USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 20
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Of the numerous descendants of 'Squire Ethan Davis not one now remains in Holden, the last grandchild and his chil- dren having removed a few months since.
He was twice married. His first wife, and the mother of his children, was Sarah, daughter of Elisha Hubbard, and sister of Samuel W. and Deacon Silas M. Hubbard. They were married May 27th, 1792, and she died December 24th, 1818, aged forty-eight years. August 24th, 1819, he was married to Zillah, widow of Lemuel Abbott, and sister of Dr. Thaddeus Chenery and of the wife of Colonel Samuel Damon. No children were born of this marriage. His death, April 29th, 1837, was the result of an accident. His widow died March 8th, 1843. His children were :
Nancy, born June 14th, 1793 ; married to Deacon Isaac Fisk, April 11th, 1812; died in Holden, August 8th, 1813. Mr. Fisk died at his missionary post, Elliot, Miss., September 19th, 1820.
Thomas Jones, born November 14th, 1794; married to Silence Clapp, who was a sister of Millea, wife of Paul Davis, Jr., April 18th, 1819. Both died in Holden in November, 1857. They had several children, only one of whom survived the parents, Mrs. Isabella G. Clarke, who has been a mission ary in Turkey since 1859.
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Dennis, born September 24th, 1796; died September 26th, 1863. He was twice married ; first, August 14th, 1823, to Mary, eldest daughter of Major Paul Davis, who died July 2 Ist, 1826, leaving one child who died three days later, and then, April 26th, 1827, to Lucy C., a younger sister of his first wife, who died March 21st, 1877. They had two sons and two daughters; one daughter died in 1854, the other in 1855. Both sons are yet living. It is worthy of notice that by these mar- riages the blood of Dolor Davis, flowing through the two lines of Simon and Samuel, was again united in the persons of the children of Dennis and his wives, he having descended from Simon, they from Samuel.1 This is also true of the children of Rev. Elnathan and Teresa Davis, he being a broth- er of Dennis and she a sister of Mary and Lucy. The wife of Thomas Jones, an elder brother, was aunt of his brothers' wives.
Sarah, born January 13th, 1799, married to Jones Esta- brook, and died in Holden, September 22d, 1836. He survived her but one month. They had sev- eral children, of whom only one is now living, Miss Ellen A. Estabrook, of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Alona, born January 10th, 1801, married to Rev. Preston Cummings, February Ist, 1826. Both died in Hol- den a few years since. They had two sons, both of whom died before their parents.
Dorinda, born January 25th, 1803, died April 8th, 1807. Hannah, born February 26th, 1805, married November 17th, 1834, to Rev. Aldin Grout, and sailed for South Africa December 3d of same year, to engage in missionary work. She died at Bethelsdorp, South Africa, February 24th, 1836, leaving an infant daughter, Oriana, who afterward married Rev. Wil- liam Ireland, missionary to South Africa. He has since died, but she is still living there.
1 See Genealogical Table of the Davis family, p. 60.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
Elnathan, a notice of whom precedes this.
Relief, born March 25th, 1810, married Rev. John Keep, November 8th, 1836, died December 20th, 1880, in Illinois. He died there a few years before her. „;They had two daughters, both still living, in Madi- son, Wis.
Ethan, Jr., a notice of whom will follow this.
ETHAN DAVIS, JUNIOR.
Ethan Davis, born in Holden, May 27th, 1812, in what is now known as Mount Pleasant House, was the son of "Squire Ethan " and Sarah Hubbard Davis, and was the youngest of their ten children.
His life, till early manhood, was spent on his father's farm. His earliest business venture, as his own man, so far as we know, was as partner in a manufacturing company, entering into it by his father's advice. It resulted in failure, but not until after the death of his father. It was indicative of the character of the future man, that, although not legally bound to do so, he assumed and eventually paid in full all claims against the com- pany, being obliged to use, in so doing, a sum equal to the entire amount bequeathed to him by his father. From that time on, his business life was varied, including store-keeping, farm- ing, dealing in real-estate, etc.
Nominally a farmer and store-keeper, yet having no real love for either, a large part of his life, after reaching manhood, was passed in the execution of trusts of various sorts for which he was fitted by early training, and a sturdily honest nature which found in this way its recognition.
Mentally adapted to the practice of law, yet feeling debarred from following a profession by limited early education, he found an outlet for thoughtful and earnest effort by interesting him- self in a large-minded way in public affairs. No movement for the public good, either in town, state or nation, tailed to find in him an efficient and earnest worker with mind, hands and
ETHAN DAVIS.
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means. One of the earliest Abolitionists, when to be known as such required more of courage than the present generation can realize, his house was a prominent station on the underground railroad of those days, and he was active, as always indeed, in helping men toward freedom and true manhood.
One of the first to adopt and practice total abstinence, he kept in the front rank of all movements in that direction, ready whenever the need arose, to assume responsibility for action in support of the principles he championed.
Space will not permit an enumeration of all the forms which his activities assumed. All movements for the good of the young found in him a warm friend and efficient helper.
The Band of Hope, the local lodge of Good Templars, the Grange, of which he was a charter member, the Farmers' and Mechanics' Club, of which he was one of the founders, and the Cemetery Corporation, of which he was for many years the president, will serve as sufficient illustration of the way in which he entered into public affairs.
Never seeking office for himself, he still took a deep interest in politics, keeping step with the advance, and passing naturally from Whig to Free Soiler, and thence to Republicanism.
During the War for the Union, and in the years succeeding. he was an ardent supporter of the Government, and held office under it for several years as Postmaster and United States Assessor.
In his religious life, trained in the Calvinistic school of thought, in early days somewhat severe, he held throughout his life to what he considered the vital elements of Christian faith, yet was in full sympathy with the progressive Christian thought of his time, and in his later days took the greatest interest in all the signs of the times, which pointed to the breaking down of the walls of sectarian thought, and the building up of a com- mon Christian life.
His life motto, the oftenest quoted by him of all Scrip- ture, was "Trust in the Lord and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed," a motto which those who knew him best, believe that he exemplified in his daily life.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
He was married at the age of twenty-three to Mary Ann Waters, daughter of Willard and Huldah P. Waters, of Wood- stock, Conn., and found in her during their wedded life of over forty-nine years a most efficient helpmeet, warmly interested in all that concerned an exemplary home life and a beneficent influence in the community.
Considering her, to use his own words, "the inspirer of his best deeds," any account of his life, which did not recognize her helpful presence and sympathy, would indeed be incomplete and fail to fully account for any good influence which he may have exerted in the community. Their children were :
Aldin Grout, born February 25th, 1836; in the Commis- sions Department, Travellers Insurance Company, Hartford, Conn.
Edward Jones, born February 10th, 1838; in charge of a department with the Simonds Manufacturing Com- pany, Fitchburg.
Mary Hannah, born November 19th,' 1840; died July 8th, 1843.
Erskine Ethan, born September 24th, 1843 ; died July 30th, I845.
Mary Ellen, born December 25th, 1847; in charge of a department at the Mt. Hermon School for Boys, Mt. Hermon, for some years before her death, which occurred December 11th, 1892.
Solon Periander, born August 6th, 1850; Supervisor of Drawing in public schools, Hartford, Conn.
Charles Ethan, born August 3d, 1854; chief engineer, Webster Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill.
He died April 9th, 1888, at the age of seventy-six years, sur- viving his wife for a period of less than three years, and their graves are now in the rural cemetery of his native town, within whose precincts he had spent, with but four years' exception, his long life, and whose welfare held to the last a large share in his interest and thought.
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CAPTAIN JAMES DAVIS.
Since Lieutenant Simon Davis, the son of Samuel, and grandson of Dolor Davis, settled in or near Holden, about the year 1722, the inhabitants of the town, who have borne the name of Davis, and those of their race who, by reason of inter- marriages, have borne other names, have been numerous and prominent. Some have acquired considerable wealth, many have held office in the town, and many have been prominent in religious and social matters. All are descendants of Dolor Davis through his two younger sons, Simon and Samuel. Dolor came from Kent, England, in the year 1634, in company with his wife's brother, Major Simon Willard, who was, later, active and prominent in the Indian wars hereabout. It is sup- posed that Simon and Samuel were born in Cambridge, then called "the New Towne." Simon Davis, uncle of the Lieu- tenant Simon mentioned above, was also a lieutenant, and took a part in the wars, and at the battle at Brookfield in 1675 suc- ceeded to the command of the troops, Captain Wheeler having been wounded.
Captain James Davis, a great-grandson of this Lieutenant Simon, was born in Concord, in September, 1734. It is sup- posed that he came to Holden as early as 1760, settled on Champlain Hill, just west of where Stephen N. Hubbard now lives, and remained there until his death, September 15th, 1821. Mary, his wife and the mother of his children, died June 26th, 1799. During his active life, he was a leading man in town affairs. Just before and during the Revolution he was a selectman for nine years. He was assessor nine years, and treas- urer of the town eight years. He was one of the committee who, in 1772, drew up the resolutions protesting against the tyranny of the British ministry. He was representative from Holden to "The Great and General Court" for the first two years after Independence was declared, 1776 and 1777. For some part, and probably a large part of his life, he was active in church affairs. Captain Davis was an active
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man of business, and acquired a handsome property, being an extensive land owner. He was a man of strict integrity, and was much respected and trusted by his fellow citizens.
By his wife, Mary, he had five sons and five daughters. Two of his sons, James, Jr., and Edmund, served with the Massachusetts troops during some part, at least, of the war for Independence. The other sons were Jonas, Elnathan and Ethan. Edmund was the father of the late Mrs. David Clapp. Elna- than was the father of the late Dr. David Davis, Gardner Davis and Lucy, who was married to Simon Black, and later to Dea. Silas Flagg. The last named had a large family, of whom Samuel, George W. and Charles E. Black, Hannah, widow of John Boyden, and Lucy, wife of Charles H. Harvey, are still living. James D. Black, recently deceased, was her son. The daughters of Captain James Davis were Sally, who married Levi Bartlett of Rutland, grandfather of the present proprietor of the Muschopauge House; Patty, who married Dana Frost ; Hannah, who died young and unmarried ; Relief, who married Jonathan Davis, and is thought to be the ancestress of Mr. Davis, of the well known firm of Hallett & Davis, piano manu- facturers of Boston, and Nancy, who married a Heywood, one of whose daughters was the wife of the late John Estabrook of Holden. The only descendants of Captain James Davis, still remaining in Holden, are Mrs. Sumner Chamberlain and her children, the children and grandchildren of the late James D. Black, and Charles E. Black and daughter.
REV. JOSEPH DAVIS.
Rev. Joseph Davis, the first pastor of the town of Holden, was born July 16th, 1720, in Concord, from which town his father, Lieutenant Simon Davis, came to be one of the first set- tlers here. The son was graduated from Harvard College in 1740, and after some study of theology, was invited to the pas- torate at Holden. He was ordained December 22d, 1742, at
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MAJOR PAUL DAVIS.
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the same time that the church was organized. His only work in life was done in connection with the Holden church and peo- ple. He officiated as pastor until 1773, when, at his own request, he was dismissed from the pastorate. He continued, however, to reside in Holden until his death, March 4th, 1799, and on January 2d, 1793, he preached a semi-centennial ser- mon, which was printed. But little remains to this day which may serve as a basis for characterizing him. His epitaph in the old cemetery at Holden speaks of him thus: " He was the man of science, and a zealous, pungent Preacher. The affectionate husband. The tender parent. The kind neighbor, and the cordial friend." "A strong and animated faith in the truth of the gospel was the great solace and anchor of his soul."
Mr. Davis married Catherine Jones, a native of Weston, who survived him several years, dying in May, 1815, aged ninety- seven years.
The house built by Mr. Davis endured long after its builder had passed away from among men. It stood where the resi- dence of Samuel W. Armington now stands, and was familiarly . known as the "red house." It was for some time occupied by Lemuel Davis, a son of Rev. Mr. Davis, who later built for him- self the brick house at the corner of the common. This man, often familiarly called 'Squire Lemuel Davis, was long an active and influential citizen.
MAJOR PAUL DAVIS.
Major Paul Davis was a descendant in the fifth generation from Dolor Davis, who came from Kent, England, to this coun- try in 1634. He settled in Cambridge ; afterwards removed to Concord, and died at Barnstable, in June, 1673. His first wife was Margery Willard, by whom he had three children, Ruth, Simon and Samuel. Samuel married Mary Meads, January IIth, 1665, and they had six children, Mary, Samuel, David, Eleazer, Stephen and Simon. Simon was born August 9th, 1683, and died in 1763. He married Dorothy Hale. They
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had eight children : Simon, Israel, Joseph, Eleazer, Martha, Oliver, Mary and Azubar. Israel was born in 1717, and died in 1791. In 1739, he married Mary Hurbert. Their children were Betsey, Mary, Israel, Hannah, Paul, Esther, Joseph, Solo- mon, Samuel and Catharine.
Paul Davis, Sr., was born in 1747, and died in 1835. He married Lydia Black, who died October 20th, 1826. Their children were Lydia, Paul and Daniel. He kept a hotel on the hill overlooking Eagleville for forty years. It was not a tem- perance house-such were unknown in those days-although its landlord was an entirely temperate man, never having drunk a glass of liquor in his life, even refusing a hot sling given by his physician the day he died. He was a man of integrity and respected by every one. He served the town of Holden as clerk for a term of seventeen years.
Paul Davis, Jr., was born December 8th, 1779, and died at Holden, August 27th, 1864. By occupation, he was a farmer. He was born, as were his twelve children, in the old " Landlord Davis Hotel." He was connected with the state militia, having been commissioned Lieutenant, March 2d, 1810; Captain, March 3Ist, 1812 ; and Major, May 14th, 1812. He succeeded his father in the office of town clerk, which he held for thirty-seven years. He was also treasurer, selectman, assessor and repre- sentative.
He voluntarily resigned the office of clerk in 1857. The town gave him an unanimous vote of thanks, and ordered that the same be placed upon the town records. Too much cannot be said of his uprightness, integrity and faithfulness in every walk in life.
He was married to Millia Clapp, daughter of Deacon Seth Clapp, of Holden, by whom he had twelve children : Mary, Joseph, Lucy C., Teresa, Samuel, Paul, Daniel, John N., Avery, Maria M., Dennis and Mary Jane.
Mary, married Dennis Davis, of Holden, and died in July, 1826.
Joseph, married Emily Clemans, of Dudley, and had nine children.
JAMES DORR,
PROPRIETOR OF SPRINGDALE MILLS.
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Lucy C., married Dennis Davis, being his second wife.
She died May 21st, 1877. They had four children. Teresa, married Rev. Elnathan Davis, of Holden. They had two children. She died September 28th, 1841. Samuel, married Celesta Clemans, of Dudley, by whom he had one child. His second wife was Chloe Simp- son, of Dudley. They had four children. Later, he married Amy, widow of Saladin Hale, of Mill- bury.
Paul, died at the age of three years.
Daniel, married Harriet Woodward, of Sturbridge, by whom he had two children. His second wife was Jessie MacArthur, of Avoca, Canada.
John N., died November 17th, 1843, unmarried.
Avery, married Lydia G. Hale, of Norridgewock, Me. They have three children.
Maria M., died unmarried.
Dennis, died in infancy.
Mary Jane, married Simon E. Combs, of Holden.
REV. ANDREW DUNN.
The Rev. Andrew Dunn was born in Gardner, June 30th, 1813 ; studied at South Reading and Lexington academies, and was graduated from the Newton Theological Institution in 1842. He has been pastor at Winchendon, where he was or- dained, 1842 to 1852; Holden, 1853; North Bridgewater, 1854; Weymouth, 1854 to 1858 ; Chatham, 1858 to 1860; the Still River church, in the town of Harvard, 1860 to 1863 ; East Gloucester, 1863 to 1867; East Haverhill, 1867 to 1871 ; Rowley, 1871 to 1874; West Newbury, 1874 to 1878; East Brookfield, 1878 to 1881 ; Fitzwilliam, N. H., 1881 to 1887 ; West Royalston, 1887 to 1891. He still resides at the last named place, but does not perform any ministerial labor.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
REV. DAVID FOSTER ESTES.
The Rev. David Foster Estes was born in Auburn, Me., October 18th, 1851. He was graduated from the University of Vermont in 1871, and from the Newton Theological Insti- tution in 1874. A year was also spent-1878, 1879-in study at the University of Göttingen, Germany. He was ordained at Manchester, Vt., August 19th, 1874, and was pastor there from 1874 to 1876; at Belfast, Me., from 1876 to 1878, and at Vergennes, Vt., from 1880 to 1883. He was a teacher in the Atlanta Baptist Seminary, Atlanta, Ga., from 1883 to 1886, and Acting Principal of the same. He was pastor at Holden from 1886 to 1891. October Ist, 1891, he became Professor of New Testament Interpretation in the Hamilton Theological Seminary, in connection with Colgate University, at Hamilton, N. Y.
REV. SAMUEL EVERETT.
The Rev. Samuel Everett was born in Princeton, October IIth, 1793. He was graduated in 1823 from the Theological Department, soon after discontinued, of Waterville College, now Colby University. He was ordained at Milford, N. H., in 1825, and remained pastor there about eight years. When he began his work with that church, it numbered ninety-six ; when he resigned, two hundred and sixteen, more than one hundred having been baptized. A pastorate of about six years at Salisbury, N. H., followed. In 1838 he became pastor at Holden. After laboring a single year here he engaged with others in establishing "The Reflector", a religious weekly since merged in "The Watchman ", and, removing to Wor- cester, he devoted his whole time to this work. In the latter part of the year 1839 he became pastor of the church in North Leverett, where he remained about six years. After closing his work there he preached for a time in North Sun-
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CHARLES FLAGG.
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derland. He later went west, and died in the state of Michigan, September 22d, 1875. Mr. Everett was a man of great earnestness, and of intense devotion to his work as a minister of the gospel. He was also a leader in the work of temperance reform. While in Holden, he officiated at the funeral of Philip Edwards, who was murdered by John L. Davis while the latter was crazed by drink. His uncompromis- ing and outspoken assertion of the truth in the case made him enemies, and perhaps seemed to result to his disadvantage, but he never swerved and never regretted his straightforward- ness. Such men both in pulpit and pew have made Holden and all New England what they are.
REV. HENRY CLINTON FAY.
The Rev. Henry Clinton Fay was born in Shrewsbury, March 4th, 1827. He was graduated from Leicester Academy in 1850; from Amberst College in 1854, and from the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1857. He was ordained December 28th, 1858, at Northwood, N. H., and served as pastor there from 1858 to 1864, and also a second term, from 1881 to 1885 ; at Norton, from 1854 to 1868; at Hubbardston, from 1868 to 1870 ; at Harwich Port, from 1870 to 1873 ; at Townsend, from 1873 to 1876; at Centre Brook, Conn, from 1877 to 1880 ; at Holden, from 1880 to 1881; at Londonderry, N. H., from 1885 to 1888 ; at North Reading, since 1888.
CHARLES FLAGG.
Charles Flagg was born in Holden, December 25th, 1807. He was son of Deacon Silas and Sally Winch Flagg. When but three years of age he received an injury to his right knee, causing a lameness, which has been a lifelong burden. He lived with his father on the old homestead, near the Holden
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Reservoir until he was twenty-four years of age, when he mar- ried Elizabeth Cheney, daughter of Rev. Joseph Cheney of Salisbury, Vt., a former resident of. Holden, and purchasing the farm of his grandfather in Holden, operated for three years the saw and grist mill on that place.
In 1834 he sold out to Deacon Newell Moore, and moved to North Spencer where he was employed by Washington Hill, as clerk in his store, and in driving an express team to Boston, which he did every week for three years. In 1840 he pur- chased a store in East Brookfield, and was appointed post- master, which office he held for several years. When the depot of the Boston & Albany Railroad was finished, he was appointed agent, and selling out his interest in the store he removed the post-office to the station. He continued for thirteen years in the service of the Railroad company, during which time he dealt largely in real estate, owning at one time several farms and other property.
He then resigned his position, and, moving his family to Worcester, entered into a copartnership with T. W. Converse, in a flour and grain commission house, having an office in Albany, N. Y. This business was carried on for twelve years, until the summer of 1869, when he buried his wife, and re- turned to the old homestead to care for his aged father, remaining there until after his death.
In the spring of 1873, he bought the Jones Davis place in Holden Center. where he still resides. In the fall of the same year, he married Martha S. Locke, of Corinth, Vt.
Of excellent business ability and unswerving integrity, the town has made constant demand for his services in various positions. He served as Selectman in the years 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872 and 1876, the last two years as chairman of the board ; as Town Treasurer in the years 1871, 1872 and 1876, and as chairman of the Overseers of the Poor in 1871 and 1872. Notwithstanding the large demands for time and service in town offices, it was in his relations to the Congregational Church that his energy, zeal and generosity were most conspicuous. He did his full share in every labor
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SILAS FLAGG.
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connected with the church after moving to town, and even before that, while still living in Worcester, the finances of the church being in a low state, he evinced his interest by circu- lating a paper, and raising several hundred dollars, doing as much as any one man, if not more, to retain Dr. Paine through his long pastorate. His children were :
Preston, born in 1839; died July 20th, 1858.
Mary E., born November 15th, 1840; married Lewis F. Hubbard, who died September 19th, 1879, aged thirty years. Their children are : Charles P. Hub- bard, born January 16th, 1872, and Loring F. Hub- bard, born December 25th, 1877.
SILAS FLAGG.
Deacon Silas Flagg, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Flagg, was born in Holden, February 16th, 1778. Early in his majority, his father divided his large homestead, and on that part which fell to him and adjoining lands which he pur- chased, he erected large farm buildings. This estate, under his good management, became one of the best in this vicinity. In addition to his farming pursuits, he became a building contractor and manufacturer of lumber for building purposes.
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