USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Hampden county, 1636-1936, Volume III > Part 38
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His next appearance on the national polit- ical scene came in 1932, when he entered Travel and farming were Mr. Whiting's favorite hobbies. Associating the two, he always studied England's famous herds of cattle when he went to that country. On his farm in Northampton Street he kept a splendid herd of blue-blooded cattle, special- izing in the raising of Jersey animals and importing several fine head from the Isle of the competition for delegate to the Repub- lican convention in Chicago. The Repub- lican leaders were striving to pack the con- vention to insure Mr. Hoover's renomi- nation. Louis K. Liggett, Massachusetts national committee member, was handpick- ing candidates to vote for Mr. Hoover. Mr. Whiting had no objections to Mr. Hoover, Jersey in the English Channel. He was an
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active member of the American Poultry Association, raising White Leghorns, breed- ing some famous birds and taking prizes at Madison Square Garden, New York. Even during his illness, he managed to go to his farm every few days to look after his ani- mals and crops. He found the farm a pleas- ant retreat from the exacting responsibil- ities of business and political life. He also belonged to the William Whiting Lodge of the Free ad Accepted Masons, and derived considerable satisfaction from his Masonic friendships.
Never did Mr. Whiting forget a friend. This fact was amply demonstrated in the case of his friendship with Cornelius J. Han- lon, of Holyoke, with whom he had been a fellow-student at the old North Chestnut Street School. Mr. Hanlon died in 1934, and a pauper's funeral was held for him. The only floral bouquet was a spray of carnations draped over the casket. It was sent by Mr. Whiting, who in the years of his rise to fame still remembered with affectionate re- gard a boyhood schoolmate. The Holyoke "Daily Transcript" of August 31, 1936, wrote a special editorial about him, printed in a two-column layout, mentioning this in- cident as fellows :
There was a shyness about the distinctive dignity of Mr. Whiting that made him an unusual figure. He preferred that when he walked with kings the world should know nothing of it. But when he knew that a poor human who had slipped the rules and regulations and been broken by life was going to his grave unhonored, he placed a wreath on his casket. It was fine to be received in state by the Pope, to bow before and with the world's dignitaries, but after that the real joy was in the spacious library of his home or looking out over his beloved city from the hill where he had raised his farm house and where he found the healing of a home-haven the real path to soul's glory.
It will always be said of Mr. Whiting that here was a man who had the eagle's reach but who found in his native Holyoke something so sweet that it ontran ambition.
William Fairfield Whiting married, in 1892, Anne Chapin, daughter of the late Judge Edward H. Chapin, of Holyoke. They were childhood friends. They made their home at the southeast corner of Elm and Appleton streets, the Chapins living across the street on the southwest corner. Four children were born to this marriage : I. Wil- liam Whiting 2d, who married Mary Fowler, daughter of George H. Fowler, of Spring- field, head of the Valley Paper Company ; two sons were born to this marriage. 2. Edward C. Whiting. 3. Fairfield Whiting. 4. Ruth Whiting.
The death of William Fairfield Whiting occurred on the morning of August 31, 1936, at his home, No. 182 Elm Street, Hol- yoke, Massachusetts, after more than a year's illness, terminating a life rich in achievement and purpose. Many glowing tributes were forthcoming from the Nation's and the community's leaders. The Hon. Andrew W. Mellon, former Secretary of the Treasury, said :
I am grieved to learn of the death of William F. Whiting, a personal friend, for whom I have enter- tained a very high esteem. His family have my deep- est sympathy in their sorrow. His friends, associates and the community have met with a sad and irrepar- able loss.
The Hon. Charles Gates Dawes, former Vice-President of the United States, said :
In his place as Secretary of Commerce, William F. Whiting had the regard and admiration of all his associates in Washington for his marked competency and effectiveness in the administration of public busi- ness. We appreciated, also, the ruggedness of his New England character, associated as it was with that modesty which so befits the gentleman. In our contact with him as a public official, he claimed both our friendship and our respect. We mourn his loss.
Mayor William P. Yoerg, of Holyoke, spoke as follows:
The death of Hon. William F. Whiting is a loss not only to the city and State but to the Nation.
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Men of his rare character are sorely needed. He was nationally recognized in the paper industry. His services to the country as a Cabinet member made him Holyoke's first citizen. The city shares in the grief of his family.
Many others, leaders in government cir- cles and in industrial life, commented in glowing terms concerning Mr. Whiting's life and works. Of all these tributes, it might be fitting to close with that of his former classmate, the Hon. Allen T. Tread- way, Representative at Washington, District of Columbia :
In the death of William Fairfield Whiting the Nation loses an outstanding citizen. We seldom find in one person a successful business man, a philan- thropic public-spirited citizen, and a leader in public affairs. Mr. Whiting combined all these character- istics. Modest and retiring in the extreme, he filled a large position in civic life. That great judge of human nature, President Coolidge, recognized his outstanding qualities by appointment to the Cabinet. As a lifelong friend and one of his college class- mates I extend my sincerest sympathy to Mrs. Whit- ing and family.
WILLIAM WHITING-As president of the Whiting Paper Company of Holyoke, William Whiting continues the operation of an enterprise with which the family name has been associated for many years. He was born in this city on September 8, 1893, a son of William F. and Anne (Chapin) Whiting and a descendant of James Whit- ing, one of the early settlers of Hingham, Massachusetts, who came to the Colonies from Hingham, England. James Whiting was probably a son of Thomas Whiting, of Oxfordshire, England. In 1686, Joseph Whiting was born and in 1713 he married Martha Tower. Their eldest son, Elijah, born in 1714, was the father of Whitfield Whiting and he, in turn, had a son Daniel, born in Abington, Connecticut, in 1778. Daniel Whiting married Elizabeth Potter, and among their children was William B.
Whiting, founder of the Whiting Coal Com- pany of Holyoke, which is still in operation.
William Whiting received his preliminary education in Holyoke schools and after com- pleting the high school course in 1911 en- tered Amherst College, from which he was graduated in 1915 with the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. Shortly afterwards. he joined the Whiting Paper Company, sorting rags and working in other minor capacities in order to secure a thorough training in the business. Having served for a number of months in every department, he was elected treasurer of the company in 1916, and in 1928 succeeded to the presidency, which he now holds. The Whiting Paper Company are well known manufacturers of high-grade writing papers, with offices in many prin- cipal cities of the country.
In addition to this connection, Mr. Whit- ing has also been associated from time to time with various other enterprises, serving as trustee of the American Surety Company of New York City, as a director of the Union Trust Company, of Springfield, the Ameri- can Trust Company of Boston, and the Worcester Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Company of Worcester. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Second Congre- gational Church of Holyoke, and is affiliated fraternally with the Free and Accepted Ma- sons, in which order he has been active. In this order he is a member of William Whit- ing Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; a member of all higher bodies of both York and Scottish Rites, including the Com- mandery of the Knights Templar and the Consistory, thirty-second degree; and a member of Melha Temple, in Springfield; Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Whiting is also a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, the Young Men's Christian Association, and the New England Technical Association of the Pulp
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and Paper Industry. His favorite diversions are flying pigeons, horseback riding, also raising White Leghorn chickens and Jersey cows, breeds which have been raised by the family for many years.
On June 18, 1924, William Whiting mar- ried, at Springfield, Mary A. Fowler, daugh- ter of George F. and Jessamine (Brainerd) Fowler. Mrs. Whiting was educated in the public schools of Springfield and at Welles- ley College, from which she was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. She is a member of the Holyoke Music Club, the Wellesley Club of Holyoke, and the Second Congregational Church. Mr. and Mrs. Whiting have two children : I. William, Jr., born April 9, 1925. 2. George Fowler, born May 19, 1927.
LEWIS J. POWERS-Widely known as manufacturers of fine stationery, the Powers Paper Company occupies a notable place in the industrial life of Springfield. This enterprise was founded and to a large de- gree built to a status of prominence by Lewis J. Powers, whose sons carried it forward after his passing. He was himself a man of unusual ability, equipped with a tremendous store of energy, keen intelli- gence and organizing talent, and his qual- ities were such as to bring him the respect and admiration of a host of friends. He was a promoter of many enterprises of a civic and social nature that were of value to Springfield, and was honored and loved in the wide circle of his acquaintance.
Mr. Powers was born January 15, 1837, in Springfield, Massachusetts, son of George W. and Miriam (Pierce) Powers. The fam- ily was an old one, the name Powers (or Poer or Power, as it was variously spelled) having appeared in English history from the time of the Norman Conquest, an officer of the name in the Conqueror's army being
mentioned on the Battle Abbey Roll. In 1187 Richard Poer was high sheriff of Gloucestershire and "was killed while de- fending the Lord's day." A Sir Roger le Poer, an "English knight," held a chief com- inand in the army of King Henry II when he invaded Ireland in 1171, and in the Domesday Book of St. Paul's the name of Walter Poer (Power) appears as possess- ing various landed rights in Ireland, a gift of the Crown for services rendered in 1222. In New England there is a record of sev- eral of the name who came early to America, but the ancestor of the family of Lewis J. Powers was Walter Power, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1639. He mar- ried Trial Sheppard, daughter of Deacon Ralph and Thanks (or, as sometimes writ- ten, Thankeslord) Sheppard, her parents coming to New England from Stepney Parish, London (in Essex), in July, 1635. They settled in Weymouth, later going to Malden, where Ralph was deacon in the First Church, and died September II, 1693, his gravestone, still standing, recording his age as ninety years. Walter and Trial (Sheppard) Power settled immediately after their marriage in Concord. Middlesex County, Massachusetts, the site of their home including what is now called Little- ton, adjoining the Indian settlement of Nashobe, which property Deacon Ralph Sheppard bought from Lieutenant Joseph Wheeler. In 1694 Walter Power bought from the Indians one-fourth of the town- ship of Nashobe. He died February 22, 1708, his widow, born February 10, 1641, surviving him for many years. They were the parents of nine children: I. William. 2. Mary, wife of Lieutenant Joseph Wheeler. 3. Isaac. 4. Thomas. 5. Daniel. 6. Increase. 7. Walter. 8. Jacob. 9. Sarah.
Descent in this family has been traced through the third son and fourth child,
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Thomas Power. The name was continued as Power by Walter and until the third generation in America. Then Powers be- came the accepted form. From Walter Power's son, Thomas, the line has been traced through Thomas' son, Phineas ; Phineas' son, Isaac; Isaac's son, Eli; Eli's son, George W. Powers; and George W. Powers' son, Lewis J. Powers. George W. Powers died April II, 1880. His wife, the mother of Lewis J. Powers, was, as already 110ted, Miriam (Pierce) Powers. George W. Powers was engaged in the trucking busi- ness in Springfield.
Lewis J. Powers had little formal school- ing, though he was, in the realistic sense of life itself, a student by nature, continuing his studies of men and affairs through his whole life. Becoming a wage-earner at the age of eight years, he distributed papers for a news dealer in the Hill district. Then, with L. B. Brockett, a Sanford Street news dealer, he accepted employment as a news- paper salesman at the old railroad station. His twin brother, Lucius H. Powers, who afterward became chief of the Springfield Fire Department, then joined Lewis J. Powers in business, the two boys becoming monopolists, as it were, in the railroad sta- tion district, contracting for the sale of all papers in that region. Lewis J. Powers had already become very widely known, con- sidering that he was so young, and he was able to enter the employ of Marshall Bes- sey, proprietor of a news room under the old Massasoit House. a famous news stand for many years. He was later given the Worcester-Pittsfield train route, but Mr. Bessey brought him into his office after a time, placing him in charge of the other newsboys. In 1857, at the age of twenty years, he was admitted to a one-third inter- est in the Bessey news business, the pur- chase price being paid with borrowed
money. Friends looked with disdain upon this development of Mr. Powers' career, feel- ing it unwise and risky, but the venture was successful. In 1861 Mr. Powers became sole owner of the enterprise, purchasing Mr. Bes- sey's two-thirds interest. He then enlarged the scope of the organization, becoming sail- ing agent for the Glasgow Paper Company, of South Hadley Falls.
So came the first close connection between the Powers family and the paper industry. The quarters under the Massasoit House were too small for adequate development of his paper jobbing trade, and in 1863 Mr. Powers removed to the Goodrich Block. In 1872, in company with the Agawam National Bank, he built the granite Agawam Block, half of which he occupied until 1875. In that year he went into the Lyman Block, a building specially erected for the Powers Paper Company by the Wason Manufactur- ing Company. Meanwhile, with the devel- opment of this branch of his business, Mr. Powers had become prominent in another phase of the paper trade. In 1866, with Charles O. Brown, he organized the Powers and Brown Paper Company buying the old Berkshire Mill, at Dalton. A year later he sold his interest in that business, and, with J. H. Appleton, bought the plant of the Riverside Paper Company, at Holyoke, Mas- sachusetts. After a time he sold his inter- est in it to his partner-in fact, he continued it for only four years-then he became inter- ested in the Union Paper Company, of Holyoke. That company had made paper used in manufacturing paper collars until the discontinuance of that fashion. Then Mr. Powers organized the Connecticut River Paper Company, which in 1888 bought the plant of the Union Paper Company, equip- ping it for the manufacture of a fine grade of paper such as the Powers company was making and marketing.
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In 1890 the Powers Paper Company re- moved its headquarters to Holyoke, utiliz- ing a part of the Connecticut River Paper Company's plant for this purpose. The Con- necticut River company was finally ab- sorbed, however, by the American Writing Paper Company, to whom Mr. Powers sold it at the time of a large merger in the indus- try. He did not sell the Powers Paper Company, however, retaining it and success- fully managing it with the aid of his sons. In 1910, the Powers Paper Company moved back to Springfield occupying a large mod- ern plant especially constructed for station- ery manufacturing. This plant is located in the Brightwood section of Springfield and gives employment to several hundred peo- ple. Its products consist of envelopes, pape- teries, tablets, and kindred lines which are distributed in all parts of the United States.
In addition to the work that he did in the paper industry, Lewis J. Powers was the oldest director of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, a director of the Union Trust Company, and vice-president of the Hampden Savings Bank. While still a young man, he suffered in health as a result of overwork, and consequently learned how to guide his activities in the years that followed, restraining them when necessary and always wisely handling, or even curtail- ing, his enthusiasms. He spent much time on the farm that he purchased in Northfield until he wholly regained his health. Then he gradually became more and more active in every phase of Hampden County life. He became a member of the Springfield Com- mon Council in 1871, so continuing until 1874. In 1874 and 1875 he was elected alder-
man of the city, and in 1879 and 1880 was mayor. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Governor's Council, serving under Gov- ernors Robinson and Ames. During his service on the Governor's Council, the sale of the Hoosac tunnel by the State of Mas-
sachusetts to the Fitchburg Railroad was considered, Mr. Powers taking the conserva- tive side of the question. As mayor he con- ducted the city's affairs along sound busi- ness lines. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, was the only member of the American Bibliophile Society from Springfield, was president of the old Spring- field Club when its home was at Chestnut and Worthington streets, and was active in the Nayasset and Colony clubs. From its inception, he was connected with the Church of the Unity.
Lewis J. Powers married, on December 25, 1855, Martha Bangs, daughter of Free- man Bangs. Mrs. Powers died in 1911, leav- ing four sons: I. Frank Bangs. 2. Lewis J. 3. Philip C. 4. Walter C.
The death of Lewis J. Powers occurred September 15, 1915, at Springfield, Massa- chusetts, and was an occasion of profound sorrow in every circle is which he was known. His contribution to the well-being of Springfield and its residents was every- where recognized in this region, and his good influence will be felt here through the long years of the future.
DR. WILLIAM HOLBROOK was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, June 23, 1823, the son of General Erasmus and Betsey (Smith) Holbrook. The Holbrook family trace their American ancestry to Thomas Holbrook of Braintree, County of Essex, England, who came over to this country in 1635 and settled in what is now Weymouth, Massachusetts. He died here about 1677. He and his wife Jane were the parents of four children. among whom was Thomas, Jr., of whom further.
(II) Thomas Holbrook, Jr., was born in England in 1625, the son of Thomas and Jane Holbrook. At the age of ten years he came to this country with his parents and
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was reared in Scituate, where he remained until 1653. At this time he removed to Braintree, passing away in this community in 1677. During his life he had acquired extensive real estate throughout this vicin- ity. He and his wife Joanna were the par- ents of Deacon Peter, of whom further.
(III) Deacon Peter Holbrook, son of Thomas, Jr., and Joanna Holbrook, inherited a large portion of his father's realty holdings located in Mendon. He settled there in 1680, and is supposed to be the progenitor of nearly all the families bearing that name in the surrounding towns. He was twice married. The lineage is traced through his son John.
(IV) John Holbrook, son of Deacon Peter and Eliza Holbrook, was born in Braintree in 1679 and died at Bellingham in 1765. He married Hannah Pool and they were the parents of John, Jr., of whom fur- ther.
(V) John Holbrook, Jr., was born at Bell- ingham in 1721, the son of John and Hannah (Pool) Holbrook. He married Patience Fisher, of Wrentham, in 1747, and the line- age is traced through their son Lieutenant John.
(VI) Lieutenant John Holbrook, son of John and Patience (Fisher) Holbrook, was born October 21, 1751. He served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and married Lucretia Babbitt who was born in 1759 and died in 1830. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, among them General Eras- mus, of whom further.
(VII) General Erasmus Holbrook, son of Lieutenant John and Lucretia (Babbitt) Holbrook, was born April 25, 1793, and en- gaged in farming at Sturbridge where he was a large landowner. He was a major- general in the Massachusetts Militia. On October 21, 1819, General Holbrook mar- cess.
ried Betsey Smith, who was born July 22, 1798 and died October 11, 1883. She was the daughter of Robert and Hannah (Hoar) Smith, Jr., the latter being of the same fam- ily to which belonged the Honorable George Frisbie Hoar, for many years United States Senator from Massachusetts. General Hol- brook died March 5, 1849. He was the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters : I. George. 2. Eliza. 3. William. 4. Lu- cinda, married to Alexander H. Dean. 5. Sarah, married to Nathan Goodale. 6. Free- man, deceased. 7. Alvan, deceased. 8. Lucy, married to Dr. Harvey D. Burlingham. 9. Julia; married to John B. Marriott. 10. Ed- ward, who died at the age of twelve years.
William Holbrook was reared on the fam- ily farm at Sturbridge and from the time he was old enough until he was twenty-one years of age he carried out the full set of chores that devolved upon the boys of the family. He received a general education in the public schools of his district. studied for one year at Quaboag Seminary in War- ren and spent several terms at the Monson Academy. He took up his medical educa- tion under the expert tutelage of his distin- guished uncle, Dr. Alvin Smith of Monson, and after gaining a thorough groundwork under his guidance, took a course of reading and lectures at the Berkshire Medical Col- lege in Pittsfield.
In the fall of 1847 he matriculated at the New York Medical University and was graduated from this institution in the spring of 1848. During this period he received no pecuniary aid, supporting himself solely through his own efforts. Soon after com- pleting his medical training he came to Bondsville, where he conducted a practice until 1849. He then went to Depot Village, where he embarked on a medical career that was to be marked for its distinction and suc-
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With the outbreak of the Civil War he years he served on the school committee of enlisted with the Union Army, being com- missioned an assistant surgeon in the 10th Massachusetts Volunteers. Later he was promoted to the position of surgeon with the 18th Massachusetts Regiment, securing this advancement on January 13, 1862. His rise in the army was rapid and soon after being commissioned to the aforementioned rank he was appointed surgeon-in-chief of the Ist Brigade, Ist Division, 5th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac, also acting as chief operator in the brigade. As a member of this unit he participated in nearly all of the principal battles engaged in by the Army of the Potomac and was hon- orably discharged from the service in Sep- tember, 1868.
After the war he returned to his home to resume practice. Prior to joining the army he had established a drug store on the south side of Main Street which he conducted for many years. During his absence the estab- lishment was successfully conducted by his wife. Among his helpers at one time was George E. Fuller, who acted as a clerk and studied medicine under Dr. Holbrook. The young man later studied medicine and be- came one of the most successful physicians and citizens of Monson. Apart from his pro- fessional activities Dr. Holbrook also in- vested extensively in real estate and owned farm property along the north side of what is now Main Street in Palmer.
As one of the leading figures of this sec- tion Dr. Holbrook was deeply interested in social and civic affairs, being chosen on numerous occasions to fill important and re- sponsible positions of public trust. In 1852, during the administration of President Fill- more, he was appointed postmaster of this community and in 1858 was named consult- ing physician and surgeon of the State Almshouse at Monson. For a number of
Palmer, having been elected to that body in 1864, and in 1882 was elected to represent this district in the State Legislature. He was made examiner for State aid and pen- sion examiner in 1865, and held these posi- tions until 1893, when he resigned. Dr. Holbrook held the position of medical ex- aminer for the State Primary School from 1876 to 1886, and was appointed medical examiner by Governor Rice in 1877, serving in this capacity until his death. He also served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture and was a member of the Board of Health. In his professional affiliations he was a member of the Hampden District Medical Society and the Massachusetts State Medical Society. Socially Dr. Hol- brook fraternized with the Thomas Lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons and was a charter member of the L. L. Merrick Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
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