My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES E. BLOOD, a retired straw-goods manufacturer living in Ware, was born in Pepperell, Middlesex County, March 19, 1825. The Blood family trace their ancestry to the Thomas Blood portrayed by Sir Walter Scott.

Leonard Blood, father of Charles E. Blood, was born in Pepperell, Mass., in 1787. He was a cooper by trade. In 1829 he sold out his business in Pepperell, and removed to Ware, where he continued to follow his trade. He died there in 1870, eighty-three years of age. He married Miss Abigail Blood, a daughter of Amos Blood, who, though bearing the same name, was but slightly related. Mr. and Mrs. Blood reared a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Of these Horace L., a painter, died in Worcester, Mass., aged thirty-five years, leaving one daughter, Marcia Ann, deceased, who married Zenas Marsh, but left no children. Ivory M. Blood was at one time a judge in California, was in the secret service of the government during the Civil War, more recently was a State detective of Massachusetts, and now resides in Washington. Henry Blood was engaged in the manufacture of straw goods with his brother Charles E., subsequently served in the Civil War as Assistant Surgeon in the Fifty-seventh Illinois Regiment, and died at Fort Donelson of disease caused by exposure, leaving one daughter. Mary E. Blood died in her twenty-fifth year. Charles E. is the subject of this sketch. Their mother died in Ware in 1859, when about seventy-two years of age.

Charles E. Blood attended the district and high schools; and, when fifteen years of age, he entered the straw shop of Avery Clark, who was at that time the only manufacturer of straw goods in Ware. Five years later he left that position, and went to Medway, Mass., where he taught school during two winters, and also worked in the straw shop there. The work was then all performed by hand. He remained there until 1848, at which time he went to Sag Harbor, Long Island, established a straw-goods manufactory as agent for a New York house, and conducted it for two years. He next returned to Ware, and, in company with his brother Henry, erected a straw shop. The firm was dissolved two years later, after which he carried on the business alone. In this business he employed for part of the time about three hundred women and twenty-five men. He disposed of the business in 1875, and then purchased a drug store, which he and his son Fred conducted for about fifteen years. Although he has now retired from regular business, he is connected with various enterprises.

On June 10, 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Perry, and their union was blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Frederick C., of Ware, who is married, and has four sons; George Franklin, a painter, who died when about thirty-two years of age, leaving a widow, but no children; Gertrude C., the wife of Isaac Jeffries, of Ware, having four children; and Mary Eliza, who married Elliott Cleveland, of Athol, Mass., and has three children. Mrs. Blood died in 1891, sixty-five years of age. On May 27, 1892, he was married a second time to Mrs. Eucla Blodgett, previously Miss Spooner, of Ware.

Mr. Blood belongs to the Republican party, of which he is a faithful adherent. He has served most acceptably as Selectman for two years, Overseer of the Poor for twelve years, and Assessor for two years. He has also served on the School Board, and has been Special Commissioner of Hampshire County since 1878. He acted as clerk of Fire District No. I for several years, was for a long time the Treasurer of the Mutual Protective Association, and was also Treasurer of the Oregon Engine Company for a number of years. Mr. Blood is a communicant of the Congregational church, and served for several terms on the Prudential Committee. The family reside at 72 South Street, in the house erected by his father about fifty-five years ago.