Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 35

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 35

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Mr. Simonds married Ida E. Merriam, daughter of the late Artemas Merriam. He is the father of three children, namely : Ralph M., born in 1878, who fitted for college at the Cushing Academy, and is now a student at Yale University ; Donald D., born in 1885, who is attending the high school; and Stella S., who was born in 1888.

In 1882 Mr. Simonds was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen, on which body he

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served for four years. During the last year and a half of that period he acted as chairman of the Board of Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor. He was elected to the office of Selectman for three years in 1895, re-elected in 1898 for three years, and is still chairman of the board. Politically a Republican, he was elected in 1888 to represent the towns of Hubbardston, Princeton, Holden, Paxton, and Westminster in the legislature, and was as- signed to the Committee on Labor. For over twenty years he has acted as a Justice of the Peace.

RANK E. PROUTY, a leading agri- culturist of Brookfield, was born here, October 5, 1859. A son of John E. and Sarah M. (Hodges) Prouty, who were also natives of Brookfield, he is of the third gener- ation of a family that has been prominently connected with the development of the town. His grandfather, Elliot Prouty, who was a native of Spencer, settled here in 1816, on the farm where Frank E. Prouty now resides. Before coming here Elliot had been engaged in drawing wire in Spencer, being the first person to do that work in that town. This was prior to the War of 1812. He was very prominent in public affairs, holding all the more important offices at different times. While a resident of Spencer he was a Cap- tain in the State militia. John E. Prouty, born March 3, 1825, who died on April 5, 1882, resided during nearly the whole of his life in Brookfield, and was one of the progres- sive farmers of this section. He was a qual- ified Justice of the Peace, and served the town as Assessor, Overseer, and Selectman, and was Highway Commissioner for several years. In politics he was a Republican. His wife, Sarah, was a grand-daughter of Captain War- ren Hamilton, who represented Brookfield in the General Court for a time. Of John E. Prouty's three children, the subject of this sketch is the only one living.

Frank E. Prouty received his education in the common schools of this town, including the high school. Since early life he has been engaged in agriculture. Like his father he

has made additions of land to the original homestead, which now has a large acreage. This is under good cultivation, and produces fine crops. Mr. Prouty married Abbie E. Bemis, a daughter of Charles and Helen S. Bemis. Mrs. Bemis is now deceased; while Mr. Bemis is residing at South Bend, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Prouty have one daughter, Helen S. Prouty. In accordance with the traditions of his family, Mr. Prouty has given much time and thought to the consideration of pub- lic questions and to the public service. For two years he has been a Selectman of Brook- field, a member of the Board of Overseers of the Poor for the same length of time, and for a number of years he was inspector of cattle. He has also served for several years as Auditor of the town. Fraternally, he is a member of the P. of H. Lodge, No. 174, of which at present he is the Master. In politics he is a Republican.

RANK R. TOWLE, station agent and Postmaster at Pratt's Junction on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, was born in Kenduskeag, Penobscot County, Me., June 2, 1866, son of Albert and L. Ellen (Trask) Towle.

In the History of Hampton, N. H., it is stated that "Philip Towle, the patriarch of the Towle families," came to Hampton as early as 1657. About the year 1770 the progenitor of this branch of the family settled in Greenland, N. H., whence he removed to Gilmanton, N. H. The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was born in Gilman- ton, N. H., but eventually made a home in Maine, and spent the latter part of his life there. Both he and his son, Levi F., were veterans of the War of 1812.

Levi F. Towle, born in Monmouth, Kennebec County, Me., spent his active life as a farmer. During his last years his home was in Ken- duskeag, Me., where he died, aged eighty-five years. He married a Miss Mitchell, a native of Maine. She died aged seventy-five years. They had twelve children. Albert Towle was born in Kenduskeag. He received a common- school education, and for a time engaged in

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teaching school. IIe made his home with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-five, at which time he went into the United States navy. Previous to this he had had a taste of sea life. During his term of service he was on the frigate "Sabine" and the monitor "Nantucket." He was at the siege of Charleston, and went with the "Sabine" to the coast of Africa in pursuit of the rebel war- ship "Alabama." Subsequently he was with the Seventh Maine Battery until the close of the Civil War, participating in ten fixed battles and serving with distinction. He was a non-commissioned officer. Returning home after his discharge, he spent the next fifteen years as a farmer. He then removed to Ban-' gor, Me., and went into business as a hay and grain dealer, which he followed up to the time of his death, in 1889, his age being fifty-four years. Mrs. Towle is a daughter of James Trask. She now resides in Kendus- keag. Three of her four children are living, namely : Frank R. ; Harry E., a jeweller in Kenduskeag; and Mabel E. Mrs. Towle is a member of the Baptist church, with which her husband was also identified.

Frank R. Towle, whose name appears at the head of this sketch, was twelve years old when his parents removed from Kenduskeag to Bangor; and his education was begun in the former place and completed in the latter. On leaving school he entered the employ of his father as clerk, continuing with him until he was nineteen. The following year he was with the New England Telephone Company, and at the age of twenty he came to Massa- chusetts and took a position with the Old Colony Railroad as assistant agent. He has since been in similar positions, such as tele- graph operator, freight clerk, ticket agent at different stations on the line, including Ber- lin, Leominster, and Fitchburg. In 1892 he came to his present position as station agent and Postmaster of Pratt's Junction.

In 1889 Mr. Towle was joined in marriage with Jennie A. Rice, of Sudbury. She is a daughter of A. W. Rice, formerly station agent of Sudbury. Mr. Rice was born in Boston, of an old family. His father, a na- tive of Sudbury, was one of the forty-

niners of California. Mr. and Mrs. Towle have had two children, but only one is living Helene, six years old.

In politics Mr. Towle is a Republican. He is a member of the Town Committee, and was secretary of the Republican Club during the campaign of 1896. He is a Justice of the Peace. He is a Mason of high degree, be- longing to Wilder Lodge, F. & A. M., of Leominster; Thomas Chapter, R. A. M., of Fitchburg; Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, and Aleppo Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Boston. In religious matters he is liberal.

UTHER MOORE, a highly respected resident of Worcester, was born in April, 1830, on the old Moore farm in this city, then a town. A son of Nathaniel Curtis and Sarah (Childs). Moore, he is of the eighth generation from John Moore, who came over from Ireland about 1640. Beginning with the third generation from John Moore, the line of descent is : Nathaniel, 3 Isaac, 4 John, 5 Willard,6 Nathaniel Curtis, 7 and Luther. 8

Nathaniel Moore, 3 grandson of John,' came from Sudbury to Worcester at an early date, and once or twice was driven from his home by the Indians, who were then the principal inhabitants of this region. In 1713 his son Isaac settled on. Moore's Hill, which was the birthplace of Isaac's son John, who became a farmer and miller, and who married Esther Bigelow. This John Moore of the fifth gen- eration was drowned at his mill near Latnuck. His children by his wife, Esther, were: Lydia, who married John Snow, of Spencer; Esther, who married David Draper, of Leicester ; William, who married and settled in Worth- ington; Tyler, who married, and died in Worcester; Joshua, who married first Deborah Townsend and second Martha Harris, and who settled in Westminster; Willard, who married Mary Curtis and for his second wife Mrs. Mary Maynard.

Willard Moore, last named, of the sixth generation, was the next in lineal descent. He was born October 12, 1775, and died

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February 13, 1859. He had nine children ; namely, Seraph, Nathaniel Curtis, Peregrine C., John B., Sybil, Alexander, Winthrop, Ephraim, and Harrison. Seraph was the wife of Ithamar Smith. Nathaniel C. was a farmer of Salisbury Street, Worcester, Mass. Pere- grine went to Peoria, Ill., and died there unmarried. John B. was a farmer in Holden. He died June 2, 1876. Sybil died, aged eighty-six. Winthrop died February 1, 1850, in Worcester. Ephraim, born in 1815, died 1831 ; and Harrison died March 30, 1893.

Nathaniel Curtis Moore, who was born October 11, 1800, on Moore's Hill, about 1826 settled on the old Moore farm in this city, the place now occupied by his son Pliny, having purchased seventy - five acres of the Deacon John Chamberlain farm on Hancock Hill about 1825. He was Captain of a com- pany of cavalry. He was twice married, first to Sarah Childs, by whom he had three sons - Calvin, Luther, and Curtis. Calvin died of fever in Hayti in 1863, at thirty-eight years of age, soon after going there; and his wife died next day. Luther is the special subject of this sketch. Curtis, a retired machinist, resides in Holyoke, Mass. For his second wife, on March 13, 1833, Nathan- iel Curtis Moore married Patty Moore, a sec- ond cousin, who was born in Holden, Mass., December 24, 1803. Her father, Jonathan Moore, was a Revolutionary soldier, and served throughout that memorable struggle. There were seven children by this second union. Two died in infancy, and two sons and three daughters lived to maturity; namely, Sarah, Seraph, Eunice, Pliny, and Baxter. Sarah is the wife of David W. Kimball, of Mitchell, Ia. Seraph resides with Pliny on the old farm on Salisbury Street, near Forest Street, in the home of their birth. Eunice is the wife of Nathan Franklin Foster. Baxter Moore is a farmer in Dudley, Mass. Their father died May 30, 1881.

Luther Moore was married in 1862 to Mary Caroline Reed, of Dummerston, Vt. They have three children - Helen J., Clifford C., and Elizabeth C. Helen J. is the wife of Ephraim Currier, and has three daughters. Clifford C., a machinist living next door,

married Angeline M. Damon, and has one son, Lester Nathaniel. Elizabeth is the wife of E. H. Carroll.

In political views Mr. Moore is a Republi- can. The dwelling-house at 22 Mason Street, which is the home of Mr. Moore and his fam- ily, was built by him in 1869.

OHN F. SMITH, a prosperous farmer of East Brookfield, was born on Cape Cod, December 24, 1844, son of John R. and Charlotte (Hinckley) Smith. His paternal grandfather, David Smith, also a native of Cape Cod, was a seafaring man. The father, born in Barnstable, Mass., fol- lowed the sea in the West Indies trade for a time, and was later an officer of a sailing- vessel plying between New York and Balti- more. At the age of forty years he retired to a farm in Barnstable. In 1864 he moved to Princeton and later to Brookfield, where he died in 1875. His wife, Charlotte, was a native of Nantucket.

Having been reared and educated in Barn- stable, John F. Smith when sixteen years old shipped as a sailor on board of the coast- ing-vessel, "Louis Spannier," commanded by Captain Enoch Lewis. He spent three years on this craft, which was engaged principally in carrying supplies to the Federal army in the South, and worked his way forward to the position of first mate. Then, abandoning the sea, he was for the next seven years engaged in farming in Princeton, Mass. Later he became a locomotive engineer. About the year 1876 he came to Brookfield, where he has since given his attention to agriculture, and owns a well-improved farm of one hun- dred acres.

On November 2, 1880, Mr. Smith was joined in marriage with Elizabeth (Rice) Henshaw, a native of Brookfield. Her par- ents, William and Julia (Walker) Rice, were natives respectively of this town and Stur- bridge, Mass. Her great-grandfather, Benja- min Rice, was a resident of Brookfield; while her grandfather, William Rice, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, was a native of Brookfield. She has one sister,

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Laura, who is the wife of Dwight Fisher, of Brookfield. A Republican in politics, Mr. Smith takes a lively interest in local affairs ; and he is a member of the Republican Town Committee. He has served as a Selectman for one year, and he has been a member of the Board of Assessors for three years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Union chapel at Podunk.

R EV. GEORGE A. PUTNAM, for the past twenty-seven years the pastor of the First Congregational Church at Millbury, son of the Rev. John

Milton and Arethusa (Brigham) Putnam, was born in Dunbarton, N. H., on May 8,

1835. His ancestors several generations back were Englishmen. His grandparents, Reuben and Elizabeth (Mason) Putnam, were farmer folk of Sutton, in moderate circumstances. They had a family of seven children, all sons, the most of whom grew to manhood.

John Milton Putnam, who was born in Sut- ton in 1794, died on August 18, 1871. He graduated at Brown University, and subse- quently was called to a pastorate in Ashby, Mass., where he preached for five years. From there he went to Epsom, N. H. Pulpit work having strained his voice, he was now obliged to rest from preaching for a time, and for four years occupied an editorial posi- tion. When he was again able to take up his pastoral duties, he was settled at Dunbar- ton, N. H., where for thirty-one years he was actively engaged in ministerial work. This was his longest pastorate. At its close, when his son began preaching, he retired. · Hav- ing died at the home of his daughter in Elyria, Ohio, he was buried in that town. His wife had died some ten years previously, on September 19, 1861. Of the eight chil- dren born to them, two sons and one daugh- ter grew to maturity. Antoinette, the daugh- ter, who married Isaac S. Metcalf, died in 1875, at the age of forty-seven years, leav- ing nine of her twelve children. The other brother, who had learned the stone-mason's trade, died when nineteen years of age.

Having attended the district school at Dun-

barton for the usual period, George A. Putnam fitted for college at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N. H. In 1858 he graduated at Union College, receiving the degree of Master of Arts and two years subsequently at the Theological Seminary in Bangor, Me. He occupied his first pastorate, which was at Yarmouth, Me., from 1860 to 1870. From there he came to his present charge in Jan- uary, 1871. He was not, however, installed until April 11, 1872. During his long min- istry here his life has become closely inter- linked with the lives of his parishioners, and ties of strong affection and tenderness have been formed. For many years the church membership has been about two hundred. In 1897 the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the church was celebrated, and was an occasion of much interest and im- portance.

On November 12, 1860, Mr. Putnam was united in marriage with Fannie Maria Wells, of Dedham, Me., a daughter of the Rev. James and Jane P. (Webb) Wells, both of whom are now deceased. The Rev. Mr. Wells, a grad- uate of Bangor Theological Seminary and of Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, was a Con- gregational clergyman. He preached as city missionary in Bangor for eight years, and was subsequently settled over parishes at North- bridge, Mass., Dunbarton, N. H., and Halifax and Douglas, Mass. His death occurred at the last-named place in 1892, and he was buried in Douglas. His wife, who died in 1884, was laid to rest at North Weymouth, Mass. Their only other child was Joseph S. Wells, of Holyoke. Mrs. Putnam died on August 6, 1879. Mr. Putnam contracted a second marriage on June 23, 1881, with Hannah Louisa Sabin, of Millbury. He has been the father of six children; namely, George H., Jennie L., Grace, Fannie May, Florence A., and Harry W. Grace died in infancy. George H., who is a professor in the Texas School for the Deaf at Austin, studied at the Massachusetts Agricultural College in Amherst and at Lehigh Univer- sity in Bethlehem, Pa. He married a widow, who has one child by her first marriage. Jennie Putnam, who is a graduate of North-

GEORGE A. PUTNAM.

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field Seminary, is now a book-keeper and stenographer in the Y. M. C. A. rooms at Worcester, and resides with her father. Fannie and Florence are also graduates of Northfield Seminary. The latter is now pur- suing a course of study in Becker's Business College. Harry is a student at Mount Her- mon School. While in college Mr. George A. Putnam, the father, was a member of the Theological Society, also of the Debating Club and a literary society. In October, 1875, he went to Europe, and for a year was engaged in travelling, his parishioners contin- uing his salary during his absence. He vis- ited Glasgow, France, Italy, Egypt, and the Holy Land, and had many delightful experi- ences. Both he and his wife are held in warm regard, not only by the members of the church, but by the townspeople at large.

OAB C. WRIGHT, a retired farmer of Hubbardston, was born in this town, January 29, 1810, son of Charles and Betsey (Clark) Wright. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Wright, who came here from Woburn, Mass., as a pioneer, settled upon land in the eastern part of the town. He was a Revolutionary soldier and one of the leading farmers of Hubbardston in his day. When he died he had attained a good old age.

Charles Wright was born in Hubbardston, September 24, 1789. When nineteen years old he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, and afterward followed it until his death, which occurred December 8, 1847. He also erected buildings which considerably improved the appearance of the town. Early in life he was a Democrat and later an abolitionist. In his last years he held some of the impor- tant town offices. His religious belief was the Methodist creed. His wife, who was born in Hubbardston, January 29, 1792, had eight children, two of whom are living: Joab C., the subject of this sketch, who was the first- born; and Reuben, who is residing in San Diego, Cal. The others were: Louisa, Charles J., Lucy, Catharine, Freelove E., and Adelaide. The mother died November 13,

I880. She was a member of the Congrega- tional church.

Joab C. Wright was educated in the district schools. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, of whom he purchased his time some five months prior to his majority for forty dollars. During the succeeding ten years he followed shoemaking upon his own account. He then turned his attention to farming, which became his principal occupa- tion. Having bought his present property in 1864 or 1865, he continued to actively super- intend its cultivation until his retirement in 1890. He is still strong and active, both physically and mentally, reading and writing without the aid of glasses.

On April 17, 1832, Mr. Wright married Lucetta Pond, who was born in Hubbardston, April 20, 1812, daughter of Lewis and Polly (Hinds) Pond. She died March 20, 1893. Of the children of this union three are living : Worthington V. B., born December 10, 1832; Julia A., born September 14, 1839; and Charles J., born November 20, 1841. Worth- ington V. B. Wright, who resides in West- boro, Mass., married Phoebe Andrews, and has one daughter living, Harriet L. Julia A. Wright became the wife of George P. Rich- ardson, of Boston, and has seven children --- Alice A., George, Effie H., Mary W., Jose- phine G., Arthur L., and Charles H. Charles J. Wright is unmarried, and resides in Hous- ton, Tex. Mr. Wright, Sr., cast his first Presidential vote for Andrew Jackson in 1832; and he has been a Republican since the for- mation of that party. He is a member of the Unitarian church, and takes an active interest in church work.

HILANDER HOLMES, a prominent man of Brookfield, was born in Staf- ford Springs, Conn., January 17, 1843. A son of Horatio and Chloe (Bassett) Holmes, respectively natives of Stafford Springs, Conn., and Enfield, Mass, he comes of English stock, and traces his descent to John Holmes, who settled in Wood- stock, Conn., in 1686, and who was also the immigrant ancestor of Oliver Wendell Holmes.

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David Holmes, the grandfather of Philander, served in the Revolutionary War; while a David Holmes of the preceding generation fought in the French and Indian War, and was afterward a surgeon in the Revolutionary army. Horatio Holmes, who spent his life at Stafford Springs, for a quarter of a century or more was prosperously engaged in growing nursery stock, an occupation for which his love of floriculture peculiarly adapted him.

Philander Holmes received a good common- school education in the town of his birth, and while living with his parents obtained a thor- ough knowledge of horticulture and of the art of raising vegetables and small fruits. In 1870 he came to Massachusetts, and, settling in the town of Monson, was there engaged for three years in gardening. Coming from there to West Brookfield in 1873, he formed a part- nership with Deaton Barnes, with whom he successfully manufactured boot and shoe heels under the firm name of Barnes & Holmes. After the death of Mr. Barnes's wife in 1875 Mr. Holmes bought out his partner's interest in the firm, and subsequently conducted the business alone for seventeen years. In 1892 he gave it up, and again took up gardening, which he has since followed. He also deals extensively in wood and lumber.

Mr. Holmes first married Nellie Barnes, who died a few years after the union. His second wife, Emma Johnson Holmes, lived but a comparatively short time, also. A third marriage united him with Mary Fairbanks, a daughter of Charles Fairbanks, of West Brookfield. Actively interested from his ear- liest youth in all things pertaining to agri- culture, Mr. Holmes is a valued member of the West Brookfield Farmers' Club. Both he and Mrs. Holmes belong to the West Brook- field Grange, of which she has been Master for the past two years and he the treasurer. He is likewise the secretary and treasurer of the Quaboag Building Association and the treasurer of the Quaboag Historical Society of this town. A stanch Republican in his poli- tics, he has rendered efficient service to his fellow-townsmen during the past ten years as Assessor, being the chairman of the board for the last five years. Also, for ten years he

has been the treasurer of the Congregational church, to which he belongs, and, as a leading member of the Building Committee, solicited money to erect the present house of worship of that society, and was instrumental in act- ually raising a large proportion of the required funds used in its construction.

UTHER RICE EAMES, a retired farmer residing on Rice Street,

Worcester, was born in West Boyls- ton, Mass., March 14, 1826, son of Levi and Betsey (Rice) Eames. The paternal grandfather, William Eames, a na- tive of Holliston, Mass., came to Worcester at an early date. It is told of him that, hav- ing chosen a spot in the woods upon which to build a house, he went to the house of a neighboring settler for dinner, leaving his jacket to mark the place. He cleared a farm from the wilderness. His land included the property now owned by his grandson. He married a Miss Jennings, of Natick, Mass., and reared four sons and three daughters, all of whom became the heads of families and lived to a good old age. The name of his youngest son was William. A daughter of the latter, now living in Michigan, is over ninety years old. Grandfather Eames and his wife were buried in Boylston.

Levi Eames, a native of Boylston, born in 1784, was a prosperous farmer. He spent the greater part of his life upon the farm where his son now resides. His first wife, whose maiden name was Hephzibah Winter, had no children. His second wife, Betsey, whom he married in 1819, was a daughter of Luther Rice, whose farm in Worcester is still owned by his descendants. Of her four children, one died young. The others were : John B., who was a farmer in West Boylston, and died in 1895, aged seventy years; Luther R., the subject of this sketch; and Levi Lincoln Eames, the youngest brother, who died in the trenches in front of Petersburg during the Civil War. The father died in 1872. When the mother died, in 1862, she was nearly sev- enty years old. Levi and his brother William married sisters. It is related of Betsey that

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 35

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