Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 59

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 59

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Silas Bemis, second, who was born in Spen- cer in 1805, was five years old when he accom- panied his parents to Barre. After succeed- ing to the homestead upon his father's death, he successfully followed farming throughout the rest of his life, which terminated at the age of fifty-eight years. Besides the home farm of four hundred and twenty-five acres he possessed other valuable tracts, and at one time was one of the largest real estate owners in the town. His knowledge of the property values made him useful to the town as an As- sessor, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death. In politics he was a Dem- ocrat. His wife, Seraph, who was a native of Oakham, Mass., became the mother of eight children, five of whom are living, namely : Maria, the wife of J. M. Washburn, of Provi- dence, R.I. ; Edwin R., a prosperous farmer of Barre, who married Myra Sargent, and re- sides at the homestead; Frederick H., the subject of this sketch ; Theodore, who married Marianna Babbitt, and lives in Providence; and Lura Bemis, a resident of that city. The others were: George A., Emma, and Susan. George A., who married Mary Stone, and was the proprietor of the Massasoit House in Barre, died January 17, 1898. The mother died in her eighty-third year. Both parents attended the Unitarian church.

Frederick H. Bemis was educated in the district school. He resided at home until his majority. Since that time he has carried on farming upon his own account. In 1884 he bought the Caldwell place of one hundred and eighty-three acres, where he now resides. De- sirably located upon high ground, the farm is devoted mainly to dairy purposes. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows besides other cattle, and he sells a large quantity of milk annually. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Emma Foster, who was born in Grafton, Mass., January 25, 1851. Her parents were Uriah and Anna (Baird) Foster. The father, who was a native of Acton, died in 1866. The

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mother, born in Shrewsbury, Mass., is now liv- ing in Barre.

Politically, Mr. Bemis is a Republican. He is a practical and successful farmer, being one of the few who are able to market their produce with profit. As a citizen his worth is recognized by the entire community. Both he and Mrs. Bemis are members of Barre Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. They attend the Congregational church.

R. JAMES ROSS, a skilled and popular dentist of Fitchburg, was born in Boston, Mass., December 13, 1861. He is a son of John and Jeannette (Mccullough) Ross. John Ross was born in Leith, Scotland, near Edinburgh. He came to Massachusetts when he was about twenty-seven years of age, and for twenty-five years he was a member of the firm of Baird, Ross & Riley, Joy Street, Boston, and. for many years one of the leading plumbers of Boston. He was a man of sterling character and of strong religious feelings, characteristic of his race. Honesty, it may be said, was al- most a failing with him, as in trusting in the integrity of others he lost much of the small fortune he had worked so hard to gain. Mr. Ross was for a number of years a member of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanics' In- stitution. He has been for a great many years a leading member of the Presbyterian church. He is now sixty-nine years of age. His wife, who was born in Tasmania, Van Dieman's Land, February 24, 1836, is a daughter of Captain Mccullough, of the Twenty-first Royal Scotch Fusiliers. Cap- tain Mccullough was killed in India with his son during the Sepoy Rebellion. The family have been represented for four generations in the same regiment. Mr. and Mrs. John Ross have been blessed with twelve children, seven of whom attained maturity. Their son Thomas K. graduated from Harvard Dental College in June, 1896, and is now associated with his brother under the firm name of James & T. K. Ross; and another son, Charles G., is now in the Senior year of the Harvard Den- tal School.

James Ross attended the public schools in South Boston till he was sixteen, with the ex- ception of three years, between the ages of ten and thirteen, that he passed in Minnesota, his parents removing thither for a temporary residence on account of the health of their eldest son, Alexander, then a lad of fourteen. Leaving school at the age of sixteen, James went to work as cash boy in the Oriental Tea Company's store on Court Street, Boston, re- ceiving at first two dollars and a half a week. Punctual and - industrious, he won the confi- dence of his employer, and was soon promoted to the office and salesroom. He stayed with them four years; and it is a great pleasure to ·him to know that even now they are among his best friends, as the result of that confidence won when but a boy. Although working from 7.30 A. M., and walking two and a half miles to work, and getting through at 6.30 P. M., and 9.30 P.M. Saturdays, he attended night school in the old Boston High School and a business course in the evening classes at the Y. M. C. U. He began to study dentistry in the office of Dr. J. A. Brown, corner Hamil- ton Place and Tremont Street, and remained there one and a half years. After he had given but a year to this study, his parents again left Boston, this time for Texas, and for the same reason, seeking the health of the same son. James was thus thrown wholly on his own resources, as he could no more live at home, and, of course, had to pay board. It looked for a time as if he would have to give up his studies. But he was not one to be easily discouraged. He worked in a shoe store evenings; and his friends, the Oriental Tea Company, giving him liberal discounts, he sold tea and coffee, and was thus not only enabled to keep on, but to help his family, whom fortune had not smiled upon in their new home, from which they all later returned. He has had the pleasure since of seeing one younger brother graduate from Harvard Den- tal School and another in the Senior year by his advice and financial help.

After leaving Dr. Brown's office he was for three years and a half with Dr. L. T. Foss, of Thresher's Dental Rooms, 132 Court Street, Boston, one of the oldest dental offices in the

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city. Here Dr. Ross met Dr. L. J. Parker, with whom he formed a partnership; and on March 1, 1885, they opened an office at 106 Court Street. The firm name was Parker & Ross. On December 15, 1885, the partners purchased the dental office of Charles P. Henry, of Fitchburg, which they intended for a branch office; but their business here developed to such an extent that they were led to dispose of their Boston rooms and make Fitchburg the centre of their operations. This they did October 1, 1886. In July, 1896, Dr. Parker, being in poor health, re- tired. He has an immense practice, and be- sides his brother keeps two assistants busy nine hours a day. He is a member of the Massachusetts Dental Society. Dr. Ross is interested in real estate, owning three houses and a number of lots in the city and at Whalom Park.

He was married November 11, 1886, to Mary Emma, daughter of Samuel F. Rowe, of Cambridge, Mass., and has three children -- Marian Irene, Esther Rowe, and Leland Francis. Dr. Ross is a member of Aurora Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Apollo Lodge, No. 205, I. O. O. F .; and Wachusett Council, O. U. A. M .; and he belongs to the Fitch- burg Athletic Club, the Alpine Golf Club, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Board of Trade, and Merchants' Associa- tion. Dr. Ross is a regular attendant at the Calvinistic Congregational

Church. Al- though belonging to so many societies, he is not much of a lodge or club man, attending only occasionally, but never letting a good concert pass, he being a great lover of music, and enjoying dancing and social occasions where his wife can accompany him. He in- tends making Fitchburg his permanent home, thinking it a pleasant city in which to reside.

HARLES A. BARTLETT, Deputy Sheriff of Clinton, son of William and Maria M. (Partridge) Bartlett, was born in North Bridgewater, now a part of Brockton, Mass., on January

9, 1852. The father, who was born in Water town, Mass., was left an orphan when eight

years of age. He was brought up on a farm at Templeton, Mass., remaining there until his majority. From Templeton he went to Bridgewater, thence to Brockton, where he was employed in teaming and butchering and later in the ice business. In April, 1864, he returned to Templeton, and resumed farm work, which he continued until his death at the age of eighty. He was a Republican in politics. His wife's parents were Deacon Ezekiel and Anna Morey Partridge, the former being a farmer and an official of the Unitarian church. Maria M. Bartlett was a cousin of Horace Partridge, of Boston. Her death oc-

curred in the house where she was born, at the age of fifty-six. Her children were: Joshua R., Abbie, William, Charles A., and George M. Bartlett. Abbie and William are not liv- ing. Joshua R. is the Boston Herald corre- spondent at Brockton. George M. is the treasurer of Washington University at St. Louis and the publisher of the Southern Law Reviewv.

Having remained in Brockton until 1864, Charles A. Bartlett removed to Templeton, where he lived with his grandfather, Deacon Partridge, and attended the high school. After his graduation he remained in Temple- ton until 1871, when he came to Clinton, and there began to earn his own living. During the first six years of his life here he was em- ployed in W. H. Haskell's grocery store. Then for seven years he was in the employ of the Bigelow Carpet Company. In this period he was appointed on the special police of Clin- ton. Shortly after, consequent upon the ill- ness of Chief Brown, he received a regular ap- pointment, and was patrolman for four years. So well did he fulfil the duties of this position that he was then appointed Deputy Sheriff by General Robert H. Chamberlain, and has since served in that capacity. He has also been Constable for the town of Clinton.

Mr. Bartlett has been twice married. His first wife was Emily L., daughter of Thomas C. Lawrence, who was a painter in Clinton for many years. She died in 1880, at the age of thirty, after having been married six years. Her son, George Arthur Bartlett, is now a stu- dent of Worcester Polytechnic School. In

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1882 Mr. Bartlett married Elizabeth J., a daughter of William and Jane (McRell) Reid, who were born respectively in the North of Ireland and in Scotland. Mr. Reid, who was for many years engaged in the teaming busi- ness in Clinton, died at the age of seventy- six. His family of children numbered four- teen, of whom five grew to maturity, and two are living. The latter are: Mrs. Bartlett and Lucy Emma. Lucy is now Mrs. Samuel R. Cather. Mr. and Mrs. Reid were members of the Episcopal church. Mrs. Elizabeth Bart- lett has one son - Elmer R., who is attending school.

Mr. Bartlett has been identified with the Masonic fraternity since he was twenty-one years of age. He is Past Master of Trinity Lodge, Past Deputy Grand Master of the Twelfth Masonic District of the State, and Most Excellent High Priest of the Clinton Royal Arch Chapter. He is also member of Trinity Commandery of Knights Templar in Hudson, Hiram Council Royal and Select Masters, Worcester Lodge of Perfection, God- dard Council Princes of Jerusalem, Lawrence Chapter Rose Croix, Massachusetts Consis- tory thirty - second degree; and the Past Regent of the Wekepeke Council of the Royal Arcanum ; a prominent member of the Clinton Historical Society ; the clerk and treasurer of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd ; and the treasurer of the Clinton Choral Union since its organization in 1893. The duties of Mr. Bartlett's position as Deputy Sheriff re- quire his attendance at the Superior Courts both in Worcester and Fitchburg, and so fully occupy his attention as to make it impossible for him to enter the political arena.

J OSEPH E. HOOKER, of New Worces- ter, dealer in flour and grain, was born in the Berkshire Hills at South Lee, Mass., on July 15, 1844, being one of the family of fourteen children of Riverius, Jr., and Hannah (Lawrence) Hooker. He is of remote English descent, and he has in his possession a copy of the family coat of arms, quite elaborate in design, thus described : "He beareth" Or, a fesse Vaire, between

two lions passant gardant Sable. Crest: a hind statant Or, carrying in her mouth a branch of roses Argent, leaved and stalked Vert.

We have not the data for tracing the line- age of Mr. Hooker, but we understand that he is numbered among the descendants of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, who came to New Eng- land in 1633, was settled for a few years at Newtowne, now Cambridge, and in 1636, with his flock, journeyed westward as far as the Connecticut River, and founded on its banks the city of Hartford. For the next eleven years he was the leading man of that colony. He died of an epidemic in 1647. "The pas- tor of Hartford's church was Connecticut's great legislator also," says his biographer. Dr. Leonard Bacon speaks of Thomas Hooker as " the most eloquent preacher, the wisest counsellor, the most discriminating and far- sighted statesman, the most beloved saint of all our New England fathers."

Joseph Hooker's grandfather, Riverius Hooker, was a farmer resident in Maine. He had a large family of children, of whom a daughter, Emma, the widow of Joseph Edge- comb, is the only one now living. She re- sides in Gardiner, Me. Riverius Hooker, Jr., was born in Gardiner about 1798, and died there in 1863, while his son Joseph was home from the war a wounded soldier. He was a mechanic engaged in making ship an- chors in Massachusetts and subsequently in Maine, settling in Gardiner in 1848. His wife, whom he married in 1825, was a native of Wareham, Mass. She survived him many years, dying in 1888. Both are buried in Gardiner. They had fourteen children. Three of the family died in infancy; a son, Albert, at the age of five years; a married daughter, Caroline, at the age of thirty-five, leaving two children; George, formerly a non- commissioned officer in the Sixteenth Maine Infantry, died in 1876, leaving a widow; and Frederick G. died in Augusta, Me., at the age of forty-seven, leaving a wife and two chil- dren. Warren, who served three years in the Eleventh Maine Regiment during the Civil War, at a later period worked in the Charles- town navy-yard. He died in May, 1898,

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and was buried at Concord, N.H., where for many years he had followed his trade. The following named are the surviving children : Emmeline, Ellen, Andrew, Joseph, and Ida. Emmeline is the wife of Constantine Hough- ton, and resides in Knoxville, Tenn. Ellen is Mrs. John Brookins, of Randolph, Me. Andrew is a machinist of Gardiner, Me. Ida is the wife of John Helah, of Providence, R. I. She is the only one of the family who has no children.

Joseph E. Hooker attended the common schools for a limited period in his early years, and at the age of thirteen began helping his father at the forge. That was at the begin- ning of the financial crisis of 1857; and, as the father was earning but fifty cents a day, it was necessary that such of the children as were able to work should not only be self- supporting, but should help pay the expenses of the family. At sixteen years of age he be- gan a regular apprenticeship at the machin- ist's trade, but a year later, on September 10, 1862, he enlisted in Company I of the Twenty- fourth Maine Volunteer Infantry. After serv- ing nearly a year he was wounded at the siege of Port Hudson, receiving a gunshot wound in the left foot and losing the middle toe. On August 25, 1863, he was discharged, but on September 12 of the following year he re-en- listed in Company A of the Sixteenth Regi- ment. This time he continued in service until the great struggle was ended, and on June 2, 1865, he was honorably discharged as Sergeant. He was seriously wounded at the battle of Five Forks a short time before the surrender of Lee, receiving a gunshot wound in the right thigh. He has still in his possession the large mass of lead which tore its way into the flesh, taking with it the shreds of cloth- ing, and which was removed by the surgeon ten days after.

When again able to resume work, Mr. Hooker went back to the shop to finish his apprenticeship. He worked as a machinist until the spring of 1878, when he came to New Worcester and went into the grocery and grain business. This he continued until 1896, since which time he has given his full attention to his present line of trade.

Mr. Hooker was married on June 4, 1872, to Susan E. Yeaton, of Rollinsford, N.H., daughter of Oliver and Caroline Cressy Yeaton, both of whom are now deceased. Of this union five children have been born, one of whom, Joseph Albert, died at the age of fourteen months, and another, Amy, at the age of six years. The living are: Walter, who resides with his parents, but is now, in the summer of 1898, a member of Company H, Second Massachusetts Infantry, in Cuba, Arthur, aged nineteen, who is in the employ of Clarke & Sawyers; and Frank, aged fifteen, who is yet in school. Mr. Hooker is a master Mason and a member of George H. Ward Post, No. 10, G. A. R. He has never cared for political honors. He attends the Meth- odist church.

ENRY LYMAN GODDARD, of the town of Shrewsbury, son of John D. and Zeruiah (Johnson) Goddard, was born here, June 9, 1840. His great-grandfather, Deacon Benjamin Goddard, one of the early settlers of the town, bought the ninth lot laid out here on December 30, 1718. Deacon Goddard's son Samuel, the grandfather of Mr. Henry L. Goddard, was extensively engaged in farming and cider-mak- ing. He died at the age of eighty-two. John D. Goddard, above named, who carried on farming and shoemaking, was an active member of the Orthodox church. He was sixty years of age at the time of his death.

After his school days were over, Henry L. Goddard went to Worcester, and for the suc- ceeding ten years lived in that city. Twenty- five years ago he returned to Shrewsbury, and for fifteen years thereafter was engaged in the butchering and market business, which he car- ried on energetically and most successfully, keeping three market teams busy, and trading in the city of Worcester and the towns of North- boro, Boylston, and Shrewsbury. About ten years ago, having begun dealing in cattle, he discontinued the more arduous part of his mar- ket business, and has since confined himself chiefly to his cattle trade and the care of his real estate, which is located in different parts

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of the town. Actively interested in the town affairs, he served for five years as a mem- ber of the Board of Selectmen, being its chairman for three years. While he occu- pied the last-named position, the Marlboro & Worcester Street Railway was laid through the town, when an inexhaustible stock of patience was necessary in order to satisfy the railway company on the one hand and the townspeople on the other. Mr. Goddard is a trustee of the public library and of various funds. Fraternally, he is a charter member of Shrewsbury Grange and a member of Even- ing Star Lodge, No. 101, of North Grafton.

On January 1, 1869, Mr. Goddard married Helen Elizabeth, daughter of Caleb H. War- ren, of Shrewsbury. They have had four children, namely: Frank Warren, born July 25, 1872, who died February 17, 1873; John Caleb, born April 26, 1874, who died July 30 of same year; Fred Henry, born September 4, 1881, who is a student in the high school; and Winnifred Elizabeth, born January 18, 1885.

DGAR A. WILLARD, who conducts a well-equipped insurance business in West Upton, was born January 15, 1862, on the Willard Ranch, Oroville, Butte County, Cal., son of Phineas and Sarah (Allen) Willard. His paternal grandfather, who was a successful farmer and stock-raiser in Chesterfield, Vt., frequently carted his farm produce with ox teams to Boston.

Phineas Willard, who was born in 1811, was a brick mason by trade, and worked for some years in Chesterfield. Business having become dull here, he went to New York and worked with his brother-in-law on a milk route. The barn in which their cows were kept (year of 1829) stood in what is now Maiden Lane. Leaving New York, Mr. Will- ard went South, and was engaged in the mason and grocery business in Norfolk, Va., until the exciting stories of the discovery of gold in California reached his ears. At once he sold out his stock and started for New York, where he hired as a seaman on a United States store- ship bound for San Francisco. After a voy-

age of nine months they reached port, where- upon all the members of the crew deserted, and immediately started for the gold fields. This was chiefly owing to the fact that the Captain purposely delayed en route for per- sonal interests. Mr. Willard met with dis- appointment at first; but at last his luck changed, and he found the third largest nug- get that had up to that time been taken out, and was divided with his three partners. The value of this alone was over thirteen thousand dollars. When a few years later he returned to the East to claim his wife, he was worth about seventy-five thousand dollars. He was making his wedding trip through the South, when the discontinuance of railroads and other difficulties caused by the outbreak of the Civil War induced him, after he had travelled a part of the way, to return to Mas- sachusetts and arrange for an overland jour- ney. At this time money was loaning in Cal- ifornia for thirty-three per cent. Phineas Willard's mining interests had been looked out for during his journey East by his part- ners. He was considered so expert in the mining business that he was often employed by others to locate mines. Tiring of life in the mines, he bought a cattle ranch, which in the end proved a disastrous investment. A terrible drought caused about half his cattle to die of starvation, and the intense cold of the succeeding winter killed the remaining half. Cattle which when he started were worth sixty-five dollars per head could not then be sold for more than five dollars. Very much discouraged, he returned East to Mil- ford, where he died in 1880. He was a man of great activity and of unusually generous disposition. Throughout the great anti-slav- ery struggle he was one of the warmest sup- porters of the Union cause and one of the many admirers of Abraham Lincoln. His wife, whom he married in 1859, was a native of Medfield, Mass. Besides Edgar, she was the mother of a son Lewis, who died when five years old.

Edgar A. Willard has been continuously engaged in business life since he was fourteen years old. He established his present busi- ness in West Upton about ten years ago. He

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is agent for nine or ten substantial fire insur- ance companies, and has succeeded in building up a large patronage. He also has been local correspondent of a daily newspaper for over ten years.

He married Mary S. Saunders, of Narragan- sett Pier, R.I., daughter of Daniel and Alzadia Saunders. Two children have been born to him, a son, who is now seven years of age, and a daughter who is six. In politics Mr. Willard is a Republican. Although he has never sought office and never been espe- cially active in political matters, he was at one time elected to the Board of Assessors of Taxes for the town. In 1897 he was a Justice of the Peace, having been appointed by Gov- ernor Wolcott. He was brought up in the Methodist faith, but is now an attendant of the Unitarian church. He is a Mason and a member of Franklin Lodge at Grafton.

R ICHARD HENRY MOONEY, teacher, supervising principal of the public schools of the city of Worcester, and principal of the Quinsigamond Grammar School, was born in Worcester, Mass., and has always lived there.

His father, Richard Mooney, a carpenter, settled in Worcester, some years before its in- corporation as a city, and, establishing him- self as a contractor and builder, carried on a successful business for a number of years. He was one of the most influential men of his day, being so recognized by all classes of people. He was married in Worcester to Miss Margaret Doyle. Six children were born of this union, namely: Julia, now de- ceased, who was the wife of James H. Mellen ; Nicholas J. Mooney, in the insurance busi- ness; Richard H., the subject of this sketch; John F. H., in the insurance business with his brother; Annie S., deceased; and Mar- garet, wife of John J. Foley.

Richard H. Mooney, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of his na- tive city, and after a special preparatory course in the famous private school of C. C. Foster, entered the Freshman class of the College of the Holy Cross, where he was

graduated in 1879, with the degree of Bach - elor of Arts.

Having decided to make teaching his pro- fession, he entered the theological and peda- gogical department of the Laval University at Montreal, Canada, where he pursued a special course in theology - moral and dogmatic; sacred Scripture and history of sacred writ- ings; literature; ancient, mediaval, and modern history; history of education; psy- chology and philosophy. He then entered the State Normal School at Worcester as a special student, under the direction and supervision of Professor E. Harlow Russell, principal of the school -a recognized authority in peda- gogy and child study. In June, 1881, he re- ceived his diploma from the State Normal School, and his degree of Master of Arts from his Alma Mater.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 59

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