The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-06-21
COOLIDGE
FIRM OPERATED
147 YEARS AGO
Presidential and Vice PreSi-
dental Nominees An
CeStofS Ran Grocery.
BIZ Times Special

~ lmCS Sp6Cidt
BOSTON, Mass, June 21.-One
hundred and forty-seven years ago it
was Dawes & Coolidge, a grocery
firm in Worcester, Mass Today it is
Coolidge and Dawes, candidates for
the two highest Offices in the gift
Of the people. SO it appears that
Massachusetts and Illinois are not
so very far apart and that the can
didates come Of the same sturdy
stock that has left it's name and in
dehble imprint upon the history Of
this country.
The Dawes of the firm was the
great-great-g reat-perhaps another
one or two) grandfather of Gen.
Charles Gates Dawes, Republican
nominee for Vice President. The
Coolidge Of the firm was an ancestor
of the President of the United States.
The grocer Coolidge probably was
the grandfather Of several genera
lions back of the present head Of the
Nation. one genealogy so indicates,
while another places Grocer Coolidge
on a different branch of the tree
from that on which the President
originated
The grocer Dawes was William, re-
ferred to usually as the patriot.
who was the companion of Paul Re-
we're, made famous by Longfellow s
poem.
LOngfellOw's Letter
Concerning this poem it has been
printed that Mr.. LonEfellow wrote
to an acquaintance who sent him a
little antiquarian volume, correcting
some Of the imaginative statements
in Paul Reveres ride:
Please accept my thanks for your
beautiful book. William Dawes and
his ride with Paul Revere. l have
read 1t with great interest and
pleasure. I am afraid YOU have CON
victed me Of grave historic crimes
and misdemeanors, but I shall not
appeal.
This little volume referred TO is an
essay by Henry W Holland, read be
fore the New England Historic Gen
ealogical Society on June I, 1873. to
which is attached a genealogy Of the
Dawes family. 1t was in that Gea-
nalogy the fact was discovered that
Dawes and Coolidge We're in the
grocery business.
William Dawes was born Oct, 2,
1919. The Daweses. for five genera
tions up to that time were builders
and masons, but this William had
dubbed foot and could not follow
the trade. so he became a goldsmith.
In 1742 he married Lydie, daughter
Of Nicholas Boone. a bookseller of
Boston. who, one authority asserts,
published the first newspaper in
America. Nine children We're born
II this marriage. OF which William,
the patriot" was the second. born
April IS. l745. The third child was
a girl named Lydia, who was born
February 10. I747 She was mar
r1ed to John Coolidge on Jan. s. 1872.
Dawes at Boston Tea Party
It was with his brother.inlaw.
John Coolidge. that William Dawes.
the patriot" Went into the grocery
business. John Coolidge seemed 10
go right along with the Daweses at
that time. After William Dawes,
father Of the patriot married a
second time, a number OF pieces Of
real estate In Boston We're sold by
the heirs Of the first wife.
The elder William Dawes sympa-
thized strongly with the colonies and
one writer says that his apprentices
were among the party who threw
the tea overheard in the Boston Har-
Dor"
The elder William Dawes was a
strictly religious man, according TO
the light of his day and is said to
not have allowed his children to
laugh or look out Of the window on
the Sabbath. Also one history goes:
Not only was the food for Sunday
pre- ared on Saturday, that the day
might be one of rest for all members
of the household. but the shoes and
garments were brushed and prepared
beforehand"