USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 19
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(4) Josephine A., married Geo. A. Bishop, and died in Leominster in 1892. They had four children.
( 5) Deborah M., married Levi Bourne of Athol, who died in the army, leaving one son. She afterwards mar- ried Geo. Woods of Leominster.
(6) OTHELLO A. FAY, the youngest son, was born in Athol, Oct. 14, 1844. When eighteen years of age he went to work in the sewing machine shops at Orange, where he continued for three years. He then entered in- to partnership with his brother Sereno E., in the grocery business, which they continued for twenty-two years. They had stores in both villages, Othello A. having charge of the store at the Centre. He has been engaged in the lumbering business for upwards of fifteen years, operating extensively all through Western Massachusetts, and is now engaged in that and the brokerage business. In 1868, he married Clara A. Lee, daughter of the late Wm. D. Lee, Jr,, and has two children, a daughter, the wife of C. W. Pratt of Orange, and a young son. Mr. Fay is one of the most prominent Masons in this part of the country, having taken the degrees of that order up to the thirty-
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second. He has been a director of the Athol National Bank for several years.
( 7) Priscilla E., married Charles F. Tandy, Sept. 12, 1872. . They have three children : Charles Eugene, Wil- bert Clifton and Ruth . L.
( 8) Clara L., married Joseph Slate, Oct. 15, 1868, and lives in Edinburg, Ill., and has three children.
NAHUM FAY, son of Solomon, left no issue.
JONAS FAY married Anna R. Ward of Athol, and had six children : Lucy, Charles, Beriah W., William G .. Freeborn and Nancy. Lucy and Charles left no issue.
BERIAH W. FAY was born in Athol, Dec. 2, 1819. His education was obtained in the public schools and at New Salem Academy. In early life he was a popular school teacher, having taught in the Athol schools for eleven winters. and also conducted several select schools. About 1850 he took up surveying, and for nearly half a century has done much of that work in the towns of Northwestern Worcester, and throughout Franklin County. He has been prominently identified with town and public business. In 1861 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, and in 1872. was elected one of the special commissioners of Franklin County, both of which positions he has held con- tinuously to the present time. In 1865, he was a mem- ber of the Legislature, representing the district including New Salem, Orange and Warwick. For thirty-nine years he was a member of the School Committee of New Salem, serving most of the time as chairman of the board. He also served his town for several. years as Selectman, As- sessor and Overseer of the Poor. and was recruiting officer
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for the town in 1864. He married Hattie L. Ballard of Wendell, Oct. 1, 1868, and they have two children, Har- ry W. and Beatrice A.
WILLIAM G. FAY married Emily King of New Salem, Oct. 21, 1846. She died and he married for his second wife Sally E. Haven of Athol, in 1850. He served in the war, being a member of Co. E, 53d Regiment. His oc- cupation has been that of boot-maker.
FREEBORN R. FAY married Lucy Augusta Foster June 4, . 1849. He enlisted in Co. E, 53d Regiment, and served as Surgeon's Orderly with the regiment in Louis- iana. He died in Athol, May, 1865. Mrs. Fay and three children are living, Leona, who married Frank A. Gates, and Waldo and Helen.
FARWELL F. FAY, son of Emerson Fay, was born in Athol Feb. 17, 1833. He was a successful teacher in the Athol schools, and was the second Principal of the High School, which position he relinquished to engage in the study of law in the Harvard Law School. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1859, and for many years had a large and lucrative practice in Athol. In August, 1862, he re- cruited Co. E, of the 53d Regiment, of which he was chosen Captain Sept. 13, 1862, and was commissioned by Governor Andrew five days later. At the time of the surrender of Port Hudson, he was in command of the reg- iment. In July, 1864, he was commissioned as Assistant Adjutant General of Massachusetts, to recruit for the Com- monwealth in the Department of Mississippi, in which he did successful work. In 1862, he represented this district in the Legislature, was president of the Worcester North-
FREEDOM'S LAND === AMERICA.
Words by Gen. Luther Stephenson. (Tune, "My Maryland.") ome freemen join in joyful song, Happy Land ! America ! With heart and voice the strain prolong, Happy Land ! America ! here hope and love and virtue reign, nd happy homes their joys proclaim ; While children bless thy honored name ; Happy Land ! America !
n distant climes where none are free, Freedom's Land ! America ! nd longing eyes are turned to thee, Freedom's Land ! America ! 'ith Liberty-a beacon light. star of Hope in sorrow's night, 'ith equal laws and equal rights ; Freedom's Land ! America !
hy hills and lofty mountain peaks ; Glorious Land ! America ! nd rushing streams with grandeur speak, Glorious Land ! America ! he fertile fields and forests grand, om lake to sea-the Golden Land : ne ice-bound coast, the southern strand ; Glorious Land ! America !
God, in grateful praise we sing, Still guard our Land ! America ! d humble hearts to Thee we bring ; Still guard our Land ! America ! keep us true and make us free, ir country great, and worthy Thee, e glorious home of liberty ; Oh bless our Land ! America !
CAPT. FARWELL F. FAY.
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J. WARD FAY.
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OLD ATHOL FAMILIES.
west Agricultural Society in 1868, and also represented that Society for three years as its delegate on the State Board of Agriculture. He married Hattie Babbitt, by whom he had three children, one of whom died in infancy, Carrie J. Fay, who died in 1888, and Wm. L. Fay, who is engaged in business in Boston, and who married Arria Flint of that city. The last year's of Mr. Fay's life were spent in Boston, where he was engaged in the practice of law, and where he died in May, 1888.
JOSEPH FAY, who first settled the place known as the Hiram H. Gage farm, came from Wales with his brothers, Solomon and Stephen, and settled in Westboro, Mass., from which place he came to Athol about 1760. He mar- ried Abigail Twichell of Athol, and had ten children : Josiah, Nehemiah, Dolly, Matilda, Sally, Nabby, Benja- min, Seth, Hannah and Lucinda. Nehemiah, Sally and Benjamin moved to New York state in early life, Dolly married Daniel Ellenwood, and Matilda married Seneca Ellinwood, and lived in Erving.
JOSIAH FAY, the oldest son of Joseph Fay, was born March 16, 1774. He married Molly Ward of Orange, Sept. 18, 1798. He died March 16, 1834, and Molly, his wife, died Aug. 14, 1866, over ninety-three years of age. They had seven children : Esther W., J. Ward, Minerva, Polly, James S., Adaline and Betsey.
( 1) Esther W. Fay married Jonathan Stratton March 8, 1821.
(2) J. WARD FAY was born April 25, 1801. He was engaged in farming most of his life. For several years he was the collector of taxes, and in 1840 was the only con-
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stable in town. He married Mary Babbitt of Taunton, and they had six children: Joseph F., Rebecca L., Jo- siah, Abbie, Martha and Levi B. Mr. Fay died May 6, 1892, at the age of ninety-one years and ten days. Of his children, Rebecca L., Josiah and Martha, died young.
JOSEPH F. FAY enlisted in the 27th Regiment, and served in the Regimental band. He died Nov. 27, 1892, at the age of sixty-two years.
Abbie Fay married Charles Lamb, and resides in Athol.
LEVI B. FAY was born April 14, 1843. During the late war enlisted in Co. E, 53d Regiment, and was with his regiment during its entire campaign in Louisiana and Mississippi. In 1873 he entered into partnership with the late Orrin F. Hunt, in the sale stable, carriage and sleigh repository business, and the firm of Hunt & Fay did an extensive business throughout this part of the country. This partnership was continued until Mr. Hunt's death, and since that time Mr. Fay has conducted the same busi- ness. Mr. Fay is one of the leading business men of the town, is a trustee of the Athol Savings Bank, of the Wor- cester Northwest Agricultural Society, and one of the ex- ecutive committee of the Athol Board of Trade. He mar- ried Hattie A. Smith, Jan. 8, 1866. They have only one child living, Miss Katie Fay.
(3) Minerva Fay married James Oliver, Sept. 18, 1827.
( 4) Polly Fay married Sylvester Stockwell, Sept. 4, 1832.
(5) James Sullivan Fay married a Miss Farrar of Petersham, by whom he had one son, James Humphrey
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LEVI B. FAY.
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OLD ATHOL FAMILIES.
Fay. He was married a second time to Harriet A. Twichell, May 31, 1848, by whom he had two children, one of whom, Mary A., married Amos Blanchard. Mr. Fay died Jan. 10, 1857, and his widow married Hiram H. Gage. (6) Adaline Fay married Abel Lord, and Betsey died young.
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CHAPTER XV.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
"There is no life of a man, faithfully recorded, but is a heroic poem of its sort, rhymed or unrhymed."
MONG THE business men and man- ufacturers of Athol, who have dur- ing the last half century, laid the foundations for and conducted suc- cessful business enterprises, that in many instances are still continued and carried on by their sons or suc- cessors, and who, having accomplished their work and mission, have passed on to their reward, we may mention the names of John C. Hill, Capt. C. C. Bas- sett, Lyman W. Hapgood, Edwin Ellis, W. H. Amsden, Nathaniel Richardson, J. Sumner Parmenter, Frank C. Parmenter, D. A. Newton, Geo. T. Johnson, Daniel W. Houghton, Addison M. Sawyer, and many others. These, by their untiring industry and ability, have contributed in a large degree in making the Athol of to-day what it is, and have left examples worthy of emulation, and names
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JOHN C. HILL.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
foreseeing the great advantage it would be to Athol, and in him the late Alvah Crocker found a most efficient co- laborer in pushing the enterprise to completion. He was also equally as earnest in favor of the building of the Athol and Enfield railroad, and advocated the town's as- sistance in that enterprise in the face of much opposition. He was a director of this road until it was merged into the Springfield, Athol and Northeastern. In 1859 he became interested in the manufacture of woolen cloth, satinets and horse blankets, and was the pioneer of that industry in this section ; the firm of Johnson, Hill & Co. was organized, Mr. Geo. T. Johnson moving from North Dana to Athol to engage in the business. In 1863, the business was en- larged, and became the Millers River Manufacturing Com- pany, now one of the flourishing business concerns of the town. In 1873, Mr. Hill retired from the business, and devoted his time to mills that he had at Eagleville, Fry- ville, Otter River and in New Hampshire. He was also one of the organizers and directors of the Athol Machine Co. Scarcely any enterprise was started in town for near- ly forty years, from 1840, but had his active co-operation. Among others was the organization of the Millers River National Bank, of which he was one of the founders, and a director for twenty-six years. He was also one of the incorporators of the Athol Savings Bank, organized in 1867, of which he was a trustee at the time of his death. From 1865 to 1875, he . was the largest real estate owner and tax payer in Athol. He never held any town or political office, but always took an active interest in town affairs, and was a prominent figure in the exciting town
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meetings, for which Athol has been noted, speaking with earnestness in favor of what he believed for the best in- terests of the town. He married Dolly Smith, a descend- ant of one of the first settlers of the town in November, 1837. They had five children, a boy who died in infancy, Nettie, who died in 1863, at the age of 21 years, and three who are now living, Clara, Abijah and Wells L. Mrs. Hill died Oct. 9, 1889, and Mr. Hill March 11, 1890.
DANIEL APPLETON NEWTON was born in Templeton, March 25, 1833, the youngest of six children of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Newton, he being the only son. In early life he was clerk in the store of Col. Lee at Templeton. He first came to Athol as clerk for Lee & Bassett, and subse- quently in connection with Roland T. Oakes, he bought out the firm, and the Oakes & Newton store for several years did a prosperous business where Starr Hall block now stands. Later, Mr. Newton bought Col. Lee's busi- ness in Templeton, and operated it a few years, leaving that to become the manager of the Otter River Woolen Mill in Templeton. In 1869 he went to Chicago as agent of the Athol Machine Co., and at the same time estab- lished an office in New York. He conducted these agen- cies until about 1873, when he returned to Athol and con- nected himself with the home management of the Machine Co. At the time of his death he was the general mana- ger and treasurer of the Company. He was one of the most prominent members of the Second Unitarian Church, and was treasurer of the Society from its first organization. Although an aggressive and determined fighter in politics and town affairs, he had a never failing fund of cheerful-
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DANIEL A. NEWTON.
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JOSEPH B. CARDANY.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ness and good humor, and in all his business dealings was honorable, systematic, courteous and hopeful. He mar- ried Miss Kate Newhall, a daughter of one of Athol's old time business men, Oct. 31, 1877. They had three child- ren. Mr. Newton died May 19, 1889.
JOSEPH B. CARDANY was born in Rouses Point, N. Y., April 6. 1829, and at an early age moved to Royalston, Mass .. where he learned the cabinet makers trade, and re- mained seven years. He came to Athol in 1858, and en- gaged in the furniture business in a portion of Richard- son's machine shop, in company with Charles Frye, and subsequently carried on a large business on Exchange Street, at one time under the firm name of Cardany & Spooner. He had finishing shops on South Street, and did a wholesale business. Mr. Cardany was a large owner in the Athol Gas Co., and was its superintendent for sev- eral years, as he was also of the Athol Water Co. Dur- ing the last few years of his life, his attention was given exclusively to his furniture, crockery and undertaking business, which was the largest in this section of the state. He was pre-eminently a business man, and cared nothing for public office. He was an active member of the Second Unitarian Society, and one of its executive committee, also a member of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows. He married for his first wife a Miss Holman of Royalston, by whom he had one child, who died in infancy. In 1862 he married Miss Sarah Lamb, daughter of James Lamb of Athol, by whom he had two daughters, only one of whom is now liv- ing, Mrs. T. S. Mann of Orange. He died June 16, 1889.
CEPHAS L. SAWYER was born in Northfield, Mass., Aug.
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1837, and his early life was passed in his native town. Åt the age of twenty-one, he went to Greenfield, where he was engaged as a cracker dealer, buying his goods at the bakery, and selling them out in that and neighboring towns. He continued in that business for two or three years. He married Miss Ellen Wood, only daughter of Mr. S. N. Wood, of Williamsburg, in January 1861. Mr. Sawyer, then in company with his father-in-law, purchased the bakery business in Greenfield, which they carried on for three or four years, under the firm name of Wood & Sawyer, when they sold out and came to Athol in June, 1867, and purchased the bakery business at the corner of
Main and School Streets. They made extensive improve- ments here, and increased the business until the annual sales amounted to nearly forty thousand dollars, and the products of their shop were sold throughout the towns of Vermont, New Hampshire and Western Massachusetts. In April, 1879, Mr. Wood retired from the business, and Mr. Sawyer continued it alone until his death. While residing in Greenfield, he joined the Baptist Church, and on his removal to Athol took a letter to the Baptist church of this town. He was one of the most prominent and loved members of the church, ever ready with his means and influence to aid the cause of the church, and was for eight years Superintendent of the Sunday School. He was also a prominent Mason, and at the time of his death was Eminent Commander of Athol Commandery Knights Templars. He was especially interested in the temperance cause, in which he took an active part, and was ever ready with cheering words and an open purse to assist those wlio
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CEPHAS L. SAWYER.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
were unfortunate or in trouble. He had one daughter, May E. Sawyer, who married William E. Mayo of War- wick. Mr. Sawyer died Aug. 14, 1880.
J. SUMNER PARMENTER, son of Joseph Parmenter, was born in Petersham Mar 7, 1827. At the age of twelve years he became clerk for Wetherell & Hamilton, and two years after came to Athol. where he obtained a situation with Thorpe & Simonds, and also attended school. In 1848. he became one of the firm of Thorpe & Parmenter, which was continued to 1865, when he entered into part- nership with his brother Frank C., and the firm was J. S. and F. C. Parmenter, until 1870, when his brother retired, and his son Frank S. took his place for four years, when Mr. Parmenter retired from mercantile business. He was prominently identified with the religious, political, finan- cial and business interests of Athol, and when he died, Dec. 7, 1881, in the prime of manhood, and in the midst of a successful business career, the community felt that it had lost one of its strong men and most valued citizens. He was a member of the Legislature in 1878, and at the time of his death was vice president of the Athol Savings Bank, clerk of the Millers River Manufacturing Co., treas- urer of the Athol Library Association, trustee of the Up- ham Machine Co .. and had been town clerk nearly seven years. He was one of the leading members of the Con- gregational Church, which he served as deacon, and was also superintendent of its Sunday School. He married Caroline B. Baker of Troy, N. H., June 7, 1848, and had two children, Frank S. and William H.
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ATHOL, PAST AND PRESENT.
FRANK C. PARMENTER was born in Petersham, Oct. 17, 1830. When fifteen years of age he went to work for Bassett, Chickering & Co. in Athol, and later for Thorpe & Parmenter. He was with these two firms for six and a half years, when he returned to Petersham and opened a store, where he carried on business for ten years, after which he came back to Athol, and was in company with Lewis Thorpe, at the Centre for two years, and with his brother, J. Sumner Parmenter, at the Village five years. After being out of business for a time, he formed a part- nership with Albert R. Tower in the dry goods business in 1870, and the firm of Parmenter & Tower did a flourish- ing business for twenty-two years, when Mr. Parmenter re- tired from the firm. He joined the Congregational Church in Petersham in 1858, and after locating in Athol, became a member of the Congregational Church of this town, of which he was for many years one of the most prominent members, being one of its deacons, collector and treasurer, and superintendent of the Sunday School. He' was con- nected with nearly all of the temperance organizations of the town, in which he took an active part. He was a di- rector of the Athol National bank, and auditor of the town for two years, and was interested in several of the manufacturing companies in town. He was married Oct. 17, 1852, to Elizabeth J. Goodnough of Athol. They had one daughter, Stella, who is the wife of Hon. S. P. Smith. Mr. Parmenter died Oct. 28, 1893.
EDWIN ELLIS was born in North Orange on the old Ellis homestead Jan. 10, 1822. He was a son of Seth Ellis,
EDWIN ELLIS.
J. SUMNER PARMENTER.
FRANK C. PARMENTER.
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It-
LYMAN W. HAPGOOD.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
who had a family of ten children. Seth was a descendant of Samuel Ellis, one of the first settlers of Cape Cod, and whose descendants were quite prominent among the early settlers of Sandwich, Yarmouth and Harwich. Mr. Ellis came to Athol and he soon commenced the manufacture of sash and blinds in 1847, at the site on Water street, where he continued the business until his death. In his early business career he had a partner, his brother-in-law, John Wood. who, after retiring from the partnership, con- tinued in the employ of Mr. Ellis, until the latter's death. In 1888. he admitted to partnership his son, Edwin W. Ellis. and the firm was known as Edwin Ellis & Son. Mr. Ellis was not only successful in building up a flourishing business, but he also had the confidence of his fellow citi- zens who elected him to positions of trust and honor. He served on the board of selectmeu, was a member of the school committee, and was elected as representative to the Legislature in 1875. Prominently identified with the Congregational church, he was one of its deacons and superintendent of the Sunday School. Honorable in all his business affairs, sound and prudent as an adviser, a so- cial and cordial friend, he was a true man in every rela- tion. He married Lois L. Wood of North Orange, Jan. 10. 1846, by whom he had three children, Adele C., wife of Frank S. Parmenter, Orrin P. and Edwin W. He died July 9, 1888.
LYMAN WILDER HAPGOOD was born in Barre, Mass., Nov. 27, 1811, where he was educated in the public schools, and learned the trade of a wheelwright. He came
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to Athol in 1838, and engaged in the wheelwright busi- ness with his brother Asa, in the building now occupied by Newton & Call, grocers. He commenced the manufacture of match splints in company with Cyrus Stockwell, on the Petersham road, and also carried on the business where the L. Morse & Sons shops are now located, and was in company with A. D. Horr, under the firm name of Horr, Hapgood & Co., having an office in Boston. In 1844 he removed his business to where the present match shops are located, and built up one of the most flourishing industries of the town, which was continued after his death by his son and son-in-law, under the firm name of Hapgood & Smith, and which was purchased by the Diamond Match Co. in 1882. He had natural talents as a leader, and ex- erted a strong influence in church, political and town af- fairs. He was for many years connected with the Fire Department as Chief Engineer, served as school committee seven years, was active in the establishment of both local banks, both of which he served as director, and also held other positions of trust and responsibility for the town. He was the leader of the Free Soil party in Athol, and was elected as delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1853. He was also prominent in the old First Unitarian Church, of which he was the clerk for many years, and was also superintendent of the Sunday School for twenty years. He married Eliza J. Finney, April 18, 1839, and had two children, Sarah H., who married Almon Smith, and Herbert L. He died Oct. 18, 1874.
NATHANIEL RICHARDSON was born in Swanzey, N. H.,
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NATHANIEL RICHARDSON.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Dec. 31, 1804. He was the second son of a family of ten children. and his early life until twenty-one years of age was spent on the farm and in the blacksmith shop of his father. He came to Athol and engaged in work as a machinist for the Athol Manufacturing Co., April 25, 1826. In 1835 he bought the house on Main street, which was his home for nearly half a century, and in June. 1838. he purchased the machine shop, now occupied by C. F. Richardson & Son, where with his brother Luna, or alone, he carried on a most successful business for many years. He was prominent in town and public affairs, was representative to the Legislature in 1847 and 1860, a member of the board of selectmen for nine years, town treasurer from 1865 to 1875, and was for thirty-one years a Justice of the Peace, having received his first appoint- ment in 1852. In 1854 he was elected a director of the Millers River Bank. and filled that office to the time of his death, and was also a trustee of the Athol Savings Bank from the time of its organization. In 1827 he uni- ted with the Free Masons, in which he always took an ac- tive and prominent part, and at the time of his death was the oldest Mason in town. In all of his relations he was a true and honorable man. He married Emeline Young, daughter of Reuben Young, a descendant of Robert Young, who was one of the early settlers of Athol, Oct. 31. 1830. They had two children, George H. and Charles F. Mr. Richardson died Feb. 16, 1883.
GEORGE T. JOHNSON, who for more than thirty years was one of the leading business men and citizens of Athol,
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was born in Springfield, Mass., Feb. 11, 1823. At the age of seventeen years he went to Boston as clerk in a grocery store, where he remained five years, when he went to Dana, Mass., where he was employed for some time as a clerk, and then engaged in business in the company of Lindsey & Johnson, in a general country store. In 1860 he removed to Athol, and engaged in the satinet business with the late John C. Hill and Charles C. Bassett, the firm being known as Johnson, Hill & Co., of which Mr. Johnson was president. This firm was soon merged in the Millers River Manufacturing Co., which was incorporated in 1863, with a capital of forty thousand dollars, and the Kendall mill water power was purchased, and a large factory built. Mr. Hill soon retired from the company, which was continued by Messrs. Johnson and Bassett, un- til the latters death in 1886, when Mr. Johnson with his son, W. G. Johnson, took the management of the busi- ness, and continued it until his death. He was active and public spirited, taking an interest in nearly all of the new enterprises that were started in town during his residence in it. He was one of the organizers of the Athol Machine Co., of which he was the president and treasurer at the time of his death, was active in the establishment of the Athol Silk Co., the Citizens' Building Co., and the Upham Machine Co. He was one of the first directors of the Mil- lers River Bank, which position he held at the time of his death. was a trustee of the Athol Savings Bank for many years and its vice president. He was one of the charter members of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows, and the treas-
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