Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 56

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 56

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He married. September 6, 1871, Selinia Cashmore. daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Cashmore, at Birmingham, England. Her father is still living in that city at an advanced age. She died January, 1898. He married (second) Lucy Chaffee, daughter of James H. and Laura Chaffee, of Berkshire, Ver- mont, June 20. 1905, at Worcester. The children of Lawrence W. and Selinia (Cashinore) Penning- ton were: Lawrence. born at Birmingham, England, February 24. 1873, married Lillian Wheeler, of Graf- ton, has one daughter ; Selinia Lavinia, born January 16, 1876. married, at Worcester, January 29, 1904, Dr. Nicholas William Hoffman, of Dubuque, Iowa, dean of the N. A. R. D., resides in Worcester.

Arthur H. Hioms, professor of Electro-Metallurgy in the Midland Institute at Birmingham, England, married Elizabeth Cashmore, sister of Mrs. Pen- nington. His text books known as "Mixed Metal and Metallic Alloys." "Elementary Metallurgy," "Iron and Steel Manufacturing" and "Practical Metallurgy and Assaying"-are used in this country by most all the teachers of that line in the colleges, and his works are accepted as authority on the various subjects.

THE STEWART BOILER WORKS of Wor- cester, well known throughout the New England states, and which stands high among the leading industries of the city of Worcester, sustaining a reputation for thorough workmanship and honorable dealing. has since September, 1888, been under the ownership of James C., John C. and Charles M. Stewart, sons of Charles Stewart, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, who learned his trade in England. Upon his arrival in Worcester, Massachusetts, Charles Stewart began manufacturing boilers for Bellows & Whitcomb, who were at that time engaged in building portable steam engines.

The firm comprising the three gentlemen above

named was founded in 1865 by Charles Stewart and David M. Dillon under the original firm name of Stewart & Dillon, and the first shop was on Man- chester street, but was later removed to Cypress street. In December, 1869, Mr. Dillon retired from the firm and Mr. Stewart continued the business alone until 1872, when William Allen became his partner, the style changing to Stewart & Allen, and this partnership continued for a period of three years. Prior to that time (1871) Mr. Stewart purchased the boiler business of Rice, Barton & Fales, machine and iron company, which they carried on in connee- tion with their business of paper-making machinery. Upon the dissolution of the partnership, in 1875, Mr. Allen established the firm of William Allen & Sons, which has continued in business in the city of Worcester since, and Mr. Stewart in 1878 admitted his son, James C. Stewart, to partnership, changing the name of the firm to that of C. Stewart & Son. In 1888 Charles Stewart retired and his three sons, above mentioned. have continued the business up to the present time ( 1906).

In September. 1889. the works were moved to new shops at the present location, Albany street. The plant is extensive, covering a space of nearly two acres of land located a half mile east of the Union station, and on the line of the Boston & Al- bany Railroad, and easily accessible from all parts of the city of Worcester by means of the electric cars. The main building is sixty by three hundred and seventy feet, and there are a number of smaller buildings for various purposes, all admirably equipped with machinery. There is a spur track running alongside the works, and with a powerful electric hoisting crane gives excellent facilities for receiving and shipping goods. The firm manufactures loco- motive, marine and tubular boilers, tanks for oil. water and general purposes, smoke stacks, penstocks, and heavy plate iron work of all kinds. They also attend to' repairs of boilers in mills, etc. They em- ploy on an average seventy-five men, many of whom have served at the works for a long period of time.

JOSEPH McGOWN. The pioneer ancestor of the American branch of the MeGown family was Joseph McGown (grandfather), who emigrated thither from his native land-Scotland-landing in New York city. Prior to his emigration to America he married and among the children born to him was a son. Henry McGown.

Henry MeGown (father) was born at Paisley, an important manufacturing town in Scotland, was reared and educated there, and by giving elose at- tention to his studies and by pursuing a course of reading good literature became a well informed man on a number of subjects. After his marriage to Elizabeth Bizland. of Paisley, Scotland, about 1842, he came to the United States, locating first at Unkersville, Connecticut, where he was employed at his trade of weaver. After a residence of one year there he moved to Mason Village, New Hamp- shire, where he served as foreman for the Columbia Manufacturing Company's mill for about thirty years, and later he removed to High Bridge, same state, where he continued to act as foreman for the same company. In 1871 he took up his residence in Clin- ton, Massachusetts, and engaged in the grocery busi- ness, this proving a most lucrative enterprise. . The following named children were born to Mr. and Mrs. MeGown: Joseph, of whom later; Elizabeth, John, Henry, William W., and Jean. Henry Me- Gown (father) died January, 1874; his wife passed away August. 1874.

Joseph MeGown, eldest son of Henry and Eliza- .beth ( Bizland) MeGown, was born in Paisley, Seot-

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land, November 13, 1840. When eighteen months old he was brought to this country by his mother, his father having preceded them, and after a tedious and perilous voyage on a sailing vessel was landed safely in New York city. He received his educa- tion in the schools of New Ipswich and Mason Vil- lage. New Hampshire, and when five years old ac- companied his parents to High Bridge, New Hamp- shire, where he was employed for a number of years in the mill operated by his father. Upon the removal of the family to Clinton, Massachusetts, he followed the trade of machinist for a short period of time, and then entered into partnership with his father in the grocery business, established by the latter, this connection continuing until the death of Mr. McGown, Sr., since which time the son has conducted the business alone and is now in receipt of an extensive and lucrative patronage, only ex- ceeded by establishments in the large cities. Mr. Mc- Gown has accumulated considerable real estate in his adopted town, and ranks among the prosperous and influential citizens. Although repeatedly re- quested by the leaders of the Republican party in his community to accept political office, he has al- ways declined the honor but is willing to aid the party otherwise to the best of his ability. He is an active and interested member of the Masonic Order, also the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. McGown married, January 1, 1863, Miss Clementine E. Baxter, a daughter of Anson Baxter, of Central Falls, Rhode Island, and their children are: Henry A., married Grace Buttrick, and their family consists of three children: Margery, Mary J., and Ellenoir. Joseph E., who married Jean Mc- Gown, and the issue of this marriage were three children: Edith, Muriel, and one who died young. George, deceased, who married May Barden, and one children was born to them, Pauline. Andrew B., who married Mary Morgan, now deceased, and their children are: Dorothy, Virginia. John L., who married Nellie Jenkins. Isabelle C., who became the wife of John Sparks, issue: Donald, and one who died young. Esther, unmarried, resides at home. The family attend the Congregational church of Clinton.

CHARLES BASSETT EATON. The Eaton family, of which Charles Bassett Eaton is a repre- sentative in the present generation, is lineally de- scended from Jonas Eaton.

(I) Jonas Eaton came from England and pur- chased land in Watertown, Massachusetts, where he had a residence in 1643. He with his brother Will- iam, also of Watertown, Massachusetts, were among the first settlers of Reading, Massachusetts. Jonas and wife Grace were recorded among the members of the church at Reading as early as September 29, 1648. He died there February 24, 1674, and his widow married, November 18, 1680. Henry Sillshee, of Lynn. Jonas and Grace Eaton had children: Mary, born February 8, 1643-4: died 1731 ; John, born Septem- ber IO. 1615: Jonas, born September 28. 1647, died October 14, 1647: Jonas, born September 24, 1648; Sarah, born 1650; Joseph, born January 5, 1651 ; Joshua, born December 4, 1653; Jonathan, born De- cember 6. 1655; David, born September 22, 1657, died October 7. 1657.

(II) John Eaton, born September 10, 1645, mar- ried, November 26, 1674. Dorcas Green, and lived in Reading. He died there May 25, 1691. Their chil- dren were: Jonas, born March 13, 1676-7, died March 28. 1676-7: Grace, born January 12, 1677-8, married John Boutelle: Noah, born January 26, 1678, died in 1701 : Thomas, born June 22, 1679, died . Novem- ber 30, 1679: Jouas, born May 18, 1680, married

and settled in Framingham; Joseph, born April IS, 1681, died April 29, 1681; Benjamin, born January 16, 1683-4, died February 2, 1683-4; Joseph, settled in Reading; Benjamin, settled in Roxbury ; Dorcas, born July 26, 1688, died young; Stephen, born Au- gust 11, 1689, died August 25, 1689: Phoebe, born August 25, 1690, married Jonathan Nichols.

(III) Jonas Eaton, born May 18, 1680, was a carpenter and bricklayer, settled in Framingham, Massachusetts, and married Grace, daughter of John Gould. He purchased March 10, 1705-6, the east half of what was known as the "Half Mile Square," and died there August 13, 1727. His children were : Mehitable, born February 17, 1706-7; Noah, born July 22, 1708; John, born September 3, 1710, settled in Killingly, Connecticut; Phebe, born October 22, 1714: Jonas, born October 22, 1714; Joseph, born March 12, 1716; Mary, horn March 12, 1718; Joshua, born July 1, 1721, settled in Voluntown, Connecti- cut ; Benjamin, born October 9, 1723; Ebenezer, born September 2, 1727, cordwainer.

(IV) Noah Eaton, born July 22, 1708, married Hannah Vinton of Stonebam, and resided in Fram- ingham. He died October 8, 1791 ; she died March 8, 1795. Their children are: Hannah, born Novem- ber 8, 1731, married John Cheney: Noah, born Au- gust 7, 1733; Abigail, born February 1, 1735, married Daniel Gregory; Jonas, born January 29, 1737; John, horn July 30, 1740; Mehitable, born April 21, 1743, married Deacon Samuel Dakin; Ruth, born Febru- ary 16, 1744, married Peter Parker; Maltiah, born January 15, 1747; Silas, born December 1, 1750; Mary, born May II, 1753, married Simon Goddard, of Philipston.

(V) Maltiah Eaton, born January 15, 1747, in Framingham, Massachusetts, married Huldah Haynes, of Sudbury, December 31, 1778, who died in 1816. In the year 1773 he purchased a tract of land in the township of Gerry, now Phillipston, Massa- chusetts, somewhat later removing his goods from Framingham to that place on a one-horse Hitter made of two wooden poles serving as thills extending back of the horse to the ground, across which short poles were fastened to support a platform to hold the freight, the horse dragging the poles along. after the Indian style of transporting camp fixtures. He died August 17, 1831. His children were: Amy, born 1780, married Daniel Crossman; Huldah, born April 19, 1785, died unmarried, July 4, 1849, in Win- chester, New Hampshire; Avery, born February 2, 1789: Maltiah, died in infancy.

(VI) Avery Eaton, born February 2, 1789, in Phillipston, married. January 22, 1818, Lydia Brown, born in Lexington, Massachusetts, January 18, 1793. Lydia Brown was a descendant from Deacon Joseph Brown, who came from England, and located in Lex- ington, Massachusetts, where his son Benjamin was born June 30, 1720. He married Sarah Read. De- cember 23, 1742, and died March 4, 1802. Their son Nathan, born September 5, 1766. married Lydia Muzzy, December 25, 1788, and were the parents of Lydia Brown, wife of Avery Eaton. She died in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 14, 1881. Avery Eaton built a house just back of his father's on the old homestead at Phillipston, and resided there until his father's death. In 1844 the place passed into the hands of the eldest son, William Avery Eaton, who resided there about thirty years, when he built a house in Athol and removed there, subse- quently selling the farm. The children of Avery Eaton were: William Avery, born October 5. 1818; Lydia Samantha, horn October 15, 1820; Caroline Huldah, born October 12, 1822; Harriet Relief, born November 9, 1824, married, April 7, 1847, Lorenzo Blanchard, of Petersham; Almira J., born May 27,

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1827, died July 27, 1827; John Osgood, born Sep- tember 2, 1828, died July 6, 1832; Charles Bassett, born June 20, 1831 : Mary Augusta, born July 18, 1835, married George P. King, of Barre, Massa- chusetts.

(VII) Charles Bassett Eaton, seventh child of Avery and Lydia ( Brown) Eaton, was born in Phillipston, Massachusetts, June 20, 1831, on the original homestead of seventy-five acres that his grandfather, Maltiah Eaton, purchased November II, 1773. Here upon this farm were spent the first twelve years of his life, attending the village school, building windmills, sleds, wagons, and water-wheels in the old shed chamber (the latter used in driving a miniature saw mill constructed on the brook near the house), while his sisters braided palm leal hats. At the death of the grandfather the farm became the property of his father Avery and his Aunt Hul- dah. Later they sold the place to their brother William, and in April, 1844, removed to a farm of forty-five acres with cottage house and barn upon it in Winchester township, New Hampshire, about three miles south of the center. In the fall of 1845 young Eaton, at the age of fourteen, entered the employ of Mr. Belding in a cotton factory in West Win- chester. Within a few weeks this mill with a woolen factory standing near it were consumed by fire, and the lad found employment as chore boy for Mr. Murdock, who owned a woolen mill in the town and boarded his help at the house. During winters the lad usually went home to attend the town school. In 1847 he was engaged in painting pails in South Orange, Massachusetts, for Mr. Washburn (after- wards governor of the state), and the following season performed the same work at a pail factory in Winchester, New Hampshire. Here he gained great proficiency in the work but found it quite in- jurious to health, for on entering Edwin Kendall's high school at Petersham, in September, 1848, he found his strength greatly impaired. This, however, returned to him, and those school days in Petersham have ever been to him a source of pleasant recollec- tions, for it was at that time that he made the acquaintance of Mary Caroline Cheney, who after- ward became his wife, and who for more than fifty years has been a true helpmate.

After returning to Winchester and giving a little further attention toward obtaining an education, he began looking for a situation as clerk, and visiting the store of B. B. Murdock at Northfield, Massa- chusetts, in the midst of a severe snow storm, made such a favorable impression that within a few days he received a letter asking him to call again, when the contract was closed to accept a clerkship in his store one year for one hundred dollars and his board. It was a very large country store, and the associations between employer and employed proved to be of the most pleasant character. In the fall Mr. Murdock sold the business to Messrs. Hastings and Fay, who desired Mr. Eaton to remain with them, but wishing to be among his acquaintances at Petersham, he entered the employ there of Weth- erell & Mudge, making a contract to remain with them three years, and continued at the store and postoffice tintil disabled by a severe attack of rheuma- tism, which made him almost helpless for several months. As soon as he was able to leave his home at Winchester, whither he had gone when unable to attend to his duties with Wetherell & Mudge, he again returned to Petersham and engaged to clerk in the store of George A. Rogers, who after a time sold out to Messrs. Hawes & Tolman, Mr. Eaton continuing with them about two years.

In 1849 E. D. Cheney, father of Mary Caroline ( before mentioned) removed from Petersham to

Worcester, and Mr. Eaton followed them there, en- gaging with B. L. Hardon & Company, dealers in dry goods, with store on Main street, Worcester, the members of the firm being B. L. Hardon, Stephen Sawyer and William Cary. After his clerkship here, he was with Warren & Emerson, who kept a country store in Royalston, but in September, 1852, he en- tered the store of Lee & Bassett, in Athol, who car- ried on a large general store business, also having an extensive palmleaf hat trade, and a tailoring de- partinent, where a large number of girls found em- ployment. Here Mr. Eaton remained nearly three years, much of the time having a large share of responsibility in the conduct of the business. No- vember 14. 1854, he married Mary Caroline Cheney, and began housekeeping in Athol, at the same time making a home for his widowed mother, who for more than thirty years received his generous and kindly ministrations of help and support. Mr. Eaton was now enjoying the full confidence of his em- ployers, and business was prosperous, but there ex- isted an undercurrent which in time changed the course of events. Mrs. Eaton was an only daughter, and her parents were arriving at the conclusion that she must have a home near them. All the induce- ments Messrs. Lee & Bassett could offer and the earnest appeals from other friends in Athol failed to check the tidal wave rolling toward Worcester, and there the young couple arrived in April, 1855. Mr. Eaton soon found employment with Mr. E. H. Sanford, who had opened a store in Flagg's block for the sale of fancy dry goods, and here made himself so useful that within a few months he was given a substantial increase in salary, and within a year was allowed to take a third interest in the business. This agreement was continued for six years, when (in 1862) Mr. Eaton rented a store in Brinley Hall block and began for himself, at first in a small way, but business grew as time went, and in 1870, for the purpose of securing more room, he removed to the old Butman store, on the site of the present State Mutual building. Here he continued the fancy dry goods business until Octo- ber, 1877, when he sold to Hebbard & Shepherd. The following year he engaged in the galvanized iron and sheet metal business. That not proving satisfactory, he relinquished it and in 1879 went to work in the store of Sanford & Dixon, dealers in paper and stationery, soon purchasing Mr. Sanford's interest, and with Mr. Dixon removed the stock to No. 505 Main street, and for two years business was con- ducted under the firm name of Eaton & Dixon. After purchasing Mr. Dixon's interest the business was continued under the style of C. B. Eaton & Company, Harry H. Browning holding an interest about two years. At that time Mr. Eaton sold one- half interest in the business to Will W. Lewis, who had been a clerk in the store a number of years, but November 1, 1892, Mr. Eaton sold his half in- terest to W. B. Emerson, since which time Mr. Eaton has been engaged in the real estate business and caring for the large property interests now in the possession of the fainily.

Mary Caroline (Cheney) Eaton, wife of Charles Bassett Eaton, was a granddaughter of Ebenezer Cheney, born in Milford, Massachusetts, April 14. 1782. He was by trade a blacksmith, and married Mary Daniels, of Holliston. Their son, Edson Daniels Cheney, born in Milford, October 16, 1810, married Sarah B. Shattuck, of Barre, April II, 1833. She was daughter of Asa Shattuck, born in Han- cock. New Hampshire. March 26. 1789, and his wife Abigail Conant, of Oakham, Massachusetts, born there November 16, 1791. This Asa Shattuck was son of Ezekiel, of Groton, Massachusetts, and his

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wife Sarah Bullard. Edson Daniels Cheney came to Worcester in 1849, and was engaged in the manu- facture of carriages, in Petersham, Massachusetts, until he came to Worcester. Then for six years lie carried on carpentering and house building, and in 1860 opened a flour and grain store, and after a period of seventeen years retired with a well carned competency and the reputation of a successful, hon- est business man. He died in Worcester, April 13, 1894. His daughter, Mary Caroline Cheney, wife of Charles Bassett Eaton, was born in Barre, Massa- chusetts, February 23. 1834.

The children of Charles Bassett and Mary Caro- line (Cheney) Eaton, born in Worcester. were : Alice Carrie, born March 8, 1859; Cora Belle, born October 15, 1870; Grace Cheney, born August 12, 1876, died August 12, 1877.

(VIII) Alice Carrie Eaton, eldest child of Charles Bassett and Mary Caroline (Cheney) Eaton, mar- ried Frederick Norton Cooke, February 9, 1881. He is a native of Norwich. Connecticut, born Septem -. ber 12. 1854, a telegrapher. Their home is with the parents. Their children are: Cheney Eaton Cooke, born November 13, 1882. died January 31, 1884; Frederick Norton Cooke, born' August 12, 1884.

(VIII) Cora Belle Eaton, second child of Charles Bassett and Mary Caroline (Cheney) Eaton, mar- ried William H. Nelson, August 16, 1893. Their children are: Charles Winthrop, born June 8, 1894; Madeline, born June 19. 1900, died August 21, 1900; William Earl. born April 25, 1903.

(VII) William Avery Eaton, eldest brother of Charles B., married Emily Johnson, of Petersham, May 2, 1843. They had three children: Lucy Caro- line, Emily Elvira, and Martha Fidelia. He died June 12. 1895.

(VII) Lydia Samantha Eaton, his eldest sister, married, April 23, 1844. Uri Twichell, of Athol, a farmer. They had four daughters and one son. She died August 31, 1854.

(VII) Caroline Huldah, another sister, married, January 3, 1853, William Hutchins, of Winchester, New Hampshire, a farmer, who died September 6, 1860. She married (second), July 4, 1863. Edwin M. Cooper, also of Winchester. They had no chil- dren. She died August 17, 1901.

WILLIAM HERBERT INMAN, senior mem- ber of the firm of Pratt & Inman, conducting an extensive steel business in Worcester, Massachu- setts, is a native of Rhode Island, born in Burrill- ville, March 15, 1845. His parents were Francis Henry and Hannah (Marsh) Inman. His mother was a daughter of John and Lucy Marsh, of Slaters- ville, Rhode Island. His paternal grandparents were James and Nancy Inman, of the same town.

William H. Inman was four years old when his parents took up their residence in Worcester, Massa- chusetts. He was educated in the public schools of that city, and after leaving his studies entered the office of his father. May 8, 1864, when nineteen years of age. From that time he has been con- tinuously connected with the business to which he was then introduced, and which is worthy of some- what extended notice.

The keeping of bar iron and steel for sale as a special business in Worcester was commenced by Joseph Pratt and Samuel Hathaway, under the firm name of J. Pratt & Co., in May, 1829. At that time the only modes of transportation to Worcester were by horse or ox teams from Boston, or by the Blackstone canal from Providence. The business gradually developed in importance, and was con- tinued by the firm above named until 1832, when occurred the death of Mr. Hathaway. It was then

continued without change of name by Mr. Pratt. with Isaac Davis as a partner, until 1835, when Edward Earle succeeded Mr. Davis, and the style of the firm was changed to that of J. Pratt & Earle. This was continued until 1848, when Elbridge G. Pratt, brother of Joseph Pratt, purchased the in- terest of Edward Earle, and the firm again took the designation of J. Pratt & Company. Elbridge G. Pratt died that year, and the business was continued without change of firm name until 1853, when Francis H. Inman, who had entered the house as a clerk. in 1849, was admitted to partnership, and the firm name was changed to that of Pratt & Inman, which has been its form to the present time. In 1871 William H. Inman, who had entered the employ of the house in May. 1864, was admitted to partner- ship. In 1874 Mr. Pratt retired from the firm. This excellent man, who was born in 1800. lived to the remarkable age of ninety-five years, dying in 1895. Mr. Francis H. Inman continued his connection with the business until his death. in 1898, after which the business was continued by William H. Inman until 1903, when his son. Albert H. Inman, who had been with the establishment since 1887, was admitted to partnership. The firm fully maintains the prestige enjoyed by its predecessors, through so many years, and its house is recognized as one of the substantial and important enterprises of Worcester, distributing its goods through a wide territory, and supplying many of the largest manu- facturing establishments throughout the East.

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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 56

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