USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 34
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2. William H., b. May 15, 1849, d. May 14, 1850.
3. Joseph A., b. April 21, 1846, m. Jau. 20, 1874, Ella G. Wood, b. Aug. 11, 1840, ch. Irving Bigelow, b. Jan. 5, 1876; Kathrina A., b. Feb. 22, 1879.
4. Lucy, b. Feb. 29, 1851, m. Henry M. Riggs, son of Rev. Stephen R. Riggs, the celebrated Indian missionary. They res. in Fort Sullie, Dakota.
5. Susan E., b. Aug. 9, 1855, unm.
2. JOSEPH B., b. Aug. 21, 1824, m. Ann Dresser.
3. SUSAN M., b. Aug. 24, 1843, d. Sept. 16, 1843.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
4-1 |NATHANIEL ADAMS, JR., (Nathanlel, Andrew), b. Mar. 16. 1785, m. Polly Merriam, and 2nd, Persis Greenwood. Polly, b. 1789, d. Sept. 9, 1823. Nathaniel, after his second marriage, removed to N. Y. State. Children,
1. MARY C., b. Sept. 2, 1810, d. Oct. 2, 1848. 2. NATHANIEL O., b. Sept. 2, 1812. 3. MOSES E., b. Nov. 27, 1814. 4. SALLY H., b. Jan. 19, 1817. 5. ANDREW H., b. July 20, 1819. 6. HARRIETT M., b. Feb. 6, 1823.
5-6 MOSES H. ADAMS, (Nathaniel, Andrew), b. Feb. 2, 1795, m. Sally Prentice (P), b. 1796, d. Nov. 29, 1878. He d. Sept. 3, 1854. Children,
1. SUSAN, b. Aug. 25, 1822, d. July 15, 1853.
2. SARAH, b. Jan. 13, 1824, d. Apr. 14, 1832.
3. Moses, b. Oct. 17, 1825, d. Nov. 22, 1847.
4. CHARLES, b. May 17, 1827. Res. Elko, Nev. 5. NATHANIEL, b. Jan. 14, 1830, d. Sept. 22, 1853.
6. JOSEPH, b. Jan. 19, 1832, m. Sarah A. Newton.
7. ABIJAH, b. May 8, 1834. Res. Walnut Creek, Cal.
8. HORACE, b. Feb. 8, 1837, d. in Cal., 1869.
6-7 HON. OTIS ADAMS, (Nathaniel, Andrew), b. Feb. 13, 1798, m. May, 1822, Sylvia King, b. July 30, 1799. He d. May 4, 1860.
He had recently been on a tour at the West, and returned home with a severe affection of the lungs, that resulted in a lung fever and terml- nated bis life. He never enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education, yet by a diligent and persistent improvement of his leisure time, he at- tained a richly stored and well disciplined mind. He was distinguished by a large share of common sense. He ever manifested great decision of character, and was a firm and unwavering supporter of whatever he became convinced was right. In civil life, in which he held inany and important offices, he proved himself a man of marked probity and hon- esty, accuracy and honor. In private life, those who knew him best respected him most. Few have excelled him in affectlon as a husband, or in tenderness as a father. His virtues secured to him a large circle of strongly attached and firm friends, who, with his bereaved family, mourn his loss, and will long cherish the memory of his worth. " He was well known to the people of Worcester County, having been for several years a member and chairman of the Board of County Commis- sioners. Also a member of the Board of Trustees of the State Reform School in Westborough, and was twice postmaster here. His prompt and constant attendance upon the stated meetings of the Merchants' and Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, as one of its directors, from its commencement, and also upon those of the State Mutual Life Assur- ance Company, of which he was also a director, will render his absence from his seat the more painful to his associates in those Institutions. He also held an important position as a director in a large manufactur- ing establishment in the county, where his wisdom and discretion ren- dered him a greatly respected and highly valued associate." And In no department of his various public services did he fail to secure the re- spect and confidence of his constituents and those with whom he acted. For thirty-two years he was a deacon in the Evangelical Congregational Church In Grafton. He was wise and prudent as a coun- sellor, and a liberal supporter of religions institutions at home, and of benevolent objects abroad. He was an earnest, firm and constant frlend of Sabbath schools, and for fifteen years superintendent of the school with which he was connected. He bore the severe sufferings of his last
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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
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sickness not only without a murmuring word, but the submissive and acquiescing spirit which he manifested was most instructive and im- pressive. Children,
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1. CHARLES O., b. July 27, 1822, m. Deborah A. Chickering.
2. JOHN Q., b. Oct. 27, 1830, m. Emeline A. Widdifield. Res. Boston.
10 3. ANDREW H., b. Dec. 4, 1832, m. Mary J. Bigelow.
4. SYLVIA K., b. May 14, 1837, m. Charles Bigelow and Dr. Charles R. E. Koch.
5. HENRY H., b. Dec. 10, 1843, m. Lizzie Taft. Res. Chicago.
7-2 JOSEPH B. ADAMS, (Joseph, Andrew, Andrew), b. Ang. 21, 1824, m. Jan. 27, 1848, Ann Dresser, b. June 14, 1826.
He was extensively engaged in agriculture, and was an efficient town officer. He rev. to Worcester, where he now resides. Ch.,
I. ANN J., b. June 27, 1858, m. Samuel N. Keith (K).
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JOSEPH ADAMS, (Moses H., Nathaniel, Andrew), b. Jan. 19, 1832, m. Mar. 28, 1866, Sarah A. Newton, b. July, 1842. He is an extensive farmer, and has held several town offices. Children,
I. JOSEPH A., b. Mar. 3, 1870, d. Aug. 13, 1870. 2. HORACE H., b. Jan. 28, 1879.
9-1 CHARLES O. ADAMS, (Otis, Nathaniel, Andrew), b. July 27, 1822, m. Oct. 30, 1846. Deborah A. Chickering. He rev. to Chicago, where he now res. Children,
1. FANNIE J., b. Apr. 20, 1848, m. Vincent Menuez.
2. Oris H., b. May 27, 1853. (Gr. Williams Coll., 1879.) 3. EMMA T., b. May 4, 1859.
10-3 ANDREW H. ADAMS, (Otis, Nathaniel, Andrew), b. Dec. 4, 1832, m. Sept. 14, 1855, Mary J. Bigelow (B).
He res. iu Chicago, Ill. He resided with his father, Hon. Otis Adams, on his farm in town most of the time until he was married to a dau. of Hon. Abraham M. Bigelow. He was in business for some time in Boston. For the past few years he has been very successful-perhaps as much so as any of the boys who ever left Grafton-and solely through his own efforts, having received assistance from no one. The " Ottoman Cahvey Company of Chicago," of which he is president, and his son sec- retary, is a stock company, of which he is the sole proprietor. " Ottoman Cahvey " means, when translated, Turkish coffee; a process which he invented whereby all the strength and flavor of the coffee is retained in roasting. This house, it is claimed, do the largest ground coffee trade of any in the United States, selling goods in every state and territory in the Union, and all parts of Canada. He has testimo- nials from all parts of the country, which certify to the high apprecia- tion in which his goods are held. Children,
1. MABLE E., b. Sept. 16, 1861, d. 1862.
2. WILLIAM A., b. Aug. 2, 1859. Res. Chicago. 3. MINNIE, d. young.
SAMUEL ADAMS, (son of James, brother of Andrew, Senior), m. Nov. 1, 1750, Elizabeth Gould, of Sutton; m. 2nd, June 4, 1786, Elizabeth Temple ; m. 3rd, June 24, 1794, Olive Jones. Children,
I. ELIZABETH, b. May 3, 1790.
2. SAMUEL J., b. Oct. 31, 1795, d. June 6, 1800.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
MOSES ADAMS, (brother of Samuel), b. 1760, m. Mar. 29, 1786, Eliza- beth Whipple (W), b. Apr. 2, 1767, d. Feb. 1, 1844. He d. May 2, 1839.
SAMUEL H. ADAMS, (from Bridgeton, Ct.), m. Apr. 12, 1857, Helen A. Newton. Ch.,
1. FRANCES H., b. Oct. 27, 1857, d. Jan. 1, 1860.
ALDRICH.
PARDON ALDRICH, b. in Uxbridge, came from Mendon, m. Rachel Drake, b. 1773, d. July 8, 1842; m. 2nd, Hannah (Bigelow) Richardson, d. July 8, 1842. He d. Mar. 16, 1857. Children,
1 1. CHARLES, b. June 4, 1797, m. Eliza Wadsworth.
2. LYMAN D., b. 1800, mn. Sarah Davenport and Mary Neibert.
He resided with his parents until he was fourteen years of age, when he was engaged as a clerk in a store in Sutton; at twenty-one he had charge of a mill in New England Village; subsequently he was in busl- ness in Philadelphia, and removed to Natchez, Miss., about 1837, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, to which, in later years, he added cotton planting on an extensive scale. During the war he retired from active business, and when the strife ceased turned his attention to gen- eral speculation and cotton planting. He was twice married, first to Sarah, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Davenport, of Mendon, Mass., by whom he had three children, one dying in infancy ; second, a daughter, dying at the age of eight years; the third, Lyman Godfrey. His first wife died in 1842, in Natchez, Miss., of consumption. His second wife, a native of Natchez, Mary Neibert, died Feb. 5, 1872, leaving no child- ren. He died on the 22d November, 1877. His son, Lyman Godfrey Aldrich, was born Jan. 31, 1839, and accompanied his mother to Natchez; fall of same year returned to Massachusetts. After her death, in 1842, remained partly in Mendon, partly in Grafton, until fall of 1849, then went South. Followed an uneventful life until April, 1861, when he entered the Southern army as a private of the Natchez Quitman Light Artillery ; served through the war, meeting with various promotions, and ending as a major in C. S. A. Subsequent to the war engaged in cotton planting, to which he added sugar planting in 1873, and in which he continues.
2 3. EBENEZER, b. Jan. 1, 1806, m. Hannah Kimball.
4. BENJAMIN, b. Dec. 4, 1809, unm.
5. ABBIE, b. Mar. 4, 1799, unm.
6. BETSEY, b. 1804, d. unm. Oct. 2, 1828.
7. EMELINE, b. Aug. 3, 1814, m. Winthrop Faulkner.
He was born in Billerica, Middlesex County, June 5, 1817, the son of Francis and Ann (Robbins) Faulkner. His education was limited to that of the common schools in his native town, with the exception of a very short time, when he attended an out-of-town Academy. He left home at the early age of sixteen years, for Nashua, N. H. Here he re- mained a short time, subsequently removing to Andover, Mass. In 1838 he engaged in trade in this town as a country merchant, In the " Green store," where he remained for six years. In 1844 he erected his pres- ent building, now occupied as a store and his residence. He was en- gaged in business here for twenty years, and for a number of years past has been out of active business life. He was one of our most suc- cessful business men, nnd retired on the accumulations of a prosperous business.
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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
1-1 | CHARLES ALDRICH, (Pardon), b. June 4, 1797, m. Nov. 8, 1823, Eliza Wadsworth, b. March 26, 1804. He d. June 13, 1847. Children,
1. CHARLES E., b. July 17, 1824, m. Caroline Batcheller and Sarah Batcheller.
2. PARDON W., b. Sept. 12, 1826, rev. Worcester.
3 | 3. CYRUS D., b. March 22, 1829, m. Helen B. Whitney.
4. HANNAH E., b. Aug. 13, 1831, d. Oct. 15, 1835.
5. GEORGE H., b. July 14, 1833, d. June 11, 1871.
6. LEWIS, b: May 5, 1835, d. March 25, 1857.
7. ALBERT, b. Nov. 10, 1837, d. June 27, 1860.
8. FRANKLIN A., b. April 6, 1841.
9. EDWARD K., b. Aug., 1846, unm.
2-3 MAJOR EBENEZER ALDRICH, (Pardon), b. Jan. 1, 1806, m. Nov. 26, 1829, Hannah Kimball. He d. Sept. 27, 1853. Children,
1. ELLEN E., b. Sept. 2, 1830.
2. AUGUSTUS K., b. Dec. 2, 1832, d. Feb. 15, 1835.
3. AUGUSTUS K., b. April 15, 1835.
4. WILLIAM T., b. Oct. 14, 1837.
5. SAMUEL W., b. November 28, 1839.
6. JAMES E., b. Jan. 6, 1843.
3-3 CYRUS D. ALDRICH, (Charles, Pardon), b. March 22, 1829, m. June 8, 1859, Helen B. Whitney (W), b. Oct. 13, 1838, d. May 4, 1873. He res. here and is engaged in business in Worcester. Children,
1. MARION W., b. Nov. 4, 1860. 2. CHARLES F., b. Sept. 30, 1870.
THOMAS ALDRICH, (lineage not ascertained), by wife Cynthia, had,
1. ELLEN M., b. Nov. 11, 1841. 2. CATHERINE, b. Dec. 25, 1843.
3. CHARLES H., b. March 31, 1853, res. Cal.
4. FREDERICK A., b. Feb. 8, 1855, m. and res. in Worcester.
MARCUS M. ALDRICH, (from Northbridge), by wife Mary A., had, 1. CHARLOTTE B., h. April 2, 1857.
ALLEN.
WALTER ALLEN was of Newbury, 1640, and resided there several years. He moved to Watertown prior to April, 1662; at that time he was a proprietor, and was one of a coroner's jury, July 19, 1663. He was " haberdasher of hats."
JOSEPH ALLEN, JR., (Joseph, Joseph, Walter), b. 1709, m. in Westborough, Feb. 19, 1732, Mary or Mercy Livermore, b. 1712 (Daniel, Samuel, John), d. March 1, 1789. He d. Aug. 18, 1793.
"He was said to have been b. in Weston, and his mother d. when he was very young." They were " both of Hassanamisco," and rev. to Hardwick. Chil. 1. SARAH, b. July 25, 1734.
ELIJAH ALLEN, (lineage not ascertained), m. Nov. 27, 1744, Mary Hunt. Children,
1. TIMOTHY, b. Oct. 17, 1745. 2. SARAH, b. June 25, 1749. 3. JONAS, b. Oct. 20, 1751. 4. ELIJAH, b. July 18, 1755.
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450
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
LUKE F. ALLEN (Phineas), b. Sept., 1815, m. April 19, 1839, Elizabeth W. Greenwood, dau. of Jonas, d. Jan. 2, 1853; m. 2nd, Feb. 11, 1875, Kate Harrington (H). He was born in Oakham, and came to Grafton in 1835; he entered the employ of Pratt & Putnam, and subsequently worked for J. R. Putnam & Co., at New England Village. In 1842, he removed to the Centre and engaged in manufacturing shoes in company with Luther Stow, in which business he continued for three years. He bought out his partner and continued alone for a short time. In 1846, he formed a co-partnership with Samuel C. Flagg, which continued until Dec., 1877, when they were succeeded by Allen (Herbert F.) and Newton. The firm occupied the shop now owned by Lewis W. Dodge until 1858, when they removed to the shop built by F. M. Marble; this building was enlarged by them in 1871. He was representative in 1856. Children,
1. HERBERT F., b. April 5, 1842, m. Susan P. Hebbard, s. p.
2. WILLIAM J., b. Feb. 5, 1846, m. Christine C. Boyde.
ETHAN ALLEN, (lineage not ascertained), by wife, Mary, had, 1. LAURELLE, b. March 17, 1838. 2. ANGENETT, h. Aug. 19, 1840.
1-2 WILLIAM J. ALLEN, (Luke F., Phineas), b. Feb. 5, 1846, m. Nov. 24, 1874, Christine C. Boyde, b. Oct. 2, 1853. Chil.
1. LIZZIE WARREN G., b. July 20, 1876.
ANDREWS.
WILLIAM D. ANDREWS, son of Nahum and Nancy Gale Andrews, was born in Grafton, May 23, 1818. The family removed in 1828, to Needham, now Grantville, where his father kept the well-known Hotel and Stage House, on the Boston and Worcester turnpike. Here and at Newton Lower Falls he attended the district school, entering a country store at the latter place and remaining one year; in 1833, he removed with his father's family to the city of New York, and engaged in various employments, being mainly connected with the iron interests.
From 1836, his father having opened an iron yard, he remained in his employ until 1840, when they became interested in a wrecking company then operating upon the ship Bristol, at Rockaway, L. I., in which were associated Phineas Bennett, a noted inventor, and his son, Capt. Orlando Bennett, long famous as a wrecker; this connection continued until 1847, and attracted his attention to mechanics and inventions, in which and his mercantile pursuits in the city of New York, mainly in connec- tion with iron and metal interests, he has since been engaged ; his busi- ness having been located for over forty years upon two adjoining blocks.
His first invention, the Centrifugal pump, the pioneer of its class, was conceived from necessity, the mother of invention, and changed dire failure into success; its use was commenced in 1844, for removing sand from wrecked ships, other means having failed, and was patented in 1846; it has since been extensively introduced into the four quarters of the globe.
The death of his father, in 1846, caused his relinquishment of the wrecking interests and his return and entire devotion to, the iron and metal trade.
His patent was sold to I. Stuart Gwynne, by whom the pumps were manufactured in this country and were introduced, during the World's Fair of 1851, into England, where they are now extensively manufac-
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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
tured, by the Gwynne's, the leading Centrifugal pump manufacturers of Great Britain, in the city of London.
An improved Centrifugal pump, patented in 1854, when put on exhibi- tion at the New York Crystal Palace, was tested, and found on trial to combine all the advantages of the so-called Gwynne pump, with a con- sumption of only one-half the power; this led to the starting of a small shop for its manufacture, which soon grew to large dimensions, and was carried on by the firm of William D. Andrews & Bro., in connection with their iron and metal business, and was exclusively devoted to the manufacture of this and other inventions of the senior partner, by whom in addition to many unpatented inventions, over thirty patents have since been taken out for Centrifugal pumps, force and feed pumps, steam engines, boilers, friction gear, safety elevators and kindred mechanical inventions, many of which are patented in Europe and have a world-wide reputation.
The culminating success of the Centrifugal pump system was attained at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition, where it supplied the waterfall and water for testing turbine water wheels, receiving with several others of his inventions the highest awards.
One of these pumps capable of discharging 2,000 barrels of water per minute, the largest ever manufactured in the country, was used hy Capt. Eads in deepening the mouth of the Mississippi river.
Mr. Andrews' extended connection with pumps, pumping machinery, kindred inventions and enterprises connected therewitb, led to his becoming interested in the American Driven Well, an invention which has revolutionized the methods of obtaining a water supply from the earth, which had previously remained unchanged for centuries; for the past seven years he has largely devoted himself to the introduction of that invention, and the prosecution of legal measures for maintaining the patent, in doing which, notwithstanding the employment of the most eminent patent counsel, it is conceded that the final establishment of the patent by numerous decisions of the United States Courts, is very largely due to his thorough knowledge of the subject, in its legal as well as its mechanical and scientific bearings, which in connection with his and a younger brother's business training and qualifications, have enabled them to give this invention an acknowledged standing among the great improvements of the age.
Receiving only a Massachusetts district school education, finished in his fifteenth year, without mechanical education or training, capital or influence, always busily employed without even ordinary leisure or opportunities, the subject of this sketch during his busy life has mastered an amount of mechanical, scientific and legal knowledge that few persons have been able to do with the most favorable opportu- nities.
Though in early life always taking an active interest in public affairs, and frequently urged by his friends for political preferment, his tastes and devotion to business precluded political aspirations, and with the exception of some years' connection with the management of the public schools, and two years service as a member of the New York Board of Education, his life has been strictly a private one, although he is widely known through his inventions, which are in use in the leading countries of the globe.
AXTELL.
The progenitor of the Axtells in America was Thomas Axtell, who came over from Burkhamstead, England, about 1642, where he was b. 1619. A brother of his, Col. Daniel Axtell, was prominent as a brave soldier
452
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
and officer under Cromwell. He commanded the guards at the trial of Charles I., for which he was put to death as a regicide wben Charles II. was restored. Thomas Axtell settled in Sudbury, where he died, in 1646, at the early age of twenty-seven. Henry Axtell, his son, took land in Marlborough, in 1660, married in 1665, and had several children. He was killed by the Indians, April 21st, 1676. Of his two sons, Thomas, b. 1672, removed to Grafton somewhere about 1730, and settled in the north part of the town, in what is now called the " Farms," and on the very land now occupied by his descendants. Tradition reports that the earliest white inhabitants of Grafton spent their first winter in the town beside a large rock on the Axtell farm. Thomas Axtell had a niind of his own in all matters, especially religious, as the old records of the church in Grafton show. He is reported to have said of his two sons that "one was overmuch righteous, and the other overmuch wicked." He died Dec. 18, 1750. The former was Thomas, born 1712, who came to Grafton with his father and died here.
THOMAS AXTELL, (Henry, Thomas), b. Ang. 8, 1672, m. Nov. 2, 1697, Sarah Barker, of Concord. He d. 1750. Children,
1. THOMAS, b. Aug. 19, 1698, d. Dec. 22, 1698.
2. SARAH, b. Feb. 16, 1703, m. Feb. 7, 1721, Josiah Hayden.
3. JOSEPH, b. Aug. 1, 1705, m. 1730, Abigail Hayden.
0 4. THOMAS, b. May 11, 1712, m. Elizabeth Sherman and Mary Sanger.
5. JOHN, b. Apr. 15, 1715. 6. ABIGAIL, b. Oct. 8, 1717.
0-4 THOMAS AXTELL, (Thomas, Henry, Thomas), b. in Marlboro, May 11, 1712, m. May 13, 1736, Elizabeth Sherman (S), b. Oct. 15, 1715, d. June 26, 1747 ; m. 2nd, Oct. 6, 1760, Mary Sanger. He d. 1798. Children,
1. SARAH, b. Apr. 25, 1737. 2. ELIZABETH, b. Apr. 26, 1739.
3. HANNAH, b. Oct. 6, 1741. 4. JOHN, b. June 3, 1744.
5. THOMAS, b. Dec. 16, 1746, m. Deborah Jones, of Wrentham.
6. MARY, b. Mar. 12, 1747. 7. PHEBE, b. Mar. 13, 1747. Twins.
1-5 THOMAS AXTELL, (Thomas, Thomas, Henry, Thomas), b. Dec. 16, 1746, m. June 10, 1777, Deborah Jones, dau. of Seth, who was killed in the French and Indian war. He d. 1819. Children,
1. CHOLE A., b. July 11, 1778, d. Mar. 2, 1851, unm. 2. SETH, b. July 28, 1780, d. 1798.
2 3. THOMAS, b. May 2, 1783, m. Hannah Walker.
4. DEBORAH, b. May 21, 1788, d. June, 1843.
5. OLIVE, b. 1790, d. 1869. 6. JOHN, b. July 15, 1792, d. young.
2-3 THOMAS AXTELL, (Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Henry, Thomas), b. May 2, 1783, m. 1808, Hannah Walker. Her father served seven years in the Revolutionary war. He d. Oct., 1824. Children,
3 1. ADALINE H., b. Oct. 7, 1809, m. John V. Leland (L).
2. SETII J., b. June 26, 1811, m. Lucy B. Stratton.
3. THOMAS R., b. Apr. 20, 1813, d. June 26, 1813.
4. THOMAS R., b. Apr. 23, 1814.
He went, when a young man, to St. Louis, Mo., where he spent the greater part of his life. He held various offices, being at one time col- lector of taxes for the county of St. Louis.
3-2 SETH J. AXTELL, (Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Henry, Thomas), b. June 26, 1811, m. Nov. 18, 1832, Lucy B. Stratton.
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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.
With the exception of two years he has always resided in Grafton. He had just commenced the manufacture of boots and shoes when the financial crisis of 1837 came and swept away his all. About 1850 he left the shoemaker's beuch to try manufacturing again. In this he contin- ued about twenty years, till failing health admonished him to retire to the old homestead, where he now lives. When a young man he united with the Baptist Church, of which he has always been a staunch sup- porter. In politics he identified himself, at the start, with the Liberty party, and labored, under the lead of Wilson and Sumner, for the triumph of the doctrines of freedom and equality. In 1862 he was chosen to the Legislature from Grafton, and heartily supported all measures proposed for the maintenance of the Union. Children,
4 1. JOSEPH K., b. Sept. 26, 1834, m. Julia A. Laws.
2. SARAH W., b. July 5, 1836.
3. JANE E., b. Oct. 5, 1838, m. S. H. Hosmer.
4. SETH J., Jr., h. Dec. 18, 1841, m. Mary C. Fletcher.
6 5. CYRUS R., b. Sept. 15, 1845, m. Jane E. Standridge.
JOSEPH K. AXTELL, (Seth J., Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Henry, Thomas), h. Sept. 26, 1834, m. 1859, Julia A. Laws. He res. in Gardner.
He studied at Monson Academy, and taught school several winters. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. E, 51st Mass. Vols., Colonel Sprague, serving his nine months in South Carolina. Returning home he engaged in business with his father, and is now proprietor of a boot and shoe store. Ch.
1. WALTER C., b. Aug. 5, 1860.
5-4 | REV. SETH J. AXTELL, JR., (Seth J., Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas, Henry, Thomas), b. Dec. 18, 1841, m. Aug. 1, 1865, Mary C. Fletcher (F).
He early showed a decided liking for books and study. Passing through the district and High schools of Grafton he spent a year fitting for college at Pierce Academy, Middleborough, and entered Amherst College in 1859. The next year he left Amherst for Brown University (his original choice) ; continued there till 1862, when he enlisted in the same company with his brother, Joseph K., and served his term in North Carolina. Returning in 1863, he resumed his studies at Brown, and graduated in 1864. He entered Newton Theological Institution the same year, completed the regular three-years' course, and was ordained to the work of the ministry in the Baptist denomination, Jan. 31, 1868, at Monroe, Michigan. In 1870 he returned to Massachusetts, and settled at West Medway, December 1st, where he remained till April, 1878. Removing thence to Needham, he received an invitation to the presidency of Leland University, a school established at New Orleans, La., for the education of colored teachers and preachers, which posi- tion he accepted. In this work he is now engaged. Children,
1. WILLIAM F., b. Aug. 12, 1869, at Monroe, Mich.
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