USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Athol, Massachusetts, past and present > Part 27
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HARDING R. BARBER.
HERBERT S. GODDARD.
CONVERSE WARD.
$
ADOLPHUS BANGS.
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citizen of Athol, by whom he had two children, Henry H. and Fred K. In 1874 he married Miss Annie Clapp of Montague, by whom he had one daughter, Mabel, and in April. 1883, married Miss Alice Nims of Keene, N. H. They have two daughters, Grace E. and Helen R.
HERBERT S. GODDARD was born in Royalston, April 11, 1852. He lived at home on the farm until sixteen years of age, attending the district schools. His education was supplemented by several terms' attendance at Powers In- stitute in Bernardston, and a year at the State University of Minnesota. He then returned to Royalston and was en- gaged for about fifteen years in the portable steam mill and lumbering business with C. D. Davis, also of Royalston, their field of operations being mostly in Royalston and Petersham. In 1888 he engaged in the manufacture of piano cases in Athol, in company with the late Robert Manning, the firm being known as Goddard & Manning, and a successful business was conducted until the death of Mr. Manning in March. 1895. The business was continued with another partner until 1897 when Mr. Goddard sold out his interest, and has not since engaged in any business. He is a member of the Baptist church of which he was for several years the treasurer, and has been a director and vice president of the Y. M. C. A., since its organization. He is also a member of the board of assessors of the town. He was married Sept 15, 1880, to Miss Sarah E. Forristall of Boston, and they have two daughters.
ADOLPHUS BANGS, youngest son of Joel and Minerva (Haskins) Bangs was born in New Salem, May 19, 1830.
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He remained at home upon the farm until eighteen years of age, when finding agricultural pursuits not congenial to his tastes, he went to Hadley, Mass., where he learned the broom-making business. He was engaged in the manu- facture of brooms in Leverett until January, 1857, when he commenced his career as a hotel keeper, leasing the hotel in Montague. In the fall of 1858 he moved to Athol and entered the employ of Hunt & Packard, grocers, where he remained nntil August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. E, 53d Mass. Regiment. He returned home with his reg- iment, Aug. 24, 1863, and in the summer of 1864 went to Vicksburg as recruiting officer for the State of Massachu- setts, and at the close of this service engaged in the gro- cery business with his father-in-law, J. F. Packard. He continued in this business until Jan. 1, 1867, when with the late Orrin F. Hunt he purchased the Pequoig Hotel property. In 1868 Mr. Bangs became sole owner of the property, and the landlord of the hotel, which he success- fully managed for nearly two decades. He has been iden- tified with the growth and enterprise of the town, always taking a deep interest in the introduction of new business into the place, not only using his influence but his money in that direction. He is a member of the various Masonic organizations of the town and of Titus Strong Council of Greenfield, and also of the Hubbard V. Smith Post, G. A. R. He was married May 27, 1852, to Miss Susan S. Pack- ard of New Salem. They have one daughter, the wife of Chas. A. Fairbanks of Boston, with whom they have made their home since the sale of the hotel property in Athol.
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CONVERSE WARD, a well known druggist in town, was born in North Orange, Sept, 23, 1845. He attended the district and private schools of that village, and at the age of eighteen years he came to Athol and entered the em- ploy of S. E. Fay in his drug and grocery store in Hough- ton's block, now the City Hotel building. He remained in that position for seven years, and was then clerk for Hunt Bros , about two years, when he went to Turners Falls and was confidential clerk and bookkeeper for the late Rector L. Goss for five years. He then returned to Athol and purchased the drug store of Wm. H. Puffer in the Starr Hall block, in which building he has ever since carried on that business. Mr. Ward has been a member of the board of Registrars of Voters for fifteen years. He is a member of the three Masonic organizations of the town, and has been treasurer of Union Royal Arch Chapter for eight years. He is also a member of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows, and a charter member of Poquaig Club, and its treasurer since its organization. He was married Oct. 31, 1867 to Mary E. Haskins of Athol. They have two chil- dren. Franklin E. and Ethel V.
GEORGE H. COOKE, son of Jacob Smith Cooke, was born in Athol, Aug. 15, 1851. His education was received in the Athol schools and at New Salem Academy. His first work was in the sash and blind shop of Edwin Ellis, where he received twenty-five cents per day. He was assistant postmaster for T. H. Goodspeed at the Athol Centre office for two or three years, and then went in com- pany with J. F. Packard in the grocery business for about
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a year, when he sold out and went to Leominster, where he was engaged in the grocery and drug business for five years, two years of which time he was in company with Bela J. Jacobs, and three years alone. He then returned to Athol and engaged extensively in building, having erected the Grand Army blocks in each village and about fifty dwelling houses, and has also invested heavily in cen- trally located real estate, becoming one of the largest real estate owners in the town. He has been active in getting new business interests into town, and has been largely in- terested in the Millers River, Citizens' and Athol Building Companies, and has also been engaged to some extent in the lumber business. He married Mary A Patterson, Nov. 25, 1875. They have one son, Charles Henry, now a student at Amherst College.
JAMES COTTON was born in Princeton, Mass., Nov. 1, 1848. He came to Athol when fifteen years of age and obtained employment in the mill of the Millers River Manu- facturing Co. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Co. H, Fourth Mass. Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He returned to Athol and went to work for J. M. Cheney in the match business, and in 1875 hired the shop of Mr. Cheney and carried on business for himself for three years, since which he has been engaged in the lumbering business. Mr. Cotton served on the board of selectmen for three years and was a constable of the town for nearly twenty years continuously. He is a member of Parker Post, G. A. R., and of the various Masonic organizations in town and the Mystic Shrine. He married Miss Maria Plunkett of Athol, Nov. 15, 1866, and has eight children.
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GEORGE H. COOKE.
JAMES COTTON.
CALVIN MILLER.
GEORGE S. BREWER.
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CALVIN MILLER was born in Westminster, March 18, 1837 ; his education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and at the old Westminster Academy. Born on a farm near old Wachusett Mountain, his early life was spent on the farm until twenty-one years of age, when he went into a store in Westminster as clerk for four years. In 1864 he went to Milwaukee, Wis., and that year and the following was employed in a dry goods store of that city. He then returned to Massachusetts and was book-keeper in one of the chair manufacturing estab- lishments of Gardner for four years. He came to Athol in 1871 and engaged in the manufacture of furniture with the late J. B. Cardany, under the firm name of Cardany & Miller. At the end of two years the firm was dissolved and Mr. Miller continued the business alone for ten years. He was also engaged in the coal business from 1875 to 1853. built the bakery on Exchange Street with A. A. Ward in 1881, bought him out in 1883, and after continu- ing the business alone till 1886, sold out to Albert Ells- worth. From that time until his removal to Worcester in 1894, he was engaged in lumbering and the real estate business. Mr. Miller served the town as collector of taxes in 1883. 87 and '88. He married Miss Amelia V. Alger of Winchendon. Feb. 15, 1870, and has two children.
GEORGE S. BREWER was born in Peterskam, June 11, 1851. His education was received in the common schools of his native town, and at the Highland Institute of Pet- ersham. He remained at home on the farm until twenty years of age, and came to Athol in 1872 when he went to
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work for J. M. Cheney in the match business, where he remained two years. He then in company with Dwight Bass established the wood turning business in the old Drury & Allen shop, but soon removed to the Hapgood & Smith shop, where he was in the same business alone for four years. He has been largely interested in the im- provement of real estate at the Highlands, having in 1878, purchased the Oliver property on the corner of Main and Pleasant streets, and in 1882 the Milton Baker property, extending from the Congregational church to the grist mill. This property he has improved by the building of new blocks and shops. He furnished the land and put in the water plant for the Hill & Greene shoe shop, and was largely interested in the building of the Ellis dam. He has been for several years engaged in the manufacture of boxes, window frames and mouldings. He is a member of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and was a member of the Republican town committee for several years. He was married Dec. 8, 1890 to Miss Mabel Lee, daughter of James M. Lee.
ANDREW JACKSON HAMILTON, oldest son of Harrison and Lucy A. (Gilbert) Hamilton, was born in Shutesbury, Mass., March 12, 1846. He removed to Bernardston in 1856, where he attended Powers Institute five years under the noted principal, L. F. Ward, served one year in a vil- lage grocery store, followed by three years' service in the "old brick" general store of R. F. Newcomb. While in the latter place his employer was absent about a year in the Civil war, leaving young Hamilton with a clerk still
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younger in charge of the business. Later a year's service as dry goods clerk in Holyoke, Mass., was followed by one year in a general store and post office at Hinsdale, N. H., during which year he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Wilkins of Orange. who still shares his fortunes. They have one son. Andrew Foster, a student in Amherst College, class of 1901. In April, 1869, Mr. Hamilton came to Athol as clerk for S. E. Fay, druggist and grocer, with whom he remained two years, and then accepted a clerkship in the insurance office and music store of H. B. & N. H. Hunt, later Hunt Brothers, where he continued until July 1, 1878, when with J. Luther Hunt as a co- partner the business was purchased and continued under the firm name of Hunt & Hamilton until July 1, 1883, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Hamilton becom- ing sole proprietor of the "Athol Life & Fire Insurance Agency," which had been established in 1865 by the late Howard B. Hunt. In 1894 he made extensive additions and improvements to the premises now known as Hamil- ton's Block, and occupies a convenient insurance office on the ground floor. Mr. Hamilton has been prominently identified with the social, religious and political affairs of the town, is a member of the Congregational church, treas- urer of the Young Men's Christian Association, and a member of the board of cemetery commisioners. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican, and an active worker in the party. He is a Past Dictator of Acme Lodge Knights of Honor, Past Grand of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows, Past High Priest of Mount Pleasant Encampment,
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a member of Banner Rebekah Lodge, Canton Athol, the Poquaig Club, and an associate member of Post 140, G. A. R., and holds commissions as Justice of the Peace, Notary Public and commissioner to qualify civil officers.
ALBERT R. TOWER was born in Boston, Sept. 19, 1849. His mother died when he was only a few days old, and he was brought to New Salem to live with his uncle, William Rice, where he lived until twelve years of age. After two years spent in Petersham he came to Athol. which has since been his home. In September, 1865, he went to work for J. S. and F. C. Parmenter in the store on the corner of Main and Exchange Streets, where he re- mained five and one-half years. In April, 1871, he went into partnership with F. C. Parmenter, under the firm name of Parmenter & Tower, and in May, 1892, Mr. Tower bought out the interest of his partner and still continues the business. He was married Oct. 15, 1873 to Miss Nar- cissa A. White, daughter of Rev. L. White, then principal of New Salem Academy, in which institution Miss White was also a teacher. They have two daughters, Jennie W., who married Rev. A. V. House of New Salem, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of David Findlay of Athol, and one son, Albert R. Jr., who lives at home. Mr. Tower has been for many years a prominent member of the Congregational church of which he was chosen deacon in January, 1892, and was for three years superintendent of the Sunday School.
FRANK S. PARMENTER, son of J. Sumner Parmenter, was born in Athol, Oct. 26, 1849. His education was
ANDREW J. HAMILTON.
ALBERT R. TOWER.
FRANK S. PARMENTER.
WILLIAM H. KENDALL.
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received in the Athol schools and at Trenton Academy in New Jersey. After returning to Athol about 1867, he entered the store of J. S. & F. C. Parmenter as clerk, and in 1870 engaged in the dry goods business with his father, which partnership was continued for four years, when his father retired from the business and he continued it in company with Charles A. Carruth for two years. After this he was engaged in the dry goods business in Spring- field, Mass .. for three years, St. Albans, Vt., about two years and Orange, Mass., three years, when he returned to Athol and was engaged in the clothing business with W. H. Kendall for four years, the firm name being Parmenter & Kendall. After being out of business for a time, he was in the West for a short time, and then again engaged in the dry goods business in Orange, where he continued un- til the fall of 1897, when he removed his business to Athol. He was married Aug. 26, 1873 to Adele C. Ellis, daughter of Edwin Ellis. Mr. Parmenter has been town auditor, is a member of the Congregational church and of Athiol Lodge of Masons.
WILLIAM H. KENDALL was born in Boston, April 14, 1851. He came to Athol when fourteen years of age, and after attending school in Petersham for two or three years went to work in the sash and blind factory of Edwin Ellis, where he was employed for nine years. He was then clerk for several years in the stores of Chas. L. Lord and Chas. A. Carruth, after which he became manager of the clothing store of S. Packard in the Houghton block. After a year or two in this position, in company with Frank S.
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Parmenter he bought out the business of Mr. Packard, which was continued for three or four years, when he bought out the interest of his partner and carried on the business until February, 1897, when he sold out and since that time has been clerk in several stores. He was married May 20, 1873, to Miss Flora M. Wood, daughter of the late John C. Wood.
CHARLES' W. BANNON was born in Springfield, Mass., Dec. 14, 1824. He attended the schools of his native city until sixteen years of age, and then learned the tailor's trade of Cole & Brownell in Springfield. He came to Athol April 28, 1846 to superintend a tailoring establish- ment for Hardon & Houghton, and this town has been his home ever since. He carried on business for himself from 1857 to 1873, and then was connected with the late Alvin Houghton for three years. In 1876 he again commenced business on his own account which he continued until 1883 when he opened a merchant tailor and ready made cloth- ing store in Orange, which he carried on fifteen years. Mr. Bannon entered the fire department in 1846, when he first came to town, and was soon made foreman of the old Tiger Engine Co., No. 1, which position he held for sev- eral years. He was one of the first board of fire engineers. He has been prominent in the Masonic fraternity, having been the first Master Mason raised in Star Lodge in 1864, was Master of the lodge in 1871, High Priest of Union
Royal Arch Chapter in 1872, was the first High Priest of . Crescent Chapter of Orange in 1884, and has been Grand Principal Sojourner of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts.
CHAS. W. BANNON.
RUSSELL S. HORTON.
ALLEN F. FLETCHER.
AMERICUS V. FLETCHER.
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He was one of the committee to publish the book, "Athol in Suppressing the Rebellion," upon which he did muchi work. In 1850 he commenced investigating the philosophy and phenomena of modern Spiritualism, and was one of the first in Athol to give attention to that subject. He is president of the first Spiritual Association of Athol. He was married Jan. 10, 1849 to Miss Betsey H. Mayo of Worcester. They have two sons, Frank W. and Charles A.
RUSSELL S. HORTON was born in Gill. Jan. 16, 1825. He was educated in the common schools of Franklin county towns and the High school at Warwick. After leaving school he traveled in the West about two years. He came to Athol in 1850, and went to work for C. M. Lee. who had then just commenced making shoes. He remained in the employ of Mr. Lee until 1852, when he went to Lynn, and was engaged for several years in manu- facturing shoes. While in Lynn he married Ruth Adaline Newhall, July 25, 1857. He served in the war in the Fourth Mass. Heavy Artillery. In 1869 he came back to Athol and again entered the employ of Mr. Lee, where he remained until 1881. He represented the eighth Worces -. ter district in the Legislature of 1880, and has served on the board of fire engineers. He was the head of the Sov- ereigns of Industry, when that organization flourished, and has been interested in nearly all of the labor organizations that have existed in Athol. After leaving the employ of Mr. Lee in 1881 he worked for Horace Hager several years making shoes and has also worked at the Hill & Greene shops.
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AMERICUS V. FLETCHER was born in Athol, Oct. 24, 1835. His mother died when he was a young boy, and he lived with different families in town until thirteen years of age when he went to Greenwich, which was his home about two years. He then went to Greenfield where he was employed in the John Russell cutlery works for two or three years, and then to Pratt's Hollow in New York state where he worked for a time in the hop fields. After en- gaging in different occupations for a few years he went to Hubbardston and learned the stove and tin ware business. Returning to Athol he started in business with his brother, A. F. Fletcher, in 1858, in the basement of the house known as the Stockwell house, near E. T. Lewis's office at the upper village. In 1859 they built what is known as Fuller's block at the Centre, and later purchased the Hum- phrey sash shop, where the piano case shop has since been located, and where they manufactured pumps. In 1868 Mr. Fletcher purchased a stove and tin ware business on Exchange street in which business he has been engaged ever since in different places in the village. He is a mem- ber of Star Lodge of Masons. He was married July 4, 1860 to Emeline O. Peckham of Dana. They have two children, Edith, the wife of Chas L. Fay, and Carl A., who is a student at the University of Pennsylvania.
ALLEN FLORENTINE FLETCHER was born in Athol, Mar. 28, 1839. His mother died when he was five years old, and his boyhood was spent with relatives in Templeton, North Orange, Greenwich Village and other places. In 1853 he went to Greenfield and worked in the Jolın Rus-
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sell cutlery factory for a short time, after which he returned to Athol and was employed in the Hapgood match shop for a while. In 1855 he went to Hubbardston and engaged himself to Appleton and Leonard Clark for three years to learn the tin trade. In 1858 in company with his brother, Americus V., he bought the tin and stove business of Col- lins Andrews, and the next year they built the block which has been known as Fuller's block at the Centre, now occupied by Samuel Lee and others. About 1862 he added the manufacture of pumps to his business, and in 1868 sold his interest in the tin and stove business to his brother, and has since that time given his attention to the manufacture of pumps, having taken out several patents and made valuable improvements, his shop being located near the junction of Riverbend Street with Hapgood Street. In 1863 he built the first brass foundry in town where the piano shop is now located. He was married May 28, 1862. to Miss Ann Jane Chamberlin. They have two children, Grace G., who married Wellington I. Dow and Edgar Allen.
AUGUSTUS COOLIDGE was born in Erving, Mass., Oct. 2, 1842. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native town and at Burnham's Business College in Springfield. He was employed for two or three years in the cartridge manufacturing establishment of C. D. Leete & Co., of Springfield, and then engaged in canvassing for books, pictures, etc., which he followed for several years, and then took up the life insurance business, locating in Worcester in 1869. In 1874 he commenced to build up a
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fire insurance business which he conducted successfully until his removal to Athol in July, 1884. He opened an insurance office in a small room in Parmenter's block, where he remained two years, was in Starr Hall block five and one half years, when he removed to his present office in his Main Street block which he erected in 1891. Soon after coming to Athol, having faith in the future growth and prosperity of the town, Mr. Coolidge commenced to invest in real estate. His first venture was the purchase of the Simonds block in 1886, which he followed up in 1887 with buying the cotton mill property, which had been in the market for years. He developed the property by laying out a portion of it into building lots, erected houses, and sold various parts of the estate, making therefrom a handsome sum. In 1890 he purchased the Charles L. Lord estate on Main Street. He was secretary of the Athol Board of Trade for several years, and spent much time and money in his labors to induce business enterprises to locate in town and one of the results of these efforts was the piano works of Goddard & Manning. While in Wor- cester he was a member of the Main Street Baptist church, and was an active worker in the Young Men's Christian Association of that city. On coming to Athol he connected himself with the local Baptist church, and first came into public notice by revolutionizing affairs in that church, be- ing at the head of a committee for raising five thousand dollars for repairing the church. He has been Noble Grand of Tully Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is also a mem- ber of the various Masonic organizations in town, and for
AUGUSTUS COOLIDGE.
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the last number of years has been an active and influential worker in town and political affairs, and was chosen Re- publican presidential elector in the campaign of 1896. In 1888 he delivered the historical address at the 50th anni- versary of the town of Erving. He was married July 30, 1869 to Hannah P. Blake of Springfield, a teacher in the public schools of that city.
LILLEY B. CASWELL was born in Fitchburg, March 29. 1848. His early education was obtained in the district, Grammar and High schools of his native town. In 1867 he entered the Massachusetts Agricultural College at Am- herst as a member of the first class, known as the "Pioneer Class," and graduated in 1871. While in college he taught school during the winter terms in several towns, and also for several terms after graduating. Soon after leaving college he entered the office of George Raymond, civil engineer of Fitchburg, and in May, 1873, came to Athol and in company with Samuel D. Baldwin of Fitch- burg opened an office for the civil engineering business under the firm name of Baldwin & Caswell, This partner- ship was continued between three and four years when it was dissolved, Mr. Caswell retaining the business, which he has continued to carry on to the present time. During his residence of twenty-five years in Athol he has been ac- tively interested in town affairs. and in the religious, educa- tional and political life of the community. For several winters after coming to Athol he taught the Grammar school at South Royalston and the High school at Royal- ston Centre, and conducted evening schools in Athol. In
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addition to his civil engineering business, which has ex- tended into all the towns in this part of the state, he has done much work as a correspondent and reporter for various papers, among which are the Boston Globe, Boston Her- ald, Worcester Spy, Greenfield Gazette and Courier, Athol Transcript and others. He has also compiled and published several directories. In 1880 he was appointed a census enumerator of Athol, for the United States census of that year, and in March of the same year was elected a member of the school committee, which position he held for nine years. In 1882 he was chosen one of the library commit- tee by the town to receive the library from the Athol Library Association, when it became public a library, and was a member of the committee until 1886, and has also been a member of the committee for the last three years. He has also served the town in various other positions, is serving his second term on the Board of Health, is one of the Sewer Commissioners, and has served on important committees. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Governor Long in 1882, and has received successive re- appointments to the present time. In June, 1883, he was appointed one of the Trial Justices for the county of Wor- cester by Governor Butler, and held that position until the establishment of the First District Court of Northern Wor- cester abolished the office. He was also appointed by Governor Butler a commissioner for qualifying civil officers, which position he now holds. He is a member of the Methodist church, with which he has been prominently identified, is one of the stewards of the church, and is
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