History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 56

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292

USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890 > Part 56

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).

His life of over four-score years was fraught with the cares of military, civil and business duties which were incidental to the growth of the village. The salt works in his younger days, a grocery and fitting-out store on the shore for nearly half a century, and interests in the coasting and fishing trade, coupled with his social and civil re- lations, rendered his a busy life. His retiring nature led to the declination of proffered political preferment. Until the last few years of his life he was constantly engaged in some useful employment in which he was always considerate of the welfare of others. At his death the Yarmouth Register said: " David Matthews was a useful citi- zen, possessing a large heart full of kindness and sympathy for the poor and suffering. He was interested in the cause of religion and assisted greatly in sustaining the gospel. He was a peacemaker, de- lighting in promoting the best good of others in an unobtrusive man- ner. He had a kind word for children, and several would be with him when he was able to go out. His removal was a loss to the com- munity where he was so useful. 'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.'"

Seleck H. Matthews was born in 1819, and died in 1886. He was a son of Freeman, and a grandson of Ezekiel Matthews. Mr. Matthews was a master mariner, and for some years prior to his death he was superintendent of a steamship. He was first married to Rebecca Crowell, who died leaving one daughter, Rebecca H., and one son, Seleck H. In 1848 he married Lucy J., daughter of Apollos Pratt, M. D., who died in Yarmouth in 1860, aged eighty-three years. Mr. Matthews was a member of Howard Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a stew- ard of the South Yarmouth Methodist Episcopal church.

Isaac Myrick, son of Isaac and Temperance Myrick, was born in Brewster in 1792. He followed the sea in early life, running a packet from New York to Savannah for several years, after which he engaged in business in New York for a time, then wasa merchant in Yarmouth

-------

498

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

until he retired from active life. He married Lucy, daughter of Eben Sears, and had seven children, four of whom are living: Mary J., Lucy (Mrs. Oliver Crocker), Isaac, and Clara W., now the widow of Captain Winthrop Sears.

Rodman R. Nickerson, born in 1835, is a son of Crowell and Mary Nickerson, and grandson of Sylvanus Nickerson. He has been a mar- iner since sixteen years of age, with the exception of nine winters, when he was engaged in teaching school. He was married in 1861 to Permelia E., daughter of William and Azubah (Baker) White. They have had two sons, who died.

Sylvanus Nickerson, a son of Henry and Lucy (Shiverick) Nicker- son, was born in 1832, and has been a master mariner since he was twenty-one years of age. He was in the naval service four years dur- ing the war of the rebellion. He was married in 1855 to Mercy, daughter of Hersey Baker. They have three children: Henry A., Alfred H., and Grace V.

Elisha Parker, the youngest and only surviving child of Benjamin, and grandson of Jacob Parker, was born in 1814 in West Yarmouth, near Parker's river, which derives its name from the Parker family. Mr. Parker's mother was Elizabeth Crowell. He was a shoemaker by trade, and kept a shoe store at South Yarmouth until 1884, when he retired from business. During the last twenty years of his business life he was connected with a woolen mill at Falmouth, and supplied the stores on the Cape with the noted Falmouth jeans and kerseys. He was married in 1837 to Elizabeth Baker, who died. Two of their three sons are living: Edward K. and Silas B .; Benjamin H. died at the age of seventeen years. In 1860 he married his second wife, Mary A. Smith. Mr. Parker is a member of the South Yarmouth Methodist Episcopal church.

E. Dexter Payne, merchant at Yarmouth Port, was born at East- ham in 1840. He is a son of Elkanah K. and Mehitable P. (Knowles) Payne. Mr. Payne came to Yarmouth in 1854, where he was clerk in a store for ten years. Since 1865 he has kept a general store at Yar- mouth Port. He was one year in the war, in Company E, Fifth Massa- chusetts Volunteers, and is a member of Charles Chipman Post, G. A. R. He married Mary L. Gorham.

Charles E. Purrington was born in 1843 in New Bedford, Mass., and is a son of Nathaniel and Louisa A. (Brown) Purrington. Mr. Purrington has resided at South Yarmouth since 1885, and was con- nected with the grain store of Loring Fuller & Co. until 1890, when he became a member of the firm of Purrington & Small, succeeding Wing Brothers in the grocery business. He was married in 1882 to Lizzie B., daughter of Loring Fuller. Their children are: Wallace F. and Florence May.

---

Barnabas Seans

اعند عندبـ வழியே அதன்ஷன்பருவ

PRINT. E. BIERSTADT. N Y.

499

TOWN OF YARMOUTH.

BARNABAS SEARS, deceased, was in the lineage, direct, from Rich- ard Sears, who came with the last of the congregation of Leyden, landing at Plymouth, May 8, 1630. The tax rates of that plantation indicate that he was possessed of a large property. In 1643 a com- pany led by him passed through Mattacheese to Scargo hill and set- tled at what is now known as East Dennis. The descent was Richard, Silas, Joseph, Barnabas, Stephen, Stephen, and Barnabas, the subject of this sketch. Stephen, his father, born in 1765, married Sarah Gor- ham, had seven children and died in 1851. He was early at sea and was a thorough seafaring man. He was engaged in the fishing and coasting business during the war of 1812, was captured, shipwrecked, and encountered many reverses. During the war of 1812 he went to the Mediterranean to sell a cargo of fish. The Spanish seized his vessel and cargo, sent him to America, landing him near Wilming- ton, N. C., to return home on foot.

Barnabas Sears, born July 3, 1790, married Hannah Crocker, who was born November 13, 1792, and died January 7, 1879. Their six children were: John K., born September 11, 1816; Barnabas, Septem- ber 13, 1818; Stephen, July 15, 1822; Seth, September 27, 1825; Eliza- beth, November 18, 1828; and David, born July 6, 1832. Seth died August 8, 1848, and the remaining five reside at South Yarmouth in five adjacent homes. Of these John K., the oldest, lives farthest west, and east of him are the other four, by a curious coincidence, in the order of their births, to David, the youngest, who lives farthest east. These are so many living branches in the wide-spreading tree of which Richard Sears is the trunk.

The early life of Barnabas Sears was spent at sea, shipping at the age of nine in his father's vessel, he and another boy taking a man's share. About 1820 he was induced to stop ashore to engage in the then lucrative business of salt manufacturing at South Yarmouth. He was most successful on the sea, rapidly rising to master. He manufactured salt eighteen years, and passed the remainder of his days in the cultivation of his farm. He enjoyed the full confidence of his townsmen, but would never accept any trust that would inter- fere with his social and business relations. His life was one of marked loyalty to truth and honesty, and his ready sympathy and genial nature won for him many friends who sincerely mourned his death, which occurred at the homestead, July 17, 1875.

JOHN K. SEARS .- This enterprising citizen of South Yarmouth is the oldest son of Barnabas Sears, whose genealogy is given in the preceding biography. He was born September 11, 1816, and passed nearly seventeen of the first years of his life at home, in acquiring a common school education and assisting his parents. Instead of a love for the sea, his mind early turned to mechanics, and at seventeen he

500

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

went to Nantucket to learn the carpenters' trade. At twenty-one he was a master builder and was in business for himself, which he con- tinued there until 1850. He was married March 24, 1839, to Sarah, the youngest daughter of the six children of Reuben Burdett-a whaleman of Nantucket, and later, master of a packet, who passed his last years with Mr. and Mrs. John K. Sears, and died aged eighty- eight years.

The great fire of 1846 interrupted the business of Mr. Sears at Nantucket, and after a strong desire to visit California, from which he was restrained, he returned to South Yarmouth in 1850. The seeming need of a mill at his place at South Yarmouth induced him with his brother Barnabas, to erect. in 1854, a commodious building in which planing, sawing and grinding were done for the community. House building was at the same time extensively carried on and he now points with pride to his own and many other beautiful residences of which he was the master builder. In 1865, the planing works were discontinued, and in 1869 the building was removed to the yard at Hyannis, where he had purchased the lumber business of Samuel Snow. This business was at once greatly enlarged, additional build- ings were erected, and in 1874 a branch yard was established at Mid- dleboro, which is continued under the name of J. K. & B. Sears. An- other branch lumber yard was established in 1882, at Woods Holl, the particulars of which, with that of Hyannis, are fully given in the histories of those villages.

The active, progressive business nature of Mr. Sears has precluded all desire to hold official trusts, but in 1860, and again in 1861, as a true exponent of republican principles, he consented to represent his district in the legislature, since which time he has peremptorily declined all honors. Wherever he has resided he has taken a lead- ing interest in the Sunday schools. The Methodist church of his vil- lage now enjoys both his liberal material, and spiritual aid. Broad in his views he has sought to do his duty toward God and toward man, and the impression he has made upon his fellow men is that of a life grounded upon honest principles. Having no children of his own he has filled the position of a parent, in his munificence to those of others.

BARNABAS SEARS .- This citizen of South Yarmouth was born Sep- tember 13, 1818. He is the second son of Barnabas Sears, deceased, with whose genealogy the reader of the preceding pages is familiar. Unlike most lads of the Cape, Barnabas turned his mind to mechanics instead of the sea. After such educational advantages as his own village afforded he went to Nantucket at the age of seventeen as an apprentice to the carpenter trade, and there for a short time he attend- ed an evening school. At the age of twenty-one he returned to South

John The Seas

PRINT. E. BIERSTADT, 4

501

TOWN OF YARMOUTH.

Yarmouth, but was induced to spend the subsequent season on the island before he made a permanent residence in his native place. With his brother, John K., he engaged in the building and planing mill business as has been mentioned in the village histories of South Yarmouth and Hyannis. In the fall of 1873 he, with his older brother, as J. K. & B. Sears, established a lumber yard at Middleboro, where Barnabas removed, remaining there until 1887, when he returned, leaving the business with his youngest son, Henry W. Sears, who continues it.

Mr. Sears has been three times married; first to Ruth H. Crowell, daughter of Rev. Simeon Crowell, whose portrait appears at page 492. They had four children, three of whom died in infancy. Simeon C., then the only survivor of his mother's branch of an illustrious family, met an untimely death on board the ship Fleetwing, off Cape Horn. He was only sixteen when, against the wishes of his parents, he made his first voyage with Captain David Kelley, and during a snow storm fell from the main yard. Twelve days after his fall his body was con- signed to the waters of the Pacific. By his death, that branch of the Crowell family has become extinct. The wife and mother died Octo- ber 13, 1850. Mr. Sears' second marriage was in October, 1852, to Deborah M., daughter of Captain William and Lydia Clark, of Brewster. She died April 22, 1885, leaving three children: Isaiah C., who was born in 1853 and married Sarah P., daughter of Timothy Crocker; Henry W., who was born in 1869, and married Martha, daughter of James and Lucy Pickens, of Middleboro; and Etta Frances Sears, born 1866. The present Mrs. Barnabas Sears, to whom he was mar- ried May 2, 1886, was Sarah H., daughter of Hatsel and Jerusha Cros- by, and widow of Edwin F. Doane. She has one son, Walter H. Doane.

Mr. Sears has persistently declined to hold office, prefering the social relations of life to the strife of party. He is a republican politi- cally, with a strong tendency to promote the cause of temperance wherever an opportunity is presented. He has been earnest and for- ward in that cause as well as in every other good work. He is a member of the Middleboro Congregational church, but earnestly supports the religious societies of his village. In 1849 he erected his present fine residence, the subject of the accompanying illustration, where he is passing the twilight of his well-spent days in the quiet enjoyment of the association of brothers and sisters and in the full confidence of the entire community.

STEPHEN SEARS, the third son of Barnabas Sears, deceased, was born July 15, 1822. During his boyhood he improved the educational advantages afforded him, early developing a love for mechanics and kindred arts. At sixteen years of age he went to sea, where he was

502

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

steadily employed until 1848, and later he acted for thirteen months as first officer on Philadelphia steamers. On the 16th of April, 1846, he married Henrietta Adelia, daughter of Andrew and Laura (Leon- ard) Hull, of Willington, Conn., married in 1825, and of whose seven children she and one brother are the sole survivors. Dea. Andrew Hull died May 5, 1879; his wife in 1850.

Since Mr. Sears retired from the sea he has constantly filled some trust connected with the social or civil interests of his town. He was teacher of the seminary at Harwich four years, and taught fifteen in grammar schools, the last four at Newport, R. I. He was the agent ten years for New England for the educational works of Harper, Ap- pleton and Sheldon & Co. He was president of the county Teachers' Association five years. In his social relations his usefulness is no less marked. He has been a superintendent of Sunday schools thirty years of his life, and, although really, with his wife, a member of Doctor Bates' Methodist Episcopal church of Boston, he now superin- tends the school of the Baptist church, South Yarmouth, and renders to that society his spiritual and material aid. For five years he was president of the Cape Cod Musical Association, and has been other- wise largely interested in the libraries, lodges and societies of his town and county.

In civil and municipal affairs his worth is acknowledged by his re- election. He acts on the school committee, and of the board of select- men has been the chairman for six years. His labors are manifold, yet accomplished with that precision and sound judgment which characterize him.

Of his six children, four daughters have died: Hannah Elizabeth. born October 11, 1852, died May 29, 1862; Henrietta Adelia Hull, Sep- tember 26. 1855, died January 17, 1856; Sarah Leonard, April 26, 1857, died April 4, 1858; and Mary Pollard, who was born June 5, 1860, and died May 29, 1862. The only surviving daughter, Laura Helen, mar- ried James Gordon Hallett, December 6, 1871, and they have two children-Marietta Sears, aged thirteen, and James Gordon, aged seven years. The son, Stephen Hull Sears, M. D., married Marianna B., daughter or D. P. W. Parker and Angeline F. Bearse of Barn- stable, and their children are: Stephen Hull, aged seven; Henrietta Frances, five; and Laura Helen, aged four years.

Among the citizens of Yarmouth none are more identified with the welfare and prosperity of the community than he. In every ob- ject for the good of society his labor and means are employed, and he commands the respect of his townsmen for his ready skill in mechan- ics, his undoubted integrity in municipal affairs, his liberal benefac- tions, and his symmetrical social and religious life.

PAINT. E. BIERSTADT, N. Y.

503

TOWN OF YARMOUTH.

James F. Sears, born in 1834, is the youngest and only surviving son of James, grandson of James, and great-grandson of James Sears. Mr. Sears' mother was Phebe Lewis, who died September 25, 1889, aged eighty-five years, nine months and fourteen days. Mr. Sears has been a master mariner since 1862. He was married in 1856 to Sophia S., daughter of Francis and Rozetta Small.

NATHANIEL STONE SIMPKINS .-- Nathaniel S. Simpkins was born in Brewster, Mass., January 8, 1796. He was the eldest son of Rev. John and Olive (Stone) Simpkins, and grandson of Dea. John Simp- kins, of Boston. The Rev. John Simpkins graduated from Harvard College in 1786, married a daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Stone, the min- ister of the first church at Harwich. His son Nathaniel, received an Academical education, and was trained to business pursuits. He en- gaged for a few years, in the book-selling and stationery business in Boston, and established the " County Book Store " in Barnstable, for many years the only one of the kind in the County.

Mr. Simpkins was the founder of two Cape newspapers. In 1835 he established the Barnstable Journal, which he soon placed on a pay- ing basis, and it continued to succeed during the three or four years of his management. In 1836, in connection with four others, he es- tablished the Yarmouth Register, being one of its proprietors and its business manager and publisher, for about two years. Nearly forty- five years ago he was engaged in fitting out and managing fishing vessels at Yarmouth Port. He purchased the wharf, store and land- ing place on the premises, which something like two centuries before had been owned by Capt. Nicholas Simpkins, who in his day was in command of the Castle in Boston harbor, who for a few years was a resident here, and who sold to Andrew Hallet, in 1645, his lands in this town. Mr. Simpkins was a direct descendant of Nicholas, but at the time of coming into possession of this property was not aware that it had ever been held by his ancestor.

Mr. Simpkins was a member of the Massachusetts House of Rep- resentatives, in the years 1836, 1850 and 1851. He was one of the earliest advocates and promoters of the Hoosac Tunnel enterprise, and voted for the first bill passed in favor of that project. He was for many years a director of the First National Bank of Yarmouth, and also a director of the Cape Cod Railroad until it was merged with the Old Colony Railroad. In these positions he proved a prudent, faithful and efficient guardian of the interests confided to his care. In his private dealings he was careful, pains-taking, scrupulous in fulfilling his engagements and kindly in his bearing to those with whom he came in contact.

Mr. Simpkins was one of the first members of the Swedenborgian church of Yarmouth, and was efficient in his aid to the local as well

504

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

as the general organization. By his union with Eliza Thacher of Yarmouth, five children were born, who arrived at mature age, viz: Charles H., Mary, John, George W., and Nathaniel Stone. jr. John and Nathaniel Stone were prominent and successful business men in New York, both being especially identified in the Calumet and Hecla Mining Copper Company. John died in 1870, and Nathaniel S., jr., in 1883. Of the surviving sons Charles H. Simpkins is engaged in busi- ness in San Francisco and was one of the original pioneers of 1849. George W. Simpkins resides in St. Louis and occupies in summer, the old homestead in Yarmouth Port, which belonged to his father.

George H. Snow, was born in 1849, in Harwich; is a son of Caleb and Laurietta (Smith) Snow, and grandson of Laban Snow. He has followed the sea since 1861, and since 1877 has been master of vessels. He is a member of Newport Marine Society and a member of the Masonic order. He married Anna T., daughter of Joseph Robinson, and has one son. Herbert R.

William N. Stetson, born in 1855, is a son of John Stetson. M. D., of West Harwich, and a grandson of John Stetson, of Bridgewater. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Barnabas and Harrah Sears, of South Yarmouth. Mr. Stetson has been traveling salesman for Israel W. Monroe & Co., since 1879. He was married in 1870 to Lucy J., daughter of D. P. W. Parker. They have four children: Elizabeth P., Angeline F., Monroe B. and William N .. jr. MIr. Stetson is a mem- ber of Howard Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also of Sylvester Baxter Chap- ter, and is a member of the New England Commercial Travelers' Association.

HON. CHARLES F. SWIFT .- This respected citizen of Yarmouth traces his descent in the ninth generation from William Swift, of Bocking, Eng., who came over in the first expedition with Win- throp's company, was in Watertown in 1632, and in Sandwich in 1638. Charles F. Swift was born in Falmouth, June 18, 1825, and received his education in the common school and academy of his native town. At the age of fourteen he entered a printing office, still keeping up his studies, and in 1847 became associate editor of the Yarmouth Register, of which he has been editor since 1850. With the many cares of an editorial life, during his years of service he has written over 5,000 columns of newspaper matter. published one book, and delivered many lectures and public addresses. Nor has he been idle in affairs of the body social and politic. The first ten years of its existence he was president of the Yarmouth Library Association, has been president of the Cape Cod Historical Society since its or- ganization: two years president of the Barnstable County Agricul- tural Society; was collector of customs for Barnstable district from 1861 to 1875, with only four months interruption; and in 1859 filled

r ---

Nath. S Simpkins

一

505

TOWN OF YARMOUTH.

a vacancy of several months in the office of register of probate. His first election to the office of treasurer of the county was in 1851. to which he was three time re-elected. In 1857-58 he was sent to the state senate, where he served on the committee on fisheries, election laws and the libraries, and was appointed chairman of the joint spe- cial committee on the pilotage laws. In 1860 he was a member of the executive council of the state. Later, in 1880 and 1881, he was the representative of the third district of the county in the legisla- ture, serving both years as chairman on the part of the house of the committee on prisons and on the library, and the last term he served on the joint special committee for the revision of the laws of the Commonwealth. Thus for over three-score years has Mr. Swift been a prominent factor in the welfare of the county. and since the forma- tion of the republican party one of its lights in Barnstable county. The wielding of a ready pen, being thoroughly conversant with poli- tical and local affairs, and withal his being a genial and obliging friend, has made Mr. Swift a popular and useful man in the county.

In 1852 he was married to Sarah A., daughter of John Munroe, of Barnstable, and they have seven children: Hannah C., wife of Frank E. Chase, of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Francis M., in the railway mail service; Fred. C., counsellor-at-law; Theodore W., in the railway mail service; Caroline M., a teacher; Sarah M., a stenographer; and Charles WV., at present assistant editor of the Register.

ELISHA TAYLOR .- The ancestors of this citizen of South Yarmouth were early settlers on the north side of the Cape, and in the growth and wealth of the town were an important element. Abner Taylor, one of their descendants, settled later at West Yarmouth, where he became the proprietor of a large tract of land. He married Ruth Rogers, and of their children two survive: Elisha Taylor and the wife of Captain Albert Chase, of Hyannis.

Elisha Taylor was born February 1, 1809, at West Yarmouth, where he received the educational advantages of his town and the academy at Sandwich. He was married November 5, 1831, to Sophia, one of the eight children of Timothy and Polly Crowell. Besides her, Cap- tain Elbridge Crowell, of Boston, and Mrs. Mary Jenkins, of South Yarmouth, are the only other survivors of this branch of an ancient family. While young, Elisha Taylor placed his mark high in the road to affluence and distinction, and steadily toward the goal he ad- vanced. He was active in commercial and civil affairs until com- pelled by physical infirmity to desist.

He was president of the Marine Insurance Company of South Yar- mouth seven years; selectman twenty-five years; justice of the peace twenty-eight years, besides other minor offices, and refused to serve in these positions longer because of his infirmity. He has ever taken

506

HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

a keen interest in public affairs, espousing the cause of the republican party; by careful reading was always abreast the moving world, and in 1SS was still a subscriber to nine different journals. In his re- ligious preferences he is a Congregationalist, but Mrs. Taylor being an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he has given that society his support, contributing at one time, wholly or in greater part, to the erection of what is familiarly called Taylor's Chapel.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 56

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: New York : Blake Number of Pages: 1292

Author: Deyo, Simeon L., ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: New York : Blake
Number of Pages: 1292