Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 134

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company
Number of Pages: 1238

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts > Part 134

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phone number is 376-4. He is always glad to furnish estimates for any kind of work.

T® EMBROKE SOMERSET RICH,* formerly superintendent of the Ames Plough Works, Worcester, was born in Thorndike, Waldo County, Me., November 24, 1823, son of Joseph and Lydia (Farwell) Rich. His grandfather, James Rich, removed from the western part of Maine to Thorndike, where he engaged in farming, and died at a good old age. His grandmother Rich lived to be one hundred and one years old, and retained full control of her faculties until the end.

Robert Rich, son of James, entered the army during the War of 1812, and was killed at the battle of Plattsburg. Richard Rich, of Dover Neck, was the father of Richard, Jr., who lived at Eastham, on Cape Cod, and sev- eral of whose children settled at Truro, Mass. Their descendants are numerous, and a family reunion, held at Truro in 1872, was largely attended by representatives from various parts of the United States.

Joseph Rich, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in either Gorham or Standish, Me., before his parents removed to Thorndike. He reared a family of five sons and five daughters, all of whom became heads of families, and two are living.

Pembroke Somerset Rich acquired a com- mon-school education in his native town. He served an apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade in Belfast, Me. ; and from there he went to New Bedford, Mass., where for the next three years he worked on whale ships and whalers' implements. From New Bedford he went to Taunton, Mass., and was there employed for some years in the machine shops of William Mason & Co. as a general forger, working on machinery and locomotives. He next went to Ayer, Mass., and for a num- ber of years was in the employ of Ruggles, Nourse & Mason. In 1876 he came to Worcester as agent and superintendent of the Ames Plough Company's Works, whose affairs he managed successfully for twenty years, or until his retirement, which took place some

two years ago. His business ability, mechan- ical skill, and efficiency were heartily appre- ciated by his employers, who at the time of his withdrawal presented him with a solid silver service, suitably engraved, as a testimonial.

On October 22, 1847, Mr. Rich was joined in marriage with Lydia Ann Wilber, of Taun- ton. They have had three children, namely : Urbanus Harrison, who died at the age of sev- enteen months; Marietta, who died at the age of sixteen months; and Joseph H., who lived to be nearly three years old.

Mr. Rich followed the majority of the Whigs into the Republican party at its forma- tion. Formerly quite active in local public affairs, he served two years in the Common Council, but declined to become a candidate for Alderman. He was made a Mason in and is still a member of King David Lodge, of Taunton, which recently celebrated its one hundredth anniversary. He also belongs to King Philip Lodge, I. O. O. F., of that city. About sixteen years ago he built his present residence in Chadwick Square. Although the city is gradually closing in around him, his home is still a charming semi-rural retreat, his grounds being shaded by spreading trees planted by himself. He also owns a cottage house near by. Though not united with any religious society, Mr. and Mrs. Rich contrib- ute to the support of churches, and are ever ready to aid in forwarding all worthy objects.

YRUS A. AND ABBIE M. LOVELL,* who occupy the old Lovell farm on Mountain Street, Worcester, were born where they now reside. The parents were Cyrus and Lois (Temple) Lovell, the former of whom was born in Worcester, November 2, 1790; and his wife was a native of West Boylston. They are descendants in the sixth generation of Alexander Lovell, Sr., one of the Weymouth and Braintree men who went to Medfield in 1652. Alexander, Jr., son of the pioneer, was born in Medfield in 1671. Jonathan Lovell, son of Alexander, Jr., and great-grandfather of the subjects of this sketch, was born in 1714. He settled in Holden. On November 24, 1738, he married

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for his first wife Mary Cheney, who bore him two daughters and one son, Jonathan, Jr. Of his second union there were three sons and two daughters, and one of the former died young. Those who lived to grow up were: Eunice, born in 1747; Olive, born in 1749; Asa, born in 1751; and Amos, born in 1753. Jonathan Lovell, Jr., the grandfather, who was born in 1743, married Mary Raymond. Of their twelve children, ten grew to maturity, and the ages of eight averaged eighty years. Among them were: Jonathan, third, born October I, 1769; Betty, born September 26, 1771 ; Mary, born in 1774; and Joseph Lovell, who was born July 29, 1784. The latter was a hotel- keeper in Worcester, and died here at the age of seventy-six. Cyrus Lovell, the father, was a well-known school teacher of his day, and owned the farm on Mountain Street which his two surviving children now occupy. Lois, his wife, whom he married April 1, 1817, be- came the mother of six children, namely : John, who became a wealthy business man of Worcester, and died February 7, 1898, in his eightieth year; Edwin H., born September 15, 1819, and died July 4, 1898; Louisa A., who died June 5, 1836, aged fifteen years ; Abbie M. and Cyrus A., the subjects of this sketch, who were born respectively August 18, 1824, and March 10, 1828; and George H., born July 24, 1835, and died November 20, 1890. The father died in 1878, aged nearly eighty-eight years, surviving his wife, who died at the age of forty-nine.

John Lovell was born and reared on the old Lovell farm. In 1855 he engaged in the sale of seeds and agricultural implements in Worcester, in which business he continued for many years, being very successful. His ser- vices were frequently called upon to settle es- tates, and he also took a prominent part in pub- lic affairs, being at one time a member of the city government. He was first married when twenty-four years old to Miss Eleanor Winch, who died in 1882, leaving no children. In 1883 he married for his second wife Mrs. Ellen C. Bigelow, widow of Samuel T. Bige- low, of Worcester. Mr. Bigelow died in Worcester in 1879, leaving his widow, two daughters, and one son. The son, George C.

Bigelow, subsequently died at the age of nine- teen years. The daughters are: Grace, wife of Walter J. Dewey, of Lowell, Mass .; and Alice, wife of J. William Buzzell. Mr. Lovell was very happy in his domestic rela- tions, and proved a kind father to his step- children. He was highly esteemed as a man and citizen, and died leaving a good estate.

Cyrus A. and Abbie M. Lovell are among the most prosperous farming people in their locality; and their property, which in their father's time consisted of one hundred and fifty acres, now contains two hundred and fif- teen acres.

RS. ELIZABETH A. GATES BOSWELL,* of Worcester, resid- ing at 200 Grafton Street, is a native of this city. She was born on June 23, 1818, being a daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Flagg) Gates.

Her paternal grandfather, Samuel Gates, was one of the original settlers on Plantation Street, where he owned a large farm, a part of which is now included within the limits of the new State Hospital grounds. He died at about eighty years of age, having survived his wife, but not for a long period. Their chil- dren were: Joel, Henry, Willard, Joshua, and Mary. Joel, who was a farmer on the old farm, reared a family of four sons and three daughters. Henry, also a farmer on the old farm, has two daughters. Willard has one son. Mary died unmarried.

Joshua Gates was married to Elizabeth Flagg on February 12, 1809, and their children were as follows: Benjamin Franklin, Rufus Porter, Ruth Flagg, Emily Flagg, and Eliza- beth A. (Mrs. Bosworth). Benjamin Frank- lin Gates, who was born on April 11, 1811, died in Peoria, Ill., at the age of fifty, leav- ing a family. Rufus P., who was born on July 29, 1812, died in Prairie du Chien, Wis., in 1892, leaving one daughter. Ruth F., who was born on May 15, 1814, and married Hezekiah Bates, died in Worcester past mid- dle life, being survived by two sons - Samuel F. and Charles Bates - and a daughter Geor- giana, wife of Spencer Douglass, of this city.

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Emily F. Gates, who was born in 1816 and died in 1887, was the wife of Edwin I. Howe.

Joshua Gates was in the War of 1812. At that time the bridge across Quinsigamond Lake was a toll bridge. It was a floating or pontoon bridge; and the first one built was a failure, lasting only a short time, though the first heavy load went over it in safety.

Elizabeth A. Gates received her education in the common schools. She was married at twenty-two years of age to Austin Aber- crombie, who was born in Pelham on June 18, 1818. He died on July 26, 1866, at the age of forty-eight, leaving her with three children - Annie E., Horace A., and Ella; and she was subsequently married to Henry Boswell, of this city. Mr. Boswell, who was a ma- chinist, died in 1883, at the age of seventy- five. Mrs. Boswell has lived in her present home since October, 1864, when her first bus- band bought three acres of land. This fine old house marks the spot where the Harring- tons settled over a hundred and fifty years since. Her life has been an industrious and useful one. She has experienced all the great blessings of life, its joys as well as its sor- rows, and has made many friends.

Annie E., Mrs. Boswell's elder daughter, who was born on December 7, 1841, was first married in August, 1862, to Charles H. Bos- well, son of her mother's second husband. He enlisted in 1862 in the Thirty-sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry as a pri- vate, was captured by the rebels in Tennessee, and subsequently died in Libby Prison. His resting-place is unknown. His widow was married on December 10, 1887, to Ora B. Underwood, of Jamaica, Vt., who came to this city in 1868. Mr. Underwood has been engaged for some years in the poultry busi- ness, in which he is an adept. He hatches a thousand or more chickens every year in incu- bators, getting them into the market when they will sell at fifty cents a pound. Horace A. Abercrombie is a railroad engineer, resid- ing in Dorchester, Mass. He has one daughter. Ella Abercrombie, who was born on August 28, 1857, married Ralph Aber- crombie. She died on February 7, 1889, leaving one daughter.

AVID F. PARKER,* who was for a number of years prominent among the business men of Worcester, was born in 1834 in Holden, Mass., the home of several generations of the Parker fam- ily. He was a son of Timothy Parker. His mother's maiden name was Fisk. He was educated in Holden, and in his early manhood he taught school for a few years. In 1861, with a Mr. Garfield, his brother-in-law, he engaged in business in Worcester, teaming and dealing in wood. The firm name was Garfield & Parker. Their place of business at first was on Trumbull Square, later on School Street, Worcester. Their business prospered and grew extensively, and in course of time they went into the ice trade also, having ice houses at Lake Washacum, Sterling. This, too, was a most profitable enterprise.

About 1866 Mr. Parker was elected Street Commissioner of Worcester. An intensely practical man, he was full of force and execu- tive ability ; and as a public servant he was energetic and popular, accomplishing much for the city. He surveyed and built many new streets, doing his work faithfully, and the peo- ple received the full benefit of every dollar expended in his department. He had a boun- tiful good nature and a faculty of dealing with his subordinates in such a way as to secure their best work. Mr. Parker was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Worces- ter. He died September 2, 1879, and his departure was regretted by hosts of friends.

On May 23, 1862, he was married to Maria H. Garfield, of Princeton, Mass. The Gar- fields, who are of English origin, have lived in Massachusetts for several generations.

HARLES S. HOWE,* for a number of years one of the most valued and trusted agents of the Singer Ma- chine Company, of Worcester, was born in Westboro, this county, in 1848. He was a son of Silas and Mary (Fairbanks) Howe. His father was a native of Northboro and his mother of Lancaster, Mass, They lived on a farm at Westboro.

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Possessing sterling traits of character, the Howes have been prominent in New England from early Colonial days, and the names of several noted members of the family appear on the pages of her history.

Charles S. Howe was educated in Westboro, and remained on the home farm until about twenty-eight years old. For a while he had entire charge of the farm, and was very suc- cessful in its management ; but he was too am- bitious to be content with such a life, and sought a broader field for his energy. About 1878 he became connected with the Singer Sewing Machine Company in this city. As one of their selling representatives he learned the business thoroughly, and became an expert solicitor. He was then advanced to a confi- dential position. Mr. Howe was exceptionally valuable in closing contracts, as he possessed the address, tact, and gentlemanly bearing essential to success in that line of busi- ness. Courteous and agreeable, he made many friends. He died July 26, 1892.

Mr. Howe was married October 26, 1875, to Susan A. Pierce, of Westboro, daughter of Samuel Pierce. Mr. Pierce is now eighty- three years of age. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Howe - Evelyn Augusta and Leander.

ILLIAM TOWNE SHUMWAY,* a leading merchant of Webster, son of Hammond and Ruby (Towne) Shumway, was born on March 21, 1829, in Thompson, Conn., where his paternal grand- parents, Jeremiah and Huldah (Upham) Shum- way, had settled on a farm before his father's birth. Solomon Shumway, father of Jeremiah, was a native of Oxford, Mass., whence he re- moved to Connecticut. The family is said to have been of Huguenot origin. Several of its representatives fought in the American Revo- lution. The name of Jeremiah Shumway is recorded in the list of Connecticut men who served for a brief period in the War of 1812.

Hammond Shumway, son of Jeremiah, was born in Thompson in 1804, and died at the age of forty. He was a lifelong farmer. His wife, Ruby, whom he married in 1825, was

also a native of Thompson. She was the daughter of William Towne, a Revolutionary soldier, who died at the age of ninety. Her mother's family name was Newell. Three of the six children born to Hammond and Ruby Shumway are now living - namely, William T., George, and Hammond H. - all of whom are interested in the store of which the first named is the proprietor.

William Towne Shumway received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native town and at Roberts Academy in Webster. When sixteen years of age he engaged as a clerk in the general merchandise store of J. P. Stock- well, of this town, and was subsequently with him for several years. Following this he clerked in Worcester for a short time, and later went into business with Simeon Shumway under the firm name of Shumway & Co. After a short time John Shumway, a brother of Simeon, bought out the latter's interest in the business, and the firm was for three years J. Shumway & Co. At the end of that time a new partner was added, and the name was changed to Shumway & Alton. In July, 1857, the company was dissolved, and shortly after the subject of this sketch went into the dry- goods business on his own account. He con- tinued it successfully for ten years in one place, and at the end of that period removed to his present stand. He also conducted for some years, in company with W. H. Arnold, a gen- eral merchandise store at North Grosvenor, but in 1870 sold it out. Mr. Shumway carries a large stock of goods, and has a fine class of custom. His exact and honorable business methods through all these years have won for him the warmest respect of his fellow-towns- men.

In 1851 Mr. Shumway was united in mar- riage with Jane Keith, the daughter of Orrin and Hannah (Perry) Keith. Mrs. Shumway's father was in the War of 1812; and her grand- father, Asa K. Keith, was a soldier of the Revolution. Her brother Henry fought dur- ing the Civil War, and was a member of Gen- eral Pratt's staff. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shumway: Kate, in 1856; and Janet, in 1865. The former of these, who was educated in the schools of Web-

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ster and at Bradford Academy, is now the wife of W. B. Russell, and resides at Turner's Falls, where Mr. Russell is president and treasurer of the Paper Manufacturing Company. Janet married Robert G. Swett, and resides at Easthampton, Mass.

Mr. Shumway was elected treasurer of the town during the Civil War, and subsequently served for nine years. He has also held the office of Selectman for three years. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Congregational church, and has served on com- mittees. He is one of the trustees of the Webster Five Cent Savings Bank.

ILLIAM BRIGHAM HOWE, * prior to 1875 general superintendent for L. W. Pond, of Worcester, builder of machinery, was born at Grafton, Mass., on March 1, 1828, and died in Worcester in May, 1875. His parents were William and Annie (Goulding) Howe. His father was a shoe- maker.

When only five years old William B. Howe went with his parents to Leicester, where he attended the public schools and Leicester Academy. Coming to Worcester after his school days were over, he was employed in the drug store of Charles Harrington ; but after re- maining there a short time he went into the grocery store of Edwin Howe. Afterward he was clerk in the grocery store of Benjamin Butman in Butman Row and still later in a store on Exchange Street. His intelligent service in these positions gave him good ex- perience, and served to introduce him to the business world. Upon entering the office of L. W. Pond, the well-known builder of ma- chinery, he found himself in a position which would give full scope to his business ability and executive faculty. He soon won the entire confidence of his employer, and was intrusted with business of a very important nature. Gradually he became an indispensable factor in the carrying on of the business, and in time was made general superintendent of the entire plant. He understood not only the details of the executive functions of the busi- ness, but acquired a remarkably keen insight

into its mechanical processes. Under his management the firm attained great prosperity, as he acted in their interest as faithfully as if he had been himself the proprietor of the business. The men under his charge found him the kindest of masters, and by many of them he is affectionately remembered at the present time. So closely did Mr. Howe con- fine himself to business that his health, never robust, gave way, and in 1867 he was obliged to retire. At this time the firm was in a highly prosperous condition, and its failure did not occur until some time after Mr. Howe's connection with it had ceased. Going to California in hopes that the change and the climate would prove beneficial, Mr. Howe re- mained there until a few weeks before his death, which occurred at Worcester as above noted.

Mr. Howe was married in 1852 to Harriet Chaffin, of Worcester, daughter of Elisha Chaffin, who was born in Holden. Her family has been settled in Worcester County for a number of generations. Mr. Howe left three children, of whom the following is a brief rec- ord : George Herbert, the elder son, who was born on July 1, 1860, is a machinist. Ade- line Louisa Howe was born on February 4, 1863. William Chaffin Howe, who was born on April 19, 1870, is a mechanical engineer, and has been for some time in the employ of the Hawkins Bridge Company, of Springfield. He makes estimates for the cost of construc- tion, and also has charge of the construction as superintendent.

AMES T. ROOD, M.D.,* who died at his home in Holden, Mass., October 26, 1875, was for many years one of the foremost physicians of this section of Worcester County and a citizen of high standing in the community. He was born at Jericho, Vt., December 21, 1834. He at- tended the public schools of Jericho until he was sixteen years old, when he accompanied his parents to Holden, Mass. For a short time he assisted in the management of the home farm. His medical studies were pur- sued in Montpelier, Vt., and afterward in

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Boston. He began the practice of his profes- sion in Holden, and had already obtained a fair share of local patronage when the Civil War broke out. He was commissioned assist- ant surgeon of the Twenty-eighth Massachu- setts Volunteer Infantry in August, 1862, and was in the service till some time in November, being then honorably discharged on account of illness.

On his return from the war Dr. Rood was located for a time in South Brookfield before he came back to Holden. A physician of ac- knowledged skill, careful in his diagnosis of diseases and prompt in treatment, he became eminently successful and popular in Holden and the nearby towns. Studious and progres- sive, he devoted himself to his profession, which he looked upon as affording him a great opportunity to do good in the world rather than as a means of acquiring riches. A man of high moral character and of sterling integ- rity, he wielded a good influence in the com- munity, of which he was an active member. As one of the local School Committee, he ren- dered efficient service toward advancing the educational interests of the town. He was

leading member of the Congregational a church, and he belonged to a post of the G. A. R.

On December 25, 1861, Dr. Rood married Ellen Louise Miles, of Rutland, Mass., a daughter of Ebenezer and Roxana (Hale) Miles. Seven children were the fruit of this union. The following is a brief record of the family : Willie George, born in Rutland, Jan- uary 16, 1863, died May 19, 1863; Nellie Miles, born in Brookfield, March 26, 1864, is the wife of R. P. Gleason, of Oakland, Cal. ; Annie Norton, born September 6, 1866, died August 16, 1868; Stanley Hale, born December 7, 1868, a graduate of the Worcester High School and of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Clara Belle, born in Holden, Au- gust II, 1871, was graduated from the high school and State Normal School at Worces- ter, and is now at the head of the Salisbury Training Kindergarten School in Worcester ; Florence Louise, born June 26, 1874, died November 29, 1875 ; James Heron, born March 26, 1876, in Worcester, was graduated from

the Worcester High School, and is now a stu- dent at the Polytechnic Institute.

Since the death of her husband Mrs. Rood has resided in Worcester. Stanley Hale Rood for a while was professor of Mathematics in the Polytechnic Institute, and then for two years, or till he resigned in 1896, an instruc- tor in the Boston School of Mechanic Arts. He married in June, 1897, Alice H. Mason, of Jamaica Plain, Mass.

OHN PUTNAM MARBLE,* one of Worcester's most venerable citizens, was born in Charlton, Mass., on Octo- ber 1, 1802, son of Thaddeus and Olive (Putnam) Marble. The family is said to be

of Scottish origin. Mr. Marble's great-grand- father, Freegrace Marble, was one of the early settlers of Sutton, coming to that place early in the eighteenth century from Essex County. His three sons were: Samuel, Enoch, and Malachi. Enoch Marble, the grandfather of John P., Marble, was born in Sutton, and died in that town at a very advanced age in 1814. By his wife, Abigail, he had a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters; and his grand-children numbered more than a hun- dred.

Thaddeus Marble, who was born in Sutton in 1758, removed to Charlton, and there en- gaged in the manufacture of scythes, and also in connection with his brother Aaron owned and operated a grist-mill. He died in 1817 at the age of fifty-nine. He had fought in the Revolutionary War. In 1784 he married Olive Putnam, of Sutton, daughter of John Putnam. She survived him twenty-five years, and died in 1842 at the age of seventy-five. They had six children. One died at the age of three years, and a daughter, named Persis, at ten. The other children were: William, John P., Mary, and Persis (second.) Mary, who was the first-born, married Lyman Gould, and died in 1853, leaving four children. William Marble, who died at the age of fifty- five, was a lifelong farmer of Charlton. He left a family of five children. One of his two sons is now living, a wealthy invalid in Chi- cago, Persis Marble, second, who died in

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middle life, was the wife of William S. Weld. She had no children.

John Putnam Marble, on account of some physical weakness affecting his head, was unable to attend school much during early childhood. He resided at the parental home until the age of twenty-five, when he suc- ceeded his father-in-law, William P. Ryder, of Charlton, in business. In 1828 he also managed a hotel in Charlton. In 1843 he started to make trips to the West, selling boots and shoes at wholesale in the southern and central parts of Michigan. His son Je- rome looked after the store in Charlton during his four months' absence each year, as he kept up the boot and shoe trade in Michigan until 1860. In 1853 he also embarked in the flour- ing business at Dexter in that State. His partner died in 1860, and he conducted the business alone till 1865, when he closed out. He has since lived practically retired. Since 1853 Mr. Marble has resided on Harvard Street ; and in 1867, thirty-one years ago, he built the house, No. 33, in which he has since made his home.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 134

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company Number of Pages: 1238

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company
Number of Pages: 1238