Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 38

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 38

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).

At an early age Addison J. Bemis began to assist his father in farming. When fifteen years old he commenced an apprenticeship of three and a half years to the blacksmith's trade with Winthrop Arnold, a worthy man, an ex- cellent mechanic, and a good employer. After finishing his apprenticeship he followed general blacksmithing for some years. After- ward he established himself in business in Worcester with borrowed capital amounting to one thousand dollars, which he paid in due time. For the past forty years he has been the leading horseshoer in this city. Like others, he has had his misfortunes, and on one occasion his shop was destroyed by fire, caus- ing a loss of four thousand dollars ; but despite these adversities his energy and strength have enabled him to acquire affluence. Mr. Bemis is regarded as one of the most vigorous men of his years in Worcester. For some years past he has been in the habit of making annual visits to Maine, and though not an expert hunter he has secured deer and other game, as well as having an enjoyable time.

When twenty-five years old Mr. Bemis married Harriet B. Rice, who, like his mother, was born in Holden. Their only son, Arthur A., who became a skilful mechanic and en- gineer, died August 15, 1883, at the age of thirty-six years, leaving a widow, two sons, and a daughter. Politically, Mr. Bemis is a Republican. He belongs to the Order of American Mechanics. In religious belief both he and Mrs. Bemis are Congregation- alists and members of the Union Church.

J OHN APPLETON FAYER- WEATHER, who has been prom- inently identified with the best inter- ests of Westboro since the early part of the present century, was born in this town, March 12, 1808. His parents, John and

Sarah (Wheelock) Fayerweather, reared four children, of whom John A. was the eldest. The others were: Mrs. Sarah Chamberlain, who died April 6, 1897, eighty-nine years old; George J., who served in the late Civil War, was very active up to the time of his death, and died December 2, 1897, eighty years old; and Thomas H., who lived almost eighty years. George celebrated the seventy- fourth anniversary of his birth by walking from here to Worcester and back, a distance of twenty-five miles.

John A. Fayerweather was graduated from Brown University in 1826 at the age of eigh- teen years, and has the distinction of being one of the two oldest living alumni of that in- stitution. He was taught the rudiments by a private tutor, and afterward attended a private school kept by the Rev. Mr. Allen. Subse- quently he fitted for college at Providence, R.I., where he was under the instruction of a Mr. Fay until he entered the university in 1822. Returning to Westboro after receiving his diploma, Mr. Fayerweather assumed the management of the parental estate (which then included the homestead of F. U. Bartlett), his father having died while he was in col- lege. Later he and a partner opened a store opposite the Congregational church. As his partner was ill most of the time, he had to as- sume all the responsibility, although he had had no previous experience in that line. However, pluck and ability were not want- ing; and during the many years that he was afterward engaged as a merchant, he was espe- cially fortunate in his transactions. One of his first partners was James Leach, of Boston. Mr. Leach was succeeded by George Denny, the store being then located on the site of the present post-office building, in the centre of the village. Mr. Griggs, who afterward opened another store on the opposite side of the street, was for a time in business with Mr. Fayerweather. In 1858 Mr. Fayer- weather sold out his general store, which then included a tin and hardware department; and in 1859 he went to Boston, and engaged in the wholesale grocery business, under the firm name of F. A. Fogg & Co. A few years later, in company with George O. Brigham

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

and A. J. Burnap, he erected the present post- office building, of which he is now the sole proprietor, having since purchased the inter- ests of the other two men. In the block, be- sides the post-office, are located the Westboro National and Savings Banks. He was the president of the Westboro National Bank from 1864 until illness compelled his resigna- tion in 1897. He is still a director of the institution and a trustee of the savings-bank, capacities in which he has served for many years. He was made a director of the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Company some years ago, and on May 1, 1887, he was chosen its president, a responsible office, to which he has been annually re-elected for ten successive years.

Mr. Fayerweather has served many terms as the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. He was the president of the Worcester Agricult- ural Society for one year, but declined a re- election. In 1866 he represented his district in the General Court of Massachusetts. Since he united with the Congregational church in early manhood, he has been a faith- ful and valued member of the society. On December 27, 1831, he married Sarah A., daughter of Dr. John Tyler, of Worcester. They had two children, a son that died in in- fancy and a daughter. The latter, Sarah F., is the widow of the late William R. Gould, who at the time of his death, in 1890, was one of the largest manufacturers and most prominent business men of Westboro. She has one daughter, Gertrude Tyler Gould. Mrs. Fayerweather died April 15, 1875.

OHN M. CLARKE, a dealer in hay, grain, and flour at Webster, son of George W. and Mary A. (Hughes) Clarke, was born in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1841. His grand- parents were W. and Mary A. (Lyon) Clarke. The former was a Pennsylvanian by birth and a hotel-keeper and farmer by occupation. The father, also born in Pennsylvania, was for some time a foreman of a gang of workmen employed on the Northern Turnpike, between Pittsburg and Philadelphia, and later was en-

gaged in the hotel business. He died in 1886. Ilis wife, Mary, also a native of Penn- sylvania, was a grand-daughter of a Revolu- tionary soldier; while her father, Edward Hughes, fought in both the War of 1812 and the Mexican War.

Having received his early education in the public schools of Indiana and Westmoreland Counties, Pennsylvania, John M. Clarke in 1860 went to Illinois, where he found em- ployment ·on a farm, and worked for a time at carpentering. Subsequently, returning to the farm, he remained there until 1861. In this year he enlisted in Company D of the Twenty- third Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, under Captain S. A. Simison and Colonel James A. Mulligan. From the Chicago drilling camp he went to St. Louis and thence to Jefferson City, where he remained in Colonel John C. Fremont's command until the battle of Lex- ington, Mo. At that time the entire regiment was captured. Having been paroled on the field of battle, Mr. Clarke was allowed to re- turn to St. Louis; and shortly afterward he was discharged. After spending some time at his home in Illinois he returned to Pennsyl- vania, and for six months worked in West- moreland County. Following this he was employed for another six months in a dry- goods store of Pittsburg. At the end of that time he went to Ottawa, Ill., and had charge of a clothing store there for three months. He then went to Odell, Livingston County, Ill., and for one year was employed in conducting a general merchandise store in that town. At the end of the year he bought the store, and thereafter carried it on for eighteen months on his own account. Then he sold out and trav- elled as a book agent in the interests of Ab- bott's History of the War. He subsequently bought a drug and grocery store in Odell, and conducted it for some time. In the spring of 1873, having disposed of this store, he went out to Nebraska and started a cattle ranch. Having spent a year there, he came to Webs- ter, and entered the employ of the Webster Box Company as general manager. Upon the failure of the controlling company he bought the stock and fixtures, and continued the busi- ness under his own name. After the factory

325

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1875 he rebuilt it, and conducted it for some time longer. Then he sold out, removed to Bos- ton, and there for three years ran a grocery store in Eliot Square. In 1880 he again re- turned to Webster, and at that time started the business in which he is at present engaged. In 1866 Mr. Clarke was married to Lucy D. Williams, a daughter of John E. and Hulda (Shumway) Williams, of Odell, Ill., formerly of Thompson, Conn. Three children have blessed the marriage, namely : Bessie M., born in 1867; Reginald W., born in 1869; and Lewis G., born in 1871. Bessie, who was educated at Odell, Ill., and in Webster, is now living with her parents. Reginald re- ceived his education in Webster and Boston, and is now in Worcester with the well-known firm of Burnes & Co. Lewis G., who attended school in Webster and Boston, is in the em- ploy of Mr. Burgman, who has a bicycle busi- ness in Webster. In politics Mr. Clarke is a Democrat. He is a member of Nathan Lyon Post, No. 61, G. A. R., and of Ben Franklin Council, R. A. Y., at Webster. Of the post he has been Commander, and he is now Senior Vice-Commander. He attends the Congrega- tional church.

IDWIN MOORE, a retired business man of East Douglas and an ex-member of the Massachusetts legislature, was born in Douglas, October 19, 1820, son of Israel and Submit (Balcome) Moore. The pa- ternal grandfather, Jonas Moore, who was born in Sudbury, Mass., July 6, 1765, spent the active period of his life in farming. The maiden name of his wife was Alice Wheelock.

Israel Moore, born in Sudbury, August 1, 1793, learned the blacksmith's trade in Marl- boro, Vt. When eighteen years old he re- turned on foot to Massachusetts, settling in Douglas, where he resided for some years. In 1822 he moved to Oxford, Mass., where he bought a homestead, and followed his trade until his death, which occurred September 27, 1829. He was a sturdy, industrious man and a useful citizen. His wife, who was born in Douglas, November 19, 1795, gave birth to

three children: Catherine, who died in in- fancy; Edwin, the subject of this sketch; and Julia, born January 12, 1823, who died May 17, 1855. The mother died February 28, 1847. Both parents were members of the Congregational church.

Edwin Moore began his education in the elementary public schools, and completed his studies at the Oxford High School. At the age of twelve years he went to work upon the farm of the Rev. David Holman. Later he was employed as a store clerk and worked in the axe factory. From 1848 to 1850 he car- ried on business for himself. Then he re- entered the employ of Warren Hunt as book- keeper and paymaster at the axe factory. In 1865 he was appointed agent for that estab- lishment, a position which he filled with marked ability until 1880, when he retired from active business. In politics he is a Re- publican. He has rendered excellent service to the town in the several capacities of Select- man, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and a member of the School Committee, in that of Town Clerk for nine years, in that of Town Treasurer for three years, and in that of Rep- resentative to the legislature in 1856 and 1882. He is a member of the Congregational church.

On September 30, 1841, at Belfast, Me., Mr. Moore was joined in marriage with Eliza P. Palmer, who was born in Lincolnville, Me., August 19, 1822, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Palmer. Mrs. Moore has had five chil- dren, namely : Dwight P., born July 10, 1842, who died September 24, 1846; William H., born October 4, 1846, who is married and has one daughter, Helen P., born August 18, 1872; Julia S., born November 25, 1848, who is now Mrs. W. H. Kendall; Edwin W., born May 22, 1851, who died October 21, 1859; and Thomas W., born May 30, 1853, who died August 21, 1854.

RANK S. GROVER, proprietor of the Eagle House in Dana and a prominent official of the town, was born here on January 7, 1855, son of John N. and Elmina (Durkee) Grover. His grandfather, Elijah

326

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Grover, the greater part of whose life was spent in the town of Montague, the last few years being passed in Dana, was by occupation a farmer. He lived to be an old man.

John N. Grover, above named, was born in Wendell or Montague. In early life he was a boatman on the Connecticut River; but about 1840 he settled in Dana, and during the re- mainder of his life was engaged in farming and teaming here. He did a very large busi- ness in teaming, transporting merchandise be- tween this part of the State and Boston, rail- roads then not being as numerous as they now are. He became widely known and had a host of friends. In politics he was a stanch Dem- ocrat. He died in 1884, at the age of seventy years. His wife, who was born in Montague,' died in 1888, at the age of seventy. Of their seven children, Emma and Lewis H. are de- ceased. Those living are: Henry C., who is a lumberman in Petersham; Julia Nye, a resi- dent of Dana; Lucy D. Hawes, of Barre; John C., of Greenwich, a hotel man; and Frank S.

Frank S. Grover grew to manhood in Dana, and was educated here. He now owns the farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres which was formerly his father's, and other lands in addition, making a total of about three hundred and fifty acres. He is quite extensively engaged in the lumber manufact- ure, making both long and short lumber; and since 1893 he has been proprietor of the Eagle House. As a hotel man he has met with un- usual success, this being due to the excellent accommodations he furnishes his guests and to his obliging manners. The Eagle House is not a large hotel, but the twenty or more guests that may be accommodated here have never cause to complain on that account.

Mr. Grover was married in 1877 to Eva Balcom, a native of Hades, Warren County, N. Y. Seven children have been born of this union, namely : Owen, who died at the age of two years; Oakley, who lived only a few days ; Emma C .; Lucy E .; Clayton L .; Ruth A. ; and Glenn E.

Mr. Grover's religious views are liberal. In politics he is a Democrat. Besides attending carefully to his private business interests, he

has given a large amount of time to the public service. For the last fourteen years he has been a member of the Board of Selectmen of the town and for the greater part of that time chairman of the board. He is at the present time serving as Assessor, Road Commissioner, and Overseer of the Poor. He is also on his third consecutive year as a member of the School Board. He is one of the most ener- getic and progressive men in town, and in the discharge of public duties is as faithful as he is active. .

JDWARD L. HILL, attorney - at - law, Baldwinsville, and a Civil War vet-

eran, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., October 15, 1832, son of William and Eliz- abeth S. (Wiggin) Hill. The paternal grand- father, Samuel Hill, who was born in Ber- wick, Me., February 12, 1745, became one of the early merchants and ship-owners of Ports- mouth. After acquiring considerable wealth he lost a part of it during the French War. He died in Portsmouth, March 19, 1812. The maiden name of his wife was Mary S. Gooch. William Hill, son of Samuel, was born in Portsmouth, February II, 1783. En- tering trade when a young man, he continued in business for some years ; and he died Feb- ruary 22, 1849, aged sixty-six. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Duncan, there were six children. His second wife, Elizabeth S. Hill, who was born January 17, 1804, had five children. Of these, three are living, namely: Edward L., the subject of this sketch; and Frederick A. and Herman H., who are merchants in Chicago. The mother died May 22, 1876.

Edward L. Hill acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools, at Phillips Acad - emy in Exeter, N. H., and at the Massachu- setts State Normal School in Bridgewater. His legal studies were pursued with John Lowell and Thornton Lothrop, of Boston. After his admission to the Suffolk County bar in 1860, he located in Waltham, Mass. Al- though possessing a lucrative practice at the breaking out of the Rebellion, the urgent call for troops caused him to close his office and

327

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

raise a company for the Fifth Regiment. Then he enlisted as a private in Company A, Forty-fourth Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers, which was mustered into service August 29, 1862. While fulfilling his nine months' service he acted as correspondent of the Waltham Sentinel. After his discharge he re- sumed his law practice. In 1870 he moved from Waltham to Danvers, Mass., and for the succeeding twenty years practised his profes- sion in Salem and Boston. In April, 1890, he established himself in Baldwinsville, where he has built up a profitable general law busi- ness. Much interested in horticulture, he de- votes a considerable portion of his leisure time to the care of his greenhouse.

On June 8, 1869, Mr. Hill was united in marriage at Jamaica Plain, Mass., with Ger- trude Manning, a native of Waltham and a daughter of Francis and Sarah M. (Blanchard) Manning. Born of this union there is one daughter, Catharine B. Hill, who is now at the training school for nurses in Waltham. In politics Mr. Hill is a Republican. He is a charter member of the Northern Mutual Re- lief Association; belongs to the Royal Ar- canum; is a comrade of Farragut Post, G. A. R., of Gardner, Mass. ; and is a Past Commander of Post No. 90, G. A. R., of Danvers. Both he and Mrs. Hill attend the Congregational church.

ALVIN MAYNARD, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Lancaster, was born in Boylston, Mass., No- vember 20, 1846, son of James F. and Dolly (Brigham) Maynard. His grand- father, Calvin Maynard, a native of Worcester County, after residing for many years in Marl- boro, spent his last days in Boylston.

James F. Maynard was a native of Marlboro. When a young man he engaged in a mercantile business in Boylston. Later he had a busi- ness in Clinton and still later a wholesale trade in State Street, Boston, as a member of the firm of Daniel Allen & Co. His connection with the latter concern lasted seventeen years, during which time he resided in Clinton, where he died at the age of sixty-four years.

He was the chairman of the Board of Select- men for many years, and was a recruiting officer in Clinton during the Civil War. In politics he acted with the Republican party. His religious belief was the Methodist faith, and for a number of years he was officially connected with the church and Sunday-school. He was also a member of Trinity Lodge, F. & A. M. His wife, born in Boylston, a daugh- ter of Samuel Brigham, was a grand-daughter of Samuel Brigham, M.D., who was private secretary to General Washington, and later practised his profession in Boylston. Her father was engaged in agriculture during his active years, and died at the age of eighty-five. Of his several children, Dolly was the only daughter. James E. and Dolly Maynard were the parents of two children: Ellen A., who married William H. Hartshorn; and Calvin, the subject of this sketch. The mother died at the age of sixty.

Calvin Maynard accompanied his parents to Clinton when he was four years old, and he acquired his education in the elementary schools and high school of that town. He began at an early age to assist his father in the store. Having succeeded to the business, when the latter transferred his interests to Boston, he carried it on for some years. After selling the Clinton store he engaged in the shoe furnishing business in Worcester, later conducting a similar establishment in Marlboro. Retiring from mercantile pursuits in 1883, he purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Lancaster, where he has since resided. He has enhanced the value of his property by remodelling the residence and other buildings and by improving the fertility of the land. He carries on general farming and dairying, keeps twenty excellent cows, and supplies a profitable milk route in Clin- ton.

In 1878 Mr. Maynard married Mary B. Stickney, of Williamstown, Vt. Her father, Horace Stickney, who was an industrious farmer, died from the effects of injuries to his health received while serving in the Civil War. Mrs. Maynard is the mother of six children ; namely, Nellie F., Charles, Nahum, Forest, James, and Stanley. In politics Mr.

323

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Maynard is a Republican, and he has been a member of the Board of Assessors in Lancaster for three years. For two years he served as Master of Lancaster Grange, Patrons of Hus- bandry. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church and of the Parish Committee, while the members of his family are connected with the church and Sunday-school.

ILAS A. FORBUSH, the well- known shoe manufacturer of Graf- ton, was born in this town in 1823, son of Silas and Clarissa (Eames)

Forbush. He is descended from the old Colo- nial family founded by Daniel Forbush, who, with his wife Deborah, established his home in Marlboro, Mass., about 1681.

Daniel Forbush (or Ffarrabas, as formerly spelled) married in Cambridge in 1660 Re- becca Perriman, and a year or two after her death, which occurred in 1677, married Deb- orah Rediat. Thomas Forbush, son of Daniel, born in 1667, married Dorcas Rice ; Thomas, Jr., son of Thomas, married Hannah Bellows; and their son David, born in 1721, married Annah Whitney, sister of Eli Whit- ney, inventor of the cotton-gin; Silas, Sr., son of David, born in 1766, married Rhoda Fisk.

Silas Forbush, son of Silas and Rhoda, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Grafton in 1795, and here spent his long life of ninety-two years. He was one of the most industrious and indefatigable of men. He early began the manufacture of shoes on his own account, and he followed it very suc- cessfully for some time. Subsequently he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. As he was a man of excellent judgment and of un- biassed mind, his advice was much sought for. Hence he came to be an influential man in the town, and was respected by all who knew him. His son, Jonathan Chester Forbush, now a prominent manufacturer in New York State, was born here, July 14, 1825, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. After work- ing for some time in his father's shoe shop, being still quite a young man, he began inde- pendently to manufacture shoes in company

with Nathaniel Brown. After manufacturing for about a year in Grafton, he removed his plant to Buffalo, N. Y., where the business has greatly increased.

Like his father and brother, Silas A. For- bush early turned his attention to shoemaking. After leaving school he began serving an ap- prenticeship, this being before the days of ma- chinery, and when the only tools used were the knife, hammer, and needle. After he had thoroughly learned the business, he started for himself as a manufacturer, employing at first only a few workmen. Such was the quality of his goods that he found a ready market for them, and the business has increased to such an extent that the factory has now the largest manufacturing plant in the village, and em- ploys from seventy-five to a hundred men. The output consists of men's shoes of a high grade. Mr. Forbush still keeps the active management of the business in his own hands, and directs the movements of his agents in Boston and New York.

Mr. Forbush takes an active part in public affairs, and has served the town as Selectman. In 1892 he was a Representative to the Gen- eral Court. While in the legislature he was on the Committee on Education. Formerly a Free Soiler, he is now an ardent Republican. His first Presidential vote was cast for James K. Polk. He is. a valued member of the Uni- tarian society and one of its trustees and as- sessors. Fraternally, he is associated with Franklin Lodge, F. & A. M., and with Tyrian Chapter, R. A. M. He married Julia Bul- lard, of Upton, whose death occurred six years ago. She was the mother of Silas A. For- bush, Jr., and of Ida Virginia Forbush. The former is the agent of the White Breast Fuel Company, in Ottumwa, Ia. ; and the latter is the wife of F. M. McGarry, of Grafton.

UKE S. MOORE, the proprietor of Sunnyside Farm, Hubbardston, son of Uriah B. and Amanda (Partridge) Moore, was born in Templeton, Mass., August 18, 1832. He traces his de- scent to an Irishman who came to the country early in the last century, and has reason to be-

- -----

----

- - - -- -- - -

SILAS A. FORBUSH.

331

BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

lieve that some of his ancestors were Revolu- tionary soldiers.

Uriah Moore, the grandfather of Luke S. Moore, born in Gardner, Mass., December 31, 1769, followed agriculture during his active years, and died in that town on January 6, 1810. He married Esther Merritt, who, born March 17, 1769, died July 27, 1847. Their children, all now deceased, were born as fol- lows : Lucy, April 21, 1792; Henry, January 26, 1794; Francis M., April 24, 1796; Lucy, second, March 13, 1799; Noah M., December 24, 1801; Uriah B., September 1, 1805; and Priscilla E., April 24, 1808. Uriah B. Moore, who was a native of Boylston, Mass., spent the greater part of his life upon a farm in Templeton. His last days were passed with his son in Hubbardston, and he died Sep- tember 22, 1884. In his later years he sup- ported the Republican party. He was an ac- tive member of

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 38

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