Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 84

Author: Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Boston, Biographical review publishing company
Number of Pages: 1238

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HOMAS R. FOSTER, a well-known resident of Worcester, formerly a mem- ber of the city police force, was born in Mobile, Ala., May 16, 1822, son of Rufus and Ann (Torry) Foster. His father was a native of Roxbury, Mass., and his mother was born in Quincy, May 21, 1800.

Rufus Foster was a painter, and after his marriage, which took place in Boston, August 29, 1819, he established himself in business at Mobile, Ala. He died there, July 21, 1826, aged forty-three years, leaving a widow and three children, who were then on a visit North. In 1828 Mrs. Foster married for her second husband John S. Havens, by whom she had four children. He died in 1838. Her third husband was H. B. Brewster. She was sin- cerely beloved by all who knew her for her affectionate disposition and desire to relieve

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the suffering of others and make them happy. Nursing the sick and aiding the needy were to her a pleasure, and many had cause to extol her virtues. She died in 1843 while on a visit to Pensacola, Fla., for the benefit of her health, and was buried in that city. Five of her seven children grew to maturity. The only survivors are: Thomas R. Foster, the subject of this sketch; and his half-sister, El- mira Havens, who is now the wife of George W. Stickney, of Troy, N. Y.

Thomas R. Foster was reared by his pater- nal grandmother, whose maiden name was Sarah Goddard. She was left a widow; and after marrying a second time, becoming the wife of Tilly Chaffin, she removed from Rox- bury to Holden, Mass., where her grandson acquired a common-school education. Learn- ing the painter's trade, he followed it in Worcester from 1843 to 1851, and was subse- quently engaged in other occupations. Re- ceiving an appointment as a police officer in 1865, he served upon the force for fifteen years, during the last five of which he performed special duty at headquarters. For the past six- teen years he has lived in retirement.

On Christmas Eve, 1844, Mr. Foster mar- ried Sarah Jane Fales, who was born in Hol- den in 1827. Her parents, Ambrose and Amy (Newell) Fales, were prosperous farming people. They reared four of their seven chil- dren, and the only survivors are: Sarah J., who is now Mrs. Foster; and Ira Fales, of Winthrop, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Foster reside with their daughter Sarah, wife of John W. Bishop, one of the leading contractors of New England. They had another daughter, Elmira, who died at the age of eleven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have had nine chil- dren, namely : Mina F., who died in infancy ; William T., who is in business with his father ; Frederick H., who died at the age of eleven months; Florence J., a graduate of a prepara- tory school for kindergarten teachers; Marion E., who married Thomas H. Coe, has one daughter, and resides in Providence, R.I .; John W., Jr., who is studying under a private tutor; Sarah A., a pupil at the high school; Alice M., who died at eleven months; and Nathaniel S. Bishop, who is attending school.

B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN HAR- RINGTON, one of Worcester's most extensive dairymen, was born upon the farm where he now resides, September 2, 1838, son of Captain Benjamin and Lucretia (Flagg) Harrington. Mr. Har- rington is the fifth representative of the family in a direct line to occupy this farm, which was cleared from the wilderness by Francis Harrington, who came here from Watertown, Mass. The pioneer's son, Nathaniel Harring- ton, who served in the Revolutionary War, was born here, as was also Nathaniel's son Jona- than, whose birth took place October 31, 1779. : Jonathan Harrington was a prosperous farmer, and owned two hundred acres, or one- half of the original property deeded to his grandfather. He married Mary Flagg, daugh- ter of Captain Benjamin Flagg, of Worcester, and had one child, named for his maternal grandfather, Benjamin: Jonathan Harrington died May 4, 1858; and his wife, who survived him, died at the age of eighty-eight years. Her mother lived to be ninety-eight years old.

Benjamin Harrington, son of Jonathan and Mary (Flagg) Harrington, was born at the homestead, April 5, 1805. At an early age he began to assist in carrying on the farm, which he eventually inherited, and continued to till the soil with prosperous results for the rest of his active period. He died August 13, 1873. He was at one time a prominent figure in local military affairs, and held a Captain's commis- sion in the State militia. In his earlier years he played the clarinet and sang in the choir at the Old South Church. Later he united with the Union Church, and took an active part in the musical portion of the services. Lucretia Flagg, whom he married March 18, 1835, was born in Worcester in 1805, daughter of Abel Flagg. She became the mother of five chil- dren, namely : Mary Elizabeth, who was born in 1836, and is the wife of Samuel G. Curtis, of Worcester; Benjamin F., the subject of this sketch; Hannah, who died at the age of two years and six months; Henry Augustus, who resides upon a part of the home farm; and Sarah Amelia, wife of Gonzalo E. Buxton, M. D., of Providence, R.I. Mrs. Lucretia F. Harrington died in 1889.

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ISAAC S. BALCOME.

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Benjamin Franklin, the elder son, began his education in the district school, and completed it at the Worcester Academy at the age of nineteen, his spare moments from early boy- hood being spent in farm work at home. After his father's death he succeeded to the ownership of a part of the property. He raises good crops, but gives his chief attention to his dairy, keeping thirty cows, among which are seventeen grade Holsteins; and for the past seven years he has had the exclusive control of a milk route that has belonged to the family for forty-two years. In 1891 he completed a new residence, and also built a spacious barn, which is fully equipped with modern conven- iences and sanitary improvements.

On November 18, 1875, Mr. Harrington was joined in marriage with Harriet Ann Harring- ton, daughter of Francis and Harriet W. (Rob- bins) Harrington, who were cousins. Francis Harrington was a prominent merchant of Worcester in his day. He served in both branches of the city government. He died July 2, 1881. His first wife died at the age of twenty-six, leaving one daughter, Harriet A., now Mrs. Harrington. He married for his second wife Frances J. Moore, of Rhode Island, and by this union had one son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Harrington was edu- cated at the Worcester and Westfield Normal Schools, and taught several years previous to her marriage. She is the mother of one son - Francis Benjamin, who was born September 4, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington are mem- bers of the Union Congregational Church, and the former has filled the position of librarian most acceptably for many years.

REEMAN J. RICH, the Postmaster of Charlton City for several years, who has also been extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits, was born in Charlton, December 27, 1857. His parents, Paris and Sarah (Stone) Rich, were natives respectively of Sutton and Oxford, Mass. At the age of nine years, having previously attended the public schools of Charlton for some time, he removed with his parents to the neighboring town of Dudley, and completed his education

in Nichols Academy. Ten years after he re- turned to Charlton City to take a position in a sash and blind factory, in which he was em- ployed a few years. In 1880 or soon after he formed a copartnership with Judson E. Darling, and under the firm name of J. E. Darling & Co. opened a general merchandise store. After successfully carrying on busi- ness for five years Mr. Rich in 1885 pur- chased the interest of his partner in the store. Since then he has conducted the business alone. To the original stock of fancy and staple groceries, flour, grain, crockery, and hardware he has added meat and provisions, in which he has built up a lucrative trade. He has a large patronage in this vicinity, and keeps two wagons on the road all the year around.

Mr. Rich has been the Postmaster of Charl- ton City since his first appointment thereto under the administration of President Cleve- land, giving satisfaction to all concerned. In politics he is a sound Republican. On February 17, 1886, he married Miss Rose A. Woodward, a daughter of Henry J. and. Jane Elizabeth Woodward, of Fiskdale, Mass., and is now the father of three children - Lena M., Eula L., and R. Marion.

SAAC STONE BALCOME, who was a well-to-do resident of East Douglas, having retired from business some years ago, was born in Douglas, Mass., Feb- ruary 14, 1830, son of Samuel and Submit (Stone) Balcome. Samuel Balcome was born in Douglas in 1780. Learning the carpenter's trade, he followed it for many years. He purchased the Stone farm, which has since been known as the Balcome homestead. In politics he was a Whig. He was prominent in local affairs, and served as Town Clerk, besides holding other offices. For many years he was a Deacon of the Congregational church. His wife, Submit, who was born in Douglas in 1788, daughter of Isaac and Sub- mit Stone, became the mother of nine chil- dren; namely, Sarah, Samuel, Submit, James, Mary Ann, Augustus, Edwin, Susan S., and Isaac S. Both the parents died in 1852.

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Isaac Stone Balcome was educated in the schools of Douglas. Starting in life as clerk in a hardware store at East Douglas, he con- tinued in that capacity for eight years. At the end of that time he established himself in the same line of business, for seventeen years thereafter occupying the store now carried on by Walter Jones. Subsequently selling out, he removed to Brunswick, Me., where he con- ducted a hardware store for several years, or until his retirement. Then, after spending some time in travel, he returned to East Douglas, where he resided until his death, which occurred December 7, 1898.

Mr. Balcome was three times married. His first wife was in maidenhood Ann M. Parkhurst. He married for his second Mi- nerva Lovett. His third wife, who survives him, and to whom he was united November 24, 1891, was Julia A. Reynolds. He had an adopted daughter, Minnie F., who was born November 22, 1862. She married Marshall H. Fuller in 1889, and has one son, Albert B. Fuller, who was born October 13, 1891. Mr. Balcome served the town with ability as Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, and Moderator. In politics he cast his vote with the Republican party.

RANK A. SMITH, the well-known insurance agent of North Brookfield, son of Augustus and Jane M. (Harring- ton) Smith, was born in Heath, Mass., Decem- ber 15, 1839. His grandfather, Moses Smith, was a resident of Heath, and both of his par- ents were natives of that place. The father, who came to North Brookfield in 1849, was shortly after appointed agent for the Protective Union Store, Division No. 99, which position

he held for several years. In the fifties he started a general merchandise business on his own account, and conducted it for the rest of his life. The most prominent merchant of his time in this place, he had a very large acquaint- ance both in this and the adjoining towns. In politics he was successively a Whig and a Republican. During the stormy period of the Civil War he was a member of the Board of Selectmen and for much of the time the

chairman of the board. In the latter capacity it was his duty to fill the town's quotas of men for the war. He conducted the affairs of the town in a conservative and judicious manner, winning the hearty approval of his fellow-citi- zens. Also he served with credit as a mem- ber of the School Board. Orthodox in relig- ious belief, he was a consistent and active mem- ber of the Congregational church in this place. By his death North Brookfield lost one of her most useful and valued men.

Having come to North Brookfield with his parents in his tenth year, Frank A. Smith at- tended the town schools for a number of years. Later he was sent to a private boarding-school in West Chester, N. Y., where he studied for two years. At the age of fifteen he returned to North Brookfield and entered his father's store as a clerk. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, Forty-second. Regiment, Mas- sachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Subsequently, assigned to General Banks's command in the expedition to New Orleans, he was on duty there for several months, being for a part of the time at the brigade headquarters, perform- ing clerical work and carrying despatches. Although he entered for only nine months, he was in the service for a year. After receiving his discharge he came back to his home and resumed work in his father's store. In 1870 he and S. H. Skerry, firm of S. H. Skerry & Co., started in the insurance business, and carried it on until the death of Mr. Skerry in 1876. Since then Mr. Smith has conducted the business without a partner, and now repre- sents twenty insurance companies. Also in- terested in the North Brookfield Savings Bank, he is one of its trustees and a member of its Board of Investment.

Mr. Smith has been three times married, and is the father of two children. The latter are : Mary A., who is a student at Smith Col- lege; and Ward A., who is studying in the North Brookfield High School. A member of Ezra Batcheller Post, No. 51, G. A. R., Mr. Smith has been its Adjutant and Commander. When the Young Men's Christian Association was in existence here, he was its president and one of its most active supporters. For over twenty consecutive years he has been the

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superintendent of the Sunday-school of the Union Congregational Church and for several years a Deacon of the church. He is also the chairman of the Parish Committee. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

JRNEST L. WARREN, M.D., the popular physician of West Boylston, Mass., where he has succeeded to his father's practice, was born in this town on July 25, 1863. He is the only son of Dr. George W. and Ellen (Flagg) Warren. The name he bears has been an honored one in the ranks of the medical profession many years.

George W. Warren was brought up in Lu- nenburg, Worcester County. He obtained his elementary education in the common schools of that town, was fitted for college at Phillips Academy, was graduated from Amherst in 1845 and from the medical college in Wood- stock, Vt., two years later. Coming directly to West Boylston, Dr. Warren began the prac- tice of medicine in this town, and for the fol- lowing forty years was the leading physician here, resigning his practice to have it taken up by his son, as above noted. He was for many years a member of the West Boylston School Committee. Both the elder Doctor and his wife have been active members of the Congregational church, and he is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Mrs. Warren is a native of Boylston, being one of a number of children born to Montraville Flagg. Dr. and Mrs. George W. Warren have been the parents of two children, namely: Ernest L., the special subject of this sketch; and Grace, now the wife of F. A. Curry, who was formerly railway station agent at West Boyls- ton, and now holds a like position at Yonkers in New York State.

Ernest Warren, after attending the West Boylston High School, was graduated at Worcester Academy, and subsequently, at the age of eighteen, began the study of medicine in his father's office. Later he matriculated at the Long Island Medical College at Brook- lyn, N. Y., and in 1884 received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from that institution. Going then to New York City, he took a full

course of post-graduate lectures, and then settled for the practice of his profession in New Haven, acting as assistant to Dr. Whitte- more, an old and skilful physician of that city. After fourteen months of practice in New Haven his health failed, and he found it necessary to return home for a year's rest and recuperation. When again able to take up his profession, he began assisting his father, and since 1887 he has relieved him from the greater part of his professional work. The young Doctor's ministrations to the sick are known and appreciated not only in West Boylston, but throughout the adjoining towns, and his services are much sought for.

Dr. Ernest L. Warren was married in 1897 to Mary Garfield, who was born in Templeton, daughter of Henry J. and Martha (Whipple) Garfield. Mr. Garfield was formerly engaged in the manufacture of chairs in Templeton. He died on a farm in Holden at the age of forty-one. Mrs. Garfield was born in Lunen- burg. She was the mother of the following named children : Mary (now Mrs. Warren), Charles H., Joseph B., Burtis J., Myron S., and Willie S., the last two of whom were twins. Dr. E. L. Warren votes the Republi- can ticket. He is a member of Centennial Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Aside from his regular practice he serves as examining physician for a large number of life insurance companies and for the order of Foresters. He and his family attend the Con- gregational church.

AMUEL FOSTER HAVEN, LL. D., who for over forty years was the librarian of the American Anti- quarian Society of Worcester, was born in Dedham, Mass., on May 28, 1806. A son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Foster) Haven, he was a descendant of Richard Haven, of Lynn. He was graduated at Phillips Academy in Andover, and in 1822 he entered Harvard University, where he remained for two years. After spending two more years at Amherst College he received his Bachelor's degree from that institution in 1826. He then began the study of law, reading for a year in the

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office of the Hon. Theron Metcalf in Dedham and subsequently entering the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1829. After practising for a year in Dedham he re- moved to Lowell, where he followed his pro- fession for three years. He continued there for two years longer in the capacity of secre- tary to an insurance company. Returning to Dedham after this, he remained there from 1835 to 1838. Then he came to Worcester,

having been chosen librarian of the American Antiquarian Society on September 23, 1837. In entering upon this period of his career he burned his bridges behind him, and thence- forth gave his entire attention to the work of the society. His life work has resulted in increasing to a considerable extent our knowl- edge of early American events.

As a writer Dr. Haven's style was polished and accurate. His historical address deliv- ered before the people of Dedham on Decem- ber 24, 1836, the occasion being the second centennial anniversary of the incorporation of the town, was an admirable production. The annual reports of the society, issued under his supervision, were noteworthy documents, and embodied a large part of his historical writ- ings. Among the topics treated therein were the Mexican antiquities, the mound builders, the Dighton rocks, the prehistoric period of the Old World, lake dwellings, the stone age, and flint implements. In 1836 he edited "Ar- chaologia Americana " for the society. Dr. Palfrey, the eminent historian, said, "To no one am I indebted for more light than to that eminent archæologist, S. F. Haven, in elabo- rating the views presented in these pages of the origin and purpose of the Company of the Massachusetts Bay." In 1855 Mr. Haven furnished, as one of the Smithsonian contribu- tions to knowledge, a volume on the "Archæ- ology of the United States." He occasionally contributed to the columns of the Boston Ad- vertiser. Among his other writings may be mentioned the "Narrative of a Voyage to Spitzbergen in 1613" and his review of the "Memorial Volume of the Popham Celebra- tion " on August 29, 1862, the latter being a masterly discussion relating to New England colonization,

In 1866 Mr. Haven travelled extensively abroad. While in London he was entertained at the Athenaeum Club, meeting there the Duke of Argyle and other distinguished men. On the same day he was escorted to the House of Lords and given a seat at the foot of the throne, from which position he listened to a brilliant speech by the duke. From Eng- land he sent home some valuable transcripts of documents relating to early American history, including one of the "Records of the Council for New England." In 1872 he travelled through the Southern States. During his ab- sence in Florida for his health in the spring of 1879 a portrait of him in oil, painted by E. L. Euster, of Boston, was presented to the Antiquarian Society by the Hon. Edward L. Davis in behalf of the members, and the pict- ure now hangs in Antiquarian Hall. Among the papers which Mr. Haven edited for the society was Isaiah Thomas's History of Print- ing in America. Mr. Haven was a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society from 1859 to his death; and in 1869, when a course of lectures was given by different mem- bers of the society at the Lowell Institute in Boston, he contributed a most interesting lect- ure on the "History of Grants under the Great Council for New England." This added new lustre to the high reputation he had already achieved as an American scholar. His last paper, and one of the most important he ever wrote, was a chapter entitled "Boston Founded," contributed to Winsor's Memorial History of Boston, published in 1880. This is a sketch of the history of the Massachusetts Company from its beginning to the time when it was merged in the Colony of the Massachu- setts Bay.

In April, 1881, after a few years of ill health, Mr. Haven resigned his position as librarian, but was immediately elected libra- rian emeritus. On September 5 of the same year he died. He willed that at the death of his wife, or sooner if she should so desire, all of his books and the sum of one thousand dol- lars should be given to the society for which he had worked so many years, the books to be kept in the Haven Alcove, and the money to be safely invested and its yearly income used

FRED B. SMITH.

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in the purchase of new books. He had re- ceived the degree of Master of Arts from Har- vard University in 1852 and that of Doctor of Laws from Amherst College in 1879.

Mr. Haven was married on May 10, 1830, to Lydia Gibbon Sears, a daughter of the Rev. Freeman Sears, of Natick. She died on March 10, 1836, leaving one son, Samuel Foster Haven, Jr., to whose care for many years the father devoted his best energies. Young Haven grew to manhood, fulfilling every prom- ise of his youth. He graduated at Harvard in 1852, at the Boston Medical College in 1855, and, after studying in London, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin, he settled for the practice of medi- cine in Worcester. When the Rebellion broke out, he joined the Fifteenth Massachu- setts Regiment as assistant surgeon. At the battle of Fredericksburg, on December 13, 1862, while marching by the side of the color- bearer, he was killed by the explosion of a shell. A second marriage on December 3, 1872, united Mr. Haven with Frances Will- iams, a daughter of Major Samuel Allen, of Worcester. Mrs. Haven survives her husband.

RED S. SMITH, son of Frederick B. and Nancy A. (Southwick) Smith, was born in Millville, June 8, 1867. His paternal grandfather, Channing Smith, was a life resident of Blackstone. The father, in the seventies, bought the water-power and what remained of an old mill, refitted the plant, and soon built up a thriving business, which he carried on during the rest of his life, which closed August 13, 1882. He was highly respected in the town, and was chosen for several terms on the Board of Selectmen. His wife, Nancy, was the daughter of Daniel and Sally (Wilson) Southwick.

Fred S. Smith was educated in the public schools of Sutton. On finishing school he at once took up mill work with his father. He was soon made superintendent, and since the death of his father he has had entire charge of the mill and has been its sole owner. He does custom work almost entirely. The old mill carried on by his father was burned De-

cember 24, 1884, but was rebuilt the same winter. So favorably is Mr. Smith known, both as regards the quality of his goods and his personal integrity, that he usually has work on hand for several months in advance. He at- tends the First Congregational Church; is a member and Past Master of Sutton Grange, No. 109, P. of H. ; a member of Morning Star Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Millbury ; and a Mason of Olive Branch, Blue Lodge, at Millbury.

On August 3, 1887, Mr. Smith married Jennie Tyla Holbrook, a daughter of Wilder S. and Jennie (Paine) Holbrook. Their chil- dren were born as follows: in 1888, August 27, Fred Holbrook; in 1890, July 14, Walter Alonzo; in 1892, August 5, Channing Wilder ; in 1894, September 5, Marion Tyla; and in 1896, October 29, Wilder Stephen. Mrs. Smith's father, Mr. Holbrook, was one of the first men to enlist from Sutton for service in the Civil War. He joined Company G of the Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment, and in the first engagement in which he took part was severely wounded. After a period of conva- lescence at home and ultimate recovery from all ill effects of his wound he re-enlisted, and was commissioned Lieutenant of Company K, the Thirty-sixth Regiment. He received his final discharge on the last day of July, 1863, and is now a prominent Grand Army man. At one time he was Postmaster of Sutton. For twelve years he was Town Clerk, and in 1868 he was: Assessor of the town. He kept a store for a number of years at Sutton Centre, but sold out to H. L. Ray when he received an appointment in the Boston Custom House, which he now holds.

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Biographical review containing life sketches of leading citizens of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Part 84

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