Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 33

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 33

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).

its kind. One of the most important of these in the automatic extractor which expels the cartridge shells. Another is the safety de- vice in the handles, which makes it necessary to apply force in two directions to fire the weapon, although no additional effort is re- quired. A means of preventing the accidental discharge of revolvers had been devised by Mr. Wesson and is applied in what is now known as "hammerless safey revolver". Since their introduction in 1887 at least one hundred thousand of these arms have been placed upon the market. The invention known as the "re- bounding lock" is an additional source of safe- ty. Fully one-third of the yearly output is of the thirty-eight caliber. The other principal models are the thirty-two, thirty-eight, and forty-four, or army size. Single and double action weapons are made, also target pistols, and a central fire repeating rifle. All parts are made to gauge and are interchangeable. Re- loading and dismounting tools are also manu- factured. The self-lubricating cartridge, long desired and upon which Mr. Wesson expended great thought, was perfected by him and placed on the market. Through its use the highest degree of accuracy is secured with practically no fouling of the barrel.

Two of Mr. Wesson's sons, Walter H. and Joseph H., were associated with him in busi- ness. Both have won their place in the com- munity. The loyalty and devotion of the sons was a reinforcement which any father would value. The large wealth which came to Mr. Wesson had been honestly earned along these lines of legitimate endeavor which have dis- tinguished his generation of the rich men of New England. In their success the personal equation has been the chief factor. The pow- er to originate came first, and then industry and sagacity, with the patient ability for sus- tained effort.

While always concentrating his chief atten- tion upon his own extensive business, Mr. Wesson had his share in developing other local enterprises, while his investment interests were extensive. He was president of the Cheney Bigelow Wire Works, in Iowa, and he was one of the founders of the First Na- tional Bank of Springfield, and for many years one of its directors. He was largely inter- ested in the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford railroad, and had other railroad inves- ments. The amount of the fortune he left was large, being estimated at from five to twenty-five million dollars. Mr. Wesson was happily situated to give play for his love for

2263

MASSACHUSETTS.

architectural construction, which had been de- veloped and illustrated in the erection of his city and country residences. These are the most notable buildings of their localities in their handsome exteriors and in the perfection of their interior arrangements. From 1862 to about 1896 he occupied with his family a fine house on High street, which was built for them. Many years ago he erected in North- boro an elegant summer residence upon an at- tractive estate, the old homsetad where Mrs. Wesson was born and lived until her mar- riage. It is a landmark in central Massachu- setts, and is an object of admiration and pride to the people of the region. He died in the residence on Maple street, which takes rank as one of the finest in New England. It was designed by Bruce Price, of New York, is of red Maine granite, was some six years in con- struction, is one hundred and forty feet by ninety-six feet in dimensions, and an orna- ment to the city, being a slight departure from the French chateau style. Its interior decorations are exceptionally beautiful. This imposing and attractive home, the most costly residence in the city, overlooks from its sight- ly location the great pistol-making plant.

Mr. Wesson took but little active part in public affairs, although on one occasion, in 1866, during a crisis, he consented to serve in the common council of Springfield. In politi- cal views he was strongly Republican. A man of pronounced views on temperance, he em- bodied his sentiments in two massive drinking fountains, erected on conspicuous sites for the benefit of the people. He enforced temper- ance so far as he could among his employees. He was a reliable and generous contributor to causes and institutions which appealed to his sympathy and good judgment. Two large and perfectly equipped hospitals constitute endur- ing memorials of Mr. and Mrs. Wesson. To- gether they joined, early in 1900, in establish- ing the Wesson Memorial Hospital in the res- idence on High street which they left for the splendid mansion on Maple street. A new hos- pital was erected by the side of the former High street home, which took the name of Wesson Memorial Hospital. Both of these, one provided to serve the homeopathic school of medicine, and the other to meet general need of the community, were equipped at all points equal to the best institutions of their kind anywhere. The homoeopathic hospital was completed in November, 1906, at a cost of $350,000, and then the former Wesson house, valued at $59,000, came to be used as

a home for nurses; November 20, 1908, was dedicated what is known as the Wesson Ma- ternity Hospital, on the same block as the Memorial hospital. This is perfectly equipped in every way. It was begun some time before Mr. Wesson's death but was not completed until after he had been dead two years. Mr. Wesson made specific provisions for the fu- ture maintenance of the hospital by an en- dowment of $250,000. This fund is to be held in perpetuity and the income applied to the support of the hospital. These three build- ings, the two hospitals and the nurses' home, constitute one of the grandest and noblest gifts ever made to the people of Massachusetts, and in the amount of their cost and the scope of their usefulness have seldom been equalled in this country by the donations of a single indi- vidual. Mr. Wesson never cared to talk about himself, and it was not easy to get at the facts of his career. Some years before his death, however, he requested a member of the staff of the Springfield Republican to prepare a sketch of his life for publication, and at that time al- most all that has been said above concerning him was obtained from Mr. Wesson and veri- fied by him, and was published in the Republi- can of August 5, 1906, succeeding his death. The following from the editorial columns of the Republican is a fitting summary of the life of Mr. Wesson :

"The death of Daniel B. Wesson of this city, Saturday afternoon, in the ripeness of years and when the undertakings of his life had been perfected and yielded a great for- tune, will not affect the active business life of to-day. The great Smith & Wesson es- tablishment will go on as before, with the two sons controlling it. In his personal relation- ship he will be pleasantly remembered, for he was of a friendly nature; he gave much and cordially in a great variety of ways, while not always suiting his action to the things other people wanted him to do; in the two great hos- pitals for which he provided, the Homoeopath- ic and the Maternity, there are left important and useful memorials of Mr. and Mrs. Wes- son. It is expected that these will be further provided for in the will. While not active in community life outside of his business, Mr. Wesson was not neglectful of the obligations of citizenship as this or that cause was brought to his attention. He was an intelligent em- ployer of labor, masterful but progressive, and if at times of stress the men of his factory may have deemed him a stern employer, the story is that of fair dealing, and the record of

2264

MASSACHUSETTS.

the establishment, which was planted here in 1857, almost half a century ago, is one in which Mr. Wesson was justified in taking pride. His business went on with an even productive flow that was proof of a forceful leadership that remained in command. One personality dominated. The Smith & Wesson establishment has been a substantial element in the industrial life of Springfield, going on its quiet and successful way and giving em- ployment to an army of men during the many years of its existence. To its directing spirit the city owes much. As an inventor and me- chanic Mr. Wesson took his place among the exceptional men. Not only did he devise and perfect the Smith & Wesson revolver, carry- ing it by personal ingenuity and resource to re- markable completeness, but the rifle made by the Winchester Arms Company, the favorite of frontiersmen, was also in its beginnings the product of Mr. Wesson's inventive skill. In the industrial life of his time Mr. Wesson was a large figure, and factor in carrying the name of Springfield over the earth. In him there was the unusual union of an inventor who was also a competent manufacturer. Mr. Wesson was thus, albeit in his modesty he probably never stopped think it out, our most import- ant and distinguished business man."

Daniel B. Wesson married, May 26, 1847, Cynthia M. Hawes of Northboro, Massachu- setts. She was born in Northboro in 1825, and died July II, 1906. Her parents were Calvin and (Hemingway) Hawes. Their children were: Sarah Jeanette, Walter Herbert, Frank Luther, and Joseph Hawes.

(VIII) Sarah Jeanette, eldest child of Daniel B. and Cynthia M. (Hawes) Wesson, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, May 21, 1848, and was educated in the public schools of Springfield, Massachusetts, and at Miss Porter's boarding school at Farmington, Con- necticut, May 4, 1870. She married Dr. George Joseph Bull. After a visit to Europe they settled in Worcester, Massachusetts, where they lived some years. Mrs. Bull has long resided in Springfield, her present resi- dence being in Longhill street. Five children were born of this marriage :

I. Florence Annie, born March 13, 1871, in Florence, Italy ; was educated by a private tu- tor in Springfield, Massachusetts. She mar- ried (first) October 26, 1892, George M. Holbrook, by whom she had two children : Rachel and Esther. She married (second) William B. Houghton, of Brattleboro, Ver-

mont, born July 6, 1872, by whom she had one child, David Bradley, born May 13, 1905.

2. Maria Beatrice, born February 23, 1872; was educated in the same manner as her older sister. She married Adam Mckay Ganson, of New York City, who built the Flatiron build- ing, the Realty, the Pennsylvania Terminal, the Trinity, and the Trinity Annex buildings. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ganson: Jeannette and Charles Mckay.

3. George Walter, died at nine years of age.

4. Harcourt Wesson; see forward.

5. Alice Maud, died in infancy.

Harcourt Wesson Bull, M. D., son of Dr. George Joseph and Sarah Jeanette (Wesson) Bull, was born at 55 Pearl street, Worcester, June 25, 1879. He was educated by private tutors, and in the Springfield grammar school, the Cornwall Heights school at Cornwall-on- Hudson, and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was connected with the Smith & Wesson business for seven years, and is now vice-president of the Monarch Valve and Manufacturing Company. In politics he is a Republican, and since 1907 has been a member of the common council of the city of Springfield. He is a member of the Spring- field Country Club, the Nayasset Club of Springfield, and St. Anthony's Club of Bos- ton. He and his family belong to Christ Pro- testant Episcopal Church of Springfield. He married, October 21, 1903, at Springfield, Edith Laurie Brooks, born April 24, 1879, at Springfield, daughter of Lawton Stickney and Annie (Laurie) Brooks. Her father is a phy- sician in Springfield, Massachusetts. Children, born in Springfield : I. Harcourt Wesson Jr., born September 25, 1904. 2. Jean Inglis, April 5, 1906. 3. Dana L. Lawton, Septem- ber 13, 1907.

(For ancestry see preceding sketch).

(VIII) Walter Herbert, eld- WESSON est son of Daniel B. and Cyn- thia M. (Hawes) Wesson, was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, January 23, 1850, and was educated in the public schools of Springfield and at Williston Seminary, East Hampton. After leaving school he entered the office of Smith & Wesson and gave his en- tire attention to the business of the firm of which he became a member in 1882. His life has been devoted to the single purpose of car- rying on the manufacture of arms, and none of his time or energy has been employed in any other field. He is a member of no secret society and of but one club-the Nayasset. He

2265

MASSACHUSETTS.

married, in Springfield, September 7, 1881, Madeline Burt, who was born April 7, 1858, daughter of Francis and Hannah (Adams) Burt. They have two daughters, Madeline B., born July 17, 1882, and Vera J., born January 4, 1884; both graduates of the MacDuffie School of Springfield.

(VIII) Frank Luther, third son of Daniel B. and Cynthia M. (Hawes) Wesson, was killed in a railroad accident at Hartford, Ver- mont, February 5, 1887. He received his early education in the public schools, and was a fel- low student with his brother, Walter H., at Williston. After his marriage he was for about three years a partner in the firm of Lovell, Adam & Wesson, printers and publish- ers, of New York City and Montreal, with a printing plant at Rouse's Point, New York, where Mr. Wesson was employed. About 1877 he returned to Springfield, and for the remainder of his life was assistant superin- tendent of the Smith & Wesson revolver fac- tory. Like the other men of his family he de- voted his time to his business, taking no part in politics, except to vote, and belonging to no societies. He married Sarah Kurczine Lovell, of Montreal, Canada, daughter of John Lovell, of Montreal. Mr. Lovell was publisher of the Canadian Gazeteer, Lovell's Geography, and other school books. The children of this mar- riage are: I. Mabel, was born in New York City; married John Murray, an English sub- ject, now an instructor in English literature in Harvard University. 2. Harold, mentioned below. 3. Frank Herbert, see below. 4. Cyn- thia, Maria, a student at Bryn Mawr, class of 1909.

(IX) Harold, elder son of Frank L. and Sarah Kurczine (Lovell) Wesson, was born in Springfield. After graduating from the high school he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University. After leaving the latter institution he entered the employ of Smith & Wesson, where he has since re- mained. He married Helen Mitchell Stedman, of Jamaica Plain. They have one child, Helen, born Sunday, December 13, 1908.

(IX) Frank Herbert, second son of Frank L. and Sarah K. (Lovell) Wesson, was born Sunday, January 9, 1881. He took his early education in the grammar and high schools of Springfield, and entering Harvard, graduated B. A. S. with the clas of 1904, and then took a post-graduate course of one year in land- scape architecture. Preferring a life of im- mediate activity, he took employment in Oc -·

tober, 1905, with Smith & Wesson. He has filled various places, and since 1907 has been the firm's advertising manager. He is a Re- publican and an Episcopalian. He is a mem- ber of Gamma Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a college fraternity; the Winthrop, the County, the Economic, the Connecticut Valley, Harvard, and Springfield Yacht clubs.

He married, November 8, 1905, in Memphis, Tennessee, Mabel Victoria Wilson, born No- vember 23, 1885, daughter of Robert E. Lee and Elizabeth A. Wilson. They have a daugh- ter, Mary Victoria, born June 1, 1908.

(For ancestry see preceding sketches).

(VIII) Joseph Hawes, young- WESSON est child of Daniel B. and Cyıl- thia M. (Hawes ) Wesson, was born September 27, 1859, and was educated in the grammar schools and Professor Stebbins' private school in Springfield, completing his course at the age of twenty years. After leav- ing school he accompanied his parents to Eu- rope, where he spent six months in travel. Shortly after attaining his twenty-first year he entered the Smith & Wesson factory, where he worked at the bench as an artisan one year, and another year in the draughting room, where he made drawings of tools and fixtures. Too close application to his work had a bad effect on his health, and he sought to restore lost vigor, first by a short visit to Europe, and then by a residence for a year and a half at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Finding himself again in health, he returned to the factory where he became superintendent, which posi- tion he filled until 1905, since which time his work has been of a more general character. He has been a partner in the business since 1887. Mr. Wesson has an especial bent for me- chanics and to him numerous improvements in machinery are due, some of which he perfect- ed before he was twenty-one years of age. His invention of an automatic machine for drilling pistol barrels enables one man to do the work of five by the former methods in use. With his automatic machine for drilling cylinders, two men do the work formerly done by five. Another labor-saving device of his invention is an automatic machine for drilling holes in small pieces. Besides these he had devised many improvements that are referred to by him as "little things." In 1900 he spent three months in Europe, having the oversight of the firm's exhibit at the Universal Exposi- tion at Paris. He is a director of the Union Trust Company of Springfield. In political

2266

MASSACHUSETTS.

sentiment he is a Republican, with a tendency to liberal views. He is a member of the Nay- asset and the Springfield Automobile clubs. He is fond of travel in his own country and has a familiar knowledge of most parts of the United States.

He married, June 7, 1882, Florence May Stebbins, born November 27, 1860, daughter of Professor Milan C. and Sophia (Pitts) Stebbins, of Springfield. Children: I. Eleanor Sanford, born April 21, 1883; married, No- vember 4, 1908, Flynt Lincoln, teller of the Springfield Safe Deposit and Trust Company. 2. Douglas B., born October 23, 1884, see for- ward. 3. Victor Hawes, born October 6, 1890 ; now a student in the technical department of the high school, Springfield.

(IX) Douglas Bertram, second child of Jo- seph H. and Florence M. Stebbins) Wesson, was born in Springfield, October 23, 1884. He was educated by a private tutor primarily and then entered the high school from which he graduated in 1902. Following this he took a course in mechanical engineering in Sibley College, of Cornell University, graduating in 1907. He was in the employ of the Union Trust Company of Springfield from January to September, 1908, and then became a clerk in the employ of Smith & Wesson. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon, a college fra- ternity, and the Winthrop Club of Springfield. He married, November 21, 1907, in Green- ville, North Carolina, Elba Brown Cotten, born near Greenville, October 29, 1886, daugh- ter of Robert Randolph and Sallie Simms (Southall) Cotten.

(For preceding generations, see John Wesson 1). (III) William, son or nephew WESSON of Samuel Wesson, was born about 1700. He and his brother Jeremiah settled at Sudbury, Massachusetts. William married, at Sudbury, March 30, 1721- 22, Mary Stanhope, of an ancient Sudbury family. He appears to have been an early set- tler of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, with other Sudbury men. Some of his descendants have a tradition that he was an immigrant, but all the evidence at hand tends to show that he belongs in the Reading family of which the Springfield Wessons are also descended, ex- cept perhaps the following interesting adver- tisement copied from the Boston Evening Post, of June II, 1753: "If William Pullen who was born in Shobrook, six miles from Exeter, England, and came to these parts thirty or forty years ago (about the same

time that William Wesson settled in Sud- bury) is yet alive and will come to William Wesson of Hopkinton in New England he may hear of an estate in land worth 500 sterl- ing per annum left him by one Mr. Pullen of Thorverton near Exeter and there is no heir found to enjoy it." William Wesson was a member of the Hopkinton church in 1752, and must have been of age. A Captain William Wesson, probably of this family, died at Marl- borough, March 21, 1816, aged forty-four. Children: I. William, mentioned below. 2. John, soldier in the revolution. Perhaps oth- ers.

(IV) William (2), son of William (I) Wesson, was born about 1730-40; married, April II, 1764, at South borough, Mary Bruce. He married (second) at Southborough, being then of Hopkinton, February 9, 1789, Mrs. Sally Bixby, of Hopkinton. He was a soldier in the revolution, credited to Dudley, Massa- chusetts, in Captain Corbin's company, Col- onel Davis's regiment, in 1777. According to the federal census there were two of the fam- ily in Hopkinton in 1790-John; a brother Levi, who appears to be a relative, probably son of John (IV). William was then in Athol and had one son over sixteen, one under that age, and three females in the family. Chil- dren: I. Josiah, whose will at Worcester has made clear much of the family history, dated May 23, 1843, at Athol, filed June 20, 1843, bequeathing to sister Susanna Priest, niece Mary Brown, to children of brother William Wesson, to other heirs not named, and leav- ing the greater part of his estate to Maria, wife of Samuel Cummings Jr., including lands in Athol and Petersham. 2. William Brig- ham, mentioned below. 3. Daughter, married Brown. 4. Susanna, married Priest.

(VI) Rev. William Brigham Wesson, eldest son of William Wesson, was born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, May 29, 1777. He removed while young with his parents to Athol, and mainly by his own exertions was enabled to graduate at Williams College, in 1802. On August 7, 1805, he was called to be pastor of the Hardwick church, and his salary was fixed at five hundred dollars a year. He was ordained October 20, 1805, and for several years continued as their pastor. In the pulpit his stately form and magnificent voice gave full effect to his discourses, while in private life his affability of manners and buoyancy of spirit attracted a multitude of friends. In 1810 sixty-five persons .became

2267

MASSACHUSETTS.

members of his church, the same number that were admitted during the entire pastorate of his predecessor. In 1820 there was an addi- tion of a hundred and fourteen members, a larger number than ever before or since ad- mitted in one year. About 1815 the Trinitar- ian and Unitarian controversy became promi- nent, and Mr. Wesson was not an active par- tisan on either side, preserving comparative harmony in the parish. The Hardwick church was in the territory of the Brookfield Associa- tion, which was strongly Trinitarian, and soon his faith was questioned. A committee was appointed to confer with him as to his belief, and relations grew strained in the parish. May 29, 1824, Mr. Wesson tendered his resignation to the church, and the church accepted it June 14, 1824. During his ministry he received 232 persons into the church, baptized 395 adults and children, and attended 463 funerals. Af- ter his dismission he engaged temporarily in mercantile business, but chiefly devoted his attention to the cultivation of his farm, which was inherited by his eldest son. He married, November 5, 1807, (intentions dated October II, 1807), Azubah Maria Graves, of Athol. (See Graves). He died May 9, 1836, aged nearly fifty-nine, and was buried in the new cemetery. His wife died August 13, 1863, aged about seventy-nine. Children: I. Maria Loraine, born November 19, 1810; married, September 27, 1831, Moses F. Dickinson. 2. William Cutler, born December 23, 1814. 3. Theresa Rivers, April 8, 1816; died May 7, 1816. 4. William Brigham, born March 21, 1820. 5. Ezekiel Lysander Bascom, Septem- ber 5, 1823; mentioned below. 6. Alice Graves, August 14, 1827; died young.

(VII) Ezekiel Lysander Bascom Wesson, son of Rev. William Brigham Wesson, was born September 5, 1823, at Hardwick, and died there 1896. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town. He was a farmer and wholesale butcher for many years, and dealt extensively in real estate. In poli- tics he was a Republican, in religion a Uni- tarian. His home was the old Timothy Paige place near his father's farm, beautifully lo- cated and commanding a magnificent view of the surrounding country. He married Martha S. Dow, born 1831, at New Braintree, Massa- chusetts, died in 1903, at Hardwick, daughter of Plinny and Viah Dow. Children, born in Hardwick: I. Edwin L., born August 14, 1852; married, September 23, 1880, Nellie Dow. 2. George Cutler, born October 13, 1862, mentioned below. 3. Almon Frank,

born April 4, 1864; married Cora Wiley ; son, Fred. 4. William Plinny, born May 21, 1868. 5. Ellen M., October 31, 1870. 6. Elizabeth, October 12, 1872.

(VIII) George Cutler Wesson, son of Ezekiel Lysander Bascom Wesson, was born at Hardwick, October 13, 1862. He received his education in the public schools. He worked for his father in the meat and provision busi- ness until he was twenty years old. Then he bought a horse and wagon and started in the teaming business in a modest way, adding to his facilities from time to time as business in- creased. He removed to Ware in 1887. He does an extensive business as a general con- tractor, having had some large street railway contracts for grading and filling. He is also in the wood and lumber business, buying wood-lots and cutting the timber. He has a large express business in Ware and vicinity. Mr. Wesson is a Republican in politics, and is at present superintendent of streets in Ware. He is a prominent member of the Unitarian church. He is a member of Ware Lodge No. 209, of Odd Fellows; Eden Lodge of Free Masons; King Solomon Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Northampton Commandery, Knights Templar, of Springfield ; Melha Temple, Mys- tic Shrine; of Oasis Lodge, No. 145, Daugh- ters of Rebekah; of the Ancient Order of United Workmen ; of Ware Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 33

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