Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 80

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 80

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(IV) Ezekiel Bascom, son of Thomas Bas- com (3), was born at Northampton, November 22, 1700; married March 6, 1728-9, Sarah Severance, who died at Deerfield, September 9, 1729; married second, May 23, 1734, Rebecca Clary. He died at Greenfield (or Deerfield) in 1746, and she married second, October 25, 1750, Nathaniel Brooks, who was carried a captive to Canada by the Indians and died there. She died at Greenfield, April 12, 1776. Children: Son, born and died at Deerfield, Sep- tember 4, 1729. 2. Moses, born at Deerfield, June 8, 1736; mentioned below. 3. Elias, born May 8, 1737, probably at Hatfield; resided at Hatfield, Had- ley, Deerfield and Northfield; clcthier by trade; sol- dier in the French war; removed to Newport, New Hampshire, and finally to Orwell, Vermont, where he died November 29, 183 -; married Eunice Allen, and second Thankful Graves. 4. Rebecca, born about 1739; married Captain Caleb Chapin, of Bernardston, soldier in revolution. 5. Ezekiel, born in 1742; married, January 3, 1765, Anna Brown; settled in Greenfield.

(V) Moses Bascom, son of Ezekiel Bascom (4), was born at Deerfield, Massachusetts, June 8, 1736; married September 22, 1760, Eunice Sever- ance at Deerfield. She died at Greenfield, July 21, '1802, and he married (published January 7, 1805) Experience Howland, widow. He was for many years deacon of the Greenfield Church, and died much honored and esteemed, September 19, 1805. His widow married, February 3, 1808, Captain Seth Lyman, of Northfield. Children, all born at Green- field: 1. Moses, born May 15, 1761; mentioned below. 2. Eunice, born February 5, 1763, married Epaphroditus Loveland. 3. Son, born and died May 22, 1764. 4. Rebecca, born April 20, 1765; married March 10, 1783, Joseph Nash, born May 28, 1763, son of Daniel Nash; she died at Sylvania, Ohio, July 30, 1845; he died at Batavia, New York, Oc- tober 30, 1835. 5. Mary, born April 24, 1766; mar- ried May 15, 1787, Oliver Atherton, and settled in Middlesex, Vermont. 6. Martha, born December II, 1768; married, July 5, 1786, Joseph Phillips; she died February. 1848. 7. Chloe, born July IS, 1770 ; married April 9, 1789, Jonathan Allen, born April 20, 1766, of New Haven. 8. Mercy, born Febru- ary 17, 1774; married November 6, 1794, Israel Phillips of Ward (now Auburn). 9. Experience, born February 5, 1776; married March 13, 1800, Eldad Hosmer, of Gill, who died March 1, 1847; she died October 12, 1829. 10. Ezekiel Lysander, born August 20, 1777; graduate of Dartmouth Col- lege in 1786, Unitarian minister at Gerry (now Phil- lipston), Massachusetts; at Charleston, South Caro -- lina: Savannah, Georgia, and finally at Ashby. Mas- sachusetts; married 1880, Priscilla Elvira Foster ; second Sally Holman, of Templeton. Nine other children, died young.

(VI) Moses Bascom, son of Moses Bascom (5), was born at Greenfield, May 15, 1761 ; married Janu- ary. 1782, Anna Sheldon, of Bernardston, and they settled early in Gill, Massachusetts. He was a major in the militia, and at the time of his death was representative to the general court from his dis- trict. He died in Boston, March 8, 1814, of typhus fever. His widow died at Gill, May 3, 1839. Their children : 1. Emerancy Climene, born at Greenfield, November 24. 1782: married (published January

21, 1805) Jonathan Willard, of Washington, Ohio. 2. Dorus (Athenodorus), born at Greenfield, Sep- tember 15, 1784; married February 27, 1808, Esther Newton, who died May 19, 1855; resided at Gill. 3. Almeda Harriet, born at Greenfield, August 24, 1786, unmarried. 4. Sophia, born at Greenfield, August 10, 1788; married March 4, 1809, Elijah Ballard. 5. Betsey, born at Gill, January 30, 1791; married May 27, 1817, Jonathan Allen, of New Haven, Connecticut. 6. Henry, born at Gill, Decem- ber 12, 1793; married May 27, 1817, Rhoda Munn, of Gill, who died July 8, 1836; a farmer at Gill. 7. Mary Amelia, born at Gill, December 19, 1795; mar- ried September 28, 1823, Dr. Jolin Brooks, of Bern- ardston, who was born January 12, 1783, and died September 9, 1866; she died March 9. 1862. 8. John Adams, born at Gill, November 12, 1798; mar- ried and lived in Floyd, Oneida county, New York and died November 10, 1838. 9. Elias Sheldon, born at Gill, September 18, 1800; married May 25, 1827, Chloe Newton, who died September 17, 1838, aged thirty-six; he married second, November 21, 1839, Minerva Farnsworth; resided at Greenfield. 10. George Washington, born January 20, 1803; mentioned below. 12. Charles Lysander, born at Gill, November 22, 1806; a hatter by trade; removed early to Canada.

(VII) George Washington Bascom, son of Moses Bascom (6), was born at Gill, January 21, 1803; married March 3, 1831, Harriet Dryden, who was born at Holden, Massachusetts, April 28, 1803. daughter of Artemas and Susanna ( Perry) Dryden ; granddaughter of Thomas and Lydia Dryden. Arte- mas Dryden was born February 4, 1757; married April 5. 1781, Susannah, daughter of John, Jr., and Tabitha Perry. They resided in Holden, where he followed farming. Children : 1. George, born at Holden, May 24, 1832; served in the civil war as captain of Company B, Fifty-first Regiment Massa- chusetts Volunteers. 2. Artemas Dryden, born at Holden, August 20, 1834; mentioned below. 3. Har- riet, born at Holden, June 18, 1836; died April 29, 1838.

(VIII) Artemas Dryden Bascom, son of George Washington Bascom (7), was born in Holden, An- gust 20, 1834. He was brought up on his father's farm and attended the district schools of his native town. He learned the trade of blacksmith and after following it for some years in Worcester and other places in the vicinity as apprentice and jour- neyman, he established himself in business in his native town, where he carried on business for about forty years. He retired in 1904, and is at present living in Holden. Mr. Bascom is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Holden. He has served the town several years on the board of selectmen. In politics he has been a Republican. He was a sol- dier in the Union army, enlisting early in the war in the Third Battalion Rifles. He and his family attend the Holden Congregational Church. He married, November 24, 1863, Emerette Frances Davis, daughter of Joseph and Emily ( Clemans) Davis, of Holden. Her mother was of a well known Dudley family. Her father was a wool sorter by trade. Their children: I. Harry Chester, born De- cember 21, 1864: mentioned below. 2. Carrie Emily, born June 3, 1868, at Holden ; educated at the public and high schools of Holden and at Dean Academy, making a specialty of French and German and studying abroad for a year in France and Germany ; teacher in the Demill Ladies' College of Ontario,

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and in high schools in Turners Falls and Winchen- don, Massachusetts. 3. Mary Clemans, born June 15, 1873 ; attended the public schools, Dean Academy and the State Normal School ot Worcester ; teacher in the public schools of Everett, Webster and New- ton, Massachusetts. 4. Marian Alice, born July 22, 1879; educated in the public and high schools of Holden; graduated from Wellesley College in 1901 with the degree of A. B .; teacher in the Holden high school.

(1X) Harry Chester Bascom, son of Artemas Dryden Bascom (8), was born at Holden, Massa- chusetts, December 21, 1864. He spent his youth in his native town attending school and working in his father's blacksmith shop when not occupied with his studies, He graduated at the Holden high school in 1884, and studied a year at Dean Academy, Franklin, Massachusetts. He entered Tufts' College and was prominent in athletics. He was a member of the Theta Delta Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1889 with the degree of Ph. B. Studying law at the Boston University Law School he was graduated in 1802 and admitted to the bar the same year. He was clerk for a year in the law offices of J. T. & R. E. Joslin, of Iludson, Massachusetts, and in 1893 opened an office in Leominster, Massachusetts, where he has practiced ever since. During the past few years he has also had a branch office at 450 State Mutual Building Worcester. Since 1895 Mr. Bas- com has held the office of trial justice for the town of Leominster, having similar jurisdiction as a mag- istrate to that of police and district courts in both civil and criminal cases. As a magistrate Mr. Bas- com has a reputation for legal ability, fairness and common sense. He continues the practice of law in addition to his duties as a magistrate, and stands well among the attorneys of Worcester county. He is a member of Wilder Lodge of Free Masons of Leominster ; of Thomas Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; of Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar. of Fitchburg; of Leominster Lodge No. 86. Odd Fellows; and he has been treasurer of the Golden Cross Lodge of the New England Order of Pro- tection in Leominster since 1894. He belongs to the Leominster Club and to the Tufts College Alumni Association. In politics he is an active Republican, having served frequently as delegate to nominating conventions of his party and since 1901 he has been a member of the Leominster school committee. He and his wife attend the First Congregational Church ( Unitarian ) and are members of the society. Mr. Bascom resides at 98 Orchard street, Leominster. Ile is fond of athletic sports, and spends his leisure in active out-door recreation.

He married, January 30, 1900, Edith Agnes Rice, daughter of John 11. and Elizabeth A. ( Morse ) Rice of Leominster, a graduate of the Leominster high school. Their children, born at Leominster : I. James Rawson, born August 18, 1901. 2. Law- rence Rice, born February 28, 1903. 3. Frances Elizabeth, born July 18, 1905.

HEATHI FAMILY. William Heath (1) em- barked in London, England, in ship "Lion," arrived in Boston, Massachusetts. September 16, 1023, and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Ile was accom- panied by his wife Mary and five children, one of whom may have been Mary Spear, daughter of his second wife by former husband. William Ileath took the oath of allegiance, was made freeman, March 4, 1632-33. and was representative at first assembly of deputies, May 14. 1634-37-39 t 1043.

and in 1045 for Dover. He died in Roxbury, May 29, 1652, "an able, godly and faithful brother." He made his will the day before he died. His widow died December 15, 1659. Their children were: 1. Isaac, confirmed in Roxbury Church, November 23, 1651. 2. Mary. 3. Peleg, see forward. 4. Hannah, 5. Mary, probably Mary Spear, as above referred to. (11) Peleg Heath, son of William Heath (1), was born in England, came with his parents to this country, September 16, 1023, and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was confirmed in Roxbury Church, March 23, 1652. "Peleg Heath . had a dangerous cutt on his knee and lay under ye chirurgion's hand 13 weeks." He died and was buried November 18, 1671. He married Susannah, daughter of Dorothy, wife of John King ( probably by former husband). Their children:' 1. Susan- nah, baptized December 5, 1652. 2. Hannah, bap- tized December 23, 1654. 3. Abigail, born October 10, 1658. 4. Joseph, born December 23, 1660, died young. 5. Mehitable, born February 7, 1662. 6. William, born January 30, 1664. 7. Joseph, born September 6, 1666, died aged eight years. 8. Peleg. born September 16, 1668. 9. Dorothy, born Decem- ber 18. 1670, died young.

(11) William Heath, son of Peleg (2) and Susannah Heath, was born in Roxbury, Massachu- setts, on the original Heath homestead, January 30, 1664, baptized March 6, 1664. He married (first), November 11, 1685, Hannah Weld, daughter of John Weld. Married ( second ) Hannah Ruggles. He lived in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he died February 3, 1738. His children were: 1. William, born September 25, 1686, married Prudence Bridges,

. had a large family. 2. Hannah, born in 1688, mar- ried Captain Gyles. 3. Joseph, born in 1690, married Christine Bridges, had a large family. 4. Susannah, born in 1693, married Isaac Gardner. 5. Margaret, born in 1694, married Ebenezer Seaver. 6. Peleg, born in 1697. 7. Peleg, born in 1700. 8. Samuel, born December 27, 1701. 9. Anna, born in 1706, mar- ried Jonathan Seaver. 10. Abigail, died young.

(1\ ) Samuel Heath, son of William (3), and Ilannah (Weld) Heath, was born in Roxbury, Mas- sachusetts, December 27. 1701, died September 13. 1763. He married Elizabeth Payen, born December, 1700, died in 1763. They lived in Roxbury on the old homestead. Their children: 1. William, born May 2, 1730, died June 24, 1814. He was a major- general in the revolution, and was the last major- general to die. 2. Samuel, born in 1739. 3. Peleg, born in 1741, married Patience Curtis, had a large family. 4. Joseph, born in 1743, married Mary Newell. 5. Anna, died in 1799.

(V) Samuel Heath, son of Samuel (4) and Elizabeth ( Payson) Heath, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, 1739, died in 1817. He was an early settler of Bridgewater, New Hampshire. He mar- ried, in 1707, Mary Draper. She was probably his second wife, and was probably a sister of Jacob Draper, an early settler of Bristol, coming from Rox- bury, Massachusetts. Their children: 1. Stephen, married, November 28, 1799, Anna Peaslec. He sold his farm to his brother Samuel. 2. Samuel, born in .1754, had a large family. 3. Philip. 4. Joshua, born in 1760, lived in Bristol, New Hampshire. 5. Daniel, born in 1762, married and had a large family. 6. John, born in Plymouth, New Hampshire. April 15, 1771, settled at Barnston. Province of Quebec, mar- ried and had ten children.

(VI) Philip Heath, son of Samuel Heath (5), was born in Bridgewater, New Hampshire. He re-

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sided in Canaan and Hebron, New Hampshire, and later removed to Barnston, Province of Quebec, where he died. He married Joanna Ingalls, daughter of Ebenezer Ingalls, Sr. Their children: I. Betsey, born in Hebron or Canaan, New Hampshire, July 4. 1794, married Kimball Corlis, 2. Lucinda, married Winthrop Drew. 3. Sally, married John Corlis. 4. Gilman. 5. Joshua, born March 7, 1814, married Huldah Webber, of Maine, had four children; they lived in Concord, New Hampshire. 6. Rufus, born, married, lived and died in Barnston, Province of Quebec. 7. Mary Ann, married Samuel Hill, resided in Barnston, Province of Quebec, 8. Olive, married Thomas Cilley, lived in Barnston, Province of Quebec.

(VII Gilman Heath, son of Philip (6) and Jo- anna ( Ingalls) Heath, was born in Hebron or Canaan, New Hampshire, July 4, 1794. Married Lydia Lovering. Their children: Jane, Ruth, Jo- seph, Lydia, Sarah, Phillip, Clarinda, Betsey, Mary, Phileann, Gilman.

(VIII) Joseph Heath, son of Gilman (7) and . Lydia (Lovering) Heath, was born in Stanstead, Province of Quebec. His children were: Elizabeth, Frank M., Charles, George H., born in Stanstead, Province of Quebec ; Phillip.

(1X) Frank Melville Heath, son of Joseph Heath (8), was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, September 8, 1852. When a lad of twelve years he left home to seek a living for himself and began to earn his own board and schooling in Manchester. New Hampshire. He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years old, when he was ap- prenticed to a painter to learn his trade. He con- tinued his education, attending an evening school and paying his own tuition. Wishing then to act and trade for himself he purchased his time of his father, a necessary transaction under the law, and became his own master. After working in the painting busi- ness three years he was made foreman of the shop in which he was employed, and when he was twenty- four years old was given full charge of the business.

Mr. Heath came to Worcester in 1880 and a year later bought the painting business of Salem Pratt and continued it until 1892, when he opened a paint and oil store at 40 Southbridge street. His son, Melville F. Heath, was associated with him in this business and the firm name is F. M. Heath & Co. The junior partner shares his father's business ability and popularity and the firm has prospered constantly. Mr. Heath has also been largely occupied in recent years with the affairs of the Ridgley Protec- tive Association, an insurance society of Odd Fellows, and the Masonic Protective Association, the member- ship of which is exclusively of Free Masons. He was one of the organizers and directors of both these associations, which have been very success- ful along the lines planned for them. The executive ability of Mr. Heath is responsible in large measure for the growth and prosperity of these two organi- zations.

Mr. Heath is past master of Montacute Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; past high priest of Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Worces- ter ; member of the Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar, and of the Massachusetts Con- sistory and other Masonic bodies. He is an active member of Ridgely Lodge and Mt. Vernon Encamp- ment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Worces- ter. He is a member of the Worcester Charity and Educational Association. He is a member of Beth- any Congregational Church, Worcester, Mr. Heath

is a Republican and has taken a leading position in public affairs in Worcester. He was elected to the common council from ward six in 1806 and re- elected in 1898. While in the council he was an energetic and efficient worker, a faithful representa- tive of his constituents. He was a member of the committees on finance, claims, street lighting and enrollment. He was a member of the legislature in 1901 representing ward six as then constituted. Ile served with conspicuous ability in that position, making friends readily and exerting a strong but quiet influence. He was on the committee on rail- roads. He was re-elected without opposition for two more terms, and the following year was pro- moted to the state senate. He became a leading fig- ure in the senate on account of his strength among the legislators and his ability as an organizer and harmonizer. Few men in recent years have had a larger personal following and more political friends than Senator Heath.

AIr. Heath married, 1870, Sarah L. Holt, of Manchester, New Hampshire. They have three sons : I. Volney L., born in Manchester, New Hampshire, December 30, 1872, in partnership with his father in the firm of F. M. Heath & Co. 2. Austin A., born in Manchester, New Hampshire, August 26, 1874, city auditor. 3. Melville F., born in Bedford, New Hampshire, January 5, 1877, asso- ciated with his father and brother in the firm of F. M. Heath & Co .; manager of the business.

BUSHONG. The Bushong family is according to tradition, of French origin. The first American ancestor settled probably in Pennsylvania and was, it is said, a captain in the revolutionary war. We find him among the pioneers after the revolution at the settlement of Chillicothe, Ohio. The first set- tlers went there in 1796, and before IS01 he had made his home there. Hall's "History of Ohio" states the Beshongs (as he spelled the name) with various other families were located in 1801 along the west side of the Scioto river from Chillicothe to its mouth (page 494). Among his neighbors were Joseph . Kerr, Hugh Cochran, the Kirkpatricks, Chandlers, and others evidently from the Scotch-Irish settle- ments of Pennsylvania. Chillicothe was settled largely by men from Bourbon and Mason counties, Kentucky, who came earlier from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Chillicothe was first explored in 1795, and was laid out in 1796 by Colonel Nathaniel Massie. In 1812 it was a rendezvous for American troops. It is in Ross county, organized August 20, 1798, and named for Hon. James Ross, of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The name is probably spelled Buchon in France. The surname Buchan is Scotch. But for the pronunciation, indicated by the spelling used for more than a century, it might be thought that Bushong came to Pennsylvania with the Scotch Presbyterians from the Ulster Province, Ireland, where most of his neighbors in Ohio, or their fathers, formerly lived. The Buchan family belongs in Aberdeenshire and Banffshire, Scotland. In 1685 Colonel Buchan was a prominent officer in the Brit- ish army in Scotland.

(II) George Washington Busheng, son of Cap- tain Bushong (r), was born in 1786, doubtless in Pennsylvania, and died at Columbus Grove, Ohio, November, 1880, aged ninety-four years. lle went to Chillicothe, Ohio, with his father and the family about 1796. He settled in Putnam county, Ohio, and was a farmer there all his life. He was active in the pioneer work of establishing schools and

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churches. Hle married Lydia Rush, of German an- cestry, probably coming to Chillicothe with her par- ents when very young from Pennsylvania. Chil- dren, born in Putnam county, Ohio: I. Jane, born about 1808. 2. Rev. Jackson, born about 1810, min- ister of the Christian Church. 3. Sarah, born 1812. 4. Anna, born about 1814. 5. Lewis, born about 1816. 6. James, born April 15. 1818; mentioned be- low. 7. Rev. John, born 1820, died February, 1901 ; farmer and minister of the Christian Church; chil- dren : i. Lewis H. ii. Mary M. iii. Joseph T. iv. Jasper H .. now of Columbus Grove, Ohio. v. Isaac N. 8. Andrew, born 1824. 9. George, born about 1826; died in California, whither he went during the gold fever of 1849; soldier in the civil war. 10. Jefferson, born about 1828. 11. Maria, born about 1830.

(III) James Bushong, son of George Washing- ton Bushong (2), was born in Putnam county, Ohio, April 15, 1818, died in Columbus Grove, August 23, 1895. He was a farmer. In politics he was a Re- publican, and active in town and county affairs; was justice of the peace, trustee of the public schools and county commissioner. In religion he belonged to the sect called the Christians, the Church of Christ, a strong denomination throughout that sec- tion. and all of his father's family were members of this church. He married Drusilla D. Stout, daughter of John and Mary ( Elsworth) Stout. Her father was a millwright and a skillful mechanic in many trades, descendant of a well known Pennsylvania family. She was born April 28, 1822, and died at Columbus Grove, July 10, 1893. Children : 1. Jef- ferson, born June 28, 1840. 2. John Stout, born 1842, mentioned below. 3. Joseph Hill, born June 23. 1844. 4. Hiram K., born February 9. 1848. 5. Eliza Jane, born October 13, 1849. 6. Mary Ann, born August 16, 1852, married Joel Boaz, resides in Columbus Grove. 7. Emma D., born August 10. 1856. 8. James Wilson, born October 23, 1860. 9. Ilannibal F., born October 10, 1862.

(IV) John Stout Bushong, son of James Bush- ong (3), was born at Columbus Grove, Putnam county. Ohio. He was educated in the public schools and taught school several winters. He was a gen- eral merchant for some years and an itinerant trades- man, selling books, medicine, etc. About 1876 he removed from his native place in Ohio and located at Celina, Texas, where he had a ranch and raised blooded horses and cattle. At present he has a ranch at Postales, New Mexico. He also has a nursery and makes a specialty of fruit trees. He is a Republican in politics, and was formerly post- master at Lockney, Texas. Ile has been deacon and elder of the Christian Church, and now attends the services of this church at Postales, New Mexico. lle married (first), in Columbus Grove. Ohio, May 29, 1862, Mariah C. Roberts, who died May 12. 1863. They were the parents of twins-Joseph Allen and Sarah-born February 18, 1863; Joseph Allen died October 8. 1863; Sarah died February 18, 1863. Ile married (second), March 24, 1864, Sa- mantha Vialetta Rice, daughter of James Rice (see Rice sketch herewith ). She died as the result of a runaway acident at Lockney, Texas, in 1894. Chil- dren: 1. James William Sherman, born near Colum- bus Grove, October 26, 1865. died October 20, 1867. 2. John Chester, born near Columbus Grove, Sep- tember 12, 1868, mentioned below. 3. Elizabeth Elnora, born May 27, 1871, married (first) Pres- ton Click, July 4, 1886: he died January 9, 1892; she married (second) Edward D). Reeves, January

30, 1897: resides at Colora City, Texas. Children : Mary Pileta, born July 2, 1887; Josephine Eliza- beth, born March 8, 1889; Chester Dumas, born May 8, 1891, died August 11, 1892; Carrie Ann May Reeves, born April 28, 1902; Flo Marguerite Reeves, born October 17, 1906, died November 19, 1906. 4. Emma Delia, born July 15, 1873, died March 8, ISSI. 5. Charles Wilson, born in Collin county, Texas, October 17, 1878, died January 29, 1879. 6. Lewis Herbert, born June 4, 1881, at Celina, Collin county, Texas, resides with her father at Postales, New Mexico. 7. Viletta Bertha Ann, born at Celina, November 17, 1883. married, 1903, Elmer Baker; re- sides at Postales, New Mexico. He married (third) at Postales, New Mexico, April 17, 1904, Mary I. Levitt,

(\) John Chester Bushong. son of John Stout Bushong (4), was born near Columbus Grove, Ohio, September 12, 1868. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native place. While · a school boy he began to give iindications of his artistic ability by drawing crayon portraits of his teacher and school-mates, and he has vivid reeol- lections of the painful results of some of his un- flattering caricatures. He went to Texas with his father and the family when he was about ten years old. For a short time they were at Mckinney, Collin county, Texas, but settled at length on a school claim at Celina in the same county. Here the boy's education was continued and his skill in crayon portraits developed. In a few years he was doing considerable business in portraits, for which he charged ten dollars each. At the same time he de- veloped an unusual mechanical gift, doubtless an inheritance from his ancestors who excelled in me- chanical skill. When a mere boy, Mr. Bushong constructed a complete and efficient steam engine from his own plans, using a kerosene can for a boiler, a brass cartridge for a cylinder, having only his jackknife and common household tools. He de- vised a wind mill that operated the churn for his mother and a saw by which he put upon the family horse the labor his father had assigned to him. This saw was an ingenious affair made of an old reaping machine. He was able to saw the winter supply of wood in one day, with his horse power saw, as much as he could have sawed after school hours by hand during the entire winter. He made an excellent violin during his boyhood, and was fond of music as well as art. Having his full share of youthful health and strength he learned to ride horses and became one of the best riders of his age in the township, riding some of the most notorious bucking bronchos and never having been thrown. At a later period of his youth he became the champion bicycle rider of the vicinity.

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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 80

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