Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 3

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 3

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Mr. Williams married Carrie R. Felton, who was born in Hubbardston, Mass., daugh- ter of Nathan H. Felton. Two sons - Ed- ward F. and Robert G. Williams - are the fruit of this union. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Congregational church.

In politics Mr. Williams is a Republican. He has frequently been solicited to accept office by his fellow-townsmen, who would gladly avail themselves of his well-known business ability for the public service. While prevented by business pressure from acceding to their wishes, he takes a deep in- terest in the prosperity of the town, and is always ready to aid movements calculated to promote the general welfare.

DWIN BAYARD HARVEY, M.D., one of the leading and best known physicians in Worcester County, has resided in Westboro during the entire period of his professional career. Born in Deerfield, N.H., in 1834, he is a son of Ebenezer and Rozella (Winslow) Harvey. His early educa- tion was acquired in the public schools, the Military Institute in Pembroke, N.H., and the New Hampshire Conference Seminary at Northfield, N.H. Subsequently he entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., from which institution he was gradu- ated with honor in 1859. The year follow- ing he taught in the academy at Poultney,

Vt., and then became principal of Macedon Academy in Wayne County, New York. He resigned the latter position after two years of successful administration to accept the pro- fessorship of natural science in the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass. He matricu- lated in the medical department of Harvard University in 1864, and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1866, and immedi- ately after located in Westboro. In 1872, with a view to further advancing his profes- sional knowledge, he visited Europe, and studied for nearly a year in the universities at Leipzig and Vienna. He is widely and fav- orably known as a general practitioner and a skilful surgeon, and is frequently called for consultation in critical cases by his profes- sional brethren in the surrounding towns. He has been a councillor of the Massachusetts Medical Society for twenty-five years, also its anniversary chairman; and in June, 1898, he was elected president of the society. Of the Worcester branch of the society he has served as president, censor, and orator.

In local affairs Dr. Harvey has been most active and influential, especially in educa- tional matters. From 1868 to 1890 he was constantly a member of the School Board, and during several years he was school superin- tendent. Under his guidance the schools were brought to their present high standard of efficiency. The high school was remodelled, and a curriculum was established that enabled the pupils to complete a preparation for col- lege or to enter upon the work of teaching. For many years he has been chairman of the board of trustees of the public library, a trus- tee of the Westboro Savings Bank, and a mem- ber of the Board of Health. Being a thorough parliamentarian, he has been the unanimous choice of the town as the presiding officer at all its meetings for a decade of years.

During his busy professional life Dr. Har- vey has found time and opportunity to interest himself in State affairs. Governor Washburn in 1873 appointed him trustee of the State Reform School at Westboro, and three years later he was reappointed by Governor Gaston. He represented his district in the House in 1884 and 1885 and in the Senate in 1894 and

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EDWIN B. HARVEY.

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1895, and is credited with being largely in- strumental in securing the passage of several important acts of legislation. He was the author and promoter of the Free Text-book Bill, so called, which was enacted in the face of persistent and combined opposition from school book agents and influential publishing houses throughout the country. The able ad- vocacy and successful management which se- cured this act of legislation, so important to the educational interests of the Common- wealth, won for him the reputation of a leading and most influential member of the House in 1884. After a most exciting and closely con- tested campaign he was elected to the Senate of 1894, and re-elected the following year by a very flattering vote. In both years he was chairman of the Committee on Public Chari- table Institutions and a member of the Com- mittees on

Street Railways and Public Health. But the legislative work by which he is best known and most gratefully remem- bered, and in which he naturally feels a par- donable pride, was the enactment in 1894 of the law regulating the practice of medicine and surgery. Here, too, he was opposed most bitterly by the united and thoroughly organ- ized efforts of all classes of uneducated and irregular practitioners and quasi-medical

schools. But against such powerful odds he won, and it is said "won nobly." The law thus created ensures a more thorough preparation in the medical school for professional work, a higher standard in the profession itself, and better medical and surgical service for the public in general. In the closing hour of the senatorial session of 1895, at the request of Governor Greenhalge, Dr. Harvey resigned his senatorship to accept the position of exec- utive officer on the Board of Registration in Medicine, which was established by the regis- tration act. In this office his services are regarded by his colleagues on the board as in- valuable, and he is likely to hold it at will.

Dr. Harvey is a Master Mason and a mem- ber of the Westboro Evangelical Church. In 1860 he was united in marriage to Abby Kim- ball Tenney, daughter of Deacon Eldad and Sarah E. (Fellows) Tenney, of Concord, N.H. They have no children.

J OHN W. RAND, superintendent of the Fitchburg fire alarm telegraph system, was born in Rindge, N. H., October 9, 1835, son of Jasper and Sarah A. (Pierce) Rand. His paternal grandfather was Ensign Ezekiel Rand, a brother of Colonel Daniel Rand. Ezekiel was born in Shrews- bury, Mass., March 24, 1747, and when a young man he settled in Rindge, N.H. He served at the battle of Bunker Hill as an officer of a company recruited in Rindge, with which he remained during the siege of Bos- ton; and he was an officer in Colonel Enoch Hale's regiment in 1778. He possessed con- siderable natural ability and force of charac- ter, and was one of the most prominent men of Rindge in his day. He died March 17, 1826, and his widow died September 23, 1833. They had four children - Ezekiel, Jr .; Asaph; Absalom; and Jasper, the father of John W. Rand.

Jasper Rand was born in Rindge, August II, 1791. He always resided at the home- stead, where he carried on general farming during his active years, and died November 14, 1837. He was married April 10, 1833, to Sarah A. Pierce, a daughter of Abraham Pierce, of Rindge. She became the mother of two children: Caroline A .; and John W., the subject of this sketch.

John W. Rand acquired a common-school education, and while still young he began work in a livery stable in Winchendon, Mass. After remaining in the employ of one concern fourteen years, he engaged in the same busi- ness in company with Eliphalet S. Woods, with whom he continued for over two years. Selling out, he came to Fitchburg, where he entered the employ of Shattuck & Lawrence, proprietors of the Rollstone Stable. Some time previous to the incorporation of Fitch- burg as a city he became associated with the highway department as a teamster and an at- taché of the town stables. On February 22, 1875, he was appointed superintendent of the fire alarm telegraph system, and he has since been identified with the fire department. In connection with his other duties he acted as driver of Engine No. 2 for the year 1875.

On February 21, 1861, Mr. Rand married

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Nellie L. Woods, daughter of Merrick and Philetta Woods, of Londonderry, Vt. She died December 14, 1896, aged fifty-six years. Mr. Rand is a member of Artisan Lodge, F. & A. M., of Winchendon, Mass .; and of the Firemen's Relief Association. He at- tends the Baptist church at Fitchburg.

EORGE MANDELL, a successful dairy farmer of Hardwick, is a na- tive of this town. He was born June 8, 1858. A son of Charles and Martha (Stone) Mandell, he is a representative of the fifth generation of his family in Worcester County, and, as we learn from the History of Hardwick, is eighth in line of descent from John Mandell (or Mendall), Sr., who died in Marshfield, Mass., before February, 1720.

In 1749 Captain Paul Mandell, son of Moses and great-grandson of John Mandell, Sr., settled on the farm in Hardwick which has since been known as the Mandell home- stead, and which remained in the family until the fall of 1895. Moses, second, born De- cember 16, 1751, son of Paul, spent his life on the homestead. He was Aide-de-camp to Major - general Warner prior to December, 1782, and was ever after known as Major Mandell. He also took a prominent part in town affairs, serving six years as Selectman between 1785 and 1817 and as Assessor seven years between 1801 and 1819. He died June 18, 1826, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. On May 28, 1777, he married Mary Wheeler.

Martin Mandell, son of Major Moses and Mary (Wheeler) Mandell, was born here, July 20, 1785, and died on September 12, 1855, a little past seventy years of age. He was suc- cessfully engaged in the cultivation of the homestead farm, and was at one time a Cap- tain in the State militia. He served his town as Selectman. His wife, whose maiden name was Phila Marsh, died February 14, 1879.

Charles Mandell was born at the old home- stead, January 7, 1816. About 1840 or 1845 he moved to the farm that his son now owns, and here spent the active years of his life as an agriculturist. He made many of the im- provements, and was a very practical farmer.

In politics he was a Republican and in relig- ious views a Universalist. He died May 13, 1894, and his wife died February 17, 1895. Mrs. Mandell was the daughter of Dr. Joseph Stone, of Hardwick, a native of Shrewsbury. Dr. Stone came here in the spring of 1814, and for thirty-five years ministered relief to suffering humanity. His fellow-citizens manifested their confidence in him by elect- ing him to various offices of trust and honor. He was Deacon of the Union church, Select- man seven years, Town Clerk twenty years (from 1829 to 1848 inclusive), member of the School Committee eight years, delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1820, Repre- sentative in 1823, and Senator in 1845 and 1846. He died greatly lamented, June 27, 1849, aged fifty-nine years. Four children, sons, were born to Charles and Martha (Stone) Mandell. Calvin died at eight years of age; Joseph S. Mandell is a fruit-grower in Fresno, Cal., where he has a grape and raisin vine- yard; and Charles M. Mandell has a trucking business in Boston.

George Mandell, the youngest son, received his education in the Hardwick schools and at Dean Academy, Franklin, Mass., which he attended a number of terms. He subse- quently spent two years in Boston in the em- ploy of his brother and a short time in Springfield, Mass. Returning to Hardwick, he took charge of the old Mandell homestead, which his father then owned; and later, at the death of his father, he came to this farm, on which his father died, and of which he is now the owner. It contains about one hundred and fifteen acres of good pasture and tillage land. Besides engaging in general farming he keeps a dairy of about forty cows, the milk from which he ships to the Boston market. He has about twenty-five cans per day on an average.

On September 28, 1882, Mr. Mandell was united in marriage with Anna Howard, who was born in Hardwick, February 28, 1862, daughter of George Carey and Jane (Lawton) Howard. Her father was born in Hardwick, October 3, 1823, and died on December 22, 1889. Her mother, who is a native of New Braintree, Mass., born November 14, 1832,

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

resides in Hardwick. Mr. and Mrs. Mandell have two sons, namely : Charles Howard, born March 20, 1884; and Robert Carey, born Feb- ruary 21, 1888.

In political affiliation Mr. Mandell is a Re- publican. He is the present Town Auditor, in which capacity he has served two years. Fraternally, he is a member of Ware Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Hardwick Grange.

ANIEL G. HARWOOD, secretary and treasurer of the Barre Cheese Company, of Barre, Mass., was born in this town, February 22, 1826, son of Captain Wilcutt and Sally (Sibley) Harwood. The family is of English origin, and its ancestors were among the early colo- nists of Massachusetts.

Captain Harwood's father, Daniel Harwood, who was born in 1736, came from Sutton to Barre about the year 1800, and settled upon a part of the Caldwell purchase in the eastern part of the township, where he resided for the rest of his life. He was rugged physically, and, being unusually industrious, acquired prosperity as a farmer. He died February 28, 1823. In his religious belief he was a Baptist. On March 28, 1758, he married Lydia Gould. She was born in Sutton, Au- gust 27, 1742, and she died in 1814. Daniel and Lydia (Gould) Harwood were the parents of ten children, namely: Daniel, born April 7, 1759; Mary, born March 21, 1761; Peter, born February 23, 1763; Jesse, born Febru- ary 14, 1765; Simeon, born March 2, 1769; Lydia, born September 1, 1773; Abner, born January 8, 1776; Huldah, born January 22, 1778; Caleb, born May 13, 1780; Wilcutt, born February 13, 1783.

Wilcutt Harwood, father of Daniel G., came to Barre with his parents. He assisted them in carrying on the home farm, and cared for them during their last days. Succeeding to the ownership of the property after his father's death, he continued to till the soil for the rest of his active years. He was quite prominent in town affairs, serving as a Se- lectman and Overseer of the Poor. In poli-

tics he was a Democrat. Sally Sibley Har- wood, his wife, was born in Sutton, January 18, 1790. Her parents, Samuel and Sarah (Leland) Sibley, natives of Sutton, were mar- ried there, December 10, 1778, settling upon a farm in Barre. They resided here for the rest of their lives. Her father was born April 26, 1756, and died in Barre, June 30, 1840. Her mother was born March 23, 1755, and died April 11, 1842. Captain and Mrs. Wilcutt Harwood became the parents of seven children, namely: Hiram S., born December 19, 1806; George, born October 24, 1809; Charlotte, born November 5, 1814; Samuel, born December 5, 1816; Wilcutt, Jr., born January 29, 1819; Caleb, born February 25, 1823; and Daniel G. Harwood. The living are: George; Wilcutt, Jr .; and Daniel G., the subject of this sketch - all of whom re- side in Barre. Charlotte was the wife of J. Addison Merriam. Captain Wilcutt Har- wood died January 15, 1866, having survived his wife, who died September 27, 1859. They were regular attendants and liberal sup- porters of the Universalist church.

Wilcutt Harwood, the younger, completed his education at the Barre High School, and was employed as a farm assistant from the time of his majority until he was twenty-five years old. After his marriage he carried on the home farm for eleven years, and in 1855 he purchased a farm with the money saved from his earnings while working out. He now owns one hundred and fifty acres of ex- cellent land well adapted to general farming and dairying. As an agriculturist he has been successful. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, was until recently president of the Barre Central Cheese Com- pany, and has for many years been a trus- tee of the Worcester County West Agricul- tural Society. He has served as a Selectman four years, Overseer of the Poor two years, and has held other town offices. In poli- tics he is a Republican. On March 28, 1844, he married Abigail R. Garfield, born in Royalston, Mass., July 16, 1820, daughter of Moses and Mary (Bliss) Garfield. Her father was born in Warwick, Mass., De- cember 7, 1777, and her mother was a native

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

of Royalston. Moses Garfield was a prosper- ous farmer of Royalston, where he died May 7, 1859, his wife having died August 3, 1836, aged fifty-six years. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to ma- turity, and two are living: Abigail R., now Mrs. Harwood; and Moses Garfield, Jr., of Royalston. Wilcutt and Abigail R. Harwood have two children: Julia M., born July 28, 1850, now the wife of David D. Hilton, of Barre; and Emeline, born May 26, 1854, who married Andrew P. Garfield, of Millbury, Mass. Mr. Wilcutt Harwood has been con- nected with the Patrons of Husbandry for the past twenty years. He and his wife attend the Unitarian church.

Daniel G. Harwood in his childhood and youth attended the district and high schools of Barre, and completed his studies with a one year's course at the New Salem Academy. He lived at the parental home until twenty- two years old, when he began to work out as a farm laborer, receiving thirteen dollars per month. The first year he was able to save one hundred and one dollars. Placing that amount at interest and adding to it from time to time, he continued to be thus employed until January, 1859. He then bought his present farm, and he began his married life here March 31 of the same year. His prop- erty, which is desirably located and consists of about one hundred acres, is well improved, and contains what is said to be the second frame house built in the town. He conducted a profitable dairy business until 1895. Since that year he has merely attended to the crops, and has devoted much of his time to outside affairs. He is a stockholder in the Barre Na- tional Bank, has been a trustee of the Worces- ter County West Agricultural Society for twenty-five years, was secretary and treasurer of the Barre Cheese Company from 1880 to 1897, and is still serving in the last-named capacity.

On March 31, 1859, Mr. Harwood was united in marriage with Louisa Austin. She was born in Hubbardston, Mass., October 20, 1837, daughter of Charles and Miranda (Peck) Austin. Her father was a son of Alexander Hunting, who married Triphena Eager in

1794, and died September 30, 1823, survived by his wife, who died December 23, 1839. Charles Austin was born in Hubbardston, August 16, 1809. Relinquishing the name of Hunting, he was known as Charles Austin, taking what had been his middle name for his surname. He followed the trades of wheel- wright and carpenter, also owning a farm in Hubbardston, where the greater part of his active period was spent, the last eleven years of his life being passed with his daughter in Barre. He died January 31, 1896. He mar- ried for his first wife Miranda Peck, who was born in Hubbardston, December 10, 1810, and died September 29, 1852. For his sec- ond wife he married his first wife's sister, Sophina Peck. She was born May 28, 1804, and she died March 28, 1887. He was the father of five children by his first union, namely: Triphena, born October 8, 1835, died July 3, 1863; Louisa, now Mrs. Har- wood; Almena, born March 17, 1840, now the wife of S. E. W. Peck, of Hardwick, Mass. ; Elvira, born March 4, 1844, now the widow of Oscar C. Rice, late of Barre; and Harriet S., born February 20, 1847, now the wife of Henry W. Harwood, of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. Harwood have had one son, Austin. He was born January 22, 1864, and died August 12 of the same year.

Mr. Harwood is actively interested in local public affairs. . He has served as a Selectman and Overseer of the Poor, and was a member of the Board of Assessors eleven years. In pol- itics he acts with the Democratic party at na- tional elections. He has long been identified with the progress of the town, and is a mem- ber of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry.

OEL E. PROUTY, one of the founders of Prouty Wire Village, in the town of Spencer, son of Liberty and Emily (Bisco) Prouty, was born in Spencer, July 25, 1830. His grandfather, Eli Prouty, who was a soldier in the Revolution, was one of the early settlers of Spencer. Liberty Prouty, who was a native of this town, lived here throughout his life, acquiring consider- able local celebrity as a musician. He started

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SAMUEL MAY.

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a wire manufactory here, and, after success- fully conducting it for a number of years, he died in the fifties. His wife, Emily, was a native of Spencer. Of their children, Jonas R., Joel E., Mary E., and Henry W. are living.

Joel E. Prouty obtained his education in the common schools of Spencer, supplemented by one term at Leicester Academy. In his sixteenth year he left the school-room for his father's wire-mill, where he worked as an em- ployee until he was twenty-one years of age. Then he became a partner in the business, under the firm name of L. & J. E. Prouty. Several years after, his brother, Jonas R. Prouty, was received into the firm. Subse- quently the father disposed of his interest, and the firm became J. R. & J. E. Prouty. A successful business was carried on until 1876, when the plant was sold to the Spencer Wire Company. Since that time Joel E. Prouty has been engaged in farming and the raising of graded cattle.

On September 10, 1857, Mr. Prouty was married to Minerva J. Wilson, who was born in Spencer, October 24, 1837. She is a daughter of Horace and Martha (Draper) Wil- son. Her'father, who was a soldier in the Civil War, died in the service of typhoid fever. Mr. and Mrs. Prouty have lost one son, Joel L. Their living children are: Eddie W., Albert B., and Ida E. Ida is the wife of Frederick D. Woods, of Arlington, Mass. In politics Mr. Prouty is a Republi- can. He commands the respect and confi- dence of all with whom he associates, and is always glad to help any worthy cause.

R EV. SAMUEL MAY, of Leicester, veteran philanthropist and reformer, erstwhile friend and coworker with Garrison, Phillips, and Whittier, is now, in his eighty-ninth year, one of the few survivors of the "Old Guard" of freedom. A life of broadest sympathy and of untiring devotion to the higher interests of humankind has well won the generous meed of grati- tude and veneration that flowers his pathway to the sunset land.

Mr. May was born in Boston, Mass., April II, 1810, being the eldest child of Samuel and Mary (Goddard) May and the third of his name in direct line. His father, the second Samuel, was the youngest son of Samuel, first, and Abigail (Williams) May, and was of the sixth generation in descent from John May, who came from Sussex, England, with two sons, John and Samuel, in 1640, and set- tled in Roxbury, Mass. Samuel May, sec- ond, lived to the age of ninety-three years and three months, dying in 1870. He was for many years in business as a hardware mer- chant in Boston, and was interested in various manufactures elsewhere. He served as an Overseer of the Poor and as an officer of the Provident Institution for Savings, and he was one of the original proprietors of the Boston Athenaum. His wife was a daughter of Jo- seph and Mary (Aspinwall) Goddard, of Brookline, and a descendant of William God- dard, who came from London in 1660, and settled at Watertown, Mass., where for some time he was employed as a school teacher, the branches taught by him including Latin. Seven children were born to Samuel and Mary May. Six grew to maturity, and four are now living, namely: Samuel, of Leicester; John Joseph, of Dorchester; Frederick W. G., of Dorchester; and Mary G., wife of W. L. P. Boardman, of Milton. Edward Augustus, of especial promise, died at the age of twenty- one.

Abby W. May, the youngest of the family, who was born in 1829, and died in Boston, November 30, 1888, was a woman of noble character and exceptional abilities, for many years prominent in philanthropic, educational, and religious work. During the war of 1861-65 she was secretary of the Massachu- setts branch of the United States Sanitary Commission. Later she was one of the founders of the New England Women's Club, which she long served as its secretary, and for many years was a member of the State Board of Education, to which she was first ap- pointed by Governor Talbot.

The mother, Mrs. Mary May, like her hus- band was blessed with unusual length of days below, being at the age of ninety-four years

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and three months when, March 17, 1882, she fell into the gentle sleep that knows no wak- ing to scenes of earth. Of this excellent woman wrote one who knew her well: "Un- compromising rectitude was the conspicuous trait in her character, the animating principle of her life the welfare of her fellow-men. . . . She was an avowed and working abolitionist in the days when the word was a reproach and scoffing. She zealously maintained the prin- ciple of religious freedom, and with her hus- band joined to vindicate it in the persons of both John Pierpont and Theodore Parker. She was a consistent advocate of total absti- nence and a hearty believer in the principle of peace. She earnestly promoted the movement for equal legal and political rights for women. . Her domestic were as strong as her phil- anthropic instincts, and preserved the balance of her character. ... She was sincerely relig- ious, though without formality, and to the last retained her interest in all good works."

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 3

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