USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 21
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JUSTUS PERRY was born in Marlborough, Feb. 8, 1788. Ile was the son of Dr. Justus and Martha ( Frost) Perry.
Although Dr. Perry was the only physician of the place, and had a large practice, he died leaving his family poor. Dr. Adams, an eminent physician of Keene, who was his compeer, when speaking of the circle of young physicians in that neighborhood, generously remarked that "Perry had the most native genius of them all."
The young Justus was apprenticed to an excellent and worthy saddler, David Wilkinson, Sen. By him and his wife he was treated as a son. At the age of nineteen years, he bought his time of his master, and set up in the same business for himself; his master, who was thorough and skilful, working for him. The wife of Mr. Wilkinson had the greatest turn for trade; and before that period she once took Justus to Boston with her, seeing his talent for busi- ness. On Sunday morning, the boy of sixteen expressed a desire to go to church. The clerk of the hotel said he would accompany him and show him about. He took Justus to hear Dr. Channing preach. This great preacher made an impression upon the youth, which he never forgot. He often referred to it in after life, saying that it was a turning-point in his religious character.
Not long after beginning business for himself, he accum- ulated enough goods to exchange them for horses, which he sold at New Haven for a good profit.
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In the mean time, his step-father, Capt. Wheeler, for whom he had a great respect, died. As soon as his mother's affairs could be settled, he removed her, with her family of young children, to Keene. She was a woman of remarkable force of character, and had unusual sagacity in the labors of love among her sick neighbors. The celebrated Dr. Twitchell of Keene, when he gave up hope of a case, used to say, " If she cannot save him, nobody can."
Justus rented a store in Keene, and began business there. His mother's means were small, and he devoted his time and strength to providing her with a home and the comforts of life. When told that he was wearing himself out by over- taxing his mind and body, and running great pecuniary risks, he replied, "My wish is to see my mother and sister well provided for, and I shall ask for nothing more." He was never unfaithful to this early trust, although he paid the penalty of excessive ambition by a severe typhus fever, which left his constitution somewhat impaired for life.
He was always on the lookout for opportunities and, when a glass manufacturing company failed, he bought it at great discount, and began a new business, which proved very successful. He built a fine house, displaying a taste beyond the times in the choice of a lot and the planting of the grounds. There he installed his mother and her unmar- ried sister and brothers.
He shortly after married Mary Haven Edwards, of Bos- ton, Mass., by whom he had two children, a boy and a girl, Horatio Justus and Mary Olivia. His wife died soon after the birth of her daughter; and he afterwards married Hannah Wood of Concord, Mass. By her he had three children, two girls and a boy, Ellen Elizabeth, Martha Ann, and Henry.
He was by no means a mere man of business. Although his early education was scanty, he had a fine appreciation of books, and collected a valuable library. His children recall with pleasure the home where he took down these books, and inspired them with a love of the best literature.
He was genial in his habits and hospitable, and never
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forgot his early friends, especially the good saddler and his wife; and quickly came the social glass, which he would mix for them after the custom of their times, when they came up from Marlborough, and visited him. He was, how- ever, strictly temperate himself. He had almost an abhor- rence of alcoholic drinks, having seen the evil effects of them so much. He drank nothing on his table but the cider from the farmer's barn. He was somewhat reserved in disposition with the public at large, and enjoyed most the intercourse with his family and relatives, whom he loved with unfaltering affection. His passion, if it might be called so, in early life was for military achievement. He had a fine form, and loved the excitement of the drill and com- mand. He was first captain of a company, afterwards made lieutenant-colonel, and at length general and brigadier-gen- eral of the light infantry of the county. He went into this with all the ardor of youth, and probably found stimulus and refreshment for his jaded nervous system.
He was by nature a religious man. At the time of the division in the Congregational Church of Keene, he took his stand on the liberal side, and became a member of the Unitarian Church, remaining ever one of its best supporters. He was in the habit of having devotional services in his family, and loved much to read the Bible, which, he often said, " he needed no commentator to interpret for him."
During the last ten years of his life, he was a great sufferer from neuralgie pain. His nervous system was completely prostrated by it at length. He rarely ever slept a night through, but was constantly watched by his faithful wife, who lost her own health in her anxiety and care for him. He would walk his sitting-room at intervals during the day, suffering the most acute paroxysm of pain. As soon as the agony began to pass away, he would turn ten- derly and solicitously to his sorrowful wife and children, saying : "Do not worry. I shall soon be over it." Such was his native strength, that immediately after these attacks he would put on his coat and go into the street. His strong frame could not long hold out. His disease affected his
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whole system. He consulted the venerable Dr. Jackson of Boston, who told him that there was great danger of its af- fecting his brain. The prediction proved true, the last two or three months of his life, when his mind succumbed to the power of disease.
He died in November, 1840, aged fifty-two years, and was laid in his own tomb, which he had provided on his family estate. After the death of his wife and two of his children, and the departure of the others from Keene, the place was no longer sacred from intrusion; and his remains were removed, with the rest of his family, to the beautiful ceme- tery now in Keene, where they repose by the side of his two companions and his children.
SUMNER WHEELER, son of Capt. David and Martha (Frost) (Perry) Wheeler, was born in Marlborough, March 8, 1807.
He was a young man of fine disposition and industrious habits. He was early initiated into business habits by his elder brother, Justus Perry. He continued with him until he was received as a partner; and after Gen. Perry became disabled, and was obliged to retire, the business was carried on by himself and his brother Quincy.
He was married, May 15, 1832, to Catherine Vose of Boston, Mass. By her he had four children, Catherine Frances, Ellen, Mary Bemis, and Frank Sumner.
On the death of his two brothers, he sold out his interest in his business, hoping to enter into other active pursuits, in which, however, he was disappointed. But he was far from being an idle man. Such was his character for strict - integrity and generosity, that he was continually put into private offices of trust, which gained him much esteem and confidence in the community. The poor widow felt safe to confide her all to him, and the orphan child leaned on him for support. He had a disposition of remarkable geniality. He loved his friends and his neighbors, and found his high- est happiness in serving them. He was often seen with his sleigh full of children, carrying them home from school
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on stormy winter days; for all children were to him as his own, and there was a seat at his table for young or old. He it was who must lead the picnic and the family dance ; and he also was the one who, with grave and sympathetic face, conducted the funeral, or walked by the dead to their last resting-place. He was a regular attendant and sup- porter of the Unitarian Church in Keene, and not only filled the office of treasurer for many years, but gave liberally of his own substance.
The sudden death of his younger brother Quincy in the prime of life, a young man of fine promise, was a severe blow to him and to his family; but his attentions were unwearied towards his older brother Franklin, who was an invalid for many years. His devotion to his half-brother, Justus Perry, then in declining health, was constant, and after Gen. Perry's death he was like a father to his children.
He lived during the first part of his married life in a hired house on Main Street. He afterwards bought the fine place at the lower end of the street, formerly occupied by Mrs. Catherine Fiske who had her celebrated school for young ladies there.
It was the brightest of homes; and many were the jokes that passed between him and the venerable Dr. Bastow one side of him, Dr. Charles Adams in front, and Dr. Inger- soll half-way up the street, whom he accosted every morn- ing.
As an illustration of his character for integrity in the town, we will mention an incident which occurred one day in the bank. A knot of gentlemen were engaged in con- versation on the subject of honesty. One of them said that, no matter how honest a man might seem to be, there was always a flaw in every man somewhere. Another said, "he would wager ten dollars that he could show them an honest man." Another spoke up and replied, " Leave out Sumner Wheeler, and I will stand you." Sumner Wheeler was the man of the first wager.
As he grew older and had more leisure, his services to his
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neighbors were more frequent. His face was a benediction on the street. No misfortunes could make him gloomy. He suffered pecuniary losses, but was never cast down. He would sometimes say, when he heard others speaking de- spondingly of this life, " For my part, I do not wish for any better world than this." Yet when stricken down by typhoid fever, and called suddenly away, he was ready to go. He died Sept. 23, 1861.
The 15th Psalm, beginning, "Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacles? who shall dwell in thy holy hills?" read at the funeral, was so singularly appropriate to him that listeners who perhaps rarely read the Bible expressed admi- ration and surprise at its fitness to so just a man.
His memory is still green in the home of his affections and the community of Keene.
CYRUS WAKEFIELD, son of James and Hannah (Hemen- way) Wakefield, was born in Marlborough, Feb. 14, 1811. His father's farm was included in that territory, which the following year was set off to make the town of Roxbury. Hence the report that he was a native of Roxbury. The following sketch of his life and character is taken from Eaton's History of Wakefield and Reading, Mass .:-
" His father's occupation was that of a farmer, and thus his early associations were connected with the rugged dis- cipline of a New England farm-boy.
"The school was a mile and a half over the hills; and it was no easy task in winter, with the snow over the fences to reach it. Yet the New England boy lingers not by the fire, even in the severest storms; but with his books under his arm, and his cap well tied about his ears, he resolutely goes on to his place at school. And well he may, because there are but two terms a year, of ten weeks each, one in winter, the other in summer; and, when he is twelve years of age, he will not be allowed the privileges of the summer term, since his help is required on the farm. Young Cyrus seems to have realized the importance even of these slight educational advantages, and, by applying himself with great
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zeal to his studies, mastered the rudiments of the common school.
" The executive and administrative qualities of his mind began to develop very early in life. There were number- less projects in his busy child-brain, to the accomplishment of which he bent not only his own, but also the abilities of his brothers. He would induce his father to lay out work in advance for himself and younger brother, sometimes having plans which required a month's time for their exe- cution. At one time, it would be the construction of a fish-pond ; at another, the building of coal-pits, the product of which he sold to the neighboring blacksmiths. ...
" At an early age, he grew restive. Some of his relatives had gone to other States, and at times would return to tell what they had seen and done in the great cities. His father's farm would seem now too small for his growing ambition. The successes of his friends kindled in his own bosom a generous emulation. He, too, would try his fortune in the great world outside. At last, after much urging, his father consented ; and Cyrus went to Peterboro', to enter a cotton mill as a picker-boy. This was a most excellent position to dissipate the rosy hues which had gathered about his ideal world, and to discover to him the cold, stern reality.
"Only a short time elapsed, and he was back at the old homestead, still determined to realize his fondest hopes of one day becoming a merchant. He had heard of the fame of Mr. Appleton of Dublin, who had emerged from obscu- rity like his own, but who was then widely known as a successful and an honorable merchant. What others had done he could do; and he incessantly urged his views upon his father, who as constantly presented the other and darker side, showing how many who went to the city lost health, time, and even character, in their pursuit of wealth, and were ultimately obliged to return in disgrace to their native towns.
" His father at length sent him to live with a clergyman in a neighboring village, who, in return for his taking care
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of his horse and cow, should give him suitable books to read, and if possible lead his mind into theological studies. This good man, however, was not apt to teach. On the first day, he put him down before a large book containing the history of the controversy between Calvin and Armi- nius. The book was dry and uninteresting. After a trial of several days, the boy gave up in despair, convinced that, if Calvin and Arminius could not settle the theological matters in dispute, he certainly could not hope to do it.
" He returned again to his father's house, more resolutely determined than ever to go to Boston, and try his luck in' the great world of trade. After a few more futile attempts to find congenial employment for him near home, he, at the age of fifteen years, with his parents' consent, came to Boston, declaring that he would achieve success, and make a name of which his friends would be proud.
" Arriving in Boston, he at first entered a small retail grocery store of Messrs. Wheeler & Bassett on Washington Street, but soon after secured a clerkship with Messrs. Stearns, Cobb, & Winslow on India Street. While in their employ, he conceived the plan of doing business on his own account, since he had some time at his command not required by his employers. His employers gave him the liberty to buy and sell empty barrels and casks. They also assisted him in other ways in small business-transactions.
"At length he had saved one thousand dollars in hard cash. But with the thousand dollars came a still stronger desire for money. He saw the path to wealth opening before him; and, instead of pursuing a course of study at some college, he bent his energies more strongly than ever to the accumulation of property. This step he regretted in after life, feeling that he had made a serious mistake. He attended evening schools, both of an academic and mercantile nature; visited the various debating societies and churches; observed carefully the habits of the people ; listened, so far as his time would allow, to the various courses of scientific lectures, for which his mind had a keen relish : and thus laid the foundation of what general knowl- edge he possessed.
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" During his business engagement with Messrs. Stearns, Cobb, & Winslow, he made shipments to Valparaiso, and other ports of South America, with indifferent success. In 1834, he entered the grocery business, under the firm name of Foster & Wakefield, on Commercial Street, opposite Commercial Wharf. In 1836, the firm was dissolved; and Mr. Wakefield sent to New Hampshire for his younger brother, Mr. Enoch H. Wakefield, with whom two years after he formed a copartnership under the name of Wake- field & Company. This firm was continued until 1844. During the latter part of this copartnership, a small lot of rattan thrown out of a ship as refuse matter was acciden- tally purchased, and sold at a profit to a few chairmakers, who, working the raw material by hand, used the outside of the cane in seating chairs. This favorable purchase led to others, until, at the dissolution of the firm, Mr. Wakefield opened an office at the corner of Commercial and Cross Streets, where he carried on a jobbing trade in rattan. The demand for split rattan in seating chairs now increased. The great cost of preparing it in this country, without the aid of machinery, caused Mr. Wakefield to look abroad for a supply ; and as he had a brother-in-law in the house of Messrs. Russell & Company, Canton, China, he forwarded to him samples of the cane most in demand. In a few years, his importations of Canton split rattan were known throughout the United States.
"In the year 1856, Mr. Wakefield resolved to begin the manufacture of cane in this country, and to utilize, so far as possible, the whole of the material. The American Rattan Company was at this time the only party cutting cane by machinery, and they used it only for seating chairs. The remainder of the rattan was wasted. But Mr. Wakefield determined to make the whole of the rattan - cane, pith, and shavings-valuable. He began with one or two ma- chines worked by hand, in Boston. A fortunate speculation gave him both credit and capital, so that he could enlarge his business. Hearing that there were several large lots of rattan in the New York market,-the article being much
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depressed at that time,- Mr. Wakefield, with all the ready money he could command, went to that city, established his quarters quietly at the Astor House, and put his brokers at work to obtain the lowest price at which the entire stock could be purchased, enjoining on them not to name the purchaser. Having obtained the desired information, he decided to take all the available lots, for which he paid sufficient cash to make the material subject to his order. This gave him the whole control of the rattan stock in the country. Prices soon advanced, and he was able to sell and realize a handsome profit. This single operation, not only put money and credit at his disposal, but also gave him a prestige in the business, which he ever after main- tained.
"Soon after this, he removed his works from Boston to South Reading. Water-power took the place of hand-power and, as the business rapidly increased, that of steam was soon added. The mill at South Reading, in which he first began soon became too small for him, and building after building was erected, until at the time of his death his manufactories and store-houses covered an area of ten acres of flooring.
"Nor was this wonderful increase in his business the only remarkable feature. There was a corresponding advance in utilizing the whole of the rattan, so that nothing was lost. From a comparatively small jobbing trade in an article at that time of little value, he advanced to the manufacture of reeds for hoop skirts, then to cane for seating chairs, then to the manipulation of the waste, and finally to the use of all the small pieces, and even shavings in making various beautiful and useful articles. His original idea was thus realized ; and probably no one ever succeeded, in the face of so many difficulties, and with such a stubborn material as rattan, in so nearly accomplishing his object.
"In the year 1851, Mr. Wakefield made his first purchase of real estate in South Reading. In July of that same year, he bought the larger part of the land comprising his home- stead: and in place of the mansion house, which then stood
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upon it, he built in 1861 a magnificent residence. About this time, he fully realized that the town was destined to become a very important place. And now he seemed never to have enjoyed a moment so long as he knew that there was a piece of real estate in the vicinity of his house or factories which could be purchased. He would not rest till he had a deed of it in his own name on record. Many of these purchases were of low swamps and meadows, which he cleared, filled up, and drained, making valuable building lots of what had been waste land.
" While in the spring of 1867 the citizens of South Read- ing were considering the propriety of erecting some suitable memorial to the brave men who had gone from their num- ber to the war of the Rebellion and had perished, Mr. Wakefield came forward, and voluntarily offered to give to the town a lot of land and a cash contribution of $30,000 for a Memorial Hall. In accepting this munificent offer, the town at once decided to change its name, and on the 20th of January, 1868, by acclamation, voted that it should henceforth be Wakefield.
" Mr. Wakefield more than fulfilled his promise to the town. He more than quadrupled the cost of the edifice ; and on Feb. 22, 1871, in the presence of an audience completely filling the new and beautiful hall, he surren- dered the keys of the building to the proper officers of the town.
" Although Mr. Wakefield never held a position where elevation was due to political influence, yet he was a leader in all local enterprises and improvements, and sometimes led the way where few were ready to follow. He was one of the corporators of the Savings Bank, director in Citizens Gas Light Company, president and largest stockholder in the Ice Company, member of the School Board, of the Agricultural Association, and National Bank of South Reading.
" Mr. Wakefield was a man of iron will and resolute pur- pose, combined with great physical endurance. Energy, perseverance, and an indomitable courage in the face of
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almost insuperable obstacles, were his prominent character- istics. He had a keen perception, and results that other men reached by hard thought seemed to intuitively come to him. He knew human nature thoroughly, and could read a man at a glance. To those who knew him best, he revealed at times a warm, genial, and tender nature, though to a stranger he might seem distant. He was charitable, giving not only in large sums to public enterprises, but cheering the hearts of the poor with his generous gifts. Many students struggling for an education remember with gratitude his timely aid. As a merchant, he was shrewd, industrious, persistent, and careful in the details of his business. His character and deeds are thus epitomized in the resolutions adopted by his fellow-citizens on the even- ing after his death :" --
"The valuable citizen, the prosperous merchant, the progressive leader in ornamental and architectural improvements, the friend and helper of education, the chief promoter of our local industrial pursuits, our munifi- cent namesake, whose numerous and generous benefactions will remain his enduring memorials."
Mr. Wakefield died very suddenly on Sabbath morning, Oct. 26, 1873, at the age of sixty-two years and eight months.
WARREN HUBBARD WILKINSON, son of David and Patty (Hubbard) Wilkinson, was born in Marlborough, July 9, 1824.
During his boyhood, besides attending school, he assisted his father in his labors on the farm, and at the early age of ten began to work in the harness-shop, thus following the trade of both his father aud grandfather, and during his minority acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business, by which mainly he has attained the success he has enjoyed in his later years.
At the age of twenty-three, he became a partner with his father, and continued the harness business in Marlborough until 1853, supplying not only the home-demand, but also stores in Keene, Peterboro, and Greenfield, Mass.
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Removing to Greenfield in 1853, he continued in business there six years, when he removed to Springfield, Mass., which has since been his home. There he was endeavor- ing to build up a trade, when the threatening clouds of approaching civil war unsettled all plans and prospects of commercial enterprise. During the winter of 1860, how- ever, Mr. Wilkinson received an order for military work from the quartermaster of the State of Connecticut, which being satisfactorily filled led to his receiving similar orders from other States and from the United States Government for the manufacture of military leather goods of various kinds during the continuation of the war.
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