History of Athol, Massachusetts, Part 54

Author: , William G., compiler
Publication date: 1953
Publisher: Athol, Mass
Number of Pages: 756


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > History of Athol, Massachusetts > Part 54


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Children:


1. MABEL, born July 10, 1865; married August 20, 1900, CARL E. SAULT; died in 1936.


Child (surname Sault):


a. Elton W., born July 12, 1908; resides in Hilton Village, Virginia.


2. GEORGE S., born in Royalston, May 13, 1869; mar- ried September 6, 1899, GRACE E. HUNKINS of Lawrence, Mass. After leaving Mt. Hermon Acad- emy, he went to work in the dry goods business as clerk for E Denny & Co. in Athol, and later for about two years with J. D. Holbrook in Athol; he then became associated with H. C. Gates under the company name of Wood, Gates & Co. in Orange. Following two years in business alone in Martinsville, Indiana, he went to Nashua, N. H., where for nearly five years he was with the Chamberlain Syndicate Store of Chamberlain, Patten Co., then going to Claremont, N. H. He died July 4, 1938.


Child:


a. ALBION ROYAL, born in Orange, Mass., July 31, 1900; married Winifred Wells of Providence, R. l. November 10, 1934; re- sides in North Haven, Conn. Children: 1. George Everett, born in Boston, August 19, 1936; 2. Cynthia, born in Boston, October 3, 1938; 3. Jonathan Wells, born in North Haven, December 29, 1941; 4. Glena, born in North Haven, October 1, 1946.


644


GENEALOGIES


iii. GEORGE HARRISON, born April 3, 1842; died in January, 1908; married June 10, 1873, CALISTA STEBBINS MORSE, daughter of Russell and Mary Ann (Stebbins) Morse. He served in the Union Army, Co. E, 53rd Mass. Regiment, and after his return from the war he resided in Winchendon, where he operated a grain store. In the fall of 1884 he went to Tangerine, Florida, where he engaged in the raising of oranges and other fruits.


Child:


1. WINIFRED MORSE, born May 1, 1884, in Win- chendon; married June 8, 1920, CLARENCE H. ESTEY; resides in Tangerine, Florida.


Children (surname Estey):


a. ERMA WINIFRED, born February 3, 1922; died December 26, 1929.


b. MARY AMELIA, born March 17, 1926; mar- ried July 22, 1944, George G. Kennedy, Jr. Children (twins), born August 10, 1946, George C. and Byron Estey.


iv. JOHN MILTON, born May 7, 1844; died in New Orleans during the Civil War. He enlisted in the Union Army, Co. E, 53rd Massachusetts Regiment.


24. FRANKLIN G." LORD (Gardiner", Thomas", Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born October 4, 1827; died Jan- uary 8, 1918; married July 4, 1851, ELIZA A. FLINT of Athol. Until the age of seventeen he worked on his father's farm, at- tending school for eight or nine weeks during the winter, then going to work bottoming boots. At the age of twenty-one he went to Natick, where he worked cutting shoes for George Walcott, who made brogans for the Southern trade, and for two years he had charge of the shop, Returning to Athol, he engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, first with the late C. C. Bassett, and then with George W. Babbitt, later forming a partnership with his brothers, Gardiner and Charles L. Lord, for the manufacture of boots, continuing from 1863 to 1872. When this firm was dissolved, Mr. Lord engaged in the mercantile business with S. M. Osgood for two years, and later was for 15 years traveling salesman for O. Kendall & Co. From the autumn of 1887 he was in the retail boot and shoe business. For 13 years he was one of the engineers of the Fire Department, also serving on the School Committee.


Children:


i. GEORGE FRANK*, born December 13, 1855; died in Athol, February 11, 1928; married in 1884, HELEN B. CHENERY of Montague, born in 1857, died in 1942; no children. He was a merchant in Athol. and a hotel keeper in Athol, Palmer, and Winchendon. For the last 21 years of his life he was associated with his cousin, William G. Lord, in his real estate and insurance business in Athol.


ii. FREDERICK WYATT, born September 22. 1860; died May 7, 1929; married December 2, 1885, ADDIE J.


645


HISTORY OF ATHOL


STOWELL. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1876; was a druggist in Athol for fifty years, was Repre- sentative in the Legislature, and for 17 years a member of the School Board, serving for 15 years as its chairman.


Children:


27. 1. HAROLD STOWELL', born January 15, 1888.


28.


2. GEORGE FRANK, born August 7, 1897.


24-A. EMERSON LORD (Cyrrell', Williams, William5, Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born August 31, 1833; died September 20, 1921; married (1) LYDIA HALE, died August 22, 1876, aged 48 years, 4 months; married (2) ROXY who died June 29, 1886; married (3) SARAH FIELD COLE, who died - -; married (4) JENNY --- , who died -; married (5)


Children by first wife:


i. NANCY", born August 2, 1860; died April 3, 1920; mar- ried WILLIE F. WILLIS.


Children (surname Willis):


1. MAY, married Archie Blondin.


Children (surname Blondin):


a. Harold, married Dorothy Stull Nash; children: (1) Sandra Lee; (2) Jacqueline.


b. Madeline, married Edward Fitzgerald; chil- dren (surname Fitzgerald): (1) Richard, died aged 71/2 months.


2. GLADYS, married Theodore Bruso. Child (surname Bruso): a. Nancy, married Ernest Hedstrom, Jr .; child, (surname Hedstrom): Donna Lee. 3. died at birth.


ii. FRANK


iii. ETTA, born in 1864; died in 1912; married CHESTER ANDREWS.


Children (surname Andrews):


1. FRANK, died aged 11 years, 11 months, 11 days.


2. ALBERT, married Tillie Tangway.


3. PERLIE, married Esther French.


4. FLORENCE, married Fred Comins.


Children (surname Comins):


a. Leone, married Perry Smith; child (surname Smith): Ida, married Stephen Hammond and had a son, Stephen Douglas.


b. Helen, married Douglas Weatherhead.


c. Lawrence, married Bessie Smith; child, Alvin, married Arlyn Nelson; had one child.


5. ETHEL, married Elmer Cosby.


Children (surname Cosby):


a. Earl


b. Alice


c. Earnest


d. Elmer


iv. CHARLES H., born September 3, 1868; married ISABEL J. CUMMINGS.


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GENEALOGIES


Child:


1. RALPH; unmarried.


v. HATTIE, married GEORGE LYNDE.


Children (surname Lynde):


1. died in infancy.


2. CHARLIE, married Flora Clifford. Children:


a. Mildred Hattie, married (1) Alvin Scott; mar- ried (2) Keith Bennett; no children.


b. Hazel Louise, married Ernest Crosby; children (surname Crosby): (1) Richard Earle, (2) Raymond Ernest, (3) Sharon Agnes, (4) Sylvia Lee.


c. Beulah Emma, married (1) Francis Holland; (2) Harold J. Russell; Children (surname Russell): (1) Joan Clare, (2) James Edward, (3) John Michael.


d. Earle Clifford, married (1) Norma Phoenix; (2) Marjorie Babino; children: (1) Charles Earle, (2) Susan Jane, (3) George Edward, (4) Earle.


e. Myrtle Frances, married (1) Edward Anoris; child (surname Anoris): Nancy Claire; mar- ried (2) Allan Bradford; married (3) Frank L. Nephew; children (surname Nephew): Sandra Lee; Bryan Wayne.


vi. ESTELLA MAY, born May 25, 1873; died January 23, 1936; married DANIEL GEORGE ORMSBEE. Children (surname Ormsbee):


1. - died at birth.


2. GEORGE DANIEL, married Martina Mahoney. Children:


a. Mary Constance


b. Patricia


c. Joan Marie d. Eileen Rose


3. LESLIE EMERSON, married Margaret O'Connell. Children:


a. Shirley Elizabeth, married William J. Cahill; children (surname Cahill): (1) Elizabeth Ann, (2) Patricia Ellen, (3) Anne Marie.


b. Eleanor May, married John P. Lane; children (surname Lane): (1) Leslie Anne, (2) Mary Martha.


c. Kenneth Daniel


d. Richard Henry


25. JULIA ANN LORD (Lorenzo™, Asa", Thomas", Joseph', Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born July 10, 1832; married WIL- LARD HAGER, an undertaker in Athol.


Children (surname Hager):


i. HATTIE MARIA, married March 12, 1886, FRANK W. REYNOLDS.


Children (surname Reynolds):


1. CARL E., born April 27, 1887; died February 17, 1888.


647


HISTORY OF ATHOL


2. OLIVE MARIA, died September 27, 1946; married, June 20, 1906, EDWIN C. TEMPLE.


Children (surname Temple):


a. WAYNE ALBERT, born April 30, 1907; died August 2, 1911.


b. MILDRED ELLEN, born January 1, 1909; married November 20, 1925, Alfred D . Gallup.


c. HATTIE ELIZABETH, born August 16, 1914; married November 30, 1929, Vernon Hamlet.


d. EDWIN CARLETON, born March 25, 1914; married April 15, 1931, Vivian Flossie Evarts.


e. ROSCOE REYNOLDS, born September 14, 1919; married August 2, 1947, Dorothy Upham.


ii. GEORGE WILLARD, born in Spencer, 1863; married Mary V. Foskett, July 16, 1887.


Child: 1. HARRY G., resides in Concord, New Hampshire.


26. WALLACE® LORD (Ethan™, Jotham®, Thomas5, Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born November 22, 1857; died January 12, 1932, married May 12, 1881, Adelaide I. French. After leaving High School he worked for a time with his brother Lucien as a clerk in Athol Post Office but it soon be- came apparent, especially after the death of his brother Ethan, Jr. that he was sorely needed by his father in his various activ- ities especially in the grist mill, thus he took up his life-long task as Athol's miller. Because of changing economic condi- tions his saw mill yard was no longer filled with logs to be sawed and year by year the volume of grist which came to him to be milled grew much less. He demolished the old saw mill building an industrial plant in its place but he continued to operate the grist mill, mostly using western imported corn until within a few years of his decease. His widow still survives apparently in excellent health.


Children:


i. RUTH L.º, born July 20, 1883; married April 28, 1913, RALPH M. NASON.


Children (surname Nason):


1. EDWARD L., born August 13, 1915; married June 29, 1940, Shirley Post. Children: a. Laura Sue, born January 19, 1946; b. Martha Louise, born April 27, 1948.


2. ROBERT HEYWOOD, born October 3, 1917; mar- ried July 12, 1952, Mildred Taylor Dill; is employed by a drug concern in New Jersey.


3. MARJORY, born April 17, 1925; unmarried; a secretary.


ii. LILLIAN, born October 1, 1885; married September 7, 1912, HERBERT M. JOHNSON, Treasurer of Rodney Hunt Machine Co. and President Orange Co-operative Bank.


648


GENEALOGIES


Children (surname Johnson):


1. WALLACE LORD, born August 4, 1913; married, May 12, 1941, Juliet Mercier. Child: Nancy Joy, born February 12, 1949.


2. HERBERT M. JR., born November 18, 1916; mar- ried August 18, 1951, Arlene Field; is employed by the L. S. Starrett Co., Athol.


3. RICHARD FRENCH, born March 11, 1926; married May, 1952, Marilyn I. Shaw. Child: Bruce Alan, born March 13, 1953.


iii. MARION ISABEL, born November 11, 1891; married ROBERT HAZARD; divorced; no children; has a position with the Army in Washington, D. C.


27. HAROLD STOWELL" LORD (Fred Wyatt, Franklin G.", Gardiner®, Thomas", Joseph4, Joseph3, Thomas2, Robert1), born January 15, 1888; married at Hampton, New York, De- cember 29, 1917, MARY ELOISE DURFEE, born May 2, 1890. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1907; received the degree of B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology in 1911; was a Captain in World War I and is now a Major in the U. S. Army Reserve; is executive engineer with Hollingsworth & Whitney, paper manufacturers. Mrs. Lord was graduated from Troy Conference Academy in 1909.


Children:


i. MARY SOUTHWORTH10, born March 29, 1919; married June 6, 1942, VERNON SELM LINDAHL. She was gradu- ated from Cushing Academy in 1937; Wheelock College, 1941; B. S., Boston University, 1942.


Children (surname Lindahl):


1. ANN FLINT, born July 25, 1943. 2. JOHN HOWARD, born May 24, 1945. 3. JUDITH LORD, born May 5, 1947.


ii. ANN FLINT, born November 17, 1924; graduated from Lexington High School, Lexington, Mass., June 1942; Simmons College, June 1946; is now with the Connecticut Light and Power Company as editor of the employee publication.


28. GEORGE FRANK' LORD (Frank Wyatt®, Franklin G.7, Gardiner®, Thomas", Joseph4, Joseph 3, Thomas, Robert1), born August 7, 1897; married August 2, 1926, KATRINA WAIN- WRIGHT BITTINGER of Plymouth, born December 21, 1901. He was graduated from Athol High School in 1916; Dartmouth College, 1917; graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.) in 1921. During his school life he was in the U. S. service in World War I for a few months, and was later commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserve. He is secretary and treasurer of Wheeler & Taylor, Inc., Great Barrington, Mass. Mrs. Lord was graduated from Plymouth High School in 1919 and from Simmons College (B.S.) in 1923.


649


HISTORY OF ATHOL


Children (born in Hartford, Conn.):


i. MELISSA10, born December 2, 1927; married June 10, 1950, Dr. FREDERICK DARLINGTON MCCANDLESS, born at Princeton, March 28, 1921. She was graduated from Searles High School, Great Barrington, Mass., in 1945; B.S., Mt. Holyoke College, 1949; Columbia Uni- versity, 1951, O.T.R. Dr. McCandless was graduated from Cornell University Medical School in 1945; is instructor in psychiatry at Albany, New York, Medical College.


Child (surname McCandless): 1. TRINA, born January, 1953.


ii. FREDERICK WYATT, born June 15, 1930; graduated from Searles High School in 1947 and from Dartmouth College in 1951, cum laude. After attending Harvard Business School in 1951-2, he enlisted in the Navy serving some fifteen months attaining the rank of Ensign. He was discharged and re-entered the school where he is now completing his course.


The Moore Family


Many pioneers from England, Scotland, and Ireland bearing the name of Moore came to England. Among these was John Moore, the immigrant ancestor of many families in Mid- dlesex and Worcester Counties and western Massachusetts, who first bought land in Sudbury in 1642, and took the oath of fidelity on July 9, 1645. One of John Moore's descendants, in the sixth generation in America, was DANIEL MOORE, whose family settled in Athol.


DANIEL MOORE, born in Warwick, Mass., March 10, 1791; married (1) April 20, 1818, TRANCENA WRIGHT, born in Stoddard, New Hampshire, June 12, 1795, died in Orange, Mass., January 19, 1831; married (2) April 4, 1832, CZARINA GODDARD, born February 28, 1812, died in Tully, Mass., October 23, 1900.


Child (by first wife):


1. CHANDLER WRIGHT2, born May 11, 1819; married April 9, 1844, SUSAN KEYES, born in Conway, Mass., June 9, 1819. He was born on the old Harvey Goddard place near Red Stock Farm in Orange, but moved early in boy- hood with his parents to the farm on West Hill known as the Sentinel Elm Farm. This farm was in the Moore family for over 125 years, and was long carried on by Chandler W. Moore's youngest son, Frank.


When a youth, Chandler W. Moore went out to work, engaging at various times with Samuel Newhall in making brushes. with Henry Lee and Henry Fish in making shoes, and with A. D. Phillips at the Pequoig House. Here his liking for horses was given free scope through caring for the many stage coach horses passing through the town, and in 1844, three years before the opening of the Ver- mont & Massachusetts railroad, he entered on his long career in the livery stable business. The business was started in a shed on the west side of what is now Cass Block, at the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, and in


650


GENEALOGIES


1848 he purchased the barn then standing in the center of the junction of Main and Exchange Streets and moved it to its present location.


Mr. Moore's "Jewell" is a distinct and color-relic of the days of horse-drawn vehicles. Accommodating thirty per- sons besides the driver, it had high sides, a rolling dash, side seats, and a step in the back. The runners were bright yellow and the body brown or red, with the name "Jewell" painted in gold letters. This vehicle was used for sleighing parties to North Orange, Petersham Levees, and surrounding towns. The house adjoining the stable was built for Chandler Wright Moore by the late Charles W. Woodward, and at that time these were the only buildings on the street. In 1923 the house was razed to make room for the present Athol Co-operative Bank.


When his sons Henry and Warren arrived at ages to assist in the business, they were continuously with their father. Henry became an express messenger between Athol and Springfield, while for 35 years Warren was in charge of a summer stable at Petersham. The father and sons were in business for 70 years, and during this long period had the reputation of operating one of the largest and best stables in western Massachusetts. After the death of his father in 1900, Warren continued to operate the business for 15 years. At the opening of the old Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad in 1847, Chandler Wright Moore became the first express agent in Athol, holding this position for 46 years.


Children:


1. died young.


2. died young.


3. - died young.


4. DANIEL3, born in 1847; died in 1905, unmarried; was handicapped at an early age by scarlet fever, but was able to help about the stable; resided in his parents' home.


5. HENRY, born in 1850; died in 1935; married De- cember 31, 1880, EMMA J. KEYES of Charlemont, Mass., who died March 16, 1941, at her home 385 Exchange Street, Athol. This house was built by Henry Moore in 1911, and is now owned and oc- cupied by their only child, RUBY MAY, who married March 9, 1947, ALBERT EDISON DOWNING.


6. WARREN, born in 1855; died in 1915; married ADELIA C. KEYES of Charlemont, who died March 30, 1930; no children.


7. FRANK, born in 1857; died in 1937; married SARAH SWAZEY, born in Bethlehem, N. H .; died at Sentinel Elm Farm in 1896.


Child:


a. WILLIAM CHANDLER', died at Sentinel Elm Farm, October 14, 1928; married ETHEL LILIA DYER. Child: 1. MIRIAM ADELE, married at Fitzwilliam, N. H., March 6, 1953, Donald McHaffie.


651


HISTORY OF ATHOL


8. ELLA, born in 1864; died July 15, 1941; married November 19, 1889, JEFFERSON M. DREW, who died September 13, 1922.


Children (surname Drew): a. VERA, born July 24, 1893.


b. MARGERY, born November 11, 1895. Both daughters reside at Fleetwood Farm, Athol.


The Morse Family


Another family having a marked influence upon the life of Athol for over a century is the Morse family, who descended from Samuel Morse, who settled in Dedham in 1737. One of Samuel's descendants was William Morse, one of the early settlers in our town.


1. WILLIAM1 MORSE, born in 1738; died in Athol in 1830. He was one of the early settlers in the Bearsden Hills area, and is listed as a soldier in the Second French War.


Child, born in Athol:


i. PAUL2, bap. May 16, 1779; died January 25, 1841; mar- ried SALLY RICE of Ashby, and had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. In 1807 he acquired of James Humphrey, administrator of the estate of Kimball Wood, an area of land at the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets, where he established a tan-yard. Before his death the active control of this business passed to his son, Laban.


Children:


1. SUMNER RICE", born December 8, 1808; married Nancy Stratton, April 25, 1833. For some years he was a merchant in South Athol, at 1706 Main Street in Athol, and in Wendell. He was particularly active in the Methodist Church at South Athol and at the present Methodist Church in Athol.


2. 2. LABAN


3. GEORGE, born October 21, 1813; married Mary Sophia Proctor, November 6, 1835; was for some time engaged in the manufacture of boots at the building now numbered 1706 Main Street.


4. JOHN EDWIN, born May 12, 1817; married Eliza- beth Stratton and removed from Athol at an early age.


3. 5. CUSHING B.


6. CHARLES W., born July 1, 1825; married Hannah Cheney; was employed for many years in the Chickering piano factory in Boston.


2. LABAN® MORSE (Paul", William1), born January 30, 1812; died January 31, 1890; married April 16, 1838, ESTHER FISH, born January 25, 1812, died September 5, 1896, daughter of Samuel Fish, a pioneer of that family in Athol.


Before the death of Paul Morse in 1838, the active control of his tanyard business passed to his son, Laban, who carried


652


GENEALOGIES


it on successfully until the disastrous flood of December 18, 1845, swept his mill away. Laban Morse then turned his at- tention to the manufacture of cribs and other articles of furniture in a small building in the rear of his home at 32 Pleasant Street. Subsequently he acquired the Amsden factory on Mechanic Street, where, with his sons Leander B. and Frank F. Morse, he carried on the business successfully through the remainder of his life. He was active in the Athol Fire Department, served as a member of the Board of Selectmen, and in 1855 was a member of the Legislature. One of his great public services was his journey to New Bern, North Carolina, during the Civil War to aid in every way possible the soldiers from Athol who were in that conflict.


Children:


4. i. HENRY T.+, born January 11, 1840. 5. ii. LEANDER B., born March 29, 1842.


iii. FRANK F., born November 2, 1848; died April 1, 1936; married MARIA L. SMITH, May 19, 1872; died without issue.


3. CUSHING B.3 MORSE (Paulª, William1), born September 16, 1820; married JULIA E. MUNSELL, November 25, 1847; resided at the corner of Main and Spring Streets. He was en- gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes and in other activities.


Children:


1. MARY A.', born January 13, 1852; married CHARLES SANDERSON, March 11, 1869; removed to Amherst; died without issue.


ii. WALTER E., born December 24, 1863; married FLINTINA PECKHAM August 1, 1886; resided in the homestead.


Children:


1. PAULS, married Frances Sennenfelder; had a daugh- ter, Phyllis, who married Carlton F. Hayden, July 24, 1939, and had one child, Coleen.


2. PHILLIP; married; no children.


3. CLARA, married Charles Bevis, now deceased; re- sides in California. Child (surname Bevis): Charlene.


4. RODNEY, died of diphtheria at the age of seven or eight years.


5. CUSHING, shot accidentally when a child.


4. HENRY T.ª MORSE (Laban3, Paul", William1), born Jan- uary 11, 1840; died in Boston April 13, 1930, buried in Athol; married February 5, 1876, HELEN M. SIBLEY, died July 5, 1946. He was a soldier in the Civil War.


Child, born in Athol:


6. i. HENRY HOYT3, born June 2, 1877.


5. LEANDER B.4 MORSE (Laban3, Paul2, William1), born March 29, 1842; died in Athol, November 3, 1924; married November 22, 1868, MARTHA E. BROOKS, who died August


653


HISTORY OF ATHOL


12, 1937. He resided in Athol for his entire life and served as a soldier in the Civil War. He and his brothers, Henry T. and Frank F., were accomplished musicians.


Child, born in Athol:


7. SUMNER L.5, born June 24, 1871.


6. HENRY HOYT MORSE (Henry T.4, Laban3, Paul2, Wil- liam1), born in Athol June 2, 1877; married BARBARA STEB- BINS PARKER.


Children: i. PRISCILLA", born July 21, 1910; married EDWARD BUEHL. Children (surname Buehl):


1. FREDERICK HENRY 2. CAROLYN


ii. EDWARD BAKER, born November 28, 1911; married CLAIRE CREELMAN.


Children:


1. JANE ISABEL


2. BARBARA CLAIRE


7. SUMNER L." MORSE (Leander B.4 Laban3, Paul2, Wil- liam1), born in Athol June 24, 1871; married September 11, 1895, ANNA M. AMSDEN of Athol, daughter of Washington H. Amsden.


At the age of 15, after a year in High School, Sumner L. Morse went to work in Fay Bros.' general store, and in the following year became associated with his father in the furni- ture factory. Being endowed, like his ancestors, with a creative mind, he readily grasped the opportunity which this associa- tion afforded, some of his earliest patented inventions being the collapsible baby yard, the "Gem" swinging cradle, a fold- ing woven wire bottom crib, and an adjustable window venti- lator. Upon the death of his father, Sumner L. Morse became a partner with his uncle, Frank F. Morse, in the firm of L. Morse & Sons, and when, after a short time, the business was incorporated, he became its president. In 1936, after 50 years of business activity, he sold his interest to Robert E. Greenwood, then Mayor of Fitchburg. Retirment, however, was not to his liking, and after a few months of inactivity he established a furniture business in a large barn at the rear of his home, under the name of Sumner L. Morse Mfg. Co., where he is now making unique and novel furniture items.


The Oliver Family


Another family that came to America directly from the north of Ireland was the Oliver family. Four brothers came to Athol with their families, three of whom removed to other states.


654


GENEALOGIES


1. JOHN OLIVER, died in December, 1811, at the age of 93; married Mary He settled on Lyons Hill . He was one of the four captains from Athol who led the town's military companies during the War of the Revolution. Although it is possible that many men from Athol took part in Shays' Rebel- lion, John Oliver is the only person from this town who is recorded as having participated in that incident. He died during the great snow storm of 1811 and his grave is marked in the old Pleasant Street Cemetery.


Children:


2. i. AARON2, born September 15, 1748.


ii. JEMIMA, born April 7, 1751; married May 27, 1773, JOSIAH FORD.


Children (surname Ford):


1. FULLER, bap. August 2, 1775.


2. ZERVIA, bap. November 2, 1777.


3. MERCY, bap. November 11, 1779; died October 28, 1780.


4. HANNAH, bap. November 17, 1782.


iii. MOSES, born August 9, 1753; married November 30, 1780, LOIS WISWELL HUMPHREY, daughter of Athol's first minister, who died July 1, 1792.


Child:


1. CALVIN HUMPHREY3, born August 17, 1781; married March 27, 1805, Dolly Wood of Gardner; resided in Gardner and Stratton, Vermont.


Children:


a. Moses Warren3; a descendant, Joseph Keith Thornton, lives in Lamont, Pennsylvania. b. Sally.


iv. RACHEL, born September 15, 1755; died June 28, 1766.




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