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 78
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EDWARD B. DOLLIVER, one of the success- ful business men of Worcester, was born in Graf- ton, Worcester county, Massachusetts. September I, 1848. son of Samuel B. and Delia E. (Blake) Dol- liver, and grandson of John and Mary or Mercy (Barber) Dolliver, who were the parents of five children: John. Joseph, Horatio, Samuel B. and Martha. John Dolliver (grandfather) was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, was a shoemaker by tradle, and died in Grafton, Massachusetts, about 1860.
Samuel B. Dolliver (father) was born in Lynn Massachusetts, September 20, 1810. He followed his trade of shoemaker up to about 1870. when he entered the employ of the Worcester Machine Screw Company, remaining with them for a number of years. He was a Democrat in politics, and held the offices of selectman and assessor in the town of Grafton, Massachusetts. He married Delia E. Blake, born in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. June 18, 1814, and their children were: I. Edward S., born in Grafton, June 4, 1835, died March 25, 1840. 2. Mary A., born in Grafton, February 12, 1841, died July 10, 1849. 3. Maria E., born in Grafton, May 16, 1843. wife of A. W. Gifford. of Worcester. 4. Edward B. (see forward). 5. Henry W., born in Grafton, December 29, 1854. postmaster at Whitins- ville, Massachusetts ; married Clara Gray, and they are the parents of three children: Maud. Jessie and Harold. Samuel B. Dolliver (father) died in Graf- ton. July 18. 1880, and his wife also passed away in the same town, February 7. 1863.
Edward B. Dolliver acquired his education in the common schools of Grafton, and at the age of fourteen, having completed his studies, entered into his first regular employment in the shoemaking business with his father. He continued along the same lines until he was twenty-one years old. and then engaged in clerking in the Quinsigamond House, in North Grafton, remaining for about two years. He then clerked in the Waverly House. in Worcester, until the spring of 1872, when he re- moved to Boston, there acting as clerk in the War- wick House, where he remained until September, 1872. He was then employed in a restaurant, in which his father held an interest, and in 1873 he pur- chased his father's interest, and conducted the estab- lishment until September. 1876. when he sold out to his partners, Messrs, Dolliver and Currier. Two months later Mr. Dolliver removed to Worcester,
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where he found employment in the Worcester Machine Screw Company, serving about three years as a workman in the factory. In the spring of 1879, when Mr. Gifford purchased the interest of his two partners, becoming sole owner of the estab- lishment, Mr. Dolliver was placed in charge of the office, which position he retained until April, 1900, discharging the responsiBle duties with efficiency and credit. In 1900 Mr. Gifford sold his business to the Standard Screw Company, and Mr. Dolliver was elected manager of this branch of the company, and is also treasurer and one of the directors of the company. His career as a business man has been one of success and prosperity, and his is an example that might well be followed by the rising generation. Thrown upon his own resources at the tender age of fourteen, with no capital but those success-bringing qualities-energy, industry and perseverance-he has attained an enviable place in the business world. He is a member of the Worcester Continentals, in which he has held membership for about twenty years, and has held the positions of first lieutenant, quar- termaster, sergeant and quartermaster, having been appointed by Colonel Hopkins. He is a member of the Worcester Mechanics' Association, and was a director in the same during the years 1901-02-03. He is a member of the board of trade, serving on the membership committee. He is a member of Quinsigamond Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, joining January 20, 1880, and has served his lodge as worshipful master from 1887 to 1889, and is now a trustee of the permanent fund and treasurer of the board of trustees of the charity fund. He is also a member of Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons ; Hiram Council, Royal Select Masters ; Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar ; Worcester Lodge of Perfection; and the Tatassit Canoe Club.
He married, May 6, 1875, Augusta O. Pratt, born in Grafton, Massachusetts, July 5, 1852, a graduate of the Grafton high school, daughter of Chandler M. and Olivia (Fisher) Pratt, who were the parents of two other children, as follows: Julius F., born in Grafton, Massachusetts, April 15, 1845, died in Scotland, July 7, 1900; and Clarence M., born in Grafton, Massachusetts, January 28, 1850, died May 22, 1879. Chandler M. Pratt was born in Thomp- son, Connecticut, September 23, 1802, died May 7, 1864, in Grafton, Massachusetts. His wife, Olivia (Fisher) Pratt, was born in Medway, Massachu- setts, October 23, 1807, died February 7. 1855, in Grafton, Massachusetts. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dolliver were: Winifred O., born June 8. 1884, obtained her education in the public and high schools of Worcester, graduating from the latter in the class of 1903, after which she attended Bradford Academy for one year. She is a teacher in theSunday school of Old South Congregational Church : Clarence E,, born August 21, 1885, died December 14, 1904.
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HENRY ALBERT MACGOWAN, of Wor- cester, Massachusetts, was born in Greenville, New Hampshire, May 2, 1864. On the maternal side he is a descendant of William Basset, who came from England to Massachusetts hetween 1620 and ,1630. Colonel William Basset. a relative, was a successor of Captain Miles Standish in the office of marshal of Plymouth county. Daniel Basset, a great-great- granson of William Basset, the pioneer ancestor, served as a lieutenant in Colonel Gamaliel Brad- ford's Regiment in the Continental army in the war of the revolution. Lieutenant Daniel Bassett was accompanied in this service by his son. Joseph, who was one of the last of the revolutionary pensioners
of the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, dying July 7, 1855, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was a sea captain and school master by occupation.
The paternal grandfather of Henry A. Mac- gowan, came to this country from Scotland, in 18.12. Soon after locating here, he superintended the fitting out of the first mill at Highbridge, New Hampshire, and lived to see five large mills erected along the same stream within a distance of three miles, with the operation of which he was for many years con- nected. His son, Joseph, father of the subject of this sketch, succeeded him in his position in con- nection with these mills. In 1872 Joseph removed to Clinton, Massachusetts, where for over thirty years he has been the proprietor of a large grocery busi- ness. For many years he has been a deacon of the First Congregational Church of Clinton, Massachu- setts. In social, business and church life he has en- joyed a merited reputation for absolute integrity, sound judgment, business sagacity and public- spirited citizenship. He married Clementine Bax- ter, daughter of Ansel and Octavia (Bassett) Bax- ter, and granddaughter of Joseph Bassett mentioned above.
As a boy, Henry A. Macgowan attended the public schools in Clinton, Massachusetts, graduating from the high school of that place as valedictorian of the class of 1882. The same year he entered Amherst College, became a member of the Chi Phi fraternity, and was graduated in 1886 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts, having been previously elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Socicty. He afterwards attended Andover Theological Semi- nary for one year, but failure of health compelled the abandonment of theological study. The follow- ing year. having partially regained his health, he turned his attention to the vocation of teaching. From 1888 to 1890 he served as principal of the Sterling ( Massachusetts) high school; from 1890 to 1892 of the Scituate ( Massachusetts) high school ; and from 1892 to 1897 of the Marblehead ( Massachu- setts) high school and academy. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Macgowan resigned his position at Mar- blehead and engaged with his brother in the insur- ance business in Worcester, the firm becoming man- aging agents for Central Massachusetts of the Mut- 11al Benefit Life Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, and in addition doing a general insur- ance business, including surety bonding.
Mr. Macgowan has always affiliated with the Re- publican party in state and national politics. He has been a member of the Church of the Unity, in Worcester, and has served the same in various official capacities. He is also actively interested in the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in a large number of the bodies. He has served as an officer of Athelstan Lodge, A. F. and A. M., Wor- cester County Commandery ' of Knights Templar, and Aletheia Grotto of M. O. V. P. He is a men- her of the Twentieth Century Club, an honorary member of the Worcester Continentals, and has served as president of the Amherst College Club of Central Massachusetts. Mr. Macgowan is the author of "The New Century Outline Maps" which are widely used in the public schools.
June 26, 1889, in Sterling, Massachusetts, Mr. Macgowan was married to Grace R. Butterick. daughter of James and Mary (Rugg) Butterick, of Sterling. On both sides of Mrs. Macgowan's family the ancestry dates back to the founders of Massa- chusetts and to revolutionary soldiers. On the maternal side Mrs. Macgowan is a direct descendant of four founders of colonies, Samuel Hagar, one of the founders of Westminster, and John Prescott,
EL STUN PUBLIC
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Thomas Sawyer, and John Rugg, founders of Lan- caster. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Macgowan are Marjorie Butterick, born May 14, 1890; Mary Josephine, born January 25, 1892; and Eleanor But- terick, born August 30, 1893.
GEORGE SESSIONS. Samuel Sessions (I), the emigrant ancestor of the late George Sessions, of Worcester, came from England to America in 1630. He had a son Alexander.
(II) Alexander Sessions, son of Samuel Ses- sions (I), was born about 1645. He was living in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1669, and died there February 26, 1688-9. He married Elizabeth Spof- ford, of Rowley, Massachusetts, April 24, 1672. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sessions were members of the An- dover church in 1686. They had a son Nathaniel. (III) Nathaniel Sessions, son of Alexander Ses- sions, (2), was born at Andover, Massachusetts, August 8, 1681, and died in Pomfret, Connecticut, in 1771. He married Johanna Miller. They had a son, Amasa, born August 13, 1715.
(IV) Amasa Sessions, son of Nathaniel Ses- sions (3), was born August 13, 1715, and died April 17, 1799. He married Hannah Miller. He was a captain in the revolutionary war, in Colonel Backus' regiment of Connecticut. He had a son Samuel, born November 26, 1746.
(V) Samuel Sessions, son of Amasa Sessions (4), was born November 26, 1746. He resided at Union and Westford, Connecticut, and died in 1818. He married Abigail Ruggles, of Pomfret, Connec- ticut, October II, 1767, and settled in Heath, Massa- chusetts. He was in the revolutionary war, a lieu- tenant in Captain Grant's company, Colonel John- son's regiment in 1781, and was at West Point in 1781 in Colonel Canfield's regiment. He had a son George, baptized at Union, Connecticut, in 1771.
(VI) George Sessions, son of Samuel Sessions (5), was born at Union, Connecticut, and baptized there in 1771. He married, February 20, 1800, Lu- cina Lumbard, at Brimfield, Massachusetts. She was born October 13, 1781, and was the daughter of Joseph, Jr. and Mary Lumbard. (Joseph Lum- bard and Joseph, Jr., were both in the revolutionary war.) He settled at Heath, Massachusetts, and had a son George, born October 23, 1814.
(VII) George Sessions, son of George Sessions (6), was born at Heath, October 23, 1814, and died at Worcester, Massachusetts, November 8, 1901. He married Mary Groves Mirick, daughter of Tilley and Persis (Moore) Mirick.
George Sessions left his home at the age of seventeen to make his own way in the world. He came to Worcester and worked first as a farm hand. Then for twelve years he was employed at the State Lunatic Asylum on Summer street. His first busi- ness venture was with a partner named Howe, in the manufacture of tools for shoemakers. The firm was Howe and Sessions, and the business was suc- cessfully conducted for ten years, when he sold to his partner, who continued for many years under the name of John Howe. Mr. Sessions was ap- pointed city undertaker in 1850, and immediately started in the business, which for nearly fifty years he conducted with remarkable success, taking the lead in his business, and maintaining his firm far in advance of all his competitors. His appointment, which gave him the opportunity to make use of his natural ability for the difficult duties of his voca- tion, was from Levi Lincoln, then mayor of Wor- cester, afterward governor of Massachusetts. When he began he had charge of all the interments in the city. During part of the two first years he was in partnership with Danforth B. Cummings; In 1852 he formed partnership with Horace G. Mirick,
which continued for seven years; subsequently he took his sons into partnership with him. As his business grew with the city's growth, he increased his facilities, and added a wholesale department to his undertaking business. He held his position as city undertaker until 1886, when he resigned. He turned over to his sons, Waldo E. and Frank E., who had been in partnership with their father for many years, the management of the business. The business has been carried on under the firm name of George Sessions and Sons. Mr. Sessions lived to see his business more than fifty years old. He diedl November 8, 1901, at his home in Worcester.
During his long career in Worcester Mr. Ses- sions had charge of the funerals of many thousands of all classes, and of some very prominent men. During the civil war he frequently showed his char- ity for the widows and orphans of soldiers who gave their lives to their country, and many soldiers were buried at the expense of George Sessions.
Mr. Sessions married Mary G. Mirick, of Holden, Massachusetts. (See sketch of her family herewith). They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1888. Three weeks afterward, October 21, 188, Mrs. Sessions died. Their children were: Waldo E., born at Heath, Massachusetts, February 12, 18.43; Frank E., born at Worcester, Massachusetts, May 22, 1852; Mary L., born at Worcester, August 23, 1858.
(VII) Waldo E. Sessions, son of George Ses- sions (7), was born at Heath, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 12, 1843. He married Josephine Ufford, Oc- tober 19. 1869. She was the daughter of Dixon De Forest and Harriet (Gould) Ufford. He has been the senior partner of the firm of George Sessions and Sons since the retirement of his father in 1886, and has been identified with it and active in its management for about forty years. He is also a member of the wholesale firm of Frank E. Sessions and Company. Mr. Sessions is one of the best known men in the Masonic fraternity in this vicinity, having taken the thirty-two degrees and belonging to the lodge, chapter, council, commandery and other Masonic bodies.
The office and ware-rooms of George Sessions and Sons are in a large brick building recently erected at Nos. 5 and 9 Trumbull street. The whole- sale factory of Frank E. Sessions and Company is at Nos. 7 to 18 Eaton place. The firm is still the city sexton and undertaker, and manufactures coffins, broadcloth caskets, and undertakers' supplies.
Mr. Sessions had three children: Laura J., born. August 24, 1875, married Burton W. Grout, assis- tant treasurer of the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank. February 1, 1899, at Worcester ; he died July 4, 1905. Mary E., born March 20, 1877, lives with her parents. Waldo E., Jr., born February 3, 1882, married Marie G. Webb. daughter of George D. Webb, of Worcester. They have two daughters, Katharine, born May 6, 1903, at Worcester, and Josephine Ufford, born May 13, 1905.
(VIII) Frank E. Sessions, son of George Ses- sions (7), was born at Worcester, May 22, 1852. He married Anna Josephine Scranton, daughter of Crawford and Annie (Montgomery) Scranton, April 22, 1874, at Providence, Rhode Island. He is a partner with his brother Waldo in the firm of George Sessions and Sons, also with F. E. Sessions and Company. His children are: George, born in 1875, died in the same year; Florence, born June 26, 1876, married Edmund A. Garland, October 6, 1899, at Worcester ; Ethel, born December 25, 1880; George, horn August 12, 1886, died in 1888. Mr. Sessions has been an active Mason for many years, is past master of Athelstan Lodge, has filled all the chairs, and since 1887 has held the office of treasurer con-
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tinually, all but the three years when he was going through the chairs. He has taken thirty-two degrees.
(VIII) Mary L. Sessions, daughter of George Sessions (7), was born at Worcester, August 23, 1858. She married Charles G. Warren, son of Sam- uel Warren, October 12 1879. Their children are: George Sessions, born September 21, 1881 at Wor- cester : Charles G., Jr., born at Worcester, August 18, 1888; Arthur, born at Worcester, December 5, 1880: Philip, born at Worcester, July 12, 1893.
THE MIRICK FAMILY (1) John Mirick was the emigrant ancestor of Mrs. George Sessions, late of Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the son of the Rev. William Mirick, of Saint Davids, Wales, Pembrokeshire, and was born in England in 1614, and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where he took the freeman's oath in 1641, and where he pur- sued his occupation of cooper and blockmaker. He married in Charlestown in 1641, Hopestill They had a son John.
(II) John Mirick was born at Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1655. He married Elizabeth Trow- bridge, February 9, 1682. at Newton, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Deacon James Trowbridge (1636-1717), and granddaughter of Thomas Trow- bridge, of Taunton, England, who settled in Dor- chester about 1634, went to New Haven, Connecticut, and back to England, where he died in 1672. John Mirick was a tanner by trade. He was admitted a freeman of Watertown, July 21. 1685. His will is dated April 29, 1706, and he died in July, 1706. One report says he was killed by the Indians at Groton, Massachusetts, July 21, 1706, another that he died July II. His wife died in 1734 at Newton. Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years. One of his sons was James, born October 26, 1696, at New- ton.
(III) James Mirick, son of John Mirick (2), was born at Newton, Massachusetts, October 26, 1696, and married, October 20, 1725, Mary Woolson. She died at Templeton, Massachusetts. September 13, 1780. James was dismissed from Groton church to Weston June 24, 1724, and died in Boston, October 26, 1774. He had a son Elisha, born September 13, 1735.
(IV) Elisha Mirick, son of James Mirick (3), was born at Weston, Massachusetts, September 13, 1735, and married, January 6, 1762, at Rutland, Massachusetts. Persis Moore, daughter of Lieuten- ant Paul and Hannah (Hubbard) Moore. She was born September 16, 1740, at Rutland, and died Jan- uary 31, 1810. Paul Moore was a soldier in the revolutionary war. Elisha Mirick was a house- wright, and a sergeant in the revolution, in Captain Paul Raymond's company, First Worcester Regi- ment. He had a son Tilley, born May 26, 1772.
(IV) Tilley Mirick, son of Elisha Mirick (4), was born at Holden, Massachusetts, May 26, 1772, married, November 12, 1799. at Holden, Polly Turner, who died February 22. 1854. Tilley Mirick died September 21, 1832. His daughter, Mary Groves Mirick, born May 20, 1815, married George Sessions (7). of Worcester, Massachusetts. (See sketch of Sessions above).
JAMES A. ATHY. John Athy (1), father of An- drew Athy and grandfather of James A. Athy. of Worcester, was obliged to leave his native home in Galway, Ireland, in 1848, on account of political troubles, during which he had rendered himself ob- noxious to the British government by his out-spoken opposition to the laws then in force, both in public speeches and as a leader and agitator among his own people. The Athy family was of ancient Irish origin. One of the first of the name in Galway
erected the first castle in the town, where for many centuries the family has been conspicuous. William de Athy was treasurer of Connaught in 1388, and in the charter of Galway given by James II the name of Andrew Athy appears. William Athy and Edmond Athy were bailiffs in 1512 and 1514, and Francis Athy was sheriff in 1631. John Athy came to Boston in 1848 with a family of motherless chil- dren, his wife having died in Ireland, in 1846. An- drew Athy was left in Boston while John Athy and his son Philip went west. They did not return until many years later, and not long afterward the Boston brother with whom Andrew was left also went west.
(II) Andrew Athy, son of John Athy (1), was not only the most prominent man of his race in Worcester, but in his day he was the best known Irish-American citizen in the state. He was born January 1, 1832, in Galway, Ireland, and came to Boston with his father in 1848. When his uncle also went west Andrew Athy was left to look out for himself. He went to work first in Westboro. where he was employed for a time by the father of Captain J. Everts Greene, late postmaster of Wor- cester. In 1850 Mr. Athy came to Worcester and from that time until his death was a resident of that city. He went to work for the firm of J. Walker & Co., in which Hon. Joseph H. Walker was made a partner in 1851. He learned the trade of shoemaker and for many years worked in the factory of Congressman Walker, holding the posi- tion of foreman during a large part of the time. In later years, curiously enough, he twice defeated Mr. Walker, his former employer, as candidate for rep- resentative to the general court. Although Mr. Athy devoted to the shoe business about twenty-five years of his life, he is best known and remembered as the leading undertaker of this section among the Catholic people. He went into business in 1875 as under- taker and followed that business the remainder of his life. During his later years he took his son into partnership and thus was relieved from some of the burdens of business, which was located first at 16 Green street.
. Mr. Athy 'never sought public office, yet the in- stances are rare in the history of Worcester where public office so often sought the man. A friend wrote of him: "Public life had no attraction for him, as he was a better thinker than speaker, and the plat- form and legislative hall were to him almost places of torture." Yet he served the city in the common council in 1865-66-67-69-70-71-72-73-74-75-76-77-78-78- 78-80. No man was more prominent and influential during all those years. He represented the city in the general court in 1874-75, having as colleagues Hon. W. W. Rice, Samuel R. Heywood, Colonel J. E. Estabrook, Enoch H. Towne and Osgood Brad- ley. He had important committee assignments in the legislature. He served in the city council as an alderman in 1881-82-83-85-86. He was the chairman of the street lighting committee when electric lights superseded gas in illuminating the city streets. He served on the most important com- mittees. Although usually among the minority Mr. Athy's long experience and good judgment were always appreciated in the city government, and par- tisanship did not interfere to any extent with his work in the city government. He lived to see the old prejudices against his race die out, and his good example had much to do with the promotion of good feeling on the part of his own people. He was the candidate for mayor of the Democratic party in 1886 at the close of Mayor Samnel Wins- low's first term, and although he consented to run only two days before the election he received more votes than the successful candidate the year before.
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In a Republican city his showing was very creditable to his personal popularity. He was chairman of the Democratic city committee in 1891-92-93. When President Cleveland was elected he was prominently mentioned for the position of postmaster, but Cap- tain Greene was re-appointed. Mr. Athy was a dele- gate to the Democratic National Convention in 1896. He was appointed one of the three members of the commission to supervise the erection of the new City Hall and attended to his duties on this board, in which he took great interest and satisfaction to the last. The very last time he ever left his home was to attend a meeting of the commissioners on the occasion of the delivery of the keys by the con- tractors.
The Spy said of him at the time of his death : "Andrew Athy was an American of Americans and yet there has never lived in all America a warmer lover of his native Ireland than he was. Every movement that was ever started since he reached the years of manhood having for its object the restora- tion of Ireland's independence or the amelioration of the condition of her people commanded always his active co-operation and material aid. He was a member of the Jackson Guards when that organiza- tion was disbanded by Governor Gardner and later he took part in the organization of the Emmet Guards and went to the front with his company immediately after the breaking out of the civil war. Such heroes as O'Neill, McConville, McCafferty, Daly and others whose names are on the soldiers' monument were his comrades and personal friends." He was a member of Alhambra Council, Knights of Columbus. He was chief marshal of the parade on several St. Patrick days. Formerly March 17 was the greatest day of the year for the Irish-Ameri- cans. When the Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized he became a charter member and held every office in the organization. He was a charter member of the Irish Catholic Benevolent Society. He was head centre of the Fenian Brotherhood from the first, when it was in its prime. When the Par- nell movement started he was elected president of the local branch of the National Land League and served as delegate to several of the national con- ventions. He was honorary member of the American- Irish Historical Society. At the time of his death he was president of the Irish Centennial Society of '98. He was a member of the Worcester Board of Trade. one of the founders of the Bay State Sav- ings Bank and trustee of the People's Savings Bank. In 1870 he was one of the state leaders in the strike of the Knights of St. Crispin. He went from city to city to present the cause of the strikers and raise funds. A prominent shoe manufacturer of Worcester offered him an interest in his busi- ness if he would give up abetting the strikers and enter his employ. Needless to say Mr. Athy refused the offer.
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