History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 60

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 60

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The citizens here went across to South Yarmouth for their mail until February 22, 1833, when Luther Child was appointed postmaster and kept the office at his house. Salmon Crowell, jr., in June, 1853, was appointed, and also kept the office at his residence. In 1861, Zadoc Crowell was made postmaster, keeping it in his store by his dwelling, until Salmon Crowell was re-appointed in 1872. He removed the office to the building that was burned in 1884. In 1881 Hiram D. Loring was made postmaster and kept the office at his store until 1886, when in May he was succeeded by Allen S. Crowell. The office then was moved to the harness shop of S. F. Baker. Mr. Crowell was postmaster three years, being succeeded in May, 1889, by James H. Jenks, jr. Mail is received twice daily, from the South Dennis railroad station.

In the spring of 1888 a lodge of Royal Good Fellows was organized

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with sixty members. The society meets monthly in Chase's Hall, and now numbers seventy-five members. Sylvester F. Baker was the chief officer for 1889, and Harvey Jenks, secretary. A lodge of Good Templars was organized October 16, 18SS, with twenty-five members, which in- creased within one year, to ninety-four. These, with the usual W. C. T. U., and society of Christian Endeavor in connection with the church, constitute the present social organizations. In 1854 a lodge of Masons was organized here, called the Benjamin Franklin. Meetings were held for several years in the second story of what is now John Freeman's dwelling, but so many members were sea-faring men that the lodge thought best to surrender its charter and affiliated with Mount Horeb Lodge of Dennis and Harwich.

Doric Hall was in 1872 called Union Hall. A stock company pur- chased it in 1879, moved it to its present site, refitted it, and gave it the present name.

Bass river is navigable to West Dennis by coasters, which greatly aids in the transportation of coal, flour, grain, lumber and heavy merchandise. Hiram Loring for many years kept a packet running to and from New York, in his own business, and James Crowell now keeps and runs a packet to supply his coal yard at West Dennis. Others there are similarly engaged.

Denuis Port is easterly from South Dennis, and includes the southeast portion of the town. It once was designated as Crocker's Neck, but has been known as Dennis Port, for about thirty years, since it was so named, by Thomas Howes, the first postmaster of the village. The citizens had received their mail at West Harwich, but when this became disadvantageous they petitioned for an office, which was granted. The village is adjacent to West Harwich, the main street of both forming one continuous village. Two streets pass southerly to the sound and along these are business places. At the shore, from these streets are two substantial piers for the coasting, fishing and mercantile business.

This village was properly called Dennis Port, for it has the best maritime advantages of any of the villages of Dennis; and in the fish- ing and coasting business it now excels. The oldest of the wharves, the westerly one, was built in 1849 by the grandfather and father of Samuel S. Baker, the present owner. The other wharf was built in 1SSS and belongs to the Dennis Port Fishing Company, of which J. P. Edwards is the representative. The company started in 1885 with four new schooners, built at Essex, and from this wharf and the fitting store kept by Mr. Edwards, three of the vessels make trips in mackerel fishing and to the Banks for cod. In 1879 Nehemiah Wixon built and opened a grocery store on the street leading to the sound.

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Dennis Port has been an active fishing station since the last cen- tury, closely related with West Harwich. As early as 1810 we find a good old-fashioned store here, kept by John Payson, in a lean-to of his residence, on what is now Main street. J. P. Wixon has his old account books, which show the quaint and usual sales of rum, molas- ses, tobacco and wool-the dry goods of that day. Joshua Wixon, in 1833, opened a store of general goods and groceries, which he con- tinued until his death in 1878. Barnabas Wixon also had, in 1833, on the east side of the village a store which was continued a few years until his decease. In 1856, J. P. Wixon, son of Joshua, built the store he now occupies, and after a few years discontinued the sale of dry goods and boots and shoes, continuing only the grocery department. Thomas Howes has kept a general store for the past thirty-one years in a building near his residence, Main street.

Among the later places of business, and prominent, is the store of Joseph B. Kelley, which he built and opened in 1879 on the corner of Main and Ocean streets. He had formerly been actively engaged in a flouring and grist mill, which he, with Benjamin P. Sears, Joseph K. Baker and Joseph Baker, erected in 1862 near the school house. Wheat was shipped from New York and the enterprise was given a fair trial, but was discontinued in 1865, and the building transformed into dwellings. At Dennis Port, like many points where the water communication is superior, grist mills seem to be things of the past. Even an old wind mill that Reuben Burgess ran for grinding corn, was sold and transferred to Harwich about 1874.

The largest and most extensive place of business is Ginn's Ba- zaar. Doctor Ginn in 1880 built a drug store for himself, and over it opened St. Elino Hall, and in 1889 he erected a large block of five stores. This block is shown on a page of illustrations with the Doc- tor's residence in Harwich. Three of the stores were at once occu- pied by J. B. Baker, D. Chase, jr., and L. S. Burgess & Co., respect- ively; and the entire second story was converted into a public hall, a saloon and offices.

The general store of Samuel S. Baker, near the wharf, has quite a history. J. K. Baker & Co. built the first store there in 1854 and con- tinued business until 1870, when it was burned. It was re-built at once, and Baker, Ellis & Co. carried it on seven years, and were suc- ceeded by others until 1881, when it was used as a mackerel canning factory for three years. In 1884 Samuel S. Baker purchased the build- ing, and in January, 1885, he added coal, lumber and grain to his for- mer business, transporting his goods in his own vessels. His coal yard is the only one at Dennis Port, Snow & Rogers having discon- tinued theirs in 1885, after a business of several years on the street. Besides Mr. Baker's at the wharf, Alonzo Capron keeps a lumber yard

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in the village. Ebenezer Kelley engaged in the lumber trade in 1871. He died September 10, 1879, and this branch was closed out by his son, O. E. Kelley, who continues the trade in hardware stores, paints and house-furnishing goods.

The fishing interest has greatly decreased for several years past, yet it is hopefully carried on. In the summer of 1888 the shad re- turned to this shore in great numbers for the first time in many years, and it is thought that one thousand barrels were taken.

Thomas Howes, still in business, was first postmaster, appointed July 28, 1862. He was succeeded by Foster Rogers in 1883, and I. W. Peterson in 1885. Foster Rogers is the present postmaster.

The village sustains several social societies. The Royal Society of Good Fellows-Freedom Assembly, No. 181-was organized July 6, 1SSS, with fifty-three members. Samuel S. Baker has been the ruling officer since, and O. E. Kelley the secretary. The Good Templars established a lodge here May 26. 1887, with eight members, which, within two years, has been increased to 116. Albert C. Kelley was the first presiding officer, and Nellie P. Sears the first secretary. The Citizens Mutual Aid Association has a membership of 222. The society is what its name implies, with the usual life insurance feature. The officers for 1890 are: president, E. B. Joy; vice-president, Nehemiah Wixon; secretary, Joshua Pierce; treasurer, Thomas Howes; and a board of twenty-six directors, including some of the leading men of Dennis and Harwich.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Harrison G. Alexander was born in 1815, in Hyannis. Hisfather, Sylvanus, a sea captain, came from Plymouth to Hyannis, where he married Harriet, daughter of Sylvanus Hinckley. Harrison G. has been a carpenter since sixteen years of age. He was married in 1837 to Rosanna, daughter of Cornelius Baker. Of their six children three are living: George, Harriet and Elizabeth.

William Allister was born in 1829, in Liverpool, England. He went to sea at the age of nineteen, and two years later settled in Den- nis, where, since that time he has been a carpenter. He was married in 1852 to Susan, daughter of Edward and Joanna (Crowell) Baker. Their children are: George H. and William F. Mr. Allister is a mem- ber of Mount Horeb Lodge, also of Sylvester Baxter Chapter.

Alexander Baker, son of Sylvester Baker, and his wife Jemima, daughter of Elisha Baker, was born in 1826. He began to go to sea at the age of nine years, continuing until 1880, the last thirty-five years of the time being captain. He was married in 1850 to Mary, daughter of David and granddaughter of David Lewis. Her mother was Jane, daughter of Joshua Crowell. They have lost two sons and

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

have one daughter living-Almena. now Mrs. D. H. Perry, who has two daughters: Minnie R. and Eva L.

Browning K. Baker, jr., born in 1839, is a son of Browning K., grandson of Heman, and great-grandson of Judah Baker. He began going to sea at the age of fourteen, and since twenty-two years of age has been captain of coasting schooners, and is now a member of the Marine Society of Boston. He was married, in 1870, to Abbie F., daughter of Obed Baxter. They have four children: Browning K., Adelbert, John G., and Ralph H.

Calvin F. Baker, born in 1840. is a son of Calvin and grandson of Zenas Baker. His mother was Polly, daughter of Matthias Taylor, of Chatham. Mr. Baker, the only survivor of seven children, followed the sea from nine years of age until 1883, and for the last twenty-one years was master of coasting and foreign vessels. He was married, in 1861, to Sarah B., daughter of James Snow. Of their seven children three are living : James T., George A. and Allen S. Mr. Baker is a member of Mount Horeb Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of the Boston Marine Society.

FRANCIS BAKER AND HIS DESCENDANTS .- On the 17th of June, 1641, the marriage of Francis Baker to Isabel Twining, of Yarmouth, estab- lished, in the Nobscusset territory, a family destined to play an im- portant part in the affairs of the infant settlement, and the town of Dennis, of which it became a part. He was then thirty years of age, and probably had lived at Boston since the good ship Planter, in 1635, brought him from his birthplace. in Hartfordshire, Eng., to that port. Sixteen days before his marriage the Plymouth court gave him per- mission to take in Old Yarmouth " any land not already occupied." Under this authority they settled near Follen's pond-at the head of Bass river-when the first white man's house at Nobscusset was less than two years old. Here they lived-he until 1696 and she until 1706-rearing a family of eight children. Their descendants are scat- tered from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.

The fourth of their six sons was Daniel Baker, born September 2, 1650, who, on May 27, 1674, married Elizabeth Chase. While some of his brothers and nephews found homes in other parts of New Eng- land and the West, others perpetuated the family name on the Cape. Thus far in the development of what is now Dennis the settlements were chiefly on the north side; but Daniel and his wife made their home to the southward, where he built the original part of what is now the oldest building on the south side of the town, and which has long been known as the Judah Baker house. The second son of Dan- iel and Elizabeth Baker was Samuel, who was born in 1676, and on the 30th of July, 1702, married Elizabeth Berry. Their oldest son was Judah, born August 19, 1705, was married February 15, 1727, to

How's Baker

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Marcy Burgess, and died April 14, 1794. She died January 25, 1795. His grave is by that of his wife in the old cemetery near the South Dennis depot. Timothy Baker, born April 21, 1732, whose descend- ants, including John and Joshua, the Boston merchants, have mostly lived at Hyannis, was their oldest son. Their second son. Barnabas, was born February 23, 1734, removed to Maine, and became the pro- genitor of a numerous family. The third son of Judah and Marcy Baker, born March 23, 1743, bore his father's name, and lived in the ancestral home above mentioned, departing this life September 29, 1810. His wife, whom he married in February 1765, was Mary Look, of Marthas Vineyard. She was born September 3, 1744, and died July 29, 1810.

It is not our purpose to trace their eleven children and their nu- merous descendants, except to notice their second son, Judah, who remained at the homestead, and, with some of his descendants. main- tained their identity with the town of Dennis, although four of his six sons settled in the city of Boston. This Judah, the third of that name in the direct line, is better distinguished by the title of Captain, which alludes to his relation to the militia during the war of 1812, as well as to his command of vessels. He was born October 2, 1771, and on March 6, 1798, married Mercy Howes, of North Dennis, born March 18, 1779, she being in direct line from Thomas Howes of 1639. Captain Judah was an important character in his time, and was edu- cated beyond the average of his day. He taught others the art of navigation, and was himself a successful master mariner. On land he was a practical surveyor, and in a day when the average seaman was not so well educated as now, he was often useful in the commu- nity in adjusting the accounts of their voyages. He was drowned in Vineyard sound June 10, 1830. His wife died October 7, 1865. They had six sons and four daughters, of whom Philander is the only sur- vivor. Their oldest son, Howes Baker, was born September 12, 1801, and at the age of twenty-two married Persis Allen, of Harwich, born January 21, 1803. She was a daughter of Elisha, and granddaughter of John Allen, whose father, Rev. Allen, a Scotchman, once pastor of a church in Salem, was lost at sea on a voyage to Edinburgh. This Howes Baker followed the sea from boyhood until his early death- October 30, 1849. His children were nine daughters and two sons- Captain Howes Baker, now of South Dennis, and Alpheus H. Baker, of Brooklyn, N. Y. These eleven children were born near the his- toric old house, on land that belonged to their ancestors since previ- ous to 1680.

Howes Baker, the oldest son, a descendant through his mother from Stephen Hopkins, of the Mayflower, was born there February S, 1828, and here his early years and first school days were passed; then

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

until eighteen years of age he had the advantages of other schools at Brunswick, Me., and Andover, Mass .; but in March of 1846 he com- menced a sea-faring life, and from 1850 was for six years in command of various vessels. He then went into business in Philadelphia, where he remained until January, 1859, when he removed to New York city, and with William Crowell, of Dennis, formed the firm of Baker & Crowell, ship chandlers, grocers and general commission merchants. In February, 1871, this firm was dissolved, and Captain Baker embarked in a shipping business and general trade in the same city, until ill health led to his retirement in 1880, since which time he has lived retired at his native village, where his widowed mother and his only surviving sister, Persis, reside.

EZRA HOWES BAKER .- Judah Baker, of South Dennis, a descendent of Francis Baker, married March 6, 1798, Mercy Howes, of North Dennis, a descendent of Thomas Howes. Their third son was Ezra Howes Baker, named for his mother's brother, born on August 17, 1811. When ten years of age, he began his seafaring life with his father, and at the age of sixteen was put in charge of a schooner, and sent to the coast of Maine to buy a cargo of lumber.

On January 31, 1832, he married Esther May Hinckley, of Barn- stable, making his home in South Dennis. He followed the sea, buy- ing and selling his own cargoes, until 1838, when he moved to Boston and entered into partnership with Alpheus Hardy, of Chatham. under the firm name of Hardy & Baker. Charles J. Morrill, of Boston, became, in 1845, a member of the firm, which was then known as Hardy, Baker & Morrill. In 1848 Mr. Hardy withdrew from the con- cern, which was thereafter known as Baker & Morrill; Mr. Baker's son, Ezra H. Baker, jr., becoming a partner in 1863, from which time the concern remained unchanged until Mr. Baker's death.

Under its several names this firm was actively engaged in many branches of foreign and domestic shipping trade, and was a consider- able owner of ships. In the early days of its existence it did a very large corn business, and later, entered into trade with the East Indies, China, South America, San Francisco, and Mediterranean ports. As the shipping business gradually declined, the firm disposed of its ves- sels and became interested in several of the pioneer western railroads, notably the Union Pacific, of which Mr. Baker was always an earnest supporter, and of which he was a director at the time of his death. "Captain " Baker, as he was generally called, was distinguished as a business man, for great energy and sagacity. He never wished to re- main idle, and his business interests were always widely extended; but, if this active spirit sometimes led him to attempt more than would seem prudent to many people, his strong courage always carried him through the most trying times in safety, though sometimes with loss.

In Bani

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His early education was acquired at the common schools, which he was able to attend in winter only, after having reached the age of ten years; but, being fond of reading, he, in later years, made up to a great extent for his lack of opportunities as a boy. He was kind, generous and unassuming, and his sense of right and wrong was de- veloped to an unusual degree; as a consequence, his business trans- actions were conducted on a higher plane than is generally considered necessary in matters of dollars and cents. His religion was expressed in his daily life, and his uniformly manly, upright and genial bearing won the affection as well as the respect of his associates, to whom his sudden death was the cause of genuine grief.

He died at his home in South Boston, January 28, 1876, of pneu- monia, after an illness of only a few days, and was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery. His wife died July 25, 1850. Their children who reached maturity, were: Ezra H., jr., Esther H., Helena M. (Kent), and Sarah C. (Barstow).

JOSEPH K. BAKER, JR .- Joseph Kelley Baker was the eighth in the line of descent from Francis Baker, who was born in Great St. Albans, England, in 1611, came to Yarmouth soon after the settlement, and married Isabel Twining, of that town, it being the first marriage there of record. He settled on the eastern side of Bass river, near Follen's pond, and died in 1696, at the age of eighty-five, being one of the last survivors of the first comers. The line of descent is as follows: Francis', John', Peter3, Richard', Ulysses', Richard6, Joseph K.', Joseph K., jr." The first Joseph K. Baker, who was born in 1801 and died in 1870, was extensively engaged in fitting and managing vessels for the fisheries. He was a member of the house of representatives from Dennis in 1845 and 1846, and of the board of selectmen, in the years 1855, 1856 and 1857.

Joseph K. Baker, the youngest son of the above named and Sa- brina (Hall) Baker, was born in Dennis Port October 8, 1827. His education was acquired in the common schools up to his tenth year, after which time for several years, he had three months' tuition in these schools and the academy at West Harwich. At nine years of age he commenced going to sea in the summers, continuing until he was nineteen years of age, when he was employed in his father's business, packing and curing fish. In 1850 he became a partner with his father, under the firm name of J. K. Baker & Son. In 1855 he became a partner in the firm of R. Baker, jr. & Co., in the ship chand- lery and grocery business. In 1860 he bought out the latter firm, and continued the business in all its branches, owning and fitting about twenty-five vessels, until the year 1870, when the firm of Baker, Ellis & Co. was formed, of which he was the senior partner, and which con- tinued in existence until 1871. Mr. Baker was also engaged in many

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

other business enterprises. About the year 1870 he was chosen sec- retary of the Ocean Marine Insurance Company, and in 1872 its presi- dent. He was a member of the first board of directors of the Cape Cod Central Railroad Company, and afterward successively its presi- dent and treasurer. He was a trustee, and subsequently president of the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank of Harwich, and director and president of the First National Bank of Harwich. He was also a di- rector of the Marthas Vineyard Railroad Company; and treasurer and director, and afterward president, of the Red Bank Mining Company of Pennsylvania. This recital gives an idea of the engrossing busi- ness connections of Mr. Baker, but it by no means exhausts the list of his avocations. In 1861 he was appointed deputy collector of the port of South Dennis, continuing in office for ten years. In 1862 he was chosen one of the board of selectmen, of the town of Dennis, and in 1863, and for many years subsequently, he was on the board of school committee. From 1864 to 1869 he was a trial justice for the county of Barnstable. In 1870 and 1871 he was a member of the Massachusetts house of representatives, and in 1872 and 1873 of the state senate, and took rank among the first of the business members of those bodies. In 1875 he was chosen a member of the executive council of the state, being reelected in 1876-77-78. In 1884 he was appointed by Governor Robinson a member of the state board of com- missioners on harbors and public lands, which position he occupied at the time of his death.

Mr. Baker was widely and intimately connected with the Masonic fraternity. After a service of several years in its subordinate posi- tions, he was elected worshipful master of Mount Horeb Lodge, of West Harwich, and subsequently for six years he was deputy grand master for the fifteenth district of Massachusetts. He was also king and high priest of Orient Chapter of Hyannis, and also afterward oc- cupied the position of king in Sylvester Baxter Chapter of West Har- wich. He was elected junior grand warden of Massachusetts Grand Lodge; grand king of Massachusetts Chapter, and deputy grand high priest of this district for the same organization. He also received the degree of Knights Templar in the Boston Commandery; from 3º to 32º in Boston Lodge of Perfection; and Councillor degrees in Boston Council. The fraternal, helpful and sympathetic traits which are the underlying characteristics of these organizations were well illustrated in the life of Mr. Baker. His native town, the religious society in the faith of which he was reared, and the entire county of his birth are witnesses to his public spirit, broad intelligence and unremitting efforts for their welfare. The public bodies, fraternal societies and business organizations with which he was connected, expressed and put on record, with more than accustomed emphasis and depth of

1 R.Baker

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TOWN OF DENNIS.

feeling, their appreciation of his character and services on the occa- sion of his death, which occurred with startling suddenness Novem- ber 13, 1886.

Mr. Baker married. December 7, 1848, Miss Hannah F. Small, daughter of Arunah and Hannah (Baker) Small, who survives him. Their children are: Samuel Small, born in 1849, married Julia A. Baxter in 1871; Ella Foster, born in 1851, married John B. Taylor in 1876; Joseph Lincoln, born in 1854, married Lucy J. Hutchinson in 1882; and Lilla Dale, born in 1858.

Ira S. Baker, a son of Joseph K. and Sabrina (Hall) Baker, and grandson of Richard Baker. He went to sea until 1872, was captain the last twenty-one years of this time, and from 1872 to 1882 was a sailmaker. He carried on a shoe store at Dennis Port from 1882 until his death in January, 1890. He was married in 1856, to Eliza A., daughter of Allen Studley. They had two daughters: Alice-Mrs. Nathan Robbins, and Maria-Mrs. S. B. Kelley.

Oliver K. Baker, the oldest son of Joseph and Susan (Kelley) Baker, and grandson of Francis Baker, was born in 1827. He fol- lowed the sea from twelve years of age until 1886, and was master of a vessel for thirty years. He was married in 1848, to Harriet K., daughter of Benjamin Crowell, and has two children: Horatio B. and Flora H. Mr. Baker is a member of West Dennis Methodist Episco- pal Church, and of Mount Horeb Lodge, A. F. & A. M.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 60

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