manufactures, and Bills in Third Reading, and during his second term was assigned, in addition, to the Committee on Cities and Libraries. In the Senate Mr. Lott's action has been in the interests of wise legislation.

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He is easily classed as a safe man, and by his course has won the confidence and esteem not only of his constituents, but of his fellow- senators and the public, whose best interests he has ever sought to advance.

Mr. Lott is a member of various fraternal and secret societies. He is Past Master of Massachusetts Lodge, F. & A. M., this being the oldest Masonic lodge but two in Boston ; a member of St. Paul's Chapter, R. A. M .; Boston Council, R. S. M., and of Boston Com- mandery, K. T. Ile isalso Noble Grand of the Boston Lodge, I. O. O. F; Tri-Mountain En- campment, of which he is Past District Deputy ; and is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Socially, he is popular, and highly esteemed among a wide acquaintance. The appointment of Mr. Lott by Mayor Hart as Commissioner of Wires for the city of Boston for a term of three years, commencing from May 1, 1900, is recognized as a proper one; and the tax-payers may confidently expect a wise and economical administration of this department at his hands.

On February 11, ISSO, Mr. Lott married Miss Ellen Hayden, a daughter of Julius Hayden, of Rochester, Vt. Mr. and Mrs. Lott have had three children: Fannie E., born May 3, 1883; Howard W., who died in 1889; and Gladys, born November 15, 1890.

OLONEL JOHN CHADWICK WHITON, master of the Suffolk County House of Correction at South Boston, was born in Hingham, Mass., August 21, 1828, son of Elijah and Mary (Lincoln) Whiton. He is descended on both sides of the house from founders of Hing- ham, some of whom came from the mother town of that name in England.

The first of his American ancestors in the direct male line was James Whiton, who was residing in Ilingham, Mass., as early as 1647. A farmer by occupation, he received from the town in 1657 and at subsequent dates various grants of land. He was made a freeman in 1660. On December 30, 1647, he married Mary Beal, born in Hingham, England, in

1622, second daughter of John and Nazareth (Hobart) Beal. James Whiton died April 26, 1710; and his wife, December 12, 1696. They had nine children. Matthew, the third child, born October 30, 1653, was a cooper by trade, and served as constable in 1701. Ile died intestate July 22, 1725. On December 27, 1677, he married Mrs. Deborah Pitts Howard, a native of Hingham, daughter of Edmund and Ann Pitts and widow of Daniel Howard. She died September 19, 1729, in her seventy-eighth year.

David Whiton, son of Matthew and Debo- rah, the next in this line of descent, was born June 5, 1681, being the third of a family of eight children reared by his parents. He fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer on Liberty Plain, South Hingham, and served as consta- ble in 1726. On March 10, 1715-16, he mar- ried Elizabeth Ripley, who was born in Hing- ham, March 26, 1694, daughter of l'eter and Sarah (Lasell) Ripley. They had eight chil- dren, the eldest of whom was David, Jr., born April 12, 1717. He was a yeoman, and resided at Bull's Pond, Hingham Centre, where his death occurred October 12, 1751. The maiden name of his wife, whom he married October 29, 1739, was Mary Gilbert. She was born in Hingham in January, 1715-16, "probably daughter of Nathaniel and Judith Gilbert"; and she died November 10, 1799. David, Jr., and Mary Whiton were the parents of seven children.

Elijah, their second child, Colonel Whiton's grandfather, was born February 5, 1741, and he died March 16, 1814. His active life was devoted to farming in Hingham. On January 7, 1768, he married Lydia Lincoln, who was born in Hingham, July 7, 1741, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Whiton) Lincoln. She died March 23, IS27. Her father was a son of Peter and Ruth (Beal) Lincoln, grandson of Joshua and Deborah (Hobart) Lincoln. and great-grandson of Thomas Lincoln, husband- man, and of Captain Joshua Hobart, both of Hingham. Eight children were born to Eli- jah and Lydia (Lincoln) Whiton, and five grew to maturity. The eldest was Lydia, who became the wife of John Chadwick, of Boston.

Elijah Whiton, second, Colonel Whiton's

.....

COL. JOHN C. WHITON

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luther, who was the seventh child, was born December 29, 1779. He was a lifelong resi- dent of Hingham, and during his active period wa\ master of a packet vessel. He died Junc 10. 1841. On December 18, 18os, he mar- ried Susan Beal, born in Hingham, February 18. 1787, daughter of Darius and Susan (Lin- coln) Beal. Her death occurred August 1, 1812. She left one child, Susan Lincoln, born December 27, 1809. On January 31, 1813, he married for his second wife Mary Lincoln, who was born November 5, 1787, daughter of Frederick and Tabitha (Whit- marsh) Lincoln, of Weymouth, Mass. Of this union there were seven children, of whom John C., the subject of this sketch, is the youngest and the only one now living. Mrs. Mary Lincoln Whiton died September 10, 1859. Frederick Lincoln, her father, was of the fifth generation in descent from Samuel lincoln, weaver, of Ilingham, who is said to have been the immigrant ancestor of Presi- dent Abraham Lincoln. (See Ilingham gene- alogies in History of the Town of Hingham, Mass. )

John Chadwick Whiton was educated in the public schools of his native town. Entering the retail grocery business in Boston as a clerk, he was later connected with the whole- sale store of John P. Whiton, and continued in that employment until 1862. In the spring of 1861 he served at Fort Warren, Boston Har- bor, as Captain of Company A, Second Battal- ion, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (the Boston Tigers) ; and in the following year he went to the front as Lieutenant Colonel of the Forty-third Massachusetts Regiment, serving as such until the expiration of his term of en- listment in July, 1863. In the ensuing win- ter he was superintendent of recruiting in Plymouth County, Massachusetts; and from April, 1864, till July, 1865, he was Lieuten- ant Colonel, commanding the Fifty-eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was commissioned Colonel, but for lack of the requisite number of men at one date was un- able to muster. He was also commissioned Colonel, United States Volunteers, by brevet, April 2, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services before Petersburg, Va. From Sep-

tember, 1865, to September, 1873, he was in the employ of the Boston city government as chief clerk of the auditor's department, and for the ensuing three years he was in charge of the city's institutions on Deer and Rainsford Islands. His next public duties were as treasurer and steward of the Women's Reformatory Prison at Sherborn, Mass. Appointed superintendent of the Bos- ton, Ilingham & Nantasket Steamboat Com- pany in I880, he continued in that capacity until 1883, when he resumed his former duties on Deer Island, remaining there until March, 1SS9. For the past eleven years he has occu- pied his present position as master of the Suf- folk County House of Correction at South Boston, and is regarded as one of the most able and responsible officials in the public service. Ile is a Master Mason, holding membership in Columbian Lodge; is a member of the Mil- itary Order of the Loyal Legion and a comrade of Post No. 15, Grand Army of the Republic.

On October 19, 1862, Colonel Whiton mar- ried Miss Ann Maria Sprague, who was born in Hingham, December 3, 1835, daughter of Jairus and Hannah Leavitt (Waters) Sprague, the latter a daughter of John and Susan (Stod- der) Waters. Colonel and Mrs. Whiton have one daughter, Marion Chadwick. Harry Chadwick, their only son, was born in August, 1864, and died in September, 1865.

APTAIN WILLIAM MATHESON, who was for many years prominently connected with the business inter- ests of Provincetown, and was one of its best-known and most influential eiti- zens, was born at Grand River, Cape Breton, in 1828.

His father, Alexander Matheson, was a na- tive of Lochalsh, in Ross-shire, Scotland, where he grew to manhood, and where he married. Emigrating to America, Alexander Matheson settled at Cape Breton, and there spent the remainder of his days. lle reared two chil- dren, Charlotte and William. Charlotte mar- ried Captain Alexander McGregor, and went with him to Australia. They finally located, however, at Auckland, New Zealand, where

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Captain McGregor became interested in steam- boat navigation of the rivers. In this line of industry he has remained up to the present time, his sons being now associated with him. Mrs. McGregor died on January 12, 1897.

William Matheson was young when he be- gan to follow the sea. At the age of nineteen he came to Provincetown; and at twenty-one he was placed in command of the fishing schooner "Abstract." For about thirty-five years subsequently he was engaged during the spring and summer seasons in prosecuting the Grand Bank cod fishery, and the rest of the time he was employed in the merchant service. When he had been sailing but a few years, he became part owner of a vessel. Soon after he began letting contracts for the building of several new vessels, of which he was the sole owner; and in course of time, branching out more extensively, he found himself the pro- prietor of a fleet of twenty vessels. The name of the first vessel that he built was the " Lotta Belle." Among the others that he "owned were the "William Matheson," the "Mary Matheson," the "Jesse T. Matheson," the "Willie A. Mckay," the "John A. Mathe- son," the "Georgie D. Paine," and the three- master, "Lizzie Matheson." In 1882 Captain Matheson purchased a wharf near the centre of the business portion of the town, and here established an extensive coal trade. This occupied his time and attention until his death, which event occurred on March 8, 1896.

His memory will long be held in tender respect, not only by his family, in which he was a loving husband and father, but by all who knew him well, for the manliness of his character, his personal integrity, and his gen- erosity to the poor and all needing assistance. The highest type of a self-made man, he used the means acquired by his own industry and business ability in making others happy and in the dispensation of a wise and discriminat- ing charity. His aid and influence could always be counted upon by the town fathers in behalf of any practical measures for the im- provement of the town or the moral or physi- cal betterment of the community.

He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary Matheson, a native of St. Esprit, C. B., and

a daughter of John and Elizabeth Matheson. Captain Matheson and his wife reared si children, namely: Lottie, who became the wife of Captain Angus McKay; Georgie, who married Captain Orrin A. Paine; Mary, who married Robert McMurray; Jessie; Leah ; an .. John, who married Lizzie Atkins. Captain Matheson was a devoted member of the Con- gregational church, in which he was a Deacon for many years. Ile also belonged to King Hiram Lodge, A. F. & A. M. lle was a di- rector for many years of the First Nationa: Bank and of the Equitable Marine Insurance Company.

OAH WARREN SANBORN, presi- dent of the Brighton Five Cents Sav- ings Bank, was born in Charlestown. Mass., November 23, 1829, son of Noah and Hannah (Clark) Sanborn. llis pa- ternal grandfather was Ensign Jethro Sanborn. a representative of the well-known Sanborn family of New Hampshire. Noah Sanborn was a native of Sandwich, N. H. He was a tanner by trade, but relinquished that occupation to engage in mercantile business in Charlestown. where he spent the later years of his life. IIis wife, Hannah Clark, was a grand-daughter of the Rev. Peter Clark, of Danvers, Mass., her native place.

Equipped with a public school education ac- quired in his native town, N. Warren Sanborn in 1846 located himself in Brighton, entering as a clerk the general merchandise store of Messrs. Kelley and Spring. A period of four years in that capacity gave him a good know !- edge of the business; and then he in company with two partners, under the firm name of San- born, Hill & Company, succeeded his em- ployers. That concern was followed by the firm of Baxter & Sanborn, who conducted a prosperous business for many years, or until 1897, when Mr. Sanborn retired permanently from mercantile pursuits. He is, however. still actively concerned in the business inter- ests of Brighton, being president of the Brigh- ton Five Cents Savings Bank, of which he was formerly a trustee, and, having been selected to administer its affairs some years ago, is

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now devoting his whole time to the welfare of that institution.

In politics he is a Republican with inde- pendent proclivities. At the outbreak of the Civil War he assisted in enrolling the local militia into active service, and prior to the annexation of Brighton to Boston he served as mn Assessor for one year. His upright charac- ter is appreciated by the general community, whose interests he has on various occasions effectually labored to promote. Although a long time has elapsed since he left his native place, he still retains pleasant recollections of his boyhood days spent in that historic local- ity, and is a member of the Training Field School Association of Charlestown. He at- tends the Unitarian church, and for a number of years has served as chairman of the parish committee.

In 1851 Mr. Sanborn married Miss Eliza- beth Farwell, who was born January 26, 1833, daughter of Zaccheus and Harriet (Finch) Farwell, of Waltham, Mass. His children are: Henry Warren, born March 16, 1853, a civil engineer, who for a number of years has been prominently identified with the sewerage system of Boston; and Miss Mary Sanborn, born July 27, 1875, who is residing with her parents.

FORGE LATIMER METCALF, an enterprising box manufacturer of Marblehead, was born in North Bel- lingham, Norfolk County, Mass., March 24, 1844, son of Savel and Nabby (Cook) Metcalf. His paternal grandfather, Stephen Metcalf, was the descendant of an early settler in Bel- lingham, where the name is widely and favor- ably known. As shown in the book of family crests, the Metcalf family in England, of which the American branch is an offshoot, possessed a coat-of-arms.

Savel Metcalf, father of the subject of this sketch, was a prosperous farmer and a leading business man of North Bellingham, where he w.is for many years engaged in the coal trade: and as a Justice of the Peace he attended to a Large amount of legal business, such as the writing of deeds, wills, and so forth. He was

also identified with public affairs, and served with ability upon the Board of Selectmen.

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Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901, Part 29

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

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