Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 49

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 49

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R APHAEL GROSS, who at the time of his death, a few months since, was one of the oldest active dry-goods mer- chants in Worcester, was born in Königheim, Duchy of Baden, Germany, De- cember 21, 1836. Leaving school at the age of twenty, he immigrated to the United States the same year, accompanied by Leopold Strauss, a fellow-townsman of about his own age. Immediately after landing in New York they came to Worcester, where their brothers,

Isaac Gross and Philip Strauss, were then con- ducting a dry and fancy goods store, which stood upon the site of the present Nichols Block on Main Street, near Central. Enter- ing the employ of Gross & Strauss, the two young men continued as clerks until 1861, when the firm moved to Boston and established the large Winter Street retail store which is still carried on in their name.

Practising strict economy, having saved the greater portion of their earnings, Raphael Gross and Leopold Strauss were then able to purchase and carry on the old firm's business here. In order not to be mistaken for the former concern, they started out under the style of Gross, Strauss & Co. This firm was suc- cessfully engaged in trade for thirty years, during which period they moved three times, first to the site now occupied by the Day Block, next to 383 Main Street, and from there to 335 and 337 Main Street in the Burn- side Block.

In 1891 Mr. Gross disposed of his interest to his partner, and, purchasing the business of C. Ellsworth, opened an establishment at 349 and 351 Main Street, under the name of R. Gross & Co. In 1897 the business was incor- porated under the laws of Massachusetts as the R. Gross Company, of which he was president and treasurer, and his son, Henry J., was elected vice-president. In 1872 Mr. Gross and Mr. Strauss built the fine business block now occupied by the John C. McInnes Com- pany, and his interest in that property is still a part of his estate. Mr. Gross continued his regular attendance at the store until a few days prior to his death, which occurred at his resi- dence, 806 Main Street, at 6. 15 P.M., March 21, 1898, and was caused by complications following an attack of erysipelas.

In June, 1865, Mr. Gross was married in Boston to Miss Hannah Strauss, a sister of his business associate, Leopold Strauss. Of this union were born six children, of whom five are living, namely : Henry J., who married Alice Norcross, daughter of the well-known contrac- tor, Orlando W. Norcross; Moritz, a graduate of the Columbia College Medical School, now residing in New York City; Bessie, who lives at home; Helen, a student at Vassar College ;

RAPHAEL GROSS.

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and David L. Gross, who is a pupil at the classical high school.

Politically, Mr. Gross was independent. Although he found his principal enjoyment in his home, which was an exceedingly happy one, he belonged to Morning Star Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Worcester Council, Royal Arcanum ; and was prominently identified with the Gesang Verein Frohsinn. He was highly re- spected in business circles, where he was for so many years a conspicuous figure ; and his natural aptitude for mercantile pursuits, to- gether with a strict adherence to upright prin- ciples, enabled him to accumulate a fortune.

ENZRES R. MOULTON, th Postmaster of North Rutland, son of Asa and Abigail (Washburn) Moulton, was born in Monson, Hampden County, on February 27, 1823. The house in which both he and his father first saw the light was built in 1763, and was for many years one of the old landmarks of Monson. Some years ago it was destroyed by fire, but the stone work is still standing. Mr. Moulton's paternal grandfather, Daniel Moul- ton, an early settler in Monson and a school teacher by profession, fought for the colonies during the war of the Revolution. His death occurred in Monson at the age of eighty-five. Asa Moulton died at the age of eighty-six years, and his wife, Abigail, at the age of eighty-three. Of their nine children, three sons and six daughters, three are living, namely : Mrs. Olive M. Chapin, who resides in Springfield, Mass .; Menzres, the subject of this sketch ; and Daniel, a resident of Monson.

At the age of fifteen Menzres R. Moulton began learning the brickmaker's trade. Hav- ing mastered the craft, he worked at it for about seven years. He then spent three years making boots and shoes. At the end of that time he learned the carpenter's trade, which he has since followed. In 1858 he became a resident of this town, and built a saw-mill on the site where he is now putting up a new mill. In 1862 he left his business in order to join Company B, Fifty-first Regiment, Massa-

chusetts Volunteers, with which he afterward took part in the battles at Kingston, White- hall, Goldsboro, and others. After receiving an honorable discharge in 1863 he returned to Rutland, disposed of his property here, and bought a mill in another part of the town. This mill he sold later, in order to buy a farm near the centre of the town. He had carried on general farming here for ten years, when he gave up the occupation and bought a saw-mill. This afterward he turned into a satinet-mill, which he operated successfully until its de- struction by fire in 1895. He then bought back his first site, and is now engaged in erecting the mill alluded to above, which he intends to equip for the manufacture of cot- ton. The necessary carpentering is being exe- cuted by himself. There can be no doubt that this enterprise will be successful, as there is a splendid water-power here, and Mr. Moulton's previous experience gives good guarantee as to the financial management.

Mr. Moulton has been successively married to Jane E. Chaffee, Maria Reed, and Oella Bigelow, and has been the father of three daughters and four sons. One son, Samuel, is deceased. His living children are: Mrs. Sarah Bates, Olive Moulton, Helen Moulton, Joseph, J. Warren, and Albert C. Mr. Moul- ton is a member of the Congregational church. In politics he is a Republican. He has been prominently connected with town affairs, hav- ing held the office of chairman of the Board of Selectmen for eighteen years and other offices for varying periods of time. At the present time he is Postmaster of North Rutland and a qualified Justice of the Peace. He is a char- ter member of Post No. 136, G. A. R., at Rutland.

G EORGE A. ARMSBY, a highly re- spected resident of Northbridge, now retired from active business, was born in Sutton, February 27, 1827, son of Joshua and Sarah (Woodbury) Armsby. His paternal grandfather, who was also named Joshua, was educated for the ministry, gradu- ating from Harvard Divinity School, and died at the age of eighty-four. The grandmother,

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Elizabeth Kingsbury Armsby, had four sons and two daughters.

Joshua Armsby, father of George A., during twelve years of his early life was engaged in the manufacture of cotton machinery, when the business was in its infancy. Later he was superintendent for David Wilkinson, of Wil- kinsonville, and still later he was for twelve years with Samuel Slater.

Then he retired to the old homestead in Sutton, which lies about two miles east of the Centre. He was a man of much prominence in town affairs, having been Selectman in 1829, 1830, and 1831; Assessor in 1826, 1827, 1837, 1849, 1850, 1851, and 1852; and Representative to General Court in 1830, 1831, 1832, and 1837. . He was also active in the work of the Congregational church. His wife was a member of the old and honored family of Sutton named Woodbury. Their eight children were: Lewis, Joshua, Fayette, Benjamin, George A., John Dudley, Sarah E., and Mary A. Lewis, who died in Mill- bury, was a pattern-maker. Joshua, who died in Worcester, was a manufacturer of agricult- ural tools. Fayette, who is a civil engineer, and has been engaged in making surveys and in laying out cities in the West, now resides at Manitowoc, Wis. Benjamin Woodbury died at the age of thirty. John is a well-to-do farmer in Sutton and ex-Selectman of that town. Sarah is deceased, but her children and husband are living in Sutton. Mary A. died in Sutton.

George A. Armsby attended school until he was sixteen years of age, during the latter part of the time going for only eight weeks in winter. He then learned the carpenter's trade. At the age of twenty he came to Whit- insville, and went to work in the machine shop. Here he continued in charge of the wood manufacturing department for thirty years. On his seventieth birthday he retired from active work, in which he had been en- gaged for fifty-one years. When he first came here none of the shops now standing had been built, and there were only two houses on Rail- road Avenue. He has served the town as Se- lectman, was Assessor for three years, and he has been a member of building and other com-

mittees. Ile has been a Republican since the formation of the party, and previous to that was a Whig. An esteemed Mason, he is a member of Granite Lodge.

Mr. Armsby married Charlotte Prentice, of Northbridge, who died in 1890. One daugh- ter and a son survive her. The former, Evalyn, who lives with her father, is a gradu- ate of the Westfield Normal School, and for- merly taught in the public schools. The son, George P. Armsby, who resides in Whit- insville, is a machinist by trade, and is em- ployed in the wood-working department of the machine shop. He married Sarah A. Scho- field, and has two young daughters.

RTHUR ROBERT TAFT, of Ux- bridge, who represents the Ninth Worcester District in the Massa- chusetts legislature, was born in this town, February 19, 1859, son of Robert and Mary (Balcom) Taft. He is a descendant in the seventh generation of Robert Taft, first. From the latter the descent is traced directly through Robert (second), Israel, and Jacob, to John Taft, the grandfather, who married Lu- cretia Newell, and was a prosperous farmer of Uxbridge, his native town. The father, born in Uxbridge in 1819, for many years was en- gaged in the woollen manufacturing industry in this town, and resided upon a farm. He died in 1891, leaving a good estate. Mary, his wife, was a daughter of Ebenezer and Polly Balcom, of Douglas, Mass., the former of whom was a representative of a highly reputable family of that town. Robert and Mary Taft reared but one child, Arthur R., the subject of this sketch.

Arthur Robert Taft was graduated from the Uxbridge High School in 1876, and completed his studies at the English and Classical School in Providence, R.I. In 1879 he en- tered a partnership with E. B. Hayward, form- ing the firm of Hayward & Taft, which was in business one year. Then on account of his father's feeble health he sold his interest to his associate in order to give his entire time to the care of the homestead farm, which he has since conducted. Besides owning the

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farm he has some valuable real estate in Bos- ton, is a director of the Blackstone National Bank, the vice-president, a trustee, and a member of the Finance Committee of the Uxbridge Savings Bank, and a director of the Uxbridge and Northbridge Electric Light Company.

In September, 1880, Mr. Taft married Mary A. Seagrave, who died in 1886. She was a daughter of Charles E. and Abigail (Carter) Seagrave. A second marriage in May, 1889, united Mr. Taft to Rosa F. George, daughter of Nathan R. and Rosanna (Taft) George, of Mendon. In politics he is a Republican. Since 1893 he has been a member of the Board of Selectmen, serving it in the capacity of clerk, and he was elected to the legislature in 1897. He has displayed much ability in the service of the public, and is highly esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.

RANK S. CONANT, an enterprising general merchant of Oakham, was born in East Brookfield, Mass., April 7, 1856, son of George F. and Mary (Rumrill) Conant. Like most of the New England Co- nants, he is a descendant of the common ances- tor, Roger Conant (or Conants), who is sup- posed to have arrived in Massachusetts Bay in 1623. In 1625 Roger Conants established a fishing station on Cape Ann. From the cape he removed to Naumkeag in 1626, and in company with John Balch, Peter Palfrey, William Trask, and John Woodbury founded Salem, the second oldest town in New Eng- land, building the first house there. Prepara- tions for establishing a colony here advanced rapidly, so that in 1629, when eleven ships containing fifteen hundred passengers arrived, the Rev. Francis Higginson, one of the com- pany, writes : "We found a halfe score houses and a faire house newly built, for the Gov- ernor; we also found an abundance of corn planted by them, very good and well liking."

The branch of the family to which the sub- ject of this sketch belongs was founded by his great-grandfather, Captain James Conant, who, born in Bridgewater, Mass., September 3, 1755, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary

War. Locating in Oakham, Captain Conant built a store and an inn, both of which he car- ried on for many years. His death occurred in 1842. He served as a Selectman from 1788 to 1796, was Constable in 1794, Tax Collector in 1796, and he held a Captain's commission in the State militia. On August 29, 1778, he married Dorothy Bullard. Cap- tain James Conant, second, the grandfather, was born in Oakham, December 5, 1793. He served in the War of 1812, and was afterward a farmer, an inn-keeper, and a merchant. He . died March 10, 1867; and his wife, who was before marriage Susan Stone, of Oakham, died January 30, 1877. George F. Conant, father of Frank S., was born in New Braintree, Mass., April 1, 1819. Beginning when he was a young man, he carried on general stores in Brookfield, Worcester, and Oakham. He died September 23, 1888. Being a man of unusual energy and business ability, he was successful in trade. In politics he was a Democrat. His wife, Mary, whom he married April 29, 1851, was born in Springfield, Mass., January 3, 1831. She became the mother of one son, Frank S., with whom she is now residing. She attends the Congrega- tional church, and so did her late husband.

Frank S. Conant attended the common schools of Brookfield and Worcester, complet- ing his studies at the high school in the last- named city. Having opened a jewelry store at Oakham in 1875, he continued in that busi- ness until he succeeded to the general store left by his father. Then, uniting the two, he has since conducted a profitable business. On September 13, 1883, he was joined in marriage with Lillian E. Crawford. Born in Oakham, February 14, 1862, she is a daughter of Will- iam S. and Emily Crawford, of whom the latter is deceased and the former resides in this town. Born of the marriage were : Roger, on September 16, 1884; Mabel E., on January 19, 1888; and Mary C., on October 8, 1890. Mr. Conant was a Selectman of Oakham just one hundred years after his great-grandfather, Captain James Conant, was a member of that board; and both were elected to the office at about the same age. He is still serving in that capacity. From 1887 to 1888 he was

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Tax Collector, and he was Town Auditor from 1894 to 1897. He is actively interested in local history and genealogy. Being a de- scendant of the founder of Salem, he was able to secure a piece of the hard-wood frame of the " faire house " referred to above, which frame, according to an account in the historical col- lection preserved at the Essex Institute in Salem, was shipped in sections from England and set up upon the site of the present Maynes Block on Essex Street, opposite Market and Derby Streets. It is deemed probable that Roger Conant assisted personally in the erec- tion of the house, and that he acted as the official head of the colony until the arrival of John Endicott in 1628. Mr. Conant has been the organist of the Congregational church for the past eighteen years.

J ULIUS A. GEORGE, one of the influ- ential men of Mendon, was born here in June, 1841, son of Nathan George. His grandfather, Richard George, who was a native of Wrentham, came to Mendon on attaining his majority, and was subse- quently a practising attorney here until the time of his death in 1825. Mendon, situated at the junction of the Boston to Hartford and Providence to Worcester stage routes, was at that time a flourishing township, and furnished business for two hotels and four lawyers. Na- than George, born in 1810, was a graduate of Brown University. He was a man of means and of extensive real estate interests. In- cluded in his property was the large tract of land extending from what is now Main Street, Blackstone village, to the river.

After studying at Leicester and Wilbraham Academies, Julius A. George took a course of lectures under Professor Horsford in the Law- rence Scientific School at Harvard University. Then he spent some time learning the boot and shoe business in Milford; and subse- quently, in company with his brother, Nathan R. George, established a boot and shoe manu- factory in Mendon. The partnership had lasted five years when Julius became sole pro- prietor, and thereafter conducted it for eleven years, during which his average output was ten

thousand cases per year. Since his retirement from that business he has dealt largely in real estate. He served on the Board of Selectmen for many years. For some years he has been a trustee of the Taft Public Library, which was established in 1882, and now contains four thousand volumes. In the capacity of Justice of the Peace for a quarter of a century he has drawn many deeds and conveyance papers. He is a member of Mendon Grange, P. of H., and the president of the Mendon Historical Society. In politics he is an ardent Republi- can. For more than twenty-five years he has presided as Moderator at town meetings. He was one of the incorporators of the Home Na- tional Bank of Milford, which was organized some twenty-five years ago, and has since been one of its directors. Financially this bank is one of the most prosperous in Worcester County, paying six per cent. on the capital stock of one hundred and thirty thousand dol- lars, and having a surplus of eighty thousand dollars. Mr. George married Abbie F. Verry, of Blackstone, Mass.

EORGE W. HOWE, of South Lan- caster, a retired business man, was born' in Sterling, Mass., July 26, 1822, son of Silas and Sally (Hastings) Howe. His grandfather, Silas Howe, first, who was an early settler in Sterling, lived to the re- markable age of ninety-seven years. The father, Silas Howe, second, was a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Sterling. He was a man of considerable prominence, serving as a Selectman at different times, and was also a Captain in the State militia. He died at the age of seventy. His wife, Sally, who was a native of Boylston, Mass., became the mother of eight children, of whom five are liv- ing ; namely, Abigail, George W., Eli, Sarah, and William. Abigail married James E. Ball. The mother lived to be ninety-two years old. Both parents were Unitarians.

George W. Howe received his education in Sterling. At the age of sixteen years he began work in a saw and grist mill in Boyls- ton. Later he followed the same business in Groton, and when eighteen years old had

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GEORGE W. HOWE.

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charge of a large saw-mill in Winchester, N. H. Returning subsequently to Groton, he learned butchering, and then, settling in Lan- caster, carried on a successful business in that line for thirteen years. He next engaged in the wood and lumber business, buying wood lots and clearing them of fuel and lumber, which he sold to good advantage, and contin- ued in that occupation until his retirement. He has been prominent in the industrial and business life of this section. He was a direc- tor and for six years president of the old State Bank (later the Lancaster National Bank) previous to its removal to Clinton, and was one of its largest stockholders. He was also a trustee of the Lancaster Savings Bank. In public affairs also he has taken a conspicu- ous part, having served as Selectman and as a member of the Board of Overseers for twenty years, being chairman for a part of the time upon each board. He was a member of the School Board one year, was Town Treasurer seven years, and Collector ten years. During the Civil War he was enrolling officer for sub- district No. 37. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1863, and still holds that office. Politically, he is a Republican.

In 1845 Mr. Howe married Mary A. Jen- ness, daughter of Amos C. and Syrene D. Jenness, prosperous farming people of Derry, N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have one adopted daughter, Ella J., who married Mr. Howe's brother. Eli E. Howe has two children - George Eli and Silas Everett. Mr. Howe was formerly connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the Uni- tarian church.

EACON EDWARD F. CHAM- BERLAIN, one of Grafton's pros- perous dairymen and a Civil War veteran, was born in this town, May 9, 1835, son of Hollis and May (Goddard) Chamberlain. The father was a native of Southboro, Mass., and the mother belonged to an old Grafton family of repute, residing in the Farms district.

Hollis Chamberlain was employed as a shoe- maker in Holliston, Mass., previous to locat-

ing in Grafton. Here he conducted a farm and followed his trade until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. He served with ability in some of the town offices. While he was a man of decided views upon questions of public importance, he was universally respected for his honesty and sin- cerity. He was an active member of the Con- gregational church. Hollis and May Cham- berlain were the parents of four children, of whom Edward F. is living. The others were : Mary, who died young ; Jeanette, who married, and died at the age of fifty-six; and Louisa D., who died at the age of twenty-two years.

Edward F. Chamberlain was educated in the public schools of Grafton. Having learned the shoemaker's trade, he followed it as a journeyman until 1862. Then he enlisted as a private in Company E, Fifty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, for nine months, and afterward participated in the battles of Newbern and Whitehouse Land- ing. He was discharged after serving for two months more than the stipulated term. After recovering his health, which had been im- paired, he re-enlisted in the First Massachu- setts Heavy Artillery, with which he served until mustered out at the close of the war. Since then he has given his attention to the cultivation of the home farm. At the present time he is busily engaged in dairying, market- gardening, and fruit-growing.

Deacon Chamberlain married Angeline A. Staples, daughter of Samuel B. Staples, of Westboro, Mass. They have four children, namely : William E., who attended Williams College, married Sophia, daughter of E. A. Estabrook, of Grafton, and resides in South Framingham, Mass. ; Emma Louise, a gradu- ate of Mount Holyoke Seminary, who married the Rev. F. C. Taylor, now the pastor of a Congregational church in Hyde Park, Vt., and has two children; Marion E., who attended the Grafton High School; and Norman God- dard Chamberlain. In politics the Deacon has acted with the Republican party since its formation. As a member of the Board of Se- lectmen for the year 1880-81 he rendered efficient service to the town. He is a com- rade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and

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for some years was chaplain of the local post. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and for a number of years he has been a Dea- con of that church and the superintendent of its Sunday-school.

ILLIAM LAMBERT RUSSELL, M. D., a native of Carlisle, Middle- sex County, who enjoys the distinc- tion of being the oldest living graduate of Harvard University, and is also the oldest resident of Barre, was born October 28, 1799, in a house that was built in 1680. His par- ents were James and Mary Ann (Butler) Rus- sell. The father was born in the part of Concord that was later added to Carlisle, about the year 1775. He was a farmer during his active period, and his last days were spent in Lowell, Mass., where he died at the age of eighty-three years. His children were : William L., Emerson, Mary Ann, James Sul- livan, and George W. James Sullivan Rus- sell resides in Lowell.

The early education of William Lambert Russell was obtained in the district schools of Carlisle. He assisted in carrying on the home farm until he was fifteen years old, when he went to live with the Hon. Samuel Horr. During his two years' residence with that gentleman he attended the Groton Academy. Subsequently, after teaching school for a time, he fitted for college at the Westford Academy, entered Harvard University in 1822, and grad- uated therefrom with the class of 1826. After leaving college he resumed teaching. Decid- ing afterward to adopt a profession, he studied medicine with Dr. Proctor, of Lexington, Mass., Dr. Doane, of Boston, and completed the three years' course at the Harvard Univer- sity Medical School. For a part of the three years he was an assistant physician at the Mc- Lean Asylum. In 1831 he began the practice of his profession in Barre, establishing his office in a house which stood upon the site of Mr. George E. Bates's residence, and boarding with Mehitable Caldwell, who occupied the Desper house, located at the corner of Union and Pleasant Streets. After a successful career of twenty years, during which he fol-

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 49

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