Medway, Norfolk co, Mass Bios ? Surnames beginning with B ************************************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Transcribed by Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 4:15 PM THE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT PERSONS, AND The Genealogical Records OF MANY EARLY AND OTHER FAMILIES IN MEDWAY, MASS. 1713-1886. Illustrated WITH NUMEROUS STEEL AND WOOD ENGRAVINGS. BY E. O. JAMESON, THE AUTHOR OK "THE COGSWELLS IN AMERICA," "THE HISTORY OF MEDWAY, MASS.." ETC. MILLIS, MASS. 1886. Copyright, 1886. E. O. JAMESON, MILLIS, MASS. All Rights Reserved. J. A. & R. A. REID, PRINTERS, PROVIDENCE, R. I. _______________________________________________ REV. LUTHER BAILEY. LUTHER BAILEY, son of Israel and Ruth (Fisher) Bailey, was born May 3,1783, in Canton, Mass., and early united with the church of his native town. He graduated in 1S08 from Brown University, Rhode Island. In 1811 he was the preceptor, of Bradford Academy, and subsequently of Taunton Academy for some five years; while at Taunton, he preached for some time in Mendon and supplied other pulpits in the vicinity occasionally. In 1816 he became the pastor of the First Church of Christ in Medway, where he preached for many years, and resided until his death. The Rev. Mr. Bailey was a brother of the Hon. John Bailey who was a member of Congress from Massachusetts. Mr. Bailey married Anne Peck, daughter of Elisha and Rebecca Peck, of Providence, R. I. She was born April 16, 1785. After a long and useful life the Rev. Mr. Bailey died Dec. 19, 1861. His wife survived him a few years and died June 16, 1863. The children were Francis, who died in early life; Eliza A., married Horace Baker, resided in Boston, Mass.; Helen M., married Reuben E. Nichols, resides in Philadelphia, Penn.; Charles, married Caroline W. Goodrich, resides in Pittsfield, Mass. _______________________________________________ CHARLES BAILEY, M. D. CHARLES BAILEY, son of the Rev. Luther and Anne (Peck) Bailey, was born Sept. 2, 1S21, in East Medway. He graduated in 1841 from Brown University, Rhode Island. He studied medicine and surgery with Dr. Nathaniel Miller, and was, for a time, the partner of Dr. John Warren, of Boston. He attended his first course of lectures at Mason Street College, Boston, and subsequently had charge of Dr. Miller's hospital for two years, He acquired additional experience and practice at the Chelsea United States Marine Hospital, and finished his medical education with Dr. Henry H. Child, President of the Berkshire Medical College, Pittsfield, Mass., where he graduated in November, 1843, with the highest honors in a school of 175, and was chosen unanimously to deliver the valedictory address. He commenced practice in Springfield, Mass., the same year, in company with Dr. J. G. Holland, familiarly known as "Timothy Titcomb." He removed in four years to Holyoke, remaining there two and a half years. Then, on account of failing health, he was obliged to journey South. When his health was materially benefited he returned to Philadelphia, taking a course of lectures at the Filbert Street Homoeopathic College, where he obtained a thorough understanding of homoeopathy. He then returned to Pittsfield in December, 1849, and commenced the practice which he still continues. In May, 1846, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Goodrich, daughter of the late Levi Goodrich, of Webster, Mass. He had two sons, one of whom died while young, in Holyoke, the other is Dr. Edward L. Bailey, who is associated with his father in the practice of medicine. Dr. Bailey, when a boy, had a narrow escape from death by the premature discharge of a cannon with which he and a companion were firing a salute. _______________________________________________ REV. ABIJAH RICHARDSON BAKER, D. D. ABIJAH RICHARDSON BAKER, son of David and Jemima (Richardson) Baker, was born Aug. 30, 1805, in Franklin, Mass. He pursued his studies in Medway, and graduated in 1830, from Amherst College. After graduating he opened a private classical school in Medway Village. He graduated in 1835 from Andover Theological Seminary, Massachusetts. The Rev. Mr. Baker preached in Ware, Mass., West Hartford, Conn., and in Albany, N. Y. He was at length settled, April 25, 1838, in Medford, where he was greatly blessed in a ministry of ten years. He resigned his pastorate in 1849, and gave himself to literary, Sabbath School, and general Gospel work. He received the degree of D.D. in 1S70 from Austin College. He labored for a while in the Gospel in South Boston, Mass. The Rev. Mr. Baker married, Oct. 1, 1835, Harriet Newell Woods, daughter of the Rev. L. Woods, D. D., of Andover, Mass. They had six sons, four of whom entered the ministry, one was a physician, and one died in infancy. The Rev. Dr. Baker died April 30, 1876, at the age of seventy years. _______________________________________________ REV. JOSEPH BARBER. JOSEPH BARBER was born at the old homestead in West Medway, about a mile north of the Baptist Church. By his own unassisted efforts he prepared himself for the Gospel ministry and was ordained Dec. 5, 1861, the pastor of the Baptist Church in Brewster, Mass. Subsequently he was pastor of the churches in North Uxbridge, Mass., Southington, Conn., Bolton, West Bridgewater and Westminster, Mass., and in September, 1883, became pastor of the Baptist Church in Caryville, where he now ministers. _______________________________________________ CHARLES ALBERT BEMIS, M. D. CHARLES ALBERT BEMIS, son of Albert T. and Sarah H. (Hastings) Bemis, was born Sept. 22, 1843, in Ashburnham, Mass. He attended medical lectures in Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Mass., and in 1872 graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn. After he had practiced his profession for two years in Spencer, Mass., he came to Medway, where he has had a successful and lucrative practice for twelve years. He has held the offices of Examining Surgeon for Pensions for the United States, Medical Examiner for the State, and served on the Board of Health and School Committee in the town. He married, Dec. 14, 1872, Lizzie Thompson, daughter of John and Ann (Lefferts) Thompson, of Philadelphia, Penn. _______________________________________________ JOHN BLACKBURN, ESQ. JOHN BLACKBURN, son of Henry Blackburn, was born March 10, 1777, in Bradford, England. By indentures now in existence, it appears that under date of May 1, thirtieth year of the reign of King George III., in the year 1790, he was bound an apprentice to James Harnsworth in the township of Shepley in the parish of Bradford, England, for a period of seven years, he then being thirteen years of age. About 1801 Samuel Slater wanted his younger brother, John Slater, to come to America and bring a machinist that understood building and working cotton machinery, and he prevailed upon Mr. Blackburn to come with him. He was in the employ of Mr. Slater for a year, who after obtaining all the information and benefit of his skill at a moderate compensation advised him to return to England. But not wishing to return he went to building a stone wall for a neighbor until employed by the Messrs. Jenckes, of Pawtucket, to build a mill for them, and put it into operation, which he did successfully. Afterward, on the fourteenth day of May, 1805, he entered into an indenture with others to build a cotton mill in Medway Village, of which an account is given elsewhere. Retaining an interest in the mill during his life, he settled in Walpole, June 11, 1811, and continued the construction of machinery and the manufacture of cotton yarn with his son, George Blackburn, until 1828, when their works were totally destroyed by fire. He then retired upon a farm, and died April 21, 1861, at the age of eighty-four years. He had six children, George and Hannah Battel, who were born in England, William born in Pawtucket, R. I., Mary, A., born in Medway, and John Henry, and one who died in infancy, born in Walpole, Mass. His son, Mr. John Henry Blackburn, resides in Walpole, Mass. He has in his possession the ancient indentures by which his father was bound out when a lad of thirteen years. He has also a watch and a large family Bible printed in 1777, which were brought by his father from England. _______________________________________________ REV. ALVAN BOND, D. D. ALVAN BOND, son of Deacon William and Sarah (Waters) Bond, was-born April 27, 1793, in Sutton, Mass. He graduated in 1815 from Brown University, Rhode Island, and in 1818 from Andover Theological Seminary, Mass. He was ordained Nov. 29, 1819, and installed the pastor of Congregational Church in Starbridge, Mass. He married, April 25, 1821, Sarah Richardson, of East Medway. He was Professor of Sacred Literature in the Theological Seminary, Bangor, Me., from October, 1831, to April, 1835. May, 1835, he was installed pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Norwich, Conn., which office he filled for thirty years. In 1846 he received the degree of D. D., from Brown University. Rhode Island. The Rev. Dr. Bond resigned his pastorate in 1864. He edited an Illustrated History of the Holy Bible which was published in 1867. His death occurred July 19, 1882, in Norwich, Conn. A memorial address was delivered Oct. 22, 1882, by Professor Timothy Dwight, D. D., who, in early life, was one of Dr. Bond's hearers. This memorial address was published, with a photograph of the Rev. Dr. Bond, for private distribution. _______________________________________________ REV. EDWIN A. BUCK. EDWIN A. BUCK, son of James and Lydia (Treat) Buck, was born May 31, 1824, in Bucksport, Me. He graduated in 1849 from Yale College, New Haven, Conn., and in 1852 from the Theological Seminary, Bangor, Me. After supplying the pulpit in Pownal, Me., one year, he was ordained, and installed May 31, 1854, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Bethel, Me. After a, ministry of some four years he was installed, June, 1858, pastor of the Congregational Church in Slatersville, R. I., where he remained nearly ten years, and was then called, November, 1867, to the work of a city missionary by the Central Church of Fall River, Mass., in which work he is still, 1885, engaged. The Rev. Mr. Buck married, Jan. 19, 1853, Rebecca Elmira Walker, daughter of Dean and Rebecca (Wright) Walker, of Medway, now Millis, Mass. Mrs. Buck died Feb. 16, 1877. There were seven children: Eliza Harding, born Nov. 12, 1853; Alice Lydia, born Aug. 6, 1855; Mary Rebecca, born July 18, 1857; N. Eveline, born March 2, 1860; Isabella Howard, born July 15, 1864, died Jan. 26, 1867; Augustus Walker, born Feb. 7, 1866; Clara Fay, born Dec. 29, 1868. _______________________________________________ REV. NATHAN BUCKNAM. NATHAN BUCKNAM, second pastor of the Church of Christ, was born Nov. 2, 1703, in Malden, Mass. He graduated in 1721 from Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., and almost immediately commenced preaching in Medway, at the age of nineteen years. Although urged to settle, he declined the invitation, not wishing to assume such responsibility until he was twenty-one years of age. He was ordained, and installed Dec. 23, 1824, pastor of the Church of Christ in Medway, where he fulfilled an active ministry of sixty-two years, and was continued in the pastoral office until his death which occurred Feb. 6, 1795. Vid. THE CHURCHES, also, THE GENEALOGIES.