Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 45

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 45

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Leonard Stone, son of Leonard, Sr., was born at the homestead, October 26, 1784. He inherited the property, and for many years was busily engaged in farming and lumber- ing. He was closely identified with public affairs, serving as a Selectman and in other town offices and as Representative to the State legislature for the years 1828-29 and 1831. In politics he acted with the Whig party. He was actively interested in military affairs, and held a Colonel's commission in the State militia. In his religious belief he was a Unitarian. He died January 20, 1857. Lydia, his wife, was born in Templeton, Jan- uary 27, 1789. Her father was John Richard- son, who was born in Roxbury, Mass., Febru- ary 17, 1737, and became an early settler in Templeton, where he resided for the rest of his life. He was at one time a member of the General Court. He enrolled himself in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and was made a Lieutenant and later promoted to the rank of Captain. Leonard

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and Lydia Stone were the parents of five chil- dren, two of whom are living; namely, Will- iam and E. Wyman Stone, both of Templeton. The others were: Abbie B., born November 28, 1820, who married A. S. Lincoln, and died February 13, 1879; Leonard, born September 11, 1822, who died June 19, 1862; and Lydia R., who was born January 14, 1829, and died May 1, 1877. The mother died October 22, 1854.

William Stone supplemented his common- school education with courses of study at the Deerfield and Leicester Academies. In com- pany with his brother Leonard he succeeded to his father's lumber business, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. Eventually sell -; ing his interest in that enterprise, he was for the next five years engaged in the terra-cotta business at Worcester. Returning to Otter River, he became a member of the lumber firm of L. & E. W. Stone, with which he was connected for some time; and in 1872 he as- sociated himself with C. S. Lord in the iron foundry and stove manufacturing business, under the firm name of Lord & Stone. This partnership continued for twenty years, at the end of which time Mr. Stone sold his interest to his son, Frederick P., and retired. He has since devoted his time to farming at the home- stead, which is owned jointly by his brother and himself, and he occupies a handsome residence located upon his part of the estate.

In 1854 William Stone married Martha P. Paige, who was born in Greenfield, Mass., January 4, 1832, daughter of Martin and Mary A. Paige. Three children were the fruit of this union. The eldest, Lucius Paige Stone, born March 27, 1857, died May 9, 1884. The second, Frederick P., born August 10, 1855, is a member of the firm of Lord, Stone & Co., stove manufacturers, Otter River; and the third, William S. Stone, born April 2, 1862, resides in Braintree, Mass. On March 12, 1882, Frederick P. Stone married Sally W. Oliphant, formerly of Pemberton, N. J., and has had three children - Malcomb E., Marion P., and Lydia R. (now deceased). William S. Stone married Mary E. Russell, of Provi- dence, R. I., and has two children - Barbara R. and Rodger P.

In politics Mr. Stone is a Republican, and was Representative to the legislature in 1872. In his religious belief he is a Unitarian. He has been a successful business man, and his efforts received a merited financial reward. Mrs. Martha P. Stone died March 29, 1892. Mr. Stone is Past Master of Hope Lodge, F. & A. M., of Gardner.

WYMAN STONE was born at the homestead, December 5, 1830. He attended schools in Templeton, Lynn, and Leicester, Mass., and Keene, N. H. When a young man he engaged in farming, and was also in company with his brothers in carrying on lumber operations. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty- first Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, with which he participated in the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, N.C. At the last-named engagement, March 14, 1862, he lost a leg. After his discharge he resumed general farming at the homestead.

On September 14, 1858, E. Wyman Stone was joined in marriage to Miss B. Berdille Sawyer, who was born in Templeton, August 27, 1836, daughter of George W. and Sally (White) Sawyer. Her father, George W. Sawyer, was a miller, a farmer, and a lumber- man. He was born at Phillipston, Mass., July 18, 1807, and his wife was born in the same town, November 2, 1806. He passed the major part of his active life in Templeton, where he became a prominent business man and held various town offices. He died No- vember 17, 1888, and Mrs. Sawyer died Jan- uary 8, 1874. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to ma- turity and eight are living. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have five children, namely : Abbie P., born July 4, 1859, who is now Mrs. Maynard; Helen M., born September 24, 1863, now Mrs. Hutchins; George S., born February 3, 1866; Everett W., born September 23, 1868; and Ralph B., born June 4, 1882.

Politically, Mr. E. Wyman Stone is a Re- publican. He was for a number of years a member of the Board of Assessors, and he has also been Collector. He has served as a

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Justice of the Peace for the past thirty-five years, and during that time has settled several estates. He is a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Past Commander of Ericsson Post, No. 109. He possesses some interesting family relics, among them being an account book formerly belonging to his grandfather, which contains entries written in 1772; his grandfather's commission signed by Governor John Hancock; and a copy of the Massachusetts Spy, printed in 1821. Mr. and Mrs. E. Wyman Stone are members of the Unitarian church.

ATHAN E. METCALF, a Deputy Sheriff residing. in Leominster, was born in Elizabethtown, Ky., March 14, 1854, son of William and Emma Lucy (Brown) Metcalf. The father, who was a stove and tinware dealer in Eliza- bethtown, died in that place at the age of about forty-five years. His widow, who is still living, and who is a resident of the State of Illinois, reared four children, namely : Nathan E., the subject of this sketch; Will- iam, a physician ; David B. ; and Anna Eliza- beth, now Mrs. A. E. Johnston, of Chicago. William Metcalf, M.D., who is now practis- ing his profession in the West, served in the Union army during the Civil War, and suf- fered captivity in Confederate prisons. David B. is in the printing business in Chicago.

Nathan E. Metcalf accompanied his mother to Illinois when he was three years old, and his education was acquired in the public schools. While yet a young man he entered the employ of the Kansas Rolling Mills Com- pany at Kansas City, with which he remained for a number of years. Subsequently he was engaged for three years in the woodenware, cordage, twine and paper, and paper bag busi- ness. In 1885 he came East, and after a short stay in Fitchburg he entered the real estate business in Leominster. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff in 1889, and is still serving in that capacity, having proved himself a capable official.

On October 21, 1885, Mr. Metcalf was united in marriage with Annie L. Lawrence,

daughter of George Lawrence, formerly of Ashby, Mass. Mrs. Metcalf has been the mother of one daughter, who is no longer living.

Mr. Metcalf was formerly a director of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Association. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, and is a member of the Wilder Lodge, F. & A. M., of Leominster; Thomas Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Fitchburg; Hiram Council, Royal and Select Masters, Worcester; Jerusalem Commandery, Knights Templar, of Fitchburg; the Massachusetts Consistory and Aleppo Tem- ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Boston. He is Standard Bearer of the Commandery and M. E. H. P. of Thomas Chapter. Mr. Metcalf is also a member and Past Worthy Patron of Temple Chapter, No. 45, Order of the Eastern Star. He attends the Congrega- tional church.

UDSON WARREN HAKES, a prom- inent manufacturer of Millbury, was born here, July 5, 1853. A son of Henry Hudson and Prudence (Sweetser) Hakes, he is descended from John Hakes, an Englishman, who settled at Wind- sor, Conn., in 1640, and who had a family of ten children. His great-grandfather was Solo- mon Hakes, who was married in Stonington, Conn., January 16, 1718, to Ann Billings. One of his great-uncles, Jabez Hakes, who resided successively in Rensselaer and Onon- daga Counties of New York State, was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. Jesse Hakes, the grandfather, born at or near Stonington in 1792, who died on July 22, 1866, was a mason by trade, and spent the greater part of his life in Woonsocket, R. I. On January 24, 1816, he married Clarissa Campbell. Of their seven children, the survivors are : Henry Hudson Hakes, the fourth-born, now retired from business; Lucinda, the wife of John Brown, of Lunenburg; and Minerva, the wife of Fred Osmer, of Ware, Mass. Henry Hud- son Hakes was born at Windham, Conn., August 4, 1823. In 1841 he went to Slaters- ville, and thence to Ware in 1849. Three years later he came to Millbury. He had

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been in the livery business for many years when he retired in favor of his son-in-law, Mr. Powers. His wife, Prudence, whom he married at Thompson, Conn., in 1845, was born at Slatersville, R.I., on October 14, 1826. Their son Charles died at the age of three years. Their living children are : Emma Jane, who is the wife of David Powers, of Millbury; Hudson Warren Hakes, the sub- ject of this sketch ; and Charles Henry Hakes, a popular and skilful dentist of Millbury.

At the age of twelve years Hudson Warren Hakes was obliged to leave school and go to work in a factory for fifty cents a day, as his father was in the army, and his soldier's pay of twelve dollars per month was not sufficient for the support of the family. When fifteen years old he left the mill, and went to work for John Horey on the tobacco farm of Colonel Asa H. Waters, where he continued for two years, earning seventy-five cents a day. During these years he attended school in the winter, besides trying to improve him- self in other ways. Naturally studious, had he had the educational facilities, he could have entered one of the professions. Able in later years to indulge his liking for study, he is to-day well-informed on most subjects of in- terest to the public, and is the owner of a valuable collection of books. Upon leaving Colonel Waters's place, he entered the employ of C. D. Morse & Co., manufacturers of sashes and blinds, with whom he remained for two years and a half. Then he went to the Gil- bert Loom Works, where he worked for the same length of time, in company with his mother's brother. In 1879, with a capital of two hundred dollars, he came back to Mill- bury, rented the upper story of the C. D. Morse & Co. sash and blind shop, and began manufacturing on his own account. There were three other establishments of the same kind in the country. In addition to their com- petition, he had to struggle against a deliberate attempt to crush him. But amid these dis- couraging circumstances he persevered, and in the end was successful. His factory had been in operation for two years and a half, when it was destroyed by fire. After the disaster he bought for one hundred and twenty-five dollars

over seven thousand feet of land, and thereon erected a building fifty-six by thirty feet, which was the nucleus of his present establish- ment. At the present time his buildings cover an area of thirty-two thousand eight hundred square feet. Steam power is used, and the latest improved machinery. The goods are sold throughout the United States and Canada. On October 22, 1890, the H. W. Hakes Manufacturing Company was formed, with Mr. Hakes as manager and Ed- ward L. Watson as treasurer. It is of inter- est to note that on the site of this large fac- tory, in his youth, Mr. Hakes pruned and weeded tobacco plants at seventy-five cents a day.

On May 17, 1877, Mr. Hakes was married to Cora Louise Bennett, of Millbury, a daugh- ter of Timothy and Susan (Fairbrother) Ben- nett, the former of whom died in 1892. Mrs. Bennett, who now resides with Mrs. Hakes, has two sons living - Arthur and William F. Bennett. Mr. Hakes is one of the active Republicans of the town. He is now serving his fourth year on the Board of Selectmen. His residence, which was recently erected, is located in one of the pleasantest parts of the village, and is in every way commodious and tasteful.

EUBEN ADAMS, the proprietor of a productive farm in Brookfield, was born where he now resides, August 28, 1817, son of Joseph and Phœbe (Newhall) Adams. The Adams farm was originally the property of Jude Adams, the grandfather, who was a well-known resident of Brookfield in his day. Joseph Adams, the father, who was a lifelong resident of this town and died in his ninety-ninth year, occu- pied the farm during his long period of activ- ity, and was a successful agriculturist. He was active in public affairs, and for a number of years served with ability as a member of the Board of Selectmen. Phoebe, his wife, who was a native of Spencer, Mass., became the mother of several children, two of whom, Artemus and Amos, served in the Civil War. Those now living are: Reuben, the subject of

REUBEN ADAMS.

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this sketch; Allen Adams, a resident of Spen- cer; Adelaide, the wife of Enos Gardner, of Worcester; and Laura, the wife of Henry Stone, of Sturbridge, Mass.

Reuben Adams has resided all his lifetime on the homestead. He acquired his education in the district schools of Brookfield. When a young man he engaged in shoemaking, and followed it for a number of years in connec- tion with farming. He finally relinquished his trade in order to give his entire attention to the cultivation of his property, which con- tains one hundred and twenty-five acres of ex- cellent land, and ranks among the most produc- tive farms in this locality. He has tilled the soil with unusual energy, making good use of every opportunity to advance his interests; and he is still actively engaged in attending to his regular duties about the place, display- ing the strength and agility of a much younger man.

Mr. Adams first married Diantha Doane, of Charlton, who bore him three children. Of these the only one living is Villeroy, now the wife of John Green, of Spencer. By his sec- ond marriage, contracted with Sarah E. Stock- well, a native of Sutton, Mass., who died Oc- tober 28, 1896, he has two daughters --- Fannie M. and Edna L. Edna married Al- fonso Cota, of this town, and now has four children - Florence B., Henry S., Phoebe A., and Reuben A. Cota. Mr. Adams is inde- pendent in politics, believing in the election of such candidates for public office as are best qualified to serve, regardless of party. All movements calculated to benefit the town are sure of his hearty co-operation.

ILLIAM ANSEL WASHBURN, Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Jailer of Worcester and one of the most trusted of the city's officials, was born in Pax- ton, this county, on the 14th of August, 1837, son of John and Nancy (Bemis) Washburn. Of English origin, the family has long been represented in the United States. Interest- ing reference to it is made in the History of Leicester, under sketches of the Washburn and Earl families, The first of the name

here, John Washburn, came to the country in 1640 as secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. William A. Washburn's great- grandfather, Jacob Washburn, was born in North Bridgewater, now Brockton. Francis Washburn, the grandfather, born in North Bridgewater in 1769, died in 1844 or 1845. By the first of his two marriages, contracted with Ruth Earl, of Leicester, daughter of Marmaduke Earl, a locksmith, there were two sons - Welcome and John. His second wife, in maidenhood Polly Watson, had a son and a daughter. Catherine, the daughter, married Ezekiel Bellows. Delphos, the son, who was a merchant and who married Adeline Trask, died in Worcester, leaving no issue. Francis Washburn and both his wives were buried in Paxton churchyard.

John Washburn, who was born in Leicester on November 14, 1800, died in 1867. He began life without capital, and learned both the blacksmith's and shoemaker's trades. For several years also he drove a stage-coach between Boston and Worcester, handling the ribbons over four horses with skill, and mak- ing punctual trips. He was married in 1831 to Nancy Bemis, who was born in Paxton, September 26, 1806, daughter of Alpheus and Polly (Prouty) Bemis. After spending her thirty-six years of married life on the farm in ·Paxton, she died in 1878, having been the mother of four children - Delia, William A. and Alice (twins), and Julia. Delia married William Browning, of Spencer. Her only daughter, Lois, who married Arthur Bemis and subsequent to his death a Mr. Hobbs, died leaving one son. Alice, who resides in Spencer, has been twice married, her first husband having been Alexander Morrison, and her second, who is now deceased, John Lamb. She had a son, who is also deceased. Julia, the widow of Erastus Woodis, resides in Worcester. She had one child, now deceased.

William Ansel Washburn grew up to farm life, and early learned the shoemaker's trade at his father's bench. At the age of eighteen he left home and came to Worcester, where he was employed as an attendant in the Hospital for the Insane for four years. Following that he was for eight months a clerk in a grocery

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store. He then began work as a nail-maker in the factory of Prouty & Allen in Worces- ter. Appointed patrolman on the police force in 1865, he was made captain two years later, and six months after that he was ap- pointed assistant marshal. This position he held from 1873 to 1880, again in 1883, and still again from 1886 to 1893. During the years he was dropped on account of politi- cal reasons, he filled the office of turnkey in the jail. In 1893 he received the appoint- ment as Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Jailer.

A Mason in good standing, Mr. Washburn is a member of the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, the Commandery, the Council, and the Lodge of Perfection. He is also an Odd Fellow. Politically, he has always been a Republican. In religious belief he is a Universalist. On November 29, 1860, he was united in mar- riage with Emily Delano, of Provincetown, Mass. She is one of six survivors of the nine children of John and Eliza (Atkins) Delano. Her children were: Alice, who died at the age of nine months; a daughter that died in infancy; and Edith, who is studying music and lives with her parents. The family resi- dence is 22 Dean Street.

HIPMAN HOPKINS MAXHAM, a veteran agriculturist, now living re- tired from active pursuits in the village of Millbury, was born Sep- tember 10, 1818, in Middleboro, Plymouth County, which was also the birthplace of his father, Samuel Maxham, Jr. The Maxham family is of Welsh origin, and was first repre- sented on American soil by three brothers, who came to Massachusetts in early Colonial times, and were afterward devoted to the in- terests of their adopted country.

Samuel Maxham, Sr., the paternal grand- father of Chipman H., was born in Middle- boro, and there spent his entire life, dying not far from the place of his birth. He first married Margaret Lucas, who bore him two daughters and three sons, among whom was Samuel Maxham, Jr. By a second marriage he had three children, one son and two daugh- ters. Two of his children are yet living,

namely : Asa, a resident of Sandy Hill, N. Y .; and James, who died in Bolton, N.Y. The grandfather was a veteran of the Revolution, having enlisted three times, twice in a Mas- sachusetts regiment and once in a company of Connecticut volunteers.

Samuel Maxham, Jr., also a native of Middleboro, born April 14, 1789, resided in that town until 1823, when he removed with his wife and seven children to Vermont. Here his household was increased by the birth of three more children. His wife, in maiden- hood Mary Shurtliff, whom he married Decem- ber 31, 1810, was born in Plymouth County, August 20, 1787, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Atwood) Shurtliff. She died Decem- ber 9, 1862, in Northfield, Vt., and he on July 13, 1870. The record of their ten chil- dren is as follows: Priscilla S., born Novem- ber 6, 1811, was twice married, her second husband being a Mr. Blanchard, and died March 20, 1895, after burying all of her five children; Edwin A., born June 10, 1813, died September 19, 1895, leaving three children, one of whom, Ada E., has lived with her uncle Chipman for eight years, hav- ing been his housekeeper since the death of his wife; Mary A., born July 23, 1816, now the widow Blanchard, resides in Worcester County; Ansel S., born March 25, 1817, was a pioneer settler of Montana, where he died at the age of seventy-five years, leaving one daughter, the present Mrs. Savage, of Lowell, Mass. ; Chipman Hopkins is the subject of this sketch; Samuel B., born July 11, 1820, died in 1892 in Canada, leaving a widow, who now resides in Vermont, and two children; Galen C., born February 25, 1822, lives in North- field, Vt. ; Hosea C., born April 13, 1824, enlisted as a volunteer in the. Civil War from Ohio, was wounded at the battle of Chicka- mauga, taken prisoner, and carried to Ander- sonville Prison, where he died soon after; Emeline P., born February 20, 1826, is the wife of Lysander Twitchell, of Athol, Mass., and has three sons; and Sarah Almira, born May 20, 1828, married Wilder Cross, and died November 8, 1850, her death being the first to occur in the family circle.

Chipman H. Maxham was but five years old

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when he accompanied his parents to Vermont, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. He remained on the home farm until twenty- eight years old, when he returned to Massa- chusetts. Subsequently he bought land in Millbury, and was here successfully engaged in general farming until his removal to his present home in the village. Having acquired considerable property, though he has met with losses through investments in Western lands, he has still a competency. He has taken an intelligent interest in local affairs, and has served as Assessor and Street Commissioner for several years. An honest, hard-working official, he expended the money allowed him to build and repair the highways most judi- ciously ; and the excellent condition of the roads and streets in this locality is largely due to his efforts. A Whig in his earlier years, since the formation of the Republican party he has been one of its stanchest supporters. Besides being a Master Mason, he is a mem- ber and one of the most active workers of the Second Congregational Church.

On August 25, 1855, Mr. Maxham mar- ried Eliza Clement, of Claremont, N.H. Born October 2, 1821, she died at her late home in Millbury, March 3, 1896. They had no children of their own, but reared a niece and nephew of Mrs. Maxham, children of her brother, Alvah Clement. Arthur Clem- ent, the foster-son of Mr. Maxham, was but nine years old when he was left an orphan. He grew to manhood under the care and protection of Mr. Maxham, who gave him ex- cellent educational advantages. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and served until the end of the Civil War without losing a day. He died in 1887, leaving a widow and one son, both of whom are now living in Hopedale, Mass.

ERBERT L. POLLARD, one of the most extensive dairymen of New Braintree, was born in Westboro, September 24, 1844, son of Moses and Ann O. (Pierce) Pollard. He is a de- scendant in the eighth generation of William

Pollard, of Coventry, Warwickshire, England, whose son Thomas, his first American ances- tor, settled in Billerica, Mass., as early as 1692.

From Thomas Pollard the line was con- tinued through John, first, and John, sec- ond, to Joel, first, who was born in that town, May 15, 1749, and who settled upon a farm in Hubbardston, Mass., where he resided for the rest of his life. On March 8, 1770, Joel Pollard, first, married Mary Maynard, of Rutland, Mass. Their son, Joel Pollard, second, the sixth in lineal descent, was born in Hubbardston, May 14, 1778. He was a farmer, and cultivated the Pollard homestead property from the time of succeeding to its possession until his death, which occurred April 24, 1846. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Fisk. She died in June, 1862.

Moses Pollard, son of Joel and Ruth (Fisk) Pollard, was born in Hubbardston, September 8, 1815, and was reared upon his father's farm. When a young man he resided for one year in Princeton and also one year in West- boro. After returning to Hubbardston and spending some two years, he came to New Braintree, where he married his first wife, who inherited the farm which is now owned by their son, the subject of this sketch. This property was cleared from the wilderness by her mother's grandfather, Jacob Nichols, who was one of the original settlers in New Brain- tree; and it has since remained in the posses- sion of his descendants. Moses Pollard re- sided here, tilling the soil, until 1874, when he returned to Westboro, where he died, Au- gust 15, 1891. He was a capable farmer, and while living here he improved the property by erecting new buildings. He served as a member of the Board of Assessors, being at one time chairman of the board, and was chairman of the Board of Assessors in West- boro seven years. In politics he acted with the Republican party. He was a member and a Deacon of the Congregational church.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 45

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