Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. II, Part 77

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 77

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The late president-William McKinley-was a firm believer in Mr. Hanna, and well he might have been, for it was through the masterly efforts of the latter, it was claimed, that the former succeeded to the presidential chair. Exacting as the service during that famous campaign proved to be, and severe as were the criticisms from certain quarters aimed at Mr. Hanna, the latter knew that whatever he had donc was justifiable, and the well-nigh unan- imous vote of the Ohio legislature, which called him to a seat in the United States senate, was a convincing argument that at least the people of his own state felt the utmost confidence in him, and that confidence was never misplaced. With the vast business experience he had received and his superb native ability, he was at once able to successfully cope upon the floor of the senate with that body of trained lawmakers of national reputation. Mr. Hanna, while a member of the United States senate, adopted the same wise business principles and sound logic that had governed his previous life, and in his thoroughly convincing language, concise and eloquent, presented his views before that body, argu- ing in a straightforward businesslike way which usually assured his hearers of his own sincerity, if he did not win them wholly to his belief.

The knowledge Mr. Hanna had gained in the employment of labor in connection with his vast enterprise led him to give careful consideration to the question of capital versus lahor, and, with an honest aim toward harmonizing differences between these important clements, he sought through a na- tional organization to preserve harmony and therehy promote the industrial welfare of the country. While Mr. Hanna had been thought at times rather blunt or rough in manner, he had a large and generous heart. To be sure. he was prompt and exacting in business matters, for that was a principle with him. But no appeal for help came to his ear that was not given attention. and no worthy ohject was turned away unaided. Through his paternal line he inherited the characteristics of the Quakers, who have been noted for friendliness and brotherly love.

There was nothing worthy of special comment throughout the early boyhood days of the subiect of this sketch. He passed a full course at the high schools and part of a course at Western Reserve College, and at the age of twenty, owing to the death of his father, gave up his school to assume charge of his father's large commission business in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of thirty years he

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became interested in the coal and iron business. Success followed, and an ample fortune was the reward for his faithful, persistent efforts. Mr. Hanna was proud of his home, the city of Cleve- land, whither he went in 1852 and where he had grown up and prospered in commercial as well as political life. As a partial recompense for the per- sonal sacrifices made by Mr. Hanna while con- ducting the campaign of 1896, it was suggested by prominent men in the Republican ranks that he should be given a place in the cabinet of President McKinley, and the president was urged to offer him a place. But Mr. Hanna refused to consider such a proposal. He wanted no reward; his work had been given unselfishly. Equally well and in the same spirit did he manage the national campaign in 1900, and with the same successful outcome. Mr. Hanna's re-election to the United States senate in 1903 was a fitting endowment not only of his ability as a statesman and political leader, but it displayed the unqualified confidence the people of Ohio felt in the man who for a long period of years had walked before them. occupying various positions of public and private trusts.

Mr. Hanna died at the Arlington Hotel, in Wash- ington, D. C., February 15, 1904. He married, Sep- tember 27, 1864, Charlotte Augusta Rhodes. Their children were: Daniel Rhodes, Mabel A., married Harry Parsons ; Ruth, married J. Medill McCormick.

J. WYMAN JONES, deceased, a man of mas- terly attainments and noble character, was during a long and active career prominent in business af- fairs of the first order of importance, in various parts of the country. In the west he was president of one of the largest lead producing corporations in the world, and held a controlling interest in cer- tain large railway and cattle and farming com- panies. In the east he was known as founder of the beautiful little city of Englewood, New Jersey, and in Massachusetts as the owner of one of the most beautiful residential estates within its borders -historic Rosenvec, on Bolton Hill, near Worcester.

The life of J. Wyman Jones was an eloquent attestation of the influence of heredity and early environment. He was born in 1822, in the town of Enfield, New Hampshire. His boyhood was passed in the open life of that rugged region with its exhilirating mountain atmosphere ; he was brought up to habits of thrift, and the parental training was affectionate and judicious, based upon lofty ideas of duty and responsibility. His father was a man of sturdy character, who was a power in the community; he sat for several terms in the state legislature, and was for many years a justice of the peace. His mother, a direct descendant of the famous Hannah Dustin, was a woman of rare sweetness of disposition, and more than ordinary refinement. The parents were desirous of keeping their only son at home, but he was ambitious of procuring a more liberal education than the neigh- boring schools afforded, and, after completing the course in Meriden Academy, he matriculated at Dartmouth College, in 1837, and where he had for fellow-students a son of Daniel Webster, Edward Webster, who died during the Mexican war; the Rev. Leonard Swain, of Nashua, New Hampshire ; and Gardinar H. Hubbard, Esq., of Washington City. After his graduation he could not be per- suaded to locate at home, and, although dependent entirely upon his own resources, went to New York city and entered upon the study of law. In 1843, having just attained his majority. he was admitted to the bar of New York and followed his profes- sion for twenty years, during the latter part of this period in Utica. New York. At that place he made

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many warm friends in his profession, including the late Justice William J. Bacon, Senator Kerman, Joshua Spencer, and the late Senator Roscoe Conk- ling. Advised by his physician that he must lead more of an out-of-door life, he reluctantly relin- quished the practice of law to give himself to rural pursuits, although still retaining his membership and interest in the New York bar. In 1858, on invitation of a former client, then engaged in sur- vey work for the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, he made an examination of the proposed route, and, being impressed by the natural beauty of the coun- try, with characteristic daring determined to throw himself heartily into the work of developing the region where is now located the beautiful village of Englewood, New Jersey. He spent the summer of 1858 in securing property rights from the owners, and by the autumn of that ycar had secured control of nearly all the land now occupied by the village, and at once proceeded to lay out a town, name its streets. and procure a survey and map of its terri- tory. In the spring of the following year he moved his family to the new town, and had gained for it the support of several valuable friends. In the same spring, at a meeting of the residents, the name of Englewood suggested and advocated by him, was adopted. From that time forward, Mr. Jones was prominent in the secular and religious life of the community, and maintained his interest throughout the remainder of his life, and had the satisfaction of witnessing its development pursuant to the gen- eral plan formulated by himself, into a beautiful and progressive suburb of the city of New York.

Nor were his activities bounded by the field which he claimed as a home. In 1865 he became president of the St. Joseph Lead Company, a cor- poration mining and manufacturing commercial lead in the state of Missouri, and which by per- sistent energy he raised to its present position as. one of the largest lead producing companies in the United States or in the world. Associated with the company were also a railway corporation having a road forty-eight miles in length, and a cattle and farming company transacting a large business, of both of which Mr. Jones was president, and he occupied the same position in the Doe Run Lead Company. During the very nearly forty years of his presidency of the St. Joseph Lead Company, terminating with his death, he spent much of his time at the mines in Missouri, where he witnessed the building up of a prosperous community. Dur- ing all this long period there was never a serious strike among the miners or other workmen, it hav- ing been one of the chief concerns of the com- pany, under the leadership of President Jones. to. treat its employes fairly, and also to aid in every undertaking which promised to contribute to their pleasure, or to their moral and physical welfare.

In politics Mr. Jones was a Republican since the days of the Free-Soil party. At the outbreak of the civil war, while deep in his work at Engle- wood, New Jersey, he was an ardent supporter of the Union, and frequently addressed public meet- ings in advocacy of the cause. He was for many years chairman of the Republican county executive committee, and was chosen a delegate-at-large from the state of New Jersey to the Republican national convention of 1872. In 1876 he was elected a dele- gate to the state convention by the Republicans of Englewood after he had declared himself friendly to Senator Conkling and opposed to James G. Blaine, and the state convention elected him a dele- gate to the national convention in Cincinnati. There, with five other delegates from New Jersey, he re- fused to vote for Mr. Blaine, and on the first and every ballot voted for Mr. Hayes, who received the

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nomination. While his course was distasteful to the adherents of Mr. Blaine, so far as concerned Mr. Jones it was in accord with the declarations he had previously made, and with the decision of his Englewood constituents. In later years he took no active part in politics, but maintained a loyal adherence to his party, and an earnest concern for the prosperity of the country.

Personally Mr. Jones was a courtly gentleman of the old-time type, thoroughly American, and counting his friends among all classes of the peo- ple. He possessed a rare insight into human nature, and judged quickly and accurately. He was re- served in manner and cultured in his tastes, an industrious reader, and a deep thinker. He was deeply attached to the institutions of his country, an indication of which is found in his connection with the Washington Association of Morristown, New Jersey, of which he was a life member.

Mr. Jones was twice married. After entering upon the practice of law, and prior to his locating in Utica, New York, he married Harriet Dwight Dana, many years deceased, daughter of James Dana, of that city, and sister of Professor James D. Dana, of Yale University. Of this marriage were born two children: Diana, deceased, and Dwight A. Jones, now a practicing attorney in New York city. with offices at No. 5 Nassau street. In 1886 Mr. Jones married Mrs. Salome Hanna Chapin, of Cleveland, Ohio, a sister of the late Hon. Mark Hanna. and who is yet living, and is a lady of cultured tastes in art and literature. Her first hus- band was George W. Chapin, a native of Connecti- cut, and who resided in Cleveland, Ohio, and died August 12, 1883. By her first husband Mrs. Jones had two sons, Henry Hubbell Chapin, born De- cember. 1869, and died July 12, 1881; and Charles Merrill Chapin. The last named son was edu- cated by private tutors, and May 19, 1893, he mar- ried Esther M. Lewis, daughter of Colonel E. P. C. Lewis, of Virginia, her mother being a daughter of John Stevens, the inventor of the celebrated Stevens floating battery, the prototype of the modern ironclad war ship. Of this marriage were born two children-Mary Stevens Chapin and Charles Merritt Chapin, Jr. The family reside in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Wyman Jones, during the latter years of the husband, resided during the winter months in Thomasville, Georgia, where they main- tained a Southern home of rare attractiveness, and where Mr. Jones interested himself deeply in the development of both the aesthetic and the practical life of the community. Their most delightful home, however. and which they occupied during the sum- miers, was "Rosenvec," their country seat on the western slope of the "beautiful Bolton Hill," in Worcester county, Massachusetts-a notable ex- ample of an historic place dating back to early colonial days, modernized with all that makes for late nineteenth century comfort, and refined luxury, while retaining its original aspect .* The place is as remarkable for the loveliness of its situation as for its historical associations. Here is a domain of five hundred acres of diversified upland, embracing sweeps of fertile fields and rich pastures, orchards and clusters of magnificent trees, with the colonial mansion facing the elm-lined country highway, at the rear of which the land gently falls, opening to the view one of the grandest panoramas in a region famed for the beauty of its landscapes. The

central portion of the mansion house is probably about two hundred years old. The inventory of the property of James Richardson, who occupied it from 1740 until his death in 1799, describes the identical rooms of this part. The east and west wings were added about seventy-five years ago, by S. V. S. Wilder, who became the owner in 1814, and it was during his time that "Bolton Hill' was given its most interesting and romantic place in history. When the crisis in the career of Napoleon Bonaparte came, Mr. Wilder was residing in Paris. He was an ardent friend of the Emperor, and con- cieved a plan of his escape-Napoleon to disguise himself as valet to Mr. Wilder, and accompany him to the coast, where one of Mr. Wilder's ships would receive him and convey him to the United States. There arrived, the Emperor was to be brought to "Bolton Hill" to remain incognito for at least six months. Mr. Wilder's biographer asserts that "this scheme Napoleon seriously considered, and declared it feasible, but finally declined because he would not desert friends who had been faithful to him." So the project fell through, and when the Emperor finally surrendered himself to the officers of H. M. S. "Bellerophon." But for his declination of Mr. Wilder's proffer, so Edward Everett Hale once remarked in a whimsical paragraph, "Napoleon might have served as a selectman of Bolton, had he chosen to take out naturalization papers." A dozen years later Mr. Wilder entertained at "Bol- ton Hill" the Marquis de Lafayette, during his last memorable visit to America in 1824. He was the honored guest of the old mansion house for a night while on his triumphal way through Worcester county at the close of his New England tour. The ride from the county line by Concord being after dark, the houses on the way were lighted by flan- beaux of pine knots, and vases filled with ignited turpentine, held by the people. At Bolton Hill lights gleamed from every window of the mansion, lanterns twinkled among the evergreens decorating the front lawn, and over the entrance walk was an arch with the motto, "The Sword of Jehovah, of Washington and Lafayette." As Lafayette passed under the arch, on the arm of his host, he re- marked that "it appeared to him he was being con- ducted to some enchanted castle in fairyland." He was most hospitably entertained, and after his re- turn to France he wrote to Mr. Wilder that "The affectionate welcome I enjoyed at your beautiful seat will be ever present in my memory." Mr. Wilder further embellished the estate with grape vines and fruit trees from the gardens of Versailles, some of which yet remain; and he set out the noble lines of elms, two miles in extent, which beautify the main road. His enlargement of the mansion house by the building of the wings was in the gen- eral style of the older park, except as to the height of the rooms, those of the wings being much higher studded, so that the several parts harmonize. The changes instituted by Mr. Jones were confined to the furnishing of the interior, and the improve- ments necessary to a thoroughly equipped modern mansion, but every distinctive feature of the orig- inal architecture being carefully preserved, and the furnishings are in character with the old-time house. For the most part the furniture' is genuine colonial, much of it highly polished and beautifully worked, and carved mahogany, with numerous rare pieces. The "Lafayette Room." the chamber which the Marquis occupied, is furnished in Empire style. In another room is a handsome specimen of old Italian wood carving in furniture. The space under the arch between the stairways is furnished with massive pieces of antique work, while a rare old

*Based upon an illustrated brochure of Rev, Edward Everett Hale and Prof. 11 Langford Warren.

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clock ticks off the time as it has for a hundred years and more. The estate is abundantly supplied with all the buildings necessary to a gentleman's completely equipped country home, and containing teams and vehicles of every variety. The name of the estate, "Rosenvec" is an anagram formed by Mrs. Jones from the latters of her family name, "Converse," to associate with the place her mother, who was a Converse. At this delightful home Mr. and Mrs. Jones passed their happiest hours, and there dispensed a charming hospitality to a host ·of friends. Mr. Jones gave much of his time to his large and choice library. and Mrs. Jones was a most congenial companion in all pertaining to art and literature. They traveled much, in Europe as well as in the United States, and their home con- tained many treasures of art collected in their journeyings.

Mr. Jones died at the Hotel Grosvenor, in New York city, October 27, 1904, in the eighty-third year of his age. The remains were conveyed to Engle- wood, New Jersey, for interment, and tenderly laid away beside those of his early friends and asso- ciates of the early days of the village. Every mark of respect was paid to the memory of the lamented deceased ; all places of business stood closed while the funeral was in progress, and all the church bells were tolled.

HARRY C. BEAMAN. Gamaliel Beaman, the immigrant ancestor of Harry C. Beaman, of Prince- ton, Massachusetts, was born in England, 1623, and came to America when twelve years old in the ship "Elizabeth and Ann." He located with relatives at Dorchester at first. He became a proprietor there in 1649. In 1658 he was one of the incorporators of Lancaster, and next year, May 23, he settled there. He had to leave his home there in 1676 on account of the Indian attacks and returned to Dorchester and soon afterward died there, March 23. 1678. His wife was admitted to the Dorchester church Feb- ruary I, 1656, and was dismissed to Lancaster, May 24, 1668. He married, about 1648, Sarah Clark. Their first four children were baptized together June 14. 1657. Their children were: 1. John, see forward. 2. Joseph, born 1651. 3. Gamaliel, born 1653. 4. Thomas, married, 1678, Elizabeth Williams, daugli- ter of Abraham and Joanna (Ward) Williams, of Marlboro: founder of Marlboro branch of family. 5. Mary, born 1656. 6. Sarah. born at Dorchester, January 19. 1658. 7. Noah, born May 3, 1661. 8. Thankful, born April 18, 1663. 9. Mehitable, born May 26, 1667.

(II) John Beaman, son of Gamaliel Beaman (I). born 1649, returned to Lancaster after the death of his father, when the town was re-settled, and took up his father's old farm at Wataquadock. now Bolton. He removed to Taunton about 1682, but returned after a few years to Lancaster. He died at Lancaster, January 15, 1739, at an advanced age. He married Priscilla -, born in 1656, died An- gust 6, 1729, aged seventy-three years. Their chil- dren were: Sarah, born in Lancaster, January 25, 1681; Gamaliel, see forward; John, remained on the homestead at Bolton; had son Jabez in 1705, and he settled in what is now West Boylston, 1746.

(III) Gamaliel Beaman, son of John Beaman (2), was born at Taunton, Massachusetts, February 29. 1684. The birth is recorded also at Lancaster without stating that it was of Taunton. Gamaliel Beaman was in 1721 the first inhabitant of what is now the town of Sterling. He was soon followed by Samuel Sawyer. Beniamin Houghton. David Osgood and Jonathan Osgood, all settled before 1726 and had

their houses built. He died at Sterling, October 20, 1745, and was the first person buried in the graveyard there. He had joined the Chocksett church, July 7, 1745, shortly before his death. His grave is marked by a stone. llis will was dated April 20, 1745, and allowed November 5, 1745. One of the witnesses was his old neighbor, Samuel Sawyer.

There is a memorandum dated 1716 on the Lan- caster church records of the admission of Father Beaman from the Taunton Church "day and year forgotten." This probably refers to Gamaliel Bea- man's father and indicates that he lived with him at Taunton as well as Sterling. Children of Gamaliel Beaman were: Phinehas, see forward; Eunice, mar- ried Jonas Wilder; Zerviah, baptized at Lancaster, August 10, 1740; Lois, baptized at Lancaster, Au- gust I0, 1740; Dinah, born at Sterling, September 20, 1728; a daughter, married - Jewett, left a daughter Elizabeth Jewett; Mary, married Nathaniel Wilder.

(IV) Phinehas Beaman, son of Gamaliel Bea- man (3), was born in Sterling, in 1719. He accepted the covenant in the Lancaster church January 6, 1739-40, and joined the church July 9, 1752. His wife joined the church March 22, 1761. He mar- ried, October 23, 1740, Joannah White, at Lan- caster. His will was made November 4, 1794, and filed March 28, 1803. He died March 16, 1803, at Sterling. Children of Phinehas and Joannah, all born at Sterling, were: Joanna, baptized at Lan- caster. May 24, 1741; Phineas, born April 20, 1742, baptized June 6, 1742; Joseph, baptized, May 31, 1743: Silence, born August 31, 1747, married - Carter ; Elizabeth, baptized at Sterling, July 9, 1745, born July 1, married - Boynton ; Lemuel, born at Sterling. October 2, 1746, baptized November 9; Gamaliel, born in Sterling, baptized February 24, 1748. died before 1794: ancestor of Beaman family of Winchendon (see sketch) ; Jonas, born July 12, 1750, baptized August 12; Josiah, born October 2, 1752, baptized November 5: Benjamin, born April 10, 1754. baptized May 29, 1754: Elisha, born June 7. 1757, baptized July 3, 1757, moved to Leverett, Massachusetts ; Abigail, born July 14, 1760, baptized July 27, 1760; Gideon, born July 12, baptized Au- gust 21, 1763. Ten of these children were living at the time the father's will was made, November 4. 1704.

(V) Phinehas Beaman, Jr., son of Phinehas Beaman (4), was born in Sterling, Massachusetts, April 20, 1742, and baptized there June 6 following. He died at Princeton, Massachusetts, February 24, 1830. He settled at Princeton before his marriage. HIe married (intentions filed February 5 at Lan- caster and July 23 at Princeton), 1773, Hannah Buss, of Lancaster. She died at Princeton, April 10, 1822, aged seventy-three years. His will was made Decem- her 20, 1816, and presented for probate April 6, 1830. Children of Phinehas and Hannah Beaman, all born at Princeton, were: Hannah, born April 17. 1774. married Robert Bailey Thomas, the editor of the Farmers' Almanac, then of Sterling. Novem- ber 17, 1803: Eunice, born March 27, 1777; Phine- has, born April 6, 1780: Gamaliel, born August 7, 1783: Nabby, married Captain Samuel B. Brooks.

(VI) Phinehas Beaman, son of Phinehas Bea- man (5), was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, April 6. 1780, died there April 15, 1848. He was educated in the district schools there and brought up on a farm. He was a farmer throughout his active life. and prominent and influential in town affairs. He married, January 26, 1804, Phebe Mer- riam. at the reddence of the bride's father, Captain Amos Merriam, of Princeton. Their children, all

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born at Princeton, were: Maria, 1804: Fidelia, April 19, 1807; Amos Merriam, October 30, 1808, died February 21, 1809; Alden, 1810, died February 21, 1812; Phebe P., December 25, 1812, married James B. Billings, May 21, 1835; Hannah Thomas, Janu- ary 7, 1815, died July 31, 1828; Lydia Merriam, April 28. 1817. married Sewell G. Mirick, June 2, 1836; Phinehas Alden, see forward; Winslow Emer- son, February 9, 1821, married, May 30, 1844, Abi- gail K. Gordan: Abigail Florilla, born August 2, 1823, married, May 30, 1844, E. Savage Keyes; Elmira Cordelia, August 21, 1825, died July 19, 1836: Samuel B., 1820, died 1887; captain Company K, Fifty-third Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

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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 77

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