Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 59

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 59

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He formed a partnership with the late Charles Sibley, the deputy sheriff and court crier for many years afterwards. The firm name was Sibley & Scott. They began business May 22, 1852, in the store at the south corner of Main and Sudbury streets. The partnership was dissolved in 1854. Mr. Scott entered into a new partnership with Thomas Pierce, his father-in-law, for the purpose of manu- facturing boots and shoes. Their factory was on Main street opposite the foot of Chatham street. The firm managed to pull through the financial panic of IS57 with severe losses, but without failure. In 1858, however, Mr. Scott retired from the shoe business and went to work again for his brother David, May 1, 1858. He remained with him until December 1, 1866, when he started to build Scott's block at the junction of Main and Southbridge streets, on a triangular lot, from which it is gen- erally called the "Flatiron Building." When the building was completed he opened a drug store in the north store July 4, 1867, and this store has been conducted successfully there by Mr. Scott. and since his death by his son, George T. The store was favorably located and Mr. Scott took rank among the most successful merchants of the city.

He found much pleasure in genealogical and antiquarian research. He collected antiques, coins, medals, Indian implements of stone, etc. He had a very large and valuable collection which after his deathi was presented to the Worcester Society of Antiquity, of which he was an active and interested member. Among other things of special value in this collection are the pewter platters. He loved travel and knew his own country thoroughly. He went to California when trips for pleasure to that state were rare. Ile went by steamer by way of the

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Isthmus of Panama, and he brought back with him, after a stay of five months, an exceedingly interest- ing collection of natural curiosities, such as pebbles, mosses, chemicals, etc. He spent the last year of his life in Europe, a country that fascinated him with its antiquities and historical researches.

Mr. Scott was well known in Masonic circles. He was a member of Montacute Lodge; of which he was the Worshipful Master in 1871, declining a re-election; a member of Worcester Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; of Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Worcester Lodge of Perfection, to which he was exalted September 13, 1863. He was a charter member of the Worcester Continentals and remained an active member until his last trip to Europe, when he was made an hon- orary member. He was also a member of Stella Chapter, order of the Eastern Star; Hopewell Coun- cil, Legion of Honor; the Worcester Council, Royal Arcanum; the Worcester County Mechanics' Asso- ciation: the Worcester Art Students' Club; the American Pharmaceutical Association; the Massa- chusetts College of Pharmacy; and the Worcester Pharmaceutical Association, of which he was the first president. He was a regular attendant of the Salem Street Congregational Church from the time he came to Worcester until he left for his last trip abroad, when he deeded his pew to the society. lle sat under the preaching and pastorates of Rev. George Bushnell, Rev. Merrill Richardson and Rev. Charles M. Lamson.

He was of a cheerful, self-sacrificing disposition, ready and willing to extend a helping hand in case of need. He was unwilling to mar the pleasure of others, a characteristic that was shown even during the last few weeks of his life when, rather than de- tain the party with which he was travelling at Cairo in Egypt, he decided, only two weeks before his death, to push on up the River Nile with them. On his arrival at Luxor he was so exhausted that he had to be carried by two natives to the hotel. When questioned within three days of his death whether he would remain at Luxor or return with the party to Cairo, he replied: "I will return with you to Cairo, so as to be nearer my Heavenly home." He was unconscious when the boat arrived at Cairo and died three days afterward February 19, 1883, aged fifty-nine years, seven months, seven days. His wife died January 17, 1904.

He married (first) June 15, 1845. Maria E. Crosby, of Brookfield, daughter of his father's third wife. She had one son, Charles Nelson, born at Auburn April 6, 1846. She died at the age of twenty-four years, July 27, 1847. He married (sec- ond) Julia A. Pierce, daughter of Major Thomas and Maria (Mason) Pierce, May 6, 1851. She had one son, George T., born October 30, 1853. She died at Boston, January 17, 1904.

(V) Charles N. Scott, eldest son of Nelson Ryan Scott (4), was born in Auburn, Massachu- setts, April 6, 1846. He was educated in the public and high schools of the city and at the Highland Military Academy. He entered the United States navy as midshipman. He was in the United States Naval Academy during the war when it was located at Newport, and later when it was back in the old home at Annapolis. He was in the same class with Commodore Richard T. Wainright; with Adolph Marix, who was judge advocate at the hearing on the Maine disaster, and with Seaton Shroeder, ex- governor of Guam. Mr. Scott suffered a severe at- tack of malaria and was pronounced by a medical board physically unfit for naval service. He resigned before graduating and returned to his home in Wor- cester. When the drug store was opened he en-

tered upon an apprenticeship in pharmacy. After three years in the drug business he was obliged to leave to take charge of the property of his late father-in-law, Benjamin Goddard, who died sud- denly. Mr. Goddard was the owner of a large jewelry business which was continued by Mr. Scott in partnership with Frank A. Knowlton, under the firm name of Benjamin Goddard & Co. In 1876 Mr. Knowlton purchased the interests of the God- dard estate and the partnership was dissolved. The jewelry store of Mr. Goddard was for a long time located at the corner of Main and Walnut streets. In July, 1876, he opened a jewelry store on Main

street, opposite Foster street. Ile removed later to the Butman block, corner of Elm and Main streets. Then he removed to the south store of Scott's block, where he was in business for about five years. In 1888 he retired from the jewelry business, and with the exception of three years, when he was in the brokerage business with an of- fice in the Taylor building, opposite the city hall, he has not been engaged in any active business. He is a member of Montacute Lodge of Free Ma- sons; of Eureka Royal Arch Chapter, and of Wor- cester County Commandery, Knights Templar. He is a Republican in politics. He attends Plymouth Congregational Church.

Mr. Scott has had the same love of travel and interest in genealogy, archaeology and antiquities that characterized his father. He spent many win- ters in the tropics and is quite familiar with Ja- maica, Cuba, and the West Indies. He was in Cuba when the war broke out, and crossed the island under a guard of Spanish soldiers on his way home.

He married, May 3, 1869, Ella Frances Goddard, daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Dolliver) God- dard. Benjamin Goddard was born May 15, 1813, in Philadelphia. Martha Dolliver was born in Wor- cester, July 8, 1814. The children of Charles N. and Ella Frances (Goddard) Scott are: Arthur Nelson, born in Worcester, January 29, 1870, died August 12, 1886, drowned while bathing in Coe's Pond, just after entering Massachusetts Institute of Technology at the age of fifteen with honors in French and English; Ralph Goddard, born at Worcester, No- vember 10, 1884, died October 24, 1890: Chester Francis, born in Worcester, October 20, 1887, grad- uate of the English high school.

(V) George T. Scott, youngest son of Nelson Ryan Scott (4), was born in Worcester, Massa -- chusetts, October 30, 1853. He received his early education in the Worcester public schools. He also attended the academy at Easthampton, Massachu- setts. He then entered the drug store of his father and learned the business, for which he showed a natural aptitude. He became a skillful pharmacist and soon assumed the burden of the business. His father took him into partnership in 1875. After his father's death he became the sole owner of the business which he has carried on successfully to the present time. His drug store has held its rank as one of the leading stores of its line in the city. He is a prominent Free Mason, a member of Athelstan Lodge, Eureka Chapter, Hiram Council, Worcester County Commandery of Knights Templar, and re- _ ceived the thirty-second in the Massachusetts Con- sistory. He is also a member of the Worcester Pharmaceutical Association ; the American Pharma- ceutical Association ; Conquest Council, Royal Ar- canum, and the Worcester County Mechanics' Asso- ciation.

He married, October 28, 1879, Emma E. Long- ley, of Worcester, who was born December 26, 1856, died September 18, 1903, daughter of James O. and Caroline E. Longley. James O. Longley was

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born in Boylston, September 11, 1830. Caroline (Lawrence ) Longley was born in West Brookfield. July 30, 1833. Their children are: Harry Longley, born in Worcester, February 5, 1882, associated with liis father in the drug store; Nelson Theo, born in Worcester, February 7, 1884, associated with his father in the drug store; Sidney Mason, born in Worcester, June 4, 1889, student in the South higli school; Forrest L., born September 9, 1890, died December 21, 1891.

HENRY BRANNON, manufacturer of Wor- cester, is a striking example of a self-made inan, one who, favored by no stroke of luck or family heritage. has carved out his own career and achieved conspicuous success entirely through the exercise of unflagging industry, indomitable resolution and wise judgment.

He is a native of England, born in Nottingham, March 7, 1850, a son of John and Margaret E. Bran- non. The father was a trunk inaker in that city. He came to the United States in the year in which his son was born, and the following year sent for his wife and child, who joined him in Boston. In 1857 Mr. Brannon bought a farm in Princeton, Massachusetts, and was engaged in its cultivation during the remainder of his life. He was a Repub- lican in politics, and his first vote after his naturali- zation was cast for Abraham Lincoln. at the first election of that immortal man. Mrs. Brannon died in 1892. and her husband five years afterwards, in 1897. They had ten children, of whom two died in infancy : the oldest being Henry. of whom further ; Margaret E., James H., William E., Katie MI., died aged eleven years, Charles F., Sarah B., and A. Gertrude.

Henry, eldest child of John and Margaret E. Brannon, was less than a year old when his parents arrived in the United States. He received his edu- cation in the common schools of Princeton, Massa- chusetts, and at the early age of sixteen years went to work, devoting his earnings to assist his father in liquidating a mortgaged indebtedness on the farm which he had purchased. Young Brannon's first employment was in the Crompton Loom Works in Worcester, where he remained for five years. He then worked for some years in Taylor & Farley's organ factory in the same city. In 1874, at the age of twenty-four, having acquired a little money by dint of energetic labor and careful economy, he pur- chased the turning and cabinet shop of J. M. Goodell in Worcester, and has been the proprietor of that establishment ever since. Mr, Brannon has de- veloped a business of considerable proportions, one of the first in its particular line. His product in- cludes all descriptions of doors, sash and blind work, door and window screens, and fine house finishing wood work. A specialty for which his factory is widely famed is artistic bank, office, store and other fine hardwood cabinet work, made to order. and after special designs. The establishment is equipped with the most modern machinery, and employs seven- teen operatives throughout the year.

Mr. Brannon is actively identified with various institutions of a semi-public nature, and which largely enter into the life of the community. He is a member of the directorate of the Worcester Co- operative Bank, and has served as trustee of the City Hospital, a trustee of the Mechanics' Associa- tion, and a director and treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association. Political honors have been bestowed upon him, and he has served with tact. judgment and efficiency for four terms as a member of the board of aldermen from the fifth ward, and in his last term honorably filled the posi-

tion of president of the board, the most important in the gift of the citizens, next to that of mayor. He served in the Old State Guard with the rank of orderly sergeant, and is an honorary member of the Worcester City Guards, in which he served four years. He is a member of the Union Congregational Church of Worcester. has been treasurer of the church and parish, and on the standing committee of the church for many years. He is a member of the Congregational Club, Worcester Society of Anti- quity, Worcester Board of Trade, and Home Market Club of Boston. Mr. Brannon is also connected with the local lodge of Odd Fellows. In Masonry he is a Knight Templar, and a trustee of the permanent fund of the Commandery; also a trustee of the Masonic Fraternity and vice-president of the Ma- sonic Charity and Educational Society. In politics he is an unswerving Republican. He is deeply in- terested in all things affecting the community, and has rendered efficient aid in behalf of municipal im- provements as well as religious, educational and benevolent institutions.

Mr. Brannon is a man of sterling business integ- rity. His word is as good as his bond, and that has been rated AA in the first grade among finan- cial agencies for many years. The popularity of Mr. Brannon among his fellow citizens was demonstrated some time ago, when he had a unanimous request from the prominent Republicans of his ward to be their nominee for the position of representative to the legislature. His probity of character, companion- able disposition, and genius as a master workman have all tended to place him in an enviable position among his fellow citizens. He has taken his own full share in the duties of a public-spirited citizen, and all the interests that have engaged his attention, included in the organizations already mentioned, par- ticularly has he rendered invaluable service to the church in which he is an honored member and also in the Y. M. C. A .. in which organization he has received signal honors, and done yeoman service for the young men of the city.

February 14, 1878, Mr. Brannon was united in marriage to Gertrude Goddard, oldest daughter of Dorrance S. Goddard, who for many years was con- nected with the wire industry in Worcester, and whose sketch appears in this work. By this mar- riage were born these children: Alice M., a gradu- ate of the high school and Smith College, and is a school teacher: Mildred I., a graduate of the school of Domestic Science of Boston: Olive G., a high school graduate, and bookkeeper in her father's office: Henry G., who is completing his course in the high school; Roger W .; Dorothy W .: Edna L. ; and two who died in infancy.

HARRISON GRAY OTIS. The Otis family has had many men of distinction from colonial times to the present and all are of the same family, all descendants of the same progenitor. John Otis, or as the name is spelled otherwise Attis, Oates, Oatise. The English family has a coat of arms.

(I) John Otis, the emigrant ancestor of Har- rison Gray Otis, John P. K. Otis and Mary Eliza- beth Otis. of Worcester, Massachusetts, was born in Barnstable. England, in 1581. He settled in Hingham in New England. He was there at the time of the first division and drew land in 1635. Most of the early settlers in Hingham, Massachu- setts, were from Hingham, England, and it is thought that Otis lived in Hingham for a time before com- ing to New England. His homestead was on Otis Hill in the southwest part of Hingham, Massachu- setts. He had numerous grants of land between 1635 and 1647. He was admitted a freeman March

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Henry Brannon

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3. 1635-6. He was a town officer. Ilis buildings burned March 15, 1645-6. He removed about 1655 to Weymouth, Massachusetts.

He married (first) Margaret in England. She died in Hingham, June 28, 1653. He married (second ) and his widow drew land in Weymouth in 1663. He died in Weymouth, May 31, 1657, aged seventy-six. His will was dated the day before his death and was proved July 28, 1657. He bequeathed to his wife; to son John, who was made executor ; to daughter Margaret Burton and her three chil- dren; to daughter Hannah Gile: to Mary and Thomas Gile, Jr .; to daughters Anne and Alice. His widow Elizabeth made will September 12, 1672, · proved July 17, 1676, and bequeathed to son John Streme ; daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law, Lieu- tenant John Holbrook. The children of John Otis were: John, see forward; Richard, went to Wey- mouth in 1654, settled in Dover, New Hampshire, in 1662; killed by the Indians 1689 with his son Stephen: wife and child captured and sold to the French; his widow married a Frenchman in Canada, but after his death she returned to her old home and married (third) Captain Thomas Baker; Mar- garet, married Thomas Burton, of Hingham; Han- nah. married Thomas Gile; Ann; Alice.

(II) John Otis, eldest son of John Otis (I), was born in Barnstable, Devonshire, England, in 1620. He came to New England with his parents and lived on Otis Hill in Hingham. Ile held land in Hingham in 1668-9. In 1661 John Otis removed to Scituate, where John Otis was buried May 8, 16.11. It seems likely that John Otis, who died there and of whom all record is lacking, may be father of John Otis (I) and grandfather of John Otis (II), who went to Scituate twenty years later to live. He probably had land there. He bought a house of Deacon Thomas Robinson, south of Coleman's hill. Otis also bought of John Hatherly twenty- three shares of the Conihasset partnership of forty shares. This Conihasset tract was three miles square and included parts of the present towns of Hanover and Abington. He was admitted a freeman at Hing- ham, 1662, and at Barnstable, Massachusetts, in 1678. He settled in Barnstable on the Otis farm, opposite Hinkley lane, near the marshes in the West Parish. He left his son John there and returned to Scituate, where he died January 16, 1683. There is a stone on his grave in the old burying ground in the meet- ing house land a mile south of the harbor, but the inscription is not legible.

He married (second) Mary Jacob, daughter of Nicholas Jacob, who came over in 1633. His chil- dren were: Mary, baptized 1653, married John Gowan: Elizabeth, married (first) Thomas Allyn. ( second), David Loring; John, born in Hingham, 1657, married Mercy Bacon, captain, deputy to gen- eral court, chief justice of the court of common pleas, first judge of probate, member of His Ma- jesty's council; Hannah (probably), born 1660; Stephen, see forward: James, 1663, settled at Wey- mouth ; Joseph, 1665, judge of court of common pleas, deputy general court, etc; Job, 1667, settled at Scit- uate.

(III) Stephen Otis, fifth child of John Otis (2), was born at Hingham, Massachusetts, 1661. He was captain of the company and prominent in town af- fairs. He was a tanner by trade. He built a new house about 1691. He died May 26, 1733. His grave is marked in the old burying ground near the har- bor. His will was made in 1729. He married Han- nah Ensign, of Scituate, 1685. She was the dangh- ter of John Ensign and granddaughter of Thomas Ensign, one of the Conihasset partners in 1646. She was born in 1669. Her father fell in the Pawtucket

fight, March 26, 1676. The estate which came from the Ensign family went to Ensign Otis, her son, and was owned by three of the name, Ensign Otis, in successive generations. The children of Captain Stephen and Hannah (Ensign) Otis were: Ensign, born 1691; John, 1694, selectman of Boston; Han- nah, 1696; Mary, 1697; Dr. Isaac, see forward ; Stephen, 1707, died in Scituate, 1755: Joseph, 1709, settled in Boston and was keeper of the jail there ; Joshua, 1711, settled in Scituate.

(IV) Dr. Isaac Otis, fifth child of Stephen Otis (3), was born in 1699. He married 1718, Deborah Jacobs, daughter of Deacon David Jacobs and his wife Sarah Cushing, daughter of John Cushing. Deacon Jacobs was grandson of Nicholas Jacobs, of Hingham, whose daughter, Mary Jacobs, married John Otis (2). Isaac Otis was the first regularly bred and educated physician in Scituate. He set- tled there and began to practice in 1719, when the town voted a settlement of a hundred pounds to encourage him to remain there. He was a man of uncommon accomplishments of person and mind. He died in 1786. The children of Dr. Isaac and Deborah (Jacobs) Otis were: Isaac, born in Scituate, 1719, graduate of Harvard College, 1738: Josiah, 1721, died young ; Josiah, 1725, died young ; William, 1726, married, died without issue; Stephen, 1728, settled in Hanover, see forward ; James, 1732, died young ; James, 1734, married Lucy Cushing, granddaughter of Rev. Jeremiah Cushing; he was . third physician in Scituate; was in French war ; Thomas, 1736, died young ; Thomas, 1738, died young.

(V) Stephen Otis, fifth child of Dr. Isaac Otis (4), was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1728 died early in life. He married Elizabeth Wade, They settled at Hanover, a neighboring town. Their children were: Charlotte, born 1763; Deborah, 1765 : William, January 16, 1768; Paul, born 1771, see forward ; a daughter, married - Howard.

(VI) Paul Otis, fourth child of Stephen Otis (5), was born in 1771. He married (first) Pene- lope Nichols, November 5, 1791. She was born April 15, 1769, died April 24, 1792. He married (second) Lucy Bailey, August, 1795. She was born March 9. 1776, died August 21, 1805. He married (third) Mabel Litchfield, February 15. 1806. She was born October 12, 1784. and survived him. In 1792 he lost three children by small pox, during an epidemic. His children were: Elizabeth, born April 25, 1792, died November 25, 1792; Henry, July 18, 1796, died February 10, 1834: Benjamin Bailey, July II, 1799, see forward; Harvey. September 19, 1802, settled in Kingston, New York: William, April 16, 1807, married Mary Boynton, and lived at Hubbards- ton, Massachusetts, and Claremont, New Hampshire ; Lucy Bailey, May 22, 1809, married William Ross, of Worcester; Mary F., October 25, 18II, married Mussey, of Leominster : Silas D., June 26, 1814, married and settled in Lowell, Massachusetts ; Roland L., September II. 1816, married Elizabeth Thompson, and settled in Leominster, Massachusetts ; Paul. October 18, 1818, settled in Worcester ; mar- ried there, October 13, 1840, Laura MI. Knight.

(VII) Benjamin B. Otis, third child of Paul Otis (6), was born in North Scituate, Massachu- setts. on the old homestead. He married Mary Carter, 1822. She was the daughter of John Carter, of Lancaster. Massachusetts. Mr. Otis started for himself in Worcester in the shoe and leather busi- ness. His store was on Main street, between School and Thomas streets, which in the thirties and forties was the business centre of the town. Mr. Otis was a prominent business man in his day and was active in town affairs. He was constable for many years.

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He was a member of the First Unitarian Church (Second Parish) of Worcester during the pastorate of Rev. Alonzo Hill, who' was appointed colleague of the first minister, Dr. Aaron Bancroft. Mr. Otis died in Lancaster, Massachusetts ; his wife also died in Lancaster.

Their children, all born in Worcester except the eldest, were: Mary Elizabeth, born April 23, 1823, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, died in Worcester, June 26, 1824; John Carter, see forward: Benjamin Frank- lin. January 27, 1827, lives in West Newton and is auditor of the city of Newton, Massachusetts ; George Henry, March 10, 1829; Nancy Carter, July 10, 1831, died October 10, 1832: Mary Jane, born September 3. 1833, married. November 29, 1865, Hon. Phinehas Ball, who was mayor of Worcester, etc. (See sketch of Ball Family) ; Harrison Gray, see forward; Ann Eliza, March 19, 1838; Lucy Maria, July 30, 1840; Edwin Augustus, March 16, 1843; Ellen Louisa, March 31, 1846.

(VIII) John Carter Otis, eldest son and second child of Benjamin B. Otis (7), was born in Wor- cester, Massachusetts, March 12, 1825. He received his education in the public schools. At the age of fifteen he entered the employ of Samuel B. Scott, who kept a shoe store in Worcester, and also went to live in his employer's family, after the custom of the times. He remained in this position for about five years, when he went to work for his father, -who was a manufacturer and dealer of boots, shoes and leather in Worcester. In 1844 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where his mother's brother resided, and was employed about three years as clerk. He returned to Worcester in 1848 and was in partner- ship with his father until 1850, when he formed with C. H. Fitch the firm of Fitch & Otis for the manu- facture of boots and shoes, occupying first a shop on Front street and later part of the Bangs block on Main street. The financial troubles of 1857 caused a suspension of their business in common with that of many others.

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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 59

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