Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 139

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I > Part 139

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who had received a lot of land in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in recognition of his services under the Gov- ernment of Massachusetts in reducing the Island of Cape Breton, sent for him to go and live with him. The vessel in which he took passage from Boston was forced to turn back for repairs and, as the winter was coming on, he returned home. In the spring he decided to go to Brimfield with his father instead of going to Halifax. His cousin Rufus Fairbanks went in his stead. At Brimfield he bought a farm and also worked at the carpenter's trade. Having Mr. and Mrs. Paddock, his wife's parents, in the family through many years of expensive illness, he had slow work paying for his farm, but was finally successful. In 1815 he sold out his place at Brim- field and removed to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where his son, Erastus Fairbanks, was already established with his uncle, Mrs. Joseph Fairbanks' brother, Judge Paddock. He purchased a small water-power and timber, with which he and his son built a dam, a saw mill, a grist mill and a wagon shop. The family endured the hardships of pioneer life, to- gether with the special and unusual discomfort of snow storms or frosts every month in the year. The growing prosperity afterwards was due to his great energy and ability as well as that of his sons. He was a man of sterling character, of the best New England type, influential among his neighbors and highly respected.

He died suddenly September 27, 1846. His wife, to whom not less than to himself his sons owed their strength of character. died at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He married October 21, 1790. Phebe Paddock, daughter of James and Ann Paddock, of Holland, Massachusetts, whose emi- grant ancestor came to this country with Governor Carver. She was born September 6, 1760; died May 5, 1853. The Paddock family gave many hon- ored citizens to Vermont.

The children of Joseph and Phebe (Paddock) Fairbanks were: I. Erastus, born October 28, 1792, at Brimfield, Massachusetts, in the little red house near the Sturbridge line; he died November 20, 1864; he came to St. Johnsbury alone in 1812 and for ten years afterward struggled against difficulties and reverses, and acquired early maturity of habits and purpose; frugality, industry, persistence, knowl- edge of men and of business; following the inven- tion of the platform scale by his brother Thaddeus, he became the head of the firm of E. & T. Fair- banks & Co., a position which he held for thirty years during which time, under his energetic and skillful management, the business grew to large pro- portions and well established fame; in 1836 he was sent to the State Legislature, where from the first he was a leader, especially active in the interests of temperance and educational measures; he was a presidential elector of the Whig party in 1848, and about that time was actively pushing the construc- tion of the Passumpsic Railroad, of which he was president from White River to St. Johnsbury, at which terminus he greeted the first engine in No- vember, 1850; two years later he was elected gov- ernor of Vermont, and among other important legis- lative acts he had the satisfaction of affixing his signature to the Prohibitory Liquor Law; in 1860 he was elected governor again and became the war governor of Vermont, and at the close of his service, in acknowledgment of his delicate, laborious and successful official acts, the Senate and House passed joint resolutions of the most appreciative and compli- mentary sort, and it was found that "the salary to which he was entitled was never touched, and it re- mains in the treasury of the state, another evidence of his generous love for Vermont, whose interests

were dearer to him than his own, and an honor to both people and Executive;" he was for fifty years active in the Congregational church, and in later life an officer and member of many benevolent boards; he married Lois Crossman, daughter of Samuel and Lois 'Chamberlain) Crossman, born November 13, 1792; died May 15, 1866; had nine children. 2. Thaddeus, born January 17, 1796, at Brimfield, Massa- chusetts ; died in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, April 12, 1886. As a child he was slender and delicate in health, nervous and diffident and, indeed, he never enjoyed good health. Much of his early education was received at home from his mother. He learned the use of tools early in life. Moving to Vermont with his father in 1815, after building their mills, he first made wagons, then in 1823 established a small iron foundry, doing much of the work with his own hands, and being joined by his brother Erastus, went on under the name of E. & T. Fairbanks. His parlor stove and his patented cooking stove sold well, where only the open fire had been used before, and he invented and introduced the plow with cast iron mold board, now universally used, its novelty being attested by the patent he received on it.

In 1829 he built hemp dressing machines and as manager of the hemp mills had to weigh what he bought. To fill this need he invented the platform scale. The first scales were for weighing wagons and their loads, but he soon extended the principle to all kinds and styles of scales until several hun- dreds of varieties were on the market. He obtained thirty-two patents in this country on scales alone, besides patents for a hemp machine, stoves, plow, a device for creating draughts, a steam-heater, a feed- water heater, which was patented on his ninetieth birthday, and a refrigerator which he gave away at a time when he lacked the means to develop it, which has proved to be worth more than a million dollars to its owners. The Fairbanks Scales have won prizes at all the World's Expositions. In 1842 he and his brothers established St. Johnsbury Acad- emy, and he gave liberally to educational and charit- able organizations. He married January 17, 1820, Lucy Peck Barker, a native of St. Johnsbury, whose father Barnabas Barker came with his father John and were the first settlers of the town. Both John and Barnabas Barker were revolutionary soldiers, and were in the battle of Bunker Hill. She was born April 29, 1799; died in St. 'Johnsbury, December 29, 1866; she had two children. 3. Joseph Paddock, born November 26, 1806.

(VII) Joseph Paddock Fairbanks, son of Joseph Fairbanks (6), was born in Brimfield. Massachu- setts, November 26, 1806; died in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, May 15, 1855. He began life as a lawyer, but joined his two brothers in the scale manufac- turing business, and was in partnership with them twenty-two years to the time of his death. His business abilities were of the very first order. Much of the early success of the enterprise was due to his sagacity, minute attention to details and facility in dealing with men and with business difficulties and problems. His mind was strong, capacious, alert and remarkably well balanced. He took broad views of everything, was deeply religious and unsparing in his efforts for the good of men. He was intelligently familiar with law, theology, science, history, and literature. He was averse to public life while at the same time, in more ways than men ever knew, he was influencing public opinion and pushing needed reforms. He was influential in the Legislature, es- pecially in securing the passage of the Prohibitory Law and acts to improve the school system. He sent out hundreds of pages of letters and press articles on alinost every theme of current interest.

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He was literally a leader of thought in his day. He was a man of strong individuality, though never alienating the love and respect of those from whom he differed. He was benevolent and generous. He was only forty-eight years old when he died.

He married in Derry, New Hampshire, June II, 1835, Almira Taylor, daughter of James and Persis (Hemphill) Taylor. She was born October 12, ISII. She married (second) September 4, 1857, Rev. W. WV. Thayer, of St. Johnsbury, and died there Janu- ary 20, 1883. The children of Joseph Paddock and Almira ( Taylor) Fairbanks were: I. Edward Tay- lor, born May 12, 1836, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He was educated at Yale College, class of 1859, and at Andover Theological Seminary. He spent two years and a half abroad in study and travel. He was ordained January 1, 1868, as pastor of the Con- gregational Church in St. Johnsbury, and since Janu- ary, 1874, has held his pastorate there. He wrote the history of St. Johnsbury, and many pamphlets. He is connected with many educational and religious organizations. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from the University of Vermont in 1893. He married in Derry. New Hampshire, July 9, 1862, Emma Cornelia Taplin, daughter of Guy Carleton and Sally Malvina (Cady) Taplin, of Montpelier, Vermont, where she was born March II, 1844. They have one child, Cornelia Taylor, born June 25, 1876. 2. William Paddock, born July 27. 1840.

(VIII) William Paddock Fairbanks, son of Jo- seph Paddock Fairbanks (7), was born at St. Johns- bury, Vermont, July 27, 1840. He entered Dartmouth College in 1858, but left before completing the course to engage in business. He was for several years in the office of E. & T. Fairbanks, and a member of that firm. Upon its incorporation in 1874 he was made secretary and treasurer. He held the same office in the St. Johnsbury and Lake Champlain Railroad Company and offices of trust in other cor- porations.

While in Michigan he was a member of Gov- ernor Pingree's staff and ably represented his native town in the Legislature in 1884-85-86. In 1888 he went to New York as secretary of the Fairbanks Company of the city, where he remained until his death, which cecurred suddenly December 15, 1895. He was a man of force and strong personality, wise, careful and ac- curate in business dealings ; of quiet tastes ; benevo- lent and generous. He married in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, April 18, 1861, Rebecca Pike, daughter of Dennison and Huldah (Johnson) Pike, of Water- ford, Vermont, where she was born November S, 1841. Their children were. I. Almira Taylor, born February 12, 1865; married January 17, 1888, Her- bert W. Blodgett of St. Johnsbury; has one child, Donald F. Blodgett, born June 6, 1895. 2. Mabel, born August 14. 1871. 3. Joseph, born December 12, 1881.

(IX) Mabel Fairbanks, daughter of Colonel Will- iam Paddock Fairbanks, was born at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, August 14, 1871. She married October 23, 1895. Birney A. Robinson of Westford, Vermont. (See sketch of Birney A. Robinson.)

CARL ELWOOD BURLINGAME. Sheldon F. Burlingame (1), son of Harris and Sarah Avis (Warren) Burlingame, was born at East Killingly, Connecticut, March 30, 1851. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. His father was a carpenter, and all the family had an inheritance of unusual manual dexterity and mechanical in- genuity. Sheldon was set to work to learn the ma- chinist's trade in Worcester, in the shop of Abra-

ham Burlingame on Cypress street. In years past the steam engines made by A. Burlingame & Co. were among the best, and many of them are in use in Worcester, giving the utmost satisfaction. After Sheldon. Burlingame learned his trade he went to Philadelphia where he worked for several years. He worked at his trade in New Jersey for a time, but when he was prepared to enter business for himself he returned to Worcester and opened a shop on Central street, where he built steam engines and did repairing.

After a few years he removed to Florida where he was employed by Governor Drew, of that state, as master mechanic in the New Branford mills. He followed his trade for several years in the South, living at New Branford, Live Oak, High Springs, Columbia City and other towns. He returned North and worked for a short time for his brother, Abra- ham Burlingame. Early in the nineties he turned his attention to gas and gasoline engines, believing that these were the coming engines for small plants. The development of the gasoline engine for use in the automobile has exceeded all predictions of the most sanguine. Meanwhile Mr. Burlingame has es- tablished an exceedingly busy little shop at Green- dale, where he has for ten years been making an excellent machine, and his business is rapidly grow- ing. The gasoline engine to-day is in demand on every · up-to-date farm as well as in small manu- facturing plants. The name of Mr. Burlingame's firm is the Greendale Gas Engine Company. His son, Carl E .. a skillful mechanic also. is in business with him as partner. The factory is at 416 West Boylston street, at the end of the Greendale car line.

The Greendale engine is wonderfully simple com- pared to the mechanisms called gas engines fifteen or twenty years ago. This engine is started with crank such as those used on automobiles, and the operation of starting the machine, which was form- erly difficult and trying, and not always successful even when undertaken by an expert, is now very simple. The gasoline tank is in the base of the machine out of sight. It seems beyond belief to the man who operated the old style gas engine that this machine has only two valves, one for inlet. the other for exhaust. The inlet valve works by suction : the exhaust valve is water-jacketed. The cylinder is of one casting and jacketed. All parts are made interchangeable, after the custom now prevailing in all the best manufactories. The engines leave the Greendale factory set up and in running order after a thorough test. The makers have 110 fear of trouble or accident when sending them to the most inexperienced owners or the most difficult posi- tions, such as for use to run portable saw mills ; dragged about the country on a cart in all sorts of weather, exposed to rain and having often very little attention from the operator. The machines are run by unskillful farm hands to cut feed, to saw wood, to run threshing machines, to operate electric light plants, to pump water for private reservoirs, and for a thousand purposes formerly

requiring manual labor. The result offsets the growing scarcity of help on the farm, and saves the life and strength of the farmer and his family, making the disagreeable and discouraging features of agriculture far less numerous. Mr. Burlingame understands the revolution that he is helping to effect with his machinery in agricultural conditions. One of his engines has been run three weeks day and night without a stop. Another five horse-power engine was used eighteen months on a truck for sawing wood, in constant use, with a total repair bill of thirty-five cents. That shows the usefulness and

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perfection of the modern gas engine. Four sizes are made three and a half, five, seven, and fifteen horse-power, the cost ranging from $175 to $360. Several hundred of these machines operated either by gas or gasoline are in use in and about Worces- ter county, and giving universal satisfaction. The company does not hesitate to print the entire list of those to whom machines have been sold. The modern gas engine is a machine that sells itself. Each customer makes others. Mr. Burlingame is a Free Mason, having joined a southern lodge. He was formerly a member of the Worcester County Mechanics' Association.

He married. November 26, 1872, Ida F. Chase, daughter of Israel and Polly (Young) Chase, of Killingly, Connecticut, born in Killingly, September 10. 1855. Their children are: Carl Elwood (see forward). Mand S., born May 19, 1881, married Robert C. Sweetser, instructor in chemistry at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and has one child, Sedric Sheldon; resides at 2 Randall street. Wor- cester : Juniata, born in New Branford, Florida, August 5. 1888; Marion Pearle, born in Worcester, December 24. 1896.

Carl Elwood Burlingame, son of Sheldon F. Burlingame, was born at East Killingly, Connecti- cut. September 1, 1876. His education was obtained in the schools of the various towns in Massachu- setts and Florida where his parents made their home during his youth. He graduated from Branford Academy at Branford, Florida, in 1893. He learned the machinist's trade and worked for the A. Bur- lingame Co., engine manufacturers, for the Wheelock Engine Company and for the Marcus Mason Com- pany, builders of coffee machinery. He entered partnership with his father . when the Greendale factory was built, and has had a large share in building up the business of the company. His busi- ness ability, mechanical skill and persistent energy have shown good results in the business. He is gen- erally regarded as one of the very promising young manufacturers of the city. He is unmarried. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and was formerly a member of the Worcester County Mechanics' Association. He is a member of the Congregational church at Greendale.

FRANK H. HAMBLIN, manufacturer of wire goods, Worcester, Worcester county, Massachusetts, was born in East Boston, August 23. 1853, a son of Joseph G. and Elizabeth (Hartwell) Hamblin.

Joseph G. Hamblin was one of the earliest set- tlers of East Boston, and a builder and real estate operator, having built over one hundred houses on his own property. During the latter part of his life he was an assistant United States Assessor.

Frank H. Hamblin obtained his education in the public schools of Boston, and afterwards studied for a professional career. Deciding to go into business, however, he was variously employed until 1883. when he removed to Worcester, and engaged in the manufacture of wire goods. The following year he incorporated the firm known as the Ayres Manufacturing Company: the name being changed in 1887 to Hamblin & Russell Manufacturing Com- pany, Mr. Hamblin becoming its treasurer which office he continues to hold. When this business was commenced Mr. Hamblin employed only five or six hands in a building on Front street, which is now the Commonwealth hotel. Owing to the rapidly increasing business the firm were forced to seek larger quarters, and accordingly removed their estab- lishment into the boot and shoe factory of J. H. Walker on Water street, which was subsequently purchased by the firm. The enterprise has been one

of the greatest success, and three hundred hands are now employed in the factory. They make the largest variety of household utensils of any like concern in the country, also hardware specialties. The firm occupies about 80,000 square feet of floor space. Mr. Hamblin is a member of the Worcester Board of Trade. Commonwealth and Congregational clubs. He married, in 1889, Mercy P. Sturtevant, who bore him one child, Howard Parker. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Hamblin married Nellie Tucker, of Worcester, in 1891, and they have three children: Louis Tucker, Marion Laurette and Robert Hartwell.

EDWIN RUTHVEN MORSE. No family has ranked higher in eastern Massachusetts for the past two hundred and fifty years than the descendants of Samuel Morse, of Dedham. The family has had many distinguished members, not the least of whom is Samuel F. B. Morse, to whom the world owes so much for the telegraph.

(I) Samuel Morse was born in England in 1586. He sailed for New England in the ship "Increase," April 15, 1635, and settled at Dedham. He was ad- mitted a freeman there October 8. 1640. and later removed to the adjoining new town of Medfield, where many of his descendants have lived. He was a town officer of Dedham and one of the proprietors. He died April 5, 1654, and his will was proved January 30, 1654. His widow died June 20, 1655. He married in England Elizabeth , who was forty-eight years old when she emigrated, born there- fore about 1587. Their children were: A son, John, born 1611, died November 16, 1657; Daniel, born 1613: Joseph, mentioned below; Abigail, married Daniel Fisher, of Dedham; Mary, married Samuel Bullen ; Jeremiah, went east.

(II) Joseph Morse, son of Samuel Morse (1), the immigrant, also a progenitor of Edwin Ruthven Morse, of Worcester, was born in England in 1615. He settled first in Watertown, but in 1637, after his father came, removed to Dedham. He married in 1638, Hannah Phillips. While he was clearing the land at Medfield and preparing the house for his family they lived at Dorchester, but he died before he had his new home ready and the growing corn and unfinished log house were left for his children to care for. The widow married in 1658. Thomas Boyden, who died in Boston in 1676 at the home of her eldest daughter. The children of Joseph and Hannah ( Phillips) Morse were: Samuel, born 1639, mentioned below ; Hannah, 1640; Sarah, 1643; Dor- cas, 1645. died 1725: Elizabeth, 1647, died 1715; Joseph, 1649, died 1718, settled in Sherborn; Jere- miah. 1651 ; A child, who died young.

(III) Samuel Morse, eldest child of Joseph Morse (2), was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, 1639. He inherited part of his father's and grandfather's es- tate. His house built in 1663 on the knoll east of Main and Pound streets junction was burned by the Indians in 1676, and was not rebuilt on that site, where the old cellar hole is or was lately visible. He built his second house near that lately of John Ord, Jr., and the old well is still in use. In 1705 he was a lieutenant of militia and teacher of the school at Medfield. In 1706 he obtained leave to flow the land "near the cowpens" for a fulling mill, which was built on the site of the stone mill lately owned by Crehore. Samuel Morse was selectman six years and deputy to the general court in 1707. He married. 1665. Elizabeth Wood, who died in 1682. He married (second), 1684. Sarah Thurston, who died in 1688. He died in 1718. The children of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wood) Morse were: Sam- uel, born 1665; Elizabeth, March 21, 1668; Hannah,

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August 31, 1669, died young ; Ruth, March 21, 1672; Joseph, 1674; Joshua, April 2. 1677, mentioned be- low: Eleazer, August 10, 1680; Benoni, June 19, 1682, died 1704. Children of Samuel and Sarah (Thurston) Morse were: Solomon, born 1684. died 1704; Sarah, 1686, married Isaac Bullard, of Sherborn.

(IV) Joshua Morse, sixth child of Samuel Morse (3), was born on the homestead at Medfield, Massa- chusetts, April 2, 1677. He inherited part of the farm of his father in Medfield and bought much land on his own account. He was an innholder and owned a grist mill and saw mill. He built the house now or lately on the Jeremiah Johnston place. He mar- ried. 1699, Elizabeth Penniman, daughter of Samuel Penniman, of Braintree, born . 1675. died 1705. He married (second) Widow Mary Paine, of Brain- tree, who died in 1747. He was largely interested in the settlement of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and the first meetings were held at his tavern to organize the proprietors. He was deputy to the general court six years. He died in 1749. The children of Joshua and Elizabeth (Penniman) Morse were: Eliza- beth, born 1701; Zipporah. April 20, 1702; Samuel, May 4, 1703, settled in Uxbridge; Mary, 1707, set- tled in Worcester, married - Lovell; Jemima, 1709: Joshua, December 28, 1710: Eliakim, 1712; Lydia, October 27. 1714; Ruth, October 6, 1716; Ebenezer, mentioned below; Joseph, November 30, 1721, married Olive Mason, and settled in Nova Scotia.

(V) Rev. Ebenezer Morse, son of Joshua Morse (4), was born in Medfield, Massachusetts, March 2, 1717-8. He graduated at Harvard College in 1737 and was settled as minister of Shrewsbury North District. now Boylston, Massachusetts, December 26, 1743. His relations with his parish were pleasant until just before the revolution when political feeling was intense. He was summarily dismissed June, 1775. and excluded from his pulpit for "toryism;" confined to the town limits and later re-dismissed by advice of an ecclesiastical council. He then prac- ticed medicine during the remainder of his active days. He died in 1802, at the age of eighty-four. He married Persis Bush, daughter of John Bush, November 27, 1745. He married (second) Rebecca Symmes, widow of Thomas Symmes, who died in the revolution. The children of Rev. Ebenezer and Persis (Bush) Morse were: Dr. John, mentioned below : Mary, born December 24, 1747; Eliakim, March 8. 1750, died 1758; Joshua, March 8, 1752, mentioned below ; Ebenezer, June 11, 1754, died young ; Ebenezer, July 10. 1755; Joseph, January, 1757, married Sophia Bigelow: Amherst, November II. 1760; Annis, May 19, 1764; Mary, August 12, 1767.

(VI) Dr. John Morse, eldest son of Rev. Ebenezer Morse (5), was born in Shrewsbury (now Boyls- ton). July 15, 1746; married May 11, 1769, Eliza- heth Andrews. mentioned below, of Boylston. They removed to Newfane, Vermont, and settled on the farm late of Elwin Ingram, June, 1774. Theirs was the twentieth family to settle. He was the first physician and for many years the only one in the town; his services were of inestimable value to the pioneers. He died April 7. 1822, on the farm which he had cleared and on which he had lived half a century. His children were: Elizabeth, born March 2. 1770, at Boylston; John, January 15, 1773, at Boylston: Ebenezer, July 14 1775, at Newfane; Jonathan, January 9, 1778; Mary, September 10, 1782: Thomas Andrews. mentioned below.

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Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 139

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 824

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824