Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 66

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 66

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(V) Hopestill Bent, son of Peter Bent (4), born in Marlboro, January 17, 1672, died on the old Bent farm in Wayland, August 18, 1725. He lived at Sudbury, and was looked upon by the Indians as their friend. In a deed of gift an Indian named Isaac Nehemiah, of Natick, April 7. 1714. expressed the feeling, calling him his kind and lov- ing friend, and making the gift on account of his "great care of me and kindness to me in time of of my sickness, when I was at his house by the space of about seven years, during which time I was tenderly nursed and instructed in the things that concern my soul." Hopestill Bent held the rank of ensign in the Marlboro company. He served in the expedition to Canada in 1690 under Sir William Phipps, and as late as 1768 his de- scendants were granted land in Bethel, Maine, on account of this service. He was owner of the old Bent tavern in Sudbury. He married, November 27. 1700, Elizabeth, born March 17. 1678, daughter of Maior Thomas and Patience (Foster) Brown, of Sudbury. Patience was daughter of Hopestiff Foster, of Dorchester. All their children were horn in Sudbury. now Wayland: Martha, Sep- tember 15. 1701; Peter, May 17, 1703; Thomas, see forward; Hopestill, November 4, 1708: Sarah. April 22, 1711 ; Elijah, August 15, 1713; Michael, April 29: 1716; Elizabeth, June 14, 1720.

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RODERIC L. BENT

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(VI) Thomas Bent, third child of Hopestill Bent (5). born in Sudbury, July 29, 1706, died there July 26, 1775. He was a farmer, and owned land at Chesterfield, New Hampshire, as well as in Holden and Sudbury, Massachusetts. Although nearly seventy years old when the alarm from Lex- ington came, April 19, 1775, he set out among the first on horseback, and was engaged in the stirring events of that day. He was shot in the leg, and died three months later from the effects of the wound. But when on his way home, suffering from his wound, he met one of his sons on his way to the front, and urged the boy to do all he could. Three other sons were also soldiers in the revo- lution. He married, May 28, 1733, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Abigail (Reed) Stone. of Lex- ington and Sudbury, a descendant of Deacon Greg- ory Stone, of Cambridge (1635). Mary Stone was born March 9, 1718, and died July 26, 1775, the same day her husband died. They were buried in the same grave in the old graveyard at Wayland, then Sudbury. Their children: Lucy, born Janu- ary 13, 1736; Thomas, July 4, 1738; Lois, December 3. 1740; Mary, June 21. 1743: Jason, May 9. 1750; Martha, March 21, 1752: Samuel, see forward; Jonathan. April 22, 1758; Eunice, February 14, 1763.

(VII) Samuel Bent, seventh child of Thomas Bent (6). born January 1, 1755, at Sudbury, died at Fitzwilliam. New Hampshire, April 22, 1833. aged seventy-eight years. He marched to Concord on the Lexington alarm, in Captain Nathaniel Cud- worth's company, and served again in 1776. His grave was suitably marked September 4, 1896, as that of a revolutionary soldier. He moved from Sudbury to Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, in 1780, and cleared a farm in the wilderness, about a mile and a half from the Massachusetts line, and six miles from Mt. Monadnock. In 1790 he had ninety acres there, and in 1805 he bought more land of Isaac Goodnow, who also came from Sudbury. The farm is still tilled by descendants of Samuel Bent. He married. February 6, 1777, Molly, born March 7 1755, died October 8, 1838, aged eighty-three, daughter of William and Mary ( Wheeler ) Hunt, of Sudbury, a descendant of William Hunt (1605- 67), one of the early settlers of Concord, Massa- chusetts. Children of Samuel and Molly Bent : Samuel, born February 10, 1778: Mary, April 24. 1780: Martha, September 26, 1782: William Hunt, July 14, 1786; Hyman, see forward; Sally, October 7. 1791 : Elisha, December 10. 1793; Betsey, August 9. 1706: Newell. December 14, 1801.

(VIII) Hyman Bent, fifth child of Samuel Bent (7). born in Sudbury, September 17, 1788, died December 21, 1872, aged eighty-four years. Mar- ried Levina Johnson Allen, born in Shrewsbury, July 15, 1797, died in Fitzwilliam. New Hampshire, November 13, 1883, daughter of Rev. Arunah Allen (1767-1853). and a descendant of Walter Allen, of Newbury ( 1640). Hyman Bent was probably

named for his mother's brother. Hyman Hunt. He always lived in Fitzwilliam, except for a year and a half in Boston before his marriage. He was a man of untiring industry, keeping to the eight hour system in his work-that is, eight hours before noon. and eight hours after noon. He was devoted to his family, and a man generally loved and es- teemed wherever he was known. He was always interested in public enterprises, in good schools, good roads and public buildings. He was select- man in 1831 and 1832. "To do justly, love mercy and walk humbly." was his religion. His family was noted for long life. He and three of his chil- dren celebrated their golden weddings, and ten of

his eleven children celebrated their silver weddings; the other child was a spinster.

Children of Ilyman and Levina (Allen) Bent : Samuel, born December 23, 1817, died August 10, 1883; married Mary Louise Emmry and had : Elizabeth E., Charles Leslie, and Adelaide Mabelle. Eliza, born October 25, 1819, died March 21, 1893; married John Sawin and they had: Mary Lavinia, Hamilton Heywood, and Ida Maria. Lurene, born October 2, 1821, died July 12, 1891 ; married Mat- thias Felton and they had: Clarence M., George G., Alden P., Charles H. and Ernest E. Arunah Allen, born January 29, 1823, married Sarah Breck and they had: Alice Maria and Allen Herbert ; they reside in Boston, Massachusetts. Susan, born De- cember 30, 1825, died August 23, 1902; married Winslow Phillips and they had: Herbert, Arthur L., Wilbur H. and Chester H. Maria, born Oc- tober 13, 1828, married Marcus Wright, deceased ; she resides in Gardner, Massachusetts ; they had one child, Lewis Ashley Wright. Elmina, born June 16, 1830, married Joseph Green, of Gardner, Massa- chusetts; they had: William H., Allen Arunah and Lester N. Sarah, born January 5, 1832. resided on the old homestead in Fitzwilliam, Massachu- setts, till 1883, when she came to Gardner, Massa- chusetts, where she has since made her home. Charles Orra, of whom further mention is made. Frances Flora, born October 27, 1838, married Charles O. Whitney and they have: Frank Rus- sell, Charles Winfred and Robert Seymore; they reside in Marlboro, New Hampshire. Roderic Les- lie, of whom further mention is made.

(IX) Charles Orra Bent, son of Hyman Bent (8), was born in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, June 4, 1835. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and worked on his father's farm until 1854, when he came to Gard- ner, Massachusetts. There he went to work in a chair factory, a business for which later experience has shown he was adapted. In 1858 he left Gardner and went to California, where so many ambitious young Americans were going in those days. He found an opportunity to make money there in a line of business with which he was familiar. He started a milk ranch, and supplied a great need of the miners. He remained there and prospered for ten years : then, having accumulated some means, re- turned to Gardner to start in the manufacture of chairs in partnership with his eldest brother, Samuel, and his youngest brother, Roderic Leslie, under the firm name of S. Bent & Brothers. This business has since continued. Their shop at Gard- ner stands upon the premises originally used by John Merriam for a cloth mill. Afterward there was a shop for turning chair stock on this site. Mr. Merriam sold it to Sullivan Sawin, who used the shop for manufacturing chair stock, and was succeeded in the business by his son, John Sawin, who sold the property to A. A. Bent and he sold to S. Bent & Brothers. Charles O. Bent is now the only surviving partner of the three original ones but a son of Samuel Bent, deceased, is also con- nected with him. The firm has had a magnificent record in the business world. Beginning nearly fifty years ago in a modest way, the business grew year by year until one hundred and fifty hands were employed in recent years, and the annual product reaches a total value of $225,000.

Mr. Bent has taken a good citizen's interest in public affairs. He is a staunch Republican, in full accord with the vital principles of the party. He has served the town on the sewer commission and the water board, where the judgment of the best

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business men was deemed necessary. He was for some years a member of the board of fire engineers and chief of the fire department of Gardner. He has always shown the most progressive spirit, and supported the measures that tended to develop the town. He is a Free Mason, having joined in 1863. and has taken the various degrees up to the Com- mandery. A member of the United Workmen many years. He is a director of the Westminster National Bank of Gardner, and of the Old People's Home, and has always been generous in the various public charities of the town. He attends the Unitarian Church. Altogether, Mr. Bent stands among the foremost and most substantial business men of the town, among the group of men who have placed Gardner.in the high place she occupies in the manu- facturing world during the past fifty years. Few men have been longer in active business than he. He married (first), 1864, Emeline, daughter of John Barnhill, of Nova Scotia; and (second), 1895, Angeline, daughter of Reuben Barney, widow of George Wetherbee, and a native of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Children of Charles Orra and Eme- line Bent : Alice, born in Santa Cruz, California, 1866, married James Stiles. one child, Elizabeth; George B., married Edith Davis, one son, Charles. (IX) Roderic Leslie Bent, son of Hyman (8) and Hanna Johnson (Allen) Bent, was born in Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, March 22, 1843, died in Gardner, Massachusetts, January 5, 1895, aged fifty-two years. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and in early life learned the trade of chair manufacture, and for a number of years worked at his trade in Gardner, Massa- chusetts. He became a partner in the firm of S. Bent & Brothers, when it was established in Gard- ner in 1858, his two partners being his brothers, Samuel and Charles Orra, all skilled chair makers. He was engaged in this business until his death, and, being a successful business manager, the firm with which he was prominently connected pros- pered greatly and grew to large dimensions. He was one of the leading citizens of Gardner. having been closely identified with its public interests, and he represented the district in the legislature in 1884-85. For nineteen years he was a director of the First National Bank of Gardner,, and a trustee and member of the investment committee from 1877. At the time of his death he was president of the Gardner Electric Light Company, a director of the Blount Manufacturing Company, one of the sewer commissioners, and a member and officer of the Volunteer Fire Engine Company of Gardner. He was an earnest Republican, serving frequently on the town committee, but never sought office for himself. He attended the Unitarian Church.

Mr. Bent married, July 10, 1866, Mary L. Adams, born in Gardner, January 22, 1849, daughter of the late Silas and Roxa (Hunting) Adams, of Gardner. She survives her husband, living with her son on the homestead in Gardner. Their chil- dren: Rolland Adams, born in Gardner, March 22, 1876. died November 13, 1900, aged twenty-four years: Arnold Ainslie, born in Gardner, November 22, 1887, a graduate of the Gardner high school, class of 1906, and is now (1906) in Clark College, class of 1907.

STEPHEN RICHARD, a prosperous business man of Southbridge, whose executive ability, sound judgment, and keen discrimination has brought to him a large degree of prosperity. was born in St. Dennis, Canada, December 25, 1837. His parents were John Baptist and Marie (Benoit) Richard, of Canada, whose family consisted of eight children, as

follows : Mary. Josette, John, Angelique, Victor, Eleanore, David, Stephen and Toussaint Richard.

The common schools of St. Dennis, Canada, and Charlton, Massachusetts, afforded Stephen Richard the opportunity of acquiring a practical education, and by improving the same he became thoroughly qualified for a life of activity and usefulness. In 1852, at the age of fifteen years, he located in Spen- cer, Massachusetts, and there was employed in the box-making business. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits for two years, during which time he attended night school and in this way ma- terially added to his store of knowledge. He then secured employment in the shoe shop of David Prouty, but shortly after entering this service, in 1855, he removed to Southbridge, Massachusetts, and for six years thereafter worked in the cabinet shop of Smith Beecher & Company. He then en- tered the shop of T. Harrington, wherein he learned the knife manufacturing business thoroughly and in 1862 he established a knife manufacturing business on his own account under the name of Stephen Richard, which he has conducted ever since. He is a director in the Richard Manufacturing Com- pany. He holds membership in the Notre Dame Church, is a Democrat in politics, and a charter member of St. John's Society and Circle Canadian.

Mr. Richard married, December 25, 1860, Elean- ore Desplaines, daughter of John Baptist Desplaines. Their children are: Mary, wife of Joseph N. Lareau, and their family consists of seven children: Mary Antoinette, Archie, Natalie, Alena, Fabula, Richard, and Ulric Lareau. Rosanna, wife of Pierre D. Benoit, and mother of three children: Stephen, Richard, and Florence Benoit. Stephen, Jr., who married Lydia Chapedelainie, and they are the par- ents of one child, Loretta Richard. Joseph, who married Cordelia Caron, and the issue of this mar- riage was two children: Raymond, and Irene Rich- ard. Ida, wife of Albert D. Birtz. Mary Louise Richard.

WILLIAM CANICE CALLAHAN, one of Southbridge's enterprising and energetic young busi- ness men, was born in Southbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, May 22, 1852, the son of Jere- miah and Anastatia (Cavanaugh) Callahan. His father was a native of county Kilkenny, Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1841, and located in- mediately in Worcester county. He married Anas- tatia Cavanaugh, and their children were: James J., Patrick S., John J., William C., Thomas L., Catherine Maria and Francis. The father of this numerous family, Jeremiah Callahan, was a gradu- ate of the county college in his native land and was for a time a teacher of night school in Southbridge.

William C. Callahan was educated in the com- mon schools of his native place, and entered into his first regular employment with the Hamilton Woolen Company, in the print works, remaining with this firm for ten years. He then established himself with the American Optical Company, with whom he remained twelve years, doing the spring tempering work. He then decided to engage in business for himself, and accordingly engaged in the undertak- ing business, in which he still continues, and in which he has always been attended with the greatest success. For four years, 1900-1904, Mr. Callahan was engaged in the furniture business, meeting with considerable success. As a business man Mr. Callahan is sagacious and energetic, two success- bringing qualities, and he is an upright and in- dustrious citizen. He has contributed in a substan- tial way to the development of his native town by the erection of a business block containing three

George'll. Fisher.

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stores and a number of tenements on Hamilton street.

Mr. Callahan's political belief accords with the principles of the Democratic party, and he was a member of Southbridge town committee for fifteen years. He served as selectman five years, sewer com- missioner five years, overseer of the poor eight years, and Southbridge chief of police for two years. He is a lieutenant in McHale Guards, and president of the Southbridge Oil and Development Company. He is a member of the Red Men, of which he was one of the organizers, the Nipmuck Tribe, Southbridge, the Foresters, and the Order of Hibernians, being one of the founders of Divi- sion 12. In religious matters Mr. Callahan is a member of St. Mary's parish, and was one of the founders and for five years president of St. Mary's Temperance Society.

William C. Callahan married Ellen Cooney, of Oxford, daughter of Daniel and Ellen Cooney. By this marriage the following children were born : Annie, Maggie, Frank, William, Elizabeth, Canice, who is at present a student in the Worcester Mili- tary Academy.

JOSEPH PELOQUIN, an enterprising busi- ness man of Southbridge, Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, was born in Sorelle, Canada, October 17, 1823, the son of Francis and Francois (Peloquin) Peloquin. Mr. Peloquin was engaged in farming for some years, and also followed lumbering and brick making. In 1865, at the age of forty-two years, Mr. Peloquin removed to Southbridge, and entered into employment in a managerial capacity in the twine mill of the Central Mills Company, re- maining there for twenty-one years. At the expira- tion of that time he engaged in the grocery busi- ness, and is still conducting the same with much success. Mr. Peloquin has contributed in a sub- stantial way to the town of his adoption by the erec- tion of eighteen houses, dwellings, and the business place which he occupies. Mr. Peloquin's political belief accords with the doctrines of the Demo- cratic party, and he is a very strong temperance advocate. In matters of religion he is a Roman Catholic, being an attendant of Notre Dame Church. Joseph Peloquin married (first) Marienne Ethrei, of Canada, and (second) Edesse Lamothe, daugh- ter of John B. Lamothe, a farmer of Canada. The following children were born of this union: I. Jo- seph, November 1, 1857, married Delia Potoni, of Southbridge, in 1884, and had the following chil- dren: Eva, married Frank Caron, of Southbridge; Anna, Ida, Narcisse, Aurore, and Annie. 2. Nazarice, married Mina Venselette, of Southbridge. Chil- dren: Joseph, Marie, Roman, Angelina, Alphonse, Arthur and Valariene. 3. Abraham. 4. Adolphus, married Clara Lord, of Canada, children : L. Hector, Marie, who died at fourteen; Louis, married Mina Beboux, children, Charles and Flora. 5. Nelson, deceased. 6. Elize, married Joseph Derosier, of Canada, and had the following children: Alice, Eraine, and Adrienne. 7. Lena, married Alphonse Bouchette, and one child, Hector, was born to them.

GEORGE WILLIAM FISHER. John Fisher (I), the progenitor of George William Fisher and perhaps the immigrant ancestor, was born about 1700. He settled in Preston, Connecticut. He married Mary -, who joined the church there April 7, 1723. He seems to have married (sec- ond), February 14, 1732, Juda Cotterill, of Stoning- ton, Connecticut. Among his children were: Bar-

zillai, born 1730, see forward; Thankful, joined the church at Preston, November 15, 1747.

(II) Barzillai Fisher, son of John Fisher (1), was born probably at Preston, Connecticut, Janu- ary 6, 1730, died January, 1813. He married Lydia Dexter, October 3, 1754, and went to Killingly, Con- necticut, in 1769, with his wife and several children. ,He bought the farm there vacated by Rev. Bur- roughs, and his children and descendants for many generations have been prominent in that town. Four of his sons were soldiers in the revolution. They had nine children, among whom were: John, see forward; Nathan, was taken prisoner during the revolution and died on the prison-ship Jersey.

(III) John Fisher, eldest son of Barzillai Fisher (2), was born at Preston, Connecticut, Decem- ber 29, 1755, died June 9, 1843. He was a soldier in the revolution, serving through the entire war. He removed to Killingly, with his parents, and settled there after the revolution on the farm lately of John Williams. Among his seven children was Laban, see forward.

, (IV) Laban Fisher, second son of John Fisher (3), was born in Killingly, Connecticut, January I, 1783, died July 3, 1860. He settled in Killingly. He married Abigail Dexter, born April 2, 1789, died July 12, 1862. She was a lineal descendant of Rev. Gregory Dexter, who came from England in 1644 and was an intimate friend of Roger Will- iams, coming here at his suggestion to become pastor of the First Baptist Church at Providence, Rhode Island. Among the children of Laban and Abigail Dexter were: Erastus, see forward.

(V) Erastus Fisher, son of Laban Fisher (4), was born in Killingly, Connecticut, November 21, 1810, died April 20, 1880. In his youth he at- tended the public school. He worked with his father until he was of age. He began farming on his own account on a hired farm on Allen hill, near the homestead in Killingly. After a year he purchased the farm in Grafton, Massachusetts, where his son, George W. Fisher, now resides. His father helped him buy the farm, which by dint of hard labor and close economy he made profitable. In 1845 he bought a half interest with his brother, Waterman A. Fisher, in the cotton mill in what is now known as Fisherville in Grafton. He be- came the superintendent and later bought out his partners and became the sole owner. He associated with him his three sons in the business, and the firm name became E. Fisher & Sons and continued the business until the death of the founder without change. On January 27, 1881, a few months after his death, the mills were burned. A corporation was formed the following spring composed largely of his old business friends and named for him the Fisher Manufacturing Company, of which his son George W. Fisher, has been the agent. The village also is called Fisherville in his honor. An ex- cellent portrait of the founder of the business adorns the office of the Fisher Manufacturing Company. From 1861 to the time of his death Mr. Fisher made his home in Worcester and he died there.

A friend has written of him: "In business life, Erastus Fisher was characterized by invincible in- tegrity, industry and perseverance. He was always a man of his word, abhorring deceit and he was honorable in all his dealings and methods. Though quiet and unassuming, he was yet outspoken and resolute for the right. He was a good counselor, was possessed of a large fund of that uncommon thing called common sense, was wise in all his plans and energetic in their prosecution."

Mr. Fisher was a Whig in politics and cast

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his first presidential vote for Henry Clay. He was a strong anti-slavery man and joined the Repub- lican party when it was organized. He cast his vote always and conscientiously at elections, was in- terested in the town in which he lived and helped in every way to develop and improve the mill vil- lage where his business was located. He served the towns as selectman. He was an earnest supporter of. the temperance movement and himself a total ab- stainer. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Grafton, which he and his wife joined in 1842. He contributed generously of his means to the church. A handsome memorial window, the gift of their sons, adorns the church in which Mr. and Mrs. Fisher worshiped for many years. After they removed to Worcester, they attended the Old South Church, of which he became an assessor and the treasurer. After his death the parish passed suitable resolutions deploring the loss of "a wise counselor, liberal supporter, and earnest and de- voted friend-one whose heart was as full of love as was his life of noble and generous deeds." In Worcester he was a member of the Old City Guards for many years. He was a director of the Grafton Bank.

He married, April 7, 1835, Mary Fletcher Dresser, born September 19, 1813, died December 6, 1880. Their children were: Henry Dresser, born at Killingly, Connecticut, January 18, 1836, died in Worcester, March 14, 1886; was a member of his father's firm of E. Fisher and Sons; George Will- iam, see forward; Albert Laban, see forward.

(V1) George William Fisher, second son of Erastus Fisher (5), was born in Fisherville, Grafton, Massachusetts, November 18, 1843, died February 7, 1900. He attended the district school at Farnums- ville when a boy and later the Worcester high school, where he was graduated in 1864. He en- tercd Yale University and was graduated there in 1868 with the degree of A. B. Returning then to Grafton, he entered the office of his father's mill and at the end of a year was admitted to part- nership. During the next ten years he took an active part in the development of the industry at Fisherville owned by the firm of E. Fisher & Sons. In 1881, the year followwing the death of the senior parner, the mill was burned and the firm crippled by heavy loss. In the following spring the Fisher Manufacturing Company was formed with George WV. Fisher as the agent, the mills were rebuilt and have been conducted ever since by Mr. Fisher. The old mills had five thousand spindles; the new mills have forty thousand spindles and employ about five hundred hands. Mr. Fisher is one of the lead- ing men of the town. He is vice-president of the Grafton National Bank. He is an active mem- ber and took a leading part in raising the funds for the building of the Union Congregational Church of Fisherville. He also aided materially the build- ing of St. James' Roman Catholic Church there, giving the site and also contributing generously to the building fund. He is a member of Franklin Lodge of Free Masons and of the Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar.

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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 66

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