Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 78

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 78

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JOHN A. HALL.

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annually. Interested also in the Warren Sav- ings Bank, he is a trustee of that institution and a member of its Investment Committee. Since the formation of the Warren Board of Trade he has been one of its most influential members, and he was its vice-president for sev- eral years.

Mr. Burroughs married Mary C. Lombard, of Warren, a daughter of J. B. Lombard, his former business partner, now deceased. Mrs. Burroughs is the mother of two sons - Herbert R. and Lester L. In politics Mr. Burroughs is a Republican. For a number of years he was Selectman of Warren, being the chairman of the board for the greater part of the time. He has also served on the School Committee. He has been a member of the Board of Ceme- tery Commissioners for many years, and he is Cattle Inspector for the town. During the session of 1886 he represented his district in the Massachusetts General Court, where he was a member of the Committee on Agri- culture.

EXTER BULLARD, the superin- tendent of Spencer's water - works, was born in Oakham, Mass., March 9, 1816. His parents, William and Rebecca (Clark) Bullard, were natives respec- tively of Oakham and Medway. His father was a farmer by occupation and a lifelong resident of Oakham, where the Bullard family has been settled for several generations. His paternal grandfather, Captain Silas Bullard, who was an officer in the State militia, was a grandson of Jonathan Bullard, the first member of the family to become a resident of Oakham.

Dexter Bullard passed his life until the age of seventeen years at the home of his parents, attending the common schools or assisting his father on the farm. Coming then to Spencer, he obtained employment in a boot and shoe manufactory here. Afterward until 1867 he was similarly employed by other firms. Then forming a partnership with a Mr. Boyden in the firm of Bullard & Boyden, he started in the business of manufacturing boots and shoes. The business was afterward successively carried on by Bullard, Boyden & Temple and D.

Bullard & Co. until some time in the eighties, when Mr. Bullard retired. His career as a manufacturer was successful and honorable, and he gained and kept the full confidence of the people of his adopted town. In politics he is a Republican. He was sent as Representative to General Court in 1867, serving while there as a member of the Committee on Accounts. For some fifteen years he was a member of the Board of Selectmen and for much of that time the chairman. He was also Assessor for one year. Since 1884, when the Board of Water Commissioners was organized, he has been one of its most valued and efficient members, and he has been the superintendent of the water- works for several years in succession.

Mr. Bullard first married Persis N. Bemis, of Spencer, and by her became the father of two children, of whom George S. is living. By his second wife, formerly Sophia N. Clapp, of this town, there were three children - Mary P., George L., and Annie S. Mary P. is now the wife of E. F. Sibley, of the firm Bacon & Sibley, manufacturers of boots and shoes in Spencer. Annie S. is the widow of Alfred Johnson, late of Spencer. The mother died some time ago. Mr. Bullard is a member of the Universalist church. He believes in prac- tical charity and in the doctrine of universal brotherhood. Every worthy cause finds in him a zealous and efficient promoter.

OHN A. HALL, treasurer of the Southbridge Savings Bank, was born in Southbridge, July 27, 1869, son of John and Margaret (McVey) Hall. His father, who was born in Aberdeen, Scot- land, in 1837, emigrated to the United States, settling in Southbridge, where he became as- sistant superintendent of the print works at Globe Village. His wife, Margaret, whom he married in 1867, was born in this town, and is a daughter of Robert and Lilly (Ross) McVey, natives of Scotland. She is the mother of nine children; namely, John A., Lilly R., Frank R., Fred G., Clarence A., Alice, Jessie, Ernest, and Irving, all of whom are residents of Southbridge.

John A. Hall was educated in the public

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schools of Southbridge. At the age of seven- teen he entered the Hamilton Print Works for the purpose of learning the business, but after remaining one year decided that some other occupation would be more agreeable to him. After being employed by the American Opti- cal Company for a short time, he accepted a position as book-keeper in the Southbridge National Bank, where he remained for two years. He then became assistant treasurer of the Southbridge Savings Bank, and was elected to his present position as treasurer in 1895.

In February, 1895, Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Ethelind Martin, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., daughter of Albert W. and Jennie M. (Mckinstry) Martin, her mother being a daughter of John O. and Betsey Mc- Kinstry. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have two chil- dren : Howard M., who was born December 15, 1895; and Eleanor, born September 1I, 1897.

In politics a Republican, Mr. Hall served as Town Auditor two years, and has been Town Treasurer for the past three years. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Quinnebaug Lodge, Doric Chapter, Hiram Council, Worcester Commandery, the Lodge of Perfection, Worcester, and the Massachu- setts Consistory, Boston. He is also a mem- ber of several beneficiary organizations. He is treasurer of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation.

OBERT BOOTH, M.D., the oldest resident physician of Millbury, was born in County Londonderry, Ire- land, on September 20, 1840, being the youngest of the nine children of William and Jane (Harris) Booth.

William Booth was a son of George Booth, who was born in England, but went to Ireland when a boy with his father, the latter being by occupation a tanner. When the father died the business fell into the hands of George, by whom it was successfully carried on for many years. George Booth married Jane Benderman, also a native of England, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. When his children were grown to maturity, he gave up the tannery and

devoted his time to farming, having become possessed of two large freeholds, one in County Tyrone and the other in Londonderry. These were afterward divided among the five sons mentioned. Grandfather Booth was in the habit of carrying a sword when he went abroad, as was customary with the well-to-do in those days, the weapon sometimes being needed as a means of protection. The practice was not without its dangers, as he is said to have fought several duels, always, however, coming off vic- tor. The Doctor well remembers seeing the old sword, which is now in the possession of one of the other grandchildren.

William Booth, the Doctor's father, the youngest member of the family, was married when twenty-six years of age, and settled upon the farm left him by his father. Late in life he came to America. He died in Middleboro, Mass., at the age of ninety-three. He was active both in mind and body up to the time of his death. His wife died one year later at the age of eighty-eight. The Doctor has now living an elder brother, who resides in Upper Canada, and five sisters, all of whom are living in the United States.

Robert Booth came to America when only seventeen years of age, taking passage from Liverpool to New York, and being seven weeks and two days on the voyage. From New York he came direct to Millbury; but, having con- tracted a cold on the passage, he was almost immediately stricken down with illness, and for the following six months was unable to do work of any kind. This long enforced idleness exhausted his slender funds; and, as soon as he was able to be out again, he went to work in the so-called Walling mill, where he continued for a year. At the end of this time he had saved enough money to defray his expenses to Canada, where his brother resided. Having received a fair education, including a knowl- edge of the Latin and Greek languages, he was enabled to secure a position as teacher. After seven years of teaching and studying he was graduated at the medical department of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1867, and shortly after came to Blackstone, Mass., where he settled for the practice of his profes- sion. Eight years later he removed to Mill-

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bury, which he has since made the field of his professional labors.

Dr. Booth was married January 9, 1894, to Josie Little, who was born in New Hampshire, her parents being John and Margaret (Richer) Little, both natives of Canada. She is one of a family of four brothers and seven sisters, all of whom are living. Her parents removed from New Hampshire to Millbury, and lived here some twenty-five years. Both are now de- ceased.

The Doctor is a liberal-minded man. Po- litically, he believes in the general principles of the Democratic party. While in Blackstone he was elected to the School Board for three years. Since taking up his residence here he has been a member of the Board of Health for three years and Selectman five years, being for four years executive clerk of the board.

The building that he now occupies as office and tenement, No. 70 Elm Street, was erected by himself in 1875, and until the beginning of 1898 the lower story was rented for a drug store. He has always been averse to secret societies, and, with the exception of the Order of Foresters of America, whose physician he is, has never become identified with any. He is also physician to the Society of Ancient Order of Hibernians, with a fixed salary from each

HARLES A. GODDARD, of Worces- ter, son of Daniel and Sarah (Whit- ney) Goddard, was born in this city on January 11, 1833. He is a lin- eal descendant of William Goddard, who came to America in 1665, and settled on a farm in Watertown, Mass., near the site of the present church; and on the maternal side he is de- scended from John Whitney, who came from the vicinity of London, England, and settled at Watertown in 1635.

William Goddard was the seventh son of Edward Goddard, of Norfolk County, England. After William' came in direct line Edward, 2 Edward, 3 and then Daniel, 4 born in 1734, who lived in Shrewsbury. Luther, 5 son of Daniel, 4 was the father of Daniel,6 who was born on February 11, 1796, removed to Worcester in

1817, and resided here until his death at the age of eighty-eight. The first watches made in this city were his handiwork. He had learned his trade of his father, who made the first watches produced in America. This sec- ond Daniel Goddard, the father of Charles A., built some time in the twenties the first brick block and constructed the first brick sidewalk in Worcester. He was also instrumental in securing the introduction of gas into the city of Worcester. He married in 1820 Sarah, the daughter of Israel and Lucy (Mahan) Whit- ney. Her paternal line of ancestry was: John Whitney,' John,2 Benjamin, 3 Daniel, 4 Captain Joshua, 5 Israel. 6 It is said that Daniel

Whitney, grandfather of Israel, fought in the battle of Lexington in Colonel Thomas's regi- ment at the age of seventy-five. Daniel and Sarah (Whitney) Goddard had five children : Caroline E., who married Amory Gale, and settled in Minneapolis, Minn .; Sarah M., who married Charles Ballard, of Worcester; Luther D. ; Lucy, who married Richard Fisk; and Charles A., the special subject of this sketch.

Mr. Goddard, having received his education in the Worcester public schools, at Worcester Academy, and at an academy in Middleboro, Mass., learned the watchmaker's trade in his father's store. Subsequently until about 1860, in company with Richard Fisk, the firm name being Fisk & Goddard, he carried on the business. At the opening of the Civil War Mr. Goddard enlisted as a volunteer in the Fifty-first Massachusetts Regiment. On Sep- tember 25, 1862, he was made Corporal, and during the remainder of his term of service he was detailed in the quartermaster department. Previous to this he had been special messenger for the War Department in the transmission of despatches in Maryland and Virginia. After his return from the South Mr. Goddard was in the office of the Provost Marshal in Worces- ter, where he remained until the close of the war. For the next ten years he was connected with the J. D. Lovell Company in their seed department, later for fourteen years he was with the J. & J. A. Rice Company in the same capacity, and for the last six years he has been with Ross Brothers, florists and seedsmen.

Mr. Goddard married for his first wife Mar-

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tha A. Freeman. His second wife, Emma, born in Bolton Percy, Yorkshire, England, is the daughter of J. H. and Elizabeth (Thorald) Felton. She is the mother of two children : Martha F., who was born in 1867; and S. Elizabeth, who was born in 1870. The former is a graduate of the Worcester High School and of Wellesley College, and has studied for one year at the University of Zurich in Swit- zerland. She is teacher of biology in the English High School, Worcester. S. Eliza- beth graduated at the Worcester High School and from Miss Lucy Wheelock's Kindergarten Training Class, and is now teaching in the Worcester schools. Mr. Goddard is a member of Montacute Lodge of Masons and of Worces- ter Royal Arch Chapter. He belongs also to Post No. 10, G. A. R.

ARRISON NEAL, one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of Southboro, was born in North Ber- wick, York County, Me., Septem- ber 23, 1813. A son of Reuben and Theodosia (Nowell) Neal, he comes of an old English family. His great-grandfather, An- drew Neal, and two brothers, all Quakers, who escaped from an English man-of-war when it was in Portsmouth Harbor over a century ago, and swam ashore, were the founders of the New England branch of the family. Andrew settled in North Berwick, Me., and there reared a large family. He was an enterprising and prosperous man.

Reuben Neal spent his life on the home- stead in North Berwick. A musician of re- pute, he played for a number of military or- ganizations, kept a singing-school, and taught pupils to play the drum and fife. He had a family of ten children, eight of whom are liv- ing, namely : John, a farmer of North Berwick ; Nirum, residing in Salem, Mass., a retired farmer; Alfred, a farmer on the old homestead in North Berwick; Reuben D., in Lynn, Mass. ; Alta, in Wells, Me .; Eliza, the wife of John Robinson, a carriage manufacturer of Amesbury, Mass. ; Lucinda, who is the widow of Samuel Dyer, and resides with her son in

Seattle; and Harrison, the subject of this sketch.

Harrison Neal worked on the home farm in boyhood, attending school for two months in the winter. When he was seventeen years of age he left home and found work as a farm hand in Hamilton, Mass .; and he was later engaged in shoemaking. Fifty-two years ago he purchased a farm in Newton, which he managed for fifteen years. He then sold his Newton property, and, moving to Lynn, was there engaged in manufacturing shoes for twelve years. Very successful in business, he acquired a competency and retired. About twenty-five years ago he purchased his present home in Southboro, adjoining the Deerfoot Farm. Here he has since been engaged in market gardening and until about four years ago in dairying, keeping some twenty-five COWS.

Mr. Neal. has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Ann Lane, of Newton, Mass., before marriage; and his sec- ond Roxy Ann, daughter of William Flagg, of Southboro. He has never taken an active part in politics. Having read a great deal, he is remarkably well-informed on topics of current interest. Though eighty-five years of age, his mind is still keen and his body vigorous.

EWELL WEDGE, a retired teacher residing at Sutton Centre, is a native of Leverett, Mass. He was born July 17, 1821, son of Curtis and F. Joanna (Howard) Wedge and one of a family of four children. His great-grandfather Wedge was a Baptist minister, but the men and some of the women of the succeeding gen- erations have been engaged for the most part in educational work. Mr. Wedge's grand- father and his father were teachers of repute. Curtis Wedge taught in Milford and later in Sutton, and was recognized as unusually skilful as a disciplinarian. Newell Wedge himself taught in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts before he was twenty-one years old. When only eighteen he had a school in Morrisville, Pa., consisting of ninety scholars, many of whom were older

HARRISON NEAL.

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than their teacher. His brother Alanson, who was graduated at Brown University, be- came a successful teacher in Western New York, as was also his brother Tyler, who was graduated at Amherst College. The sister, Hannah, was educated at Franklin Academy in Shelburne Falls, and subsequently devoted her whole life until she was past fifty to the profession of teaching, beginning work at the age of sixteen in Shutesbury, Mass.

Mr. Wedge was educated in the public schools of Leverett, Franklin Academy, Shel- burne Falls, and at Amherst College, where he was graduated in 1848. Among his class- mates were William S. Clark (lately de- ceased), at one time president of the Agri- cultural College in Japan and afterward president of the State Agricultural College at Amherst, Mass. ; and Thomas Morong, who was later professor of natural science at Co- lumbia College. Mr. Wedge has taught the high school at Grafton and the one at Whit- insville, and has also taught for a number of years in the town of Sutton. He has been a member of the Sutton School Committee, and has done much to improve the educational fa- cilities offered by the town. He has now re- tired from professional work, and is living upon his attractive place at Sutton Centre, bringing his intelligence to bear on the culti- vation of the soil. He has met with very good success, especially in raising fruits and vegetables.

Mr. Wedge was married in 1851 to Sarah E. Armsby, of Sutton. She came of a studi- ously inclined family, her grandfather having been a graduate of Harvard University. Her father, Joshua Armsby, was a very capable business man. He was chosen by his fellow- citizens to fill many local public offices, and was also sent to the State legislature from the town of Sutton. Two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wedge, Franklin and Anna, died in infancy, and two, Mary and Sarah Eliza- beth, are living. Mary married for her first husband Henry H. King. She is now the wife of Walter A. Wheeler, formerly State superintendent of the primary department of the State School at Monson, but now super- intendent of the outdoor department of the

Lyman School for Boys. By her first mar- riage she has two sons, who are now attend- ing the Rutland High School. A son by her second marriage, Merrill H. Wheeler, who was born in 1891, is attending the public schools of Rutland. Another son, Merrick Wedge Wheeler, died in November, 1889.

Sarah Elizabeth Wedge, who has been for the past three years head teacher in the Sut- ton High School, was graduated at Oread Collegiate Institute, and gained her first ex- perience as a teacher in the famous old stone schoolhouse of Sutton. For nine years be- fore taking charge of the high school she was a teacher in the public schools of Worcester. In 1892 she took a trip abroad, travelling over England and the continent of Europe.

EORGE H. NUTT, foreman at the Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, was born in the vicinity of Bath, England, August 7, 1844, son of James and Eliza (Silcox) Nutt. The father of James was William Nutt, who served in the British navy fifteen years, was a non-com- missioned officer under Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar, and was awarded two medals for bravery in action. The brave old pensioner died about the year 1853. He is well remem- bered by the subject of this sketch, who was his favorite grandson. He reared four sons, one of whom, named William, died of ship fever while crossing the Atlantic, and was buried at sea. Two others, James and Henry, died in America.

James Nutt, the father of George H., was born in 1809. He worked as a finisher in a woollen-mill until coming to the United States in 1847, when, in company with his brother Henry, he engaged in operating a file factory in Claremont, N.H. In 1861, after his brother's death, he removed to St. Johns- bury, Vt., where he operated another file fac- tory, and continued in business until his death, which occurred in 1882. He had been twice married. Mrs. Eliza Silcox Nutt, his first wife, died about the year 1851. She was the mother of six children, of whom two sons and a daughter grew to maturity; and George

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H., the subject of this sketch, is the only sur- vivor.

George H. Nutt came to the United States in 1850, in charge of his uncle William. Left motherless at the age of seven years, he was bound out to a farmer named Robinson, with whom he went to Wisconsin, where he remained until fourteen years old. Soon after his return to New England he entered upon an apprenticeship at the gunsmith's trade in Cornish, N. H., and served seven years. Coming to Worcester in 1865, he was em- ployed as tool-maker and foreman by the Ethan Allen Company and later by that com- pany's successors, Forehand & Wadsworth, until their suspension; and then, after doing contract work for the American Arms Com- pany, of Boston, one year, he in 1878 entered the Crompton & Knowles Loom Works as a tool-maker. He was later advanced to the position of assistant foreman, and for the past eight years has filled with ability the respon- sible position of foreman. He is an unusually skilful mechanic, noted for his ability to produce with rapidity and accuracy from the raw material any kind of a tool desired; and it is a fitting tribute to his efficiency and trustworthiness that he has been selected to superintend the work of other mechanics.

On August 6, 1868, Mr. Nutt was joined in marriage with Mary L. Harper, of this city. Her father, James C. Harper, was a native of Scotland, and her mother, whose maiden name was Julia G. Morse, was born in Maine. Mr. Harper at one time was an operative in a cotton factory, and ran a dresser. His death was caused by disease contracted while in the army, in which he served as a soldier in the Mexican War. He was the father of six chil- dren, five of whom grew to maturity, and three are living, namely : Jessie M., wife of Charles H. Fisher; Henry M. Harper, a resident of Boston; and Mary L., who is now Mrs. Nutt. One child, a daughter, born to Mr. and Mrs. Nutt, died in infancy. Their living children are: George Herbert, a graduate of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and now pro- fessor of manual training and draughting in Newtown, Pa .; Arthur C., a graduate of the Ohio State University; and Harry Garfield

Nutt, who is attending school. George Her- bert Nutt is married, and has one daughter.

In politics Mr. Nutt is a Republican. He is an advanced Mason, Scottish Rite; is a member of Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar; and of Aleppo Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Boston. He resides at 51 May Street, Worcester.

'ILAS AUGUSTUS BURGESS, a retired lawyer of Worcester, was born in Goshen, Mass., June 3, 1826, son of Silas and Lucy (Stone) Burgess. His first American ancestor was Thomas Burgess, who was born in England, and was a son of Thomas Burgess, Sr. Thomas Burgess, the emigrant, was among the twelve original settlers of Sandwich, Mass., in 1638 or 1639, and he became a citizen of wealth and influence, holding some of the important town offices.

The line of descent is through his son Ebenezer, first, a native of Sandwich, who married Mary Lombard, of Dartmouth, Mass. ; their son Ebenezer, second, who died in Sand- wich, December 11, 1768; Benjamin, first, who died in 1748; Benjamin, second, and Benjamin, third, both of whom were phy- sicians; and Silas, the father above named. Benjamin Burgess, third, the grandfather, was born about the year 1737. He resided on the island of Martha's Vineyard for a number of years, or until 1781, when he moved to Goshen, where he died in 1807. Some years prior to his removal he married Susan Manter, who bore him one son and six daughters, one of the latter of whom was the mother of former United States Senator Henry L. Dawes, of Massachusetts.

Silas Burgess, son of Benjamin, third, was born at Martha's Vineyard, October 20, 1776. On December 18, 1803, he married Lucy Stone, who was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., January 31, 1783, daughter of Joseph Stone. This couple spent the greater part of their married life upon a farm in Goshen. Silas Burgess died October 10, 1830, and his wife died September 17, 1854. She was the mother of nine children, one of whom died in

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infancy, and eight lived to maturity. Of these the only ones now living are: Lucy Lu- cretia; and Silas A., the subject of this sketch, who is the youngest. Lucy Lucretia, who was born October 11, 1822, is now Mrs. Grandgent, a widow residing in Cambridge, Mass., the mother of one son, Charles H. Grandgent, a linguist of repute and a member of the faculty of Harvard University. The others were: Maria, who was born January 8, 1806, married Josiah Barber, September 2, 1852, and died March 17, 1893; Benjamin, born July 5, 1808, who was for a number of years a wig manufacturer in New York City, but later carried on business in Boston for forty years, and died at his residence, corner of Tremont and Worcester Streets, April 20, 1883; the Rev. Frederick William Burgess, a graduate of Amherst College, who was born January 25, 1811, was installed pastor of a church in Detroit, Mich., and died at the age of twenty-seven years in Albany, while on his way home; the Rev. Joseph Stone Burgess, born August 15, 1813, who was a Free Will Baptist minister occupying pulpits in Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecti- cut, and died in Waterbury, February 28, 1888; George M., born August 18, 1816, who practised medicine in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and died March 5, 1859; and Sarah B., born July 12, 1819, who mar- ried Nathan F. Orcutt, of Cummington, Mass., and died November 30, 1876.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 78

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