Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 147

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 147

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VI) Colonel James Estabrook, son of James Estabrook (5), was born in Holden, Massachusetts, September 4, 1796. Although known generally as a Worcester man, he never forgot his native town. He was raised in Holden and attended school there, and the Leicester academy. He got his start in life there. Colonel James Estabrook, as he was always called, obtained the title as the commander of the last regiment of cavalry maintained in the

county, He led his regiment, in 1824, at the re-

ception to Lafayette in Worcester, having the right of line as escort. He was not only prominent as an officer of the town, and as a military man at an early age, but as a Free Mason. In 1825 the Wor- cester County Commandery, Knights Templar, was organized, at Holden, with Colonel Estabrook as the Eminent Commander. Some of the ceremonies were held on the Holden common. He married Almira Read of Rutland, in 1822 and removed to that town for a time. In 1828 he came to Wor- cester to live, and, with the exception of a few years spent in Boston, his life was identified with the town and city of Worcester, and he played an important part in its development and prosperity. In 1829 he began business in Worcester in the re- tail grocery trade, with Gen. Nathaniel Heard as partner, in the old Green store, as it was called, but soon removed to Boston. Upon his return to Worcester he again opened a grocery store. His second location was in Lincoln square, in the Salis- bury block. He was not only a successful merchant, but became interested in real estate and various manufacturing enterprises. Ile was for many years one of the most active business men of the city, a leading citizen in every sense of the term. He was sheriff of the county when the coalition of the Dem- ocrats and Free Soilers defeated the old Whig party, and put Governor Boutwell in office. The Whigs temporarily recovered power, and he lost the place after two years. He was an officer in the custom house, Boston, for a time. But usually he affiliated with the minority party and, therefore, held few offices. He was one of the eight men who voted for Andrew Jackson. It must be admitted that his prestige in his party all over the state would have placed within his reach almost any office, had his party been in the ascendancy. He was self-educated but well-educated, for he had a shrewd and con- scientious teacher. He was the only man elected to the Worcester Fire Society, then and now the most exclusive, and one of the oldest, organizations in Worcester. He was evidently welcomed, when he first came to Worcester, as a man of importance. Hle was active in the Old South Church and later in Union Church. He died in Worcester, 1874.

In 1841 he sent a characteristic greeting to Holden on the occasion of the centennial celebration there. It was: "The Early Settlers of Holden : Distinguished for their love of order, peace and so- briety, and piously devoted to the cause of civil and religious liberty, may we, their descendants, cherish their virtues and not prove recreant sons by neglecting to do all in our power to hand them unimpaired to those who shall come after us." The late Hon. John D. Washburn wrote of him: "In stature he was below middle height. His complex- ion was very dark. His manner quick, his eye bright and intelligent. *

* He was courteous to his opponents ; refrained from the imputation of un- worthy motives, and carried none of the bitterness of party contest into the relations of private life."

The old homestead was located where the Nor- wich & Worcester freight station is now. He mar- ried Almira Read, of Rutland, Massachusetts, 1822. Children of James and Almira (Read) Estabrook : 1. Almira Rowena Julietta, born July 31, 1824. 2. James E., born October 29, 1829, at Worcester. 3. Arthur Edgar, born in Boston, August II, 1832. 4. Francis Albert, born April 22, 1835, in Boston. 5. Willis Herbert, born in Worcester, November 29, 18.43, died December 4, 1844.

(VII) James E. Estabrook, son of Colonel James Estabrook (6), was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, October 29, 1829. He attended the Worcester public schools and fitted for college in the

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Worcester high school. He was graduated from Yale College in 1851, He then studied law with Judge Benjamin F. Thomas, in Worcester, attended the Harvard law school and was admitted to the bar in the autumn of 1853, at the age of twenty- three. Later he became the law partner of Dwight Foster, late justice of the Massachusetts supreme court, and practiced law until the outbreak of the civil war.

Colonel Estabrook, as he is generally called by his friends, responded promptly to the call for arms, although politically he had acted with the Democratic party. His example was of particular value to the Union cause at that time. He was assigned to duty on the staff of General Charles Devens, and later served on the staff of General Benjamin F. Butler, in the Department of the Gulf. Compelled to resign from the service by sickness, he returned to Worcester. His father left a large estate, and the increase in real estate values added to it materially. Mr. Estabrook found his pri- vate interests sufficient to engross his attention and abilities, and since the war he has not actively pract- iced law. He has been active in politics, however, and has been a leader of the Democratic party in this section for fifty years. Not only in Worcester and Massachusetts but in national affairs he has been an influence in shaping history. He has been a delegate to almost every national convention of the Democratic party since the close of the civil war. He has been chairman of the Democratic state central committee of Massachusetts, as well as the county, district, congressional, and city com- mittees of his party. Even his political opponents have given him respect and esteem. Judge Adin Thayer, who for many years was leader of the dominant Republican party in Worcester county, was a close personal friend of Colonel Estabrook. They knew how to retain their friendship even in the exigencies of political controversy, because both played fair and both deserved the respect and con- fidence of their followers and the people. It was the natural and graceful thing for the Democratic leaders to induce President Cleveland to appoint Colonel Estabrook postmaster, when a Democratic administration came into power. He served with credit during his term of office. He was succeeded by the late J. Everts Greene, for many years the associate editor of the Worcester Spy, when the Democratic administration was ended. Colonel Esta- brook served the city of Worcester on the school board. He was president of the common council in 1861 and served in the legislature in 1874. He represented the city for some time in the general court. He has been a director of the free public library, a position most congenial to him. He has one of the best private libraries in the city, and has always been fonder of books than of any other recreation or amusement. He never married. He has made his home with his brother for many years in his handsome residence, 8 Lagrange street, Wor- cester.

(VII) Arthur Edgar Estabrook, son of Colonel James Estabrook (6), was born in Boston, August 11, 1832, but came to Worcester with his parents when very young. Except for two years, 1851 to 1853, he has lived in Worcester. He was educated in the Worcester schools. His life has largely been associated with that of his father whom he assisted, until his death, in his various business enterprises, and since then in the care and management of the estate. He and his brother, James E. Estabrook, have been associated together in their business in- terests. He is an officer of the Union Congrega- tional society. He is considered a man of sagacity

and high business principles by the business leaders. of the city. He married November 15, 1873, Emily H. Hickox at Cleveland, Ohio. She was educated in the public schools of Akron, Ohio. She died in 1882. Children of Arthur Edgar and Emily 11. (Hickox) Estabrook: I. Millicent Barrett, born in Worcester, October 20, 1874, tutored by Miss Wil- liams for ten years; graduated at Smith College in 1895. 2. Jane D., born in Worcester, September 14, 1876, educated 'by Miss Williams, her tutor; gradu- ated at Smith College in 1896. She married Dr. Arthur Errell, September 6, 1905. He is a pro- fessor in the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

NELSON FAMILY. Thomas Nelson (1), the immigrant ancestor of the Nelson family of Grafton, to which Charles H. Nelson belonged, was the wealthiest of the Yorkshiremen who founded Row- ley, Massachusetts. He was given the prefix "Mr." in the early records, signifying a man of high station. He came first to Boston and was one of the twenty families that emigrated with the Rev. Ezekiel Rogers from Rowley, England, in December, 1638. They probably spent the winter in Salem and vicinity, and Nelson went with them in the spring to a place between Ipswich and Newbury, called at first Mr. Rogers's Plantation. In the following Sep- tember the general court gave it the name Rowley. Nelson lent money on mortgage to Richard Evered, of Cambridge, showing that he had money to invest when he came over. Thomas Nelson was admitted a freeman May 23, 1639; was deputy to general court 1640 and 1641 ; and commissioner of the court, In 1643 he was chairman of a committee to make a survey of the town and lay out and register lots, In October, 1644, he was appointed magistrate with power to perform marriages. He built mills in 1640-42. In January. 1644, the town granted him thirty-six acres on the mill field, ten of which were to encourage him in building a mill. The Nelson mill was built just above tide water on Mill river, where there have been mills down to the present time, now owned by Nathaniel N. Dummer, a de- scendant of the family to which the wife of the immigrant Nelson belonged. Nelson's grist mill was leased in 1643 to John Pearson. He went to England on business and died there. He made his will here, adding to it when about to start for honie, December 4, 1645, and August 6, 1648. It was proved February 21, 1650. He bequeathed to his son Phillip a double portion : to sons Thomas and Samuel and daughter Mercy. He refers to his aunt Katherine Witham, and to a legacy she had left to his eldest son, Phillip. Richard Bellingham and Richard Dilin- mer were executors, and had charge of the educa- tion of the three youngest children. He left to his wife Joan his mill, mill house and lands at Rowley for her life, the reversion to his children. The commissioners of the estate found in Mr. Dummer's hands 1,685 pounds. The division of the houses and lands was agreed upon September 16, 1676, by the sons Philip and Thomas Nelson, and John Stocke, who married their sister Mercy, his attorney, Benja- min Alford, acting for him. The probate account shows that the administrator went to York and Hull to collect moneys due the estate, proved the will, and had it recorded in England. He married first -, who came with him and died soon. He mar- ried (second), contract dated February 15,

1641-2, Joan, daughter of Thomas Dummer, niece of the famous Richard Dummer. Thomas Dummer was from Chicknell, North Stone- ham, county Hants, England, and came in the "Bevis," May, 1638, with daughter Joan, aged nineteen years, settled at Rowley, Newbury and'

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Salisbury. His will was proved in England, Novem- ber 9. 1650. In it he mentions his eldest daughter Jane Nelson. Children of Thomas and Joan (Dum- mer) Nelson: I. Phillip, born in England, 1636, died August 19. 1691. 2. Thomas, born in England, 1638, died April 6, 1712. 3. Mercy, born at Row- ley, February 26, 1643-4: married John Stork. 4 Samuel, born 1646, at Rowley. 5. Mary, born Decem- ber 21. 1648, at Rowley.

(Il) Sergeant Thomas Nelson, second son of Thomas Nelson (1), born in England, 1638. died April 6. 1712. He married Ann, daughter of Francis Lambert, the immigrant settler. She died January 2, 1678. He married (second), May 18. 1680. Mary Lunt, of Newburg, died May 28. 1688. He married (third). April 9, 1690, Philippa Platts, of Rowley, died October 10, 1709. He was admitted a freeman May 3. 1665. The gravestone of Thomas Nelson at Rowley has the following inscription : "Here Lyes buried Mr. Thomas Nelson, who died April ye 5th, 1712.

" Who lived a saintlike, harmless life. Loved all good books, but no bad strife. Who dyed a quiet easie death And to Christ resigned his breath So live, my sons, my Christ O seek. And when you die, like Christ be meek."

The children of Thomas and Ann Nelson were : I. Thomas, mentioned below. 2. Dorothy, born Feb- ruary 14. 1662. 3. Hannah, born June 22, 1665. 4. Jonathan, born November 20, 1667, died 1690. 5. Elizabeth, born February 25, 1669: died December 31, 1688. 6. Gershom, born July 11, 1672; removed to Mendon, died there September 15, 1727. 7. Fran- cis, born February 19, 1675. Children of Thomas and Mary Nelson: 8. Ephraim, born March 23, 1681.

(III) Thomas Nelson, eldest child of Thomas Nelson (2). born March 16, 1661; died May 20, 1719, aged fifty-nine years. He married Hannalı 1690. They resided at Rowley, and there their children were born: I. Samuel, born February 14. 1691: married, September 3. 1721. Hannah Palmer ; removed to Upton about 1728, where Han- nah, his wife, died November 13. 1788, aged ninety- two years. 2. Hannah. born December 17, 1693, removed to Upton. Massachusetts, with her brother. 3. Abigail, born February 4. 1696: died May 12, 1716. 4. Lieutenant Jonathan, mentioned below. 5. Dorothy, born Rowley. 1701. died at Upton, 1794; resided with brother Jonathan: never married. 6. Elizabeth, born in Rowley, October 5, 1704; married Joseph Aspinwall, June 5. 1728.

(IV) Lieutenant Jonathan Nelson, son of Thomas Nelson (3), was born in Rowley, December. 1698, died at Upton. August 29, 1792, aged ninety-four years. He settled in Upton. He married first, Mary -, died February 16, 1730. He married (second), 1732, Sarah Ames, died March 6. 1740. He mar- ried third (intentions dated November 27), 1742, Anna Jones, died May 7, 1780. Children of Jona- than and Sarah Nelson: 1. Jonathan, born 1732, died September 16. 1732. 2. Nathan, born October 7, 1733, died young. 3. Mary, born February 6, 1735-6: died April 15. 1736. 4. David. mentioned below. 5. Jonathan. born January 26. 1739-40: died March 10. 1740. Children of Jonathan and Anna below. 5. Jonathan, born January 26. 1739-40; died March 8. 1743-4. 7. Sarah. born 1741 ; married Stephen Williams, of Uxbridge. Massachusetts. 8. Mary, born August 14. 1745: died May 24, 1826. aged eighty-one years: married Grindall Wood. of Mendon, who died June 29. 1825: one son and four daughters. 9. Hannah, born June 5. 1749: married Thomas Barden, 1770: joined Shaker settlement

at Harvard ; one son, Shadrach. 10. Lois, born March 19. 1752; married - White, of Gorham, Massa- chusetts. II. Isaac, born October 16, 1755; died December 30, 1812, from injuries received from falling tree; married Hannah Fisk, of Upton.

(V) David Nelson, son of Lieutenant Jonathan Nelson (4), born June 4, 1737, in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He married first, 1761, Susannah Bachelder, of Upton; second, Susannah, daughter of John Brigham, November 24, 1785. He died March 30, 1830, aged ninety-three years. His widow died March 12, 1830, aged eighty-five years. Chil- dren of David and Susannah ( Bachelder) Nelson : I. Abijah. born at Shrewsbury, March 28, 1762; married Sarah, daughter of Asa Mixer, 1791. 2. Susannah, born December 30, 1764: married Captain Peter Salter, 1784; removed to western New York; three sons and two daughters. 3. Thankful, born September 21, 1766. 4. David, Jr., born May 23, 1769; married Lucy Adams, of Northbridge; nine daughters. 5. Solomon, born August 10. 1771 ; mar- ried Elizabeth Dunn, of Northbridge; removed to Ohio: four sons and three daughters. 6. Jonathan, born July 6, 1773: married Eunice Stone, March 8, 1798. 7. Daniel, born December 15, 1775; removed to Ohio: married Sarah Smith, of Orange. Ver- mont. 8. Josiah, mentioned below. 9. Amasa, born October 2. 1780 : married a daughter of Daniel Mix- ter. 10. Sarah, born March 20, 1783: married. 1806, Isaac Newton: four sons and two daughters.

(VI) Josiah Nelson, son of David Nelson (5), was born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, February 15, 1778. He lived on the homestead of his fathers in his native town. He married Sophia Goddard, June 28. 1812, at Shrewsbury. Their children: I. James Horace, born October 29. 1814; died Febru- ary, 1815. 2. Luther Goddard, born March 31, 1816; married Sarah Newton. 3. Henry Harrison, born January 23. 1818. 4. Henry, born February 20, 1819; married Susan Vickers; two sons. 5. Jasper Stone, mentioned below.

(VII) Jasper Stone Nelson, son of Josiah Nel- son (6), was born in Shrewsbury. Massachusetts, June 2. 1822, on the old homestead that has been in the Nelson family since revolutionary days. He attended the district school of his native town and worked on the farm after the fashion of the farm- er's boy of his day until he was eighteen years old. He finished his education with one term at Worcester Academy. He learned the trade of shoe- maker from his elder brother. and until about twenty-three years old he divided his time between the farm and the bench. In 1845 his career as a shoe manufacturer began in Shrewsbury. The shop in which his first shoes were made was a plain wooden building ten by thirteen feet. situated only a few rods from the house in which he was born. His business prospered, and he doubled the size of his little shop. He and his brother worked together. They selected the leather and other stock, prepared it themselves for the shoemakers, most of whom sewed and treed and lasted the boots and shoes in their own little shops on their farms. The Nelson brothers were also their own salesmen. They managed to produce satisfactory goods and their business prospered. In 1848 Mr. Nelson removed to what is now North Grafton, and became asso- ciated with James S. Stone of Boston, a native and former resident of Grafton. In 1850 Stone & Nel- son purchased a tract of land near the Boston & Albany station, and with it a building which forms part of the present establishment. Mr. Nelson bought out his partner November 1, 1857, and carried on the business in his own name until January 1, 1869, when George H. Rugg, a former employe became

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his partner. In 1873 Charles H. Nelson, his only son, also became a partner. Four years later Mr. Rugg retired, January 1, 1877, and the firm during the rest of its existence was known as J. S. Nelson & Son. The factory, which was originally thirty by forty feet, two stories high, has been enlarged front time to time to meet the requirements of steadily growing business, until at the time of Mr. Nelson's death the buildings were 30 by 264 feet, four stories high, and the firm employed two hundred hands.

During the civil war he was on a special com- mittee chosen by the town to co-operate with the selectmen in charge of the military affairs of the town. and he was foremost in the work of relief for those left destitute by the soldiers at the front or hereaved by their death. He led the movement to give aid and encouragement to the troops in every way. He was on the board of selectmen two years. and a representative to general court in 1870-71. He was a stanch Republican in politics. Mr. Nelson was an ideal employer, never losing the knowledge that he himself gained as a shoemaker at the bench, nor his sympathy and understanding of the men who worked for him. He was just and honorable in dealing with his hands. In turn the men loved and respected him. He was an earnest supporter of the temperance movement, a man of law and order, loving justice and righteousness. He was an active member of the Baptist church, and a liberal contributor to its various funds. One who knew Mr. Nelson wrote of him: "To known Mr. Nelson at his best was to know him as a friend, and those thus favored-and there were many, for he was a man to attract others-found in him at all times, and under all circumstances, the courteous gentleman, the genial companion and sympathetic lielper. He was a man of strong attachments, loyal to his friends and eminently domestic in his habits; he loved his home, and was not easily enticed away from its luxury and comforts." In person Mr. Nelson was a man of fine physique and command- ing presence, blessed with a vigorous constitution, and until the closing year of his life he enjoyed excellent health. He died October 22. 1884, while yet upon the rising tide of a prosperous business career, beloved and mourned by all who knew him. He married. October 31. 1848, Mary E. Wheelock, daughter of Gardner Wheelock. She was born Janu- ary I. 1825, and died June 26, 1896. Their children : I. Emma Elizabeth, born July 31, 1849: died Decem- ber 3. 1865. 2. Charles Horatio, mentioned below. 3. Carrie Gilman, born September 24, 1855; died July 0. 1869.

(VIII) Charles Horatio Nelson, son of Jasper Stone Nelson (7). was born in Grafton, Massachut- setts. January 9, 1852. He was educated in the pub- lic schools of his native town, and at an early age became familiar with the various departments of his father's factory. He became a partner at the age of twenty-one. and the firm name hecame J. S. Nelson & Son. He acted successively as salesman. buyer and manager of the concern, and for twenty years after his father's death he conducted the busi- ness. The change from firm to a corporation affected the name slightly. The J. S. Nelson Shoe Company succeeded J. S. Nelson & Son. Mr. Nelson was principal owner and president of the concern. He increased the business, improved the plant with new machinery. and continued its history of prosperity and growth up to the time of his last illness. The line of footwear produced in late years by this factory was used exclusively by the high-class retail trade in all parts of the United States: before this the company had only manufactured the plainest kind of goods. Although not an old man when he died,

Mr. Nelson was a veteran among shoe manufac- turers. He had taken part in the revolution of ways and means of making shoes, and had the intelligence and foresight to profit instead of losing by the changes. He an example of progress and enterprise in this line of business. About a year before his death his health failed and he had to withdraw from active business. Ow- ing to his continued illness the business was wound up, the corporation dissolved, and the factory that had so long been the centre of an important in- dustry became silent and empty. The Boot and Shoe Recorder said of him at the time of his death: "He was for many years a leading representative of the New England shoe manufacturing business having been first associated with his father in the produc- tion of men's and women's plain shoes at North Grafton, and in later years becoming the head of the business. * * * His social qualities endeared him to a large circle of friends in and out of the trade. In Boston he was among the best known of the many shoe manufacturers who visited the city frequently. His erect figure and quick alert step made him conspicuous at all times, while his hearty greeting was invariably forthcoming."

The following tribute from the pen of a close personal friend was published in the Boston Herald : "Of the typical virtues of a high-minded and up- right New England maufacturer even those who knew him only casually could readily bear witness. His energy, resourcefulness, integrity and courage here could be seen toward his employes who de- pended on him, his liberality toward any that stood in need of him-these, though obviously visible to only a limited circle, could also not be hidden. But the fine .poise of his intellect, his stern, uncom- promising with wrong, his delicate perception of true beauty in art, going straight to the core thereof with keen discernment ; his truly classic enthusiasm, as distinguishing from the fancy of the faddists, for nature's flowers, in nature's own seasons, in nature's own surroundings ; his democratic whole- heartedness withal in everything that appealed to him, from whatever field of letters and life, and only the best did appeal to him-these qualities stamping him as they do as one of nature's own noblemen, were of necessity, visible only to the few. He had ample means to satisfy his love for flowers, to have them within his own reach at all seasons of the year. But instead, he had the poet boy's joy in going himself into nature's own hidden recesses to gather them there with his own hands, even if he had to walk miles, and into regions where nature exacts her tribute of discomfort to the flesh before yielding up her treasures. In spite of his four and fifty years Charles Horatio Nelson was a young man ; young to the last in his energy, young in his feeling, young in his enthusiasms; young. above all, in his devotion to loved ones. He was liked by all, loved by not a few. and he inspired with a passionate devotion to himself those who were entitled to passionate devotion from him. In Charles H. Nel- son, his townsmen in Grafton, where he was born, where he had lived all his days, lose not only a great industrial force, which will henceforth be missed there even materially, but they lose also a most valued citizen, who never shrank from the perform- ance of a public duty, even if it involved consc- quences disagrecable to himself. But his friends mourn in him a soul the like of which is only rarely met, and the void created in their hearts by his departure they feel to be one that cannot be filled." (I. P.)

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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 147

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