Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 148

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 148

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church. He married first in April, 1770, Jo- anna Wheelock, who died on June 13, 1803, and for his second wife, a widow, Mrs. Stearns. His ten children, who were all born of his first marriage, grew to mature years, with the ex- ception of one that died in infancy. They were as follows: Joanna, who died at the age of thirty-three; Ephraim, who died in Octo- ber, 1850, at the age of seventy-eight; Wil- der, who was born in 1774 and died in 1848, having spent his entire life on the home farm ; Thomas, who was born in 1775, and died in 1848; Esther, who was born in 1777; Asaph, who was born on September 12, 1779, and died on December 25, 1852; Abijah, who was born in 1781 and died in 1867; Luke, who was born in 1783, and died in 1866; Lucy, who was born in 1786 and died in 1794; and Cephas, who was born in 1793 and died in 1861. All of the nine had children, with the exception of Luke. He was a Boston mer- chant, and died in Cambridge, Mass., leaving a good estate, most of which went to his adopted son.

Asaph Carter spent nearly the whole of his long life in Leominster, but he died in West- minster. His marriage with Ruth Drake took place in 1803. Of the twelve children born of this union, three died young, and nine - namely, Almira, Luke, Catherine, Asaph Russell, Edward Robinson, Rufus, Laura Lincoln, Sarah A., and Thomas A .- grew to maturity. The two now living are Rufus and one daughter. Almira, who was born on October 16, 1804, and died on July 15, 1883, married Peter Joslin. Luke Wheelock, who was born on September 14, 1806, and died on March 24, 1879, was sur- vived by ten children, all of whom followed him to the grave. Catherine Drake, who was born on December 15, 1808, and died on March 31, 1891, was the wife of Zophar Sargent. Asaph Russell was born on December 8, 1811, and died in Waltham on July 4, 1884. Ed- ward Robinson, who was born on August 25, 1813, died in Westminster at about seventy- four years of age. Laura Lincoln, who was born on January 19, 1820, and died on March 17, 1852, in Gardner, Mass., was the wife of Albert Merriam. Sarah A., who was born on

April 10, 1825, is a widow, residing in Fitch- burg, Mass. Thomas A., who was born on August 5, 1823, died at Westminster on Janu- ary 16, 1887.

Rufus Carter attended a district school for a few years, going for nine weeks in the winter and for three months in the summer. He lived in Leominster with his parents on the Stearns farm, where they had settled in 1812, until his father removed to Westminster. Then, when about eleven years old, he went to Pittsburg, Mass., where he remained with his cousin for a year, and subsequently he was in Waltham for eight months. When eighteen years old he bought his time for two hundred dollars, and began to work on a farm during the summer, and in a grocery store in the winter. During his second summer season he earned twenty dollars a month, and at its close he went back to the grocery at a hundred and seventy-five dollars a year. Coming to Worcester in the spring of 1839, he secured employment in the office of the deputy sher- iff, where he remained less than a year, and the next three years he was turnkey in the jail under jailer Asa Matthews. In 1844 he was appointed keeper of the almshouse in Wal- tham, and there he spent two very pleasant years. From 1846 to 1847 he was depot- master at Waltham, and at the end of that time he came back to this city as keeper of the House of Correction. In this capacity he served until January, 1872, a period of twenty-two years, when he completed, with the three years he had acted as turnkey, a service of a quarter-century at the jail.

Mr. Carter's marriage, which occurred on April 3, 1843, was with Leonica B. Flint, of Fitchburg. Just subsequent to that event he settled on a farm owned by his father-in-law, where he lived for a short time. He has re- sided at his present home, 46 Orange Street, since 1874. Mrs. Carter died on March 3, 1894. She had lost an infant son and a daughter, Clara, who died aged four and a half years. Mr. Carter's living children are : Agnes Louisa and Ella Frances. The former, who is the wife of Andrew Davis, of Lake- side, Ill., and the mother of two daughters, was educated at Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Ella

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Frances resides with her father, and super- intends the housekeeping. Mr. Carter has been a Deacon in the Universalist church.

OHN GATES,* proprietor of the hotel at Sterling Junction and an extensive farmer, was born April 30, 1821, in Worcester, Mass., the native place of his parents, Asa and Hannah (Johnson) Gates.

When a young man Asa Gates purchased a farm in the town of Worcester. He later went to Utica, N. Y., where he worked for a while in a flouring-mill. On returning to Worcester, he resumed agricultural pursuits, and he also operated a saw and grist mill for a number of years. He resided in Worcester until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Hannah Gates, his wife, lived to be eighty years old. They reared three children. The two now living are: Sarah; and John, the subject of this sketch. The parents were members of the Baptist church.

John Gates was educated in the public schools and reared to farm life at the home- stead. At an early age he displayed a fond- ness for horses, and for some years he had charge of the stables of General George Hobbs in Worcester. He was subsequently employed as a driver on a stage line running out of Providence, R. I., and as a teamster at Bristol Ferry, and after that he was an attendant at the Worcester Hospital. In 1847 he came to Sterling and purchased the Smith farm, and some three years later he entered the hotel business, which he has since followed in con- nection with farming. His property consists of four hundred acres of fertile land situated upon the shore of Wachusett Lake, a popular summer resort and favorite place for holding religious camp-meetings. He sold to the Baptist Camp-meeting Association the land which they now occupy. He formerly boarded the militia companies during their annual en- campment. His place is provided with excel- lent facilities for driving and boating, and he has entertained some of the foremost men in the State. As its proprietor Mr. Gates is widely and favorably known for his genial dis-

position, love of humor, and his successful efforts to furnish both comfort and pleasure to his guests.

In 1846 Mr. Gates was joined in marriage with Mary Smith, daughter of John Smith, late of Sterling. Mrs. Gates was born in the house where she now resides. She was one of three children, and is now the only sur- vivor. Her father was for many years a chair manufacturer.

Politically, Mr. Gates is a Republican. He has served as Constable for a number of years, and is now acting as a special police officer. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Farmers' Club. He attends the Unitarian church.

UGENE H. NEWTON,* a farmer and dairyman at Auburn, Mass., was born

in this town, September 5, 1842. His father was the only son in a family of eight children, and his grandfather was the only son in a family of seven.

Mr. Newton's parents had three sons and three daughters. One son died in infancy, and one daughter, Lucy M., wife of Willard Loring, died in 1872, aged thirty-eight years, leaving eight children. The four children now living are: Eugene H .; Samuel; Caro- line P., widow of H. T. Putnam ; and Ella J. The latter was graduated from the Milford High School, and subsequently taught in Worcester County for a number of years. In 1878, soon after the death of her parents, she went to Foo-Choo, China, under the auspices of the American Board of Foreign Missions, and has since been one of the most active and capable workers in the missionary schools of that locality.

Eugene H. Newton completed his education at the Shelburne Falls Academy, and but for his intense patriotism would have accepted an offered position as a teacher. Heeding his country's call, he enlisted November 19, 1861, in Company C, Battalion of Engineers, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. This company was first commanded by Captain James B. McPherson, who later, as General McPherson, fell at Atlanta. His successors

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as commander of the company were: Godfrey Weitzel, afterward Major-general; Lieutenant C. B. Reese; and Captain R. S. Mckenzie, a man of splendid daring and reckless bravery, who had previously been almost literally shot to pieces by rebel bullets. The company had also the honor of being under the command, temporarily, of General Comstock. Mr. New- ton remained in the army four years and two months. In September, 1863, he was given command of Company D, Fourth Battalion of Engineers, of which he remained Captain until his discharge from the service. In sev- eral of the engagements in which he partici- pated he had narrow escapes from death, at one time even having a touch of hot lead on the end of his finger.

For several years after the war Mr. Newton engaged in the manufacture of card-clothing, being first located in Fitchburg, Mass., then in Uxbridge and afterward in Leicester, where he continued until 1875. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and in 1883 took possession of his present farm of seventy- two acres. He pays especial attention to stock-raising and dairying, keeping twenty- four head of cattle, and milking ten or more cows. The cream he sends to the Singletery C. O. O. Creamery, of which he has been a director and the president. He is actively identified with the Republican party, and for eleven years served as chairman of the Board of Assessors. He is a prominent member of the Leicester Post, No. 131, G. A. R., which he has served in an official capacity much of the time since its organization.

On September 5, 1867, Mr. Newton mar- ried Mary L. Warren, daughter of Elbridge G. and Lydia Elvira (Stone) Warren. They have three children, namely: Lydia Mertice, who has taught school in Auburn, was gradu- ated from the State Normal School at Worces- ter in 1898; Anstice C., a member of the class of 1900 in the Worcester High School; and Ella A., a pupil in the Auburn schools. The house which Mr. and Mrs. Newton occupy was built prior to 1754. It was the home of Mrs. Newton's great-grandfather, Jonah Gould- ing, who built the house in which her parents now live, and which is one hundred and four

years old. Colonel Goulding, the grandfather of Mrs. Newton, had command of a company during Shays's Rebellion.

ENRY BURNHAM STONE,* dealer in paper, twine, and cordage at Worcester, was born in Auburn, Mass., June 13, 1837, son of John and Pamelia (Stone) Stone.

Nathaniel Stone, father of John, was born in Auburn about 1765. He married a Miss Jacobs, and had six children, two sons and four daughters. His son, Nathaniel, Jr., who was born about 1792, and died about 1887, was a Selectman some thirty years, a part of that time being first Selectman. One daughter married David Cummings, and dying left three daughters, of whom one is living. Lucena Stone married Deacon Pearce, of West Millbury, and had two children, a son and daughter. She and her husband lived to be about seventy-five. Mary, another daughter, married Aaron Small, of West Millbury, and had five children, three sons and two daugh - ters. Abigail Stone, the fourth daughter, died at about seventy years of age, unmarried.

John Stone spent a long and useful life as a farmer near the old homestead. In political views he was a Republican. Though not a church member, he belonged to the Congrega- tional society, and contributed liberally to its expenses. His marriage to Pamelia Stone took place in 1825. She was born in North Oxford Gore, and was about three years his junior. Though bearing the same name, they were but very distant relatives, if connected. They had eight children, of whom six grew up and five are living, as follows: Jason B., Maria E., John E., Henry B., and Susan C. Jason B. Stone is a leading farmer in Auburn. Maria Elvira, widow of Horace B. Stone, who died in 1870, resides with her daughter in Auburn. John Elbridge is engaged in farm- ing and milling in Sterling, Mass. Susan C., unmarried, lives with her brother, Henry Burnham. Luther, who was in partnership with Henry Burnham, died July 1, 1895, leav- ing a widow and two children, who reside in Worcester. After the death of their mother,

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which occurred in 1850, their father was again married, to a widow, Mrs. Craig, who now resides in Candia.

Henry Burnham Stone received his educa- tion in the public schools and at Wilbraham Academy. A youth of seventeen, he went to Providence, R.I., as clerk in a banking-house. In 1857 he came home on a vacation, and in 1858 he bought a store in Auburn, which he successfully conducted for five years, begin- ning at the age of twenty-one. He went to Newbern, N.C., in the fall of 1863, and was employed there as clerk in a store. Return- ing to Massachusetts in 1865, he came to Worcester, and engaged in the tea business, which he followed until November, 1868, when he embarked in his present business, as a paper, twine, and cordage dealer. For twenty-eight years he has had a store at 9 Park Street. He is a man of ability, and has a prosperous business. In politics he is a Re- publican.

On March 9, 1895, Mr. Stone was united in marriage with Phidelia P. Small, of Millbury.

ORACE H. LOWE,* carpenter and builder, residing in East Street, Clinton, was born in Temple, N. H., on February 5, 1849, son of Henry and Sarah E. (Giddings) Lowe. His grand- father Lowe was a native of Greenfield, and died there at the age of seventy-eight, having been engaged for many years in farming.

Henry Lowe, above named, who purchased and occupied a farm in Greenfield near his father's place, died there at seventy-nine years of age. His wife Sarah, who died in her fif- tieth year, was the daughter of John Giddings, and was born in Temple. Of the twelve chil- dren born to her, six are living, by name Horace H., Lizzie, Frank, Charles, Clement, and Rose. Both parents were members of the Unitarian church.

Horace H. Lowe received his early educa- tion in the common schools, and from the time he was twelve years of age until he was about twenty he worked on a farm. He then began learning the carpenter's trade in New Hamp- shire. After serving his apprenticeship, he

came to Clinton and worked as journeyman carpenter for some years, and in 1879 began taking contracts for building. He has now been longer in the business than any other man here, and has had charge of the building of a large number of structures.

Mr. Lowe was married in 1872 to Jennie, daughter of Joseph Sawtelle, the latter a well- known comb-maker in this town. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have four children : Edwin, Minnie, Harold, and Mildred.

In politics Mr. Lowe is a Republican. He was elected Water Commissioner in 1892 for one year, and at the close of his term of service was re-elected for three years, and in 1896 was elected to serve until 1899. Mr. Lowe is a prominent man in secret societies, being a member of the Odd Fellows, of the Red Men, and of the Royal Arcanum. He is an attend- ant of the Unitarian church.

LIVER M. BALL,* contractor and builder, residing at 154 Lincoln Street, Worcester, was born June 28, 1832, in Boylston, Mass.

His father, Barnabas Ball, was a native and a lifelong resident of Boylston where he owned and carried on a farm. He married Abigail Howe, daughter of Captain John Howe, an officer in the militia. They reared six children, namely : Gilbert L. F., of Maine; Oliver M., the special subject of this brief sketch; Elliott B., of Boston; Silas B., of Homer, Champaign County, Ill. ; Thomas B., of Foxboro, Mass .; and George Ward, who owns and occupies the old homestead in Boyl- ston. Their first-born died in childhood, and a daughter, Tamar, died at the age of fifty years. Three of the sons - Elliott, Silas, and Thomas - were members of Lincoln's body-guard during the late Civil War; and the latter, who was on duty when the President was shot, was for a year afterward attached to the body-guard of President Johnson. The two older brothers were for several months musicians in a regimental band.

Oliver M. Ball obtained his education in the district school, and at fourteen years of age he found employment with a neighboring

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farmer, who paid him small wages for a year or two. He subsequently worked on a farm summers, and in a shoemaker's shop winters, till he was twenty-four, when he began to learn the carpenter's trade in Boylston. Over twenty-eight years ago he came to Worcester, which was then a rapidly growing city, and established himself as contractor and builder. He has carried on an extensive and lucrative business up to the present time, em- ploying from thirty to forty men, at least one- half being skilled carpenters. He has built many of the fine dwellings of Worcester, in- cluding at least eighty-five in the ward in which he lives; and he has probably bought and sold more houses than any other contractor within the city limits. When he settled on Lincoln Street, where, with one exception, he is now the senior resident, the land was covered with a natural growth of timber.

Fraternally, Mr. Ball is an Odd Fellow ; and, politically, he is a sound Republican, and has served as Councilman. Hale and robust, he is fond of outdoor sports ; and with jolly com- panions, including John M. White and others of kindred spirit, he occasionally indulges in a fox hunt.

In November, 1855, Mr. Ball married Maroe E. Flagg, daughter of Levi and Althina Flagg. Her father was a well-known farmer of Boyl- ston. Mr. and Mrs. Flagg both passed their entire lives in Boylston, his death occurring there in 1872, and hers in 1880. Of their six children, one died in infancy and the others grew to mature life. The following is a brief record: Nahum Hughton, a soldier in the Civil War, afterward settled on a farm in Cen; tral Illinois, where he died about nine years ago; Ward Nicholas resides on Christie Street, Worcester; Jane S. is the wife of Rowley Lucas, of West Newton, Mass .; Marie E. is now Mrs. Ball; and Elliott Jerome, after nearly three years of service in the war of the Rebellion, was killed, at the age of twenty-three years, at the battle of Antietam. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have one child, Elsie M., wife of John C. Stewart. Mr. and Mrs. Stew- art, who live in a part of Mr. Ball's commodi- ous house, have two children: Helen G., twelve years old; and Dorothy, eight years

old. Mrs. Ball is an active member of the Congregational church.

ATHAN SMITH HARRINGTON,* of Worcester, was born in Shrews- bury, Mass., January 29, 1815, son of Warren and Martha (Smith) Harrington. His father was born in the same town in 1771; and the grandfather, whose name was Elijah Harrington, was born about the year 1748, and served in the patriot ranks during the Revolutionary War. He married Mary Warren, of Upton, Mass., and reared four children, two sons and two daughters. The daughters never married. They lived to be over seventy years old. The sons were: Eli- jah, Jr., who died at about the age of eighty- five, leaving one son and three daughters; and Warren, the father above named. The grand- mother survived her husband some years, and reached an advanced age.

Warren Harrington was a lifelong resident of Shrewsbury. He died in 1833. His wife was the daughter of Lewis and Mary (Howard) Smith, of Shrewsbury. Her father fought in the Revolution. He was an industrious farmer and an ingenious mechanic. Warren and Martha Harrington were the parents of five children, namely : Mary, wife of William Sawyer, who went to California and later to Arizona, where he died; Eunice, who married Charles Pond, of Milford, Mass., and died a young woman; Nathan S., the subject of this sketch; Clara, who died in Northboro, Mass., and whose husband, Charles Marden, died in Hartford, Conn .; and Nancy (deceased), who married Edwin Wasson. The mother died December 1, 1863, aged about seventy-five years.

Nathan Smith Harrington, when eight years old, went to reside with his grand- father Smith, but returned home later, and attended the district school winters until six- teen years old. Learning the cutler's trade in Medway, Mass., he made knife-handles for a time; and later on, going to Grafton, Mass., he was for a number of years engaged in the manufacture of guns, pistols, fishing-tackle, shoemaker's tools, etc., for his brother-in-law,

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becoming an expert workman. After working in Norwich, Conn., for three years, he came to Worcester in 1847, and from that time until 1865 he was connected with the Allen Company's factory as a superintendent.

In 1836 Mr. Harrington married Aurilla Crosby, of Rhode Island, daughter of Elisha and Abigail (Evans) Crosby. Two children were born of this union, namely: Clara, who died at the age of fourteen months; and Cor- nelia Crosby Harrington, widow of Henry Harris, who died in May, 1890, aged fifty- nine years. Mrs. Harrington died June II, 1881, aged sixty-eight years.

Mr. Harrington was formerly an enthusias- tic angler and huntsman, and was at one time vice-president of the Fur Club, of which he is a charter member. The premature discharge of a shot-gun so injured his foot as to prevent him from indulging again in these sports, in which he had acquired a wide reputation, his experiences as a fox hunter having been the subject of several exciting sketches in the sportsman's journals of some years ago. In politics he is a Republican.

OSEPH L. HOWE,* mill-owner and operator and manufacturer of packing- boxes and lumber, of Oakdale, was born in Holden on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1847, son of Silas and Persis (Hubbard) Howe. His grandfather, Jotham Howe, who was a lifelong farmer of Holden, and died in that town at the age of eighty-three, was a man of strong religious faith. He believed in the immediate care of the Deity for all the affairs pertaining to the welfare of men, and daily prayed for bountiful harvests or for other material benefits. His wife, Nellie Henry, died at the age of eighty-three. She was the mother of five children, of whom the only sur- viving one is Susan, now Mrs. Ford, residing in Vermont. Both grandparents were mem- bers of the Baptist church.

Silas Howe, father of Joseph L., remained on his father's farm until his twenty-first birthday, and after that bought woodlands in Holden and vicinity, and engaged for himself in cutting and sawing lumber. He died at

the age of seventy-seven, having filled with credit various public offices, including those of Overseer of the Poor and Assessor. Like his father before him, he was a zealous mem- ber of the Baptist church. His wife, Persis, who died at the age of sixty-eight, was one of a family of nine children, and was born in Holden on the same farm where she died. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Polly Hubbard, her father being a prominent citizen and a farmer by occupation. Two or more children who were born to Silas and Persis Howe died within a short time of each other of typhoid fever. Joseph L. Howe's twin sister, Mary, died at the age of twenty-one. He has two brothers now living; namely, Charles and Levi.

Mr. Howe assisted his father in farm labors until twenty-one years of age, and from that time until he was twenty-seven he worked by the month on his father's farm. Leaving home, he came to West Boylston, and for three years was engaged in teaming, after which he worked three years at carpentering. He then went to work for Mr. Whiting, and for four years was master mechanic and super- intendent of repairs with the L. M. Harris cotton manufacturing concern. From the

Harris Mill he came to the mill of which he is now proprietor, and was employed for a year by Mr. Warren Howe, who was at that time owner of the property. Then, returning to the West Boylston Manufacturing Com- pany, he worked for them three years as a mechanic, and at the end of that time he bought the mills which he now operates, this · being in 1892.

Mr. Howe manufactures packing-boxes of all shapes and sizes, and deals in laths, shingles, clapboards, brick, lime, hair, ce- ment, and all kinds of building materials. This is the only headquarters for supplies of this kind outside of Worcester, and as a con- sequence Mr. Howe has a long list of patrons, and does a most thriving and lucrative busi- ness. His mill is fitted with all the latest machinery, and the boxes made there are sent all over the Union. Mr. Howe employs about fifteen men. He sells at both wholesale and retail, and buys in large quantities. His

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standing and reputation in the business com- munity are irreproachable.

Mr. Howe was married in 1874 to Mary C. Goodale, who is one of a family of four chil- dren and the daughter of Francis E. Goodale, a well-known farmer of West Boylston. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have two children: Ernest IV., who is a graduate of a business college and now works with his father; and Ethel C., who is still in school.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 148

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