Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 16

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II > Part 16

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

(V) Ebenezer, son of Joseph (2) Merriam, was born in Lynn, February 11, 1685-6, and died December 4, 1753. He was a house-

wright or carpenter by trade. On October 8, 1722, he and Ezekiel Cheever were granted permission to build a mill on the Saugus river. He sold out to Cheever in 1729. This was the first mill on the river. In partnership with Thomas Berry, of Boston, he bought land in Boston, which they divided a few months later. He sold land in Lynn while residing there in 1729 and 1731-2, and removed soon afterward to Mendon. In 1735 he was licensed to keep a tavern in Mendon. He was a select- man, assessor, and deputy to the general court in 1738-39. He married, February 13, 1709- IO, Jerusha Berry, of Boston. His will was dated October 20, 1753, and proved February 6, 1754. Children, born in Lynn: Athelred, born July 10, 1711, married, November 19, 1735, John Rhodes ; Benjamin, born December 30, 1712, mentioned below ; Hannah, born Jan- uary 30, 1714-5, married - - Lovett ; Mary, born February 17, 1717-18, married

Aldrich ; Ruth, born January 1, 1719-20, mar- ried, June 20, 1739, - - Robinson ; Jerusha, born November 23, 1721; Rebecca, born May 14, 1726, married, November 1, 1750, Joseph Breed ; Elizabeth, born June 13, 1729, married Lyon; Lydia, born March 1, 1731-2, married Penniman.

(VI) Benjamin, son of Ebenezer Merriam, was born in Lynn, December 30, 1712, and died October 8, 1778. He was a farmer, and lived in Mendon. His homestead is now known as the Redwood Place, and is about half a mile south of the village. His will is dated August 31, and proved November 3, 1778. He married, June 25, 1741, Rachel Morse, born June 8, 1725, died August 31, 1766, daughter of Edmons and Rachel Morse. Chil- dren: Jerusha, born April 7, 1743, married, January 21, 1768, Jonathan Shepard ; Edmond, born February 7. 1744-5; Rachel, born Feb- ruary 5, 1749-50, married Douglas Marsh ; Ebenezer, born February 7, 1751, mentioned below ; Elizabeth, born October 28, 1752, died September 16, 1753; Benjamin, born Decem- ber 4. 1754; Margaret, born July 4, 1757, died April 1, 1765: William, born May 24, 1759; Ruth, born May 18, 1761 ; Daniel, born July 7. 1763, died July 10, 1765 ; Josiah, born June 21, 1765, died September 30, 1766.

(VII) Ebenezer (2), son of Benjamin Mer- riam, was born in Mendon, February 17, 1751, and died April 8, 1790. He lived in Mendon through most of the revolution. He served in Captain John Albee's first Mendon com- pany, which marched on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. He removed to Paxton, where

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he died. He married Margaret Jefferson (or Jepperson), born May 20, 1750, died October 14, 1831. She made her home with her chil- dren in Brookfield after the death of her hus- band. Children : Dan, born September 21, 1771, mentioned below ; George, born July 8, 1773 ; Jared, born October 3, 1775, died April 20, 1778; Ebenezer, born December 15, 1777. (VIII) Dan, son of Ebenezer (2) Mer- riam, was born in Mendon, September 21, 1771, and died November 21, 1823. He spent his youth at Paxton, he and his brother George attending school at Leicester, walking three miles morning and night. He taught school two winters at Westmoreland, New York. With a companion he made a trip into what was then the wilderness, going by the site of the present city of Buffalo along the border of the lake westward. He took up land in what is now Hamilton, New York, and started to clear a farm. In 1798 he returned to Mass- achusetts, and entered into partnership with his brother Ebenezer in the publication of the Political Repository, or Farmer's Journal. The first number was issued the first Wednesday of August, 1798. In three years this paper was discontinued, but they had established a business of book selling and publishing, which they continued. They printed ten thousand copies of Perry's Dictionary in 1801, and cleared a good sum .. On the death of his brother George, Dan was obliged to remove to Worcester, where he remained to settle the estate, meanwhile continuing the Brookfield firm. They printed an edition of the New Testament, one of Watts's and Select Hymns, Webster's Spelling Book, the Bible, and other books. Returning to Brookfield to live, he gave up his time chiefly to the farm. He was an intelligent man, much interested in im- provements, and in art and science. He mar- ried, February 28, 1802, Thirza Clapp, born in Brookfield, May 19, 1781, died in Springfield, July 14, 1871, aged ninety, daughter of Elijah and Azubah (Ross) Clapp, and sixth in de- scent from Deacon Edward Clapp, who came to Dorchester in 1633. She was a very efficient Christian woman, and after her husband's death was occupied mainly with the care of her large family. Children: George, born at Worcester, January 19, 1803, mentioned be- low ; Dorothy Sumner, born at Paxon, Novem- ber 22, 1804, died unmarried, February 20, I874. The following were born at Brook- field : Charles, born November 21, 1806, men- tioned below ; William, born January 15, 1809; Lewis, born May 7, 1811; Homer, born Au-

gust 27, 1813, mentioned below; Harriet Newell, born September 15, 1815, died un- married, September 16, 1841; Mary Cutler, born December 23, 1817, died unmarried, No- vember 30, 1896; Edwin, born May 4, 1820, died August 4, 1821. Two of the above men- tioned daughters, Dorothy and Mary, lived with the mother in the old home at Brookfield, and carried on an excellent private school for some years. Later, Mary engaged in teach- ing elsewhere with great success. In 1846 Mrs. Merriam, with these two daughters, moved to Troy, New York, in order to be near her sons William and Homer. In 1857 they moved to Springfield, where they spent the remainder of their lives.

(IX) George Merriam, oldest son of Dan Merriam, was born in Worcester, Massachu- setts, January 19, 1803 ; married ( first) May 6, 1828, Abigail Willis, daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Allen) Little. By this marriage he had five children, four of whom died in early childhood. He married ( second) March 31, 1842, Mrs. Abby Fisk Spring, daughter of Rev. John and Elizabeth (Mellen) Fiske. By this marriage he had six children, four of whom are still living. At the age of fifteen he entered the printing and publishing office of his father and uncle in West Brookfield, Mass- achusetts, and there received the training which prepared him to assume the responsibilities which naturally devolved upon him, as the eldest of a large family, at the death of his father, five years later. In 1831 he moved to Springfield, and with his brother Charles en- gaged in book-selling and publishing. Shortly after 1843 the firm acquired the publishing rights of Noah Webster's large Dictionary. Later they bought his Spelling and Dictionary Abridgements. A third brother, Homer, join- ed the firm in 1856. George Merriam was a man of active, wiry and somewhat delicate physique. Mentally he was alert, rapid and direct, unspeculative, but going straight to the heart of practical matters. In business, ener- getic, shrewd, with a high standard of honor, and a great faculty of "getting there." He had an active conscience, quick sensibility and warm affection ; a simple unqestioning relig- ious faith, and an instinct for helpfulness in every direction. At the time of his death, June 22, 1880, the Springfield Republican spoke of him as "a citizen universally known and beloved, and our chief apostle of benev- olence."

(IX) Charles Merriam, second son of Dan Merriam, was born in West Brookfield, Massa-

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chusetts, November 21, 1806. He married ( first) August 11, 1835, Sophia Eleanor, daughter of Solomon Warriner, born at Springfield, June 14, 1808, died July 9, 1887. His marriage was May 8, 1860, at Detroit, Michigan, to Rachel White Capen, widow of Dr. Gray, born April 5, 1824, died August 27, 1899. There were six children, five by the first marriage, one by the second; only two of these children are living.

Charles Merriam received his education in the public schools of Brookfield, and acad- emies of Mendon and Hadley. He was ap- prenticed at an early age to a printer, William Goodwin, of Hartford, Connecticut, and after- wards to E. & G. Merriam, of Brookfield. After his apprenticeship ceased he taught school for a time, then spent a few years in Boston in the printing office of T. R. Marvin. In 1831 he received a letter from Rev. Dr. Osgood, pastor of the leading church in Spring- field, urging him to come to that city and start a newspaper, as he had been recommended by the Brookfield Congregational pastor for such an undertaking. This led Charles to go to Springfield with his elder brother George and look over the field. Though not satisfied with it as a journalistic opening, they decided that it would be a good place for the book business, in which they engaged there for several years. This eventually led them to acquire the plates and copyright of Noah Webster's dictionaries. In 1832 the firm became G. & C. Merriam. After forty-five years of active business life, Charles retired, in 1877. Charles Merriam was very generous, bestowing large gifts at times to deserving causes. To the Springfield Public Library he gave thousands of dollars. To his native town, West Brookfield, he gave a beautiful library building, and donated funds for the purchase of books. He died July 9, 1887.

( IX) Homer Merriam, son of Dan Merriam, was born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, August 27, 1813 : married ( first ) August 2, 1838, Jane, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Weeks, born at Clarendon, Vermont, January 10, 1820, died at Springfield, May 6, 1868. They had eight children, three of whom are living. Second, he married, November 11, 1869, Ellen Brown, daughter of Dr. Warren L. Fitch, born in Otis, December 2, 1833, widow of Robert H. Clizbe. After Homer's school days were over he remained as a journeyman with his brothers until 1834. At the age of twenty-one he and his brother William became printers, book- binders and book-sellers in Greenfield. In

1842 they moved to Troy, New York, carry- ing on the same business there. In 1852 Will- iam retired, Ransom B. Moore, who had previ- ously joined the firm, and H. B. Nims, who joined at this time, remaining, the firm name becoming Merriam, Moore & Company. In 1856 his brothers George and Charles desired him to come to Springfield and join them in the publication of Webster's Dictionaries, in which they had been successful. This he did, afterward becoming an equal partner though the name of the firm remained the same as originally, G. & C. Merriam. When the com- pany was incorporated in 1892, Homer Mer- riam was elected president, and retained this office until October, 1904, when, at the age of ninety-one, he, with his wife, removed to Pasa- dena, California, to be near their son, daugh- ter and grandchildren.

Homer Merriam was never a strong man physically but, with rare exceptions, was able through his long life to attend continuously and faithfully to business, and also to give very liberally of his time, strength and money to religious and philanthropic causes. He was a member of the Congregational church, and his activity in church matters covered a period of nearly seventy years up to the time of his death, which occurred at the age of ninety- four, in Pasadena, California, May 25, 1908.

When, after Dr. Noah Webster's death in 1843, the Merriams bought the publishing rights to his Dictionary and its abridgements, they discerned something of the potential value of these books. That purchase marked an alliance of business sagacity and scholarship which has borne fruit for over sixty years. Employing Professor Chauncey A. Goodrich (Webster's son-in-law and literary heir) the large work was re-edited, and in 1847 the first one volume quarto Webster Dictionary was brought out. The public favor was instantly won. Improvements, notably the re- visions of 1864 and 1890, under the supervision of Dr. Noah Porter, added greatly to the value and popularity of the dictionary. Still later improvements and enlargements, under the supervision of Dr. W. T. Harris, have justi- fied the change of name from Webster's "Un- abridged" to Webster's "International," for the work in its latest form has come to have world-wide acceptance as an authority on the uses of the English language. The whole series of abridgements down to the pocket size, has kept pace with the larger work and are to be found in extensive use in schools, houses and offices.

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In the development of this important pub- lishing enterprise the three Merriams were not actuated wholly with the idea of money getting. They were actively interested in all movements calculated to promote the best welfare of humanity, and their contributions, especially for religious and educational purposes, were constant and liberal. Their motto in publish- ing dictionaries was "Make the Best," and it may be said that this same motto governs those who have succeeded them in the management of the business, the name now being G. & C. Merriam Company, and the place of business being still in Springfield, Massachusetts.

PARKER The surname Parker is derived from the Latin parcarius, park- keeper, or shepherd. Danes, Saxons and Normans in England all seem to have had the name at an early date. Parcum and de Parco are found in Domesday Book. As early as 900-925, in the reign of Edward I., a Geoffrey Parker is mentioned, even be- fore the common use of surnames in England. The coat-of-arms of the Brownsholme family of Parker, the pedigree of which is traced to William le Parker, of Wiztwistle, Lancashire, before 1400, and which seems most likely that to which the American line here given belongs, is : Vert, a chevron between three stags' heads cabossed or. Crest : A leopard head affrontee erased or, ducally gorged gules. Motto: Sepre ande (Dare to be just). This coat-of-arms descended through the Park Hall and Stafford- shire lines, and is now used by Sir Thomas Parker, Earl of Macclesfield, England. It is similar to the earlier coat-of-arms of the Parker family of Eztwistle and doubtless modi- fied from that design.

(I) James Parker, immigrant ancestor, came from England before 1640, when he had settled in Woburn, Massachusetts, and was a taxpayer there as early as 1645. He was probably related to some of the numerous other pioneers of the name located in that section of the Bay Colony. Abraham Parker, of Woburn, and John of Billerica and Woburn, were doubtless brothers. James Parker re- moved to Billerica about 1654, to Chelmsford in 1658, and to Groton in 1660. He owned rights in Groton and increased his holdings by purchase until he was the largest owner of land and probably the richest proprietor in the town. He became prominent in both town and church. He was deacon of the church and selectman of the town from 1662-99, more than thirty years; was town clerk for a time;

moderator of all the important towin meetings of his day ; chairman of important committees to locate highways, lay out lots and establish town boundaries; representative to the gen- eral court in 1693. While living in Groton he was once elected selectman of Dunstable. He was a brave and sturdy Indian fighter, rising to be the captain of the Groton company. His home was at a distance from the present vil- lage, near Martin's Pond, removed some dis- tance from the highway, shaded and secluded, and no trace of it is left. A description of his homestead given in a recent publication doubtless belongs to a later generation of the family. A small part of the original homestead was at last accounts still owned by descendants in Groton. He owned a large part of Half- Moon meadow. He died in 1701, aged eighty- three. He married, May 23, 1644, Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Long, of Charlestown, Massachusetts ; (second ) Eunice -- ---. Chil- dren: I. Elizabeth, born April 12, 1645, at Woburn. 2. Anna, January 5, 1646-7. 3. John, January 18, 1648; died young. 4. John, born February 28, 1649. 5. Sarah, August 29, 1650; died October 15, 1651. 6. Joseph, born in Woburn, 1651. 7. James, April 15, 1652; killed at Billerica, by Indians, July 27, 1694. 8. Josiah, born 1655. 9. Samuel, about 1657. 10. Joshua, March 3, 1658, at Chelms- ford. II. Zachariah, January 14, 1659. 12. Eleazer, mentioned below. Thirty years after the birth of Eleazer, Sarah was born Decem- ber 12, 1697, by the second wife, as shown by the will and town records. His will is publish- ed in full in Butler's "History of Groton."

(II) Eleazer, son of James Parker, was born in Groton, November 9, 1660, and mar- ried Mary Children, born in Groton : I. Anna, April 17, 1686. 2. Eleazer, Septem- ber 25, 1695. 3. Mary, July 21, 1697. 4. Zachariah, January 29, 1699 ; mentioned below. 5. Thomas, December 7, 1700. 6. Mehitable, June 6, 1702. 7. Elizabeth, May 21, 1704.

(III) Lieutenant Zachariah, son of Eleazer Parker, was born at Groton, January 29, 1699. He married (first) at Weston, August II, 1732, Rebecca Parks, died June II, 1748; (second) at Mansfield, October 26, 1748, Peace Ames. He resided at Mansfield. Chil- dren, born at Weston: I. Zachariah, October 27, 1732. 2. Ephraim, October 1, 1733. 3. James, born August 18, 1740; mentioned be- low. Children of second wife, born at Mans- field : 4. Mary, July 2, 1750. 5. Daniel, Octo- ber 5, 1751 ; died August 25, 1775. 6. Eleazer, born March IO, 1755. 7. Isaac, February 4,

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1757. 8. Levi, August 21, 1758. 9. Sarah, November 17, 1759. 10. John Keith, April 4, 1763 ; died April 13, 1765. II. Rachel, born February 2, 1765.

(IV) James, son of Zachariah Parker, was born in Dutchess county, New York, August 18, 1740. His birth is recorded at Mansfield, Connecticut, whither the family removed soon after his birth. He served in the revolution, in Captain Jonathan Nichols's company, Lieu- tenant Colonel Experience Storr's regiment, at the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775; also in 1781 in General David Waterbury, Jr.'s, regiment, in the state brigade. Later in life he removed to Willington, Connecticut, and was a land owner there in 1802. He married, December 1, 1762, Mary, daughter of Malachi Conant, of Mansfield. Children, born at Mans- field: I. Daughter, born and died December 23, 1763. 2. James, born March 8, 1764; lived at Mansfield. 3. Reuben, July 30, 1765. 4. Kezia, March 25, 1767. 5. Joanna, born March 9, 1769. 6. Eunice, September 5, 1771. 7. Olive, August 12, 1773. 8. Molly, August 15, 1775. 9. Rebecca, March 8, 1777. 10. David, June 20, 1779; mentioned below. II. Ed-

mund, March 24, 1781. 12. Sarah, February 2, 1783. 13. Daughter, November 20, 1784; died young. 14. Abigail, born July 19, 1786.

(V) David, son of James Parker, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, June 20, 1779. He married Hannah, daughter of Silas Antisdel Curtis (a soldier in the revolution ), at Willing- ton, Connecticut, March 7, 1799. He lived in Willington and Ashford, Connecticut, until 1806, when he sold his property and removed to Brimfield, Massachusetts. Several of his brothers and sisters removed to Ohio. Chil- dren born to David and Hannah, at Willing- I. Luther, February 16, ton, Connecticut : 1800. 2. Nehemiah, October 12, 1802. 3.

Orre, October 4, 1804; mentioned below. Born at Brimfield, Massachusetts: 4. Orson, Feb- ruary 16, 1807. 5. Orson (2d), January 22, 1809. 6. David, Jr., December 25, 1810. 7. Hannah, May 3, 1813. 8. Sumner, October 30, 1815. 9. Silas, January 10, 1818. 10. Harriet, August 1, 1820. II. Philo, March 27, 1822.

(VI) Orre, son of David Parker, was born at Ashford or Willington, Connecticut, Octo- ber 4, 1804. He lived all his life in Brimfield, Massachusetts, where he was a respected citi- zen, excepting about one year in Ellington, Connecticut. He married Abigail Needham Andrews, daughter of Colonel Robert An- drews, of Brimfield, Massachusetts. Chil-

dren: David F., mentioned below; and a daughter, died in infancy.

(VII) David F., son of Orre Parker, was born April 10, 1833, at Ellington, Connecticut. He spent his youth in Brimfield, Massachu- setts, whither his parents moved when he was in his infancy. He attended the public schools there, and completed his education at Monson Academy and the State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts. He taught school in Brimfield, and later in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania. In 1858 he engaged in business as a merchant in Wales, Massachusetts. He held various town offices in Wales, Massachusetts, and in 1860 represented his district in the gen- eral court. He was an active member and deacon of the Baptist church in Wales, Massa- chusetts. In 1870 he went to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he engaged in the fire insurance business, being associated most of the time until his death with Colonel S. C. Warriner. During the last eight years of his life he was an invalid, but in spite of great suffering he was patient and cheerful. His sunny disposition attracted friends, and his exemplary character commanded the respect of all who knew him. He died January II, 1892, and was buried in Wales, Massachusetts. He married (first) Mary L. Shaw, of Wales, Massachusetts, daughter of Solomon Shaw. Children : I. Abbie L., born in Brimfield, Massachusetts. 2. Hattie L., born in Wales, Massachusetts, August 25, 1862 ; married Will- iam H. Bradshaw, of Orange, New Jersey. 3. Fordis C., born January 3, 1868; mentioned below. David F. Parker married (second) Clarissa M. Gilman, of South Windsor, Con- necticut, in 1880. One child: Esther G., born March 1, 1884.

(VIII) Fordis C. Parker, son of David F. Parker, was born in Wales, Massachusetts, January 3, 1868. He came to Springfield at the age of five years, and attended the public schools of that city. He began his business career in the general offices of the Boston and Albany railroad, under J. M. Griggs, general ticket agent. In 1888 he embarked in busi- ness for himself and ever since has been identi- fied with the fire insurance business of Spring- field, Massachusetts. He is district manager for the Sun Insurance Office, of London, Eng- land. He has been president of the Spring- field Board of Fire Underwriters for several years. In addition to the fire insurance busi- ness he has operated quite extensively in real estate. His offices are in the Puffer and Parker Building, 179-181 State street. He is

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a prominent member of the State Street Bap- tist Church. Mr. Parker has been especially prominent in political and public life, being a Republican of much influence and activity. He was a member of the common council of the city of Springfield in 1897-98, and presi- dent in 1899; alderman in 1899-1900; repre- sentative to the general court, 1901 to 1904, and was house chairman of the committee of ways and means during the last two years. He was state senator from Hampden county in 1905 and 1906, being the last senator to repre- sent the district made up of Springfield and the Eastern Hampden towns, including Wales, his birthplace. He was senate chairman of the ways and means, and chairman of the special recess committee to revise the insur- ance laws of the commonwealth, in 1905-1906. "Practical Politics," under date of Septem- ber 15, 1906, says of him :

"Hon. Fordis C. Parker, of Springfield, re- tires from the senate this year, but it will be some years yet before he retires from the political field. Senator Parker is a young man, and has achieved distinction on Beacon Hill during his legislative experience. He has had the distinction of having served as chair- inan of the important committee on ways and means both on the part of the house and on the part of the senate. This, in itself, is a tribute to his ability and judgment, for if cold judgment is needed anywhere on Beacon Hill it is at the head of such a committee. He would have been chairman of ways and means this year again, but President Dana wanted him as chairman of the insurance committee. Just before the general court of this year came in, the wave of reform in insurance matters had swept across New York, where known and positive evils existed, and it was headed · for Massachusetts, where no evidence of wrong-doing had been suggested. But a wise head was needed just the same, and the president selected the Springfield man, who thereupon yielded the ways and means com- mittee. He was placed also on the mercantile affairs committee and on the committee on water supply. It was before the last-named committee that the fight of greatest moment to the senator's own city and district was to take place, and he naturally wanted to be there. How signally he won out against tremendous odds in his contest for the Spring- field water bill, which gave to Springfield a new and much needed source of water supply, is a part of the legislative history of the year. It required much energy and strategy to bring

things to the successful issue to which they finally came. But the senator had smoothed the pathway for the measure long before its final appearance in the branches. For a young man his experience has been decidedly broad."

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume II, Part 16

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1008