Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 139

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 139

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MARSHALL K. ABBOTT, President. HENRY A. HOLDEN, Secretary.

Similar resolutions were passed by the Paint and Oil Club.

Mr. McClellan was married October 9, 1888, in New York City, to Miss Ella Amelia Armsby, of Worcester, daughter of Joshua M. C. Armsby, of this city. The Armsbys, who are of English origin, settled in Massa- chusetts in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Joshua M. C. Armsby was born Jan- uary 22, 1816, in Smithfield, R.I., a son of Joshua Armsby. In his youth he taught school. Having a mechanical turn of mind, he became interested in the manufacture of agri- cultural tools and implements, and was en- gaged in that line of industry in Worcester for some time. He was a member of the old firm of Ruggles, Nourse & Mason, the predecessors of the Ames Plow Company, to whom they sold out. At the time of the war Mr. Armsby was engaged with Mr. Edwin Harrington for a few years in the manufacture of gun trim- mings. He then turned his attention to finance, and was elected to the board of di- rectors of the Mechanics National Bank,

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Worcester. A man of strong character and keen intellect, he was cultured, refined, and artistic in taste. He was interested in educa- tional projects, and had much to do with the development of the Worcester Polytechnic In- stitute. His wife was Miss Analine Brewer, of New York City. They had two children : George; and Ella A., now Mrs. McClellan.

ERGEANT THOMAS PLUN- KETT,* "the armless hero of Fred- ericksburg," was born in County Mayo, Ireland, October 13, 1839. His father was Francis Plunkett, who at the time of the son's birth was a well-to-do farmer; but some four years later he met with serious reverses, which swept away his entire property. The death of his wife also added to his troubles ; but his manly courage did not for- sake him, and, with the little money remain- ing in his possession, he set sail with his three children for America, arriving in Boston in 1844. Though practically penniless on reach- ing his destination, he soon established a home, and not only succeeded in attaining a comfort- able prosperity, but at the time of his death, which occurred in this city some years previous to that of his son's, he was the owner of consid- erable property.

At the age of nine years Thomas Plunkett decided to earn his own living, and with that end in view he is said to have run away from home. Going to Bucksport, Me., he worked upon a farm for two years, and upon his return to Massachusetts he learned the shoemaker's trade in West Boylston. His chances for at- tending school were limited, but, being bright and intelligent, he made good use of what opportunities he had, thereby obtaining a much better education than is usually acquired by boys in his circumstances. At the break- ing out of the Civil War young Plunkett was plying his calling, strong, able-bodied, and healthy, just the sort of man needed to assist in defending the Union. The President's urgent call for volunteers found him ready, and, enlisting as a private in Company E, Twenty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teer Infantry, July 12, 1861, he marched with

his comrades a little over a month later to the seat of war. In the following January the Twenty-first Regiment went to North Carolina as a part of General Burnside's expedition, and after a tedious and tempestuous voyage on a crowded transport, landed on Roanoke Island, where in the desperate engagement that ensued February 7, 1862, it had the honor of planting the stars and stripes upon the captured ram- parts of the enemy. At Newbern, Camden, and Pollocksville the regiment continued to distinguish itself, and private Plunkett was al- ways in the front rank. At the battle of Chan- tilly which took place September 1, 1862, the Twenty-first became involved in an ambuscade, and, though thrown into confusion for a moment by the galling fire of the Confederates, it rallied and soon extricated itself with its favorite weapon, the bayonet. Plunkett dis- covered that a favorite comrade of his company was missing, and, learning that he had been wounded, started back for him. While creep- ing about cautiously he was suddenly con- fronted by an armed rebel. "You are my prisoner," exclaimed the soldier in gray. Deciding in a moment the best course to pur- sue, Plunkett replied calmly : "I think not," and, seizing his enemy by the throat with the agility of a tiger, he choked him into submis- sion, disarmed, and compelled him to accom- pany him into the Union lines. For this he- roic act he was made a Sergeant. It was at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, that Plunkett displayed the courage and self-sacri- fice that gained for him the admiration and praise of the entire nation. When regiment after- regiment had melted away before the awful fire of the Confederate forces strongly entrenched on Marye's Heights, the Twenty- first Massachusetts, with the other regiments composing Sturgis's Division, was ordered to storm the works. Knowing well the desper- ate undertaking before them, each man stripped for the charge, awaited the Colonel's word; and, when it came, on they dashed across the plain to the heights beyond, which they mounted amid the smoke and shower of deadly missles poured upon them from the top. Men were dropping at every step, but the regiment pressed on gal- lantly until the colors borne by Sergeant Col-

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lins, of Company A, were seen to fall. Only for a moment, however, were they out of sight ; for Sergeant Plunkett, seizing and holding them aloft, cried loudly to his comrades to fol- low, and with renewed inspiration caused by his gallant conduct they pressed forward until they gained a point nearer the enemy than had hitherto been reached that day. Still waving the banner on high, the Sergeant continued to urge them forward until a Confederate shell exploded at his feet, carrying away both of his arms and inflicting other injuries; and when they tried to raise the flag once more, it was found beneath him, saturated with his blood. From that day Sergeant Plunkett was known throughout the nation as "The Armless Hero of Fredericksburg." All that medical skill and tender nursing could do to make him com- fortable was done, and when able to endure the fatigue of a journey home he was sent North. At the Stock Exchange and Chamber of Com- merce, New York, the bankers and merchants lavishly bestowed upon him many gifts as well as their sympathy and praise, and a similar reception was held in Boston. In these two cities a fund of seven thousand dollars was sub- scribed. He was also voted a gratuity of one hundred dollars per annum by the Massachu- setts legislature, received a pension of seventy- two dollars per month from the United States Goverment, and was presented by Congress with a gold medal in recognition of his bravery and devotion to the flag. When his heroic act became known to the State authorities, the Adjutant-general suggested to Governor An- drew that he be commissioned, but the chief executive characteristically replied, "No, it is better that he be known in history as Sergeant Plunkett.

Although the Sergeant's injuries were such as to necessitate the almost constant presence of an attendant, he in many ways ingeniously adapted himself to his helpless situation, and accomplished much that would seem impossible to those unacquainted with him personally. His right arm was amputated below and the left above the elbow, but, with the reins thrown over his shoulders, he could guide horses with dexterity, and when necessary for him to sign his name he wrote with the pen between his

teeth. For fifteen years he held an office under the State Government, and in civil life he was as honorable and faithful as he was brave in battle. He was exceedingly gener- ous, giving freely to all who needed help, and, aside from the general interest manifested for him throughout the State for his heroism, he was sincerely esteemed for his noble character. His death occurred March 10, 1885.

On November 26, 1863, Sergeant Plunkett married Helen Lorimer, daughter of the late Alexander Lorimer, of Worcester. She had witnessed with courage the departure of her betrothed husband for the front, knowing that she might never see him again; but, when he returned to her maimed and helpless, the brave woman, proud of her soldier hero, accompanied him to the altar. She knew her duty and nobly did she fulfill it, making his life happy by her presence and lightening the burden of his helplessness by her care and devotion. Be- sides a widow, Sergeant Plunkett left two sons - Thomas Walter and Harry Clifford Plun- kett. The public funeral in Mechanics Hall was largely attended, many distinguished men being present from different parts of the State, including Governor George D. Robinson and Adjutant-general Dalton, besides about fifty members of the Senate and House of Represen- tatives, George H. Ward Post, No. 10, G. A. R., of which the deceased was a comrade, and the Twenty-first Regiment Association, whose war chaplain, the Rev. George S. Ball, of Upton, pronounced the eulogy. Bells tolled during the obsequies, and a notable feature in the civic and military procession which es- corted the remains to their last resting-place in Rural Cemetery was a color-guard detailed by the Governor, bearing the old flag of the Twenty-first, stained by the blood of him whose memory they had assembled to honor.

AXTON P. MARTIN, M.D.,* who died in Worcester in 1873, was born on September 24, 1824. He was a son of Samuel and Sally Martin. Samuel Martin, who was a farmer, during the latter part of his life resided in Chenango County, New York.

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Saxton P. Martin was only two years old when his parents removed to New York State, where he lived during his childhood and youth. He was graduated at the Pittsfield Medical College in Western Massachusetts, and subse- quently took a course in dentistry at the Phila- delphia Dental College. He began the prac- tice of both medicine and dentistry with his uncle, Dr. Oramel Martin, at North Brook- field, and subsequently established an inde- pendent practice first in Oakham and later in New Braintree. Upon the removal of his uncle to Worcester, he succeeded him at North Brookfield. The elder physician had there achieved a reputation for great skill, and his influence had much to do in starting his nephew in a career of great prosperity. The young doctor became noted as a man of un- usual ability in his chosen lines of work, and his services were sought by the people through- out a large territory. Upon coming to Worces- ter in 1870, he decided to devote himself ex- clusively to dentistry, which he had previously practised in connection with his medical work. He opened an office on the corner of Main and Austin Streets, where he was soon visited by a large number of patients, residents of the city, and was frequently called upon to do dental work for persons living in the places where he had formerly practised.

Dr. Martin died in the prime of his strength and the fulness of his success. A man of wide learning, he was eminently re- spected as a citizen, and stood high among men of his own profession. Of a genial nature, and thoroughly upright, he had a multitude of friends and no enemies. In 1863 he repre- sented New Braintree, North Brookfield, and Hardwick in the Massachusetts legislature; but he could not be prevailed upon to return for a second term, as he felt that his practice demanded his full attention. He was deeply interested in the public schools, and was con- stantly devising plans tending to secure better instruction and to increase their usefulness. For many years he was officially connected with the schools in the different towns in which he resided, and when he removed to a new field of labor he always left behind some impress of his painstaking and sagacious efforts. The

Doctor was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Association and of the Worcester County Medical Society.

He was married in 1850 to Orilla J. Daniels, of McDonough, Chenango County, N. Y., daughter of Alexander and Sally Math- ewson, of Bennington, Vt. Her grandfather, who came from Scotland about the time of the Revolution, settled . in New Hampshire. While living there he learned that he had fallen heir to a large English estate, but through legal technicalities this property never came into possession of the family. Her father, Alexander, was born in New Hamp- shire, and later settled in New York State. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Martin are: Jo- sephine A., who was born in Oakham, and is now a teacher at Syracuse, N. Y. ; and Flor- ence E., who was born in New Braintree, and is now the wife of Roscoe McAfee. Mr. Mc- Afee, who was born in Worcester, is the son of Henry C. McAfee, and is of Scotch descent. He is connected with Norcross Brothers, the well-known contractors and builders of Worces- ter. Mrs. Florence McAfee is the mother of two children - Donald Roscoe and Margery Hope, both of whom were born in Worcester.

LPHONSO MARSH,* a well-known real estate dealer of Fitchburg, son of Jacob and Mary (Sprague) Marsh, was born October 15, 1840, in Hingham, Mass., the native place of his par- ents. He is a descendant in the male line, eighth generation, of George Marsh, from Eng- land, who settled at Hingham in 1635.

Jacob Marsh, who was master car-builder for the Vermont & Massachusetts and the Fitch- burg Railways for many years, died in 1881, aged seventy-seven years; and Mary, his wife, who was a daughter of Captain Jairus Sprague, of Hingham, died in 1878. Jacob and Mary Marsh were the parents of eight children, four of whom are living.

Alphonso Marsh acquired a common-school education in Fitchburg, and then served an apprenticeship of three years at the carriage and sign painter's trade. He worked as a jour- neyman in Townsend, Waltham, and Cam-

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bridge, Mass., until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he returned to Fitchburg. Here, on July 19, 1861, he enlisted for three years as a private in Company D, Fifty-first Regiment, known as the Washington Guards. His regiment began active duty under General Burnside; was afterward attached to the Ninth Army Corps, with which it participated in the battles of Roanoke Island, Camden, and New- bern; and also took part in General Pope's Virginia campaign, which ended with the sec- ond battle of Bull Run. The Fifty-first was then sent to Washington, later being ordered to join McClellan's command, with which it par- ticipated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg, and was then despatched to Kentucky. At Lexington, Ky., Mr. Marsh was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and transferred to the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, which he joined at Charleston, S. C., taking part in the siege and capture of that city, and subsequently serving in the Florida campaign. Upon his return to South Carolina he was stricken with typhoid fever, and sent to the hospital at Beaufort, where he remained thirty days. He was dis- charged at the expiration of his term of service, and returning to Massachusetts he resumed his trade in the car-shops at Worcester. Afterward he was successively employed in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Philadelphia, and the shops of the Vermont & Massachusetts Railway in Fitchburg. In 1870 he started in the carriage painting business on his own ac- count, and in 1873 moved to a shop built ex- pressly for his use on Oliver Street, where he remained until selling out in 1885. He next went to Longwood, Fla., where he operated a saw-mill for a time, and engaging in general mercantile business at Blue Springs, Marion County, was a prosperous merchant and Post- master there for four years. On account of malaria he was forced to dispose of his busi- ness and return to Fitchburg, where in April, 1895, he became a member of the real estate firm of Sanderson & Marsh, and since the with- drawal of his partner in October, 1896, he has conducted business alone.

On April 12, 1867, Mr. Marsh married for his first wife, Lucy Thayer, daughter of Davis

and Lucy Thayer, of Worcester. She died in 1868, leaving one son, Frank A. His present wife, whom he married in January, 1877, was Carrie F., daughter of Oliver and Sarah Brown, of this city.

Mr. Marsh is a member of the Fitchburg Merchants' Association, and a comrade of Ed- ward V. Sumner Post, No. 19, G. A. R.

ARREN ISRAEL STETSON,* a descendant of one of the early set- tlers of Massachusetts, was born in 1844 in Marlboro, Mass. His father was born and brought up in Charlestown, Mass., but after attaining man's estate he settled perma- nently in Marlboro, Middlesex County, where he was for many years successfully engaged in shoemaking. Since giving up that trade he has lived retired from active pursuits, enjoying the fruits of his former years of labor. He married Elizabeth Howe, who belonged to the old family of that name.

Mr. Stetson remained beneath the parental roof until sixteen years old. Inspired by the same patriotic ardor that dominated his ances- tors, he enlisted as a soldier in the Fifteenth . Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three years, participating in the mean- time in many of the decisive battles of the Rebellion. At the battle of Gettysburg he was taken prisoner, and afterward in the en- gagement at Spottsylvania he was wounded. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was discharged as Sergeant of his company. He subsequently took a course at Comer's Business College in Boston, and after his grad- uation he engaged in business in Marlboro as member of a firm of shoe manufacturers. He developed great ability as a manager of the manufacturing department, and largely assisted in building up an extensive business. The firm erected a large shop in Berlin, this county, and, though several changes were in later years made in its membership, it became one of the leading industrial establishments of that town. Mr. Stetson at length severed his connection with the firm, and, coming to Worcester as junior member of the firm of J. C. Bickford & Stetson, carried on a successful business for a

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number of years in the manufacture of slippers and wool soles. Finally he returned to Berlin, and, accepting the position of superintendent of the shoe factory of J. H. Parker & Parker Brothers, remained with them as a valuable assistant until his death in 1887.

He was a man of fine business tact, genial, cordial, very popular with his associates, and a stanch citizen in every respect. Although he lived in Worcester several years, he always retained property in Berlin, and considered that his home. He took an active interest in pub- lic affairs as a prominent member of the Re- publican party, but never cared to hold office, decidedly refusing at one time the nomination as representative to the State legislature. Mr. Stetson was a comrade of the G. A. R., in which he was a conspicuous figure. He was for a number of years musical director of the leading church choirs in Clinton and Marlboro. He was afterward bass singer in Trinity Church, Worcester, and later occupied a sim- ilar position in the choir of the Salem Street Church of this city.

Mr. Stetson married in August, 1866, Miss Clara S. Richmond, of Nashua, N. H., a de- scendant, it is said, of John Alden and his wife Priscilla of the Plymouth Colony. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The four living are : Grace Warren, of Worcester; Frederick R., an employee in the office of the city engineer of Worcester; Florence Elizabeth; and Blanche Harriet.

AMES WHITEHOUSE,* a native of Birmingham, England, but during his manhood years a citizen of the United States, residing in Worcester, Mass., is especially entitled to honorable mention in this volume as a high-minded patriot, who, en- listing as a soldier in the war for the Union, gave up his life for his adopted country. He was born in 1830 in Birmingham, which was also the birthplace of his father, William Whitehouse. His mother was born in Nova Scotia, of Welsh ancestry. James Whitehouse came to the United States when he was eigh- teen years old, and at once settled in Worces-

ter. He had worked somewhat in England at the trade of an armorer, and he here entered the employ of Allen & Thurber, manufacturers of firearms, and becoming an expert he was subsequently connected with that firm's suc- cessors until 1864. He was a contractor for Ethan Allen, who amassed a fortune in fire- arms during the war period; and he also sup- plied manufacturers in Springfield with skilled laborers, besides having similar relations with concerns in Adrian, Mich., and in Philadel- phia, Pa. He formed a partnership with Mr. Fay, and as junior member of the firm of Fay & Whitehouse was carrying on a very thriving business and making money rapidly, when, in the summer of 1864, he decided that it was his duty to shoulder arms and march to the defence of his adopted country, to which he was hon- estly and heartily devoted. From purely pa- triotic motives, then, he enlisted in August, 1864, in Company B, Massachusetts Heavy Ar- tillery, and with his comrades was stationed first at Washington, D.C., and afterward at Arlington Heights. In the latter place he was stricken with fever, and though ill refused to surrender his post until he was taken bodily and removed to the hospital. He was subse- quently sent home; but not having sufficient vitality left to recover, he died June 26, 1865, leaving a large circle of sincere friends, who esteemed him for his manly qualities.

Mr. Whitehouse married Louise C. Bennett, of Masonville, N. Y., a daughter of Ambrose Bennett, who was an officer in the War of 1812, stationed on the Canadian frontier. Her maternal grandfather, Darius Smith, served in the War of the Revolution as an officer. He was born and brought up in North Hadley, Mass., from whence he emigrated with his fam- ily to Masonville, N. Y., making the entire

journey through the almost pathless woods in a wagon. It is said that on the paternal side Mrs. Whitehouse is descended from one of several brothers who came to this country in Colonial days from Holland and located in Rhode Island, and that one of her maternal ancestors formerly owned the present site of Harvard College. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehouse had three children, namely : Mary, who is the wife of Walter Smith, of West Boylston, and

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has eight children ; George, of New York City; and Frank Edward, of Chicago, salesman in that city for the Washburn & Moen Company. George Whitehouse represents the firm of Hay- den & Whitehouse, manufacturers of a new patent burner. He married Jennie Crother, of Chicopee, and has two children - Lottie J. and Mary L.

ILLIAM DEXTER HOLBROOK* was for many years engaged in the floor and grain business in Worces- ter, and recognized as one of the solid and suc- cessful business men of the city, where he died in 1884. He was born at Holden, Mass., in 1830, a son of Micah and Roxanna (Rich- ardson) Holbrook. He received his education in Holden, completing his course of study at an academy, and before attaining his majority he came to Worcester in search of a position. For five years he was employed as a clerk in the dry-goods house of Chamberlain, Barnard & Co. While there he developed a marked talent for business, which he put to practical use on leaving by establishing, in company with W. H. Dexter, a wholesale and retail flour and grain store. On Franklin Square, under the firm name of W. D. Holbrook & Co., these gentlemen built up an excellent trade, of which Mr. Holbrook was at the head, his partner having outside interests that claimed attention. Mr. Holbrook eventually bought out Mr. Dexter, and from that time on managed with ability a business that became one of the largest of the kind in Worcester County. He was a public-spirited and valu- able citizen, interested in city affairs, and an earnest supporter of the principles of the Re- publican party, but not an aspirant for office. He was a member of a society that was organ- ized in Worcester in the old days by the lead- ing men of the city for mutual help and benefit.

In 1853 Mr. Holbrook married Charlotte M., daughter of Joseph and Martha Pratt, of Leices- ter, Mass. They reared one child, Dora, now the wife of H. L. Stockwell, of this city. Mr. Stockwell was born in Grafton, Mass., but was educated in Worcester, where he has lived since a boy of seven years. For twenty years

he was with the firm of James Marble & Co., but is now interested in the manufacture of worsted yarns with William J. Hogg, of Worcester, their plant being at Stoneville, Auburn, Mass. Mr. Stockwell as manager of the retail trade has charge of the store in this city, and is a popular and enterprising man of business. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stockwell; namely, William Holbrook and Harry Holbrook.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 139

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