Pioneer Families - CULVER
Extracted From
Chapter XVII
Early history of the town of Hopkinton :
history of East Village (Nicholville) and vicinity,
diaries of Elisha Risdon and Artemas Kent,
soldiers of the Civil War,
genealogical record of sixty of the pioneer families

Carlton E. Sanford
Boston: Bartlett Press, 1903

[Transcribed by Dave Swerdfeger]

IN this chapter is given the genealogical records of many of the pioneers of the town, of all that I have been able to gather sufficient data and information to make a fairly full record. The preparation of these records has required much time, labor, correspondence, persistence and patience. Had I had in the beginning a full comprehension of the tedious labor required, I now feel sure I should not have undertaken it. That there are some errors in dates and possibly a few in names I am quite satisfied, since considerable of my information came from elderly people who wrote feebly and indistinctly. I think it will be readily understood, if the reader will bear in mind that it is in continuous order; that the first, second, third and fourth generations are each carried slightly to the right, and that each generation always has the same indentation. ZORASTER CULVER b. July, 1796, Lenox, Mass.; d. January 7, 1878, Oberlin, Ohio; m. Sarah Hayward, b. May, 1800, Bridgeport, Vt.; d. July 25, 1876, Oberlin, Ohio. They were married in May, 1824, and came to Hopkinton that year or possibly the next, where he kept a store for some forty years. It was not exactly a department store, yet he kept about everything which any one in town would want to buy. The store stood a little north of the present Culver residence and up to the line of the village Green, and was the social centre for the whole community. He was a man deeply religious from boyhood, and during the larger part of his residence in town was a deacon and model churchman. His home was the natural "annex" to the church, and if a minister came he was expected as a matter of course to go there. He was much respected and admired by all. Although the last ten years of their lives were spent in Oberlin, Ohio, that they might be near their daughter, Mrs. Hiram Hulburd, they were continually living over again in loving thought their long-time life with the good people of Hopkinton. Several of their sons attained much prominence as financiers and business men. Had seven children: Amelia, b. October 5, 1825; d. October 21, 1901, at Chicago, Ill.; m. Hiram Hulburd of Stockholm in 1846. Had three children: Clarence, b. June, 1847; d. in infancy, July, 1848. Charles H., b. May, 1850. Resides in Chicago, Ill., and is president of the Elgin Watch Company, besides having other important business interests. DeForest, b. June, 1856; died June, 1866. Howard Z., b. May, 1827; d. November 5, 1901, at Washington, D.C.; m. Emma Foster in 1850, at Andover, Mass. He was the senior member of the firm of Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co., wholesale stationers of Chicago, and helped to organize and for twenty years was vice-president of the Elgin Watch Company. Had two children: Isabella (Mrs. Franklin Wilder). Allen M., b. January, 1855; 1. 1545 Lafayette Street, Denver, Colo. Beldin F., b. September, 1829; d. November 12, 1902, at Asheville, N.C.; m. Julia Barry of Chicago in 1860. He was a member of the well-known firm of Culver & Co. of Chicago. He was also a member of the commission appointed by the governor to lay out Lincoln Park, and its second president; one of the founders of the Chicago Historical Society; a charter member of the Chicago Academy of Sciences; a supporter of the Academy of Design; and a member of the Board of Trade of Chicago for twenty-four years. Had five children: William B., b. February, 1862; d. at sea, November, 1873. Julia, b. February, 1864; 1. Chicago, Ill. Hayward, b. 1867; d. 1874. Bertram, b. 1870; d. 1874. Agnes, b. October, 1874; 1. Chicago, Ill. Charles E., b. August, 1831; d. June 23, 1890, in Chicago; m. Viola Manville of Watertown in 1855. He went to Chicago in 1854 and was very successful in business. Because of his integrity and thorough conscientiousness he was highly respected. He was a member of the Board of Trade from its origin, and once, if not twice, its president. Sarah E., b. December, 1833; d. October 29, 1900, at Chicago, Ill. George N., b. September, 1836; d. May, 1894, in Chicago; m. Lois Hulburd of Stockholm in 1862. He went to Chicago in 1868 and soon became a member of the firm of Culver & Co. He was a man of culture and one of the best judges of art in the city, being at one time trustee of the Chicago Art Institute. He possessed great ability as a financier and business man and held many responsible positions at his death. Had one child: Frank, who d. in infancy. Celia C., b. February, 1839; residing Chicago, Ill.; m. Rev. Simeon Gilbert, D. D., of Pittsford, Vt., in 1864. Had one child: Clara C., b. 1870.     INDEX