History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 138

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Among those connected with the industries of the town may be mentioned George S Prescott, who has been for some years engaged in the setting up of lightning-rods in conformity with scientific inven- tions and discoveries of his own relating to the con- nection of electric currents with water courses.

The population of Amesbury in 1875, the year be- fore the incorporation of Merrimac, was 5987; accord- ing to the next census, in 1880, it was 3355, and in 1885, 4403. In 1880 the population of Merrimac was 2237, and in 1885, 2378. The valuation of Amesbury in 1875, the year before the incorporation of Merri- mac, was $2,331,694.62, and in 1876, $1,802.007. In 1886 it had increased to $1,864,101. In 1876 that of Merrimac was $968,845, and had increased in 1886 to $1,204,136.

Merrimac is well supplied with professional men and traders in the various branches of business too numerous to mention. It has a good hotel, well kept, and with its increasing prosperity is destined to have a larger growth.

NOTE .- The writer acknowledges the great assistance in the prepara- tion of the sketch of Merrimac which he has received from manuscript notes prepared by Joseph Merrill, Esq , of Amesbury, and Hou. James D. Pike, of Merrimac.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN S. MORSE.

John Sargent Morse, son of John and Patience Sargent Morse, was born March 16, 1780, in that part of Amesbury now incorporated as the town of Merri- mac. He was a descendant of Anthony Morse, who was born in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, May 6, 1606, and emigrated to this country in the ship " James," arriving in Boston June 3, 1635, settling in " Ould Newbury " the same year.

The house in which John S. Morse was born was one of the most substantial structures of the earlier days of New England, and was considered an old house when purchased by his grandfather, Benjamin Morse, in 1728. Although a new and more commodious house was erected near by John S. Morse in his later years (now occupied by his grandson, Edward W. Morse), the old building is still standing in a fair state of preservation. It is now unoccupied, but is kept as a memento of olden time, and still contains the furniture of the past, including the loom, spin- ning-wheels and other implements of household in- dustry.

The earlier years of John S. Morse were devoted to

the usual employment of a New England boy on the farm and to teaching the district school in the winter. This he continued for such a length of time that his later pupils were in many cases the children of his earlier ones.

Early in life he was appointed a justice of the peace, and as administrator or executor settled a large number of estates.

In the surveying of land he had much experience, and his tenacious memory and good judgment were relied upon as almost infallible in fixing boundaries.

He was many times elected one of the selectmen of Amesbury, and always performed his duties with the strictest fidelity. He was also town treasurer and collector. In 1820 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. He was appointed in spector of customs at Newburyport by President Jackson, and served eight years in that capacity.

In 1806 he married Judith Weed, daughter of Ephraim and Judith Goodwin Weed.

A man of remarkable calmness and serenity, con- scientious and temperate in all things, he had great influence in the community where his long life was passed.

Two children survive him,-Ephraim Weed Morse of San Diego, Cal., and Sally Maria, wife of Philip J. Neal, of Merrimac.

Ephraim W. Morse sailed from Boston, February 4, 1849, in the ship "Leonora " for San Francisco. He returned in 1851, remaining until 1853, when he returned to San Diego, which place he has since made his home. About twenty years ago he made large purchases of land in the vicinity, which has since greatly increased in value. In 1852 he married Lydia Ann Gray, of Amesbury, by whom he had one son, Edward W., who now ocenpies the old homestead upon Bear Hill in Merrimac. His second wife was Mary Chase Walker, a teacher in Sau Diego, and formerly of Manchester, N. H.

HON. WILLIAM NICHOLS.

Hon. William Nichols was born August 26, 1787. Concerning the early history of the family we may fittingly use Mr. Nichols' own records :

" From the best evidence which 1 am able to obtain, I find that about the year 1700 our ancestor, Jno. Nichols, lived in a house standing on the north bank of the Merrimac River, in Amesbury, near where Nichols' Creek discharges its waters into the Merrimac. The Ameshury records inform us that he married Abigail Sargent, of Gloucester, December 17, 1701. Tradi- tion says they had twelve sons and three daughters. That their birth took place in the following order : Their first-born was a daughter, they then had six sons in succession, then another daughter, then six sons in succession, and then closed with another daughter, and the town records go far in corrobora- tion of this."

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Humphrey, the tenth child and eighth son, from whoom many of the Nichols family now residing in the town are descended, was born April 12, 1723, and married Dorothy Hunt, July 10, 1746. Their children were Elizabeth, Hopstill, Hezekiah, Abigail, Hum- phrey and Sarah. The son Hezekiah was born August 9, 1752, and married Hannah Colby, January 3, 1775, and moved to Newbury, or what is now New- buryport, near what is called "The Laurels," where his son William was born.

In 1796 the family removed to West Amesbury, to a house on Bear HIill, and subsequently to a house near the Upper "Corner."

In 1814 Wm. Nichols was married to Rhoda Sar- gent, daughter of Moses and Dolly Sargent, of the same town, and from that time till his death lived at the homestead of the " Moulton Farm," which he had purchased in the spring of the same year.

In 1822 he purchased the farm adjoining his own, known as the " Merrill Farm," which contained the largest orchard in the town.

Even in these earlier days carriage manufacturing was begun, and Mr. Nichols carried on the business of a silver-plater, and sometimes engaged in the man- ufacture of a few carriages. As more ornamental work was used then than now, the business of silver- plating was at that time and for many years quite an important adjunct to the manufacture of carriages.

He was appointed lieutenant and afterwards cap- tain in the State militia, and thus gained the title of "Captain Nichols," by which he was familiarly known during his whole life.

In 1826 he received a commission as justice of the peace, which office he continued to hold till within a year of his death. In this capacity he did much work in writing deeds, wills and other legal papers, for which his considerable literary qualifications rendered him peculiarly fitted. He was also a land surveyor, and for many years did much of this work in Amesbury and the surrounding towns.

Mr. Nichols was elected Senator in 1832, an office włoch has been held by no one else at the west end of the town. He afterwards served on the Board of Selectmen ten years, served on many important com- mittres, and was frequently elected moderator of town-meetings, for which, by his firmness and self- command, he was well adapted.

His first wife died April 6, 1860, of the small-pox, which was then prevalent.

In the later years of his life, having become the pois or of considerable valuable land, the plating bus be wos marly abandoned and his time was needy alven tofarming.

In Die faB et 1861 Mr. Nichols married Eliza, wolow of Ilu un Colby, who still survives.

After & wines of me duration he died Novem-

Mi Nih I wie a mian of great energy of charac- tor ved knowledge of noen and affairs. An

able man, fair and generous, his advice was often sought and always given to the best of his ability. United with integrity were good judgment and clear sight, so that he was not unjustly considered the ablest man at the west end of the town.

He had four children, all by his first wife.

Betsey, born May 28, 1816, who was married to Frederick Sargent, September, 1841. Mr. Sargent was one of the pioneers of those engaged in the sale of carriage furnishing goods, a business now carried on to a large extent in Merrimac, which business he successfully conducted until the time of his death, which occurred January 12, 1867, leaving his wife with one daughter, Rhoda E. Sargent. Mrs. Sargent died April 25, 1887, universally esteemed for her many excellent traits of heart and mind.

George W., born May 25, 1817. Ile was married, July 21, 1853, to Fanny Short, of Newbury. Of their three children,-Lanra J. (now MIrs. Geo. N. Goodwin), Mary F. and William G.,-the first two, with Mrs. Nichols, still reside in the old homestead. Geo. W. Nichols was a man of wide, general information, well versed in languages and quite a student of natural history. Well read, he was for many successive terms a member of the School Committee, for years a con- sistent member of the Universalist Church, and its clerk at the time of his death, October 27, 1884.

Both the other sons of William Nichols- Wm. Francis, born April 18, 1819, and Hezekiah Smith, born February 2, 1826, -died in early manhood, the former aged twenty-one, and the latter nineteen. They were both young men of promise and unusually pure character, and their parents deeply felt their loss.

PATTEN SARGENT.

Patten Sargent was born August 16, 1793, in West Amesbury (now Merrimac). He was the son of Ichabod B. and Ruth Sargent, heing the second in a family of eight children. His parents were persons of earnest religious convictions and exemplary Christian life, and sought to train their children in the right way. At the age of sixteen their son Patten left the paternal roof to serve an apprentice- ship at the trade of a silver-plater, with Mr. William Johnson, a citizen of the town. At the age of twenty- one when his period of apprenticeship had expired, he spent a short time working at his trade in Newbury- port and at the village of West Amesbury. He then resolved to undertake business for himself and es- tablish himself at the River Village in Amesbury (now Merrimacport), where he resided till his death. The carriage manufacturing business, now so large and prosperous in that community, was then in its infancy. Mr. Sargent, on his removal to the River Village, while not at once giving up active labor at his trade as a plater, opened a store for groceries, family supplies, etc., and also for carriage hardware and trimmings. He soon found it expedient to en-

Patten Porgand

1 7 Merrill

Jan B. Jag out

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MERRIMAC.

tirely relinquish labor at his trade and gave him- self wholly to his store, and to dealing in carriages. He continued thus in active business as a trader till about the year 1850, when, having acquired what he deemed a competence, he retired from business. His business career was characterized by industry, energy, good judgment and strict integrity. In financial transactions his honesty and truthfulness could always be depended upon, and to all who knew him his word was as good as his bond. He was kind-hearted and sympathic in his feelings, though not demonstrative. He was modest and unpreten- tious in his bearing, courteous and respectful towards all classes of people and careful in speech concerning the character and conduct of others, his tongue never being that of a backbiter. And yet he was quick in reading the characters of those with whom he had to do. His tastes and habits were simple and frugal and he had no fondness for ostentatious display. He won to an unusual degree the respect and confidence of all. His fellow-townsmen three times elected him their Representative to the General Court. At the organization of the Powow River Bank in Salisbury, in 1836, he was made a member of its board of di- rectors, and at the incorporation of the National Bank in Merrimac, in 1864, he was chosen its first president, a position which advancing age led him to resign [in 1872. His life was prolonged to the advanced age of ninety years, his death occurring at Merrimacport, August 17, 1883. He was twice married ; his first marriage, which took place Janu - ary 14, 1819, was to Miss Dolly, daughter of Moses and Dolly Sargent, of West Amesbury. His second marriage, March 4, 1832, was to Miss Betsey, daughter of Robert and Rhoda Patten, of Amesbury. He had six children, all by his first wife. Three- Henry, Laura J. (wite of D. H. Bradley, Esq., of Malden) and Dolly-died during their father's life- time. Three still survive-William P., head of the late firm of William P. Sargent & Co. carriage manufacturers and dealers of Boston ; Sarah, wife of Rev. Albert Paine, of Boston Highlands ; and Emily, wife of George O. Goodwin, Esq., of Merrimacport.

THOMAS T. MERRILL.

Thomas T. Merrill was the son of Parker and Bet- sy Merrill. He was born in South Hampton, N. H., August 19, 1797. He was a direct descendent from the French Huguenots; original name, De-Merle ; tvas the eldest child of a family of four, viz .: Thomas

of country boys, he had but limited advantages for an education, yet he improved every opportunity, and when quite young was considered an excellent schol- ar, especially in mathematics ; he taught school very successfully for several years during the winter months in different towns in New Hampshire; in summer worked at his trade of carpenter. lle

moved to West Amesbury (now Merrimac) in 1838 ; here he purchased a large farm. At the same time he was engaged in the duties his farm required, he was pursuing his trade, erecting many houses in West Amesbury and vicinity, also Lawrence; he erected the first house in Lawrence, Mass. In 1848 Mr. Merrill, in company with others, established the West Amesbury Wheel Company, and was its agent until his death, which occurred very suddenly, July 12, 1871. He was a strong churchman, and, with his wife, Oliva, united with the Rocky Hill Church in 1832; was very positive in his nature, benevolent, yet prudent, of strong will-power and individuality, with very decided views. In early life he was a strong Whig, later a stanch Republican; no office- seeker, yet he worked hard for his party. He was large- ly identified with the religious and business pros- perity of the place. Ife was chosen one of the di- rectors of the First National Bank of West Ames- bury at its organization, in 1864, which position he held until his death. Prompt to act, a good adviser and a generous giver, he might well be called the un- fortunate man's friend. A leader in every good cause, his death was mourned as a public calamity.

He was twice married-his first wife, Oliva, daugh- ter of John and Polly Merrill, died September 30, 1842. By this marriage he had seven children, - Elizabeth J., Joseph T., John F., Emily A., Mary O., Helen A. and Calvin A. (Elizabeth and Calvin deceased.) His second wife, Hannah, wbo still sur- vives him, was the daughter of Sallie and Edmond Nichols. By his second marriage he had two ehil- dren,-Lucy M. and Francis S. Mr. Merrill lived to see all his children well married and occupying hon- orable positions in life. At the time of his death he left twenty grandchildren.

JONATHAN BAILEY SARGENT.

Jonathan Bailey Sargent, son of Ichabod B. and Ruth (Patten) Sargent, was born July 3, 1798. He married Sarah E. Nichols May 22, 1822, and had nine children. Mr. Sargent received a common-school education, and at an early age was apprenticed to Willis Patten (at the River Village), who was a blacksmith. After learning his trade (and previous to his marriage) he set up in business for himself, and shortly after commenced manufacturing carriage- axles, to which he subsequently added carriage- springs.

He was for a number of years an extensive builder True, William, Betsy and Amos, Like the majority | of carriages, and was the originator of what has long been known as the half-patent-axle, which is still used more extensively than any other.

Having carried on the manufacture of axles and springs successfully for a number of years, he dis- posed of this business to the West Amesbury Spring and Axle Company.

Mr. Sargent was a man of marked individuality

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and strong convictions, and one of the leading men of West Amesbury, and all religious, educational and other measures tending to advance the interest of his town found in him an able advocate. He represented his town in the General Court in 1850 and '52, and served as selectman several years. Ile was always largely interested in horticulture, and it would be difficult to say whether he derived the greatest satisfaction from his labors in the orchard and garden, or in distributing their products among his neighbors and friends.

In religion he was a pronounced Universalist, and his house was a home for the clergy of that denomi- nation. Mr. Sargent was a great reader, and proba- bly possessed a greater fund of general information than any other man in the town. His opinion and advice were sought for by all classes in matters of business. Ile died August 11, 1882.

Edmund N. and Bailey Sargent, sous of the sub- ject of this sketch, were brought up in business with their father. Bailey was the first treasurer of the West Amesbury Spring and Axle Company, after this company had purchased the spring and axle business of his father. He has filled several offices of trust in his town, such as postmaster ; also select- man in 1869 and '70, treasurer and collector in 1879 and town clerk, treasurer and collector of Merrimac since its incorporation, in 1876. Ile also served in the late Rebellion, enlisting in the Massachusetts Second Heavy Artillery, and was first lieutenant at the close of the war.

Edmund N., who died February 10, 1887, was agent of the West Amesbury Manufacturing Company from October, 1884, until his death. Ile also held many offices of trust in his native town.

The commission of Postmaster, held by Bailey from 1861 to 1863, was, upon his resignation, reissued to his sister Jane, who served as postmistress until April, 1866.

Ruth, the oldest daughter, married G. G. Strick- land, a Universalist clergyman, and was settled in Amesbury and Merrimac for several years, and after- wards in Saco, Me.

DR. BENJAMIN ATKINSON.

Dr. Benjamin Atkinson was born in Minot, Maine, January 29, 1806, and at the age of twenty-five he esta dished himself as a physician in West Amesbury. He was one of eleven children, three having studied ondie De and one law. He married, December I, 1831, a daughter of Dr. Seth Chandler, of Minot, Malne, Rhoda Wadsworth Chandler, whose graceful profiter will long be remembered by her many

Dr Atkins n, having set led in the village in its monies closely die i himself with its varied inter- « ta, beth moral and (oucational. On his thirtieth birthen he was Chosen a deacon in the Orthodox Whowal Clou h, -ervfog until his death.

He was instrumental in procuring for successive seasons the most distinguished men of the time as lecturers in the village, always entertaining them at his own house.

I know of no more fitting tribute to his memory than the following lines, written by his pastor, the Rev. Leander Thompson : " How well he performed the duties of his laborious and responsible profession, those who have known him longest and best need not be reminded."

If the united testimony of a great number of grate- ful and attached friends who have experienced his professional kindness can be relied upon, he has been a physician of rare fidelity. Always self-sacrificing, full of sympathy and tenderness, he never spared himself,-so long as he had strength to expend,-and his presence, his noble form, his gentlemanly bearing and his kindly manner always inspired confidence around the bed of sickness, and suggested supporting considerations around the bed of death. And he has ever had in his profession a more than ordinary share of success.

His friends confided in his skill as well as in his kindness. To not a few among us he has been thus for many years what Luke was to Paul and other primitive Christians-"The beloved Physician."

He died October 22, 1861, leaving a wife and three children, his son, Benjamin Chandler Atkinson, having served through the Civil War.

His eldest danghter married John P. Whittier, formerly a prominent carriage mannfacturer of Bos- ton. The younger daughter married Edward Taylor (2d), of Audover.

ALFRED E. GOODWIN.

Alfred E. Goodwin was the son of Ephraim and Elizabeth Goodwin, and was born in Amesbury, Mass., October 12, 1807. He was the second child in a family of four, viz : David, Alfred E., Ephraim and Elizabeth. Alfred E. was reared ou a farm, and later in life learned the trade of carriage-trimmer with Joseph Sargent. Later he went into business on his own account, manufacturing carriages, until the firm of Goodwin, Sargent & Co. was organized for the sale of carriage findings, groceries and mannfacture of shoes. (The firm consisted of A. E. Goodwin, Fran- cis Sargent and Albert Sargent.) Mr. Goodwin re- mained in this business for a few years, when he be- came associated with the firm of Sargent, Harlow & Co., becoming the company of this concern, and as such continued for some time, when he entered into partnership with Frederick Sargent. Upon the death of Mr. Sargent, Mr. Goodwin admitted into partner- ship Albert Sargent. This firm continued until 1880, when they sold out to Little & Larkin.

Mr. Goodwin was one of Amesbury's most honored citizens, and always manifested a deep interest in the town ; he was a director in the bank, and deacon in the Congregational Church for forty years. He was

------

Alfred & Goodwin

William burnin

1533

MERRIMAC.

a Republican in politics and represented his town in the Legislature.

His wife was Maria, daughter of Col. Edmund Sar- gent. They had one child, Alfred N., who died when eight years of age. Mr. Goodwin died of heart-dis- ease, November 1, 1881, aged seventy-four years.

WILLIAM GUNNISON.

William Gunnison was born in Newburyport, Mas- sachusetts, December 11, 1809. Tradition informs us that his ancestry in this country, traces back to one Hngh Gunnison (a Swede) who came to America with an English colony in 1832, and settled in Bos- ton. A few years later he, with others, was disarmed for the Hutchinson heresy, and removed to Kittery, Maine, where many of his descendants were born, and among them William Gunnison, grandfather of the William Gunnison mentioned above.

In 1780 lie removed to Fishersfield (now New- bury), New Hampshire. A man of great physical endurance, of deep religious principle, firm and un- yielding in whatever he considered as the right, he seemed well-fitted as one of the pioneers of a new country.

One of his sons, Joseph, left home at an early age to seek his fortunes elsewhere. He located in New- buryport ; married Anna Chase, of Haverhill, Massa- chusetts. William Gunnison, the second son of Jo- seph Gunnison, and subject of this sketch, remained at home until twelve years of age, enjoying the limit- ed educational privileges of his native city. His father dying, he went to Newbury, New Hampshire, to live with his grandfather, remaining with him two years working on the farm, and attending school three months each year.

At the age of fourteen he came to West Amesbury (now Merrimac) and apprenticed himself to Ebenezer Fullington for a term of seven years to learn the carriage trade. Faithfully he served the long term of years.

After two or three years as journeyman, he com- menced the manufacture of carriages with small capital. Possessed of strong will, indomitable ener- gy, untiring perservance, and with such knowledge of the business as his limited resources, aside from keen observation outside of his apprenticeship, allow- ed him to acquire, he determined to succeed, and from the lowest round of the ladder worked his way upward, slowly but surely.

December 12, 1833, he married Belinda Hayford, daughter of Nathan Hayford, of Tamworth, New Hampshire, a soldier of the War of 1812. He still made West Amesbury (now Merrimac) his home. In- terested in the prosperity of the town and people with whom he had identified himself, he was a willing worker with them to advance its interests.

He continued alone the manufacture of carriages until 1851, when a co-partnership was formed with 98

Mr. William H. Haskell, of Merrimac, and Mr. Wil- liam P. Sargent, of Boston, and, as a result of hard work and long experience, built up a large business and established an enviable reputation ; after ten years the partnership was dissolved.

In 1860, Mr. Gunnison purchased a building lot on Main Street, West Amesbury (now Merrimac), and built a fine residence, which he occupied until his death.

In 1862 he gradually increased his business, by employing small outside concerns to turn out work for him partially finished, which he would complete in his own factory.

During the years between 1862 and 1872 he bought and sold many carriages other than his own manufacture, being unable to meet the demand for his own products. A frequenter of the leading car- riage centres, he kept himself fully informed in the line of his business, promptly applying any invention that would add to the utility or elegance of his car- riages, thus retaining a tront rank as manufacturer.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 138

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672