Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 121

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886

USA > Massachusetts > Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 121

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"Here lies intered the Body of Major John Day who departed this life October-Novem. the 20, A. D., 1752 in the 80th year of his age.'

Major Day married Mary Smith, of Hadley, Massachusetts, March 10, 1697, who died Feb- ruary 28, 1742. They had the following chil- dren: I. John, born July 5, 1698. 2. Heze- kiah, October 15, 1700. 3. Joseph, June 24, 1703. 4. Mary, January-20, 1706. 5. Sarah, May 14, 1708. 6. Benjamin, mentioned below. 7. Rebecca, May 12, 1713. 8. Will- iam, October 23, 1715. 9. Elizabeth, January 19. 1718. 10. Thankful, January 19, 1721.

(IV) Colonel Benjamin, fourth son of Major John and Mary (Smith ) Day, was born October 27, 1710, in Springfield, died there almost a centenarian. He lived under a mon- archy and under a republic. In the organiza- tion of the town under British rule he was very active, was the first moderator, its first representative to the great and general court. For years he was selectman. He was chairman of the committee of public safety and a dele- gate to the provincial council. He held a com- mission as major under George II and was considered loyal while the colonies remained under the yoke of Great Britain but when forbearance ceased to be a virtue and the British oppression became intolerable, Major Day went energetically at work to swell the quota of enlistments from West Springfield. and that the fighting blood in the Day fam- ily was aroused is attested by the muster rolls of the continental army, which contain fifteen of the name of Day from West Springfield. On December 16, 1776, Colonel Day, presid- ing in the town voted to raise ninety pounds to purchase firearms. In 1778 Colonel Day, as a member of the general court, was made chairman of the committee of seven to con- sider a plan of government for Massachusetts. All through the war with the mother country he was active in procuring supplies and furn- ishing men in furtherance of the prosecution of the war. There is one thing to mar his otherwise clean record. He was in the in-

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famous "Shay's Rebellion." He was led into it by his cousin, Luke, and his part therein was that of an exhorter. He never took up arms against the government. One to under- stand fully this unfortunate affair must read its history and the causes that led up to it. The burdens of taxation were heavy upon the people and suits for debts were vigorously pushed, and the people were exasperated be- yond measure. It was against this unsatis- factory condition of affairs that the ignorant masses were hastened into an armed resist- ance. Colonel Day was a speaker who could casily arouse a multitude to anger and resent- ment. Also he was a man who had a forcible command of King's English. His house at West Springfield was located one hundred yards north of Terry lane. He married Eunice Morgan, October 9, 1742. The fol- lowing are the names of the children: I. Eu- nice, born July 16, 1743. 2. Benjamin, Feb- ruary 23, 1746, died young. 3. Benjamin, April 23, 1747. 4. Daniel, mentioned below. 5. Robert, August 16. 1751. 6. Mahala, July 31. 1752. 7. Lydia, November 1, 1759. 8. Clarissa, June 18, 1764. He married (sec- ond) Lucy Sheldon, of Deerfield, who died April 28, 1808, an octogenarian. In the Union burying ground is the tombstone of his first wife, bearing this inscription :

"In memory of Mrs. Eunice Day, wife of Benjamin Day, who died Jan. 25. 1765 in ye 49th year of her age. Death is a debt, to nature due Which I have paid & So must you."

He died May 10, 1808, aged ninety-seven ; the inscription on his stone in the Park street burying ground is: "In memory of Col. Ben- jamin Day, who died roth May 1808 in the 98th year of his age. The inscription on stone of second wife is: "In memory of Mrs. Lucy Day, consort of Col. Benjamin Day, who died 25th April, 1808, in the 83rd year of her age."

(V) Daniel, third son of Colonel Benjamin and Eunice ( Morgan) Day, was born July 8, 1749, at Springfield, died there August 19, 1825, and is buried in the Tatham cemetery, West Springfield, Massachusetts. One ap- proaches this sacred resting spot of the Days from along Sibley avenue, and it is situated

on a foot-hill of the enfolding Mount Tom, guarded by a row of sentinel pines. In the distance can be seen the old Day homestead where the noble patriarchs spent their active lives ere ceasing from their labors. Through a glen to the right, one can see the great mo- guls of commerce rushing by, a marked con- trast to the wagon-worn traffic of the world in which these fathers of long ago wrought. Beyond the railroad the silvery waters of Westfield river lie sparkling in the sunlight. No more appropriate spot could well be se- lected. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and a man of more than ordinary ability. He was an office bearer in the first parish church. and in the councils of the parish his presence was regularly recorded and to him as a mem- ber of the reseating committee was assigned the difficult task of giving to each member the very sitting he or she desired. He held the civil offices of constable, fence-viewer, hog- reeve and a juror. He lived on the road that leads to Westfield at the juncture of another road now called Rogers avenue. The ancient homestead of the Days is still there, a typical home of the old New England bygones. He was a man who walked humbly with his God and was honored and beloved of the en- tire community. He married, March 3, 1773, Anna Van Horn, who died January 27, 1787. The baptismal names of the children were: I. Erastus, mentioned below. 2. Harriet, born May, 1776. 3. Daniel, March 30, 1779. 4. Alfred, June 26, 1783. His second wife was Abi Granger, whom he married May 18, 1788: she died August 19, 1825, aged seventy-six. She was the mother of five children : 5. Anna, born June 15, 1789. 6. Abi, July 15, 1792. 7. Lucy, August 22, 1794. 8. David, October 27. 1797. 9. Alfred, September 22, 1802.

(VI) Erastus, eldest son of Daniel and Anna (Van Horn) Day, was born August 22. 1773. at the old Day homestead, and died January 28, 1852. He removed in early life to Fort Ann, New York. He married (first) Mariba Clark, January 7, 1803; she died De- cember 31, 1811. No children. He married (second) Olive, born October 19, 1783, died December 11, 1856, daughter of Captain Thad- deus Dewey, of Dewey's Bridge, Fort Ann, New York. Children : Erastus Dewey, born May 12, 1813. 2. Thaddeus, February 22, 1815. 3. Daniel Van Horn, January 15, 1817. 4. Andrew Jackson, April 15, 1819. 5. George Washington, October 13, 1821. 6. Al- fred Dewey Van Horn, mentioned below.

(VII) Alfred Dewey Van Horn, last child

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of Erastus and Olive (Dewey) Day, was born October 5. 1824, at Fort Ann, died April 9, 1893, at Springfield. He learned the carpen- ter's trade at Fort Ann, and upon arriving at his majority, took up his residence in Spring- field. In 1848 he formed a partnership with Mr. Jobson and conducted a sash and blind factory. He was a fine type of the old school merchant. He was frequently consulted by young men and his advice was regarded as sound, shrewd and valuable. He took a deep interest in the affairs of the splendid city in which he made his home, in which his busi- ness life was developed, in which his children were raised and in which he lies buried. He never held office, though most any place within the gift of the city could have been his for the asking. He acted independently in politics and voted for the men that he con- sidered would act to the best interest of the public regardless of partisanship or political affiliation. He was a man who gave to worthy charities, but the left hand never knew what the right did. He never boasted of his gifts. Especially was he helpful to young men in business struggling to keep above water. In religious belief he was a Universalist. He was a home-loving and home-keeping man. The center of his heart was his home and its inmates he dearly loved. Alfred Dewey Van Horn Day's name was a synonym of honesty and straightforwardness, and he bore without reproach "the grand old name of gentleman." On February 2, 1850, he married Mary Louise, daughter of Thomas and Sally (Stephens) Cook, of Athens, New York. Their children were: I. Alfred, died in infancy. 2. Mary Emma, born April 25, 1856; married William Calkins Scott, born June 26, 1853, died April 9, 1896; he was the son of Joel H. G. and Sally ( Stephens) Scott, of Hudson, and grandson of Eber and Amanda (Hickok) Scott, of Watertown, Connecticut ; they have two children: Alfred Day, born October 7. 1883; graduated from the Springfield high school in 1903, and Marguerite, December 22, 1887, graduated from Springfield high school in 1906 and Smith College in 1910. 3. Jen- nie Tannatt, born December 26, 1861 ; married James Huntington Ripley, of Springfield, and they have one child, Mary Day Ripley, born February 22, 1892. (See Ripley ).

Peter Wolf was born in a little WOLF town not far from the city of Berlin, Germany, in 1812, of a long line of respectable and industrious Ger-

man ancestors. He was a sturdy husbandman and a useful citizen. He spent his life in his native town and died there in 1858. He mar- ried Helena Bromflieth, a native of the same town, who survived him a few years, dying at the age of fifty-three years. Both were faith- ful members of the German Lutheran church. Children : 1. William, a farmer, died unmar- ried. 2. Bertha, married a German farmer, they lived near Berlin. 3. Minnie, who mar- ried and lives in Germany. 4. Johanna, mar- ried a German blacksmith, they reside in their native town and have several children. 5. Amelia, married William Bürk, a farmer (de- ceased ), the widow and several children, re- side in Germany. 6. Herman John Frederick, mentioned below.

(II) Herman John Frederick, son of Peter Wolf, was born in Germany, July 24. 1855, and was the only one of his family that came to America. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and worked during his boyhood at farming. He entered the Ger- man army at the age of twenty-one years as a private in the Twenty-first Regiment of In- fantry and served the required three years. At the completion of his term of military service he decided to seek a larger field of opportunity and turned his face to America. He landed at Boston in September, 1881, and made his home in South Boston, where he found employment in the sugar refinery, and continued there nine years. Afterward he worked in the terra cotta works on Federal street, Boston, and in a wine house in Boston. He was prudent and saving always, and in 1892 invested in real estate in West Roxbury and since then has been engaged in the real estate business. He owns several blocks of valuable property and devotes his time to the care and improvement of his real estate, though not in active business. In politics a Republican, and a member of English Luth- eran church.

He married, September 21, 1881, Emelia Bachertz, born at Possen, Germany, Novem- ber 12, 1861, and educated there. She came to Boston on the same ship with Mr. Wolf and they were married within a few months after their arrival in this country. She is the daugh- ter of August and Henrietta Bachertz, both natives of Possen, who came to America in 1884, and settled in Minnesota, where they now reside in good health, notwithstanding their great age; their children: I. Amalia, married Ludwig Haak. 2. William, died in early childhood in Germany. 3. Emelia, wife of H. J. F. Wolf, mentioned above. 4. Emil,

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died unmarried, aged twenty-six years 5. Ida, married Otto Wachs. 6. Bertha, married John Blunenshein. 7. Rudolph. 8. Carl. 9. Emma, married John Reeves. 10. Hattie, married Otto Griese. II. Alma, married Herman Stydel. 12. Clara, married a Mr. Snow. All the children living, with the exception of Mrs. Wolf, reside in Minnesota. Children of Her- man John Frederick and Emelia ( Bachertz) Wolf: 1. Rudolph Carl, born September 2. 1882, died in 1891. 2. William, September 23, 1884, died in 1886. 3. Charles Emmel, July 19, 1886; educated in the public schools. 4 Herman, March 1, 1890, died 1894. 5. Bertha Marie, June 16, 1892; student in the public schools. 6. Gustave H., September 8, 1894; student in the public schools. 7. Minnie, No- vember 16, 1896; died November 14, 1902.

John Gottleib Weitze was a

WEITZE farmer and cattle dealer in Al- tonberg, Saxony, Germany. He married Eva Webber, and had a son Robert, mentioned below.

(II) Robert, son of John Gottleib Weitze, was born in Altonberg, Saxony. Germany, April 27, 1831. He came to the United States in 1852, and worked at first in various meat- packing houses in Boston. In 1854 he went to East Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was em- ployed in the packing establishment of John P. Squire for three years. He then resigned his position and started in business on his own account. He had a factory in East Cambridge and a store in Boston for the manufacture and sale of his meat products. His business pros- pered and he built up a good trade, conducting it with success. In 1896 he sold out to his son- in-law. Gustav Weitze, who carried on the business for about a year, when he died. Mr. Weitze resides at 156 Thorndike street, East Cambridge, and is a well known and highly respected German-American citizen. He is a member of Hermann Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Boston, and of vari- ous German societies. He married. 1855, Mary Amelia Libby, who died September 4, 1874. daughter of Sanford and Henrietta (Jones ) Libby, of Maine. (See Libby, VII). Chil- dren : i. Mary Augusta, married Gustav Weitze, and had Robert, Lillie and May. 2. Ella Floretta, married Ernest Flentje, a prominent business man of Cambridge, and had Harold Flentje, died young, and Ernest Leslie Flentje. 3. Carrie Melissa. 4. Amy Geneva.

Mrs. Mary Amelia ( Libby) Weitze is de- scended from John Libby (I), through John

(II), Deacon Benjamin (III), Charles (IV), all of whom are written of on other pages, and

(V) Benjamin (2), son of Charles Libby, was born in Berwick, November 4, 1756, and was a farmer. Soon after his marriage he re- moved to Sanford, and lived on the road be- tween Mount Hope and Springvale. He re- moved to Gardiner, where he died of typhoid fever about 1815. He married, in 1781, Mary Hamilton, who after his death removed to Pittsfield and died about 1845. Children: I. Jonathan, 1782. 2. Benjamin. 3. Solomon, 1788. mentioned below. 4. Abigail, October 30, 179 -. 5. Betsey, April 9, 1794. 6. Sarah. 7. Son, a sailor, died of yellow fever.

(VI) Solomon, son of Benjamin (2) Libby, was born in 1788 in Sanford, Maine. He was for many years a farmer in Pittsfield. After his wife's death in 1841 he removed to Penn- sylvania and engaged in lumbering. In 1864 he went back to New Hampshire and a year later removed to Minnesota, where his daugh- ter Juliette then lived. He married Jane Mc- Causland, of Gardiner. Children, born in Pitts- field: I. Sanford, 1815, mentioned below. 2. Mary Jane. 3. John S., August, 1820. 4. Albert. 5. Solomon. 6. Eliza A., January 22, 1826. 7. Betsey Hunter, October 4, 182 -. 8. Elvira S., 1830. 9. Juliette. 10. Salome D., March 4, 1837.

(VII) Sanford, son of Solomon Libby, was born in Pittsfield in 1815, died in 1879. He married, in the West Indies, Henrietta Jones, of Germany. Children: 1. Mary Amelia, mar- ried Robert Weitze (see Weitze. II). 2. Fred- erick, married Henrietta Watkins, and had Eunice Etta, Fred and George Libby. 3. Julia, married Adam Dwelley, and had Charles, Melenza. George, Mabel, and two who died young. 4. Melissa, married Harrison C. Camp- bell, and had Mary Melissa, Harrison Cleaves, Albert Franklin, Ada Corinth and Harry Clifton Campbell. 5. Amy, married James Young, and had James Sanford, Robert Harrison, Ralph Leslie and William Eldredge Young.

BRENNAN William Brennan was born in Ireland of an ancient and re- spectable family. He came to this country when a young man. landing in Boston. He found employment at Randolph, Massachusetts, and has made his home there since. In late years he has been associated with his sons in the manufacture of shoes and at the present time is general overseer of the fac- tory. He has held to the faith of his fore- fathers and is a devout Roman Catholic in

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religion. In politics he is a Democrat. He

married Mary- -. She died at Randolph. Children : 1. James Augustus, born 1864, men- tioned below. 2. John, a traveling salesman, married Nellie Barry. 3. William, foreman of the finishing room in the Brennan factory, married McCue, has four children. 4. Dennis, shoemaker, married Agnes Shaw, has four children. 5. Daniel, superintendent of the shoe factory, married Bridget Rooney, has four children. 6. Alice, married John Thimme, foreman of the stitching room in the Brennan factory. 7. Margaret, married William Sow- ley. 8. Mary, married Patrick Sullivan.

( II) James Augustus, son of William Bren- nan, was born in Randolph, in 1864. He was edu- cated there in the public schools. He learned the trade of shoemaking thoroughly in the shoe factories of his native town. He embarked in business as a shoe dealer in Randolph with his first savings and built up a thriving business. In 1895 he engaged in the manufacture of shoes in Randolph, beginning in a humble way and enlarging his plant from time to time. In a few years he moved to the present location and now has the largest business in this line in the town. Indeed, his factory is the chief in- dustry of Randolph and gives employment to several hundred men. His brothers are in his employ in positions of responsibility. He has become one of the most substantial and influ- ential men of the town and is known to the trade throughout New England. He takes a keen interest in the welfare and government of the town, to the upbuilding of which he has contributed so materially in the past decade. He has devoted himself exclusively to his own business, and finds no time for public office or other business. He was active in his support of the movement that brought about the erec- tion of the Stetson school and has aided every project for the improvement of educational facilities. He is a director of the Randolph National Bank. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. He married, 1889. Jane, born at Randolph, daughter of Simon and Mary (Twomey) O'Brien. Her father was born in 1817 in Queenstown, Ireland, and died in August, 1888, at Randolph. He came to Boston when a young man, located at Ran- dolph and worked as a shoemaker there, and finally became a manufacturer. He lost heav- ily in the great fire in Boston in 1872. In his day he had the largest factory in Randolph. was a shrewd, enterprising and successful manufacturer. In religion he was a Catholic. in politics a Democrat. Mr. O'Brien married

Mary Twomey, born in 1827 in Queenstown, Ireland, died in 1898 in Randolph. Their chil- dren : i. Child, died in infancy ; ii. William P., was in partnership with his father; continued a shoe manufacturer all his active life and at the time of his death had the largest business in his line in the town; left five children; iii. Mary A., married James Farley, of Randolph, and has four children; iv. Catherine, de- ceased; v. Catherine E., died at the age of seventeen ; vi. Jane, married James A. Bren- nan, mentioned above. Children of James A. and Jane (O'Brien) Brennan: I. William, born June, 1891 ; student at the Catholic Uni- versity, Georgetown, D. C. 2. Simon O'Brien, 1892, deceased. 3. Myra Mildred, June 8, 1894. 4. Dorothy Louise, 1898. 5. Margaret, 1901.

Martin Cort was a manufacturer CORT at Rochdale, England, operating a woolen mill until he came to this country. He settled first in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he worked at his trade in the mills, and later removed to Lawrence, Massachusetts, and was similarly occupied until he died. He married and among his chil- dren was William Henry, see forward.

(II) William Henry, son of Martin Cort, was born at Rochdale, England. He came to America with his parents when he was a young boy. He was educated in the public schools of Manchester, New Hampshire, and Law- rence, Massachusetts. He worked in the mills and learned the business, finally becom- ing a manufacturer of woolen goods. Later he was a manufacturer of fire extinguishers at Utica, New York. He married Emma Jane Parker, who died in 1882; daughter of J. S. Parker, of Utica, New York. Children: I. Dr. Parker Martin, born January 28, 1878. mentioned below. 2. Walter William, Janu- ary 16, 1881, a woolen manufacturer.

(III) Dr. Parker Martin, son of William Henry Cort, was born January 28, 1878, in Clayville, New York. He attended the public schools of Utica and studied his profession at Harvard Medical College, where he was grad- uated in the class of 1902 with the degree of M. D. After two years of hospital experience in the Boston City Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital of Utica, he established himself in general practice at Springfield, Massachusetts, where he has been very successful. He is assistant visiting physician of Mercy Hospital. Springfield ; examining surgeon for the Cas- ualty Company of America ; medical exam-

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iner for the Boston Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Union Mutual Life Insur- ance Company of Portland, Maine, and the Empire Life Insurance Company of Seattle, Washington. He is a member of the Harvard Alumni Association, Connecticut Harvard Club, Massachusetts Medical Society, Spring- field Academy of Medicine, Springfield Medi- cal Library Association, Boston Society of Medical Examiners and Practitioners, Win- throp Club and the Civic Club. He is past noble grand of De Soto Lodge of Odd Fellows. He married, December 12, 1908, Helen Eliza- beth Royce, daughter of Charles A. Royce, of Springfield.

COUSE John Henry Couse, immigrant ancestor, was born in Germany, August 4, 1735, died December

II, 1804. He came to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1749. He married Mary Knoph, born 1727, died February 28, 1814. Their de- scendants located in New York and New Jer- sey. Children: 1. Maria, married Daniel Struble. 2. John, born September 3, 1759. married Mary Rand ; children: i. Henry, re- moved to Hampton, New Jersey; ii. Peter : iii. William, died in Virginia; iv. John; v. David, born May 14, 1804: vi. Catherine, mar- ried Benjamin Halsey: vii. Susan, married Jacob Welsh : viii. Mary; ix. Anna, married W. H. Johnson. 3. Margaret, married John Wintermute. 4. Elizabeth, married Henry Snook. 5. Eve, married Peter Kemple. 6. Peter. 7. Henry. Jacob and Adam were probably also sons. In the census of 1790 the only family of this name in New York was located at Northeasttown, Dutchess county, and the heads of families were William, Adam, Jacob, John T. (probably should be H.), Henry and Peter. The evidence indi- cates that they were brothers, sons of John H. Couse. as stated. John Couse served in the revolution from Dutchess county. New York, in the Sixth Regiment.

( II) Frederick P. Couse, doubtless grand- son or great-grandson of John Henry Couse, was born in Green River, Columbia county, New York, in 1819. He was educated in the district schools there and worked in his youth on his father's farm. He continued in the calling of farming all his active life at Green River. He married Eliza A., daughter of James Ellsworth. Children: Fred P., and Fannie, widow of Gleason Phelps; resides in Westfield, Massachusetts. Frederick P. Couse had a brother, Benjamin Couse, who lived at

Green River, married and had children: An- drew, John, Jacob, Levi, Philo and daughters ; some of his grandchildren are now engaged in business at Hudson, New York.

(III) Fred P., son of Frederick P. Couse, was born in Green River, New York, March 6, 1842. At the age of nine years he was bound out to a farmer. He worked on the farm in summer and attended school in the winter. In 1862 he came to Westfield, Massa- chusetts, and found employment in a whip fac- tory. A few years later he became a travel- ing salesman for one of the Westfield whip manufacturers. In 1870 he formed a part- nership with Charles Whipple to manufacture whips. The business was conducted success- fully for fourteen years and then consolidated with the Peck Company of Westfield. At the time of the consolidation, Mr. Couse withdrew from the business. After spending several months in the west he returned to Westfield and resumed the manufacture of whips in 1884 and he has continued in this business very successfully to the present time. Since 1903 he has had his son, F. P. Couse Jr., in partnership with him under the firm name of F. P. Couse & Son. In politics Mr. Couse is a Republican, and he has served the town as selectman. He is a director and part owner of the Brien Heater Company. He is a member of Mount Moriah Lodge, Free Masons; of Roanoco Lodge, No. 47, Odd Fellows, and of the Westfield Club. He married, in 1862, Mary Lyall, who died in 1866. He married (second) Lucy Fox, born in Westfield, daugh- ter of Stiles Fox. Child of first wife : Jennie, died in infancy. Children of second wife : Charles M., Della M., Fred P. Jr. The sons are both associated with the father in busi- ness.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 121

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 886

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed; Adams, William Frederick, 1848-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 886