Worcester County, Massachusetts - Biographical sketches (1 of 5 so headed), 1889

Biographical sketches

Manning Leonard was born in Sturbridge, June 1, 1814; died in Southbridge, July 31, 1885. Among those interested in the history of Worcester County Manning Leonard was one well deserving special mention in these memoirs, both because of his connection with those who had no little part in shaping the history of the towns of Sturbridge and Southbridge, and because of his own honorable record as a citizen. -

His mother, Sally Fiske, daughter of Henry, was a grandchild of both Henry and Daniel Fiske, the first white settlers in the town, who located on what is now known as '" Fiske Hill " in 1731, and from one of whose descendants Fiskedale in Sturbridge was named.

His father. Rev. Zenas Lockwood Leonard, fifth in descent from Solomon, who landed at Duxbury in 1636, was born at Bridgewater 1773 ; graduated at Brown University in 1794 and came to Sturbridge as a Baptist minister in 1796. During his long pastorate of thirty-six years he had a more than ordinary interest and influence in the affairs of the community.

Though on a small salary, never exceeding two hundred dollars, he maintained a hospitable home, gave his children a good education (sending his eldest son through Brown University), kept free from debt and gave his family an honorable position in the community. In all hou.-ehold affairs he was ably aided by his wife, who was a model of quiet efficiency.

Of their seven children, Muniiing was the fifth, having a brother and two sisters older and a brother and sister younger than himself. Reared in a home of order, thrift and industry, he naturally developed such a degree of self-reliance, diligence and self-respect as gave early promise of sure and honorable success in life. Generously determining to forego the advantages of a college education, he defrayed his own expenses during a course in Euglish and the mathematics at Amherst Academy, under the tuition (if Rev. Simeon Coltou, D.D., taught school a term at South Amherst and then, to school himself for business life, became a clerk in the dry-goods house of Tiffany, Anderson & Co., of New York City. After three years spent in an earnest endeavor to master every detail of the business, he went West in 1835, the year of his majoritj', and in 1838, joining with George M. Phelps, a young man also from Worcester County, established himself in business in Madison, Indiana. He prospered. In 1840 he married Mary F., daughter of Hon. Ebenezer Davis Ammidown, of Southbridge, Mass., than whom no one had greater part in making Southbridge the beautiful town it is, or contributed more to its material advancement.

In 1844 he returned to Southbridge, and first, with his father-in-law, and later with Chester A. Dresser, was for twenty years engaged in the cotton manufacturing business at what is known as the Central Mills. On account of failing health he retired from active business in 1863. Nevertheless, he did not subside into listlessuess and idleness, but maintained an active interest in public affairs; was on the Board of Selectmen during the early years of the war ; was a representative in the State Legislature, and for many years a member of the Southbridge Public Library Committee ; a prime mover iu the establishment of the Southbridge Savings Bank in 1848, he was secretary of that corporation until his death, and also was a director in the National Bank.

He was an active and consistent member of the Congregational Church for more than fifty years, and generous in his support of the great work of home and foreign missions as well as various undenominational charities.

For many years, more or less of an invalid, he traveled much for health as well as for business - twice visiting Europe, once California and many times going to the great prairie States. Yielding to a complication of diseases, he died at Southbridge July 31, 1885, having completed his seventy-first year two months before.

In early life ever striving to fit himself for the task of the morrow, while faithfully fulfilling the duties of the day, he won promotion by merit rather than sought it by favor.

In middle life a man of reserve power, whose sagacity and foresight gave him success where others failed, and being eminently a just man, he was made the recipient of many public as well as many private trusts.

In maturer years more conservative and cautious, yet never a caiitious obstructionist, his counsels were the more valuable because his course had been always consistent - ever securing not the applause of the many, but the approval of the best ; he had been not a partisan, but a patriot.

Calvin A. Paige

The subject of this sketch was born in Southbridge, Mass., June 7, 1820 ; son of Timothy Paige, Jr., Esq., and Cynthia (Ammidown) Paige. His parents died when he w'as but eight years of age, and after their decease he made his home in the family of his guardian. Dr. Samuel Hartwell. At thirteen he entered the employ of Messrs. Plimpton & Lane, as a clerk in their store in Southbridge. At fifteen he went to Northfield, Vt., where for about two years he was emplo)'ed in the store of Charles Paine, afterwards Governor of Vermont, and president of the Vermont Central Railroad Co. Returning home to Southbridge, he was employed until 1843 in the store of John Seabury & Co., then kept iu the old Columbian Building, now standing on Main Street, known as the " Factory Store.'' This store was in those days an important factor in the business enterprises and trade of the town, involving large transactions and no inconsiderable number of small details, by a system of orders by which the Dresser, the Columbian and the Central Manufacturing Companies paid their operatives.

In 1844 he became clerk and bookeeper in the employ of the Dresser Manufacturing Company. This mill was one of the first cotton-mills erected in this locality by William Sumner and others soon after 1814, when the privilege was purchased. The premises included the water-power, mill, land and tenanthouses, situated on what is known as "Dresser Hill," and in 1831 the same was purchased by Harvey Dresser, then an active, enterprising business man of Charlton, who organized the Dresser Manufacturing Company in 1834, to operate the mill. Mr. Dresser died in 1835. After his death this company was reorganized under the agency of E. D. Ammidown. Until 1845 Colonel Alexander De Witt, of Oxford, succeeded to the agency until 1850, when Calvin A. Paige was appointed agent, and operated the mill until it was destroyed by fire in 1870. May 9, 1843, Mr. Paige married Mercy Dre-ser, daughter of Harvey Dresser, by whom he had two children - Mary E. Paige, born April 7, 1846, who died September 2, 1848, and Calvin D. Paige, born May 20, 1848, who is now residing in Southbridge. From 1844 until he became the agent, Mr. Paige acted not only as clerk and bookkeeper, but was also practically the managing and business agent of the company during the whole period, conducting its affairs safely and prudently, and with profit to its owners. He became himself an owner of the stock of the company, and after the mill was burned sold the mill-site and water-power to the Central Mills Company, retaining the land and tenements on " Dresser Hill," which he now owns, and since then has not been engaged in any regular active business.

Mr. Paige married for his second wife Ellen Jane Scholfield, of Dudley, February 20, 1856, by whom he has one son, Frank S., born May 18, 1857, now living in Soiithbridge. After 1870 the leisure time at his command, his thorough business training, habits and experience, have set him apart as a citizen well qualified and acceptable to discharge numerous public ! duties, in which he has been long conspicuous and of great advantage and service to the town and coramu- ' nity for a period of more than twenty-five years. He was a leading member of the town committee to oppose the division of the town before the Legislature of 18.54, and one of its most zealous and effective workers in defeating that project. In 1850 he was commissioned a notary public by Governor Briggs, and still holds that ofiice. During the Rebellion he was appointed United States enrolling otEcer for the town, and in 1883, by Governor Long, commissioner to qualify civil officers ; and was elected a member of the House in the Legislature of 1863. For thirty years he has been a director in the Southbridge National Bank, and a trustee of the Southbridge Savings Bank. He has been elected many times to the offices of selectman, assessor, overseer of the poor and other town offices and positions, and in all these positions he has discharged his duties with singular ability and unvarying success. His great caution, accuracy of knowledge, thorough business training, promptness and experience in public affairs have been long recognized and repeatedly called to service in town matters, and probably few unprofessional citizens are better posted in matters relating to town government and its proper administration - especially in relation to the pauper laws - or more serviceable to the public in these respects than he is. Whatever falls to his management is promptly and correctly done, and with due consideration to the public interest. His books and records are always kept correctly and with business-like completeness and care. His worth in these respects is so generally conceded by his fellow-townsmen that party politics rarely defeat him as a candidate for public office, although he is a strong party man. He has discharged numerous trusts as administrator, guardian, assignee and trustee in bankruptcy and in insolvency, and in these relations found capable, honest and efficient. He is ready to accept responsibility and to do his duty, but is guided by a conservative good sense and caution to first learn what his duty is.

Mr. Paige has long been an earnest and influential citizen in promoting town enterprise and improvements, and uniformly advocated whatever tended to these results. He sustained the plan adopted to establish the public library, and usually advocated the laying-out and grading of new streets, the building of sidewalks, the lighting of streets and the introduction of electric street lights, and was recently one of the most influential workers in obtaining the Town Hall building. He is active and persistent, ambitious of carrying his points and usually successful. He has a wide personal acquaintance, and enjoys the confidence and respect of those who know him. He is naturally kind-hearted, cordial and generous in his association and dealings with men, and almost impulsive in his vigor and show of enthusiasm. He is a stalwart in his convictions when once formed, but cautious and conservative in forming them. He is an active and zealous partisan in politics, and always an ardent and uncompromising Republican, willing to work for the Republican cause, and a great admirer of Hon. James G. Blaine. His energy and push partake largely of his great natural spirit of enthusiasm.

The history of the town would be incomplete without special mention of the life and active career of Mr. Paige, in view of all he has accomplished for himself and for the general welfare - having so long been a prominent figui-e among the people in this community.

The ancestors of Mr. Paige were natives of Hardwick, Mass, where they were prominent citizens, as the town history shows. His great-grandfather, the first Timothy Paige, was a farmer, who served in the Revolutionary period as a captain of a militia company, led his company to Bennington at the alarm in August, 1777, and to West Point in 1780, and served in many town offices. His grandfather, the second Timothy, was a member of the company of "minute-men" who marched to Cambridge upon the Lexington alarm, and served for short periods several times during the Revolution.

He was a conspicuous man in public matters, holding justice courts and many town ofiices, and at his death, October 21, 1821, the Ke^v England Palladium described him as one of the oldest members of the House of Representatives ; a man who united very many excellent and useful qualities, and who was universally esteemed among his acquaintances for his intelligence and unbending integrity.

The C'lilumhian Coitinel referred to him as "one of the oldest members of the House of Representatives of this State, an undeviating patriot and an intelligent man." He was Representative to the General Court seventeen years successively, from 180.5 to 1821, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1820.

His father, Timothy Paige, Jr., was a lawyer of good standing in his profession, and of much literary taste. He was the first town clerk of Southbridge and won an enviable repute as a poet. His pnems were published as written in the public journals and bore the signature of "Jacques." The last poem he wrote was published in the Massachusetts Spy shortly after his death, November 17, 1822, entitled " Farewell to Summer."

Rev. Lucius R. Paige, LL.D., of Cambridge, Mass., the historian of Hardwick and Cambridge, and a man of literary attainments, is a brother, and uncle to the subject of this sketch.

Chester A. Dresser

Chester A. Dresser, of Soiithbridge, Mass., was born ia that town on the 2d of September, 1818, and, with the exception of a few years, has always resided in that place.

His early life was similar to many another New England boy's, who has plodded his way along rngged paths, surmounting all obstacles with a fixed purpose to guide him and a determination to become a useful and intelligent man. His mother, with her three children, of which the subject of our sketch was the second, resided in what was then and is to the present day known as the ('olumbian Block, situated on the corner of Main and Elm Streets, at that time the property of his grandfather and now owned by the Young Men's Christian Association. When ten years of age, upon the death of his mother, he w'as left in charge of his uncle, Ebenezer D. Ammidown, who was appointed his guardian. His education was acquired at the district school of the village, which he attended irregularly for several years, and he was a student at Nichols Academy, Dudley, Mass., and at Monson Academy - two terms at each institution. During the winters of 1830-31 he lived in the family of Hon. Linus Cliilds, who was an old friend of his mother, performing the duties of" chore boy " as remuneration for his board and attending school.

At the age of fourteen he chose Dr. Samuel Hartwell as his guardian and made his home at his house when not employed elsewhere. For a short time he was employed in the store kept by Milton Joslin, but he had now arrived at the age when, in those days, it was thought that a boy .should have some aim in life, and the subject of a " trade " was taken into consideration by his friends, and their advice freely given.

Learning of an opening in the village harness-shop for a boy, his guardian advised him to enter as an apprentice, but this employment not being entirely agreeable to his tastes, he sought the advice of his uncle, Harvey Dresser, and of Moses Plimpton, Esq., who was then the agent of the Columbian Manufacturing Company, engaged in the manufacture of cotton sheetings. Mr. Plimpton recommended his becoming a manufacturer, whereupon an engagement was entered into, the remuneration to be forty dollars per year and board. The price for board was one dollar and twenty-five cents per week and all lost time at the mill was deducted at the rate of forty dollars per annum, while there was no deduction for board. His initiatory apprenticeship was in the repair-shop of the company, in charge of an English mechanic, whose motto was "learn to do work well, after which do all you can."

After serving one year in the machine-shop, he was employed, in turn, in every department of the mill, learning to card, spin and weave. During these years of service, to strengthen his finances, he worked at night by moon and lamp-light, carrying in and packing wood, at eight cents per cord, and folding and packing cloth. Oftentimes the midnight hour would find him hard at work.

Feeling that he was yet deficient in the mathematical education necessary for a thorough knowledge of I the business which he had chosen, he attended school for three months during two winters, and devoted all his leisure time during his apprenticeship to the study of those problems which he had to solve and in the improvement of his handwriting. When the " financial crisis " of 1837 came, the mill was stopped during a part of that year, and he worked at farming through the summer, and took a position late in the fall as overseer of the warp-spinning, when the mill resumed operation. Being anxious to gain a more thorough knowledge of the weaving of cotton fabrics than the facilities of the small weaving-room at this mill aflbrded, the following spring he obtained a situation in the weaving department in charge of Nelson Drake, at the Fiskdale Mills.

"What wages do you expect?" asked Mr. Drake. " Give me whatever you think I am worth; I am not seeking wages, but a knowledge of the business in all its details," was the reply. So acceptably did he perform his duties that his wages were constantly in- ' creased while he remained in this department. In the spring of 1840 he entered the company's counting-room to obtain a knowledge of mercantile, manufacturing and double entry book-keeping, under the instruction of Avery P. Taylor. His career as manager Ijegan in September, 1840, when he was engaged to take charge of a mill of four thousand spindles at Swift Creek, near Petersburg, Va., where he I remained for two years. He then returned to his native town, in feeble health, and was seriously ill j and incapacitated for business for some time. ! In November, 1842, he assumed the management i of the cotton-mill located at Westville (a village in the westerly part of the town), and at the same time kept the " factory store.''

He was married to Mary C. Bartlett, of Petersburg, Va., in 1843, and in the spring of 1845 removed from Westville to take charge of the Dresser Mill, in the Centre village, succeeding Benjamin F. Kimball as superintendent. It was then that he established a marked reputation, in this vicinity, as a manufacturer. Up to this time Mr. Kimball had been the acknowledged authority on cotton manufacturing in this locality. The work at the Dresser Mill was running badly ; to use the language of a manufacturer, it was " completely bunged up." The manager and directors had made many fruitless efforts to ascertain the cause of the trouble, and finally came to the conclusion that the fault was in the raw material. A change in the quality of the cotton was consequently made, but no improvement in the running of the work resulted. The product was diminishing, the quality of work was inferior, the operatives were dissatisfied, many of them had given notices to leave, and the owners w ere disheartened.

The directors assembled one afternoon and sent for the young superintendent at Westville, requesting him to go over to the mill and, if possible, tell them what was the matter. He complied with their request, so far as to visit the mill; but when asked if he knew what the trouble was, replied that he would go there, take off' his coat and go to work, and if, at the end of two days, he could not correct the difficulty he would not remain. The new superintendent discovered the cause of all the trouble very soon after he entered the mill, at once applied the needed remedy and very soon the equilibrium was restored.

In December, 1845, he became the superintendent of the Central Manufacturing Company, where he remained until 1857, having, in the mean time, became one of the stockholders. In response to a very urgent request from the agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, of Manchester, N. H., he accepted the position as manager of the upper level, embracing three mills and dye-house. While in the employ of this corporation he brought about great improvements in the dyeing department and in all the mills under his supervision. The Central Manufacturing Company having become financially embarrassed, self-protection rendered it necessary that he should again return to Southbridge, in 1859, and attempt a settlement of their affairs. In this he was successful, and Manning Leonard and himself became joint owners of the property and thus carried on the business until the breaking oat of the Civil War, when the machinery was stopped and remained idle until November, 1863. At this time Mr. Leonard withdrew from the concern, selling his interest to Dresser, who, with new associates, established the present incorporated concern, called the Central Mills Company, which, having been thoroughly remodeled and supplied with improved machinery, has been successfully operated for the last twenty-five years, with C. A. Dresser as treasurer and manager.

John Edwards

He came from good, native New England stock on both sides, the son of Jacob Edwards and Hannah Marcy Edwards, who was a sister of ex-Governor William L. Marcy, of New York.

He married Mary E. Irwin, eldest daughter of Stephen P. Irwiii, by whom he had three children, - one son, John M., who died in infancy, and two daughters, now living, Lizzie I. Edwards and Ida P., wife of Calvin D. Paige.

His early education was limited to the instruction aftbrdeil by the public schools of the town and a course of study at Wilbraham Academy, after which he was for a time employed in the store of William and Jacob Edwards, Jr., his brothers, who carried on the leading dry goods and grocery business of the town.

In 1844 he became a partner in the firm, which continued until 1852, when Jacob Edwards, Jr., sold out his interest to his brothers, William and John, who divided their interest, William taking the grocery department and John the dry goods department, doing business under the firm-name of "John Edwards & Co." until January, 1871 , when, in consequence of failing health, he retired from active business.

In 1859, when his store was greatly injured by fire in an adjoining building, he was brought face to face with the question of rebuilding or of removing to a larger field, but upon mature consideration he determined to stay and enlarge his business. He erected he large brick block on Main Street, using the two lower floors for his business and the third floor as the Edwards Opera House," - at this time this being the largest retail dry goods store in the county, and now considered one of the best appointed stores in this section.

The erection of this block was the commencement of the construction of the fine business brick blocks which give Southbridge its prominence and distinction, and had not a little to do with attracting attention to the business capacity and interests of the town, that led to the completion of the railroad.

His stock of goods was large, varied and expensive, and attracted the people from all the surrounding towns, his business being conducted with a system and attention to details unexcelled even at the present day in metropolitan centres of trade.

He was an inffuential member of the Baptist Society, and when the church was destroyed by fire in 1863, it was largely through his labors that the present edifice was built, he contributing both time and money liberally towards its construction.

He took a deep interest in the welfare of the society, and at his decease left to the society, in trust for the benefit of the society and several Baptist institutions, a legacy known as the " Edwards legacy."

He first introduced gas into the town, putting in the gas works, first for his own use, and afterwards running them several years successfully for the public generally, until disposed of to the Mutual Gas- Light Company.

He purchased land on Main Street and improved it by opening and building Everett Street. In 1867 he built his new residence on the corner of Main and Everett Streets, which, with the fine grounds surrounding it, continues to be one of the most spacious and beautifijl places in the village.

In public matters he was liberal, public-spirited and enterprising in all things that tended to the growth and welfare of the town, and he was always found an active and influential adviser and worker in that direction.

This brief sketch of Mr. Edwards .sufficiently indicates his rank in the social, business and political life of the 'town, and the confidence and respect he enjoyed as a citizen among those who knew him best, but is, after all, deficient in conveying to any but those who knew the detail of his life-work his real worth to the community in which he lived, and the distinguished part he acted in contributing to the public thrift and progress here.

He was always looking ahead, and desired to keep matters moving, and was eager to put his own shoulder to the wheel of progre-ss, whenever occasion required it.

He was reserved and modest in manner, courteous and obliging, sagacious and prudent, helpful in worthy instances, and kind-hearted and sympathetic.

He had traveled in this country extensively, was always an intelligent observer, and therefore interesting as a companion. In these respects, for many years he filled a large and important place in his native town, and left behind him a memory that will endure, as one of its successful and worthy citizens.

There was nothing fortuitous in his career. He was the substantial architect of his own fortunes - most truly a self-made man - and will long be remembered as such.

Measuring his worth by what he was able to accomplish in life, few citizens of Southbridge have merited so prominent a place on the scroll of fame.

Hon. Linus Child

Hon. Linus Child, third child and third son of Rensselaer and Priscilla Corbin Child, born in Wood- ^ stock, Ct., February 27, 1S03, and married, October 27, 1827, Berenthia Mason.

Hon. Mr. Child passed his early years on his father's farm, with the usual attendance upon the public school. He began his preparation for college under the tuitiori of Rev. Samuel Backus, of East Woodstock, and completed his preparatory studies at Bacon Academy, in Colchester, Conn., in the autumn of 1820. The following winter he entered Yale College, New Haven, whence he graduated in 1824. Mr. Child did not reach the highest rank in college as a scholar, but for honest, actual mastery of the prescribed course few were before him. After he graduated he became a member of the law school in New Haven, and studied in the oflice of S. P. Staples. He was also under Judge Daggett's instruction. Six months later he became a student in the office of Hon.

Ebenezer Stoddard in the West Parish of his native town, and after eighteen months' stud)' there was admitted to the bar of Connecticut. He spent a year in the office of Hon. George A. Tufts, of Dudley, Mass., when he was admitted to practice in the courts of Worcester County, Mass. He resided in Southbridge some eighteen years. During this period he was six times elected Senator from Worcester County to the State Legislature. In 1845 he removed to Lowell, and held the agency of one or two of the largest manufacturing corporations of that city. He possessed the unusual stature and frame of his father and grandfather, was cordial and genial in look and manner earnest in the promotion of all efforts for the public weal, and prominent iu church and missionary interests, a member of the American Board of Foreign Missions.

The Ammidown Family

This is, doubtless, a typical New England family, and, as such, the record is interesting as illustrating the origin and growth of that portion of the people of New England which has given to this part of the United States its peculiar character. It is also interesting from the fact that the peculiarities of New England character have been broadly impressed upon the whole nation, and, more than any other, have contributed to make the people of this country a distinct and original race, endowed with high purposes and strong qualities, fitting them for leadership in human progress.

The earliest mention of the family in this country appears in the records of the town of Salem in the year 1637. It is of French origin, and belonged to that numerous class of early settlers in this country known as Huguenots, who fled from persecution in their native land to find freedom for their religious convictions.

It is believed that the name was originally Amadon ; but, by changes common in our early history, it may be found at this day in various forms, among which the more common are Ammidown, Amadon, Amidon and Ammidon.

The first settler at Salem was Roger Ammidown. He removed to Weymouth before 1640. On the records of that town in 1640 ajipears the birth of a child, Sarah, daughter of Roger and Sarah Ammidown. We next find him in Boston, where another child, Lydia, was born on the 22d of February, 1643. This is the first birth recorded in the Boston records under the letter "A." From Boston he joined a company from Weymouth, and founded the ancient town of Rehoboth, then in Plymouth Colony. Among his associates was Rev. Samuel Newman. The deed of convey- ance of the land is from Governor William Bradford, dated 1641. The first meeting of these founders was held at Weymouth, October, 1643, and it was agreed that they should move to their new home before April, 1644. The settlement was incorporated in 1645, and Roger Ammidown is named as ©ne of the original proprietors. His lot wiis located on the border of the Palmer River, about six miles west of the present centre of the town. He passed the remainder of his days at this place, and was buried there on the 13th of November, 1673. This founder of the family had a son Roger, who married, in 1666, Joanna Harwood, at Rehobotli. The family continued at this place for many years ; but, about the beginning of the next century, Philip, a son of Roger - the third generation - and born in 1669, moved to Mendon. He had married, for his second wife, Ethemore Warfield, and the records of Mendon show that he had there a large family, born between 1704 and 1717. At a later period he removed to Oxford and became a proprietor in the English settlement of that town. He was also, with his wife, a member of the First Church of Oxford, when it was formed in March, 1721, under the charge of Rev. John Campbell, a remarkable man, whose descendants have held a conspicuous place in the annals of this country. Philip Ammidown died in Oxford March 15, 1747, aged seventy -eight. He had brought all his children with him to Oxford, where we find on the town records the dates of their marriages and of the births of their children. They have now grown too numerous to follow, and have become connected by marriage with many families, whose names are known in all parts of New England : the Cheneys, Davises, Chamberlains, BuUards, Curtises, Hastingses, Aldrichs, Sumners, Holdens, Tafts, Sabins and many others.

Among the children of Philip, who died at Oxford in 1747, was Philip - the fourth generation - born in 1708 at Mendon. He married, at Oxford, Submit Bullard, and lived in the west part of that town, on the fertile hills at a later period (in 1754) set oft' and incorporated in the town of Charlton, and still later (in 1816) included in the corporate limits of the town of Southbridge. He had three children, from whom have descended those members of the family whose names have been most widely known since the beginning of the present century. These children - the fifth generation - were Caleb, born August, 1736; Joseph, born August, 1741, and Reuben, born September, 1747. From the middle of the last century down to the present time the public records of Worcester County bear frequent evidence of the part these men and their descendants have taken in jjublic and private affairs.

Caleb Ammidown was a remarkable man, and, as one of the contributors for founding Leicester Academy, the late Governor Washburn refers to him as follows : " He was of a class of men which were once scattered through the country, whose independence

The children of Caleb remained in the town where they were born. They were among its most influential citizens. Their work may be found in the roads, bridges and important public edifices of their native town. Their tomb-stones, with the record of their birth and death, may be found in the town cemetery. But, although in the early part of this century the name was among the most conspicuous in this town, and now is among the most frequent in its cemetery, this family has been gradually dispersed, and at the present day is represented by comparatively few persons. These few, however, bear many of the traits which distinguished their progenitors. They are generally useful citizens, ready to perform the duties of citizenship, and in both public and private life acting well their part.

Among the children of Caleb were three men, who made their mark locally. They were : John, born in 1759 ; Luther, born in 1761, and Calvin, born in 1768. These men were of the sixth generation. Luther was the most widely known, and, like his father, was a member of the State Legislature. He died in 1835.

Among the children of the seventh generation was the late Holmes Ammidown, born in Southbridge June 12, 1801. He died in St. Augustine, Florida, April 3, 1883. Holmes Ammidown was a member of the State Legislature in 1836. He afterwards became prominent as a merchant in Boston, and, by his public and private character, illustrated the traits which have marked the family career from its earliest known period. An account of his life, with a portrait, may be found in the Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1883.

Among the children of Calvin Ammidown was Eben D. Ammidown, of the seventh generation, prominent as a manufacturer and as a member of the State Senate. His mind, remarkably strong and fertile, was constantly engaged in pidjects for public improvements.

The Ammidown family is now scattered throughout the United States. Although n^ver a numerous family, it has made its mark in every generation, never reaching the highest distinctions, but always conspicuous for the qualities which make good citizens.

In former times they were generally farmers ; in later years they have engaged successfully in various pursuits - farming, manufacturing, mercantile and professional.

Several of the family have already been specially named as holding prominent positions in life. Among others of note may be mentioned Philip, of Mendon, of the sixth generation, and his son Otis, who became distinguished as a merchant, both in Europe and America, and died in Philadelphia in 1858, aged eighty-seven. A daughter of Philip, of Mendon (Sylvia), was the wife of Jonathan Russel, who was one of the Commissioners signing the Treaty with Great Britain in 1814. A grandson of Philip, of Mendon (the seventh generation), was graduated at Harvard College in 183(». Another, of the Southbridge branch of the family, Edward Holmes (of the eighth generation), was graduated at Harvard College in 1853. Another, Albert (of the ninth generation), also of the Southbridge branch, was graduated at Harvard College in 1868.

The death of another member of this family, Mr. HoUis Auiidon, has this week (.January 22, 1889) l>een announced in the papers at Washington, D. C. It is not known to the writer to what branch of the family he belonged, but the language of the obituary notice of him indicates that the family traits found marked expression in his career. It says : " He died at the advanced age of eighty-two. He represented the Department of Agriculture in the Centennial Exhibition. He w;is a man of rare intellect, and contributed many articles to the press. He was much liked by all who knew him."