History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 38

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 38

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GARDNER COLBY.I

Gardner Colby, son of Josiah C. and Sarah (David- son) Colby, was born September 3, 1810, in Bowdoin- ham, Maine. Previous to the War of 1812 his father had been for several years a successful ship-builder, but in that war all his property was swept away by the capture of vessels at sea or by the depreciation of shipping kept in port by the embargo. From the discouragement produced by this failure in business he never rallied, and the support of the family thence- forth depended on the mother. But her resolution and capacity were great, and it has been said that " she seems to have early impressed upon Gardner the habits of concentration, energy, courage and hope, which characterized herself, and which were so conspicuous in his later life." The subject of this sketch was the second of four children, and, owing to the straitened circumstances of the family, was en- gaged in the service of business firms from the age of fourteen to twenty-one, with the exception of six months of eager study in a boarding-school. He was, therefore, what is commonly meant by a self-educated man. But the action of his mind was always quick

1 By Rev. Alvah Hovey, D.D.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and clear, and the language which he used was di- rect, concise and well-chosen.

Upon reaching his majority, Mr. Colby rented a store on the corner of Washington and Bromfield Streets, Boston, making laces, gloves and hosiery a specialty. Starting with about $200 capital, he con- ducted his business with such skill and economy as to make $4000 the first year and a larger sum the sec- ond. After five years he had acquired sufficient means to warrant his undertaking a larger enterprise. He therefore became an importer of dry goods, on Kilby Street, a business which he continued during a period of ten years, when he was able to retire from it with a handsome competency.

This was in 1847. But in 1850 he went into regu- lar business again, purchasing one-half of the Mav- erick Mills, of Dedham, Mass., and thus becoming as- sociated with his neighbor, the Hon. J. Wiley Ed- mands, in the manufacture of woolen goods. He was himself the selling agent of these goods in Boston, first on Milk Street, and later on Franklin Street. In the war a large amount of soldiers' clothing was sold by this firin. But in 1863 Mr. Colby disposed of his interest in the mills and once more retired from busi- ness with increased wealth. He was now fifty-three years of age, aud might have enjoyed an honorable and useful leisure the rest of his life.

But he was not content to do this. Fond of large enterprises, he became interested after about six years, in the construction of the Wisconsin Central Railroad. After careful examination, he took hold of it with vigor and resolved to make it the great work of his life. For a year everything went on pros- perously. But in 1872 a change came. The " Ala- bama " claims excitement in England drove all American securities from that market ; the fire in Chicago, the fire in Boston, the money panic in England and on the Continent, and the great panic in New York in 1873, supplemented by hostile legis- lation in the West, and business prostration every- where, sadly crippled the Wisconsin Central Railroad. All these things taxed the strength of Mr. Colby unduly, and it is not surprising that he was not long able to bear the pressure of anxiety and care that came upon him. Yet he always had confidence in the ultimate success of the road. " He bought a large amount of bonds and stock of this company, and never sold any of either. He received no compensa- tion for the years of service and labor which he ren- dered; and, although he at different times indorsed the company's paper for large amounts, he never charged anything for the use of his name and credit." But if his health was broken, and his purpose to make the road an immediate financial success was defeated, he had the satisfaction of seeing it completed, and in full operation before his retirement from the presi- dency in 1876. In the autumn of that year he passed through a long and dangerous illness, which termi- nated his business career, though he recovered his

strength so far as to enjoy friendship and travel during nearly three years, losing, indeed, no part of his interest in human welfare as affected by religion and education.

For Mr. Colby was no less remarkable for the use which he made of his property than for his energy in acquiring it. At the age of twenty he made a pub- lic profession of his faith in Christ, and was always from that time a generous supporter of Christian in- stitutions. He began to give when he began to gain ; and in his later years he sometimes expressed a be- lief that, if he had refused to give in early life, he would probably have continued to do so to the end. His beneficence was rarely misdirected. It rested upon principle, and was applied to the support of enterprises which commended themselves to his judg- ment as well as to his heart. His courage and assist- ance did much to save the Newton Theological Insti- tution and Waterville College in dark hours; his bene- factions were liberal to Brown University, from which two of his sons were graduated; and his gifts flowed in a perennial stream to the great missionary socie- ties of his denomination, especially to the Missionary Union, as well as to the churches with which he was successively connected in Boston and Newton Centre. It has been truly said that "the most noticeable thing about his service to the cause of Christ was the fact that he was far broader and wiser than his early training would lead us to expect. He had but small , school advantages in his youth ; yet he gave his money and his influence, and not a little hard work, to schools of higher learning." More than half a million dol- lars must have been contributed by him to the pro- motion of learning and religion.

And when to this is added the time which he gave to the churches, schools and missionary organizations which he loved, it will be seen that a considerable part of his life was consecrated to the well-being of mankind. He was an active member of the Execu- tive Committee of the American Baptist Missionary Union several years, and during the last third or more of his life was a trustee of Brown University and of Waterville College (now Colby University, in honor of his name). From the age of thirty-two to the age of fifty-six-twenty-four years-he was the wise, courageous, indefatigable and unpaid treasurer of the Newton Theological Institution. Upon his resignation of this office he was elected president of the Board of Trustees, a position which he held with eminent ability ten years. By these and other less conspicuous, but no less laborious and useful services, Mr. Colby was a benefactor to thousands. His stren- uous and useful life came to an end on the 2d day of April, 1879.

LEMUEL CREHORE.

Born in Dorchester, Mass., March 2, 1791 ; died in Boston, August 18, 1868.

Limuel Orshow 7

6.1.Collins

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NEWTON.

The record of the early life and family history of Mr. Crehore has, properly, no place in a history of Middlesex County. During a century and a half pre- ceding his birth five generations of his ancestors re- sided in Milton and Dorchester, adjoining towns in Norfolk county. In the former of these he passed his childhood and early youth. His first entrance into the business world was as a clerk to Mr. Robbins, who had a general store in Roxbury.

Some years later he crossed the Allegheny Moun- tains-making the journey on horseback in the com- pany of Mr. E. V. Sumner, of Milton (late major- general United States Army), and settled in Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he remained some years.

In 1825 he returned to New England, and there first became a residentof Newton as a co-partner with William Hurd, Esq., who had been for some time en- gaged in the business of paper-making at the Lower Falls.

The firm of Hurd & Crehore dissolved by mutual consent in 1834-Mr. Crehore purchasing a portion of the plant from Mr. Hurd. He a-sociated with himself in the business Mr. Benjamin Neal, then en- gaged as a mill-wright in the village. The firm of Crehore & Neal ceased by limitation in 1845. From this date the business has been exclusively in the hands of Mr. Crehore and his descendants, In 1846 he purchased the remainder of Mr. Hurd's interest in the property and the whole was then consolidated in- to a single mill.

From 1854 to 1867 Mr. Crehore's youngest son, George C., was a co-partner with him. In 1867 the elder son, Charles Frederic, took his brother's place, and since Mr. Crehore's death, in 1868, has carried on the business, in which latterly his son has had an in- terest.

Mr. Crehore was adverse to holding office, and, with the exception of one term in the State Legisla- ture and one or two years as selectman, he rendered no official public service.

He, however, always took an active interest in pub- lic affairs and contributed freely of his means to aid any movement for public or social advantage. Ilis advice was frequently sought by those having respon- sible charge in such matters.

In his private capacity as a neighbor and friend his native kindliness of disposition won for him gen- eral regard. None hesitated to go to him in their trouble, none were ever repulsed. Of the strictest moral integrity, his reputation as a citizen, a business man and a neighbor was unblemished.

He married, August 1, 1827, Mrs. Mary Ann Dodge, widow, daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Farmer) Clark, of Burslem, Staffordshire, England, where she was born March 12, 1795. She survived her husband and died at the homestead, then occupied by her elder son, January 1, 1875. During a large portion of their married life they resided in Newton, but a few years previous to Mr. Crehore's death they removed to Bos-

11-iii

ton, where he died August 18, 1868. Of their two children, the younger, George Clarendon, born Au- gust 24, 1832, lived the greater portion of his life in Newton, being connected with his father in the paper business from 1854-67. He married, November, 1855, Lucy Catherine, daughter of Otis and Mary Ann (Grout) Daniell, of Boston. Five children were born to them, all of whom, with the mother, are now living, resident in Boston. In 1867 the family removed to Boston, where Mr. Crehore died December 23, 1870.

The elder son, Charles Frederic Crehore, born June 18, 1828, after being engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Boston and serving as military surgeon during the Civil War, returned to Newton in 1867 and went into business with his father, as above stated. Ile married, September 29, 1857, Mary Wyer, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Farris (Tracy) Loring, of Boston. The only public office held by him to date is that of member of the Newton Water Board from 1885-88 inclusive. He has two children, a son and daughter, both residents of Newton.

The former, Frederic Morton Crehore, born July 16, 1858, as already stated, is a co-partner in the paper manufactory of C. F. Crchore & Son. At the date of writing (1890) he is a member of the Common Council of the city of Newton.

EDWARD JACKSON COLLINS.1

The Collins family are of English origin and de- scent; the progenitors of this particular branch set- tling in Marblehead, Mass., where Matthias Collins, Sr., held the office of high sheriff.

Matthias Collins (2d) married the daughter of Ebenezer Davis, of Brookline, and moved to New- ton in 1778, where he purchased one hundred acres of land of Joseph Craft, on the Sherburne Road, adjoining John Woodward. Ilere he settled and lived until his death, in 1785. He left an only son and heir, Matthias Collins (3d), and a widow, who survived him thirty-four years, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-five.

Matthias Collins (3d) married Hannah, daughter of Edward Jackson, in 1798.

The family of Hannah Jackson were identified with Newton from its earliest history. Her father, Edward, was the son of Col. Ephraim Jackson, a Hientenant in the old French War during 1755 and 1756. Twenty years later he was one of the Newton alarm list, and when Paul Revere called

"For the country folk to be up and to arm,"

Lieut. Jackson joined the Revolutionary Army and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel under Marshall. He participated in the several battles that preceded the capture of Burgoyne, and died in camp at Valley Forge.

1 By Edward L. Collins,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Col. Jackson was the grandson of Sebas Jackson, who, as tradition has it, was born on the passage from England to this country; and great-grandson of Edward Jackson, Sr., a very conspicuous figure in the early colonial history of this county, a companion of John Eliot and one of the pioneer settlers of New- ton.

Matthias (3d) increased his inheritance in many ways. In his native town he held positions of trust and honor. He was assessor, selectman, town trea- surer and representative to the General Court.

To Matthias and his wife there were born eight children-Mira, Davis, Amasa, Charles, Abigail, Edward J. (the subject of this sketch), Ann M., and Frederick A.

Mira married Rufus Mills, of Needham. Davis moved to Brandon, Vt., and married the daughter of Deacon Palmeter. Amasa joined his brother and like- wise married a Brandon lady, the daughter of Deacon Blackmer. For many years the firm of "D. & A. Collins " was engaged in the most extensive, lucrative and well-known grocery and wool business in that sec- tion of the country. Charles, the fourth child, died at the age of twenty-one. Abigail married John Mills, of Needham. Ann M. married Amos Lyon, of New York. Frederick A., the youngest of the children, and the only survivor of the entire family, has, like his brother Edward, made Newton his life-long home.

After completing his education at Deacon Wood- ward's private school, Frederick spent one winter with his brothers in Vermont. Returning to Newton the next spring, he began the manufacture of glue, which he successfully continued for a number of years.

In 1847 he married Amelia M., the daughter of George Revere, of Boston, a lineal descendant of him who stood

" Ready to ride and spread the alarm

Through every Middlesex village and farm."

Previous to 1861, Frederick served a number of years on the Board of Assessors, an office he resigned to fill the position of selectman, a service he rendered acceptably to the town during the entire war.

After the battle of Gettysburg, together with Thomas Rice, Jr., Frederick was commissioned to visit that bloody battle-field and search out and hring home Newton's dead.

The sad errand was fulfilled, and the bodies of Hawkes and Cutter were returned to their native town and sorrowing friends.

Public services were held over the remains and the day was one of mourning throughout the town.

Frederick was a member of the first board of alder- men after Newton became a city, and since his retire- inent from business has resided on the old estate.

Edward Jackson Collins, the third youngest child of Hannah and Matthias, was born in Newton, on the old homestead, April 24, 1811.

Like other country boys of that date, his time was divided between the farm and the district school. In

the matter of education, however, he enjoyed several terms under the late venerable Seth Davis, whose wise precepts and sound principles laid the corner- stone of that vast practical knowledge developed by Mr. Collins in later years.

At the age of twenty-one, together with his friend, Mat. Mills, of Needham, Edward started on a jour- ney through the neighboring States, but spent most of his time in Maine, with a view of entering the glue business. Returning home, he put into active operation his long-cherished idea. He purchased five acres of land from his father, erected suitable huild- ings, and began in earnest, but in a small way, an in- dustry which proved very profitable. At this time there were but few glue-makers in the country. Fish and bone glues were unknown; and where to-day there are a hundred extensive manufacturers, there was then but one-Peter Cooper, of New York.

From a small beginning Mr. Collins constantly in- creased his business until about 1870, when his public offices made so many demands on his time that he dis- continued.

At the age of thirty-eight Mr. Collins was elected to his first important political office, of town assessor. This position he filled until 1856, when he declined to serve, although elected for that year. In 1851 he was also chosen one of the selectmen and served until 1855, the last year as chairman of that body.

At a meeting of the Newton National Bank, held October 17, 1850, Mr. Collins was elected a director of that institution, only two years after its founda- tion. Some of his early associates on the Board of Directors were William Jackson, John H. Richard- son, Joseph N. Bacon, Levi Thaxter, Otis Pettee, Al- len C. Curtis, Edward Walcott, Marshall S. Rice, H. B. Williams and P. E. Kingman.

As treasurer of the Newton Savings Bank, he suc- ceeded Deacon Paul, when the project was only in its infancy. The duties of both these offices Mr. Collins continued to discharge until his death.

On the 3d of August, 1854, Mr. Collins was married, at Bradford, Mass., to the beautiful daughter of Capt. Nathan S. Lunt, of Newburyport. Although Miss Lunt had only just graduated from Bradford Acad- emy, and was still quite young, notwithstanding the fact that Mr. Collins was a number of years her sen- ior, she shrank from no responsibility, but became the trusted adviser and able coadjutor of her husband. In after years Mr. Collins' successes, political and finan- cial, can be traced to the noble, guiding, sustaining influence of his wife. Coming to Newton early in life, her associations were centred here, and her friends were Newton people. She was imbued with a loyal devotion to Newton and its welfare, which character- ized her to the last.

Eight years after their marriage a son and only child was born.

In 1855 Mr. Collins was elected town treasurer, and five years later the duties and responsibilities of col-

EMG.

"ELMWOOD." RESIDENCE OF THE LATE EDWARD JACKSON COLLINS, WABAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

Yours truly. William le laplicas

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NEWTON.

lector of taxes were added. Both of these offices he held continuously until his death, and was best known, perhaps, in that capacity.

In 1858 and the year following, Mr. Collins was elected to the General Court, and was present when John A. Andrew made his famous reply to Cushing.

During the war Mr. Collins' devoted attachment to his native town displayed itself more conspicu- ously than at any other time; for when so much money was needed for the credit of cities and towns, he came forward to aid Newton, and with his own personal endorsement on the notes of the town estab- lished its credit, so that money could be raised with- out trouble or delay, and consequently her quota was always ready.

He also went through the lines to Fortress Monroe, in order that those men who enlisted from Newton in the navy might be properly accredited to her quota.

After the war Mr. Collins was chosen one of the county commissioners, a position he filled with marked ability for twelve years. At the expiration of that time, the duties of treasurer and collector of taxes had so multiplied and become so complex, that his whole time was taken up in the administration of these offices. With watchful and jealous care he guard- ed the financial interests of Newton antil the last. He died in office, at his beautiful Newton home, July 25, 1879.

After Mr. Collins' death, the settlement and man- aging of a large estate fell upon his wife. That ability and zeal that had so often aided her husband, became her distinguishing peculiarity. In the handling of the estate and the education of her son she displayed a business ability and foresight possessed by few women. ller time and money were given freely to forward any public enterprise. She was one of the original trustees of the Newton Cottage Hospital, a work in which she took the deepest interest. The - unfortunate about her were not forgotten, and with open purse or with word of counsel or encouragement, she assisted many, and many who came to her with their trouble. She died at her Newton residence, January 22, 1890-fifty four years of age. The entire estate was inherited by her son, Edward L.

Edward Jackson Collins was a man of large stature and a broad mind. Above the petty carpings of the world, he dealt with great questions or trivial matters in the same broad way.

Although not a member, he was a regular attend- ant at Dr. Daniel L. Furbur's Church, Newton Centre, where for years the Collins family had wor- shipped, and between the two there existed an unostentatious but strong attachment.

Personally, Mr. Collins was rather stern and austere, but back of it all there was the warmest of hearts. He was a loving husband, a devoted father. How many were his acts of kindness to others will only be known to the hundreds the "old Squire " befriended.

With him the sense of duty was uppermost. The

question was, " Is it right? " and so strong was his will that, when once determined, nothing could shake him from his purpose.

For twenty-five years and more Mr. Collins held continually important positions of honor, trust and responsibility, and in them all showed himself effi- cient, wise and faithful. His integrity was never questioned-his word never doubted. Whatever po- sition he held, he seemed to inspire the perfect con- fidence of all. There seemed to be a combination of qualities in the man's character that commanded pro- found admiration and respect,-a man of strict in- tegrity, a man of great capacity. The personal in- terest he took in the men who went from Newton to the front from 1861 to 1865, and in their families, is the key-note of a quality that won him hosts of friends.

His temperament was kind, his manners courteous, and his ability and probity were characteristics so marked as to place him above the plane of question or criticism.

Mr. Collins, as we have seen, was a representative of the good old stock which has made Newton noted for the honesty, enterprise, morality and sobriety of its people. He possessed little of that brilliancy that exhausts itself.in a few fitful flashes, but his light was a steady flame that proceeds from the warmth of de- votion to duty. His principles were surely founded, and the adverse storms of fate might heat upon it at will - the rock grew more rounded, but its base was never shaken.

HON. WILLIAM CLAFLIN.1

William, son of Hon. Lee Claflin and Sarah (Adams) Claflin, was born in Milford, Mass., March 6, 1818, in au old-fashioned story-and-a-half house situated about two miles north of the centre of the town. In brief outline the record of his early years is that of the typical New England bred boy. His child- hood was passed amid rural scenes where pure brac- ing air and plain nourishing food supplemented the affectionate parental influences of this country home. About a mile from his home was located the district school where he received his first instructions and where he remained for five or six years, making such good progress in that time as to be admitted to the Milford Academy, where he was prepared for college, and in 1833 entered Brown University. During his freshman year he sustained a great loss in the death of his mother, a very estimable woman who was very anxious that her son should receive a liberal education, and who through his early school-days secured such books as would be helpful to him in the prosecution of his studies.

Being of slight frame and lacking the ruggedness of physique so necessary to withstand close application to study, his health failed and he left college to enter

1 Contributed.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the boot, shoe and leather manufactory of his father in Milford, Mass., where he remained for three years, when, on the advice of the family physician, he sought by change of scene and travel to regain his health, in which he was successful. Mr. Claflin as- sociated with him Messrs. Howe and Allen at St. Louis in 1841, in the wholesale boot, shoe and leather business, which concern continued up to 1884. Leaving St. Louis as a place of residence, he came East, and in 1847 established himself in Hopkinton, Mass., where he lived until 1855, when he removed to his present lovely home in Newtonville, with its beautiful and ex- tensive grounds and its historic associations.

For more than a quarter of a century Mr. Claflin has been the senior partner of the Boston firm of William Claflin, Coburn & Co., doing a large and successful business. The members of this firmu besides, Mr. Claflin, are N. P. Coburn, of Newton ; James A. Woolson, of Cambridge, and William F. Gregory and Oliver B. Root, of Framingham.

Mr. Claflin has always taken a great interest in ed- ucational matters, and has contributed liberally to- wards the maintenance of the public schools as well as of the higher institutions of learning. From the organization of Wellesley College he has been a member of its Board of Trustees, and has interested himself in many ways for its advancement. Upon the completion of the organization of the Boston University, Mr. Claflin was chosen a member of its Board of Trustees, and for several years has been the president of the Board. While not seeking pub- lic office, Mr. C'laflin has held many positions of trust and honor and has shown himself to be possessed of administrative ability of a high order. In 1848 he was chosen to represent the town of Hopkinton in the Legislature, and as a Free-Soiler took an import- ant part in the conduct of affairs and was re-elected successively in 1849, 1850 and 1851, and during these years was appointed on many of the more important committees of the House. He was elected to the State Senate in 1859, and in 1861 was chosen presi- dent of that body. In 1860 he was chosen a delegate to the Chicago Convention, assisting in the nomina- tion of Abraham Lincoln for the Presidency of the United States. He was again chosen a delegate to the National Convention in 1864, 1868 and 1872. In 1868 he was made chairman of the National Com- mittee, and took an active part in the first campaign for the election of General tirant to the Presidency. In 1866, '67 and '68 he was Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts. In 1869 he was elected to the highest office in the gift of the people of the Commonwealth, and as tiovernor of the State his administration was marked by a dignified and sagacious discharge of the duties incident to this high office. lu 1869 Governor Claflin received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from Harvard University, having also some time previously received the same degree from Wes- leyan University.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 38

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278