Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 13

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 912

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV > Part 13

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(VIII) Hocum Hosford, son of Heman Hosford (7), was born at Charlotte, Vermont, November 8, 1825. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, and at Shelburne Academy which he attended one term. He was sufficiently advanced in his studies to become a teacher, however, and for several years he taught school in Charlotte. During the summer season he worked with his father at home on the farm, and when he was seventeen he took charge of the farm for three years. Heleft home at the age of twenty years, and on September 5, 1845, began a mercantile career in Lowell, Massachusetts, as junior clerk in the dry goods store of Gardner & Wil- son. His salary the first year was one hun- dred and fifty dollars, from which he had to clothe and board himself. He was clerk for Daniel West in the same line of business dur- ing the year following and his wages were a dollar a day. During the four years he was employed in this store he had charge of the business for two years. By economy and fru- gality he had accumulated a thousand dollars, and with this capital he engaged in business for himself in the same line. He had a part- ner, Arthur G. Pollard; he began in 1852 in a small way and increased trade at every oppor- tunity until he was able to buy out his former employer, Daniel West. The firm continued in business at the stand formerly occupied by Mr. West until the spacious and handsome building now occupied by H. Hosford & Company was erected in 1875. The business grew constantly and attained large proportions.

Mr. Hosford was distinguished in political as well as business life. In 1860 he made his first appearance in public life as member of the lower board of the city council. He was alder- man during the year following, and from 1862 to 1865, three years, mayor of the city, at a

critical time during the Civil war when the difficulties and responsibilities of the chief exec- utive of every city were enormously increased. So faithfully did he discharge the onerous and trying duties of his position, however, especi- ally in the raising of recruits and in caring for the soldiers at the front, for the sick and wounded in hospitals and the dependent fam- ilies of soldiers, that he received the commen- dation and support of all classes in the com- munity. Later he served another year in the board of aldermen, and in 1866 was elected representative to the general court from his district in Lowell.

He was a director of the Boston & Lowell Railroad from 1865 to the time of his death, and also of the Lowell & Lawrence Railroad Company, in both of which he invested liber- ally. He was for a number of years a direc- tor of the Hamilton Manufacturing Com- pany, and of the Merchants' National Bank, of which he was president from 1864 to 1876, when he resigned. He was the general man- ager of the Boston and Lowell Railroad for eight years until the time of his death. At one time he was half owner and financial man- ager of the Chase Mills, now owned by the Faulkner Brothers. He was a director of the Traders' and Mechanics' and of the Massa- chusetts Fire and Marine Insurance com- panies; one of the vice-presidents of the Lo- well Five Cents Savings Bank; treasurer of the Vassalborough (Maine) Woolen Mills and treasurer of the Lowell Hosiery Mills, of which he was one of the founders in 1871. In 1867 he was superintendent of the Middlesex Mechanics' Association Exhibition, one of the largest and best of the kind ever seen in New England. In politics Mr. Hosford was an earnest and loyal Republican, but his business was so varied and taxed his time so heavily that he had to abandon political as- pirations in his later years; but he retained his interest and never lost his commanding influ- ence in the party and at the polls. He was in- terested especially in the welfare and develop- ment of the city of Lowell where he built up his own fortunes. He helped to improve the city to the extent of his power. He built his handsome residence on Central street; re- modeled and enlarged his store building; built in 1871 the Masonic Temple, at that time the finest building in the business dis- trict. He had a taste for fine architectural effects. The iron-front building in which he located his dry goods business was an admir- able structure also. He was a prominent Free Mason, a member of Kilwinning Lodge.

Arthur Ho Gosford

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He was one of the most valuable and useful citizens, both in private and public life, that the city had in his day. He was able, ener- getic, and industrious, beyond the limit of his strength. Upright, honorable, generous, he was excelled by none in his zeal for those things that he held of importance in life; he was a firm and faithful friend, a leader in fin- ancial and business affairs; in political and municipal matters; one of the most able and popular mayors that the city ever had. He died at his home in Lowell, April 5, 1881. The im- mediate cause of death was a shock following a burglary in his room at night.

He married, March 7, 1854, Rebecca T. West, daughter of Daniel West. Children: Harry W., who lived only six months, born August 3, 1860. Arthur H., born September 18, 1862, mentioned below.

(IX) Arthur H. Hosford, son of Hocum Hosford (8), was born in Lowell, September 18, 1862. He was educated in the public and high schools of Lowell and at the Roxbury Latin School and Brown University. He left college in his sophomore year, after his father's death, and engaged in the carriage business in Lowell in partnership with Fay Brothers. After three years he became a large owner of the business of manufacturing the proprietary medicine known as Father John's Medicines, which has enjoyed a large sale and great popular favor throughout the country. He is vice-president of the com- pany. His time is largely occupied in the management of his great real estate interests. Both his father and he invested extensively in Lowell property. He has traveled exten- sively in this country and abroad. In politics he is a Republican, but has never cared to ac- cept public office.

He is prominent in Masonic circles, a mem- ber of Kilwinning Lodge of Lowell, and of the various bodies of Masonry to the Thirty- second degree. He is also a member of the Benevolent Order of Elks and Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Unitarian church. He resides in the homestead built by his father at 574 Central street. Mr. Hos- ford is counted among the most prosperous and promising young business men of the city, and enjoys the fullest confidence of his associates and townsmen.

(VIII) Professor Eben Norton Horsford, (as he spelled the name) son of Jerediah Hosford (7), was born at Moscow, July 27, 1818. He was educated in the best schools, taking the engineering course in the Rens- salaer Institute, Troy, New York. He was

employed first in the geological survey of New York. In 1840 he was appointed pro- fessor of mathematics and natural science in the Albany Female Academy. In 1841 he won the gold medal offered by the Young Men's Association of Albany for essays. His subject was "Mechanical Powers." In 1844 he resigned his chair at Albany, and in De- cember went to Germany to study chemistry. For two years he was under Baron Liebig at Giessen. On his return he was elected Rum- ford Professor of Application of Science to the Useful Arts in Harvard University, and he filled that position with enthusiasm and credit for sixteen years. His investigations in chemistry led to inventions of great useful- ness and commercial value. In 1863 he re- tired from his professorship to give his atten- tion exclusively to manufactures based on his inventions. In 1843 he was elected a resident fellow of the American Academy of Arts and. Sciences; in 1860 a resident member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society; in 1873 he was United States commissioner to Vienna Exhibition; in 1876 juror in the Centennial Exhibition; twice an examiner of the United States Military Academy and was one of the board of managers of the Sons of the Revolution. He visited Norway in 1880 and Carlsbad in 1890. He made his home in Cambridge until his death, January 1, 1893.

He married, in 1847, Mary L. Hommedieu Gardiner, daughter of Hon. Samuel Gardiner, of Shelter Island, New York. They had four daughters. She died in 1855 and he mar- ried (second), in 1857, her sister, Phebe Day- ton Gardiner. They had one daughter. Af- ter the death of Mr. Gardiner, his large es- tate at Shelter Island came to Professor Horsford and he usually spent his summers at the manor house there. He became inter- ested in the antiquities of the island and erected a monument to the Quakers who found shelter there from Puritan persecution. In the comparative leisure of his later years he became deeply interested in tracing the routes of the Northmen who early visited this con- tinent; with unwearied zeal and patience he studied the Sagas, pored over ancient charts, explored the coast of New England and at length became assured that he had found in Cambridge the location of the house built by Leif Ericson, and that at Watertown on the Charles river discovered the long-lost Nor- umbega, the settlement of the Icelandic voy- agers. Here he erected a substantial monu- ment to mark the spot. The result of his re- searches in this direction are embodied in a

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series of monographs, richly illustrated with copies of ancient charts and maps. In 1891 the Scandinavian societies of North America, in testimony of their appreciation of Professor Horsford's efforts to demonstrate the discov- ery and colonization of America by the North- men, presented him at their annual assembly an engrossed address framed in wood from Norway elaborately carved by a Norwegian lady. In 1892 the King of Denmark created him a Knight Commander of the third grade of the Order of Dannebrog. In the same spir- it the Scandinavian Societies of Boston united in a special memorial service for Pro- fessor Horsford a few weeks after his death. Some of his publications were: "Discovery of America by the Northmen;" "Discovery of the Ancient City of Norumbega;" "The Prob- lem of the Northmen;" "The Defenses of Norumbega;" "The Landfall of Leif Eric- son" "Leif's House in Vineland;" besides various pamphlets on miscellaneous subjects.

He made generous use of the wealth that came to him as the fruit of his inventive gen- ius. Wellesley College was the object of his largest benefactions. He was president of the board of visitors. He established by a large endowment the system of Sabbatical years, whereby one year in seven is given each professor for travel and study without loss of salary. He endowed the library and gave a fund for the purchase of scientific ap- paratus.

He was personally cheerful, cordial and genial, with a high sense of honor and a most generous spirit and unquestioned honesty of purpose. He was an enthusiastic teacher, an ingenious and persistent investigator and a devout Christian. He sought always to make life brighter for his fellowmen.

Roger Eastman, the immi- EASTMAN grant ancestor, was born in Wales, Great Britain, in 16II, and died in Salisbury, Massachusetts, December 16, 1694, aged eighty-three years. He came to this country in the ship "Confi- dence," sailing from Southampton, April II, 1838, a housewright and carpenter in the em- ploy of John Sanders, of Lanford, Wiltshire, England. Eastman gave his age in the ship register as twenty-five. He is the ancestor of all the Colonial Eastman families in this coun- try. The name was frequently spelled Eas- man. He settled at Salisbury, Massachusetts, where many of his descendants. have lived. He married, in 1639, Sarah -. He paid

the ministerial tax in 1650 and other years at Salisbury. His will was dated June 26, 1691; proved March 27, 1695. Children: I. John, born March 9, 1640. 2. Nathaniel, May 18, 1643. 3. Philip, December 20, 1644. 4. Thomas, November 16; 1646. 5. Timothy, November 29, 1648. 6. Joseph, January 8, 1651. 7. Benjamin, February 12, 1652-53. 8. Sarah, September 25, 1655, married (first), June 13, 1670, Joseph French; (second), Solo- mon Shepard, of Salisbury; she died Decem- ber 1, 1745, aged ninety-three. 9. Samuel, November 20, 1657, mentioned below. IO. Ruth, March 21, 1660.

(II) Samuel Eastman, son of Roger East- man (I), was born in Salisbury, Massachu- sett, November 20, 1657, he died February 27, 1725. He married (first) Elizabeth Sever- ance; (second), September 17, 1719, Sarah Fi- field, who died August 3, 1726. He removed to Kingston, New Hampshire, where he had a grant of land in 1720. Children, born in Salisbury: I. Ruth, born March 5, 1687. 2. Elizabeth, December, 1689. 3. Mary, Janu- ary 4, 1691. 4. Sarah, April 3, 1693. 5. Sam- uel, January 5, 1695. 6. Joseph, January, 1697. 7. Anna, May 22, 1700. 8. Ebenezer, January II, 1702. 9. Thomas, January 21, 1703, mentioned below. 10. Timothy, March 29, 1706. II. Edward, March 30, 1708. 12. Benjamin, July 13, 1710.

(III) Thomas Eastman son of Samuel Eastman (2), was born January 21, 1703, at Salisbury, Massachusetts. He removed with his parents to Kingston, New Hampshire, about 1720. He married, January 1, 1729, Abigail French, who died February 8, 1742. Children: I. Obadiah, born October 21, 1729. 2. Edward, February 26, 1732, mentioned be- low. 3. Thomas, April 28, 1735. 4. Abigail, July 10, 1737. 5. Sarah, March, 1738. 6. Phebe, January 2, 1740.

(IV) Edward Eastman, son of Thomas Eastman (3), was born February 26, 1732, at Kingston, New Hampshire, and died at Salis- bury, New Hampshire, April 12, 1814, aged eighty-two. He removed to Salisbury in 1765-66 or, according to another account, in 1774. He cleared the farm now or lately owned by Titus W. Wardsworth on Smith's hill. He was a cooper by trade. He was on the committee of safety and correspondence during the Revolution and a soldier in the service. He married, May 6, 1758, Anna Jud- kins, who died March 24, 1817, aged seventy- seven years. Children: I. Benjamin, born June 19, 1759. 2. Joel, November 23, 1760. 3. Hannah, February 12, 1764, married, De-

M. Frank Costman

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cember 29, 1785, William Calef. 4. Phineas, June 20, 1766. 5. Mehitable, June 20, 1768, married, April 26, 1794, William Hoyt. 6. Moses, August II, 1770. 7. Nancy, August 5, 1772, died April 2, 1814, unmarried. 8. Abigail, March 5, 1775, died unmarried. 9. Samuel, April 4, 1780, went west.

(V) Moses Eastman, son or nephew of Ed- ward Eastman (4), was born December 21, 1782, probably at Warren, New Hampshire, and died March 22, 1857, at Springfield, New Hampshire, aged seventy-four years. He re- sided in Wendell, now Sunapee, New Hamp- shire, a town adjoining Springfield, where some of his children settled. He married, at Croyden, October 20, 1805, (by Rev. Jacob Haven) Mary Hersey. He was a farmer. Children, born at Sunapee: I. Olive, March 9, 1809. 2. Hersey, July 9, 1811. 3. Moses, June 21, 1813, mentioned below. 4. Rodney, February 9, 1816. 5. Roswell, April 9, 1818. 6. Walter, April 13, 1820. 7. James, January II, 1825.

(VI) Moses Eastman, son of Moses East- man (5), was born in Sunapee, June 21, 1813, and died in Melrose, Massachusetts, in 1862. He was the founder of Eastman's Express in Melrose. He married Susan E. Treadwell, who was born at Warner, New Hampshire, daughter of Nathan D. Treadwell. Children : I. William H., born July 12, 1839, resides in Salem. 2. Caroline A., April 25, 1841, re- sides in Melrose. 3. Mary E., March 4, 1843, died single May 29, 1872. 4. Alice Whitney, June 16, 1845, married George B. Barrett, died December 13, 1869, no issue. 5. Moses Franklin, July 16, 1847, see forward. 6. Al- bert G., September 29, 1849, died November 5, 1850. 7. Susie E., March 9, 1858, died August 7, 1864. 8. Amy Leighton, May 16,, 1860. died August, 1860.

(VII) M. Frank Eastman, son of Moses Eastman (6), was born in Salem, Massachu- setts, July 16, 1847. He was educated in the public schools of Melrose, where his parents lived after 1855. Mr. Eastman has had an interesting and successful business experi- ence, beginning at the age of fourteen, at his father's death, in 1862, in his father's express business, which business he conducted suc- cessfully for twenty-three years. The busi- ness is still conducted under the name of Eastman's Express. In 1885 he established a coal and grain business, which business he conducted until 1887, when he sold it to C. B. & F. H. Goss, who now own and conduct the business. In 1887 he engaged in the real

estate business, extensively buying and sell- ing large properties on his own account, as well as doing an extensive commission busi- ness. In 1888 he built a business block on Main street, known as Eastman's Block. In 1893 he was appointed by Sheriff Cushing a deputy sheriff for Middlesex county, which office he continues to hold, with an office at 12 Pemberton square, Boston. Mr. Eastman has been prominent as a Republican for many years; for three years he was collector of taxes and he has been a member of the town and city governments. He is an active mem- ber of the Universalist church. He is a mem- ber of the Wyoming Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Melrose, of Waverly Chap- ter, Royal Arch Masons, of Melrose Council, Royal and Select Masters, of Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templar and Aleppo Temple, Mystic Shrine. He married Abbie Elizabeth Maynard, daughter of John and Henry Catherine (Stowe) Maynard, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, May 19, 1870. 1872, died in infancy. 2. Harry Maynard, January 2, 1874. 3. Ida Mell, February 9, Children: Ernest Franklin, born May 16, 1876, married Herbert C. Blackmer, of Mal- den, June 23, 1897. 4. Alice Whitney, March 10, 1878, married Natt Weston Brown, Janu- ary 16, 1907. 5. William Franklin, January 29, 1883.

Thomas Barnes, immigrant BARNES ancestor, born in England, of an ancient and distinguished family about 1636. He came to this coun- try in the ship "Speedwell," in May, 1656, in company with Shadrach Hapgood, John Fay, Nathaniel Goodnow and Thomas Goodnow, whose daughter Abigail he married later. He gave his age as twenty on the passenger list. He was an early settler in Marlborough, Mas- sachusetts, and also lived at Concord, where his youngest child was born. He bought land at Marlborough in 1663 of Jonathan John- son. He died in 1679. His will made in that year mentions his wife Abigail; sons Thomas, John and William; and daughters Dorothy, Abigail and Susan. Children, all except youngest, born in Marlborough: I. Thomas, born March 23, 1662; married Mary Howe; removed to Brookfield; ancestor of most of the Worcester county Barnes. 2. Dorothy, born February 6, 1664. 3. John, December 25, 1666; mentioned below. 4. William, born April 3, 1669, probably removed to Haddam, Connecticut. 5. Abigail, born June 14, 1671.

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6. Susanna, born at Concord, February 2, 1676; married June 4, 1699, Supply Weeks.

(II) John Barnes, son of Thomas Barnes (I), born in Marlborough, December 25, 1666; married Hannah -, who died No- vember 8, 1742, aged sixty-six. He died April

5, 1752, aged eighty-six years. He was a prominent citizen of Marlborough, deacon of the church in the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Breck. Children, born in Marlborough: I. Abigail, born October 5, 1695; married No- vember 1, 1716, Joseph Morse. 2. Dorothy, born March 24, 1698; marched March 19, 1719, James Woods. 3. Daniel, born April 2, 1701; married 1723, Zeruiah Eager. 4. Jonathan, born November 26, 1703; men- tioned below. 5. David, born June 24, 1708; died May 9, 1720. 6. Hannah, born Febru- ary 17, 1712; married December 3, 1734, An- drew Rice. 7. John, born March 23, 1716; married December 6, 1738, Elizabeth Cran- ston.

(III) Jonathan Barnes, son of John Barnes (2), born in Marlborough, November 26, 1703; married Rachel , who died Janu- ary 20, 1784. He died October 10, 1783. Children, born in Marlborough: I. Silas, born January 21, 1735; married May 26, 1755, Bet- ty Bigelow. 2. Elisha, born October 28, 1736; died June 7, 1740. 3. Fortunatus, born September 25, 1738; married Persis Hosmer. 4. Rachel, born July 13, 1740; married Janu- ary 27, 1763, John Warren, Jr. 5. Lucy, born July 7, 1742; married December 24, 1761, Joseph Hosmer. 6. Dorothy, born Decem- ber 18, 1747; married August 29, 1771, Solo- mon Bowker. 7. Rev. Jonathan, born De- cember 26, 1749; mentioned below. 8. David, born September 2, 1751; died January 28, 1756. 9. William, born March 21, 1753; married May 22, 1773, Sarah Merriam.

(IV) Rev. Jonathan Barnes, son of Jona- than Barnes (3), was born in Marlborough, December 26, 1749. He received his educa- tion at Harvard College, graduated in 1770. In the autumn of 1772, about ten years after the second permanent settlement of the town of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, the church and town united in extending a call to Mr. Barnes to become their pastor. The church was organized October 13, 1769, the tenth church formed in the county of Hillsborough, and John Mead and Tristram Cheney were elected deacons the same day. Mr. Barnes ac- cepted the call and became the first minister. He was invested with the pastoral charge of the church and congregation November 25, 1772. Rev. Josiah Bridge, of East Sudbury,

preached the ordination sermon. At a town meeting held the day previous to the ordin- ation the following provision was made for the minister's support: "Voted unanimously to fix the Rev. Mr. Barnes's salary, that we will give him thirty pounds by way of settle- ment, 35 pounds a year for the first four years then forty pounds a year, until there shall be seventy families in town, and when there shall be seventy families he is to be entitled to 50 pounds, whether sooner or later, until there be 90 families. When there is 90 fam- ilies he shall receive 60 pounds until there is IIO families, when IIO families, he shall re- ceive sixty-six pounds, eight shillings and four pence a year, which last sum he shall continue to receive so long as he remain our minister." He was ordained in a barn where the services were held at first. The first meet- ing house was completed in 1779 and the sec- ond in 1792. In the summer of 1803, while he was riding on horseback, a stroke of lightning threw him to the ground, stunned him, and so paralyzed his energies as to disqualify him for further duty as minister. He resigned his office and was dismissed October 19, 1803. He lived in ease and retirement that his feeble health demanded, surviving but two years. He died August 3, 1805. The history of Hillsbor- ough says of him : "He was a man of very re- spectable talents, possessed a vigorous and dis- criminating mind, and a lively and well culti- vated imagination. He had a strong sonor- ous voice, and an emphatic delivery. His manners were eminently dignified, polished and agreeable, a model of clerical urbanity. He was a charitable man with the sons and daughters of need, he was familiarly acquaint- ed, making it an object to seek out the chil- dren of sorrow, and administer to their ne- cessities, and by such he was regarded with the warmest affection. As a citizen he ex- erted a commanding influence in maintaining social order, preserving unanimity of feeling, and otherwise advancing the prosperity of the town. In his religious belief he is sup- posed to have been what was at that time styled an Arminian. He was not a rigid sectarian, but cherished a truly Catholic and liberal spirit towards those who differed from him in sentiment. Mr. Barnes was an active and laborious man. For many years after his. settlement, his salary was inadequate to the support of his household, and he cheerfully assisted in subduing the wilderness besides administering to the spiritual wants of his charge. He became possessed of the land, allotted by Colonel Hill to the first settled.

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minister of the town, containing between three and four hundred acres. He toiled as- siduously in clearing and preparing for culti- vation these and other lands which he ac- quired by purchase, besides laboring much in the newly settled towns in the vicinity which were destitute of a minister." Mr. Barnes taught school before a regular school master was engaged in the town.

Mr. Barnes married, 1774, Abigail Curtis, born in Sudbury, May 22, 1755, died Decem- ber 8, 1838. She was a woman of great ex- cellence of character, universally loved and esteemed. Children: I. William, born De- cember 26, 1775, removed to Lower Canada. 2. Jonathan, born March 25, 1778. 3. Joseph Curtis, born April 24, 1780; died March 13, 1817 ; kept a general store in Hillsborough. 4. Captain Samuel, born June 9, 1782 ; mentioned below. 5. Luther, born August 1, 1784. 6. John, born December 30, 1786; died at sea, August 21, 1811. 7. Cyrus, born January 14, 1789; died August 9, 1819, in Porto Rico. 8. Abigail, married Rev. John Lawton, who was born May 1, 1791. 9. Daughter, died in in- fancy, January 9, 1793. IO. Henry, born June 28, 1794; died May 1, 1795. II. Henry, born June 19, 1796, resided in his native town.

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Historic homes and places and genealogical and personal memoirs relating to the families of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume IV, Part 13

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 912

Author: Cutter, William Richard, 1847-1918, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 912