Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 71

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 71

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).

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teer Militia, three years, 1898-99-1900, under Major Decheney (on his staff). In politics he is a Republican, in religion a Baptist. Mr. Brann has a natural aptitude for the hotel business. He is genial, cordial, sympathetic and democratic in disposition, always studying to secure comfort and entertainment for his guests, and incidentally making personal friends of most of them.

He married, April 11, 1901, Mary H. Thomp- son, born September 15, 1878, at Poughkeepsie, New York, removing when very young to Concord, New Hampshire. Their only child, Leslie E., was born 1871 at Gardiner, Maine, died 1877, aged six.

MULLIGAN To no other country does the United States owe so much to its increase of popu- lation as to the Emerald Isle, a green gem set in the silver sea. The movement toward these shores began early in the nineteenth century and the stream of come-overs has been steady and well sustained. Once on our shores, the Celts readily become assimilated with our people, adapt themselves to our institutions and become naturalized citizens. No class of emigrants are more thoroughly Americanized than Erin's sons. They never go back to the old home to stay like some other class we could name who come here solely to earn money and return to the land of their nativity. The Irishman is here to stay and here he will be buried. To the material development of this country we owe an inestimable debt to then1. The railroads and great public improve- ments, like the Erie canal, were their work. They cannot but feel proud to recall the emi- nent statesmen and warriors originating from the noble isle beginning with Andrew Jackson and coming down through the long line to the civil war, not forgetting Phillip H. Sheridan. Theodore Roosevelt, though nominally a Dutchman, is of Irish descent from ancestors both within and without the pale. None of the Irish emigrants have arisen higher in the estimation of the communities in which they wrought than this one now in hand, and their great success in life has been due to a good ancestry and in the making the most of their opportunities. Mulligan is from Mullechean, meaning summit or lieighth. It was first used as a cognomen to designate somebody who lived at the top of a hill.

(I) Jolın Mulligan was born in the North of Ireland and came to this country in 1819, locating at Hartford, Connecticut. He was

an expert machinist and had seven children, one of whom is treated in the next paragraph.

(II) John (2), son of John (1) Mulligan, was born in Hartford, January 12, 1820, died in Springfield, Massachusetts, February 22, 1898. He had to partly make his own way early in life and for some time was employed by Philemon Canfield, publisher of the Chris- tain Secretary. He swung the ink roller for the old-fashioned press and distributed the paper among the city subscribers. When fif- teen years of age he learned the machinist trade and was taught all about locomotives at the works of William Norris in Philadelphia. In the summer of 1841 he was installed as the engineer of the steamer "William Hall," which towed freight between Hartford and Willi- mansett. In 1842 he was made engineer of the passenger boat "Phoenix" running between Springfield and Hartford. That year he was transferred to the Boston and Albany road, then called the Western railroad and for ten years he ran locomotives. In 1852 he was made master mechanic of the Connecticut road and in 1868 assumed the duties of superintend- ent, succeeding N. A. Leonard as president of the company in 1890. It was during his trips between Worcester and Springfield as engineer that Mr. Mulligan met with the most serious accident in his career as a railroader. He started with his train from Worcester one afternoon in the midst of a blinding snow storm. The storm had delayed freights and three of them had started out in rapid succes- sion. Mr. Mulligan was then engineer of the "Massachusetts" and his train was the second one of the three. When the first train was about four miles out of Worcester and pulling up a heavy grade it parted, six cars breaking away. Among them were three platform cars heavily loaded and these gave the runaways an impetus, sending them down the grade at a fearful pace. The runaways dashed around a curve and struck the "Massachusetts" head- on, the force of the collision being so great that one of the cars was thrown completely over the engine and landed on the tender. Engineer Mulligan was struck by one of the trucks and partially stunned. He soon re- covered and the train which was not far be- hind was signalled in time to save any further mishap. While Mr. Mulligan was making his daily trips between Springfield and Northamp- ton an incident occurred that Mr. Mulligan used to relate. It was during the early spring and the breaking up of the ice above sent large quantities of it down the river. One

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large ice floe was crowded up on the railroad tracks in the cut below the old dam at Holyoke. Several tons of ice were jammed into the narrow space and the train was nearly hemmed in by ice almost before the crew and passen- gers realized it .. Mr. Mulligan succeeded in rescuing the train from its perilous situation without any serious accident. One of his trips as an engineer that he always took particular pride in was when he ran the special train taking Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, to Northampton in 1852. Mr. Mulligan worked his way up literally from the ranks and he never forgot that, even when he stood at the head of the railroad for which he formally worked in the cab of the engine. He was one of the most democratic of men and always approachable by his employees or anyone who had business to transact. It can be said of John Mulligan that there was not the least bit of snobbery or ostentation in his character. And yet with all his warm-heartedness and sympathy with the employees he was able and ready to administer a just rebuke whenever it was deserved, and he was always frank and outspoken about it, so that even those he re- buked knew there was good reason for it. John Mulligan was a plain-spoken man and there were times when he did not mince his words or stop to carefully choose his language, but even then he was careful to know the exact facts, and if he had hastily done an injustice was always willing and anxious to repair it. This explains why the employees liked him and also why he was liked by every one with whom he came in contact. He was essentially the mall of the people. It was not his practice to neglect a single detail that goes to make up a modern railroad, and his familiarities with all branches of the service stood him in good stead.

A man of great energy and unflinching will, yet he was quiet and unassuming and had a way of accomplishing results without friction. His equanimity was rarely disturbed even in cases of emergency. ' There was something about his determined way that inspired men whom he led. He was peculiarly fitted for the railroad career. His snow-white hair fringed one of the kindliest of faces, and his life was as white as his snowy white hair. In politics he was an uncompromising Republican. In 1863 he was elected a member of the com- mon council from ward one, serving in the years 1864-65. In 1866 he was elected to the board of aldermen, being re-elected in 1867- 68. In 1875 he again represented his ward in

common council, serving this time until 1877. In his service to the city he was as conscien- tious as in his business and gave it his best thought and effort. He never cared for politi- cal honors but might have been mayor had he consented to the use of his name. He was a trustee of Hampden Savings Bank and was its president at his death. Also he was a director in the Chapin National Bank. He married Lydia Ann, daughter of Hastings Bridges, in 1845. She died at the age of fifty- seven in 1887. Children: Charles H., men- tioned below, and Mary Henrietta, who mar- ried James T. Abbe, of Springfield.

(III) Charles Henry, only son of John (2) and Lydia Ann ( Bridges) Mulligan, was born in Springfield, January 26, 1849, and gradu- ated from the high school in 1886. In 1867 he went with the Hawkins Iron Company as clerk and rose to the position of general man- ager. He is a Republican and has served his native city as councilman and in the board of aldermen in 1897-98-99. He is a prominent club man and belongs to the Nayasset and Winthrop clubs, also the Springfield Country Club. He married, June 12, 1872. Louise Jane, daughter of Jason Lyon, of Thet ford, Vermont. Mr. Lyon was an old time stage driver before the days of railroads and drove stage for Chester W. Chapin. When the Bos- ton and Albany road was built, Mr. Lyon was one of Mr. Chapin's right-hand men in the field operations. He was subsequently made chief baggage master on that road. Children of Charles H. Mulligan: I. Walter Lyon, born July 6, 1875, received his preparatory education in the Springfield schools and was graduated from Cornell University ; he is now manager of the United Electric Light Com- pany of Springfield ; he married Maria Snow. 2. Ralph Fuller, February 23, 1887, educated in the Springfield schools; now studying in the Student's League, New York City.

John Welch was born, lived and

WELCH died in county Galway, Ireland. He came of an ancient and hon- ored Irish family and was a respectable farmer. He was a faithful Catholic in religion. He married Mary Fallon.

(II) Patrick, son of John Welch, was born in Ballaymacord, county Galway, Ireland, in 1828. He was the first of the family to come to this country. With many of friends and neighbors he joined the great emigration of the forties caused by the Irish famine, making the trip on a sailing vessel in a voyage lasting

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eleven weeks, surviving two wrecks, and land- ing in Boston. He secured employment first in the construction of what is now the Ded- ham branch of the New, York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. His wages at first were but sixty cents a day but were gradually ad- vanced as his strength and willingness to make himself useful were manifested. He continued to work on this contract until it was completed. He made his home in West Roxbury, now part of Boston, and as soon as his savings were sufficient, embarked in business as a contractor and stone mason. He was a skillful craftsman and faithful in his work. He built many of the cellars in that section and had the mason work for many years of the Welds, Shaws and other leading families. His last years were spent in Roxbury in retirement in the home he purchased there, having accumulated a modest competence by years of frugal living and hard work. He died in 1899. He was a lifelong Democrat in politics and was a useful and re- spected citizen. He married, at West Rox- bury, Bridget Mclaughlin, also a native of Galway, Ireland, sister of Thomas McLaugh- lin, with whom she came to America in 1848, and settled in West Roxbury, where her brother is still living at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He is one of the best known Irish citizens of that section of the city, re- taining in a remarkable degree his faculties and physical strength which in his active years gave him the reputation of being the strongest man in West Roxbury. Mr. Mclaughlin mar- ried Bridget Cohen and their children were: Catherine, Bernard. Thomas and Sabina. Bridget ( Mclaughlin) Welch survives her husband and lives in the West Roxbury home in full enjoyment of her health and faculties. She and her husband were faithful communi- cants of the Roman Catholic church and liberal contributors to its support. Children : I. Katherine, died in middle life ; married Henry Carroll, who died before her, leaving 110 chil- dren. 2. Mary, resides in Providence, Rhode Island ; widow of Samuel Murdy. 3. Helen, lives at home with her mother. 4. Thomas F., born March 6, 1855, mentioned below. 5. Adelia, lives at home with her mother. 6. Elizabeth, married E. Owen Keegan, of East Dedham, foreman for her brother, Thomas F. Welch. 7. Annie, married W. E. Hall, of the grocery firm of Wood, Pollard & Company. Boston. 8. James, killed when a young man, on the Dedham branch of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad ; he was a private

in the Forty-third Massachusetts Infantry, and was promoted to sergeant for bravery at battle of the Wilderness ; was a carpenter and contractor. 9. John, died soon after his mar- riage to Catherine O'Neil; was employed for a long time by Colonel Russell, father of the late fire commissioner ; later he moved to Hart- ford and there became a grower of tobacco.

(III) Thomas F., son of Patrick Welch, was born in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, March 6, 1855. He was educated there in the public schools, and learned the trade of stone mason of his father. Since 1880 he has been in business in that section of the city of Bos- ton as a stone mason and contractor. He has had contracts for sewers, street improvements, public and private buildings of all kinds, and various other works requiring stone construc- tion. He built the Roman Catholic churches at Dedham and Hyde Park. In 1887 he was appointed superintendent of streets in Dedham and for a number of years filled this office efficiently and satisfactorily. In 1889 he leased the large Fisher estate at West Roxbury, con- sisting of eighty-seven acres of land, and since then has worked a quarry and stone-crushing plant on the premises. This business was incorporated in 1907 as the West Roxbury Trap-Rock Company, Mr. Welch president and treasurer, and this company has had many public contracts for streets and sewer con- struction in Boston and vicinity. He is a faith- ful Roman Catholic in religion. In politics he is an active and influential Democrat. He is a member of these societies: Charter member of St. Raphael Catholic Order of Foresters, the Knights of Columbus, Citizens' Associa- tion of West Rockford. He married (first) March 1, 1881, Mary A. Welch, born March, 1856, in Ireland, of Irish parentage, died in East Dedham, April 11, 1885. He married (second) in Dedham, in 1887, Margaret Dunn, born in Canton, Massachusetts, of Irish par- ents, who settled and died there years ago. Children by first wife: 1. Katherine A., born February 1, 1882, educated in St. Joseph Semi- mary, Emmettsburg, Maryland, where she won several medals for scholarship, one being the Jenkins medal established by the founders and deemed one of the most desirable of all ; married F. J. Long, of Charlestown ; children : Frank and Eleanor Long. 2. Mary A., May 14. 1883, educated in St. Joseph Seminary, making a specialty of art in which since gradu- ation she has been very successful; married Morris Nelligan, officer of the district court at

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Cambridge, Massachusetts; no children. 3. Margaret, died in infancy. Children of sec- ond wife: 4. Ellen, March 7, 1888, is a stud- ent in Mount Holyoke College. 5. Isabelle, October 31, 1889, died in 1893.

The Wittenauer family is

WITTENAUER descended from an an- cient German family, which has for many years been associated with public affairs in the state of Baden, Germany. They were an industrious, thrifty people, always identified with the best class of public- spirited citizens.

(I) Stephen Wittenauer was born in Sas- bach or Sassbad, a village of Baden, seventeen miles from Strasburg, Germany, in 1829. The family was of the Catholic faith. He received such education as was possible there in the public schools, and in the early fifties set out for the United States, while yet a young man. After a long and tedious voyage in a sailing vessel, he landed in the city of New York, intending, however, to come to Boston. This he soon did, and engaged as a machinist there for the next five years. By strict economy and saving he accumulated enough money to re- turn to Germany to marry the maid to whom he had become affianced, of his own village and about his own age, Katherine Ernst. She was also a Catholic and a descendant of an old Baden family. After his marriage Stephen Wittenauer settled in his native village, where he lived the remainder of his life. His wife died in 1869, aged about thirty-three. He died in 1900. Children : I. Joseph, mentioned below. 2. Annie, born May 18, 1859, came to the United States in 1877 and married Rich- ard Voigt, an engineer, in Boston; resides in Dorchester and have two sons, Herman and William Voigt. 3. Augustus, born October 12, 1860, came to the United States and established himself as a shoemaker; resides in Jamaica Plain ; married Annie Himmelreich and has one daughter, Constance Annie. 4. Katie, mar- ried Mathias Weisgold, and resides, a widow, in Roslindale, Massachusetts, and has two sons, George and William Weisgold. 5. William, born 1867, machinist, came to the United States in the eighties and learned his trade here ; married Barbeta Fauth and has two chil- dren, Annie and William.

(II) Joseplı, son of Stephen Wittenauer, received a good education in the public schools of his native town. He came to the United States in 1873 in the good ship "Mosely," and iii-41

completed his education in Boston. He found his first employment in the grocery and pro- vision store of Mr. Ganter, a well-known dealer of Boylston street, Jamaica Plain, as clerk. Here he bent every energy to acquire a thorough knowledge of every branch of the business. In 1905, having saved enough to form a neat capital, he decided to establish in business on his own account, and opened a store at 160 Lamartine street, Jamaica Plain. From the very first day his success was most gratifying. He catered to the best class of trade, and soon found that his diligence was paying him many fold. After a time his elder children became associated with him in the business, and constant success has followed his efforts, his straightforward methods and systematic habits being largely responsible. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the Boylston Schul- Verein. A few years ago he bought a sub- stantial home at 133 Paul Gore street, Jamaica Plain, where he is surrounded by the comforts of life. He and his family attend the Congre- gational church. He is a member of the E. O. H. He married, in 1883, Louise Littig, born in Rheinpfalz, Germany, in 1862, of an ancient German family of that place. She came to the United States when a young woman, and her mother having died her father followed her to this country and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1903, aged sixty years. Children: I. Joseph A., born February II, 1884, educated in the public schools of Boston, and in 1905 was associated with his father in business, where he is a very industrious and valuable assistant ; while still a young man he takes an active part in social matters and is progressive ; is a member of the Order of United Workmen, of the Owls Asso- ciation, and other organizations. 2. William S., September 5, 1885, educated in the Boston public schools, is a jewelry clerk for the firm of Shreve, Crump & Low, Boston. 3. Albert, February 5, 1888, after completing his educa- tion engaged with his father in the provision business, lending all his energies for the con- tinued success of the firm. 4. Herman Carl, May 28, 1889, educated in the Boston schools, and is also with his father in business. 5. Elizabeth, January 20, 1891, educated in the Boston schools, took a course in a business college, is established as bookkeeper in her father's store, where she has proved remark- ably efficient in the advancement of her father's interests.

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Heinrich Dunkel was born in

DUNKEL Hesse, Germany, of hardy German stock, such as has made Germany one of the foremost manufac- turing and commercial nations of the world, active, energetic, enterprising and progressive. He was educated in the schools of his native place and learned the trade of cabinetmaker. He engaged in business on his own account and achieved success of a substantial kind. In the course of years he laid aside a comfortable competence. He retired from business a few years ago and he and his wife are now living quietly and comfortably in the town of Brieten- bach in which they have made their home for many years. He has held various offices of trust and honor and was mayor of his native city for a period of fifteen years. Few men have won a higher degree of popularity and esteem among their townsmen and none have deserved it more than Mr. Dunkel. He mar- ried Augusta Moesta, born 1832, in Hesse. Children : I. Rudolph, born July 14, 1859, mentioned below. 2. Heinrich Jr., September, 1862, mentioned below. 3. George Frank, · March 6, 1866, mentioned below.

(II) Rudolph, son of Heinrich Dunkel, was born in the town of Brietenbach, Hesse, Ger- many, July 14, 1859. He was educated in his native province in the thorough fashion of the German elementary and grammar schools. For a few years he was engaged in business as a liquor dealer, but the business proved uncon- genial and lie decided to make his home and seek his fortune in America. Accordingly he sailed on an Atlantic liner, landing in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, September 13, 1879. He went immediately to Richmond, Virginia, and found employment in a bakery. With a view of seeing the country and acquiring a fuller knowledge of his trade, he went to Cincinnati, thence to Chicago. Later he worked in bakeries in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. In 1885 with the capital he had saved he embarked in business as proprietor of a bakery in West Roxbury, Boston. His ex- perience and skill at his trade, combined with a wise selection of location and a natural capac- ity for business, have brought him success in generous measure. From time to time he has enlarged his store and facilities for baking on Washington street, Roslindale, where he located in 1887. His plant is said to be a model of its kind as to cleanliness, equipment and con- venience. He has taken rank among the sub- stantial citizens of this section and from time to time has invested in valuable real estate

there. He has an attractive residence at 14 Cohasset street. He is held in high esteem and respect by his neighbors. He is a Republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the, German Lutheran church. He married, at Roslindale, July, 1884, Theresa Buchholz, born at Baden, Germany, March 22, 1863, daughter of Favier Buchholz with whom she came to America in early life, and settled at Dedham. Her father went to New Hampshire and conducted a farm that he bought there until he decided, on account of advancing age to retire. He is now living in Boston. Chil- dren of Rudolph and Theresa ( Buchholz) Dunkel: I. Henry William, born September 13, 1885. 2. Rudolph Frederick, November 17, 1886. 3. Charles Alexander, April II, 1888. 4. George Frank, August 17, 1891. 5. Walter Irving, January 8, 1896.

(II) Heinrich (2), son of Heinrich (1) Dunkel, was born September, 1862, in Brieten- bach, Hesse, Germany. He was educated in the schools of his native town and is now a school teacher of some note in Hesse.

(II) George Frank, son of Heinrich (I) Dunkel, was born in the village of Brietenbach, Hesse Cassel, Germany, March 6, 1866. He was educated in the German schools and then like his elder brother came to the United States. He emigrated in 1880 to Richmond, Virginia, and like his brother worked at the baker's trade there. After three years apprenticeship, he became associated with his brother in the baking business he had established at Roslin- dale, in Boston. He is a Republican in politics and a Lutheran in religion. He married Hilda Hansen, born in Christiana, Norway, August 28, 1873, of an old and respectable Norwegian family. Her father was connected with a large lumber manufacturing company as a measurer of lumber. She came to this country in 1889, lived for a time in Boston, and then for four years in Richmond, Virginia, before her marriage. Children : I. Martha, born April 25, 1895, in Boston, Massachusetts, died aged ten years, six months. 2. William Otto, Boston, August 6, 1896. 3. George Herbert, Richmond, Virginia, March 10, 1903. 4. John Albert, Boston, January 16, 1908.

George Imbescheid was IMBESCHEID born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, about 1790, of an ancient German family. Like many of his neighbors he learned the trade of weaver and became a clotlı manufacturer. Working indus- triously at his hand loom he was prosperous

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for his time, and though by no means wealthy he enjoyed life and reared his family in com- fort and plenty. He was strong of body and gifted with mechanical skill and ingenuity, a typical German craftsman, such as have brought his nation to the front rank in the mechanical arts and manufactures. He lived to the age of seventy-six years, and died in Germany. His wife was a faithful helpmate and devoted mother, living to good old age. Children: I. Conrad, lived and died in his native province in Germany. 2. Elizabeth, married William Weigard; they settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he became a useful and successful citizen, prominent in the German community of that city. 3. John, mentioned below.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume III, Part 71

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