Edward Haskell was born as Howard Haskell. He was a merchant.
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EDW ARD HASKELL (deceased) , merchant, New Bedford. Born in 1828 in Still River, Mass., Edward Haskell was the son of Calvin and Ann (Hersey) Haskell. He passed his early years in school, but owing to the business reverses of his father found it necessary to begin life's battle while yet young, and finally was in the employ of a Boston firm, for whom he went to New Bedford to dispose of a stock of goods. His intention was to remain in the city named but a short period, but meeting with success, his employers concluded to keep him in. trade there, especially as he liked the place and made warm friends. In the year 1849 young Haskell began business for himself in a small way as a dry goods merchant, his location being on the west side of Purchase street, between William and Union streets. Full of energy, ambitious and popular, he was successful, and after a year or two there moved across the street to the middle store of a number subsequently occupied by him. There his business rapidly increased, and he showed remarkable business capacity in securing the class of goods most salable, and introduced many departments carrying goods not strictly classed as dry goods. For thirty and more years Mr. Haskell continued in trade on the same site, and was obliged to enlarge the capacity of his establishment frequently, and finally, at the time of his death, in 1882, the firm of Edward Haskell & Co. occupied four stores, consolidated into one large emporium of trade. It should have been stated above that the firm as named was formed in the year 1876; Mr. Haskell admitting as a partner Charles M. Tripp. In spite of competition of the closest kind, Mr. Haskell had a steady advance in his business from the very first day of trade, and stood for years as the leading and representative merchant of New Bedford.Mr. Haskell was for many years a prominent and active member of the North Congregational Church of New Bedford, and was one of its deacons, and for eleven years was superintendent of its Sunday school, in which he was greatly interested. He had a pleasant, winning manner, and treated everyone with the most perfect courtesy. He was firm in opposition to anything he deemed wrong, but equally as strong in advocating anything for the improvement and elevation of mankind. He was generous and hospitable to a fault and many acts of his kindness are known only to those who received the benefits of his broad charity. In the home circle Mr. Haskell was a loving husband, and a 'father who gratified, if possible, every wish. He was a strong friend, a very pleasant and social companion, with a large number of personal friends in the leading circles of society. He gave at all times his time and money freely for church and benevolent purposes. A fluent and effective speaker, he was always ready .to respond when asked to speak for any good cause, and was one of the most unselfish of men, seeming only to be fully happy when doing something' for the happiness or benefit of others.
Mr. Haskell was a man of very fine taste in- art, and was a rare judge of paintings, statuary and other kindred works. He was fond of pets, had a great fancy for fine horses, pigeons, fowls, etc., and raised many of them. He, too, was an enthusiastic lover of flowers, and engaged with all the. ardor of his nature in horticulture; was a member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and was awarded a silver medal for his collection of Nymphaeas. Among the lovers and cultivators of flowers he took high rank. His love for the beautiful was manifested in everything, in the adornment of home and grounds, in the decoration of his place, in his personal appearance and dress, in artistic display of goods, etc.
Mr. Haskell was twice married, marrying (first) Sarah Claflin, of Pawtucket, R. I., and (second) Louisa B., only daughter or Alexander H. and Louisa (Crandall) Seabury, of New Bedford. One son, George Edward, born to the first marriage, and to the second were born Mary Crandall and Helen Parker, George Edward Haskell was for years a member of the mercantile house Abram French & Co., of Boston. Mary Crandall is the widow of Edward L. Hersey, resides in St. Paul, Minn., and has four children, Marie Louise, Hamilton, Edward Lewis and Hugh Haskell. Helen Parker is the wife of Andrew G. Pierce, Jr., of New Bedford, and has two children. Elsie Haskell and Andrew Granville, Jr.
Mr. Haskell died at his home on Union street, New Bedford, Mass., Dec. 11, 1882, aged :fifty-four years, and was buried in Oak Grove cemetery.
Source:
Representative men and old families of Southeastern Massachusetts
Volume II
J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1912
Alfred Haskell was a book binder.
New York, New York Guard Service Cards, 1906-1918, 1940-1948
Name: Walter Parker Haskell
Enlistment Date:5 Dec 1917
Enlistment Place: New York, USA
Unit: 11th Co 9th CAC
Notes provided by Frederick W. Haskell
George Edward Haskell was paymaster of the Watertown Arsenal durin the Civil War and after that the paying teller at a bank in Boston. Frederick and Catherine resided in Newton, moved to Harvard where they bought a farm on Blair Hill. They kept summer booarders and rented boats on the lake.
They moved to Middleburg, Florida, arriving there December 1, 1883 and bought a farm of 100 acres situated between the north and south forks of Black Creek.
While in Middleburg, Mr. Haskell lost the biggest part of his fortune by a bank failure at Jacksonville.
Eleanor Sophia Haskell was unmarried.