Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 151

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 151

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A son of John and Sylvia (Dudley) Jones, on the paternal side he was of Welsh descent, his branch of the family, however, having been settled in America for several generations. His father was a paper-maker at Needham in the days of hand-made paper.

Mr. Jones was one of a large family and early learned to depend upon himself. In his childhood he injured his eyes, and for two or three years was blind. When his sight sud- denly returned, his people believed it to be a miracle. At the age of sixteen he bought his

time of his father until he should be nineteen, and began working in the paper business. He determined to gain a good education, and to accomplish this end practised much self-denial. He never opened an English grammar until nineteen years of age. Nothing daunted by all sorts of obstacles, he took a preparatory course in an academy at Shelburne Falls, Mass., and at the age of twenty-one he was admitted to Brown University. He was graduated with a good record in 1845. He then taught a private school for a year, and after that he studied a year at the Newton Theological Institute. In 1847 he accepted the position of principal of Troy Academy, Troy, N. Y. Here he showed his admirable executive ability, building up the institution from a membership of ten to one hundred and ten pupils.

In 1849 Mr. Jones was ordained as pastor of the Baptist church at North Bennington, Vt. Six years later he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Worcester, and entered upon the duties of his new charge on April 8, 1855. Here he remained until 1859, when he resigned in order to become superin- tendent of the public schools in Worcester. As a preacher, Mr. Jones was powerful and effective, having a firm grasp of truth and being a man of broad and tender sympathies. After he ceased to be a settled pastor he sup- plied the pulpit of the Baptist church at North Grafton for eight years. In the latter part of his life he was connected with the First Bap- tist Church of Worcester. He was a very modest man. He died in the full assurance of faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

After Mr. Jones's death a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the company with which he had been so long connected was called, and shortly after a memorial pamphlet was prepared and printed. From its pages we extract the following from the remarks of Vice- President Gage : -

"Mr. Jones was a well-educated man and a good scholar. He had the faculty and the habit of making himself perfect master of any subject which it became necessary or desirable that he should consider. In this way he made himself a thorough master of the whole subject of life insurance, and I do not fear that I shall

12TO

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

do any injustice to the officials of this com- pany, past or present, in saying that in this respect he has had no superior in this place. He knew all about the different plans of insur- ance and the merits and demerits of each. He was perfectly familiar with the history of all the various companies, and with the points in which they differed, and with the effect of their differences in respect to the desirability of insuring in them. He was well acquainted with insurance law, not only in Massachusetts, but in all the States where the company was doing business. He knew, especially, every- thing about this office and its business, from the beginning down - all the facts of its his- tory and all its traditions - and could give valuable information upon any point.

"He was a delightful man to come in con- tact with, and to do business with; always at his post, always patient, kindly, and genial ; any one and every one in the office could ap- proach him, and at any time, with assurance that he would not only give them a pleas- ant greeting, but that he would willingly im- part any desired information. He came to be a sort of encyclopædia of knowledge for the office, and nothing was more common than to settle a disputed or doubtful point as to pro- cedure or principle of insurance by a proposi- tion to 'ask Mr. Jones.'

"No one could be more missed from the office than he. It will be very difficult, and, in some respects, impossible, to fill his place, so that it is not an exaggeration to say that his loss is irreparable. He had the sincere respect of all who came in contact with him, and of the whole army of the company's agents. With the entire official force of the home office, and especially with the clerks who were more immediately associated with him in his work, he was an object of almost filial affection."

Mr. Jones was married on March 26, 1846, to Clarissa A. Day, of North Wrentham, Mass. Of this marriage three children were born, only one of whom is living - Edward D. Jones, of New York City. Clara Alice, the only daugh- ter, who died in October, 1880, after having been for a short time a teacher, was a graduate of Wellesley College. Preston Day Jones was born at Troy, N. Y. He was educated at

Brown University, and was appointed pro- fessor of Latin and Greek in Clinton (Miss.) College before he had reached his twenty- second birthday. He subsequently came to Worcester and taught for eight years as master of one of the grammar schools here. His children are- J. D. E. Jones, who is with the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company ; Frederick William, who is on the staff of the Providence Daily Journal ; and Preston Day, Jr. Edward D. Jones, already named, married Sarah Janet Conkling, of New York City. For the past fifteen years he has been connected with the firm of Dow Jones & Co., publishers of Wall Street stock reports. These reports are read the world over, but the enterprise is especially supported by the New York brokers. Edward D. Jones has one son, Arthur Conk- ling Jones, who was born in New York City and is now a student there.

AMES T. LEARNED,* railroad sta- tion agent at Northboro and Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Gardner, Mass., in 1860, son of Will- iam H. and Marietta (Whitney) Learned. His great-grandfather, Peter Learned, was a Revolutionary soldier, and his grandfather, William Learned, served as captain in the War of 1812. His father, William H. Learned, who was a prosperous blacksmith of Gardner, died at the age of seventy years. Mr. Learned has four brothers living in Gard- ner, namely: William F., shipping clerk at a chair manufactory; Theodore, a grocer; Arthur and Chester, chair manufacturers.

James T. Learned in his boyhood attended the public schools of his native town. On leaving the high school he went to work in a chair manufactory, where he was employed two years. He then took a course at East- man's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Learning telegraphy in Gardner, he was oper- ator there a short time, when he was given charge of the railroad station at Berlin, Mass., where he remained three years, and for the succeeding five years he was employed in the same capacity at Pratt's Junction. He was appointed station agent at Northboro in

12II

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

August, 1892, and has since discharged his duties in that capacity to the satisfaction of the corporation as well as the public.

Mr. Learned married Nettie A. Moore, daughter of Josiah Moore, for twenty years Town Treasurer of Berlin. Mr. and Mrs. Learned have one son, Kenneth, aged ten years.

In politics Mr. Learned is a Republican. He is serving his third year as a member of the Board of Selectmen, of which he is now chairman. He is connected with Trinity Lodge, F. & A. M., Clinton; Gardner Lodge, I. O. O. F., Gardner; and the New England Association of Railroad Station Agents. He is an energetic and progressive man of affairs, and takes a deep interest in the general wel- fare of the community. Mr. Learned is a member of the Unitarian society.

RANK W. EAMES,* who died in the spring of 1883, at the age of thirty- nine years, was a son of Lovett and Lucy C. (Morgan) Eames. His father died in 1894 in the city of Worcester, where his mother is now living. He descended from one of the old Colonial families of Massachu- setts. His immigrant ancestor, Thomas Eames, came to this country about 1634, lived some time in Dedham and in other places, and eventually settled in Framingham, which was then largely populated by native Indians. Subsequently, in one of the Indian raids upon the town, his wife and five children were killed, and other children taken into cap- tivity.

Lovett Eames devoted his life to mechani- cal pursuits, for which he had a natural fac- ulty. Soon after his marriage he went to Kalamazoo, Mich., and resided there many years previous to his removal to Worcester, Mass., where he died. The maiden name of Mrs. Eames was Lucy C. Morgan. Her father was the Rev. Elisha Morgan, a man of ability, strong convictions, and conscientious devotion to his calling. He married a Miss Rogers, who belonged to a prominent family of Alexandria, Va., descended from one of its earliest settlers.

Frank W. Eames was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., in November, 1843, and was there bred and educated. At the age of eighteen years, leaving Kalamazoo College, he enlisted in the first company raised in Kalamazoo for the country's defence. It was under the com- mand of Captain C. S. Way, who wrote of him at a later period in these words: "He was one of the gallant and patriotic band of young students who enlisted in my company. I remember him as a good, brave soldier, bearing himself gallantly and unflinchingly in the early battles in which we were engaged, and, though but a mere boy in years, always showing that native energy which endures, and for which he was afterward distin- guished." When mustered out of the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Mr. Eames be- came a Lieutenant in another Michigan regi- ment, from which he was honorably discharged in September, 1863, by General Grant, who appointed him as an aide in the revenue ser- vice along the Mississippi, in which he con- tinued until the close of the war. He was subsequently a detective in the service of the United States government, and through his instrumentality a dangerous gang of counter- feiters was unearthed in Michigan in 1870.

Mr. Eames inherited the mechanical genius of his father, and as an inventor won distinc- tion at home and abroad. "His insight of possible mechanism and his resources in me- chanical devices were phenomenal. Difficul- ties in the way but stimulated his enthusiasm and sharpened his energy. Like an eagle which soars upon the very breast of the storm that beats down all feebler birds, he was al- ways at his best when obstacles were thickest and greatest." Besides his numerous designs for facilitating the running of railroad trains at a great speed, such as brakes - plain, au- tomatic, and duplex - he invented an auto- matic governor for use on the engines of the great ocean steamers and on steam pumps, and a multitude of other useful mechanical appli- ances.

In perfecting and securing patents in the United States and in foreign countries for all these inventions, and in applying them to the industrial arts, Mr. Eames repeatedly crossed

1212

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

the ocean, and spent months, and even years, upon the continent of Europe. In this work he was handicapped by inadequate capital, financial embarrassment, and costly litigation with powerful antagonists and millionaire competitors. His friends were ardent and

zealous. His enemies feared and sometimes hated him. Those who shared his confidence and knew him best appreciated his kindness and generosity, and knew that no more open- hearted, whole-souled man ever lived. "It is to be deeply regreted that, while defending his rights and securing his property from those who sought to wrest it from him, his life was suddenly terminated by the bullet from a pistol in the hand of a man whom he had be- friended. What wonders he might have ac- complished had he lived, it is impossible to say; but, certainly, his great genius and in- domitable energy gave promise of large re- sults. "

Mr. Eames married Miss Mattie Schilling, of Paw Paw, Mich.

ENRY A. LEE,* who is worthy of being enrolled among the inventors of Worcester County that have at- tained distinction in their particular field of labor and have benefited the world at large, was for many years an esteemed resident of the city of Worcester. He was born in 1819 in Barre, Mass. He was a son of Z. and Submit (Lilly) Lee, and the representa- tive of a distinctively American family, noted for many generations for its men and women of superior worth.

Henry A. Lee received his education in the public schools of his native town and in the days of his youth learned the carpenter's trade. When a young man he came to Worcester, which was then becoming rapidly populated and had need of mechanics. He worked as a jour- neyman in the employ of Captain Lamb, a builder, until he became an expert at his trade. Mr. Lee then formed a partnership with a Mr. Dennis, with whom he was engaged harmoni- ously and successfully in the erection of build- ings of various descriptions. Mr. Lee, how- ever, was not satisfied that this was his life-

work. He had the active brain that could grapple with intricate problems, and the in- ventive talent that could create, and was bent on improving the existing order of things. In 1875, therefore, having accumulated money for the purpose, he established himself as an in- ventor of machinery for moulding wood. He had invented a large four-sided moulding ma- chine which greatly facilitated the manufact- ure of mouldings of all descriptions, and, hav- ing completed his designs, he secured patents, and continued the manufacture of the machines at his factory, on the corner of Union and Ex- change Streets. He made machines of vari- ous styles and sizes, and, as they were soon adopted by the leading manufacturers of wood in all parts of the United States, he built up an extensive business, and won not only money but fame as an inventor. His practical judg- ment and sound common sense prevented him from being led into any speculative schemes of invention. Confining himself solely to inven- tions of his own, which he had force and deter- mination enough to put into use in different factories, he succeeded even beyond his expec- tations. He continued in business until his death, in December, 1886, and had the satis- faction, before his earthly career was closed, of sending his machines to all parts of the world, and of knowing that they were placed in suc- cessful operation. He was a modest, unassum- ing man, with a high reputation for ability, honesty, and good citizenship, being ever strong in his support of what he believed to be right. His business largely absorbed his time and thought, and to it he gave of his strength unsparingly.

Mr. Lee was married in 1844 to Miss El- mira Gleason, who survives him. She be- longs to a family conspicuous in the annals of that town for their high moral standing.

AMES M. CORLISS,* for many years a highly esteemed resident of East Brookfield, was born in Burke, Vt., on April 28, 1822, being a son of James and Lydia (Bryer) Corliss, both of whom were natives of Sandwich, N. H. He grew to man- hood in his native town, attending the public

1213

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

schools and making the most of his opportuni- ties for obtaining an education. When a young man he came to East Brookfield, but after remaining here for a short time went to Wilmington, Del., where for a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of wheels. Returning to East Brookfield shortly after the close of the Civil War, he settled here, and continued in the manufacturing busi- ness. His sterling honesty and natural kind- liness of heart soon gained for him a consider- able popularity, and he made many warm personal friends. In politics he was a Repub- lican, but later enrolled himself under the Prohibitionist banner, and was from that time on one of the most zealous supporters of that party. He was a man of large public spirit, and was in favor of anything to improve the town and promote the welfare of the citizens. Although not a member of any church, he con- tributed liberally to the support of Chris- tianity.

Mr. Corliss was twice married, and was the father of two children: Frank F., who is now a resident of Sheffield, Mass. ; and Ada F., who is the wife of Fred E. White, of Ash - land, Neb. Mr. Corliss died on April 27, 1896, deeply lamented by all who knew him. He was survived by his wife, who resides in East Brookfield. She is a daughter of Dexter and Martha (Stevens) Forbes, both of whom were natives of North Brookfield. Her

father, who was a son of Daniel Forbes, was a prominent and influential citizen in his day, and was Trial Justice of North Brookfield. He was a descendant of the Rev. Mr. Forbes, the first clergyman of North Brookfield. Mrs. Corliss is a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of North Brookfield, and is one of its prominent workers. She is also interested in all charitable and benevolent movements.

JDWARD PROCTOR,* an extensive fruit grower, of Spencer, was born May II, 1811, in Warwick, Mass., the native place of his parents, Captain Josiah and Sally (Stearns) Proctor. He is of English extrac- tion, and a lineal descendant in the fifth gen-

eration of Peter Proctor, who was born in 1654, and settled in Chelmsford, Mass. Mr. Proc- tor's great-grandfather Robert Proctor, and Cap- tain Peter Proctor, his grandfather, who was an early settler in Warwick and a Revolutionary soldier, were born in Chelmsford. Captain Josiah Proctor acquired his title by virtue of a commission which he held in the State militia in his younger days. He was later known as Deacon Proctor.

Edward Proctor began to learn the tanner's and currier's trade when seventeen years old with Phineas Davis of Northboro, Mass., and completed his apprenticeship at twenty-one. After working as a journeyman for a year, he went to Detroit, Mich., where for some years he acted as superintendent of a tannery carried on by Phineas Davis, Jr., a son of his former employer. Going from there to Oakland County, same State, he purchased and operated for a time a saw-mill near Pontiac. Returning to Massachusetts in 1841, he engaged in the currying business on his own account at North- bridge for the succeeding six years, and subse- quently carried on the same business in Worcester. Settling in Spencer in 1851, he bought his present farm of one hundred acres, which he carried on in connection with the currying business until shortly after the close of the Civil War. Since that time he has given his attention exclusively to fruit culture, raising large quantities of apples, pears, and grapes. He planted the first grape-vine of the Concord variety in Spencer.

In 1834 Mr. Proctor married for his first wife Sophia C. Patterson, of Northboro. She bore him four children, of whom the only sur- vivor is George D. Proctor, who has served as a Commissioner in both Jefferson and Thayer Counties, Nebraska, and is now a real estate and insurance agent in Alexander, that State. His second wife, whom he wedded April 15, 1844, was before marriage Sarah R. Mullen, of Hallowell, Me. Eight children were born of this union, and three of them are now liv- ing, namely: Alice V., wife of Nathan A. Cobb, of Sydney, Australia; Frederick W., a resident of Spencer; and Harriet E., wife of Joseph Greenwood, a landscape artist of Worcester.

1214

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Mr. Proctor has served with ability as Chair- man of the Board of Selectmen, and has always taken a lively interest in town affairs. Politi- cally, he was a Whig until the formation of the Republican party, and has been a voter since 1832. He is a charter member and was the first Master of Spencer Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and was one of the founders of the Spencer Farmers' and Mechanics' Association. He is a member of the Congregational church, and for a number of years was a Deacon, being still known by that title.

AMUEL C. LAWSON,* a promi- nent attorney of Fitchburg, was born in this city, August 6, 1869, son of Samuel and Jennie A. (Skin- ner) Lawson. His father, a native of Northern Vermont, now about fifty-five years old, has been engaged in business in New York City for the last twenty years as a manufacturer of gas and steam engines, being a member of the firm of Welch & Orcutt. This firm performed work for the United States government on the National Soldiers' Home at Point Comfort, Va., and elsewhere. They also manufacture motors for horseless carriages. Although doing business in New York City, Mr. Sam- uel Lawson makes his home in Fitchburg. His wife, Mrs. Jennie A. Lawson, is a daugh- ter of Nathan B. and Emeline Skinner of Derby, Vt. They have had two children - Jennie E., who married Dr. E. L. Fisk, of Fitchburg, and Samuel C., the subject of this sketch.

Samuel C. Lawson received his general edu- cation in the public schools of Fitchburg, graduating from the high school in June, 1888. In October of the same year he entered the office of E. P. Pierce, City Solicitor, where he remained until October, 1889. He then became a student at the Boston Univer- sity Law School, from which subsequently he was graduated first in a class of one hundred and ten. Being admitted to the Worcester County bar he opened an office in Fitchburg in September, 1892, and practised alone until 1895, when he admitted Harry C. Bascom as partner. On February 21, 1896, he was ad-

mitted to practice in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New York.

A Republican, politically, Mr. Lawson takes a prominent part in public affairs. He was a member of the Republican City Com- mittee in Ward Five in 1893, 1894, and 1895, serving as secretary. He has also been a dele- gate to the State, County, Congressional, and Senatorial Conventions of his party. He be- longs to Charles W. Moore Lodge, F. & A. M., being Past Junior Deacon ; to Thomas Chapter, R. A. M .; and to Jerusalem Commandery, K. T. He is also a member of Mount Roll- stone Lodge, No 98, I. O. O. F. ; has served on the library committee; and is a member of the Fitchburg Athletic Club and the Colum- bian Club. He attends the Rollstone Congre- gational church.

UDSON TOLMAN,* who died at his home in Worcester, was born in New Salem, Mass. He was the son of William and Abigail (Chapin) Tolman, and on both sides was a de- scendant of old Massachusetts families. His father was for many years a prosperous farmer of Northboro, Mass.

Hudson Tolman was educated in the schools of his native town. When a young man he left the farm and went to Petersham, where he learned to make palm-leaf hats, and later engaged in business for himself. He resided in Greenfield for a time, but returned to Petersham, and remained there for some years. Coming to Worcester in 1864, he engaged in the grain and flour business with the late W. D. Holbrook, at the corner of Main and Park Streets, and carried on a thriving trade until 1873, when he retired, having acquired a competency. After relinquishing mercan- tile business, his time was occupied in attend- ing to his real estate interests.

While residing in Petersham he was ac- tively concerned in public affairs, serving as a Selectman and as Overseer of the Poor, and in 1862 representing that town in the legisla- ture. For two years he was a member of the Worcester Board of Assessors, the duties of which he discharged in a highly creditable

1215

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

manner, but declined a third nomination. Though not allied with any religious society, he gained the sincere esteem of his fellow-cit- izens by displaying in his every-day life those principles of integrity and benevolence char- acteristic of an upright man. His death, which occurred suddenly at his home, 3 Chat- ham Place, was the cause of general regret.

In 1844 Mr. Tolman was united in marriage with Lydia Howard (of Winchester, N. H.), whom he survived. He left one daughter, Louise E., who is now the widow of Charles E. Grover, formerly division superintendent of the Boston & Albany Railway.

HARLES E. GROVER was born in Worcester, April 27, 1846. Owing to the death of his father, he was obliged to leave school when quite young, and rely upon his own resources for support. Entering the service of the Boston & Albany Railway Company as a water-boy in 1863, he was shortly afterward given a clerkship in the Worcester freight office, and was later transferred to the ticket office in the Washington Square Station. In 1875 he was advanced to the position of station agent at South Framingham, where he remained five years, and performed his duties with the same energy and ability which had caused his rapid advancement. In 1880 he was made a divi- sion superintendent of the main line and its branches between Worcester and Pittsfield, with headquarters at Springfield.

The duties of that position were both com- plicated and exacting. Besides a general oversight of all regular, extra, and special trains, and the affairs of the various stations and yards, he took upon himself the responsi- bility of head train despatcher at Springfield, and also made it a point to manage all wreck- ing trains. He was keenly alive to the inter- ests of the travelling public, with which he was popular; and his executive ability was plainly visible in emergencies requiring prompt, decisive action. His value as an official had attracted the attention of some of the foremost railroad corporations in the United States; and he was about to accept the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 151

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