Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 108

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 108

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).

(VI) James, eldest child of William and Betsey (Russ) Morgan, was born in Pem- broke, November 12, 1789, and died in Bow, New Hampshire, July 20, 1872. He was eleven years of age when his father bought a large tract of land in Bow, and he and five of the other children of the family had but small chance of obtaining the regular schooling of the time. He was, however, of an observant and quick nature and ready to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself. He worked with his head as well as his hands, and by the time he attained manhood had more than a fair amount of knowledge. At the time of his marriage he built a small house in the woods near his father's farm, cut timber, made charcoal, made huge stone walls, and spent his evenings in shaving shingles. His wife as- sisted him to the fullest extent. She spun wool and flax on the "big" and "little" wheels and wove many yards of cloth in addition to man- aging her large household. Shortly after the birth of their ninth child an epidemic of measles and dysentery carried off four of their children within sixteen days. He built two large barns and outbuildings, and in 1834, on an attractive rise well back from the road, a two-story residence. He was accounted a progressive farmer, and the cultivation of his; one hundred acres compared favorably with the best in the section. He made a specialty of growing hops on a large scale, kept forty to sixty sheep, twenty head of cattle, and was exceedingly proud of his sleek oxen, which he used in his lumbering industry. He worked for a time for the Androscoggin Lumber Com- pany and for Quaker Rogers, a well known linnberman. During the winter of 1831-2 he

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teamed in Hebron, clearing two hundred dol- lars, which he donated to the Bow Baptist church, of which he was a deacon. He was very generous, hospitable and charitable, his home being open to the poor to such an ex- tent that it was known as the "Pilgrim's Tav- ern." He served the town as selectman, and was representative to the New Hampshire general court, 1844-5. For several years he and his wife cared for the town's poor, receiv- ing but slight recompense for their efforts. Their home passed into the hands of strangers in 1863 and they lived with their children. In 1869 Captain A. B. Farmer, a son-in-law, pur- chased the property, repaired and improved the buildings and land, planting vines, shrubs and numerous elms, and the place has since been known as "The Elms." Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were both possessed of fine voices and frequently rode long distances in order to as- sist at concerts."

He married, at Bow, July 28, 1812, Fanny, born in Bow, November 20, 1789, died in Hookset, New Hampshire, October 26, 1872, daughter of Eliphalet and Eunice (Parks) Rowell, of Bow. Children: I. William, born February 12, 1813, died aged two weeks. 2. William, born April 17, 1814, died May 19, 1860; married, October 8, 1835, Margaret Noyes; children: i. Harriet, died in infancy ; ii. Warren, born April 18, 1838, died Febru- ary 9, 1903 : married, June 8, 1876, Eliza A. Elliott ; iii. Norman, died in infancy ; iv. Har- riet Augusta, born March 8, 1841 ; married, November 29, 1860, George W. Short; v. Edmund Rowell, born March 6, 1843, died December 5, 1879; married, June 28, 1868, Mary E. Winchell; vi. William, born March 28, 1846; married, April 4, 1868, Helen B. Holt ; vii. Emily, born July 6, 1847, died Sep- tember I, 1868; viii. Mary Jane, born July 26, 1850 ; married (first), June 16, 1870, War- ren Brown, (second), October 10, 1375, Ed- ward P. Geddings. 3. Asaph, born December 6, 1815, died June 12, 1853; married Sarah Holt. 4. Eliphalet R., born August 12, 1817, died December 22, 1892 ; married Louise Kitt- redge and has: Sylvanus. 5. James R., born January 3, 1819, died September 14, 1826. 6. Fanny, born September 18, 1820, died September 14, 1826. 7. Sarah R., born October 7. 1822, died February 25, 1904; married Jedediah C. W. Frary; chil- dren : Fanny, who married William Payne, and John. 8. Ezra, born April 15, 1824, died September 12, 1826. 9. John J., born May 9, 1826, died September 28, 1826. 10. James R.,

born July 22, 1827, died January-, 1860; married, December 25, 1847, Betsey O. Morse ; children : i. Sarah Maria, born July 19, 1849; married (first), March 16, 1867, Martin Shaw, (second), November 18, 1886, George Michie ; ii. Betsey Olive, born August 18, 1851, died November 25, 1871 ; married, Au- gust 18, 1867, Daniel Newton. II. Ezra, born September 28, 1829, died November 20, 1885; married Fennette C. Bond; children : Frank E., Nettie, Edgar, Susie, Alice and George. 12. Fanny Rowell, born August 31, 1831; married, February 15, 1855, Augustus B. Farmer ; children : James Isaac, born April 4, 1857, died April 30, 1860; Hannah Augusta, born August 3, 1859; Carrie May, born April 25, 1867. 13. John Johnson, see forward. 14. Cynthia, born May 15, 1836, died Sep- tember 5, 1903; married (first), November, 1852, Charles Hall, (second), November -, 1884, Charles Johnson ; children : i. Amelia, born June 21, 1853; married, May 20, 1871, John Rowell; children : Warren A., born Sep- tember 5, 1873, married, October 14, 1897, Maude Clough and has : Frank A., born July 4, 1899; b. Bartlett C., born September 25, 1877; married, October 19, 1908, Rhoda Blake; c. Hattie M., born February 22, 1879, died September 9, 1880; d. Pearl A., born August 10, 1886; e. Ethel E., born March 13, 1891; ii. Lorin, born March - 13, 1859; chil- dren : a. Arthur, born May, 1881; b. Hattie M., may, 1886; iii. Hattie, born October 13, 1862, died December 3, 1880.

(VII) John Johnson, tenth son and thir- teenth child of James and Fanny (Rowell) Morgan, was born in Bow, New Hampshire, December 10, 1833. His education was ac- quired in the district school of his native town, and he assisted with the farm labors until he was twenty years of age, when he entered the factory of Charles Austin to learn the trade of organ reed and reedboard making, from March, 1853, to May, 1856. He then went to Boston to Mr. Austin's warerooms, taking charge of the sales of organs, and at the end of eight months returned to Concord, New Hampshire, and entered into a contract with Mr. Austin to take charge of the reed and tuning department, having his own work- men and sharing in the profits with Mr. Austin. After ten years he formed a partnership with Alfred Davis, under the firm name of Davis & Morgan, in the manufacture of organ reeds and reedboards for the trade in the United States and Canada. The factory was in Concord, and at the ex-

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piration of one year Mr. Morgan sold his in- terest in the concern to his partner and com- menced the construction of machinery for the Smith American Organ Company in Boston. He had contracted to remain with this firm for one year in order to get the new machinery into proper working order, but remained with them twenty years in all, in time becoming superintendent. He went to Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, for one year, in 1874, becoming financially interested in the Munroe Organ Reed Company, but in 1875 sold his stock in this undertaking and returned to the Smith American Organ Company. At the comple- tion of his term of service with this company he devoted some time to the invention of an organ reed which differed essentially from others in an important particular. He spent ten years in inventing the machine necessary to manufacture this reed, but owing to the old style being so firmly established, this venture did not prove a financial success. About 1895 Mr. Morgan started in the general piano busi- ness, having warerooms in Boylston street, South Boston, for two years, then removed his business to Needham, where he had pre- viously resided and purchased, in September, 1873, the Whitaker place, a fine homestead in the center of the town, consisting of about twelve acres. His trade is very flourishing, extending over a large section. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is a member of the Evangelical Congrega- tional Church, of Needham, having served on its standing committee and as superintendent of its Sunday school, and also as choir direc- tor. He married, October 5, 1856, at Con- cord, New Hampshire, Eveline Brown, born in Bow, July 30, 1838, daughter of Richard Wheeler and Drusilla (Colby) Goodhue. Chil- dren: 1. Georgia Eveline, born March 4, 1858, died August 21, 1863. 2. John Edwin, born October 23, 1859, died August 21, 1863. 3. Jennie Frances, born October 27, 1860, died December 30, 1861. 4. Lewis Edson, see for- ward. 5. Lizzie Ellen, born August 10, 1864. 6. Anson Winfield, born January 12, 1867. 7. Walter Edward, born October 20, 1872; married, December 10, 1889, Daisy M .. daugh- ter of John F. and Alice (Littlefield) Moore, of Needham; children: Alice Marion, born February 15, 1891 ; Amy Eveline, June 1, 1892 ; Adele, June 9, 1895 ; Jolin Moore, July 20, 1898. 8. Lottie May, born June 25, 1875 ; married Charles Measure, of Needham, and has : Beatrice and Walter.

(VIII) Dr. Lewis Edson Morgan, second

son and fourth child of John Johnson and Eveline Brown (Goodhue) Morgan, was born in Concord, New Hampshire, January 25, 1863. His preliminary course of study was pursued in the various towns and cities in which the family resided, being partly in pri- vate and partly in public schools. He then commenced a preparatory course of study to fit himself for entrance to Harvard Univer- sity, but his health becoming impaired by close application, he was compelled to take a com- plete rest of one year. Upon his return he was made assistant principal of the Need- ham high school, a position he held for three years, then entered the Harvard Medical School and was graduated in 1892 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He studied abroad for a period of two years, taking a course in the Dublin (Ireland). Maternity Hospital, in addition to his study of special branches in London, Berlin and Paris, during this time being awarded eleven diplomas. While in the Maternity Hospital at Dublin he officiated successfully in seventeen hundred labor cases. He studied bacteriology under Koch and Guenter, and surgery with the late von Bergman; diseases of women with Martin and Oldshausen ; general medicine with Klem- perer, Senator and Krause; took a course in Paris at the Pasteur College; in Berlin served as interne at Charité Hospital. Upon his re- turn to this country Dr. Morgan established himself in the practice of his profession at Malden, Massachusetts, after one year remov- ing to Needham, where he remained for a period of four years, then removed to Brookline, Massachusetts, which he has since made his permanent home, now residing at No. 1740 Beacon street. He makes a specialty of surgical operations, particularly those con- nected with abdominal diseases, and is fre- quently called in consultation with other phy- sicians. While residing at Needham he was assistant superintendent of the Congregational Sunday school and had charge of the organ music. He also served as auditor of the town for three years. He is a Republican in politi- cal principle, and an attendant at the Harvard Congregational Church in Brookline. At vari- ous periods he has been or is at the present time associated with the following named or- ganizations : Was a member of the Royal Ar- canum, Golden Cross and Good Templars ; is a member of Norfolk Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Needham; of Tabernacle Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Malden; of Gethsemane Commandery, Knights Templar,

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of Newtonville ; was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company and assist- . ant surgeon ; is a member of the Massachu- setts Medical Society, Harvard Medical Aluni- ni, American Medical Association, Norfolk District Medical Society, and Brookline Med- ical Club.

Dr. Morgan married, October 2, 1889, Edith Atwood, born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, February 2, 1869, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Lawrence) Rice, the former proprietor of a tannery in Shrewsbury. Children : Sam- uel Rice, born July 18, 1890; Ruth Goodhue, December 10, 1897.

MCELWAIN The McElwain family in America is of Scotch origin, or Scotch-Irish, having so- journed for a short time in the north of Ire- land on the way from Scotland to this coun- try. Families of the name are numerous in the north of Ireland, in the counties of An- trim, Down and Armagh, province of Ulster. The name is also spelled McElwane, McIl- wain, McIlvaine, etc. Charles Petit McIlvaine, one of the ablest bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, is probably the most widely known member of the family.

(I) James McElwain, immigrant ancestor, with his two sons, James and Timothy, came over previous to 1727. In 1728, he bought of Lamb & Company one hundred acres of land at the junction of the Ware and Swift rivers, in what was known as the "Elbow Tract." This he sold in 1729 to Green & Walker, mer- chants of Boston. At this time he called him- self of New Marlborough, and in 1733 his wi- dow Elenor quit-claimed her right of dower in the same land, dating it "New Marlborough, or Kingsfield." In 1729 he received pay from the town for a journey to Boston, to present a petition to the general court in regard to the titles to the land bought of this company. He was collector of rates for the town, clerk of the church, and on a committee to provide a site for the meeting house. His farm was in that part of the "Elbow Tract" which was set off as the town of Western (now Warren) Massachusetts. He died in 1730. Children : I. James, sold his land and returned to Ire- land ; never married. 2. Timothy, mentioned below.

(II) Timothy, son of James McElwain, was born in 1709, and died September 7, 1790. He came to New England with his father and was granted a hundred acre lot near his fa- ther's. In 1733 he served on a committee to

lay out highways, also on a committee to select a site for the meeting house. He was con- stable in 1774, and was a taxpayer of Pal- mer in 1786. He married (first) August 24, 1738, Anna Spear, who died April 28, 1746. He married (second) August 10, 1750. Sus- annah Thomson. Children: 1. Sarah, born August 24, 1739 ; married, December 1, 1761, Timothy Ferrell. 2. Betty, born March 24, 1741 ; married, May 19, 1764, John King. 3. John Allen, born March 12, 1743 ; married Au- gust, 1779. 4. Timothy, born April 17, 1746, mentioned below. 5. Samuel, born June 18, 1751 ; married, June 2, 1776, Sarah Ferrell. 6. Anna, born February 27, 1753; married, July 9, 1778, Adonijah Jones. 7. Elizabeth, born January 31, 1755 ; married Israel Jones. 8. Elenor, born June 29, 1757. 9. Roger, born August 23, 1759; married, November 29, 1790, Delina Hill.

(III) Captain Timothy McElwain, son of Timothy McElwain, was born April 17, 1746 and died November 6, 1830, aged eighty-four. He lived in Middlefield, Massachusetts. The house which he built in 1797 on his farm on the hill tops, still stands, in excellent preser- vation, a fine example of simple old colonial architecture, and of a size to meet the needs of his good old-fashioned family of twelve children. The place has come down in regular succession in the family, being now occupied by his great-grandson, Edwin Smith McEl- wain. He married, in Somers, Connecticut, January 9, 1772, Jane Brown, who died Janu- ary 2, 1832, aged eighty-one. He served in the Revolutionary War, and was a prominent military figure in his day. Children : I. Timo- thy, born October 21, 1772. 2. Anne, born June 12, 1774. 3. Jane, born September 24, 1776; died January 7, 1787. 4. Alexander, born November 9, 1778. 5. James, born Feb- ruary 22, 1781. 6. George Washington, born May 4, 1783. 7. Betsey, born August 18, 1785. 8. Sarah, born March 30, 1787. 9. David, born April 19, 1789. 10. Jennet, born March 31, 1791. II. Jonathan, born June II, 1793 ; see forward. 12. Laney, born June 21, 1795.

(IV) Jonathan, son of Timothy McElwain, was born at Middlefield, June 11, 1793, died February 23, 1866. He lived all his life on the McElwain place. A broad minded man, he was thoroughly devoted to the town and its interests, at one time representing his district in the legislature. His breadth of view is well illustrated by the fact that, when Mary Lyon went through that section soliciting money for

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the founding of Mt. Holyoke, an institution for the education of women, he contributed one hundred dollars, no small sum for the New England farmer of that day, and this in spite of the fact that he himself had five sons and no daughters to educate. Only two other men in the town subscribed to the fund. He married, October 15, 1818, Lucy Smith, of Middlefield. Children :

I. Jonathan (2nd), born July 14, 1819, died January 23, 1899. He succeeded his father on the farm and was also prominent in town affairs, holding the office of town clerk for nearly thirty years, and that of secretary of the Highland Agricultural Society for many ycars. He married (first) May 20, 1847. Clarissa Lyman, of Chester ; (second) Decem- ber, 1852, Mary Smith. of Salisbury, Con- necticut. Children : i. Albert, born Novem- ber 1853, died in 1855; ii. Edwin Smith, born April 20, 1855: succeeded his father on the old place; married, February 13, 1876, Lucy Maria Graves, of Middlefield; children: (a) Bessie Lillian, born April 18, 1879: married July 18, 1898, Walter S. Newell; (b) Jessie Bell, born July 10, 1880 ; married, October 18, 1904, Reuben Franklin McElwain, of West Springfield: (c) George Edwin born Decem- ber 16, 1885, engaged in the paper manufac- turing business at Holyoke. iii. Mary Jane, born June 5, 1858; married (first) June 12, 1885, Fitzhugh Babson, of Gloucester: (sec- ond) Clark B. Wright, of Middlefield. iv. Lura Verona, born April 20, 1862; married, November 19, 1891, Arthur D. Pcase, of Mid- dlefield.

2. Oliver, born August 24, 1821; married at Becket, February 10, 1853, Paulina Doane Witherell, of South Wellflect; children, born at Becket: i. Lucy Hannah, born December 6, 1854; married June 16, 1881, Clifton A. Crocker, of Springfield; ii. Laney Smith, born April 14, 1857; married, January 4, 1888, Ar- thus E. Ford, of Chicago; iii. Harrict Aurelia, born February 12, 1859; not marricd. Was graduated at Mt. Holyoke Seminary, became a teacher, and was for nineteen years the licad of the Department for Women at The Penn- sylvania State College; iv. Oliver Dwight, born February 10, 1862; not marricd ; v. Reu- ben Franklin, born March 30, 1865; married, October 18, 1904, Jessie B. McElwain, of Mid- dlefield ; one daughter, Paulina Witherell, born March 8, 1906. Hle is vice-president and man- ager of the Crocker-McElwain Paper Com- pany of Holyoke ; vi. Carrie Mabel, born Feb-

ruary 20, 1870; married, February 12, 1896, Edward P. Butts, of Springfield.

3. Timothy Dwight, born August 10, 1825; died September 3, 1841.

4. John Smith, born March 17, 1828, men- tioned below.

5. Edwin, born November 5, 1833; married December, 1863, Caroline Church, of Middle- field. Children: i. Charles Church, born May 19, 1872; married, November 8, 1899, Greta Parks, of Springfield; one son, Edwin (sec- ond) born December 17, 1908; ii. Arthur Ed- win, born February 8, 1879, died July 14, 1880. On leaving the firm of McElwvain Bros. (see below) he entered the firm of The Kibbe Brothers & Co. of Springfield, confectionery manufacturers, and, on the death of the Kibbe brothers, he, with S. D. Porter, acquired the business. His son Charles is now also of the same firm.

(V.) John Smith McElwain, son of Jona- than McElwain, was born March 17, 1828. He attended the public school of Middlefield, ac- knowledged as one of the best of that day, and, later, Williston Seminary at Easthampton. At about eighteen years of age he had an oppor- tunity to go into mercantile business, which he much wanted to accept, but his father would not consent, saying he would do what he could to make a farmer of him by keeping him on the farm till he was of age. After attending Williston Seminary.and teaching for a time, he wished to be nearer Springfield. Starting on foot from Easthampton with a friend, he ob- tained a school in West Springfield, where he taught successfully for two seasons. In addi- tion to his duties as teacher he worked at gar- dening for Richard Bagg, Jr. During vaca- *tions he also worked in the gardens and sold vegetables for Mr. Bagg. His first attempt at selling farm produce was hardly prophetic of his ultimate business success, since he failed to sell a single bect from the wagon load which he took out-an experience he never forgot. He stayed with Mr. Bagg for four years, and later, after Mr. Bagg's death, returned to car- ry on the place for Mrs. Bagg, remaining in this position two years. He then took a place as clerk in the agricultural store of Allen & Mason, of Springfield, later bought out the concern, and, with his younger brother Edwin, under the firm name of McElwain Brothers, built up a prosperous business.

During this period Mr. MeElwain was on the watch for an opening in the paper manu- facturing business. In 1867, he accepted the

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position of general manager of the office of the Parsons Paper Company of Holyoke, and assistant salesman, becoming the agent of the company in 1886, after Mr. Parsons' death. He held this office until 1893, when he helped to organize the Linden Paper Company and became its president. During this period as agent, the Parsons Company's business was enlarged by the building of a second mill, known as "Parsons No. 2." Meantime, for several years, he was treasurer and general manager of the Valley Paper Company ; also during this time, in 1880, he organized the Nonotuck Paper Company. This proving a success, in 1892 the Symes and Dudley mill was added to the Nonotuck, the company suc- cessfully carrying on its work till the mills were merged into the American Writing Paper Company in 1899.

As a citizen, Mr. McElwain has always been closely identified with the interests of the city of Holyoke, serving as member of the city council during the first years of its existence ; as a member of the Library Commission ; as a director of the City National Bank ; as director of the City Hospital, and trustee of the bene- faction known as The Whiting Street Estate. He is also a director of the Third National Bank of Springfield. His religious affiliations are with the Second Congregational Church. The vigorous young Grace Chapel stands as the outgrowth of suggestions as to practical piety made by him to his Sunday school class of young men. In politics he is a Republican of the broader minded type.

He married (first) in West Springfield, in 1858, Esther M. Ely, daughter of Homer Ely, and has one son by this marriage, Henry Ely McElwain, treasurer of the Linden Paper Company until it entered The American Writ- ing Paper Company combination. He is now of Denver, Colorado, engaged in mining. He married (second) in 1863, Celia S. Ely, a sis- ter of the first wife.

Henry Ely McElwain married, December II, 1883, Isabel Hazen, of Hartford, Vermont. Children : 1. Esther Ely, born December 13, 1884, died July 2, 1885. 2. John Hazen, born May 29, 1886. 3. Henry Ely, born June 19, 1891. 4. Leicester Kent, born May 10, 1895. 5. Louise, born January 8, 1897.

Wood or Woods is a surname of WOOD ancient English origin and had its origin in designating some men from their residence near woods. Atwood and Bywood are forms of the same name.

The surname Hill is of similar origin and perhaps quite as generally used. Other sur- names formed in this way are Pond, Rivers, Lake, Bridge, etc. The medieval spelling of this surname was Atte Wode, afterwards soft- ened to Atwood. Since the immigrants came to this country with the early settlers at Plym- outh, we find Wood and Atwood used inter- changeably. Almost every conceivable Wood in England surnamed some family back in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth centuries, and hence the multitude bearing this name. In Domes- day the name is found in the Latin form De Silva, in county Suffolk. In the Hundred Rolls the forms de la Wode, In le Wode and Ate Wode are found. Many famous men in Eng- land and America have belonged to the Wood family. In England and Scotland one hun- dred different coat-of-arms belong to various Wood families. A branch of the Scotch Wood family is numerous in Ireland. There is a general similarity of design in the armor- ials of many of these families that indicate common origin at some remote period. The Derbyshire family coat-of-arms : Azure three naked savages proper each holding in the dex- ter hand a shield argent charged with a cross gules and in the sinister a club resting on the naked hand proper. The families bearing arms and the surname Wood are common in Devon- shire, Gloucestershire, county Kent and coun- ty Middlesex. Thomas Wood, chief justice of the court of common pleas in 1501 had these arms: Gules semee of crosses crosslet fitchee argent three demi-woodmen holding clubs proper. Note the resemblance to the other. Viscount Halifax bears: Azure three naked savages ambulant in fess proper in the dexter hand of each a shield argent charged with a cross gules, in the sinister a club rest- ing on the shoulder also proper on a canton ermine three lozenges conjoined fess sable. Crest : A savage as in the arms the shield sable charged with a griffin's head erased ar- gent. Motto: Perserandox Most of the Scotch and Irish families bearing arms have the following or one very like it: Azure an oak tree eradicated or. The family had seats in Fife or Forfarshire, as early as the six- teenth century.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 108

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 986

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 986