Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 46

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 46

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Ann O. Pierce Pollard, his first wife, who died September 3, 1875, was born in New Braintree, October 2, 1819, daughter of Sampson and Fanny (Nichols) Pierce. Her maternal grandfather was David Nichols, son

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of Jacob, the original owner of the farm, as before stated. On July 5, 1876, Moses Pol- lard married for his second wife Mrs. Phœbe Hartwell Brown, a widow, who is still living, and resides in Hubbardston. Moses Pollard was the father of six children, all by his first marriage. Four of these are living, namely : Herbert L., the subject of this sketch; David N., born November 24, 1846; Charles F., born December 19, 1848; and Moses F., born June 18, 1855. David N., who is a merchant in Ashland, N. H., married Juliette Webster, and has two daughters - Martha L. and Ella M. Charles F., who is a farmer and fruit- grower in De Land, Fla., married Louisa Brown, and has three children - Goldwin Smith, Moses, and Bertha. Moses F., who is a prosperous farmer of Westboro, married Matilda Winchester; and his children are : Etta J., Alice, Alfred, and Ruth. The two that died in infancy were William and Will- iam Henry.

Herbert L. Pollard in his childhood and youth attended successively the common schools of New Braintree, the Springfield High School, and the Westfield Academy, and finally completed his studies with a short course at Eastman's Business College, Pough- keepsie, N. Y. For the first few years after leaving school he was employed as a clerk in a grocery store in Worcester. In 1868 he went to Missouri, where he bought land and resided thereon a year and a half, at the end of which time he sold his property. For eight years after his return he was engaged in cultivating the Moses Ayers farm, which his wife had inherited. In 1878 he took posses- sion of the Nichols farm, called Ashland, on account of the many fine ash-trees growing upon it, and has since carried on a large dairy busi- ness, keeping about fifty head of cattle, in- cluding thirty milch cows of a mixed breed, producing in 1897 nine thousand cans of milk. Ashland Farm occupies an elevated position, and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. It is noted for its fertility, and its hay crop alone amounts to one hundred tons annually.

On March 24, 1870, Mr. Pollard was joined in marriage with Sarah A. Johnson, who was

born in North Brookfield, September 3, 1845, daughter of Henry and Julia Ann (Ayers) Johnson. Her father was born in the same town in 1804, and her mother was born in New Braintree in 1810. Henry Johnson was a mechanic. He moved in 1864 to New Braintree, where he died February 10, 1877, having survived his wife, who died December 5, 1847. Their only daughter, Sarah A., inherited from Moses Ayers the farm previ- ously alluded to. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard have had nine children, six of whom are living, namely : Harry D., born July 23, 1873; Henry J., born June 10, 1875; William M., born February 25, 1877; Frederick, born February 10, 1880; Mary F., born September 13, 1882; and Nellie V., born December 7, 1884. The others were : Julia A., who died at the age of ten years; S. Grace, who died aged eleven months; and Clara B., who died aged three months.

Mr. Pollard was a Selectman two years. He is now chairman of the Board of Assessors, of which he has been a member nine years. He has been a member of the School Commit- tee two years. In politics he is a Republi- can. He is a member of the Worcester County West Agricultural Society, and with Mrs. Pollard belongs to the local grange, No. 170, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Pollard has been officially connected with the Sunday- school of the Congregational church, and Mrs. Pollard is also a member. Both the Pollards and the Ayers are highly reputable families of this town, and their ancestors were promi- nently identified with its early development.

ENRY MATHEWSON, of Brook- field, a thriving dairy farmer, was born in Gloucester, R.I., March 7, 1830, son of Arthur and Betsey (Evans) Mathewson. His paternal grand- father was Thomas Mathewson, a resident of Scituate, R. I. Arthur Mathewson, father of Henry, was born in Scituate, R. I., his wife, Betsey, being a native of New Hampshire. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom three are now living, namely : Lucy, widow of Joshua Angel, a former resident of

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Gloucester; Daniel, who resides in Provi- dence; and Henry, the subject of this sketch.

Henry Mathewson received his education in the district schools of his neighborhood. He was reared upon his father's farm in Glouces- ter, where he resided until soon after the close of the Civil War, when he came to Brookfield. He has since devoted his energies to the cul- tivation of his farm of one hundred and thirty acres, which is located upon the State Road, near the village. He deals quite extensively in milk.

Mr. Mathewson married Susannah Allen, daughter of Zebediah Allen, a late resident of Brookfield. He had five children, namely : Allen Z. and Henry, residents of this town ; George W. and Everett, who reside in South- ern California; and Lottie A. Mrs. Mathew- son died March 28, 1893. She was a member of the Congregational church. Politically, Mr. Mathewson is independent, supporting those candidates for public office who he thinks will best serve the public. A practi- cal and intelligent New England farmer, he is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.

'ILAS DUNTON, one of the leading merchants of Millbury, Mass., who is carrying on a prosperous business as senior member of the well-known firm, Dunton & Winter, was born in the vil- lage of Millbury, April 9, 1818, son of Moses Dunton. The grandfather, Silas Dunton, born of Scotch ancestors and a lifelong farmer of Sturbridge, reared a family of four sons and three daughters. All the children married, except Perley, who was a blacksmith, and who died in the prime of manhood. Another son, Zenas, was also a blacksmith by trade. Sam- uel went to the State of New York when young, and became an extensive farmer.

Moses Dunton also learned the blacksmith's trade. While yet a young man he came to Millbury, where, after working for a time as a journeyman, he established a smithy of his own, and for a number of years carried on a successful business. A tall, slender man, the amount of stooping necessitated by his work undermined his health to such a degree

that he was forced to give up the shop. He subsequently worked in the gun shop of the United States Armory, then in charge of Asa Waters, a government contractor; but for sev- eral years before his death, in 1866, he was retired from active pursuits. In 1813 he married Miss Zoa Pierce, who was born in Sutton, Mass., daughter of Isaac Pierce. They had five children, as follows: Austin, born in 1815, who died November 25, 1897; William, born in 1816, who resides in New- port, N. H., and has two children; Silas, the subject of this biography; Mrs. Martha Dex- ter, of Cambridge, Mass., who is a widow, with three children; and Mary, who died of brain fever at the age of seventeen years. The mother passed away in 1870.

Silas Dunton received such educational advantages as were given a farmer's boy in his day. At the age of fourteen he left the district school to become an assistant in his father's shop. Two years later he began his mercantile career as a clerk for A. G. Stiles & Co., merchants in Millbury, with whom he remained until the dissolution of the firm. In 1839 he went to Louisville, Ky., where he was a salesman for three years in the boot and shoe store established in that city by Wood & Warren, of Upton, Mass. After returning home in December, 1842, he soon went South again, to dispose of a bankrupt stock of boots and shoes, which he sold to dealers in Mem- phis, St. Louis, and Louisville. From 1844 to 1846 he was employed as a salesman in a dry-goods store in Worcester, Mass. ; and during the ensuing year he was a clerk in. a Boston clothing house. Then he had charge of the latter place for a year and a half, and was next paymaster for a cotton manufacturing company. Leaving the cotton company in 1848, he became the junior member of the firm of Robbins & Dunton, of Millbury, which firm had a successful trade in general mer- chandise for three years. At the end of that period Mr. Dunton bought out his partner, and in company with Mr. Denny, an experi- enced druggist, added a drug department to the store, and continued the business for a number of years. Mr. Denny subsequently withdrew to go West; and two years later

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Mr. Dunton took his son-in-law, Mr. Morse, into partnership. Just after the close of the Civil War Mr. Dunton sold out his store, and in company with others went to Richmond, Va., to look up timber lands along the York River. Having concluded not to invest his money there, he returned home, and in a short time went to Canada, where he unwisely em- barked in the oil-well business. After drop- ping a few thousands of dollars in the holes he again returned to Millbury, this time to stay. He bought back his former business, and conducted it two years as the head of the firm of Dunton & Morse. In 1872 the pres- ent firm came into existence, and has since carried on an extensive and profitable business in general merchandise, of which they have a complete assortment.

On August 22, 1846, Mr. Dunton married Olivia L. Guild, of Oxford, Mass., who was born in Augusta, Me., daughter of Davis and Olivia (Lyon) Guild. She died July 25, 1884, at the age of sixty years. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunton, namely : Emma C., who married James A. Morse, of Worcester, Mass., and has two sons; and Joseph, of Millbury, who married Miss Fanny Temple, of this village. Mr. Dunton, Sr., is a thirty-second degree Mason, and is the oldest member of Olive Branch Lodge, F. & A. M., of Millbury, which he joined nearly forty years ago. In politics he is a steadfast Republican, and he represented this district in the State legislature in 1868.

RTEMAS MERRIAM, late a well- known chair manufacturer of West- minster, Mass., was born on July 21, 1818, at the early home of his parents, Joel and Polly (Farnsworth) Mer- riam, at the "Narrows," in the east part of the town. He died on March 1, 1898, at South Westminster, where he had made his home and had been engaged in business many years. He was the last survivor of a family of nine children. Franklin Merriam, one of his brothers, was a noted Baptist clergyman. Another, Joel Merriam, Jr., the father of Frank A. Merriam, was prominent in public

affairs. Joel Merriam owned and carried on a farm. He also made cooper stock, such as barrels; and he had a carding machine.

Artemas Merriam lived with his parents on the old homestead until sixteen years old, when his father sold the water-power and removed to Meeting House Pond. Artemas supplemented his district schooling by attend- ing an academy winters. For some time in his youth he was employed in the Wyman Paper Mill, and he also worked at coopering and driving team. On his twentieth birthday he proposed to his father to buy his time, agreeing to pay fifty dollars on his twenty- first birthday and to give him a pair of boots. His father consenting, this he did. He began life for himself by taking a job at coopering for Mr. Wyman, with whom he remained until twenty-four years old. After that he spent a few months at Gardner in charge of a store, and also worked a short time making settee cradles. In 1843 he bought a part of his father's farm on Meeting House Pond, built a small shop, and began to make settee cradles on his own account. The business grew so that he was soon able to devote his whole time to it and hire a few men.

In 1849 he started the present plant at the head of the pond, where there is now a consid- erable village, but was then only one house. That was the home of Asa Holden, his wife's father; and her brother, George Holden, be- came Mr. Merriam's partner, under the style of Merriam & Holden. They increased the business, employed more men, and put in a steam-engine, the first one in town. At first they contracted for a twenty-five horse power engine. But some of the townspeople were fearful that the supply of fuel would run short, and other serious results follow ; and so much was said that they finally compromised on a fifteen horse power engine. There being no roads to get their product out to market, a town meeting was called to consider and vote upon building the needed highway. The measure was opposed on the ground that their business would not prove a success, and there would be no use for it. However, a roundabout road was built in 1856. By that time they had worked up a good business, and were obliged

LOUIS J. KENDALL.

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to further increase the capacity of their plant by purchasing heavier engines. About 1860 Joel Merriam, Jr., brother of Artemas, became a partner in the firm. He had charge of the

paint shop. Mr. Holden looked after the manufacturing, and Mr. Merriam did the sell- ing. They employed between sixty and sev- enty men; and the future looked bright for a prosperous business, until on November 1, 1868, nearly the entire plant was destroyed by fire, their loss being estimated at about forty thousand dollars. Soon after D. C. Miles, who had money to invest, joined them; and they proceeded to rebuild their plant. This time they put in a one hundred horse power engine; and, as a good road had been opened, they were better equipped both for manufact- uring and marketing their product than ever before. After three years' connection with the firm Mr. Miles withdrew from the partner- ship. On May 7, 1873, Joel Merriam died ; but his interest was continued by his son Hervey, who also held the position of book- keeper in the office. Only a little over a month later, June 21, 1873, Mr. Holden died.

Artemas Merriam then secured Mr. Hol- den's interest, which gave him six-eighths of the entire plant; and soon after he bought his nephew's interest, which gave him entire control. His ability to make the payments was questioned, the notes being made payable each six months, with interest at six per cent. But he was able to pay even earlier than re- quired; and, as he had the notes made pay- able "on or before," the holders were obliged to accept his payments, though not desiring to do so until the expiration of the full time given. In 1875 he found himself the sole proprietor of the plant. When he purchased the Holden interest, it was agreed that he should use the old style of Merriam & Holden ; but owing to objections that were made he subsequently changed the firm name to A. Mer- riam, and continued to use this. In later years he made the manufacture of settees his spe- cialty, and had a large export trade, shipping to Buenos Ayres, Australia, and other distant places. He employed nearly one hundred men. Around this plant has sprung up the little village of South Westminster, with some

twenty-five families, all dependent upon this one industry. There is a school and post- office. At one period Mr. Merriam owned about fifteen hundred acres of land, and at the time of his death he was the owner of several hundred acres. He served in the principal town offices and in the State legislature.

On June 8, 1841, Mr. Merriam was married to Salome Holden, daughter of Asa and Dolly (Whitney) Holden. Mrs. Merriam and two daughters, Ella M. and Ida E., survive her husband. She was born on this farm, which has been handed down from her grandfather, Elias Holden, who first owned it. Ella M. Merriam is the wife of Adin F. Baker, of South Westminster, and has a son and daugh- ter -- J. Artemas and Ella M. Ida E. is the wife of Samuel D. Simonds, superintendent of the Merriam shop, in which he has been em- ployed for some years. Mr. and Mrs. Simonds reside with Mrs. Merriam. They have three children - Ralph M., Donald D., and Stella S.

OUIS JONES KENDALL, an enter- prising and prosperous stock-raiser and dairyman of Worcester, resid- ing in Ward Eight, was born Feb- ruary 17, 1858, in Barre, Mass., son of Henry Jones Kendall. Of English origin, he is a descendant of a family that has been identified with the history of Massachusetts for several generations. The paternal grandfather, a well-to-do farmer, was a lifelong resident of Barre, where he was born in 1790, and died in 1862. He married Mary Estabrook, of Holden, Mass., who died in 1892, aged eighty-seven years. They had three children, two of whom grew to maturity, namely: Caro- line E., now the wife of Estes Hawes, a prom- inent merchant and banker of Barre; and Henry Jones Kendall.

Henry J. Kendall, born in Barre, Septem- ber 21, 1832, was there engaged in agricult- ure for several years, having owned and man- aged a farm of two hundred acres. In 1864 he purchased twelve acres of land, on which stands the present residence of his son, Louis J., at 700 Pleasant Street. Soon after he bought forty acres of adjoining land. In 1884

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he retired from active pursuits, and, taking up his abode in the city, resided there until his death, on November 2, 1892. In April, 1854, he married Mary Jane Joslin, who was born in Hubbardston, Mass., daughter of Levi and Dorcas (Wright) Joslin. Her children were: Ella, who died at the age of seven years; Louis Jones, the subject of this sketch ; and Herbert E., a stock-raiser and farmer in Worcester.

Louis J. Kendall attended first the district schools of Barre, and afterward completed his studies at the Worcester High School. In 1884 he succeeded to the ownership of the parental homestead. Having enlarged the estate by the purchase of more land, he has now one hundred acres in his well-kept farm. Progressive and practical, he keeps pace with the times, and is always quick to avail himself of the latest approved machinery for facilitat- ing agricultural labor. Several years ago he built his large stock barn, in which he keeps his large dairy of fifty Jersey cows. He sells to the people of Worcester about five hundred quarts of milk daily. He has also eight horses, noted for their speed and other desir- able qualities. Fraternally, he is a thirty- second degree Mason and a leading member of the local grange, of which he was Master for two years. Politically, he is a straightfor- ward Republican, never swerving from his du- ties as a citizen and voter; and he has served efficiently as a member of the City Council for three years.

On May 8, 1879, Mr. Kendall married Sarah M. Thayer, of Worcester, a daughter of Alden Thayer, Jr. Her grandfather, Alden Thayer, Sr., was engaged in farming in Men- don, Mass., in his early years. In middle life he came to Worcester, and, locating on Central Street, was here engaged in the gro- cery business until his death on August 10, 1860, at the age of sixty-two years. In 1821 he married Sarah McNamara, of Mendon, who died at a comparatively early age, leaving two sons - Alden, Jr., and Timothy M. The grandfather subsequently married again. Alden Thayer, Jr., was a very successful business man, and for several years was a grocer in Worcester and Clinton, where he

had an extensive trade. He died in 1891, aged sixty-three years, leaving a substantial property. A man of sterling integrity and upright, Christian principles, he served faith- fully as Deacon of the Baptist church for many years. Besides carrying on his grocery business, he was also a large real estate dealer. He married Martha Knowles, of New Hampshire, who bore him seven children, three of whom have passed away. These were: Walter, who died at the age of one and a half year's; Charles, who lived seventeen years; and George, who died at the age of thirty-six years, leaving a family. The chil- dren now living are: Ida F. Thayer, who re- sides with her widowed mother on Pleasant Street, Worcester; Sarah M., now Mrs. Ken- dall; I. Grace, the wife of Herbert E. Ken- dall; and Lucius H., a skilul dentist of Charlestown, N.H. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have five children, namely: Walter H., a wide-awake young man of eighteen years, who left the manual training department of the Worcester High School two years ago to take charge of his father's milk route in this city; Robert, Ella Grace, and L. Harold; and Paul Revere, who was born April 19, 1894, on the anniversary of the day on which the Paul Revere of the Revolution performed his his- torical ride.

ILAS . WASHINGTON BAKER, who owns one of the first settled farms in Phillipston, Mass., was born where he now resides, March 9, 1815, son of Silas and Abigail (Hager) Baker. The Baker homestead was originally the property of his grandfather, Silas Baker, Sr., who came here from Littleton, Mass., as a pioneer, and was one of the able farmers of that early day. He lived to be seventy-seven years old; and his wife, whose maiden name was Betsey Fisk, attained the age of eighty- six years. She came here from Lexington, where she was living at the time of the famous battle, April 19, 1775, being the wife of a prominent physician.

Silas Baker, Jr., the father above named, was born upon the same farm, April 5, 1781.

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Succeeding to its possession, he carried on the farm during his active years; and he died here August 15, 1867. He was a Captain in the State militia, and had a large circle of friends and acquaintances, by whom he was sincerely esteemed for his many excellent qualities. Abigail Hager, whom he married December 28, 1808, was born in this town, February 12, 1786, and died February 14, 1850. They reared a family of seven children, namely : Daniel H .; Lucy A .; Silas W., the subject of this sketch; Abigail W. ; Almira; Maria; and Leonard F., who resides in Hampton, Ill., where he went in 1850.

Leonard F. Baker was a successful merchant and owner of a store, and was Postmaster for many years, being a business man of marked ability. The business is now carried on by his two sons. He is a member of the Congre- gational church and an active worker. He married Milla W. Sawyer, of Phillipston, and has had a family of six children, three of whom are now living.

Silas Washington Baker was educated in the town schools, and since reaching manhood he has given his principal attention to general farming. Besides the homestead of one hun- dred and seventy-six acres he owns other land, amounting in all to three hundred and ninety acres.

On December 18, 1850, Mr. Baker married Harriet La Duke, who was born in Canada, February 2, 1829, daughter of Francis and Mary La Duke. She was educated at Pratt Academy, Shelburne Falls, Mass. At the age of sixty-nine, Mrs. Baker does all her housework without assistance. She has had twelve children; namely, H. Almira, Abbie M., Sarah E., Lucy J., Ida L., Daniel W., Mary E., Lucia A., Silas F., Charlotte I., Florence A., and Leonard W. Baker. H. Almira, who is a graduate of the Worcester Normal School, and taught successfully for twenty years, is now the wife of J. Warren Dunn, a mechanic in Winchendon. Abbie M. was educated at the Highland Institute at Petersham. She taught several years in the Atlanta Female Institute, Atlanta, Ga., and established the Baker Academy a Tampa, Fla. She is now the widow of Al-

bert J. Russell, late of Jacksonville, Fla., who was a Major in the Confederate army, and after the war was for nine years State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Sarah E., who was educated at the Templeton High School, and formerly a successful teacher, is now the wife of Leslie W. Woodcock, of Win- chendon, Mass., for many years a pail manu- facturer in that town. They have a daughter, Bernice. Lucy J., a graduate of Mount Hol- yoke Seminary, taught school in South Africa five years. She is now the wife of Arthur R. Hall, of Denver, Col., where he is employed as clerk in a large furniture store. Ida L. was graduated from the Salem Normal School, and is now a teacher in Spokane, Wash. Mary E., educated at Templeton High School, is now the wife of Rodney E. Cochran, of Winchen- don, where he is employed in the manufact- ure of pails. They have two daughters - Lethe and Marjorie. Lucia A. died May 25, 1882. She was educated in the Templeton High School, was beloved by all who knew her. Charlotte I. was graduated with honor from the Murdock High School, Winchendon, and is a stenographer in Lakewood, N. J. Florence A., who also graduated from the last-named school with high honor, is the wife of Joseph Lewis, an engineer in a large cotton factory in Fall River, Mass. Leonard W. is a graduate of Comer's Commercial College, Boston. He resides in Spokane, Wash. Silas F. was educated at the Templeton High School. He married Mildred Johnson, of Portland, Me., a graduate of Gorham Normal School. Their home is in Phillipston. They have a son, Charlie, and a daughter, Dorothy.

Daniel W. Baker is now chairman of the Board of Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor, the present being the third year he has held this office. He has also served on the Board of School Committee. He acts with the Republican party in politics. He taught school two years, most of the time in Iowa. He has also been station agent for the Fitchburg Railroad Company. He is one of the best known citizens of Phillipston. His residence, which is a landmark in this locality, was built by his father in 1807. Mr. Baker

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 46

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