Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 9

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 9

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Within five years from the time lie went to the Hampton Academy he was elected associate princi- pal and the head of the English department of the public grammer school of the city of Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was here for twelve years, and his reputation as a progressive and successful teach- er and writer became widely extended. He wrote extensively on educational topics, and lectured when the platform was an important means of public edu- cation. His address on "Co-operation of the Parent and Teacher" was declared by Horace Mann to be the ablest and most important educational paper that had yet appeared in America. It was widely cir- culated and made a strong impression in Massachu- setts. His success as lecturer on educational sub- jects cannot be easily over-estimated. He spoke often, and he was a gifted speaker. He had a mes- sage and knew how to deliver it. The very year before his death he spoke in eleven counties, de- livering as many as forty-seven lectures or ad- dresses in thirty days before a thousand or more teachers.

The State Normal School of New York, the first in that state, was established chiefly through the efforts of Governor DeWitt Clinton, and to Mr.

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Page was given the task of making the school, for which no model existed. As principal he had to demonstrate that the school was useful and neces- sary. He accepted the position knowing its difficul- ties. On his way to Albany he visited Horace Mann at Boston. The advice of the great educator linger- ed ever in the mind of the principal: "Succeed or Die." The school was opened December II, 1844, before the building. was finished, with thirteen men and sixteen women students. Ile felt his way at first, beginning with review classes in rudimentary subjects, adding algebra and physiology. There were ninety-eight students enrolled before the end of the first term, and in May, 1845, the school had 175 students. He organized the model school in charge of an expert teacher who guided the efforts of the students who learned to teach under the eye of a competent critic. The normal school was attacked, but its growth soon demonstrated its usefulness and success. But in his third year as principal of the school his health failed, and he died at the very be- ginning of his career, January 1, 1848, at Albany. The funeral discourse by Rev. E. A. Huntington, D. D., pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Al- bany, January 9, 1848, was published. "Ile toiled up through a long and difficult way to an eminence which, in your sober and rational judgment, but here and there another overshadows. Alas, that he was only permitted, like Moses, to catch a glimpse of the land he was so eminently qualified to subdue and cultivate and enjoy. But we may not give way to tears, since like Moses, too, his eye rested upon a brighter scene upon which he was ready and waiting to enter. * *

* He was just what a teacher should be, a model for youth. He had a true thirst for knowledge, and the ability to a very uncommon degree to · excite it for his pupils. In addition to this, the even balance of his various powers gave him a taste for the details of business. His insight into human nature has already been noticed. This was perhaps his highest endowment. We do not claim for him a finished classical or scientific educa- tion. But his attainments were various and accurate and important beyond those of many a philosopher. * * * At all events, in self-knowledge and self- discipline, the ultimate end of study, he was not sur- passed, and hence the certainty of his success in any enterprise which he would venture to undertake.

* * * So completely did he fill his place at the head of the school that he was felt by the executive committee, the faculty, students and people through- out the state, to be almost essential to its prosperity, if not to its existence. All the friends of the insti- tution and all the recipients of its benefits were bound up in him. It was characteristic of the man that he so identified himself with his station, what- ever it might be, that he seemed the life and soul of it."

His only book, "The Theory and Practice of Teaching," is the patriarch, as it was the pioneer, of pedagogical literature in the United States. Sin- gular as the fact may seem, we are told by his bio- grapher in the 1886 edition of the book, that none of the later books on the same and kindred topics has displaced it in any perceptible degree. It was never so widely read as at present. The first edition was in 1847. The second in 1886 was edited by William H. Payne, professor of the Science and Art of Teaching in Michigan University. Another work of Mr. Page, and one which showed the analytical char- acter of his mind, was his "Normal Chart," which

presented graphically the powers of the English let- ters and was formerly in general use in teaching the principles of orthography. A third edition of the works of Mr. Page was edited by J. M. Greenwood, superintendent of the Kansas City Schools, in 1896, containing a new life with portrait. In addition to the "Theory and Practice of Teaching," this edition contains the address on "The Mutual Duties of Par- ents and Teachers, and The Schoolmaster-a Dia- logue." He married, December 16, 1835, Susan M. Lunt, of Newburyport, (see Lunt family), born June 5, 1811, died February 5, 1878. Their children : I. David Perkins, Jr., see forward. 2. Susan M., born July 15, 1838, married John James Currier, shipbuilder and author, of Newburyport. 3. Mary Lunt, born September 22, 1842, died January 13, 1879. 4. IIenry Titcomb, inentioned below.

(VIII) David Perkins Page, Jr., son of David Perkins Page (7), born August 13, 1836; married Emily Caroline, daughter of Rufus Wills, of New- buryport, December 5, 1867. Their children: I. David Perkins, Jr., born August 12, 1870. 2. Rufus Wills, July, 1872.

(VIII) Henry Titcomb Page, son of David Per- kins Page (7), born in Albany, New York, January 30, 1846, when two years old moved with his mother to the old home at Newburyport. He attended the Newburyport public schools, and the Putnam school, now the high school of Newburyport. For a time he was a student at the Old Thetford ( Vermont) Academy. He came of a seafaring people. His ancestors built ships, and it was natural enough that he and his brothers should follow the sea for a time. He shipped before the mast for two years. In the meantime the civil war broke out, and in returning from a voyage to the East Indies his vessel had to run the gauntlet of Confederate warships and priva- teers. He resolved to "do some chasing instead of being chased," and enlisted in the navy. He was ap- pointed acting master's mate November 23, 1863; promoted to acting ensign September 4, 1864; served in the "Florida," "Peterhoff," and "Mohican," of the North Atlantic squadron; was in an engagement at Fort Fisher, North Carolina, in the sloop of war "Mohican," December 25, 1864, and January 13-15, 1865; was discharged June 3, 1865, as acting ensign, at the end of the war.

After the war he removed to Fitchburg to work for George W. Wheelwright, the founder of the present corporation which bears his name. Mr. Wheelwright shares with the Burbanks, Crockers; and Wallaces, the distinction of developing the pa- per making interests of Leominster and Fitchburg. The paper mill in Leominster had been in existence about sixty years when, just before the civil war, he bought the mill at North Leominster. He greatly enlarged and improved it, and the business has grown constantly, and the plant has been from time to time enlarged to produce more paper. Mr. Wheelwright built the Fitchburg mill on Fourth street, on the river, in 1864. In the following year Mr. Page became connected with the business. For some years the Fitchburg plant was known as the Rollstone Mill, and operated by Mr. Wheelwright and his son George W. Wheelwright, Jr., who is now the head of the concern. The firm name at that time was George W. Wheelwright & Son. The present company was incorporated in 1880, at the time of the death of the founder. Mr. Page was vice-president and superintendent, a position he still occupies. The business of the company has in-

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creased many fold in the past twenty-five years, and the facilities correspondingly developed. In later years Mr. Wheelwright's sons have become active in the company. The present officers of the corpora- tion are: President, George W. Wheelwright; treas- urer, George W. Wheelwright, Jr .; vice-president, Henry T. Page; assistant treasurer, Harry Wlieel- wright. The capital stock is $300,000; it is a Mass- achusetts corporation. One of the mills produces book paper; the other lithographi paper and bristol board of all weights and colors. No pulp paper is manufactured by this company, and little, if any, in Fitchburg or Leominster. The company employs three hundred hands, and has an annual product of paper valued at a million dollars. In twenty-five years the capacity of the plants has been increased from four tons to fifty tons a day. Mr. Page has charge of the manufacturing end of the business, and resides on Summer street, Fitchburg, in an attractive colonial house copied from some of the old Essex county mansions of two centuries ago.

Mr. Page is a Republican in politics, a member of the Loyal Legion, a director of the Rollstone Na- tional Bank, trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank. director of the Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company. He is a member and lias for some years been a vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church of Fitchburg. He married, June 23, 1869, Margaret A. Brewster, daughter of William H. Brewster, of Newburyport. They have one child, William Brew- ster, born in Fitchburg, June 8, 1870, graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1893; now superintendent of the North Leominster mill of the George W. Wheelwright Paper Company. He married Mary H. Huse, of Newburyport. Another son of Henry T. and Margaret A. Page, James Cur- rier Page, born June 9, 1872, died March 17, 1876.

GEORGE H. CUTLER. John Cutler (1), the emigrant ancestor of George H. Cutler, of Fitch- burg, Massachusetts, was according to Rev. Abner Morse, originally of Sprowston, now Sprauston, two miles north of Norwich, and eight miles south of Hingham, in England. It is in Norfolk county. Mrs. Morse's authority was Daniel Cushman's manu- script records of settlers in Norfolk county. John Cutler was related to the other pioneers of the name apparently, but the English line has not been traced to the knowledge of the writer. John Cutler em- barked on the ship "Rose of Yarmouth," William Andrews, Jr., master, which sailed April 18, 1637, and he immediately settled with his neighbors from England in Hingham, Massachusetts. Land was as- signed to him, June 10, 1637. He then had with him his wife Mary and seven children, and one servant. His home lot of five acres was south of the town street. He had also two planting lots of six or seven acres, bounded on one side by the World's End, and twenty acres on the plain for "a great Lot." He had other grants as well. But he died in 1637- 38, leaving his widow and seven small children in straits. It is presumed that the children were taken by Robert Cutler, of Charlestown, Massachu- setts, who must have been a relative. The widow married (second), Thomas Hewett, of Hingman, whose first wife died May 22, 1640. Hewett died May 24, 1670. Children of John and Mary Cutler were: Henry, died before 1670; John, born 1625, in England; Samuel, see forward; Nathaniel, born 1630, died 1724, aged ninety-four years; Thomas, born 1633-35, died December 7, 1683; Hannah, mar-

ried, November 6, 1654, Onesiferous Marsh, who was born in England, 1630, and resided in Hingham and Haverhill, Massachusetts, where their house is still habitable; she died March 17, 1686.

(II) Samuel Cutler, third child of John Cutler (I), was born in England, in 1629. He was in Marblehead in 1654, and in Salem in 1655. He lived in Topsfield and Hingham in 1671, and was in Gloucester in 1693. He married, while a resident of Salem, his second wife, July 7, 1698, Sarah Church. As heir and attorneys for her brothers and sisters, he united with her mother, Mary Hewett, in the sale of his father's estate at Hingham, in 1671. He was often called upon as appraiser and administra- tor of estates. His children, all born in Salem, were: Hannah, born December 6, 1655, married John Put- namı; Abigail, November 7, 1656, died August 25, 1660; Sarah, October 23, 1058; Samuel, born 1661, died at Salem, 1733; Ebenezer, born 1664, died about 1729.

(III) Ebenezer Cutler, youngest child of Sam- uel Cutler (2), was born in Salem, Massachusetts, 1664. He married, March 11, 1689, Mary Marsh, daughter of Zachary and Mary Marsh, sister of Zach- ary Marsh, Jr., who settled Killingly, Connecticut (born December 8, 1666). Ebenezer Cutler died 1729 at Salem, intestate. His widow Mary died there 1734, and the family left town that year. The children of Ebenezer and Mary (Marsh) Cutler were : Mary, born March 19, 1691, married

Sibley, of Sutton, Massachusetts, who died 1734; Elizabeth, June 26, 1693, married Samuel Chamber- lain, of Killingly, Connecticut; Ebenezer, see for- ward; Zachariah, February 5, 1698, died July 18, 1784, a fisherman ; Ezekiel, November 4, 1700, died about 1756; Amos, October 4, 1703, resided at Salem.

(IV) Ebenezer Cutler, third child of Ebenezer Cutler (3), was born in Salem, Massachusetts, Octo- ber I, 1695. He married (by Rev. David Hall) Mary Stockwell, daughter of William Stockwell, October 16, 1732. He inherited the farm at Sutton, Mass- achusetts, purchased by his father from his father-in- law, William Stockwell, on which he settled before 1728. It is said that three of his sons resided at one time in separate houses built on the old home- stead. His will, proved April 3, 1779, mentions only his wife Mary. He probably deeded away his farm to his sons. The children of Ebenezer and Mary (Stockwell) Cutler were: Mary, baptized at Sutton, April 7, 1734, married Jeremiah Stockwell ; Jonathan, see forward; Amos, born 1738, died March 6, 1823, aged eighty-five years: Sarah, baptized April 17, 1743, married Jonathan Jacobs, May 2, 1759; Stephen, baptized June 23, 1751, died at Montpelier, Vermont ; Ebenezer; Zaccheus.

(V) Jonathan Cutler, second child of Ebenezer Cutler (4), was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, and baptized there October 3, 1737. He married Eliza- beth Holman, daughter of Stephen Holman, of Sut- ton, October 20, 1767, and settled in Royalston, Mass- achusetts, two miles north of the village centre. He died there August, 1826. Elizabeth died January, 1817. He and liis eldest son, Ebenezer Cutler, were both soldiers in the revolutionary war. The children of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Holman) Cutler were: Mary, born December 28, 1758, in Sutton, married Nathan Thompson, and settled in western New York; Ebenezer, September 9, 1760, in Sutton, revol- utionary soldier, died in Huntington, Vermont, 1843; Elizabeth, October 26, 1762, in Sutton, married Isaac Gale, of Royalston, and had seven children; she

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died in Royalston; Jonathan, October 6, 1764, at Sutton, died July 9, 1842; Sarah, April 25, 1768, in Royalston, married Judah Stockwell, of Royalston, and had nine children; Hannah (twin of the preced- ing), April 25, 1768, died May 12, following; Tar- rant, see forward; Hannah, February II, 1774, died August 6, 1778; Mehitable, July 1, 1776, in Royals- ton, married Moses Nichols, of Royalston, and had six children.

(VI) Tarrant Cutler, seventh child of Jonathan Cutler (5), was born in Royalston, September 10, 1771. He settled there and was a farmer. He mar- ried Lydia, daughter of Levi Whitney, of Harvard, Massachusetts, in 1796. He died 1842, at Royalston, aged seventy-one years. The children of Tarrant and Lydia ( Whitney) Cutler were: 1. Sarah, April 19, 1798, married Benjamin Heywood ; she died Au- gust 14, 1860. Their children were: Benjamin, died young; Lucy M., died young; John C., removed to Eden, Maine; Silas N., removed to Minneapolis ; Joseph L., killed by bank burglars at Northfield, Minnesota ; Sarah, married John Brooks, resided in Minneapolis; Charles T., died in civil war. 2. Me- linda, born March 16, 1800, married Abijah Richard- son, who died June 26, 1869; she married (second) Benoni Peck; their children were: Ahijah J. Rich- ardson, died unmarried; George O. Richardson, re- sided at Jaffrey, New Hampshire; Leander Richard- son, resided at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire. 3. Jolını, born October 13, 1802, died February 9, 1861. 4. Lysander (general), born February 16, 1807, died July 30, 1866. 5. Lydia, born March 27, 1809, died September 6, 1842, unmarried. 6. Levi, August 7, 1811, died August 13, 1881. 7. Tarrant, see forward. 8. George, July 20, 1815, resided at Bangor, Maine ; died May 19, 1906. 9. Otis, October 17, 1817, died May 27, 1868.

(VII) Tarrant Cutler, seventh child of Tarrant Cutler (6), was born September 8, 1813, at Royals- ton, Massachusetts, died June II, 1898. He was educated and brought up in his native town. During most of his life he was a farmer. He held many town offices and represented the town in the state legislature in 1855. In 1869 he removed to Fitch- burg and entered the grocery business with his son under firm name of G. H. & T. Cutler. Their store was at 235 Main street, and Mr. Cutler lived at 57 Laurel street. He married (first) Harriet Fair- banks, daughter of Jonathan and Asenath Fair- banks, of Athol, Massachusetts, March 25, 1839. He married (second) Mary P. Gale, daughter of Jonathan and Martha P. Gale, of Royalston, June 25, 1849. Children of Tarrant and Harriet ( Fair- banks) Cutler were: Jane L., born September 26, 1840, died August 22, 1869; she was a teacher in the public schools. George, see forward. Children of Tarrant and Mary P. ( Gale) Cutler were : Charles E., born April 26, 1850, died August 23, 1852; Mary E., born July 20, 1861.

(VIII) George H. Cutler, second child of Tar- rant Cutler (7), was born in Royalston, Massachu- setts, April 2, 1845, on the old homestead. He at- tended the district schools of his native town. When a young man he went to Fitchburg and started in the fish business. After a few years Mr. Cutler's father also came to Fitchburg and they became part- ners in the grocery business under the name of G. H. & T. Cutler at 235 Main street. The firm has been at the present location since 1869. Since the death of his father, Mr. Cutler has carried on the business alone. He never married. He is a Republican in iv-3

politics. He is a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank. He is a director in the Orswell Mills, Nockege Mills, Ponikin Mills, and the Brown Bay Machine Company. He attends the Congregational Church. He is a member of the Order of Knights of Pythias.

HENRY A. GOODRICH. William Goodridge or Goodrich (1), was the immigrant ancestor of Henry A. Goodrich, the clothing merchant of Fitch- burg, Massachusetts. The spelling Goodridge was more common in this family than Goodrich until later generations. The present spelling will be used here for convenience, however.

William Goodrich was probably horn in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk county, England. He and his wife Margaret went to New England, and as early as 1636 he was one of the proprietors of Watertown, Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman in 1642. His homestead of five acres was in or near the northern boundary of Mt. Auburn cemetery, which is about half way between Watertown Centre and Harvard Square, Cambridge. He died in 1647. The inventory of his estate was dated April 3, 1647. He was a young man comparatively, probably under forty. His widow married John Hull, of Newbury, Massachusetts, where she went with her Goodrich children. Mr. Hull died October 1, 1670; she died February 3, 1683.

The children of William and Margaret Good- rich were: Mary, born perhaps in England, married, December 20, 1653, Edward Woodman, born 1628, and died 1694; they had children: Edward and Joanna; ; Jeremiah, born March 6, 1638, married Mary Adams; Joseph, born September 29, 1639, married Martha Moores; he was apprenticed by his mother to Samuel Thatcher: Benjamin, born April II, 1642, married Mary Jordan ; married (second ) Deborah Jordan; married (third) sarah Croad (sic).

Jeremiah Goodrich, son of William Goodrich (1), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, March 6, 1636. He married there, November 15, 1660, Mary Adams, daughter of Robert and Eleanor Adams. They settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, where he was raised. Their children were: Mary, born in Newbury, Massachusetts, November 21, 1663, mar- ried, April 21, 1684, Arthur Thresher; William, Au- gust 2, 1665; Jeremiah, Newbury. married Mary ; Philip, November 23, 1669, of whom later ; Elizabeth, February 27, 1679, married, October 10, 1710, John Cooper ; Hannah, November 15, 1681, married, 1703, Nathaniel Pettingill, born January 21, 1676, the son of Mathew and Sarah ( Noyes) Pet- tingill; perhaps it was she who married ( second) Jonathan Sibley ; John, May 26, 1685, married llan- nah Brown.

(1II) Philip Goodrich, son of Jeremiah Good- rich (2), was born November 23, 1669, in Newbury, Massachusetts, died in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, January 16, 1729. He was one of the early settlers of Lunenburg (now Fitchburg) and built, in 1724, the third house that was put up there. He was the first deacon of the Lunenburg Church. He was the first person buried in the principal graveyard of the town. He married. April 16, 1700, Mehitable Wood- man, born September 20, 1677. died February 24, 1755. daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth ( Stevens) Woodman. Their children were: Benjamin, born February 3. 1701, married Sarah Phelps; John, Au- gust 6, 1702, married (first), June 21, 1733. AAnnie

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Scripture, born June 10, 1707, daughter of Samuel, Jr., and Mary Scripture; married ( second), Novem- ber 28, 1755, Sarah Brown; Mehitable, August 2, 1704, died May 21, 1790; married, January 17, 1733, Stephen Stickney, born April 4, 1705, died March 23, 1782, son of Andrew and Elizabeth ( White) Stickney ; Hannah, April 25, 1706, married, March 31, 1732, William Turner ; Joshua, February 7, 1708. married Lydia Stearns; Sarah, June 17, 1709, mar- ried, April 10, 1735, William Grant; Dorothy, March 4, 1711; Philip, July 6, 1714; David, November 24, 1716; Joseph, September I, 1719, married, January 30, 1740, Sarah Foster ; resided in South Lunenburg ( Fitchburg) ; Daniel, February 7, 1721, married, No- vember, 1754, Sarah - : Rebecca, April 17, 1723, married Ezekiel Goodrich, her cousin.

(IV) David Goodrich, son of Philip Goodrich (3), was born Lunenburg, November 24, 1716, and died in South Fitchburg, July 13, 1786. He resided in what is now South Fitchburg and was one of the early settlers. The character of this sturdy pioneer is shown by an encounter that he had with the li- dians. He was out in the woods hunting for some lost cows when he was surprised and surrounded by a band of Indians, who demanded his surrender. He spurred his horse and charged through the line, escaped and gave the alarm. The Indians retired. Goodrich lost his hat in his haste to get away from the savages. Ten years afterward an Indian was taken on the Connecticut wearing the identical hat that Deacon Goodrich lost. Fitchburg was set off from Lunenburg, February 3, 1764. David Good- rich was one of the first board of selectmen of the new town. He was a delegate to the provincial congress at Concord and Cambridge in 1774, when John Hancock was the president, and again at Cam- bridge in 1775.

David Goodrich lived in Ipswich for a time. In 1741 Elizabeth ( Martin) Goodrich, his wife, was dis- missed from the Chebacco Church to Lunenburg. His wife was descended from John Martin, of Char- lestown (admitted freeman 1640). Her parents, John and Elizabeth ( Durgin ) Martin, went to Ips- wich in 1733.

The children of David and Elizabeth (Martin) Goodrich were: David, born March 14, 1741, died October 4, 1741; Elizabeth, November 6, 1743, mar- ried, September 22, 1773, Joshua Stanton; Mehitable, August 6, 1745; David E., April 23, 1747 ; Ebenezer, May 12, 1749, married Beulah Childs; Asaph, June 28, 1751, married Hannah Walker ; Hannah, April 7, 1753, married Daniel Mellin, of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire; John, born March 17, 1755: Eunice, May 6, 1757, married, August 27, 1777, Joseph Far- well, of Fitzwilliam, and went west.

(V) John Goodrich, son of David Goodrich (4), was born in Lunenburg (now Fitchburg), March 17. 1755 (genealogy gives it; June 17, 1754. in American Ancestry ). He married, October 14. 1778, (town record gives date 1768 in one place, in- tentions dated 1778), Desire Nichols. She died Feb- ruary, 1788. lle married ( second ) Prudence ( Polly in one record) Butler, July 9, 1789. He died April 13. 1834. He was one of the minutemen of Lunen- burg or Fitchburg when the revolution broke out. He was in Captain Ebenezer Bridge's company, Colonel John Whitcomb's regiment, April 19, 1775. and marched to Lexington. Ile was in the battle of Bunker Hill. He was also in Captain Fuller's com- pany. Colonel Asa Whitcomb's regiment, later in 1775. He was corporal in Captain John Joslin's

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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 9

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