Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 142

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I > Part 142

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markable bold and skilful. He was often called in difficult cases.

(VIII) Josiah Howe Clarke, son of Benjamin Clarke (7), was born in Marlborough, Massachu- setts, December 26, 1827. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town. He also attended Leicester Academy. At the age of twenty he engaged in the retail dry goods busi- ness in Marlboro as a member of the firm of Buck- lin, Clarke & Co. About two years later he re- moved to Worcester (in 1850), where he worked for his brother's firm, Newcomb, Thayer & Clarke, established in 1846. In 1851 his brother, John B. Clarke, became the sole owner. In 1853 he sold the store to Josiah, who was for more than forty-four years identified with the business. In 1864 Thomas B. Eaton entered the firm with Mr. Clarke under the name of J. H. Clarke & Co. In 1882 Mr. Eaton

withdrew and Mr. Clarke admitted Hannibal A. Johnson and Charles H. Carpenter as partners. Mr. Carpenter had been connected with the business for some time. Mr. Johnson came from Jordan, Marsh & Co., Boston. In 1897 Mr. Clarke withdrew from the firm, selling to his partners. Thomas E. Knight was admitted as a partner and for a time the old name was retained. Mr. Knight withdrew and the firm became Johnson, Carpenter & Co. The firm went out of business January 1, 1906, on account of the illness of Mr. Johnson.

For some years Mr. Clarke's store was located in the Partridge block, opposite the Central Ex- change on Main street, but for thirty odd years it was located at the last location, 353 Main street in the American House block. The business has always been conducted as a legitimate dry goods store. Two floors were occupied and some thirty clerks and assistants employed. Mr. Clarke made a for- tune in this business, and none stood higher in Wor- cester among business men. At the time he sold out his interests in the store he had large financial interests requiring his attention. He was for many years a director of the Worcester National Bank. He was a trustee and member of the finance com- mittee of the State Mutual Life Assurance Com- pany : a director of the Norwich & Worcester Rail- road Company: the Worcester & Shrewsbury Rail- road, now part of the consolidated system ; the Wor- cester Gaslight Company; the State Safe Deposit Company : the Mckay Shoe Machinery Company of Boston; the Union Trimmer Company of Boston ; director and vice-president of the Sherman Enve- lope Company and trustee of the Worcester County Institution for Savings. He was an active member and vestryman of All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church for more than thirty years. He was a mem- ber of the common council in Worcester in 1862. He was a Republican in politics. Mr. Clarke was fond of travel and in 1865 made a voyage around the world, remaining some time at Foo Choo with his brother, Adason L. Clarke, who was consul at that port. He went west and to Europe several times, and in 1898 travelled to the far east, includ- ing Greece. Turkey, Egypt and the Nile.

Mr. Clarke married in 1858, Frances C. Ayres, daughter of Horace and Mary (Woodworth) Ayres. She was born in Worcester, March 18. 1836. She died in Worcester. July 11, 1840. aged thirty years. Her father married (second), November 19, 1844, Caroline Corbett. By the first marriage they had : Julia Anne. horn 1833, died 1839; William J .. born and died 1858: Frances C., wife of Josiah H. Clarke. Rv the second marriage Mr. Ayers had one son, Horace C. Ayers, born 1850. died 1806. Mr. Clarke died in Worcester, May 30, 1904. The children of Josiah Howe and Frances (Ayers) Clarke were:

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Mary Woodworth, born January 8, 1862; resides at home with her mother at 50 Elm street; Frances Ayres, born July 4, 1868; married Leonard P. Kin- nicut, professor in the Worcester Polytechnic In- stitute (see Kinnieutt Family in this work) ; Grace Howe, born September 29, 1869, died June 10, 1870 ; Josiah Howe, Jr., born August 13, 1872, died April 19, 1895.

FRANK EUGENE POWERS, a well known citizen of Worcester, Massachusetts, prominently identified with the coal and lumber industries of the state, is descended from an old and honored family of England. He is a representative of the eighth generation in this country.

The family name of Powers, or Power, as it was originally, is from the old Norman name "le Poer," and was known in England in the time of William the Conqueror, one of whose officers, at the battle of Hastings, bore that name, as appears on the roll of survivors in Battle Abbey. From that time on- ward the name has occupied an honored place in the history of England. In the Herald's College a curious incident is related of Richard le Poer, high sheriff of Gloucestershire, 1187, that he was killed while defending the Lord's day. When King Henry II invaded Ireland, 1171, an important com- mand seems to have been given to Sir Roger le Poer, an "English knight," and, "for his distinguished services rendered," large tracts of land were be- stowed upon him by the crown. Haverty's history says, the county of Waterford and the British parlia- ment have had many members in their ranks from his descendants, from whom, and from the native Celts who took the name of the estates to which they were attached, the name has become very com- mon in that country.

In this country the name can be traced back to several people. In 1643 the name of John Power appears in the Farmers' Genealogy of New England, and about the same time Nicholas Power appeared in Massachusetts, but made his permanent home in Rhode Island, where he married and had one son, Nicholas. He was followed by several generations, each having one son. the last having no male issue, and the name of this branch of the family became extinct. By records in the town of Charlestown we find that the wife of John Power was authorized to make sale of the house and lands of her absent husband. He is referred to as John Power, "hosier." and it is likely that not finding his business profit- able in the new country, he returned to Europe and then sent for his family. A writer in the "New Eng- Jand History and Genealogical Register, Volume XXI1," says the early settlers bearing the name of Powers in New England, came originally from Es- sex. England. The fact is that the names of Walter and William Power were common there, and Walter seems to have settled with other families from that part of England. a daughter of one of which fami- lies he married. That the town where he settled was named for Lord Littleton, member of parlia- ment for Essex, and other similar circumstances, would lead to the conclusion that he came from that district.

(1) Walter Power, the direct ancestor of Frank Eugene Powers, was born 1630: died February 22, 1708. He appears on the Middlesex county records. in 1654, as a boy of about fourteen. Little is known of him. He probably had no great educational ad- vantages, and depended upon the strength of his hody and sterling commonsense to establish a home for himself and family. He settled on a tract of land in or near Concord, which took the name of

Concord village, now the town of Littleton, and adjoining the Indian town of Nashobe, about the year 1661. He bought of Thomas Waban and other Indians, in 1694, one-fourth of the township of Nashobe. His remains were doubtless buried in the old "Powers' burying ground," which was on the Concord road about two miles from the common, in a southeasterly direction. He married, March II, 1661, Trail Sheppard, daughter of Deacon Ralph and Thankes Sheppard, of Malden. She seems to have been a woman of considerable education, and from the position which his sons later took in the community, we may take it for granted that they were well educated for the times. The sons seem, at various times, to have added the final "s" to the name.

(II) Daniel Powers, fourth son of Walter (1) and Trail (Sheppard) Power, seems to have been the first to add the final "s" to the family name. He was born May 10, 1669. Married (first), April 8, 1702, Elizabeth Whitcomb ; married (second) Martha Bates. He settled in Littleton, and his children were all horn in Nashobe or Littleton, although some are found recorded in Groton.

(III) Peter Powers, fourth son of Daniel (2) and Elizabeth (Whitcomb) Powers, born in 1707; died August 27, 1757. His early youth was spent on the farm of his father. After his marriage he removed to that part of Dunstable now known as Nashua; during the summer and fall of 1730, he built the first house in Hollis, New Hampshire, and in January, 1730, removed, with his young wife and two children. through the primeval forest to huis new home. They were the first settlers in that now thriving town. Here their first daughter was born, she being the first child of English descent born in the town. There were forty families within the town limits in 1738, and he, with others, petitioned for a town charter. He was prominent in the of- ficial business of the town, and particularly so in devising ways and means for the building of a meet- ing house, and in maintaining a preacher. While living in Dunstable he had received a commission as captain of militia, from Governor Wentworth. He was sent by the government at the head of an exploring party through the Connecticut river val- ley, in 1754, but the news of renewed hostilities be- tween the English and French armies, produced such a commotion that his report was never puh- lished, and was finally deposited in the rooms of the Connecticut Historical Society, in Hartford. Captain Powers raised a company of men, mostly residents . of Hollis, in 1755, to march under Colonel Joseph Blanchard, against the French at Crown Point, on the shores of Lake Champlain. In this company were enrolled Jonathan Powers, and Levi, Stephen and Whitcomb Powers, the last three named being sons of Captain Peter, who died shortly after this under- taking. He was one of the most prominent men in the community. He married Anna Keyes in 1728. (IV) Stephen Powers. second son of Captain Peter (3) and Anna (Keys) Powers, was born, presumably in Dunstable, October 28, 1729. He mar- ried. July 15. 1775. in Hollis, New Hampshire.

(V) William Powers, son of Stephen (4), mar- ried Pamelia Wright, of Pepperell.

(\'1) Jonathan Jackson Powers, son of William (5) and Pamelia (Wright) Powers, was born in Pepperell, July 20, 1807. and died in Worcester, Massachusetts, June 7, 1870. He resided in Pepper- ell and Shirley, where, for a time, he kept a store of general supplies. He was a cooper by trade. but turned his attention to various other occupations, being gifted naturally as a mechanic, and able to.

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take advantage of any opportunity which presented itself. He spent the last ten or twelve years of his life in Grafton, Massachusetts.

He married, October 12, 1825. Priscilla E. Reid, who died October 9, 1864. Their children were: I. Pamelia Emily, born January 23, 1827; married Elbridge Farnsworth. 2. Caroline Augusta, Novem- ber 27, 1828; married Nathan B. Chandler. 3. John Jackson, of whom later. 4. Charles Barron, June 19, 1832; married Sarah Hemphill. 5. Lucy Anne, October 9. 1833; married Jabez J. Harnden. 6. Han- nah Elizabeth, June 8, 1835; married Charles A. Longley. 7. William Henry, February 7. 1837. 8. Albert Louis, November 19, 1838; died November 8, 1839. 9. Marcius Marton, September 14, 1840; died January 29, 1859. 10. Martin Van Buren, January S. 1843. II. Harriet Lewis, August 24, 1844; mar- ried Alonzo Wessen; died in Nebraska, 1876. 12. Perlina Parker. September 18, 1846; married Charles Bohannan, of Hollis, New Hampshire. 13. Martha Chloe, January 27. 1850; married (first) Henry Bohannan, of Hollis, New Hampshire; married, (second) John Hildreth, of Townsend, Massachu- setts.

(VII) John Jackson Powers, third child and eldest son of Jonathan Jackson (6) and Priscilla E. (Reid) Powers, was born in Pepperell, Massa- chusetts, September 1, 1830. His education was acquired in the schools of his native town. When still quite a lad, he worked for Major Longley, a prominent citizen of Shirley, who desired to adopt him, having no son of his own. At the age of nine- teen he commenced working for the Old Colony Railroad, now a part of the New Haven system, and later for the Worcester & Nashua Railroad, now a part of the Boston & Maine system. He was division master on the Worcester & Nashua, and his brother-in-law succeeded him when he resigned in order to take a similar position with the Providence & Worcester Railroad. Eventually he became road- master. a position of great responsibility. He re- signed from railroad work after thirty-five years of continuous active work in various positions. He was known among the railroad men of the state as an expert in practical railroad matters, having been actively engaged during the important period of introduction, early growth, and development of the railroads of the country. The contrast between the railroads of 1849, when he began, and those of 1884, when he retired from this field of activity, is one of the most remarkable and sensational dem- onstration of American prosperity and progress. In the early seventies, he started in the coal business in Millbury, while his son Frank was still a boy at- tending school. In this he met with unusual and immediate success. Later, in partnership with his son, established a coal business in Worcester, Massa- chusetts, under the firm name of J. J. & F. E. Powers. This. also, was successful from the very beginning, and Mr. Powers demonstrated great busi- ness ability in the years that followed. His career was cut short by sudden death while he was with his men in the field on his farm, at Grafton, June 19, 1893. He was an honored and valued citizen, and had filled, very acceptably, several town offices. He was a strict temperance man. and a Republican.

He married, May 18. 1852, Anna Maria Stevens, born September 26, 1833: died March 31. 1897. daughter of Seth Stevens, of Townsend, Massachu- setts. Her direct ancestor. Solomon Stevens, was one of the pioneer Baptists of Townsend, in 1769, when the church was weak and small : his home was the headquarters of the preachers. His son. John Stevens, was one of the founders of the Baptist

College in Granville, Ohio, now Denison University. and he was president of this institution until he was more than eighty years of age. Dr. John Steven's eldest son, William A. Stevens, is now professor of the New Testament Interpretation in the Roches- ter Theological school.

Children of John Jackson and Anna Maria . (Stevens ) Powers are: 1. Edgar Norton, born July 2, 1853; died July 26, 1853. 2. Cora Isabelle, March 7, 1856. Attended the public schools of her native town, and for several years was a student at the Oread Institute, a school for young girls, which existed from 1854 until 1881, and which enjoyed an excellent reputation. It was located in the southern part of the city of Worcester in a building called "Oread Castle." She married, December 7, 1887, in Grafton, Frederick A. Dodge, of Sutton. He oper- ated a grain mill at Saundersville, Massachusetts, and also conducted a retail and wholesale business, at No. 362 Social street, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He was lay reader in St. John's Episcopal Church. Ile died April II, 1906. Mrs. Dodge is a member of the Congregational church in Grafton; the St. John's guild; and the Woman's Club, of Millbury. Their children are: I. Chester A. Dodge, born in Grafton, August 21, 1890; is now (1906) a junior in the Grafton high school. 2. Leslie Powers Dodge, born in Grafton, June 24, 1894. 3. Frank Eugene (sec forward).

(VIII) Frank Eugene Powers, only surviving son and youngest child of John Jackson (7) and Anna Maria (Stevens) Powers, was born in Grafton, Massachusetts, July 17, 1858. He acquired a good education in the public schools of his native town, and attended the high school for a time. When he removed to Worcester he took a course in the com- mercial school there. He was but seventeen years of age when he took charge of the business inter- ests of his father in Millbury. In 1879 he bought out his father's interest in this business, and con- tinued it alone for some time, adding building ma- terials and lumber to the coal business. Business in- creased in volume and he was busily engaged until 1890, when he sold out to H. M. Goddard. In the meantime, in 1886, the business in Worcester had been commenced, and he devoted more time to this. This was located on Southbridge street, and having a chance to secure land on Southgate street, which was much better suited to the requirements of the husiness, they moved to this location, which has been the home of the concern since that time. Mr. Powers bought out the interest of his father in Worcester in 1891, and since the death of the latter, in 1893. has conducted the business under his own name. Dur- ing the past twenty years he has won a high standing for himself in the commercial circles of the city. He is a quiet man and devotes himself strictly to business affairs, rarely taking a vacation. He and his family have resided, since removing from Mill- bury, at No. 38 Maywood street, Worcester, Massa- chusetts. They are members and attendants at the Piedmont Congregational Church, and devote much time to charitable undertakings. He is a member of the Commonwealth Club of Worcester, a director of the Millbury National Bank, a trustee and a vice-president of the Millbury Savings Bank.

He married, June 15, 1882, Laura Belle Lincoln, daughter of Dr. W. H. Lincoln, of Millbury. Mrs. Powers was educated at Millbury, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Mount Holyoke. She is a mem- ber of the Woman's Club of Worcester. Their chil- dren are : I. Frank Lincoln, born in Millbury, June 12, 1883: now associated with his father in the busi- ness in Southgate street. 2. Hiram Stevens, in Mill-

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bury, September 29, 1884; now a junior in Har- vard College. 3. Gladys, born in Worcester June 13, 1892, is attending the public schools in that city.

CHARLES ARCHIBALD MIDDLEMAS.

Peter Middlemas (I), grandfather of Charles Archibald Middlemas, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was born in Scotland. He settled in Nova Scotia. He was a millwright by trade. He learned his trade in the old country and followed it in Nova Scotia.

(II) Jolın S. Middlemas, son of Peter Middlemas (I), was born in Nova Scotia. He married Re- becca Parker. He was a contractor and builder. They had seven children, five sons and two daugh- ters.

(III) Charles Archibald Middlemas, son of John S. Middlemas (2), was born in Middleton, Annapo- lis county, .Nova Scotia, November 11, 1859. fle attended the common schools of his native town. He worked with his father as a carpenter and in the general store owned by his brother-in-law. He also learned the plumber's trade. He came to Worces- ter in 1882 and bought the business of J. D. Sisson & Co. at 33 Southbridge street, corner of Allen court. The business was originally on the site of the pres- ent Federal building. He has built up a large busi- ness and reputation for skill and reliable work. Among the contracts for plumbing that he has had during the .past few years are the Windsor, the Boynton buildings, the City Hospital, Rawson & Gibbs building, Main street; the Standish Apart- ment Hotel, the Royal Worcester corset factory, the City Farm, the Bellmar, the Brunswick, the State Insane Asylum at Medfield, Massachusetts. In recent years he has been heavily interested in street railway enterprises. He built the Worcester & Webster Street Railway in 1899. He built the Gardner & Templeton line and the St. Albans, Ver- mont, Street Railway, of which he is the treasurer. Mr. Middlemas is now engaged in the hay, grain and feed business at No. 258 Park avenue, Worces- ter, in a building which he erected for the purpose. He began business November 25, 1905. He is a Free Mason, a member of the Worcester County Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He married, November II, 1885, Clark J. Prouty, daughter of Frank and Josephine (Hitt) Prouty, of Spencer. They have one daughter, Sybil Frances, born January 15, 1896.

ERNEST AUGUSTUS TIMME was born in Hatzberg, Germany, a city in Hanover, October 20, 1821. He was educated in his native place and learned the trade of engraver. At the age of twenty- six years in the year 1847 he came to America. He worked the first winter in New York city and the following spring went to Worcester, Massachusetts, to work for Mr. Wheelock in Allen's pistol fac- tory. After several years he went to work for J. B. Knox, who carried on business as a steel letter cutter and die sinker. While working there Mr. Timme added steel letter cutting to the business.

Mr. Timme started in business on his own ac- count with a partner, J. P. Bailey, at 144 South Clark street, Chicago, making steel dies and similar goods. Mr. Timme bought out his partner and con- ducted the business alone for some years. Then he returned during the civil war and worked for various manufacturers of firearms, in which he was an expert mechanic. He was employed by Colt, of Hartford. He returned to Worcester in 1864 to his former employer, J. B. Knox, who was in part-

nership with Mr. Lang in the manufacture of dies, seals, steel stamps, etc. Mr. Knox established this. business in Worcester in 1854. Mr. Timme bought the interest of Mr. Lang and eventually became sole owner of the business. The shop was at Har- rington, corner of Main and Front streets, for many years. It is now located at 554 Main street. In his line of work Mr. Timme had few equals. He was a good business man and prospered. In 1869. he bought a country place in Holden, Massachu- setts, a town adjoining Worcester, where he en- joyed the pleasures of agriculture as a diversion from the cares of his shop and business. He died March 26, 1890. During the last few years of his life he had as partner his son, Augustus F. Timme, and the firm name was Ernst A. Timme & Son.

Mr. Timme married (first) Rebecca Read, of Worcester. He married (second), in 1862, at Hart- ford, Connecticut, Henrietta Anna Albimus, a na- tive of Hamburg, Germany, who died at Worces- ter, February 20, 1890. The children of Ernst Augustus and Rebecca Timme were: A son who died in infancy; Carrie R., died November 7, 1905. The children of Ernst Augustus and Henrietta A. A. Timme were: Agnes L., married Henry C. Meyer, of Worcester, and they have two children ; Ernst H., and Anna Meyer. Augustus F., unmar- ried, mentioned below; Hannah H., married Louis Gilbert, of Milford, Massachusetts, and they have two children: Emil and Alton (twins) ; Louise C., married William Fisher, a farmer of Holden, and they have five children: Charles, George, Mil- lard, Edna, Albert; Ernst, died at the age of four years; Albert S., resides in Boston, unmarried ; Minnie C., a trained nurse.

Augustus F. Timme, son of Ernst Augustus Timme, was born in Worcester, October . 5. 1865. He was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of die sinking and engraving with his fatlier. He was taken into partnership by his father and the firm became E. A. Timme & Son. After his father's death in 1890 he became the sole owner, but the name of the firm was con- tinued unchanged. Mr. Timme manufactures dies, steel stamps, stencils, seal presses, seals, brands, door plates, checks, embossing dies, etc., does all kinds of engraving on metal, also manufactures rubber stamps for the trade. His shop is at 554 Main street. He is unmarried.

GEORGE WILLIAM HOUCK, son of John T. and Annie ( Phebus) Houck, was born in Frederick City, Maryland, January 29, 1864. On the paternal side his ancestors were of German origin.

He was educated in his native town in the pub- lic schools. At the age of seventeen he left lione and located in Massachusetts. After working on a Shrewsbury farm for some months he decided to learn the trade of mason. He served his ap- prenticeship under William F. Dearborn, the well known contractor and mason, of Worcester, and worked for him afterward as a journeyman. But at the age of twenty-two years he started in busi- ness for himself, and for twenty years has con- ducted a successful business. Excepting for a few years in the early nineties he has been alone in business. At that time he was in partnership with James Miles of Worcester under the firm name of Miles & Houck. Mr. Houck has built a large num- ber of substantial brick and stone structures in the city and county of Worcester. In later years he lias invested heavily in Worcester real estate. He has a ten tenement apartment house at 89 Pleasant street ; the Whittier block, corner of Fruit and Pleas- ant street; a large block on Crown street and he is.

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building a new apartment house on Chatham street. He has built mostly on his own account lately.

In addition to his building contracts he has taken a number of large railroad contracts. He had the contract and built the Worcester and Clin- ton Electric Railway. He built a portion of the electric lines at Milford. He constructed the Buf- falo, Hamburg & Aurora Railroad in 1901. He built another railroad at Penn Yan, New York.

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Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 142

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 824

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 824