Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 44

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 44

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Mr. Dudley married Jenette P. Daniels, daughter of Charles F. and Eliza (Phipps) Daniels and on the maternal side a descend- ant of the famous New England Phipps fam- ily, whose immigrant ancestor, James Phipps, came from Bristol, England, and settled at Pemaquid, near the mouth of the Kennebec River, prior to 1650. James Phipps was the father of five daughters and twenty-one sons, all of whom, according to Cotton Mather, were the children of one mother. Among the sons was one who was knighted by James II., and was Governor of Massachusetts under William III. - namely, the celebrated Sir William Phipps. One of Mrs. Dudley's an- cestors, Charles Phipps by name, enlisted in the Continental army on April 29, 1775, for eight months' service, and was a Captain. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Dudley are: Edith L., who was born in 1876; and Ger- trude M., who was born in 1889. Edith L. Dudley is a graduate of Millbury High School and of the Worcester High School, and is now teaching in the public schools of Sutton.

Mr. Dudley is a Past Master of Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., and a Past High Priest of Tyrian R. A. Chapter, both located in Millbury. He is also a member of Worces- ter County Commandery of Knights Templar and of several other Masonic organizations. He is also Past Master of Millbury Grange. For some years he has been a trustee of Mill- bury Savings Bank, for the last two years a member of its Investment Board, and he has recently been elected vice-president. He has taken an active interest in town affairs, and has filled various town offices - from 1880 to 1883, inclusive, that of Assessor, and in 1884, 1885, 1886, 1887, and 1888 that of Select- man, being chairman of the board four years out of the five. The new town hall was built during his period of office. He is at present serving his town as Auditor.

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RA NATHANIEL GODDARD, a prom- inent resident of Millbury, was born March 1, 1830, in the house he now owns and occupies. A son of Nathaniel and Rhoda (Gale) Goddard, he is by both par- ents a descendant of some of the earliest Eng- lish families that emigrated to Massachusetts. By the aid of a work published in England, entitled "Memoirs of the Goddards of North Wiltshire," he traces his ancestry in a direct line to one Walter Goddard, who flourished in the latter part of the twelfth century.

The founder of the family in America was William, seventh son of Edward and Priscilla (D'Oyley) Goddard. This ancestor, who was a wholesale grocer in London, and who through heavy losses at sea and in trade lost much of his property, in 1666 emigrated to New England, and located with his wife and children in Watertown, Mass., where he remained permanently. The following ex- tracts from the town records refer to him :-

"Admitted to full communion January 8, 1677; admitted freeman (voter) December, 1677.

"March 27, 1680: These are to certify that Mr. William Goddard, whom the said town, by covenanting, engaged to teach such- children as should be sent to him to learn the rules of the Latin tongue, hath those accom- plishments which render him capable to dis- charge the trust confided to him.

" (Signed) JOHN SHERMAN, Pastor."

His son, Benjamin, was for many years a resident of Charlestown, Mass. Benjamin's son, also named Benjamin Goddard, born in Charlestown in 1705, died in Grafton, Worces- ter County, in December, 1759.

Samuel Goddard, the grandfather of Ira N., was born in Grafton, December 27, 1742; and he died at Royalston, Worcester County, August 16, 1806. When a young man he lived for a while in Sutton, Mass., where he married Elizabeth King, who died compara- tively young, leaving six children. The chil- dren were : Henry, Samuel, Elizabeth, Asahel, Salmon, and James. Elizabeth be- came the wife of Squire Peck; and their son, Asahel Peck, was Governor of Vermont in

1874. On June 29, 1790, the father married Mrs. Catherine Parks, of Athol, Mass., a daughter of Stephen Parker, of Shrewsbury, and a direct descendant of Thomas Parker, who emigrated from London, England, to Massachusetts in 1635, and became one of the original settlers of Reading, Middlesex County. Of their eight children Benjamin, Tamar, Nathaniel, and Danford attained ma- turity.

Nathaniel Goddard was born in Royalston, Mass., February 7, 1797, and was there bred and educated. In 1819 he began to manu- facture boots and shoes in Millbury. He was so prosperous that in 1825 he built the house now occupied by his son, Ira N. Thereafter in the shop and store connected with the resi- dence he conducted the shoe business, both as manufacturer and dealer, until his death, which occurred December 8, 1887. An ac- tive, industrious man of business, he retained his mental vigor to the last. He served in

the various town offices, and for half a cen- tury was Deacon of the Congregational church. At Royalston on October 27, 1820, he married Rhoda Gale, who was born in that town, July 15, 1798. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Rhoda (Baker) Gale and a lineal descendant of two prominent early set- tlers of Massachusetts - Richard Baker, who emigrated from England to Dorchester, Mass., in 1635; and Richard Gale, who settled in Watertown in 1640. Her children were : Julia A., born in 1822, who married Henry W. Benchley, the Lieutenant Governor of Massa- chusetts in 1858, and died July 30, 1854, leaving two children; Maria, who lived but ten years; Sophia, residing in Worcester, Mass., who is the widow of the late Rufus Wesson and has two sons; and Ira Nathaniel, the subject of this sketch. The mother died December 27, 1883.

Ira N. Goddard was educated in the com- mon schools and academy of Millbury, and afterward worked for his father until attaining his majority. Then his father admitted him into partnership as the junior member of the firm of Nathaniel Goddard & Son. Subse- quently he succeeded to the entire business and parental estate. He is well known

GEORGE WILSON.

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throughout the community as one of its pro- gressive men. For twenty years he has been an agent of fire insurance companies, and for a long time has been connected with the man- agement of the Millbury Savings Bank, of which he is now the president, having formerly been a trustee and one of its Investment Committee.

For forty-five consecutive years Mr. God- dard served as Town Clerk, receiving the unanimous nomination of both parties. He has also served several terms as Assessor, Selectman, and Collector of Taxes, at times holding the four offices simultaneously. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Congregational church, which he has served at different times as superintendent of the Sunday-school carried on under its au- spices. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason. On June 26, 1856, he married Josephine Caro- line, daughter of John and Caroline (Merritt) Ryan. Being the Town Clerk at that time, he had the gratification of issuing his own license. Mr. and Mrs. Goddard have had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other, Harry M. Goddard, now a business man of Millbury, married Jennie M. Waters, of this town.

EORGE WILSON, a well-known agri- culturist and wood dealer of Spen- cer, Mass., was born here, January 12, 1828, son of Asa and Lucinda (Liver- more) Wilson, both of whom were natives of the county. The name of Wilson has long been well and favorably known in this section of the State. Asa Wilson was a leading farmer of his time. Of his children, three are living: Harriet, Luther, and George.

Orphaned at the age of thirteen years by the death of his father, George Wilson since that time has been practically self-supporting. At first he lived on a farm, and did chores and odd jobs to pay for his living while attending school. As soon as he began to give his whole time he was paid ten dollars a month in addition to his board. Later on he re- ceived twelve and then fifteen dollars a month. After working for several years in

this way, he secured a position as clerk for Leonard Downing, a well-known merchant of Charlestown, Mass., with whom he remained for the next four years. After his first mar- riage he settled on what was known as the Asa Wilson homestead farm in Spencer, where he resided for a number of years, carrying on farming. Subsequently he entered the em- ploy of the Boston & Albany Railroad Com- pany, and for the greater part of four years was foreman of repairs on the part of the track lying between Charlton and Rochdale, a distance of four miles and a half. Owing to an accident in which an arm and a leg of his were broken, he decided to give up railroad- ing. He came back to Spencer in 1870, and settled on the farm near the village which has since been his home. Besides carrying on general farming, he keeps a dairy and deals in wood. In the wood business it is his practice to buy large tracts of timber land, cut the timber, and market the wood and lumber ob- tained.

Mr. Wilson has served the town as Assessor and as Highway Surveyor. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a member of Good-will Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Spencer, and of the Patrons of Husbandry; and he is vice-presi- dent of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Associa- tion of Spencer, which he helped to organize. The first of his two marriages was contracted in 1848 with Eliza Butterfield, of Charles- town. She bore him two children, of whom Georgiana is living. In the second marriage he was wedded to Lucinda Drake, of Spencer. Of her children by him, there are living, William A., Charles L., Mary L., George H., Warren S., Ida A., and Etta E. Mary is the wife of George Dunn, and Etta is now Mrs. Walter S. Pratt.

OHN A. BROWN, a practical, ener- getic farmer of Grafton, was born on his present farm, August 14, 1851, son of Horace P. and Eliza (Whitney) Brown. His father was born on this farm, as was also his grandfather, Clark Brown, who, besides cultivating it, carried on a good busi- ness as a tanner and currier. The latter pos-

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sessed considerable musical ability and agree- able social qualities pleasing to his neighbors, and some of our older citizens recall with pleasure the many pleasant evenings spent at his hospitable home. He was twice married, and reared a family of twenty-one children, two of whom are still living.

Horace P. Brown, father of John A., was a currier by trade, and also carried on a prosper- ous business as a boot and shoe manufacturer. Succeeding to the ownership of the home- stead, he tilled the soil besides attending to his other enterprises. He died in 1880, aged seventy-five years. His wife, Eliza, who was a representative of the Eli Whitney family of Westboro, became the mother of five children, three of whom attained maturity, namely: Sarah J., a school teacher, residing in Fall River, Mass .; Horace C., who died in Attleboro, Mass., in 1894, leaving a widow and three children; and John A., the subject of this sketch.

John A. Brown pursued his elementary studies in the common schools, and later at- tended the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Since the death of his father he has carried on the homestead, giving his attention to general farming and dairying. As a typical New England farmer he displays the same thrift and industry that characterized his predeces- sors, and has worthily upheld the good name and high standing of his family in the com- munity.

In 1873 Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Agnes Crober, daughter of George Crober, of Ogdensburg, N. Y. He is the father of four sons - Arthur C., George H., Frank E., and Fred W.

Though never a seeker after public office, Mr. Brown served the town capably two years as Road Commissioner. In politics he votes with the Republican party.

LVIN HYDE, a box manufacturer and lumber dealer of Brookfield, Mass., is well known throughout this section of Worcester County as an active business man, who has met with excellent success in his chosen occupation. He was

born April 15, 1829, in Sturbridge, Mass., a son of Abijah and Sallie (Moore) Hyde, the former of whom was born in Sturbridge and the latter in Barre, Mass. He comes of English ancestry and of Revolutionary stock, as both his paternal and maternal grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War.

Alvin Hyde was brought up on the home farm in Sturbridge, and received his educa- tion in the district schools. He subsequently continued in farming pursuits until 1865, when he came to Brookfield to accept a posi- tion with Brewster & Twitchell, box manu- facturers and lumber dealers, by whom he was employed five or six years. Then, having acquired a thorough knowledge of the busi- ness, he purchased the plant, and, succeeding his former employers, has since conducted it with signal success. He is identified politi- cally with the Republican party, and with his family attends the Unitarian Congregational church.

On February 10, 1857, Mr. Hyde married Miss Josephine A. Manning, who was born in Brimfield, Mass., a daughter of Danforth and Betsey Manning. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have had six children, four of whom are living, namely : Martha M., born July 25, 1859, who is now Mrs. Dwight G. Tucker; Alice J., born September 14, 1864, now Mrs. E. B. Phettplace; Louis F., born January 20, 1866, who is attorney for the Elevated Railroad Company of Boston; and Walter A., born January 4, 1875. .

J OHN DANDRIDGE DARLING, a prominent resident of Manchaug, town of Sutton, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Douglas, this county, July 1, 1826, son of John and Lydia (Fuller) Darling. He is a descendant of William Darling, a Revolutionary patriot, who held a Lieutenant's commission, and who after the war of independence carried on a fulling and grist mill in this town. John Darling, the father, who was born in 1799, owned and cultivated a farm of two hundred acres, located in Manchaug. He was one of the leading residents of Sutton in his day,

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taking an active part in local public affairs and serving on the Board of Selectmen in 1859. He died some years ago at an advanced age.

John Dandridge Darling attended school in a district that was later ceded to the State of Rhode Island in exchange for a strip of terri- tory near Fall River, and is now included within the limits of Pawtucket. When a young man he learned the trade of a calico- print engraver, which he afterward followed for some time in Pawtucket and Manchester, N. H. He later ran an express from East Douglas to Worcester for a period of about seven years. While residing in Manchester he acquired a good knowledge of military dis- cipline as a member of the City Guards. On November 11, 1861, he enlisted in the First Battalion, Massachusetts Cavalry, under Colo- nel Robert Williams, of the regular army, and Captain Lucius Richmond. He was with his regiment in South Carolina when its first en- gagement was fought, and later, when it was stationed at Beaufort, S.C., and Jacksonville, Fla., and when it marched northward toward Andersonville, Ga. At the battle of Olustee he distinguished himself by volunteering to take a despatch from the left to the extreme right of the field, in the face of a galling fire from both sides, and successfully accomplished the task. In this battle the entire battalion rendered such efficient service as to receive the special commendation of the commanding officer. While at Yorktown, Va., in 1864, his time expired; and he re-enlisted for a term of three years, or until the close of the Rebellion. In the early part of 1865 the battalion was united with the Fourth Massa- chusetts Cavalry, under Colonel Washburn, and ordered by General Butler, who com- manded the division, to serve at headquarters. It was retained to perform the same duty by General Ord, who succeeded Butler; and it took an important part in the closing military operations that culminated in the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House. In an engagement fought April 6, 1865, Mr. Darling was captured by the enemy, and after- ward held a prisoner for six days, during which time his captors could give him but

a pint of meal with no opportunity for cooking it. The Fourth was detained to do guard duty in Richmond for six months after the close of hostilities, and was finally mustered out at Galloupe's Island, Boston Harbor. A resident of Sutton since then, Mr. Darling was em- ployed for many years as Constable and night watchman.

By his marriage with Mary Jerauld, of Paw- tucket, Mr. Darling became the father of nine children, namely : Ella Frances, born in 1848, who married Charles Rice and lives in Paw- tucket; Frank, born in 1850, who is a ma- chinist in the employ of the Manchaug Com - pany ; Franklin Augustus, born in 1852, who died in infancy; Charles, born in 1855, who is employed as a butcher by the Manchaug Company; Clarence, born in 1858, who re- sides in Rockdale; Walter, born in 1860, who works for the American Screw Company, of Providence, R.I .; Edward M., born in 1866, who works for the Manchaug Company ; Henry, born in 1869, who died at the age of twenty-eight years; and Lewis, born in 1871, who is also employed by the Manchaug Com- pany. In 1892 and 1893 Mr. Darling served as Overseer of the Poor. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic and a mem- ber of the Union Veterans' Legion.

OHN M. BRIGHAM, formerly a well- known citizen of Worcester, was born in Boylston, Mass., March 26, 1808. His father, Nathaniel Brigham, was a prosperous farmer of Boylston ; and his mother, Sarah Mason Brigham, was a native of Med- field, Mass. Of the four sons they reared, the third-born was John M. The others were : Luther, born in the year 1800, who died upon his farm in Boylston at the age of eighty- seven years, leaving one son; Calvin, who was an invalid for many years, and died at an

advanced age, leaving one son, George A .; and Henry H. Brigham, who tilled the soil in Boylston during his active years, and died in 1888, aged seventy-three, leaving two chil- dren. Henry's children are: Penniman M., now residing in Worcester; and Henrietta, now Mrs. Andrews, of Boylston Centre.

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John M. Brigham began life as a store clerk in Templeton, Mass. Later he came to Worcester, and was engaged in the meat busi- ness. He settled upon a farm on Grove Street, where he resided until his death, which occurred January 2, 1892. On October 3, 1844, he married Arminda Cinderella Still- man, who was born in Grafton, N. Y., daugh- ter of Esaias and Betsey (Blair) Stillman. Of her parents' five children, two sons are living. One of these, James Stillman, who was for many years an inspector of the United States Armory, Springfield, Mass., is now in his ninety-first year. The late Mr. Brigham was the father of two children - Sarah Mason and John Stillman Brigham. The latter, who was a member of the firm of Logan, Swift & Brigham, envelope manufacturers, had a cultivated taste in the fine arts. He served four years as a member of the City Council; and at the time of his death, which occurred February 19, 1897, when nearly fifty years of age, he was serving as Overseer of the Poor. He was an active member of the Congre- gational church. His wife, Nellie Spurr Brigham, and one son, Dwight Stillman Brig- ham, survive him. Sarah Mason Brigham acquired a good education, and for twenty years was an efficient teacher in the Worces- ter public schools. She resides in the home- stead dwelling, which was built by her father in 1847.

HARLES GREENWOOD, City For- ester of Worcester and a well-known market gardener, residing in the Seventh Ward, was born in the town of Hubbardston, this county, on Novem- ber 21, 1849, son of Aaron and Adaline (Rice) Greenwood. In early life his great- grandfather, Moses Greenwood, born in 1752, who died in March, 1829, settled with his two brothers, Abijah and Levi, in the town of Holden. Subsequently Moses lived in Hub- bardston, engaged in farming. In 1779 he married Betsy Dunlap, who was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1756. When four years old, Indians murdered her parents, burned their dwelling, and carried her off into

captivity, from which she was subsequently rescued. She became the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters, and died in December, 1826. Her son Moses, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, born in Hubbardston on November 4, 1785, died on September 26, 1828. He was a pros- perous farmer, and owned a saw-mill, where he manufactured lumber. On January 9, 1806, he was married to Polly Brown, who survived him some thirty-odd years. She was born in Hubbardston, May 16, 1780, and died on January 14, 1859. Her children num- bered four, as follows: Lyman, who was a farmer and town officer in Hubbardston for many years and the father of eight children ; Moses and Aaron, twins, who were born on May 23, 1808; and Cynthia, who married William Joslin, a farmer of Hubbardston. Mrs. Joslin died when about seventy years of age, leaving three daughters and two sons. Moses Greenwood went to the South, and became a wealthy and prominent cotton dealer in New Orleans. He died in that city in 1888, leaving two daughters and three sons, after losing the greater part of his property during the war.

Aaron Greenwood, father of Charles, was for many years a Selectman of Hubbardston, and for one year he represented that town and Templeton in the General Court. For a short time during the latter part of his life he re- sided in Worcester. His marriage took place on April 14, 1831, his wife being a native of Hubbardston and a daughter of William Rice, who was born on May 17, 1788, and died on November 13, 1831. Mr. Rice's wife, who lived to be eighty-eight years of age, was born in 1790. Only one of their children, Mrs. Sophia Gay, is now living. Mrs. Adaline Greenwood died in 1883. She was the mother of nine children, all of whom she reared, except one daughter, Lucy, who died at the age of seven years. The others were: Oella Jane, Sarah Rebecca, Charlotte, Aaron Hobart, George, Lucy Addie, Chester, and Charles. The first named of these is the wife of Lorenzo Barnes, of Worcester. Sarah Re- becca, who was the wife of William H. Earle, died in September, 1893, about sixty years of

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age. Charlotte is the widow of George P. Earle, of Exeter, N.H. Aaron Hobart, who was a volunteer in the Thirteenth Massachu- setts Regiment during the Civil War, was shot in the face at Antietam. Exposure in the ranks at Washington subsequently caused his death in a hospital at Alexandria, Va., on February 10, 1863, aged twenty-two years. George died at the Point of Rocks from wounds received in the war, and was buried on May 11, 1864, the twenty-first anniversary of his birth. Lucy Addie married William H. Earle after the death of her sister Sarah. Chester, who was a Corporal in the Twenty- fifth Regiment, was twice wounded, once in the head and once in the hand.

Charles Greenwood attended the public schools steadily until he was about fourteen years of age, continuing thereafter during the winters for several years longer. At the age of twenty-two he left home and went to Fitch- burg, where he worked by the month for two years and a half at market gardening. Since February 14, 1875, he has lived in Worcester; and since April 1, 1886, he has resided on the Patch farm, which, like the one adjoining it, the Hartshorn farm, is one of the historic places of Worcester. He bought originally a hundred and four acres, but has sold all but fifteen. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a member of the Worcester Common Council for two years. In the spring of 1898 he was appointed to his present position of Forester by the Board of Park Commissioners.

Mr. Greenwood was married on December 10, 1873, to Ella E. Grimes, daughter of Joseph and Augusta (Maynard) Grimes. Mr. Grimes, who died in 1894 at the age of seventy-four, ran a farm and also worked for a time in a chair factory at Gardner. Mrs. Grimes, a native of Sterling, now seventy- four years of age, is living in Arlington, Mass. She gave birth to one son and seven daughters, all of whom grew up and are now living, except one daughter. The son, Fred- erick W. Grimes, resides in Jamaica Plain. Mrs. Greenwood is a member of the Union Congregational church. She is the mother of two fine sons - Burt W. and Harold J. The former, who was born on March 18, 1881,

is now in the high school, class of 1900. Harold J. was born on May 7, 1884.

ILLIAM STONE, a retired business man of Otter River, in the town of Templeton, Mass., was born upon the farm where he now resides, May 1, 1827, son of Leonard and Lydia (Richardson) Stone. His early ancestors on both sides were Eng- lish.

The homestead at Otter River was granted many years ago to a member of the Stone fam- ily for valiant services rendered in the early Indian wars. The first to locate upon the grant was William Stone's grandfather, Leon- ard Stone, Sr., who was born in 1747, and came here from Groton, Mass. A sturdy pio- neer and an energetic farmer, he made the original improvements; and his family were reared upon this estate. He was a Revolu- tionary soldier and a prominent citizen of Templeton in his day. He died April 18, 1818. On February 16, 1781, he married Mrs. Katharine Wyman Kendall, widow of Aaron Kendall. She was born in 1753, and died November 25, 1810.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 44

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