USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Stoneham > History of Stoneham, Massachusetts > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Mr. Dean has done business as an auctioneer since 1845, having held an auctioneer's license every year since that time, a period of forty-six years.
He has also been a Justice of the Peace since 1852, and in that capacity has united one hundred and forty-seven couples in the holy bonds of matri- mony. Mr. Dean has also made out a great many deeds of real estate and other legal papers, and has done considerable at historical and genealogical work.
193
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Dean has been twice married, first in Stoneham, September 27, 1840, to Miss Sarah Fuller, of this town, who died Feb. 1, 1859, and second in Taunton, September 18, 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Reed, of that place, who is now living. Two daughters were the fruit of the first union, the elder of whom, Ellen Elizabeth, is living and resides at the home of her father. No children have been born to the second wife.
Mr. Dean became a member of the Congregational Church, Reading, in 1831, and since his residence in Stoneham has been a member of the Con- gregational Church here and a deacon for forty-five years consecutively.
The cottage in which he now lives on Pine street was built in 1840, and there he was wedded to his first wife. He has resided there during the fifty- one years since, and his office of Town Clerk, &c., has always been in the rear room of his house.
Mr. Dean has always been careful, painstaking and accommodating in of- fice, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of the town. He is considered the personification of honesty and there are never any but good words spoken of him.
GEORGE COWDREY, ESQ.
George, son of Lieut. George and Mary (Stevens) Cowdrey, was born in Stoneham, Mass., January 5th, 1815. He received his education in the public schools of Stoneham, and in Bradford, Vt. Mr. Cowdrey gave his attention to the shoe business, and for twelve years manufactured shoes in Stoneham. He has been engaged in the real-estate business for the past thirty-eight years. Mr. Cowdrey's business capacity, and integrity, have secured for him merited success in business. He has been very prominent in the affairs of the town, holding the offices of Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, and for no less than eight terms has represented his native town in the Legislature. He was first chosen to the Legislature of 1 844, and has since been a member in the years 1850, 1851, 1852, 1883, 1884, 1885, and 1886. In the last-named two years he was the senior mem- ber, or dean, of the House, and had the honor of calling the House to order, and of presiding over it during the work of organization. Mr. Cowdrey has served, during his long legislative experience, on a number of important committees, and performed a great deal of valuable and lasting work for the State. Among the committees with which he has been associated, may be named the Committee on the Better Security of the Ballot, and the Committee on Banks and Banking for six years, of which he was House Chairman the last three years. In 1852 he was appointed on a committee to escort Louis Kossuth from Springfield to Boston. He has been a member of the Com- mittee on Public Service, and also of the Committee on Rules. As a speaker he is earnest and forcible, and has taken a leading part in debate, and has always exerted a great influence among the members of both parties in the
I3
George Course
195
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Legislature. " He has actively favored all measures in the interest of the soldiers and of the laboring classes. For two years he served as one of the monitors of the House. In the Legislature of 1851 Mr. Cowdrey took a very active part in the election of Hon. Charles Sumner to the United States Senate. He organized and led the Sumner forces in the House against the supporters of Robert C. Winthrop, and secured the election of Mr. Sumner on the twenty-sixth ballot, after a strong and hard contest. Mr. Sumner acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr. Cowdrey for his elevation to the Senate. In the House of 1852 he was prominent in his successful opposition to the proposed division of the town of Stoneham. As a legislator Repre- sentative Cowdrey has been noted as a careful, conscientious member, with an eye single to the public interest, and ever careful to save the treasury from needless expenditure. His course has been marked by unwearied industry, and careful attention to duty. Mr. Cowdrey is an earnest supporter of Democratic principles.
WILLIAM G. FULLER.
William Griffin Fuller is one of the oldest and best known citizens of Stoneham, having lived in the town for over sixty-one years. He was born in West Newton, Mass., May 2, 1810, and is the son of Josiah and Sarah (Greenough) Fuller.
His mother died when he was but five years of age and he went to Wes- ton, Mass., to live with an uncle and aunt on account of his father giving up housekeeping.
There he attended the district school and worked about his uncle's farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to North Woburn to learn the currier's trade.
He was an apprentice to Jonathan Tidd and lived at his home until about twenty years of age, at which time Mr. Tidd died and Mr. Fuller came to Stoneham and finished his trade with Charles E. Walker. This was in 1830, Mr. Fuller coming to Stoneham on May Ist of that year.
After learning the trade he worked for Mr. Walker for three years. was in partnership with him during the next year, and in 1835 he bought out Mr. Walker's interest and from that time on he was in business alone, and was the only man in the leather business in the town up to 1840.
The currying shop and Mr. Fuller's residence were then located where the Chase building now stands. Here he continued to live and do business until 1850, when he sold his residence and moved his shop to Block street where he manufactured grain and split leather until 1857 when he retired on account of failing health. Since that year he has not engaged in active business but has dealt considerably in real estate, buying and selling, and is now owner of a large amount of real estate in the central portion of the town.
.
WILLIAM G. FULLER.
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM G. FULLER.
198
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
In 1850 he built the substantial homestead on Franklin street which he has since occupied, his old house being now on the opposite side of the same street, where it was moved when the Chase Block was built.
Mr. Fuller has been twice married ; first in Stoneham, May 10, 1835, to Miss Mary Richardson, of this town. by whom he had two daughters, both of whom are deceased. His second marriage was in New London, N. H., November 12, 1840, to Miss Apphia E. Burpee, of that town. Three chil- dren have been born to them, one son and two daughters. The son is de- ceased but the daughters are living and are at home, viz: Georgianna Eva and Williamine Cordelia.
Mr. Fuller has never belonged to a fraternal society nor held a town office but was Representative to the General Court in 1840. being at that time less than thirty years of age. During this term Hon. Robert C. Winthrop was Speaker of the House of Representatives and it was the first term of Gover- nor Marcus Morton, who was elected to the Governorship by only one majority.
Mr. Fuller is a Trustee of the Stoneham Five Cents Savings Bank, being one of its incorporators and the only one now connected with the bank. He has also been one of its Vice Presidents for a number of years. He is an attendant at the Congregational Church.
For a man in his eighty-second year Mr. Fuller retains all his faculties to a. remarkable degree, and he is as well capable of transacting business now as the majority of men at two score and ten.
WILLIAM HURD.
Captain William Hurd, a veteran of the Mexican war, was born in Wis- casset, Maine, December 16, 1813, his parents being James and Hannah (Bean) Hurd.
He obtained his schooling in his native town and before the age of sixteen went to Charlestown, Mass., where he learned the trade of a morocco dresser, serving five and a half years. The day following his arrival at majority he was appointed foreman of Abram P. Pritchard's factory in Charlestown, and was employed there about three years, when on account of the failure of Mr. Pritchard he went into the morocco store of William R. Fernald, South Market Street, Boston, as a salesman, where he remained two years, and during that time obtained a knowledge of buying and selling.
He then went into the business of manufacturing morocco with Freeman Wilson, at Lowell. Mr. Wilson went out of the firm in about a year, and Mr. Hurd continued alone until 1840 when he opened a store on Fulton Street, Boston, and manufactured in Charlestown. There he remained until 1846.
In that year he joined with John S. Barker in recruiting a company for the Mexican war. Mr. Barker had been endeavoring unsuccessfully to enlist
WILLIAM HURD.
200
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
men enough to fill a company and with money and assistance from Mr. Hurd the ranks were filled, and Mr. Barker was commissioned Captain, and Mr. Hurd, First Lieutenant. They were in quarters at Charlestown with the company for a short time, and then sailed in a ship to Brazos Santiago, Texas. There they marched nine miles across country, in sand nearly to the knees, to the Rio Grande River, and then went into Mexico, up to Matamoras, and from there marched across to Monterey, about 300 miles. Owing to illness of Captain Barker during most of the time he was in the service, Lieut. Hurd was breveted Captain and was in command. At Monterey, where they remained about two months, Captain Hurd was in command of the Black Fort, which his company garrisoned.
Two divisions under General Lane and General Cushing were called down by General Winfield Scott to re-enforce him at Vena Cruz. General Scott was in the City of Mexico and wanted the re-enforcements to open commu- nication for him with Vera Cruz, where supplies were obtained. Captain Hurd's company formed a part of these troops. They marched to the mouth of the Rio Grande, about 200 miles, in eight days, and then went by vesse to Vera Cruz. From there they went to the City of Mexico, from which city brigades vere sent out to different points. Capt. Hurd's company was sta- tioned at Mixcoax about two and a half months, protecting the inhabitants against the guerillas.
May 31, 1848, they left for home, marching 300 miles to Vera Cruz, and there taking a ship for New Orleans, from which city they came by steam- boat and rail, by way of Cincinnati and Buffalo, to Boston, and were mus- tered out in Cambridge the latter part of July, 1848.
Captain Hurd inherited a military spirit from three generations of his an- cestors. His great-grandfather served in the French and Indian war, and Captain Hurd has in his possession a powder-horn used by this ancestor, and afterwards by his grandfather while fighting for liberty at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His father was in the service of the United States in the war of 1812.
Mr. Hurd was united in marriage January 3, 1836, at Charlestown, Mass., to Miss Sophia Whitney, a native of Danville, Vt., who is now living. Eight children have been born to them, four sons and four daughters, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are living, viz: Kathleen, wife of William W. Abbott, of North Reading, William Jr., Annie Gray, wife of Oliver Gardner Fowle, of Stoneham, and Winfield Scott.
In October, 1848, a few months after his return from the Mexican war, Captain Hurd was induced by John Hill, the elder, to come to Stoneham and engage in the manufacture of morocco. Associated with him in a financial way was the firm of John Hill & Co., and an extensive business was done for a number of years.
The Messrs. Hill retained an interest until about 1865, although Mr. Hurd had full charge of the business and it was always in his name. Mr. Hurd
201
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
continued alone from 1865 until 1873, since which time he has not engaged in active business.
Captain Hurd did not enter the war of the Rebellion, on account of his business, although Senator Henry Wilson, with whom he had been person- ally acquainted since 1840, endeavored to persuade him to do so by offering to secure for him almost any commission he would accept.
Captain Hurd has always refused to take public office, with the exception that he was a member of the Board of Trustees which founded the Stoneham Public Library in 1859, and was on the Board for nearly twenty years and chairman for several years.
He was one of the projectors of the horse railroad from Stoneham Centre to what is now Melrose Highlands Station, and a director for about twenty- six years, or until it was sold to what is now the East Middlesex Street Railway Co. He was a director in the Wakefield Gas Co. for nearly fifteen years, and was one of the organizers of the Stoneham Unitarian Church and a member of the standing committee for many years.
He was made a Mason in 1856, at which time he joined Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, of which he is now an honorary member, was a charter and is a life member of Waverly Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Melrose, also a charter, now honorary member of Hugh de Payens Commandery, Knights Templars, of Melrose, and was a charter and is now a life member of the Royal and Select Masters, now located in Malden.
Previous to becoming a charter member of Waverly Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery he was a member of St. Andrew's Chapter and Boston Commandery, both of Boston. He is a 32d degree Mason.
At the laying of the corner-stone of the present Masonic Temple in Boston in 1864, Capt. Hurd was Assistant Marshal to Chief of Division Richard Briggs, and owing to his military experience was given charge of forming the division. At the dedication of the Temple in 1867 he was Chief Marshal of the Sixth Division.
He is Vice President for New England of the National Association of Vet- erans of the Mexican War, and Vice President of the First Regiment of Massachusetts Veterans of the Mexican war.
Captain Hurd is in full possession of all his faculties, and is as active and bright as many a man of fifty years of age.
He resides, with his wife and two sons, on Main street.
B. F. RICHARDSON.
Benjamin Franklin Richardson, one of the oldest residents of Stoneham, was born in Woburn, Mass., April 1, 1807, and is the son of Jesse and Susanna (Richardson) Richardson.
His early schooling was obtained in the schools of Woburn, until he was
202
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
nine years of age, when he removed to Hudson, N. H., where he attended school until fifteen years of age.
He then went to Medford, Mass., and learned the trade of a wheelwright and carriage-maker of Jesse Crosby, for whom he worked until he was nearly twenty-one years of age.
B. F. RICHARDSON.
In 1827 he came to Stoneham and started in business for himself in the shop now occupied by W. Ward Child, this building at that time standing on the spot that is now the head of Montvale avenue. When that street was built, about 1832, Mr. Richardson divided the building and moved a portion of it across Main street, and the other portion was sold and moved a short distance towards Woburn and located beside the new street, and is now a portion of what is called the Leeds house. He continued in business in the portion now occupied by Mr. Child most of the time until 1871, when he sold out to Mr. Child and retired.
During that period he went to California twice, in the time of the gold fever, first in 1849 and again in 1851, remaining there one and a half years and one year respectively.
203
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Richardson has been twice married, first to Miss Sally Green, daugh- ter of Captain Josiah Green, of Stoneham, on April 19, 1830, and second to Mrs. Mary W., widow of Samuel Cloon, of Stoneham, June 1, 1876. Both weddings took place in this town. By his first wife, who died January I, 1876, he had four children, one of whom, John, is now living in the next house north of his father's. He has had no children by his second wife.
Mr. Richardson built the house on Main street, just north of the shop where he did business for so many years, in 1831, and has lived there ever since. It has undergone little change, the front portion being about the same, an addition of one room being made on the north side and a new por- tion being added to the rear of the house.
Mr. Richardson formerly attended the Universalist Church.
He has enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen and was for many years honored with public office, being first elected a Selectman in 1836, and at different times from that year until 1875, the length of his service aggregat- ing eighteen years.
In his early years he was an active and leading member of the Fire De- partment, being foreman of the first engine company, the old Phoenix, during all of the fifteen years that engine was in commission. Was afterwards a member of the Hook and Ladder Company, and was the first Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, being chosen in 1857.
In 1837 he was chosen Representative to the General Court, serving one term.
For quite a number of years he was an Assessor and an Overseer of the Poor.
When he first came to Stoneham there were only between 600 and 700 inhabitants in the town.
He has been a citizen of this town the longest of any living person except John Wheeler, William G. Fuller being third in order.
Mr. Richardson's faculties are in good condition for one of his great age, his hearing and eyesight being excellent and his memory quite clear. For three years past he has been disabled by weakness of the limbs and lame- ness with which he was attacked suddenly and unaccountably, but otherwise his general health seems to be good.
He is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., having been through the chair and become a member of the Grand Lodge. He joined this lodge in 1844. He is also a member of Columbian Encampment, I. O. O. F.
ALBERT W. TENNEY.
Albert William Tenney, Dentist, was born in Sandown, N. H., June 25, 1829, and is the son of William and Emma (Chase) Tenney.
When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Maine and was educated in the common schools and the academy at Monson, Me.
204
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Following this he was engaged with his father in carriage making in Mon- son until twenty-one years of age, and worked at the same trade for three years afterwards in Union, Me. For a few years he was engaged in organ manufacturing in Randolph, Vermont.
He began the study of dentistry with Dr. J. K. Lincoln, Augusta, Me., in 1855, and in 1858 opened an office for himself in Thomaston, Me., where he practiced till 1862.
In August of that year he entered the army in Company I, Twentieth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and in 1863 was transferred to the Regular Army as Hospital Steward on the General Medical Staff. He was discharged in October, 1865.
ALBERT W. 1 . TENNEY.
Mr. Tenney became a resident of Stoneham in 1867 and has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in this town ever since. His office is in Chase's Block, Main street.
He was married September 10, 1860, at Union, Me., to Miss Annie E. Robbins, of Union, and two children, Fannie Boutelle and Albert Edward, have been born to them. The son is living but the daughter died in 1864.
205
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Tenney is a prominent member of the Congregational Church, of this town, of which he was elected a deacon in 1873 and of which office he is at present an incumbent.
He is also a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society, of the New England Dental Society, and of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., of Stone- ham.
W. A. BARTLETT.
Wilson Augustus Bartlett, the present Postmaster of Stoneham, was born of good old New Hampshire stock, being the son of Hial and Samantha (Gilman) Bartlett. Both his grandfathers fought in the battle of Bunker
1
W. A. BARTLETT.
Hill. His mother is still living at the age of 74 years, and is the only sur- viving member of a family of twenty-one children, of whom she was the youngest.
Mr. Bartlett was born in Lowell, Mass., March 27, 1839, but most of his early life was passed in Manchester, N. H., where he attended school, being obliged to leave the High School before finishing the course and go to work, on account of the death of his father.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 10th N. H. Vol. Infantry, under Col.
-
206
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
M. T. Donahoe. During the first of his service he was detailed as a mounted orderly and was private orderly to Gen. G. W. Getty for two years. He re- turned to his regiment in the winter of 1864 and served with it until after the capture of Richmond, being in most of the engagements of the armies of the Potomac and James. After the capture of Richmond he was on detached service in that city in the medical department. He was mustered out at the close of the war, in June, 1865, and returned to Manchester.
Mr. Bartlett was married in Manchester, N. H., June 15, 1861, to Miss Nancy Bartlett, a native of Littleton, N. H., and six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, have blessed their wedded life. Their names are Stella S., wife of William H. Weed, Herman H., William G., Annie L., Albert O. and Ernest M.
Mr. Bartlett came to Stoneham in 1869 and was employed as clerk by the grocery firm of Ford & Hovey. He continued as a clerk with this firm and others until 1883, when he accepted the position of book-keeper for H. C. Carbee, coal dealer, and remained with him until last March.
Mr. Bartlett was nominated for the office of Postmaster of Stoneham at a caucus of Republicans of the town held in the Town Hall in February, and was soon after appointed by President Harrison, his commission being dated February 27, 1891. He took possession of the office April I.
He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., having been one of the earli- est members of Lewis Bell Post 3, of Manchester, N. H., and is at present Junior Vice Commander of J. P. Gould Post 75, of this town, being in his second term. He was Quartermaster for five years, and has also been hon- ered with various other offices in this Post. He is also Recording Secretary of Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows. He is an attendant at the Congregational Church.
WILLIAM F. GORDON.
William Francis Gordon, now the oldest apothecary in Stoneham, was born in Boston, Dec. 3, 1838, and is the son of Charles P. and Sarah S. (Searles) Gordon. He was educated in the Boston schools. Just before he was sixteen years of age he went into the employ of Brewer, Stevens & Cush- ing, wholesale druggists, doing business where the Boston Globe building now stands. Here he became familiar with the business which he has fol- lowed ever since. For a year or two he was in the retail drug business in Brookline, which he sold out to accept a position with the wholesale firm of H. H. Hay & Co., in Portland, Maine. This firm is still in existence. Mr. Gordon remained in Portland for six years, or until after the great fire in that city, when he returned to Boston and was employed as foreman for Rust Brothers & Bird, Hanover Street. He remained with that firm until March 1, 1871, when he came to Stoneham and established in the retail drug
207
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
business and has continued to the present time. He has a large patronage, including many of the best people of the town.
In 1863, May 6, he was married in Melrose, Mass., to Miss Mary Cather- ine Richardson, a native of Great Falls, N. H. Two daughters have been born to them, viz: Mary Emma and Sarah Gertrude, both of whom are now living in Stoneham, the elder being the wife of Charles B. Clifton. Mr. Gordon is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., Columbian Encamp- ment, I. O. O. F., Canton Fells, I. O. O. F., Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., Fells Lodge, A. O. U. W., and Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows, of which he is financial secretary. He occupied the High Priest's chair of Columbian Encampment for two terms, and is a member of the Grand Encampment.
ONSLOW GILMORE.
Hon. Onslow Gilmore, one of Stoneham's most prominent and esteemed citizens, and a leading financial man, was born in Bedford, N. H., March 8, 1832, his parents being Isaac and Susan (Sprague) Gilmore.
He lived on a farm and attended the district school of that place until fifteen years of age, when he removed to Medford, Mass., where he attended the High School for a year.
He then served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of a mason in Manchester, N. H., and in 1850 came to Stoneham.
Here he did a successful business as a mason and builder until 1872, when he retired, and in 1873 was chosen Treasurer of the Stoneham Five Cents Savings Bank, which position he has since held. He has also done an in- surance business in connection with his position, and is a Director and Treasurer of the E. L. Patch Co.
He has served as Town Treasurer since 1876 and was a member of the House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877, serving on the Finance and other committees. He was a member of the State Senate in 1883 and 1884, being Chairman of the Committee on Public Charitable Institutions during the celebrated hearing on the Tewksbury Almshouse which was conducted by General B. F. Butler, then Governor of the State. He was also on the Senate Committee on Banking and Treasury.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.