History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 186

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 186

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Carshena Wood, son of Dea. John Wood and Lucy Martin Wood, the fourth child of a family of eleven, was born Nov. 19, 1776. He married Betsey Lawrence for his first wife, and, after her death, Tryphena Lawrence. He died July 13, 1854.

"Carshena Wood was a man of ability, but had no ambition for public display so far as he was concern- ed, but avoided, if possible, every public office. He was an ingenious man, learned the cooper's trade, but was always a farmer. He first settled in Ashby, Mass., but upon the death of his brother, John, he sold his estate there, and was settled upon the homestead of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and resided in the house built for his brother John, near the house of his father, the remainder of his life. He never occupied the fine residence of his father, al- though it was long in his possession after his parents' decease. He was a man of strict integrity ; was punctiliously exact in all his engagements, and dealt honestly with every one; was a good neighbor and townsman, an early member and regular attendant of his church." Eunice Martin, daughter of Carshena and Tryphena Lawrence Wood, was born in Little- ton, January 4, 1819, married Benj. W. Priest, and resides in Littleton, not far from the Wood home- stead. They had three children. The youngest child and only daughter, Arabella Wood, was born June 30, 1841; married Mr. George F. Keyes, and, with her husband, son and daughter, occupies at the present time the house where Mr. Carshena Wood, grand- father of Mrs. Keyes, formerly dwelt.

These estates are those recorded as having been transferred from Littleton to Boxborough, May 23, 1831.

Mr. Walter Abbott Wood, of Wood's Mowing- Machine fame, belongs to one branch of the Wood family.1

The first of thic Whitcombs came from England some time previous to 1633, and settled in Dorchester, Mass. There seems to be a number of branches, so far as we have been able to trace them. Ephraim Whit- comb, Jr., was born in Littleton about 1700, mar- ried Parthias Whecler, of Stow, in 1731, and settled

1 The quotations in the previous sketch are from Win. S. Wood's "Gonealogy of tho Wood Family."

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in Nashoba-a part of Littleton. Ephraim Whit- comb, Sr., and Hannah, his wife, settled on the farm of his brother Daniel-where Mr. Ephraim Cobleigh now lives-and were the parents of nine children : Moses, Reuben, Lucy, Ephraim, Hannah, Samuel, Peter, Martha and Joel. Of these, Reuben married and settled in Harvard; Hannah married and went to Gardner to reside ; Samuel lived in Box- borough for a number of years after his marriage and three of his children were born here ; he then moved to Littleton. Lucy married Mr. Paul Hayward, Jr., and settled on the place where Mr. N. E. Whitcomb now lives. They had twelve children.

Ephraim-Captain or Lieutenant Ephraim Whit- comb, both titles having been given to him-married Katherine, daughter of Boaz Brown, and settled on the farm where his father-in-law, Boaz Brown, re- sided, and afterwards built the brick house which stands there at the present time. Mr. Benjamin S. Hager now owns and occupies this estate. Of their eight children, three-Ephraim, Joel and Joab-were unmarried ; Betsey married Mr. Benjamin Houghton, and settled in Harvard. They were the parents of three children-Henry, who died in early manhood ; John, a provision dealer in West Acton ; and Ephraim, a farmer in Harvard formerly, but now working at the carpenter's trade. Hannah married Daniel Cob- leigh and settled on the old Cobleigh place, opposite Mr. Wright's present residence. The old homestead has long since gone to decay. Three sons-Ruel T., Daniel W. and Ephraim B .- are living in town at the present time. Katherine married Oliver Russell and went to Harvard. Edward married the daughter of Jeremiah Tuttle Sr., of Littleton. Martha mar- ried Mr. Daniel Witcomb and settled in Boxborough. on the place now occupied by Mr. J. A. Walker, who married one of the daughters. There were six chil- dren-James Henry, who lost his life in the late war; John, who married Maria Wetherbee and settled on one of the old Wetherbee places in Boxborough ; Betsey, (Mrs. Walker); Sarah, who married Jacob Priest and is now living in Harvard; Anna Luella, who married Marshall Wilder and resides in Clinton, and Martha Jane, who died when quite young.

Martha or Patty Whitcomb, daughter of Ephraim Whitcomb, Jr., married Ephraim Taylor and lived on the Burroughs place. After the death of her hus- band, she, with her four children,-Ephraim, Joel, Reuben and Isaac,-went to New York to live.

Joel Whitcomb, son of Ephraim Whitcomb, Jr., married, and resided on Burroughs' place after Ephraim Taylor. They buried several children. Joel Whitcomb, Jr., is living at West Acton.

Moses Whitcomb, son of Ephraim Whitcomb, Jr., married Anna Hayward, of Boxborough. Of their twelve children, several died in infancy. Of nine who lived to mature years, Sally married and went to Ashby; Betsey married a Tenny and went away from town; Daniel, to whom we have before alluded,

married Martha Whitcomb and settled on the present Walker place; Mary married Oliver Wetherbee and settled on the old Wetherbee place, now W. H. Furbush's; Lydia married Mr. Peters, father of George L. Peters, of Stow, and lived in Littleton ; they had three children. Moses Jr., married Martha Cotton, of Boxborough, and settled on the old Whitcomb homestead, where Ephraim Cobleigh now resides. They buried several children. There are five remaining-Edwin Whit- comb, Mrs. Hannah Conant, Mrs. Caroline Hosmer and Mrs. Maria Hendley, of Littleton, and Frank Whitcomb, of West Acton. Annie married Mr. Harry Hoar, of Littleton. Paul married Hannah Bent, of Stow, and went away from town ; they had two sons. John-Col. John Whitcomb-married Maria Good- win for his first wife; they had no children. He mar- ried Sarah Emory for his second wife, and of their five children, one died in infancy. Nathaniel Emory married Abbie Blanchard and lives on the old Paul Hayward place in Boxborough ; John married Nellie Rand and went to Fitchburg ; Maria married Charles E. Smith and resides in Holden ; and James married Edna, daughter of Mr. Granville Whitcomb, and re- sides in Fitchburg. Col. John Whitcomb married Mrs. Eliza A. Hayward for his third wife.

Peter, son of Ephraim Whitcomb, Jr., married Sally Bachellor, and they were the parents of seven children. Myra married a Raymond, and went to Harvard; Peter died in early childhood; Stillman married Adeline Priest, and their two children, a son and daughter, went to the Sandwich Islands to live; Sally married Samuel Hosmer, and went to Acton first, afterward settled in Harvard; Peter, Jr., mar- ried Betsey Mead, Jan. 2, 1839, and settled in Box- borough. They buried their only child, Augustine A., about a year ago. His wife, a daughter of Mr. William Moore, died some years before. Granville married Caroline Hoar March 4, 1841, and settled in Boxborough. They have nine children-A. Granville, Elwyn, Edna, Carrie, Myra, Clarence, Frank, Eva and Austin. They are all married but two, and one, Frank, is settled on the old Nathaniel Mead place, in Box- borough. All of the children except two, are musi- cians, and one daughter, Edna, has been a salaried singer in the city of Fitchburg, where she resides. Austin teaches music in the same place. Merrill mar- ried in Boxborough, went to Bedford, and afterwards settled in Charlestown. One of his four children, George, married May Wetherbee, of Boxborough, and lives in Charlestown.

Peter and Granville are the only representatives of their family now living. Ephraim Whitcomb, the grandfather of these two, served in town in various positions of trust and responsibility. He was one of the selectmen when the district was incorporated in 1783, and held that position, at different times, for many years. He also held the offices of town clerk, treasurer, assessor, and he was a prominent worker in

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the church and society when they were in their in- fancy. Moses, Ephraim and Joel, sons of Ephraim Whitcomb, Jr., also held office as selectmen for many ycars. Moses Whitcomb, Jr., also his son Moses, held this office ; the father was also superintending school committee at one time. Peter Whitcomb, the father of Granville and Peter, was town treasurer for nine years, for which service he would take no com- pensation. He also served the town in the capacity of selectman. Mr. Granville Whitcomb has served the town as superintending school committee, town clerk, selectman, assessor, constable and collector, and auditor. He also had the honor of being sent repre- sentative at one time, and his father and two of his father's brothers, Captain Ephraim and Joel, also held this position for more than one year.

The ancestors of the first Mead families connected witlı Boxborough settled in Harvard. Dea. Oliver Mead, who was living here in 1783, and Anna, his wife, were the parents of ten children-Sarah, Lucy, Anna, Oliver, Jr., Abraham, Elizabeth, Nabby W., Samuel, Hannah (who died when eight years old) and Nathaniel. Sarah, born Dec. 19, 1778, married Levi Houghton, of Harvard. Lucy was unmarried. Anna married William Stevens, father of Oliver Stevens, of Boxborough. Oliver, Jr., married Bet- sey Taylor, who was an aunt of the late Capt. Var- num Taylor, and was born and brought up on the Taylor place. Abraham married a Kimball, from Littleton. Elizabeth married Reuben Houghton, of Harvard, brother of Levi, and after her death her husband married the next younger daughter of the family, Nabby W. Samuel married three times- Betsey Stevens and Mary Stevens, of Boxborough, and Lucinda Conant, of Harvard. Nathaniel married Lucy Taylor.

Oliver, Jr., and Betsey, his wife, buried several children. There are seven living : Betsey, Sally, Oliver, Lyman, Emory, Walter and Anna. Betsey, born November 10, 1815, married Peter Whitcomb and settled in town. Sally married George Hager, settled in Boxborough, and afterwards removed to West Acton, where they still reside; they have no children. Oliver married Caroline Wetherbee, and is settled in town; their only living child, Sadie A. B., married Alfred Brown and resides at home. Ly- man married Melissa Willis, of Harvard, and they have two children, Lyman Willis and Emma ; Willis married Julia Littlefield, of Boxborough ; Emma mar- ried Frank Priest, of Harvard, and they are both living at West Acton. Emory married Eliza Clement, of Vermont, and settled in town; their only living child, Frances Annie, married Philip Cunningham, and they are settled on the old Stone place ; they have four children. Walter married Eliza Jane Chandler, of Maine, and is living on the Mead estate, where his father and grandfather lived before him ; they have three children ; two sons,-the firm of Charles H. Mcad & Co .- are engaged in business in

West Acton; and the only daughter, Blanche, is at- tending school at Lawrence Academy, Groton. Anna married William Moore, and they reside at the centre of the townl.

Samuel, who married Betsey Stevens, settled on the estate now owned by Mr. Charles Brown. They had three children: Mrs. Elizabeth Ives, of Natick ; Franklin, who married Miss Nancy Morse, of Mason ; and died in Lunenburg; and Benjamin Stevens, who married Rebecca Louisa Burgess, of Harvard, and settled in town; they have two children : Edgar C., who married Lucy H. Hayward, and is living in Boxborough, and Minnie L., who married George F. Kingsbury and resides at Ayer.

Samuel and Mary (Stevens), his second wife, had only one child, Samuel, who died at the West.

Samuel and Lucinda (Conant) Mead were the parents of six children : Lucinda, who married David Howe, of Maine ; Albert, who married Alwilda B. Crocker, of Maine; Alfred, who married Hannah Maria Miles, of Stow; Abby, who is unmarried; Anna, who married Charles Harding, and lived only a few years after her marriage; and Mary, who died young. Lucinda, Albert, Alfred and Abby all reside in Natick. Albert Mead has been an extensive shoe manufacturer, and has acquired a large property, but has now retired from the business and is living upon a farm. He went as representative from Natick last vear.

Nathaniel and Lucy (Taylor), his wife, settled on the estate now owned by Mr. Frank Whitcomb. They had cight children : Nathaniel (who had his name changed to Adelbert), Oliver W., Sarah, Maria, Mary, Anna, Varnum and Frances Adelaide. Adel- bert married Almira Hoar, of Littleton, and resides at West Acton. Oliver W. married three times ; his first wife was Mary Hartwell, of Harvard; he is also living at West Acton ; Sarah married Mr. Low, of Fitchburg, and they had twelve children. After her death her husband married again, and they were the parents of five more, making a family of seventeen children. Maria married Andrew Patch, of Littleton, and went to Harvard ; of their four children only two are living. Mr. Patch died about ten years ago, and about a year ago his widow went to Charlestown to live with her son. Mary married a Lothrop, and lived in California until the death of her husband, a period of over thirty years; they had no children. Mrs. Lothrop is now living at West Acton. Anna married Mr. Charles Twitchell, of Fitchburg, and they are now living at West Acton ; they have one son. Varnum married Miss Keyes for his first wife, and he, also, resides in the village of West Acton. Frances Adelaide married Frank Stevens, of Stow, and they have one son.

Deacon Oliver Mead was highway surveyor and collector in 1783, and held at different times for sev- eral years the positions of selectman, treasurer und town clerk. Oliver Jr., was selectman and assessor.

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BOXBOROUGH.'

Samuel Mead served the town as school committee, overseer of poor and selectman for several years. Benjamin S. Mead held the office of assessor, and was selectman for twelve years, and Walter Mead, also, has served the town in this capacity. Adelbert, Oliver W. and Varnum Mead carry on a large busi- ness at 35 North Market, and 35 Clinton Streets, Boston, under the firm-name of A. & O. W. Mead & Co. I quote the following from "Our Grange Homes : " "The location is considered one of the best in the city. They have cold storage capacity of 1000 tons at West Acton, and they built the first large cold storage house in Massachusetts for holding com- mission goods. On the Boston premises is every nec- essary appliance for the expeditious and efficient handling of all goods included in the commission trade, the utmost efficiency thus being secured.

"The ample opportunities given by the long period this house has been established have been well im- proved ; a steady reputation has thus been acquired. The specialties are butter, poultry, eggs, cheese, fruits, etc., selling to all classes of customers. Two- thirds of the business comes from the West and prov- inces.

"The business was established in 1844, known as A. & O. W. Mead, taking its present title in Septem- ber, 1866, by which date it will be seen that this is, with a few exceptions, the oldest produce commission house in Boston.

"The early life of Adelbert was passed in agricul- tural pursuits. Young Mead was apprenticed to a shoemaker, and learned the trade. In 1841 he began to sell shoes in Boston, and it became convenient to his neighbors and those along the route from Box- borough to entrust goods to him for sale on commis- sion, and thus the present business was eventually established, he taking as his partner his brother, Oliver W. Mead. They at first had a large wagon, with a stand outside Quincy Markets, and the busi- ness was conducted at the Market for nine years. It was then removed to 50 North Market Street, and to the present site in 1866. Mr. Mead is well known to our merchants as a man of unimpeachable character and high aims, and he owes his success in life to his pluck, push and ability. He has done his part by liberal and honorable methods to place the house in its present position in the trade. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and, with Mr. O. W. Mead, also is a member of the Fruit Exchange. He is interested with his brothers in railroads, and also in live stock in Wyoming Territory.

" Mr. O. W. Mead conducted the farm until twenty- one years of age, and at an early age he evinced pleasure in intellectual pursuits, and on reaching his majority taught school until twenty-three years of age in Lunenburg and Littleton. He then connected himself with his brother in the present business. He is a first-class business man in every sense of the word, and has always manifested marked financial 50-ii

ability. As an executive he possesses great power, and has carried system as near perfection as can be obtainable. He has been called upon to fill positions of trust, and is director in the First National Bank of Ayer, and trustee in the North Middlesex Savings Bauk of the same town. He was also a director in the Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the char- ter members of the Produce Exchange.

"Mr. Varnum B. Mead was born on the farm; his life has been varied. When nineteen years old he went to the Sandwich Islands, where he remained five years; he then had a valuable business experience in Fitchburg, Moutreal and Acton, shipping from Montreal and Acton to Boston, and mainly to his brothers. He came to this city in 1866, and was one year on salary in his brother's firm, and in 1867 was admitted to partnership. He has a large circle of warm persoual friends. Among other positions of trust, he is president of the Franklin and Megantic Railroad of Maine."

John Cobleigh came from Scotland at an early period, and purchased land here about 1707. He was the ancestor of a large family, whose descendants are still with us in the persons of Ruel T., Daniel W. and Ephraim B. Cobleigh, sons of Daniel and Han- nah (Whitcomb) Cobleigh, and Ephraim, son of John and Caroline (Hayward) Cobleigh. The grand- parents of these were John and Rachel Cobleigh. From the first Cobleigh who came from Scotland clown to Ephraim Cobleigh, one son has always borne the name of John. The little trunk covered with hair and studded with brass nails, in which the first John Cobleigh kept his money and his sword, belong- ing to the uniform which he wore on state occasions, are in possession of a cousin of Ephraim B. Cobleigh, who received them from his mother at her death, about a year ago. They had been handed down from one generation to another until she obtained posses- sion of them. Daniel Cobleigh married Ann Perkins, of Biddeford, Me., for his second wife, and she is uow living in the family of Mr. Ruel T. Cobleigh. The old Cobleigh homestead formerly stood opposite Mr. Wright's present residence.

Ruel T. Cobleigh married Lizzie Perkins. They had three children,-Frank, who died young ; John R., who married Sarah Withington, of Princeton, and lives on the home-place, and Mida E., who married Willard Burns, and resides in Fitchburg.

Daniel W. Cobleigh married Caroline Smith, of Charlestown, for his first wife, and they had two daughters, Hannah Maria and Carrie Etta. Hannah Maria Cobleigh married Mr. Charles Veasie and set- tled in Boxborough; Carrie Etta Cobleigh is teaching in Harvard. She is a fine musician. Daniel W. Cobleigh married Mrs. Antoinette Barnard, daughter of Mr. Varnum Taylor, for his second wife.

Ephraim B. Cobleigh married Rosella Wetherbee for his first wife, and for his second wife, Salinda Holden, of Shirley. He has no children.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

John and Caroline (Hayward) Cobleigh had two sons, Ephraim and Howard. Ephraim married Harriet Whitney, and they have eight children : Charles, Fred, Nelson, Melvin, Ora, Hattie, Alfred and Herbert. Howard Cobleigh married Lucy Ann Johnson, and resides in Fitchburg. They have two daughters.

Ruel T. Cobleigh has been active in town affairs, having been selectman, assessor, constable and col- leetor, auditor, highway surveyor, ete., for a number of years. Daniel W. Cobleighi has held the position of town treasurer for the past twenty-six years, was town clerk for six years, selectman for seven years continuously-eleven years in all-and has held various other town offices. Ephraim B. Cobleigh served as town clerk for twelve years continuously, thirteen years as selectman, and has held various positions of trust and responsibility. He has been connected with town business for twenty-seven years.

In a volume entitled "Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown, Mass., including Waltham and Weston," is found the following: "Hagar :- In the church records Rev. Mr. Angier wrote the name Agar. Perhaps it will be ascertained that William Hagar, of Watertown, was a son of that William Hagar that was admitted freeman May 18, 1631. Both names are found in England and their arms may indicate some early affinity, a lion being their chief characteristic." Mr. Daniel B. Hagar, of the Salem Normal School, who is a great-grandson of Isaae Hagar, of Weston, says : "The two names are probably the same, as they are in the Bible. As the family was among thie very earliest settlers of Watertown, it is undoubtedly of English origin. I noticed in London a street named 'Agar.' I do not understand why the different branches of the family should spell the name differ- ently. As a scripture name it is always spelled in one way so far as the last syllable is concerned." The genealogy in the volume referred to runs thus: William Hagar (Hager), married Mar. 20, 1644-45; died Jan. 10, 1683-84. Ile had ten children. The third one, Samuel, was born Nov. 20, 1647; died Febr. 13, 1703-04. His fourth and last child was Isaac, of Weston, who was born Apr. 24, 1701. He married Prudence Allen, July 16, 1724. He had twelve children, the first of whom was Isaae, who was born May 5, 1725. This Isaac had four children,-Phine- has, Elizabeth, Abigail and Zilpah. Phinehas-the ancestor of the Hagers of Boxborough-married Su- sanna Leadbetter. He died in Weston in Aug., 1817. He had nine children,-Daniel, Nabby, Phinehas (born July 21, 1788), Charles, Helena, Darius, Maria, George (who died in infancy) and George Otis. Dan- iel died when about seventeen years of age. Charles lived to manhood and died at the West, Helena married a Hersey, and Darius married Lucy Wright and had eight children, of whom four died young, and the youngest daughter, Esther, married a Burn-

ham and died several years ago. Of three who are living, George is married and resides in California, and Augustus P. and Baron Stowe are both married and settled in Littleton, Mass.

Maria Hagar married William Nottage, of Boston. George Otis married Sarah Day, of the same city, and they had five children, of whom only one lived to mature years. He-George Otis-was killed in one of the last battles of the War of the Rebellion.

Phinehas Hager and Ruth Stowe, daughter of Manasseh and Mary (Whiteomb) Stowe, of Hills- borough, N. H., were married November, 1811, in Harvard, by Rev. Isaae Bonuey, Methodist minister. Ruth Stowe was born in Hillsborough, December 8, 1788, and died at West Aeton, May 9, 1880, aged ninety-one years and five months. Zion's Herald, date November 4, 1880, gives the following :

" Sister Hagar, when 16 years of age, upon the death of her parents, came to Harvard, Mass , to reside witb relatives. Here she hecame ac- quainted with the Methodists, and united with the church, to whose doctrines and usages she hecame strongly attached. At the age of 23 she married Phinebas Hagar, of Weston, a man of deep and ardent piety. Her hushand died when she was hut 41, leaving her with seven children, the oldest heing hut 16 years old. She was a woman of strong character, never yielding a point where she considered herself morally right. Her cheerfulness throughout her entire life was very marked. About five years previous to her death she resided with a son in West Acton ; here she was near the church and was a constant attendant, being present morning and afternoon in all weather. The last five months of her life she was partially paralyzed, hut so kindly cared for by her daughter and son, that she was never known to make a com- plaint ; all her wants were anticipated, and she had only to answer with a smile. Thus ended the long life of this Christian woman and affectionate mother."

Phinehas Hager died January 11, 1830, at the early age of forty-one. He was a member of the Methodist Church referred to in the history of the town, and was a class-leader mauy years. He owned a small farm in the southwest part of Boxborough, but worked at the business of a shoemaker, having learned that trade of Nathan Hagar, of Lincoln. The homestead was burned some years ago, but the estate is still iu the hands of George Hager, of West Aeton, oue of the sons. Phinehas Hager and bis wife, Ruth (Stowe) Hager, are buried in the old hill burying-ground. They were the parents of seven children,-Solomon, born March 28, 1813, George, Sarah, Phinehas, Mary, Benjamin Stowe and Daniel.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 186

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226