A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 51

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II > Part 51

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His son, Eugene A. Wheelock, was born in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, February 15, 1846, and after completing a high school course there attended the Williston Academy at Easthampton, Massachusetts. From the age of ten years he worked more or less in his father's mills, and thus laid the foundation for his future advancement in that connection. He remained in the Uxbridge factory until 1867, when he was put in charge of the interests of S. M. Wheelock & Company at Wilsonville, Connecticut, taking over the management of the mill with its hundred employes. In June, 1870, he was sent to Putnam as superintendent and agent of the Putnam Woolen Company's No. 1 mill, which had recently been purchased from the Harris Company. The new company enlarged its business in 1880 by the purchase of another mill in Putnam, of which Mr. Wheelock also became manager. In 1886, when his father resigned as treasurer of the Putnam Woolen Company, Eugene A. Wheelock was elected to the position and continued active in the business up to the time of his death, which occurred September 12, 1912. He was always deeply interested in the public welfare, served as a member of the republican town committee, and in 1888 and 1889 was a member of the state central committee of the republican party. The cause of education found in him a stalwart champion, and for many years he served on the board of

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education of Putnam and was also a trustee of the town library. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in Masonry attained high rank, becoming a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. On the 17th of June, 1868, he married Sarah Smith Taft, a daughter of Zadok Arnold and Mary Mowry (Brown) Taft, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Her death occurred in Putnam, December 20, 1901.

Silas Mandeville Wheelock, who was one of the family of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene A. Wheelock, acquired his education in the city and high schools of Putnam, and also attended the Cushing Academy of Ashburnham, Massachusetts. His choice of a life work led him into the same field in which his ancestors had figured prominently for many years. He became identified with the Putnam Woolen Company in 1891, at which time he entered his father's mill in order to learn the business from the ground up. With thoroughness he has mastered every task assigned him and has acquainted himself with every phase of manufacture and of management, and today he is mill agent and treasurer of the Putnam Woolen Company, having one of the largest industries in Putnam. Their plant is splendidly equipped, the machinery is most modern in construction and design, and their business reaches a large volume annually.

In October, 1898, Mr. Wheelock was married to Miss Ruth Elizabeth Shaw, of Putnam, in which city she was born, a daughter of George E. Shaw, a prominent and representative business man of Putnam, who for many years has been proprietor of the leading jewelry house and also a representative of one of the oldest and best known New England families. To Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have been born four children: Sylvia; Elizabeth; Sarah, who has passed away; and Silas Mandeville, Jr.

In his political views Mr. Wheelock is a republican, having always supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served on the school board of the town of Putnam and would never accept other office, but his deep interest in the cause of education has led to his active service in this connection. He belongs to the Congregational Church Society, is a past Noble Grand in Putnam Lodge, I. O. O. F., is treasurer of the Masonic Lodge and has membership with the Royal Arch Chapter, the Council, the Knight Templar Commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He has been prominent and active in civic affairs, his influence always being on the side of advancement and improvement, and he is a forceful and resourceful business man whose enterprise and ability have placed him in the position of leadership in connection with one of the great manufacturing interests which have made Windham county an important center of trade.

WILLIAM RICHARDSON.

The Putnam Manufacturing Company has a most efficient superintendent in Wil- liam Richardson, for long experience in connection with business interests of this character well qualifies him for the duties and responsibilities that now devolve upon him. He has worked his way steadily upward from a humble place in the mills to the superintendency and, moreover, he has closely studied conditions affecting the welfare and comfort of the operatives, and constantly looking after the interests of those who are employed under him, he has maintained most equitable conditions that have been satisfactory to employer and employe alike, freeing the establishment from labor trou- bles which are, altogether, too prevalent in manufacturing concerns, showing that there has often been little effort to "get together" on the points of difference.

Mr. Richardson was born in Penacook, New Hampshire, May 1, 1868, and is a son of James and Alice (Hague) Richardson, who were natives of Denton, Manchester, England. In his boyhood James Richardson began working in the cotton mills of Manchester and in 1866 he and his wife crossed the Atlantic to the United States, set- tling in Penacook, New Hampshire, where large cotton mills were located. He nat- urally gravitated to such a place, for his business experience was along that line and he wished to obtain employment of that character. He made rapid progress in the mills in the New Hampshire town and in 1868 he secured a position in the Fredonia Cotton Mills at Shirley, Massachusetts, where he was continuously employed for a quarter of a century, after which he retired from active business. He then removed to Boylston, Massachusetts, where he spent his remaining days, his death there occur- ring, while his wife died in Clinton, Massachusetts.

William Richardson acquired his education in the schools of Shirley, Massachu- setts, to the age of thirteen years, after which his textbooks were put aside and he, too, began work in the Fredonia mills. When his father retired from active connection with the Fredonia mills and removed to Boylston, William Richardson accompanied him and secured a position in the Lancaster Cotton Mills at Boylston, Massachusetts. He continued at that place for seven years and in 1893 received an offer from the Put-

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nam Manufacturing Company to become overseer of their cotton mills in Put- nam, Connecticut. This offer was accepted and he became a resident of the city in which he now makes his home, but after seven years here passed he returned to the Lancaster mills in 1900 and acted as overseer there until 1907. Then again he re- turned to Putnam to accept the position of assistant superintendent of the mills of the Putnam Manufacturing Company, and making good in that position, he was accorded further responsibilities and promotion in an appointment in 1915 to the superintendency of the mills, in which capacity he has since served, making an excellent record in this connection.

The Putnam Manufacturing Company employs between two hundred and fifty and three hundred operatives in the mills and its equipment includes thirty-five thousand spindles, which are operated by both water power and steam power. They manufac- ture sateen, twills and lawn cloth. Mr. Richardson is thoroughly familiar with the cotton trade. He has advanced from a humble position as a minor operator in the cotton mills to a superintendency and thoroughly understands every phase of the work in every department. He has intimate inside knowledge of the employe's position in connection with the work of the cotton mills, the conditions under which they labor and their reasonable demands. He has made many improvements in the working con- ditions of the mills of the Putnam Manufacturing Company and has therefore been very successful in retaining the services of many employes from year to year. The feeling of dissatisfaction among employes is at a minimum and hearty cooperation is manifest, so that excellent results are achieved. Mr. Richardson certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished and his promotions have come to him in recognition of personal merit and ability. Industry and loyalty have ever been num- bered among his most marked characteristics and promotion has followed his labors, so that he was but thirty-one years of age when he was made overseer of the spinning and spooling department of the Lancaster mills, which at that time operated one hun- dred and thirty thousand spindles, being the largest mill in the country at that date, and Mr. Richardson's department was the largest in America. From the age of twelve years he has been continuously connected with cotton manufacturing in New England. He was very anxious to learn the business and his father took great interest in teach- ing him, instructing him in various lines of the work at night after the mills were closed. Mr. Richardson applied himself closely to the tasks assigned him and to the mastery of the principles underlying the operations of the mill, studied at night, and step by step he advanced until there are few today more widely known in connection with cotton manufacturing and there are few who can speak with greater authority concerning the line of work carried on, and the methods and processes pursued.

On the 7th of June, 1897, Mr. Richardson was united in marriage to Miss Martha Taylor Buchanan, of Putnam, who was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, but was reared and educated in Putnam, her parents, Anson and Frances (Joslyn) Buchanan, having removed to Putnam during her early girlhood. Her father is still living but her mother has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have one child, Florence Buchanan, who was born in Putnam and is the wife of Ray E. Sherman of the same city.

Politically Mr. Richardson is an earnest republican but has had no time nor aspiration for public office. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he also has membership in Israel Putnam Lodge, I. O. O. F., and in the St. George Society at Clinton, Massachusetts. He makes his home at No. 339 Church street in Putnam and he has an extensive circle of warm friends in this city, in which he has so long resided and where he has made a most creditable record as a representative of its pro- ductive industries. His career shows what can be accomplished through individual effort, and while many contend that success is a matter of genius or of fortunate cir- cumstances, the records of such men as Mr. Richardson show that it is rather the out- come of clear judgment, experience and indefatigable energy.

GEORGE BARNES, M. D.

Dr. George Barnes, a man of high professional attainments practicing in Dayville, was born in Ashton, in the town of Cumberland, Providence county, Rhode Island, on the 12th of January, 1875, his parents being John and Lydia (Hurst) Barnes. The father was born in England and when nineteen years of age crossed the Atlantic to America, establishing his home in Manchester, New Hampshire, where he was em- ployed in the cotton mills as a loom fixer, a trade which he had learned in his native country, where he also mastered the trade of weaving. In 1874 he removed to Ashton, Rhode Island, where he established a grocery store, and in the course of years he has won high and favorable regard as one of Ashton's most prominent and valued citizens.

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He has continued in the grocery trade there without interruption since 1874, or for a period of about forty-four years, and during this entire time has enjoyed an unassail- able reputation for business integrity, enterprise and progressiveness. His fellow towns- men, appreciative of his worth, have called him to represent his district in the state legislature, and for several years he has been president of the town council of Ashton. His wife was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, and obtained her education there and at Whitins, Massachusetts. She, too, survives and they have reared a family of nine children, of whom seven are living: George, of this review; Henry, who is a graduate of the College of Physicians & Surgeons of New York city and is now very prominent in connection with the practice of surgery at New Bedford, Massachusetts; Grace, who is the wife of Charles White, a chemist of Valley Falls, Rhode Island; Albert, who is a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is now practicing his profession in Lonsdale, Rhode Island; Hannah, who is acting as her father's assistant in business, in Ashton; Florence, who is a teacher in the schools of Berkeley, Rhode Island; and May, who is teaching in Ashton.

Dr. Barnes, of this review, acquired his early education in the town schools of Ashton and later became a student in the New York Preparatory School of New York city. He thus acquired a good literary knowledge to serve as a foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional learning. He entered the medical department of New York University in 1892 and was graduated with the class of 1896, at which time his M. D. degree was conferred upon him. He then put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test by serving as interne in the Kings County Hospital at Brooklyn, New York, with which he was connected for a year. He then located for the private practice of medicine in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the fall of 1897. He had to com- pete with physicians well established in practice and for a few years it required a strenuous effort to keep going, but he persevered until his worth along professional lines won him a liberal patronage in New Bedford. For two years he served as city physician there and he continued to practice successfully in that place until August, 1906, when he removed to Dayville, Connecticut, where he has since remained, covering a period of twelve years. He is known as a very successful practitioner here, his prac- tice covering a large section in Connecticut and extending to some extent into Rhode Island.

On the 21st of November, 1907, Dr. Barnes was united in marriage to Mrs. John Elliott, of Webster, Massachusetts, who is the widow of John Elliott, of North Gros- vernordale. Dr. Barnes votes with the republican party but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon other interests. Fra- ternally he is connected with Putnam Lodge, No. 574, B. P. O. E. He is licensed to practice in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and he keeps in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and investigation through his con- nection with the Windham County Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

SAMUEL CHESBRO.

In the history of commercial enterprise in Willimantic, it is imperative that men- tion should be made of Samuel Chesbro, who is now living retired but for many years was prominently identified with business activity in the city as a druggist and manufacturer of proprietary drugs. He was born February 6, 1861, being one of the seven children of Reuben M. and Laura A. (Pierce) Chesbro. Their family included Simeon Leonard and Louisa, who died in infancy; William Frank, now deceased; Ernest P .; Samuel; Louisa R., the wife of James Robinson; and Alma E., the wife of E. A. Couter, of New Jersey.

Samuel Chesbro pursued his education in the schools of Windham and in a private school taught by E. M. Swift. He became an apothecary, studying along lines that qualified him for the business, and he was continuously connected with the drug trade from 1876 until December 29, 1916, when he retired. He was for many years one of the leading druggists of Willimantic and, more than that, he was the originator of several proprietary remedies, among which were Chesbro's liquid corn plaster and Cascara tablets, both of which have had a very extensive sale, contributing much to the prosperity of Mr. Chesbro. His business affairs have ever been carefully and intelli- gently managed and in the conduct of his interests he has readily discriminated be- tween the essential and the non-essential.

On the 30th of November, 1898, in Boston, Massachusetts, Mr. Chesbro was married by the Rev. C. A. Dinsmore to Miss Emma Graem Jackson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Jackson. Mrs. Chesbro possessed a soprano voice of more than ordinary

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quality and frequently sang in concerts and in the churches from her early girlhood to the time of her death, which occurred on the 22d of June, 1911. Her talent added much to the pleasure derived in Willimantic from music and she did not a little to advance musical taste and culture.

Mr. Chesbro is a member of the Congregational church and has guided his life according to its teachings. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has always stood for progress and improvement in community affairs. He was largely instrumental in bringing about the upbuilding of the foot bridge, also in securing the location of the state armory on Pleasant street and in securing the location of the Rossie velvet mill on John street, having sold both sites. Many tangible evidences of his devotion to the public good can be cited and at all times he has stood for those interests which have contributed to the material, social, intellectual, political and moral progress of the community.

FREDERIC ISRAEL RACINE.

Frederic Israel Racine occupies a unique and enviable position in real estate circles in Danielson. He has developed an agency of large proportions, has acquainted himself with hundreds of farm properties in Connecticut, Massachusetts and other New England states and has through the careful development of his business gained a clientage of extensive proportions.

Mr. Racine is a native son of New England, his birth having occurred at Westfield, Vermont, March 2, 1875. His parents were Theophile and Julienne (Bernier) Racine, the latter a native of Westfield, Vermont, while the former was born in St. Guillaume, in the province of Quebec. There he was educated in a convent and in young manhood he established a shop for the manufacture of tubs, pails, etc. He did the work largely by hand and continued the business for several years. Later he crossed the border into the United States, settling in the town of Killingly, Connecticut, and purchased a farm near Dayville. He then concentrated his efforts and attention upon general farming and dairying for thirty years, becoming one of the prosperous representatives of that line of activity in his district. He passed away December 23, 1918, and is still survived by his widow, who makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Jones, at Dayville. In their family were twelve children, of whom six survive; Andrew, who married Olive Vanasse and is a millman of Pascoag, Rhode Island; Frederic I., of this review; Nel- son, who married Sophanie Pelland and is a millman of Mechanicsville, Connecticut; Helen, who is residing in Dayville; Theophile, who married Dora Caron and is an in- surance agent in Webster, Massachusetts; and Mary, who is the wife of Timothy Jones, a millman living in Dayville, Connecticut.

Frederic I. Racine was reared in Killingly, where he attended the public schools, and later he went to Wotton, in the province of Quebec, where he completed his educa- tion. He then returned to the United States and was employed in woolen mills at various places for several years. Later he became agent for the Prudential Life In- surance Company at Danielson and occupied that position for several years, develop- ing a good business during that period. Subsequently he was appointed district super- intendent for the same company and was transferred to Westerly, Rhode Island, where he remained for two and a half years. He then resigned his position to engage in business on his own account at Plainfield, Connecticut, where he conducted a confec. tionery store and news stand for twelve years. At length he sold out, for during the time in which he had managed his store in Plainfield he had also turned his atten- tion to the real estate business and after disposing of his store he bought out the real estate agency of the late D. H. Armstrong, of Danielson, taking over the business in 1918. He has since been very successful in its conduct and has consummated some of the largest sales ever made by a real estate agency in the history of Danielson. For a number of years Mr. Racine has also been engaged in selling farms and has estab- lished the Racine Farm Agency at Danielson and has attracted many farmers to Wind- ham county. He has personally inspected hundreds of farms in Connecticut, Massa- chusetts and other New England states and at the same time has made a study of farm properties and farming throughout the territory. His intimate knowledge of soil, land values and market conditions has been a powerful factor in his work. He handles farms exclusively under a twelve months' contract, employs the most judicious and progressive methods in advertising and handles only such properties as are worthy of being placed upon his special list of bargain farms. Upon these methods rest his success, which is well known in Danielson, for he is justly accounted one of the fore-

Frederice Pacin

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most real estate agents in this part of the state. He also handles all kinds of insur- ance and is a member of the Danielson Board of Underwriters.

On the 18th of December, 1899, Mr. Racine was married to Miss Hermenise Roy, a native of Sherbrooke, province of Quebec, Canada, and a daughter of Samuel and Cecelia (Buron) Roy, who were also natives of Sherbrooke.

In his political views Mr. Racine maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks Lodge, No. 645, at Westerly, Rhode Island, also with the Loyal Order of Moose at Norwich, Connecticut, and with Rose of Lima Council, No. 52, of the Knights of Columbus. He belongs likewise to St. John the Baptist Society of Danielson, and he and his family are communicants of St. James Roman Catholic church. His progressiveness in all matters of citizenship as well as in business is a widely recognized fact and has brought him steadily to the front as a representative of activity in the real estate field of New England.

CLARENCE EUGENE SIMONDS, M. D.

Dr. Clarence Eugene Simonds, actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Willimantic, where his pronounced professional skill has won recognition in a liberal patronage, was born in Mansfield, Connecticut, February 13, 1874, a son of William A. and Mary E. (Lee) Simonds, both of whom have passed away. The, father was also a native of Mansfield, Connecticut, while the mother's birth occurred at East Haddam.

In his youthful days Clarence E. Simonds was a pupil in the public schools of Mansfield Center and afterward pursued a high school course in Willimantic, being graduated with the class of 1893. He later took up the profession of teaching and while thus engaged boarded in the home of a physician. Association with the doctor awakened his interest in the practice of medicine and he decided to become a member of the profession. After teaching for one year he enrolled as a student in the medical department of the New York University and was graduated with the class of 1897. He located for practice in Danielson, Connecticut, where he remained for two years, and then went to South Coventry, Connecticut, where he also remained for two years. He afterward pursued a two years' course of study in electro-therapeutics and spe- cializes in practice along that line. After spending some time in Albany, New York, and at Bridgeport, Connecticut, he opened his office in Willimantic in October, 1903, and has since been numbered among the successful practitioners of this city.

On the 4th of October, 1899, Dr. Simonds was united in marriage to Miss Ella R. Stearns, of Mansfield, Connecticut, and they have one child, Harold, who was born November 26, 1906. Dr. Simonds is identified with the Congregational church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has never been an office seeker but is now serving on the Selective Service board. He belongs to the Willimantic Medical Society, the Windham County Medical Society, the Connecticut State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and through the proceedings of these organizations keeps in close touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and progress. He is interested in all that tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life and is ever ready and eager to embrace any improvement in medical science that will render his practice more effective in restoring health and checking the ravages of disease.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume II, Part 51

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 960

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 960