Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 77

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 77

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O'Brien. The children of this marriage are as fol- lows: 5. Charles Joseph, born in Pomfret, Connec- ticut, May 18, 1878, a graduate of Blackstone high school, class of '94, and Holy Cross College, Worces- ter, Massachusetts, class of '99; now a senior class student at Harvard Medical School. 6. Agnes Elizabeth, born in Millville, July 9, 1879, married Daniel Sweeney, of South Framingham, Massachu- setts. 7. Margaret Alecia, born in Millville, Janu- ary 23, 1884, married Francis J. Lalor, of Blackstone, and has one child, Catherine Conway, born July 17, 1905.

ELIHU KELTON, a prosperous farmer of Hub- bardston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, is one of those men of enterprise and energy who owe all their success to their own unaided efforts.

Elihu Kelton, the first of the name, was a son of Thomas Kelton. He married Ann Blackmer, of Dorchester, and had four children: Elizabeth, died young; Lydia, married Charles Sumner of Dorches- ter; Harriet, died young; and Elihu, of whom see forward.

Elihu Kelton, son of Elihu Kelton, above men- tioned, and Ann Blackmer, his wife, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, May 2, 1831. His educa- tion was a good one for those early days, being ob- tained in the public schools of the vicinity. He com- menced his business career in the mercantile line by working in a market. He removed to Hubbard- ston in 1857 and turned his attention to farming. He settled on a farm in that section, and has cul- tivated this very successfully since that time. He is an attendant at the Unitarian, church and a stanch adherent of the Republican party. He mar- ried Jane Hawthorne and has had children: Addie, resides at home; Hattie, died young ; Anna Jane, died young ; George, a merchant in Boston, married Ruth Coolidge, of Petersham, and has four chil- dren; Susie, married Arthur D. Greenwood, and has two children; Frank, married Lucy Boyden, of Holden, and has two children; Mary, unmarried.

WILLARD HENRY BARNES. The immigrant ancestor of this family was Thomas Barnes of whom Willard H. Barnes is a descendant in the eighth generation, and the line of descent is through Thomas (2), Samuel (3), Moses (4), Jesse (5), Adonijah (6), and William S. (7). Thomas, who came from England as a passenger in the "Speed- well," which arrived at Boston in 1636, settled in Marlboro and died there in 1679. He married Abi- gail Goodnow, daughter of Thomas Goodnow of Sudbury, and his children were: Thomas, Dorothy, John, William, Abigail and Susanna.

Thomas Barnes, son of Thomas and Abigail, was born in Marlboro, March 23, 1662. During King Philip's war his house and furniture were destroyed by the Indians, and he subsequently removed to Brookfield, where he was granted forty acres of land August 27, 1091. Later in life he sold his prop- erty, and died at the home of his son Comfort, in Brookfield, April 23, 1734. His death was caused by an accident. In 1685 he married Mary, daughter of Samuel and Martha How, of Sudbury. His children were: Martha, Samuel, Prudence, Lydia. Thankful, Noah and Comfort. The mother died February 4, 1749.

Samuel Barnes, son of Thomas and Mary, was granted forty acres of land in Matchuck in 1710, and he also owned other real estate amounting in all to three hundred and fourteen acres. He married

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Mercy, daughter of Deacon Henry Gilbert. He died October 7, 1733, while holding the office of town treasurer. His widow afterward married Thomas Gilbert, whom she also survived, and married for her third husband Josiah Converse, Esquire. The chil- dren of Samuel and Mercy Barnes were: John, Moses, Miriam, Mary, Hannah, Abigail, Aaron, Lucy and Rachel.

Moses Barnes, son of Samuel and Mercy, was born in Brookfield, March 27, 1714, and died April 23, 1802. The maiden name of his wife was Han- nalı Old, or Olds. She became the mother of four- teen children, namely : Sarah, Samuel, Marcy, Miriam, Nathan, Jesse, Hannah, Moses, William, Elizabeth, Comfort, Mary, Patience, and another child whose name is not at hand. Mrs. Hannah Barnes died January 31, 1797.

Jesse Barnes, great-grandfather of Willard H. Barnes, of Hardwick, was the first of the family to settle in that town. He was the sixth child of Moses and Hannah (Olds) Barnes, and was born in Brookfield, November 7, 1744. He settled upon a farm located in the westerly part of Hardwick, about the year 1780, and his death occurred there November 18, 1822. December 8, 1763, he married Patience Gilbert, and was the father of seven chil- dren, namely : Jonas, Miriam, Eli, Lydia, Adoni- jah, Betsey and Lucy. All were natives of Brook- field except Lucy, who was born in Hardwick. Mrs. Patience (Gilbert) Barnes died July 4, 1821.

Adonijah Barnes, grandfather of Willard H. Barnes, was born October 12, 1772. He was mar- ried April 9, 1793, to Chloe Knights, and was an industrious farmer in Hardwick throughout his active period of his life, which terminated August 21, 1841. His wife, who survived him, died September 26, 1851. Their children were: Clarinda; Lucy ; Rufus; Chloe; Jonas, born June 3, 1800; Ruth, who died young; Adonijah; Willard; Amy; Caroline ; William S., born February 25, ISHI; Sylvia; Calista ; Alice and Ruth, twins; and a son who died.

William Sumner Barnes, Willard H. Barnes, father, was born in Hardwick, February 25, ISII. When a young man he turned his attention to gen- eral farming. lle married, May 24, 1842, Lucinda Howe Cummings, a native of Connecticut, who be- came the mother of eight children, namely: Ellen Jane, born March 11, 1843; Delia Maria, born Jan- mary 19, 1845; Julia Ann, born August 14, 1846; William Edgar and Mary Emma, twins, born Au- gust 6, 1849; Lura Luthera, born October 27, 1851 ; George Rollo, born March 3, 1854 (who died in childhood) ; and Willard Henry, the principal sub- ject of this sketch. The seven surviving children are all married but one, Lura Luthera. Ellen Jane married Frederick M. Cleveland, May 4, 1864, and had: Eugene Sumner, born March 31, 1865; Leslie Linwood, born March 10, 1871; Heber Howe, born September 3, 1872; and Ernest Elgin, born July 23, 1876. Frederick M. the father died December 19, 1876. She then married Harvey W. King, Oc- tober, 1880. and had Maude Ellen, born May 13, 1882, and resides in Somerville. Delia Maria mar- ried Ezra B. Glazier, April 13, 1880, and had Lura Lucinda, born October 26, 1881. The father died November, 1888. Mrs. Glazier resides in Petersham. Julia Ann married Albert E. Hastings, September, 1883, and had Earle Dayton, born March 16, 1885, and resides in New Braintree. Mary Emma mar- ried Felix Zalesky, April 12, 1899, and lives in New Braintree. William Edgar, whose birth took place August 6, 1849, studied at the New Salem Academy

and the Ilighland Institute in Petersham, after which he settled upon a farm in New Braintree. He has taught school to some extent. He married Clara Gardner, of Hardwick. After the death of his wife he sold his farm, and has ever since resided with his brother Willard I1. He is a member of the Masonic order. Mrs. William S. Barnes died April 11, 1881, aged sixty-five years.

Willard Henry Barnes was born in Hardwick, May 14, 1856. His preliminary studies in the Hard- wick public schools were augmented with a course of advanced instruction at the Barre Academy, and upon the completion of his studies he engaged in farming at the homestead, devoting much of his time and energies to the dairy industry. He is one of the most efficient among the present generation of agriculturists in this section of the county, and his success is largely the result of his unusual energy and progressive tendencies. Politically he acts with the Republican party.

In May, 1884, Mr. Barnes was united in mar- riage with his cousin, Miss Clariette Barnes, daugh- ter of Jonas and Olean (Frye) Barnes, of Hard- wick. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have two children- Mabel Sumner, born April 30, 1889; and Carl Cum- mings, born February 23, 1892. Miss Mabel S. Barnes is now attending school in Barre, and Carl C. is a pupil in the Hardwick public schools.

FOWLER FAMILY. Joseph Pierce Fowler was born at White River, in the Connecticut Valley, Vermont, February 22, 1832, died at his home in lowa, November 4, 1899, aged sixty-seven years. He was a son of Thomas Fowler and Betsey Styles, his wife, of Keene, New Hampshire, both of whom were of old New England families. At the age of thirteen years Joseph P. Fowler left his home in Vermont, and went to Grantham, New Hampshire, where afterward he carried on a grist and saw mill business, and continued it until 1868. He then moved to the west and worked for a time until he could establish himself in some profitable occupation, and eventually he became a mill wright and a miller, which he had followed while living in New Hamp- shire. Mr. Fowler is remembered as an industrious, hardworking man and a man of influence in the community in which he lived. In Grantham he was representative in the legislature from that town in 1864-65. He was a strong Republican and an earn- est member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. On September 13, 1854, he married Rosilla Pillsbury, born March 23, 1833, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Pillsbury, born in Croyden, New Hampshire, and Eliza Colby, his wife. They had one child, Joseph Elwin Fowler, of Northboro, Massachusetts. Since the death of her husband Eliza Colby Fowler has lived with her son in Northboro.

Joseph Elwin Fowler, son of Joseph Pierce and Rosilla ( Pillsbury) Fowler, and grandson of Thomas and Betsey (Styles Fowler, was born iu Grantham, New Hampshire, April 7, 1867. He was educated in the schools of Enfield and Grantham and after leav- ing school began work as a carpenter, an occupation he has since followed more or less in connection with other business pursuits. At one time the operated a planing mill and made house furnishings, later worked eight years for the Consolidated Haimes Company, and after that removed to Worcester, Massachusetts, and was employed by the Taber Or- gan Company for three years. He then returned to his trade for about one year and in November, 1904, moved to Northboro, where now he is proprietor of

BOSTON PUBLIC LIB -

Faithfully Jama6 andreas Lo Camilla

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a saw and grist mill: In politics Mr. Fowler is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

He married Mary Agnes Courtney, born in Ire- land, April 15, 1875, daughter of Martin and Cath- erine (Lynch) Courtney. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have one child, Irene Marie Fowler, born in Worcester, Massachusetts, September 27, 1903.

CONNERY FAMILY. Daniel Connery, father of Rev. Henry Connery, of Clinton, Massachusetts, was born in Ireland, 1835. He came among the first Irish settlers to Clinton and found employment in the dye works of the Bigelow Carpet Company. He became a skillful dyer and rose to the position of second hand in the dye house. He was a trusted and valued employee of this concern, as is shown by the fact that he never left the company, working all his active life, a period of fifty years, for the same con- cern. His residence was on Oak street, Clinton, and there he and his wife Hannah died nine days apart in March, 1906. Hannah died March 17, 1906, Daniel March 27, 1906. Both were life-long and faithful members of St. John's parish, Clinton. Hannah Kenney was born in Ireland in 1837. Their children : I. William, married Mary Howard, of Clinton; died at the age of forty-six years; children-Alice, Min- nie, Elsie. 2. Thomas, died 1901; married Sarah Brooks, of Clinton; their children: Walter, Lizzie, Ruth, resides in Nashua, New llampshire. 3. Mary Ann, born in Clinton, December 2, 1869, married Patrick Carey, of Clinton, laborer; no children. 4. Edward, unmarried. 5. James Richard, see for- ward. 6. John, married Sarah Bond, resides in Clinton; has one daughter Elsie. 7. Rev. Henry, see forward. 8. Gertrude, married William H. Broderick, manager of a grocery store at Milford, Massachusetts.

James Richard Connery, son of Daniel Connery, was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, October 7, 1864. He attended the public schools and Miss Cobb's private school. He began to earn his own living when a boy of eight years, working on the milk cart of C. H. Chace. He continued on the milk route after leaving school. In 1886 he went into business for himself as the owner of a public hack, and for the past twenty years has been the proprietor of the public hacks of his native town. He went into the livery stable business in 1891, buying the business of Judson Salls at High and Water streets. His stable was burnt the following year and he located on Mechanic street, and after four years there located again on High street. In 1902 he moved to his present location. 112 Church street, in the G. B. An- drews stable, in order to get more spacious quarters. He has been prosperous in business. He is a Roman Catholic in religion and a Democrat in politics. He belongs to no fraternal orders.

He married, 1886, Mary A. McDermott, daughter of Patrick McDermott, of Clinton. Their children : 1. Stella, born June 15, 1888, resides in Watertown. 2. William, works for his father. 3. James Eugene, works for his father. 4. Anna, in school. 5. Henry, in school.

Rev. Henry Connery, son of Daniel Connery, was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, January 13, 1872. He attended the public and high schools of his na- tive town and entered the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where he was graduated. From there he went to the Grand Seminary at Montreal, Canada, and after his course there was ordained in 1894. Ile was assigned to the parish at Passaic, New

Jersey, where he was curate for several years. He has been attached to parishes in the west and at Oneonta, New York, as curate, and is at present curate at Watervliet, New York, although he still belongs to the Springfield Diocese. He has had an interest- ing career for a young priest, and his boyhood friends in Clinton are watching him with great . confidence in his future. He is a man of distinct literary ability and tact, and seems well qualified for the multifarious duties of his difficult profession.

ANDREW JACKSON HAMILTON. This well-known resident and prominent business man of Athol is a son of Harrison Hamilton, of Shutesbury, this state, grandson of Samuel and great-grandson of Andrew, who was a son of John Hamilton. The Hamiltons are of Scotch origin and John, just men- tioned, was born at sea while his parents were en route to America from the mother country. John was a grandson of Rev. John Hamilton, D. D., pastor of the Barony Church, Glasgow, and his birth took place on shipboard, May 16, 1716. It is not known where his parents settled after landing in America but their two sons, Thomas and John, located in Pelham, Massachusetts, prior to 1743, in which year Thomas Hamilton was fence-viewer there, and he was constable. in 1744, again held that office in 1758, and was a member of the board of selectmen in 1754. John Hamilton served as assessor in Pelham in 17,43, was appointed the same year "to prosecute ye law about burning wood," and was constable in 1750. Family tradition says that he was married in Worcester to Mary Lockhard, presumably Scotch or of Scotch descent, and his children were: James, Frances, Margaret, Patrick, John, Obadiah, Rebecca, Andrew, Martha and David.

Andrew Hamilton, fifth son of John, married Mary Weeks, of Leicester, this county, and reared two children: Polly and Samuel, Samuel, born February 27, 1778, married Natalia Aldrich, of New Salem, Massachusetts, February 13, 1805. She be- came the mother of seven children, namely : Fanny, Mixter, Nancy, Harriet, Merritt, Harrison and Au- gusta. Samuel Hamilton died October 12, IS55, at the age of seventy-four years.

Harrison Hamilton, Andrew J. Hamilton's father, followed the shoemaker's trade in connection with farming. He subsequently resided in Bernardston, this state, for a few years, but returned to Shutes- bury, where he spent the remainder of his life as an agriculturist. On May 18, 1845, he was married in Shutesbury to Lucy Gilbert, daughter of Reuel Gil- bert, a farmer of Shutesbury. The children of this union are: Andrew J., the date of whose birth will be given presently ; Emma Louise, born May 22, 1848, married Lewis D. Parsons, druggist of North- hampton, where Miss Hamilton taught in the public schools for twenty-five years; Ella Sophia, born June 18, 1850, died July 21, 1851 ; and William G., born September 27, 1855, died in early childhood. A second daughter also named Ella Sophia, born 1854, married Alden D. Reed, a farmer of Prescott. A second son also named William G., born in Bernard- ston, died December 25, 1902. Mrs. Lucy Hamilton, the mother, died in Bernardston.

Andrew Jackson Hamilton was born in Shutes- bury, March 12, 1846. Ilis education was acquired principally at the Powers Institute, Bernardston, Massachusetts, whither his parents removed when he was ten years old, and he attended that well known school for a period of five years, under the preceptor- ship of Professor L. F. Ward, a noted educator of

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his day. His early business training, which was in- augurated in the village grocery store, was continued at what was known as the old brick general store, carried on by R. F. Newcomb, and during the period of the latter s service in the civil war, he was left in charge of the establishment. From Bernardston he went to Holyoke, where he was in the dry-goods business for a year, and a like period was spent in a general store at Hinsdale, New Hampshire, in which the post-office was located. Going to Athol in 1869 he was employed for the succeeding two years as a clerk by S. E. Fay, a druggist and grocer. Accept- ing a clerkship in the insurance office of Hunt Brothers, he continued with them in that capacity until 1878, when in company with J. L. Hunt, he purchased the business, establishing the firm of Hunt and Hamilton. He was associated with Mr. Hunt until 1883, when the partnership was dissolved, and succeeding to the entire ownership of the business he has ever since conducted it with success, representing a number of fire, life and accident insurance com- panies, whose strength and reliability are unques- tionable. In connection with his business he acts as a justice of the peace and notary public, is a legally authorized commissioner for qualifying civil officers, and as one of the trustees of the Athol Savings Bank takes an earnest interest in the welfare of that useful institution.

As a Republican Mr. Hamilton has for many years been actively identified with civic affairs, being at the present time a member of the cemetery com- mission, and he is also a zealous laborer in behalf of the moral and religious welfare of the community, having been one of the organizers of the Young Men's Christian Association of which he is an ex- president, and as treasurer ably amministered its finances for a period of five years; is a member of the Congregational Church and of late has manifested a profound interest in the study of Christian Science with a view of becoming fully conversant with that doctrine as propounded by Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, its apostle. On the organization of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Athol, December 31, 1906, he became a charter member and chairman of the first board of directors. Ile is prominently iden- tified with several social and fraternal organizations. notably the various bodies connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand of Tully Lodge, past high priest of Mount Pleasant Encampment and a member of the Canton of Patriarchs Militant, and Banner Rebekah Lodge; is past dictator of Acme Lodge, Knights of Honor; a leading member of the Poquaig Club and an associate member of Post No. 140, Grand Army of the Re- public. As a writer of both prose and verse he has acquired an enviable reputation and his admirably conceived articles defending the policy of the late President Mckinley and that of his successor, Presi- dent Roosevelt, published in the Springfield Re- publican, of which he is an occasional correspondent, have been perused with much interest by the many readers of that popular newspaper and created con- siderable discussion among intellectual writers of national reputation.

His eloquent and touching tribute, in verse, to President Mckinley, written at the time of the latter's death, and expressing vividly and truthfully the feelings of sorrow universally shared by the American people in the time of a great national calamity, was sincerely appreciated by many well-known people of prominence in political and social life, including the bereaved widow of the martyred chief magistrate, and Secretary John Ilay,

from each of whom he received a written acknowl- edgement, which are highly prized by the author.

In 1867 Mr. Ilamilton was united in marriage at Orange, Massachusetts, with Miss Julia Wilkins. A son, Andrew Foster, born in Athol, October 3, 1877, to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, was named for a Con- gregational clergyman in whose family Mrs. Hamil- ton resided previous to her marriage. Andrew Fos- ter Hamilton is a graduate of Amherst College and the Harvard University Law School. His legal training was still further augumented by much val- uable professional experience and observation ac- quired in the office of Messrs. Thayer and Cobb, prominent lawyers of Worcester. He is now con- ducting a lucrative general law business in Athol, and is regarded as one of the rising young legal practi- tioners of Worcester county.

JULIA (WILKINS) HAMILTON. Julia, daughter of Jacob and Mary Wilkins, and wife of Andrew J. Hamilton, was born at Knighton, Isle of Wight, August 25, 1845, and departed this life at Athol, Massachusetts, July 4, 1906.

In or about 1858 the Wilkins family came to America and located at Westminster, Vermont, where Julia attended the public schools and academy, and at the age of thirteen became a member of the family of Rey. Andrew B. Foster, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church, of which she became a member, and continued with this family in subsequent pastorates until her marriage. Miss Wilkins at an early age gave evidence of decided musical talent, and made use of every available opportunity for improvement, became active in local musical enterprises, and con- stant in devotion to the music of the church, so that Mr. Foster was often congratulated by his clerical brethren on being able to take his choir to each new pastorate.

In 1861, while in Westminster, Miss Wilkins wit- nessed the preparations for the civil war, and saw several of her patriotic friends leave for the front, receiving an inspiration which bore abundant fruit in later years.

On Mr. Foster's removal to a pastorate in Ber- nardston, Massachusetts, Miss Wilkins soon found appreciative friends, and won prominence in church and social circles, actively participating in the work of the Soldiers' Aid Society, and lending her voice to many public occasions. In 1864, while in Bernards- ton, Miss Wilkins became engaged to Andrew J. Hamilton, then a clerk in the "old brick store."

Removing to Mr. Foster's next pastorate at Orange, Miss Wilkins was soon in the midst of church and social activities, and assisted in the pub- lic welcoming home of the veterans from the civil war, which fact has oft been recalled by veterans in recent years.

Being ambitious to work and deft of hand and possessing artistic taste, Miss Wilkins was some time employed in ornamenting sewing machines in the inodest little factory which was the beginning of the great New Home works. Her taste and skill were also sought in millinery lines, and as a saleswoman she also proved a success.

On the 22d day of October, 1867, Andrew J. Ilam- ilton and Julia Wilkins were married by Rev. Mr. Foster, at the Orange Congregational parsonage, and went to Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where Mr. Hamilton was clerking. In April, 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton located in Athol, Massachusetts, with the purpose to make there a permanent home. The fol- lowed nearly ten years of invalidism, during which

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Julia Hamilton.

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Mrs. Hamilton had little participation in social life, and apparently little promise of recovery of health, but, supported by strong spirituality, and manifesting a patience and sweetness that was never outworn, she gradually emerged into a new era of life and social activities to which she brought the added strength and grace that came through the discipline of suf- fering. Resuming church and society work, Mrs. Hamilton sang at times as a contralto in nearly all the Athol churches, and as a member of a mixed quartette, on funeral occasions in many homes, and also participated in many enterprises for religious or philanthropic benefit, giving special encouragement to young misses to cultivate their latent talents.

Mrs. Hamilton was one of the original members of the Ladies' Union of the Congregational Church, and was deeply interested in the work of the Athol Young Mens Christian Association, serving four years as president of its Woman's Auxiliary, which did noble work in sustaining the early life of the struggling association, and she watched with much interest the development of individual cases proving the practical value of its work. She was a charter member of the Athol Woman's Club, and at its first public meeting read an original paper on "The Rela- tion of the Home to the School," which elicited fav- orable comment. She was one of the organizers of the Athol Associated Charities, and actively parti- cipated in the initiatory work of the organization, be- coming its second president, which office she was compelled to resign because of failing health and her unwillingness to receive credit for the work per- formed by others. Mrs. Hamilton was a member of Banner Rebekah Lodge, No. 89, of which she was two years chaplain, and took a lively interest in the welfare of all branches of Oddfellowship in Athol.

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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 77

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