History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917; - citizen hylbom blog

174 History of Swansea
Luther, great-great-granddaugbter of (III) Samuel and Sarah Luther,
great-great-great-granddaughter of (II) Samuel and Mary Abel Luther
and great-great-great-great-granddaughter of (I) Capt. John Luther, the
settler. Joseph G. Luther was agent for the factory at Hortonville at one
time, but in 1823 succeeded his brother John B. as a merchant at Luther's
Corners. He was a Captain in the State Militia. From 1830 to 1836 he
filled the office of town clerk, and from 1830 to 1835 that of town treasurer;
he also served as collector of taxes. His four children were: (I) Rebecca B.,
born April 22, 1822, married Jan. 16, 1849, Benjamin Bosworth, and died
Nov. 7, 1902, the mother of two children, Joseph L. (born March 19, 1850,
died Dec. 13, 1865) and Annie H. (born May 28, 1857, married April 19,
1887, Alexander M. Wetherwell, of Fall River,) (2) Elizabeth G., born
Dec. 14, 1824, died unmarried, May 20, 1909. (3) Sarah Sweet, born July
28, 1832, married Oct. 27, 1853, Elisha B. Gardner and died Oct. 3, 1905,
the mother of Martha Tamer (born March 16, 1855, married Dec. 10,
1890, Herbert H. Horton, and died Sept. 13, 1893), Elizabeth Luther,
(born Oct. 27, 1857, married Oct. 30, 1890, James H. French, of Fall River)
and Mary Amanda (born April 21, 1869), (4) Joseph G.
(VII) Joseph Gardner Luther, son of Joseph G. and Tamer, was
born Sept. 22, 1837, and was educated at the Warren (R. I.) Classical
Institute and at a school at Kent's Hill, Readfield, Maine. He succeeded
his father in the mercantile business, which he conducted with remarkable
success from 1857 to 1906. He has been a careful business man and an able
financier. He has ever been keenly interested in the progress of his community,
and with high ideals of citizenship; has always been a Republican
in pohtics, and has served his town faithfully as an official, holding the
offices of town treasurer, tax collector, and (from 1865 to 1880) town clerk.
From May 22, 1867 to June 2, 1916 and renewed he was Justice of the
peace, conscientiously performing his duties to the best interests of law and
order. Mr. Luther's pathway in life has been a pleasant one, and he has
endeavored by all means in his power to scatter sunshine among those
whose lives have come close to his. He is the last of his line, and resides in
the old family home at Swansea Center.
Horton Family
The Horton family came early to New England. Thomas of Windcor,
removed to Springfield in 1638, and died leaving a son Jeremiah, by wife
Mary, Barnabas Horton, a native of Monsley, Leicestershire, England, was
at Hampton in 1640, and was of Southold, Long Island, in 1662. Benjamin
Horton, perhaps a brother, lived at the same place, same time, and Caleb,
too. Then there was John Horton at Guilford, and Thomas at Charlestown.
Coming now to the Rehoboth Hortons, one John Horton, said to have
come from England, settled in Rehoboth, and there married Mehetabel
Gamzey, and had John, Jotham, Nathaniel, Jonathan, and David. The
Rehoboth vital records give as the early heads of families there, Thomas
and Hannah, David, their eldest child, being bom Oct. 8, 1701; and John,
Jr., and Mary, whose eldest child Ruth, was born July 19, 1720.
(I) Solomon Horton, of Rehoboth, married there Feb. 18, 1737-38,
Mary Goff. Their children of Rehoboth town record were: Charles, born
March 18, 1739; Constant, Oct. 29, 1740; Solomon, Jan. 15, 1742-43;
Mary, Aug. 10, 1745; Abigail, Oct. 14, 1747; Daniel, Jan. 30, 1749-50;
and Aaron, March 21, 1752.
(II) Solomon Horton (2) son of Solomon and Mary (GofF) Horton,
born Jan. 15, 1742-43, married at Dighton in November, 1768, Hannah
Talbot of that town. Mr. Horton was a soldier of the Revolution, serving