Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 26

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 26

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He married (first), September 12, 1836, Abigail Parker, daughter of Stephen and Hannah (Paddel- ford) Parker, of Fitchburg. She died in 1840. He married ( second) her sister, Susan B. Parker, No- vember 21, 1841. She survives him. They had one child, George Frederick Parker, of whom later. Mrs. Day's immigrant ancestor was Thomas Parker, of Lynn and Reading. (See Parker family sketch.) Her grandfather Parker was captain in the revolu- tion and his widow was a pensioner.

(VIII) George Frederick Parker Day, son of Leonard Day (7), was born in Fitchburg, Febru- ary 26, 1849. He was educated in the common and high schools of Fitchburg and then studied civil engineering. Soon after the completion of his studies he went to California for his health, and upon his recovery returned to his native town. In 1872 he entered the city engineer's office under Thomas C. Lovell and remained for about three years. In 1876 he became connected with the en- gineering department of the Fitchburg Railroad as first assistant engineer under E. K. Turner, chief engineer. During the next ten years he took an act- ive part in the reconstruction of the Vermont & Massachusetts division between Fitchburg and Greenfield. This work included the building of the large double-arch stone bridge in West Fitchburg, the horse shoe curve improvement at Ashburnham Junction, supplanting the former switch-back which required the turning of all locomotives and the switching of trains; the survey and building of a new line between Baldwinsville and Royalston, eliminating four large bridges over Miller's river ; the change in location of the railroad and the cut- ting of a new channel for the river between Royals- ton and Athol; and, finally, the improvements a mile east of Miller's Falls enabling the road to dispense with four more bridges over Miller's river; the separation of grades of the Vermont & Massa- chusetts and New London Northern Railroads west of Miller's Falls; and the building of the new Con-

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necticut river bridge between Montague and East Deerfield in connection with the double tracking of the fifty-six miles of road.

In 1886 Mr. Day resigned his position on account of his son's health and went to California with him, remaining there until 1889. In the spring of 1890 he was appointed by the collector of taxes of Fitch- burg, George E. Clifford, deputy collector, a posi- tion he has filled since then with perfect satisfaction to the taxpayers and his fellow officials of the city. He is a Republican in politics and a Unitarian in religion. He joined Aurora Lodge of Free Masons in July, 1871, and the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1880.

He married, June, 1879, Marion F. Wilder, daughter of Charles L. and Harriet E. (Harris) Wilder, of Lancaster, Massachusetts. They have two children: Leonard, born in Fitchburg, August 8. 1880, a graduate of the Washington Law School, practicing law in New York city; Alice Wilder, born in Fitchburg, August 21, 1883, graduate of Smith College, 1905, lives with her parents.

COLONY FAMILY. In the Protestant section of Ireland, the province of Ulster, one of the most common names is Connolly. This spelling has been generally adopted in later years, although many of the older forms of spelling will be found, especially among branches of the family that have been away from Ireland for a long time. Conley and Connelly are common forms in America. Colony and Coloney were ancient ways of spelling this name. In 1890 there were 381 births of Connollys in Ireland, of whom 146 were in the counties of Antrim and Monaghan in Ulster.

(I) John Colony, to whom the New Hampshire Colony family traces descent, was a farmer in Kil- kenny, Ireland. He belonged to a Protestant fam- ilv, and married a Scotch woman, born in Scotland. His descendants in Ireland and America have there- fore affiliated with and been classed properly among the Scotch-Irish, although the origin of the name is Irish.

(II) John Colony, son of John Colony (1), born in Kilkenny, Ireland, 1730, came with the fam- ily to Wrentham, Massachusetts, when the Scotch- Irish emigration to America was at its height, about 1740. He enlisted in the last French and Indian war. 1755-60, and joined Captain Rogers' famous Rangers. He was in the battle near Fort Edward when Major Israel Putnam was captured and tied to a tree to be burned, but was finally released. He served nearly through the whole war. and for that service received a grant of land in Maine which he exchanged later for a tract on Saxon's river, near Grafton. Vermont. About the time of his marriage, in 1761, he settled in Keene. New Hampshire. He was one of the pioneers. together with his brother- in-law Nathan Fisher. John Colony's farm was in the west part of the town, and has remained in the possession of his descendants to the present time, at present occupied by Martha Colony, wife of William H. Woodward.

John Colony was a man of great energy and courage. At one time during the Indian war he was in a fort to which the settlers had .fled with their families besieged by French and Indians. The supply of milk failed. and the infants and children were suffering for food. Cows were grazing just beyond the outposts of the enemies. Young Colony volunteered to get the milk, and, taking with him

his gun and dog, as well as a milk pail, stole through the enemy's lines, reached the cows, filled his pail, and started to return. When nearly halfway back to the garrison his dog barked. Turning he con- fronted an Indian. He put down his pail, shot the Indian, picked up the pail, and made his way to the waiting garrison in safety, though the Indians, roused by the dog's bark and the shot, were in hot pursuit. He not only saved himself but he did not spill the precious milk. At another time, after he came to Keene to live at the close of the war, hie had an encounter with a big bear in his cornfield, and took the bearskin as a trophy of his skill and coolness. He married. 1761, Melatiah, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Blake) Fisher, of the Ded- ham family. He died in 1797. His children were: I. Hannah, born 1762. 2. Timothy, born April 5, 1764, died August 29, 1836. 3. Melatiah, born 1766. 4. Josiah, born December 26, 1771, settled in St. Albans, and left numerous descendants in Vermont and elsewhere.

(III) Timothy Colony, son of John Colony (2), born in Keene, New Hampshire, April 5. 1764; mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Estes) Dwinnell. Her mother was a descendant of the par- ents of Rebecca (Towne) Nourse, who was hanged as a witch in 1692. The homestead was inherited by Timothy Colony, and he spent his life as a farmer on the old place, which is still occupied by his descendants. He died in 1836, aged seventy- two years. Children of Timothy and Sarah (Dwin- nell) Colony: 1. Benjamin Dwinnell, born March 4, 1788, died July 8, 1788. 2. Josiah, born April 8, 1791, died June 5, 1867, mentioned below .. 3. Mary, born September 30, 1793, died August 22, 1819. 4. John, born June 27. 1795, died August 10, 1876. 5. Lockhart, born May 3, 1800, died Deceni- ber 23, 1823. 6. Joshua Durant, born December 21, 1804. died March 21, 1891, mentioned below. 7. George, born June 30, 1811, died February 4, 1820.

(IV) Josiah Colony, second child of Timothy Colony (3), was born in Keene, New Hampshire, April 8, 1791. He was brought up on the old farm there, and received a common school education in the public schools. He was studious, and the better part of his education was acquired in his extensive reading and study. He cultivated an unusual in- tellectual ability. He was robust and athletic in physique, and showed an aptitude for mechanics at an early age. He was employed when a young man to run a saw and grist mill in Keene. where the Faulkner & Colony Mills now stand. In 1814 he enlisted in Captain James M. Warner's company, Lieutenant-Colonel John Steel's regiment, of Peter- boro, in the detached militia sent to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, in September of that year to de- fend the town and harbor from an expected attack of the British. The company was in the service sixty days.

In 1815 he went into partnership with Francis Faulkner, clothier, and the firm bought all the mills and water privilege where he had been at work except those of Azel Wilder, which were acquired later. The business established thus ninety years ago has grown from time to time to the present large proportions. It is still in the hands of the members of the families of the two original part- ners, and the name has continued practically un- changed. It has been a corporation since 1888 under the name of the Faulkner & Colony Manufacturing Company. This concern was a pioneer in the manu-

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facture of flannels in this country, and the chief product of the mills has been flannels, for which their name is famous. Francis Faulkner, partner of Mr. Colony, was the son of Francis Faulkner, of Acton, Massachusetts. He was born January 31, 1760, and died February 12, 1843; he was a woolen manufacturer from an early age until his death.

Josiah Colony is honored as one of the real founders of Keene, a pioneer in manufacturing, keep in observing business conditions, shrewd in his man- agement of affairs, and persistant in striving for success in whatever undertaking he had in hand. He was a man of the strictest integrity, generous, imbued with public spirit and patriotism. He pre- ferred not to hold public office. He married, Au- gust 17, 1817, at Stoddard. Hannah. daughter of Danforth Taylor, of Stoddard, New Hampshire. She was born November 16, 1794, and died June 30, 1846, at the age of fifty-one years. This cpitaph is on her gravestone: "The memory of the departed is endeared as a devoted wife, a kind and af- fectionate parent, a regardful neighbor. A calm and serene death followed a quiet and contented life."

Mr. Colony married (second) at Rochester, New Hampshire, November 1, 1853, Jane ( Briggs) Buel, widow, who died in 1867. at the age of seventy- seven years. Children of Josiah and Hannah (Tay- lor) Colony: 1. Timothy, born July 19, 1819. died Octoher 31. 1882. 2. George Danforth, born May 6, 1821, mentioned below. 3. Henry, born March 23, 1823, died July 18, 1884; was the first president of the Manchester & Keene Railroad, founder of the Keene Guaranty Savings Bank in 1883, and also of the Citizens' National Bank of Keene, September I, 1875. He was in the firm established by his father, and for many years was a leading citizen of Keene and of New Hampshire. 4. Mary Ann, born Sep- tember 14. 1825, died April II. 1859. 5. Alfred Tay- lor, born May 7, 1828, died December 15, 1876. 6. John Edward, born April 17, 1831, died October 5, 1883. 7. Horatio, born November 14, 1835, was the first mayor of the city of Keene, New Hampshire, 1874 and 1875: was master of Social Friends Lodge in 1867. and for years one of the heads of the Faulkner & Colony Manufacturing Co. The only child of Josiah and Jane Colony was: 8. Josiah Dean, born January 25. 1855.

(IV) Joshua D. Colony, son of Timothy Colony (3), was born in Kecne, New Hampshire, 1804. He was store keeper, then a manufacturer of glass in Keene. He became cashier of the Cheshire County Bank, and was postmaster. He became interested in the cotton mills at Munsonville. He purchased the Cheshire Republican newspaper, which was con- ducted for many years under the firm name of J. D. Colony & Son, and is now owned by Oscar L. Colony, son of Joshua D. Joshua D. Colony mar- ried Frances Seaman S. Blake, and they had three sons and three daughters : Ormond E., Oscar L., Lewis J., Frances M., Sarah and Hannah. He died at Kcene in 1891.

(V) George Danforth Colony. M. D., second child of Josiah Colony (4). was horn at Keene. New Hampshire, May 6, 1821. Early in life he de- cided upon medicine as a calling. He fitted for col- lege at Keene Academy in his native town, was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1843. and entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. where in 1846 he

received his medical degree. A few weeks after graduation, August, 1846. he opened his office in Athol, Massachusetts. Besides his college train- ing Dr. Colony had studied with Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene, and at the Woodstock Medical School. For that period he was unusually well fitted and trained for the practice of medicine. One of his first professional calls was to the scene of the terrible accident at the railroad bridge on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, when the bridge went down under a train, killing and injuring a number of people. Among his contemporaries in Athol were Dr. George Hoyt and Dr. William H. Williams. For a number of years he was a popular member of the Athol school committee.

Upon the retirement of Dr. Levi Pillsbury, of Fitchburg. his practice was purchased by Dr. Colony, and May 1, 1861, he began to practice in Fitchburg. His office and residence was formerly where Christ church now stands. When he sold the land for the church he removed to his late home at 50 Blossom street, where his family still resides. He became a leader in his profession. He was a member of the Worcester North Medical Society and of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and vice-president of the same one year. He took an important part in public affairs during the civil war, serving on im- portant committees, and aiding the sick and wounded soldiers at the front and at home. He was for nearly forty years prominent in public affairs of the town and city of Fitchburg. From 1865 to 1873 he was an active member of the school committee under the town government; from 1875 until his death was a trustee of the Fitchburg Public Library ; in 1876 and 1877 was a member of the common council. In politics he was an earnest Republican. In religious belief he was an Episcopalian, and was one of the organizers of Christ Church, in 1863, and vestryman from 1867 to 1880, when he was elected warden, a position he held until his death. At the time of his death, October 2, 1898, the Fitch- burg Sentinel said of him: "He has been a valued and very useful citizen, a man of balanced mind and character, one who put patriotism before partisanship, and whose honesty and sound judg- ment commanded general respect. Dr. Colony has taken high rank in his profession and besides a large practice he was often called in consultation with other physicians." He was buried at his old home in Keene, New Hampshire. He always retained some business interest in his father's firm at Keene, and undoubtedly possessed the characteristic busi- ness ability of the family. His father and brothers established the mills at Harrisville, known as the Cheshire Mills, which are still owned and operated by members of the family. Horatio Colony being president, and John J. Colony treasurer of the company.

Dr. Colony married, at Athol. May 23, 1849. Har- rict Newell Stevens. daughter of Isaac Stevens, of Middleboro, Massachusetts. Their children were : I. Mary Anna. born September 24. 1850; married, 1875. Melvin Ohio Adams, son of Joseph and Dolly ( Whitney) Adams, of Ashburnham, where he was horn November 7, 1847; he is a graduate of Dart- mouth 1871: he taught school in Fitchburg. and studied law with the late Amasa Norcross: grad- uated from Boston University Law School 1875. and began to practice law in Boston; was assistant district attorney for ten years until . 1886; was in law partnership with Augustus Russ until the lat-

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ter died in 1892; was one of counsel for defense in the celebrated Borden murder trial in Fall River ; was on Governor Brackett's staff with rank as colonel, 1890; is president of the Boston, Revere Beach & Lynn Railroad, and of the Dartmouth Club of Boston; member of several leading clubs and organizations; they have one son: Karl Adamns. 2. Joseph Backus, born November 1, 1852, men- tioned below. 3. Jane Frances, born April 20, 1856, resides at home. 4. George Alfred, born February 22, 1858, died May 7, 1900. 5. Harriet Stevens, born November 19, 1859; married Frank E. Perkins, of Flatbush, New York; he is the New York repre- sentative of the Boston Globe; they have one child : Harriet Colony Perkins. 6. Charles, born December 21, 1865, died August 5, 1866. 7. Walter Stevens, born January 2, 1868, died September 25, 1868.

(VI) Joseph Backus Colony, second child of Dr. George D. Colony (5), was born in Athol, Massa- chusetts, November 1, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Fitchburg, graduating from the Fitchburg high school in the class of 1871. In 1877 he became connected with the firm of Faulk- ner & Colony, at the mill in Keene, representing his father's interests there. He began as clerk, and was promoted to various positions in the office until 1888; when the business was incorporated and he became the treasuref. The firm of Faulkner & Colony became the Faulkner & Colony Manufac- turing Company, and the business was greatly in- creased and the mills enlarged after the company was formed. Joseph B. Colony remained treasurer of the concern until he sold out his interests and retired in 1896. He returned to Fitchburg, and since his father's death has made that city his home. He is unmarried.

MICHAEL J. HOGAN. James Hogan, the father of Michael J. Hogan. of Fitchburg, was a farmer in county Limerick, Ireland. He was born there and spent his life in his native place.

Michael J. Hogan, son of James Hogan, was born in Limerick, May 8. 1849. He received a common school education, and at the age of six- teen, just at the close of the civil war, he left his native parish and came to America. He settled immediately in Winchendon, Massachusetts, and engaged in blacksmithing. He went to Fitchburg in 1878 and started in business for himself as a blacksmith, a trade that he had learned in the mean- time. In the past twenty-five years Mr. Hogan has established a large business and stands well among the business men of the city. His shop is at 10 Laurel street. Besides horse-shoeing and general blacksmithing Mr. Hogan builds carriages and wagons and repairs them. He has established a wide reputation for the skillful handling of horses needing special attention from the farrier.

Mr. Hogan is a stanch Democrat in politics. In 1905 he was elected street commissioner of the city, a position to which he was especially well fitted as a horseman and practical man of affairs. He has given the utmost satisfaction to the tax- payers and city officers. He is a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, and a man of generous impulses and disposition, making many friends and helping often those in need. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He married. 1872, Sarah J. Kane, of Winchendon. Massachusetts. They reside at 159 Summer street, Fitchburg. Their children are: James, born in

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Fitchburg; Mary A., born in Fitchburg, married Joseph F. Perault, and they have four children : Joseph, Margaret, Moses, James. Mr. Perault is employed in the Fitchburg Foundry Co.

HERMAN E. REMINGTON. Thomas Reming- ton (I), the pioneer ancestor in this country of Her- man E. Remington, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, settled in Hingham. Massachusetts. He may have been related to John Remington, the first immigrant of the name, who settled in Newbury, in 1637 or earlier, and was admitted a freeman May 22, 1638; removed to Rowley and was appointed to train the military company there; was lieutenant; re- moved to Roxbury; was a carpenter by trade and reconstructed the meeting house in Roxbury ; his son Thomas removed to Connecticut and had a son Thomas, who died there without issue. It may be that Thomas Remington, of Hingham, was son or grandson of this John Remington, but proof is lacking.

Thomas Remington married, March 16, 1687-8, Remember Stowell, daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Farrow ) Stowell. She was born in Hingham, April 22, 1662. and died there November 5, 1694, aged thirty-three years. The children of Thomas and Remember Remington were: Jael, born at Hingham, April 22, 1688, married, June 13, 1710, Thomas Beal; Joshua, of whom later; Mary, born May 9, 1691 ; Abigail, born February 27. 1692-3.

(11) Joshua Remington, son of Thomas Reming- ton (I), was born in Hingham, Massachusetts, 1689-90. He married Elizabeth He was a farmer. He died at Hingham. July 1, 1733, aged forty-three years. The children of Joshua and Eliza- beth. Remington were : Joshua, born 1714, died April 2. 1730, aged sixteen years; Elizabeth, brru 1716, married, November 8, 1742, Israel Leavitt. Jr. : John, born 1718, died September 18, 1718, killed by the mother while temporarily out of her mind ; Elisha, born January 17, 1719-20; Mary, born June 13. 1722, married John Stowell, Jr .; Sarah. born June 23, 1724, married Joshtta or John Tilden, Jr .: Thomas. horn May 22, 1726; Olive, born Sep- tember 28, 1728, died February 17, 1736-7; Joshua, born February 14. 1730-I, of whom later.

(III) Joshua Remington, youngest child of Joshua Remington (2), was born at Hingham, Mas- sachusetts. February 14, 1730-1. He married Ruth Clay at Hingham. The children of Joshua and Ruth Remington were born at Hingham, viz. : Ruth, born August 5. 1755: Uriah, born 1757, baptized June 26, 1757 : Joshua, Jr., of whom later.

(IV) Joshua Remington, Jr., son of Joshua Remington (3). was born in Hingham, Massach11- setts, November, 1759. and baptized September 14. 1760. He died at Huntington, Vermont, October 4. 1855. aged nearly ninety-six years. He was a soldier in the revolution and was in the battle of Bennington. He was in Captain Nathan Har- wood's company, Colonel Jolin Dickinson's regiment. in 1777-a Massachusetts regiment-the roll of which was sworn to in Chesterfield, New Hampshire. He was in Captain Joseph Clapp's company, and Colonel Israel Chapin's regiment (Third Massachusetts) in the fall of 1779 and marched to reinforce the northern army.

He settled in Wallingford, Vermont, in 1780, and saw further service there in a Vermont regi- ment. His brother Uriah was with him. Uriah enlisted in 1775 in a Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

WORCESTER COUNTY

company and was also a veteran at the time they went to Vermont. Joshua and Uriah Remington were both in Captain Stafford's company, Colonel Ebenezer Allen's regiment of Vermont militia in October, 1780, and June, 1781, and again in 1781 in Captain Orange's company, Colonel Lee's regi- died April 3, 1853. He resided for a time in Hines- burg, Vermont, and bought real estate there Sep- tember 19, 1818. He sold it to his son, Joshua Remington, Jr., August 28, 1819, and returned to Wallingford or Huntington. Among the children of Joshua Remington were: Joshua. Jr., married Diadama -, and settled in Hinesburg; Jeremiah, of whom later.

(V) Jeremiahı Remington, son

of Joshua Remington (4), was born at Wallingford, Vermont, July 25, 1783, and died August 13, 1852. He mar- ried Mary , who was born June 4, 1778, and died April 3. 1853. He resided for a time in Hines- burg, but most of his life was a farmer in Hunting- ton, Vermont. The children of Jeremiah and Mary Remington were: Marilda, born April 8, 1810; Mahala, born February 16, 1812; Philemon, of whom later ; Joel, born June 8, 1818, married, May 30, 1844, at Hinesburg, Patty Sayles; Lucinda, born August 30. 1820; Lurenda, born October 23, 1835, died November 8, 1847.

(VI) Philemon Remington, son of Jeremiah Remington (5), was born at Huntington, Vermont, January 31, 1814, and died there February 26, 1880. He married Adeline Fitch, who died October, 1886, aged about seventy-five years. Their children were : Mitchell F., of whom later; Annette, born April 26. 1841, married Wareham Brewster. and resides in Huntington : Ansurilla, born November 8, 1843, married S. J. Randall, of Huntington, and they re- side there.

(VII) Mitchell F. Remington, son of Philemon Remington (6), was born at Huntington, Vermont. January 6, 1839. He settled in Hinesburg and is a prosperous farmer there. He married Melinda Bates, who was born May 21, 1840, the daughter of Elihu and Nancy (Pierce) Bates. The children of Mitchell F. and Melinda Remington are: Her- man E .. of whom later; Edna, born January 31, 1860, married Charles J. Russell, and they reside in Burlington, Vermont.

(VIII) Herman E. Remington, only son of Mitchell F. Remington (7), was born in Huntington, Vermont, September 7. 1861. He was educated in Hinesburg and New Haven, Vermont, in the pub- lic schools, and Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York. When a young man he came to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and was em- ployed as bookkeeper for Baker Brothers. whole- sale paper dealers, stationers, blank book manufac- turers, wooden ware, etc. This firm succeeded Shepley & Baker, and later Mr. Remington bought the Baker interests of A. W. Baker, Jr. and the firm became Cummings & Remington. Mr. Baker, Mr. Cummings and G. F. Shedd formed the firm of Baker Brothers & Co., dealers in hardware, cutlery, paints, oils, etc., at 350 Main street, the same block.

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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. IV, Part 26

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