Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 152

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 152

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lucrative position of division superintendent of the Erie Road between Cleveland and Pitts- burg, when stricken with a severe attack of pneumonia, resulting from exposure and over- work. Charles E. Grover died in December, 1886. At the present time the duties which he seemingly attended to without difficulty are performed by three officials, and his capac- ity for work has not yet been equalled. Mrs. Grover resides in Worcester.

AMUEL ALLEN MAYNARD,* a retired octogenarian of Worcester, was born in Northboro, this county, January 16, 1816, son of Asa and

Hannah (Allen) Maynard. His paternal grandfather, who resided in Berlin, Mass., died early in life, leaving a widow, two sons, and a daughter. The latter, whose name was Hannah, married Sanderson Carter, of Berlin, and reared a family. Mr. Maynard's mater- nal grandfather was Samuel Allen, of North- boro.

Asa Maynard, the father, was born in Ber- lin, June 6, 1778. Settling upon a farm in Northboro, he tilled the soil as long as his health would permit. He was an invalid for several years, and died at the age of fifty-two. Asa Maynard left a widow and eight children, namely: Avery, who was twice married and died at the age of thirty-two years, leaving a widow and one son; Asa, who was the father of two sons and two daughters, and died at the age of forty-four; Hannah, who married Eben- ezer Ball, of Northboro, and died at the age of seventy-five years, leaving a son; William G., who was born in Worcester and died in 1896, in his seventy-seventh year; Lyman Allen, a painter in Worcester, who died at the age of fifty, leaving a daughter, his son having been drowned in Charles River when twenty-two years old; Samuel A., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who was born in 1818, and married Stephen Emerson ; and John Quincy Maynard, who was born in Northboro in 1833, and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., leaving one son and two daughters. Mrs. Maynard married for her second husband Samuel Fisk, of Hol- den, and lived to be eighty-two years old.

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Samuel Allen Maynard went to school reg- ularly until he was thirteen years old, and after that he attended six winter terms of five weeks each. He was employed in farming until nineteen, when he went to Shrewsbury, Mass., and followed the shoemaker's trade there about ten years. From 1846 to 1849 he worked for his brother, William G. Maynard, who was for many years a sexton in Worces- ter, and for the next three years he had charge of a stationary engine in North Brookfield, Mass. Returning to Worcester, he joined the police force, which at that time consisted of fourteen men, and he served as a patrolman for one year. He next bought a farm of ten acres on Burncoat Street, which he sold after cultivating it for eleven years; and then, pur- chasing the Elijah Flagg property, he carried that on for about the same length of time. For over twenty years he has resided in a pleasantly located double house, 82 Elm Street, which he purchased in 1869. He has labored diligently, and, although the means he has accumulated by hard work have been used generously to assist others, he still pos- sesses a competency.

In 1839 Mr. Maynard married Abby Seavey, a native of Sutton, Mass., and of Huguenot ancestry. She died August 8, 1891, aged seventy-one years, leaving no children. On November 30, 1893, he wedded for his second wife Miss Jennie S. Green. She died De- cember 6, 1897, aged sixty-three.

In politics Mr. Maynard, formerly a Whig, is now a Republican. He has been a member of the Old South Congregational Church for fifty years, was formerly an Assessor, and served upon the Prudential and Music Com- mittees.

THEOS HOMAS H. O'CONNOR, M.D.,* the popular physician of Clinton, Mass., whose office is at 104 School Street, was born in this town on March 19, 1858. He is a son of the late Patrick O'Connor, of Clin- ton, a native of Ireland, and grandson of Thomas O'Connor, whose eighty-two years of life were all spent in Ireland.

Patrick O'Connor, a youth of energy and

ambition, furnished with a limited education, came to America when fifteen years of age, and settled first in Groton, where he was em- ployed for ten years as a moulder. Removing to Clinton in 1845, he secured work at his trade here and followed it during the rest of his working life. He died in 1893 at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Mary, was born in Ireland, daughter of George O'Brien, a farmer, and one of a family of five children. She became the mother of six children, five of whom are living, viz. : Mary J., Dr. Thomas H., Lizzie, Martha A.,'and Helen A. Mrs. O'Connor died in 1881 at the age of forty-two. Both she and her husband were communicants of the Roman Catholic church.

Dr. O'Connor received his early mental training in the public schools of Clinton, and in 1871 entered Holy Cross College in Worcester. From there he went to Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City, and in 1883 was graduated at that institution. Returning to his native town, he began the practice of his profession here, and has since gained for himself the reputation of being a skilled practitioner, both in medical and surgi- cal cases. Eight years after settling here, he was appointed by the late Governor Russell Medical Examiner of the Fourth District of Worcester County, and is still holding that position. He has also been Town Physician for five years, Secretary of the Clinton Board of Health for five years, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library. Until two years ago he was a member of the famous Board of Selectmen that gained distinc- tion in governing the affairs of the town for three years in perfect harmony, although com- posed both of Republicans and Democrats.

Dr. O'Connor is a member of the Massachu- setts Medico League, of the Worcester District Medical Society, and of the State Medical So- ciety. He has also been president of the Clin- ton Medical Club, which is composed of all the practising physicians in the town of Clin- ton. He devotes a good deal of his time to the Clinton Hospital, which he has helped to maintain by contributing his practice, being at present one of the visiting physicians of the hospital. He is an active member of the Clin-

1217

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

ton Board of Trade, and has done his share in keeping the organization together. He is Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus of Clinton. The Doctor attends the Roman

Catholic church. He is unmarried. His residence is at the corner of Church and Union Streets.

DRIAN VAN DER PYL,* a salesman and buyer for Barnard, Sumner & Put- nam, of Worcester, was born in the Province of Zeeland, Holland, June 23, 1858, son of John and Maria (Smallegang) Van der Pyl. His paternal grandfather, also named Adrian, was born in Holland in 1797, followed farming in the old country during his active period, and spent his last days in Rox- bury, Mass., where he died at the age of eighty years. He reared two sons and three daugh- ters, of whom the eldest is now seventy years old; and all are living.

John Van der Pyl was born November 14, 1830. Having learned the trade of a rope- maker, he followed it in Holland until he came to the United States in 1872, accompanied by his father, his wife and six children. Set- tling in Roxbury he worked at his trade until 1896. Since then he has lived there in retire- ment. His wife, Maria, whom he married in 1857, became the mother of eleven children. Of these, six were born in Holland and one in Roxbury, and four died in Holland. The living are: Adrian, the subject of this sketch ; Cornelius, a pianoforte dealer in Boston ; Cor- nelia, of whom there is no special record ; Adriane, who married and resides in Athol, Mass. ; Nicholas, a Congregational minister ; and Nellie. The Rev. Nicholas Van der Pyl, who was formerly a printer, graduated from the Hartford Theological Seminary, and is now the pastor of a church in Holliston, Mass. In 1898 he travelled in Europe. He is married and has three children.

Adrian Van der Pyl was educated in Hol- land. When he arrived in this country he was fourteen years old. His first employment here was that of clerk for Andrew C. Mudge & Co., Boston. Later, he was successively employed by Shepard, Norwell & Co. and R. H. White

& Co. In 1882 he was engaged as a salesman by Messrs. Barnard, Sumner & Putnam, who carry on what is claimed to be the largest busi- ness of its kind in Worcester. He is now in charge of, and the buyer of, that firm's hosiery and gents' furnishing department. While pos- sessing the confidence of his employers, he is highly esteemed by his associates, and popular with the patrons of the house.

On December 25, 1879, Mr. Van der Pyl was married in Boston. He is the father of twelve children, among whom are Charlotte, Edward, Eugenie, John, Howard, Lorena, Robert Adrian, and Ruth. All are attending school except the youngest.

Q. HATCH,* Postmaster at Northboro, Worcester County, is a native of Chel- sea, Mass. He was born in 1860, son . of Jonathan Nichols and M. L. (Ring) Hatch. His father was the son of Jonathan N. Hatch, Sr., a prosperous farmer and sheep raiser at Reading, Vt., for many years a Select- man of the town, and a member of the Congre- gational church.

The natural bent of the younger Jonathan being for trade rather than for agricultural pur- suits, he left home when a mere boy to seek his fortune in Boston. Employed at first in a subordinate position behind the counter in a mercantile establishment, and applying him- self diligently to the discharge of his duties, acquiring a knowledge of different kinds and qualities of merchandise and of the demands of customers, he developed unusual executive ability. At the age of twenty-four he estab- lished himself as a dry-goods merchant on Hanover Street, where for seventeen years he carried on a large and successful business. He died at the age of forty-one. His wife, who was a native of Litchfield, died when her son, J. Q., was two years old.

The motherless lad spent most of his early childhood in Boston. He was educated at a boarding-school in Plymouth, Mass., and at the Highland Military Academy in Worcester. In 1880, a young man of twenty, Mr. Hatch came to Northboro and bought out the general

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merchandise store of Samuel Wood, which he conducted till 1883, when he turned his ener- gies in an entirely different direction, taking up the trade of carpenter and builder. He was thus engaged till May, 1896, when he received the appointment of Postmaster of Northboro, in which capacity he is still serving.

In politics he was active in the Democratic party till the Chicago Convention of 1896. He is a member of Marlboro Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mr. Hatch married Florence, daughter of the late Dr. H. A. Jewett, of Northboro. They have three children - Kenneth F., Anna Louise, and Sarah L.

ENRY ALFRED JEWETT, M.D.,* was for nearly fifty years a practising physician of Northboro, Mass. By his death on August 23, 1895, at his home in this town, the Worcester District Medical Society "lost" (to quote from the records) "one of its oldest and best members ; one who, by his kindness of heart, his stain- less integrity, and his professional ability, was a blessing to the community in which he lived and an honor to the medical profession."

He was born in Pepperell, Mass., January II, 1820, son of Henry and Rebecca (Blood) Jewett. His grandfathers, Edmund Jewett and John Blood, both lived in Pepperell.

Dr. Jewett, who had begun the study of medicine under the tuition of Dr. Nehemiah Cutter, of Pepperell, shortly after leaving the academy in that town, and subsequently re- ceived his diploma from Pennsylvania Medical College, Philadelphia, entered on the practice of his profession at Hampton, N. H. The fol- lowing year he settled in Northboro, where he remained, a useful and honored citizen, until called to his rest. His wife, Sarah Abbie Lawrence, whom he married in 1849, passed away several years previous to his own departure. She was a daughter of Dr. Ebenezer Lawrence, of Hampton, N. H.

Dr. Jewett left three children, namely : Florence L., wife of J. Q. Hatch, of North- boro; Henry Lawrence, secretary of the Inter- national Trust Company, of Boston, and a resi- dent of Auburndale; and Annie Rebecca, a

graduate of the Normal School at Framing- ham, for many years a successful teacher, who now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Hatch. Dr. Jewett is survived also by three brothers - Dr. Frederick A. Jewett, of Grafton, who, together with Dr. Albert Wood, of Worcester, began the study of medicine in his office; Rev. T. E. B. Jewett, of South Dakota; and C. F. Jewett, Esq., of Pepperell. Dr. Jew- ett was a member and for many years one of the Councillors of the Massachusetts Medical So- ciety, also a member of Worcester District Medical Society, the Medico-legal Society, and of Unity Commandery of the Order of the Golden Cross. In politics he was a strong Republican. At the time of his death he was serving his third term as Medical Examiner for the Fifth District. When a young man he had a year's experience, 1843, in teaching in Alabama; and in Northboro he rendered effi- cient service for many years as a member of the School Board, also as a trustee of the Pub- lic Library. An exemplary member of the Evangelical Congregational church, he long served as its clerk. Whatsoever he was called to do he did it faithfully and well. Although in his later years worn with age and work, it is said that he "continued cheerfully to go about doing good to the day of his last ill- ness," which was of but three days' duration. One who knew him well could fitly write : "Dr. Jewett was a good phyiscian, a useful citizen, a kind neighbor, an affectionate hus- band and father, a Christian gentleman of the best type. Through his quiet and unassuming manner one recognized a reserved power and a strength of character which inspired confidence and trust. Always courteous and just to all his professional brethren, to the young he was especially kind. He lived for humanity. The poorest and meanest of his clients could com- mand his best services as promptly as the rich- est and highest. Of course the accumulation of money could never have been the chief aim of such a life, and Dr. Jewett did not leave behind him great worldly wealth. But he died rich in the only possessions which a man can carry with him to another world, the conscious- ness of a man's work in life well done, and the steadfast love and affectionate benediction of

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hundreds of grateful hearts throughout the countryside which he had served so long and well."

ARTIN MURPHY,* of the well- known business firm of Murphy Brothers, undertakers, and propri- O etors of a livery, boarding, and sale stable, Clinton, Mass., with offices at 66 Church Street, was born in this town on Sep- tember 27, 1857, son of Lawrence and Mary (Tierney) Murphy. Lawrence Murphy, who was born in Ireland, came to this country when a boy and learned the stone-mason trade. He spent the greater part of his life in Clinton and did a large amount of contracting work in this vicinity. He died at the age of sixty-four, and is survived by his wife, Mary, a native of Ire- land, and seven children, namely: John, Mi- chael, Lawrence, Thomas, Martin, William, and James.

Martin Murphy was educated in the common schools and at a private school. He began his working life by engaging in the mason's busi- ness, under his father's direction, until 1879, when he started in the livery business. He built a stable in 1887, but that was burned in 1891 ; and then the building now on the spot was erected. It

has accommodations for seventy-five horses.

Another stable in Me- chanics Street has room for twenty horses, while the sale stable on Greeley Street accom- modates others. The carriage repository, which is in School Street, is well stocked with carriages, sleighs, and harnesses. Messrs. Murphy carry on what is probably the largest and most successful stable business in Worces- ter County. They have about sixty horses the year round, and sometimes as many as one hun- dred. They also do a large hack business on private calls. It is interesting to know that this extensive business has been built up from a very modest beginning, Mr. Murphy having only five horses and three carriages at the start. During the first year he had a partner. After that he was alone until about four years ago, when his brother became associated with him. Mr. Murphy's undertaking establishment is well equipped in every particular, and the ser-

vices rendered through it are prompt and al- ways in the best taste.

In 1882 Mr. Murphy was united in marriage with Maggie Ryan, daughter of Michael Ryan, of this town. The following named six chil- dren have been born of this union - Frank, Trecey, Joseph, Gertrude, Alice, and Martin, Jr.

In politics, Mr. Murphy is a Democrat, but, notwithstanding the fact that Clinton is a strongly Republican town, he has been elected to various public offices. In 1895 he was chosen Selectman to serve until 1898, and the preceding year was elected Road Commis- sioner to serve until 1897. He has been two years a member of the Town Democratic Com- mittee. Fraternally, Mr. Murphy is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He attends the Roman Catholic church. His business suc- cess has been largely due to his unfailing cour- tesy, to his uniform scale of prices, and to his desire to accommodate his patrons in every possible way.

LBERT H. PLYMPTON,* one of the best known citizens of Shrewsbury, was born in this town on December 27, 1836, son of John B. and Han- nah (Allen) Plympton. His maternal grand- father was Captain Noah Allen.

John B. Plympton, who was in his time one of the prominent men of Shrewsbury, car- ried on for many years a shoe manufacturing business, his shop being located near the pres- ent residence of his son. He employed from thirty-five to forty persons, and all work was done by hand, as at that time sewing-machines had not been introduced. He was largely in- terested in real estate and was a most success- ful business man. He was one of the three original abolitionists in this town, the others being Esquire Ward and Deacon Newton. His home was one of the stations of the under- ground railroad, and many a fugitive slave was sheltered by him and given the best his house afforded.

Albert H. Plympton received his early men- tal training in the public schools of his native town and at Berlin Academy. After leaving

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school he learned the shoemaker's trade, and subsequently for ten years he was foreman for H. G. Fales & Co. At the end of that time he bought out a teaming business and began to engage in heavy trucking, principally between Shrewsbury and Worcester. Employing large two, four, and six horse trucks, for eighteen years he has conducted a most successful busi- ness, but during the last few years, owing to severe injuries received while at work with a team, he has not himself been in active work. Mr. Plympton has been warmly interested in town affairs, and for five years served as a member of the Board of Assessors, being Chairman of the board for three years. On account of his injuries he was obliged to resign at the close of his fifth term.

Mr. Plympton married Catherine E. Ben- nett, of Boylston. They have one daughter, Annie E. by name. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and is at present teaching in an Ohio college.

AMES ALBERT PLATT,* a foreman in the Stoneville Worsted Mill at Au- burn, Mass., was born November 21, 1844, in Webster, Worcester County, the posthumous son of James Platt.

James Platt was of English ancestry and, probably, was born in England. He learned the trade of a weaver when young, and, becom- ing an expert at the trade, he was an overseer in the weaving departments in mills in Low- ell, Canton, and Webster. In 1844 he went to California, where he died suddenly, while yet in the prime of manhood, a few weeks before the birth of his son, James Albert. Mrs. Platt continued her residence in Webster, and, devoting herself to the care of her children, reared her four daughters and three sons to

lives of industry and usefulness. Having seen them well established in life, she spent her last days in comfort at her home in Webster, where she died in 1883, at the age of seventy-three years.

James A. Platt at the age of eleven years left school to enter the woollen mill at Web- ster. Beginning as a bobbin boy, he gradually worked his way from one position to another until he had become familiar with the various branches of labor included in the manufacture of woollen goods. In April, 1872, he left the Webster mill, in which he had been so long employed, and, coming to the Stonesville wor- sted mill, has since remained with this com- pany. Proving himself capable, efficient, and faithful, he had been here but a comparatively short time when he was made a foreman in one of the departments, a position which he has retained twenty-two consecutive years, a record of service that shows his popularity with his employers and the employees of the factory. A man of strict integrity and sound reasoning powers, he keeps his faculties in active use, and both politically and religiously has the courage of his convictions and the manhood to express them, being bound neither by party restrictions in the former case nor by written creeds in the other.

On December 4, 1869, Mr. Platt married Jennie H. Humes, of Webster, a daughter of Albert and Nancy (Humes) Humes. Her mother died in 1877, leaving but two children of a family of six, namely : Mrs. Platt and Al- bert Nelson Humes. Mr. Humes subse- quently married again, and is now living in Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Platt have two children : Bertrand J., who ise mployed in the Stonesville worsted mill, is married, and has two children; and Ethel H., wife of Alvin L. of Needham.

INDEX.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

PAGE

Baker, Peter .

III3

Bemis, George

II76

Abbott, Benjamin W. .

1017

Baker, Warren

937

Bemis, James C.

Abbott, Simon C.

163

Balcom, Elmer I.

5TO

Bemis, Tilley

749

Adams, I. Plummer

404

Balcome, Isaac S.

701

Bennett, Asa .

986

Adams, Joseph

1073

Ball, J. Nelson

319

Benson, George

549

Adams, Reuben .

380

Ball, Oliver M.

1194

Berger, Frederick H.

1050

Aiken, Benjamin P.

152

Ball, Phinehas

222

Berger, Frederick H. C.

1049

Aitchison, George T.

533

Ballard, John S.

1163

Bernstrom, Benjamin J.

727

Albee, John N.

843

Bancroft, Joseph B.

192

Bigelow, Henry N.

310

Aldrich, Benjamin F.

988 Barber, George A.

794

Bigelow, Silas H.

Aldrich, Charles T.

Barber, Silas .

815

Bildt, Carl W. Bill, Ledyard .

822

Allen, Charles H.

362

Barnard. John

346

Bixby, Austin W.

681

Allen, David C. .

171 Barnard, Rebecca

620

Black, John R.

285

Allen, George

298

Barnes, George

624

Blair, Charles B.

713

Allen, George E.

466

Barnes, Wilder U.

211

Blair, Ezra H.

368

Allen, Hugh J.

221

Barr, James E. .

806

Blair, Warren A.

Allen, John G.

278

Barr, William A.

231

Blaisdell, Parritt

903

Amidon, Fayette A.

848

Bartlett, Charles A.

493

Blake, William M. .

736

Ammidown, Luther S.

972

Bartlett, Charles R.

Anderson, William E.

123

Bartlett, Edward P.

514 Blanchard, George C.

926

Andrews, James E.

284

Bartlett, Frank V. .

754

Blanchard, George M.

784

Armsby, George A.

41I

Barton, Samuel R. .

1089

Blodgett, Alton

997

Ashey, John P.

273

Batcheller, Edward A.

I39

Blodgett, Giles

I 29

Batcheller, Henry C.

Blodgett, Percival

779

Atherton, Frank A.

882

Bates, C. Waldo

1152

Blunt, Michael A. II78

Atwood, George H.

707

Bates, Emory L.

636

Boardman, John W. 687

Bond, Joseph E. III8

Beckwith, Robert A

196

Booth, Jacob 226

644

Babbitt, Charles A.

1130

Bemis, Addison J. .

320

Bosworth, John

870

Babbitt, Frank

225

Bemis, Daniel W.

1048

Bourn, Isaac .

200

Babcock, Henry E.

231

Bemis, David

I90

Bowes, William J.

1070

Bacon, John W. .

541

Bemis, David

911

Boyd, Hamilton

1009

Baker, David J. .

428

Bemis, Edwin P.

I208

Boyden, David

955

Baker, Lovell

II60

Bemis, Frederick H.

491 | Boyden, Elbridge

1002

Baker, Silas W. .

392

Bemis, George, 2d

1180

Abbott, Josiah

912

Baker, William H. .

I39

Bemis, Joshua

454

Akers, Edward

133

Bancroft, Eben D. .

195

Bicknell, Simon P. .

IO54

Aldrich, Cyrenus

909

Barker, James H.

999

Blair, Joseph .

191

Ames, Hiram H.

III2

Barry, Russell W.

669

Blake, George B.

405

863 Blanchard, Charles P.

Armington, Samuel W.

862

Bartlett, Louis D.

1015

Bliss, George

655

Association, Y. M. C. A., South- bridge

237

Batchelor, Eli W.

Blood, William H. . 316

Auger, Louis L. .

1 52

Becker, John .

1013

Belisle, Eli

1064

Belisle, Hormisdas

253

Booth, Robert Boswell, Elizabeth A. G.

1106

Allen, Harding

II28

Barnes, William C.

454

1033

1222

INDEX

PAGE

Boyden, George E.

116I

Carter, Rufus

1190

Culley, Eli

459

Boynton, Darwin R.

I44

Chamberlain, Edward F.

417

Cummings, George F.

612

Boynton, Reuben .

471

Chamberlain, Robert H.

Cummings, Herbert E.

195

Bradford, Jonathan C.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 152

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