Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 52

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 52

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Ezra Washington Marble passed his boy- hood on the homestead farm. Up to the age of fifteen he was an attendant of the common school. Beginning at about nine years of age, he worked during his vacations in his father's shuttle shop. After leaving school his time was divided between the work of the farm and that of the shop. Since he succeeded to his father's business, he has given his attention chiefly to the manufacture of shuttles and shuttle irons, in connection with which he has made valuable improvements and inventions. Mr. Marble is a lover of horses, and has bred some of the best in the country, including the noted stallion, Benton M., which has a trot- ting record of 2. 10.

Mr. Marble was first married in 1857, at the age of nineteen, to Harriet M. Sawyer, who had two children, both of whom died in infancy. She died in 1868. In 1872 a sec- ond marriage united Mr. Marble with Lunetta E. Barnes, of Sutton, who died a year later. On April 23, 1.877, he entered a third union with Ella J. Wheelock, who was born in Worcester, daughter of Luke and Jane (Shack- ley) Wheelock. Her father, a gunsmith by trade, is still living. Her mother died when she was but three years old. Ezra W. Marble, Jr., living at home, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Marble.

ILLIAM H. DEXTER, a represent- ative and philanthropic citizen and real estate magnate, who has been prominently identified with the business in- terests and building of Worcester for half a century, was born in Charlton, Mass., January II, 1823, the third of seven children of John B. and Lucinda (McIntire) Dexter. His father was an enterprising builder and con- tractor, and was also engaged in the general merchandise business in Charlton. He was

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born at Marlboro, Mass., June 24, 1797, and died at Worcester, November 24, 1867. He was married to Lucinda McIntire, February 12, 1818. She was born in Charlton, April 8, 1793, and died at Worcester, January 5, 1 866.

William H. Dexter attended the schools of his native town, and at the age of fourteen en- tered his father's employ as clerk. Later he served in the same capacity in a store in Burrillville, R.I., where he remained until he was seventeen years old. Here he partly developed that self-reliance and independence which have been strong traits in his interest- ing personality. Returning to Charlton, he again resumed duty in his father's store. The next year he went to Boston, remaining in that city for five years thereafter, as clerk in a general merchandise house. At this time he had a strong ambition, quite marked for one of his age, to become a merchant. In 1846, having acquired a good knowledge of business and the requisite capital, he came to Worcester, opening on Southbridge Street the first grocery store off of Main Street. This enterprise was successfully managed by him for five years, after which he entered into the wholesale and retail flour and grain business, near the corner of Main and Pleasant Streets. Here Mr. Dexter laid the corner-stone of that career which has resulted so handsomely. Three years later Mr. Dexter's rapidly in- creasing trade and financial prosperity war- ranted the erection of more commodious quarters.

Being very progressive, he took a long step in advance of the period, buying land on Franklin Square of Judge Charles Allen, where he erected a fine four-story block, mov- ing his business to the ground floor. Paying one dollar a foot for land was then deemed an absurdity ; but Mr. Dexter's business sagacity and insight became apparent in 1893, when he sold the same property for thirteen dollars a foot. With indefatigable energy he pushed on until he had the largest and most flourish- ing flour and grain business in Worcester County, enjoying a widespread reputation for integrity and commercial high standing.

In 1877, having acquired a fortune by hon-

orable means and meritorious ability, Mr. Dexter sold his flour interest to Holbrook & Co., and retired from that enterprise. He then gave his attention to the development of Franklin Square.

He is an extensive property holder. The building up of Franklin Square, which he so named, is largely due to his influence. Five-story blocks on the west side, between the Clark and Knowles Buildings, adorn the square, and give additional lustre to the Dex- ter name. Another block erected by him is situated on the north-east corner of Main Street and Allen Court. The Franklin Building, erected by Mr. Dexter in 1872, stands near the new post-office government building, which cost more than three hun- dred thousand dollars. It is one of the largest business blocks in the city, and has an imposing brown stone front. It contains numerous offices and fine stores, and has proved a paying investment for twenty-five years.

Mr. Dexter's foresight and courage in real estate ventures are well known; and his judg- ment is a rare quality of mind, possessed in equal clearness by few, but sought by many men who esteem his views to be of great value. From 1873 to 1878, inclusive, he was a valued member of the City Council, and for three years acceptably served the School Board. Public life, however, has had but little attraction for a man of so self-possessed and self-restrained a nature.

He was an originator of the First National Fire Insurance Company, which he served twenty-four years as a director and two years as vice-president, resigning to develop his real estate business.

Since 1874 Mr. Dexter has rendered im- measurable aid to the Worcester Academy (Baptist) as trustee and treasurer, having had charge of its endowment fund for twenty-three consecutive years. By his aid, advice, and time devoted to the upbuilding of this great institution, Mr. Dexter has been fittingly deemed a pillar of the academy. He has done as much, if not more than any other man for the success of it.

Personally, he is kindly and genial by nat-

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ure, as well as broad and philanthropic in his outlook on life. In 1892 he gave five thou- sand dollars to the United States government to help purchase a site for a new post-office, and the same year gave many thousands toward the erection of Dexter Hall, Worcester Academy. This structure, named in his honor, is one of the finest dormitories in the United States. In numerous ways Mr. Dex- ter has promoted the growth of this institu- tion, to which he has given half of his time. For twenty-five years he has stimulated study and research by giving prizes to boys in junior classes. He is revered by the stu- dents as a father, from whom they have learned by example and precept some of life's best lessons.

One of his pleasures is derived from help- ing young men in their early struggles, and it is well known that many who have attained success cheerfully render testimony to their indebtedness to him for his almost paternal interest. Mr. Dexter has also given liberally to the Main Street Baptist Church in this city, with which he has been prominently identified for a generation. A man of fine instincts and refined sensibilities, it is natural that he should have a religious vein in his character. He reveres religion with- out being narrow or bigoted, conscientiously attends divine service, and shapes his conduct in accord with Christian standards.

In 1848 he was united in marriage to Eliza A. Foss, of Livermore, Me. Their only child, a daughter, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Dexter reside in a beautiful mansion surrounded by attractive grounds, near the church, which location is eminently fitting for a man who subordinates material gains to spiritual ends. Mr. Dexter is a gentleman of the "old school," cultured, refined, and highly endowed with intellectual talents.

Although a descendant of a distinguished ancestry, his long and successful life has added to rather than received lustre and honor from the name of Dexter in New England. Mr. Dexter's family dates back to Gregory Dexter, who was one of the companions of Roger Williams when he founded Providence Plantations in 1636-7.

J OHN R. SOUTHWORTH, superin- tendent of the North Brookfield Water Works, has been a resident of this town for nearly thirty-five years, and during a larger part of the time has been closely associated with its best interests. He was born in Fairlee, Orange County, Vt., Oc- tober 1, 1836, a son of Ira and Betsey (Morris) Southworth. His father, a native of West Fairlee, Vt., died in 1839. He was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, one who was in the battle .of Bunker Hill; and he himself enlisted to serve in the War of 1812. Mr. Southworth's mother, who was born and reared in Woodstock, Conn., did not long survive her husband. Her father also was a soldier of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill.

Mr. Southworth is a lineal descendant of Edward Southworth, of the English colony of Pilgrims in Leyden, Holland, who died in 1621, leaving a widow, Alice Carpenter Southworth, and two young sons - Constant and Thomas. Mrs. Alice Southworth, as is well known, came to Plymouth in the third of the forefather ships, the "Ann," in the sum- mer of 1623, to marry Governor Bradford, whose first wife was drowned in Cape Cod Harbor before the landing at Plymouth. The Southworth boys, who were left by their mother in England, came over in 1628, five years after her marriage, and were brought up in the family of their step-father, Governor Bradford.

The ancestry of Edward Southworth has been traced back to Sir Gilbert Southworth, knight, of Southworth Hall in County Lan- caster, England, of the fourteenth century. The Southworth arms are: field argent, bear- ing a chevron between three crosses; crosslet sable; crest, a bull's head, erased, horned ox. Motto: "Sublimiora spectemur" (Let us look higher).

Constant Southworth, the elder son of Ed- ward and Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, born in 1614 in Leyden, was the founder of the family to which the special subject of this sketch belongs. He settled in Duxbury, and married November 2, 1637, Elizabeth, daughter of William Collier, who bore him eight children.

JOHN B. DRENNAN.

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His son William, born in 1659, married in 1680 Rebecca Peabodie, settled in Little Compton, R.I., and had eleven children, nine sons and two daughters.

Nathaniel, born in 1692, the next in line of descent, married Mercy Torrey. He was a ship-builder at Bristol, R.I., removed in 1720 to Mansfield, Conn., and was engaged in the first ship-building at Norwich Land- ing, now Norwich, Conn. He went as master to the Mediterranean Sea in 1731, and was never heard from.

Of his five sons, the eldest, Josiah, born in 1721 at Mansfield, Conn., died Feb. 7, 1791, at Vershire, Vt. Josiah Southworth was thrice married, first to Abigail Ward, second to Esther Procter, of Dorset, Vt., and third to Irene Reed. His children by his second wife were: Constant and Lemuel Asa.

The last named, Lemuel A. Southworth, was born at Mansfield, Conn., June 11, 1758, and died at Vershire, Vt., in 1841. He married in 1783 Elizabeth Stodard, who died at West Fairlee, Vt., in 1833, aged seventy- three years. Their children were: Eliza- beth, who became the wife of George Coburn; Eleazer, who married Anna Wild; Ira (father of the subject of this sketch), who married Betsey Morris; Joseph, who married Huldah White, and moved to Kingsville, Ohio; Esther, who became the wife of William Morris; Lucinda, who became the second wife of George Coburn; Constant, who mar- ried Sally Frizzle; Lemuel Stodard, who married Harriet Childs and for his second wife Sarah Kimball; Anna, who married James Langley ; and Abigail, who died young.

John R. Southworth was left an orphan at an early age, being thus thrown practically upon his own resources in childhood. When eight years old he came from Vermont to West Brookfield, where he attended the district school a part of the time each season for six years. Until 1860 he spent his time in West Brookfield and Vermont, but the following four years he worked in West Brookfield. In 1864 he settled in North Brookfield, where he has since made his home, and during much of the time has been a public official. For seventeen years he was one of the Overseers

of the Poor, being chairman of the board all of the time excepting two years. He served a while as Constable, and for the past twenty years he has been chairman of the Republican Town Committee. Since 1892 he has ably filled his position on the local Water Board. He has also rendered efficient service for a number of years as the North Brookfield agent of the Massachusetts Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Children. Fraternally, he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, belonging to the Meridian Sun Lodge, F. & A. M., and to Woodbine Lodge, No. 180, I.O.O.F., both of this town. He attends the First Congrega- tional Church, and is an active member of the parish with which it is connected.

Mr. Southworth married August 14, 1862, Miss Hattie T. Brown, of Whitefield, N.H. They have two sons - George B. and John R., Jr. Mrs. Southworth is a daughter of Benjamin and Jeannet (McMaster) Brown, of Whitefield, N.H., where both her paternal and maternal ancestors were pioneer settlers. As an interesting fact in the local history of that little town in the White Mountains, it may here be said that her grandmother Mc- Master was the first white child born within its limits.

EV. JOHN B. DRENNAN, of Southbridge, was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts, February 6, 1853. He received the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Worcester, and afterward took a course of

study at Howe's Business College, going thence in 1869 to St. Charles College. After his graduation from the latter institution he took a full theological course at the Baltimore Seminary, and was ordained December 20, 1879. He spent the entire period of his curacy at St. Anne's Church, in Worcester, remaining there seven and a half years. In December, 1887, Father Drennan was given charge of the Amherst church, which had been without a resident pastor for fifteen years. While there he purchased for a rectory the old Colonial mansion that was formerly the Conkey homestead.

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In 1891 Father Drennan came to South- bridge, and very soon after remodelled the entire church property at a considerable expense, accomplishing the work at a time when the financial resources of the parish were at a particularly low ebb, owing to the shutting down of the Hamilton Mills. But, notwithstanding the hard times that have since prevailed, his people have been very loyal in church support, and money has not been wanting to meet all necessary expenses. Shortly after becoming pastor of this church Father Drennan moved into the old rectory, sending the Sisters to the Edward Street dwelling, which he had in the meantime thor- oughly repaired.

In 1893 he erected for the use of his pa- rishioners a temperance society building, con- taining a hall, gymnasium, and reading-room. In 1895 he purchased a new cemetery, and has expended large sums of money in improving and repairing the parochial buildings. He has also made extensive improvements in the structure that has served for some years as a church in Charlton City.

ASPER STONE NELSON, formerly the senior partner in the firm of J. S. Nelson & Son, manufacturers of shoes at Grafton, was born June 2, 1822, in the town of Shrewsbury, son of Josiah and Sophia (Goddard) Nelson. The farm, which was his birthplace, has been in the possession of the family for more than a century and a quarter, and is still owned by a Nelson. After leaving the district schools, when he was about eighteen years of age, he was a stu- dent at Worcester Academy for three months. Then he began learning the shoemaker's trade with his elder brother, dividing his time about equally between the farm and the bench until he was twenty-three years old. In 1845, in company with his brother, he began the manufacture of shoes at Shrewsbury, working at first in a shop ten by thirteen feet, situ- ated near his home. The brothers were their own salesmen; and, as they made the greater part of their goods themselves, thereby secur- ing superior workmanship, the sales were

quick and the business increased. In 1848 Jasper removed to North Grafton, where he formed a partnership with James S. Stone, of Boston, a former resident of Grafton. In the year following the two bought land near the Boston & Albany station, and erected a build- ing which is a part of the present plant. On November 1, 1857, Mr. Nelson became the sole proprietor of the business, and afterward carried it on under his own name until the Ist of January, 1869. At that time George H. Rugg, a former employee, was admitted to partnership, and Charles H. Nelson, the pres- ent manager, four years later. On January I, 1877, at the close of another four years, Mr. Rugg disposed of his interest to the other partners, and the firm assumed its present name. The original factory built here was thirty by forty feet in dimensions and two stories in height. The plant has now a floorage of two hundred and sixty-four by thirty feet, is four stories high, and employs about two hundred men.

During the Civil War Mr. Nelson was a member of the special committee chosen by the town to look after its military interests. For two years he served the town as Select- man, and in 1870-71 he represented it in the State legislature. He invariably had the per- sonal regard of his workmen, who felt him to be their friend as well as their employer. A man of fine physique and commanding pres- ence, he appeared at all times to be in robust health. His death occurred on October 22, 1884.

Mrs. Nelson, whose maiden name was Mary E. Wheelock, became the wife of Mr. Nelson on October 31, 1848. She was a daughter of Gardner Wheelock. She died June 26, 1896. Her children were: Emma Elizabeth and Carrie Gilman Nelson, both of whom died before reaching their majority; and Charles Horatio Nelson, who was born in January, 1852. Having worked in different depart- ments of the factory, Charles was made a partner in the business at the age of twenty- one. Continuing his experience, he has acted successively as salesman, buyer, and manager, and has conducted the business since his father's death. At the present time he em-

My Steams

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ploys from twelve to fourteen salesmen, deal- ing directly with the retail trade. In politics he is a Republican. He has served on the Town Committee, and he was Selectman from 1886 to 1890, refusing a renomination at the end of that time. In June, 1897, he married Annie Brown, daughter of James Brown, of Grafton.

RS. NELLIE M. STEARNS BROWN enjoys the distinction of being the only woman mill proprietor and operator in Worces-

ter County. She was born in Holden on March 28, 1836. Her maiden name was Moore. She has been twice married. Her first husband, William J. Stearns, whose wife she became on November 14, 1858, died De- cember 21, 1887. On July 15, 1896, she was married to Lewis W. Brown, a native of Con- cord, N.H., born November 16, 1827.

Mr. Brown has occupied positions of trust with various leading railroads throughout the United States. He began at the age of eigh- teen as an employee in the engine house, and from that humble position rose to be engineer and conductor, having charge at different times of both freight and passenger trains. His most recent position was in Milwaukee, where he had charge of the yards of the Chi- cago & North-western Road. Among the companies in whose employ he has been are the following : the old Concord Railroad, the Boston, Concord & Montreal, the Wabash, and the P. F. W. & C.

William J. Stearns was the founder of what has since developed into the Lakeville Woollen Company. Mr. Stearns was born in Holden on September 3, 1837, son of Adol- phus and Nancy Stearns. He received a pub- lic-school education, and early in life went to work in the weaving department of the Oak- dale Mills. His first independent business venture was to engage in the manufacture of hoop-skirt tape at Unionville in the town of Holden, and his next was to undertake the manufacture of cotton batting and comforters, first in Oakdale and then in Worcester; and he then came to West Rutland on the site where

the woollen company is now located. He was a stanch Republican politically, and lib- eral in his religious views. Active and pro- gressive, he won the confidence of the people of Rutland; and his death on December 21, 1887, was sincerely lamented by all who knew him. He left a son, Frederick B., born May 16, 1866, who is now engaged in a general merchandise trade at West Rutland. Fred- erick B. Stearns married Helen G. Kennen.

The history of the development of the . Lakeville Woollen Company is an interesting one. Mr. Stearns began operations here in 1873 by running a grist-mill. He soon changed it to a cotton-batting mill, and manu- factured bed comforters at the rate of about two dozen a day. This industry was contin- ued until the mill was destroyed by fire in 1876. Soon after a mill was built a few rods above the site of the old one to manufacture the same line of goods, but it was changed to the manufacture of satinets. Then on the first site a mill was built to furnish shoddy for the making of satinets. This mill also was destroyed by fire in 1879, and three years later the other mill was burned. For the next two years Mr. Stearns followed farming, but it not being suited to his taste he returned to manufacturing ; and in 1884 the present plant was built. Since that time several additions have been made. Both steam and water power are employed. As to machinery and appli- ances it is one of the most thoroughly equipped mills in this region, and improve- ments are constantly being made. The mill employs about forty hands, and is in opera- tion throughout the year. A fine grade of satinets is produced, the average output being nine thousand yards per week; and this is sold through Bacon & Co., of 92-94 Frank- lin Street, New York. Mrs. Brown does the buying of stock herself. Two shoddy-mills are run as auxiliaries to the main factory, and for the use of the operatives connected with the plant Mrs. Brown has built and owns twenty-one tenements in West Rutland.

That Mrs. Brown is one of the most able financial managers in the town is proved by the variety and success of her business enter- prises. In addition to the factory, with its

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numerous appurtenances, she owns and oper- ates one of the largest farms hereabouts. It is situated in West Rutland, and contains five hundred acres. Since it came into the pos- session of its present owner, much of the land has been cleared from stony, rough timbered tracts to fertile mowing lands and smooth pastures. A fine herd of fifty blooded Jerseys and Holsteins, besides one hundred and fifty graded cattle, is kept, and about a thousand cans of milk per month are produced. Suffi- cient food for the stock, including also the seventeen horses, is raised on the place, and fresh fodder is fed out all through the winter from the silo. The farm buildings are kept in excellent condition, and the dairy is sup- plied with the latest and most approved appli- ances. Mrs. Brown believes that it pays to keep in touch with progress in every field. She is respected by all her employees, and disturbances so frequent in many manufactur- ing concerns are almost wholly unknown in her mill.

MOS M. EATON, of Worcester, a prosperous real estate dealer, was born in 1833 at Pelham, Mass., where he resided until seven years of age, when his parents brought him to Worcester. His father, who was a stone- mason by trade, also taught school and car- ried on a farm. The son, Amos, received a good education. After helping his father on the farm until eighteen years of age, he in company with Mr. O. A. Kelley purchased a store on the corner of School and Union Streets, where they opened and carried on a grocery. Mr. Kelley retiring in a few years, Mr. Eaton continued the business success- fully for twenty-five years, thereafter gaining a wide reputation for enterprise and integrity, and building up a large trade. Retiring from the grocery business in 1880, he then sought a larger field of activity, investing his capital in real estate in East and South Worcester. From his lands he sold large quantities of sand and gravel for building purposes. He continued actively in business until his death, which occurred July 4, 1895.

Mr. Eaton was a man of strong character. Just, generous, and high-minded, he led an exemplary life, and was esteemed by all as a man of his word. He acquired a fair com- petence as the result of his business enter- prises.

Mr. Eaton married in 1856 Eliza M. Kel- ley, daughter of O. A. and Maria (Bacon) Kelley. Her father was for many years a well-known grocer and real estate dealer. Mr. and Mrs. Eaton had one daughter, Cora Maria Eaton, who married Charles H. Hey- wood, of Worcester, and now resides in Mil- waukee, Wis.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 52

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