Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 116

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 116

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Mr. Gilmore married, (first), at Milford, Massachusetts, 1857, Evelyn Capen, born in Holliston, died in Wrentham, April 7, 1862, daughter of Benjamin (of Brighton) and Re- becca (Sanger) Capen. Of this marriage was born Evelyn Capen, March 20, 1862, married, July 11, 1897, Frank Emerson George. Mr. Gilmore married (second) No- vember 14, 1865, Ellen Maria Rand, born July 28, 1845, daughter of David Anson and Harriet Caroline (Austin) Anson, of Wren- tham. Her father was a wood merchant of Providence, Rhode Island. Children : 2. George Warren, born January 18, 1867. 3. Frank Rand, born November 2, 1868; mar-

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ried, January 28, 1897, Lena Frances Harts- horn, of Walpole ; children : i. Warren Rand, born October 10, 1898; ii. James Francis, March 7, 1901 ; iii. Evelyn, April 13, 1904; iv. Fred Hartshorn, December 14, 1908. 4. Charles Austin, born August 25, 1870. 5. Fred Edwin, born March 30, 1873 ; married, October 29, 1902, Alice Amelia Carpenter. (See Carpenter).

BLEILER Many of the citizens of Boston and vicinity whose knowledge of the crafts ac- quired in Germany have made them useful in building up the industries of the United States, are successful in the line they repre- sent, and none stand higher in general es- teem in the community than the Bleiler fam- ·ily, who have been prominent and successful a's meat and provision dealers.

(I) Joseph Bleiler was born in Rhein- Bavaria more than a hundred years ago, of an old and respected German family. He was a soldier for some years in the wars of his times, including the Napoleanic and Hol- land wars. He was a dealer in meats in the village, and applied himself industriously to his trade for many years, and died at the ad- vanced age of over ninety years. He was of the German Catholic faith. He was twice married, rearing a large family, five of whom grew to maturity and married. These were : I. Peter, spent his entire life in Germany ; was a butcher by trade, conducting it in con- nection with other business; married, and had a large family, of whom Peter Jr. and Margaret came to the United States, the former living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2. Charles, came to the United States and later settled in Canada, and died at the home of a brother who had been a resident of that country, near Montreal, for a number of years. 3. Frederick Jacob, mentioned be- low. Two daughters also came to America and lived near Montreal, where they died.

(II) Frederick Jacob, son of Joseph Bleiler, was born in the village of Lohrweiler, Ba- varia, in January, 1805. He learned his father's trade and succeeded well in the same business, as was characteristic of the family. He married, in his native province, Charlotte Simmons, born in Grumbach, Prussia, a town four miles away, in another state, in December, 1804. She was the daughter of parents born in Rhein-Prussia, of strong Lutheran faith, and although differing in re- ligion, Mr. and Mrs. Bleiler always lived in

harmony, never allowing difference in faith to disturb the serenity of the family. In 1852 he and his wife and six children came to the United States, four of their children having already preceded them to this country. He landed in New York City, and from there went to Boston, where at one time or an- other all the male members of the family have been engaged in the meat and pro- vision trade. Children, all of whom lived to maturity, and to be over fifty years of age : I. Jacob, born in Bavaria about 1829; mar- ried Julia Schmidt, and came to this country in 1848, settling in Boston, where he was a butcher on Ruggles street, Roxbury; later he became a mechanic, and after some years he retired and died in 1905, leaving a widow and family residing on Mechanic street ; he was one of the men most prominent in se- curing the naturalization of Germans who came to Boston, and settled in the Roxbury district, and worked always for the advance- ment of the German-American citizens ; chil- dren: i. Mary; ii. Jacob, deceased; iii. Charles, deceased ; iv. Louise : v. Emma, de- ceased; vi. Julia Fenia; vii. Caroline. 2. Catherine, came to America with her brother Jacob, in 1848, and settled in Boston. 3. George, came to America in 1849, and set- tled at Watertown, where he conducted a large abattoir; married Elizabeth Fischer, now deceased; children: George, Charles, Lena, Lizzie, Frank and Edward. 4. Char- lotte, came with her brother George, in 1849, to Boston, and married Jacob Jacobs, of Ba- varia, Germany, who was a machinist in Bos- ton from young manhood until his death some years ago ; she died a number of years ago, leaving children William, Lizzie, Frank, Charles and Louise Jacobs, all married ; other children who died young were John, Jacob, Charlotte, Catherine and Julia Jacobs. 5. Peter, settled in Roxbury, where he car- ried on the meat business ; married Orphra Zimmerman, who died before him; he died leaving children, Peter and Charles (cigar manufacturers), and a daughter Barbara, who died young. 6. John, born in Bavaria, May 9, 1838; mentioned below. 7. Fred- erick, born in Germany, in July, 1840; men- tioned below. 8. Elizabeth, married Philip Albrecht, retired, and resides on Mt. Pleas- ant avenue, Roxbury : children : Louise, Liz- zie and Ernest Albrecht, and Philip Albrecht. deceased. 9. Charles, born March 7, 1845 ; mentioned below. Io. Louise, married Jacob Mentzger, who was for years a well-known

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musician of Boston, now dead ; she died leav- ing children Elizabeth, Charlotte, William and Henry Mentzger.

(III) John, son of Frederick Jacob Bleiler, was born in Bavaria, May 9, 1838, and at the age of thirteen came with his parents to the United States, settling in Boston. Not long afterwards he became interested in the meat and provision business, first as driver of a de- livery wagon. When the Bleiler business was located at the corner of Tremont and Vernon streets, he became proprietor and succeeded well. In 1862 he purchased a lot of land on which he began to make improve- ments, and from time to time added to his possessions, until he owns a valuable block of business and residential houses, all free and clear from any incumbrance. He also owns a pleasant summer home and beach lot at Hough's Neck Beach, near Boston. After forty years of active industry he retired and now spends a quiet life, giving himself the pleasure of reading, and keeping well inform- ed on the current subjects of the day. He has been an active Republican, prominent in his ward. For five successive years (1897- 98-99, 1900-01) he was elected to the house of representatives, and during that time worked hard in the interests of his constitu- ents. He served on many important com- mittees, including printing and mercantile af- fairs, and the committee on liquor laws, of which he was the chairman. He was a unique character in the legislature, and his ready wit and flow of oratory made him very popular in debate, and the galleries were always crowded to hear him. With his extremely fluent, well-expressed sentences, was an ad- mixture of his German accent which added not a little to the attractiveness of his speech. Always looking sharply about him for ma- terial for his argument, he held the attention of his audience closely, and his unimpeach- able honesty and strong argument drove his well-taken points home. His efforts in the legislature were very fruitful, and no bill that he advocated failed to pass. He was locally known as "the old war-horse," "Uncle John," and "Honest John Bleiler." He was fre- quently called upon by people of all classes to settle disputes and misunderstandings and adjust claims. In his political career it was the pride of his friends that he never was controlled by corporations or a political ma- chine. Being a well-informed man and a con- stant student of human nature, he is exceed- ingly well equipped to cope with the many

difficult questions brought to him for settle- ment. In his ambition to do everything well and to make the most of his opportunities he has carved out a career of which he may well be proud. He was for twelve years a member of the Boston Dragoons, part of which time he was first lieutenant, and ex- hibits with great pleasure a beautiful sword and scabbard presented to him at a special gathering. It is a pleasant memento of re- spect, bearing this inscription : "Presented to First Lieutenant John Bleiler, by his friends. of Company B, Boston Dragoons, May 15,. 1872." Mr. Bleiler has served in the local military company for thirty-two years. He is ex-president of the Roxbury Horse Guards Veterans Association, mounting through the various promotions from private to quarter- master, and serving under thirteen captains. He is a member of the Knights of Honor ; Pilgrim Fathers; German Order of Haru- gari ; Kossuth Lodge No. 24; Star of Jamaica Plain, Veteran Firemen's Association; and the Boston Schwaben Verein.

He married, in Boston, January 29, 1860, Katherine Mangels, born in East Boston, May 5, 1841, daughter of Christopher J. and Katherine (Beeler) Mangels. Her father was a native of Alstedt, county Leo, Holland, and her mother of Strasburg, Germany. Her mother was daughter of Joseph Beeler, who was one of Napoleon's aides during much of the military career of that great general, and her brother now living in East Boston, was identified prominently with the artillery dur- ing the civil war in this country, serving with distinction and losing an arm as the result of a gunshot wound at Pensacola, Florida, and carrying several medals for bravery in ac- tion. Her father and mother were married in Boston, and Mr. Mangels was associated with the sugar refining industry, where he met with a serious accident which resulted in hi's death at the age of thirty-six years ; his wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1800: they had six children : i. Mary M. Mangels, married Albert Ostermeyer, and died in New York City, in 1908; ii. John C. Mangels, died when a young man ; iii. Kath- erine Mangels, married John Bleiler, men- tioned above ; iv. Franklin Mangels, a United States marshal, and a member of the Signal Service, is now a ranchman of El Paso, Tex- as, and is married ; v. Wilhelmina Mangels, widow of Arnold Schupback, of Malden ; vi. Andrew Mangels, resides at East Boston, in the employ of the Boston & Albany railroad

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frederick Bleiler

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company; married Elizabeth Starkweather and has a son Andrew Mangels.

Children of John and Katherine Bleiler : I. Bertha A., born August 16, 1866; educated in the public schools, and lives at home. 2. Caroline E., born October 11, 1868; mar- ried William H. Huy, confidential clerk for a firm of Boston brokers; children: i. Hubert Adolph William Huy, born October 1, 1894; ii. Vera Huy, May 15, 1897. 3. Albert, born October 25, 1874; died February 3, 1906, unmarried. 4. Elizabeth A., married George Halder, a Boston business man ; children : i. Dorothy B. Halder, born in Bos- ton, March 25, 1903; ii. George W. Halder, June II, 1908. 5. William H., born in Bos- ton, June 21, 1879; inspector for New Eng- land Telegraph and Telephone Company; unmarried, and lives at home. The other seven children died in infancy.

(III) Frederick, son of Frederick Jacob Bleiler, was born in Germany, July 18, 1840, and came when a boy of ten with his parents to America. He attended the public schools of this country, and before he was of age had acquired a good education and a very thor- ough knowledge of the butcher's trade. From his early youth his ambition was to become a successful man, and so well did he succeed that he is now one of the wealthiest German citizens of Boston. He conducted an extensive business in meats and pro- visions in Boston, and invested largely in real estate to good advantage. In early manhood he was a member of the Boston Light Dragoons, of which he was for some time a sergeant. In politics he took an ac- tive part, and was the first citizen of German birth to be elected to a city office, from his ward, being elected a member of the city council in 1872-73. For some years he was a member of Ward Nineteen Republican com- mittee, and was an active worker for his party until he retired a few years ago. Late in life he joined the Democratic party on ac- count of political intrigue in local politics. Besides his larges estates in Boston he owns a beautiful farm of nineteen acres in Water- town, which is operated now as a gardening farm. He is a member of the Boston Mar- ket Gardeners' Association and the Retail Grocers' Association of Boston.

He married, September 2, 1863, Rosa J. Grabert, born in Schorndorf county, in the village of Schnide, Wurtemburg, Germany, May 17, 1843. She came to this country in 1857 with her mother, to join her father, iv-15

who had come in 1852 and settled in Boston, where they have since made their home. She was daughter of Gottleib and Christina (Hammer) Grabert, of old Wurtemburg stock. Her father had been a baker in Ger- many, but after coming to Boston, became a currier. He was born in 1817, and died in Boston in 1864. Her mother was born in 1816 and died in 1858. They had children : i. Christina Grabert, born December 22, 1841 ; unmarried. ii. Rosa Grabert, married Fred- erick Bleiler, mentioned above; iii. John Grabert, born January 27, 1845, a caterer by profession, married Mary Yetto, and resides in Roxbury, with the following children : John, Alice, William, Henry and Emma Grabert ; iv. Jacob Grabert, engaged as man- ager of large rubber works at Bristol, Rhode Island; married Katherine Evers, now de- ceased, and had Ellam, Mary, Henry, John, Herman, Fred, Rosa, and Lelia Grabert ; v. Gottleib Grabert, a confectioner, married Emma Krautwurst, and had Roscoe and Walter Grabert, the latter deceased; vi. Henry Grabert, a provision dealer who went to Arkansas and settled, married Jennie Crowell, and had Clottie, Alphonso, Clar- ence, Mabel and Florence Grabert. Mr. Bleiler is a German'Catholic in religion, and his wife is of the Lutheran faith. He is an active member of the Boston German So- ciety, the German Aid Society, and other local social orders. Children: I. Frederick C., born December 11, 1864; merchant of Roxbury, and member of the city council in 1892, unmarried. 2. Walter J., born Decem- ber 7, 1867 ; is in the crushed stone business with his father; married Wilhelmina Tick- haut, and lives in Roxbury ; children : i, Wal- ter and Henry. 3. Lydia, born June 10, 1870; educated in the public schools, and is a busi- ness college graduate ; unmarried. 4. Henry, born June 6, 1872: unmarried; resides at home, and assists his father in business. 5. Frank, born July 24, 1874; is a merchant in company with his brother; unmarried, and lives at home. 6. Amelia, born October 27, 1877; married Henry Keller and resides in Roxbury. 7. Julius, born January 29, 1880; is associated with his father in business ; un- married, and lives at home. 8. Joseph, born May 7, 1883 ; lives at home.

(III) Charles, son of Frederick Jacob Bleiler, was born in Rhein-Bavaria, March 7, 1845, and at the age of seven came with his parents to the United States. He was edu- cated in the Boston public schools, and at the

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early age of fifteen entered the meat and pro- vision business on his own account, being the youngest business man in Boston at the time. In 1861, when the call for troops came for the defense of the Union, Mr. Bleiler was anxious to serve his adopted country, and en- listed in the First Massachusetts Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, responding to the first call for three years men. He enlisted under Captain Leonard, Colonel Robert E. Wil- liams. The regiment was ordered to the front in December, 1861, stopping at An- napolis until February, 1862, when it moved to Port Royal, South Carolina, doing active service, and a little later joined the Army of the Potomac, going to Alexandria, Virginia, in the fall of 1862. From that time the regi- ment was with the Army of the Potomac un- til mustered out of service, after many en- gagements. At Poolsville, Private Bleiler was with a small detachment sent out to meet the vanguard of Lee's army, and the little force was driven back with severe loss to their number. He afterwards fought un- der Mcclellan in the battles of South Moun- tain; Antietam; Fredericksburg; Rapidan Station, April 30, 1863; Chancellorsville ; Sulphur Springs; Gettysburg ; Culpeper, and October 14, 1863; Mine Run; Welden Rail- road; Lee's Mills; Williamsport; Stony Creek, December 1, 1864, and finally at Ap- pomattox, having taken part in more than forty different engagements and skirmishes. Before he had served two years he was made a corporal of his company, and July II, 1864, was commissioned sergeant. After two years and six months of service he was honorably discharged, but reenlisted February 23, 1864, and was again honorably discharged July 26, 1865, when the troops were disbanded at the close of the war. He then held the rank of quartermaster-sergeant. Later he was of- fered a commission by Governor Andrew as lieutenant of a company of colored troops to make a scouting tour through the south, but declined the commission. While in the army he was frequently selected for detached duty, and was in many hardfought battles and skirmishes, having many narrow escapes, but returned home unharmed, and resumed business at Roxbury as a meat and pro- vision dealer, continuing until his retirement in 1899.

again at Sulphur Springs ; Auburn, Virginia, . a tradesman and died aged sixty years. Her

While lie was in business he built up and improved some splendid property in both the residental and business sections of Roxbury, has a pleasant summer home at Hougli's

Neck, where he spends a part of the year. He takes an active interest in local matters, but is not especially interested in politics, though he is identified as an independent Re- publican. In 1880 he was one of the or- ganizers of the exclusively German post of the Grand Army of the Republic, known as Frederick Hecke Post, No. 21, and was elected junior vice-comander at its inception. Two years later he was made senior vice- commander, and the following year com- mander. At this time he was presented with a gold medal bearing the inscription: "Present- ed to Charles Bleiler by the comrades of Fred- erick Hecke Post, No. 21, G. A. R., June 8, 1885." He retired from active official duty in connection with the post in 1907, but was pre- vailed upon again to accept the command in 1908, and still holds the office. He is a mem- ber of the Boston Pilgrim Fathers, John Win- throp Colony, No. 16.

He married, May 1, 1867, in Boston, Flor- ence R. Abele, born near the Paul Revere house, in the north part of Boston, October 16. 1846, died October 24, 1907, daughter of Philip and Barbara (Elick) Abele. Her father was born in Baden, Germany, and came to Boston, where he was engaged in business as inother was born in Alsace-Loraine (then France, now Germany ), and died aged eighty- four. Their children were: . i. Philipina Abele, married William Einhorn, a copper- smith, and is living, a widow, in Roxbury ; ii. Philip Abele, married Kate Mullen, and died in middle life, and his widow lives in Boston; iii. Josephine Abele, married Joseph Hantz, and resides in Jamaica Plain; iv. Louise Abele, married William Jacobs, a retired mer- chant, living on Perkins street, Jamaica Plain ; v. Edward H. Abele, resides in Boston. Chil- dren of Charles and Florence Bleiler : I. Frances M., born May 23, 1868 ; married Hen- ry Kaisle, a machinist ; lives in Roxbury ; chil- dren : Gertrude and Harry. 2. Charles W., born 1870; married Annie McFee, and lives in Boston; children: Reta, Saltie, George, Walter C., and Hazel. 3. Francis M., born 1872; married Evangeline Fittz; resides in Boston; children: Mildred and Grace. 4. Albert A., unmarried, and lives at home. 5. Edward O., born August 9, 1886; married Hannah Quinn, born in Roxbury. August 28, 1887; they reside with Mr. Bleiler ; one son, Edward Munroe, born February 19, 1906. Two daughters named Lotta, and sons Frank and Frederick, died young.

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This family is of Welsh extrac-

ELLIS tion, and its members have been widely dispersed throughout the United States from the early colonial days. It had various representatives in the patriot army in the war for independence.

(I) The line at present under consideration had for its American progenitor Bartholo- mew Ellis, who came from Ireland, where his ancestors settled in the early part of the seventeenth century. He was captain of a merchant vessel, died of ship fever on one of his return voyages to New York and was buried on Staten Island, New York harbor. He married Mary Rosina Waterbury, Feb- ruary 23, 1815. Children: I. John Peter, born in New York, July 20, 1817, died Sep- tember 6, 1896; buried in Greenwood ceme- tery, Brooklyn, New York. 2. Charles Bar- tholomew, born June 28, 1819, died February 10, 1850; buried an Panama. 3. Mary Lydia, born October 27, 1821, died September 13, 1885; buried in Greenwood cemetery ; mar- ried George Z. Bartholf. 4. Theodore Waterbury, born July 25, 1823, see forward. 5. Edwin, born June 25, 1825, died August 15, 1826; buried in New York. 6. Robert Haskell, born June 10, 1827, died March 22, 1897; buried in Woodlawn cemetery, New York.

(II) Theodore Waterbury, fourth child and third son of Captain Bartholomew and Mary Rosina (Waterbury) Ellis, was born in New York, July 25, 1823, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, January 15, 1903. He was an active business man, and for many years had the management of the Glasgow Mills at South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts. He married Maria Louise Van Boskerck, a de- scendant from Anneke Jans, famous as the

grantor of the lands now occupied by Trinity Church, in New York City. Her line is as follows : (1) John and Aneke Bogardus. (II) Sybrant Brower Uldrich. (III) Abraham

Brower, Elizabeth Ackerman.

(IV) John

Brower, Rachel Van Brockel. (V) George W. Van Boskerck, born in Hackensack, New Jersey, November 17, 1764. (VI) Abraham Van Boskerck, born in Hackensack, New Jersey, May 19, 1794, died December 30, 1872, and Hannah Maria Pitman. (VII) Maria L. Van Boskerck, married Theodore W. Ellis.

(III) Ralph Waterbury, son of Theodore Waterbury and Maria Louise (Van Bos- kerck) Ellis, was born in South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts, November 25, 1856. He at-

tended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. In 1871 the family removed to Springfield, and he attended the high school there, graduating in June, 1875, at the age of eighteen, as valedictorian of his class. He then entered Harvard College, from which he was graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1879, eleventh in a very large class. While in col- lege he was prominent in indoor athletics, taking the cup for horizontal bar work one year. He was secretary of the Pi Eta fra- ternity. He took a two years course in the Harvard Law School, graduating in 1881, then entered the law office of Hon. M. P. Knowlton, of Springfield, and was admitted to the bar of Hampden county, November 17, 1881. He at once entered upon the active practice of his profession, with offices in Springfield. Out of inclination and on ac- count of other important business relations, he gradually restricted his professional labors to probate practice, examination of titles to real estate, and conveyancing, and in the lat- ter line has probably the largest clientele of any single attorney in western Massachu- setts. He is officially connected with vari- ous corporations, being president of the John Hancock and Agawam Bank (in liquidation) ; director of the Springfield National Bank; trustee of the Five Cents Savings Bank; di- rector of the Holyoke Card and Paper Com- pany, and of the United States Spring Bed Company ; president of the Nepissiquit Lum- ber Company of New Brunswick, Canada. In politics he is a Republican, and served in 1893 as a member of the state legislature for the Sixth Hampden district, and serving on the insurance and public service committees. He was for four years a member of the Springfield common council, and also served on the board of aldermen. In 1903 he was mayor of Springfield, and conducted a most successful administration. He is a member of the First Congregational Church of Springfield, and clerk of the First Parish. He is treasurer of the Wesson Maternity Hospital; member and former president of the Harvard Club; and member of the Har- vard Alumni Association, the Harvard Law School Association, the Phi Beta Kappa fra- ternity, the Saturday Night Club, the Nayas- set Club, the Springfield Country Club, the Connecticut Valley Congregational Club, and the Connecticut Valley Historical So- ciety. Mr. Ellis married, January 12, 1882, Katharine Allyn Rice, born January 12, 1856, daughter of George W. and Jane C. (Marsh)

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Rice, of Springfield. Children : I. Theodore Waterbury, born September 2, 1887; gradu- ate of Springfield high school, 1906, of Har- vard, class of 1910. 2. Ralph Waterbury, born May 3, 1896.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 116

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