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 45

Author: Pierce, Frederick Clifton, 1855-1904
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Worcester : Press of C. Hamilton
Number of Pages: 728


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 45


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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54


1. HENRY T., b. July 30, 1834.


2. CHARLES R., b. Aug. 13, 1836.


3. FRANCIS D., b. June 28, 1838, d. Nov. 6, 1839.


2-8 CHARLES E. MILES, (John, John, John, John, John), b. June 11, 1813, m. 1833, Catherine S. Denny, of Leicester. He moved with his father's family to Shrewsbury, in 1826, where he was brought up on the farm of his father, and pursued the occupation of agriculture with suc- cess, representing the town in the offices of assessor and selectman. He was chosen vice-president of the Worcester Agricultural Society, in 1862, and its president in 1864, and re-elected in 1865. He continued the pursuit of agriculture until 1870, when he removed to Boston to engage in the insurance business, although never losing his interest in agriculture, often appearing before societies and farmers' clubs, urging increased efforts and interest for New England agriculture. In 1872 he was appointed a justice of the peace, by his Excellency Governor Wil- liam Claflin. Iu 1873 he built a block of houses at Brookline, where he moved and still resides. Children,


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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.


1. MARY E., m. Col. Charles E. Hapgood, who served his country three years in the late war, was colonel of the 5th New Hampshire Regi- ment, is now a wool commission merchant in Boston and resides at Brookline.


2. CATHERINE A., m. Hollis E. Abbott, an insurance agent in Boston; res. in Brookline.


3. CHARLES D., m. Stella C. Cole, of New Hampshire. He is a manag- ing director and examiner of members of the lowa State Mutual Benefit Association ; res. in Grinnell, Iowa.


4. SARAH S., m. John A. Sweetser, son of the Inte Rev. Seth Sweetser, D. D., of Worcester. He is a farmer and res. on Brigham Hill.


5. ELLEN M., d. young. 6. WILLIAM E., d. young.


MORSE.


This name also claims a high antiquity. It first occurs A. D. 1358, in the reign of Edward III. They were seven brothers, Samuel, Joseph, Anthony, William, Robert, Joshua and John, who came to this country.


JONATHAN MORSE, (Jonathan, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph), b. Dec. 24, 1709, m. Dec. 5, 1789, Phebe Keyes. He rev. to Shrewsbury. Chil- dren,


1. MARY, b. Jan. 13, 1740, m. Stephen Parker.


2. HEZEKIAH, b. June 27, 1741, d. Apr. 28, 1757.


3. THANKFUL, b. Sept. 22, 1742, m. Nathaniel Stone.


4. LOUISA, b. Apr. 22, 1743. 5. JONATHAN, b. Feb. 16, 1745, d. 1752.


6. LUCRETIA, b. July 29, 1746, d. 1753.


7. SARAH, b. Aug. 16, 1749, d. 1753. 8. ELIJAH, b. July 8, 1751.


9. LUCRETIA, b. Apr. 8, 1753, m. Amos Emory.


10. SARAH, b. Nov. 25, 1754, m. Archelaus Wilson.


NATHAN MORSE, (Jonathan, Joseph, Dea. John, Joseph, Joseph), b. Feb. 29, 1750, m. Elizabeth (Stevens) Hill. He d. in New York, in 1841. Children,


1. JOSEPH R., b. Oct. 20, 1773, d. Apr. 21, 1775.


2. BETSEY, b. June 20, 1775, m. Silas Robbins.


3. NATIIAN, b. Jan. 30, 1777, m. Polly Fisber. The other children were boru in Athol and Alstead, N. H.


JOHN MORSE, (Ichabod, John, Ohadiah, Daniel. Daniel, Daniel, Sam- uel), b. July 23, 1798, m. Amy W. Cook, and had fifteen children.


JASON MORSE, (Jason, Samuel, Samuel, Joseph, Dea. John, Joseph, Joseph), b. Oct. 14, 1790, m. Oct. 26, 1820, -.


He had three daughters.


MASON A. MORSE, (Isaac, Elisha, Isaac, John, Dea. John, Joseph, Joseph), b. Sept. 14, 1797, m. July 4, 1819, Betsey Gregory, b. Mar. 24, 1794. Children,


1. WILLIAM M., b. July 4, 1820, m. Deborah Kingman.


2. HENRY B., b. Mar. 30, 1822, m. Sarah Lawton.


3. MARY E., b. Jan. 16, 1824, m. David Petteplace.


4. ARTHUR F., b. Dec. 28, 1825, m. Mary Darling.


5. ALFRED J., h. Mar. 28, 1828. 6. NELSON K., b. Apr. 28, 1830.


7. DEBORAH C., b. Apr. 25, 1833.


8. ELLEN R., b. July 18, 1838, d. 1839.


540


HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


ISAAC MORSE, by wife Ruth - -, had, children,


1. RUTH, b. Mar. 23, 1749. 2. JOSEPH, b. Mar. 4, 1752.


3. ARTIMAS, b. Jan. 1, 1753. 4. ELIZABETH, b. Mar. 23, 1756.


5. NADA, b. Jan. 16, 1758. 6. MARY, b. Apr. 11, 1760.


7. ISAAC, b. June 24, 1762.


ALFRED MORSE, by wife Mary A., had


1. JAMES A., b. Feb. 2, 1839. 2. CHARLES H., b. Feb. 22, 1844.


PEIRCE, (Pierce, Pearce).


JOHN PEIRCE, a weaver, of Watertown, was admitted a freeman, March, 1637. He died August 19, 1661. Among the gleanings of Judge Savage, for New England History (Mass. Hist. Coll., 4th Series, Vol. 1, p. 96), is the following extract from an ancient document, lately found in the English Exchequer :- " April the 8th, 1637. The examination of John Pers, of Norwich, in Noff (Norwich in Norfolk County), weaver, aged 49 yeares, and Elizabeth his wife, aged 36 yeares. with four children, John, Barbre, Elizabeth aud Judith, and one sarvant, John Gedney, aged 19 yeares, are desirous to passe to Boston, in New England, to in- habitt." The orthography of the name of this family is much and often varied in the records. That adopted here has been generally used; but many, especially of the later generations, have adopted PIERCE.


He undoubtedly was that JOHN PIERCE, the citizen and cloth weaver, one of the merchant adventurers, who enabled the English Puritans at Leyden to come over in 1620, and in whose name the charter was given by the Council for New England. He was associated with Thomas Weston, in this enterprise, and was doubtless a considerable person in those times.


JONATHAN PEIRCE, (William, Francis, Joseph, Anthony, John), b. in Hopkinton, June 10, 1736, m. July 14, 1760, Eunice Lethe. She died, and he m. 2nd, Feb. 2, 1764, Mary Goodale (G), b. Jan. 13, 1747, d. Nov. 17, 1808. He had no issue by his first wife, and after her death rev. to Sutton, where he died, June 22, 1800. They had thirteen children.


Jonathan Peirce enlisted in Edmund Brigham's company, in Col. Job Cushing's regiment, Sept. 1, 1777; discharged Nov. 29, 1777. The fol- lowing is a copy of an old paper found in the Secretary of State's office, at the State House :- " This may certify that we, the subscribers, have engaged to serve nine months in the Continental service, after surviv- ing the camp, for the town of Sutton, in Capt. Andrew Elliot's com- pany, June 8, 1778. Signed, Jonathan Peirce and William Harback."


CHARLES A. PIERCE, (Amos, Jonathan, William, Francis, Joseph, Anthony, John), b. in Suttou, Dec. 10, 1811, m. Apr. 1, 1839, Eliza Sib- ley (S), b. May 15, 1816. They res. on South street.


He was for some years postmaster, but of late years has been out of business. Children,


1. HARRIET, b. Sept. 15, 1840, d. Sept. 30, 1841.


2. CHARLES, b. July 29, 1842, d. June 25, 1843.


3. GEORGE, b. Nov. 15, 1843, d. Aug. 30, 1845.


4. HELEN, b. Feb. 12, 1849, d. Jan. 22, 1853.


5. FRANK, b. Oct. 4, 1851, res. Pawtucket, R. I., onm.


6. ANNA, b. July 13, 1853, res. Pawtucket, R. I., unm.


7. AUBURY, b. Sept. 7, 1855, d. July 22, 1859.


٠


DELANO PIERCE, M. D.


Hellotype Printing Co., Boston.


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FAMILY GENEALOGIES.


SILAS A. PIERCE, (Amos, Jonathan, William, Francis, Joseph, Anthony, John), b. in Sutton, Sept. 10, 1818, m. Oct. 18, 1849, Marla N. Smith (S), b. Nov. 3, 1827. They res. at the head of the common, in the Centre, near the Orthodox Church.


He was formerly a boot and shoe manufacturer, occupying the build- ing known as " Hancock Block," now owned by Forbush & Brown, of Buffalo, N. Y. He was postmaster under the administrations of Presi- dents Frank Pierce and James Buchanan; also held this office under President Johnson. During the five years the Worcester Daily Press was in circulation he managed the subscription department. He was also, at one time, a member of the firm of J. H. Wood & Co. Children,


1. KATE AROLINE, b. May 4, 1853, d. Sept. 6, 1854.


2. FREDERICK C., b. July 30, 1855, m. Lizzie D. Pierce.


3. Lou. M., b. July 17, 1857, onm.


4. WALTER W., b. Jan. 2, 1866.


FREDERICK C. PIERCE, (Silas A., Amos, Jonathan, William, Francis, Joseph, Anthony, John), b. July 30, 1855, in. in Chicago, Nov. 19, 1877, Lizzie D. Pierce, b. Jan. 24, 1857, (Ezekiel L., William, Jona- than, William, Francis, Josepb, Anthony, Jobn).


He was for a number of years on the reportorial staff of the Worcester Daily Press. He has completed the history and genealogy of the Pierce family in America, from 1630 down. He is a resident member of the Historic-Genealogical Society of New England, s. p.


JOHN A. PIERCE, brother to Silas and Charles, b. in Sutton, Aug. 28, 1815, d. iu Grafton, Jan. 27, 1874, unın.


ELIZA, his sister, b. in Sutton, Sept. 10, 1806, d. in Grafton, Apr. 3, 1878, nnm.


NANCY, another sister, b. in Sutton, Mar. 24, 1801, res. in Grafton, on the old place on North street.


PIERCE.


THOMAS PIERCE, the ancestor of this family, came from England to this country in 1634. He settled in Charlestown. He was b. in Eng- land, 1584, d. Oct. 7, 1666. He was admitted freeman, May 6, 1635.


DELANO PIERCE, JR., (Delano, Benjamin, Timothy, Thomas, Thomas, Thomas), b. in Brooklyn, Conn., July 19, 1786, m. Nov. 22, 1813, Anna Nichols, b. 1791, d. Feb. 2, 1860. He d. Jan. 9, 1871.


He remained at home and worked on the farm in summer, attending school a part of the year, until seventeen years of age; then went to Plainfield Academy and spent two years in study, with intervals of teaching in winter. At nineteen years of age he commenced the study of medicine with the late Josias Fuller, M. D., of Plainfield, but was induced to take charge of a High. School in Stonington for six months, intending to devote himself to the study of medicine at the expiration of that time, but consented to continue in the school the remainder of the year, having made an arrangement whereby he could read medicine with Dr. Hyde, a physician of the place, in his leisure hours. He then returned to Plainfield, and finisbed liis medical studies with Dr. Fuller, at the age of twenty-three; was examined by, and received his diploma


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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


| from the Connecticut State Medieal Society, in August, and went in November into several towns in Connecticut and Rhode Island, intro- ducing vaccination, or cow-poek, which at that time was little known, and which met with much hostility owing to ignoranee and prejudice on the subject, which, however, he was successful in overcoming to a great degree.


In the year 1811, he started on horseback from his father's house in pursuit of a place for the practice of his profession, and on arriving at Oxford, Mass .. decided to locate there. On the 8th day of June, 1813, he was commissioned by His Excellency Caleb Strong, then Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Surgeon of the Fifth Regiment of Infantry in the First Brigade and Seventh Division of the Militia of this Commonwealth, which office he held until he tendered his resignation and from which he was honorably discharged on the 6th day of November, 1818. He was energetic and persevering in whatever he engaged, and carried through every under- taking with remarkable vigor and unfaltering trust in his own ability. The first start in life financially he obtained in the manufacture of cotton cloth. Some time during the early introduction of machinery in the manufacture of cotton cloth, he had a conference with Mr. Slater of Webster, who was then making it by hand looms, he made a proposition to him to furnish material and pay a fixed sum per yard for making . eloth by machinery. Au arrangement was made, he hired a Grist-mill, placed in it a few looms and employed hands to weave. This in cou- nection with his practice, he carried on one or two years with satisfac- tion to Mr. Slater, who at first had doubts that cloth could be made by inachinery equal in quality to that made by hand.


After an extensive and successful practice in Oxford, of about twenty- three years, and having disposed of his praetice to Dr. Knight, he removed to East Douglas in 1834, and formed a co-partnership with the late Dr. Ezekiel Wood, which lasted two years with much cordiality and unusual harmony. While there a select school was established through his influence, it being the first in the village where classical studies were pursued. In the spring of 1836, he came to Grafton, and purchased of Mr. Ephraim Wilson the estate now owned by Mr. Charles A. Pierce, where he lived until 1841, when he removed to the estate formerly occupied by the Rev. John Miles.


The old house was removed to the rear, remodeled and rebuilt, and was his residence until his death, which occurred Jan. 9, 1871. This house is now the residence of Dr. T. T. Griggs, who married his daugh- ter and only ehild.


Dr. Pierce was a faithful and skillful physician, and loved his profession -merciful in his charges-and very considerate to the poor. He was a man of good natural abilities, sound judgment, social and gentle in disposi- tion ; of vigorons muscular powers, and never seemed to tire or become weary in responding to the various duties attendant upon his profession. He was industrious and economical in his habits, and was ever ready to aid those who made any exertions to help themselves to an honest living. He was charitable in all those little things which contribute so much to make life happy, and which, perhaps, accomplishes more than greater charities but seldom performed. He practised medicine nearly fifty-nine years, and by strictly temperate habits was enabled to endure this vast labor with scarcely any interruption until within about two years of his deeease. Watching the symptoms of approaching dissolu- tion and conscious that bis end was near, he resigned peacefully to his fate with hopes of a more glorious and brighter day in realms of light and life. Ch.,


543


FAMILY GENEALOGIES.


1. JULIA, b. July 5, 1823, m. Dr. Thomas T. Griggs, third son of John Griggs, who was born in Sutton, Jan. 31, 1818.


In early life he was employed in a store, attending school in his native town. He attended a commercial school in Boston to qualify himself for book-keeping and mercantile pursuits. He subsequently attended school at Northfield Academy, and also at Wrentham Academy. In March, 1839, he came to Grafton, and was associated with his brother, Salem Griggs, for a short time in the sale of drugs and medicines, and general merchandise, occupying the brick store erected by the late Lovel Stow. After which he studied medicine with Dr. Delano Pierce, whose daughter he married, Feb. 16, 1842.


He also pursued the study of medicine in Brunswick, and in Boston, and received the degree of M. D. from the medical department of Har- vard University, July 18, 1849, and immediately commenced the prac- tice of his profession in Grafton, in connection with his father-in-law, continuing it to the present time.


He is a member of the Massachusetts medical society; has held a Justice's commission; served on the board of selectmen; and in 1875, represented his district in the General Court, where he was assigned a place on the committee on towns.


He has had two daughters, Anna Pierce, born June 7, 1845, who died August 13, 1845, and Frances Helen (adopted in infancy), born July 23, 1859.


PHILLIPS.


REV. GEORGE PHILLIPS, the first minister of Watertown, was the son of Christopher Phillips, " mediocris fortuna," of Rainhain, St. Martin, County Norfolk, England. He entered Gonville and Caius Col- lege, Cambridge, April 20, 1610, age 17, grad. B. A., 1613, M. A., 1617. He gave early indications of deep piety, uncommon talents, and love of learning, and at the University distinguished himself by his remarkable progress in learning, especially in theological studies, for which he manifested an early partiality. Winthrop says he was "a godly man, specially gifted, and very peaceful in his place, much lamented of his own people and others."


EBENEZER PHILLIPS, (Ebenezer, Samuel, Theophilus, Rev. George), b. in Weston, Feb. 18, 1758, m. March 30, 1775, Rachel Gale, of Sutton, b. 1754, d. July 11, 1838.


He served in Capt. Luke Drury's company in the Revolutionary War. His numerous progeny all scattered early in life and only John and Ebenezer remained here, the others " went west." He had in all eleven children, viz., SILAS, HANNAH, POLLY, BETSEY, MARTHA, SALLY, ABIGAIL, EZRA and JOSIAH, who were born in Millbury. He was a scythemaker. He d. June 5, 1834.


Children,


1. EBENEZER, m. Sally Leathe.


2. JOHN, b. 1789, m. Catherine Leathe.


1-1 EBENEZER PHILLIPS, (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Samuel, Theophilus, Rev. George), b. - , m. Sally Leathe. Children,


1. HOSEA B., b. Ang. 20, 1801, rev. to Watertown, N. Y.


2. GEORGE W., b. Aug. 18, 1804, m. Dec. 25, 1846, Maria L. Tucker, s. p. 3. SARAH C., b. June 1, 1809, d. Aug. 28, 1811.


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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


4. SARAH A., b. July 19, 1813, m. Moses L. Batcheller (B).


5. ROBERT W., b. Feb. 7, 1815, m. Mary (Batcheller) Lewis; res. in Sutton.


2-2 JOHN PHILLIPS, (Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Samuel, Theophilus, Rev. George), b. 1789, m. Catherine Leathe, d. 1852. He d. July 4, 1862. Children,


1. CATHERINE L., b. April 9, 1807, m. Jan. 20, 1827, Charles Heywood, and d. July 30, 1840.


3


2. JOHN G., b. June 8, 1809, m. Sally Newton and Susan Tew.


3. ELBRIDGE G., b. March 20, 1815, m. June 14, 1837, Dorcas E. Monroe, res. in Blackstone, s. p.


4. BENJAMIN L., b. Nov. 19, 1817, m. Adeline Bacon.


4 5 5. ANDREW S., b. May 8, 1824, m. Roxanna M. Drake.


6. JAMES J., b. Sept. 6, 1827, d. July 20, 1834.


3-2 JOHN G. PHILLIPS, (John, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Samuel, Theophilus, Rev. George), b. June 8, 1809, in. Sally Newton and Susan Tew. He res. in Quidnick, R. I. Children,


1. ANSEL P., b. Feb. 19, 1834.


2. JOHN E., b. Feb. 3, 1836, d. March 31, 1838.


3. SARAH J., b. Feb. 19,1838.


4. JOHN T., b. Aug. 9, 1841, d. June 6, 1842.


5. MARIETTA C., b. Nov. 17, 1843.


4-4 BENJAMIN L. PHILLIPS, (John, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Samuel, Theo- philus, Rev. George), b. Nov. 19, 1817, m. Adaline Bacon, res. in Quidnick, R. I. Children, b. here,


1. WILLARD J., b. April 6, 1841. 2. ANN M., b. Jan. 26, 1813.


5-5 ANDREW S. PHILLIPS, (John, Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Samuel, Theo- philus, Rev. George), b. May 8, 1824, m. Sept. 16, 1845, Roxanna M. Drake, of Shrewsbury. He rev. to Providence in 1859. Children,


1. KATE M., b. Feb. 1, 1851, m. Jan. 16, 1873, Charles H. Bogle, d. Dec. 21, 1876.


2. WALTER P., b. June 14, 1846, m. April 15, 1866, Francena A. Capron. Walter Polk Phillips was born in Grafton, June 14, 1846. He is almost entirely self-educated, having left school at the age of twelve years. After the premature close of his school-days, the ensuing two years were devoted to service on a farm, when, being then fourteen years of age, he entered the employ of the American Telegraph Company, at Provi- dence, R. I., as a messenger boy. Here his aptitude and devotion to duty were made apparent and he soon became a valuable operator. In 1869, he being then barely twenty-three years of age, we find him the acknowledged head of the telegraphic profession as a skilled and rapid manipulator. In that year he performed the greatest telegraphic achievement on record, viz., " receiving," that is, copying from sound, in a clear legible hand, 2,731 words in sixty minutes, a feat which has never been equalled. This performance called forth the hearty personal recognition of the inventor of the Morse telegraph, Prof. Samuel F. B. Morse, who presented Mr. Phillips with a handsome testimonial ; and, on April 27 of that year (the seventy-eighth anniversary of the great inventor's birth) he penned a strong and flattering autograph letter to young Phillips, acknowledging the wonderful perfection which he had reached. In 1870, Mr. Phillips became the managing editor of the Providence Daily Herald, and the marked ability with which he con-


Eng ª by Geo E Perine, New York


Waller P. Philips


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FAMILY GENEALOGIES


ducted that paper attracted the attention of many of the leading State officials, and earned for him the enduring friendship of numerous men of mark. In 1872, Mr. Phillips founded the Attleboro Chronicle, and by his ability and untiring energy not only made it a flourishing con- cern in Attleboro, but placed it on the news-stands of the larger pro- pinquous cities. The Chronicle passed from his hands in 1875, when he entered the service of the Associated Press in its New York office. Although Mr. Phillips entered the latter service as a subordinate, he was, ten months thereafter, promoted to the important position of prin- cipal assistant to James W. Simonton, who is at the head of all the far- reaching machinery of this powerful organization.


On the 14th of June, 1878, his thirty-second birthday, Mr. Phillips was placed at the head of the Washington bureau of the Associated Press, a position of much influence, honor and emolument. He is also superintendent of the Associated Press telegraph line, and under his immediate direction or wise counsels vast improvements have been in- troduced during the past four years. Among these improvements may be mentioned the "Phillips system of telegraphy," which doubles the capacity of wires without the aid of any expensive machinery. This system has been introduced on the Associated Press circuits with pro- nounced success, and is probably destined to come into general nse for the rapid transmission of business on public lines, at an early day.


Between 1872 and 1875 he wrote some remarkably clever sketches- studies of by-gone telegraphic heroes-which, in 1876, were published in book form, together with a series of non-telegraphic stories. His entrance to " the sacred guild of authors " was greeted with many flat- tering notices from the press, and was succeeded by large sales, several editions of the book being rapidly called for.


In addition to his present duties, he is constantly writing verses, sketches, and editorial articles, for literary, telegraphic or other scien- tific papers, and he is at present engaged also on a novel illustrative of a New England boy's life. Indeed, he has been a prolific writer for newspapers for the last ten years, under the pen-names of "Gilbert Slowboy," "Maurice McLeod," and finally "John Oakum," which is now the widest and most favorably known.


While to bespeak for Mr. P., at present, a place beside the very fore- most of our leading writers of the present day would be premature, it is no exaggeration to say that his language and his descriptions, what- ever they bear upon, are as pure and as clear as those of authors whose style is accepted as a standard, even if they have not pretended to so wide a range, and that there is much promise in him for his maturer years. The world to him, notwithstanding his extreme earnestness and numerous well-balanced and settled convictions, is a school. He is always open to discuss freely the merits of " the points" in his efforts, excellent as those points may be; promptly profits by successes and failures alike; is always thankful for suggestions and sensible criticism touching his literary work, weighs them all carefully, and acts readily upon them when good ones are made. This, you see, is a quality which, of itself alone, must tend greatly toward final success. Another of his qualities is untiring industry. While busily engaged, in one capacity, in supervising the collection and distribution of reliable and unbiassed, but necessarily uninspiring commonplace news and statistics, we find him on the other hand, in a different capacity, commenting on the same and drawing the appropriate lesson therefrom for the public, just as naturally and easily as though the latter occupation were the only duty which circumstances had imposed upon him. His published sketches show that they are the deductions of one possessing a hablt of close observation, a keen sense of humor, and one who is at the same time a


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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.


shrewd but mirth-loving man of the world. He " turns out " a pathetic incident, or invests solid sober counsel with all the charm of half- earnest but penetrating pleasantry with equal adroitness ; and his writ- ings, pathetie or "light," are ever replete with shrewd and wholesome suggestions.


In his literary treatment of the telegraphie profession-a fleld where some of his earliest triumphs were won-there is not one competitor to approach him: As a far-seeing critic he has proved himself fearless and just, yet so good-natured, that his victims can never muster up feel- ings of resentment, but rather profit by his lecturing.


Nor is his strength as a writer confined to prose. His poetical efforts are well represented.


The estimation in which Mr. Phillips is held by the telegraphic pro- fession is best determined hy the numerous spontaneous outbursts which greet him in the journals, published by that interesting and gen- erally intelligent fraternity. Many poetical offerings have been made to him by his admirers, which, although they evince a lusty appreciation of Mr. Phillips, are hardly worth more than bare mention.


He refers to his native town in Oakum Pickings, as follows :- "Away up among the hills and dales of Massachusetts, where the Blackstone winds brightly in the sunlight a mere brook; where the at- mosphere is as clear and fragrant as nectar; where, of all the world, the trees and the earth are of the greenest possible tint; where the robin sings in the sweetest strains at moruing; where the bluejay is the bluest; where the whippoorwill chirps in tones of the most melan- choly sweetness at night; where the moon shines the softest; where the stars twinkle the merriest; and where everything around, in our opln- ion at least, is primitive, beautiful and smiling, we were born and passed our dear, dreamy, delicious days of boyhood."




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