Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 79

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 79

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Silas Augustus Burgess acquired his edu- cation in the public schools and in the acad- emies at Cummington, Charlemont, and Wil- braham. After pursuing his law studies with B. O. Tyler, of Winchendon, he was admitted to the bar in 1852, and for the succeeding year he was associated with his preceptor. He practised in Westminster, Mass., a short time, and, settling at Blackstone in 1854, was engaged in legal business there for twenty-three years. In 1876 he removed to Worcester, but continued to retain his office in Blackstone for some time afterward. Since coming to this city he has resided on Salis- bury Street.

On August 14, 1855, Mr. Burgess con- tracted his first marriage with Evelina E. H.

Jones, of Winchendon. She bore him five children, one of whom, a son, died in infancy. The living are: Arabella E., born February 2, 1859, who married George W. Cushing, a printer, of Norwood, Mass., and has one son ; Ellery Carl Pitt Burgess, a salesman in this city, born October 9, 1861, who is married and has two children - Lina, aged six, and Carl, aged four years; Lucy Lillian, born December 30, 1863, who married J. William Bennett, and has one daughter, Florence E. Bennett; and Daniel Messenger Burgess, born April 13, 1870, a machinist in Worcester, un- married. Mr. Burgess's first wife died Sep- tember 7, 1881 ; and he married for his second wife Mrs. Martha Washington Chamberlain, daughter of Artemas Barnes and widow of George A. Chamberlain, formerly a well- known public official of this city. She in- herited the Chamberlain farm on Salisbury Street, which was occupied by her former hus- band's parents and grandparents, it having. been cleared from the wilderness one hundred and fifty years ago. It is now carried on by J. William Bennett, above named. The pres- ent residence is about one hundred years old, and one house on the farm was built in 1717. Mrs. Burgess had by her previous marriage one daughter, Carrie M. Chamberlain, who died at the age of twenty-one years.

While residing in Blackstone Mr. Burgess served with ability as Selectman, Assessor, School Committee, and Trial Justice. In politics he was originally a Whig, but has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He is a Master Mason. In his relig- ious belief he is a Congregationalist, and be- longs to the Central Church.

LEXANDER S. PATON, a promi- nent citizen of Leominster, head of the Paton Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of combs, jewelry, and buttons, was born in 1854 in Scotland, in which country his mother is still living. Mr. Paton received his education in his na- tive land. Coming to America at the age of sixteen, he found work in a horn shop, where he was employed for several years. In

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1879 he started in business for himself, be- ginning in a small way; and the first year his business amounted to three thousand dollars. So successful has the enterprise since proved that a frequent increase in the number of workmen and increased mechanical facilities have been needed; and the business now amounts to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually, and gives employment to one hundred and twenty-five or more hands, with a yearly pay-roll of fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Paton moved to his present location in 1886. The little factory on the spot that had been standing there for fifty years was burned shortly after he took possession of it, and he was obliged to erect a new building. In 1895 this also was burned, but within six weeks was replaced by the present commodious structure.

A progressive and broad-minded citizen, Mr. Paton takes an active part in questions of public interest. He served three years on the Board of Selectmen, being its chairman for the last term, was president of the Town Im- provement Society during its existence, and is vice-president of the Board of Trade. . Well versed in parliamentary law and usages, he has served as Moderator at various town meet- ings with credit to himself and benefit to the town. He has been one of the stanch sup- porters of the Republican party in Leominster for over twenty years, and has held various official positions within its gift. In 1895 he ran as an independent candidate for Repre- sentative to the legislature, but was defeated by the small majority of thirty votes through the opposition of the American Protective As- sociation.

In 1897 he was nominated by the Republi- can caucus and elected as Representative to the legislature, where he served on the impor- tant Committee of Ways and Means. He was recognized as one of the leading, pushing, and energetic business men of the House, taking an active part in legislation. This year, 1898, he was nominated unanimously by his party, and elected by a large majority ; and his friends confidently expect that he will make a good record in the legislature of 1899.

Mr. Paton was first president of the Leom- inster & Clinton Street Railway Company.

He is at present largely interested in other electric roads, being a director in the Green- field & Turner's Falls road, in the Gardner road, in the Leominster & Clinton, in the Pawtucket Valley Road in Westerly, R. I., and in the Georgetown & Haverhill road. He is also president of the new Worcester & Clin- ton Street Railway. He is an active member of various fraternal societies, belonging to Wilder Lodge, F. & A. M .; and to Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Leom- inster Lodge, No. 86, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Daughters of Rebecca, I. O. O. F .; Wachusett Tribe, No. 41, Im- perial Order of Red Men; Columbian Lodge, No. 100, Knights of Pythias; and Granite Lodge, No. 197, Knights of Honor. He is also a member of the Leominster Club and of the Gutezeit Club. He has passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows and in the Red Men's organizations, and has been Deputy Grand Master in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for a number of years.

In 1880 Mr. Paton was united in marriage with Clara M. Somers, of Leominster, daugh- ter of the late W. D. Somers. One son and four daughters have been born of their union; namely, Phœbe S., Somers S., Agnes F., Pauline, and Clara M. Mrs. Paton's mother resides in Leominster.

R. WILLIAM NEWTON, formerly a skilful dentist and for many years a highly esteemed resident of Oxford, was born in Paxton, Mass., May 2, 1820. A son of Windsor and Polly (Dickerman) Newton, he was a descendant in the seventh generation of Richard Newton, who was residing in Sudbury, Mass., in 1640, and according to the records was made a free- man in 1645. His son, Daniel, was one of the original proprietors of Southboro, Mass. Isaac Newton, son of Daniel, was the father of Hezekiah Newton, the great-grandfather of the late Dr. Newton. Hezekiah Newton re- sided in Paxton, and there enlisted in the Continental army for service in the Revolu- tionary War. The grandfather, Silas New- ton, was a well-to-do farmer of Paxton.

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WILLIAM NEWTON.

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Windsor Newton, son of Silas and also a na- tive of Paxton, was deacon for many years of the Baptist Church in Holden, which he at- tended, though a resident of the town of Pax- ton. He married Polly, daughter of Dr. Lemuel Dickerman, of Brattleboro, Vt.

Left an orphan at the tender age of three years, William Newton was reared by an aunt in Petersham, Mass. After passing through the common schools he attended the Worces- ter Academy and the Literary Institute in Suffield, Conn. Then he became a student in the office of Dr. Miller, a well-known dentist of Worcester in his day. When deemed competent by his preceptor to en- gage in practice, he was admitted to partner- ship under the firm name of Miller & New- ton. Three years afterward this firm was dissolved, and he subsequently practised in Worcester alone until 1855. In that year on account of failing health he came to Oxford with the intention of remaining for two years. The village and its people were so attractive to him, however, that he decided to settle here permanently; and from that time until his death he was closely identified with the town and its institutions.

Dr. Newton married Eliza Livermore Smith, a daughter of Horace and Nancy (De- Witt) Smith. Mr. Smith, born June 13, 1792, was a prominent merchant and manu- facturer in Leicester, Mass. He died at the age of thirty-four years, on August 4, 1826. Mrs. Smith, born March 29, 1800, who died September 17, 1830, was a daughter of Ben- jamin DeWitt and a sister of Colonel Alex- ander DeWitt, formerly a leading manufact- urer of Worcester County. Mrs. Newton's maternal grandmother was Olivia Campbell, a grand-daughter of the Rev. John Campbell, who came from Scotland and, was the first set- tled minister in Oxford after its occupancy by the English, beginning his pastoral labors here in 1721. Benjamin DeWitt served in the American army during the war for inde- pendence, and his company guarded the gal- lows upon which Major André was executed. His immigrant ancestor was John DeWitt, who settled in that part of Salem which is now Lynn in 1650. John's son, John, who

was born in 1679, was Benjamin DeWitt's grandfather. Mrs. Newton became the mother of two children, namely: Mary E., born July I, 1857, who is unmarried and resides at home; and William H. Newton, born in 1862, who is now a successful dentist of Worcester. William married Ida Pease, a daughter of Deacon Edward Pease, of Oxford, and his children are: Helen Joslin, born in 1894; and Eliza Theda, born in 1896. Dr. William Newton died September 24, 1889. He was a Deacon of the Baptist church at North Oxford, served as superintendent of the Sunday-school, was a member of the Chris- tian Commission during the Rebellion, and he sometimes officiated as a preacher. Much interested in educational matters, he served upon the School Board from 1862 to 1864. Mrs. Newton is still living.

EORGE BLISS, a former Repre- sentative of the Fifth Worcester District in the General Court and a leading merchant of the town of Warren, was born here, November 20, 1844. A son of Samuel H. and Lucy (Hitchcock) Bliss, he is a great-grandson of Isaac Bliss, who took up land before the Revolution, and estab- lished the homestead now occupied by one of his descendants. Isaac's son Isaac, grand- father of the subject of this sketch, born in Warren, was a lifelong resident here. Both father and son held the office of Deacon for many years in the Congregational church.

Samuel H. Bliss, who was also born in Warren, died here in 1882. He inherited the homestead, and was a lifelong farmer. Like his father and grandfather, he was a devoted member of the Congregational church. His wife, Lucy, who was born in Brimfield, bore him seven children, of whom Ruth C. and Al- bert N. are deceased. The latter died in the army during the Civil War. Those living are : the Rev. Daniel J. Bliss, who resides in Exe- ter, Conn .; Randolph, a resident of Auburn, N.Y .; Amos, who resides in Warren on the old homestead; Charles H., of Nashua, N.H. ; and George Bliss, the subject of this biog- raphy. Five sons of this family fought for the

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Union's cause in the Civil War, a showing of which any father might be proud.

George Bliss attended the common schools, spending one term as a pupil of the Warren High School. Then he remained at home for a while, working on the farm. In November, 1863, he enlisted in Company I of the Thirty- fourth Regiment, and shortly after was placed under command of General Franz Sigel for the campaign in West Virginia. At the battle of Newmarket, on May 15, 1864, he was wounded in the right foot so seriously that he was sent to the hospital. About the middle of the following July, however, he was again detailed for service, and was on duty at Arlington Heights until September 15 of the same year. At that time he rejoined his regiment, and was subsequently with Sheridan at Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Stickney's Farm. Again becoming disabled, he was obliged to seek treatment, and went into the hospital at Philadelphia, where he remained until February, 1865. From that time until his discharge, on July 20, 1865, he was on duty at the national capital. Return- ing to Warren at the close of the war, he spent a short time here, and then went to the Pennsylvania oil region. Later he engaged in the manufacture of cheese, which he con- tinued for five years. He also spent a year in Belchertown and four years in Warren. At the end of that time he and J. B. Gould, since deceased, started a provision store in Warren village, under the name of Gould, Bliss & Co. Later he was in West Warren, in company with E. W. Butterworth, firm of Bliss & Butterworth. This partnership was dissolved after a short time. Since then, a period of twenty-one years, he has been sole proprietor. He has been a member of the local board of trade for some time.

By his marriage with Esther J. Smith, of New Salem, Mass., a daughter of the late Royal Smith, Mr. Bliss became the father of two children - E. Carrol and Esther K. For a number of years he was special police officer ; Overseer of the Poor for eleven years, serving as clerk of the board for much of that period; and in 1889 he was a Representative in the General Court, He has also been one of the

fire engineers of the town. Clara Barton Post, No. 65, G. A. R., ranks him among the most valued of its members, and for three years he had the honor of being an aide on the staff of the Commander-in-chief of the na- tional organization. He is a member of the Congregational church, which he served two years in the capacities of Deacon and chairman of its Executive Committee. He is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum, and for a number of years was its treasurer. In politics a Re- publican, he has been a member of the Repub- lican Town Committee for twenty years. His war record is one upon which any man may look back with a justifiable pride. He has the full confidence of the men who know him best, and is highly respected in the town.

DWARD . MUNSON ROCKWELL, manufacturer of woollen yarns at Leom- inster, Mass., was born in Win- sted, Conn., in 1845. Son of Henry Ensign and Emerette (Munson) Rockwell, he is of the ninth generation in descent from Will- iam Rockwell, who came over from England as one of the early colonists, the line contin- uing through Samuel,2 Joseph,3 Joseph, 4 Jo- seph, 5 Elijah,6 Elijah 7 to Henry Ensign.8

Sir Ralph de Rocheville, one of the Nor- man knights who crossed the channel with the Empress Maud, was the founder of the Rock- well family in England. From King Henry II. he received a grant of three knight's fees of land in the county of York; and the estate, it is said, has remained in the family down to the present time. The seat of the family in England is Rockwell Hall, Boroughbridge.

The first of the family in America was William Rockwell, who, although a young man, was one of the first Deacons of Dorches- ter Church, a Selectman, and signer of the first land grants. He was one of the twenty-four freemen who took the oath of fidelity on May 20, 1630. A few years later he removed to Windsor, Conn. (See "Genealogies and Bi- ographies of Ancient Windsor," by Henry R. Stiles; also "The Rockwell Family in Amer- ica," by Henry Ensign Rockwell.)

Henry Ensign Rockwell, father of Edward

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Munson, was a son of Elijah and Sophia (En- sign) Rockwell and on the maternal side a descendant of Governor William Bradford through his grand-daughter, Alice Bradford. Mr. Henry E. Rockwell was for many years a high-school teacher at Millbury. During the ten years prior to his death in 1871 he was one of the secretaries of the Smithsonian In- stitution. For a time he represented Mill- bury in the State legislature. He was twice married, and had six children by his first wife and three by the second. Mrs. Emerette Rockwell, the first wife, was a native of Win- sted, Conn. She was the mother of the fol- lowing-named children: Horace T., Henry, Julius, Julia, Charles B., and Edward M. Henry Rockwell, who rose to the rank of First Lieutenant, served throughout the late war, and died soon after its close. Horace is at the head of a large printing and stereo- typing firm in Boston; Julius and Julia are connected with the Smithsonian Institution; and Charles B. is treasurer of the Cranston Worsted Company at Bristol, R. I.

After receiving a practical education in the schools at Jamaica Plain, Uxbridge, and Mill- bury, Edward M. Rockwell entered business life as a book-keeper for N. A. Lombard & Co., of Worcester. He was subsequently em- ployed at the Cleveland Machine Works in Worcester, and at Mr. Cleveland's death he took charge of them. In 1872 he associated himself with James Phillips, and they began the manufacture of worsted suitings under the name of Rockwell & Phillips. After the dis- solution of this partnership in 1876, Mr. Rockwell purchased some mills in Leomin- ster, and for a number of years engaged in the manufacture of cloth. In 1887 he began to manufacture woollen yarns, and he has con- tinued the business up to the present time. He has fifteen sets of machinery, his mill being one of the largest in the country in his particular line. Besides his Leominster plant he has started a mill in Holliston, Mass., which is furnished with six sets of machinery. Of this his son, E. H. Rockwell, has charge. It has been a source of considerable pride to Mr. Rockwell that during all the hard times of the last few years the reputation of the

yarn turned out in his mill has kept the mill running in full force with the exception of a part of the year 1893, when in common with others it was stopped.

Mr. Rockwell is a veteran of the Grand Army and member of Charles H. Stevens Post, No. 53, having served his country in different capacities eight months in 1864 and 1865. For five months of that time he was in the engineering department at Fortress Mon- roe. He has served six years on the School Board of Leominster, and was chairman of that body for five years. He has never cared to accept public office, although he is active in local politics, and was for many years chairman of the Republican Town Committee. He is a member of the Orthodox church.

Mr. Rockwell was married in 1867 to Martha J. Smith. Of the six children born of this union two sons and two daughters are living; namely, E. H. Rockwell, Alice, Al- fred C., and Ruth M. Alice is a graduate of Leominster High School. The eldest son, E. H., is a graduate of the Worcester School of Technology, and the youngest is in his sec- ond year at that institution. Mr. Rockwell is a member of Wilder Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of Leominster; also of the United Workmen and of the Royal Arcanum.

OSIAH MARK BUZZELL, late a prominent contractor and builder of Worcester, was born in Tunbridge C Vt., February 24, 1833, son of Josiah Smith and Dorothy (Cowdrey) Buzzell. He traced his ancestry back on the paternal side to John Buzzell, of Madbury, N. H., who was his great-great-great-grandfather. His great- grandfather was Ichabod Buzzell, who served seven years in the French and Indian War, and who married Sarah Pitman. John Roberts, son of Ichabod and Sarah Pitman Buzzell, was born at Gilmanton, N.H., in 1744, and died at Tunbridge, July 18, 1842. He married Rachel Smith, of Alton, N. H. Their son, Josiah Smith Buzzell, was born in Gilmanton, N. H., June 10, 1798, and died in Brattleboro, Vt., February 1, 1875. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife, Dorothy

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Cowdrey, was a native of Tunbridge, Vt., born in 1801. Mrs. Dorothy Buzzell died in Worcester, Mass., October 12, 1872.

Josiah Mark Buzzell in his boyhood at- tended the schools of his native town. While still a youth he began to learn the carpenter's trade with his father. He soon displayed a strong natural taste for this occupation, and at the age of eighteen superintended the con- struction of several large buildings, for which his father had contracted. Three years later, having served his time, he went to Manches- ter, N.H., where he remained some time, working at his trade. Subsequently he worked for a while in St. Albans, Vt. In 1864 he moved to Brattleboro, Vt., where for the succeeding eleven years he carried on a successful contracting business, erecting many important buildings there as well as in other parts of New England. In 1875 he came to Worcester to take charge of the erection of the State Insane Asylum, and from that time until his death he made this city his home. During his career as a contractor, which cov- ered a period of nearly forty years, he erected, besides several buildings of note in New Hampshire and Vermont, the Channing Me- morial Church at Newport, R.I .; two build- ings at the Agricultural College at Kingston, R.I. ; Clark's Block on Main Street; and the Memorial Hospital on Belmont Street in this city. In the erection of the State Insane Asylum at Bloomingdale, Mass., he had en- tire charge as inspector, with the full confi- dence of the State Board. In the same man- ner he had entire charge of the erection of the Young Men's Christian Association Building at Brooklyn, N. Y. For several years late in life he was engaged in con- structing buildings in the Middle and New England States for the Standard Oil Com- pany. He was engaged in the erection of a residence in Providence for his son-in-law, Frederick E. Shaw, at the time of his death, which occurred suddenly in that city, May 29, 1894, as he was entering the freight office of the Worcester Road. Mr. Buzzell's splen- did reputation was due to the thorough man- ner in which all his contracts were executed and his strict adherence to upright methods,

On January 1, 1862, Mr. Buzzell was joined in marriage with Emily E. Bangs, of Stanbridge, P.Q. Of this union there are three children, namely: Emma, wife of Fred- erick E. Shaw, of Providence, R.I .; Annie, who married O. H. Kroh, and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. ; and Josiah William, a grad- uate of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. J. William Buzzell was engaged in the con- tracting business with his father, and is now located at Dorchester, Mass. Mr. Buzzell was exceedingly fond of his children and grandchildren, and loved to provide for their amusement and instruction. It may be well said that his happiest moments were those spent with his family.

ATHAN W. HOLDEN, whose death occurred at Falmouth Heights, Sep- tember 5, 1892, was for more than thirty years one of the leading gro- cers of Worcester, and a conspicuous factor in developing its mercantile interests. He was born October II, 1837, in Hubbardston, Mass., the home of his ancestors for several generations and the birthplace of his parents, Nathan and Mary (Stone) Holden.

Mr. Holden was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the public schools. In 1856 he left the paternal homestead, and coming to Worces- ter secured employment as a clerk in the gro- cery store of Scott & Ellis on Front Street. Proving himself eminently capable and trust- worthy, he was gradually promoted, and in the different positions he was called to occupy ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the details of the business. Prudent and economical, he yearly saved a part of his earnings, and when, in 1861, on account of the death of one of his employers the grocery was offered for sale, he had accumulated nearly enough money to pay cash for it. He purchased it, and, taking into partnership his brother, continued the business under the firm name of Holden Brothers at the old stand. Under the new administration a fresh impetus was given to the trade, which rapidly expanded. New lines of goods were introduced, including hay, grain, and flour, In 1870 the firm removed to

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larger quarters on the same street, nearly opposite Bartlett Place, and in a short time Mr. Holden bought out his brother's interest. Possessing good business ability, he became exceedingly prosperous in his operations, building up such a large trade that eleven clerks were needed to attend to the filling of orders ; and in 1890 he removed to a larger and more modern store, at the corner of Park and Salem Streets.

Mr. Holden was a man of high standing in the business and social community. He was a lover of animals, more especially of the horse, which he never abused or overworked, employing in his business twice as many as might have sufficed, being particular that none of them should work more than half a day at a time. He was broad-minded and generous, always giving freely to benevolent objects and, though not a member of any religious organi- zation, contributing toward the support of the church. The Rev. W. T. Worth, who con- ducted the services at his funeral, which was largely attended, spoke of him as a true sym- pathizer and active helper in the work of the parish, as a man of character, as one who sought in all relations to build up a structure of honorable manhood, one not inclined to think too highly of himself, but, on the con- trary, self-depreciative, and a man of prayer.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 79

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