Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 56

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 56

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).

(VII) Lucius Fowler, son of Dr. Nathaniel (2) Thayer, was born June 22, 1797, died De- cember 10, 1843. He came to Westfield, Mass- achusetts, when a young man and purchased a large farm, which he conducted with success, acquiring a competence. He married, Octo- ber 15, 1820, Lydia Ellsworth, of East Wind- sor, Connecticut, who died at the age of eighty- four. Children : I. Irene Elizabeth, born October 13. 1822. 2. Adeline Maria, Septem- ber 3, 1824. 3. Serviah H., April 4. 1827. 4. Eliza Ann, March 12, 1829. 5. Mary, August 5. 1832. 6. Lucius Fowler, mentioned below.

(VIII) Lucius Fowler (2), son of Lucius Fowler (I) Thayer, was born in Westfield, August 22, 1834. He received his education in the public schools and in Westfield Acad- emy. He studied civil engineering, and at the age of eighteen went to Indiana to assist in the survey of the New Albany, Salem and Logans- port & Peoria railroads. After three years in this field of labor, he returned to his native town and practice his profession. He has been for many years one of the most prominent civil engineers of Hampden county. He has had important commissions from the town and county, having charge of the planning and con- struction of county bridges, including the large structures spanning the Westfield and Con- necticut rivers. Mr. Thayer is a Republican in politics and served the town of Westfield for a period of twelve years on the board of selectmen. He displayed exceptional fitness for this important administrative office, and as his long term shows held the confidence and appreciation of his townsmen for his able, conscientious and efficient work on the board. He is a trustee of the Westfield Savings Bank and the Westfield Public Library; also for many years trustee of the Westfield Academy. His home is at the corner of Broad and Silver streets. Mr. Thayer built the house in 1867. It is surrounded by spacious grounds, formerly part of his father's farm, one hundred and sixty acres of which Mr. Thayer still owns.

He married at Westfield, September 3, 1856, Martha Ann, born August 27, 1838, at West- field, daughter of Hiram Harrison, who estab- lished the American Whip Company, and his

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wife, Martha (Lee) Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Thayer celebrated their golden wedding very fittingly September 3, 1906, and a large num- ber of friends and relatives congratulated them upon that occasion. Mrs. Thayer is a mem- ber of the First Congregational Church, an active and prominent member for many years. Children, born at Westfield: 1. Rev. Lucius H., 1857 ; now pastor of the First Congrega- tional Church of Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire; married Helen Chadwick Rand; chil- dren: Dorothy, Lucius E., Sherman R. 2. Hiram H., for many years cashier of the Na- tional Bank of Commerce of Minneapolis, Minnesota; now of a stock food company ; married Harriet Carpenter ; children: Fran- cis W., Mary H., Elsie. 3. William F., super- intendent and treasurer of the Westfield Gas and Electric Light Company ; married Martha Horton Stearns ; children : Nathaniel, William, Roland Taylor, Richard, Harrison H., Mildred H. 4. Rev. Charles Snow, graduate of the Theological Seminary of New Haven, Con- necticut ; married Mary Shute; have no chil- dren. 5. Mary Sprague, teacher of English literature at "The Elms," a select preparatory school, Springfield, Massachusetts. 6. Martha E., died young. 7. Frederick, died young. 8. Clara, died young.

LAKIN Jonas R. Lakin was born in Eng- land and spent his youth in his native place, receiving a comnion school education and learning his trade there. He married and accompanied by his two chil .. dren came to this country in 1841, and settled in Connecticut.

(II) James Alfred, son of Jonas R. Lakin, was born February 7, 1841, in England, died at Westfield, Massachusetts, October 2, 1898. He attended the public schools, but his educa- tion was largely acquired by private study and contact with the world. His business career began in 1865 when he engaged in the watchi and jewelry business. He was for many years president of the American Casket Hardware Company of Westfield. He was very success- ful in business. He enlisted in the First Mass- achusetts Regiment in the civil war. He was prominent in public affairs. He represented the second Hampden representative district in the general court in 1890-91, and 1892 was elected to the state senate from the second Hampshire senatorial district, and was an efficient member of the committee on railroads. He has been especially interested in the public schools. He was well known in Masonic circles,

was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. He married (first) - . He married (second) March, 1870, Lucy Adelaide, born December 30, 1845, daughter of Luther and Adah (War- ren) Tower (see Tower, VII). Child of the first wife: Henry Alfred, died at Westfield in 1908. Children of second wife: Beulah May, married Percy S. Gates ; Bertha Adelaide, Ada Maud.

(The Tower Line, see Robert Tower 1).

(III) John (2) Tower, son of John (I) Tower, was baptized December 13, 1639, died in Braintree, August 30, 1693. He lived in Hingham about fourteen years after his mar- riage, when he removed to Braintree. He owned land in Plymouth colony, but never settled there. He married, May 14, 1669. Sarah Hardin, who died October 16, 1729, daughter of John Hardin, of Braintree. Chil- dren : 1. Benjamin, born January 25, 1673-74. 2. Gideon, January 26, 1676-77, died October 26, 1698. 3. Sarah, October 21, 1679. 4. John, June 18, 1682. 5. Joseph, February 27, 1685- 86; mentioned below. 6. Mary. April 26, 1690.

(IV) Joseph, son of John (2) Tower, was born in Braintree, February 27, 1685-86, and resided there, probably in that part of the town which became Randolph. He was a farmer, and his name appears in several real estate transactions, the last one when he was seventy-six years old. He died intestate, prob- ably not far from that time. He married (first) Ruth Thayer, who died March 28, 1752. He married (second), the intention published March 27, 1756, He married (third), intention published 1769. Hannah Jones, widow. Children, born in Braintree : 1. Ruth, March 6, 1711. 2. Hannah, September 18. 1713. 3. Sarah, February 18, 1715-16. 4. John, February 7, 1717-18. 5. Margaret, Au- gust 21, 1721. 6. Gideon, 1723. 7. Joseph, mentioned below. 8. Mary.

(V) Joseph (2), son of Joseph (I) Tower, was born in Braintree, and married Rebecca He died in Randolph, September 7, 1801. He served in the revolution as sergeant in Captain Seth Turner's company, answered the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775 ; in March, 1776, he served as lieutenant in Captain Eli- phalet Sawin's company, and again in June of the same year, also in Captain Peter Thay- er's company which marched for the relief of Fort William Henry, and later in Captain Ward's company for five months. Tradition says that he was at the surrender of Burgoyne. His will was dated December 18, 1800, and

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proved October 6, 1801. It mentions wife Rebecca and children, Isaac, Joseph, Jane, Re- becca and Ruth. The others probably died young. Children, born at Braintree: I. Re- becca, married, 1778, Luther Spear. 2. Jane, married, 1778, Eli Spear. 3. Abraham. 4. Elizabeth. 5. Isaac, born February 22, 1767; mentioned below. 6. Ruth. 7. Rhoda. 8. Mary. 9. Joseph, born 1780.

(VI) Isaac, son of Lieutenant Joseph (2) Tower, was born February 22, 1767, in Ran- dolph, died there March 12, 1834. He mar- ried, July 1, 1798, Mary Thayer, born 1777. died April 11, 1831. Children, born in Ran- dolph : I. Orramel. March 8, 1799. 2. Isaac. August 22, 1801. 3. Mary. November 23. 1803. 4. Benjamin F., April 24. 1806, died on the Pacific Ocean, 1862. 5. Sally, Decem- ber 29, 1807. 6. Elmira, July 11, 1810. 7. Luther, mentioned below. 8. Silas D., Sep- tember 23. 1815, died September 1, 1841. 9. Lorenzo, May 14, 1820.

(VII) Luther. son of Isaac Tower, was born July 22, 1813. in Randolph, died January I. 1900, at Brockton. He married, September 8. 1833. Adan Warren, born June 29, 1815. died 1893, daughter of Cyrus and Olive ( Bis- bee) Warren. of Bridgewater. Children : 1.

Silas Franklin. born September 3. 1837. 2. Lucy Jane, September 28, 1840, died January 14, 1843. 3. Rosa J .. May 16, 1843. 4. Lucy Adelaide, December 30, 1845: married James Alfred Lakin, of Westfield (see Lakin, II). 5. George Marius, June 6, 1848. 6. Mary Ellen, November 18, 1851, died December 22, 1854.

(For preceding generations see Samuel Chapin 1).

(III) Samuel Chapin, eldest CHAPIN child of Japhet and Abilenah (Cooley ) Chapin, was born July 4. 1665. and died October 19, 1729. The "Chapin Genealogy" states that his place of residence was at the upper end of Chicopee street, on the west side, and near the residence of his father Japhet. His house stood not far from the place where Ephraim Chapin in after years built a house, and where he re- sided and where his grandson, Briant Chapin, lived in 1860 and later. It was afterward owned and occupied by his son Elisha, and after he was killed by Indians, it passed into the possession of Abel, son of Thomas, and afterward to Ephraim, son of Benjamin, who married Jemima, daughter of Abel, and after the death of Ephraim, to his son Frederick, and after his death to his son Briant. Samuel Chapin set out two pear trees on this place

which bore fruit for the first time the year he died, 1730. One of these trees stood till 1859, and never failed to bear delicious fruit, except one year, up to 1834. Samuel Chapin had been at his daily labor on land which he owned on the west side of the Connecticut river, and had just entered a boat on his return at night, when he was fired upon by some In- dians lying in ambush among the willows which grew near the water. He was wounded, though not dangerously. Samuel Chapin married, De- cember 24, 1690, Hannah Sheldon. Children : Hannah, Abilene, Mary (died young), Sam- uel, Caleb, Experience, Mary, Elisha, Lydia and Henry. Caleb was killed by the Indians at Lake George, 1755.

(IV) Captain Elisha, third son of Samuel and Hannah (Sheldon) Chapin, was born in Springfield, July 16, 1707, died July 11, 1756. He was an energetic and courageous citizen and a captain of the militia. In 1754 he was commander of Fort Massachusetts, and two years later. July II, was massacred by Indians at Hoosac, now Williamstown. He married. March 30, 1738, Miriam, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Ely. Children : Miriam, Enoch, Levi, Samuel, Sewell, Sophia, Sarah A. and Elisha.

(V) Enoch, eldest son of Captain Elisha and Miriam (Ely) Chapin, was born Septem- ber 16, 1740, died October 28, 1802. He mar- ried Eunice, daughter of Daniel Nash, of South Hadley. She was born October 8, 1744, died November 27, 1794. Children : Cleone, Climene. Enoch ( died young), Eunice, Clarissa, a son, Enoch and Sewell.

(VI) Deacon Enoch (2), third son of Enoch (I) and Eunice (Nash ) Chapin, was born November 16, 1784, died in 1862. He resided at South Hadley Falls, where for many years lie was a highly respected and useful citizen. He married, December 19, 1811, Lydia. widow of Gordon Chapin, and a daughter of Captain Ariel and Lydia Cooley. She died April 23, 1850. Children : Enoch Cooley, Ogden Nash (died young), Ogden Nash and Ariel Cooley.

(VII) Enoch Cooley, eldest son of Enoch (2) and Lydia (Cooley) (Chapin) Chapin, was born November 12, 1812, died November 4. 1858. He resided at South Hadley Falls. He was engaged in farming. He was a Whig and a member of the Congregational church. He married Harriet Jenks, born in 1820, daugh- ter of John S. and Electa Abbee. She died March 6, 1885. Children : Edmund Cooley, Arthur Nash. Charles Frederick and Theodore.

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(VIII) Arthur Nash, second son of Enoch Cooley and Harriet Jenks (Abbee) Chapin, was born at South Hadley Falls, January 28, 1850. His father died when Arthur N. was eight years old, and he learned early to de- pend upon himself for the satisfaction of his wants. He attended the public schools of South Hadley Falls and those of Lowville, New York, assisting himself to an education. At twenty-one years of age he engaged in the grocery business in his native town. Four years later he abandoned that occupation for the ice business in which he continued all the remainder of his active business life, except ten years-when he held political offices-until his retirement in 1904. He has often been called to serve the public and has filled the offices of constable, tax collector, assessor and selectman, and is now superintendent of streets in South Hadley. In political affiliations he is a Republican, and in religious faith a Con- gregationalist. He married (first) 1874, Ella Warner; (second) December 6, 1881, Eliza, daughter of Joseph Galbraith, of Canada. They have no children.

CHAPMAN Dr. Thomas Luce, son of Jus- tin, born in Bolton, Connecti- cut, and Tabitha Chapman, ( who died May 23, 1823), was born at Pitts- field, 1817, died in Springfield, August 20, 1889. He was led to choose medicine by the influence of Dr. Samuel D. Brooks, of Pitts- field, afterwards a prominent citizen of Spring- field, who was his companion at school in Pitts- field. Both young men became interested in religious matters there and determined to enter the missionary field. Dr. Chapman recalled with considerable interest the circumstances which led to this step. He attended a prayer meeting one evening and a thunder storm came up. The church was shattered by lightning which prostrated about thirty mem- bers of the congregation, all of whom were seriously injured and one fatally. Young Chap- man's back was burned badly and his clothes torn. While recovering from this shock he was cared for at the home of a man whose interest in the patient's welfare led to his con- version as well as physical healing, 1834. Young Brooks was led to take the same stand, and their friendship was intimate from that time. Both went to the preparatory school in Wilton, Connecticut, to fit for college, but the man who had offered to pay for their college course died, and they gave up the plan. Young Chapman's health was then suffering, and

while with his friend Brooks he became inter- ested in the medical books of the latter and decided to study to be a physician. They fitted for professional work at the Berkshire Medical Institute at Pittsfield during the palmy days under the administration of President Childs. This school was then one of the most import- ant in the country and had two hundred stu- dents annually. Dr. Brooks graduated in 1841, and Dr. Chapman in 1842. On graduation Dr. Chapman settled in Longmeadow, where he practiced over thirty years with a short interval, 1849-50, in which he visited Cali- fornia. He early became identified with the Hampden District Medical Society and served as its secretary in 1847-49, vice-president in 1871-72, and president in 1872-74. He was much loved as a physician, and especially by the poor, whom he befriended. Politically he was a Republican, always taking an active interest in campaigns, and in 1864 he served a term in the state senate, but his modesty and retiring disposition made him shun public posi- tions. The one thing which friends remarked more than others about him was his genuine- ness and his dislike of all pretense. In 1876, after his second marriage, he removed to Springfield. He kept an office at Longmeadow for some time, but gradually withdrew from active practice, and lived happily with his friends and books. He was a member of the Congregational church of Longmeadow for many years, and served as its Sunday school superintendent, and although he attended the First Church in Springfield after moving to that city he always maintained an interest in the church and town affairs of Longmeadow. He was also a member of the Congregational Club. He was a modest and true man and a very conscientious Christian, and a man of more than ordinary refinement. His gentle nature made him a favorite with children, and he appeared on the streets almost daily, driving with his nieces, children of Rev. D. A. Reed. He was much interested in the cultivation of flowers and fruit, and was active in the work of horticultural society. During his last ill- ness many beautiful flowers were sent him by friends, some coming from most unexpected quarters. He was one of the chief promoters of the Home for Aged Women in Springfield, and was one of its officers. He started the subscription for the project and the meeting for organization was held at the home of his father-in-law, Marvin Chapin, who was also interested, in October, 1884. Dr. Chapman possessed rare gentleness and unselfishness of

Normen A Wheel

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character, and both during his long professional career at Longmeadow and after he took up his residence in Springfield he attracted friends who became attached to him by the strongest ties. Dr. Chapman married (first) Charlotte Langdon, daughter of John Langdon, of Ports- mouth, a cousin of Wendell Phillips, and a niece of Thomas Cordis, a Boston merchant, who in his later life resided in Longmeadow. They had one child, a daughter, who died when about six years old. Mrs. Chapman died November, 1874. Dr. Chapman married (sec- ond) December, 1876, Mary D. Chapin, daugh- ter of Marvin and Rebecca (Stowe) Chapin, of Springfield (see Chapin, VII). She sur- vives him. About two years after their mar- riage Dr. and Mrs. Chapman complied with her father's request to move into his residence in Springfield in order that she might have the oversight of his home. There Dr. Chapman died of gastric fever and heart failure at sev- enty-two years of age, surrounded by a large number of friends to whom his memory will always be fragrant.

WHEELER This family is a numerous one in Massachusetts, and is scat- tered everywhere from the Atlantic to the Pacific. There were numerous stems to start with among the early emigrants, and each founded a house of Wheeler. Wheeler comes from wheelwright. The family were noted for feats of strength, and one who served in the early wars was called by the Indians "the strong man ;" they were afraid of him. Stories have been told how he bested the red- skins in single combat, and of his wonderful stunts at barn-raisings. Wheelers of distinc- tion have been Vice-President William A. Wheeler, and General Joseph Wheeler.

(I) Peter Wheeler was born in that part of Groton now known at Littleton, Massachu- setts, in 1733. He served with Captain Patch as a joiner's apprentice. He is said to have lived for a time in Enfield, Massachusetts, coming to Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in 1752. and bought a lot in range 15. He lived where Russell H. Davis afterward lived, by the brook that bears his name, near Wantasti- quet mountain. He worked on the old meeting- house in 1814. He married Olive, daughter of Simeon Davis, of Greenwich, Massachu- setts. Children: Lydia, Peter, Jane, John. Ephraim, Jonathan, Olive, Samuel and Sarah. (II) Jonathan, in whom the line of descent is continued was sixth of the nine children of Peter and Olive (Davis) Wheeler, and born

in Enfield, Massachusetts. He removed to Chesterfield. The journey was made with a yoke of oxen, one of them dying on the way, Jonathan being an Ajax in strength, carried one end of the yoke the remainder of the journey. He married Levinia, daughter of Aaron Fiske, in 1802. Their children were John, Louise and Addison.

(III) John, eldest son of Jonathan and Levinia (Fiske) Wheeler, was born in Chester- field. He married Roxanna, daughter of Ed- ward and Demis (Titus) Hall. Demis was daughter of Deacon Joseph Titus, of Sutton, who was from the emigrant Robert, of Stand- stead Abbey, in Hertfordshire. Children of John : Olive D., John A., Jonathan F., Foster, Hoyt H., Frances W., Ann V. and Norman F.

(IV) Norman Fiske, youngest son of John (2) and Roxanna (Hall) Wheeler, was born in Chesterfield, August 18, 1842. He gained his education in his native town and at New- fane, Vermont. In 1860 he came to Spring- field, where he now resides. His first employ- ment was with a candy factory. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Massachu- setts Infantry. After his discharge in No- vember of that year he went with Smith & Wesson, the gunsmiths. For a number of years he was a commercial traveler for silk houses. In 1902 he bought out an apothecary business in Springfield, of which he is now proprietor. He is a Mason of Knight Templar rank, and belongs to the Masonic Club. He married Elizabeth Sarah, daughter of Ben- jamin Waterman, December 16, 1864. Chil- dren : Frank, born April, 1866, who is a travel- ing salesman ; Fred Norman, December 15, 1868, who is with his father in business, and married Grace Barrett ; Harriett Roxanna, De- cember, 1880, who married Robert B. Martin, and they have one child, Norman Wheeler Martin.

(IV) Hon. Hoyt H. Wheeler, fifth child of John and Roxanna ( Hall) Wheeler, was born in Chesterfield. His early schooling was in the country school, supplemented with in- struction at Newfane Academy. He studied law with Charles K. Field, of Newfane, and was admitted to the bar of Windham county, beginning practice at Jamaica, Vermont. He represented that town in the legislature in 1867, and was returned to the senate in 1868- 69. He was made a judge of the Vermont supreme court, President Hayes transferring him to a federal judgeship. Possessing the judicial temperament, learned in the law, he made a wise and model judge. He reflected

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credit not only upon himself. but upon those who appointed him, and his decisions have been widely quoted as sound law.

The Blodgett family in BLODGETT America is of English origin. From Thomas, the immi- grant ancestor have descended many pioneers, his immediate family removing to Woburn, where they became numerous, and one branch, moving through Chelmsford and Westford. finally located at Hudson, New Hampshire. about 1710, at a period so early that the pioneer had to live in a garrison for protection against the Indians, and a son of his was the first white male child born in that town. From Hudson a detachment settled in Plymouth, and thence went members of the family to central New York. Several families from Hudson settled at Dorchester, New Hamp- shire, where they abode for two generations. From Woburn and Chelmsford they also went to Lexington, and Windsor, Connecticut, in both of which localities they became numerous and prominent. At the beginning of the nine- teenth century they were widely scattered throughout New England. In addition to places already named they were prominent in Amherst, Ashburnham, Brimfield, Palmer and Westminster, Massachusetts, and there were many representatives in other Massachusetts towns ; also in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and some in Maine and Vermont. They were a patriotic race. They served in the French and Indian wars, at the siege and capture of Louis- burg, in the invasion of Canada. and the names are preserved of one hundred and fourteen revolutionary soldiers. Many individuals have conferred honor and distinction on the name. Samuel Blodgett filled many important offices in civil and military life in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He was a friend and corre- spondent of Washington, was called the "Pioneer of Progress," and was best known by his great enterprise in completing a canal around Amoskeag Falls, at Manchester, New Hampshire. A son of his, Samuel, Jr., served on the staff of Washington, and after the national capital was projected on the banks of the Potomac, he was chairman of the com- missioners to further the project, built the first house there, and furnished the first money ($10,000) toward laying the foundation of the capitol and the president's house. In the eighth generation there have been a United States senator, a judge of the United States district court, a chief justice of the supreme

court of one New England state, an eminent judge of the superior court of another, a pub -. licist and statistician of national reputation, a member of the New York Chamber of Com- merce ; and in the ninth generation a judge of the supreme court of a third New England state. The name has been variously spelled. Genealogical records furnish not less than twenty-four variations, most of them of course the offspring of illiteracy ; one or two branches have adopted a fanciful termination, perhaps to make plausible the claim that it had a Huguenot origin, but there is no good ground for that; the family came from the eastern counties of England. The original immigrant wrote the name Blogget, and that form pre- vailed for a century ; then Blodget was adopted, and about a hundred years ago Blodgett be- came the form followed by most of the name, and it is interesting to find from the "Visita- tions," (the Parish Records of Suffolk and Norfolk) that this was the correct and as far as observed, the only English spelling as far back as 1561, long before the immigrant Thomas arrived in Boston. The name is vari- ously spelled in the early Massachusetts rec- ords-Blodget. Blodgett, Bloyett, Blogget. Bloghead, Bloget, Vloggitt, Bloged, Blokwod. Bloggot and Blodgit.

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Genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of the state of Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 56

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