Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 135

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 135

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Up to 1840 he was a Democrat, but since that time he has been a Republican. In 1841 he represented the Worcester district in the legislature, being elected by a majority of three hundred and forty-four votes over the Whig candidate, who received only one hun- dred and eight votes. The first vote he cast in the legislature was in favor of the proposi - tion that amalgamation, or the marriage of blacks and whites, was a crime, and the off- spring were illegitimate. He also voted in favor of straightening the Boston & Albany Railroad, which was at that time owned by the State. Mr. Marble is a member of the Uni- versalist church, and was one of the committee having in charge the building of the present handsome edifice of brick and stone. Though Mr. Marble is not in robust health, and his sight and hearing are failing, he is yet a most remarkable man for his age, and has a good memory of the events which have taken place in his long and active career. He is one of the only two men who are real sons of the Rev- olutionary soldiers.

He was married November 30, 1823, at the

age of twenty-one, to Ruth Ann Ryder, of Charlton, who was born on June 30, 1806, and died on December 14, 1883. She was the mother of two children: Jerome Marble, of this city; and William T., who died Decem- ber 4, 1862, at the age of seventeen. The latter was a student in Leicester Academy, preparing for college, and was a young man of unusual promise.

JEROME MARBLE, who resides at 23 Harvard Street, in the house built by him in 1867, was born in Charlton on September 10, 1824. He completed his education in Leicester Acad- emy, and at the age of eighteen went into his father's store in Charlton, in which he had previously worked during his school vacations. For two years he was in Boston in the paint and oil store of Randall & Bacheller, but at the end of that time returned to Charlton and continued there four years longer in the gen- eral merchandise business. Selling out then, he came to Worcester and engaged in business as a wholesale and retail dealer in drugs, paints, oils, and so forth. For ten years, from 1853 to 1863, he was a member of the firm of C. A. Harrington & Co. ; but upon the retirement of Mr. Harrington in 1863 the firm name became Jerome Marble & Co. This firm has operated two stores, the main store being at 440 Main Street, Worcester, and a wholesale department at 42 Pearl Street, Boston. Their trade extends over New Eng- land, New York, and Pennsylvania, and from eight to ten travelling agents are employed.

Mr. Marble was first married in 1849 to Susan E. Blanchard, of Charlton. She died in 1881 at the age of fifty-three, leaving two daughters : Nellie Mabel, who resides with her father; and Olive, who is the wife of Fred- erick W. Bailey, of New Haven, Conn., and the mother of John Marble Bailey, aged six years, and a younger child, Nellie M. In 1882 Mr. Marble married Abbie E. Redding, of this city, daughter of John Redding, of Sturbridge. Mrs. Marble's parents are liv- ing, also her two sisters and a brother.

In politics Mr. Marble is a Republican. He has never been an office-seeker, but at one time served the city as Alderman for a year. He attends the Universalist church, of which

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his father is a member. He has travelled much in this country, both in the South and in California. For several years Mr. Marble was principal of the Sycamore Street School.

BEL ABBOTT PEVEY, D. D. S.,* was for some years one of the leading den- tists of New England. He had an excellent practice in Woonsocket, where his death occurred in 1888. He was born in Greenfield, N. H., July 6, 1827, a son of Benjamin Abbott and Nancy (Whittemore) Pevey. His father was born and reared in Bennington, N. H., but after he reached man's estate he was engaged in manufacturing several years in the neighboring town of Greenfield. He subsequently removed to New York City, where he continued manufacturing on a more extended scale. On retiring from active pur- suits he returned to his former home in Green- field, N. H., and there spent his last days, a respected and honored citizen.

Abel A. Pevey, having completed his schooling in New York City, began in 1848 the study of dentistry with a well-known and able practitioner. Diligent and painstaking, he acquired proficiency in his profession, and when ready to open an office of his own estab- lished himself in Clinton, Mass. He soon proved his skill as a dentist, and in course of time won an extensive patronage. Desiring a larger field for operation, Dr. Pevey event- ually removed to Woonsocket, R. I., where he met with eminent success, having a very lucrative practice in that city and the neigh- boring towns, and being recognized for years as one of the most prominent men of his profes- sion in the State. Ambitious and progressive, he kept abreast of the times in regard to all improved methods in dentistry, and was quick to avail himself of all newly invented dental tools and appliances that would facilitate his work or make more pleasant to his customers their enforced visits to the dental chair. He helped to establish his three brothers in the dental profession, and at one time all four were in Clinton. His brother Frank was for many years associated with him in Woon- socket ; but he and his other two brothers are

now well settled in Worcester, where each has a substantial practice. Dr. l'evey had a residence in Worcester for a long time, and was here well known and highly esteemed. He was a prominent member of the Rhode Island Dental Association.

Dr. Pevey married Miss Ella F. Judd, of Clinton, Mass., a daughter of Lucian Judd, who removed from Waterbury, Conn., to that town. . He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father served in the Revolution. The Judd family was first represented in New Eng- land by Thomas Judd, who was in Cambridge, Mass., in 1634 or 1635, removed thence to Hartford, Conn., from there to Farmington, and finally to Northampton, Mass. He had six sons, two of whom - namely, Thomas, Jr., and Philip - settled at Waterbury, Conn.

Dr. and Mrs. Pevey had two children, one of whom, a son Edward, died in boyhood. The other child, Helen Augusta, now Mrs. Ashley, married first George Lyford Gould, who died, leaving one son, George Lyford Gould, Jr.

- IRAM H. AMES,* whose death oc- curred on February 16, 1892, in the city of Worcester, where he had been a resident nearly half a cen- tury, was born in Sturbridge, April 22, 1822. His father died when Hiram was a boy; and after receiving a limited education in the com- mon schools he worked on the home farm till 1845, when he came to Worcester, where he learned carriage-making, and followed his trade for many years, subsequently working for the Ames Plough Company. In 1868 he started in the retail furniture business with a Mr. Corey, who retired two years later. Mr. Ames built up a large trade, and was engaged in the business till. 1882, when, having accu- mulated considerable money during fourteen years of business, he sold out to Henry Walker. Mr. Ames was a popular tradesman, attentive to business, honorable in his dealings, never failing to meet his obligations. A far-seeing man and realizing the increasing value of property in a growing town like Worcester, he built a four-story block on Main Street, and in

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IS82 he bought a farm on Vernon Street, which he developed and finally sold into house lots at good profits. He also engaged in sev- eral other real estate transactions.

He was twice married. The children by his first wife were: Marcia Ann, now Mrs. E. G. Scathers; and Imogene E., now Mrs. George Page. He married second, December 24, 1870, Susan F. Milliken Warner, and by her had two sons : Hiram Harris, born March 29, 1872, who is a book-keeper with the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company ; and Edwin James, born April 7, 1882, who is a student at the high school. Mrs. Ames was born at Cav- endish, Vt. Her great-great-grandfather was a Protestant from the north of Ireland, his people having settled there after a long resi- dence in Scotland.

Mr. Ames was a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F., the Royal Arcanum, and other fraternities, ranking high in each. He pos- sessed a sympathetic, kindly nature, and often aided people against his cooler judgment. He was a genial, whole-souled man, and had many friends.

UCIUS LAWTON BRIGHAM,* for the past ten years a successful dealer in flour and grain in Worcester, was born in Wayland, Mass., September I, 1832, son of Colonel Ephraim and Mary (Hubbard) Brigham. He attended the public schools of his native place until fourteen years of age, when his father died and he was obliged to seek employment. He went to Bolton, Mass., and there remained for two years as clerk in Holman's Hotel. He was next employed by Stone & Warren, butchers of the same town, and he showed at this early age a remarkable talent for business. He advanced rapidly, and in two years' time was sole buyer for the firm. At the age of nineteen he en- gaged in the meat business for himself, and spent the next four years in different towns ; and after working for a short time in Boston, in October, 1854, he located in Worcester, on Washington Square, in company with Hiram Fobes, with whom he was in partnership for twelve years. In 1866 he sold out his interest

in that store and established another on Main Street, which he conducted for six years with- out a partner. The firm of Houghton, Brig- ham & Gates was then formed, and carried on the business of slaughtering and dealing in live cattle, wholesale and retail. Mr. Brigham was a member of the firm for eleven years, and when the partnership was dissolved in 1885 he became engaged in the grain and flour business at 105 Front Street. In 1896 he removed to his present stand at 57 Foster Street.

He married June 5, 1860, Abbie H. Hayes, of Lawrence, Mass., and by this union has had four children, as follows: Annie Hubbard, born January 3, 1863; Clara Lawrence, born October 15, 1866; Katie, born December 9, 1870, who died June 24, 1872; and H. Pres- cott, born August 19, 1876. Annie married J. H. Wheeler, Jr., of Boston; Clara L. mar- ried L. W. Southgate, the patent lawyer of Worcester.

Mr. Brigham is a member of the Athelson Lodge of Free Masons. He is a Republican in politics, and was Alderman for the Fourth Ward in 1886 and 1887. He has been suc- cessful in all his business ventures, and is honorable in all his dealings. Since the age of fourteen he has faced the world unaided, and his success in life has been peculiarly self- attained.

ETER BAKER,* founder of the Baker Manufacturing Company, Worcester, was born in Baltimore, Md., October 20, 1855, son of Henry and Mary (Fürst) Baker. His father, who was born in Germany in 1815, served an apprenticeship of seven years at the baker's trade, and afterward worked as a journeyman baker several years before coming to the United States. Settling in Baltimore in 1852, he followed his trade for about three years. Possessed of an un- usual amount of energy and ability, he had accumulated some means, and was about to engage in business for himself when he was killed by a boiler explosion. Mrs. Baker shortly removed with her two sons, Michael H. and Peter, to Hatfield. She married for her second husband Frank Steele, a native of

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Germany, like herself, and by this union she had seven children. Five of these grew to maturity, married, and have families. The mother is still living on a farm in Hatfield with one of her children. Her son, Michael H. Baker, is now engaged in the plumbing business in Holyoke, Mass.

Peter Baker was six weeks old when his mother went to Hatfield. He was educated in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen he began a three years' apprentice- ship at the plumber's trade with his brother and his brother's partner, in whose employ he remained as a journeyman for some years. Coming to Worcester in the fall of 1883, he worked at his trade on Pleasant Street for a year, at the end of which time he engaged in the plumbing and tinning business on Foster Street, where he remained six years. He then removed to Exchange Street, where he was burned out a year later; and, going to Central Street, he remained there two years, or until selling out. After carrying on the confectionery business a year, he relinquished it to establish himself in his present manufact- uring line, opening on Water Street. As business increased he moved to the corner of Cherry and Canal Streets. The Baker Lead Manufacturing Company, of which he is the founder, was organized in 1895 and incorpo- rated with a capital stock of thirty-five thou- sand dollars. They manufacture lead pipe and traps, and do a large wholesale business in plumbers' supplies, shipping goods to all parts of the United States, England, and Australia.

On December 28, 1882, Mr. Baker married Margaret T. Ryan, of this city, daughter of Patrick Ryan. Nine children have been born of this union. Three of them died in infancy, and a son, Henry, died at the age of eighteen months. The survivors are: Mary A., Grace, Helen, Josephine, and Estelle.

In politics Mr. Baker votes independently, supporting the candidates whom he considers the best qualified to hold office. Since 1895 he has resided at 104 Vernon Street. He is one of the rising business men of this city, and his success is the result of energy and perse- verance. Mr. and Mrs. Baker attend St. John's Church,

DWIN P. CURTIS,* of Worcester, president of the Richardson Manufact-

uring Company, was born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1844, son of John Edwin and Amelia (Riley) Curtis. His paternal grand- father was John Curtis; and he is a descendant of Ephraim Curtis, who came to Worcester from Sudbury, where his father, Henry, was one of the earliest settlers.

Ephraim Curtis, first, was, it is said, the earliest settler of Worcester, coming here about 1670. He was driven away by the Ind- ians, and never returned to this locality. His two sons, John and Ephraim, came here, however; and the elder, John, succeeded to his property, which amounted to some two hundred and fifty acres, by the law of primo- geniture. Before taking possession he was obliged, however, to oust other claimants, which he did by an appeal to the courts. He subsequently purchased adjacent land until he had in all about three hundred acres. The younger son, Ephraim, second, acquired a large tract of land in the vicinity of Quinsig- amond Lake.

John Edwin Curtis, father of Edwin P., was born on the old Curtis farm on Lincoln Street, Worcester, which has been owned in the family since the time of Ephraim, the pioneer. He was a merchant by occupation. He died in St. Louis, Mo., about 1844, at the early age of twenty-seven, leaving his wife with two children - Edwin P. and Elnora. The latter became the wife of George Whit- man, and died leaving a daughter, Amy, then only six weeks old, who is now a young lady pursuing advanced studies in Germany. Mrs. Amelia R. Curtis was born in Middletown, Conn., in 1822, a daughter of Calvin and Eu- nice (Milley) Riley. Her father died in Alton, Ill., to which place the family had moved in 1832. After the death of her first husband, to whom she was married May 26, 1841, she became the wife and subsequently the widow of his brother, Tyler P. Curtis (of whom see separate sketch), and now resides on the old Curtis farm above mentioned. She has three living children by her second hus- band, two sons and a daughter, all residents of Worcester.

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Edwin P. Curtis was educated in the public schools and at Worcester Academy. Leaving school at the age of seventeen, he worked two years on the farm, after which he went to Cincinnati. During the Civil War he served in the Quartermaster's department, returning home in 1864. Then, in company with A. P. Richardson, he began selling the Buckley mowing-machines, which business had been founded by him in 1862, previous to his west- ern trip. For fifteen years he was travelling salesman for the firm, confining his operations mainly to the New England States. He then gave up the road to accept a position in the office, and in time came to be a stockholder in the concern. The business was incorpo- rated in 1870 with one hundred thousand dollars capital stock, which capitalization has not since been changed, although the business has increased threefold at least. For some ten years Mr. Curtis was secretary and di- rector, and since January, 1896, he has been president of the company. In place of a single travelling salesman, as formerly, the firm now employ twenty-two men on the road.

Mr. Curtis was married January 1, 1868, to Harriet Bigelow, of Worcester, daughter of Walter and Mary (Hyde) Bigelow, prosperous farming people of this locality. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have one daughter, Eleanora Whitman Curtis, a young lady of musical ability and a graduate of Smith College, who resides with her parents. Their home is on Bigelow Hill, at the old Bigelow homestead that has been in the possession of Mrs. Curtis's family for a hundred years or more.

YLER PRENTICE CURTIS,* who died at his home, 428 Lincoln Street, Worcester, June 16, 1896, on his eighty-sixth birthday, was born on the old Curtis farm settled by Ephraim Curtis, the pioneer, reference to whom has been made in the sketch of Edwin P. Curtis. He is a de- scendant of Ephraim through his elder son, John. His paternal grandfather was Tyler Curtis. His father was John Curtis, and his mother before marriage a Miss Chamberlain. Mr. Curtis resided all his life at the home of

his ancestors, which he inherited and carried on in turn. He married March 2, 1846, Mrs. Amelia R. Curtis, the widow of his brother, John E. Curtis (see sketch of Edwin P. Cur- tis). Of this union there were four children : Kate, who died at. the age of nineteen months ; John D., who is now the general superintend- ent of the Washburn Moen Manufacturing Company ; Kate (second), wife of William T. Brown, a merchant tailor of Worcester; and William C. Curtis, a general farmer and dairy- man and the owner of the farm, which now contains one hundred and forty acres. Mrs. Curtis is a member of the Central Congrega- tional Church.

B ENJAMIN F. PRENTISS,* retired contractor and builder, a highly es- teemed citizen of Southboro, was born in Hopkinton, Middlesex County, Mass., July 25, 1820, son of Abner and Hannah C. Prentiss.

As we learn from Binney's Genealogy of the Prentice or Prentiss Family, published in 1883, he is a direct descendant of Thomas2 Prentice, an early settler of Newton, Mass., nephew of Captain Thomas Prentice, ' a noted trooper in King Philip's War, the line being thus given : Thomas,2 Edward, 3 Edward, Jr., 4 Samuel, 5 Abner, 6 Benjamin F.7

Abner Prentiss married first Charlotte Thayer. She died in 1808. His second wife, Hannah C., whom he married in 1810, died in 1844. He died in November, 1847, leaving eight children; namely, Hopestill S., Char- lotte T., Hannah, James M., Nellopee C., Benjamin F., Emeline C., and Abner. A son, Andrew J., born in 1816, was drowned in his seventeenth year; and Thomas, born in 1822, died in October, 1836. Hopestill, born February 16, 1807, married Colonel Peter Corbett, of Holliston (both deceased). Char- lotte T., born January 22, 1811, died at the age of eighty-three. She was the wife of A. Earl Eames, of Ashland, Mass. Hannah, born March 1, 1812, married Franklin A. Sawyer, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and dying Sep- tember 29, 1849, left two children : George, who is in Seattle, Wash. ; and Susan, wife of

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Smith Bowen, of Worcester. James M., born in 1814 (now deceased), served in the war of the Rebellion, and was incarcerated in Libby Prison. Nellopee C., born November 6, 1817, was married November 24, 1842, to John Rickey, a merchant tailor of Flushing, N. Y. She had ten children, five of whom are living, namely : Addie D., wife of John Eames, of Southboro; Hannah E., wife of Louis Schim- merhorn, of New York City; Ella V., resid- ing at Rocklawn, Westboro; and Nellie J. and Francena in Flushing, N. Y. Emeline C., born June 1, 1825, is the wife of Benja- min Fowler, of Flushing, N. Y. Abner, born February 22, 1827, is a miller of Westboro, residing at Rocklawn.

Benjamin F. Prentiss was educated in the Hopkinton schools. He lived in Southboro village six years, then removed to Southville, which has been his home for nearly sixty years. As a contractor and builder his work was not confined to the town of Southboro. He erected many of the principal buildings in Marlboro, Worcester, Framingham, Hopkin- ton, Ashland, and other towns in this vicinity ; and at the same time he managed an extensive lumber business. He has travelled widely for business and pleasure, and made many trips to Canada. Since retiring from active business he has visited Florida, California, and other parts of the Union.

On July 4, 1852, he was married to Susan S. Johnson, who was born in Southboro in 1833. Their union was blessed with five chil- dren, namely : Rose B., born December 5, 1853, wife of Albert Eames, of Hopkinton ; Benjamin F., who died in June, 1855; Clara L., born September 4, 1858, who died January 5, 1891, wife of Henry Summerman, of South- boro; Lizzie, born October 23, 1859, who married Edmund Hyde, of Southboro; Benja- min F. (second), born in 1863, died in 1865. Mr. Prentiss's daughter, Mrs. Summerman, left two children, Susan and Henry, who live with their grandfather. Mrs. Prentiss has ac- companied her husband in his trips West and South. Mr. Prentiss is actively interested in politics and has voted for every Democratic nominee for president since James K. Polk. Few citizens of Southboro have been honored

with so many town offices. During the war he was recruiting officer and Selectman, and he has been elected to the Board of Selectmen several times since. He was chairman of the Board of Overseers twenty consecutive years, Road Commissioner for a series of years, and is at present serving his sixth year as Col- lector of Taxes. He has also served on vari- ous town committees.

AMUEL WATSON KENT,* for many years a well-known manufact- urer in the city of Worcester, where he died on December 12, 1883, was a native of Leicester, Mass. He was born on January 21, 1808, and was the second son of Captain Daniel and Ruth (Watson) Kent.

His father, who was born in 1777, and was a farmer by occupation, was an officer in the State militia in the early part of the century. He was a son of Ebenezer and Esther (Stone) Kent and a grandson of Ebenezer and Sarah Kent, all of Leicester, where the family were among the leading people for several genera- tions. Captain Daniel Kent was the sixth in direct line from Richard Kent, the immigrant progenitor of this branch of the family, who settled at Newbury, Mass., in 1635, the suc- ceeding ancestors being, we are told, John, Ebenezer', Ebenezer2, and Ebenezer3, father of Captain Daniel. Mr. Kent's mother was a daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Baldwin) Wat- son, and was of the fourth generation in de- scent from Matthew Watson, an early settler in the town of Leicester. Samuel Watson Kent grew to manhood on the old Kent farm in the north-easterly part of the town of Leices- ter, and obtained his education in the district school. On September 20, 1827, a few months before completing his twentieth year, he made an engagement with James and John Smith & Co., manufacturers of wire cards made for ma- chinery, machine cards, as they were called, to work in their factory, situated about half a mile south-east of Leicester Centre, for two years, his wages to be nine dollars per month and board the first year and twelve dollars and fifty cents per month and board the second year. In 1829 the company removed to their

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new brick factory. At the end of the two years business was dull, and Mr. Kent took ad- vantage of his leisure months to visit his kins- folk in Vermont. About the middle of April, 1830, he entered the employ of Sargent & James in the south-east part of the town, manufacturers of wire cards for hand use, or hand cards, at ten dollars per month and board. Leaving that position on the 15th of December, on the 20th he began work on the same terms for John A. Smith, then carrying on business alone at the old factory. Settling with Mr. Smith January 3, 1832, he engaged with Morse & Southgate at the same place to prepare the leather for cards at three cents per square foot. After that for three years, April 24, 1833, to April 22, 1836, he gave his attention to card setting and other mechanical effort, first learn- ing the craft in the employ of Nathan Ains- worth, and continuing work for Ainsworth & McFarland at one dollar and twenty-five cents per day. An expert machinist in that line, he built a machine for the company, for which he received on its completion in June, 1836, one hundred and seventy-five dollars.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 135

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