Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 25

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710

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. IV > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The children of John and Elizabeth (McAllister) Hudson were: Elisha, of whom later: Elijah, mar- ried Hannah Goodnow, of Northboro; Miriam, born April, 1746, married Jonas Babcock. of Northboro; Moses, born January 4. 1749, served from Bolton five years in the revolution, unmarried; Aaron, Au- gust 24, 1750, was at the Lexington alarm, 1775; Hannah. July 20, 1752. died at Berlin unmarried ; Ebenezer, May 16. 1755. died in revolutionary serv- ice : John, May 9. 1757. removed to Oxford, was three years in the Continental army; Charles, 1759,

WORCESTER COUNTY

was three years in the Continental army; Stephen, June 12, 1761, was three years in the Continental army ; Elizabeth, November IS, 1779, married Levi Fay, of Marlboro.

(IV) Elisha Hudson, son of John Hudson (3), was born about 1740, probably in Marlboro, Massa- chusetts. He married, October 4, 1770, Susanna Brigham, daughter of Samuel Brigham. Elisha Hud- son served in the French war under Captain Will- iams at No. 4 in 1756 and again in 1758 and 1760. He was also in the revolution, a soldier from Marl- boro where he was then living. In later years with his son, William Hudson, and perhaps others of the children he removed to Canada where he lived until his death. Of his children two are recorded in Marlboro and Hudson says there were others born but not recorded in Marlboro. These two were: William, of whom later; Samuel, December 25, 1771.

(V) William Hudson, sont of Elisha Hudson (4), was born in Marlboro, Massachusetts, March 29, 1770. He married Anna Morse, of Northboro, March 10. 1793. They settled at first in Northboro, Massachusetts, but about 1796-7 removed with others of the family to Newport, Canada. Of their chil- dren we have records of two: Sukey, born in North- boro, July 17, 1796; William, born at Newport, Canada, of whom later.

(VI) William Hudson, son of William Hudson (5), was born in Newport. Canada, April 6, 1807, and died at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, August 6, 1884. aged seventy-seven years, four months, at 116 Myrtle avenue, and is buried in that city. He resided in Canada, but settled early in life in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was a mechanic. His last years were spent in Fitchburg where his son Gardner and grandson, Gardner K. Hudson, reside. He married Campbell in Canada. Children : William, deceased; Thomas, deccased; Josephine, deceased ; Gardner ; John, died in infancy; Sarah (Cochrane), living itt Springfield ; Jennie (Libby), of Standish, Maine, living; Harriet ( Wilson), of Lowell, deceased ; Eliza (Adams), of Springfield, deceased ; Didama (Whitney), of Fitchburg, de- ceased.

(VII) Gardner Church Hudson, son of William Hudson (6), was born in Hull, December 21, 1844. He was educated in the public and high schools of Lowell and in Kent Hill seminary, Maine. After leaving school he was employed for some years in a ship chandlery in Portland, Maine. He came to Fitchburg to work for the United States and Canada Express Company and continucd as agent and express messenger for that company for seven- teen years, residing in Fitchburg. In 1880 he went . to Boston as chief clerk in the freight department of the New York & New England Railroad; later he became an assistant in the 'freight auditor's of- fice of the same road. He next accepted the posi- tion of station agent at Milford, Massachusetts, on the Milford & Woonsocket Railroad, now part of the New Haven system, where he worked for three years.

In 1887 he came to Fitchburg again in the capac- ity of paymaster of the Star Worsted Company, where he worked eight or nine years. He then be- came paymaster of the Fitchburg Worsted Mills, and after they were sold to the American Woolen Company he remained until 1902 as cashier of both Fitchburg and Beoli mills. About 1902 Mr. Hudson made his present connection with the Garfield &

Proctor Coal Company, wholesale coal dealers of Boston and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He has charge of the books. He resides at present in Watertown, Massachusetts. While in Fitchburg he was a member of the First Baptist Church, but is now of the Watertown Baptist Church. He was one of the organizers of Mt. Roulstone Lodge of Odd Fellows. in Fitchburg.

He married, February 4, 1874, Margaret Murk- land, daughter of William Murkland, of Lowell. They have two children : Alice May, born De- cember 19, 1880, in Fitchburg, resides at home, Watertown, unmarried; Gardtter Kirk, of whom later.

(VIII) Gardner Kirk Hudson, only son of Gard- ner C. Hudson (7), was born in Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts, January 22, 1875. He attended the Fitch- burg public schools and graduated from the high school in 1892. He was graduated with honors from Brown University (A. B. 1896) and from Columbia (A. M. 1897). In 1898 he entered upon the study of his profession. and was graduated from the Harvard Law School in 1901. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Worcester. In 1903 he formed his present law partnership with Clifford S. Anderson, the firm name being Hudson & Anderson. Their main office has been in the State Mutual building, Worcester, with an office at Fitchburg where Mr. Hudson is to be found much of the time on account of his official duties as city solicitor. He was first elected in 1905 and re-elected for the year 1906. He was a member of the common council of Fitchburg for three years-1902-03-04, and in this office became thoroughly familiar with the affairs of the city. He is a Republican. He is a director of the Mer- chants' Association of Fitchburg and of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity at Brown. He be- longs to the Park Club. He is chairman of the executive committee of the First Baptist Church.

He married, June 30, 1903, Alice S. Cuminings, daughter of Marcellus Cummings, of Fitchburg, and they have one child, Gardner Cummings, born Janu- ary 15, 1905.

JOHN PARKHILL, son of John Parkhill, was born October 6, 1823, in Glasgow, Scotland, or rather in a small town some eight miles from the city. He had to go to work in the mills in Glasgow when very young. In his boyhood long hours and childhood labor were the rule. He obtained the rudiments of his education in a night school conducted by the mill owners. He learned the trade of weaver and followed it in the old country for several years. In 1848, when the United Kingdom began to send vast numbers of her people to the United States, he decided to make his home and fortune in Amer- ica. He came in a sailing vessel, the voyage taking five long weeks. He landed in Boston, but went directly to Providence, Rhode Island, where he found work at his trade in a cotton mill. In 1850 he went to Adams, Massachusetts, and became con- nected with the noted Pollock Mills, late the Ren- frew Manufacturing Company. This concern made a business of spinning and coloring yarns, and he was promoted to a responsible position, remaining with the concern twenty years.

In 1870 he went to North Adams and bought an interest in the Johnson Mill, where yarn was spun and wove. The Johnson mill was established

WORCESTER COUNTY

in 1831 by Stephen B. Brown and Duty S. Tyler under the firm name of Brown & Tyler. They manufactured print goods, utilizing the water power on the present location of the Johnson Manufactur- ing Company. In 1839 Elisha Harris, of Providence, Rhode Island, was admitted to the firm and also Arthur F. Willard and the name became Brown, Harris & Company. In 1850 Sylvander Johnson re- turned from Copake, New York, and took the mill. He began to manufacture cotton warps and laid the foundation of the present business. In 1872, after Mr. Parkhill had become interested in the mill, it was destroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt, and in the following year the business was incorporated with Mr. Johnson as president. This concern is known as the Johnson Gingham Mill of North Adams.

In 1879 Mr. Parkhill went to Fitchburg, Massa- chusetts, and in association with Arthur H. Lowe and Thomas R. B. Dole organized the Parkhill Man- ufacturing Company. The firm bought of Alonzo Davis, who gave them much encouragement at the start, his chair factory in Circle street, and witli thirty new looms began to manufacture colored cottons in February, 1880. Mr. Parkhill was the superintendent of the manufacturing: Mr. Lowe was business manager and Mr. Dole, who had been connected with the Fitchburg National Bank, was the financial man. The business was successful from the outset, although the enterprise was new to Fitchburg and the mill did weaving only. In 1882 the firm became a corporation with a capital of $100,000, and an addition to the mill, thirty-five by one hundred and thirty-five feet, two stories high, was built. The mill was enlarged the following year by adding another story and adding more looms. During the next two years another build- ing fifty-five by one hundred and fifty feet, three stories high, and a new power house were built. In 1887 a new dye-house, fifty-five by one hundred and forty feet, two stories high, with an immense chimney was constructed. The factory of the Fitch- burg Woolen Company was bought and added to the plant. Early in 1888 the company built a cause- way from their Circle street mills across the pond to Rollstone street, with the intention of filling up most of the pond and using the made land as the interests of the company demanded. When this enterprise was established in 1879 the city of Fitch- hurg was actually losing population. It gave an impetus to all kinds of manufacturing; its success encouraged others and led directly to the organiza- tion of the Orswell and Cleghorn mills.

At the present time Mr. Parkhill is the presi- dent of the Parkhill Manufacturing Company and his son-in-law. Arthur H. Lowe, is the treasurer, business manager and active head of the concern, the capital stock of which is $300,000. ( See sketcli of Mr. Lowe in this work.) The company operates three large and separate mills called respectively mills A, B, and C, all three of which have direct connection by spur tracks with the railroad. Mill A is the original mill, the chair factory with addi- tions. Mill B is the old Fitchburg woolen mill with additions. Mill C is the Cleghorn mill built in 1885 for the manufacture of dress goods and bought by the Parkhill Manufacturing Company in 1880. Nearly all the buildings are of brick and substantial. The plant is a model of its kind, thor- oughly up-to-date. The company has in operation over two thousand looms, employs over one thou-

sand hands, and produces about twenty million yards of cloth a year. The business is the most extensive manufacturing establishment in the city of Fitchburg and gives employment to the largest number of hands. All the mills are on the Nashua river, which furnishes about one hundred horse power while the steam power of the company from five engines amounts to a thousand horse power more. Among the varied products of this concern the best known is the Toile du Nord goods, and the Parkhill zephyr, famous for its durability, attract- ive appearance and finish. The development of this business has placed Fitchburg among the leading cities in the production of gingham goods. The product of the mills is sold to the trade through the firm of Poor Bros. & Company of New York City. The remarkable success and growth of this concern in the past twenty-five years, the excellence of the goods manufactured, the prominence of the company in the manufacturing world, are due entirely to the ability, energy, shrewdness and persistency of John Parkhill and Arthur H. Lowe, who have been at the head of the business from the first. Mr. Parkhill has devoted himself all his life to his business. Ile is a Republican in politics and has served the city with credit as member of the common council and board of aldermen, but has declined further honors. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Congregational Church, of which he has been for a number of years deacon.

He married, at Adams, Massachusetts, March 26, 1850, Margaret Cleghorn, daughter of Andrew Cleghorn, who in 1885 founded the Cleghorn mills in Fitchburg. She was born in Scotland. Their children are: John, Jr., married Harriet Gould and they have two sons; Harry, died young; Will- iam, who married Mary French. John Parkhill, Jr., died March 18, 1904. Annie, married Arthur H. Lowe. William L., died young.

DR. ERNEST PAGE, one of the leading den- tists of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is son of Dr. John Q. and Edna M. (Phelps) Page. He was born August 7, 1874, in Three Rivers, in the prov- ince of Quebec, Canada. His father was a noted dentist there. When a young boy Ernest Page went to Berkshire, Vermont, to live and there received his early education in the public schools. He en- tered Harvard Dental School, from which he was graduated with honors in 1895. He started immedi- ately to practice his profession, opening his office in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in the Johnsonia build- ing. In the past ten years he has built up an ex- cellent practice and has been unusually successful. In politics he is a Republican, but has never cared for public office. He is a member of the Masonic. order. He attends the Fitchburg Methodist Epis- copal Church and is leader of the choir and mem- ber of the music committee. Dr. Page is a tenor, member of Apollo Club of Boston, and well known in musical circles. His voice has been carefully trained and his services as a professional are in constant demand. He married, June 28, 1898, Lulu Leighton, daughter of Orion and Jane E. Leighton, of Fitchburg.

JOSEPH STODDER WILSON. Henry Wil- SO11 (I) was the immigrant ancestor of the late Jo- seph Stodder Wilson, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He was born in England and came before 1640 to New England. He was a proprietor of Dedham,

. UN

UBLIC

ges tilson

WORCESTER COUNTY

Massachusetts, June 23, 1640, and was admitted a freeman there June 2, 1641. He married, November 24, 1642, Mary Metcalf, daughter of Michael Metcalf. (See Metcalf Family in this work.) She was born in 1615, if her deposition that she was fifty-four years old November II, 1669, is correct. He died February 8, 1686. The children of Henry and Mary ( Metcalf) Wilson were: Michael, born August 7, 1644; Sarah, June 24, 1650; Mary, November 7, 1652; Sarah, January 22, 1654; Ephraim, June 2, 1656. All the children were born in Dedham.

(11) Ephraim Wilson, son of Henry Wilson (1), was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, June 2, 1656, married (first) Rebecca Sumner, daughter of Samuel Sumner, of Dedham, May 10, 1681. He was on the school committee in 1749-50. Their children were : Ephraim, born February 27, 1683-4; Samuel, April 5, 1687; Rebecca, January 28, 1695; Nathaniel, of whom later.

(111) Nathaniel Wilson, son of Ephraim Wil- son (2), was born January 18, 1698-9. He married (first) Lydia -, and (second) Hannah Haslop, of Dedham, July 11, 1745. The only child of Nathaniel and Hannah Wilson found on record was Ephraim, born January 18, 1737-8, of whom later. The Wilson homestead seems to have been from the earliest days in that part of Dedham now the town of Dover, Massachusetts.

(IV) Ephraim Wilson, son of Nathaniel Wil- SO11 (3), was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 18, 1737-8. He married Sibbel Allen, of Ded- ham, July 13, 1774. He fought in the revolution. He was in Captain Ebenezer Battles' company of the Fourth Parish ( Dover) of Dedham. The fourth parish became a district or Dedham known as Dover in 1793 and was incorporated in 1836. The Wilson family has been one of the most prominent in the parish, district and town. Ephraim Wilson, of Dover, the present head of the family of Dover, is a town of- ficer and prominent citizen. The children of Ephraim and Sibbel ( Allen) Wilson were Ephraim, born January 9, 1776; Nathaniel, born August 25, 1779, of whom later.

(V) Nathaniel Wilson, son of Ephraim Wil- son (4), was born in the Fourth Parish of Dedham, August 25, 1779. He was brought up on the old homestead in Dover. He was a farmer. He died in Fitchburg in 1863. He married Mary Stodder, of Boston, Massachusetts. Their children were : Nathaniel Charles, born November 15, 1815, was a mason and contractor in Fitchburg; Mary Stodder, November 10, 1817, married Lewis Smith; Eliza Anne, February 25, 1820; Lucy Ann, August 4, 1822 ; Abby, married George Wheelock; Joseph Stodder, January 29, 1827, of whom later; William, resided in Chelsea, Massachusetts; Hannah.

(VI) Joseph Stodder Wilson, son of Nathaniel Wilson (5), was born in Dover, Massachusetts, on the old homestead January 29, 1827. He received a common school education in Dover and learned his trade of iron moulder in a foundry at Waltham, Massachusetts. He worked there in the Davis foundry and at South Dedham until 1866, when he went to Fitchburg and started in business on his own account. In 1866 he bought an interest in the Fitchburg Foundry, the oldest concern of the kind in Fitchburg, established by Asher Green about 1835 and for nearly thirty years located on Water street, opposite the present location of the Union Machine Company. Later Mr. Green had David Wallace as a partner and for a time his son, J. S.

Green, was a member of the firm. In 1860 Mr. Green sold to Aldo Wallace and the foundry was operated under the name of Wallace, Ware & Co. until 1864, when Mr. Wallace became the sole pro- prietor. In 1866 he sold a half interest mentioned above to Mr. Wilson and George Wheelock, and the same year after the death of Mr. Wallace, his half was purchased by Walter Heywood and Harring- ton Sibley. For two years the firm name was Hey- wood, Wheelock & Co. In 1868 the present foundry buildings were erected and the business moved to 27 Main street. About the same time Mr. Wheelock sold his interest to Hale W. Page and the name of the firm became Heywood, Wilson & Co. Mr. Page left the firm in 1875, leaving Mr. Wilson and Mr. Sibley as the remaining partners. The business has been carried on under the same name to the present time, Heywood, Wilson & Co. The Fitch- burg Foundry has been uniformly prosperous. Mr. Wilson became a large stockholder also in the Fitchburg Machine Co.

Mr. Wilson was an active Republican in poli- ties. He represented ward five in the common coun- cil in 1883 and was an alderman in 1885. He was in the general court with R. A. Leonard in 1886 and with J. F. D. Garfield in 1887. He was a water commissioner of the city from 1890 until his death. He was trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank for many years. Mr. Wilson was very active in the Universalist Church, of which he was a deacon, member of the pastoral committee and conspicu- ous in every movement to improve and benefit the church and its various centers of activity. He had been superintendent of the Sunday school. He was a well known Free Mason, member of Aurora Lodge and Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, of Fitchburg. He died August 27, 1895. His widow lives in the homestead on Highland street, Fitch- burg, and is highly esteemed by her neighbors among whom she has lived so many years.

At the time of Mr. Wilson's death, his pastor, Rev. J. F. Albion, said : "He was one of nature's noblemen-not one heralded before the world but one such as make the bone and sinew of our na- tional life and keeps sweet and pure its social and domestic atmosphere. He was one of the salt of the earth such as keep faith strong, love pure, hopes high. He was a man of varied interests born of broad sympathetic spirit. Some may have known him only in business, but a man of mind and heart to whom business was not a mere mercenary end. There was a wholesome atmosphere about his busi- ness life. It was not made sordid and unlovely by a mad rush for dollars. It did not cry halt to all the graces and amenities of our social life when you came into its presence. It was because his business was a trust, a means not an end; he owned it, it did not own him. Success came to him and he richly deserved it; it came through industry, fidelity and thrift. Not a dollar was gained through greed; not a dollar that caused a single heart to ache or a fellow man to suffer. He was honored and loved by his employees, because they were not his hired men, but his fellow workers. He made little talk or profession of his religion, but most consistently and beautifully lived it. He loved the church, his sanguine interest in it was contagious and stimulating to those who have its interests most at heart. He was generously appreciative of its work; he loyally supported all its plans for progress ; he was one of its most regular attendants."

WORCESTER COUNTY

He married, 1850, Eliza Stowell, daughter of Stephen and Mary W. (Derby) Stowell, of an old and honored Hingham (Massachusetts ) family. Mary W. Derby was the daughter of Jonathan Derby, of Weymouth, Massachusetts. The children of Joseph Stodder and Eliza (Stowell) Wilson were: George Herbert, born April 10, 1856, died September 10, 1856; Abby Wheelock, born August 30, 1858, died May 12, 1878.

GEORGE FREDERICK PARKER DAY Ralph Day (I) was the immigrant ancestor of George Frederick Parker Day, deputy collector of taxes of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He came from England and settled in Dedham about 1640. He was admitted a townsman February 1, 1644-5, and a freeman in May, 1645. He was ensign of the military com- pany and used to beat the drum for meetings before the days of church bells. He was selectman in 1601 and 1662. He died October 28, 1077 .. His will dated September 12, 1677, and proved Febru- ary I following mentions wife Abigail; children John, Ralph, Mary and Abigail; he left his tools and drum to Ralph; citterne to Abigail; one of his swords to son-in-law, John Ruggles.

Hle married (first) Susan Fairbanks, daughter of the immigrant, Jonathan Fairbanks, whose house is still standing in Dedham. ( See Fairbanks sketch. ) He married (second) Abigail Pond, daughter of Daniel Pond, another pioneer settler. His children : Elizabeth, baptized July 3, 1648, died young; Mary, born November 9, 1649; Susan, born 1652; John, born April 15, 1054; Ralph, of whom later; Abi- gail, born April 22, 1661. They were all born in Dedham.

(H) Ralph, fifth child of Ralph Day (I), was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, and baptized Feb- ruary II, 1657. He was admitted a freeman of Dedham in 1690 and was a life-long resident of that town. He died there October 21, 1694. He mar- ried Sarah Fuller, daughter of Thomas and Han- nah (Fowler) Fuller. Their children: Ralph, born October 28, 1683, settled in Wrentham; Thomas, born June 19, 1686; Sarah, Mary, Jeremiah, of whom later ; Abiel.

(III) Jeremiah Day, fifth child of Ralph Day (2), was born in Dedham, September 28, 1692 (or September 23, 1693, see Dedham records). He set- tled in Walpole, an adjacent town, and there re- sided during his active life. He married, at Dor- chester, August 3, 1721, Mary Willitt, of Dedham, a daughter c/ Andrew Willitt, a Boston merchant. Their children: Jeremiah, of whom later; Sarah, born August 16, 1729; Joseph, born at Walpole, Au- gust 25, 1731; John, born November 16, 1734. All but the first were born at Walpole.

(IV) Jeremiah Day, eldest child of Jeremiah Day (3), was born in Dedham, April 25, 1725, and died in Walpole, April 1, 1752. He was a wheel- wright. He married, November 7, 1748, Mary Ald- rich, who died February 17, 1774, at Walpole. Their children : Mary, born June 1, 1749, at Walpole; Jo- seph, born December 8, 1750, at Walpole.

(V) Joseph Day, only son of Jeremiah Day (4), was born in Walpole, December 8, 1750. He resided in Walpole and Foxboro, Massachusetts, and in Eddington, Maine, and died in Massachusetts in March, 1832 or 1833. He married, November 18, 1773, Elizabeth ( Betty) Gay, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Gay. Their children : Betty, born

May 18, 1775; Benjamin, born April 14, 1777, died young ; Benjamin, of whom later; Hannah, born August 30, 1780; Molly, born May 8, 1785.

(VI) Benjamin Day, son of Joseph Day (5), was born in Foxboro, Massachusetts, September 12, 1779. The greater part of his life was spent at Orange, Massachusetts; he died in Fitchburg, No- vember 20, 1861. He married at Dover, Massachu- setts, Martha Bacon, who was born in Dedham, No- vember 10, 1782, the daughter of Josiah and Abigail (Smith) Bacon. She died January 3, 1869. The great-grandfather of Benjamin Day and the great- grandmother of Martha Bacon whom he married were brother and sister, being respectively Jere- miah and Abiell Day, children of Ralph Day (II), of Dedham. Their child was Leonard, of whom later.

(VII) Leonard Day, son of Benjamin Day (6), was born in Orange, Massachusetts, November 8, 1807. He attended the common schools in his na- tive town. In 1824 he went to Fitchburg and con- ducted the stage line between Boston and Fitchburg until the railroad was built in 1845, when he became one of the first conductors, later succeeding Henry F. Kenney as station agent, a position he held until his death. He was a charter member of Mt. Roul- stone Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was a worthy citizen, much esteemed by his fellow citizens in Fitchburg. He died there September 27, 1864.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 25

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 710

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710