History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 73

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 73

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On leaving Congress he was appointed Naval Officer of the port of Boston, and held that office four years. On his retirement he still kept his residence in Cam- bridge, but was not engaged in business or office other than in official supervision of some of the county in- stitutions until his decease, which occurred February 25, 1866. He was mainly occupied with his private affairs, and took but little action in politics. The outhreak of the Civil War in his advanced years seri- ously affected his health and spirits, but he was out- spoken in support of the Federal administration and the prosecution of the war.

He was a man of impressive bearing and presence, of intelligence and wide information, conservative in opinions, cautious in judgment. He was at times called to preside as moderator at the large and occa- sionally excited town-meetings which preceded the constitution of Cambridge as a city, and for this duty he had an unusual aptitude.

He married, in 1815, Mary Parker, a daughter of Thomas Parker, of Boston, and from this marriage there were eight children-three sons and five daugh- ters-of whom three, one son and two daughters, are now living. His youngest son, Dr. Ezra Parmenter, born March 20, 1823, died January 31, 1883, was a resident of Cambridge, and held the offices of over- seer of the poor, member of the City Council, mayor, and for a number of years bridge commissioner. He was also for two terms a Representative and two terms a Senator in the General Court.

JAMES AUGUSTUS FOX.

Hon. James Augustus Fox, of Cambridge, is a prominent and public-spirited citizen of Middlesex County, who has placed his impress upon society in several of its more important interests-civil, mili- tary, literary or benevolent.

He is the son of George Howe and Emily (Wyatt) Fox, and was born in Boston, August 11, 1827. Mr.

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Fox traces his aucestry on the paternal side to the ancient family of his name in Lincolnshire, England, in which is included the renowned Oxford scholar- the author of the famous "Book of Martyrs;" and on the maternal side to the eminent Scottish family of Forbes.

In his youth he attended the Mayhew school of Boston, and subsequently finished his academical education at the classical school of Mr. Amos Baker, which was then located in the "old South Chapel," on Spring Lane, where he acquired " little Latin and less Greek."

Owing to the connection of his father in a business capacity with the old Tremont Theatre, his earliest recollections are associated with the dramatic art. At first being carried upon the stage as an infant-in- arms, next as Cora's child, with Edwin Forrest and others as "Rolla," then lisping the pathetic lines of one of the little " Children in the Wood" in a dra- matic adaptation of the well-known nursery story, and later as the youthful Duke of York, one of the unfortunate princes who were smothered in the Tower of London, as illustrated in Shakespeare's tragedy of Richard III., he filled out two of' the immortal bard's "Seven Ages," playing many parts, through the entire range of juvenile characters incident to the dramatic productions in vogue half a century ago.

His interest in the histrionic profession continued until his twentieth year, during which period he enacted a large and varied number of prominent parts-" from grave to gay, from lively to severe "- as that of Mercutio in Shakespeare's " Romeo and Juliet," and one of the grave-diggers in " Hamlet ;" from Jaques in "As You Like It," to one of the witches in Macbeth ; from young Wilford in Colman's "Iron Chest " to Sergeant Austerlitz in "The Maid of Croissey," and from the youthful King Charles in "Faint Heart Never Won Fair Lady," to the ancient Philip Gabois in the drama of "One Hundred and Two; " and in this wide diversity of characters evincing a rare genius and capacity for one so young.

Subsequent to this time he prepared himself for his life profession at the Law School of Harvard Univer- sity, and in the office of the late Hon. John C. Park. In the year 1854 he was admitted to the Suffolk bar, and commenced practice in the courts of the State.

In 1848 he married Julia Elizabeth, daughter of Col. James and Julia (Sterry) Valentine, of Provi- dence, R. I., and the granddaughter of William and Elizabetlı (Borden) Valentine, of Fall River. Her grandfather was one of the original projectors of the extensive manufacturing enterprises of that city. She died in 1872, leaving three daughters, viz .: Hen- rietta (Fox) Macdonald, Julia (Fox) Webber, and Lillian Valentine (Fox) Wakefield. The eldest mar- ried Mr. William Macdonald, of Cambridge, and las five children, viz .: Elfrida Valentine, William Val- entine, James Fox, Jessie Valentine and Malcolm Valentine McDonald. The second married Dr.

George A. Webber, of Manchester, Mass., and the youngest was united in marriage, in 1889, to Horace Wakefield, M.D., of London, England.

The opening of the War of the Rebellion in 1861 found him in the active practice of his profession. During the six years previous he had an extended experience in the regular militia of the State, having risen from the ranks to the command of the Boston City Guards-an excellent school of the soldier.

This company was the nucleus of the Thirteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers during the war; and as captain of Company "A" of that regiment, he left Boston for the front on July 29, 1861. Cap- tain Fox served in the perilous campaigns of Vir- ginia during the remainder of that year, and in 1862 receiving the commendation of his superior officers and the respect and love of the entire regiment. -

Since the war he has been elected president of the Thirteenth Regiment Association for several terms ; and he is also a member of the Military Order Loyal Legion of the United States.

He early identified himself with the Grand Army of the Republic, and has continued an interested member of that organization as a comrade of John A. Andrew Post, No. 15, of Boston, since 1868, and in 1890 was its commander.

His addresses given on several Memorial Day occa- sions, and especially one entitled "The Two Civiliza- tions " (which has been published), and another deliv- ered upon the decisive battle-field of Gettysburg at the dedication of the color-bearer's statue of the Thir- teenth Massachusetts Regiment, are scholarly and eloquent productions which have attracted marked attention.

He was commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts in 1864-65, as also one of the appointed delegates of that corps at the 350th anniversary of the Honorable Artillery Company of London-the parent of the American corps-celebrated during the jubilee season of Queen Victoria, in June, 1887, on which occasion he enjoyed the hospitality of that organization, including the dis- tinguished honor of a presentation at the Court of St. James.

In several of the prominent beneficial orders of the country, so benign in their operations, he occupies a prominent and deserved position, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, in an ad- vanced rank in the Improved Order of Red Men, and having been at the head of the Knights of Pythias, serving with much acceptance as Grand Chancellor of Massachusetts. In this organization he is one of the two representatives to the Supreme Lodge, and judge- advocate-general upon the staff of Major-General Carnahan, of Indiana, the commander of the Uni- form Rank Knights of Pythias. In the world-wide institution of Free Masonry he has attained the very highest grade. Commencing with the " blue lodge," he has advanced through all the series of degrees of

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the York and Scottish rites-the chapter, eryptic masonry, the 'commandery (K. T.), the consistory, unto the sovereign grand inspector-generalship of the thirty-third and last degree, and in many of these he had served as the presiding officer.

In civil life and service Mr. Fox has had a some- what extended experience. Commencing as a member of the School Committee of Boston, upon which he served three years, he was next elected to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, in 1867 and '68, representing one of the districts of the city. In 1870 and '71 he was a member of the Honorable Senate in which he served upon the Committees on Probate and Chancery, Military Affairs, and the joint select committee to investigate the State constabulary. While a member of this body he established a repu- tation (previously given promise of ) as a graceful and proficient orator, especially by delivering a glowing tribute to Major-General George H. Thomas, then lately deceased.

Removing to the university city in 1872, he was called to serve in the Aldermanic Board, and subse- quently as mayor of Cambridge for four consecutive terms, in all a merited tribute to the ability with which he has discharged the duties of these position's.

His knowledge of parliamentary proceedings, his dignity and tact as a presiding officer, his power to grasp the salient points of a question under discus- sion, his correct judgment in financial matters, all these attest a clear and comprehensive mind and de- cided executive ability.

In the varied relations of life, as a legislator, soldier, orator, officer of potential beneficent organi- zations, and as the chief magistrate of a large and cultured municipality, he has ever performed his duties with fidelity and general acceptation.

COLONEL AUSTIN C. WELLINGTON.

Austin C. Wellington, son of Jonas Clark and Har- riet E. (Bosworth) Wellington, was born in Lexington, Mass., July 17, 1840. He was educated in Lexing- ton, where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Cambridge and entered the employ of S. G. Bowd- lear & Co., flour merchants, of Boston, as book-keeper.

In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty- eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, and participated in the following battles : Bisland, sieges of Port Hud- son, Cane River Ford, Mansura, Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. As a soldier he was respected and beloved by his comrades in the field, and at a very early day was selected for promotion. He was mustered out June 30, 1865, being, at that time, act- ing adjutant of his regiment.

. Upon his return to private life he engaged in the coal business, which he continued with success until his death, which occurred September 18, 1888.

June 30, 1869, he united in marriage with Carolina L. Fisher, daughter of George and Hannah C. (Teele)

Fisher, of Cambridge. Ten years later his wife died, and November 29, 1887, he married Sarah Cordelie Fisher, a sister of his first wife.

Colonel Wellington was public-spirited and of a social temperament. He was fond of reading and declamation. He was secretary of the Irving Liter- ary Society, of Cambridge, in 1861; was a member of the Cambridge Shakespeare Club from 1865 to his death ; director in the Mercantile Library Associa- ciation, of Boston, in 1871, and later its president. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1875 and 1876 and on the Military Committee. He was a member of the Art Club, of Boston; of the New England Club, Electric Club, and vice-president of the Central Club. He was treasurer and general manager of the A. C. Wellington Coal Co., chairman of the Boston Coal Exchange and president of the Charles River Towing Company.

Colonel Wellington was fond of music and had a fine, sympathetic baritone voice. He was a member of the Handel and Haydn Society, also of the Cecilia Club, both vocal musical associations in Boston.

Notwithstanding the prominent position Colonel Wellington occupied in social, musical and business life, the distinguishing feature, doubtless, of his career was his brilliant record in the Massachusetts volunteer militia. May 2, 1870, he entered the ser- vice as captain of the Boston Light Infantry, other- wise known as the famous " Tigers," being Company A of the Seventh Regiment. While captain of this com- pany his command rendered efficient service at the great Boston fire in 1872, and he brought his com- pany to such a state of perfection that in 1873 he was elected major of the First Battalion, known later as the Fourth Battalion, which, under his leadership, became widely known as one of the crack organiza- tions of the State, and at the general inspection of the militia forces of Massachusetts, in 1878, this bat- talion ranked the highest for general military excel- lence among the regular military organizations. February 24, 1882, he was elected colonel of the First Regiment, and the record of this regiment from the time Colonel Wellington assumed command until his untimely death was brilliant and unparalleled, and what it accomplished at home and abroad was due ahnost wholly to the untiring zeal of its gallant com- mander, who instilled into the regiment an esprit de corps which had not before existed. Its record at the funeral of General Grant in New York in 1885, and at the Constitutional celebration in Philadelphia in 1887 will long be remembered. At the Grant funeral, with Colonel Wellington at its head, it was not second to any military body in the line.

One of the greatest achievements of Colonel Wel- lington was his brilliant management of the Soldiers' Home carnival five years ago. That was a work of great magnitude, requiring tireless attention and great executive ability.

Colonel Wellington was also deeply interested in

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Grand Army matters. He was a comrade of Post 15 in 1867, commander of Post 30 in 1873 and of Post 113 in 1887-88. He was also inspector-general of the Graud Army for the Department of Massachusetts. He was also a trustee of the Massachusetts Soldiers' Home.

Colonel Wellington had a dauntless, martial spirit a gentle heart, unmindful of self-considerate of others, and at his death passed away one of Massa- chusetts' most honored citizens.

EDWARD WINSLOW HINCKS.

Edward Winslow Hincks was horn in Bucksport, Me., May 30, 1830. He was the son of Captain Elisha Hincks, who was born in Provincetown, Mass., September 28, 1800, and who was lost at sea January 14, 1831. In 1802 the father of Elisha removed with his family to Buckstown (now Bucksport), and there Elisha was brought up, and married, October 9, 1824, Elizabeth Hopkins, daughter of Ephraim and Hau- nah ,(Rich) Wentworth, of Orrington, Me., and had the following children : Temperance Ann, April 23, 1826; Elisha Albert, May 1, 1828; Edward Winslow, May 30, 1830.

The father of Elisha was Elisha Hiucks, who was born in Truro, Mass., July 14, 1774, and died in North Bucksport, Me., March 15, 1851. In early life he followed the sea, but in April, 1802, he, with his fam- ily and brothers-Winslow and Jesse-removed from Provincetown, where they then lived, to Buckstown (now Bucksport), Me. There he bought wild land, which he cleared and improved, and on which he died. He married, first, in March, 1796, Temperance, daughter of Sylvanus and Hanuah (Cole) Smith, of Eastham, Mass., and had Anna, born in Province- town, January 11, 1797. He married, second, Decem-

ber 22, 1799, Mary, daughter of Nathaniel aud Anna (Rich) Treat, of Truro, and had Elisha, September 28, 1800; Temperance Smith, born in Bucksport June 24, 1803; Mary, July 30, 1805; Sarah, January 30, 1807; William Treat, March 30, 1809; Sylvanus Treat, November 21, 1810; Hannah, August 5, 1812; Naomi, May 16, 1816; Ezekiel Franklin, August 10, 1820.

The father of the last Elisha was Samuel Hinckes, who was born in Portsmouth, N. H., about 1718, and shortly removed with his father to Boston, and there lived until 1753. He afterwards taught school in Truro, where he married, about 1756, Susanna, daugh- ter of Jonathan Dyer, of Truro, and where he con- tinued to live until 1795, when he removed to Bucks- port, and there died in 1806.

The father of Samuel was Captain Samuel Hinckes, who was born in Portsmouth, N. H., at an unknown date, and graduated at Harvard in 1701. In 1716, while a resident in Portsmouth, he was sent as a repre- sentative of the Province of New Hampshire to the Indians at the eastward, was a captain in the Indian

Wars and commanded Fort Mary, at Winter Harbor, from 1722 to 1727, when he removed to Boston. He died in Portsmouth shortly after 1753. He married Elizabeth (Winslow) Scott, a widow, previous to 1715. Elizabeth Winslow was a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Winslow, and granddaughter of John Winslow, who married Mary Chilton, one of the passengers in the "Mayflower."

The father of the last Samuel was John Hinckes, who came from England about 1670, who was Coun- cilor for the Province of New Hampshire, and assis- tant in the Court of Chancery from 1683 to May 25, 1686, when he became a Councilor in the government of President Joseph Dudley, having been named for the office by James the Second, in his commission to Dudley, dated October 8, 1685. He was also chief justice of the Court of Pleas and General Sessions in New Hampshire from 1686 to 1689. In 1692 he was named as Councilor of New Hampshire and made president of the Council. In 1699 he was appointed chief justice of the Superior Court, and remained in office as Councilor and chief justice until 1707. He was living in New Castle, N. H., in 1722, and had de- ceased April 25, 1734. He married, at an unknown date, Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel and Christian Fryer, and had Samuel, a daughter who married a Gross, Christian, Barbara Sarah and probably Eliza- beth.

Edward Winslow Hincks, the subject of this sketch, having received the rudiments of his education in the public schools of his native town, in 1845, at fifteen years of age, removed from Bucksport to Bangor, Me., where he served as an apprentice in the office of the Bangor Daily Whig and Courier until 1849, when he removed to Boston, where he was engaged in the printing and publishing business until 1856. He was a Representative from the city of Boston in the Legis- lature of 1855, and in the same year was a member of the City Council from the Third Ward. Early in 1856 he was appointed a clerk in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and prepared for publication the State census of 1855. He remained in the secretary's office until the firing upon Fort Sumter, employing his leisure hours in the study of law, with the intention of making that his profession, being encouraged and assisted in his pur- pose by Hon. Anson Burlingame, of whom he was an ardent friend and supporter. Having removed to Lynn in 1856, he was chosen librarian of the Lynn Library Association, and until the outbreak of the war actively promoted the interests of that organiza- tion, whose collection of books subsequently became the nucleus of the present Public Library in that city. He was also prominently connected with the Sabbath-school of the First Baptist Church in Lynn. On the 18th of August, 1859, he was appointed adju- tant of the Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts militia -the Essex County regiment.

This appointment, trivial as it no doubt seemed at

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the time, proved the turning-point in his life, and was the opening door to a military career in which he won lasting fame.

At the outbreak of the war he was placed by this appointment in a position whose duties he had per- formed with enthusiasm, and from which he could reasonably hope to receive advancement. On the 18th of December, 1860, he wrote to General An- derson, then stationed at Fort Moultrie, the follow- ing letter, which shows him to have been the first volunteer of the war:

" BOSTON, December 18, 1860.

" MAJOR ANDERSON, U. S. A., Commanding Fort Moultrie :

" Major-la case of attack upon your command by the State (or would-be nation) of South Carolina, will you he at liberty to accept vol- unteers to aid in the defence of Fort Moultrie ?

" I am confident that a large body of volunteers from this vicinity can be put afloat at short notice tu aid in the defence of the post en- trusted to your command, if necessity shall demand and the anthorities permit it.

"Indeed, the men who have repeatedly responded to the call of the authorities to protect the officers of the law in their work of securing to the owners, from whom it had escaped, the chattel property of the South, will never hesitate to respond to a call to aid a meritorious offi- cer of our Federal Republic, who is engaged, not only in protecting our national property, but io defending the honor of our country and the lives of our countrymen.

" I have the bouor to be, sir, your obedient servant to command, " EDWARD W. HINCKS, "Ist Lieut, and Adjt. Sth Regt. Muss. Vol. Mil."

" FORT MOULTRIE, S. C., December 24, 1860.

" LIEUTENANT ED. W. HINCKS, Adjt. 8th Regt. Muss. Vol. Militia :

" Sir-I thank you, not only for myself, but for the brave little band that are under me, for your very welcome letter of the 18th iust., ask- ing whether, in case I am attacked, 1 would be at liberty to accept vol- unteer aid iu the defence of Fort Moultrie.

" When I inform you that my garrison consists of only sixty effective men ; that we are in a very iodifferent work, the walls of which are ouly about fourteen feet high, and that we have within one hundred and sixty yards of our walls sand-hills which command our work, and afford admirable sites for batteries and the finest covers for sharp- shooters ; and that, besides this, there are numerous houses, some of them within pistol-shot, you will at ouce see that if attacked by a force headed by any one bmt a simpleton, there is scarce a possibility of our being able to hold out long enough to enable our friends to come to our succor.

"Come what may, I shall ever bear in grateful remembrance yonr gallant, your buwane offer.

" I am, very sincerely yours, " ROBERT ANDERSON, " Major Ist Artillery, U. S. A."

"24 ST. MARK'S PLACE, July 5, 1866. "GENERAL E. W. HINCKS :

" Dear Sir-Your letter, which I received two days before I moved over to Fort Sumter, was the first proffer of aid which was made me whilst in Charleston Harbor.

" Respectfully your obedient servant, " ROBERT ANDERSON. " Major-General U. S. A." 1

On the 15th of April, 1861, when the news was re- ceived of the attack on Fort Sumter, he hastened to Boston, and tendered his services to Governor Au- drew, and at the same time urged the acceptance of the Eighth Regiment as a part of the contingent of fifteen hundred men called for by the President. His offer of service was accepted, and his request at once complied with. Under orders promptly issued he, that evening, rode to Lynn, Salem, Beverly and Marblehead, and despatched messengers to Newbury-

port and Gloucester, notifying the various companies of his regiment to rendezvous in Boston for instant duty. The next morning (April 16th) he marched into Faneuil Hall with three companies from Mar- blehead-the first troops in the country en route for the seat of war.

On the 17th of April he was commissioned lieu- tenant-colonel of the Eighth Regiment, which marched on the 18th for Washington. At Anna- polis, Md., on the 21st of April, a detachment from the regiment, under command of Colonel Hincks, boarded the frigate "Constitution," then lying aground, and first lightening her of her guns, floated her and worked her to sea. Leaving the ship at midnight, he learned the next morning from Gen- eral Butler that Colonel Lefferts, of the New York Seventh Regiment, had, after consultation with his officers, declined to advance his command and take possession of the Baltimore and Washington Rail- road, through apprehension of an overpowering rebel force. He at once said to General Butler: "Give me the selection of two companies for the purpose and I will perform the duty." He was at once placed in command of a detachment consisting of Captain Knott V. Martin's Marblehead company, Captain George T. Newhall's Lynn company and several picked men, engineers and mechanics from other companies under command of Lieutenant Hodges, of Newburyport, and marched to the sta- tion, of which he took possession, with the rolling stock, materials, books, papers, etc., there found. Without delay he began the work of repair on the engines and track, the former having been disabled and the latter seriously broken up. During the first day an advance of five miles was made, and after a night's bivouac the work was resumed and continued until the road was in running-order. For this ser- vice the regiment received the thanks of Congress in the following resolve:

"THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION.

" CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 31, 18G1.

"Ou motion of Mr. Lovejoy :

"Resolved, That the thanks of this House are hereby presented to the Eighth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, for their alacrity in responding to the call of the President, and for the energy and patriot- ism displayed by them in surmounting obstacles upon sea and land, which traitors had interposed to impede their progress to the defence of the National Capital.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 73

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034