Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 14

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 14

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John Anderson, the grandfather, was born upon this farm, May 13, 1755. Succeeding to the ownership of two-thirds of the original tract bought by his father, he was engaged in farming upon his own account from the time of inheriting the property until his death, which occurred March 4, 1822. He enlisted in the American army, and served in all for fif- teen months in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Congregational church, and his opinions in religious matters were very pronounced. He married Phœbe Barr, who, born June 17, 1770, died January 3, 1844. She was the mother of eleven children, of whom nine grew to maturity and none are liv- ing. Charles Anderson, son of John, was born at the homestead June 5, 1804. He pos- sessed considerable mechanical genius, which he applied to operating and repairing mill ma- chinery, being employed at different times in grist-mills, cotton and woollen factories in Ware, Worcester, Spencer, and East Brook- field. Returning to the homestead in 1850, he cultivated his farm for the rest of his life, and was killed by falling from a building, May 27, 1869. His wife, Mary, who was born in Richmond, N. H., August 9, 1809, became the mother of seven children, of whom one died in infancy. The others were : William E., Mary E., Phoebe M., Almira F., Mary J., and Abbie E. Of these, Mary E. and Almira F. are no longer living. Phœbe M. resides in Ware; Mary J. resides in North Brookfield; and Abbie E. lives in Hartford, Conn. The mother died April 9, 1890. Excepting one or

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two years, during which she belonged to the church in Warren, she was a member of the East Congregational Church of Ware for sixty- three years.

William E. Anderson was educated in the schools of Ware and New Braintree. He has resided here since he was fourteen years old, assisting his father until the latter's death. Having then succeeded to the homestead, he is now the owner of two hundred acres of land, constituting one of the oldest farms in town. He keeps twenty cows, and sometimes ships as high as four hundred and fifty cans of milk per month. The present dwelling was built by his grandfather in 1796, and is the second house erected upon the same site.

At West Brookfield, in 1859, Mr. Anderson contracted his first marriage with Augusta F. Bridges, of that town, who was born in Graf- ton. . A second marriage on December II, 1878, united him with Abbie E. Smith, who was born in West Windsor, Vt., July 29, 1850. . She has given birth to five chil- dren, namely : Frederick, on October 1, 1880; Gertrude V., November 9, 1883; Edna M., March 26, 1885; Grace E., December 12, 1886; and Ethel V., May 8, 1888, who died August 19 of the same year. Politically, Mr. Anderson is a Republican, but he has no aspirations for public office. He is a member of the Congregational church, and Mrs. Ander- son is an attendant with him.

J OHAN OTTO EMANUEL TROTZ, a highly respected citizen of Worces- ter, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, March 6, 1860, son of Carl Otto and Brones (Löwen) Trotz. The Trotz family is one of distinction in Sweden, its head having been raised to nobility five generations ago under King Charles X. Carl Otto Trotz was a civil officer and a large landholder. The Löwen family has been and now is among the largest holders of entailed estates in Sweden.

Having duly attended the public schools of Stockholm and graduated at the high school, Johan Otto Emanuel Trotz in 1883 graduated at the Royal School of Mines in Stockholm.

Consequent upon that event he was engaged for a short time at the Scientific School of Mining. Then he was the superintendent of the Iggessund Iron and Steel Works for two years. Leaving this place, after having gained some valuable experience, he entered the em- ploy of the Surahammar Iron and Steel Works, which is located in the middle part of Sweden. Here he remained for a little over a year, a part of the time being engaged in making geo- logical surveys in the Province of Dalcarlia. The ability and skill he displayed in these two positions now procured for him the coveted privilege of travelling abroad at the expense and under the direction of the government, to study technical and scientific problems as worked out in other lands. Previous to this he had been one of the favored pupils chosen annually from among the graduates of the Royal School of Mines by the Jernkontoret, an association of iron-masters. These students remain under salary, being subject to the call of any member of the association. Needless to say, only young men of unusual promise are selected for this honor. Mr. Trotz's grant per- mitted him to visit both the continent of Europe and the United States. Upon coming to this country he visited Worcester, which offered him such inducements that, contrary to his previous plans, he has remained here ever since. In the latter part of 1887 he engaged with the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company as a chemist. At the present time he is metallurgical engineer for this company and the superintendent of steel works. In both these positions he has demonstrated re- markable ability as well as the most thorough and scientific technical training.

Mr. Trotz was married on June 7, 1890, to Selma P. Ahlström. An esteemed Mason, he had received his initiatory degrees before com- ing to America. He is a member of the Mechanical and Mining Engineering Societies of Sweden, of the American Institute of Min- ing Engineers, of the American Chemical Association; and he is the president of the Swedish Mercantile Co-operative Association and vice-president of the Swedish Razor Com- pany of Worcester. Both he and his wife attend the Lutheran church.

JONATHAN P. DANA.

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ONATHAN PRATT DANA, a repre- sentative man of Oxford, son of Will- iam and Harriet (Pratt) Dana, was born in this town, August 30, 1812. Both parents, the paternal great-grandfather, Phineas, and the paternal grandfather, John, were natives of Oxford. John Dana, born November 18, 1738, was a prosperous farmer, served as Selectman and Town Treasurer, and was a Deacon of the Congregational church for many years. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah Humphrey. William Dana, father of Jonathan P., was born August 16, 1785. Beginning when he was a young man, he followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1818. His wife, who was a daughter of Naham Pratt, of Oxford, became the mother of four children; namely, Jonathan P., Sarah Howe, Alonzo Humphrey, and Rufus Rosseter Dana. Of these, the only survivor is Jonathan P., the subject of this sketch. The parents attended the Congrega- tional church.

When seven years old, Jonathan Pratt Dana was bound out to a farmer, who gave him little opportunity for obtaining an edu- cation. Upon reaching his majority he laid aside his farming implements in order to over- come his educational defects. Of the suc- ceeding ten years, which were spent in the school-room, a considerable portion of the period was passed by him in the capacity of teacher. He was particularly successful in managing refractory schools requiring a strict disciplinarian as well as a competent instruc- tor. While pursuing that calling, his spare time was spent in perfecting himself in the higher branches of learning. A too close ap- plication to study, however, proved injurious to his health; and he was at length forced to resume agricultural occupation as a means of recuperating. Hiring a farm, he began its cultivation upon scientific principles. His venture proved so successful that at the end of the first year he concluded to buy the prop- erty. Some twelve years later he sold that farm, and purchased a portion of his present property. Having enlarged this from time to time since then, he now has a large and pro- ductive farm. He also owns several other

tracts of land, besides a number of tenement houses in Oxford. He was one of the organ- izers and president of the Oxford Agricultural Society. Also, for many years he was a member of the School Committee and of the Board of Assessors; while he refused to be a candidate for any other town office. He is a Justice of the Peace, and has settled many es- tates, having had several upon his hands at one time. Mr. Dana led the choir of the Methodist Episcopal church for a number of years. In religious belief he is a Congre- gationalist. Now eighty-six years old, he shows the vigor and activity of a much younger man.

EONARD FAIRBANKS was for many years an esteemed resident of Milford. Born in Worcester on September II, 1820, he was a son of Leonard and Keziah (Harding) Fairbanks. He came to Milford in November, 1839, and started in the cabinet-making business here. In connec- tion therewith he soon opened an undertaking establishment, assisted by J. M. Wood, who was employed by him from the start, and who made the first caskets used here. In 1883 his health failed, and he sold out the business to Messrs. Wood and Nye.

Besides having been a comrade of Post No. 22, G. A. R., Mr. Fairbanks was connected with three local bodies of Masons. He was a Past High Priest of Mount Lebanon Chapter and Past Commander of Milford Council. For many years he was a trustee of Vernon Grove Cemetery. The funeral exercises were held under the auspices of the Masons. Mr. Fair- banks was a man of most exemplary habits. His friend and pastor, the Rev. Mr. Wood- bury, remarked: " I could wish for no better character for my son to pattern." Possessing a most companionable disposition, it was said that every child in Milford loved him. At the same time that he was a successful and prosperous business man, he was sympathetic to those less fortunate. The owner of several tenements, it is related that he never asked a tenant for his rent. On one occasion, when asked why he did not take measures to collect

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the amount due by a tenant who was several years in arrear, he replied, "Oh, well, he would pay me if he could." The man did eventually pay the whole amount, and it is further stated that Mr. Fairbanks never lost a dollar of rent by his leniency.

While a remarkably well-informed man, his tastes were domestic. Yet, although he de- clined public office, he took an active interest in town affairs, was a liberal contributor to every progressive movement in Milford, in- cluding those for the building of Music and Memorial Halls; and he served the town on various committees. On July 19, 1894, after a few days' illness he passed away, regretted by all who knew him.

Mr. Fairbanks was three times married. On the first occasion he wedded Sarah Cobb, who was a daughter of Elmer and Sylvia John- son Cobb, and had no children. The second wife was Sarah, daughter of Robert and Mary (Franklin) Pendleton, and who was born in Ashford, Conn. The third wife, a native of Unity, N. H., was Amanda, daughter of Robert and Sophia Clark. By this last marriage there was one child, Abbie Augusta, who, born No- vember 16, 1871, died on July 1, 1877.

ODNEY D. LOOMIS, a retired busi- ness man of Millbury, son of Roswell Dennis Loomis, was born in Georgia, Vt., May 20, 1832. The grandfather, Roswell Loomis, a native of Ohio, after his marriage removed to Vermont, where he was prosperously engaged as a farmer and cattle drover for many years. He died at St. Albans, that State, in 1852, at the ad- vanced age of fourscore and two years. His wife, Eunice Odell Loomis, who came from Ohio, bore him two sons and two daughters. Lyman, the eldest son, died of small-pox in Montreal, Canada, where he had charge of a drove of his father's cattle. The wife had survived him a number of years, when she died at a venerable age.

Roswell D. Loomis, who was born in Ver- mont, May 16, 1809, spent a large part of his life at St. Albans, and subsequently died there, March 22, 1851. For several years he

served as Colonel in a company of Vermont militia. On June 30, 1831, he married Maria L. Tuller, a daughter of Ornon and Persis (Hyde) Tuller, of St. Albans. They reared six children, namely : Rodney D., the subject of this sketch; Julia K., who died April 2, 1870, at Eureka, Wis., the wife of George Rye; Lyman B., born February 2, 1836, who was for some years an engineer on the Cana- dian Pacific Railway, and died in 1872, at the home of his mother in Brasher Falls, N. Y ; Henry C., born March 20, 1838, now a mill- wright at Massena Springs, N. Y., who is mar- ried and has one daughter and two sons; Hiram H., born in August, 1840, now a loco- motive engineer on the Canadian Pacific Rail- way, who is married and has five children; and Arthur B., born June 14, 1843, who died at the age of three years. After the death of her husband the mother married Luther Hulbard, and afterward lived at Brasher Falls until her death on January 31, 1876, at the age of sixty- six years.

Rodney D. Loomis attended the district school at St. Albans until he was thirteen years old, and then studied for three months in an academy at St. Albans Bay. At the age of fifteen years he began a three years' appren- ticeship in the shop of James M. Haynes, of St. Albans Bay. Having learned the trade, he remained with his employer five more years. Then he was in Ottawa, Canada, until the Ist of November, 1862, when he located in Mill- bury, and, securing a position with the firm of C. D. Morse & Co., sash and blind makers, continued with them for eighteen months. In December, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry, which afterward formed a part of the Army of the Potomac. Three months later, in the battle of Spottsylvania Court- house, he was wounded by a ball sent by a sharpshooter through his left ankle. He was left on the field for a number of hours, and when surgical aid was obtained it was found necessary to amputate the left leg just below the knee, so that now he has to depend upon an artificial leg in walking. As soon as able he returned to Millbury, and, resuming work at his trade, continued until his retirement

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from active life in 1890. In politics Mr. Loomis is a stanch Republican. A prominent member of the George A. Custer Post, No. 70, G. A. R., he served it as Adjutant for six years, and was the Commander for five years.

G ILES BLODGETT, formerly a promi- nent agriculturist of Warren, was born December 27, 1829, in Stafford,

Conn. His father, Captain Alden Blodgett, was a descendant on his mother's side from John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, who came to America in the "Mayflower," and were married in 1623 in Plymouth, Mass. While living in Stafford, Captain Blodgett, who had commanded a company of local militia, mar- ried Elvira Cady, of that town, and subse- quently removed to South Warren, Mass. A short time later he came with his family to Coy's Hill, in Warren, and here settled on the farm property that his son Giles afterward in- herited. A man of ability and influence, he rendered the town excellent service as Select- man and in other capacities.

Giles Blodgett attended the public schools of Warren. On reaching his majority he caught the gold fever, then raging in all parts of New England, and went to California. During the three years that he remained on the Pacific coast he was fairly successful in his ventures. Subsequently, returning to the paternal homestead, he resumed agriculture, and followed it successfully, omitting one year, for the remainder of his life. The year referred to was spent in the Civil War with Company K of the Forty-second Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Under General N. P. Banks he was at New Orleans, and he helped to lay and guard pontoon bridges in that vicin- ity. On his farm of two hundred acres he was engaged extensively in general farming and dairying. His improvements on the property, and his skilful management generally, have rendered it one of the most valuable estates in the district.

Mr. Blodgett was a firm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. For two years he served most satisfactorily on the Board of Selectmen. He was a member of

the Masonic Lodge in Warren and of the Clara Barton Post, G. A. R. On April 19, 1865, he married Emily M. Gilbert, of Warren. Born in Enfield, she is a daughter of William S. and Maria (Cummings) Gilbert, natives re- spectively of Enfield and Warren. Three children were born of the union, namely : Emma M., now a teacher in Springfield, Mass. ; and Edith F. and Ralph G., both re- siding with their mother on the home farm. The father died on the homestead, July 6, 1895. Mrs. Blodgett and her children. belong to the Congregational church, of which Mr. Blodgett was an active member.

T B. ROBINSON, a leading farmer of Paxton and the present chair- man of the town's Board of Assessors, was born in Oakham, Mass., March 7, 1823, son of William and Jane (Bourne) Robinson. His father, who died in 1837, was a resident of Oakham from his infancy. His mother was a native of Cohasset, Mass. After attending the district schools of Oakham for the usual period, Thomas B. Robinson began to assist his father on the farm, where in time he be- came a good agriculturist. At the age of twenty-nine he left his native town and went to Worcester to take charge of the Rejoice Newton farm. This he managed successfully for sixteen years. In 1868 he came to Paxton, which has since been his home, and where he has since been engaged in general farming.

On November 26, 1846, Mr. Robinson was married to Mary J. Stone, a native of Oakham. Both of Mrs. Robinson's parents were born in Oakham; and her paternal grandfather, Al- pheus Stone, was an early settler in that town. Her father was a prominent man in Oakham and a progressive farmer. He served his town as Selectman and as Assessor of Taxes. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson happily celebrated their golden wedding in 1896. The following named children have been born to them : Fannie M., who is the wife of Charles E. Graton, of Spencer; Charles O., Albert M., Frank K., and Lurena, all of whom reside in Worcester; and Herbert S., who is the libra- rian of the Paxton Public Library. The father

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earlier in his life served the town as Assessor for a period of ten consecutive years, and for a part of the time he was the chairman of the board. Also, for several years he was High- way Surveyor, and for two years he was Select- man. In the spring of 1897 he was again elected to the Assessor's office, and upon the organization of the board was chosen chair- man. While a Republican in politics, he favors every movement likely to promote the public welfare.

ARON H. MARBLE, one of the best known residents of Charlton Depot, was born in this town, August 18, 1816, son of Aaron and Sally (Ham- mond) Marble. He comes of Welsh origin. His grandfather, Aaron Marble, first, who came from Sutton, Mass., served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. £ Aaron Marble, second, the father, in his younger days was a scythe-maker in Charlton. At a later date he engaged in farming. When he died in 1865 he was over seventy-seven years old. He served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen, and represented his district in the legislature for two terms. His wife, Sally, was a native of Charlton.

Having acquired his elementary education in the common schools of Charlton, Aaron H. Marble attended the Leicester Academy for several terms. Subsequently he taught school in Charlton and Oxford for a number of win- ters. He has, however, devoted his attention chiefly to agriculture, in which he has realized a substantial pecuniary success. He is one of the most prominent of the well-to-do farmers of this town.

Mr. Marble is unmarried. He was a mem- ber of the lower house of the General Court in 1858, serving upon the Committee on Pub- lic Lands. For three years during the trying times of the Civil War he was a member of the Board of Selectmen. He has also served as an Assessor, and was for a number of terms upon the School Committee. In politics he is a Republican. He is highly esteemed as a public-spirited citizen, who has labored effec- tively for the best interests of the community.

Mr. Marble is a member of the First Uni- versalist Society and a liberal contributor toward its support.

A® DAMS FRANKLIN BROWN, a lead- ing lawyer of Westboro, Mass., is prominent in the business, politi- cal, and fraternal circles of this part of Worcester County. He was born Feb- ruary 4, 1857, in Littleton, Middlesex County, Mass., a son of James Madison and Amanda Melvina (Pingry) Brown, his father being a prosperous farmer of that place. Mr. Brown's early years were spent on the home farm, and his elementary education was ob- tained in the district schools. After leaving school he was employed some twelve years in shoe factories in Westboro and Worcester. During the latter part of this time, inspired by a worthy ambition to prepare himself for a professional career, he spent the required ten hours a day in the shoe shop, and devoted six of the remaining hours to the study of law. In 1891, having successfully passed a most rigid examination, he was admitted to the Worcester County bar, and immediately opened an office in Westboro. Soon after- ward he established an office in Worcester also, but the business in his first office in- creased so rapidly and took up so much of his time that he gave up the one in Worcester.

Mr. Brown is deeply interested in Masonrý, and has done much to advance the interests of the various lodges with which he is connected. He joined the ancient craft in 1880 at Siloam Lodge, F. & A. M., of Westboro, and seven years later he was made Worshipful Master of the lodge. He subsequently became a mem- ber of Houghton Chapter, R. A. M., of Marl- boro; of Hiram Council, R. & S. M., of Worcester; Worcester County Commandery, K. T .; Worcester Lodge of Perfection; God- dard Council, Princes of Jerusalem; Lawrence Chapter, Rose Croix, of Worcester; Massa- chusetts Consistory of Boston, in which he took the thirty-second degree; and Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston. He was one of the organizers of Bethany Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star,

ADAMS F. BROWN.

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of Westboro, of which he was third Worthy Patron two years. In 1892 he was made As- sociate Grand Patron of the order in Massa- chusetts, and in 1893 was elected Grand Pa- tron. In 1891 and 1892 he served ably as District Deputy Grand Master of the Twen- tieth Masonic District. He is also prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being Past Noble Grand of Hockomocko Lodge. He is a member of Westboro Grange, P. of H. ; and an associate member of the A. G. Biscoe Post, G. A. R.

Mr. Brown is actively interested in public affairs. He is now chairman of the Board of Selectmen of Westboro, and is a member of the Councillor and Congressional District Committees. When thirteen years old he united with the Baptist church, of which he has since been a consistent and faithful mem- ber. On May 8, 1894, he married Miss Ma- halah Annie Adams, of Houlton, Me., a daughter of Daniel and Mahalah Annie (Harris) Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons, Rolf Eric, born March 24, 1896, and Paul Erwin, born November 11, 1898.

JDWARD AKERS, senior member of the well-known firm of Akers & Taylor, manufacturers of satinet and woollen goods at Charlton City, was born September 16, 1829, in Granby, Hampshire County, son of Henry and Achsah (Hunt) Akers. His father, who was a lifelong resident of New England, served in the War of 1812, and afterward located in Granby, where he died at an early age.

Edward Akers is practically a self-educated man, his schooling having been limited to a few terms in the district schools of Palmer, Mass., while he was but a small boy. Thrown upon his own resources by his father's death, when a lad of nine years he began working in a cotton-mill at Ludlow, Mass. From that place he went to a cotton factory in Thorndike, in the town of Palmer. A few years later he secured a better paying situation in a woollen- mill at Monson, and was afterward employed in a woollen-mill at Stafford Springs, Conn., as foreman of the weaving department. From

Stafford Springs he went West, but, after spending a year in Illinois and Wisconsin, he returned to Worcester County, Massachusetts, where, in the town of Auburn, he established himself as a manufacturer of satinet. On Jan- uary 10, 1875, Mr. Akers began the manufact- ure of satinets at Charlton City, having as a partner Nathan Norris, who became junior member of the firm of Akers & Norris. After three years the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Akers carried on the business alone for several years. In 1885 the present firm was formed, with F. S. Taylor as a copartner. Messrs. Akers & Taylor carry on an extensive and lucrative business in the making of sati- nets and woollen goods, the three mills com- prising their plant being all located in Charl- ton. Many men are kept busily employed, the firm's pay-roll averaging one hundred and fifty men. When Mr. Akers came to this city a quarter of a century ago, very little manufact- uring was done here; but through his advice and influence the town's manufacturing inter- ests and resources have been much developed. A man of energy and executive ability and an able financier, he has met with eminent suc- cess in all his undertakings, and is a worthy representative of the self-made men of New England.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 14

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