USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > Reflections on Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A > Part 45
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6. Mary Morse, daughter of Russell and Betsey (Waite) Morse, was born May 6, 1824. She married, 1st, Benjamin Bacheller Bartlett, May 23, 1843. He died June 5, 1852. They had 2 children:
(1.) Cora Vinette Bartlett, born March 15, 1845.
(2.) Hubert Carlton Bartlett, born Feb. 20, 1848.
Mary (Morse) Bartlett married, 2nd, David Peabody Foster, Nov. 15, 1859. He had been her nearest neighbor, owning the place adjoining her home, for many years; but her place being the most desirable, it was arranged that they should occupy it, and it was the home of both during the remainder of their long lives. David Peabody Foster died April 5, 1903, and Mary (Morse) Bartlett-Foster died May 17, 1907. They had 2 children:
(1.) Mary Emma Foster, born Nov. 11, 1863; died March 18, 1890.
(2.) Dellie Peabody Foster, born April 15, 1868.
The house represented in the picture is located at the position indicated at 13N on our map of Royalston Center Village. It was built by Ebenezer Cheney, and bought by Benjamin Bacheller Bartlett in the spring of 1848, and was his home for the remainder of his life, and that of his wife, Mary (Morse) Bartlett, both until and after her marriage to David P. Foster, and until her death, in 1907. Mr.
THE BARTLETT-FOSTER PLACE.
Foster built the larger barn shown in the picture, which was taken in 1873; and otherwise, allowing for the constantly increasing growth of the trees, the picture shows the place substantially as it appeared at any time within 60 years after it was built. The place was sold to Colin Mackenzie about 1908, and he made im- provements and changes which have quite materially altered its appearance.
7. Emeline Morse, youngest daughter of Russell and Betsey (Waite) Morse, was born in Royalston, Feb. 17, 1827. She married Josiah Wilder, Sept. 19, 1854. Josiah Wilder's mother, whose maiden name was Sally Grant, was thrice married; 1st, to Nathaniel Walker, in 1807; he died in 1813; she married, 2nd, Capt. Benja- min Wilder, of Winchendon, in 1825; he was the father of Josiah; she married, 3rd, Stephen Richardson, of Royalston, in 1845. Josiah Wilder's early life was probably passed in Winchendon; but it is reasonable to suppose that after his mother mar- ried Mr. Richardson, Josiah was sometimes at her home in Royalston, and there met the lady who became his wife. In the vicinity of 1850 he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he became an extensive dealer in agricultural implements, seeds and supplies. Ohio at that time was considered quite far west, and no doubt that from Cincinnati he sent out machines and materials to the enormous developing new country beyond, which, in size and quantity, would have seemed immense to the rock-bound New England agriculturist.
Josiah Wilder died July 11, 1888; his wife, Emeline (Morse) Wilder, died Feb. 17, 1907, on her 80th birthday. They had 8 children:
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(1.) Florence Louise Wilder, born Feb. 4, 1857; married Julius Friedeborn, in 1878; they had 1 child.
(2.) Ida Belle Wilder, born Feb. 13, 1859; married Samuel M. Goodman, in 1883; they had 3 children.
(3.) William Hamlin Wilder, born Dec. 16, 1861; he became a physician, and resided in Chicago; he married, 1st, Ella Taylor, in 1884; she died in 1899; they had 1 child; he married, 2nd, Carrie Rothschild, in 1907; they had 2 children.
(4.) Nettie Wilder, born Nov. 8, 1863; married Howard Carey, in 1887.
(5.) Nellie Wilder, born Nov. 8, 1863; married Lonsdale Green, in 1887; they had 3.children.
(6.) Carrie Chase Wilder, born July 4, 1866; married Albert Edward Brooks, in 1890; they had 4 children.
(7.) Emma Waite Wilder, born July 1, 1869.
(8.) Mary Elizabeth Wilder, born June 23, 1871; died in 1874.
Samuel Morse, a brother of Russell Morse, who was born in 1788, occupied the second place north of the one occupied by Russell Morse, which had previously been occupied by Dea. John Bacheller. Samuel Morse married Betsey Perry, who was born in 1794; he died in 1872, and she died in 1883. They had 3 children:
1. Samuel Morse, Jr., born in 1816; he married Eliza Ann Wheeler, in 1842; they had a son, Elliot LaRue Morse, born in 1844, and died in infancy.
2. Lucy Morse, born in the vicinity of 1820; she married John Cheney, of Athol, in 1843.
3. Elvira Morse, born in 1823; she married William H. Emerson, in 1847; he died in 1866; she died in 1906. They had 2 children:
(1.) Frederick Eugene Emerson, born in 1848; he died in 1863.
(2.) Flora Emerson, born in 1853; she married Thomas Peckham, who died a few years after their marriage; she died in March, 1923. By her last will and tes- tament she left a legacy of $1500 to the First Congregational Church (page 213).
The female members of this Emerson family were twice called upon to suffer by tragic events. For several years 3 Daniels children, from Boston, who had been left motherless, were entertained at the home of Col. Whitney, where Mrs. Whitney cared for them as she did for her own children. One day in 1863, Fred Daniels, the youngest of the trio, went up to visit Fred Emerson, and the two Freds went into the woods, carrying a pistol. Fred Daniels returned to his home without doing anything to excite apprehension; but when Fred Emerson failed to return to his home, Fred Daniels was called to account, and admitted that Fred Emerson had been accidentally shot, and directed the way to where the dead body was found. William H. Emerson had become a victim of strong drink. One night in 1866 he failed to return to his home; an alarm was sounded and an extensive search was made, and a reward was offered, but no trace of him was found that season. The following summer, George S. Chadwick, who lived on what has be- come known as the beryl hill place, while driving up his cattle in his pasture, found the remains of Mr. Emerson; a pistol nearby and a bullet hole in the head told the shocking story of the ending of his career. Mrs. Emerson and her daughter kept up bravely under the double affliction; with the help of Thomas Peckham, who married Flora, they kept up their farm at the north part of the town; after his death they made their home in Worcester.
James Morse, another brother of Russell Morse, probably resided in Royalston for a time, as the Royalston records show that he married Lucinda Dike, of West- minster, in May, 1817, and that they had a son, Farwell Morse, born in May, 1818. They removed to Westminster. Many of the relatives of Russell Morse, and of his wife, resided in Westminster, and in Gardner, Hubbardston and Princeton.
DAVID P. FOSTER.
David Peabody Foster was born in Temple, N. H., in 1815. He came to Roy- alston about 1834. He was employed in a furniture manufactory at South Royals- ton for several years, after which he removed to the Center, where he continued- in the furniture work at the shop built and operated by the Sawyers and after- wards by the Holmans. In the intervals, when from lack of water for power in
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the dry seasons or for other reasons, work was suspended in the shop, there was a ready demand for his services at carpentering and farm work, as he was always willing to give a full allowance of labor, applied with intelligence and good judg- ment. After the furniture business was permanently closed, he bought a part of what had previously been the Holman and afterwards the Pierce place, and gave his attention to farming and dairying, until his strength failed. He built the house at the location 9N on our map of the Center Village, and that was his home until 1859, when he removed to 13N, as mentioned on page 308, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He never sought public office, but served as Overseer of the Poor for several years. Early connecting himself with the First Congrega- tional Church, he remained a consistent member and supporter throughout his life. He married, 1st, Nancy P. Tenney, in 1842; she died in 1846; he married, 2nd, Re- becca M. Walker, in 1847; she died early in 1859; he had no children by either mar- riage; he married, 3rd, Mrs. Mary (Morse) Bartlett, Nov. 15, 1859, as mentioned on page 308. He died April 5, 1903; she died May 17, 1907; they had 2 children: (1.) Mary Emma Foster, born Nov. 11, 1863; died March 18, 1890.
(3.) Dellie Peabody Foster, born April 15, 1868; she married Frank B. Doane, Feb. 15, 1893; they had 5 children: Ruth A., Marguerite V., Helen E., Gladys M., and Reginald F. Doane.
HON. FRED WILDER CROSS.
Hon. Fred Wilder Cross is one of the sons of Royalston whose career has been somewhat remarkable. He was born in South Royalston, Sept. 15, 1868, the son of Wilder and Rosanna A. (Knight) Cross. His father was a mechanic, and a musi- cian of note, and was leader of the South Royalston Brass Band for several years. His mother, born in 1832, at the time of this printing, in 1927, has passed her 95th birthday, and has retained remarkably good health for a person of her age.
Fred Wilder Cross, after acquiring such education as the local schools could impart, was for several years in the employ of the Whitney Woolen Company and the Fitchburg Railroad Company. In 1893, when he was 25 years of age, he en- tered Cushing Academy, from which he graduated in 1896. In the fall of 1896 he entered Williams College, and graduated with high honors in 1900; during this col- lege course he won 8 prizes, aggregating $350, for his work in oratory, and he was very prominent in the college societies.
Following his graduation from college he was for a year instructor in Latin and history at Black Hall, Conn., and for 5 years principal of the high school at Palmer, Mass., during 3 years of which he was president of the Palmer Historical Society. It is probable that he might have gone on to higher positions had not his desire to remain near his aged mother restricted his field of endeavor. He returned to Royalston, where he served on the School Committee in 1907 and 1908; he was principal of the Templeton high school for the school year 1909-10, and principal of the South Royalston schools from 1910 to 1913. In connection with this school work he managed a farm; and, holding commissions as Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, he became the "village squire," and transacted a large amount of business in connection with the conveying of titles to real estate, probate court and pension work. And he also found time to deliver many public addresses.
William McKinley was President of the United States and Theodore Roosevelt Vice-President in 1901; by the death of Mckinley that year Roosevelt was made President. He was elected President for a full 4-years term in 1904. William H. Taft was elected for the next 4-year term in 1908. All were Republicans. At the Republican national convention in 1912 Taft and Roosevelt were rival aspirants, with the result that Taft was made the Republican nominee for President. The disappointed Roosevelt supporters organized under the name of the Progressive party, and placed Roosevelt in full legal nomination, with the inevitable result that Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic candidate, was elected President in 1912.
In 1913 Fred W. Cross became the candidate of this new Progressive party for Representative to the General Court or Legislature for the 1st Worcester County Representative District, consisting then of the towns of Athol, Royalston, Phillips- ton, Petersham and Dana; he was elected. In 1914 he was again the Progressive candidate for the same position, and although he was opposed by an Athol candi-
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date who had the endorsement of both the Republican and Democratic parties, Mr. Cross was again elected. In 1915, the Progressive movement having lost most of its energy, Mr. Cross became the Republican candidate for the same position, and was elected for the third consecutive term; his terms of service were in the years 1914, 1915 and 1916.
Royalston elected its first Representative to the General Court in 1776, and the next in 1780, and after that it became the custom to send one Representative regularly each year, although sometimes there was an omission for one or more years, and in several years two were sent. This plan was in operation until 1857. In 1858 the district system was adopted, under which Royalston and Athol were combined in a district, with the right to send one Representative; later the towns of Phillipston, Petersham and Dana were added to the district, bringing it up to the constituency of Mr. Cross during his campaigns.
From the record in the Memorial it appears that Royalston furnished 67 years of Representative service during the 82 years, 1776-1857. Under the district sys- tem, Royalston has furnished but 15 years of Representative service during the 70 years from the introduction of the district system in 1858 down to 1927. This has come about through the constantly increasing population in other places; for while there is no legal barrier to the choice of a Representative from any part of a district, it is but fair that population should be taken into account, and perhaps on that basis Royalston has furnished its full share of the Representatives.
By a new apportionment which went into effect about 1916, Royalston was taken away from Athol and other towns with which it had been associated, and placed with Gardner, Winchendon, Templeton, Hubbardston, Dudley and Rutland, forming the 2nd Worcester County Representative District, entitled to two Repre- sentatives. As the aggregate population of the city of Gardner and the towns in this district is at least 40 times as large as that of Royalston, Royalston's oppor- tunity to furnish Representatives will not come very often, if based on relative population.
In the political campaign season of 1916 Mr. Cross announced that he would enter the contest for the Republican nomination as candidate for the position of State Senator from the 3rd Worcester County Senatorial District. Some of the people who had followed his career in the Representative field questioned whether he would be as successful in the Senatorial venture. The Senatorial district was several times larger, both in territory and population, than the Representative, and included the cities of Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner, and several promi- nent towns; would not the big political and business interests, which dominate the affairs of those places, insist that a person from one of the more prominent places be given the position? But Mr. Cross made his campaign; it might have been called a quiet one, when compared with the customary ostentatious performance. Apparently he did not need the impressive "backing," for he secured the nomina- tion, and he was elected Senator by a large majority.
In his positions at the state house Mr. Cross served on important committees, and was conspicuous for his direct and forceful manner in debate, without using more time than necessary in making his points. He was repeatedly commendcd by his compeers and the metropolitan and local press for his good sense, independ- ence and non-partizanship.
Although Mr. Cross was not born until several years after the termination of the Civil War, he has always taken a remarkable interest in its history and in everything pertaining to it. He has made many trips to the states involved for the purpose of studying the old battlefields, and as a result of his researches and studies, he has become a most accomplished and attractive patriotic orator, with demands for his services, for Memorial day exercises and numerous other occa- sions, which may outnumber his ability to meet. It was because of his facility in these matters that he was selected to compile the military history of his native town for publication in the official history, and no one could have done the work better than he did it. It was through his efforts that a monumental memorial to 42 young men whose homes were in or near South Royalston, who served in the Civil War, was erected in Riverside Cemetery, and another one to 8 boys who at- tended school at the old schoolhouse on the hill, and afterwards died for their country in the Civil War; this one was placed in front of the old schoolhouse.
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With so much of qualification for the position, it was fitting that Mr. Cross should receive from Gov. McCall, in 1918, appointment as Chief of the Military Archives Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and he has adminis- tered the duties of his office in a way to bring commendation from officials and those requiring the information compiled by his division.
Mr. Cross was a much appreciated speaker at Royalston old home day occa- sions and school reunions, and at the dedication of the Phinehas S. Newton Library Building; and he delivered the historical address at the Sesqui-Centennial Celebra- tion in 1915. He was a member of the committee in charge of the publication of a history of Royalston, which was put into the hands of Lilley B. Caswell.
He married Ida May Kimball, daughter of Rev. Henry S. Kimball, in 1901. They have two daughters:
1. Bertha May Cross, born Oct. 19, 1902; a student at Boston University, she follows her father's trend for oratory; she has given several Memorial Day ad- dresses, and in other ways shown proficiency in entertaining audiences.
2. Dorothy Kimball Cross, born Oct. 26, 1906; student at Radcliffe College, Cambridge; another one from whom much may be expected. .
LEVVENS G. FORBES.
Levvens G. Forbes was born in Meriden, Conn., June 4, 1870. Deprived of his father by death in his early childhood, he found a home in Royalston before he was 8 years of age. He became an important factor in the affairs of the town. He was elected Moderator or presiding officer of town meetings in 1900, and was re-elected to the position every year until he removed from the town, in 1919. He served as Assessor in 1907 and 1908, and from 1911 until his removal. He was elected Selectman in 1914, but declined to serve. He served as Trustee of the Phinehas S. Newton Public Library from 1912 until his removal. He served as chairman of the Newton Library Building Committee, and as treasurer of the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration Committee. He was for several years Superin- tendent of Improved Highways, and also served as Special Police, Forest Warden, Sealer of Weights and Measures, and on various minor committees. He was also engaged in lumbering, with portable mills. He was one of the charter members of Royalston Grange, in which he held various offices; and he conducted an insur- ance agency for many years. In 1919 he removed to Athol, where he served as Superintendent of Streets for several years, after which he resumed mill opera- tions. He married Cora E. Howe, Oct. 1, 1895; they have two daughters: Mildred L. Forbes, born in 1900, and Dorothy Forbes, born in 1907.
THE HOLDENS.
It appears from the records that the Holden family in Royalston originated in connection with the old Chamberlain family. John. Chamberlain, a descendant of Simeon Chamberlain, Royalston's early schoolmaster (page 98), married for his 3rd wife a Widow Sarah Holden, of Templeton, in 1828; and this Widow Holden had a son, John Holden, who married Hannah Chamberlain, daughter of this John Chamberlain, in 1829. The Chamberlains had settled near the foot of what is known as the Jacobs hill, and the Holdens succeded to the place. Jonathan Holden, who was either a brother or a son of John, became its proprietor.
Emory A. Holden, the youngest of several children of Jonathan and Olive (Wood) Holden, was born about 1855. He graduated at Wilbraham Academy, and followed his father at the old farm. About 1904 he bought the Woodbury place, on the road from the Center towards Athol, and resided there the remainder of his life. The houses on the place were destroyed by fire about 1910; Mr. Holden par- tially rebuilt. He married Carrie Gerry; he died March 4, 1923. They had 3 daughters: Helen Holden, who married Albert Oliff; Mae Holden, who married . Sidney W. Wheeler, a grandson of Joseph T. Nichols; Olive Holden, who married Frederick Nelson; and 3 sons: Frank, Alfred J., and George H. Holden.
Another Holden family, probably not related to the one mentioned above, has had a part in the affairs of Royalston. Lincoln J. Holden was born in Fitchburg, in 1861. He attended Phillips Academy, at Andover, and Oberlin College, in Ohio.
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While residing in Athol, in 1900, he married Luella J. Slate. He purchased a farm in Royalston, about 1911, and became a respected citizen. In the vicinity of 1922 he bought the place on the hill northeasterly from the Center, known as the Jonas Pierce place, and later owned by Barnet Bullock, and by others; he resided there until his death, April 29, 1924. He and his wife had a son, Lincoln J. Holden, Jr., who with his mother retained the farm on the hill. He became a very active mem- ber of the Grange and held prominent offices in it. He married Lavonia Eaton, of Lexington, June 24, 1925; a daughter was born to them, April 28, 1926.
Edward M. Holden was a resident of Royalston for a few years. He married Nellie G. (Wheeler) Farrar, widow of Walter Nelson Farrar, about 1920, and made his home with her at the Farrar place at South Royalston, where he died, in 1924. (See page 289.)
THE BARTLETT FAMILY.
The first settler of the name of Bartlett in Royalston, was Nathan Bartlett, who, in 1792, located an a place about half way between the Center and South Royalston, near the old schoolhouse position as indicated on Square 41 on our map. Nathan Bartlett was born at Brookfield, in 1744, and married Esther Childs, of Brookfield, in 1770; they had 9 children; she died in 1809; he married, 2nd, Mrs. Anna Collins, in 1813; she died in 1817, and he died in 1821.
Nathan and Esther (Childs) Bartlett had 9 children, 8 of whom were born in Brookfield, and the 9th was born in Royalston; all of them lived to maturity, and all were married, while most of them had families of children, in some cases quite large families. But some of them removed, and others "passed on," and it seems probable that since 1840, and perhaps farther back than that, the only descend- ants of this large family resident in Royalston have been those of a single branch, included in the following elaboration.
Jonas Bartlett, 2nd child of Nathan and Esther (Childs) Bartlett, was born at Brookfield, Jan. 2, 1773; he succeeded his father at the home farm, and remained there throughout his life; he died June 28, 1837. He married Hannah Bacheller, daughter of Dea. John and Margaret (Swain) Bacheller, April 25, 1797. She was born Nov. 16, 1777, and died Oct. 19, 1868, aged 90 years, 11 months and 3 days; having outlived all of her large family of children except her youngest son.
Jonas and Hannah (Bacheller) Bartlett had 10 children, all born in Royalston:
1. Luke Swain Bartlett, born May 14, 1798; died Nov. 15, 1819.
2. Hannah Bartlett, born Nov. 18, 1799; died April 29, 1838.
3. Rosilla Bartlett, born Nov. 25, 1801; she married Harvey Holman, in 1826; he and she both died in 1833; they had 3 children, details relating to whom will be found on page 239, under the Holman Family, and need not be repeated here.
4. Lorinda Bartlett, born Aug. 15, 1803; she married Archibald Chase, Jr., in 1825; she died in 1838; they had 5 children, details relating to whom will be found on page 260, under the Chase Family, and need not be repeated here.
5. Sally Bartlett, born Aug. 5, 1805; died April 26, 1825. 6. Elmer Bartlett, born April 22, 1808; he married Elizabeth Morse, Aug. 2, 1843; (see pages 306-307;) he was engaged in business in Boston, and died there, Nov. 14, 1851; his widow then resided in Royalston for many years, but spent the latter part of her long life at the home of her son in Cambridge, where she died, Jan. 15, 1905. They had 2 children:
(1.) Emma Greene Bartlett, born Jan. 24, 1848; died at Royalston, Oct. 8, 1865.
(2.) Edward Elmer Bartlett, born Sept. 26, 1850. In his early manhood he went to Boston, where he learned the cabinet maker's trade, and was engaged in that line of work for many years, with Holman, Frye & Co., contractors for bank, office and store fittings, and with the Derby-Kilmer Desk Company. His home was in Cambridge; after a time he secured commissions as Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, and attended to such legal business as came under those offices, and devoted considerable time to assisting his aged and disabled uncle, John N. Bartlett, in distributing his estate.
7. Ollie Bartlett, born Oct. 24, 1809; she married Benjamin W. Upham, April 2, 1839; she died July 31, 1851; they had 3 children. Further details under Upham, on page 315.
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8. Lucy Bartlett, born April 22, 1814; died July 13, 1815.
9. Benjamin Bacheller Bartlett, born April 7, 1816. Brought up on the home farm, he attended the neighborhood school, and probably taught school, and took the managing end of the farm work after the death of his father, in 1837. Later, he was at the Holman grist-mill, the palmleaf shop, and the Sawyer furniture shop, and his old accounts and records furnished a basis for extended remarks relating to those industries, commencing on page 69 of these Reflections. He was for a time connected with the short-lived Universalist Church (pages 122-125), but later was identified with the First Congregational Church, superintendent of its Sabbath school, and a generous financial supporter of both. He died June 5, 1852. He married Mary Morse, May 23, 1843, and they resided in the house located at 13N on our map of Royalston Center Village (see page 308). They had 2 children:
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