USA > Massachusetts > Biographical sketches of representative citizens of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1901 > Part 33
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Captain Foss was married December 14, 1863, to Mary J. West, a native of Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, and daughter of Charles and Betsey (Dillingham) West. Her paternal grandfather was William West. Mrs. Foss belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is also a member of the Women's Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Captain Foss cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party since. He was first elected Representative in the fall of 1893. and has been three times re-elected, a fact going to show that he enjoys in large measure the respect and confidence of his fel- low-townsmen. In 1894 he was on the Com- mittee of Harbors and Publie Lands. In 1895, in addition to the former committee, he was
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on Committee of Woman Suffrage. In 1896 he was chairman of Committee on Fish and Game and member of Committee on Federal Relations. The last service of Captain Foss in the Legislature was upon the Committee on Fish and Game, of which he was chairman, and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means. Captain Foss was a member of the committee appointed by the State of Massachu- setts to dedicate the. National Park at Chatta- nooga, Tenn., and the one at Chickamauga, Ga. He is a member of Henry Clay Wade Post, No. 201, Department of Massachusetts of G. A. R. ; of Martha's Vineyard Lodge of F. & A. M .; also Vineyard Lodge of the I. O. of O. F., located at Cottage City, Mass.
son of
HARLES CARROLL CROSBY, a prominent business man of Nantucket, dealer in coal, wood, and grain, was born on this island, June 17, 1836, Matthew and Elizabeth (Barnard) Crosby. He is a great-grandson of Sylvanus Crosby, a seafaring man engaged in the coast- ing trade for many years, who spent his last days in Nantucket. Sylvanus Crosby, second, son of Sylvanus, first, was born on Martha's Vineyard.
Matthew Crosby, father of Charles Carroll, was a native of Nantucket. Beginning 2 sailor's life in boyhood, he became, when about twenty years of age, captain of a packet in the coasting trade. Five years later he retired from the sea to engage in the manufacture and shipping of oil, in which business he contin-
ued for upward of forty years. " He was also a director of the Pacific Bank and of the Nan- tucket Steamboat Company. His death oc- curred when he had attained the advanced age of eighty-nine years. He was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Lydia Coffin. His second wife, Elizabeth Barnard, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Nantucket. Of Matthew Crosby's first marriage there were four children that reached maturity, and of the second marriage there were ten - Martha, Matthew, Sylvanus, Eliz- abeth, Judith, Susan, Charles Carroll, Emma, Frank, and Amelia.
Charles Carroll Crosby was educated in the Friends' Seminary, Nantucket. At the age of sixteen he went to Manchester, N. H., to learn the machinist's trade, and while there. serving a four years' apprenticeship, was a co- worker with John Rogers, the sculptor. next entered the employ of the Boston Belting Company, with whom he remained for three years and a half. From that time on he was engaged in business as a ship-chandler in Nan- tucket until 1863, after which he spent four years in New York City, the first two in the employ of Robert Lowden, a harness-maker. For three years he was agent for the Nantucket Fishing Company. After this he followed various occupations for some time, until he assumed the position of purser in the employ of the Nantucket and Cape Cod Steamboat Company, which he retained for seven and a half years. He then engaged in his present business as dealer in coal, wood, and grain, in which he has been successful. He has served for eleven years as ticket agent for the Old Colony Railroad Company and as general agent for the New York, Boston, and Foreign Underwriters' Association, and also for the Western Union Telegraph Company and the Associated Press. He is treasurer of the Nantucket Historical Association, and a trus- tee of the Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin Lancastrian School. A Republican in politics since the formation of that party, he has served the town in various official capacities. He is a member of Union Lodge, F. & A. M., and also of Isle of the Sea Chapter, R. A. M.
Mr. Crosby was married October 15, 1860, to Ellen Maria Easton, a native of Nantucket and a daughter of William R. Easton. Her father, a native of Newport, R. I., was a son of Nicholas Easton, and a grandson of an elder Nicholas Easton, a large land-owner of New- port, who employed slave labor. Mrs. Crosby's grandfather Easton was a seafaring man, and was lost at sea when thirty-two years old. He belonged to the State militia. His wife, Mary Shaw, a grand-daughter of Governor White, survived him a number of years, and died in Nantucket about 1858.
William R. Easton, father of Mrs. Crosby, was about seven years old when he lost his
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father. In his youth he was apprenticed to Daniel Jones, a jeweller in Nantucket. Soon afterward, however, he went to reside in the family of Samuel Mitchell, in whose store he became a clerk. He finally succeeded to the business, which he carried on for some years. He was prominent in public affairs, filling various offices in the county, serving as Repre- sentative to the Legislature and two terms as Senator, taking an active part in legislation. In 1840 he was a delegate to the Whig con- vention that nominated Harrison and Tyler. After the Whig party ceased to be a factor in political affairs, he affiliated generally with the Democrats. He died at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Crosby, was in maidenhood Miss Eliza Baxter. She was born in Nantucket, a daugh- ter of Reuben and Love (Briggs) Baxter. Her paternal grandfather was Christopher Baxter. Her mother, who was a native of Nantucket and a daughter of Abner and Deborah Briggs, died in 1889, at the age of eighty-one years. She had reared four children - Harriet Rich- mond, Ellen Maria (Mrs. Crosby), Mary Eliza- beth, and Charlotte Ann. The last-named is now deceased. Harriet resides at the family home in Nantucket, while Mary Elizabeth is a resident of Astoria, Ore.
SAAC CAMPBELL HARVEY, of the firm of John G. Cox & Co., wholesale lobster dealers, Boston, was born in West Quoddy, near Salmon River (now Port Dufferin), N. S., December 12, 1860, son of George and Elizabeth (Watt) Harvey. His father, who was a lifelong resident of Salmon River, followed the occupation of a ship- builder. His grandfather, also named George, was a native of New Brunswick, and the son of a German emigrant, who settled in that province.
Having attended the public schools of his native town, Isaac C. Harvey, at the age of seventeen years, went to Portland, Me., where he entered the employ of C. & H. Trefethern as a sailor before the mast. Four years later he was placed in command of one of their vessels, and continued in their employ as a
shipmaster for the ensuing seven years, or until 1888, when he engaged in the wholesale lobster trade in Portland under the firm name of Holbrook, Trefethern & Harvey. Selling out his business interests in that city in 1891, he joined the firm of John G. Cox & Co. of Boston, in the same line of trade; and they have since built up an extensive and profitable business. On coming to Boston, Mr. Harvey took up his residence in Everett, where he is well and favorably known both as an able busi- ness man and a valuable public official. Dur- ing the years 1897 and 1898 he served with ability in the Common Council, and is now a member of the Board of Aldermen of that city. He holds a life membership in Palestine Lodge, F. & A. M., and Everett Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F.
In 1888 Mr. Harvey was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Johnson, daughter of Nel- son and Elsie Johnson, of New Sweden, Aroo- stook County, Me. Their children are: Walter Sherman, born in June, 1890; Clar- ence Wardwell, born in September, 1892; and George Stanley, born July 19, 1897.
B ENJAMIN COLE, a retired business man of Marblehead, was born in Or- Jeans, Mass., February 10, 1830, son of Elisha and Keziah D. (Doane) Cole. His parents were natives of Cape Cod, as was also his grandfather, Jesse Cole; and the family is an old and highly reputable one in that section of the Commonwealth. Elisha Cole was for years actively concerned in public affairs, holding various town offices and repre- senting his district in the lower branch of the Legislature. In politics, he was at first a Whig and later a Republican. In religion he held liberal views, being one of the twelve founders of the Orleans Universalist Church, of which he continued an active member until his death.
Benjamin Cole attended the Orleans public schools, including the high school, and re- sided in his native town until he was eighteen years old. Going then to East Cambridge, Mass .. he served an apprenticeship at the tin- smith's trade with his brother, Mark C. Cole,
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and, after attaining his majority, located per- manently in Marblehead, where he established himself in business as a tinsmith, also dealing in hardware, heating apparatus, ete. For over thirty years he carried on a thriving business, in which he achieved excellent financial re- sults, and which he relinquished in 1884, re- tiring with a substantial competency. Though not active in public affairs, he is interested in the development of the town's resources, and his progressive tendencies cause him to favor publie improvements. Politically, he is a Re- publican. He attends the Universalist church. In April, 1853, Mr. Cole married Miss Lu- cinda W. Ryder, of Provincetown, Mass. They have had three children - Mary E., Lester B., and Benjamin, Jr. Mary E. and Lester B. are no longer living. Benjamin Cole, Jr., born November 25, 1859, married, June 8, 1880, Ellen S. Gale, daughter of Sam- uel Gale, a prominent Marblehead merchant, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Benjamin Cole, Sr., died April 18, 1897.
APTAIN WILLIAM VIGGERS ABBOTT, the well-known Boston pilot, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., June 25, 1835, son of James and Frances (Viggers) Abbott. He is of English parentage; and his father was a native of Bristol, England. James Abbott, who was a dealer in live stock, came to the United States after his marriage, and, settling in Brooklyn, engaged in the real estate business. He died at the age of about fifty-five years, and his wife died at fifty-three. They were the parents of two sons: William Viggers, the subject of this sketch; and John Alfred, who died in young manhood.
Having attended school until fourteen years old, William V. Abbott shipped as a sailor boy on board the ship "Realm," bound for Callao, on the west coast of South America, which was reached after a voyage of over five months. The "Realm" having been condemned and sold, he reshipped on the "Ocean Telegraph," which loaded with guano in Peru for Balti- more. He subsequently sailed as second mate
in the East India and European trades, visit- ing English, French, and Chinese ports, and continued in the merchant-marine service until he was twenty-four years old. In 1859 he entered the pilot service at Boston, and from 1862 to 1865 he served on a government transport. After the close of the Civil War he went to Rhode Island, where he superin- tended the building of a pleasure yacht, and, later returning to Boston, was the first to in- troduce the building and sailing of yachts on Dorchester Bay. In 1869 he was commis- sioned a pilot for the port of Boston. During his thirty-one years of continuous service he has safely weathered many severe storms, his knowledge of the coast and his unceasing watchfulness having enabled him to avoid serious accidents. In the November blizzard of 1898 Captain Abbott's pilot boat "Colum- bia " was lost on Scituate beach with the en- tire crew. Captain Abbott had previously left the "Columbia" to pilot into port the British steamship "Ohio" from Hull, Eng- land, and thus escaped the terrible fate of the crew of his boat.
He is deservedly popular among shipmas- ters, ship-owners, and all others connected with the merchant service. Some seventeen years ago he joined the Ancient and Honor- able Artillery Company of Boston. He is also a member of the Boston Light Infantry, the Improved Order of Red Men, and of the Masonic fraternity, being a charter member of Temple Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Captain Abbott resides at 13 Park Street, Dorchester. He married Miss Hannah Frances Cotter, who was born on Bartlett Street, Boston, November 27, 1845, daughter of David Cotter, a representative of an old Boston family. Captain and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of six children: Annie Frances, born June 13, 1866, Boston; Emma Esther, born March 31, 1868, Cambridge; Mary Alice, born July 6, 1870, Cambridge; William Fran- cis, born July 21, 1874, Dorchester; Ellen Louise, born April 1, 1877, Dorchester; and Nathaniel Wales Abbott, born May 20, 1895, Dorchester. Emma Esther married George Frederick Hadlock, of Boston, and is the mother of two children: Guy Frederick, born
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in June, 1890; and Ruth Abbott, born in Oc- tober, 1897. Mary Alice married Charles T. Jones, of New Hampshire. William Francis Abbott was in the wholesale lumber business in New York City, but in 1899 returned to Boston.
NTHONY WILLIAM BOWDEN, who has been connected with the Perkins Institution for the Blind, South Boston, in various capacities for over fifty years, was born in Boston, Feb- ruary 20, 1823, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Johns) Bowden. His parents were both na- tives of Plymouth, England. The mother, who was a daughter of Samuel Johns, arrived at Boston in 1812. The father, who was born in 1789, emigrated to America in 1815, and settled in Boston, in which city he and his wife were married. Samuel Bowden had learned both the blacksmith's and white- smith's trade. After coming to this country, he manufactured tools for glass-makers' use, and was engaged in that occupation until his death, which occurred when he was but thirty- four years old. His wife survived him many years, dying at the age of eighty. They were the parents of two children, Anthony W., the subject of this sketch, being the only one living.
Anthony William Bowden after his father's death accompanied his mother to South Boston; and they took up their residence in the house in which he has now lived for sixty- seven years. After leaving school, he served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade under Alexander Hilton, of South Boston. He next entered the grocery business, which he carried on for about five years, subse- quently resuming his trade. In 1848 he en- tered the employ of the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, then and for many years afterward under the super- vision of the noted philanthropist. Dr. Sanı- uel G. Howe. Commencing his labors as as- sistant steward, he later became steward of the establishment, a position which he occu- pied for thirty-five years or until 1897, when he retired with an honorable record for faith-
ful and efficient service. He is still con- nected with the institution, however, his pres- ent duties consisting of the collection of rents and a general oversight of the build- ings. Besides attending to the duties of steward, he has made himself useful in many other ways, being always in demand in one ca- pacity or another. Prior to the discontinu- ance of sea-bathing and sailing at the institu- tion, Mr. Bowden was always in attendance at the bathing-house, carefully guarding the blind children from going beyond their depth. He also sailed the boats to the various islands in the harbor, where clam-bakes were enjoyed by the sightless pupils, many of whom, now well advanced in years, have pleasant mem- ories of his kindly regard for their welfare. Politically, Mr. Bowden acts with the Repub- lican party. He attends the Episcopal church.
In August, 1864, Mr. Bowden married Miss Hellen Neilson Lindsay, of St. John, N.B. They had five children, three of whom are now living - Elizabeth Lindsay, Caroline Priscilla, and William Alexander.
ATTHEW STARBUCK, who for many years was successfully en- gaged in business in Nantucket, where he was a lifelong resident, was born here, October 28, 1813, son of Joseph and Sally (Gardner) Starbuck. His paternal grandfather was Thomas Starbuck, second; and the immigrant ancestor of the family was Ed- ward Starbuck, who was among the first set- tlers of Nantucket. The line of descent was through Nathaniel, son of Edward; Jethro, son of Nathaniel; Thomas, first, son of Jethro; and Thomas, second, son of Thomas, first. ("Early Settlers of Nantucket," compiled by Lydia S. Hinchman.) Edward Starbuck was from Derbyshire, England. On his arrival in America he first settled at Dover, N. H., from which place he came to Nantucket in 1659. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Reynolds, is said to have been a native of Wales.
Joseph Starbuck, son of Thomas, second,
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and father of the subject of this sketch, was one of Nantucket's most successful business men. Beginning in a small way, he built up an extensive business in fitting out ships and manufacturing oil and candles. Liberal with his means, he was very popular.
Matthew Starbuck was brought up and edu- cated in his native town. When a young man, he went to Boston, where for some time he was employed as a clerk in a business house. Re- turning subsequently to his island home, he engaged in business on his own account, fitting out whaling-vessels. He was very successful, and, having accumulated a fortune, spent the latter years of his life retired.
Mr. Starbuck married in 1840 Miss Catha- rine Wyer, a native of Nantucket, born Sep- tember 27, ISIS, and a daughter of Christopher Wyer. Her paternal grandfather, Robert Wyer, was a resident of Nantucket, where he died about 1820, at an advanced age. Her father, Christopher Wyer, who was born in Nantucket, was a seafaring man, and commanded different vessels in the whaling service. After retiring from the sea he was engaged for a number of years in the manufacture of oil and candles, but spent the latter years of his life retired from active business. He died when upwards of seventy years of age. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of Mrs. Starbuck, was Priscilla Coleman. She was born in Nan- tucket, a daughter of Prince and Sarah (Nor- ton) Coleman. Her father was a native of Nantucket, and his wife of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. They reared three children -- Sarah, Catharine, and Robert.
Mr. and Mrs. Starbuck reared five children -- Caroline Wyer, J. Bradlee, Horace, Flor- ence, and Maria M.
Caroline Wyer married Edwin A. Mer- riam, December 29, 1864. Of this union there was one child, Florence M., born April 28, 1868, who married Frederick P. Hill, of New York, December 15, 1896, and has one child, Ilorace Starbuck Hill, born in September, 1897. Mr. Merriam died in May, 1876; and his widow married for her sec- ond husband William A. Spinney, November 24, 1879. Of this union also there was one child, Edmund L. Spinney, born March IO,
1883. Mrs. Caroline Wyer Spinney died Oc- tober 14, 1895.
J. Bradlee Starbuck married Anna E. Smith, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Cochran) Smith, July 9, 1868. They had one child, Ferdinand, born April 6, 1869, who married Grace E. Lowther, daughter of Charles and Emma Jane (Sherman) Lowther, of New York, and who has two children : Ferdinand, Jr., born November 14, 1898; and Catherine Wyer, born May 16, 1900. J. Bradlee Star- buck died May 14, 1882, at the age of thirty- eight years.
Florence Starbuck, born June 20, 1848, married Edward FF. Palmer, of Oakland, Cal., December 18, 1867. Her children were: J. Bruce, born September 20, 1868; and Frank Palmer, born January 4, 18So, who died Octo- ber 30, 1889.
Maria Mitchell, born February 20, 1850, married George Mackey, of Boston, October 13, 1874. They have three children : Pau- line, born September 4, 1878; Langdon; and George, Jr.
Horace Starbuck is a resident of Nantucket. Mrs. Starbuck is still living at Nantucket.
AMES SUMNER GREENE, M.D., a physician and surgeon of Milton Lower Mills, Dorchester, where he has been engaged in practice since 1863, was born in Fitchburg, Mass., July 27, 1834, a son of Asher and Rebecca (Hall) Greene. His father, a native of Townsend, Mass., was a son of Solomon Greene, who was born in Pepperell, Mass., June 20, 1764. Solomon was a son of Simeon Greene, born in Groton, Mass., September 15, 1729, whose father was William, a native of Groton.
William Greene married about 1726 Han- nah Holden, by whom he had four children - William, Simeon, Jonas, and Hannah.
The Simeon Greene, above mentioned, mar- ried in 1753 Mary Shattuck, daughter of Jon- athan Shattuck, of Pepperell, Mass. ; and they reared six children - Oliver, Simeon, Han- nah, Mary, Solomon, and Jonathan. Simeon, Jr., born in 1755 and named for his father,
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was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, being shot through both thighs. He subse- quently remained in the service, and was en- gaged in another battle, at the close of which, being over-heated, he drank too freely of cold water, which caused his death.
Solomon Greene, Dr. Greene's grandfather, was a farmer by occupation. He was born in Townsend, lived there all his life, and was married in 1786 to Sarah Hilton. His children were as follows: Simeon, August IS, 1788; Solomon, September 16, 1790; Ralph, September 25, 1791; Samuel, May 24, 1793; Sarah, November 10, 1795; Asahel, July 27, 1797; Asher, September 29, 1799; Rebecca, March 5, 1801 : and Alvin, July 26, 1802. Solomon Greene, the father, died May 31, 1803. His wife survived him many years, dying on September 2, 1850, at the age of eighty-two.
Asher Greene, father of Dr. Greene, was brought up to farm work, but subsequently be- came a harness-maker. Later he purchased a hardware store, which he conducted for a while, and after that an iron foundry, to which he ultimately added a machine shop, and for a number of years conducted a large and pros- perous business. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-two years, dying January 31, 1892. He was a Deacon in the Unitarian church, and in Masonry had advanced to the K. A. Chapter in Fitchburg, of which he was l'ast High Priest. He served one year as Se- leetman of the town. He was married No- vember 28, 1826, to Rebecca Hall, a daugh- ter of Benjamin Hall, of Pepperell, Mass. Their children were three in number: Mary Caroline, who was born July 3, 1829; James Sumner, born July 27, 1834; and Benjamin Hall Greene, who was born October 15, 1837, died September 19, 1838. Mrs. Rebecca Greene died October 20, 1837 ; and Mr. Greene married for his second wife, October 22, 1839, Mrs. Lucy Gay, whose maiden name was Hutchinson. She bore him one child, George Gay, born April 14, 1844, who died August 10 of the same year. Her death took place February 15, 1867.
James Sumner Greene in his boyhood and
youth attended school in Fitchburg, Mass. In 1860 he began the study of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, where he was gradu- ated three years later with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then settled in Dor- chester, where he has since remained. He was one of the first appointees to the office of Inspector of Schools for the Board of Health. At the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861 he was appointed by Surgeon-general Dale as hospital steward. was assigned to the Twenty- first Massachusetts Volunteers, and was de- tailed as medical officer for the year of the Seventh Rhode Island Battery, known as Cap- tain Belger's battery, the detail being made at Annapolis. With this battery Dr. Greene accompanied Burnside's expedition to Hatteras Inlet, where he was attacked by the typho- malarial fever, and nearly lost his life, being rescued by two Fitchburg fellow-townsmen, Messrs. Lewis H. Bradford and Hale W. Page, acting under the authority of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock, of Fitchburg, a member of Gov- ernor Andrew's war council, who had gone down to Newberne, N.C., to bring home the wounded of the battle of Roanoke Island. Dr. Hitchcock, not knowing that Dr. Greene, with whom he was well acquainted, had been detailed to accompany the expedition, learned of his presence at Hatteras and of his illness through Captain Belger, and received his dis- charge in the spring of 1862 on account of disability.
Dr. Greene is a member of the Dorchester Medical Club, the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, the Boston Medical Library Association, and the Harvard Medical Alumni Association. A Unitarian in religious be- lief, he is a Deacon in the Dorchester church of that denomination, serving as a successor to his father.
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