History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 62

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

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PRINT. E. BIERSTADT. N. Y.

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TOWN OF DENNIS.

Heman B. Crowell, one of a family of twelve children, was born in 1836, and has followed the sea some sixteen years. His father, Ed- ward, was a son of Thomas, and grandson of Edward Crowell, and his mother was Sarah, daughter of Heman Baker. He was married in 1859, to Maria P., daughter of Leonard Crowell, and granddaughter of Freeman Crowell. Their daughter, Jessie A., married Ezra F. Howes, and died in March, 1888, leaving two sons. Mr. Crowell is a prohibitionist, and a member of the West Dennis Methodist Episco- pal church.

James Crowell, born in 1832, is a son of Zeno and Desire (Long) Crowell, and a grandson of David and Thankful (Eldridge) Crowell. Mr. Crowell was a mariner until 1880, having been master of a vessel twenty-four years. Since then he has kept a grain store and coal yard at West Dennis. He was married in 1852, to Mercy F., daughter of Harvey Crowell, whose father, James, was a son of David Crowell. Their children are: Eugene, Anna M. and Louise M.

Orin L. Crowell, son of George W., grandson of Allen B., and great-grandson of Lott Crowell, was born in 1851. His mother was Almira, daughter of Orin Lewis. Mr. Crowell has been at sea since 1859, and since 1876 has been master of a vessel. He is a member of the Boston Marine Society. He was married in 1873 to Esther D., daughter of Henry Graves.

CAPTAIN LUTHER CROWELL .- This worthy representative of one of the first comers on the Cape traces his ancestry along the genera- tions of the past through James, David, Jonathan, Thomas, John (of Bass ponds, as there was another of that name,) and Thomas, back to that John Crow who came to Old Yarmouth in 1639 and built his house near Nobscusset pond, on the lot a little to the northeast of the present house of Calvin S. Crowell. James Crowell, father of Luther, married Ruth, daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Nickerson) Crowell, and she was one of fourteen children, all born in a house northwest from the present West Dennis church.

Luther Crowell was born in 1818, the son of poor parents, and was early thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood and an education. In the small country schools of that day the question was asked each pupil at commencement of the term: " Who is to pay your tuition ?" Some would answer, "my father," "this uncle or that friend ;" but the lad Luther's answer had to be " I'll pay," and he did. At ten years of age his penchant for the sea induced him to ship as cook in the fishing and coasting trade. His anxiety to rise and excel could hardly brook the delay of reaching a suitable age in which he should consummate his wishes. The airy castles of future greatness, and the fairy ships built by the aspiring cook, were often wrecked by the gruff voice of the mate asking down the hatchway if

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

dinner was ready ; and this diaster to ideal shipping would occur just as the captain of the fairy ship was rounding into Bass river harbor.

Thus the actual life a man may lead grows up from the ideal life a boy may dream of, and success comes but to him who is born capa- ble of dreaming of success and daring to labor for it. His zeal and faithfulness earned rapid promotions, and from October, 1839, until 1852. he commanded coastwise packets between Boston and Baltimore and in the West India trade. In the latter year he commenced with R. W. Ropes & Co., of Brooklyn, N. Y., as captain and part owner in vessels engaged in an extensive South American trade, which he continued until 1866, when, for three years, he commanded a steamer in the Winsor line, between Boston and Philadelphia, and then returned to the command of a ship for Ropes & Co. in their important trade. In this firm was Ripley Ropes, the recently deceased presi- dent of the Brooklyn Trust Company, and his elder brother, Reuben W., still the head of the firm. Their appreciation of Captain Crowell as master, agent and factor, increased with the years of their pleasant business relations. This mutual regard between the three, ripening with time, became a permanent friendship.

In 1871 Captain Crowell renewed his connection with the Winsor line, which relations have continued to the present moment. Although widely and favorably known from his ancestral connections, and for those genial social qualities which have always marked him, he is doubtless destined to be best known and longest remembered by his position as a favored captain in the Winsor steamship line.

The captain's home is at West Dennis, where he has surrounded his family with appointments in keeping with their high social posi- tion. He was married in 1841, to Rebecca, daughter of Asa and Edith Kelley. Their children are: Luther B., Rebecca, Ruth Ina and Grace M., the latter deceased. Of these Luther B. Crowell, born in 1841, has been a successful sea captain since 1865. In that year he married Esther, daughter of Anthony and Priscilla Kelley, and has four children : Charles B., Luther A., Arthur R. and Grace M. He is closely following the footsteps of his father, being in command of a ship in the same line. Rebecca married Captain George H. Baxter, a native of South Dennis. He was commander of the schooner Allie Burnham, which was lost with all on board in April, 1SS6, while on the passage from Cuba to Philadelphia. Besides his widow he left one son, George L. B., and a daughter, Rebecca M. Baxter. Captain Baxter was a promising young man, with great possibilities, the sorrow for whose untimely fate is a shadow that must long abide.

Captain Luther Crowell, the subject of this sketch, is now in the

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PRINT, E. BIERSTADT. N Y

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RESIDENCE OF PETER H. CROWELL, Wl'est Dennis, Mass.

BASS RIVER LOWER BRIDGE,

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midst of a bright career, and popular as a master. Still in vigorous life, he has just passed his semi-centennial as a master mariner. With a character unblemished, his ability, energy and carefulness have gained for him a position seldom equaled among the many noted seamen of Cape Cod.

CAPTAIN PETER H. CROWELL .-- The grandfather of this representa- tive of one of the branches from John Crow, the original ancestor, was Isaiah Crowell, whose father was Jonathan, son of Thomas. Of the six children of Isaiah, Peter Crowell was born January 24, 1808, at West Dennis, and was married July 26, 1834, to Reliance, a daughter of Peter Coleman, of Hyannis. She was born November 1, 1813. Of their twelve children four died in infancy. The eight who reached maturity are: Peter H., born April 1, 1837; Emaline F., born October 18, 1839; Mary S., February 20, 1843; Philena H., July 28, 1845; Eras- tus B., September 25, 1847; Osborne E., August 7, 1850; Alva C., April 20, 1855; and Sylvia C., July 2, 1858. Of these, Osborne E. died July 23, 1871, and Alva C. November 19, 1874.

Peter H. Crowell, the eldest of the survivors, was educated at the schools of West Dennis until he went to sea at the age of thirteen. He rapidly rose in the scale, acting as mate at seventeen, and was in command of a coaster when nineteen years of age. For thirty years he was the master of various vessels in the coastwise and West India trade, retiring in 1886. During the period he was in command he did not call upon the underwriters for a dollar. He always owned a share in the vessel he commanded, and since his retirement has been part owner, agent and general manager of a fleet of seven sail, five three- masters, one four-master, and one bark.

In 1865, March 21st, the captain was married to Isabella, daughter of James Chase, whose father was also James, son of Job Chase. Her father was born July 29, 1807, and died December 3, 1SS0. Her mother was Betsey T., daughter of Jeptha and Thankful Nickerson, and a descendant of William Nickerson. Six of the ten children of James Chase survive: Otis D., Isabella, Moses N., Van Buren, Helen F., and Eunice B., who is now traveling in Europe. Captain Crowell has seven surviving children: Addie F., born December 29, 1865; Grace B., born August 22, 1869; Etta R., January 18, 1873; Peter H., jr., November 28, 1874; Charles S., December S, 1875; Edgar P., January 9, 1878; and Katie C., born February 14, 1SS0. Bessie T. and Mary E. died in in- fancy, and Jennie S. died March S, 1SS3, aged fifteen years.

The captain started life a poor boy, sailing the first few years with his father, to whom he gave his services. At his majority he began for himself, still assisting his father in his needs; and with the aid of friends in Boston, was enabled to sail the first vessel, the Frank Her- bert, in which he was part owner. For the command of this schooner

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he declined the captaincy of the ship Norway, owned by Sears Brothers, of Boston, they being part owners in the Frank Herbert. His energy, ambition and economy soon placed him in the front rank of masters and ship owners.

His social and business relations are preferred to political honors. With characteristic liberality, he assists in the enterprises of his vil- lage, is a director in the shoe factory, a warm supporter of the Metho- dist church, and of every good work for the welfare of the commu- nity. The firm principles that kept him from the use of intoxicating beverages and tobacco, while on shipboard and ever since, have as- sisted to a life of success in every phase. In the meridian of his life, he now enjoys the pleasures of his home at West Dennis, within sight of that element upon which he so long lived, and for which he has such fondness.

PRINCE SEARS CROWELL .- History says that Mrs. John Crow came to this continent in 1634, and John Crow in 1635. They were in Charlestown, Mass., in 1638, and settled in old Yarmouth in 1639. Among the spellings for this family name, Crowell has prevailed for many generations. The male lineage of the subject of this sketch is: John, John, John, Christopher, Christopher, David and Prince S. Crowell. His father David, married Persis, a descendant of Richard Sears, and of their five children the younger three --- Evelina, Per- sis S. and a son-died in early childhood; Betsey H., the second, attained womanhood and married Christopher Hall. Prince S., the oldest, born November 13, 1813, at East Dennis, went to sea at the age of eighteen and remained in the coasting and packet business with an occasional foreign voyage until he was thirty-three, when, in 1846, he commenced business on shore. He purchased shares in the vessels built by the Shivericks and others, fitting them out in the coasting and foreign trade, then gradually selling them out during the war of the rebellion. In 1856 he went west, and with others invested largely in railroads then building.

He married, July 26, 1835, Polly D., daughter of Nathan Foster, who was a son of John, of Brewster. From this marriage the children named in the succeeding seven paragraphs have descended:

Persis S., born March 25, 1837, married Captain J. H. Addy, depart- ing this life March 6, 1878, without issue.

Prince F., born May 11, 1839, married Mary F., daughter of Mar- shal S. Underwood, of South Dennis, on the first of January, 1863. Prince F., living in Omaha, Neb., was a lumber merchant at Wisner, where he died, November 8, 1874. He left, besides his widow, two children living; one, Henry J., dying in childhood: Prince M., born October 25, 1863, and Nellie L. Crowell, M. D., born November 14, 1866.

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David, born April 14, 1842, has been twice married, and now re- sides in Fremont, Neb.

Christopher C., born May 19, 1844, married Polly D. Foster, went West in 1869, and resides in Blair, Neb., where he is in the grain and lumber business. Of their eight children, six are living.

Azariah F., born June 21, 1846, has been twice married and resides in Boston, spending a portion of his time in Falmouth, where he was formerly the chemist of the Pacific Guano works.

Edwin D., the youngest son, was born January 8, 1851. On the 20th of January, 1876, he married Louisa M., born July 12, 1852, the adopted daughter of Captain Joshua and Minerva Sears. Their chil- dren are: Minerva E., born May 6, 1877; Louisa A., born September 14, 1878; Gertrude, January 10, 1882; and Edwin D. Crowell, jr., born July 25, 1886.

Evelyn, born March 9, 1854, married Samuel L. Powers, a lawyer of Newton, Mass.

During the lifetime of Prince S. Crowell, after retiring from the sea and its business, he was actively engaged in many pursuits. He started, with others, the first salt mill at Boston; was the agent and largely interested in building up and managing the Pacific Guano works, at Woods Holl, and at Charleston, S. C .; was the president of and prime mover in the company for building the Woods Holl rail- road; and president of the Cape Cod National and Cape Cod Savings banks. He was an ardent republican in every sense of the term, but declined political trusts. He preferred his social and business re- lations, and in these was conspicuous. He largely assisted in estab- lishing the Lecture Association of East Dennis. In his views and with his means he was proverbially liberal, leaving to his name never decaying monuments.

A contemporary, himself conspicuous in affairs of state, says: " Prince S. Crowell must be ranked among the ablest business men of the county. He was at the time of his death the wealthiest man in Dennis, as he was one of the most liberal. He had a hand open to every call of charity, and always responded to any move toward pub- lic improvement. Dennis had no nobler son. His aid was always given to the anti-slavery cause and was not withheld from the church."

Willard Crowell, born in 1820, is a son of Allen B., and grandson of Lott Crowell. His mother was Olive, daughter of Francis Baker. Mr. Crowell went to sea for fifty-seven years, the last forty as captain, and retired in 1887. He is a member of the Boston Marine Society. He married in 1842, Marian, daughter of Simeon Crowell. She died in 1866, leaving eight children, of whom three survive: Erastus, Lavina and Olive. He was again married in 1868, to Anna M. Lewis, who died in 188S.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM CROWELL-The sixth generation of Crowells, from John Crow of 1639, is well represented in Dennis to-day by Cap- tain William Crowell® (Aaron®, Aaron', Aaron3, John2, John1), who was born where he now resides, on the seventh of November, 1814. He is the third of the five survivors of the twelve children of Aaron and Polly (Howes) Crowell, she being the daughter of Noah, in direct line from Thomas Howes, one of the grantees of Old Yarmouth. The other four of the survivors are : Aaron, Huldah, Edwin, and Mary Howes Crowell. Aaron Crowell married Fear, daughter of Jesse and Eunice (Howes) Hall, and their five children are : Daniel S., of Dennis; Aaron L., of New York, who married Ida Wisewell ; Eunice H., who mar- ried Jacob S. Howes, a lighthouse keeper, who died, and she kept the light at Sandy Neck two years; Cynthia H., who married John M. Stone, of Dennis; and Mary H., who married Charles E. Howes, of Dennis, now deceased Huldah Crowell married Samuel Paddock, and they have one daughter, Hannah H. Paddock. Edwin Crowell mar- ried Rhoda, daughter of Kimball Howes, for his first, and Sarah, daughter of Edward Baker, of South Dennis, for his second wife. Mary H. Crowell, in 1849, married Samuel Crowell, a sea captain, who, during the twenty years preceding his death, in 1870, was a commis- sion merchant in New York city. Of their two children, Samuel Cro- well, M. D., of Boston, survives.

Captain William Crowell, whose portrait accompanies this article, received as a lad the education given by the common schools, and at eleven years of age he went to sea, where, steadily rising in his pro- fession, he became master in 1841. He has canse to remember that year, not only from the loss of his brothers, Captain Noah H. and Ur- bana, in the bark Bride, off Race Point, October 3, 1841, but he ex- pected the same fate for his crew and vessel, which he managed to run into Provincetown harbor. He left the sea in 1849, and for eight years was fish inspector in Dennis, where he was in business with Joshua C. Howes and Jeremiah Hall. He then went to New York, where he engaged in the ship chandler and grocery business with Howes Baker, as Baker & Crowell, which business he followed seven- teen years, and returned to Dennis, where he has spent the summers for the last eighteen years, returning to the city winters. In 1855 Baker & Crowell commenced receiving cranberries from the Cape on commission, being the only cranberry dealers in that city for many years. Captain Crowell has continued to deal in this fruit since the dissolution of the firm, shipping from the Cape in the autumn of 1889 forty-seven carloads.

He was married January 19, 1845, to Sarah Howes, daughter of Zoeth and Sally Howes. She died December 19, 1845, fifteen days after giving birth to a son, who survived but a short time. He mar-

Millian besowell 1

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ried June 28, 1869, Cynthia H., daughter of Freeman Hall, and they have one son, William Crowell, jr. born July 27, 1870, residing with them.

Captain Crowell is a worthy member of the United Religious So- ciety of his village, and gives it hearty support. He has always de- clined civil trusts, although an earnest republican and possessing the confidence of his party. His has been a life of varied and, at times, dangerous activity, and he still continues the active management of an extensive business. His social qualities and upright dealings have made him conspicuous wherever he is known, and his industry and economy, guided by his good judgment, have been crowned with a fair degree of success.

Jonathan P. Edwards, born in 1854, is a son of Nehemiah, grand- son of Isaiah, and great-grandson of Asa Edwards. His mother was Mary C. Phillips. Mr. Edwards followed the sea until 1882, and then was a traveling salesman until 1885. In January of that year the Dennis Port Fishing Company was organized, and since that time he has been agent for the company. He was married in 1876 to Emma WV. Baker. They have six children: Emma B., Albert J., Hattie N. and Lottie G. (twins), Jonathan P., jr. and Edna C.

Henry H. Fisk, youngest son of Nathan and Polly (Baker) Fisk, was born in 1843. He followed the sea for about twenty-two years prior to 1882, and was master of a vessel for the last fifteen years. He was selectman from 1882 to 1886, as a republican. He has been mas- ter of the Mount Horeb Lodge, A. F. & A. M., for two years. He was married in 1866 to Cynthia J. Baker, and has four children living: Jennie M., Sadie A., H. Frank and Herbert A. They lost one son, Luther.

Luther Fisk was born in Dennis, Mass., in 1831. He has at differ- ent times been elected to the office of selectman, and also to other local offices. In 1875, and again in 1876, he was elected member of . the state legislature. He was elected sheriff in 1883, taking office January 1, 1884, and was reelected in 1886.

'CAPTAIN URIAH B. FISK, the eldest of four surviving sons of Na- than and Polly (Baker) Fisk, was born June 22, 1827. At the age of eleven he went to sea, serving as cook, then before the mast, then as mate until he was twenty-two, when he was in command. He fol- lowed coasting, with an occasional foreign voyage, and was master of ten different sailing vessels between the time of majority and the close of the rebellion in 1865. He always owned an interest in each vessel. That dangers should befall him in a term of thirty-five years on the sea would be expected, but the most serious accident occurred off Montauk in a December night of 1857, when a Philadelphia steamer struck his schooner, bows on, sinking her in a very few

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minutes. Captain Selick Matthews was in command of the steamer and rendered all the assistance possible. Captain Fisk, who was be- low when his vessel was struck, rushed on deck and saw at a glance - the state of affairs. Seizing a rope to swing off with, he was allowed to settle between the two vessels just as they veered alongside of each other and was caught between them, crushing him terribly, the ef- fects of which he still feels. When loosed from the perilous position he fell into the sea and drifted fifteen or twenty fathoms astern. He clung to the rope and was hauled aboard the steamer by his brother, Luther, who had escaped to its deck before him.

Since his residence on land he, with his brothers, has built twelve sailing vessels in various localities, and in 1889 he was constructing a four-master of fifteen hundred tons. These brothers have owned as many as twenty vessels at a time, one-half of which they manned and sailed. The first three-masted schooner constructed at Bath, Me., was for Uriah B. Fisk.

He was married in 1858, to Margaret A., daughter of Nehemiah Baker, and has one daughter, Maggie B. Captain Fisk prefers the channels of business and the domestic peace of his own fireside to the paths leading to political office, and in the membership of Mount Horeb Lodge of Masons, in that of the Methodist church, and in his own home circle the evening of life is being pleasantly passed. His home at West Dennis, shown in the accompanying plate was pur- chased in 1859, and by his taste at various times has assumed its present beautiful appearance.

Lucius M. Gage, son of Zeno and Sarah (Farris) Gage, and grand- son of Freeman Gage, was born in 1850. Since June, 1888, Mr. Gage has kept the Gage House and stables, near West Dennis. He has been married three times: first in 1872, to Anna M. Hilton; second in 1877, to Ida F. Robbins, who died in March, 1885; and third, in Nov- ember, 1885, to Mrs. Cordelia A. E. Bearse, daughter of Samuel D. Clifford, of Chatham. Mrs. Gage has two children by a former mar- riage: Lilian A. and Winfield M. Mr. Gage is one of seven children, . four of whom are living.

Sylvanus L. Gage, born in 1860, is the only child of Sylvanus, grandson of Sylvanus, and great-grandson of Prince Gage. His mother was Mary A. Howes. Mr. Gage was engaged in the meat business in Brockton, from 1879 to 1887, when he came to West Dennis, where he has since carried on the same business. He was married in 1883, to Sarah B. Snow. They have one son, Lloyd L.

Puella F. Gage, is a daughter of Captain Ellis Norris, born in 1822, in Hyannis. He was a son of Thomas and grandson of Ellis Norris. Mr. Norris has been captain of vessels since he was twenty-three years old. He was married in 1846, to Margaret G., daughter of Alfred Swift,

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M. D. She died in 1884, leaving four children: Puella Francis, Alfred S., Elizabeth J. G. and Margaret B. Puella Francis was married May 31, 1868, to Freeman Gage, son of Zeno, and grandson of Freeman Gage. Mr. Gage was a sea captain from twenty-three years of age until his death, which occurred March 22, 1886, aged forty-seven years.

William Garfield was born in 1830, in Ohio. He is a son of Joseph R., and he a son of Benjamin Garfield, and a near relative of the late James A. Garfield. Mr. Garfield came from Ohio to Dennis, in November, 1844, and has been a sailor since that time. Since 1853 he has had charge of coasting and foreign vessels. He was married in 1849, to Mary J., daughter of Elkanah H. Baker. They have eight children: Lydia L., Eliza A., William W., Jerusha B., John D., Ada B., Roger N. and Millie.

Charles Hall was a son of Christopher Hall. He died in May, 1886, in Oregon. He had been in business in the West for twenty years. He was married in 1865, to Lydia H., daughter of James S. Howes. They have two children: Blanche E. and Susie H. One son died-Joshua Brenard. Mrs. Hall has built a residence at East Dennis, where she now resides.

Cyrus Hall, born in 1833, is a son of Hiram and grandson of Henry Hali, who was a revolutionary soldier. Mr. Hall is a house carpenter by trade. He was in the war of the rebellion from July, 1862, to June, 1863, in Company A, Fortieth Massachusetts Volunteers. He also had two brothers in the service. He has been married three times. His first wife was Lovica A. Taylor. By his second wife, Rebecca S. Rogers, he had four children, two of whom are living : Wilfred A. and Hiram H. He was married in 1869 to his present wife, Mary O. Marsh.

Edward F. Hall, son of Edward and Paulina (Howes) Hall, and grandson of Edward Hall, was born in 1842, and followed the sea from 1859 to 1868. He is a tinsmith by trade, and now keeps a hard- ware store at Dennis. He was married in 1866, to Martha A. Lamar. They have two children : Charles E. and Freeman B. Mr. Hall is a member of James Otis Lodge of Masons, at Barnstable.

Isaiah B. Halls, the eldest son of Hiram' (Henry6, Edmund5, Joseph', Joseph3, John2, John Hall',), was born in 1828, and is a con- tractor and builder. He was selectman in Dennis for eleven years. He was married in 1855, to Susan G. Hedge. They have three daugh- ters: Chloe C., Susan E. and Emma G.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 62

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