History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 204

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 204

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Mansfield has devoted himself to his insurance busi- ness, which has grown largely on his hands. This he began in 1831, as agent for the Norfolk and Dedham Companies of Dedham. About 1850 he was elected director in both companies, and has served as such to the present time. He was trustee and one of the committee of investment in Canton Savings Institu- tion for twenty years, resigning that trust in 1881. He was United States assistant assessor of internal revenue for Second District about six years. He took the United States census of Canton in 1870. Since the formation of the Republican party Mr. Mansfield has been unfaltering in his allegiance to the principles it advocates. He has served his town as assessor and selectman for seven years, and has held a commission as justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. Broad and liberal in his religious belief, he early identified himself with Universalism, and was one of the first to move in the formation of the Uni- versalist Society in Canton, of which body he was one of the incorporators.

In private life Mr. Mansfield is especially charac- terized by modest, unassuming manners, strong social feeling, and warm friendship. Methodical and accu- rate in business matters, he can always be depended upon ; upright and conscientious, his word is as good as his bond. Faithful in all relations, " above fear and beyond reproach," Mr. Mansfield has gained and holds a firm place among the best citizens of Canton.

JAMES STRATTON SHEPARD.

James Stratton Shepard, son of Joseph and Mary (Stratton) Shepard, was born in Foxborough, March 31, 1815. His father being in humble circumstances, he was obliged to commence labor early in life, and at ten years of age went into a cotton-mill, where he worked until he was fifteen. He was employed on a farm in Foxborough for two years, then going to Sharon, he commenced to learn the machinist's trade in 1832, but in about six to eight months he was put in charge of the carding-room in the mill of George H. Mann. There his diligence, energy, and general intelligence won for him the confidence of his employer, and he was promoted rapidly, until he had the entire charge of the mill. In February of 1839

Ja. I. Shepard

Elijah a. Morse

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he went into partnership with his brother Joseph in the manufacture of straw goods in Foxborough. Not liking the business, and Mr. Mann being desirous of again securing his services, and receiving a sufficiently remunerative offer, he again assumed the superinten- dence of the mill. Sept. 12, 1839, he married Mary, daughter of Clifford and Mary (McKendry) Belcher, of Canton. She was born Feb. 1, 1819. Their chil- dren are four,-Sarah E. [married Ivers W. Adams, of Boston ; they have five children]; Ellen A. ; Georgie [married Freeland D. Leslie, of Canton]; and Willie

S., now in the office of the American Net and Twine Company at Boston as salesman. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard commenced housekeeping in Sharon. In the fall of 1839, Mr. Mann's mill was burned, and Mr. Shepard began the manufacture of palm-leaf hats. After one year of this business, he took charge of a cotton-mill in Ashburnham for George Black- burn & Co., of Boston, making satinet warps, and in January, 1841, he removed thither as superintendent and agent. Here he remained until the fall of 1844. Then coming to Canton, he purchased the cotton-mill of Vernon A. Messinger, where he manufactured wicking for a few years, and in 1851 purchased the thread-mill of Southworth & White, and fitted this up, making seine-twine. The first year ten thousand pounds were made, and in 1883, five hundred and fifty thousand pounds. In addition to this, in connec- tion with Timothy Kaley, about 1853, he carried on the manufacturing of knitting-cotton and harness- twine for three years, when he sold his interest to Martin Wales. The American Net and Twine Com- pany were the largest buyers of the seine-twine for some fifteen to eighteen years. After the war (1864) | he became a partner of that company, leasing his real estate to them, and engaged in the manufacture of fish- nets and seines. In this particular branch of indus- try and manufacture they were the first to engage in New England, and the business has increased largely, their products being in use from Labrador to Alaska, and in Europe as well. In November, 1879, they formed a corporation, having previously built a large mill at Cambridge. William Stowe, Arlington, John W. Fairbanks, Cambridge, and James S. Shepard, of Canton, were among the principal stockholders. Mr. Shepard is the largest stockholder, and, with his family, holds the controlling interest in the company.

He is still personally in charge of their interests in Canton. Salesrooms: Boston, No. 43 Commercial Street; New York, No. 199 Fulton Street. Mr. Shepard is a practical and thorough-going man. He has always given his personal attention to all the details of his business, and this has proved the prime

element of his success. He is essentially a self-made man, and his life has been one of steady and active devotion to his varied and numerous business inter- ests. He is a stockholder in various corporations and director in Neponset National Bank. Politically he

has been a Republican from the organization of that

party, and in 1871-72 represented Canton in the State Legislature. In private life he is especially characterized by strong social feeling and warm friend- ship for a large circle of friends. Of pleasing address, he is a genial companion, enlivening his conversation with shrewd practical remarks and quaint humor. He takes an interest in everything tending towards the building up of his town. Among the represen- tative citizens of Canton who enjoy the confidence of the community we can safely place Mr. Shepard.

ELIJAH A. MORSE.

Elijah A. Morse, son of Rev. Abner Morse (a gentle- man of learning and culture, well known as an author, and notably so of " Genealogy of Morse Family"), was born May 25, 1841. He traces his ancestry back through an ancient and honorable New England family, the first of whom having connection with American history being Samuel Morse, who settled at Dedham in 1634. The descendants of this sturdy pioneer have in every generation filled important posi- tions, being distinguished in literature, art, science, and business, and marked for their independence, originality, and energy. Mr. Morse acquired his education at common and private schools, among others the Boylston school of Boston, then under the charge of that celebrated instructor, Hon. Charles Kimball, of Lowell. His father, although able and learned, like many professional men, had little of this world's goods. Elijah's business life began in his school-days. When about fifteen years old, during his vacation, he began to make and sell from house to house a stove polish, prepared from a formula given him by the eminent chemist, Dr. Charles Jackson, of Boston, who was a strong and intimate friend of his father. His little stock was carried in a carpet-bag, and at this day it is strange to contemplate the first humble commencement of the now gigantic business.

Elijah had no thought then of pursuing the manu- facture as a permanent employment, although from the merits of the polish, and the excellent qualities he developed as a salesman and his success, he might well have done so. But after his school-days were over, in 1860, while a resident of Sharon, he did adopt its manufacture as a business. But on the breaking

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

out of the great civil war he enlisted in Company A, front of his residence are two gilded statues and of life size, emblematic of Spring and Autumn,-Spring with flowers, and Autumn with a sickle and sheaf of wheat. Upon the point of the roof of his main build- ing is a life-size figure of Justice holding the scales evenly poised. Every part of the place shows the spirit of the man who rules it. We have been told that at one time, when the depression made everything in business stagnant, he paid his help half wages, al- though they had nothing to do in the shops, and this for several weeks." This speaks well for his benevo- lence and justice. " He was one of the number who learned the location of the grave of Col. Gridley (the | patriot who engineered the fortifications at Bunker Hill, and afterwards took part in the memorable battle), and induced the town to remove the remains Fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, as a three months' soldier under Lincoln's call for seventy-five | thousand men. This term of service was passed in Virginia. He afterwards enlisted in the same com- pany for nine months, and served with his regiment in Louisiana, where it was engaged in several battles, notably " Camp Bisland," and the siege and capture of Port Hudson. His term of service ended, in 1864 he made his home in Canton, and hired "a small upper room," and engaged in the business which has now assumed such colossal proportions. This was soon too small, and the present location was secured. From 1864 until 1868 his brother, Albert F., was in company with him, but since then Mr. Morse has been sole proprietor, retaining, however, the firm-name " Morse Brothers." From 1868 to the present there | to the cemetery, and had a handsome monument has been a rapid and enormous increase in the pro- duction and sale of his polish. Energy, perseverance, and an unusual amount of originality on the part of Mr. Morse has wrought the change. To properly place his goods on sale he traveled personally through twenty-two of the United States, acting as his own commercial traveler. To secure his proper legal rights he adopted the trade-mark " Rising Sun Stove Polish," and now every quarter of the globe knows and uses his polish, and it is as standard an article of household use as flour. The following from the Canton Journal gives the sales of a single day in 1881 : erected over them." As characteristic of the man, and speaking more than pages of description, we give the following from the Canton Journal: " All the manufacturers in Canton received a circular a few days since from a New York tobacco-house offering to donate to the men in their employ a sample of their goods. Mr. Morse's reply was as follows : ' Your cir- cular received. We don't use tobacco. Consider it a vile, dangerous, poisonous narcotic. It will kill lice, fleas, and every creature on God's footstool but a to- bacco-worm, and will poison, injure, and shorten the life of any man who uses it. It is the twin-sister and handmaid of strong drink, as it creates an unnatural thirst that water will not satisfy. In connection with rum, it is the cause of the awful disease known as delirium tremens. Can you wonder that we don't want to present it to the men in our employ ? We

"Owing to the prospect of an immediate advance in Western freights, Morse Brothers have just received orders for an un- usually large amount of their celebrated 'Rising Sun Stove Polish.' The sale of this day loaded four cars, and weighed 57,500 pounds, nearly 29 tons. It consisted of 1150 gross, and | advise you to quit the business, and engage in some was contained in 2270 cases. There were 165,000 single pack- ages, and, as they are four inches long, would reach (being placed in a line touching one another) nearly ten and one-half miles."

dred and twenty-five feet long and four stories high. This is the largest building for the purpose in the world. " His place, in almost every part, shows the character of his business,-the making of stove polish, and ' Rising Sun Stove Polish' is seen freely painted on numbers of his buildings. Even the great American flag, which is raised when the proprie- tor is at home, bears the same or a similar legend. His grounds are laid out with care and a view to | business, but they are not wanting in beauty. In

other that will tend to ennoble and elevate man, in- stead of degrading and debasing him. Respectfully, Elijah A. Morse.'" He is a member and deacon of | the Congregationalist Church, and his career has ever been guided by religious principle, and his assistance heartily accorded to enterprises of the church. Polit- ically, Mr. Morse has taken advanced grounds. He

The daily production now (September, 1883) is five tons. This is unequal to the demand, and Mr. Morse, in addition to his already extensive works, has now in process of building a brick factory two hun- | has been an active prohibitionist, and is now an en- thusiastic temperance Republican. He represented his town in the State Legislature of 1876. During the last five years Mr. Morse has lectured very exten- sively in the New England States on temperance, in addition to conducting his business.

In conclusion, Mr. Morse is a self-made man of the highest order. Early in life he learned that the way to success was by no royal road, but open and clear to stout hearts and willing hands. He has gained nothing by mere luck, but everything by perseverance and well-

James Draper.

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CANTON.

digested plans, and the intelligent application of his energies to the end in view.

JAMES DRAPER.

Among those who were foremost in introducing and establishing the woolen industry in Canton, the name of James Draper stands prominent. He was a man of great energy, untiring industry, and superior busi- ness capacity. With a thorough knowledge of his trade, great practical sagacity, and an indomitable perseverance, he did much to promote the growth and prosperity of the town during the past thirty years.

He was born in Melbourne, Derbyshire, England, Sept. 17, 1813.

Being early thrown upon his own resources, his mechanical turn of mind led him to adopt the knitting trade as an occupation, and his ingenuity and skill were developed in the general lace manufacturing in- terest, but especially in lace gloves, for which Mel- bourne was famous.

He came to Canton with his family in April, 1851. The sailing-vessel in which he arrived dropped anchor in Boston harbor on the morning following the mem- orable storm which destroyed the ill-fated Minot's Ledge light-house. An elder brother, named Thomas, had preceded him to the States, who had purchased in Canton the old Dr. Stone estate, at the corner of Washington and Pleasant Streets, and at the time of the arrival of James was engaged in fit- ting up a shop to receive knitting machinery. Here for several years he assisted Thomas in organizing and developing the woolen business. This was the pioneer introduction of the knitting industry into Canton.

In the spring of 1856, after the death of his | judge of deserving merit. brother Thomas, we find James in business for him- self, in the building at the Centre known as the Everett house. Here a great variety of fancy knitted goods were produced, and the business rapidly in- creased.

In 1861 a partnership was formed with Mr. George Frederic Sumner, and the business continued under the name of Draper & Sumner.

transacted until June, 1870, when the buildings and contents were destroyed by fire.

In April, 1869, the firm had bought the prop- erty of the Canton Woolen-Mills, and at the time of the fire were running three factories,-the Everett Mill and the Canton Woolen-Mills at the Centre, and the Morse Mill at South Canton.

It was deemed inexpedient to rebuild at South Canton, and the foundations were immediately started for a spinning-mill at the Centre, making a valuable addition to the Canton Woolen-Mills.

The new mill was completed before winter, and was equipped with seven sets of woolen-cards, with a basement occupied by shuttle-looms and knitting-ma- chinery. At the time of Mr. Draper's death, three years later, the firm was doing a large and prosperous business.

Mr. Draper died May 23, 1873. His death was a public loss, and the sorrow manifested by the em- ployés at his decease was the truest evidence of the warm place he held in their hearts.

Any sketch of James Draper would be imperfect that gave no hint of the sturdy individuality of his nature, and the generous impulses, which knew no limit but his means. His heart was pure gold. It was alive with tenderness to the wants of the young, the aged, the poor, and the unfortunate. To lift another's burden seemed to lighten his own. His cardinal doctrine was, " Flee pleasure, and it will pursue you. Strive for the happiness of others, and your own will abound." The light of his life was to serve, cheer, encourage, and minister to the comfort of those who came within his sphere. The only value he put on money was its blessing power. His happiest moments were when he was giving. He was liberal to all appeals, but he most loved to dis- pense benefactions with his own hand, and be his own

Whatever he achieved in life was due to his own efforts ; he was self-made in the full meaning of the word. In the England of his boyhood, education was not the fostered child it is to-day. But in almost every town could be found a morning and evening school, where, for a small sum, a determined spirit could acquire the rudiments of knowledge. The only education he had was obtained at these schools, by a brief hour snatched from the forelock of the day's labor, or added at its close, to satisfy the craving for intellectual advancement.

In his business, and in everything he did, thor- oughness was his motto. " Whatever was worth doing at all was worth doing well." The maxims of

In February, 1865, the firm purchased the Morse machine-shops and water-privilege at South Canton. They made the necessary alterations to adapt the property to the requirements of their business ; built a dye-house, put in three sets of woolen-cards, with their complement of spinning machinery, and a full line of knitting-frames. Here a thriving business was ' industry, economy, and sound common sense, which

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

all human experience indorses and commends, he in- culcated wherever he found idleness, extravagance, or folly.

Mr. Draper was plain in manners, determined in opinions, and inflexible in principle. He was a genuine hater of shams and pretense, and would rebuke with almost merciless severity a would-be spirit or a mean act. The love of justice was the dominant principle of his nature, and at his grave an appreciative friend remarked that the most fitting inscription that could be placed upon his tombstone would be,-

" He was too noble to do a wrong act."

THE WENTWORTH FAMILY.

The Wentworth families of America are of illus- trious descent, and can trace their ancestry twenty- one generations in England, to the time of the Nor- man Conquest The pedigree commences with Reginald Wentworth, or, as written in " Domesday Book," Rynold De Winterwade. He was the pos- sessor of the lordship of Wentworth, in the Wapen- take of Strafford, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1066. The fact of his being mentioned as the Lord of Wentworth sufficiently proves him to have been a prominent man, even at this early date. The Wentworths held high offices in church and state, and were knighted for their bravery. From Reginald the first descended, in regular line of descent, William Wentworth, the emigrant, and the veritable " Elder" of New England history. The first evidence of his presence in this country is his signature, with that of others, to a " combination" for a government at Ex- eter, N. H., on the 4th day of October, 1639. This combination continued for three years; we then find him, in 1642, as juror from Wells, Me., and in 1648 he was constable. He must have removed from Maine about 1649, as in 1650 he was taxed at Dover, N. H., and was also one of the selectmen in 1651, 1657, 1664, 1665, and 1670. " On the fifth day of Oct. 1652, William Wentworth and others in behalf of themselves and the town of Dover, contract with Richard Waldern to build a meeting house," etc.

It was over this church, known now as the First Church in Dover, that William Wentworth became an elder. In 1689 he was instrumental in saving Heard's garrison. He officiated several years as a preacher at Exeter and other places, and died at a very advanced age at Dover in 1697. From him the several Governors Wentworth have descended. John", son of Elder William Wentworth, was born prior to

1649, and hence was one of the oldest of Elder Wentworth's children. He resided in Dover, N. H., until about 1672; afterwards he was in York, Me., until that town was destroyed by the Indians in 1692. He then probably came to Massachusetts, as in 1704 his name is mentioned in a lease dated in November of that year at Punkapaug (now Canton), Mass. He married Martha Their children were John, Edward, Charles", Shubael, Elizabeth, and Abigail. Charles3, son of John2 and Martha Wentworth, was born about 1684. He lived in Canton, Mass., then a part of Stoughton. The house in which he lived is still standing. He was one of the selectmen of Stoughton in 1730 and for several years afterwards. When sixty years of age he was appointed by Gover- nor Shirley, June 18, 1744, lieutenant of the Third Company of the Fourth Regiment of militia, and afterwards became captain. He married, Dec. 15, 1713, Bethiah, daughter of John Fenno, of Stough- ton. Their children were Amariah, Rachel, William, Samuel4, Bethiah, Seth, Jerusha, Sarah. Charles Wentworth died at Canton, Mass., July 8, 1780, aged ninety-six. Samuel 4, son of Charles3 and Bethiah (Fenno) Wentworth, was born April 24, 1728, and lived in Stoughton on land given him by his father May 22, 1753. He was called " Capt. Samuel." He married, first, Oct. 19, 1748, Hannah Endicott ; sec- ond, Feb. 1, 1754, Sarah, daughter of John and Abi- gail (Vose) Puffer. He died Dec. 23, 1783. His children were Mary, Mehitable, Samuel, Abel, Na- thaniel5, Abel, Rachel, Sarah, Abigail, John, Bethiah. Nathaniel 5, son of Samuel4 and Sarah (Puffer) Went- worth, was born Nov. 11, 1761, married, April 3, 1792, Olive, daughter of Samuel Capen. She died May 12, 1859.

Nathaniel was a hard-working boy, and used to draw wood six miles to sell to Governor Hutchinson, who resided on Milton Hill. He left his home early on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, with a load of wood, and hearing the news of the fighting at Lexington and Concord, he alarmed his friends by his prolonged absence. He served six months in the Revolutionary army as guard on the British prison- ers captured in Burgoyne's surrender, who were kept in barracks on Bunker Hill from 1777 to the spring of 1778. He drew a pension up to the time of his death, which occurred July 9, 1849, on the spot where his grandfather, Charles, lived and died, and his widow continued to draw it until her death, some twelve years thereafter. Mr. Edwin Wentworth states that when he went to draw the pension for her he was much impressed by the cordiality and friendliness existing among the pensioners assembled from various

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parts of the State. All seemed to have a pride in | June 14th. He is a charter member of Revere Post, having been of so patriotic blood as to merit this re- ward. His children were Nathaniel6, Sophia, Larra Edwin, and Francis.

Grand Army of the Republic, which was organized in 1869, and takes great interest and pride in this organization, and illustrates in his private life that a brave soldier is always a good citizen.

NATHANIEL WENTWORTH, sixth in descent from Elder William Wentworth, the first American of the EDWIN WENTWORTH, son of Nathaniel 5 and Olive (Capen) Wentworth, was born on the old Wentworth homestead, in Canton, Mass., April 1, 1805. He received his education both at common and at a private school under the charge of that eminent mathematician, Colburn. He served as clerk at various times for his brother-in-law, Nathaniel French, who was a merchant, and there acquired such a taste for business that he preferred engaging in trade to a college life at Harvard University, and June 3, 1822, when but little over seventeen, he en- gaged in business for himself, and paying one dollar and fifty cents per week for his board, he cleared nine hundred dollars the first year, thus proving his apti- tude for his chosen calling, that of merchant, in which he continued for about twenty-one years, four years of that time in Stoughton. He also carried on a bakery and confectionery business, speculated name, and oldest son of Nathaniel and Olive (Capen) Wentworth, was born June 2, 1795, and was a life- long resident of Canton. His education was acquired mostly at the common schools, supplemented, how- ever, by a short time at a private school, but being by nature energetic and a hard worker, he engaged in the business for which he was naturally fitted,-that of cattle dealer,-and did an immense butchering business, which is now carried on by his son. He was especially noted for his knowledge of live-stock. His business was a success, and he became wealthy for the times in which he lived. He married, first, May 12, 1827, Rebecca G. Presbrey. She died Dec. 25, 1847. Second, Sarah J. Bachelder, March 4, 1850. She died April 28, 1853. His children were James N. (born June 29, 1828, died April 23, 1863 ; he married Rachel Smith, Sept. 24, 1856; they had two chil- dren,-Alfred J., born Dec. 27, 1858, and Mary O., | largely in real estate, his ventures being usually born Nov. 24, 1862), Charles P. (born Jan. 14, 1831 ; he married Abbie E. Colby, July 29, 1852. Their surviving children are Addie R., born May 30, 1857, and William G., born Dec. 14, 1865), Alfred (died Jan. 3, 1839, aged six years), Larra Edwin (born April 25, 1844 ; married, first, Ellen Mash, March 2, 1866. They had one child, Rebecca E., who died March 25, 1881, aged fourteen years. He married, second, Evaleen Tucker, Oct. 5, 1880. Their child, Olive, was born Dec. 30, 1882). crowned with success. Mr. Wentworth's sagacity and judgment were of eminent advantage to him in his dealings in real estate, as he bought largely at auction, knowing when and how to purchase. He has always been conservative and independent in his operations. Well known as a man whose word is as good as his bond, naturally he has been called to fill many places of trust and financial responsibility, and in the discharge of his duties has deemed it impera- tive to know personally how affairs stood, and never Nathaniel Wentworth was a man of strong char- acter and consistent in his principles. In politics he was a Republican. He was selectman for one year, and only lacked one vote of election for representative, although he remained at home and kept his men at work. He was a man of quaint originality, social, and his company was much enjoyed by his associates in business for his peculiar witticisms and conversa- tional powers. Although active and energetic he con- ducted his affairs with conservatism and prudence, and accumulated wealth. His death occurred Nov. 24, 1876. trusted to another for information which he should himself possess. Mr. Wentworth was director of Ne- ponset Bank for ten years, trustee of Canton Savings- Bank several years. As an instance of his popularity we would mention that once, while a candidate for the Legislature from Canton, he received the largest vote ever cast for a candidate in his town,-four hun- dred and fourteen out of about six hundred votes polled. Mr. Wentworth has ever been a Democrat, be- lieving that the Jeffersonian principles, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, were the true guides to liberty and freedom for the Larra Edwin, son of Nathaniel and Rebecca (Pres- -- brey) Wentworth, enlisted as private in Company A, Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, Sept. 17, 1862, and served faithfully in the department of the Gulf under Gen. Banks, participating in the warm engagement at Bisland, La., and in the memorable siege of Port Hudson, where he was wounded in the assault of republic. Fearless, outspoken, and bold, Mr. Went- worth has never been double-faced, and in all points at issue no one has ever had any difficulty in finding where he stood, either in politics, business, or town affairs. He built the fine residence where he now resides in 1853, and has done much to build up the interests of Canton by erecting convenient tenements.

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 204

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534