History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 68

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 68

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A general business in merchandise is still continued by Levi Eldridge at the old site. A little west of him, opposite the G. A. R. Hall, is the grocery store of Elisha M. Eldridge, who followed fishing summers, and mercantile business winters, until 1876, when he estab- lished here a permanent trade. The hall now owned and occupied by F. D. Hammond Post, No. 141, was erected about thirty years ago by a stock company and was called Excelsior Hall. In 1SS5 the Post purchased it, and have a flourishing organization, which is comprised of members from Chatham and surrounding towns.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

A post office was needed here, and in 1862 Levi Eldridge was appointed postmaster, placing the office at his store. He was suc- ceeded in 1885 by Joshua Eldridge, who removed the boxes and de- tails to his store further east. In October, 1889, Francis S. Cahoon was appointed.

The only distinctive religious society of the Village is the Come- Outers, as they are vulgarly called, and this also includes members from other localities. As this is probably the only mention this sect will have, although there are a few in the south of Dennis, and, per- haps in other towns, it is just to explain that the members have come out from other religious organizations, not agreeing with them in forms of worship.

Pilgrim Library was instituted here February 5, 1875, and now con- tains 515 volumes. It is kept at the store of Levi Eldridge, and M. E. Kelley is librarian.

The agent of this station of the Chatham railroad, appointed in 1887, is Alfred A. Eldridge. The beautiful rolling fields of this part of the town, the proximity of the village to Chatham bay, and the thrift of its business men, render South Chatham important among the villages.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Thomas S. Arey, born in 1839 in Orleans, is the eldest son of Oliver and Mercy (Snow) Arey and grandson of Joseph Arey, born 1716. He followed the sea fourteen years in early life. He was for sixteen months acting ensign in the navy during the rebellion. Since 1868 he has been engaged in vessel repairs-nine years in South America and twelve years at Stage Wharf, Chatham. He is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post. He was married in 1865, to Lucinda, daughter of Amariah Mayo. They have one daughter living -- Bertha M .- and have lost two children.

Alvin Z. Atkins, born in 1849, is a son of Zenas, whose father, Joshua, was a son of William Atkins. His mother was Rhoda, daughter of John and Temperance (Bascom) Crowell. Mr. Atkins has been selectman since 1885. He is a member of St. Martins Lodge. In 1872 he was married to Eunice, daughter of Reuben and Sally (Hard- ing) Hawes. They have lost four children: Nellie E., Susie C., Zenas and Sadie W.

George S. Atwood, son of Solomon and Lucy (Smith) Atwood, was born in 1835, and is a carpenter by trade. He was a contractor and builder until 1879, and since that time has been engaged in oyster culture. He was married in 1860, to Mehitable S., daughter of Elisha Holbrook. They have three children: George S., jr., Nellie F. and Benjamin F.

F.I

Levi Atwood

PRINT.

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TOWN OF CHATHAM.

Joseph Atwood, born in 1823, is the only son of Esquire Joseph and grandson of Sears Atwood. He studied dentistry with Dr. N. K. Mayo, and has been in practice at Chatham for over forty years. He owns and occupies his father's homestead. He is a member of the Congregational church. In 1854 he was married to Alzina R. Adams of New York. They have one daughter, Nina M., who was married in 1873, to Prof. Hiram M. George, who was principal of the Chatham high school in 1872 and 1873, and has been master for the last twelve years of the Tileston School, Boston. They have three children: Ernest A., Arthur A. and N. Modesta.

LEVI ATWOOD .- Stephen Atwood, mentioned as Stephen Wood. was enrolled in 1643, at Plymouth, as one able to bear arms, being then over sixteen years of age. Soon after he came to old Nauset where he married Abigail Dunham, November 6, 1644. settling in Eastham. He was the ancestor of the Atwoods on the Cape. He died in Eastham in 1694, leaving a large family of children. Joseph, his third child, born about 1650, married Apphiah (Bangs) Knowles, widow of John Knowles and daughter of Edward Bangs, in 1677. They had five children. One of these, Joseph Atwood, jr., married Bethia Crowell and reared nine children. One of these, also named Joseph, was born February 19, 1720, and removed to Chatham, where he married Deborah, daughter of Daniel Sears, in 1742. This Joseph was a prominent man of Chatham, as a shipmaster in foreign com- merce, and as mentioned in the records of the town. He died Feb- ruary 8, 1794. His wife died January 6, 1796, aged seventy-four. They had seven children. Sears Atwood, the seventh of these, was born July 26, 1761, and was married October 31, 1782, to Azubah, daughter of Solomon Collins. Their seven children were: Joseph, born Sep- tember 25, 1783; Solomon, born August 6, 1785; David, August 29, 1787; John, August 20, 1789; Sears, March 31, 1792; James, February 4, 1801; and Azubah, October 18, 1805. Sears Atwood, the father, died March 1, 1832; his wife November 10, 1832. The children, except Sears, who died young, all settled in the immediate neighborhood, giving the family name to the street and the school. It was said to be the boast of the old gentleman that he could stand in his door and make all his children hear his voice in their own homes.

Solomon, the second son of Sears Atwood, and the father of the subject of this sketch, married Lucy, daughter of Stephen and Mar- gery Smith, of Chatham, December 8, 1814, and died March 26, 184S. His wife died November 29, 186S. Their six children were: Sears, Mary, Solomon C., Levi, Lucy S. and George S., of whom Sears, Mary, Levi and George S., still survive. Of this family of four sons and two daughters, Sears Atwood was born November 20,1815, married Phebe N. Harding, December 31, 1840, and they have two children, Solomon .

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

C. and Charles R., who are both heads of families. Mary, born April 20, 1817, was married February 1, 1844, to John Emery, and of their seven children three survive. Solomon C. Atwood was born March 15, 1819, and was drowned, by falling from a boat on the night of June 7, 1837, at Monomoy harbor. Lucy S., born March 9, 1828, died September 30, 1841: George S., born September 1, 1835, married Mehitable S. Holbrook on the 25th of December, 1860. They have three children: George S., jr .. Nellie F. and Benjamin F. Levi Atwood, whose portrait appears in this connection, was born March 25, 1824, was educated in Chatham, and employed the summers of his younger years in farming, salt making, and in the sale of lumber, and the winters in teaching in the district schools. He was married March 26, 1850, to Phebe Mason, daughter of Jeremiah and Betsey Hatch of Andover, Mass. Mrs. Atwood's father was a school teacher and a man of some note in the town; her mother was of a distin- guished family-the Elliotts. Her maternal grandfather, Robert Mason, entered the revolutionary army at fourteen years of age. serv- ing through the war and filling many important positions. Mrs. Atwood's death occurred at Chatham on the 1Sth of January, 1890, after many months of patient suffering. Their five children were: Rodolphus, the first son, born February 22, 1851, died April 5th, of the following year; Lucy S., born May 22, 1854, married December 25, 1878, to Rev. Joseph Hammond, now a resident pastor at Carlisle, Mass., and has three children : Eva, Louise and Joseph Hammond; Roswell Atwood, born October 20, 1855, married on the 25th of December, 1877, to Idella M., daughter of Henry and Eunice Smith, and has one son-Henry Romaine Atwood; Lura S. Atwood, born September 3, 1857, married June 8, 1887, to Joseph S. Reed, and has one son-Harold Nickerson Reed; Levi Sidney Atwood, the youngest of the five, born June 21, 1863, married Cornelia M., daughter of Francis B. and Azubah A. Rogers, on the first of December, 1886, and has one son-George Tyler Atwood.

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Thus Mr. Atwood finds himself, while scarcely past the meridian of his own life, surrounded by a younger life in his children and grandchildren, and happily sees the generations come as the genera- tions go and a family name preserved which for more than two cen- turies has been respected on the Cape. He is still actively engaged himself, in the mercantile business, on the same site where he com- menced. November 1, 1849-over forty years ago. For half a century he has been an important factor in the affairs of church and state, and in every work for the enlightenment and good of his town, has done well his part. He has been in the choir of the church of his choice (the Congregational) for fifty years, and superintendent of its · Sunday school forty-five years; town clerk and treasurer of the town

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TOWN OF CHATHAM.

since 1873, as an exponent of the Republican party; has served sev- eral years on the school committee, and for nearly twenty years has had the editorial charge of the Chatham Monitor, the town local paper.

During his term of service in these many responsible positions he has never been absent without the most urgent and unavoidable reason, and by his fearless and faithful discharge of the multifarious duties of life this representative of the important family of Atwood has erected to his memory and to the family name some permanent landmarks, which may fitly become a heritage and an impulse for good to the generations of the future.

Samuel M. Atwood, youngest son of John and Margaret (Smith) Atwood, and grandson of Sears Atwood, was born in 1834. He was married in 185S. to Lizzie M., daughter of Robert and Desire (Nick- erson) Eldridge.

Sears Atwood, born in 1815, is the eldest son of Solomon and Lucy (Smith) Atwood, and grandson of Sears and Azubah (Collins) Atwood. He followed the sea from 1830 until 1861. He has been for several years engaged in the coal business. He was married in 1840, to Phebe N., daughter of Elisha and Patia Harding. They have two sons: Sol- omon C. and Charles R.

Azubah C. Ballou is a daughter of Joseph and Patia (Howes) At- wood. She was married in 1838, to Captain James S. Taylor, son of James S. and Lucy (Nickerson) Taylor. Mr. Taylor died in 1861, leav- ing one adopted daughter, Azubah A. (Mrs. Cyrenus A. Bearse). She was married again in 1867, to Giddings H. Ballou, the oldest son of Rev. Hosea Ballou, 2d, D.D., who was the first president of Tufts Col- lege. Mr. Ballou was born November 10, 1820, and was a portrait art- ist for many years. He was also secular editor of the Gospel Banner during the late war. He was for eight or ten years in government em- ploy at Washington, preparing statistics for the bureau of agriculture. He was a very successful school teacher, and was several years con- tributor to Harper's and other magazines. He died in Chatham, June 8, 1886.

Charles Bassett, born in 1843, is the only living child of Whitman and Eliza (Doane) Bassett, a grandson of Enoch, and great-grandson of Samuel Bassett. Mr. Bassett was engaged in fishing until 1879, and is now clerk and treasurer of the Chatham railroad. He has been five years selectman, and was six years a member of the school committee. He was married in 1864, to Sarah Harwood, who died leaving one son, Henry A. He was married again in 1871, to Mar- tha Sears. She died leaving three children.

Harriet L. Baxter is a daughter of Christopher and Harriet (Oli- ver) Taylor, and granddaugher of Christopher Taylor. She was mar- ried in 1876, to Allen Baxter, and has one daughter, Eleanor H.

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

Mrs. Baxter has kept a summer boarding house at North Chatham since 1885, at her father's homestead.

Cyrenus A. Bearse, born in 1842, a son of Ezra and Delilah (Mayo) Bearse, was a master mariner in the foreign trade. He was married in 1869, to Azubah A .. daughter of James S. and Azubah (Atwood) Taylor. They had one daughter. Virginia F., and one son, who died in infancy. Captain Bearse died on board the ship George Skolfield, September 7, 1889. on the voyage from Calcutta.

George N. Bearse, born in 1837, is a son of Eben, whose father, Ebenezer, was a son of Simeon Bearse. His mother was Clarissa, daughter of Zoath and Clarissa Nickerson. Mr. Bearse followed the fishing business from 1851 to 1884, and was master of vessels twenty years. Since 1SS4 he has been in the store and fishing business with Alonzo Kendrick. He was married in 1861 to Rebecca A. Eldridge. who died leaving two children: Lelia L. and David W. He was mar- ried again in 1871, to Marietta. daughter of Samuel D. and Mary A. (Crowell) Eldridge. They have one daughter, Lottie M. Mrs. Bearse's paternal grandparents were Isaiah and Rebecca (Davis) Eldridge, and her maternal grandparents were Mark and Anna Crowell.

George H. Buck, son of Nathan and Keziah (Kendrick) Buck, and grandson of Joshua Buck, was born in 1839. He followed the sea from 1852 to 1884, coasting and fishing. He was married in 1863, to Aurelia E., daughter of Charles G. Cook. They have three children living: George H., jr., Madella A. and Clara D .; and two sons de- ceased.

Benjamin S. Cahoon, born in 1828, in Harwich, is the youngest and only surviving child of Seth and Mehitabel (Sinall) Cahoon, and grand- son of Seth Cahoon. He is a painter by trade, and has followed the business and kept painters' supplies since 1857. Since 1882 he has also done an undertaking business. He served in the war of the re- bellion eleven months in Company E., Forty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, and is a member of Frank D. Hammond Post. He was married in 1850, to Mehitabel. daughter of Jonathan Higgins. Their two daughters are: Georgia A. (Mrs. C. F. Simmons), and Bertha T. They lost one son.

Samuel D. Clifford, born in 1812, is a son of Dr. Daniel P. Clifford, of page 224. He followed the sea until 1840, and was seven years in the lightship service as captain of Pollock Rip and Shovelfull Since then he has devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He was mar- ried in 1840, to Louisa C. Burroughs. She died, and he married in 1846, Rebecca Bearse. They have five children: Ophelia, Cordelia, Mary, Etta and Samuel D., jr.

Rev. Gamaliel Collins, born in 1S16, at Provincetown, was the youngest and last surviving child of Gamaliel and Elizabeth (Dyer)

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TOWN OF CHATHAM.

Collins. He received a preparatory education in Waterville, Me., and was ordained in Chatham in 1842 as a Universalist preacher, and after a pastorate there of three years, he preached in Hudson, N. Y., and Philadelphia, Penn. He was chaplain of the Seventy-second Pennsylvania Volunteers from 1861 until the close of the war. He was chaplain in the regular army from 1867 until he retired in 1879. He was married in 1843, to Amanda F., daughter of Joel and Mary (Crosby) Sparrow. Their daughter is Martha R. (Mrs. Allyn Cox) of New York.

Elijah Crosby was born in Chatham in 1819. At the age of ten years he began going to sea, attaining to master at twenty-six, in which capacity he acted successfully until 1871. He was connected with shipping interests until 1884. On his first voyage he was cook of a fishing schooner of ten men, at three dollars per month. During his seafaring life he contracted for and built several vessels. He never was shipwrecked. After being engaged in the coal business three years, and three years in the lumber business, he retired from active life. He was married in 1841, to Emeline, daughter of Ephraim Taylor. She died leaving two children-Emma C. and Elijah E. They lost three. He was married in 1855, to Rowena, daughter of Joseph Taylor. They have four children: Arthur R., Cora, Annie F. and Rena T. They lost one.

David H. Crowell, born in 1820, is the youngest and only surviv- ing child of Joshua and Hannah (Howes) Crowell, grandson of Jonah and great-grandson of Jabez Crowell. Mr. Crowell followed the sea for twenty-nine years prior to 1863. He was acting master a year and a half in the naval service during the war of the rebellion. He was for nine years superintendent of schools in Chatham, and for eleven years postmaster at Chatham Port. He was married in 1845, to Mercy F. Ryder, who. died in 1884, leaving four children: Helen M., David F., T. R. Carlton and Geneva V.

Thomas H. Crowell, son of Thomas H. and Abigail (Wing) Cro- well, was born in 1846. Mr. Crowell is engaged in business in Boston. He was married in 1872, to Amelia, daughter of Charles F. and Mehit- able (Taylor) White, and granddaughter of Isaac White.

A. Judson Doane, son of Nehemiah and Betsey (Higgins) Doane, grandson of Samuel, and great-grandson of Nehemiah Doane, was born in West Chatham July 18, 1832. He has been a master mariner about thirty years. He was married in 1857, to Mary F. Rogers, who died leaving one son, Alfred J. He was married in 1867 to Emily C. Kendrick. She died, and in 1889 he was married to Georgia M. Nick- erson.

Samuel H. Doane, born in West Chatham in April, 1829, is a son of Nehemiah and Betsey (Higgins) Doane, who had four children,

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

three of whom are living: Samuel H., A. Judson and Anna J. (Mrs. Cyrenus K. Goodspeed). Mr. Doane has been a master mariner for thirty-five years. He was married in 1844, to Clarinda F. Nickerson, who died leaving one son, Samuel W.

Benjamin F. Eldridge® was born in 1813, and died in January, 1890. He was descended from Samuel', Elnathan3, Ebenezer", Jehosaphat Eldridge1. His mother was Hannah Mayo. He followed the sea about thirty years, after which he engaged in farming. He was for three years captain of Pollock Rip, light ship. He was married in 1834, to Elizabeth Bassett, who died leaving three sons: Benjamin F., jr., John B. and James W. He was married in 1853, to Abbie A. Doane, who died leaving three children: Lydia C., Samuel and Marcus. He was married again in 1863, and a fourth time in 1882.

Cyrenus Eldridge, born in 1825, is a son of Ensign and Sally (Gor- ham) Eldridge, grandson of Elisha, and great-grandson of Jehosaphat Eldridge. He went to sea thirty nine seasons in the fishing business, prior to 1876. He was married in 1851, to Betsey S. (deceased), daugh- ter of Zephaniah Eldridge. They had two sons, Enos A. and Clarin- ton S., both of whom died. He was married again in 1863, to Olive A. Allen, by whom he has three children: Reuben W., Alida B. and Clarinton E. Mr. Eldridge is a member of the East Harwich Metho- dist Episcopal church.

Edmund N. Eldridge, born in 1834, is a son of John H. and Salome (Nickerson) Eldridge, and grandson of Atkins Eldridge. He is a wheelwright and carpenter. He was married in 1855, to Rebecca C., daughter of Aaron Small. They have two children: Eddie, born in 1858, and Emma R., born in 1879.

Elisha M. Eldridge, born in 1842, is a son of Elisha and Anna K. Eldridge, and grandson of Ensign, whose father, Elisha, was a son of Jehosaphat Eldridge. Mr. Eldridge has been a merchant at South Chatham since November, 1875. Prior to that time he followed the sea. He was married in 1867, to Hope D., daughter of Isaiah C. Kel- ley. Their two sons are Alberto M. and Harold L.

James Eldridge, born November 6, 1816, is a son of Reuben and Jane (Taylor) Eldridge, and grandson of James Eldridge. Mr. Eldridge is a farmer at West Chatham, on the homestead of his father. He was married January 8, 1838, to Sarah Kelley, who died June 1, 1881, leaving three children: Jane T., Reuben and Sarah M. Mr. Eldridge was married again April 13, 1882, to Mrs. Lydia A. Eldridge, daughter of Amos Harding.

LEVI. ELDRIDGE .- This well-known business man of South Chat- ham, now the president of the Harwich Savings Bank, is the grand- son of Nathaniel Eldridge, who was born September 15, 1751, and who married Elizabeth Ryder and reared, in Chatham, six children:

Levi coloriage)

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TOWN OF CHATHAM.

Mehitable, born October 14, 1778; Zenas, January 1, 1782; Tabitha, February 1, 1787; Esther, March 16, 1788: Kimball, March 21, 1791: and Levi, born December 7, 1794, died October 2, 1866.

Levi, the youngest of these, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a seafaring man during his early years, subsequently turning his attention to salt-making and fishing. He married Lydia Young, who was born August 22, 1795, and died July 16, 1865. To them were born eleven children: Nathaniel, Levi, Nathaniel, Hiram T., William, Lydia, Aurelia, Esther L., William P., Esther L. and James M. Of these, the first Nathaniel was born December 22, 1817, and died October 5, 1818. Levi was born September 8, 1819. Nathaniel. born February 21, 1821, married Charlotte Kenney for his first wife. She died, leaving three children: Hercelia M., who married Timothy K. Stearns; Nathaniel E., who married Lelia L. Bearse; and Aurelia H. His second wife was Mrs. Susan Kenney, and their child is Ethel M. Eldridge. Hiram T. Eldridge, the fourth child of Levi, was born January 15, 1823, and died December 27, 1854, leaving his wife-Aseneth P. Burgess-and a daughter named Eugenia L. Eldridge. William, the fifth child, was born No- vember 26, 1824, and died September 26, 1826. Lydia, the sixth child, born September 23, 1826, married Mulford Rogers and reared three children, who in their turn became heads of families: William P. twice married, first to Olive Holbrook, then to Mehitable Weeks; Betsey N., who married George R. Emerson; and Mulford T., who married Hat- tie E. Mason. Aurelia, the seventh child of Levi, was born August 21, 1828, married Archelaus E. Harding, and died May 29, 1863. Their three daughters are married. The eldest, Julia A., married Rev. Ebenezer Tirrel of Weymouth; Cynthia M. married Edward J. Clark of Boston: and Nellie M. married Samuel H. Mayo of East Boston. The remaining four children of Levi Eldridge were: Esther L., born November 9, 1830, died May 23, 1833: William P., born November 9, 1833, died November 16, 1839; Esther L., born March 14, 1836, died December 18, 1839; and James M., born June 1, 1838, and died Decem- ber 3, 1839.

Levi, above mentioned as the second son in this family of eleven, was born at Chatham and received a common school education. Com- mencing at eighteen years of age the carpenter trade, he followed it thirteen years, and then engaged in the fishing business. His first venture in the purchase of a share of fishing vessels was about 1846, which proving successful, he at once gave his attention to owning and fitting vessels, curing and packing fish. The history of his present and former business relations is given in the annals of South Chatham.

He married his first wife, Phebe W., daughter of Jonathan and Mercy Small, November 24, 1841. She was born February 24, 1823,

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HISTORY OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY.

and died March 15, 1845, leaving one daughter, Esther L., born August 12, 1844, who departed this life November 7, 1845. His second mar- riage, April 12, 1846, was to Mercy Small (daughter of Jonathan and Mercy), born November 27, 1818, and their children were: Esther L .. Mercelia E., Phebe E. and Levi W. Of these only one survives. Esther L., born April 29, 1847, died in July of the same year. Merce- lia E., born February 7, 1849, was married February 8, 1870, to Wil- liam W. Eldridge, who died February 24, 1871. and their daughter, Evelyn W., born March 13, 1871, died September 9, 1876. The widow married Cyrus W. Kelley, for her second husband, on the 25th of De- cember, 1873, and their daughter, Mercy E., was born June 23, 1875. Phebe E., the third child of Levi Eldridge, was born December 23, 1852, and died in infancy. Levi Wilbur, the only son of the subject of this sketch, was born September 14, 1854, and died December 28, 1883. He married in 1878, Minnie C. Buck, who survives him with one son, named Levi W. D. Eldridge.

Levi Eldridge filled many places of trust in the midst of his active business career, and to an extent that the reader may wonder how he could find the time. He was selectman twenty years, to which office then belonged the duties of assessor and overseer of the poor; was on the school committee several years; was president of the South Harwich Marine Insurance Company from the death of Joseph P. Nickerson until the company closed its affairs, a period of nineteen years; was postmaster many years; later being vice- president and director in the Cape Cod National Bank and presi- dent of the Five Cents Savings Bank of Harwich. This long list of trusts shows the worth of the man. His unblemished public and private life, his unselfish benevolence, and his useful and honorable toil, are indelibly stamped in the records of his acts and in the memo- ries of his townsmen.

Oliver E. Eldridge, born in 1840, is a son of Oliver, grandson of Oliver, and great-grandson of Peter Eldridge. He followed the sea from 1851 to 1877, as master thirteen years. Since 1877 he has been engaged at Stage wharf, Chatham, in repairing boats, and has been superintendent of Chatham and Harwich marine railway. He is a member of St. Martins Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He was married in 1861 to Mehitabel, daughter of Benjamin H. Eldridge. Their six children living are: Myra E., Ella M., Ernest S., Benjamin O., Chester A. and Ralph S. They lost three children.

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History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1620-1890, Part 68

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