By Muriel Bristol | October 30, 2022
Freeman H. Lowd was born in Acton, ME, September 5, 1853, son of Sylvester and Dorcas (Hanson) Lowd.
Sylvester Lowd, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), headed an Acton (“Milton Mills P.O.”), ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Dorcas Lowd, keeping house, aged fifty years (b. ME), Lizzie Lowd, a schoolteacher, aged twenty-one years (b. ME), Clinton Lowd, aged nineteen years (b. ME), Charles E. Lowd, aged seventeen years (b. ME), Freeman H. Lowd, aged sixteen years (b. ME), and Haven Lowd, aged thirteen years (b. ME). Sylvester Lowd had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $175.
Mother Dorcas (Hanson) Lowd died June 11, 1871.
The Milton School Superintendents of 1876 were M.V.B. Cook, J.N. Lowell, Freeman H. Lowd. (Rev. John N. Lowell (1846-1903) was a Congregational minister; and Freeman H. Lowd (1853-1933) was a clerk and bookkeeper).
Milton’s town school committee members of 1877 were identified in the NH Education Report of 1877, as being J.P. Bickford (1844-1910) of Milton, Freeman H. Lowd (1853-1933) of Milton Mills, and Ambrose H. Wentworth (1832-1913) of West Milton.
Milton’s town school committee members of 1878 were identified in the NH Education Report of 1878, as being J.P. Bickford (1844-1910) of Milton, Freeman H. Lowd (1853-1933) of Milton Mills, and Martin V.B. Cook (1839-1891) of Milton.
Edward S. Simes, a carpenter, aged thirty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Mary E. Simes, a housekeeper, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), his children, Fred Simes, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Laura E. Simes, at school, aged six years (b. ME), and his boarders, Freeman H. Lowd, a bookkeeper, aged thirty-two [twenty-seven] years (b. ME), and Haven Lowd, works in felt mill, aged twenty-two years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John U. Simes, a trader, aged forty-three years (b. NH), and Bray U. Simes, a retired merchant, aged seventy-eight years (b. NH).
F.H. Lowd appeared in the Milton business directories of 1880, 1881, 1882, 1884, and 1887, as a Milton Mills grocer.
Freeman H. Lowd married (1st) in Milton, October 22, 1883, Fannie Miller, both of Milton. He was a clerk, aged twenty-nine years, and she was aged nineteen years. Rev. G.S. Butler performed the ceremony. She was born in Acton, ME, July 25, 1859, daughter of Ira and Frances W. (Merrill) Miller.
Daughter Grace M. Lowd was born in Milton Mills, NH, July 24, 1883 [?].
Father Sylvester Lowd died in Acton, ME, December 6, 1884, aged sixty-five years.
Daughter Alice M. Lowd was born at 168 Boylston Street, in West Roxbury, Boston, MA, July 7, 1886, daughter of Freeman H. and Fannie L. Lowd (both born in Acton, ME). Her father was a broker.
Freeman Loud [Lowd] was secretary of the Milton Mills Electric Company in 1893.
Street Railway Review. New Hampshire. Manchester, N.H. Milton Mills Electric elects Edward P. Parsons, president; John E. Townsend, vice president; C.W. Gross, M.D., treasurer; Freeman Loud, secretary (Windsor & Kenfield, 1893).
S.W. Wallingford, Joseph H. Avery, and F.H. Lowd were the Milton selectmen of 1896-97.
LOCALS. The retiring board of selectmen have remarkable records in serving that town. Geo. Lyman has served in that capacity for 29 years, John U. Sims for 18 years, and George Plummer for 12 years. They are republicans. There was a cat-a-cornered fight this year against the “old board” – the “Milton Tammany” its opponents called it – and the following board, also republicans, were elected: Samuel H. Wallingford, Joseph H. Avery, Freeman H. Loud. Luther Wentworth was foremost in the battle, and though there were four candidates against him, it required three ballots to defeat him for second place on the ticket. Evidently there were lively times at Milton town meeting (Farmington News, March 18, 1896).
[Ed.: We may note the circumstance that all three selectmen – each a member of long tenure – were replaced by an entirely new board. The Milton town government of that time apparently felt no pressing need for staggered terms in order to ensure “continuity”].
Mother-in-law Frances W. (Merrill) Miller died January 30, 1897.
S.W. Wallingford, G.E. Nute, and F.H. Lowd were the Milton selectmen of 1898.
Frances (Miller) Lowd died of acute enteritis in the Maine General Hospital in Portland, ME, May 25, 1898. C.O. Hunt signed the death certificate.
F.H. Lowd, G.E. Nute, and E.L. Leighton were the Milton selectmen of 1899.
Milton sent Freeman H. Lowd to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative for the 1899-00 biennium. Freeman H. Lowd, a Republican, who had received 264 votes, defeated Stephen M. Bragdon, a Democrat, who had received 82 votes (NH Secretary of State, 1899). Rep. Lowd, whose lodgings were said to be at 9 Elm street in Concord, NH, was chairman of the Insurance Committee (NH General Court, 1899).
F.H. Lowd, W.F. Mills, and W.T. Wallace were the Milton selectmen of 1900-01.
Ira Miller, a merchant (retired), aged seventy-three years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his son-in-law, Freeman H. Lowd, a storekeeper (b. ME), aged forty-six years, his grandchildren, Grace M. Lowd, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and Alice M. Lowd, at school, aged thirteen years (b. MA), and his servant, Susie B. Clarks, a housekeeper, aged twenty years (b. NH). Ira Miller owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared between that of Harriet H. F0x, a homekeeper, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), and Grace Griffin, a homekeeper, aged twenty-one years (b. CT), and that of John Hall, a weaver, aged thirty-eight years (b. Canada).
Milton delegates for the several conventions are as follows, State convention, Elbridge W. Fox, Freeman H. Lowd. Congressional, Charles H. Looney, Joseph H. Avery. Councillor, Wm. F. Wallace, B.B. Plummer. Senatorial, F.L. Marsh, Charles D. Jones. County, Charles D. Fox, Charles A. Jones (Farmington News, September 7, 1900).
F.H. Lowd & Co. appeared in the Milton business directories of 1901, and 1904, as Milton Mills merchants. Among his offerings were fancy goods, toys, etc.
The NH General Court authorized incorporation of the Milton Water Works Company, March 21, 1901, with initial board members Malcom A.H. Hart, Charles H. Looney, S. Lyman Hayes, Charles D. Jones, Fred B. Roberts, Harry Avery, George E. Wentworth, Joseph H. Avery, Ira W. Jones, Arthur W. Dudley, Everett F. Fox, Henry F. Townsend, Freeman H. Lowd, William T. Wallace, Frank G. Horne, Charles A. Jones, and Nathaniel G. Pinkham. It had established itself July 19, 1899, with Harry L. Avery as its treasurer (NH Secretary of State, 1901).
Father-in-law Ira Miller died in Milton Mills, December 12, 1902, aged seventy-five years, eleven months, and thirty days.
Daughter Grace May Lowd married (1st) in Somersworth, NH, December 29, 1902, Van Wallace Marston, she of Milton Mills and he of Portsmouth, NH. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years, and she was at home aged nineteen years. Rev. William H. Hutchin performed the ceremony. Marston was born in Greenland, NH, April 2, 1875, son of Frank H. and Lizzie (Johnston) Marston.
F.H. Lowd appeared in the Milton business directory of 1905-06, as a Milton Mills grocer and general storekeeper, at 7 Main street.
Daughter Alice M. Lowd married (1st) in Sanbornville, [Wakefield,] NH, September 15, 1905, Leon H. Goodwin, she of Milton and he of Wakefield, NH. He was a clerk, aged twenty years, and she was aged nineteen years. Rev. R.H. Huse performed the ceremony. Goodwin was born in Union, Wakefield, NH, March 28, 1885, son of Hilton S. and Estella (Campbell) Goodwin.
MILTON MILLS, N.H. Freeman H. Lowd has gone to Maplewood on business (Sanford Tribune (Sanford, ME), September 21, 1906).
MILTON MILLS, N.H. The four-act dramatization of Will Carleton’s poem entitled “Over the Hill to the Poor House” was presented Monday evening by home talent under the direction of J.A. McCarthy. The hall was crowded with an appreciative audience and their expectations were fully realized. The cast included Freeman H. Lowd, Forrest L. Marsh, J.A. McCarty, Dr. Frank Weeks, Chellis Smith, Fred Sturgeon, Hannah Lowe, Mildred T. Marsh, Dorothy Hurley, and little Rita. The new scenery painted by Mr. McCarthy was used for the first time at the presentation of this play; he is a born artist and his work deserves much credit (Biddeford Journal (Biddeford, ME), August 2, 1907).
Freeman H. Lowd appeared in the Milton directory of 1909, as a lumberman, with his house at 5 Highland street, Milton Mills.
MILTON MILLS. Mrs. [Flora B.] Williams, the wife of the pastor of the F.B. church; Miss Ruth Williams, Miss Mamie Wentworth, Miss Roxie Lewis, Alfred Lewis, Blaine Grant, and Freeman Lowd, attended the C.E. convention at Springvale and brought back fine reports of the gathering (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), July 9, 1909).
MILTON MILLS. Freeman Lowd was in town Sunday and attended the morning service at the M.E. [Milton Mills Methodist Episcopal Church]. He sang his favorite song “While His eye is on the sparrow, I know He watches me,” which was rendered in a pleasing manner (Sanford Tribune (Biddeford, ME), January 28, 1910).
Freeman H. Lowd, own income (lumbering), aged sixty-five [fifty-seven] years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Freeman H. Lowd rented his house.
Wallace V. Marston, a shoe factory shoe cutter, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lynn, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Grace M. [(Lowd)] Marston, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), his daughter, Rita F. Marston, aged six years (b. MA), his brother-in-law, Leon H. Goodwin, a grocery store salesman, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and his sister-in-law [and Goodwin’s wife of four years], Alice M. [(Lowd)] Goodwin, aged twenty-three years (b. MA). William V. Marston rented their house at 23 Sewall Street. Grace M. Lowd was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.
Freeman H. Lowd appeared in the Milton directory of 1912, as a lumberman, with his house at 29 Main street, Milton Mills.
Personal. Freeman Lowd and Deputy Sheriff Willis Reynolds, both of Milton Mills, were in town Tuesday (Farmington News, May 30, 1913).
SOUTH ACTON. Freeman H. Lowd was in Effingham Center Monday on business (Biddeford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), June 5, 1914).
Freeman H. Lowd married (2nd) in Milton, September 19, 1917, Mary A. “Mamie” Wentworth, both of Milton Mills. He was a lumber dealer, aged sixty-four years, and she was a school teacher, aged thirty-eight years. Rev. Edwin P. Moulton performed the ceremony (under a special permit). She was born in Milton, circa 1919, daughter of Hiram and Clara J. (Hart) Wentworth.
Freeman H. Lowd, a lumberman, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary W. [(Wentworth)] Lowd, aged forty years (b. NH). Freeman H. Lowd owned their house on Western Avenue, free-and-clear.
Charles G. Eastman, a Navy Yard clerk, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Portsmouth, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Agnes A. [(Marston)] Eastman, a newspaper store clerk, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), his children, Avery C. Eastman, a Navy Yard messenger, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Eugene W. Eastman, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and his brother-in-law, Wallace V. Marston, a Navy Yard machinist, aged forty years (b. NH). Charles G. Eastman rented their house at 202 Cabot Street.
Leon H. Goodwin, a Navy Yard machinist, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Portsmouth, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice M. [(Lowd)] Goodwin, aged thirty-three years (b. MA), and his niece, Rita F. Marston, aged sixteen years (b. MA). Leon H. Goodwin rented their part of a two-family dwelling at 88 Ashe Street.
Daughter Alice M. Goodwin of Wakefield, NH, divorced her husband, Leon H. Goodwin of Wakefield, NH, in Carroll County Superior Court, June 26, 1922. She cited abandonment and refusal to cohabit for three years.
Mrs. Grace M. Marston appeared in the Lynn, MA, directory of 1925, as having her house at 4 Sisson terrace. Her daughter, Rita F. Marston, appeared also, as a phone operator at 173 Oxford street, with her residence at 4 Sisson terrace.
Daughter Grace M. Marston of Wakefield, NH, divorced her husband, Wallace V. Marston of Portsmouth, NH, in Carroll County court, November 29, 1926. She cited abandonment and refusal to cohabit.
Mary A. “Mamie” (Wentworth) Lowd died in Milton, in 1927.
Granddaughter Rita F. Marston, appeared in the Lynn, MA, directory of 1927, as a phone operator at 173 Oxford street, with her residence at 6 Bunker Hill street in Charlestown, MA.
Freeman Loud, aged seventy-six years (b. ME), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his housekeeper, Nellie Myers, a private family practical nurse, aged fifty years (b. NH), and his lodger, Helen Myers, aged fourteen years (b. MA). Freeman Loud owned their house on Western Avenue (at its intersection with Willey Hill Road), which was valued at $2,000. They did not have a radio set.
Grace M. Marston, a telephone office clerk, aged thirty-three [forty-six] years (b. NH), headed a Somerville, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her sister [i.e., her daughter], Rita F. Marston, a telephone operator, aged twenty-five years (b. MA). Grace M. Marston rented their apartment at 10 Union Street, for $35 per month. They had a radio set.
(From this point, Grace M. (Lowd) Marston tended to understate her age, often by quite a lot. She had also a habit of muddling her daughter’s relationship with her. In this instance, the 1930 Census, her daughter was reported as being her sister. The daughter would even be confused finally as being the wife, rather than step-daughter, of Grace’s second husband).
Grace M. (Lowd) Marston married (2nd) in Manhattan, New York, NY, April 26, 1930, William A. Cornetta. He was born in Boston, MA, September 20, 1896.
William A. (Grace M.) Cornetta appeared in the Somerville, MA, directory of 1933, as a manager, with his house at 514 Broadway (and telephone number of 4871W). Her daughter, Rita F. Marstom [Marston], appeared also, as telephone operator, resident at 514 Broadway.
Freeman H. Lowd died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Milton, May 1, 1933, aged seventy-nine years, seven months, and twenty-six days. He was a retired merchant, and lifelong resident of Milton Mills. Frank S. Weeks, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Daughter Alice M. (Lowd) Goodwin married (2nd), in 1940, William Morton Ellis. (His first wife, Annie (O’Donnell) Ellis, had died in Pasadena, CA, April 20, 1934). Ellis was born in Milton, December 6, 1877, son of Charles E. and Lucretia R. (Marsh) Ellis.
William A. Cornetta, a foreman (manufacturing) aged forty-three years (b. MA), headed a Somerville, MA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Grace C. [((Lowd) Marston)] Cornetta, aged forty-three [fifty-six] years (b. MA), and his daughter-in-law [i.e., his step-daughter], Rita F. Master [Marston], a telephone operator, aged thirty-six years (b. MA). William A. Cornetta rented their apartment at 512 Broadway (at its intersection with Hinckley Street), for $30 per month. They had all resided in the “same house” in 1935.
William M. Ellis, an inside salesman (for the S. California Gas Co.), aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Glendale, CA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice M. [((Lowd) Goodwin)] Ellis, aged fifty-two years (b. MA). William M. Ellis rented their house at 117 N. Chevy Chase Drive, for $35 per month. He had resided in Pasadena, CA, in 1935, and she had resided in Boston, MA, in 1935.
Son-in-law William M. Ellis died in Glendale, CA, January 6, 1942.
Obituaries. ELLIS – William M. Ellis, husband of Mrs. Alice Ellis of 117 North Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale, passed away at his home, Jan. 6, 1942. He was a member of Pasadena Lodge of Elks, No. 672, and with the Southern California Gas Company for the past 20 years. Besides his wife, he is survived by two sons, John and William Ellis of Pasadena. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m., at Wendell P. Cabot & Sons Chapel, 27 Chestnut Street, conducted by the Pasadena Elks Lodge and Rev. William Hodson, pastor of First Methodist Church, Glendale. Private entombment, Pasadena Mausoleum (Metropolitan Pasadena Star-News (Pasadena, CA), January 8, 1942).
William A. Cornetta, a superintendent (restaurant syrup manufacturing company), aged fifty-three years (b. MA), headed an Arlington, MA, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Grace M. [((Lowd) Marston)] Cornetta, aged fifty-three [sixty-six] years (b. NH), his sister-in-law [i.e., his step-daughter], Rita F. Marston, aged forty-six years (b. MA), and his mother, Louisa Cornetta, aged seventy-three years (b. MA). They resided at 21 Piedmont Street.
Daughter Grace M. ((Lowd) Marston) Cornetta died in Arlington, MA, August 15, 1958.
MORNING DEATH NOTICES. CORNETTA – In Arlington, August 15, Grace M. Cornetta, wife of William A. Cornetta, of 21 Piedmont st. Services at the Saville Temple Chapel, 418 Mass. av., Arlington, Tuesday, August 19, at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday and Monday (Boston Globe, August 18, 1958).
Daughter Alice M. ((Lowd) Goodwin) Ellis died March 19, 1971.
Son-in-law William A. Cornetta died in Revere, MA, March 20, 1977. (There is no documentary evidence to support the notion that his step-daughter, Rita F. Marston, had become his wife).
DEATHS. CORNETTA – Formerly of Arlington, recently of Revere, March 20, 1977, William A., husband [i.e., step-father,] of Rita F. (Marston). Service at Saville Funeral Home, 418 Mass. ave., ARLINGTON, Tuesday, March 22 at 11 a.m. Calling hours Monday 7-9 p.m. (Boston Globe, March 21, 1977).
Granddaughter Rita F. Marston died in Revere, MA, September 13, 1978. (There is no documentary evidence to support the notion that she had become the wife of her step-father, William A. Cornetta).
DEATH NOTICES. CORNETTA – Of Revere. September 13, Rita Frances (Marston), wife [i.e., step-daughter,] of the late William A. Cornetta. Funeral service at the Smith Funeral Chapel, 482 Main St., STONEHAM, on Friday, September 15 at 3 p.m. Friends may call on Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. Those desiring may give in her memory to the American Cancer Society (Boston Globe, September 14, 1978).
References:
Carleton, Will. (1872). Over the Hill to the Poor House. Retrieved from www.bartleby.com/360/3/107.html
Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). Grace M. Lowd Cornetta. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115375737/grace-m-cornetta
Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). Alice M. Lowd Ellis. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115381301/alice-m-ellis
Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Freeman H. Lowd. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115440298/freeman-h-lowd
Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Sylvester Lowd. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115441363/sylvester-lowd
Find a Grave. (2020, September 29). Wallace Van Marston. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/216170801/wallace-van-marston
Library of Congress. (1908). Over the Hills to the Poor House. Retrieved from www.loc.gov/item/2018600178/
NH General Court. (1899). Manual for the Use of the General Court of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=vu4RAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA37
NH Secretary of State. (1899). Manual for the General Court. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=-Xo0AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA250
Wikipedia. (2022, October 14). Tammany Hall. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall
Youtube. (2021, May 6). His Eye Is on the Sparrow. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei84uOUI2SY
Milton Observer 