USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume III > Part 56
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of the meeting house, in 1678, when the town bought the land and the east end of the house, the orchard and four acres of land and the reversion due him in the west end of the house then occupied by his mother.
Children: I. Sarah, born at Sudbury, Oc- . tober 22, 1676, married, October 10, 1710, John Greaves, of Sudbury. 2. John, died un- married in 1762, bequeathing to children of his brother and sisters. 3. Henry, born at Sudbury, March 9, 1684-85, mentioned below. 4. Mary, married, January 6, 1703, Stephen Bacon, son of John Bacon, and grandson of Michael Bacon, of Dedham (I). (See sketch of Bacon family). Children, born in Need- ham (now North Natick) except the two eldest : i. Sarah Bacon, born 1704; ii. Mary Bacon, born March 20, 1707-08; iii. Lieuten- ant John Bacon, who was killed in the battle of Lexington; iv. Stephen Bacon; v. Henry Bacon.
(IV) Henry Loker, son of John Loker (3), was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, March 9, 1684-85. He settled in Sudbury. Married Mary Children, born at Sudbury. I. John, born May 7, 1718, died young. 2. John, born September 5, 1719, married Beulah Rice; children: i. Eunice, born March 2, 1759; ii. John, born April 27, 1761 ; iii. Hannah, born September 1I, 1763; iv. Ebenezer, born February 16, 1766; v. Oli- ver, born October 7, 1768; vi. Ann, born Sep- tember I, 1771. 3. Henry, born September 20, 1724, mentioned below. 4. Jonas, born December 3, 1730, married, March 2, 1775, Abigail Barbour; soldier in the Revolution, killed by cannon ball. 5. Moses, born November 8, 1733, resided in Needham Leg and was a soldier in the Revolution. 6. Stephen, born September 7, ' 1736. 7. Captain Isaac, born March 5, 1739, mar- ried, October 2, 1766, Ann Brintall ; married (second), August 27, 1795, Mehitable Ward ; captain of Sudbury horse troop in the Revolu- tion; children: i. Dorothy, born June 30, 1767 ; ii. Alpheus, born October 7, 1769; iii. Isaac, born February 21, 1772; iv. Paul, born July 2, 1774. 8. Sarah, born May 12, 1742, probably she married, January 6, 1778, Ben- jamin Mills, Jr., of Needham, at Sudbury.
(V) Henry Loker, son of Henry Loker (4), was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts, September 20, 1724. Married there May 22, 1755, Hannah Barber, who was born in 1735 and died at Natick, Massachusetts, March 29, 1829, aged ninety-four. Henry Loker died at Natick, June 4, 1813. He settled at Natick
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and was with Natick minute men who re- sponded to the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775, ranking as sergeant. (See Needham epitaphs by George Kuhn Clarke, of Needham, Massachusetts). It is traditional that Lieuten- ant (Sergeant) Henry Loker was the one to repulse the first British soldier, who claimed that his army had possession of the fort at Bunker Hill. Another tradition states that during this siege the American soldiers were not only without ammunition but also food, and to meet the emergency a small pet dog, belonging to Sergeant Loker was sacrificed. He was a selectman of Natick. Children, born at Natick: I. Stephen, born November 30, 1755. 2. Oliver, born June 15, 1759. 3. Abigail, born September 22, 1761. 4. Henry, Jr., born August 25, 1764, died June 4, 1837, aged forty years, according to the gravestone, buried in the North cemetery; wife Sarah (Trull) Loker, whom he married October 15, 1807, died June 2, 1846, aged seventy-three. 5. Jane, born April 5, 1766. 6. Abraham, born April 20, 1768, died April 18, 1844. 7. Betty, born August 20, 177I. 8. Ephraim, born May 9, 1773, mentioned below. 9. Jonas, born February 29, 1776, married, November 21, 1808. 10. Hannah, born June 9, 1778. II. James, (called "Jonas" in the index of the records, "James" in the text of the copy) married, May 5, 1799, Lydia Ward.
(VI) Ephraim Loker, son of Henry Loker (5), was born in Natick, Massachusetts, May 9, 1773. When a young man he lived at Way- land, formerly East Sudbury, and two of his children were born there. He was a carpenter by trade. He married Susanna, daughter of Abraham Loker. She died December 20, 1857, aged seventy-nine years, nine months. He died December 25, 1849, aged seventy-six years, nine months. Both are buried in the graveyard at North Natick and have grave- stones. In 1725 the mill on the Hawes brook in the Hundreds came into the possession of the Lokers. This brook is west of Parker Plain and runs from Nonesuch pond to Moses pond. Hawes Hundred was granted to Ed- ward Hawes in 1661 and there was a mill on . the brook very early. In 1899 and doubtless at present the boundary monuments on Blos- som street, Needham and Weston, and Wash- ington street, Needham and Natick, remained unchanged, although the town of Wellesley was established in 1881.
Of Ephraim's wife Susanna, we are told : "To keep an estate in land partly inherited, partly purchased by the fruits of her industry
and toil, this lady followed the calling of a market woman. She nursed and supported her husband, a consumptive invalid in his later years, and cared for a relative who was in ill- health. She taught a large family the value of frugal habits and constant toil. She left a large property to her heirs." Children of Ephraim and Susanna Loker: I. Sophia, born at Wayland, October 1, 1796. 2. Nabby (Abigail), born at Wayland, October 18, 1797, probably died young. 3. Patty (Martha), born at Wayland, (East Sudbury) January 24, 1799 (Natick records). 4. Walter, born at Natick, April 13, 1801, died June 17, 1801. Also born at Natick: 5. Nancy, born April 12, 1803. 6. Ephraim, born 1807, died April II, 1897, a farmer, lived twenty years in The Hundreds, which he inherited from his Rice ancestors; he kept Loker Tavern, now known as Sunnyside, formerly Elm Park House, on the road between Felchville and Natick at the corner of Worcester turnpike ; resided the last twenty years of his life on the turnpike ; married Sarah Carter, children : i. Nancy Adeline, born at Needham, January 29, 1848, died March II, 1862; ii. Ephraim, Jr., born April 9, 1850, died 1874. iii. Eugene, living in the west. 7. Winthrop, born July 29, 1809, married, May 26, 1835, Irene Col- burn, at Natick. 8. Walter, born December 3, 18II, mentioned below. 9. Phebe, born De- cember 5, 1814. 10. Susan, born April 21, 1817. II. George Washington, born May 17, 1820, a farmer, resided in Natick.
(VII) Walter Loker, son of Ephraim .Loker (6), was born in Natick, December 3, 18II, and died there May 8, 1872. He was a farmer, owning a fine farm of two hundred acres at Lokerville, the fruit of his own indus- try and frugality. He was a lifelong resident and much respected citizen of Natick, widely known in the community, and was noted for his genial manners, good judgment and sturdy honesty. He was a member of the school committee, and held other public offices. He was a member of the Congregational church, and a Democrat in politics. He married, in 1840, Zelinda Wright, born November 20, 1815, in Swanzey, New Hampshire, daughter of Luke and Rhoda (Belding) Wright. In her youth she had advantages which few at that time possessed, for her father was town librarian and the books were kept at his house. She taught school for a time in her native town, then came to Natick, where her marriage occurred. After her husband's death, in 1872, she removed to Natick Centre
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and lived with her children on Pond street, but subsequently returned to the spot where her early married life had been spent. She died at her home on Hartford street, South Framingham, August 24, 1901, in the eighty- sixth year of her age.
Children of Walter and Zelinda (Wright) Loker: I. Martha Jane, born April 14, 1841, married, in 1862, Allen J. Eldridge, and they live at 34 Pond street, Natick ; children : Fred- erick W., born October 16, 1866; Ralph Waldo, born 1870, died November 2, 1895; Walter Belding, born November 28, 1876. 2. Julia Emma, born August 14, 1844, died Sep- tember 4, 1906. 3. Francis Edwin, born Feb- ruary 12, 1846, died February 29, 1846. 4. George C., born May 8, 1847, married Alice L. Burtt, has one son, Harold Wesley, born May 1, 1874, graduated from Harvard Uni- versity, class of 1895, now principal of Swampscott high school. 5. Walter F., born September 17, 1849, married Carrie L. Morse, children : Melvin W., born June 19, 1887; and Earle, born November 16, 1893. 6. William W., born April 29, 1851, married Mrs. An- netta Marr, resides at Lokerville-Natick. 7. Albee E., born August 26, 1854, partner in the firm of Loker Brothers engaged in the grocery business, Natick; married Elizabeth Olyott, children : John Olyott, born July 24, 1892; Dorothy, June 12, 1894; William W., April 8, 1896; Mary Tilton, November 26, 1898; Donald Prescott, August, 1901. The family resides on Florence street, Natick. 8. Fred- erick S., born June 14, 1858, mentioned below.
(VIII) Frederick Samuel Loker, son of. Walter Loker (7), was born in Natick, June 14, 1858. He was educated in the public schools of his native town. He became a part- ner in the firm of Loker Brothers at the age of eighteen, with his brothers Walter F. and Albee E. Loker. The firm enjoyed a large, prosperous and growing business for many years. In 1887 they sold to Kennedy & Buck- ley, agreeing not to resume business for one year. Frederick S. and his brother Albee E. went to California for an extended trip. Re- turning to Natick the Loker Brothers engaged in farming and the real estate business from 1887 to 1893. The firm of Loker Brothers was re-established in the grocery business in 1894 by F. C. Loker and his two brothers, Walter F. and Albee E. Loker. In the spring of 1906 Walter F. retired, selling his interests to his two brothers. The firm continues in the grocery business with much success. Their store is at 17 South Main street, Natick.
Frederick S. Loker is the proprietor of the Natick storehouse, a large building used for storage purposes. In politics he is an inde- pendent Republican. He was elected on a non- partisan ticket as selectman of the town of Natick, in March, 1907, by what was said to have been the largest vote ever given a can- didate for selectman in the town. He stood on a platform of no-license and the enforce- ment of the law. George Nutt, of the same party, was also elected, thus giving control of the board, and Mr. Loker was chosen chair- man of the board, and chairman of the light- ing committee. He is an active member of the First Congregational church and for several years has been deacon. He is one of the cor- porators of the Natick Five Cents Savings Bank.
He married, September 15, 1886, Marion Mabel Gleason, born October 19, 1859, daugh- ter of Charles Willard and Jennie (Storey) Gleason, of Holden, Massachusetts, and Natick. Her father was for many years chair- man of the school board and instrumental in having the grades system introduced in Natick. He was a California pioneer, and a thirty- second degree Free Mason, and an officer in the various Masonic bodies. He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Order of the Eastern Star in Natick. (See sketch of her uncle, Major D. H. L. Gleason, Natick, and the Gleason family). Children, born in South Framingham: I. Marion Story, born November 5, 1890. 2. Ruth Belding, born June 14, 1893, died July 23, 1894.
EATON Jonas Eaton, immigrant ances- tor of the Eaton family, settled in Reading with his brother Wil-
liam Eaton. William Eaton was from Staple, England, sailing from Sandwich, England, before June 9, 1637; settled first at Water- town, where he was a proprietor in 1642; re- moved to Reading, where he was a proprietor in 1644 and a town officer; he and wife and children were legatees in the will of the wife's sister, Margaret Lane, of London, England, September 3, 1662; died at Reading, May 13, . 1673. Jonas Eaton was in Reading as early as 1647, doubtless the younger brother of Wil- liam. He was admitted a freeman in 1653, and was selectman of the town several years. He and his wife Grace were members of the Reading church in 1648. His residence and farm were on Cowdrey's Hill, in the north- west part of the town. He died February 24,
FREDERICK S. LOKER.
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1674, and the widow married, November 18, 1680, Henry Sillsbee, of Lynn. His will was proved April 7, 1674. He bequeathed to his wife Grace ; sons John, James, Joseph, Joshua, Jonathan and daughter Mary. The children of Jonas and Grace Eaton: I. Mary, born February 8, 1643-4, died 1731. 2. John, born September 10, 1645. 3. Jonas, born and died September 24, 1648. 4. Sarah, born 1650. 5. Joseph, born 1651. 6. Joshua, born Decem- ber 4, 1653. 7. Jonathan, born 1655. 8. David, born September 22, 1657, died October 7, 1657.
(II) Jonathan Eaton, son of Jonas Eaton (I), as born in Reading, Massachusetts, De- cember 6, 1655. He lived on the homestead on Cowdrey's Hill. He was selectman of the town and held other positions of trust and honor, and was lieutenant of the Reading military company. He died 1743, aged eighty- eight years. He married first 1683 Elizabeth Burnap, daughter of Robert Burnap, Jr. She- died in 1688, and he married second, Mary Children: I. Sarah, born 1684 ; mar- ried John Poole. 2. Jonathan, born 1686; was a soldier in the Nova Scotia expedition, and died at Annapolis Royal, in 1711 ; unmar- ried. 3. Elizabeth, born 1688; married Joseph Parker. 4. Mary, born and died 1691. 5. Samuel, born and died 1693. 6. Mary, born 1694; married, 1716, Josiah Nurse. 7. John, born 1697. 8. Samuel, born 1702. 9. Na- thaniel, born 17 -; married Lydia
IO. Noah, born 1704, mentioned below. II. Joanna, born and died 1708.
(III) Noah Eaton, son of Jonathan Eaton (2), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, 1704; married Phebe Lilley, of Woburn, whence the name Lilley so common in this family in later generations. She died 1786, and he in 1770. He lived for some years on the homestead, Cowdrey Hill. In 1732 he purchased of Benjamin Gibson of Boston the former homestead of Zachariah Poole, leather dresser, who had sold it to Gibson and re- moved to Medford-the same place formerly owned by Deacon Jacob Eaton, at the corner of Eaton and Crescent streets. On this place, which included the land on both sides of Eaton street and extended easterly to the Lot End road, now Vernon street, he lived until his death. Children of Noah and Phebe Eaton : I. Noah, born 1728, settled in Woburn. 2. Phebe, born 1731 : married Thomas Hart, of Lynnfield. 3. Katharine, born 1735 died young. 4. Hannah (twin), born 1738; married Boutwell, of Amherst, New
Hampshire. 5. Lilley (twin), born 1738, men- tioned below. 6. Katharine, born 1744; mar- ried John Emerson. 7. Susanna, born 1749. 8. Reuben, married, 1773, Sarah Hart.
(IV) Lilley Eaton, son of Noah Eaton (3), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, 1738; married, 1762, Sarah Emerson, daughter of Deacon Brown Emerson. He died 1812, aged seventy-three years; she died his widow in 1821, aged eighty years. He lived in the ancient mansion that stood until a few decades ago at the corner of Eaton and Crescent streets. His son Jacob occupied part of the house. Jacob was one of the founders of the Baptist church at Reading, and its deacon for more than half a century ; a prominent citizen. Children of Lilley and Sarah Eaton: I. Sarah, born 1763; married Joseph Boutwell, of Am- herst, New Hampshire. 2. Lucy, born 1765; died 1807. 3. Susanna, born 1766; died 1828. 4. Lilley, Jr., born 1768, mentioned below. 5. Jacob, born 1771. 6. Caleb, born 1773. 7. Phebe, born 1777; married Cornelius Sweet- ser. 8. Hannah, born 1779; married, 1801, Lemuel Sweetser, Esq. 9. Catherine, born 1781 ; married Benjamin Badger, Esq.
(V) Lilley Eaton, Jr., son of Lilley Eaton (4), was born in Reading, Massachusetts, 1768. He lived in South Reading, now Wake- field, at the corner of Main and Salem streets. He married, 1797, Eunice Evans (see sketch), daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Evans. He died there in 1822, aged fifty-four years ; his widow Eunice died there 1866, aged eighty- five years. He built his house in 1804, when it was by far the most costly and imposing dwelling in the village, and occupied a posi- tion then accounted the centre of population and business for the South Parish. Mr. Eaton in early life was a shoemaker and manufac- turer. After he erected his house he opened therein a general store which he continued, ex- cept from 1809 to 1812, when it was occupied for the same purposes by T. & A. Evans, up to the time of his death. For many years it was the most important store in the vicinity, and its proprietor flourished. In 1813 he had the honor of establishing the first temperance grocery store ever kept in the town. He was one of the founders, and for many years a staunch and generous member and supporter of the Baptist church and society. He fur- nished for many years free of charge a room in his house for the society to use for reli- gious, social and conference meetings. In the third story of his house a hall was furnished for this purpose, and known as the Meeting
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Chamber. The house was long and widely known as the Pilgrims' Hotel, as it was the place of entertainment for so many traveling clergymen and brethren and sisters of the Baptist faith, famous for its hospitality and good cheer.
Mr. Eaton was a liberal upright and honor- able man, and his widow, who survived him many years and who during her last decade was totally blind, ever sustained the character of an earnest, hospitable and Christian woman.
Their children : I. Eunice, born 1798; mar- ried, 1833, Charles H. Hill, Esq. 2. Sally, born 1800; died 1801. 3. Lilley, born 1802, mentioned below. 4. Mary Bentley, born 1805 ; married first, 1823, Abraham Emerson ; second, 1853, Captain Ira Wiley, of Wake- field. 5. Stillman, born 1807; died 1828. 6. Emily, born 1811; married, 1838, Rev. Peter Folsom, formerly of Maine, later of Wake- field; he died 1872. 7. John Sullivan, born 1822; married first, 1846, Harriet W. Oliver, of Malden, who died 1852; second, 1854, Ann E. Knowles, of Corinna, Maine; lived in Wakefield.
(VI) Lilley Eaton, son of Lilley Eaton (5), was born in South Reading, Massachu- setts, January 13, 1802, and died in Wake- field, January 16, 1872. He was educated in the common schools of his native town. In early manhood he showed a remarkable apti- tude for public business, and during a long series of years the confidence of the people in his capacity and integrity was manifested by intrusting to him almost every public office in the gift of his townsmen. He was selectman twenty-five years, and a member of the school committee nearly as long, and during the larger part of the time chairman of both boards. He was town clerk twenty years, representative to the general court seven years; state senator two years; justice of the peace thirty-eight years; and delegate to the constitutional convention in 1853. He is said to have shaped to a great extent the policy and action of the town upon almost all sub- jects, during a long period of time. The prac- tical wisdom which he brought to the solution of public questions gave great weight to his counsels, and often an opinion from him was sufficient to decide any matter. Thoroughly conversant with the laws, and their application to the various interests of business and to town affairs, and also with the opinions and spirit of the people, he was able to suggest the best measures for their consideration and deci- sion. There was nothing dictatorial in his
nature; he always appealed to the judgment of the people, and advocated nothing for which he could not give sound reasons. Pro- gressive in his spirit, he was a friend of all improvements. He introduced system in the mode of conducting town business, and offi- cers of other towns adopted some of the features which he devised. He was greatly interested in the public schools, and the town owes much to his leadership for the excellent schools of to-day.
His integrity, ability and attractive person- ality gave him great influence in private affairs. Those who were in trouble, the poor and the destitute, found in him a safe counselor and friend. The settlement of estates, the invest- ment of money and the temporary control of funds were often intrusted to him. He had much to do with financial affairs. He and Thomas Emerson were mainly instrumental in establishing the Mechanics and Agricultural Institution, and he was its first and until his death its only treasurer. At the formation of the South Reading Bank he was elected cash- ier, and held that position the rest of his life. In these positions he was methodical, careful and accurate, and in all respects worthy of the confidence reposed in him. Although enjoying but few advantages not possessed by others, he found time to cultivate a literary taste, and was from time to time called upon to deliver addresses of historical importance. He was much given to antiquarian and genealogical research, and the "History of Reading and Wakefield," which was his most elaborate work, gives abundant evidence of his patience and skill and wide knowledge of early history and pioneer families. He possessed skill in delineating character, was fond of a joke, and had a fund of entertaining anecdotes drawn chiefly from early New England characters making both speech and writing entertaining as well as valuable.
The sketch of his life in the history of the town, from which most of the material of this article is drawn, has this estimate of his per- sonal character : "The personal traits exhibited by Mr. Eaton were very attractive. A perpet- ual urbanity disarmed opposition to the plans he might be at any time urging. He had the faculty of imparting his views not so much by direct iteration as by quiet suggestion. He rarely expressed half-formed opinions, but when a controverted subject was presented gave himself time for reflection, and then ex- pressed his opinion and the reasons for it so courteously that. those who could not agree
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with him were never offended with him. This urbanity was not a skilfully woven garment to cover and enable him to prosecute selfish designs, but it was the natural expression of his character; his heart was kind and gentle, and his manners were but the language in which it uttered his real feelings. Though Mr. Eaton never connected himself with any church he was a constant attendant upon pub- lic worship and accepted the truths of the Gos- pel in their more direct and personal meaning. The death of Mr. Eaton occurred but two months after that of Mr. Emerson, with whom he had joined in many relations of business and friendship for fifty years. On the very day on which he was stricken with the disease which terminated his life, he had prepared at the request of his pastor a brief account of the life of his lamented friend, Mr. Emerson. The kind and truthful words with which that account closed, the last words which he ever penned, as they described the character of his friend, so also do they describe his own. These are the words: 'His was an unblemished reputation for honesty, integrity and upright- ness. He was patriotic, wise, liberal, kind, peaceable.'"
Mr. Eaton married 1824 Eliza Nichols, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Nichols. Their children : I. Henry L. 2. Stillman A. 3. Everett W. 4. Chester W., mentioned below.
(VII) Chester W. Eaton, son of Lilley Eaton (6), was born January 13, 1839, in South Reading, now Wakefield, Massachu- setts. He received his early education in the district and high schools of his native town and fitted for the Chandler Scientific Depart- ment of Dartmouth College from which he was graduated in the class of 1859. He then studied for the legal profession at the Harvard Law School, and in the office of Gooch & Copeland, Boston. He was admitted to the Middlesex bar in 1864 and immediately began the practice of law in South Reading. In 1864, he also opened a law office in Boston. In 1880, he added the business of publishing and editing the Wakefield Citizen and Banner, a weekly local newspaper, and in 1886 also entered the real estate business. He disposed of his news- paper in 1891 in order to give more time to his law business. He has made a specialty of conveyancing and titles and is an authority on the history of the old places and of all titles to real estate in the vicinity. He has the same fondness for antiquarian and historical re- search that characterized his father. In fact,
he rendered no little assistance to his father in preparing the history of Reading by collect- ing facts, establishing dates through research in town, county and state archives. Mr. Eaton is an easy writer and has the happy faculty of clothing his thoughts in appropriate language. He has written concise histories of Wakefield for Drake's History of Middlesex County and for the Lewis History of Middlesex County, D. H. Hurd, editor. He labored early and late to promote the success of the quarter-mil- lenial celebration at Reading and indeed, it is doubtful, under the adverse circumstances of the times, if any tangible form would have been given to the proposition, if it had not been for his persistency in keeping the subject before the people and preparing their minds for such an event. In recognition of his val- uable services in procuring the favorable action of the town in the matter, he was hon- ored by being made president of the general committee of Wakefield. He proved his exec- utive ability in his share of the management preparatory to the memorial services, and the part he took in the Town Hall was in har- mony with and in furtherance of the great interests of the joyous occasion; and he was selected by the publishers of the Memo- rial Volume and by the joint committee of the three towns to prepare a full account of all the proceedings of the celebration in Wake- field and to have the editorial direction of other historical matter pertaining to the Old Parish. The Wakefield Historical Society owes its existence largely to his efforts. The subject had been discussed for years, but no action taken until he called a meeting in Jan- uary, 1890, when the society was formed. He assisted in the incorporation of the society and was elected its first president, and held the office for five years, when he declined further service, wishing the honor to be shared by his associates.
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