History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 92

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 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

George A. Smith,

Thì nas Gambon.

James Landry.

Jolın A. Nelson.

George T. Smith.

Thomas B. Gumnon.

Albert Lune.

Alfred Nickerson.

James Smith.

Juhn Gardles.

Orland B. Lane.

Morris Nolan.

Levi Smith.

Jumra Garland.

Romney Lane.

Francis A. Norton.

Thomas Smith.

Freeborn Garrison.

Alfred Intwson.

Peter Norton.

Ralph E. Snow.

TInoms B. Garrison.

Charles Leighton.

Franklin K. G. Nuy.

Charles F. Somes.

Wilson Gartland.

l'etor Lewis.

Wallis C. Odiorne.

George Soreneva.

William Gaul.

Thomas Lewis.

Frederick Ordway.

Calvin Soule. George HE. Southwick.

William J. Gerry.

Samuel Lindberg.

Charles Orne.

Wilhamn Gifford.

Charles Littlefiehl.

Edward S. Osborn.

Granville S. Spofford.

JAMEN Gilbert.

George Lockwood.

John Paige.

Arnold Sprague.

Edward tilman.

Thomas Long.

Charles Pape.

Nathaniel Spragne.

Daniel Glason,

William W. Low.

Charles H. Parker.

Isaac Stanwood.

James Gileasun.

William Lowery.

John Pearce.

Jus. F. Steveng.

Juhu Glyun.

Peter Lowry.

Joseph Peres.

Minot Stevena.

A bert Goodwin.

James Lynch.

Joseph N. Perry.

Nathaniel S. Stevens.

InInes Gfx Iwin.

John Lynch.

Lacis G. Petterson.

Chas. Stewart.

Daniel Golen.

Daniel E. Lyons.

William HI. Pinkham.

Alexander Stinson.

Patrick Gormin.

Mark Mannel.

Charles Pitman.

Chas. W. Stockman.

John Graham.

William Mackay.

Charles H. Pitman.

Hawley Stone.

Stephen Grant.

Thonms Mahoney.

William II. Place.

Jowww.ph Gren.

Sanford Makepeace.

Homer II. Pomeroy.

W ti. Green.

Alonzo Marchant.

James Pomeroy.

Edward M. Strong.

Ebenezer Greenleaf.

James R. Marchant.

Edward Poor.

Alexander A. Stubbe.

Fre hech F. Greer.

John Marchant.

Richard Powers.

Henry Stumbles.

J'itz I: Griftlu.

Thonms Marley.

William Powers.

Daniel E. Sullivan.

John Griffin.

John ('. Mars.

Benjamin F. Randall.

Dennis Sullivan.

Lawrence Griffin.

Joseph Marshall.

Jnaies Randall.

Edward Sullivan.

Ge rgy E. Groots.

Levi Marshall.

Thomas Randall.

Michael Swan.

Jumes Hatt ling.

Robert Marhull.

Daniel Readly.

John P . Hansen.

Urinh P. Marshall.

Willinm Reblin. John Reed.

Albert Tarr.

J. hu Harrington.

John Martin.

Jolla Reeves.

Robert Tarr.

John F Harvin.

Richard F. Martin.

George Reily.

Benjamin W. Taylor.

Thomas Harris.

Thomas Martin.

William E. Remington.

Henry Taylor.

1. Iward B. Hasany.

Thomas Muson.

George Riley.

Jobn N. Taylor.

I rio's P' Husketl.

Alphonso Matthews,

William S. Rittel.

Th Cas HelLy

Samuel K. Matthews.

William S. Robbins.

John Menny.

Dennis Roberte.

Jas. Thomas, Jr.

Mhhjul He Irahat

Thonms Miller.

James Robinson.

PEDPHw haw

Richard Morrison.

J. ph Herri k

Peter Morrison.

Owen Roundy.

1 w H. y

John Muaen.

Thomas II. Russell.

George P Munsey.

Charles II. Ryan.

Andrew Murphy.

Martin Ryan.

J Ilolar

James Murphy.

llenry S. Suldler.

Daniel W. Townsend.

John Murray

James S. Saddler.

Frank W. Townsend. Elkanah Tresher.

J - .

G. M L. Mccarthy. John M tarthy, Allen M Doual.

Amos Sampsonl. George C. Sanborn.

l'hilip Sargent.

Daniel McDonall.

Kilwin MeS nuld.

1. ge 31. Douald.

Simeon Sargent. Henry Saunders. Junies G. Sawlu.

Jas. W. Turner. Win. Turner.

tal n Foren +.

Chat les Johnson.

Allen McFail.

Tun thy Flynn

Fran is H. Johnson.

William Mcliail.

John Johnson.

Juines McGowen.

John H. Sewall. Andrew Shannoa.

MI hael Foley.

Thomas Johnston.

Charles Mcintosh.

James Shannon. Michael Shaff.

Henry Fuster.

Barrett Kennell.

Robert C. MrKenzle.

James Shepherd. John Shepherd. John Sheridan. W. H. Sherman.

l'atto k Gaffney.

Jam - Harrington.

Francis Murtin.

Wni. Il. Teeling. Edwin Thayer.

Edward E. Miller.

Abraui Robinson.

John Thomas. Samuel S. Thomas.

Jamies Mite hell.

Joseph Robinsoa. John Roller.

Wmn. W. Thomas. Win. Thomas. Howard Thompson.

Manuel Russell.

Jas. Thompson. John D. Thompson. John Toole. Peter Toutel.

Win. Trask. JAB. II. Trevoy. Newman A. Tuckerman.

Samuel Joues.

Samuel Stone. W'm. Strickland.

John Swift. Walter Sylvester.

---

1351

GLOUCESTER.

Wm. N. Turner.

Henry Williams.

George Twiss.

Chas. Wilson.

Andrew Tyrell.

George Wilson.

Alexander Urquhart.

Robert F. Wilson.

Wm. Urquhart.

Thomas Wilson.

W'm. Wilson.

Peter Vaughn. Frederick T. Volchins.

Jacob Winchester.

Francis Ward.

John N. Wood.

Matthew Warren.

John W. Woodbury.

Jas. P. Welsh.

Wmn. Yates.

Samuel Wharf.

W'm. H. Wilkes.

Eldridge Young. Jas. A. Zeigler.

The footings of the foregoing lists of names show that there was credited to Gloucester during the war :

Men enlisted for Three Months. 67

For One Hundred Days .. 72

For Six Months 3

For Nine Months. 106

For One Year 129

For Three Years. 649

Total in the Army 1026

In the Navy.

478

Total in both Army and Navy 1504

BIOGRAPHICAL.

COLONEL JONAS H. FRENCH.

Although not a native of Essex, Colonel Jonas H. French is one of the leading citizens of the county, and by his energy and public spirit has contributed in no small degree to her welfare and material pros- perity. He is of Yankee stoek, however, which came from the neighboring county of Middlesex, his father, William French, having been a native of Dunstable, while his mother, whose maiden-name was Sarah Baldwin, was from Billerica.

Colonel French was born in Boston, and was edn- cated in the public schools of the eity, graduating from the English High School in 1845. His zeal and fidelity as a student are attested by the fact of his having been a recipient, while a student at the old Mayhew school, of one of the Franklin medals, which, under the will of Benjamin Franklin, are annually given as honorary rewards to the most deserving pupils in the Boston publie schools. Having an in- elination for mercantile pursuits, he began life on his own aeeount as an apprentice in a grocery-store, subsequently becoming associated with his brother ju the distillery business, in which he was continuously engaged until the breaking out of the Rebellion.

Very early in life he evinced a remarkable aptness and taste for military affairs, and he was seareely of age when he enrolled himself as a member of the City Guards, the " eraek " Boston company of those days. He proved a capital reeruit, and his soldierly qualities were soon recognized by his election as eap- tain of his company, a position which he held for three years. He subsequently served a year on the

staff of Governor Gardner, having been selected from among numerous competitors for his fine soklierly bearing and his excellent military acquirements. At the breaking out of the war, in 1861, he was the eom- mander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, making him to-day one of the oldest living commanders of that time-honored corps.

The call to arms for the defense of the Union found in Colonel French a ready respondent, and in November, 1861, at Camp Chase, in Lowell, he raised the regimert known as "The Eastern Bay State," but which was afterwards designated as the Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiment. In the January following, he sailed in command of that regiment from Boston for Ship Island, attached to General Benjamin F. Butler's expedition against New Orleans. Arriving at his destination, he was appointed senior aide-de- eamp and inspector-general on the staff of General Butler, He was with the latter in the memorable action against Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and upon the capture of New Orleans he was appointed provost-marshal of Louisiana. His training as a soldier and his skill as a disciplinarian served him at this important and responsible post. He entirely reorganized the police of New Orleans and, so far as civil matters were concerned, he was the chief execu- tive officer of General Butler all through the period of the latter's command of the Union forces in that eity, which witnessed some of the most notable events of our Civil War. After General Butler was relieved of his eommand, Colonel French served for some time under General N. P. Banks, after which he re- signed and returned home to engage in business.

The roek-bound coast of Cape Ann has furnished a fruitful theme for the historian, the poet and the painter, each of whom has found no lack of material for his handiwork in this rugged locality. Romance, seenery and poetry are not its only products, how- ever. The late Edwin P. Whipple, the distinguished essayist, writing of the place, remarked that the prin- cipal productions of certain portions of Cape Ann seem to be rocks and roses, and it was the inexhans- tible quarries of the former commodity that engaged the attention of Colonel French, who, in 1869, organ- ized the Cape Ann Granite Company, one of the largest and most prosperous granite companies in the country. He has been its president from the date of its organization. The quarries are located in Glou- eester, and they have furnished the granite for several of the publie buildings and other structures of the country, among them the Boston post-office and sub- treasury building, the Baltimore post-office building, the bases of the Scott Monument in Washington, and the spandrel walls of the great Brooklyn Bridge. They have also provided a large amount of the polished granite for the eity buildings of Philadel- phia. The company is also one of the largest eon- tractors in the country for granite paving-blocks, and it has given constant employment for the past fifteen

1352

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

years to from three hundred to seven hundred men. The village of Bay View, Gloucester, has been largely built up under the auspices of this company. It is here that Colonel French has his summer home, his winter residence being in Boston. This delightful summer house, which has been appropriately chris- tened " Rocklawn," is one of the most attractive on the North Shore, famed for its beautiful country residences. It stands conspicuous among

" The outthrust headlands and inreaching hays Of our northeastern coast,"

so sweetly sung of by our Essex poet, Whittier. The house and stable are of granite and are models of architectural grace and skill. The house is at a suf- ficient elevation from the shore to command a fine view of the bay and the many places of interest which skirt its shores, and the prospect from the broad piazzas which surround the house is not sur- passed in that picturesque vicinity. The broad, sloping lawns and drives which streteh down to the sea on one side and to the granite hills on the other are kept in the best order that constant eare can give them, and the grounds are always open to visitors, who find enjoyment in searching out the interesting scenery of the Cape. Extensive gardens and green- houses are maintained on the place, and everything about " Rocklawn" is in tasteful keeping with the elegant hospitality that is dispensed by its owner.

In politics Colonel French has always been a stanch Democrat, and his fidelity to the principles of that organization has made him one of the trusted leaders of the party in the State. Although deeply engrossed in the cares which the conduct of large business interests involves, he has always been ready to serve his party effectively in its councils and on the hustings. Ile served as a delegate to the Demo- cratic National Convention at Cincinnati, in 1880, and was chosed, by an almost unanimous vote, as a delegate-at-large to the National Convention of 1888. He has been for several years a member of the Demo- cratie State C'entral Committee of Massachusetts, and for three years was its chairman. He was twice elected from the Gloucester District to the State Senate, serving in the sessions of 1879 and 1880, and occupying the position of chairman of several import- ant committees. In 1886 he ran for Congress in the Seventh District, hut was defeated.

Colonel French has been prominent for many years in railroad matters also. For three years he was president of the Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis Railroad, and for a period of ten years he has been a director in the New York and New England Railroad. He was also for a time a director in the Eastern Rail- road. He isa director in the West End Land Company, an important enterprise that has lately been entered upon by some pubhe-spirited capitalists to improve the horse-car service of Boston and vicinity, and to develop the territory lying to the westward of that

city and in Brookline. Since 1876 he has been a director of the Maverick National Bank of Boston, and has taken an active interest in the management of its affairs.

In his early career Colonel French was greatly interested in Free-Masonry and was initiated in the Columbia Lodge of Boston. He was one of the original charter members of Revere Lodge, and was also one of the founders of the St. Bernard Encamp - ment.

Surrounded by all those material comforts which a career marked by industry and shrewd business capacity entitle their possessor to enjoy, having a keen appreciation of the refinements of life, in both a social and intellectual sense, and possessed withal of buoyant and progressive instincts which have im- pressed themselves on all his surroundings, Colonel French is fairly entitled to be enrolled in the long list of those good citizens of old Essex whose record is the nobler and better for their having contributed to it.

GEORGE O. HOVEY.

George Otis Hovey was born at Brookfield, Mas- sachusetts, on February 22, 1809. At the death of his father he became, in early childhood, a member of the household of his uncle, Mr. Jabez C. Howe, of Stirling, Massachusetts. When Mr. Howe removed to Boston, Mr. Hovey, still a boy, went with him and remained with him until his own marriage. Mr. Hovey was married, in 1835, to Mary A., daughter of Joseph Cotton, of Boston. Previous to his marriage Mr. Hovey had made several visits to Europe in the in- terests of the firm of I. C. Howe & Company, of which he became a member on reaching his twenty-first year, and after his marriage he also spent two or three years in Paris.

Mr. Hovey was one of the pioneers of the North Shore summer residents, having first spent a summer at Fresh Water Cove, Gloucester, in 1843, and spend- ingall his subsequent summers there. In 1846 he built his summer house there, in which he died July 18, 1877.

EPES W. MERCHANT.

Epes W. Merchant was born in Gloucester, May 22, 1804. He was the eldest of ten children born to Epes Merchant and Sally R. (Thomas) Merchant. Epes W., like most of the Cape Ann boys of that period, was practically engaged in the fisheries until his majority, when he became a partner in his father's business under the firm-name of Epes Merchant & Son. For many years he was one of the principal fish- buyers, and his business reputation and mercantile integrity were of the highest order. His knowledge and judgment was often appealed to by the younger masters, and his kind encouragement and sound ad- vice were often the foundation of successful business

1 1 151

Ett Merchant

Filbert

Joseph Rame

1353

GLOUCESTER.

for many. Mr. Merchant was elected a director of the old Gloucester Bank, now the Gloucester National, in 1848, and became its president in 1871, which office he held until he died. He was also a trustee of the Cape Ann Savings Bank, director of the Gloucester Fishermen's and Widows' and Orphans' Association, and president of the Oak Grove Cemetery Associa- tion. Mr. Merchant was a thorough American, be- lieving politically in the principles of protection to American industry, and development as embodied in the Whig and Republican parties. He was liberal in his religious views, being a constant attendant at the Independent Christian Church (Universalist). His life was consistent, patriotic, full of kind deeds and loyalty to his best convictions. Mr. Merchant was married, December 21, 1825, to Miss Sally Ellery Ryerson, who survives him.

ADDISON GILBERT.1

Addison Gilbert, merchant and banker of Glou- cester, Mass., was born in Gloucester in 1808. He is a descendant of the Gilbert family of Devonshire, England, of which Sir Humphrey Gilbert, the distin- guished navigator, was an honored member. The first record of the family in America dates from 1648. The great-grandfather of Mr. Gilbert came to Glou- cester in 1704. The father of Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Samuel Gilbert, was a successful merchant, accumu- lating a handsome property. Mr. Gilbert was educated in the public schools of Gloucester and the Dummer Academy at Byfield. He early evinced a taste for mercantile life, and his success is due to his thorough business habits and steadfast integrity. In early life he took a great interest in public affairs, and being a ready and forcible speaker he represented his native town repeatedly in the Legislature, also serving as selectman, school committee, auditor and moderator of the town-meetings. In every branch of the public service he brought into action the personal business traits that characterized his daily life. Mr. Gilbert's political affiliations were in early life with the Jack- sonian Democracy, but as the disuniou sentiment as- sumed control of the party, with Mr. Rautoul and others he early saw the designs of the slave power and gave to the Republican party, then forming, the same earnest support that he had formerly given to the Democracy, and when the government appealed to the loyal citizens of the country for means to prosecute the war in defense of the Union, Mr. Gilbert, though past the age for service in the field, did all that he could, and poured into the treasury of the nation all the resources at his command. Mr. Gilbert was never married, and will leave no direct issue to inherit his honorable name and honestly acquired wealth. His life has been one ofearnest, conscientious effort and un- tiring industry ; liberal in his religous views, strong in his personal friendships, he bears his eighty years

with honor and enjoys the respect and veneration of his fellow-citizens.

CAPTAIN JOSEPHI ROWE.

Captain Joseph Rowe was born in Gloucester, Mass., December 11, 1825. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Cape Ann, and in the wars aud strifes of the early days did conspicuous service for the colony and for the country. Of Captain Rowe it can be truthfully said that he repre- sented in his life and character the noble and manly attributes that have ever been ascribed to the typical American sailor.

Following the example of his ancestors, his youth and early manhood was devoted to wresting from old ocean the reward which crowned his later days and made his name the synonym of daring enter- prise, fearless and undoubted courage, quick and intuitive decision and unsullied integrity and honor. A fisherman, whose education was from the common school of his boyhood, and that larger and grander school-the ocean. With a mental grasp that seemed inspiration, with a contempt for sham and shoddy that made their votaries shrink and shiver in his presence, he lived his manly life true to his best ideals, and died, mourned and respected by all who knew him. His memory will ever be an inspiration to the toiler of the sea, and his good name, more than wealth, will be the proud legacy of his children and his children's children.

Captain Rowe was married to Miss Martha Nor- wood, of Gloucester, who died October 4, 1881. His own death occured June 15, 1887.

CAPT. FITZ J. BABSON.

Captain Fitz J. Babson was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, February 14, 1828. He is a direct descendant from James Babson, who, with his mother, Isabel Babson, settled in Gloucester in 1637. Capt. Babson received his education in the public schools of his native towu, passing an academic course at the Murray Institute. In early life he learned the car- peuter's trade and was employed as a builder and contractor until 1861, when he enlisted in the Union army, serving in the Twelfth and Twenty-third Regi- ments Massachusetts Infantry, and was mustered out October 13, 1864. He immediately raised another company for one year's service and was finally mus- tered out July, 1865, having served for four years as a soldier and participating in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newbern and other skirmishes in North Caro- lina ; also the initiatory fighting . at Port Walthall Arrowfield Church, and battles of Drury Bluff, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg. On his return from the war he was appointed boarding officer and inspector of customs at Gloucester, and immediately after the inauguration of General Grant was appoint- ed by him Collector of Customs for the district of

1By Capt. Fitz J. Babson.

85}

135-1

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Gloucester. This position he held for seventeen years, being reappointed by Presidents Grant, Hayes and Arthur. Captain Babson represented his native town two year-1858, 1860-in the Legislature of Massachusetts, and has at two conventions been the unanimous choice of the fishing interests as a candi- date for C'ongress. He has been the uncompromising defender of these interests against Canadian aggres- sion, and under the direction of the Honorable Seere- tary of State, Mr. Evarts, obtained and compiled most of the documentary evidence and also the oral testimony on the American side before the Halifax Commission. In the frigate " Kearsarge " he made a thorough investigation of the shores of Canada and Newfoundland, submitting an exhaustive report of the local fisheries and the points of contact within and without treaty stipulations. In the case of the outrages on American fishermen at Fortune Bay, Newfoundland, he collected all of the facts and pre- sented the case to the government, which resulted in a payment of seventy-five thousand dollars damages by Great Britain, and an acknowledgment of the truth of the American position. He has been a voluminous writer on the practical operations of the Atlantic fisheries, and a large portion of the cur- rent fishery newspaper literature for twenty years is from his pen.

In the winter of 1885 and 1886, at Washington, associated with Honorable Charles L. Woodbury, he successfully opposed the appointment of a commis- sion to negotiate a reciprocity treaty, and at present writing is the president of the National Fishery Association, which includes the interests of the Atlantie, Pacifie, and Lake and Gulf fisheries. Captain Babson was made a Mason at the age of twenty-one in Tyrian Lodge of Gloucester, and has ever been active in Masonic work. He was fonr years Worthy Master of Tyrian Lodge, and also four years Worthy Master of Acacia Lodge, which was formed and instituted through his efforts. Ile is also a member of William Ferson Royal Arch Chapter, In Is68, with twelve other comrades, he pe- titioned for a post of the G. A. R., and was its first

t'ommander. In a large sense his life has been that of a public-spirited citizen, whether acting for years as moderator of the town meetings or superin- tending the erection of both City Halls or striving with his comrades to ereet a monument that marks the loyal devotion of the soldiers and sailors of Glou- coster,-in all and through all a pride in the citizen- ship of his native town, State and country, and an earnest defender of American rights everywhere by speech, pen or sword.

AAttending the Independent Christian Church from infancy, h's religious convictions were never limited by scetarian mes. In politics a Republican from the first formation of the party.

CHAPTER CXI. ROCKPORT.

BY JOHN W. MARSHALL.

General Description- Incorporation- Harbor Accen.modations - Firet Set- tlers-Early Settlers and other Facts.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION .- Sandy Bay, the Fifth Parish of the town of Gloucester, and Pigeon Cove, a part of the Third Parish, were set off from Glou- cester and incorporated at the town of Rockport February 27, 1840.

The act of incorporation was passed to be enacted, and was signed by the speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives, Robert C. Winthrop, and by the presi- dent of tho Senate, Daniel P. King, and approved by the Governor, Marcus Morton, all on the same day.

Rockport is situated on the most easterly part of Cape Ann, and is bounded northwesterly by Ipswich Bay, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Massachusetts Bay, on the west by the city of Gloucester.

It has a water front of about six miles ; the greater part of the coast line is rugged and rock-bound, though there are several good sand beaches, viz. : Long Beach, at its southern extremity, full a mile in extent, hard, white sand, over which are pleasant drives ; it also affords good bathing facilities, Next easterly of Long Beach is Pebble-Stone, separated from Long by a rocky bluff, "Cape Hedge; this, above half-tide, is composed of an immense reef of pebble-stone; at and below half-tide smooth, hard sand. In front of the town is School-house Beach, of smooth, hard sand. Next westerly, separated by a bold and roeky bluff, Hale's Point, is Back Beach, of pebble-stone and sand. Then northerly is Short Beach. All of these afford excellent facilities for bathing. Long, School-house and Back Beaches are public property. Citizens and visitors have free use. The shore of Phillips' Avenue, Pigeon Cove, is com- paratively a smooth ledge declining towards the sea, and affords tolerable facilities for bathing.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 92

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