Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 63

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772

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. III > Part 63

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(VIII) Frederick Douglas Lane, son of Samuel Lane (7), was born at Ashburnham, Massachu- setts, July 4, 1849. He received his early education in the Naukeag school. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of Leonard Foster, match Manufacturer, and learned the business. After four years he went to Winchendon, Massachusetts, and learned the carpenter's trade. He was employed for a year and a half by Raymond, Rice & Foristall, then entered Appleton Academy in December. 1871, graduating June 12, 1874. He entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1874 and graduated in 1878 with the degree of A. B. Three years later he re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts from his Alma Mater. In the fall of 1878 he began to teach school at New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Next year he taught the grammar school in Ashburnham. He was appointed professor of mathematics and Ger- man in Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, December 6, 1879, a position he held till 1896, since which time he has taught mathematics alone. He has taken a high rank in his profession and has done his full share increasing and maintaining the ex- cellent reputation of Cushing Academy as a prepara- tory school. Professor Lane is a member of the Congregational Church, Ashburnham, is superin- tendent of the Sunday school and since 1887 has been clerk of the church. He was formerly a Re- publican, but of late years has voted with the Pro- hibition party, being intensely interested in the tem- perance movement. He has been delegate to many of the Prohibition conventions. He was on the Ashburnham school committee from 1880 to 1889. and has been town treasurer since 1893. He is a member of Naukeag Lodge, No. 196, Odd Fellows, and has been through the chairs of that lodge, and at present is third degree master. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Gard- ner, the Theta Delta Chi fraternity of Dartmouth College, and the Mathematical Association of Teachers at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

He married, August 24, 1887. Cora Jeannette Gilbert, born September 25, 1865, daughter of Lorenzo Harvey and Chloe (Burgess) Gilbert, of Union City, Pennsylvania. Her father was a chair manufacturer at Union City, a veteran of the civil war. having served in Company G, Twenty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. Children of Professor Frederick D. and Cora Jeannette Lane are: Gilbert Frederick, born August 13, 1890; Sylvia Mary Lois, July 14, 1893; Merton Burgess, Decem- ber 10, 1894.

SANFORD HENRY BULLARD. The Bullard family of Oakham was established there early in the eighteenth century by a settler from Water- town whose Christian name cannot be easily ascer- tained. The early colonial records mention eight immigrants of this name. These are: Robert, Ben-

jamin, Jonathan, William, John, Isaac, Nathaniel and George. According to the Watertown records Robert, Benjamin and George Bullard settled there. Benjamin Bullard, who was a proprietor in Water- town in 1642,. married the only daughter of Henry Thorp, of that town, and in 1673 was living in Sherbourne. The Christian name of Robert Bul- lard's wife was Anna. George Bullard, who died in Watertown, 1688 or 89, was twice married and the Christian name of his first wife was Beatrice. April 20, 1655, he married (second) Widow Mary Marple- head. About the year 1660 he settled in Water- town Farms, now Weston. His children were all of his first union. His sons were Jacob and Jona- than, and as the Watertown records mention no children of Robert or Benjamin Bullard, it is rea- sonable to suppose that George Bullard was the an- cestor of the Oakham Bullards.

Captain Silas Bullard was a prominent resident of Oakham in his day, and stood high in the estima- tion of the community for his sterling integrity, sincere devotion to the welfare of his fellow-towns- men and the cause of justice. He also enjoyed their implicit confidence, settling their estates and acting as referee for the adjustment of differences between neighboring farmers, and as both adminis- trator and arbitrator he invariably performed his duty in a manner eminently satisfactory to all parties concerned. Captain Bullard had a family of seven children, and his son Joel, who became an industrious farmer of Oakham, married Nancy Dwight. daughter of John Dwight, of Belchertown, this state.

Sanford Henry Bullard, son of Joel Bullard, was born in Oakham, August 17, 1835. He attended the district school of his neighborhood until twelve years old, which was the extent of his opportunities for study under the guidance of an instructor, but with the aid of reading and observation he after- ward made up for his early deficiencies and de- veloped into a well-informed man. In 1860 he ac- quired possession of what was formerly his grand- father's homestead, where he has ever since resided, and in addition to general farming he devotes his attention to the fattening and slaughtering of cattle for market with profitable results. His honesty and desire for fair dealing in business affairs are in no small measure accountable for his prosperity in life, and these as well as his other commendable qualities have won for him the good will of his fellow-townsmen. He has followed the butchering and marketing business in Oakham for over thirty years, sending veal and hides, poultry and other farm produce to Boston and Worcester markets.

The entire cattle business of Oakham, together with the trade in dressed meats, is more or less subject to the supervision of Mr. Bullard, as he is official inspector of both cattle and provisions, and the vigorous measures instituted by the town at his suggestion for the suppression of tuberculosis among the live-stock within its jurisdiction, have been effectively carried out under his able direc- tion. Politically he acts with the Republican party and for more than twenty-two consecutive years has served upon the board of assessors. He is a member of the Congregational Church.

In 1873 Mr. Bullard was united in marriage with Ella S. Fabes. daughter of Timothy Fabes, of Oak- ham, and of this union there are five children. namely: William Harrison, born May 15, 1884; Milton Ames. born March 10, 1886: Minnie Fabes. born December 16. 1888: Edwin Hiram, born July 1.1. 1800: and Alice May, born August 30, 1892. All are residing at home. The first born was named for an uncle, William Harrison Bullard,

PUBLIC LIBRI PY

FLINT HOMESTEAD, PAXTON

Ilome of Charles F. Flint, built in 1748 by his great great-grandfather, Abraham Smith, first representative from Paxton.

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who served in the civil war, and was killed in the battle of Cold Harbor. The old Bullard House, which had been in the family's possession for con- siderably more than one hundred and fifty years, and contained many valuable relics of antiquity, was unfortunately destroyed by fire some years ago and has been replaced by a handsome and sub- stantial modern residence.

WILLIAM FORDYCE COMINS, of Spencer, Massachusetts, was born in Charlton, Massachu- setts, February 27, 1839, the son of Lewis and Re- becca (Bacon) Comins. The father of Lewis Comins was also of Charlton, Massachusetts. Lewis Comins was a carpenter by trade. He married Re- becca (Bacon) Ruggles, widow of Fordyce Ruggles, and their children were: Lewis Bacon, born 1833; Thomas Jefferson, 1835; William Fordyce, 1839.

William Fordyce Comins acquired his early edu- cation in the common schools of Charlton, and also attended a select school in that place. He after- wards removed to Spencer, Worcester county, Mas- sachusetts, where he commenced work in the gen- eral country store. He subsequently entered into the grocery business in Spencer, finally retiring on acount of ill health. In politics Mr. Comins af- filiated with the Republican party.

He married, May 10, 1864, Pamelia King Bemis, born June 28, 1846, the daughter of Martin Bemis, of Spencer, Massachusetts, and granddaughter of Joshua Bemis, a farmer of that place. Two chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Comins : Fred Lewis, May 7, 1867, married Amy Titus Briggs, of Spencer and died March 14, 1891; Albert Martin, born February 16, 1874, died in infancy. William Fordyce Comins passed away December 2, 1888, at the age of forty-nine.

HIRAM CHENEY WELLS, for more than a half century a well known resident of Southbridge, actively identified with its leading institutions, was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. September 8, 1830, a son of John Ward and Maria (Cheney) Wells, and grandson on the paternal side of Henry and Nancy (Shurtleff) Wells, of Westerly, Rhode Island, the former born in 1753, died 1823, and on the maternal side of Joel and Naomi (Batcheller) Cheney. John Ward Wells (father) was born in Westerly, Rhode Island, 1794, was a farmer by occupation, and married, January 28, 1826, Maria Cheney, of Southbridge, who bore him the follow- ing named children: Louisa M., born 1826; Harriet C., 1828; Hiram C., 1830; Elizabeth P., 1833; Caro- line A., 1835; Lewis J., 1839: Albert W., 1841 ; Wesley J., 1842; and George W., 1846.

Hiram C. Wells attended the common schools and academy of Woodstock, and upon attaining his majority came to Southbridge. Massachusetts, and served a three years' apprenticeship in the optical business. He then became actively connected with the American Optical Company, of which corpora- tion he is at present (1905) a director. He is first vice-president and a trustee of the Southbridge Savings Bank, president for eleven years and now of the board of directors of the Southbridge Gas and Electric Company, and a director of the South- bridge Water Supply Company. In public matters he was liberal, public-spirited and enterprising in all things that tended to the growth and welfare of the town, and he was always found an active and influential adviser and worker in that direction. He served on the town committee for a number of years. He is a member, deacon and chairman of prudential committee of the Baptist Church, a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and nine years clerk

of Doric Chapter, R. A. M., and the Southbridge Club. He is a Republican in politics, and exercises a potent influence in behalf of the party whose prin- ciples he advocates. He is president of the board of directors of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, and one of the founders of the Southbridge branch of that beneficent institution.

Mr. Wells married, November 29, 1855, Ellen M. Perry, a native of Millbury, Massachusetts, daughter of Daniel B. and Prudence Perry, for many years residents of Southbridge where Mr. Perry was foreman of the machine shop of Hamil- ton Woolen Company. Their children are: Edwin Perry, born June 2, 1859, married, October 25, 1882, Adelaide Green, of Warren, daughter of Henry Green. Herbert Eugene, born July 1, 1861, mar- ried, July 11, 1889, Carrie N. Cheney, of South- bridge. daughter of Alpha M. Cheney, and they are the parents of two children: Gertrude Marie, born December 28, 1895: and Sarah Cunningham, born July 29, 1904. Herbert Eugene Wells is now (1906) professor of penmanship and bookkeeping in Bryant & Stratton's School, Boston, Massachu- setts.

CHARLES FREDERICK FLINT. Thomas Flint (I), the immigrant ancestor of Charles Fred- erick Flint, of Paxton, Massachusetts, was born in 1603 in England. He was the brother of the famous Rev. Henry Flint, who came from England to New England in 1635 and was admitted to the Boston Church, November 15. 1635, and made a freeman May 25, 1636; was dismissed "to ye gath- ering of a church at Mount Wollaston ( Braintree)," August 11, 1639, and was ordained teacher in com- pany with Mr. William Thompson, pastor. He mar- ried Margery Hoar. daughter of Charles Hoar, Jr., of Gloucester, England; died April 27, 1668, and his widow died March 10, 1686-87.

Mr. Thomas Flint, as he was described in the records, was scarcely less prominent. Johnson calls him: "a sincere servant of Christ who had a fair yearly revenue in England, but having improved it for Christ by casting it into the common treas- ury. he waits on the Lord for doubling his talent, if it shall seem good unto him so to do and the meantime spending his person and the good of his people in the office of magistrate."

" At Christ's commands thou leav'st thy lands and native habitation ;

His folke to aid in desert straid for gospel's exaltation. Flint, hardy thou, will not allow the undermining fox

With subtill skill Christ's owls to spoil; thy sword shall give them knocks.

Yet thou base dust and all thou hast is Christ's and by him thou

Art made to be such as we see ; hold last forever, now. "

The author of the poetry took all the license that even colonial laws of verse allow, but his idea is not entirely obscured by his attempt at rhyme. Flint was evidently heart and soul a Puritan.

Thomas Flint came over about 1637, from his home in Matlock, Derbyshire, England, shortly after his brother, and settled first at Boston. He was admitted a freeman there March, 1637-38. He rc- moved to Concord in 1637 or 1638 and there ex- pended most of the sum of four thousand pounds in improving the town of Concord. He was deputy to the general court in 1637-38-39-40. He was lieutenant-governor many years prior to his death, and one of the leading men of the colonies, a man of wealth, talent and high character. He received a grant of seven hundred and fifty acres of land extending from Flint's pond to Beaver pond and the town line, now of Lincoln, Massachusetts, one of

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the largest single grants made in his day. He died at Concord, October 8, 1653, aged fifty years. His will was dated December 21. 1651. He left his chil- dren to the care of his wife with the counsel of Mr. Bulkley. teacher of the church at Concord. He mentions his brother Henry, teacher of the church at Braintree ; also Captain Simon Willard, founder of Lancaster; also his uncle, William Wood, of Concord. His widow died December IS, 1689, aged eighty-two years. Flint's will is the first on the Middlesex probate records at Cambridge, Massachusetts. The children: Colonel John, mar- ried Mary Oakes, of the family of President Oakes, uf Harvard College: Ephraim, born January 14, 1641-42. married, March 20, 1683. Jane Bulkley, of Concord, of the first minister's family ; he died At- gust 3, 1723.

(II) Colonel John Flint, son of Thomas Flint (I), was born about 1640 and died December 5, 1686. He is called lieutenant and later colonel on the records. He was deputy to the general court for Concord from 1677 to 1687. He was town clerk 1680 to 1686. He married Mary Oakes. sister of President Uriah Oakes, of Harvard College, No- vember 12, 1667, daughter of Edward and Jane Oakes. She died 1690. Their children: Mary, born October 26, 1668, died May 31, 1675; Thomas, born December 12, 1670, died May 31, 1675; John, born March 31, 1673, died June 6, 1675: Abigail, born January 11, 1674-75, married, November 2, 1701, Captain Daniel Estabrook; John, born July 18, 1677 ; Mary, born August 11, 1680, died May 24. 1748; married Timothy Green: Thomas, born January 16, 1682-83, see forward; Edward, born July 6, 1685, died November 15, 1754; married Love (Minott) Adams.

(III) Thomas Flint, son of Colonel John Flint (2), was born at Concord, Massachusetts, Janu- ary 16, 1682-83, died April I, 1755. He settled at Concord and married there. January 15, 1717-18, Mary Brown, born March 20, 1692-93, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Brown, of Concord. Their children: Dorothy, born October 1, 1718: Mary, born December 20, 1719: Thomas, born April 19. 1722, see forward; Lucy, born October 3, 1725, died August 30, 1727; Henry, born April 6, 1724. mar- ried, February 19, 1750, Sarah Wheeler; Josiah, born March 13, 1726-27, died December 9, 1783; married, December 8. 1763, Hannah Meriam ; Charles, born July 27, 1729, died September II, 1758; married. December 21. 1753, Elizabeth Butt- rick: John, born May 23, 1731, married, April 24, 1759, Mary Bateman, daughter of John and Anna Bateman: Dr. Edward, born March 28, 1735, died November 13, 1818; married, January 8, 1756, Mary How, daughter of Hon. Daniel How, of Shrews- bury : Ruth. married. 1766, Captain Bardwell Smith. (IV) Thomas Flint, son of Thomas Flint (3). was born at Concord, Massachusetts, April 19, 1722, died May 6, 1802, aged eighty years. He moved from Concord, where he was born and brought up, to Rutland, Massachusetts, where he bought a tract of land in the centre of the town, but later removed to the farm known as the Flint place. where several generations of his descendants lived and died. He lived there to a good old age and his son, Deacon Tilly Flint, succeeded him on the homestead. He married, January 22, 1741-45, Eunice How, who died at Rutland. September 10, 1796, aged sixty-nine years, daughter of Moses How. Their children, all born at Rutland, were: Thomas, horn November 2, 1748; Sarah, born January 6, 1746-47, married John Bowker, of Petersham, 1764; John, born January 30, 1750-51, see forward; Eunice, born January 7, 1753, married Daniel Witt, of Pax-

ton, March 10, 1774; Dorothy, born January 20, 1755, married, March 12, 1778, Daniel Snow, Jr .; Lucy, born January 31, 1757, married at Oakham, 1777, Joel Hayden ; Tilly, born March 17, 1759, mar- ried Ruth Fosdick; Jonas, baptized March 8, 1761, was a soldier in the Revolution; Moses How, born February 6, 1763, died March 28, 1764; Caroline, born May 12, 1765.

(V) John Flint, son of Thomas Flint (4), was born January 30, 1750-51, at Rutland, Massachu- setts. He settled on a farm at Oakham, Massachu- setts, and married Phebe Smith, who died at Oak- ham, February 19, 1837, aged eighty-four years. Their children, all born at Oakham, were: Fred- erick, born May 24. 1782, see forward; John, born September 10, 1785, died September 21, 1786; Daniel, born July 21, 1787, married, May 30, 1815, Mary Boyd; Lucy, born July 20, 1789; Sally, born Sep- tember 4, 1791; Serviah, died June 30, 1795; Susan- nah, born October 26, 1794, married, August 31, 1817, Cheney Boyd; John, horn August 15, 1796, married, March 24, 1825, Mary Bothwell.

(V]) Frederick Flint, son of John Flint (5), was born in Oakham, Massachusetts, May 24, 1782. He settled in Paxton, having married Polly Smith, March 10, 1806, daughter of Abraham Smith, Jr., and purchased the old Smith homestead in Pax- ton. This farm, which he handed down to his son and is now owned by his grandson, is part of the original tract of land that constituted the estate of Abraham Smith, ancestor of his wife, who set- tled in Paxton, then Leicester, about 1740 with his wife Zerviah, and was the first representative to the general court from Paxton. He built a house opposite the site of the present Flint house. He had a large family of children, among whom he divided his estate. The present house was built about 1750. Mr. Flint has in possession a deed dated 1787 by which Abraham Smith conveyed land and buildings thereon to his son Abraham, Jr. The house, a large two story and a half frame building, containing fifteen rooms, is remarkably well pre- served. It is about a mile west of the centre of the town. Frederick Flint was a prosperous farmer of Paxton. He died there in 1860, aged seventy- eight years. His wife died January 7, 1852. The children : Phoebe, born April 3, 1807, married M. R. Williams, died February , 24, 1873; Mary Ann, born September 24, 1812, married Levi Johnson, died November 16, 1846; Charles Stillman, men- tioned below, born October 10, 1817; Sarah Jane, born November 20, 1823, died March 26, 1845; Aus- tin, born August 12, 1826, died March 9, 1858.

(VII) Charles S. Flint, son of Frederick Flint (6), was born in Paxton, Massachusetts, October 10, 1817, died February 19, 1884. He inherited the homestead. He was an active and influential citi- zen of Paxton, Republican in politics and a mem- ber of the Congregational Church. He married, October 7, 1845, Mary M. Williams, born in Hub- bardston, but lived most of her life before mar- riage in Barre, Massachusetts. She died June 1, 1887. Their children were: Mary J., born June 22, 18.49, died May 22, 1855; Charles Frederick, men- tioned below, born April 18, 1857.

(VIII) Charles Frederick Flint, son of Charles S. Flint (7), was born in Paxton, Massachusetts, April 18, 1857. He received his education in the Public schools of Paxton and at Leicester Acad- emy. When not in school he worked on the farm, and being the only son remained with his father on the homestead, to which he succeeded on the death of his father. His farm consists of about a hundred acres of the original Abraham Smith farm in Paxton and is very productive and well man-

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aged. He is a Republican in politics and has been active in town affairs. He was assessor for a number of years, chairman of the board several terms, selectman several years, chairman of the board two terms, and at present a member of the board of trustees of the Paxton public library, a position he has filled since 1883. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church and Sunday school, having been superintendent of the latter for six years.

He married, January 9, 1889, Susie E. Wake- ford, born March 18, 1864, daughter of Robert and Mary (Labdon) Wakeford, of Woburn, Massachu- setts. She was educated in the public schools of Woburn, graduating from the high school, and for several years before her marriage taught school in Winchester, Massachusetts, and also at Paxton. . She was elected a member of the Paxton school committee in 1892, and is still a member, having held the position for fifteen years, and was chairman of the board from 1897 to 1899. The only child of Charles Frederick and Susie E. Flint is Frederick Wakeford, born December 14, 1889. Frederick Wakeford Flint is the fifth generation born in the old Flint homestead. He is at present a student at the Worcester Classical high school, of the class of 1908.

JOHN MILTON COCHRAN, of Southbridge, whose career as a lawyer has been distinguished by sterling character, a display of comprehensive knowledge of the law and a steady devotion to the best interests of progressive civilization, is a na- tive of Pembroke, New Hampshire, born April 11, 1849. He is a lineal descendant of John Cochran, who settled in Pembroke, New Hampshire, 1727, and the line of ancestry is traced through John Cochran, Jr., who actively practiced the profession of medi- cine; Thomas Cochran, of Pembroke, who married Mary Martin; and Martin H. Cochran, 'of Pen- broke, who was born December 3, 1818, followed the quiet but useful calling of agriculture, and married, July 4, 1844, Miriam M. Rowell, of Al- bany, Orleans county, Vermont, daughter of Enoch and Betsey Rowell, who bore him three children : John Milton, whose name heads this sketch; Charles M., deceased; and Sarah E. W. Cochran.

John M. Cochran obtained his literary educa- tion in the common schools and academy of Pem- broke, his birthplace, and for three years after his graduation from the latter institution pursued a course of study in law with Judge Ira A. East- man, after which he was admitted to the bar in New Hampshire in 1870. The same year he came to Palmer, Hampden county, Massachusetts, and engaged in partnership with Judge Allen in a gen- eral law practice, this connection continuing for one year. He then came to Southbridge, Worcester county, where he has practiced his profession ever since, a period of more than three decades, and his distinctively representative clientage is unmis- takable proof of his ability. He has also served in the capacity of attorney for and trustee of the Southbridge Savings Bank, and as attorney for and director in the following enterprises: Southbridge & Brookfield Railroad, Gas and Electric Company, Southbridge and Sturbridge Street Railway Com- pany, and the Central Mills Company. He is at present counsel for many other corporations in Southbridge and vicinity.

He has served his adopted town as moderator, auditor, solicitor, and as a member of the library committees, which last named office he held sixteen years. In religion he is a Congregationalist, in politics a Republican, and

in social life a member of the Southbridge Club, and the Quinebaug Historical Society, of which he is president. His Masonic carcer virtually covers all branches of the fraternity; he is affiliated with Quinebaug Lodge, F. and A. M., of which he is past master; Doric Chapter, R. A. M., of which he is past high priest; and Worcester City Com- mandery, K. T. He is also district deputy grand master and district deputy grand high priest, offices of which he is pardonably proud. He is also past regent of the Royal Arcanum. Ile also served as first captain of Company K, Sixth Regiment, Massa- chusetts Militia. He is president of the Worcester South Bar Association and has been continuously since its formation.

Mr. Cochran married, May 12, 1875, Mary Eliza- beth Whitehouse, of Pembroke, New Hampshire, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Whitehouse. Their child, Charles M., born July 7, 1879, married Edith Taylor, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, daugliter of Horace J. Taylor. He has a grandson, Martin H., born September 3, 1902. Mr. Charles M. Coch- ran was formerly with the Consolidated Dental Manufacturing Company, New York.

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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. III, Part 63

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 772

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772