USA > Massachusetts > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Massachusetts > Part 39
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 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
(VIII) Francis Bangs Knowles, the youngest child of Simeon (3) and Lucetia (Newton) Knowles, born November 29, 1823, received a common
365
Francis Bangs Knowles
school education in Hardwick, and then attended Leicester Academy. After this he taught school at Dana, Massachusetts, for one term, and later for a short time at Gloversville, New York, when he was nineteen years of age. He then became a traveling salesman for a large glove making concern, and soon became well acquainted with New England and built up a large trade for the company in that section of the United States. When he was twenty- two years of age, on April 1, 1845, he entered the glove making business for himself, later engaging in the clothing business, until 1863, when his brother, Lucius J., persuaded him to join him at Warren, Massachusetts. There Lu- cius J. had started loom works for the production of narrow fabrics, though he had been manufacturing steam pumps in Warren. In 1866 the firm of L. J. Knowles & Brother moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, establishing the works in Allen Court at first. The older brother continued to live in War- ren. In 1890 the firm moved to the building now occupied by their successors, the Crompton & Knowles Company, having been situated between the years 1879 and 1890 at the so-called Junction shops. While the older brother in- terested himself in the improvement of the looms, Francis B. Knowles man- aged the business end of the firm, and the increase in size and prosperity of the establishment was very rapid under his management. The Knowles Loom Works at his death were the largest in the world, and covered some five acres of floor space. A short time before he died the business was placed in the hands of a corporation under the name, the Knowles Loom Works, and later, after his death, it was consolidated with the Crompton Company. Mr. Knowles had a wide reputation as a keen and active business man and as a philanthropist. He gave generously to religious and charitable causes, en- couraged the building of Plymouth and Piedmont churches and gave gener- ous aid towards their erection. He also helped in forming the Piedmont Church, of which he was an original member, a deacon, and superintendent of the Sunday school. He also gave the site for the Pilgrim Church, along with his sister-in-law, Mrs. Helen C. Knowles, as well as giving generously towards that enterprise. Knowles Hall of Rollins College at Winter Park, Florida, shows his interest in the advancement of educational institutions, and to this college he gave money for the endowment of scholarships. He was the third largest giver toward the building of the Young Men's Chris- tion Association, and was a life member of the association. The last check drawn by him was five thousand dollars for the Young Women's Christian Association of Worcester. In politics Mr. Knowles was a Republican and was always a liberal supporter of campaign expenses, but his business took so much of his time that he was unable to serve in any public office. In religion he was a Congregationalist, and for years he conducted the Sunday school institutes through Worcester county. His home life was ideal. The house was a delight to those interested in art and literature. Mrs. L. J. Knowles, who has traveled extensively at home and abroad, has made a fine collection of paintings larger than that owned by some public galleries. Mr. Knowles
366
Francis Bangs Knowles
died May 15, 1890, in Washington, D. C., while on his way home from his winter home at Winter Park, Florida, where he had been trying to gain health. It is a coincidence that both he and his brother, Lucius J. Knowles, died at Washington from the same cause, neuralgia of the heart. The news of his death came from Postmaster-General John Wanamaker, a close per- sonal friend. Impressive funeral ceremonies were held at Piedmont Church, Worcester, and he was buried in Rural Cemetery. Shortly after this, a me- morial volume was issued, containing resolutions issued by various organiza- tions including Piedmont Church and Pilgrim Church; the directors of the Knowles Loom Works; the Central National Bank; and the faculty of Rollins College, Florida; it also contains the funeral addresses of the Rev. Mr. D. O. Mears and Rev. Mr. George H. Gould.
Francis B. Knowles married (first) December 23, 1845, Ann Eliza Poole, of Gloversville, New York, who died February 24, 1865, soon after they moved to Warren. He married (second) April 23, 1867, Hester A. Greene, daugh- ter of John Reynolds and Fanny (Wightman) Greene, of Worcester. Chil- dren of first marriage: I. Eliza Eveline, born January 5, 1848, in Glovers- ville; married, September 2, 1873, C. Henry Hutchins, of Worcester, long identified with the Knowles Loom Works, now president of the corporation; their children are: Arthur Knowles and Helen Mabel; Mrs. Hutchins died February 13, 1898. 2. Frank Poole, born February 1, 1853, in Gloversville; married, October 2, 1879, Alice J., daughter of George Converse and Elea- nor J. (Doane) Bigelow, of Worcester ; children: George Francis; Alice Mar- ion, married, October 15, 1914, Dr. James Carruthers Masson, of Rochester, Minnesota; and Lillian. Children of second marriage: 3. Mabel, married, June 15, 1893, Dr. Homer Gage, of Worcester; child, Homer Gage, Jr. 4. Frances W., married, April 23, 1900, George Eddy Warren, of Boston. 5. Lucius James, married, April 6, 1904, Laura, daughter of John R. McGinley, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; children: Lucius James, Jr., born in London, England; and Sally McGinley.
TEBOAS?
Philip D. Borden
T HE name of Borden came into England from Normandy with William the Conqueror, and appears on the roll of Battle Abbey as Bordoun. In the early records it appears variously as Bourdon, Burdon, Burden, Bourden, Berden, Birdin and Barden. There is now a village called Bourdonnay in Nor- mandy, in the Department of Muerthe, twelve miles northeast of Luneville. Among the distinguished representatives of this name were Amomet Bourdon, a physician of Paris, who published a work on anatomy in 1678. Sebastian Bourdon, born in 1616, at Montpelier, France, was a noted painter, who was driven out of France by religious persecution, and found refuge in Sweden. There was one of the name who was a com- mander at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and the name has been widely spread through England and Scotland. "The Great Roll of Battle Abbey," which contains the names of the principal commanders and companions in arms of William the Conqueror, who fought with him at Hastings 1066, bears the name of Blundel et Burdoun, and from him came the name Burdon, which early was disseminated in England and Scotland. It is found under various forms of spelling, this branch of the American Borden family using the form Borden. The founder in America, Richard Borden, was of the Kent family, which is definitely traced to Henry Borden of the Parish of Hedcorn, in the County of Kent, England, born about the years 1370-80, and was doubt- less a descendant of the Bordens of Borden. In the eighth generation in di- rect line from Henry Borden and his descendants came Matthew Borden, born in Hedcorn, Kent, who was a church warden in 1598, died in the month of Oc- tober, 1620. His wife, Joan, bore him sons and daughters, two of the former coming to America, Richard and John. John Borden, baptized February 22, 1606-07, came to New England in the "Elizabeth and Ann," 1635, with wife Joan, son Matthew, and daughter Elizabeth.
(I) Richard Borden, of the ninth recorded English generation, and the founder of this American line, was born in the Parish of Hedcorn, Kent, England, and there baptized February 22, 1595-96, died at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, May 25, 1671, son of Matthew and Joan Borden. He married in Hedcorn church, September 28, 1625, Joan Fowle, and moved to the neigh- boring parish of Cranbrook, in 1628. In 1637-38 they came to America, set- tling at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where he died in 1671, his wife on July 15, 1688. Richard Borden was a surveyor and acquired large tracts of land in Rhode Island and New Jersey. He was freeman of Portsmouth, March 16, 1641; member of a committee to treat with the Dutch, May 18, 1653; assist- ant, town of Portsmouth, 1653, 1654; commissioner, 1654-56-57; treasurer,
367
368
Philip I. Borden
1654-55; freeman, 1655; and deputy from Portsmouth to the General Assem- bly, 1667, 1670. His nuncupative will was admitted to probate May 31, 1671, by the town council of Portsmouth. Children: 1. Richard, baptized July 9, 1626. 2. Thomas, born October 3, 1627; married Mary Harris. 3. Fran- cis, baptized December 23, 1628, died in Monmouth county, New Jersey, Jan- uary 19, 1705-06; he inherited from his father considerable tracts of land near Shrewsbury, where he settled about 1677; he married, 4th mo., 12th day, 1677, Jane Vickers; children: Richard, Francis, Joyce and Thomas. 4. Mary, married John Cooke. 5. Elizabeth. 6. Matthew, born May, 1638, died July 5, 1708; married Sarah Clayton. 7. John, mentioned below. 8. Joseph, July 3, 1643. 9. Sarah, married Jonathan Holmes. 10. Samuel, May, 1649, died in Monmouth county, New Jersey, in 1716; married Elizabeth Crosse; children: Dinah, Francis, James, John, Joseph, Benjamin. 11. Benjamin, May, 1649, died 1718, in Burlington county, New Jersey. He settled in Middletown, New Jersey, in 1672, and there married Abigail, daughter of James Grover, surveyor and secretary of the Gravesend Land Company; chil- dren : Richard, James, Rebecca, Safety, Amey, Joseph (a citizen of Borden- town, New Jersey), Jonathan, David, Samuel. 12. Amey, married William Richardson.
(II) John, fourth son of Richard and Joan (Fowle) Borden, was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, September, 1640, died there, June 4, 1716. He married, December 25, 1670, Mary Earl, born in Portsmouth, 1655, died there, in 1734. Children: Richard, mentioned below; John, born 1675, married Sarah Earl, of Portsmouth; Annie, May 30, 1678, married Benjamin Chase, of Tiverton, Rhode Island; Joseph, December 3, 1680, married Sarah Brown- ell, of Portsmouth; Thomas, December 13, 1682; Hope, March 3, 1684, mar- ried William Olney, Jr., of Tiverton; William, August 15, 1689, married Alice Hall, of Jamestown, Rhode Island; Benjamin, settled in Virginia; Mary.
(III) Richard (2), eldest child of John and Mary (Earl) Borden, born October 25, 1671, lived on the main road, about a mile from the east shore of Mount Hope Bay, and two and one-half miles south of the city hall in Fall River, his homestead comprisng about two hundred acres of land. At the time of his death, at the age of sixty years, he was the largest landholder in the town, and one of the wealthiest. He married, about 1692, Innocent Wardell, and they had children: Sarah, John, Thomas, Mary, Joseph, Samuel and Re- becca.
(IV) Thomas, second son of Richard (2) and Innocent (Wardell) Bor- den, born December 8, 1697, lived in Tiverton, Rhode Island, where he died in April, 1740. He owned that part of the south side of the Fall River stream which lay below the Great Falls, and adjoining land, down to the salt water, besides other landed estates and outside lands. He married, August 14, 1721, Mary, daughter of Christopher and Meribah Gifford, born October 6, 1695. Children: Richard, mentioned below; Christopher, born October 10. 1726; Deborah; Mary and Rebecca.
ʻ
369
Philip I. Borden
(V) Richard (3), eldest child of Thomas and Meribah (Gifford) Bor- den, was born in 1722, received an estate from his father, which had been the property of his grandfather. Though not a man of high abilities, he foresaw the development in prospect along the water powers of Fall River. During the Revolution a British force burned his sawmill and a large quan- tity of lumber owned by his sons who were operating the mill. Mr. Bor- den was carried away a prisoner, with others, and his dwelling house was burned. He died July 4, 1795. He married, March 12, 1747, Hope Cook. Children: Patience, born August 9, 1747; Thomas, 1750; Richard, mentioned below; Hope; Betsey and Mary.
(VI) Richard (4), second son of Richard (3) and Hope (Cook) Bor- den, was born in 1752, and operated, in association with his elder brother, Thomas, the saw mill owned by his father. He married Patty Bowen, and they had children: Abraham B., born July 8, 1798; Amy, February 1I, 1802, who married (first) William Grinnell and (second) Jeremiah Wilcox; Han- nah, December 5, 1803, married, November 24, 1824, William Cook, died Sep- tember 28, 1891; Richard, December 22, 1805; Rowena, February 8, 1808, died March 14, 1835; Cook, mentioned below; Lodowick, March 14, 1812; Zeph- aniah, July 18, 1814; Andrew, December 28, 1816, died young.
(VII) Cook, third son of Richard (4) and Patty (Bowen) Borden, was born January 18, 1810, in that part of Tiverton which became Fall River, Massachusetts. He was but eighteen years of age when his father died, and early began to sustain himself. For some years he was employed by a lumber firm of Fall River, and upon deciding to engage in business on his own account, sold out his portion of the paternal estate. He engaged in the lumber trade and did a very extensive and profitable business. About 1832 he built a residence in Tiverton, which is now in the city of Fall River. Here he died September 20, 1880. He served as assessor of Tiverton, and rep- resented the town in the Legislature. He married, January 1, 1832, Mary A. Bessey, born August 19, 1810, in Fall River, daughter of Silas and Avis (Borden) Bessey, died October 6, 1894. Children: Mary J., born May 10, 1833, died October 10, 1833; Mary J., September 1, 1834, married, May I, 1853, Dr. James W. Hartley, and lives in Fall River; Theodore W., Au- gust 25, 1836, married, June 10, 1859, Mary L. Davol; Avis A., September 14, 1838, died September 19, 1839; Philip H., mentioned below; Jerome C., October 5, 1843, died May 1, 1844; Jerome C., September 30, 1845, married, June 28, 1870, Emma E. Tetlow, daughter of John and Mary Tetlow.
(VIII) Philip H., second son of Cook and Mary A. (Bessey) Borden, was born June 8, 1841, upon his father's Tiverton estate, and was educated in Fall River and Andover, Massachusetts, attending Philips' Academy in the latter place. His vacation time was employed in assisting his father in busi- ness, and in time he became a partner with his father and brothers, and after the death of the father succeeded to the control of the business, which was conducted by himself and brothers under the name of Cook Borden & Com-
MASS .- 3-24
370
Philip I. Borden
pany, from which the other brothers withdrew, leaving Philip H. Borden to conduct the business alone. Ultimately he sold out the business to his junior brother, and spent some time in travel in his own and European countries. He subsequently engaged independently in the lumber trade, with yards on Rodman street, in Fall River, and thus continued until his retirement a short time before his death, which occurred February 2, 1902, in his sixty-first year. Mr. Borden was among the most public-spirited citizens of his city, and filled a large place in business affairs, as well as those of a social and political nature. For some time he was a director of the Fall River National Bank. He was a member of the First Congregational Church, and a supporter of every undertaking calculated to promote the moral interests of the commu- nity and the general welfare of the race. In 1875, 1878 and 1879 he was a member of the board of aldermen of Fall River, and in 1892 was the Repub- lican nominee for mayor. In the election of that year his party was defeated, and he thus failed of election. He was a very active member of the great brotherhood of Free Masons, affiliating with King Philip Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Fall River Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Godfrey de Bouil- lon Commandery, Knights Templar ; and Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Or- der Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston. He inherited from his father the generous nature and broad sympathies which brought to him the esteem and high regard of his fellows. Many of his kind acts were wholly unknown to the general public. With an artistic temperament and a keen appreciation of the beauties of nature and art, a keen interest in historic topics, he was an honor and ornament to his city. He derived great pleasure from travel and intercourse with the world at large, and was a most delightful companion and conversationalist. He married (first) October 8, 1861, Ruth A. Dennis, of Fall River, who died within a few years. He married (second) June 12, 1883, Mrs. Bethena B. Brown, daughter of Nathaniel and Bethena (Bright- man) Pearce, of Fall River.
Talilliam Maynard
W
ILLIAM MAYNARD, son of Amory Maynard, was born at Marlborough, Massachusetts, May 6, 1833, and died at Worces- ter, Massachusetts, November 9, 1906.
His grandfather, Amory Maynard, was a pioneer manu- facturer in Maynard, took an active part in building dwelling houses there, and was founder of the church. Some idea of his varied and constant activity may be given by the fact that in 1879 he took the first vacation he had had in fifty years, and he kept in business to a ripe old age. He was strong physically as well as intellectu- ally, and he enjoyed his work and responsibilities. For twenty years he lived in a house opposite his mill, removing then to a house on the old Puf- fer place at the foot of Summer Hill, returning three years later to a large mansion erected opposite the mill. In 1862 he removed to Worcester street, Boston, but eight years later returned to the old home where he lived until 1873, when his mansion on the hill was occupied. One of his few recrea- tions was music. He led the choir in the church and played the bass viol and cello with skill. His cello is now in the possession of the family of his son, William Maynard, of Worcester. Owing to his age and failing health he re- tired from business in 1885. His mental faculties gradually failed, though he retained his physical strength and vigor. His death was caused by a fall when ascending the stairs in his house. He previously suffered a stroke of paralysis. He died March 5, 1890. It has been well said of him that his in- fluence was always on the side of religion, temperance and industry. He married, January 26, 1826, Mary Priest, who was born at Marlborough, July, 1805, died at Maynard, January 22, 1886, daughter of Benjamin and Phebe Priest. She was very active in charity and church work and a mem- ber for many years of the Evangelical church of Maynard.
William Maynard was twelve years old when his father went to Assabet. He had only a common school education. For forty years he was associated in business with his father and brother in Maynard and he was active in the management until 1884, when he retired on account of ill health. After spending four years in California, he returned east fully restored in health. From 1888 to the end of his life he made his home in Worcester. He had great skill mechanically and sterling business ability. He devoted his atten- tion faithfully to business and contributed his full share to the success of the great industry that his father established. His later years in Worcester were devoted to his family and the care of his estate, and he lived quietly and peacefully, a kindly, conscientious, upright, honored citizen. He was a mem- ber of the Evangelical (Congregational) church of Maynard and later of
371
372
William Mapnaro
the Plymouth Congregational Church, Worcester. A memorial window was dedicated, May 22, 1916, to his memory in Plymouth Church. Before a large audience and an augmented choir of one hundred and thirty-five voices, Rev. Dr. Robert McDonald conducted the dedicatory service. The window is twenty feet high and eight feet in width and contains 5050 pieces of English antique stained glass. It required the labor of many workmen for months to make the window. It represents the Sermon on the Mount. It was designed by W. G. Ball and W. H. Burnham, artists, to be decorative rather than pic- torial. The coloring is restful and serene and produces an atmosphere of mystery under normal conditions of light, though in strong morning sunlight the colors glow brilliantly with a luminous richness. The whole composition is reminiscent of the masters of the craft of centuries ago, when the win- dows of the great cathedrals were being ennobled by the glories of this dif- ficult art.
Mr. Maynard's passionate love and practical knowledge of both vocal and instrumental music constrained him to take an active and generous in- terest in the maintenance of a high standard of excellence in church music. In a quiet way he contributed greatly to the support of religion and for the extension of the influence and usefulness of the church. He paid for sev- eral sittings in order that students from out of town might feel at home in Plymouth Church and come regularly there to worship. In politics he was a Republican.
He married Mary Adams, who was born May 4, 1831, in New York City, a daughter of James and Janet (Cherry) Adams. Her parents were natives of Paisley, Scotland. She had three brothers, Joseph Adams, John and William, and sisters, Janet Speirs, Elizabeth Burleigh, and Jane Adams, who died in 1914. Her sister, Janet (Adams) Speirs, born September 14, 1823, died aged eighty-four years; her children: Mary E., married Iver John- son, of Fitchburg, and died there October 12, 1915; Mrs. Daniel A. Harring- ton, of Worcester; Mrs. Charles R. Moules, of Somerville; Mrs. Arthur D. Pratt, of Shrewsbury; Dr. Francis W. Speirs, a graduate of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1888, Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins, 1897, and died at Lansdown, Pennsylvania, at the age of thirty-seven years, eight months, twenty-three days, editor of the "Book Lovers Magazine" at the time of his death, left a son Harold. Mrs. Maynard is living at the old home, No. 87 Elm street, Worcester, at eighty-six years of age. Children: I. Mary Susan, born at Maynard, October 15, 1853; married Warren S. Peters, and had four daughters. 2. Amory, born February 28, 1855; was agent of the Assabet Manufacturing Company; still living at Maynard; married (first) August 5, 1880, Ida Adams, who died in September, 1881; (second), July, 1886, Clara S. Mornenburg. 3. Jeanette Cherry, born April 25, 1860; mar- ried Veranus C. Van Etten (deceased) ; her only child died young; she re- sides with her mother in Worcester. 4. Lessie Louise, born June 23, 1868; married Paul B. Morgan, of Worcester. 5. Harlan James, born February
373
William Hapnaro
12, 1870; graduated at the head of his class at the Philadelphia Textile School, receiving the Theodore C. Search gold medal; had charge of the silk department of the John B. Stetson Company, Philadelphia, and is now living at Newton Highlands; married Florence E. Smith; children: Harlan J., Jr., John and William. 6. George Elmer, born December 4, 1873, died October 21, 190I, at the home of his brother, Harlan J., at Oak Lane, Pennsylvania ; graduate of the Textile School of Philadelphia and afterward with the John B. Stetson Company of that city. 7. Grace Ella, twin of George E., resides with her mother at No. 87 Elm street, Worcester.
Ernest Isaac Morgan
T HE late Ernest Isaac Morgan, who was a successful and prom- inent lawyer of Worcester, in which city he resided for more than a decade, attaining high rank among his professional brethren, was a native of West Windsor, Vermont, born Oc- tober 30, 1870, son of Isaac and Adeline (Lamson) Morgan, both of whom died when he was very young.
Probably his orphaned condition gave his nature a more serious turn than it might otherwise have had, but many of the sterling prin- ciples which proved such a strong influence in his later life were due to the care and training which his sister, with whom he lived, gave him through- out his youth. Her unceasing efforts to instill in his young mind the high moral obligations which were his later ideals swayed him in his subsequent re- lationships more than any amount of disinterested care and training could have done. Later in his boyhood he lived with his guardian and others, all of whom tried to the best of their ability to assist in continuing the training which his sister had so ably started, but to none of these did he owe the same debt of gratitude as to her. This varied life and lack of home associations early started a spirit of independence and self-reliance which was of the greatest value in his profession.
In 1879, at the age of nine years, he entered the public school in Wind- sor at the suggestion of his guardian, the Hon. Gilbert A. Davis, and his studies were continued in the high school from which he graduated in 1886, the youngest pupil to have completed the courses prescribed in that institu- tion. His vacations were quite as profitable to him as were his school days in that he was always busy with the many tasks and occupations which com- monly fall to the lot of the country-bred lad. Later he became a student at the University of Vermont, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1891. During the year that he spent with his guardian in Windsor, he had ample time in which to decide upon a career, and almost immediately chose the practice of law. Entering the Boston University Law School, he again made a remarkable record for rapid completion of studies, finishing the three years' course in one year, and this is all the more remark- able when it is noted that he was awarded the highest honors, magna cum laude, and received the prize for the best thesis of the year. For a few months following his admission to the bar of Massachusetts, he was engaged in gen- eral office work in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and then located in Worcester, same State, where he has since continued in active practice. Shortly after- ward he formed a partnership with a boyhood friend from Vermont, Ralph A. Stewart, under the firm name of Morgan & Stewart, having offices in Wor-
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.