Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 15

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 15

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In 1865, at the solicitation of Mr. Ichabod Wash- burn, whose confidence and favor Mr. Rice pos- sessed, this business was joined with Mr. Wash- burn's larger business, then incorporated under the title of I. Washburn & Moen Wire Works. Con- currently Mr. Rice became a stockholder, director and executive officer in this corporation. From this merger Mr. Rice's influence and activity in the further development in Worcester of its greatest

WORCESTER COUNTY

industry, the manufacture of wire, began. He was in hearty accord with Mr. Washburn in the belief that the business could be greatly expanded with beneficial results. Closely following this connection, a plant in the village of Quinsigamond was pur- chased and a company incorporated under the title of the Quinsigamond Iron and Wire Works, for the manufacture of wire-rods and wire, with Mr. Rice as its treasurer and general manager. This com- pany was very successful in business, and was merged with the I. Washburn & Moen Wire Works, under the corporate title of Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, in 1868. This merger marked an epoch in the enlargement of the wire industry in Worcester, and was the occasion of the purchase of the manufacturing site on Grove street, at that time occupied in part, under lease, by the I. Washburn & Moen Wire Works, and the erection, under a comprehensive plan, of substantial mill buildings and power plants and the installation of the continuous rod-rolling system for producing rods of small gauge and in longer lengths than was at the time practiced in this country. This practice was introduced from England, where it was re- reported upon by Mr. Rice during his visit to the manufacturing districts there in 1867. This system, modified and greatly improved by Worcester engi- neers, has been a potent factor in promoting the growth of the wire industry in Worcester. Mr. Rice, who was a director in the corporation and its treasurer, was influential and active in the expan- sion, as well as in the general conduct of the busi- ness which has resulted in adding so noticeably to the population and to the property of Worcester. In 1870 Mr. Rice visited the iron manufacturing districts of Sweden, and arranged for the manufac- ture of special bars for the continuous rolling sys- tem, acquiring for his company the distinction in Sweden of being the first consumer in this country to import rolled iron direct from Swedish manufac- turers. In 1877 Mr. Rice organized the Worcester Wire Company, for the general manufacture of wire, with a plant at South Worcester. This also, be- came an exceedingly successful company. In 1899 Mr. Rice, as president of the Worcester Wire Com- pany, which office he took in 1877, and of the Wash- burn & Moen Manufacturing Company, which office he took in 1891, was instrumental, in behalf of the stockholders, in effecting a sale and transfer of all the shares of the above mentioned corporations, and in merging the business affairs of both in the Amer- ican Steel & Wire Co. The successful conclusion of this important negotiation permitted the much de- sired withdrawal of Mr. Rice from the business affairs upon which his attention had so long been concentrated, and his general relinquishment of business pursuits. Mr. Rice has filled numerous fiduciary positions of importance, and been con- nected in matters of consequence with many cor- porate and other organizations.

Mr. Rice married, January II. 1866, Frances Helen. daughter of Thomas L. and. Margaret ( Bart- lett) Randlett. of Newburyport, Massachusetts, who died May 3. 1879. December 15, 18SI, he married Lucy Draper, daughter of Moores M. and Sophia A. (Draper) White, of the city of New York. He has two children: Christine, the wife of Hon. Rock- wood Hoar, M. C .; and Albert White. A. M .. Har- vard, 1905, now a student in the Harvard Law School.

WHITNEY FAMILY. John Whitney. the emi- grant ancester of George C. Whitney and the late Edward Whitney. of Worcester. settled in Water- town, Massachusetts, in 1635. He was born about

1589. His wife, Elinor, was born about 1599. With seven children they embarked at Ipswich, England, in April, 1635. They have a very large posterity in America. Another John Whitney settled in Con- necticut and founded an equally large family.

John Whitney bought the sixteen acres home- stall of John Strickland at what is now Waltham, in Watertown then, situated on what is now Bel- mont and East Common streets. Strickland went to Wethersfield, Connecticut, to live. John Whit- ney was admitted a freeman March 3, 1635-6. He was a constable in 1611 and a selectman from 1638 to 1655 inclusive. He was town clerk in 1655. His wife Elinor died May II, 1659, said to be fifty- four years old, though other records would make her about sixty. He married (second), September 29, 1669, Judah Clement. He died June 1, 1673, said to be seventy-four years old. The ancestry of John Whitney is given with the Whitney Family elsewhere in this work.

The children of John and Elinor Whitney were: Mary, baptized in England, May 23, 1619, died young ; John, baptized in England, 1620; Richard, baptized in England, 1626, married Martha Coldam ; Nathaniel, baptized in England, 1627; Thomas, bap- tized in England, 1629, married Mary Kedall (Ket- tell) ; Jonathan, baptized in England, 1634, married Lydia Jones; Joshna, baptized in England, July 5, 1635, married Lydia ; Mary ---; and Abi- gail Tarbell; Caleb, born in Watertown, July 12, 1640; Benjamin, born in Watertown, June 6, 1643, married Jane - - and Mary Poor.

(II) John Whitney, son of John Whitney (1) was born in England in 1620. He settled in Water- town, Massachusetts. He married, 1642, Ruth Rey- nolds, daughter of Robert Reynolds, of Wethers- field, Watertown and Boston. John Whitney lived on a three acre lot on the east side of Lexington street on land granted to E. How, next the home- stall of the Phillips (q. v.) Family. Whitney was admitted a freeman May 26, 1647, at the age of twenty-three He was selectman from 1673 to 1680 inclusive He was a soldier in 1673, and was in King Philip's war. He died October 12, 1692.

The children of John and Ruth (Reynolds) Whitney were: John, born September 12, 1643. married Elizabeth Harris; Ruth, born April 15, 1645, married, June 20, 1664, John Shattuck, son of the emigrant William Shattuck; John was drowned while crossing the Charlestown Ferry, September 14. 1675; he was in the Squakeag fight September 4. 1675, and was on his way to Boston to report the disaster to his company: Nathaniel, born February I, 1646, married Sarah Hagar; Samuel, born July 26, 1648, married Mary Bemis; Mary, born April 29, 1650, died unmarried after 1693; Joseph, born Janu- ary 15, 1651, married Martha Beach; Sarah, born March 17. 1653, married, October 18, 1681, Daniel Harrington: she died June 8, 1720; he married (second), October 25, 1720. Elizabeth Bridge, widow of Captain Benjamin Garfield; Elizabeth, born June 0. 1656. married, December 19. 1678. Daniel Warren; Hannah; 'Benjamin, born June 28, 1660, married Abigail Hagar and Elizabeth

(III) Benjamin Whitney, son of John Whitney (2), was born in Watertown, Massachusetts, June 28, 1660. He married, March 30, 1687, Abigail Hagar, daughter of William and Mary (Bemis) Hagar. He married ( second) Elizabeth -. He died in 1736. His children were: Abigail. born in Watertown, March 3. 168S, married, March 18, 1717. Richard Sawtel; Benjamin, baptized July IO, 1608, married Rebecca -: Ruth. baptized July IO, 1698, married, July 7. 1715, John Bond, bap- tized November 23. 1690, removed to Worcester

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EDWARD WHITNEY

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before 1752; John, born June 15, 1694, married (first) Susan (second) Bethia Cutter and (third) Mrs. Beriah (Bemis) (Child) Pierce; David, born June 16, 1697; Daniel, born July 17, 1700, married Dorothy Tainter.

(IV) Ensign David Whitney, son of Benjamin Whitney (3), was born in Watertown, Massachus- etts, June 16, 1697. He married, 1720, Rebecca Fillebrown, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, November 6, 1695, and died 1749. He was one of the proprietors of land at Paris, Maine, in 1736. He died in 1745. He resided in Watertown and Waltham, Massachusetts. Their children were: Rebecca, born November 2, 1721, married, July 18, 1845, Thomas Stowell; David, September 25, 1723, married Mary Merriam; Anna, August 8, 1725, mar- ried, June 4, 1752, Samuel Merriam; Nathan, born March 12, 1726; Ruth, February 23, 1728, died April 23, 1757; Josiah, November 22, 1730, married Sarah Lawrence: Jonas, June 25, 1733, married Sarah Whittemore; Jonathan, February 10, 1735, died April 9, 1757.

(V) Nathan Whitney, son of David Whitney (4), was born March 12, 1726-7. He married Tabitha Merriam. He settled in Westminster, Massachusetts. He bought of Benjamin Brown, December 26, 1750, a lot of ninety acres of land in the southern part of the town; part of this land is still owned by his descendants and used as the summer home of George C. Whitney and the family of Edward Whitney, of Worcester. He also bought of Thomas Merriam, his father-in-law, the south- east ends of the adjoining lots, 83 and 84, on which lie built his first temporary house. His framed house which was built later forms the older part of the present structure on the old homestead. He brought his bride to Westminster in 1752 or 1753. º His struggle with the soil and misfortune almost dis- couraged him. In the epidemic of 1756 both their children were taken. Again in 1764 their four chil- dren died of the epidemic. Out of nine children only three lived to maturity.

Nathan Whitney was a persevering and enter- prising man, and at length he prospered. He be- came one of the leading men of the town, and had an honorable military record. He was corporal in Captain Daniel Hoar's company in 1759. From 1771 to 1776 he held a commission from George III as captain. He sided with the colonists against the king, resigned his commission and took what part his age and health permitted in the revolution. In 1776 he was in charge of the Hessian prisoners from the British army stationed at his old home- stead in Westminster. He died August 10, 1803, aged seventy-six. His wife Tabitha died December 26, 1822, aged ninety years. Mr. Whitney was one of the largest property holders on the Westminster tax list of 1798.

The children of Nathan and Tabitha (Merriam) Whitney were: Tabitha, born June 29, 1753; Nathan, May 16, 1755. died August 28, 1756; Tabitha, July 6, 1757, died January 27, 1764; Nathan, April 9, 1760, died July 2, 1764: Jonathan, May 14, 1761, died June 21, 1764: Ruth, April 17, 1763, died July 7, 1764: Nathan, July 1, 1765; David, August 10, 1767; John, October 13, 1769.

(VI) John Whitney, son of Captain Nathan Whitney (5), was born in Westminster, Massa- chusetts. He married Elizabeth Stearns, daughter of Josiah and Abigail (Emerson) Stearns, December 31, 1793. He settled on the first lot bought by his father. No. 90, and built the house now in use as a summer home by the Whitney family of Wor- cester. He died at the early age of thirty-two years, June 25, 1802. His widow married James Walker,

who died without issue. She married (third) Luke Warren, of Hibbardston, by whom she had four children. She died October 30, 1838, aged sixty- eight years. The children of John and Elizabeth (Stearns) Whitney were: John, born January 15, 1795, died February 22, 1796; John, February 20, 1797; Betsy, May 3. 1799, married April 30, 1829, Thomas Merriam, and resided at Westminster ; had three children; died July 15, 1888.

(VII) John Whitney, son of John Whitney (6), was born in Westminster, Massachusetts. He suc- ceeded to his father's estate and lived upon it all his life. He married Lydia Allen, daughter of Deacon Ephraim Allen, of Hubbardston (published September 30), 1821. They had a family of eight children, all of whom were of excellent character and reputation. He was greatly interested in the education of his children, fitted up a school room in his house, and maintained a private school, the ad- vantages of which were shared by many children besides his own. He became a Baptist in middle life and joined the church. Later he was chosen deacon. In 1843-4 typhoid fever struck down all the members of the household. The father, mother and one child died. The date of his death was March 15, 1844, aged forty-seven; of his wife De- cember 19, 1843, aged forty-one.

Their children were: J. Emerson, born Septem- ber 13, 1822, married twice, resided at Grafton, Massachusetts ; Sumner A., June 27, 1824, married Lura Clarke, had three children; he died August 29, 1861; Ephraim, July 6, 1826, died June 20, 1850 ; Mary, October 23, 1829, married Charles M. Tinley, had three daughters; she died February 25, 1859; Harriet, May 29, 1832, married twice, resided in Worcester and Minnesota; had two children; Ed- ward, August 12, 1834; Francis S., March 25, 1840, died January 16, 1844; George Clarkson, September 19, 1842.

(VIII) Edward Whitney, son of John Whitney (7), was born on the old Whitney homestead in Westminster, Massachusetts, August 12, 1834. He obtained his elementary education in the public schools of his native town. In 1852, at the age of eighteen, he went to New York to strike out in business for himself. There he remained for four years, holding a position of trust in the Metropoli- tan Bank. In 1856 he came to Worcester, joining his elder brother, Sumner A. Whitney, in the station- ery business which was carried on in the Butman block for a few years. His brother died in 1861 and he continued the business alone. He removed soon after to the Bowen block at the corner of Main and Mechanic streets, where he remained for about twenty years. Early in the eighties he removed to the present location of the business at 112 Front street. Shortly before his death Mr. Whitney ad- mitted to partnership his two sons, Edward Cutting Whitney and Harry Sumner Whitney, and they have succeeded to the business which is carried on under the same name. The firm does a large whole- sale trade in paper and stationery, blank books, manila paper and paper bags, all over New England. Mr. Whitney occupied a high position in the business community. His sterling character was the founda- tion of the great business success of his business.

During the last few years of his life he turned his business cares over to his sons and spent some time in foreign travel, visiting various sections of America, Europe and. the Holy Land, in which he took especial interest. He was an active and efficient worker in church and Sunday school. When he first came to Worcester he joined the Union Con- gregational Church and was superintendent of its Sunday school for more than ten years. He was

WORCESTER COUNTY

also deacon for many years. About 1892 he trans- ferred his membership to the Plymouth Congre- gational Church. He was president of the Wor- cester Young Men's Christian Association for two years. He was for several years chairman of the executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of Massachusetts. He was president of the Worcester Congregational Club for two years. He was a trustee of the Home for Aged Men. Few men have done more for the religious interests of the city than Mr. Whitney. He never cared for politics to any extent and never considered public office. It has been said of him that he was "inter- ested in whatever was conducive to human wel- fare, and he did much to promote the better life of his adopted city and to lift the world to a higher level." Mr. Whitney died February 5, 1897. He married, November 26, 1857, Susan Louise Cutting, born August 29, 1838, died January 1, 1880. He married (second), October 27, 1886, Emma Louise Rice, who survives him; she is the daughter of William Rice. The children of Edward and Susan Louise (Cutting) Whitney were: Lillie Marie, born in Worcester, June 19, 1867, died August 24, 1868; Edward Cutting, born July 19, 1869; Harry Sumner, born June 1, 1873, married Alice Wright Gibson, of Germantown, Philadelphia, daughter of Alfred C. Gibson, of Germantown, they have one daughter, Louise, born March 30, 1905.

GROUT FAMILY. Of English descent, we find the first representative in this country to be Captain John Grout (I), of Watertown and Sudbury, Massachusetts. He came from England with his gun in his hand and first settled at Watertown. His date of settlement was about 1640, and in 1662 he was granted leave to practice as a "Chirurgeon." A few years later it is found that he moved to Sud- bury, where for thirty years he served as selectman. He acquired the title of Captain, and was given charge of defending the settlements at Sudbury. May 14, 1648, he testified that, about 1642, Tacomus, an Indian Sagamore, or chief man among the In- dians at Chapnacuncó, came to Boston with his sons and received sundry gifts and favors from Governor John Winthrop. In return he proposed to give Winthrop some land up in his country (Nipmug). John Grout, with others, went to take possession of the land. His eldest son kneeled down on the ground, and Tacomus made his mark to the deed on his son's back; then the father signed it on his father's back, and so one, with all the other sons, the same way, thus abandoning all right of succes- sion to the land. John Grout was recognized as a man of great courage and much wisdom. For forty years he was in charge of the train bands, or militia of Sudbury. He was twice married. His second wife was Sarah Busby, widow of Captain Thomas Cakebread. By his first wife Mary he had children: John, born 1641; Sarah, 1643; Joseph, 1649: Abigail, 1655; Jonathan, 1658; Mary, 1661; Susannah, 1664; and Elizabeth.

(II) Jonathan Grout, horn 1658, married Abi- gail Dix, sister of John Dix. grandfather of Dr. Elijah, of Worcester and Dixmont, Maine. Their children: I. Jonathan, born February 9, 1702. 2. Josiah, born 1703. 3. John, born 1704. 4. Abigail, born 1708. 5. Sarah, born 1711. 6. Patience, born in 1714. 7. Peter, born 1715.

(III) Jonathan Grout, son of Jonathan (2), horn February 9, 1702, married Hannah Hurd, June 6, 1743, and purchased the farm referred to and re- moved from Sudbury to Worcester with his wife and one child in 1744. He died 1748, leaving his widow with three children: I. Jonathan, born June

2, 1744. 2. Silence, born November 8, 1745, mar- ried Josiah Gates, February 20, 1771. 3. Priscilla, born August 13, 1747.

(IV) Captain Jonathan Grout, son of Jonathan (3), born June 2, 1744, when sixteen years of age returned to Worcester, assuming charge of his father's estate, left him by his father. He rendered valuable service during the revolutionary war. He married, March 2, 1769, Anna Harrington, who died August 25, 1827. He died October 17, 1828, leav- ing children: I. Jonathan, born February 14, 1772. 2. Anna, born September 16, 1774. 3. Francis, born October 30, 1777. 4. Hannah, born May 7, 1781.

(V) Captain Francis Grout, second son of Cap- tain Jonathan Gront (4), born October 30, 1777, remained on the old homestead and became a farmer. True to the loyalty of the Grout family, in early life he enrolled in the Massachusetts militia, April 20, 1804, became sergeant of a company in First Regiment ; March, 1809, was made ensign, and a year later lieutenant, and promoted to captain in 18II. He married Aumah Davis. of Templeton, and their children were: Julia Aumah. Sarah, Jonathan Davis. Captain Francis Grout died in Worcester, October 31, 1864, aged eighty-seven years. His youngest child and only son was:

(VI) Jonathan Davis Grout, who succeeded to the old homestead, and married Adeline S. Wash- burn, 1850, and died, leaving two sons: I. Francis, born 1851. 2. Charles Henry, born 1854. The latter became a popular music teacher of Worcester, where he still resides. Francis W. inherited the home farm. He was selected a member of the city government, serving as Alderman in 1891-92-93-94.

Jonathan Grout ("Master"), son of Jonathan (4), born 1772, after gaining the advantages of the Worcester schools, entered Leicester Academy and there fitted himself for a teacher. Success as a teacher gave him the title far and near of "Master" Grout. He mastered the book-binding trade as well, and became an extensive dealer in books and sta- tionery in Millbury. He also became a noted author of school text-books, including "The Pupil's Guide to Practical Arithmetic," published in 1802, the first work on mathematics published in this country. His books had a wide sale, as his work was a great improvement over the old hard-written "lessons" and rules on mathematics, which, together with his book, are now among the antiquarian relics of the Worcester Society of Antiquity. It is said of him that "he was a Puritan through and through, except their faults." He married Sally De Wolfe, of Lyme, Connecticut, and had children: 1. Edwin, born August 4, 1812. 2. Jonathan, born September 24. 1815. 3. Sarah Ann, born February 13, 1820. (VI) Jonathan Grout. son of Jonathan (5), born September 24, 1815, became a popular book seller and owned Grout's block, coming to Wor- cester from his native town, Millbury, in 1841. He first started in a small way. After twelve years of remarkable business success, in 1852 he sold his business to John Keith. Other changes occurred in the business, he having it again, but in 1876 it was sold to Putnam & Davis. Mr. Grout built several fine business houses in Worcester and was a well- to-do man. He died April 4, 1882. His grandfather settled in 1744 upon the Grout estate on Vernon street, Worcester, which has remained in one branch of the family ever since. The subject of this notice was the fifth of the same name (Jonathan) in direct line of succession from the progenitor in this conn- try. Captain John Grout of Watertown, 1640. Jona- than Jr. was interested in the making of copying presses, perforated paper, etc., and indirectly through pecuniary investment in the enterprise of Dr. Rus-

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John M. Gront.

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Jonathan shout

WORCESTER COUNTY

sell L. Hawes, who invented the machines for and produced the first envelopes in the world, which were put upon the market by Mr. Grout. He was a man of great business tact, energy and sagacity, quick to decide and act. His capacity for taking in1 large transactions was wonderful. It was in 1860 that he went in company with L. H. Bigelow and built another business block. He found time from out all his business concerns to devote some happy hours in the cultivating of his finer instincts. He loved art and good pure literature. Ile loved nature and was an admirer of birds, trees and flowers in their state of freedom. Also, in horticul- ture and floriculture he took great delight. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, but no office seeker. He married Mary J. Smith, by whom he had children: 1. Charles Edwin, died in infancy. 2. Ellen Manderville, married George H. Gould, D. D., who died May 8, 1899, and she then married Rev. William S. Smith. 3. John William, born July 25. 1843. 4. Mary Elizabeth, married Hiram R. Adams.

(VII) Lieutenant John W. Gront, only son of Jonathan Grout (6), born July 25. 1843, was barely old enough to claim a man's standing when he fell a voluntary sacrifice on the altar of his country, in the civil war period. He was fine and manly in his features, and with elastic vigor, and the "crim- son glow of health" he seemed every inch a soldier. His was a rare combination of qualities. He was an accomplished pianist, was also proficient in mathe- matics, and had an art for drawing, to which he added some knowledge of the French language and of ancient classics. In early youth he exhibited signs of military genius. A treasured specimen is a whittled dagger with a Union shield on it, now doubly prized. He entered the military department of Caleb B. Metcalf's Highland school at Worcester and became an expert in tactics. This peculiarly fitted him. when the Rebellion opened up, for active, useful service. Upon the organization of the Fif- teenth Massachusetts Regiment he was welcomed to Company D as its second lieutenant, and he drilled the company until it went to the front. True to his retiring nature he chose some secluded spot in which to drill his men.

The story of Leesburg (Balls Bluff), October 21. 1861, is familiar to many, and is a matter of war department record, but we wish here to make men- tion of the fact enacted by him of whom we write. The Fifteenth Massachusetts Regiment was in the thickest of the fight and suffered great loss. Lieu- tenant Grout was found adequate to his duties. His coolness and self-possession astonished all of his men. In the terrific showers of leaden hail, Provi- dence shielded him from harm. Upon the foe, who would bayonet a wounded soldier, he executed sum- mary wrath. Every blow of his own sword told in hand-to-hand contest. He declared he would never surrender alive. Compelled to retreat, his coolness was still maintained. Driven to the bank of the river, he still forgot himself, in the service being rendered to make good the escape of his command. With inadequate means for transporta- tion he crossed the stream with the wounded men and returned: again the frail boat was filled to its capacity and he remained upon the shore, but he had risked too much for his own safety. The re- mainder were now reduced to the last extremity, and when the young lieutenant went up to his superior, with the calm but heroic enquiry, "Is there anything more I can do?" the reply of Colonel Devens was, "Nothing but take care of yourself." And when the Colonel cried to his brave men, "I shall never surrender!" and with benediction, "God

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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 15

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