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 76
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(V) Emma S. Lawrence, daughter of Henry H. Lawrence (4), was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, January 28, 1851. She was educated in the public and high schools there and the Wesleyan Academy of Wilbraham, Massachusetts. She married, Octo- ber 28, 1875, George W. Blackwell. They reside at
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East Orange, New Jersey, where Mrs. Blackwell is prominent in club life. She is president of a wo- man's political study club, and was former president of the Woman's Club of Orange. She was ap- pointed by the governor of the state of New Jersey in 1903 on a commission to investigate the condition of women confined in the prisons and jails of the state, and has taken great interest in this line of work. The children of George and Emma S. Blackwell are: I. Howard Lane Blackwell, born at East Orange, New Jersey, July 19, 1876. George Lawrence, born September 27. 1879. died September 22, 1886. Anna Marian, born August 23, 1883, in Gardner, Massachusetts. George Kenyon, born Oc- tober 12, 1887, died September 25, 1888; was grad- uated at Harvard University, 1899, Bachelor of Arts. He took a graduate course, and in 1905 received his degree of Ph. D. During the same year he was pres- ident of the Harvard Dining Association which has charge of the refectory in Memorial Hall, boarding about 1,500 students. In March, 1906, he was ap- pointed comptroller of the University.
GATES FAMILY. Stephen Gates (I), immi- grant ancestor of Charles Gates, of Petersham, Mas- sachusetts, son of Thomas Gates, of Norwich, Nor- folk county, England, was the tenth in the English line from Thomas Gates, of Higheaster and Thurs- tenbie, Essex county, England. He came from Hingham, England, in the ship "Diligent," of Ips- wich, in 1638, accompanied by his wife Ann ( Hill) and two children. He settled at Hingham, Massa- chusetts; removed thence to Lancaster, and subse- quently went to Cambridge, where he died in 1662. His will was dated June 9, 1662, and proved October 7, 1662.
(II) Simon Gates, son of Stephen Gates (1), born 1645, died April 21, 1695, at Brockton, Massa- chusetts. He married Margaret -, of Cam- bridge, and they resided at Cambridge, Lancaster and Muddy River (now Brookline) Massachusetts. He inherited his father's estate at Cambridge. Chil- dren : 1. Abigail, born August 14, 1671; died 1776, aged one hundred and six years; married first Na- thaniel Sparhawk, Jr .; second, 1735, Josiah Mayo. 2. Simon, born September 1, 1673; died January 2, 1675-6. 3. Simon, born January 5, 1675-6, mentioned below. 4. George, born April 6, 1678; died May 23, 1679. 5. Amos, born 1681; married May 19, 1703, Hannah Oldham. 6. Jonathan, born June 22, 1683; married Persis Shepard. 7. Samuel, born Angust II, 1685. 8. Margaret, born August 13, 1689; mar- ried James How.
(III) Simon Gates, son of Simon Gates (2), was born January 5, 1675-6, and died March 10, 1735; married May 29, 1710, Sarah Wood, daughter of John and Lydia Wood, of Marlboro, Massachu- setts. They settled in Marlboro, where she died in 1751. Children: I. Simon, born December 11, 1710, died April II, 1777; married Sarah How; 2. Sarah, born October 15, 1712; died at Hubbardston; mar- ried February 3, 1736, Sphraim Church, of Rutland. 3. Susannah, born December 19, 1714; married Cap- tain John Phelps, of Rutland. 4. Stephen, born August 20, 1718; died October 5, 1773; married February 4, 1742-3, Damaris How; resided at Rut- land. 5. Solomon, born May 14, 1721; died March 2, 1761, at Worcester; married Mary Clark. 6. Samuel, born February 28, 1722, mentioned below. 7. Silas, born February 3. 1727; died August 25, 1793; married, May 9, 1754, Elizabeth Bragg. 8. John, born January 27, 1729, died young.
(IV) Samuel Gates, son of Simon Gates (3), was born February 28, 1722; died at Petersham, Massachusetts; married Caroline How. Samuel Gates was the first of the family in Petersham, and
is said to have bought liis lands of the Indians and thus avoided trouble with them. He had his grant also as proprietor of the town, and part of the orig- inal homestead is owned and occupied by Charles WV. Gates, a lineal descendant, having remained in the family from the first settlement with the excep- tion of two years. Samuel Gates, of Rutland, Mas- sachusetts, responded to the Lexington Alarm and served six days. In 1777 he is credited with service tion, a private in Captain Jonathan Gates' com- In 1778 Samuel Gates was corporal in Captain Har- rington's company and in Captain Munroe's com- pany in Rhode Island. Some of this service may belong to Samuel Gates, of Rutland, whose son, Samuel Gates, Jr., was also in the Revolution. Chil- dren: I. John, born October 7, 1759, at Petersham; died November 23, 1824; mentioned below. 2. Solo- mon, born October 4, 1761; died January 21, 1847 ; married June 6, 1789, Esther Whitney, who was born December 10, 1769; died August 16, 1848; was a soldier in the Revolution. 3. Samuel, born 1766, at Petersham; died there in 1822; married Hannah Dike, 1789. 4. Oliver Cromwell, born 1776 at Peter- sham; died there in 1841 ; married Mary How, No- vember 31, 1805, who was born 1776 and died 1841. 5. Caroline, born December 25, 1774, died March 1854; married Joel Ballou at Petersham. 6. Polly, born October 30, 1773, died March 20, 1848; married October 22, 1795, Samuel Henry, of Rutland. 7. Susannah, married September 8, 1788, Samuel Mc- Near, and had one child, Lewis McNear, born 1792, died 1858.
(V) John Gates, son of Samuel Gates (4), was born October 7, 1759, at Petersham, Massachusetts ; married, July 11, 1806, Betsey Gleason, of Barre (intentions dated June 1). She was born March 5, 1780, daughter of John and Ruth ( White) Gleason, who were married April 5, 1771, at Petersham; she died at Petersham, October 8, 1835. Her grave is marked by a stone. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tion, a private in Captain Jonathan Gates' com- pany from December 15, 1776, to March I, 1777; sergeant in the same company, serving at Saratoga at the surrender of Burgoyne; in 1778 a corporal in the Guard at Rutland, Major Read, commanding, and is credited with six months service. Children all born at Petersham: I. Samuel, born May 3, 1807, died there February 17, ISI0. 2. Charles, born No- vember 5, 1808; mentioned below. 3. Samuel Flint, born ISII; died July 23, 1812. 4. Harriet, born August 18, 1813; died January 4, 1894; married Thomas E. Winchester ; second, June 17, 1856, Joseph W. Upton. Elizabeth, born March 3, 1822; died March 8, 1882; married, September 18, 1850, Ames Fobes, of Oakham, Massachusetts. Their son, Charles Ames Fobes, was born May 12, 1859, at Marion, Iowa, died at Kingston, Jamaica, March II, 1905. A bequest in his will gave $4,000 to the town of Petersham, Massachusetts, in memory of his mother. This money was used toward building the schoolhouse in the centre in 1906. The same amount was bequeated to Oakham, Massachusetts, in memory of his father, for a public library.
(VI) Charles Gates, son of John Gates (5), was born at Petersham, November 5, 1808. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Petersham, and lived on the farm inherited from his father. He was also engaged for many years in the palmleaf business. At first palinleaf hats were made, and wagons sent with the stock to farmhouses in all the surrounding towns, giving employment to hundreds of women and children in their homes. Later he manufactured shaker hoods. The "webs" and "binds" for the hoods were woven and notched braid made by the busy fingers of the housewives, then taken to the shop at Petersham, where they were made into
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Shaker hoods. The finished goods were shipped to Boston and New York. The palmleaf was bought in crude form and was split and dyed by Mr. Gates in his shop. He was an expert in the dyeing of palmleaf, and did considerable business in dyeing for other manufacturers. The colors most in vogue were black and green, Mr. Gates being one of the first to color palmleaf green successfully. The busi- ness for a short time was conducted by the firm of Gates & Tower, but mostly under his own name. It was financially successful and was conducted from 1850 until 1866. From 1864 to 1866 he had a grocery store in Petersham. In 1867 and 1868 he had a hardware store in Athol, conducted under the firm name of Charles Gates & Co. The firm manufac- tured tinware of various kinds, and sent the familiar old tin-peddlers' carts about the country selling the goods in exchange for paper, rags, etc. He removed the tinware business to Petersham. He continued all the time to live on the homestead at Petersham, and managed it in addition to his other business interests.
In politics Mr. Gates was a Whig until that party went to pieces, when he became a Republican. Although interested always in town affairs, he pre- ferred not to hold office himself. He was on the school committee for some years. In religion he was a Universalist, and an active member of the church. When visiting clergymen came to Peter- sham they were entertained at his house, and the visits of such eminent men as Rev. Hosea Ballou and Rev. Sylvanus Cobb are still remembered by the older citizens. Mr. Gates was of a genial, pleas- ant disposition. In business he was strictly honest and honorable, and was shrewd and successful in making money, but too generous and trustful in the honor of others to save his money.
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He married first, Mercy T. White, May 31, 1832. She died at Petersham, June 25, 1834, aged twenty- two years. He married second, March 7, 1836, Mary Ann Tower, who was born August 11, 1812, and died March 28, 1895. She was the daughter of Jonas Tower, born March 8, 1768, and Fanny Parmenter, who were married February 16, 1792, at Petersham. Child of Charles and Mercy T. Gates: I. Alfred White, born at Petersham, June 5, 1834; died Octo- ber 22, 1871, at East Saginaw, Michigan; married Mary Gleason, of Munson, Massachusetts; had a general store at Belcherstown, Massachusetts; later in the hotel and livery stable business at Enfield, Massachusetts; afterward of East Saginaw, Michi- gan, where he conducted a large livery stable and stage business; children, born at East Saginaw: i. Mildred, born August 28, 1861; married March I, 1886, Eugene F. Sanborn, and resides in Los Angeles, California; ii. Charles Alfred, born October 6, 1868, married June 15, 1892, Edith M. Van Alstine, of West Bay City, Michigan; now lives in Dallas, Texas; is general superintendent of the Southwest- ern Telegraph and Telephone Company, and has charge of the practical workings of every exchange in the system, and is considered one of the best tele- phone experts in the country. Children of Charles and Mary A. Gates, all born in Petersham: 2. Mercia Jane, born February 3, 1837; married July 18, 1860, Edward F. Clark ; resides in Petersham. 3. Mary Josephine, born February 22, 1839; married December 19, 1865, Sextus P. Goddard, of Peter- sham; she died September 17, 1878, at Petersham; children : i. Sextus Elwin Goddard, born October II, 1867 ; died at Petersham, March 9, 1876; ii. Mary Emily Goddard, born March 3. 1869; died at Peter- sham, September 24, 1869; iii. Malcolm Rupert God- dard, born June 29, 1871; died January 19, 1873, at Worcester ; iv. Mabel Josephine Goddard, born May I, 1873, at Worcester; resides at Westborough; v.
Alice Mary Goddard, born January 20, 1875, at Pe- tersham; lives now at Boston. vi. Willie Goddard, born July 7, 1877; died August 23, 1877. 4. Ella Frances, born April 14, 1841; died February 20, 1871. 5. John Tower, born September 20, 1843; married September 20, 1864, Henrietta E. Buxton ; lie died February 21, 1870; children : i. Ernest, born April 9, 1866; died at Petersham, August 13, 1867; ii. Edith M., born October 2, 1867, at Athol, Massa- chusetts; is now residing in Worcester. John T. Gates was in business with his father. 6. Elizabeth Louisa, born April 20, 1850; died December 28, 1873. 7. Charles William, born October 20, 1855; married, December 12, 1901, Sarah E. Buckminster ; owns and occupies the Gates homestead, The Elms, in Petersham; has been collector of taxes 1890-2, 1896-1900, 1905-6; is an active and influential citizen.
JOSEPH GREGSON, superintendent and agent of the Fiskdale Mills, Sturbridge, was born in Wil- ton, Lancashire, England, June 29, 1850, son of Thomas and Ann (Halliwell) Gregson. His grand- father was James Gregson, a manufacturer in Black- burn, England. His father was a machinist in Wil- ton. His mother was a daughter of Lawrence Hal- liwell. Thomas and Ann Gregson were the parents of five children, namely : Mary Ann, Joseph, Thomas, William, and Ann Ellen. Thomas married Mary E. Bolton, of Blackburn, and came to the United States in 1873. William, who married Kate Crinshaw, im- migrated in 1883. Ann Ellen is the wife of Thomas Slater, of Blackburn.
Joseph Gregson was educated in the schools of Wilton. At an early age he entered a cotton mill as an apprentice, and having acquired a practical knowledge of the business he came to the United States in 1873, going first to New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, where he was employed in a cotton mill for about a year. From New Bedford he went to Fall River, Massachusetts, as superintendent of the Mer- chants' Manufacturing Company's large mills, and he retained that position for a period of twenty-five years. In 1899 he was induced by the Fiskdale com- pany to accept the position of superintendent and agent of their extensive plant in Sturbridge, and he has ever since devoted his energies to their interests. The Fiskdale Company, which succeeded the Stur- bridge Cotton Mills Company and the Globe Manu- facturing Company, has been engaged in the produc- tion of cotton goods of a superior quality for con- siderably more than thirty years. Its mills are fully equipped with modern machinery of the latest im- proved type, and under the present able manage- mment its volume of business has reached large pro- portions. In politics Mr. Gregson is a Republican, and at the present time he is serving as a membe .- of the school board. Ile is prominently identified with the Baptist Church and Sunday school, being a member of important committees and teacher of the men's Bible class. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is a member of Doric Chapter, R. A. M., of Sturbridge.
He was married, May 30, 1877, to Miss Amelia Crinkshaw, of Blackburn, England, daughter of John and Nancy E. Crinkshaw. Their children are Robert B., born February, 1882, and is now a student in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology, class of 1905; Lawrence H., born November, 1888; and J. Edward Gregson, born March, 1890.
FERGUS ANZLE EASTON, actively identified with business interests in Worcester, Massachusetts, is of Scotch origin, born In Longholm, Dumfrieshire, Scotland, September 24, 1842, son of George and
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Mary (Hetherington) Easton. When he was three years old his parents removed to Glendiven House, parish of Ewes, where he began his early education. At the age of eight years he accompanied his par- ents to Edinburgh, where he entered the High Nor- mał School, from which he graduated later. With instincts for a somewhat adventurous outdoor life, he came to the United States, arriving September 24, 1856. ITis desire to go to the far west was thwarted on account of the inability of a friend to accompany him, as was first designed, and he entered upon his apprenticeship as a currier.
An ardent lover of America and its institutions, at the outbreak of the rebellion President Lincoln's first call for troops found him instantly ready for a soldier's duty, and on April 17, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Fourth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and was mustered into the service of the United States on April 22d for a term of three months, and was of the first troops to leave Boston for the front and to enter the state of Virginia. The narrative of his service makes a most interesting chapter, and well serves to illustrate the career of a typical volunteer soldier of that dramatic period. With his regiment he left Boston on April 17, 1861, en route for Fortress Monroe, Virginia, where it was on duty from April 20 to May 27. From May 27 to July 3 it was sta- tioned at Newport News, and from July 3 to 11 at Hampton, Virginia. Returning to Boston, it was mustered out of service, its term having expired, July 22, 1861, Mr. Easton re-enlisted at Boston, September 9, 1861, in Company A, Sixth Regiment New York Volunteer Cavalry (Second Ira Harris Guard), and September 12, was mustered into the service of the United States for a period of three years, with the rank of first sergeant. With his regiment he left for New York on December 23, 1861, and took station at York, Pennsylvania. From March, 1862, he was on duty in the defense of Washington City, under General Wadsworth, and from March 28 was guarding railroad communica- tions under General John A. Dix. June 27, 1862. he was promoted to second lieutenant of Company G of his regiment, and October 12 following was detached therefrom and assigned to duty as acting adjutant of the regiment. He was commissioned first lieutenant, March 22, 1863, but was not mus- tered as of that rank until 1900, when the War De- partment amended his record, giving his muster under his commission as June 24, 1863. From Au- gust, 1862, his regiment was unattached, in the Kan- awha Division, Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac; from December it was a part of the Second Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac; and from February 12, 1863, to July 26, 1863, it was part of the Second Brigade, First Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. With his regiment he participated in many of the most arduous and stirring campaigns and desperate battles in the east, under McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Meade. In 1862 he was engaged in the Mary- land campaign, September 3-20, including the skirm- ish a tFrederick, September 12; and the battle of ish at Frederick, September 12; and the battle of Antietam, September 16-17; the reconnaissance, to Charlestown, West Virginia, October 16-17, and to Lovettsville, Virginia, October 21; and took part in the great battle at Fredericksburg. Virginia. De- cember 11-15. In 1863 he participated in all the great events of that historic year-the Chancellors- ville campaign, April 27-May 6, including the skir- mishes at Germania Ford, April 29; the affairs at Wilderness Run and Spottsylvania Court House, April 30, and the great battle of Chancellorsville, iii-18
May 1-3. Ile bore a part also in the most dramatic and fateful campaign and battle of the civil war period-that of Gettysburg, continuing from June 3 to August 1, and including the engagements at Beverly Ford, Virginia, June 9; Middleburg, Vir- ginia, June 19; Upperville, Virginia, June 21; the three days deadly contest at Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, July 1-3; and the skirmishes at Funkston, Maryland, in pursuit of the defeated rebel army, July 10-13. After the conclusion of these great op- crations, Lieutenant Easton resigned, July 26, 1863, on account of disabilities incurred in the line of duty.
Returning to his home at South Hingham, Mas- sachusetts, he was several months regaining health. So soon as he could enter upon a life of activity he engaged in the currying business at Hyde Park, Massachusetts, with his brother, under the firm name of D. M. & F. A. Easton, with offices and storage rooms in Boston. This business was prosecuted with gratifying success until November, 1872, when the major part of their product was destroyed in the great fire, causing losses which compelled the brothers to discontinue. Mr. Easton then estab- lished a news business at Hyde Park, in which he continued until August, 1875. He then located in Worcester, and established a news trade at what is- now No. 545 Main street, at the corner of Allen Court, removing later to a store in the Burnside Block. Here he remained one year, subsequently moving into the rotunda of the old post office in Pearl street. He had for partners William Phillips and Esther MI. Pratt, whom he bought out in the course of eighteen months, April 17, 1893, he re- moved to his present location at the corner of Main and Pleasant streets. His present business in Worcester includes news and stationery supplies, soda, cigars and confections. It has been developed to large proportions, the news department including the wholesaling and distribution of all the leading newspapers and magazines coming into the city of Worcester. Since 1903 the business has been con- ducted by the F. A. Easton Company, which was incorporated that year, with F. A. Easton as presi- dent, treasurer and director; Edwin M. Whalen, James Mitchell and Grace M. Whalen being the other stockholders and directors.
Mr. Easton is a Universalist in religious faith, and a Republican in politics. He has been active in political affairs, but without any purpose of self- seeking, and only as is becoming in one who prop- erly measures the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. He is well advanced in Masonry. He was made a Master Mason in Hyde Park Lodge, A. F. and A. M., was worshipful master of same for two years, and on removing to Worcester was demitted to Quinsigamond Lodge, of that city. He took the capitular degrees in Stoughton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Stoughton, Massachusetts ; was thrice illustrious master of Hyde Park Council, Royal and Select Masters; and is affiliated with Worcester County Commandery, No. 5, Knights Templar ; and Boston Lodge of Perfection, four- teenth degree, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. He is a member of the leading social clubs-the Worces- ter, the Worcester Golf, the Tatnuck Country, the Tatassit Canoe, and the Economic. He cherishes with laudable pride his recollections of honorable service as a soldier, and is president for life of the Veteran Association of the Sixth New York Cav- alry of civil war fame; and is a companion in the Massachusetts Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion.
Mr. Easton married, April 27, 1871, Mary Ella Pratt, daughter of Sylvanus and Harriet (Adams) Pratt, of Cohasset, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs.
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Easton have one child living, Marie Louise, who is living with her parents. The family home is at 36 Elm street, Worcester.
CHARLES M. PRAGLER, a wire weaver of Clinton, Massachusetts, was born in Saxony, Ger- many, in 1844, a descendant of an old German fam- ily who were noted for their valor and bravery in the French Revolution. In 1865, at the age of twen- ty-one years, Charles Pragler emigrated to this country, locating in Clinton, Massachusetts, where he resided the remainder of his life, working at his trade of wire weaver chiefly, although for a few years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he met with considerable success. Mr. Prag- ler's political affiliations were with the Republican party, and in religious matters he accorded with the Unitarian faith. He was a member of the Order of Red Men of Clinton, Massachusetts.
In 1871 Mr. Pragler was united in marriage to MIiss Schulher, who was also a native of Saxony, Germany. To them were born the following chil- dren : Rudolph, born in Clinton, 1874, and is em- ployed there in the mill; Herman, born in Clinton, September 17, 1872, and resides there working as a wire weaver in the mill; Annie, the wife of Alex- ander Wade, a farmer of Shirley Center; Lizzie, born in Clinton, July 11, 1880; Nellie, born October 17. 1884, lives at home.
Mt. Charles M. Pragler died in 1902, and in hts death the community lost an honorable and upright citizen.
CORNELIUS W. WALLS, a figure of promi- nence and influence in the financial, commercial, and manufacturing world of Worcester, Massachu- setts, is a representative of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of the United States.
(I) Richard Walls, the American ancestor of Cornelius W. Walls, emigrated from England just before the outbreak of the war of the revolution, and settled in New Jersey, where he raised a family. His ancestors had all been stanch loyalists, but he did not wish to side with either party, and so joined the tide of emigration which set in toward Nova Scotia. and settled there with his family.
(Il) Richard Walls, son of Richard Walls (1), was born in New Jersey. He married, and also had a son Richard.
(III) Richard Walls, son of Richard Walls (2), was born in Nova Scotia. He was a carriage builder by trade, and settled in Lock- port. Shelburne county, Nova Scotia. He married Sarah Williamson, and among his children was Cornelius W.
(1V) Cornelius W. Walls, son of Richard (3) and Sarah (Williamson) Walls, was born at Lock- port. Shelburne county, Nova Scotia, November 13, 1846. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and apprenticed to the trade of wheelwright and carriage builder, and worked in the shop of his father until he was nineteen years of age. He bought the farm of his grandfather at the time of the death of the latter, and when he left the shop until he was in his twenty-seventh year conducted a dairy farm of two hundred acres of land, and kept thirty head of cattle. He removed to Boston, and from thence to Worcester in 1872, where he worked in the wheelwright shop of Mayor Reed, on Union street, remaining there three years. His proficiency and genius in wood working at- tracted attention. and he was offered the position of instructor in that branch in the shops of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and while there benefited greatly in many ways. He repaired the
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