Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 54

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 54

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him. He was an active member and a lib- eral supporter of what is now the West Congregational Church. His death occurred October 22, 1886.

Mr. Flagg married Elizabeth W. Merriam, daughter of Tarrant Merriam, who resided in what is known as the Merriam District of Grafton. Mrs. Flagg is a descendant of Will- iam Merriam, an Englishman, who came from the county of Kent in 1637. Deacon Tim- othy Merriam, a great-grandson of the Amer- ican ancestor and grandfather of Mrs. Flagg, born in Merriam District, 1746, died in 1829. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill. His son, Timothy, served in General Artemas Ward's regiment during the Revolutionary War, and was the last Captain of Grafton Light Infantry. Another son, Joseph Mer- riam, who was graduated from Brown Uni- versity in 1819 and from the Andover Theological Seminary in 1822, was installed as pastor of a church in Randolph, Ohio, in 1824, and labored there for a period of sixty years. Tarrant Merriam, Mrs. Flagg's father, was born in Grafton in 1786. His active years were devoted to general farming in the Mer- riam District, and he died in 1872 in North Grafton (the present name of New England Village). Of his five daughters three are

living. Anna E., who became Mrs. Capron, died in 1876, leaving three sons: Edmund Flagg Capron, of Chicago; Monson B., of Davis & Co., New York Wool Exchange; and Robert Perry Capron, of the Morton Emery- wheel Works, Worcester. Ida Frances Flagg married George R. Newton, of Grafton, and has two sons - Alden Bush and George Ray- mond Newton. Jennie Chase Flagg married O. B. Wood, and her children are: Olive Marguerite, Hamilton Brooks, and Gladys Jeanette Wood. Caroline Louise Flagg re- sides at home.

ANIEL REED WHEELER, a prom- inent man in Rutland, representing one of the oldest families in Worcester County, was born on the farm where he now resides, on July 5, 1818. His paternal grandfather, Isaac, came here

from Medfield with his father, Isaac, in 1756, and bought the homestead of one Jonathan Wheeler, who was one of the first settlers in the town. The farm has been operated by the Wheeler family ever since; and the great- grandfather, grandfather, and father of the present owner lie buried here. The father, Eli Wheeler, was born on the same farm in 1784; and the mother, Lucy Ames Wheeler, was born in Rutland in 1787. Eli Wheeler was not only a progressive farmer, he was a wide-awake citizen and ever ready to devote time and conscientious effort for the further- ance of the public weal. He served the town in the office of Selectman and in minor positions. In religious faith he was a Con- gregationalist and in politics a Republican. He died at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife died at the age of fifty-eight. Of their six children, all of whom attained maturity, Daniel R. is the only one now living.

Early in life Daniel Reed Wheeler learned the shoemaker's trade, and he subsequently followed it until he was about thirty years of age. Since he has come into the possession of the homestead he has carried on farming and lumbering. About sixty acres of the estate, which originally contained two hun- dred and forty acres, were recently sold to the State, and now form a part of the grounds surrounding the Consumptives' Home. The stately old residence has been remodelled and. improved, so that its interior arrangements are entirely modern. It is in all respects a charming and delightful home.

Mr. Wheeler was married August 10, 1845, to Susan H. Halliday, who has borne him four children. One of these died in infancy. The three living are : Daniel M., Walter A., and Abbie A. The first named, who resides in Worcester, is Inspector of Railroads for the State of Massachusetts. Walter A., who re- sides with his father, is Superintendent of Visitation for the Lyman School. He is practically the manager of the farming opera- tions carried on at the Wheeler homestead. Abbie Wheeler married Prof. Peterson, of Boston, and is now residing in that city. Both of the parents are members of the Con-

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gregational church. In politics Mr. Wheeler is a Republican. He occupies a position of prominence in the town, and has the full con- fidence and esteem of all who know him.

OSHUA BEMIS, a retired railway con- tractor of Spencer, was born in this town, July 31, 1822, son of Joshua and Lydia (Hatch) Bemis. The Bemis family is one of the oldest in Spencer, of which town Mr. Bemis's parents were both natives; and the father, who followed general farming during his active years, was at one time a member of the Board of Selectmen.

Joshua Bemis began his education in the common schools, and completed his studies with a two years' course at the Leicester Academy. At the age of fourteen he was thrown upon his own resources by the death of his father, and from that time until his mar- riage he worked as a farm assistant. He sub- sequently resided for a year upon a farm in Sturbridge, Mass. Later he engaged in rail- way construction work; and, when the Boston & Albany line was provided with a double track, he assisted in the construction of the additional track from Worcester to Spring- field. He also performed contract work on the widening of the road-bed of the New York, New Haven & Hartford line. He was for a number of years employed as a foreman by the contractors on that road. During this time he tilled the soil when opportunity was afforded him. Since 1873 he has resided in Spencer.

On April 5, 1841, Mr. Bemis was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Adams, who was born in Brookfield, daughter of David and Catharine (Blanchard) Adams. Her father was a native of Brookfield, and her mother of Charlton, Mass. The former died in his ninety-second year. Mr. and Mrs. Bemis have had eight children, five of whom are now living, namely : Harriet, wife of Daniel W. Adams; Frances A., wife of Waldo Wilson ; Anna J., wife of Joseph Trembly ; Lydia A., wife of Oscar O. Wilson; and Lewis D. A11 are residents of Spencer.

In politics Mr. Bemis is a Republican. He

served as Selectman during the exciting period of the Civil War. He was also for a number of years Road Surveyor of his district. He has always displayed a lively interest in the progress of the town, the growth of which he has witnessed from small proportions up to its present importance as an agricultural and industrial community. Mr. and Mrs. Bemis have observed the silver and golden anniver- saries of their wedding, and enjoy the unique distinction of having been married longer than any other couple in Spencer.

ILLIAM CURTIS BARNES, a re- tired merchant of Southbridge, who has been identified with the leading interests of the town for more than twoscore years, was born February 22, 1825, in Arca- dia, Wayne County, N. Y. A son of Jonathan Barnes, he is a direct descendant of Thomas Barnes, who came from England in 1656 on the ship "Speedwell," and subsequently re- sided in Marlboro and Brookfield, Mass. His grandfather, the Rev. Jonathan Barnes, who preached for more than thirty years in Hills- boro Centre, N. H., after his death was buried under the pulpit he so long occupied. The town gave the Rev. Mr. Barnes one hundred and fifty acres of land that had been previously set aside for the first regularly ordained minis- ter of that place. During the entire period of the Revolution his salary of thirty pounds a year was paid in continental money. At one time during this period he bought a pig with the year's stipend and at another time a calf.

Jonathan Barnes was born in Hillsboro, N. H., March 25, 1778. In early manhood he removed to Boston, Mass., where he was en- gage in trade for a time, and also kept a tavern. Afterward he was engaged in the business of carriage manufacturer in Western New York, where he died, April 26, 1844. He took an active interest in public matters, and in his later days was associated with the Whig party. He married Elizabeth Taggard, who, born in Hillsboro, N. H., June 16, 1782, died at Southbridge, Mass., April 12, 1855. Her father, Lieutenant William Taggard, was an officer in the Revolutionary War, in which

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four of his brothers also served. " Her mother, Sarah Mead Taggard, born in Reading, Mass., April 30, 1757, died October 30, 1835. Of the union of Jonathan Barnes and Elizabeth Taggard two sons were born, one of whom died in infancy.

William Curtis Barnes received a good edu- cation in the common schools of Arcadia, and remained at home until he attained his major- ity. Coming then to Massachusetts, he lo- cated in Lowell, where he served a three years' apprenticeship to the watchmaker's trade with Lucius Thompson. From Lowell he went to Nashua, N. H., where under the instruction of B. D. Bingham he further per- fected himself in his trade. Subsequently, on the recommendation of the Rev. Day K. Lee, the pastor of the Universalist Society of Southbridge, Mass., he came to this town as watchmaker and jeweller for Sylvester Dresser, who had bought from Robert H. Cole his entire stock of watches and jewelry, settling here October 15, 1849. In March, 1854, Mr. Barnes purchased a half-interest in the busi- ness; and in July, 1857, he became its sole owner. In 1860 he removed from the small store which he had been occupying in the old Ammidown Building to the new one erected by Sylvester Dresser. There for the next eleven years he kept one of the largest estab- lishments of the kind in Worcester County, his stock consisting of a complete assortment of watches, clocks, jewelry, silverware, books, stationery, musical instruments, general fancy goods, and periodicals. In 1871 he erected the fine business structure now at the corner of Main and Chapin Streets, that bears his name, doing a large part of the planning and designing himself. On its completion he moved his stock into it, and afterward carried on a flourishing business until 1892, when he sold out and retired from active mercantile life. For more than thirty years he was one of the prosperous merchants of Main Street, winning by his upright business methods the confidence and respect of all with whom he had dealings. He now resides on Hamilton Street, occupying the residence which he built in 1862.

Mr. Barnes has been largely identified with

the many improvements made in Southbridge since he became a resident of the town, and has been especially active and helpful in the management of public affairs. In 1855, when but thirty years of age, having been a resident for six years, he represented the town in the State legislature. During that session the Hon. Henry Wilson was elected to the United States Senate. Mr. Barnes's vote for Mr. Wilson was harshly criticised by some of his constituents, until the reply made by Mr. Wilson to Mr. Brooks, who had challenged him to a duel, changed the current of opinion, and all fault-finding was turned to praise. From 1866 to 1871 he was a member of the Board of Selectmen, in which capacity he rendered the town efficient service. In 1867 the present system of sidewalks was intro- duced, largely through his efforts. He was especially active in promoting a plan to unite Central and Globe Villages by a continuous sidewalk, which, though much opposed at the time, was completed in 1867, and has since proved the wisdom of the measure. He also took great interest in beautifying the village by setting out shade trees. One of the fore- most to advocate the introduction of illumi- nating gas, he solicited the most of the sub- scriptions to the stock. After the formation of the Southbridge Gas Company he served as its president from April, 1873, until April, 1886, during which time the company doubled its capacity, reduced the price of gas from six dollars to three dollars per thousand feet, and increased its dividends from zero to eight per cent. In politics he has always been a stanch advocate of protection, and has uniformly sup- ported the party pledged to that principle. A sincere Christian in the broadest sense of the term, he is an active member and sup- porter of the Universalist church and society.

On March 31, 1852, Mr. Barnes married Abby Frances, daughter of the Rev. Henry Tatem, of Southbridge. They have become the parents of six children, namely: Lizzie A., born April 18, 1853, who is now the widow of the late Frank Edwards, of South- bridge, whom she married on December 12, 1878, and who died in 1882, leaving her with two sons - George Barnes and Albert V. ;

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Willerette I., born February 17, 1856, who was formerly a clerk in her father's store, and is now filling a similar position in the store of Mr. Ayers; Allie Lee, born September 24, 1857, who was married January 26, 1887, to E. C. Ellis, of Southbridge; Willie H., born March 8, 1864, who died in infancy; Frank Albert, born September 2, 1867, who died November 1, 1884; and Jonathan William, born October 30, 1877, who attended the pub- lic schools of Southbridge and the Willis- ton Seminary at Easthampton, Mass., is now preparing himself for the occupation of an electrical engineer, possesses considerable ar- tistic talent, and is quite an expert pho- tographer.

ARREN F. ROGERS was a life- long resident of Hardwick. Born

here December 10, 1842, he was a son of James P. and Eliza (Shumway) Rogers and a grandson of Martin and Betsy (Taylor) Rogers. His great - grandfather, James Rogers, a Massachusetts man by birth, was the first of the family to settle in Hard- wick. The district was then a wilderness, through which the traveller made his way by blazed trees and bridle paths. James Rogers took up land here, and converted it into the farm that has since remained in the posses- sion of his descendants. Both he and his wife, Hannah Fay Rogers, died here. Martin, son of James, born here August 22, 1770, who was occupied in general. farming, married Betsy Taylor, who was born Decem- ber 3, 1777. Both spent their lives here. James P., one of their eleven children, born on this farm July 16, 1799, followed the car- penter's trade in addition to carrying on the farm. His wife, Eliza Shumway Rogers, was born in Storesville. They also spent their lives here. He died June 6, 1876, and she on August 8, 1881. Of their four sons two are living, namely : William C., who resides in Athol; and James R., a resident of North Brookfield. The others were: Enos T. and Warren F.

Warren F. Rogers was educated in the schools of Hardwick. He then learned the

trade of a mason, and subsequently gave a large share of his time to it, although he also car - ried on this farm. In 1863 he enlisted in the United States navy. After serving in the war for nearly a year, he was honorably discharged on account of sickness. In politics he was a Republican. On May 7, 1876, he married Kate E. Presho, who was born in Hardwick, July 1, 1855, daughter of John and Cla- rissa (Stone) Presho. Mr. Presho was born in Barre, Mass., July 5, 1824, and his wife in Petersham, Mass., in April, 1830. She died July 1, 1855. He subsequently married Eliza Towne, with whom he still lives in Hardwick, on a farm that he owns and culti- vates.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers had five children, born as follows: Charles W., July 30, 1877; Minnie E., December 1, 1880; James F., November 4, 1883; Cora B., July 31, 1886; and Fred W., July 9, 1889. Mr. Rogers died July 4, 1893. Mrs. Rogers and her children still carry on the farm. She belongs to the Congregational church, of which her husband was a faithful member. The family residence is thought to be the oldest dwelling in Hard- wick.

HRISTOPHER WHITNEY, who left to Westboro the record of an active and prosperous business man, was a native of Vermont. He was born in the town of Halifax, June 16, 1827, son of Alpheus and Sarah (Stowe) Whitney. Reared and educated in the Green Mountain State, he was distinguished by his habits of industry and thrift. Coming to Westboro in boyhood, he was poor in purse, but rich in energy and ambition. His first employment here was in a bakery, where he worked from three o'clock in the morning to a late hour in the night until he was familiar with the trade. After- ward he followed the business of baker and flour and grain dealer for seventeen years. Embarking then as a lumber manufacturer and dealer, he conducted operations in Natick for a year. From Natick he returned to West- boro, and entered into business, remaining here for the rest of his years. He built up a

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CHRISTOPHER WHITNEY.

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large and lucrative trade, being successful in this as in his other projects; and, as the re- sult of his honest, intelligent, and energetic management, he acquired considerable prop- erty. Ever mindful of the hardships of his own boyhood, Mr. Whitney gave generously of his wealth to the poor and needy, and in a quiet, unassuming manner was a practical philan- thropist. A filial and loving son, he assisted in caring for the parental household from his earliest manhood, and tenderly watched over his parents in their declining years. In 1882 he built the Whitney House, which is a stand- ing monument to his enterprise and public spirit. He took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his adopted town. In company with H. K. Taft, late of West- boro, he was instrumental in establishing the present electric light system, one of the most valuable and useful improvements of the place.

On May 11, 1851, Mr. Whitney married Abbie Morse Thompson, of Bellingham, Mass. They reared three children, namely : Frank C., who died May 4, 1886, aged thirty- one years; Abbie M., now the wife of Frank V. Bartlett; and Nellie E. Woodman. Mr. Whitney died at his home in Westboro on March 4, 1889.

ON. ELI CULLEY, who was the Mayor of Fitchburg in 1880, 1881, 1888, and 1889, and who founded the Fitchburg File Works, was born in Melksham, Wiltshire, England, Feb- ruary 4, 1840. When he was fifteen years old he came to this country, and when the war broke out he was as thoroughly American as if he had been born here. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company K (Zion's Herald Company), Forty-third Massachusetts Regi- ment, and was out nine months, participating in the engagement at Newbern, N.C. The hardships of army life undermined his health, and he was in a feeble condition when he reached home. In 1863 he began to manu- facture files in North Weymouth, and in 1867 he moved his shop to Fitchburg. From that time until the day of his death he was closely

identified with the progress of the growing town.

A clear-headed, practical business man, Mr. Culley was of the unassuming but strong- willed type; and his influence was felt far beyond the limits of his business. He was a ready speaker, and was often called upon for a public address. He was the president of the Common Council of Fitchburg in 1875, a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1877 and 1878, and of the State legislature in 1880. He was Mayor of the city in 1880 and 1881, in 1888 and 1889. No other Mayor of Fitchburg has had the honor of serving the city so long. The following from his last inaugural address shows his appreciation of his official responsibilities: "Let us enter upon our duties with an earnest desire and intention to perform them thoroughly and im- partially, giving all the time necessary, all the investigation requisite, to every matter of business that shall come before us, so that every interest of the city shall be well cared for, every right of the citizen protected; and may the best and purest examples guide and inspire your course, so that you may wisely discriminate in all issues that may come before you, rejecting everything in your ac- tions of a temporizing or accommodating pol- icy, with one end or aim only in view - the demand of the good." The Scott Reservoir was started and finished under Mr. Culley's administration. He was essentially a self- made man, and was happy in the industry which he established. Frank and sincere, he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fel- low-men. He was a Mason of Aurora Lodge, had been through all the chairs in Thomas Royal Arch Chapter; and he belonged to Jerusalem Commandery, K. T. Also in affil- iation with Mount Roulstone Lodge, I. O. O. F., he held all the chairs in King David Encampment, and was an honorary member of Canton Hebron. He was a char- ter member of Reynolds Post, G. A. R., North Weymouth; and he belonged to the Park Club, of Fitchburg. For a number of years he was a vestryman of Christ Church (Episcopal). He died April 21, 1890.

. On October 5, 1862, he was married to

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Martha, daughter of Eli Redman, of North Weymouth, Mass. Her father afterward moved to Fitchburg, where he resided until his death. Mr. Culley was named for his father-in-law, who was reared in the same place with his own father. Six children survive him - Francis C., Walter Eli, Albert Edward, Fannie E., Elsie B., and Edith F. His three sons carry on the business he established.

HESTER A. DRESSER, president, treasurer, and manager of the Central Mills Company, of Southbridge, Worcester County, Mass., was born in this town, September 2, 1818; and here, with the exception of three periods of two years each, his long and busy life has been spent. His father, Chester Dresser, a farmer, married Deborah Ammidown, daughter of Cal- vin Ammidown. She died at a comparatively early age in 1828.

Chester A. Dresser received his early intel- lectual training in the village district school, and subsequently continued his studies two terms at Nichols's Academy in Dudley, Mass., and two at the Monson Academy. After the death of his mother, which occurred when he was but ten years old, he lived for a time with his uncle, Ebenezer D. Ammi- down, who was appointed his guardian. Dur- ing the winters of 1830 and 1831 he worked as a chore boy, in remuneration for his board, in the family of the Hon. Linus Childs, who had always been a firm friend of his mother. At the age of fourteen years he chose for his guardian Dr. Samuel Hartwell, whose house he afterward made his home when not elsewhere employed; and for a while he worked in the store of Milton Joslin, with whom, acting upon the doctor's advice, he at first contemplated entering upon an extended apprenticeship. But, not being entirely sat- isfied with the business, he sought the advice of Moses Plympton, Esq., and, heeding his counsel, decided to learn cotton manufactur- ing with the Columbian Manufacturing Com- pany, which agreed to pay him forty dollars a year in addition to allowing him one dollar and a quarter a week for board money.

Mr. Dresser began his initiatory appren- ticeship in the company's repair shop under the supervision of an English mechanic, whose motto was, "Learn to do work well, after which do all you can." A year later he was promoted, and subsequently served in every department of the mill, including the carding, spinning, and weaving rooms. In the evenings he often earned extra spending money by carrying in and piling wood at eight cents per cord or by assisting to fold and pack cloth, and also advanced his education by devoting many of his leisure hours to study. When the financial crisis of 1837 came, the mill suspended operations, and he spent the summer in the harvest field. In the fall of that year he accepted a position as overseer in a warp spinning department; but in the spring of 1838, in order to obtain a more thorough knowledge of the weaving of cotton fabrics, he secured a situation at the Fiskdale Mills, in the weaving-room, which was under the charge of Nelson Drake. So acceptably did he per- form the duties assigned him that his wages were from time to time increased ; and he was retained as a weaver until the spring of 1840, when he entered the company's counting-room to acquire a practical knowledge of mercantile manufacturing and double entry book-keeping under the instruction of Avery P. Taylor. In September he became manager of a mill of four thousand spindles at Swift Creek, near Petersburg, Va., but at the end of two years was obliged to return North on account of failing health.

In November, 1842, Mr. Dresser assumed the management of a cotton-mill at Westville, in the town of Sturbridge, where he also owned the factory store. Early in the year of 1845 he became superintendent of the Dresser Mills in the Centre Village, succeeding Ben- jamin F. Kimball. This factory he found in a very bad condition, the products being de- cidedly inferior in quality. The cause of this the manager and directors had made many efforts to ascertain, and had come to the conclusion that the fault lay in the raw mate- rial used. A change was therefore made, but no better results were obtained. Dissatisfac- tion existed among the operators, and the

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owners were discouraged. It was then that the abilities of the young superintendent were put to the test. He made an exhaustive ex- amination of the plant, discovered the source of the trouble, and righted it. The mill then resumed successful operation. In December, 1845, Mr. Dresser accepted a similar position with the Central Manufacturing Company, with which he was identified until 1857, and in which he acquired considerable stock. Then, in response to an urgent request from the agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company at Manchester, N. H., he became manager of the mills on the upper level and a dye-house, the product of the mills being all colored goods, in all of which he brought about marked improvements during the two years that he remained there. In 1859, the Central Manufacturing Company at Southbridge hav- ing become financially embarrassed, self-pro- tection rendered it necessary that he should return and settle up its affairs, a work which he successfully accomplished. Manning Leonard and he subsequently became joint owners of the property, and carried on busi- ness until the breaking out of the Civil War, when the mill was shut down for two years. In 1863 Mr. Dresser purchased his partner's interest in the plant, and with new associates established the present corporation, which is known as the Central Mills Company. Under his supervision the factories have been entirely remodelled, new machinery has been intro- duced into all departments, and the manufact- uring has been successfully carried on until the present time.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 54

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