| Notes |
- Family records and notes courtesy of Grant Ferdinand Haskell, 1915-2010
My father, Frederic Wetherbee Haskell was the tenth generation; born in Middleburg, Florida, December 28, 1891. He married Helen Haskell, daughter of Ulysses Grant and Mary Francis, at Beverly, Mass. October 12, 1914. She was born in Beverly, July 13, 1893, where I, Grant Ferdinand, was born July 14, 1915. The couple first resided in Jacksonville, Florida, where my sister Helen was born, September 1, 1916.
That is all that is recorded in Dad's hand written account, so let me extend the narrative. When Dad was not quite ten years old, the family was impoverished as a result of the Jacksonville fire of 1901. They moved to Palatka, FL, because of the intersession of Elmer E. Haskell, older brother of U.G., Great Uncle Elmer owned a real estate office there and was a leader in the Florida Masonic Lodge. Hearing of a family of the same name being in need, he settled them in a house that he owned.
Fred's father, Ferdinand, died a year later, but they were joined by Grandmother Catherine, who had income from the Middleburg property. Fred finished grammar school at Palatka, then was apprenticed at T. Murphy Iron Works to learn to be a mechanic.
It was while on a visit of the U.G. Haskell family to Elmer and Alice that Frederic and Helen first met. There was a long courtship. Dad took a job as marine mechanic on coastal vessels of the Clyde Line. They were married, October 12, 1914 at Beverly and took up residence in Jacksonville, FL.
When Fred tried to enlist as America became involved in WWI, he was turned down because of a leg injury he had suffered in a motorcycle accident. The family moved up north to Quincy, MA. where Fred was employed at the Fore River Shipyard. He was well received there as men with his experience were not readily available. The war ended and so did the work. He took classes at Boston Technical Institute, but by the time that I entered second grade, we had moved in with grandparents at Beverly. Dad managed the Chandler Automobile Sales & Service.
With a financial partner some years later, Frederic organized HASKELL-HALL, Inc. a marine service & repair shop in Salem, MA and was its manager until he retired and son-in-law, Ed Lamprey took over.
My mother, Helen (Haskell) Haskell died December 26, 1955 at Beverly. They were still living at the 8 Devon Avenue residence in North Beverly that I remember fondly from my High School years. My sister, Helen, and I would board the streetcar at the end of our street for Gloucester Crossing where the new High School was located in 1930.
My father, Frederic Wetherbee Haskell died March 24, 1970 at Salem, where he boarded after selling the Devon Avenue property. He continued interest in the 'propeller shop' on Webb Street in retirement, but also traveled, visiting relatives coast to coast. He took me on an auto trip south and introduced me to my southern cousins and his old haunts.
Their ashes were interred at the family lot in the Central Cemetery on Hale Street in Beverly. On this Haskell lot there stands a four generation vertical monument.
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1891 - 1970 (78 years)
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