Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 85

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 85

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versity of California. The first two children were born in Holliston, Massachusetts, the third in Jay, Maine. 2. George Melville, born October 25, 1854. He went west, married Ilelen Strevell, daughter of Judge Strevell, settled in Miles City, and had three children. 3. Herbert Judson, born June 5, 1856. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, and has been assistant bank examiner. Hle married Minnie Cronk- hite, of Michigan, and has no children. 4. Arthur Wellington, born June 20, 1859. Resides in Liv- ingston, Montana, where he is a prominent citizen and merchant. He is a man of influence and has been state senator. He married Idella Draper and has three children. 5. Martha Gertrude, born April 23, 1865, died May 23, 1880. These children were all born on the Miles homestead.

GEORGE HILL DAVIS, a prominent farmer and an extensive dealer in lumber in Hubbardston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, is a representa- tive of a family which has been located in this sec- tion of the country for some generations.

Israel Davis, son of Israel Davis, married (first) Chloe Waite and had children : Harriet. died young ; Sarah, died young; John Sumner, deceased. He marricd (second) Lois Williams, widow of Isaac Williams, of Gardner, and had children: George Hill, see forward; Horace Mann, born November 12, 1850, unmarried.

George Hill Davis, eldest child of Israel and Lois (Williams) Davis, was born in Hubbardston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, March 14, 1849. His education was acquired in the public school of his district. His first business venture was in the farm- ing line, which he followed for a number of years, combining it largely with the lumber trade, with which he became more and more identified, and which he now (1906) carries on on an extensive scale in association with his brother. He takes as active a part in the public affairs of the town as in his private undertakings, and is a strong supporter of the Republican party, having held the office of as- sessor for thirteen years. His religious affiliations are with the Methodist Church, and he has been a trustee in that institution for a long time. He is a charter member and past master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has filled all the chairs in that organization.

He married Rosilla Hager, daughter of Otis Hager, of New Salem, and had children: Walter George, born September 5, 1877, resides in Worces- ter ; married Winifred Bolby and has one child : Marion, born May 5, 1905: Warren Horace, born January 12, 1880, graduated from the Worcester Polytechnic, is a mechanical engineer, and resides in Waterbury, Connecticut, unmarried ; Eva Al- mena, born March 1, 1882, resides in North Dana, Massachusetts.

DANIEL GREEN HITCHCOCK, up to a re- cent date sole owner and editor of the "Warren Herald," was born in the town of Warren. Massa- chusetts. May 24, 1852. a son of Joseph Field and Mary (Green) Hitchcock.

Joseph Field Hitchcock (father) was born in the town of Warren, Massachusetts, July 27, 1815, and his entire life was spent in that vicinity. He died December 20. 1880, aged sixty-five years. In 1850 he married Mary Bliss, and the two children born of this union died in childhood. In 1848 Mrs. Mary (Bliss) Hitchcock passed away. Mr. Hitchcock married for his second wife Mary Green, the cere- mony being performed in Lebanon. Connecticut, June 19. 1850, and of the issue of this union one child survives, Daniel G., whose name forms the

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caption for this sketch. Mrs. Hitchcock now (1906) resides in the old homestead at Warren. She is a daughter of Dr. Daniel and Elizabeth (Emerson) Green, the former named being a native of Leices- ter, Massachusetts, but a resident of Auburn during the greater portion of his life, and the latter a na- tive of Hollis, New Hampshire. collaterally con- nected with Ralph Waldo Emerson. Dr. Green was a public-spirited man, served on the school commit- tee, was recorder of wills and deeds for a number of years, and for two years served as a representa- tive in the general court. During the early years of his life he was a Whig in politics, but later be- came an adherent of the principles of Republican- ism. He died at the advanced age of eighty-three years. He was the grandson of Dr. Thomas Green, who was a very well known man in his day, a preacher and physician, and was also the incumbent of a number of town offices. He built the Baptist church in what was then Leicester, now Rochdale He built the jail at Jamesville.

Daniel G. Hitchcock was a student in the high school of Warren, from which he was graduated in 1871, being a member of the first graduating class of that institution. Subsequently he attended and was graduated from the Massachusetts Agricultural College. at Amherst. From 1893, to August, 1905, he was owner, publisher and editor of the Warren Herald, a weekly paper, published every Friday. He is a firm believer in the principles of socialism, which he has advocated for several years, is chair- man of the Socialist town committee, the members of this political party seeking to establish organ- ized co-operation rather than competition. He epit- omizes the movement thus: "It is the only prac- ticahle solution of the problems of the day, as the ever-increasing concentration of wealth makes the present system of capitalized rule impracticable, and impossible to endure. Either the government, i. e. people must own and operate the trusts, or the trusts will own and rule the people. Co-operative ownership of the means and machinery of production and dis- tribution is simply the trust principle of mutual benefit for the few carried to righteous conclusion of benefit for all. There is not the slightest reason why railroads, telegraphs. telephones, express com- panies, coal mines and the great trusts should not be owned by the people, and each one be assured of work, and that his or her reasonable amount of manual work per day shall support him or her in comfort and happiness." Mr. Hitchcock has served his town wherever opportunity was afforded, but has never sought office save as a member of Warren school board. He is treasurer of the Warren Rural Improvement Company.

Daniel G. Hitchcock married Julia Keep, who was born in Monson, Massachusetts, in 1874, one of four children, one of whom is deceased, born to Ephraim Keep, of Monson, who was a farmer by occupation and a Republican in politics. The Grand Army of the Republic Post at Monson is named in honor of Marcus Keep, brother of Mrs. Hitchcock, who enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war in 1861, and who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness in 1864.

EDMUND S. BENNETT, for many years a prosperous and prominent agriculturist of Hubbard- ston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, is a repre- sentative of a family which has been settled in that section of the country for some generations.

Addison Bennett, son of William Bennett, the author of the history of the town of Hubbardston, was born March 30, 1805. He was a farmer by oc- cupation, and married Mary Gill, of Princeton,

Massachusetts. Their children were: Henry, born April 18, 1839, resides in New Hampshire, he mar- ried Emily Randall. Miriam, born March 7, 1841, married Harrison Lamb, in Gardner. Moses, born March 5, 1843, married Lavira E. Phillips, of Hub- bardston. Mary, born October 26, 1844; she mar- ried (first) Albert M. Stone, (second) Alvin A. Cleveland, of Massachusetts. Edmund S., see for- ward.

Edmund S. Bennett, third son and fifth and youngest child of Addison and Mary (Gill) Ben- nett. was born September 20, 1847. His education was obtained in Hubbardston, his native town, and upon its completion he engaged in farming, which occupation he has followed ever since. He is pro- gressive in his ideas, and ready to give all new agri- cultural inventions a fair trial, and introduce them if they prove worthy. His farm is a model of its kind in Worcester county, and is very productive and profitable. He is an active member of the Con- gregational society. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, and he is a man of in- fluence and authority in its councils. He has served the town as assessor, and has held the office of auditor since 1892.

He married (first) Clara H. Gates, of Hub- bardstown, who died March 10, 1894, and had chil- dren: Alice F .. born March 28, 1887. She shows remarkable musical talent and is a member of the choir ; Edna C., born August 12, 1889; George E., born September 13, 1892, died March 9, 1893. Mr. Bennett married (second) Lizzie N. Smart, daugh- ter of Richard Smart, of Maine. Mr. Bennett is a charter member and stewart of the Grange, and treasurer of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

HERBERT LINCOLN RAY, of Sutton, Massa- chusetts, in which city he was born on January 28, 1868, is a grandson of Silas Ray, who was the first of the family to settle in Sutton, and who was a practical and prosperous farmer.

George W. Ray, son of Silas Ray, and father of Herbert L. Ray, was born in Millbury, Massa- chusetts, and is still living in his native town, be- ing one its venerable citizens. He was educated in the common schools of Millbury, followed farm- ing for a period of time, and later engaged in the hay business with his son in Sutton. He won a high reputation for integrity, had the sincere esteem of his fellow-townsmen, and was quite prosperous in his active career. He was united in marriage to Eliza Bennett, born in Thompson, Conn., who is also living at the present time (1905), and who bore him two children, one being Herbert L. Ray. The common schools of Sutton afforded Herbert L. Ray the opportunity of obtaining a practical edu- cation, and the knowledge thus gained was supple- mented by attendance at the high school, from which he was graduated in 1884. The following twelve years he was engaged in a store at Sutton Centre, and for a number of years conducted a thriving business as a general merchant. In his establishment was located the post-office, and he served in the capacity of postmaster twice, being appointed in 1890 and 1897. He subsequently purchased a nice farm of several acres in Sutton, whereon he con- ducts agricultural pursuits. For a number of years Mr. Ray has filled the office of tax collector, dis- charging the duties with credit and acceptability. He is a Democrat in politics. He holds membership in Sutton Grange, No. 109, Patrons of Husbandry.

Mr. Ray married, November 6, 1889, Lucia K. Hoyle, a daughter of Loring C. and Lois B. (Mas- croft) Hoyle, of Sutton, Massachusetts. Loring C. Hoyle enlisted in Company E, Fifteenth Regi-

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S.E.Chamberlain

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ment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was known as the fighting regiment, under the command of Captain Charles H. Watson. After serving for a year and a half with the Army of the Potomac, he was discharged on account of physical disability, but upon regaining his health, he again entered the service, and was attached to the commissary de- partment until the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Ray are thic parents of four children: Maud L., born November 14, 1890; Flora E., November 27, 1893; Alice R., February 7, 1902; Louise M., March 26, 1906. The family attend the Congregational Church in Sutton.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL SAMUEL EMERY CHAMBERLAIN, of Barre Plains, Massachusetts, has a name, through his military achievements in two wars, which will live long after he has laid down the burdens of life's warfare. Not alone is his fame known in the old Bay State, and in New Hampshire, his native state, but throughout the length and breadth of the whole Union, wherever is found a veteran of either the Mexican or civil war. The Chamberlains are an old and highly hon- ored English family. The ancestor from which General Chamberlain descends was the emigrant, William Chamberlain, whose name appears of rec- ord at Woburn, Massachusetts, in 1648. In 1653 he moved to Billerica, Massachusetts, where he be- came one of the twelve to first settle there. He was very active in the pioneering in those parts and held office in 1674. He resided there about fifty years, and died there, "31 May, 1706, aged about eighty- six years."

Samuel E. Chamberlain was born November 28, 1827, at Centre Harbor, New Hampshire, son of Ephraim and Laura (Leonard) Chamberlain. He was educated in the schools of Boston, Massachu- setts. When but a lad of about fifteen years, he accompanied his uncle to Illinois, which at that date was on the frontier, hence he passed through some thrilling experiences. When seventeen years old, he enlisted for the Mexican war, the record of which will appear with his service in the civil war, at another place in this notice. After the Mexican war closed, and he was again free to choose for himself, he boarded a government wagon as wagon- master and started for California, under charge of General (major subsequently) Lawrence P. Graham. Upon reaching Chihuahua inducements were offered him by the governor to join the Rangers, which he did. Just then began a campaign against the Apache Indians, which for actual warfare has never been equaled. Out of the forty survivors of the campaign the subject is the only one now living. He next went to California and there remained until 1853, and then joined Walker's filibustering expedition to lower California and New Mexico, where he took part in the engagements at Lopez, Encenada and St. Thomas. In 1854 he left Cali- fornia for the East Indies, via Sandwich Islands and Manila. While in India he journeyed to the foot- hills of the Himalayas, in quest of game. In the autumn of 1854 he returned to Boston and the following year was married. At this time he was doing police duty in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There was no militia at that point then, and when Lincoln called for the first troops to suppress the opening rebellion, Mr. Chamberlain with a drummer took up the march for Boston, with sixteen men, and by the time they had reached the state house, the number had increased to ninety-seven. Gov- ernor J. A. Andrews accepted them and they went on to the front. Mr. Chamberlain was elected first lieutenant. and at the termination of their service

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he re-enlisted as a private in the First Regiment of Massachusetts Cavalry. The following concerning his military record appeared in the 1903 minutes of the "Chamberlain Association :"

"In May, 1846, enlisted as a private in Company A, Second Illinois Volunteers, Colonel Bissell com- manding. On arrival at San Antonio, Texas, an order from General Wool was read that any twelve months' men who would re-culist in the regular army for the war, would be transferred into such arm of the service as he might prefer. Disgusted with the lax discipline of the volunteers, he gladly availed himself of the order, and in July, 1846, was transferred to Company E, First United States Dragoons, for the war. In September was detailed as the escort of an officer, the bearer of dispatches from General Wool to General Taylor, who, rumor stated, had left Camargo, enroute for Monterey. After a tedious march of five days and a sharp en- counter with Canclars' guerrillas, the escort met General Taylor's army, September 18, at Ramos, thirty miles from Monterey. The escort was at- tached to Company H, Second Dragoons, at the at- tack of the city. Chamberlain's horse being killed. on the Saltillo road on September 21, he was ordered to join the stormers of the Obispado. He took part in the fighting of the second day and witnessed the surrender from the Black Fort on the 25th. The escort joined the Division of Wool at Mont Clova, was present at the battle of Buena Vista, February 22 and 23, 1847. He chcered for "Jeff" Davis, when. he at the head of his gallant Mississippians, re- pulsed the dashing charge of Minons' Lancers.

"On the breaking out of the civil war he was on April 17, 1861, commissioned first lieutenant, Com- pany C, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. This company was raised at Cambridge and was the first to volunteer in the United States for the civil war. On his return from his three months' campaign, he enlisted as a private in the First Massa- chusetts Cavalry, was commissioned captain, No- vember 25, 1861, major, October 30, 1862, lieuten- ant-colonel, March 5, 1864, being much of the time in command of his regiment until its muster out. August, 1865, he was made colonel of the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry, in arduous service in Texas. He was brevetted brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious service in covering retreat of Gregg's Division of Cavalry at the disastrous battle of St. Mary's Church, Virginia, June 25, 1864. As chief of the staff of Brig-Gen. Averill, he was commended for 'distinguished gallantry' at Kelley's Ford, where he fell dangerously wounded, and after the engage- ment at Culpepper Court House (also in 1863) by Major-General Joseph Hooker in his report of May 13, 'for heroic services, commanding the applause of his companions, until he fell severely wounded.' General Chamberlain had fourteen horses shot from under him, and was wounded seven times. He was mustered out of service in October, 1865. Ile

served on the staff of Governors Bullock and Claflin as assistant quartermaster-general, with the rank of colonel. Was made president of minute men of 1861, and of the veterans of the Mexican war. In all, he has participated in more than one hundred battles. On one occasion, he was wounded and taken prisoner by Stuart's band, but was paroled on the field, they keeping his mount, which they evidently valued very highly. He retaliated, how- ever, very soon by capturing, single-handed, a noted major of Mosby's guerrillas and the sword of that office now hangs upon the general's walls as a relic, with many another trophy, including the bow and spear which were captured by him in the far east."

His home at Barre Plains, Massachusetts, is a

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perfect war and relic museum, wherein not only war curiosities abound but rare old Bibles and various books, which he has had the good fortune to collect in his extensive travels. Very naturally, General Chamberlain finds a home in the Grand Army of the Republic, he being a member of Post No. 179, at Barre.

In the autumn of 1855, he married Mary Keith, daughter of John Keith, of England. The names of their three children are: Tranceita Maria, wife of Dr. James A. Latimer, of Cambridge; Delorious Trevino, wife of George M. Brown, of Hartford, Connecticut; Carmelita Hampton, wife of George Irwin Pevear, of Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. and Mrs. Latimer have three children: Emery Ilooker Latimer, James Latimer and Carmelita Latimer. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons: Chamberlain and Irving Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Pevear have two children: Keith and Tranceita Pevear.

JOHN MARBLE. Samuel Marble (I), the im- migrant ancestor of John Marble, late of Sutton, Massachusetts, was born in England probably. 1Ie settled in Andover, Massachusetts. A full account of his life and family is given in this work.

(II) Freegrace Marble, son of Samuel Marble (I), was the first of the name in Sutton and is ancestor of most if not all of the families of this surname in the southern part of Worcester county. (See Marble family.)

(III) Samuel Marble, son of Freegrace Mar- ble (2), was born in Sutton, Massachusetts. He married Patience Gale. Their children, all born at Sutton : Samuel, born August 25, 1745; Molly, April 18, 1747. died young : Betty, March 26, 1749, married, December 18, 1776, Jacob Snow, Jr., Marcus, July 31, 1751, unmarried; Stephen, April 17. 1753, see forward; Jocl, November 10, 1751; Jesse, June 25, 1756, married Sally Putnam: So1J- mon, April 14. 1758; Rebekah, November 2, 1760. . (IV) Stephen Marble, son of Samuel Marble (3), was born April 17, 1753, died December 18, 1817. He married, November 14, 1776, Betty Put- nam, who died December 21, 1812. He was a sol- dier in the revolution, private in Captain Andrew Elliot's company, Colonel Learned's regiment, April 19. 1775, on the Lexington Alarm; in Captain Bartholomew Woodbury's company, Colonel Jona- than Holman's regiment, in 1776; in Captain John Howard's company, Colonel Holman's regiment, in 1778, at the reduction of General Burgoyne; and in Captain Jonathan Woodbury's company, Colone! Jacob Davis' regiment, in 1780, in Rhode Island. He was a farmer. a leading citizen, residing on the Marble homestead. Children of Stephen and Betty Marble: Nathan, born June 29, 1778; Betscy, Jan- uary 10, 1780, married, November 15, 1800, Simeon Waters ; Polly, September 10, 1781, married, January 14, 1806, Joseph Freeland; Palmer, September 20, 1784. see forward; Charlotte, December 7, 1786, married. November 21, 1804, John Eliot ; Samuel, December 3. 1788; Nancy, died young.

(V) Palmer Marble, son of Stephen Marble (4), was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, September 20, 1784. He married, September 22, 1814, Polly Woodbury. He was educated in his native town and followed his father as the owner of the old Marble homestead. He conducted the farm with success, retiring in his later years to enjoy the ease and comfort of his home. He was interested in politics and town affairs. He died at Sutton. Chil- dren of Palmer and Polly Marble: Stephen, born May 14, 1816, died January 13, 1845; Hannah, July 27, 1818, married, May 29, 1844, Tyler Waters;

Betsey, August 13, 1820; Mary, September 12, 1823, married, May 14, 1845, George Metcalf, she died June 9, 1848; Lewis, born May 1, 1826, died July 12, 1847; Phebe Jane, May 10, 1828, died November 25. 1847; Mary Woodbury, October 30, 1832, died December 24, 1844; John Woodbury, December I, 1835, see forward.

(VI) John Woodbury Marble, son of Palmer Marble (5), was born on the old homestead in Sut- ton, Massachusetts, December 1, 1835. His educa- tional advantages were obtained in the common schools of the township, and being reared upon a farm he naturally chose that occupation for his life work, assisting his father on the home farm until the decease of the latter, and continuing thereon until his death, which occurred suddenly, November 5, 1905. He was widely known and highly respected in the community where he had spent his entire life, and his death was deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, He served the town of Sutton as selectman for a number of years. rendering efficient service in that office. He was a member of the Congregational Church, in which body he served as deacon for three decades. He was a member of the Good Templars. In politics Mr. Marble was a strong Republican during liis carly years, but later became an advocate of teniper- ance, which changed his politics to that of Pro- hibitionist.

In 1861 Mr. Marble married Miss Susan Gar- field, daughter of the late Andrew Garfield, of Sut- ton, Massachusetts, and a descendant of the same line as the late President James A. Garfield. There were no children by this union. Mrs. Marble re- sides on the old home place, enjoys the acquaint- ance of many friends, and is noted for the interest she displays and the aid she renders to work of a charitable nature.

ALTON THOMPSON, one of the representa- tive, young citizens of the town of Sutton, where he was born August 3, 1872, is a son of the late George W. and Angeline (Stockwell) Thompson, and grandson of Lebon C. and Jerusha (Gould) Thompson.

Lebon C. Thompson (grandfather) was born at Bellingham, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, and died in Sutton. After completing his studies in the common schools he turned his attention to carpenter- ing and sleigh making, which line of work he suc- cessfully followed throughout the active years of his life. As an agriculturist he took a leading rank in his section of the state. and as a citizen com- manded the confidence and respect of his fellow- townsmen. He married Jerushia Gould, who was born in Holliston, May 26, 1795, died May 5, 1887, and they were the parents of ten children.

George W. Thompson (father) was born in Mendon, Worcester county, Massachusetts, March 4, 1828, died at his home in Sutton, July 23, 1901. He was educated in the common schools of his na- tive town, and then served an apprenticeship at the trade of carpenter, which he followed with success for some time in Uxbridge, having been in business a number of years in Douglass and Whitinsville. Later he moved to the Stockwell farm at Sutton, Massachusetts, the former owners thereof having been his relatives, and there he followed farming and carpentering for the remainder of his life, both lines of work proving highly remunerative. He was an active member of the Congregational Church, and his daily walk and conversation was such as to win for him the esteem and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact. He was a Republican

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in politics, and exercised a potent influence in be- half of the party whose principles he advocated. George W. Thompson married, November II, 1802, Angeline Stockwell, born in Sutton, Massachusetts, April 16, 1840, daughter of Daniel and Alice J. Stockwell: Issue: Lewis A., born June 9, 1864; Alton, born August 3, 1872.

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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 85

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