USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 26
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 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
DEVENS, CHARLES, son of Charles and Mary (Lithgow) Devens, was born in Charlestown, Middlesex county, April 4, 1820. His father was the grandson of Richard Devens, a revolutionary patriot of great local prominence. His mother was the daughter of Col. Arthur Lithgow, of Augusta, Maine.
Charles Devens was graduated at Har- vard in the class of 1838. Choosing the profession of the law, he pursued his studies in the Harvard law school, and afterward with Hubbard & Watts, of Bos- ton. He was admitted to the bar in 1841. From that year to 1849 he resided first in Northfield and later in Greenfield. In 1848 and '49 he served as member of the state Senate. From 1849 to '53 he was United States marshal for the district of Massachusetts. In 1854 he returned to the practice of law, and settled in the city of Worcester, where he still resides.
On the 19th of April, 1861, Mr. Devens was unanimously elected major of the 3d battalion rifles-three full companies. With this force, Major Devens at once pro- ceeded to Annapolis, Md., and thence to Fort McHenry, remaining in command un- til nearly the close of its three months' term of service. On the 26th of July he was duly qualified as colonel of the 15th regiment Massachusetts volunteers. With this he proceeded to Washington, arriving there the 10th of August. Col. Devens received marching orders on the 25th, and in two days the regiment pitched their tents at Poolesville, Md., under command of General C. P. Stone, in charge of the corps of observation. They were assigned to guard duty on the Potomac.
At the battle of Ball's Bluff Col. Devens won the respect and esteem of the com- mander-in-chief and his brother officers. He received his commission of brigadier- general during the siege of Yorktown, and bade adieu to his regiment, and assumed
command of a brigade in Couch's division, Keyes's 4th army corps. May 31st, in the battle of Fair Oaks, General Devens was wounded, but would not quit the field until night brought a temporary cessation
CHARLES DEVENS.
of hostilities. He was absent from his command but five weeks, during which time he addressed a war meeting in Faneuil Hall, Boston. He resumed his command at Harrison's Landing, the roth of July. At the battle of Antietam his horse was shot under him.
For his gallant conduct while command- ing a brigade at Fredericksburg, he was highly complimented by the general com- manding his division. At Chancellorsville he was seriously wounded while command- ing the Ist division, 11th army corps. In the spring of 1864, he was assigned to the 18th army corps, at the special request of General W. F. Smith, who commanded, and under whom, as a division commander in the corps, he took part in the battle of Cold Harbor. In April, 1865, at the request of General Grant, General Devens was commissioned major-general by brevet, for gallantry and good conduct at the capture of Richmond. At his own repeated re- quest, he was mustered out of service, at Washington, June, 1866, after five years and three months' military service. The
I72
DEWEY.
members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives from Massa- chusetts united in signing a recommenda- tion that he should be retained in the re-organization of the regular army, and though the compliment was a very high one, it was not presented, as General Devens wished to resume the practice of his profession.
He was chosen by the G. A. R. as its national commander, to succeed General Burnside. He has served as commander of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of Massachusetts, as well as of the military societies of the army of the Potomac and of the James, and of the 6th army corps. General Devens was appointed by Governor Bullock, in 1867, one of the judges of the superior court of Massachusetts, and in 1873, by Governor Washburn, one of the judges of the supreme court.
March 10, 1877, he was appointed attor- ney-general of the United States in the cabinet of President Hayes, and on his return to Massachusetts, was re-appointed by Governor Long to the supreme judi- cial bench, which position he still holds.
General Devens is unmarried.
DEWEY, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, son of Charles Augustus and Caroline (Clinton) Dewey, was born December 29, 1830, at Northampton, Hampshire county.
For three years he was a student at Williston Seminary, Easthampton, entered Williams College in 1847, and was graduated in I851.
After studying law one year at Worcester in the office of his brother, Hon. Francis H. Dewey, he continued one year each at the Cambridge law school and in New York. He was then admitted to the New York bar in 1854, where he remained for two years, the latter part of the time as a member of the law firm of Mead, Taft & Dewey. He practiced law two years as partner with General James K. Mills, at Davenport, Iowa, and in 1859 united in partnership with the Hon. Hamilton B. Staples, in Milford.
Mr. Dewey was married in Milford, March 12, 1867, to Marietta N., daughter of Alexander W. and Marietta (Duston) Thayer. Of this union is one child: Maria Thayer Dewey.
Following in the line of his father and grandfather, who had been judges of the supreme judicial court of Massachusetts, Mr. Dewey was appointed trial justice in 1861, and in 1864 judge of the police court of Milford, holding the office until 1872, when he was appointed judge of the third
DEWEY.
district court of southern Worcester, and has continued in that office ever since.
Mr. Dewey has served as a member of the school committee for nearly seven years, and for many years as trustee of the town library, being now chairman of the board.
DEWEY, HENRY SWEETSER, son of Israel Otis and Susan Augusta (Sweetser) Dewey, was born in Hanover, Grafton county, N. H., November 9, 1856. His father was the son of Israel Dewey of Ber- lin, Vt., and his mother was the daughter of General Henry Sweetser of Concord, N. H.
HENRY S. DEWEY.
His father was a merchant in Hanover, N. H., until 1864, when he was appointed additional paymaster of volunteers ; honor- ably mustered out in December, 1865; was appointed paymaster in the regular army in 1867, and served as such till March, 1888, when he was placed on the retired list; he died in Boston in May, 1888.
Mr. Dewey's boyhood and youth were passed in various places in which his father was stationed, principally in the South and West, and he attended schools first in Hanover and later in other places.
He fitted for college in Salt Lake City, and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1878 with the degree of A. B. He
173
DEWEY.
received his A. M. in 1881. In college he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Society.
Soon after graduation he was appointed paymaster's clerk, United States army, and while serving in this office came to Boston in August, 1878, where he has since resided.
In 1880 he resigned his position as pay- master's clerk, studied law in the Boston University law school and in the office of Hon. A. A. Ranney, and received his degree of LL. B. from the law school, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in June, 1882. Since that time he has been engaged in practice of law in Boston.
He was a member of the Ist corps of cadets, Massachusetts volunteer militia, as private, corporal, and sergeant, respectively, from June 11, 1880, to February 26, 1889, when he was commissioned judge-advocate on the staff of the Ist brigade, Massachu- setts volunteer militia, with rank of captain, which position he still holds. He is a mem- ber of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, U. S.
He has been justice of the peace and notary public since 1882; is a member of the Curtis Club of Boston, also of the Rox- bury Club; was a member of the Republi- can ward and city committee of Boston, from 1884 to '88 ; was a member of the Boston common council in 1885, '86 and '87; in 1889 he served as representative from the 21st Suffolk district in the Legis- lature, and was a member of the judiciary committee.
Mr. Dewey is unmarried.
DEWEY, JUSTIN, son of Justin and Melinda (Kelsey) Dewey, was born in Al- ford, Berkshire county, June 12, 1836.
His early educational training was re- ceived in the public schools. Preparing for college matriculation in Great Barring- ton, he entered Williams College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1858.
Choosing the profession of law, he pur- sued his legal reading at the office of In- crease Sumner in Great Barrington, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1860, and began practice of law at Great Barrington. His legal attainments won for him success, and he was soon called to serve the Commonwealth in an official ca- pacity.
In 1862 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and was again called to the same branch of the Legislature in 1877. In 1879 he was a member of the state Senate, serving on the Senate com-
DEXTER.
mittee on probate and chancery, and on the joint special committee on retrench- ment that year.
Mr. Dewey was appointed judge of the superior court of Massachusetts in 1886, by Governor Robinson.
He was married in Great Barrington, February 8, 1865, to Jane, daughter of George and Clara (Wadhams) Stanley. Of this union were three children : Mary, Sarah S., and Margaret Dewey.
His residence is in Springfield.
DEXTER, SOLOMON KING, son of Parker and Betsey (King) Dexter, was born May 23, 1839, at West Topsham, Orange county, Vermont.
His early education was obtained at the common schools of his native town, where he remained, working on the farm, until he became of age.
At his majority, Mr. Dexter left his home and made his first venture in business, clerking in a market in Lowell, in 1860. In 1862 he went into the provision busi- ness under the firm name of Ladd & Dexter. There he remained until after the break- ing out of the civil war, when he engaged
SOLOMON K. DEXTER.
in the sutler's business, supplying the stores needed for the troops at the front.
In 1864 he became cashier of the Bullion Bank, Washington, D. C. A year later he
174
DICKINSON.
removed to Wait's River, Vermont, and opened a general store. After remaining there three years, he returned to Lowell and engaged successively in the provision and grocery business, and in 1873 he started the business which he is at present successfully carrying on, that of wholesale and commission dealer in flour and country produce.
Mr. Dexter was married in Montpelier, Vt., February 24, 1863, to Mary S., daugh- ter of Robert and Mary (Burgin) McCrillis. They have had four children : Nellie May (now Mrs. F. L. Batchelder, Manchester, N. H.), Daisy B., Royal King, and Jennie Dexter,-the latter deceased.
Mr. Dexter's religious affiliations are with the Baptist church, he being a member of the finance committee of the Freewill Baptist church. He has long been a jus- tice of the peace, a member of the High- land Lodge, I. O. O. F., the Improved Order of Red Men, the Lowell Rod and Gun Club, and of the Lowell Co-operative Association. He is a member of the Low- ell board of trade, and also of the Vermont board of trade.
Mr. Dexter's interest in politics has led him to accept a few of the many honors offered to him. He served as a member of the Lowell common council in 1883 and '84. His fellow-citizens recognized his ability and conservative judgment, and prevailed upon him to represent them in the lower branch of the state Legislature in 1886. He served to great acceptance, and was re-elected the following year, serving on the committee on finance, and on the library.
Mr. Dexter is fairly the architect of his own fortune, having nothing when he left the old farm-house but a stout heart, strong and willing hands, and an earnest convic- tion that the world owed him a living. The debt has been faithfully paid, and to- day he stands honorably high among the best known merchants of the city of Lowell.
DICKINSON, JOHN WOODBRIDGE, passed his early years in South Williams- town, Mass. He was the youngest but one of a family of nine children. His father, William Dickinson, was a native of Hadley, and a direct descendant of Nathan- iel Dickinson, one of the first settlers of that town. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Worthington. She was a woman of fine character, and gave to her children a good example of a noble life.
Mr. Dickinson obtained the rudiments of learning in the public schools of Williams- town. At the age of nine years he was
DICKINSON.
put to work on the farm during the sum- mer months, attending school for a few weeks only during the winter.
Having a strong desire for a liberal edu- cation, he passed through his preparatory course of studies at Greylock Institute, South Williamstown, and at Williston Sem- inary, Easthampton, and entered the fresh- man class at Williams College in the au- tumn of 1848. He graduated from that institution in 1852, with the classical hon- ors of his class.
In September of that year he received the appointment of assistant teacher in the state normal school at Westfield, Mass. After serving as first assistant teacher in the school for four years, he was appointed its principal in July, 1856. For twenty- one years he performed the duties of his office with marked ability and success, pre- paring for the service of the State a large number of teachers, well trained in the philosophy and art of teaching, and gain- ing for the Westfield normal school a national reputation.
Mr. Dickinson early became a diligent and successful student of pedagogical science. He was among the first to intro- duce those reforms in methods of teach- ing which have since been working their way into the best schools of the country. He trained his classes in the use of the analytic objective method of study and teaching, in presenting to their own minds or to the minds of others any branch of learning, whether subject or object.
In 1877, on the resignation of the Hon. Joseph . White, Mr. Dickinson was called from the normal school at Westfield to the office of secretary of the Massachusetts board of education. His experience as teacher in the normal school had fitted him to perform the duties of his new office. During his term of service the cause of popular education has made great pro- gress in the Commonwealth. The normal schools have grown strong in public favor; the teachers' institutes have been made to contribute more directly to an improve- ment in methods in teaching ; the final abolition of the school district system has been accomplished ; the children of the Commonwealth have been provided with free text-books; the small towns of the State have been aided in supplying them- selves with well-trained school superintend- ents, and the great ends to be secured by school life have come to be better under- stood.
Mr. Dickinson has published twelve an- nual reports, which hold a high rank
175
DITSON.
DICKINSON.
among educational reports, on account of their pedagogical value. He has exerted a large influence upon the teachers of the country through his public addresses be- fore educational associations, and through his management as principal and instructor of the pedagogical department of the Chau- tauqua University.
Mr. Dickinson was married in Westfield, in March, 1856, to Arexine G., daugh- ter of David and Mary (Bacon) Parsons, North Yarmouth, Maine. Miss Parsons was a graduate of Bradford Female Semi- nary, and a successful teacher. Two chil- dren were added to the family, a son, John Worthington, and a daughter, Susan Allen. The former is a graduate of Harvard Col- lege, and a successful manufacturer. The latter is the companion of her mother in their family home, Newtonville, in the city of Newton.
Mr. Dickinson, now in the prime of life, is laboring with great devotion to promote the interests of popular education, and to keep the public schools of Massachusetts in the front rank of excellence.
DICKINSON, MARQUIS FAYETTE, JR., eldest son of Marquis F. and Hannah (Wil- liams) Dickinson, was born in Amherst, Hampshire county, January 16, 1840.
He received his early education at the common schools of his native town, Am- herst and Monson academies, and Williston Seminary, Easthampton, from which he graduated in the class of 1858. He entered Amherst College in the same year, gradu- ating therefrom in 1862, having one of the three highest of the commencement ap- pointments.
After teaching classics in Williston Semi- nary for three years, 1862-'65, he studied law with Wells & Soule, Springfield, at the Harvard law school, 1866-'67, and with Hon. George S. Hillard, of Boston. He was assistant United States attorney from 1869 to '71. He then became a member of the law firm of Hillard, Hyde & Dickin- son, the style subsequently changing to the present well-known firm of Hyde, Dickin- son & Howe.
Mr. Dickinson was married at Easthamp- ton, November 23, 1864, to Cecilia R., adopted daughter of Samuel and Emily (Graves) Williston. Of his three children only one is living, Charles,-Williston and Florence having deceased. He has an adopted daughter, Jennie Couden Dickin- son, daughter of his deceased sister.
Mr. Dickinson was a member of the com- mon council, Boston, in 1871 and '72, hold- ing the office of president of that body
during the latter year. He was a trustee of the Boston public library in 1871 ; has been a trustee of Williston Seminary since 1872, and one of the overseers of the charity fund of Amherst College since 1877.
MARQUIS F. DICKINSON.
He was a lecturer on law as applied to rural affairs in the Massachusetts Agricul- tural College, 1871-'77, and author of "Legislation on the Hours of Labor " (1871) and " Amherst Centennial Address " (1876).
DITSON, OLIVER, son of Joseph and Lucy (Pierce) Ditson, was born in Boston, October 20, 1811, nearly opposite the resi- dence of Paul Revere. He died December 21, 1888, in the city of his birth, being buried from Trinity church, the Rev. Phillips Brooks officiating. His parents were of Scotch extraction, their ancestors, soon after the landing of the Pilgrims, having been driven from Scotland by religious persecution.
His father was one of a firm of ship owners, and the son knew no hardship till the failure of his father's firm. Graduat- ing with a good record from the North End public school, he found employment in Parker's book and music store. Later on he left this place for a time to learn the printer's trade. This he did with Isaac Butts and afterward with Alfred Mudge.
176
DITSON.
At this time he was the main support of his father and mother. His varied abilities and tenacious attention to business made him indispensable to Colonel Parker, with whom he had resumed work in the old place. Later on he took a single counter in the famous " old corner bookstore." Here was formed the firm of Parker & Ditson, when he was only twenty-one years old. He put his whole force into the business and changed it into a music store. In 1840 he purchased Colonel Parker's interest, and under the name of Oliver Ditson, without the aid of capital or influential friends, the career of this remarkable publisher may be said to have been fairly and successfully launched.
In the meantime he had become an organist, a singer, and an accomplished writer of notes and letters which had a special reputation for their lively tone and brilliancy. He was now a polished gentle- man, the delight of his numerous friends, and everywhere welcomed for his kindly manner.
In 1840 he was married to Catherine, the daughter of Benjamin Delano, a
OLIVER DITSON.
prominent ship owner. She was a lineal descendant of William Bradford, the second governor of the colony of Plymouth. Five children blessed this union : Mrs.
DIXEY.
Burr Porter, Charles H., James Edward (deceased), Frank Oliver (deceased), and a daughter who died in infancy.
The business of this phenomenal pub- lisher went on increasing in volume until he had an annual business of two million dollars. He was a long time the president of the board of music trade, of which he was the founder. No other man in the trade was so widely known or so univer- sally respected. He expended large sums in supporting such artists as gave promise of special distinction.
Mr. Ditson was one who rallied to the support of the Peace Jubilee and made it a brilliant success. He subscribed and paid twenty-five thousand dollars for the Jubilee of 1872, which gave to music in New England a forward impulse it has never lost. He was a life-long patron of the Handel and Haydn Society, and was never absent from its concerts. He was an able financier; twenty-one years presi- dent of the Continental National Bank of Boston; many years trustee of the Frank- lin Savings Bank, which he originated and managed; also a trustee of the Boston Safe Deposit Company; one of the founders of the Old Men's Home, Boston; an active supporter of the New England Conserva- tory of Music ; trustee of the Mechanic Association ; member of the Boston Me- morial Association, and a director of the Bunker Hill Monument Association.
Politically he was a Whig, until the form- ation of the Republican party, after which he acted with that organization. His re- ligious training was with the Baptist denom- ination, but in later years he allied himself with the Unitarians. His whole life was characterized by much breadth in religious matters and liberality toward all denomi- nations. In his long career he had estab- lished a number of branch houses, and placed many a young man of ability where he could win success. Of these are notably conspicuous, the Boston branch house of J. C. Haynes & Co., the Cincinnati house ( John Church ); the New York house (Charles H. Ditson); the Philadelphia house (J. E. Ditson ), and the Chicago house of Lyon & Healy.
DIXEY, HENRY E., was born in Bos- ton, January 6, 1859. While extremely young, his natural aptitude for mimicry led his footsteps by instinct to the door of the stage, and as an exponent of children's parts he became the envy of his youthful associates. While still a mere boy, he at- tached himself to the regular stock com- pany of the Howard Atheneum, and
177
DODGE.
DIXEY.
played everything he could lay hands upon, from a set tree to the hose at fire-drill.
His first marked success was made as " Peanuts" in the old-time favorite melo-
HENRY E. DIXEY.
drama "Under the Gaslight," and his ability in the way of quaint humor was at once acknowledged.
In his leisure hours Mr. Dixey had sedulously cultivated a natural gift of dancing, and tiring of the monotony of a stock company, he determined upon a change. It was at this time that he first came under the observation of Edward E. Rice, who at once recognized the talent of the young man, and determined to give him every opportunity of gaining a wide- spread celebrity.
His first appearance under Mr. Rice's management was inade at the Globe Theatre, Boston, on June 7, 1875, when he appeared in "Evangeline " as one of the two sailors who subsequently illustrate the saltatorial eccentricities of the famous " Heifer " in that extravaganza His suc- cess in this rôle was marked, so much so that he was advanced by rapid strides, until he was entrusted with the principal rôle of the piece, in which he gave un- bounded satisfaction.
From that time until now he has remained under Mr. Rice's management, with the
exception of two years only. During all these years the parts assumed by Mr. Dixey have been varied, but his success has been continuous. He has appeared successively in the following plays : "Cor- sair," " Hiawatha," "Horrors," "Robinson Crusoe," " Babes in the Wood," " Revels," " Cinderella at School," "The Mascot," " Billee Taylor," " Patience," " Pinafore," " The New Evangeline," "The Romany Rye," "Iolanthe," " Pounce & Co.," " The Sorcerer," "The Merry Duchess," " The Duke's Motto," "Lieutenant Helene," " Distinguished Foreigners," "Confusion," and " Adonis." In his recent triumph, as the chaste statue, the graceful gallant, the moody Dane, the independent barber, and a host of other characters in which he pervades " Adonis," he has made the part unapproachable.
His production for the season of 1889 and '90 is " The Seven Ages," a combina- tion of burlesque and character drama. His versatility is remarkable, and his career promises to be notable in the annals of the American stage.
DODGE, NATHAN DANE, son of Nathan Dane and Sarah (Shepard) Dodge, was born in Ipswich, Essex county, April 21, 1840.
His early education was obtained in the district school under many difficulties. Inspired, however, with an earnest desire for intellectual growth, he acquired suffi- cient knowledge to qualify him, at the age of nineteen, to teach school at Ipswich. Continued trouble with his eyes, however, forced him reluctantly to give up the idea of teaching.
At his majority he went to Troy, N. Y., and served as clerk for his brother in a small shoe store. Subsequently he opened a shoe store on his own account in Troy, then went to New York for a few months, selling shoes on the road. January, 1866, he organized with his brother, in the city of Lynn, the firm of N. D. & E. P. Dodge, for the manufacture of boots and shoes, afterwards removing to Newbury- port, where he has since remained alone, under the firm name of Nathan D. Dodge, manufacturing fine shoes and slippers.
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.