Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 62

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732

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. II > Part 62

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He has been one of the most prominent contract- ors and builders in his section. He has lived in Westborough continuously for nearly sixty years, during most of that time being in active business. At present he is retired from business. Among the

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more notable buildings which he built are: The Post Office building, National Straw Works, Henry block, American block, Park building, Griggs build- ing, Whitney House, Gould & Walker factory, and the factory of the Hunt Manufacturing Company, all of which are in Westborough. He has also built a large number of residences and some school build- ings in Westborough, Waltham and other Massachu- setts towns.

Politically Mr. Hathaway was in his earlier years a Whig, but with the majority of that party joined the Republican party at its formation in 1856 and has ever since been a steadfast adherent. He was at one time chairman of the twelfth Worcester representative district committee, chairman of the Republican town committee of Westborough, rep- resentative in the general court in 1894-95, serving on the committee on charitable institutions. He was selectman of the town for a number of years, and was the chairman of the board for three years. From 1881 to 1892 he was the chief engineer of the Westborough fire department. He was formerly president of the Westborough board of trade, trustee of the Westborough Savings Bank and member of the investment committee. He enlisted in the civil war in a Massachusetts regiment, and is a member of Arthur G. Briscoe Post, No. So, Grand Army. He is an active member of Siloam Lodge of Free Masons and has been treasurer since 1896. He is also a member of Bethany Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Hathaway married, November 26, 1846, Mary A. Barrows, daughter of Captain Guilford Barrows, of New Bedford. Her father was a well known sea captain. He made several long whaling voyages to the Arctic Ocean, doubled Cape Horn nine times and circumnavigated the earth three times. Her mother's father, Luther Reading, served in the Continental army during the revolutionary war. In 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway celebrated their golden wedding, which was largely attended, nearly five hundred being present to congratulate them, and they received many valuable presents.

Mrs. Hathaway died April 24, 1903. Their only child, Charles Bowers, Hathaway, resides in Seattle, Washington. He married, May 18, 1871, Alice Jean- nette Hutchinson, daughter of Daniel C. and Abi- gail Frances ( Delano) Hutchinson, of Milton, Mas- sachusetts, and they have one child-Blanche Roasa- mond Hathaway, born September 6, 1881, a grad- uate of the Westborough high school, resides with her grandfather at Westborough.

JOEL CHAPIN. Deacon Samuel Chapin (1) was the emigrant ancestor of the late Joel Chapin, of Milford, Massachusetts, and probably also of all the families in this part of the country bearing this surname. Samuel Chapin arrived in America be- tween the years 1633 and 1635. He took the free- man's oath in Boston June 2, 1641, and the year fol- lowing settled with his family in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, then the western outpost of New England. He began as one of the leading citizens of the colony. In 1652 he was appointed magistrate of the town, and in 1654 his commission as magistrate was indefinitely extended. In the interim between pastorates in the church he was called upon to officiate and was declared to be "exceeding moving in prayer." He was a contemporary of Pynchon and Holyoke, and was pronounced a good Puritan, of sound judgment, fervent piety, tender humanity, and a rare gift of enterprise. Near the City Library in Springfield stands a bronze statue by Augustus St. Gaudens, the foremost American sculptor of the present time, typifying "The Puritan," Samuel

Chapin. It was presented to the city by a descendant of the sixth generation, Hon. Chester Williams Chapin, and unveiled on Thanksgiving Day, Novem- ber 24, 1887, after the death of the donor.

Deacon Samuel Chapin died in Springfield, No- vember 11, 1675, and his widow Cisely died Feb- ruary 8, 1683. Only their youngest child was born in Springfield. Their children were: 1. Japhet, born 1642, died February 20, 1712. 2. Henry, died Au- gust 15, 1718. 3. Catherine, died February 4, 1712. 4. David. 5. Josiah, died September 10, 1726. 6. Sarah, died August 5, 1684. 7. Hannah, born De- cember 2, 1644.

(11) Josiah Chapin, son of Deacon Samuel Chapin (1), was born in England in 1634. He in- herited the homestead in Springfield and became eminent there as a surveyor of land. He was hon- ored with important public offices and various posi- tions of trust and responsibility, was enterprising, and acquired much property. He resided in Brain- tree for several years, and there nearly all of his children were born and several remained there. After King Philip's war, when Mendon was re- settled, he joined the colonists there, probably in 1682. He soon became one of the conspicuous men of Mendon, and held the highest offices there. He owned large tracts of land. He died in 1726. The record of his children's births is preserved in his own handwriting. He married first, Mary King, in Weymouth, November, 1658. She died May 30, 1676. He married (second) Lydia Brown, Septem- ber 20, 1676. She died October II, 17II, and he married (third) Mehitable Metcalf, of Dedham, June 22, 1713. She died December 2, 1724. Chil- dren of Josiah and Mary (King) Chapin: I. Sam- uel, born Weymouth, November 11, 1659. 2. John, born Braintree, June II, 1661. 3. Mary, born Brain- tree, August 27, 1662. 4. Deborah, born Braintree June 16, 1664. 5. Josiah, born Braintree, Decem- ber 17, 1665. slain in Lord Russell's fight, May 20, 1693. 6. Shem, born May 11, 1667, died young. 7. Seth, born May 17, 1668, settled in Milford. 8. Joseph, born May 17, 1670, noted Indian fighter. 9. Henry, born February 15, 1672, died young. 10. Ephraim, born December 18, 1673, settled in Ux- bridge. II. Deborah, born February 12, 1675, set- tled in Mendon. Children of Josiah and Lydia (Brown) Chapin: 12. Lydia, born Braintree, Sep- tember 29, 1677. 13. Sarah, born March 12, 1679. 14. David, born November 11, 1680, died young. 15. Hannah, born Mendon, November 11, 1684.

(111) Captain Seth Chapin, son of Josiah Chapin (2), born in Braintree, August 4, 1668; married first, Mary Read, May 23, 1689. She died without issue, September 12, 1689. He married (second) Bethiah Thurston, March 25, 1691. She died March 2, 1744; he died April, 1746. His homestead was near the Post Lane bridge on Mill river, where he was living before May 26, 1700. In 1713 he and his wife gave land to their son Seth at South Hope- dale, as it is now known. In 1715 they moved to Mendon, and lived with his father Josiah in his old age. Seth Chapin was a captain in the militia. He died at the age of seventy-eight, one of the most honored and respected citizens of his day. Chil- dren of Captain Seth and Bethiah (Thurston) Cha- pin : 1. Seth, Jr., born Medfield, July 2, 1692. 2. Bethiah, born February 16, 1693. 3. Josiah, March 1, 1695-6. 4. John, May 13, 1698. 5. Mary, April 30, 1700. 6. Samuel, June 2, 1702. 7. Deborah, June 14 1704. 8. Hopestill, November 27, 1705. 9. Jo- seph, March 6, 1707-8. 10. Abigail, June 10, 1710. II. Lydia, February 2, 1712. 12. Benjamin, April 6, 1713. 13. Ebenezer, December 23, 1714. 14. Japhet, February 24, 1716, died young.

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(IV) Joseph Chapin, son of Captain Seth Chapin (3), born in what is now Mendon, Massa- chusetts, March 6, 1707-8, married Mary Nelson, February 5, 1729. She was the daughter of Ger- shom and Abigail (Ellithorpe) Nelson, and was born April 16, 1713. She was the sister of Elder Nathaniel Nelson. Joseph and his wife were re- ceived from the First Church of Mendon, March 26, 1769. Their son Ephraim preceded them in the East precinct, and he became a conspicuous citi- zen in Milford. Joseph spent his last years in the small house on Main street, not far from what is known as the Luther Claflin place. Joseph Chapin died July 1, 1788. His widow died February 16, 1798. Children of Joseph and Mary (Nelson) Cha- pin : I. Joseph, born 1731. 2. Abigail, '1732. 3. Gershom, 1734. 4. Samuel, 1736. 5. Ephraim, May 5, 1745.

(V) Lieutenant Ephraim Chapin, son of Joseph Chapin (4), born in Mendon, May 5, 1745, married Hannah Rider, of Holliston, May, 1768. She was the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Morse) Rider and was born August 8, 1751. She died December 19, 1807. Ile married (second) Anna Tidd, of Hol- liston, a widow, 1809. He died March 26, 1812. He was an enterprising, energetic and successful man, standing well in church and citizenship. Children of Lieutenant Ephraim and Hannah (Rider) Cha- pin : I. Levi, born December 22, 1768. 2. Ede, born 1773, died young. 3. Joel, born March 4, 1777, mar- ried Rosanna Fairbanks, died in Holliston, No- vember 23, 1804. 4. Eli, born May 1, 1780, a dis- tinguislied citizen of Milford, died March 31, 1869. 5. Amos, born July 5, 1782; deacon.

(VI) Major Levi Chapin, son of Lieutenant Ephraim Chapin (5), born Milford, Massachusetts, December 22, 1768, married Olive Thayer, November 26, 1789. She was the daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Robinson) Thayer, and was born October 14, 1771. Children of Major Levi and Olive (Thayer) Chapin : I. Elias, born March 19, 1790, married Rhoda Darling, of Bellingham, 1815; he died April 8, 1826. 2. Ede, born March 18, 1792, died unmar- ried. 3. Leonard, born January 27, 1794, married Semira Howard, December 6, 1821. 4. Cyrus, died September 21, 1797. 5. Ruby, born July 29, 1798, married Dexter Walker, December 23, 1821.

(VII) Leonard Chapin, son of Levi Chapin (6), born in Milford, January 27, 1794, married Semira Howard, at Milford, December 6, 1821. She was the daughter of Zuriel and Olive (Twitchell) Howard, and was born March 4, 1802. Leonard inherited the homestead in Milford lately owned by Captain Elbridge Mann. He was prominent in town affairs. The farm of Zuriel Howard was located in what is now the town of Hopedale. Leonard Chapin died January 15, 1862, aged sixty-eight. His widow died June 18, 1874, aged seventy-two years, three months and fourteen days. Children of Leonard and Semira (Howard) Chapin: I. Joel, born October 26, 1822. 2. Willard, born December 11, 1825, mar- ried Lydia Wait Perry, August 28, 1851. 3. War- ren, born December 9, 1827; married first, Eliza M. Bowker, at Hopkinton, November 4, 1850; married (second) Augusta Bridges, 1862. 4. Lovett, born January 21, 1830; married Sarah W. Howard, June 8, 1854; resides at Sing Sing, New York, where he is overseer of a department in the state prison. 5. Phebe Ann, born March 4, 1832, married Samuel Scammell, of Milford, March 4, 1852. 6. Nathan Thayer, born November 4, 1834; married, August 25, 1855, Anna W. Bray; he died August 30, 1858 .. 7. Sarah Olivia, born August 8, 1828; married Frank Cummings, resided at Hardwick, August 21,

1855. 8. Ann Maria, born April 14, 1843, died Au- gust 30, 1844.

(VIII) Joel Chapin, son of Leonard Chapin (7), was born in Milford, Massachusetts, October 26, 1822. He attended the public schools of his native town and Milford Academy. He learned the trade of shoemaker, and followed it for a number of years. He manufactured to some extent when un- able to get work from the shops. He worked for a time in the Underwood Boot and Shoe Factory in Milford. When a young man he engaged in the meat and provision business. He bought cattle and prepared them for the market, opened a market and built up a prosperous business. He inherited his father's farm and lived in the house on Main street. His market was located where the Melatiah Ryan house is now situated. He died at the prime of life, and his death was the result of overexertion. He was a man of splendid physique and great physical . strength, but he injured a heart valve by overtaxing his strength. His business was sold soon after his death. He married, July 13, 1843, at Milford, Izanna Chamberlain Hero, daughter of John and Polly (Claflin) Hero. She was born in what is now Mil- ford, and was then Holliston, Massachusetts, Octo- ber 22, 1823. Her grandfather's name was also John Hero. The Claflin family came from Hopkinton.

Mrs. Chapin has shown herself a capable business woman in the years of her widowhood. The Chapin farm has been cut up into building lots and is be- ing rapidly built up. It is located near the very centre of the town. Mr. Chapin was a man of sterling character. The historian of Milford, who knew him well, pronounced him a worthy man and a good citizen. He was not a member of church or social organizations. He devoted himself to his business and his home. The children of Joel and Izanna C. (Hero) Chapin were : I. Willard Henry, born in Milford, March 25, 1846; lives at home with his mother, 306 Main street; is a shoemaker by trade; he had a common school education with a course at Heywood's private school, then of Hope- dale; he was a soldier in the civil war, in Company B, from Milford and is a member of Milford Grand Army Post; he is a Republican; he never married. 2. Frederick Mellen, born at Milford, November 22, 1847, died June 29, 1853. 3. Callie Augusta, born Milford, October 7, 1854; married John Larkin Mead, March 15, 1877; their children are: Fred Larkin Mead, born March 23, 1878; Roy Mead, born September 28, ISSI; Helen Mead, born May 25, 1886.

NORCROSS FAMILY. The emigrant ancestor, Jeremiah Norcross (1), came from England to America in the year 1638, and from "Bond's History and Genealogies of Watertown," Massachusetts, we learn that he was a proprietor in that place as early as 1642, his family then consisting of wife Adrean and three children, Nathaniel, Richard and Sarah. The original homestead in Watertown covered about twenty-six acres, the title to which was held within the family for more than one hundred and sixty years. A portion of this estate was later purchased by the United States government, and is now the location of the Watertown arsenal. The senior Mr. Norcross, in 1654, when arranging to visit England, executed a will in which the various members of his family are mentioned, leaving at his death the greater part of his estate to his son Richard. The brother Nathaniel received the degree of A. B. at "Catherine Hall College," Cambridge, 1636-37, was called to become the minister at Lancaster, and signed with others a petition to the general court to plant

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a settlement there. There being so much delay in preparing for the settlement and building the early houses, his attention was called in another direction, and he is said to have returned to England in 1646. His father died in England in 1657.

(II) Richard Norcross, born in England, 1621, was the possessor of a small estate at Watertown in 1642. Was chosen to act as the first schoolmaster in that town, and from 1651 to about the year 1700 followed the occupation of a school teacher, and for nearly a quarter of a century was the only person in the town to fill that office. He married (first) Mary Brooks, daughter of Captain Thomas Brooks. She died in 1671, and he married (second) Susanna, widow of William Shattuck. Mr. Norcross died in 1709, leaving six children, the eldest, Mary, having died in 1661.

(111) Nathaniel Norcross, born in Watertown, . December 18, 1665. was a shoemaker and resided in Watertown and Sudbury. He married ( first) Me- hitable llagar. She died April 5, 1691, and he mar- ried (second ) Susanna, daughter of Dr. Philip Shat- tuck, of Watertown. She died in Sudbury. Feb- ruary 15, 1711-12. He died in 1717, leaving a family of four children.

(IV) Philip Norcross, born March 5, 1698, mar- ried, in 1721, Sarah, daughter of Edward Jackson, of Newton, and settled in that town, their home being on the site of the present Eliot meeting house. Philip Norcross died in 1748, leaving nine children.

(V) Jonathan Norcross, born February 7, 1734- 35, the fifth child of Philip Norcross, was a soldier in the French and Indian war, and at Lake George in 1758. Two years later he removed to George- town, Maine, where he married Martha, daughter of James Springer. In 1775 he was a resident of Readville, Maine, but have no record of his death. Ilis wife died in 1809, and was buried at Hollowell, Maine.

(VI) Jonathan Norcross, Jr., born 1767, married Jane Atkinson, of Lancaster, England, and resided in Wayne, Maine, during the greater portion of his life, where he owned a farm. It is believed at his death he was buried in Winthrop, Maine. His widow died and was buried in Salem, Massachusetts.

(Vii) Jesse Springer Norcross, son of Jona- than Norcross, Jr., was born in Wayne, Maine, in 1806. He was a carpenter and builder, also pro- prietor of the "Norcross Mills " at Winslow, Maine. He married, in 1826, Margaret Ann Whitney, of Westboro. Massachusetts. They resided in vari- oms places in the state of Maine, among them the towns of Clinton and Winslow. In 1843 removed to Salem, Massachusetts, where he continued to ply his occupation as carpenter and builder. In the year 1849 he joined the great concourse of seekers for gold in California. He died the following year and was buried at Benicia in that state. His widow, Margaret Ann ( Whitney) Norcross, was the daugh- ter of Jonah and Anna (Rider) Whitney. The father of Jonah was Thomas Whitney, a revolution- ary soldier from the town of Shrewsbury, Thomas being in the fifth generation from the emigrant an- cestor, John Whitney, who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and was admitted freeman there in 1635-36. The children of Jesse Springer and Mar- garet Ann (Whitney) Norcross were: Rosina C., Julia, James A., Elizabeth, Orlando W., and William. As the business career of the two brothers James Atkinson, born March 24, 1831, and Orlando Whit- ney. born October 25, 1839, appears so closely in- terwoven, it seems highly proper that they should be reviewed together.

(VIII) James Atkinson Norcross, born March 24. 1831. in Kennebec county, Maine, was a mere lad

when the family removed to Salem, Massachusetts. The early death of his father placed upon his should- ers heavy responsibilities, and having inherited in a large degree the mechanical genius of his father, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed at Salem a number of years. In 1864, upon the re- turn of his brother Orlando from his three years' service in the rebellion, the two formed a partner- ship which continued until the year 1897. The style of the firm was Norcross Brothers, and their busi- ness career was started in Essex county, Massa- chusetts, in the city of Salem, but soon removed to the city of Worcester to gain a larger field in which to labor. Thie Leicester Congregational Church was their first large contract. The excellent manner in which that contract was filled gave the firm an en- viable reputation among building contractors, and from that date onward they were awarded a large share of the contracts given out for expensive struct- ures crected within their immediate locality. As their facilities for executing work, and the quality of their workmanship became known to the public, demand for their services came not only from the various cities and towns in the New England states, but far and near throughout the United States, un- til there was scarcely a city among those most prom- inent in the Union but what contained a sample of their handiwork.

During the thirty-three years of most unprece- dented business prosperity, James A. attended to the clerical and financial part, while Orlando gave at- tention to directing the men in their employ, an ar- rangement which proved to ensure signal success. They erected factories, equipped with the latest ma- proved machinery, where they manufacture doors, sash, and all the necessary finish required by their contracts, and the firmi soon became conspicuous for reasonable prices, promptness, and the skillful way in which all of their contracts were met. Scores of magnificent structures erected by this firm may be found noted in the personal sketch of the brother partner Orlando, which follows at the conclusion of the notice of James A., who retired from the firm in 1897 for the purpose of enjoying some of the case and comforts to which a lifetime of labor and steady brain work entitled him. For years he had resided in an elegant mansion on Claremont street, Worcester, built of Longmeadow sandstone, but he sought better and more roomy surroundings, and after purchasing a tract of land containing sev- eral acres, situated on May street, a short distance west from his Claremont street home. There upon a beautiful eminence, furnishing a commanding view of the surrounding country, he reared his "Fairlawn," where he passed the remainder of his days, within this home of beauty and luxury into which he with his family removed in July. 1895. After his retire- ment from business, he visited various portions of the United States for the purpose of inspecting rare and choice specimens of work produced by his craft, and in February, 1892, in company with his wife, visited the Old World, passing considerable time in England, France, Holland, and Italy, enjoying the scenes and meditating on the contrast between the New and Old World. He died at his home, August 4, 1903. and was survived by his widow, who was Mary Ellen Pinkham, whom he married in Salem, Massachusetts, and also their children, Julia Ellen, Mrs. W. L. Davis, of Hartford. Connecticut; and and her sons: James Franklin, of Springfield, Massachusetts, Arthur W., of New York city, Will- . jam E. and Jesse O., of Worcester. Mr. James A. Norcross was not a secker of public office, al- though he served the city one term as a member of the common council in 1877. He was a member of

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Worcester Board of Trade, the Commonwealth Club, Sportsman and Continental Clubs, also of the Wor- cester County Mechames' Association. In the build- ing of the South Unitarian Church he was one of the most liberal contributors. In this society he took an active interest, and within its circle found his religious home. He was a man of charitable disposition and his kindliness was often evinced by his many acts of charity.

( VIII) Orlando Whitney Norcross, son of Jesse and Margaret ( Whitney) Norcross, was born in Clinton, Maine, October 25, 1839, a child in his father's family when they removed to Salem, Massa- chusetts. As he grew to youth and manhood he ac- quired his early education in the Salem public schools, and after a few years experience in the leather business, doubtless prompted by a mechanical genius inherited from his father, turned his atten- tion to the carpenter's trade which he mastered, and in which occupation he found employment until the year 1861, when he enlisted in the Fourteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, after- wards known as the First Massachusetts Heavy Ar- tillery, and served well his country for three years.

In 1864 the co-partnership with his brother James A. was formed, as before mentioned, under the name of Norcross Brothers, and it is safe to say that no firm engaged in the building industry ever made more rapid strides toward success and popularity than did the Norcross Brothers. The thirty thou- sand dollar contract for the Congregational Church, at Leicester, in 1866, placed the firm fairly in line for further like engagements, and soon was followed by one at North Adams. The firm at this time hav- ing located in Worcester, began here with a contract for the Crompton block. Then the First Universal- ist Church, Classical and English High Schools were built during the years 1870 and 1871. Later they built the State Mutual Lite Assurance building, the Art Museum, the new City Hall. Prior to the cli- max reached in the erection of their massive build- ings, they had erected about eighty others in vari- ous parts of the United States all remarkable for their size, beauty and cost of construction, includ- ing those designed both for public and private use. A complete list of these great structures cannot here be given, but a few of the more important are men- tioned: South Congregational Church ; Hampden County Court House, Springfield, Massachusetts; Union League Club House, New York; Boston & Albany Station and granite bridge over Main street, Springfield, Massachusetts; Trimty Church, Boston ; South Terminal Station, Boston; Norwich Congre- gational Church, Norwich, Connecticut; Latin and English Iligh Schools, Boston; buildings for Harv- ard College, including Perkins Hall, Conant Hall, Fogg Art Museum, Gymnasium building, Sever Hall, and Law School buildings at Cambridge; the group of Medical School buildings on Longwood avenue, Boston; New York Central Railroad Station, Albany, New York; Allegheny Court House and Jail, Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, built of granite from Worces- ter county, Massachusetts; Exchange building, Bos- ton ; Chamber of Commerce, Cincinnati, Ohio; Gran- ite work of Pennsylvania & Long Island Railroad at New York; Bi-centennial and Woolsey Hall build- ings at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; New York Life Insurance Company; buildings at Omaha and Kansas City; Howard Memorial Li- brary, New Orleans; Marshall Field building, Chi- cago; Equitable Building, Baltimore; Corcoran Gal- lery of Art, Washington, D. C .; new Massachusetts State Capitol, Boston; Rhode Island State Capitol, Providence, Rhode Island; Columbia University Buildings including Science Hall, University Hall,

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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. II, Part 62

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 732

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 732