History of Canton, (Norfolk County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Biographies:

Simeon Taylor Clark, educator, was born at Canton, Mass., Oct. 10, 1836; son of the Rev. Nathan Sears and Laura (Swift) Clark. His preparatory education was acquired at Sippican seminary, Marion, Mass., and at the Oxford normal institute, South Paris, Maine. In 1885 he accepted the chair of medical jurisprudence in Niagara university. He received the degree of M.D. from the Berkshire medical college in 1860, and that of A.M. from Genesee college, afterward Syracuse university, in 1866. He is the author of poetical contributions to periodicals. He died in Lockport, N.Y., Dec. 24, 1891.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Nahum Capen, author, was born in Canton, Mass., April 1, 1804. In 1825 he began business in Boston as a publisher, with the firm of Marsh, Capen & Lyon. He was among the first to agitate the matter of an international copyright, his memorial to Congress on the subject being one of the first presented to that body; a letter of his, printed by the senate, led to the organization of the census bureau at Washingten, and he established the custom of collecting letters from street boxes. He was postmaster of Boston from 1857 to 1861. He contributed to the press many articles on history and political economy. He edited a translation of the Works of Dr. Gall (6 vols.); the Annals of Phrenology (2 vols.); the Writings of Hon. Levi Woodbury, LL. D and the Massachusetts State Records from 1847 to 1851 (5 vols.). He published The Republic of the United States (1848); Reminiscences of John G. Spurzheim and George Combe, and a Review of the Science of Phrenology (1881). At the time of his death he was engaged on a History of Democracy, one volume of which was published in 1874. He died in Boston, Mass., Jan. 4, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Downes, naval officer, was born in Canton, Mass., Dec. 23, 1784; son of Jesse and Naomi (Taunt) Downes; grandson of Edward and Merriam (or Mary) (Jordan) Downes; and a great-grandson of Edward and Ruth (Puffer) Downes. He became midshipman in the U.S. navy in 1802 and was promoted lieutenant in 1807, master commandant in 1813, and captain in 1817. During the war with Tripoli he distinguished himself in a boat attack, and in the war of 1812, as executive officer of the frigate Essex, he commanded the prize refitted by Captain Porter and named the Essex Junior. He commanded the brig Epervier and captured the Algerine frigate Nashonda, June 17, 1815, and two days later the brig of war Estido, off Cape Palos. He commanded the frigate Macedonian in the Pacific, 1819-21, the Java in the Mediterranean, 1828-29, and the Pacific squadron U.S. frigate Potomac, 1832-34. He commanded the Charlestown navy yard, Boston harbor, 1837-42, 1850-52. He married, Oct. 30, 1821, Maria Gertrude Hoffman. He died in Charlestown, Mass., Aug. 11, 1855.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Zenas Crane, manufacturer, was born at Canton, Mass., May 9, 1777; son of Stephen and Susannah (Babcock) Crane; grandson of Benjamin and Abigail (Houghton) Crane; great-grandson of Stephen and Mary (Denison) Crane; and great2 grandson of Henry Crane, who came from England to Dorchester, Mass., in 1648 or 1649. He was educated at the district schools and learned the rudiments of the paper business at his brother's mill in Newton, completing his knowledge in General Burbank's mill at Worcestor. In 1799 he decided to establish a mill of his own and selected Dalton in the Berkshire hills as the most suitable location, chiefly on account of its inexhaustible supply of the purest washing water. His paper mill, the first to be constructed west of the Connecticut river, was finished in 1801, and was called the "Old Berkshire." This was the nucleus about which the great Crane mills gradually formed. Mr. Crane conducted this until 1807, when he sold his interest to a partner and entered mercantile business. In 1809 he was married to Lucinda, daughter of Gaius and Lucretia (Babcock) Brewer of Wilbraham, Mass. In 1810 he bought an interest in the new mill, subsequently known as the "Old Rod Mill," and became superintendent and chief manager. In 1822 he became sole proprietor. He conducted the mill with success until 1842 when he transferred his interest to his eldest sons, Zenas Marshall and James Brewer Crane, already his partners. In politics he was first a Federalist and later a Whig, and was several times chosen to the state legislature, beginning in 1811. In 1836-37 he served in Governor Everett's council. He died at Dalton, Mass., June 29, 1845.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor