Samuel Gardner Irish, Civil War Veteran, born July 23, 1842

Samuel Gardner Irish was born in Southbridge, MA on July 23, 1842 to Isaac C. and Lucy (Dodge) Irish.  He lived his boyhood years in Southbridge and moved to Brookfield in his late teens.  He worked in the shoe trade until mustering into Co. H of the 21st Massachusetts Infantry on Aug. 5, 1861.  Samuel was wounded in Newbern, North Carolina on March 15, 1862, and suffered a debilitating gun shot wound to the right shoulder at Petersburg, VA on July 30, 1864.  He was mustered out as a Sergeant on 30 Aug. 1864.  His service was credited to the town of Southbridge and his name appears on the monument there.

Samuel married Maria Ann Eaton, daughter of Hiram and Sarah Jane (Kendrick) Eaton on August 6, 1867 in North Brookfield.  The clergyman, J. W. Lewis of Southbridge, also married Samuel's brother Isaac Franklin Irish and Maria's sister Lucy Eaton in a double marriage ceremony.

Samuel and Maria lived in North Brookfield where their daughter Mabel and son Chauncey Franklin were born.  They moved to Lake Street in West Brookfield sometime between 1880 and 1890, and in October of 1895 Maria died of Carcinoma of the Breast at age 51.

Samuel married Maria (Nichols) Morton in West  Brookfield on Nov. 25, 1896 and they continued to live in West Brookfield where Samuel was a Senior Vice Commander of G.A.R. Post 160.  Samuel's eyesight failed considerably and he suffered from heart trouble, fainting spells and dizziness; as well as headaches, during his final year of life.  He died on May 23, 1925 and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Samuel's son Chauncey "Frank" Irish married Jospehine Madden, daughter of John Madden and Johanna Daneher, and eventually relocated to Waterbury, Connecticut.  He shortened his last name to Iris and his descendants are known by that name.  Samuel's daughter Mabel married Henry Nelson Smith of North Brookfield, the son of Lemuel anad Cornelia (Nelson) Smith.  Henry was crushed to death by the electric train in Brookfield in 1908 and Mabel eventually moved to Springfield, MA.  Many of Mabel's descendants live in Worcester County today.

Roy Smith born July 5, 1890

Roy Smith, son of Henry Nelson Smith and Mabel Idelle (Irish) was born in West Brookfield on July 5, 1890 according to his World War I and World War II Draft Registration Cards found at Ancestry.com, and also the record of his marriage to Annie Eliza Dickinson.  The record of his birth does not appear in West Brookfield vital records available at Americanancestors.org, but perhaps there is an amended record.  His marriage to Annie Eliza Dickinson in Putnam, CT on June 1, 1910 was recorded in Worcester where they both lived and worked. (Worcester Vital records Vol. 596: Page 515)  Two children were born of this union - a daughter Arline born March 7, 1911, and a son LeRoy P.,born in March 16, 1915.  Roy and Annie divorced in Worcester on 17 July 1919, and Roy married Florence (Anger) Holden sometime between 1930 and 1942.

Roy worked in the food and beverage business for many years, managing diners in Worcester, and North Attleboro.  He owned the City Line Diner in Worcester in 1942 at the time of his World War II Draft Registration. He died Dec. 13, 1961 in Attleboro, MA and was buried in Hope Cemetery in Worcester.

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew Roy, or who might have family photos, or photos of the diners where he worked.

Sources

Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915; Worcester > 1910 > Page 39 > Record No. 702;  New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 March 2023.

United States, Massachusetts, Worcester - Divorce records; Worcester County, Massachusetts, divorce docket books, 1891-1936, Volumes 12 - 17, 1915-1936 [Worcester County, Massachusetts]; Familysearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 December 2022,)

Emily Augusta Allen and Windsor Reed Smith were born in West Brookfield on June 11

Emily Augusta Allen was born to Amos Crosby Allen and his wife Almira on June 11, 1860.  Sadly,  Emma died of Diptheria on Nov. 3, 1864.

Windsor Reed Smith was born June 11, 1872 to Augustus Windsor Smith and his wife Ruth Tyler.  Windsor was a veterinarian.  He married Mary E. Watson, daughter of Charles and Jane (Crambury) Watson in West Brookfield on Feb. 15, 1910.   A daughter Jeanette Watson Smith was born on March 26, 1911, in a Springfield hospital.  The couple moved to North Brookfield between 1911 and 1920.  Windsor died about 1959 and Mary died in January of 1967.  They are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield.

I would welcome more information about this couple.

The 1880 United States Census was taken in June of that year.  The enumerator in West Brookfield was Miss Grace C. White.  More about this in future posts.

June 9 in West Brookfield Genealogy

June 9 was the date of the birth of James Campion, the death of Ephraim Chamberlain, and the marriage of Burnham Smith and Mabel Cutler.

BornJames Campion was born in West Brookfield on June 9,  1869 to Daniel and Honora (Lawler) Campion.  Daniel, a shoemaker in 1869, and Honora, or Anna as she was sometimes called, were born in Ireland.  Their oldest known son, Daniel was born in Ohio in May of 1868. Seven younger childen, including James, were born in West Brookfield.
James Campion died of Consumption in 1898 as is buried at Sacred Heart Cemetery.

DiedEphraim Forbes Chamberlain, son of Eli Chamberlain and Achsah Forbes, was born in Brookfield about 1822 and died in Worcester on June 9, 1892. He was a brother of South Carolina Governor Daniel Henry Chamberlain, and Rev. Dr. Leander Trowbridge Chamberlain.
Ephraim,  a farmer, was a member of the Worcester County Horticultural Society; as well as, the Worcester, and New England Agricultural Societies.  He also served as President of the Tatnuck Benevolent and Literary Association.  He and his wife, the former Maria McFarland, were parents of five children including Fred H. Chamberlain, who became a lawyer and later a judge.

MarriedMabel Bartlett Cutler and Burnham Perry  Smith were married 9 Jun 1910 in West Brookfield, MA. Mabel was born in West Brookfield on 28 Sept. 1884, the daughter of Alonzo Cutler and his wife Sarah (Richards).  Burnham was born 22 Feb. 1882 in Brandon,Vermont to Albert Smith and his wife Emma (Newell.)
Burnham, had worked as a Trade School Supervisor in Connecticut and was also employed by Smith & Wesson in Springfield for a time.  Later he managed Buddy Lunch for several years.  He was serving the town of West Brookfield as Tax Collector at the time of his sudden death on Jan. 28, 1938.  He was a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the local Grange.
Mabel was an inspector for Gavitt Wire & Cable until her retirement.  She belonged to the Whitefield United Methodist Church.  She died in West Brookfield on Feb. 18, 1976.
Their daughter Barbara served in the U. S. Marine Corps and married Fred Ivy.

For further information about any of these people, click on the Information Request Form tab at the top of the page, fill in the form and click  Submit.