Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 66

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 66

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Having passed through the common schools, including the Templeton High School, Frederick Greenwood completed his studies at the Wilbraham Academy. Since

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his youth he has been connected with the fur- niture business. At first he was an assistant to his father. After the latter's death he and his three brothers took control of the estab- lishment, which is still carried on under the firm name of T. T. Greenwood. The factory has improved machinery, driven both by steam and water power, and employs from forty to fifty men throughout the year. Its products consist of pine, ash, oak, and chest- nut furniture, including fine bureaus, closets, and wardrobes; and the salesrooms are located at West Gardner.

On May 11, 1880, Mr. Greenwood was united in marriage with Grandine Leuthesser. He has one son, Talma T., who was born July 28, 1889. In politics he supports the Repub- lican party. He and his brothers are alert, progressive business men and worthy suc- cessors to their father in ability and integrity.

EWIS S. FISHER, an industrious farmer and business man of Baldwins- ville, was born where he now re- sides, February 12, 1845, son of Charles T. and Martha (Ballard) Fisher. Thomas Fisher, the paternal grandfather, who was born in Wrentham, Mass., July 25, 1765, came to Templeton about the year 1787, and cleared from the wilderness the farm which is now owned by his grandson. He built the ell part of the present house in 1793, and com- pleted the main portion in 1809. A civil engineer by profession, he did much of the early surveying in this locality. Beginning in 1804, he served in the capacity of Justice of the Peace until his death, and the records of the courts held by him in his dwelling are still preserved in the family. He died Sep- tember 25, 1822, aged fifty-seven years. On December 18, 1786, he was married in Wrentham to Hannah Farrington, who, born March 13, 1765, died October 15, 1826, aged sixty-one. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, born as follows: Nathan, June 28, 1788; Julia, May 29, 1789; Thomas, September 5, 1791 ; Susan, October 1I, 1793; Sarah B., November 30, 1795; Hannah, January II, 1798; John, March 15, 1800; Paul A., March

7, 1802; Myra, May 14, 1804; and Charles T., March 31, 1807.

Charles T. Fisher succeeded to the home- stead farm of one hundred acres, which he prosperously cultivated during his active years. He died March 18, 1885. Originally a Whig in politics, he later became a Repub- lican, held various town offices, including that of Selectman, and represented his dis- trict in the legislature. He was a Deacon of the Trinitarian church. His wife, whom he married July 4, 1839, was born in Lancaster, Mass., February 28, 1807. Her children were: Charles Ballard, born October 2, 1840, who enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and died in the service on September 8, 1863; Martha M., born October 2, 1842, who mar- ried M. A. Wilson, and resides in Baldwins- ville; and Lewis S., the subject of this sketch. The mother died October 28, 1895.

Lewis S. Fisher attended the town schools of Templeton. After completing his studies he went to Gardner, Mass., where he was em- ployed in a chair factory for about ten years. Afterward for the same length of time he was successfully engaged in the meat business at Baldwinsville. Since 1894 he has given his attention to the management of the home farm, which he inherited at his father's death. He has built six tenement houses for renting purposes. He also attends a milk route.

On May 5, 1866, Mr. Fisher married Viola R. Newton, who was born in Nashua, N.H., August 5, 1846, daughter of Joseph M. and Alexownia V. (Champney) Newton. Her father died June. 19, 1864, aged forty-four years and four months; and her mother on February 14, 1895, aged seventy-two years and eight months. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three children : Allena V., born February 20, 1867; Minnie G., born June 16, 1870; and Charles T., born September 2, 1881. Allena V. married Frank F. Eaton, of Baldwinsville, and has one son, John F. Eaton. Minnie G. is the wife of Thomas J. Symons, of this village, and has two children - Edward F. and Thomas W. Symons. Charles T. resides in Templeton.

In politics Mr. Fisher acts with the Repub-

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lican party. He belongs to Star Lodge, An- cient Order of United Workmen, and he at- tends the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Fisher is a member.

A® UGUSTINE DUNNION WAY-

MOTH, a prominent manufacturer of Fitchburg and the inventor of several labor-saving machines, is a native of Durham, N.H. He was born in July, 1817, son of John and Sarah (Dunnion) Waymoth. The town of Weymouth, Mass., obtained its name from his ancestor, George E. Weymouth, who went there from Plym- outh. The latter's descendants, who have changed the spelling of the name, are now scattered through Maine and New Hampshire. John Waymoth served as a drummer boy in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the battle of Bennington. He afterward be- came a ship-carpenter, and plied his calling in New Market, N.H. Sarah, his wife, who was a native of Portsmouth, N. H., died about the year 1823, leaving four sons and five daugh- ters. Of these the only survivor is Augus- tine D., the subject of this sketch.

Augustine Dunnion Waymoth was de- prived of a mother's care at the age of six years. After residing with families in New Market and Exeter for a time, he went to live with a farmer named Chase in Lexington, N. H., where he remained until he was eigh- teen years old. A serious affection of his eyes had prevented him from attending school. After leaving Lexington he acquired his first knowledge of wood turning with Joel Lancey in Lee, N.H., where he stayed one year. He was next employed in the building of the Eastern Railroad for a year; and then he went to Lowell, Mass., where for the succeeding four years he was engaged in turning pill boxes at the Mechanics' Mills, now the Mid- dlesex Corporation. Soon after his arrival in Lowell he obtained his first spectacles, which practically opened to him a new world. With their aid he was able to study; and, availing himself of the privilege of attending the even- ing school, he was a regular pupil during his residence in the city. It was also in Lowell

that he developed the genius for mechanics which has since made him well known as an inventor. The first product of his ingenuity was an automatic lathe for turning pill boxes complete from the solid wood. This was the first machine of the kind produced in Amer- ica, the rights of which he sold to the Me- chanics' Mills Company. In 1845 he went to East Cambridge, where in company with Harvey Tucker he was engaged in manufact- uring pill boxes for over two years. On ac- count of the difficulty of obtaining white birch, of which the boxes were made, the firm then moved to Bristol, N.H., and three years later Mr. Waymoth sold his interest in the concern to his partner.

Coming to Fitchburg in the year 1851, Mr. Waymoth formed a partnership with Josiah Averill, under the firm name of Waymoth & Averill. Leasing the long building opposite the present factory, they conducted business there for three years. Then serious illness caused Mr. Waymoth to remove to Middle- bury, Vt., where he remained three years. Upon his return to Fitchburg in 1856, he im- mediately began the filling of an order from the First National Bank of Northampton, Mass., for one million indelible pencil cases. Associating himself with Hale W. Page after this, under the style of Waymoth & Page, he inaugurated his present business of manu- facturing machinery for making pill boxes. He purchased his partner's interest two years later, and conducted the factory alone until 1878, when he received into the firm his son, Charles Henry Waymoth. The concern has since been known as A. D. Waymoth & Co. From time to time, while attending to his regular business, Mr. Waymoth contributed to the march of improvement in mechanical devices by perfecting his earlier inventions and producing new ones. Among the latter is a lathe for turning croquet balls, patented in 1879. Probably his greatest achievement is his latest mechanical novelty, a circular knife lathe, which was perfected in 1895, and which, by the adjustment of differently shaped knives, will turn all kinds of cylinder work hitherto unaccomplished by any device, thereby saving half the time required by the

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old process. The inventor is also interested in several other business enterprises. In 1844 he was united in marriage with Amanda Chandler, daughter of James and Hepsibah Chandler, of Andover, Mass. Of their three sons and two daughters, two sons are de- ceased.

EORGE CANTELLO, a contractor of Southboro, who at the time of the war enjoyed the distinction of being one of the youngest soldiers in the Union army, was born in Newark, N.J., Feb- ruary 1, 1846. A son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Greenwood) Cantello, he is of Spanish de- scent. His great - grandfather went from Spain to England, and became a General in the English army. Jacob Cantello was a stone-cutter by trade. During the latter part of his life he resided in Fayville, Mass. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-second Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry. He was disabled in the seven days' fight before Richmond by a fragment of a shell striking him in the hip. He died January 29, 1883, aged sixty-two years, and his wife, November 8, 1891, at the age of sixty-eight.

George Cantello attended school in Hopkin- ton, Mass. When in his early teens he en- deavored to enlist in a Holliston company, but was ordered home by the officers. Nothing daunted, the lad with an older com- panion made his way to Boston, and suc- ceeded in enlisting as a drummer boy. Three days later he saw his father in uniform on the parade ground. Father and son had enlisted in the same company. A year later the lad was transferred to Battery B, Fifth United States Light Artillery. When his term of service expired in 1864, he re-enlisted on the field. He participated in nineteen of the hottest battles of the war, including those of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Hanover Court House, the seven days' fight, and Cedar Creek, and he was in a number of skirmishes. At the age of seventeen he was Sergeant in charge of a piece of artillery. When the war closed, his battery was dismounted, and he was assigned to guard duty at Fortress Monroe,

In command of the guard over Jefferson Davis, he became intimately acquainted with the ex- president of the Confederacy, as well as with the Confederates Clay and Mitchell, who were also prisoners. His position was no sinecure, for Union men were thirsting for Davis's blood, and there was danger of his friends aiding him to escape. Mr. Cantello received his final discharge from military service on January 22, 1867, although he was not twenty- one until the first day of the following Febru- ary. His war record is almost without a parallel. At Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864, he received a terrible sabre cut in the arm. The surgeon declared that the limb must be amputated, but he refused to allow it; and after it was dressed he rejoined his battery with his arm in a sling, and rode thus for a number of days. At the battle of Piedmont he was again wounded, a fragment of shell striking him in the leg. After his return from the South he was in Rochester, N. H., for a year, and he then began to learn the mason's trade of John Page in Southboro. In 1890 he started an independent business as a master mason and contractor. At this he has been very successful, fulfilling some important contracts in a most satisfactory manner. While he is a thorough master of every branch of his trade, he also keeps seven or eight good workmen in his employ.

Mr. Cantello was married July 6, 1869, to Miss Eliza Painter, of Wrentham, Mass. Actively interested in town affairs, he has served three years as Selectman, and is at present Road Commissioner and a member of the Cemetery Commission. He is a member of St. Bernard Lodge, F. & A. M., of South- boro. A prominent Grand Army man, he is a charter member of G. Wesley Nichols Post, has served three terms as Commander, and attended national and other encampments as delegate.

UMNER W. RANGER, captain of police at Station 2, Worcester, was born in New Braintree, Mass., July 25, 1833, son of Job and Hannah (Thrasher) Ranger. His grandparents, John

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and Anna (Ayers) Ranger, of North Brook- field, Mass., reared two sons and three daugh- ters, of whom Job was the youngest. Job Ranger was born in North Brookfield about the year 1791. Settling in New Braintree when a young man, he cultivated a farm in that town for fifty years, and died in 1865. He was the father of three sons and six daugh- ters, of whom one of the daughters died at the age of twelve years. Emeline, the eldest daughter, who married Elbridge Gleason, died leaving two sons, one of whom, Charles A. Gleason, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Worcester, has served in both branches of the legislature. The surviving children are: Sarah and Hannah, who are unmarried and re- side in Worcester; and Sumner W., the sub- ject of this sketch.

Sumner W. Ranger resided at home and as- sisted his father on the farm until 1860, when he came to Worcester. He joined the police force in 1866, and has since been connected with it with the exception of four years in which he was engaged in the grocery busi- ness. He became a sergeant in 1884, was appointed captain in 1888, and has since been in charge of Station 2. He has acquired con- siderable reputation as a detective, and has caused the arrest and conviction of some noted criminals.

On December 1, 1858, Captain Ranger was joined in marriage with Martha A. Bush, daughter of Josiah and Sophina (Ingalls) Bush. Her father, who was a farmer and hotel-keeper in New Braintree, where by in- dustry and economy he had accumulated a good estate, died in February, 1898, in his ninety-third year, having survived his wife some seven or eight years, and leaving eleven of his fourteen children to share his property. Captain and Mrs. Ranger have had nine chil- dren, five of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Nellie Maria, who married John R. Farr, and is the mother of two children; Anna B., wife of Elmore F. Johnson, of this city, who has one son and one daughter; Charles Sumner, who has made two trips abroad as a naval cadet on board the training ship "Enterprise," and is now in the United States postal service; and Ralph Warren, who

is a clerk in a book and stationery store. Politically, Captain Ranger is a Republican. He belongs to Freedom Lodge, Knights of Pythias. The family reside at 46 Maywood Street.

OMER W. DARLING, for many years a leading farmer of Mendon, was born in East Hampton, Conn., on January 8, 1832, son of New- bury Darling. The father, who was the well- known scythe manufacturer of Millville, Mass., died at the home of their son Homer, at the age of seventy-five years.

Homer W. Darling when a young man went to Uxbridge, Mass., where he resided for six years. He then removed to Provi- dence, R.I. After a short stay there he came to Mendon thirty-two years ago, and bought the extensive farm which he subsequently cul- tivated up to the time of his death, which oc- curred on December 11, 1892. As a farmer he was most successful, and succeeded in ac- quiring a competency. The property he left is beautifully situated about half a mile from Mendon village, and is one of the most com- fortable and flourishing homesteads in the township. Since Mr. Darling's death his family have continued to reside there. Mr. Darling served a number of years on the School Board, and also represented his dis- trict creditably in the legislature. In 1857 he was united in marriage with Abby C. Cook, whose father, George W. Cook, went to the gold region in California in 1849 and met with good fortune at Silver City. Of this marriage three children were born : Emily E., now Mrs. Samuel A. Bennett; George H., who married Annie Parkinson, of Hope- dale, and has charge of the Darling farm; and Grace, who became the wife of Frederick Platt, February 16, 1898.

One who knew Mr. Darling well wrote as follows concerning him: "He was strictly honest, thoroughly temperate, and entirely free from all the little vices many men are subject to. He lived as near the path of rec- titude as mortal man could, was always ready to do his part in any honorable enterprise to

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promote the interests of the town or the com- munity, was a constant attendant at church and a liberal contributor toward its support. He was a generous man, a kind neighbor, and an honored townsman."

EXTER KNIGHT, the president of the Leicester Savings Bank, is a native of Leicester, born July 18, 1826, son of Captain Hiram and Olive (Barnes) Knight. Captain Knight, son of Silas Knight, of New Braintree, was born

in Oakham, Mass. His father, who was a wheelwright by occupation, was a Revolu- tionary soldier. The Captain was for years a prominent resident of Leicester. He in- herited his father's mechanical aptitude, and he became one of the pioneers of the card clothing industry here. He was also a di- rector of the Leicester Bank for many years. Among the public offices held by him were those of Selectman and Assessor. He was a delegate to the State Constitutional Conven- tion. At one time he was a Captain of mili- tia, and the title subsequently clung to him. In politics he was independent, and he was one of the earliest members of the Unitarian Congregational church. He died in 1875. His wife, Olive, who was born in Spencer, Mass., survived her husband four years, dying in 1879. Of their eleven children, three sons are living; namely, Dexter, James J., and George M.

Dexter Knight obtained his education in the common schools and at Leicester Acad- emy. When he reached the age of fifteen he entered the store of D. Rice & Son as clerk, and remained with them in that capacity until he was nineteen. Then he was received into partnership, and the style of the firm was changed to Rice & Knight. After a short time he withdrew from the firm and joined that of Woodcock, Knight & Co., card cloth- ing manufacturers in Leicester. This firm was dissolved in 1881, and Mr. Knight has since lived practically retired. He is the president and a trustee of Leicester Savings Bank and a director of the Leicester National Bank.

In 1864 Mr. Knight was married to Pris- cilla J. Bowen, of Mattapan, Mass. They have a daughter, N. Olive Knight, who resides at home. Mr. Knight is a Democrat, though somewhat independent in his views. He is now serving as a Commissioner of Leicester Park, of which he was one of the founders. His interest in public and charitable enter- prises is well-known. In years past he served on the Board of Trustees of Leicester Public Library, and he was one of the incorporators of the Leicester Hotel Company, in which he held the position of director and clerk for a number of years. He is a member of the Unitarian Congregational church.

LBERT HINDS, a former resident of West Boylston, by profession a lawyer and civil engineer, was born in Har- vard, Mass., January 2, 1830, son of Ephraim and Maria (Hapgood) Hinds and one of a family of five children. He died in 1874, at forty-four years of age.

Mr. Hinds's father, Ephraim Hinds, a graduate of Harvard University, where he was a classmate of the Rev. Mr. Cross, was a well- known lawyer of his day, practising his pro- fession in his native town, West Boylston, at East Brookfield, Deerfield, and Harvard. His last days were spent in West Boylston, and he lived to be sixty-seven years old. His wife, who was a native of Petersham, Mass., died in 1842, aged forty-three years.

Albert Hinds was reared in West Boyls- ton, and studied law and civil engineering, in both of which he became proficient. Es- tablishing himself in business in his native town, he became widely and favorably known as an engineer and as an able exponent of real estate law. He surveyed the property owned by the late John B. Gough, and was employed to settle many estates. In politics he was a Democrat. He rendered valuable services to the town as a member of the Board of Select- men and as an Assessor. He was an emi- nently useful and a highly esteemed citizen, and his untimely death was the cause of uni- versal regret.

On December 31, 1863, Mr. Hinds was

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united in marriage with Alona A. Walker. Mrs. Hinds is now residing in West Boylston. She was born in Holden, Mass., daughter of Joel and Deidamia (Stone) Walker, the former of whom was a native of that town, but was a descendant of an old Sudbury family. Her grandfather, Hezekiah Walker, who was born in Sudbury, February 25, 1751, settled upon a farm in Holden, and there made his home until his death, which occurred in 1837, at the age of eighty-six years. Hezekiah Walker served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His wife, Lucy Raymond, born February 6, 1755, died January 2, 1849, aged ninety-four. She was the mother of thirteen children. Joel Walker, Mrs. Hinds's father, resided for some years at the homestead in Holden, and later carried on farming in Sterling, Mass. From that town he removed to West Boylston, and, settling at Oakdale, engaged in the real estate business. He was an able business man and a capable town officer, serving as a Selectman and an Assessor in Holden. In politics he was in his later years a Republican. Joel Walker lived to the advanced age of ninety- eight years. Deidamia, his wife, who was a daughter of Samuel and Martha (Wilder) Stone, of Gardner, Mass., died at the age of eighty-three. She was the mother of eleven children. Six of these are now living, namely : Emily, widow of the Rev. W. W. Parker; Alona A., Mrs. Hinds; Lucy, wife of Frank Merriman; Raymond J. ; Alvah S. ; and Charles H. Walker. Both parents were members of the Baptist church, and the father was for a number of years superintendent of the Sunday-school. Mrs. Hinds was educated in Westminster and Shelburne Falls, Mass., and previous to her marriage she taught in the public schools of that town for nine years. She has had two children, namely : Florence, who died in infancy; and Albert W., born November 30, 1864.

Albert W. Hinds was fitted for college at the Worcester Academy. He received his Bachelor's degree at Brown University and that of Master of Arts from Harvard. He taught school in Duluth, Minn., and was after- ward a teacher of classics at Brown University. He has served with ability upon the West

Boylston School Board, and is well known as a scholar and for his musical talents. Mrs. Hinds has been a member of the Baptist church since she was fourteen years old. She is connected with the Ladies' Benevolent So- ciety and with other church organizations.

EORGE BENSON, who was the chairman of the Board of Assessors of Northbridge for thirty-five years, was born in this town on July 28, 1812, son of Amasa and Sarah (Aldrich) Benson. His grandfather, Benjamin Benson, who came to this town from Mendon in 1769, bought the farm where his nephew now resides, and which has been in the family ever since. Benjamin, serving as a soldier in the French and Indian war from 1755 to 1759, took part in the expedition to Bennington. On the perilous trip across Lake George he received serious injuries, and was consequently obliged to secure his discharge on account of disabili- ties. He returned to Mendon, and ten years later came to Northbridge. He was strongly Orthodox in his religious opinions. Becom- ing prominently interested in the development of Northbridge, he was chosen Moderator of town meetings, and was appointed on the committee created to define the limits of the town.

Amasa Benson, son of Benjamin, having in- herited the farm, which lies about a mile north of the present village of Northbridge Centre, spent the greater part of his life thereon, engaged in agriculture. In early life he embraced the Methodist faith, and became one of its pioneers in this region. He was a deep student of the doctrines of the church; and the meetings of those days were held at his house, which served also as the headquar- ters of the circuit preachers. His wife, Sarah, was a daughter of Gardner Aldrich, one of the foremost men in the township. One of the sons of Amasa Benson, Otis Ben- son, elected on the abolitionist ticket, was a Representative to the legislature from this district in 1857.

George Benson was educated in the schools of Northbridge and at Wilbraham Academy,

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Beginning in his early manhood, he taught school in the towns of Northbridge, Grafton, Douglas, Mendon, and Sutton for seventeen winters. Seventy pupils were often under his charge, varying in age from five to twenty-five years. So great was his tact in dealing with unruly lads that he was sometimes called upon to restore order in other schools where the boys indulged in the old-time sport of "carrying the teacher out." One glance at his sturdy, rugged frame and his kindly yet determined face was sufficient for the most disorderly pupil. In the summer of 1840 Mr. Benson bought a farm in Millbury. Not long after he began taking contracts for stone work on buildings, bridges, arches, mill founda- tions, etc., in Sutton, Douglas, and other towns. He did a large amount of work in the construction of the Worcester & Providence Railroad. This line of business he continued until about the time of the breaking out of the Civil War. Then he returned to the home- stead farm in Northbridge, where he success- fully carried on farming and dealt in wood and lumber until about three years ago.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 66

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