USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 18
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EDWARD BAILEY.
Edward Bailey was born in Holden, February 24th, 1814. He was the son of James Bailey, who was born October roth, 1780; in New Jersey, and married Elizabeth Gleason, who was born in 1785, in Marlborough. Their children were :
Elizabeth, born September 28th, 1809; married Charles C. Chaffin, of Walpole, N. H. ; died January 12th, 1842.
Charlotte, born June 21st, 1811; married Rev. Aldin Grout.
Edward, born February 24th, 1814.
John, born March 8th 1817; died May 5th, 1818.
James H., born July 20th, 1820; died at Attleborough, where he was principal of an academy, May 6th, 1856.
Abigail Goodell, born April 19th, 1825; married Joseph H. Gleason.
The father was a small farmer, and the sons were brought up to work on the farm. Edward received a common school
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education, which was supplemented in a small measure by attendance on the yearly "select schools ". He also attended, for parts of two terms, academies at Amherst and Andover, where he gained a little acquaintance with Latin and Greek. Finding that his constitution would not endure the strain of paying his way while securing a liberal education, he consented to become a missionary teacher at the Hawaiian Islands, under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He sailed on the "Mary Frazier", December 14th, 1836, and arrived at the Islands the next April.
He was stationed first for two years in Kohala, on the Island of Hawaii, then for one year at the high school at Lahainaluna, on the Island of Maui, and then at Wailuku, where he remained until he left the Islands in 1888. At Wailuku he had a boys' school for one year, and then took charge of the Female Semi- nary at that place for eight years, or till 1858, when, as the American Board wished to finish up their work at the Islands, he with others consented to a separation from their service. Thereafter they sought as citizens to help forward the work of civilizing and christianizing the people as best they might while seeking a self-support. In this line of life he practiced survey- ing, and was also sugar boiler and planter. Scientific studies also engaged his attention as opportunity allowed. He has now returned to the United States, and for the past four years has made his home at Oakland, Cal.
In December, 1836, he married Caroline, daughter of Jonas and Sally Wheeler Hubbard, who was born August 13th, 1814. They have had five sons, as follows :
Edward Hubbard, born February 28th, 1838. Horatio Bardwell, born December 27th, 1839. William Hervey, born January 24th, 1843. James Clark, born June 4th, 1846.
Charles Aldin, born April 17th, 1850.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
REV. FREDERIC A. BALCOM.
The Rev. Frederic A. Balcom, son of Madison A. and Re- becca F. Cook Balcom, was born in Worcester, January 26th, 1853. He prepared for college at the high school in Grafton, and was graduated from Williams College in 1878, and from Yale Theological Seminary in 1881. He was or- dained at West Hartland, Conn., January 9th, 1882, and has been pastor at West Hartland from May, 1881 to June, 1884 ; at Holden from June, 1884 to September, 1886; teacher at Dow Academy, Franconia, N. H., from September, 1886 to March, 1887 ; pastor at North Leominster from July, 1887 to November, 1889 ; and of the First Congregational Church, Rockland, from November 10th, 1889, to the present time.
ISRAEL MANNING BALL.
Israel Manning Ball is the son of Josiah and Sophia Man- ning Ball, and grandson of Captain Israel Manning, whose name he worthily bears. Captain Manning, who was born in Lan- caster, January 29th, 1756, and died in Holden, January 3d, . 1821, was the second son of John and Prudence Houghton Manning, and a descendant in the sixth generation of Mr. William Manning, one of the founders of Cambridge, who came from an ancient family which in the fourth century emi- grated from Saxony to England. His great-great-grandfather, William Manning, Jr., was a prominent merchant of Cam- bridge, one of the selectmen of that town, a messenger of the church to England to secure a pastor, and by appointment of the General Court one of those designated to collect and dis- burse the monies raised for the first Harvard Hall, and to di- rect its construction. Through his grandmother, Martha Wheelock Houghton, he was descended from Rev. Ralph Wheelock, who was educated at Cambridge, England, and be-
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ISRAEL M. BALL.
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came one of the founders of Medfield. He was one of those who, April 19th, 1775, responded to the Lexington alarm, join- ing the company of his friend, Captain Samuel Sawyer. The service of this company was of short duration, but shortly after it returned to Lancaster, he again enlisted and joined the com- pany of his kinsman, Captain Ephraim Richardson, and had the honor of firing his first gun at the battle of Bunker Hill. How long he remained with this command is unknown, but in April, 1777, he enlisted from Worcester County in the Fif- teenth Massachusetts Continental Line, Colonel Biglow, in which command, first in Captain Hodgkin's company and afterwards in the company of the distinguished Captain Howdin, he served as corporal for three years and participated in the noted battles in which his regiment was engaged. A few weeks before his term of service expired, his father died, which rendered it nec- essary for him on leaving the service to remain at home and as- sist his widowed mother in the care of her family and estate. On January Ist, 1781, he married Mrs. Lydia Richardson Wright, widow of Abel Wright of Sterling. About 1782 he purchased an estate in Holden where he settled and engaged in farming, in which occupation he continued until the close of his life. In 1819 he received a pension from the United
States Government. Captain Manning does not appear to have sought public office, but it is known that he took a deep interest in public affairs, and was recognized as one of the lead- ing citizens, and died at his residence, Manning Hill, now the home of Israel M. Ball, highly respected and deeply mourned. He left surviving him a son, Rev. Abel, and four daughters, Nancy, Pamelia, Polly and Sophia. Abel was graduated from Brown University in 1817, studied Theology with the Rev. Dr. Emmons, of Franklin, was ordained November 7th, 1820, and settled as pastor of the Congregational Church in Ply- mouth, Vt. He was pastor of eleven churches in all, and re- tired from the ministry about thirty years before his death, which occurred at Goffstown, N. H., December 20th, 1879, in the ninety-second year of his age. He left a widow who has since died, but never had issue. Nancy married a Mr. Red-
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ding of Sterling. Pamelia married Mr. Ebenezer Neff. Polly married the Rev. Thomas Marshall, a Baptist clergyman, and Sophia married Mr. Josiah Ball, late of Holden. All the daughters died leaving issue, but none of the families remained in Holden, except that of Mr. Ball.
Mr. Josiah Ball was a representative citizen of Holden, where he lived a useful and honorable life. He was the son of Jotham and Anita Cheney Ball, and was born in Holden, February 11, 1784, and died there November 12th, 1867. His father, Samuel, was a native of Concord and a descendant of John Ball of Wiltshire, England, one of the founders of Con- cord, and believed to be the " Mr. Ball " who came to Massa- chusetts with Governor Winthrop. Mr. Ball had by his wife, Sophia Manning, to whom he was married in 1813, nine chil- dren, as follows :
Josiah, born July 4th, 1814; died October 5th, 1814.
Dr. Jonas, born November 26th, 1815.
Sophia, born January 16th, 1818.
Harriet Wheelock, born January 8th, 1820; died July 29th, 1875.
Dr. Simon, born June 27th, 1822.
Mary Greenwood, born April 15th, 1824.
Israel Manning, born April 3d, 1826.
Melinda Ann, born February 2d, 1828.
Amanda Caroline, born July 12th, 1831.
Mrs. Ball died January 11th, 1837, and he then married Elmira Fales, by whom he had two children :
Jennie, born July 22d, 1839. Dr. J. Warren, born June 28th, 1841.
Israel Manning Ball was born at Holden, April 3d, 1826. His boyhood was spent at the old homestead on Manning Hill, the house having been built by Captain Manning about one hundred years ago. His early life passed as uneventfully as that of most farmers' boys of his day. At the age of six years
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he lost the use of one eye, which was a serious misfortune and great obstacle to him throughout youth and later life.
He received his education at the town schools and at the Nashua Academy, after which he taught school for a number of years with much acceptance in New Hampshire, Massa- chusetts, New Jersey and New York. The loss of his eye proved so serious an impediment to a studious or professional life, that he returned to Holden and purchased one of his father's farms, on which was a brick yard.
In connection with farming he engaged for some years in the manufacture of brick, and in 1860 purchased the up-and- down saw mill, situated on Ball Brook, near its entrance into the Quinapoxet river, and there carried on the lumber business until logs and mill gave out. The mill and dam were erected by Mr. Ball's father about 1810.
Upon his father's death, in 1870, Mr. Ball purchased and removed to Manning Hill, where he and his son, Granville M. Ball, now reside, being among the few to occupy the old estate where parents and grandparents have lived and died.
In 1877 Mr. Ball became associated with his son, Granville M. Ball, under the firm name of I. M. Ball & Son, in the manufacture of brooms, and so continued until 1885, when they entered upon their present business of poultry farming, being among the most extensive farmers in this line in the state.
On account of impaired eyesight he was denied a place in the army during the rebellion. He was chosen a member of the town school committee in 1865, and served in that capacity about sixteen years. He has held the office of justice of the peace for over twenty-eight years, having been first commis- sioned by Governor Andrew in 1864, and since re-commis- sioned by Governors Rice, Claflin, Robinson and Russell, the present term expiring in 1899. He has since early manhood been a member of the Baptist Church and has held prominent positions in the church and Sabbath School. He is a member of the society of Sons of the American Revolution, and has been a life long member of the Republican party.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
He married November 27th, 1850, Mary Dickerman Newton, daughter of Deacon Lemuel Dickerman and Sarah L. Fessenden Newton. They have four children now living :
Ella Danelia, born October 2d, 1851, now the wife of John Hapgood Brooks, Jr., of Worcester.
Granville Manning, born March 2d, 1853, now engaged in business with his father; married Emma C. Raymond of Winchendon, now deceased.
Herbert Eugene, born June 14th, 1855, a prominent banker of Topeka, Kan., and now president of the Investment Company of America; married Willietta Goddard, daughter of Henry Goddard, Esq., of Worcester, a graduate of Wellesley College.
Mary Louisa, born June 19th, 1857, a graduate of Wellesley College, now the wife of Judge Loren L. Morrison of Rockford, Illinois.
Mrs. Ball was one of the first women elected to serve on the town school board, and has been president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union since its organization in Holden. She, like her husband, was in early life a teacher, as have been three of their children. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have both been active in the cause of temperance and education, and were among the first trustees of the Library Association, and have taken a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town, and their hospitable home, " Manning Hill," with its pleasant surroundings and many family gatherings, is a cherished spot in the hearts of kindred and friends who are scattered throughout our land from Maine to California, and from Canada to Central America.
J. WARREN BALL.
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JOSIAH WARREN BALL, D. D. S.
Josiah Warren Ball, son of Josiah and Elmira Fales Ball, was born at Holden, Mass., June 28th, 1841, on what is known as Manning Hill. His early education was limited to that which the town schools then afforded. On the breaking out of the war in 1861, he entered the army, serving first with the three months' men in the Holden Rifles, and afterward in the First and Second Massachusetts Cavalry Regiments. For bravery he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and remained in the service until April, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.
Returning home in the autumn of 1865, he studied dentistry for a time with Dr. Tourtellot, one of the leading dentists of Worcester, after which he went to Marion, Alabama, where he continued his studies for three years in the office of his brother, Dr. Simon Ball. He then returned to Boston and was graduated at the Boston Dental College in 1870, being a member of the first class to complete a course at that institu- tion. He is a member of the leading Dental Societies of the State, and president of the Massachusetts Dental Society. He was for several years instructor in Operative Dentistry at the College from which he was graduated. His practice is exclu- sively high class, and quite extended and lucrative.
Dr. Ball married Miss Elizabeth B. Farrington of Rox- bury, and after her decease, in October, 1879, Miss Edna E. Smith of St. Johns, N. B.
HORATIO BARDWELL, D. D.
Horatio Bardwell, D. D., the third pastor of the Congrega- tional Church in Holden, was born in Belchertown, November 3d, 1778. At the age of nineteen he began to study with his brother-in-law, Rev. William Fisher, with whom he remained until his entering Andover Theological Seminary in 1811. June 2Ist, 1815, he was ordained as a missionary of the Ameri-
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, at New- buryport, in company with Messrs. Richards, Poor, Meigs, Warren and Mills, with whom, excepting Mr. Mills, he sailed for India in the ship "Dryad," October 3rd, 1815.
He joined the mission at Bombay, the first established by the Board, and continued his labors there until the climate had so impaired his health that the only hope of saving his life lay in immediate removal. He then left Bombay and returned to this country, arriving here in 1821, having been absent six years. While in India he had been printer as well as mission- ary. Before retiring from his pastorate in Holden, he enter- tained serious thoughts of returning to India, which he would not relinquish until a council of skilled physicians reported that such a step would seriously endanger his health and life.
After his partial recovery of health, he was settled, October 22d, 1823, at Holden, as colleague pastor of Rev. Mr. Avery, and became sole pastor in the following March in consequence of the death of his venerable associate. During this pastorate, the church and town experienced powerful revivals of religion. The most noteworthy occurred in 1829 and 1830, which began in the " select school," taught by Mr. David T. Lane, a graduate of Amherst College, who had previously been associated with the famous evangelist, Nettleton, and as a result of which Mr. Bardwell received one hundred and fifty to the church. October 24th, 1833, he was dismissed at his own request from his pas- torate in Holden.
Before his formal dismissal from the pastorate, Mr. Bardwell, with the consent of this people, had already entered upon his work among the churches as a representative of the American Board. This work he carried on for three years, traveling widely and preaching with his wonted zeal.
In 1836 he was installed pastor of the church at Oxford, where he continued his labors nearly thirty years, until about two years before his death. He died May 9th, 1865, in conse- quence of injuries received while endeavoring to save his barn, which had accidentally taken fire.
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PERSONAL NOTICES.
He married, in 1815, Miss Rachel Forbush of Andover, who survived him. He also left four sons and one daughter, the last named the wife of the Rev. S. J. Austin, for some years his colleague over the church at Oxford.
In 1841 Dartmouth College conferred on him the honorary degree of Master of Arts, and, in 1857, Amherst College the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
" The key to the entire life and character of Dr. Bardwell is found in his consecration to the work of missions. He pursued his studies just at the period when the churches began to be stirred with a new zeal for extending the kingdom of God amongst the heathen. It was an untried experiment ; and demanded singleness of purpose, firmness of faith and heroic self-denial. In giving himself then to the Lord in an undertak- ing so arduous and perilous, he gave himself without reserve to the service of God for life. Whether in India or in his native land, it was his joy to live for Christ. Honored and beloved as x a missionary, he was not less honored and beloved as a pastor. He gave full proof of the excellence of his spirit in the strength of his affection, his unceasing watchfulness and in his care for the souls of his people. He was regarded by his brethren, and by all who knew him, as a man singularly unselfish, free from self-complacency, always ready to do, and always ready to yield ; never shrinking from service and never obtruding himself ; always courteous, affable and genial ; always a man ; a Christian always."' "1
"He was the author of a most charming life of the Rev. Gordon Hall, one of the early missionaries to India, and it is my sincere wish that some one had performed a similar labor of affection and love for him whose noble life and untiring labors have contributed to shape the destinies of the church of Christ in both India and his native land. Many a young man, not only of Holden but elsewhere, owes to him the first impulse which awakened in his soul a desire to preach the gospel.""
1 From an obituary notice by Seth Sweetser, D. D.
2 From the biographical sketch published in the Massachusetts Spy by S. C. Damon, D. D.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
GEORGE WASHINGTON BASCOM.
George Washington Bascom was born in the town of Gill, Franklin County, January 21st, 1803. He was one of the youngest of a large family of children. His father died in Boston, March 8th, 1814, of typhus fever, while representing his town in the Legislature. He was thus, at the age of eleven years, left dependent on his own efforts. He learned the trade of machinist, and worked as opportunity offered in different parts of the state. He finally located in Holden, where he met and married Harriet Dryden, the youngest daughter of Artemas Dryden of Holden. After living a short time at Drydenville, now Jefferson, they settled on the old Dryden homestead in the south part of the town, where they lived many years with their children.
George, the eldest, was born May 24th, 1832, and is by occupation a carpenter. He enlisted in the army in response to the call for three months' volunteers, and later went as Cap- tain of Company B, Fifty-first Regiment. He married Marietta, eldest daughter of Joab S. Holt, and still lives in Holden. His family numbers three sons and two daughters :
Nellie Maria, born February 16th, 1866 ; a teacher.
William Henry, born August 6th, 1868; an insurance agent. George Edward, born August 27th, 1869. Clara Kimball, born October 12th, 1875. Fre'd Winthrop, born December 19th, 1880.
Artemas Dryden Bascom, the second son, was born August 20th, 1834, and was also among the first to respond to his country's call for volunteers. He is a blacksmith by occupation. He married Emerette F., daughter of Joseph and Emily Clemans Davis, and still resides in town. They have four children :
Harry Chester, born December 21st, 1864; an attorney at law in Fitchburg.
GEORGE W. BASCOM.
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Carrie Emily, born June 3d, 1868 ; a teacher.
Mary Clemans, born June 15th, 1873.
Marion Alice, born July 22d, 1879.
Harriet, the only daughter, died at the age of two years and nine months.
George W. Bascom won a high place in the estimation of his townsmen by his strict integrity, pure life and genial charac- teristics. He was honored by being twice elected to represent his town in the legislature, in 1851 and 1852. He also served on the board of selectmen and in other offices of trust with ear- nest fidelity.
He died October 12th, 1885, aged eighty-two years ; his wife died the following July, aged eighty-one years.
REV. APPLETON BELKNAP.
The Rev. Appleton Belknap was born in Framingham, Sep- tember Ist, 1802. After having supplied the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Holden for some months, he was ordained to the pastorate, June 13th, 1832. He continued as pastor only about a year, however, closing his labors October 27th, 1833, with the expressed intent of studying for further preparation for the ministry. From 1835, for thirteen years, he was pastor at East Jaffrey, N. H., and for two years, about 1850, at St. George, Me. In March, 1855, he settled at Lyme Center, N. H., where he remained until 1862, when he removed to Post Mills, in the town of Thetford, Vt., where he preached three years. He then returned, in consequence of failing health, to Lyme, where he spent the rest of his life, supplying occasionally, but never again settled as pastor. He died February 2d, 1877. He was a good man, and proved himself in all. his pastorates a faith- ful minister of Christ Jesus. He was twice married. April 9th, 1832, he married Nancy E. Boynton, of Framingham, who died in 1859. In 1860, he married Susan W. Bliss, of Lyme, N. H., who is still living there. He had one son, Fenelon Belknap, born in Holden, and now living in Barton, Vt.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
IRA BROAD.
Ira Broad, son of Asa and Prudence Boyden Broad, was born May 13th, 1810 ; married Lucy J. Foster of Rutland, October 3d, 1838, and died in his native town, July 17th, 1869. He was largely self-educated, the schools of the town and a short term at New Salem Academy being his only aids. He devoted several winters during his early manhood to teaching in New Jersey and in Holden.
His active business life was a combination of various occupa- tions, including teaching, agriculture, the manufacturing of lum- ber, the contracting for the construction of dams and roads, etc. He was a man of large views and strong intellect, and was characteristically self-reliant. In company with his brother Asa, he built the mills now occupied by W. E. Austin, and also sev- eral houses, and he always exhibited a deep interest in improv- ing the town.
He represented Holden in the Legislature in 1850, and for more than twenty-five years filled important offices in the town. Alike in the course of town affairs and in its political history may be marked the influence which he exerted on the character and history of Holden.
REV. JOHN KELLEY CHASE.
The Rev. John Kelley Chase was born in Exeter, N. H., April 22d, 1822. He was a son of Joseph Chase, a descendant of Aquila Chase, who came from England to Newbury about 1625. A brother, James N. Chase, who died in 1862, was also a Baptist minister. Rev. John K. Chase studied at Atkinson Academy, Pembroke Gymnasium and the New Hampton Insti- tution. Baptized May 23d, 1841, he began at once to preach as opportunity offered, received a license in the same year, and was ordained as an evangelist in 1844 at Milton Mills, N. H. His pastorates have been at Lebanon, Me., 1845 and 1846; South
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IRA BROAD.
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Hampton, N. H., 1846 to 1849 ; Hampden, Me., 1849 to 1854; Pittsfield. N. H., 1854 to 1857 ; Rumney, N. H., 1858 to 1865 ; Hydeville, Vt., 1865 to 1867 ; Rockland, 1872 to 1874 ; Holden, 1874 to 1879, and Rowley, 1879 to 1882. Since 1882, con- tinued ill-health has prevented his serving as pastor, and he has resided at South Hampton, N. H.
ISAAC CHENERY, M. D.
" Dr. Isaac Chenery was born at Medfield, 1742, six weeks after the death of his father. Early in life, he entered the ser- vice of his country, as a soldier in the French and Indian war, and spent one campaign to the northward upon the lakes. He received a serious injury upon his ankle soon after his return home. He was under the care of a surgeon for nearly four years ; during which period he commenced the study of physic and surgery, without having previously enjoyed the advantages of a good education. Blessed naturally with a vigorous consti- tution and a strong mind, after a few months study he ventured to offer himself as a practitioner. In 1768, he settled in Holden, and by a faithful, tender and successful care of his patients, soon became extensively known as a physician and surgeon. During the Revolutionary war, he spent one year as a surgeon in the army. His charges as a physician were uni- form and moderate. In the social, relative and public duties of life he was beloved and respected. His death occurred Oc- tober 20th, 1822. He had nearly completed his eightieth year. When death closed his long and laborious life, many tears of sorrow were shed over an affectionate father and friend, by a numerous offspring and acquaintance.""
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