Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. I, Part 95

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 95

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civil war. He enlisted in Company C, Thirty-sixth Regiment, a company raised by P. Emory Aldrich, later justice of the superior court, within six days from the beginning, until one hundred and ten men were secured. A. A. Goodell was the captain. He served from August 8, 1862, until June 8, 1865. He was in the first battle of Fredericksburg. The story of his service is that of his regiment, until he was taken prisoner. From Virginia the regi- ment went to Jamestown, Kentucky, and thence to Vicksburg, Mississippi. The next move was to Jackson, whence they returned to Kentucky. They served at Campello Station and at the siege of Knoxville; at Blaine's Crossroads, in East Ten- nessee, and at Strawberry Plain in the same sec- tion. In 1864 the regiment left Tennessee, in April, and in May took part in the battle of the Wilder- ness, and Spottsylvania Court House, where they suffered heavy losses. May 21, they marched to North Anna river, continually skirmishing. At Cold Har- bor, Mr. Mills was made first corporal of the com- pany for his services in taking a line of rifle pits from the enemy. The march from this point to White House Landing, was made in forty-eight suc- cessive hours, a distance of sixty miles. The regi- ment arrived at Harrison Landing June 15. 1864. The regiment made a gallant record at Petersburg, taking two forts, four stands of colors and five hundred and sixteen prisoners, and then settled down to besiege Petersburg. Mr. Mills was taken prisoner at Dr. Basan's house, and taken to the prison first in Petersburg, then to Libby prison, in Richmond, where he was kept from October 5 to 9, when he was taken to the parole camp and detained until May, 1865. Although he was mustered out at Alexandria. Virginia, June 8, the regiment proceeded to Readville, Massachusetts, to be paid off and discharged, and he was the last to do guard duty, being detailed to guard the arms to be turned over to the United States government there. He is a member of George H. Ward Post 10, Grand Army of the Republic, of Worcester. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Mary Jane Prescott, daughter of Harvey and Mary (Stuart) Prescott, of West Boylston, Massachusetts. They were mar- ried at Clinton. Massachusetts, February 14. 1857. Mrs. Mills numbers among her ancestors Colonel Jonathan Prescott, of revolutionary fame. In the Grover family her great-grandfather, also, was a soldier in the revolution.

Children of George Horace and Mary Jane ( Pres- cott) Mills were: 1. George Lyman, born Decem- ber 15. 1857. married Emma Viola Ryan ; no children. 2. Arthur Goodell, born January 23, 1863; was a mem- ber of the city guards: served through the Spanish war in Company A. Second Massachusetts Volun- teers ; married Myrtie Merriam; they have a son, Harold Leroy, born November 29, 1903. 3. Harvey Prescott, born August 10, 1867, died October 16, 1899, unmarried. 4. Grace Mabel, born September 29. 1869; married James Henry Burke of Prince Ed- wards Island, November 23, 1903: they have one daughter, Ada Mills Burke, born October I, 1904: he is an expert solderer for the Hamblen & Russell Manufacturing Company, Worcester. 5. John Stuart, born October 17, 1878, died January 18, 1892.

BANCROFT FAMILY. John Bancroft (I), was the pioneer ancestor of the Bancroft families, of Auburn and Worcester. He was the progenitor of Bertram A. Bancroft, of Worcester. John and his wife. Jane Bancroft, came to New England on the ship "James," sailing from London in 1632. They settled at Lynn where John died in 1637. In 1638

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the widow received a grant of land in Lynn. Her son, John, went to Connecticut early, and is the founder of the Connecticut branch of the family. There is a family tradition that she went to live with him, and died in Connecticut. Children of John and Jane Bancroft, all born in England, were: Amos; John, settled in Connecticut; Thomas (see forward) ; Samuel; and probably William.

(II) Thomas Bancroft, son of John Bancroft (I), was born in England in 1622. He became a townsman of Dedham in 1648. In 1653 or earlier he removed to Reading, Massachusetts, and settled there. He had land at Lynnfield and lived there for a time, and perhaps in West Reading. He married (first) March 31, 1647, Alice Bacon, daughter of Michael Bacon, of Dedham. She died March 29, 1648. He married (second) July 15, 1648, Elizabeth Metcalf, daughter of Michael and Sarah Metcalf. She was admitted to the Dedham church December 14. 1651, and dismissed to the Reading church No- vember 22, 1669. He was in the service with the rank of lieutenant. He died at Lynn, August 19, 1691. His widow died May 1, 1711. Children of Thomas Bancroft were: Thomas, born and died in 1648; Thomas (see forward) ; Elizabeth, born 1653, mar- ried Joseph Brown; John, born 1658; Sarah, born 1660, died 1661; Raham, born 1662, died 1683; Saralı, born 1665, inarried John Woodward; Ebenezer. 1667: Mary, 1670.

(III) Deacon Thomas Bancroft, son of Lieutenant Thomas Bancroft (2), born in Dedham, Massachu- setts, in 1649; married in 1673, Sarah Poole. He was an officer in King Philip's war; and was selectman of Reading for several years. He built the fourth house in the west parish, near the Abraham Temple house, generally known as the ancient Bancroft homestead. Children of Deacon Thomas and Sarah (Poole) Bancroft, all born in Reading, Massachu- Salina, April setts, were Thomas, born in 1673; Jonathan,. born and died 1675; Sarah, born 1676, married 16, 1826, married Burrill ; Laura, March 25, 1828, died February 19, 1846; Nel- son T., June 14. 1830; Malissa, April 23, 1832, married - Walker ; Erastus, July 16, 1834; Eliza J., married - Pond; Martha J., married J. Love- lin; Enoch (see forward) ; Roswell S. Nine of the children were named in the will. Timothy Ban- croft was evidently a man of property and educa- tion. He bequeathed a desk, books and bookcases to his son Enoch, the residuary legatee.

Abraham Bryant (2), of Reading and Sud-

bury. Massachusetts ; Mehitable. born I678,

married Parker; Jonathan, born 1681, married Sarah -; Raham or Rayham (see for- ward) : Judith, born 1688, married Parker ; Samuel, born 1691, died 1692; Samuel, born 1693; Elizabeth, born 1698, married, 1713, John Lampson.

(IV) Deacon Rayham Bancroft, sixth child of Deacon Thomas Bancroft (3), born in Reading, Massachusetts, in 1684; married (first) Abigail Eaton, of a prominent Reading family, daughter of Jonas and Hannah (Mason) Eaton. She died 1728, aged forty years. He married (second), 1730, Ruth Kendall, daughter of Samuel and Mary Kendall. She died 1758, aged fifty-six years. He died 1758, aged seventy-four years. Rev. Mr. Hobby called him: "That good inan, my friend Deacon Ban- croft." Children of Deacon Rayham and Abigail (Eaton) Bancroft were: Joshua, born 1712; Abigail, born 1716; David (see forward) ; James, born 1729, died young ; Ruth, born 1731; Abigail, born 1733, died 1750; Judith, born 1735: James, born 1739, married (first), 1757, Sarah Pearson, (second) Saralı Parker; revolutionary soldier; selectman ; repre- sentative to general court; died 1831, aged ninety- two years.

(V) David Bancroft, third child of Deacon Ray- ham Bancroft (4), born in Reading. Massachusetts, August 2. 1718; removed to Worcester and settled in the southern part of the town in what was later Ward, now Auburn, Massachusetts. The births of his children are recorded in Worcester, except the eldest, Eunice. He came to Worcester about 1742. His first wife was Eunice. She died Octo- ber 15, 1777, aged fifty-nine years, and is buried

in Auburn. He married (second) Ruth Stone, widow, at Ward, October 14, 1779. She died August 2, 1809, aged ninety-four years. David died at Au- burn, April 16, 1782, aged sixty-three years. His will dated December 15, 1781, and allowed May 6, 1782, mentioned land at Auburn (Ward) and Winchen- don, church, pew, hooks, etc. His grave at Auburn is marked by a stone suitably inscribed. Children of David and Eunice Bancroft were: Eunice, born, probably at Reading, 1742; David, born at Worces- ter May 6, 1743; Jonas, October 26, 1744; John, De- cember Io, 1745-6; Ebenezer, September 19, 1748; Jonathan, May 25, 1750; Mary, May 4, 1752; Ruth, March 24, 1754; Hannah, March 1, 1756; Nathaniel, March 18, 1758; Timothy, December 1, 1760 (see forward).

(VI) Timothy Bancroft, youngest child and son of David Bancroft (5), born in that part of Wor- cester, now Auburn, December 1, 1760; married Mary Rice, June 13, 1782; died March, 1834, aged seventy-three years. He was a farmer and settled in Auburn, where all the children were born. Chil- dren were: Comfort (daughter), born January II, 1786; married - Chapin and had children : Lucy, Mary, Elizabeth, Benjamin; Peter, died October 26, 1786; Peter M .; Timothy Rice, May 19, 1794, died March 21, 1795; Harvey, November II, 1796, inherited the homestead in Auburn; Timothy, Jr., May 26, 1798 (see forward) : Rominah, July 24, 1801. Mary, widow of Timothy, died October 10, 1844. aged eighty-four years.

(VII) Timothy Bancroft, Jr., son of Timothy Bancroft (6), born in Auburn, Massachusetts, May 26, 1798; married Mary Clark, June 6, 1820, at Auburn, and settled there on a farm. Their children, born in Auburn, were: Mary Smith, born June 3, 1821, died January 3, 1823; Samuel Clark, Decem- ber 9, 1822; died December. 21, 1838; Mary S., mar- ried Elliott ; Almira

(VIII) Enoch Bancroft, son of Timothy Ban- croft, Jr. (7), was born in Auburn, Massachusetts. His father left him his farm and all his real estate in Auburn : land bought of George W. Rugg ; wood lot in Leicester: wood lots in Shrewsbury; his desk, Bible, books, bookcases, family effects and heirlooms, and he had to pay some $4,500 in cash bequests to the other heirs. He sold the farm in Auburn and bought one on Lincoln street in Wor- cester, where he died in 1875, in the prime of life. He married Mary Prime. His children were: W. E .: A. P .: Bertram A. (see forward) ; two who died young : Mary L., married A. L. Haven, of Worcester.

(IX) Bertram A. Bancroft, son of Enoch Ban- croft (8), born. in Worcester, Massachusetts, Jan- uary 15. 1867. His father died when he was a young boy. He attended the Worcester schools and has always lived in his native city. The growth of the city has brought the Bancroft farm within the suburbs, and recently it has been placed on the market in building lots, under the title of the Ban- croft Investment Company. Since he discontinued running the farm, he has been in the teaming business, and is a successful business man. His integrity and many attractive qualities have made for him a host of friends. He stands as well socially

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as in the business world. He married Susan A. ( Mason) Rice, widow of William Rice, of Holden; born in West Boylston, Massachusetts, November 12, 1858, and had one child by her first marriage, Andrew Jackson Rice, born May 8, 1881.

Mrs. Bancroft is the daughter of William H. and Mary ( Howe) Mason. William H. Mason was born March 3, 1833. Mary S. Howe was born January 11, 1838, and died January 11, 1905. They had eight children, of whom six are living ( 1905). Mrs. Bancroft's great-grandfather was Samuel Mason, and his wife, her great-grandmother, was Hannah Whitney, daughter of William Whitney, said to be the first settler in what is now the town of West Boylston, Massachuestts. He was a des- cendant of John Whitney, of Watertown, the emi- grant. (See Whitney family.) Their son, Will- iam Mason, married Relief Henry, and they had : Hannah, Esther, Samuel, Sarah A., Mary A., Will- iam, H., (see forward). . Children of William H. and Mary S. (Howe) Mason were: Susan, born November 12, 1858; D. Waldo, October 27, 1800; Julia L., 1862, married William E. Bancroft, of Wor- cester, farmer and milk dealer; Willie H., born 1864; Mary E., born 1866; Lucy E., born 1868, died July 29, 1903; Samuel F., born 1873; George G., born 1875.

The only child of Bertram E. and Susan A. ( Mason) Bancroft is: Ralph Enoch Bancroft, born at Worcester, November 11, 1893; student in the public schools of Worcester. He is the fourth gen- eration of Bancrofts who have lived in this home. Mr. Bancroft's home is on the old homestead, 334 Lincoln street, Worcester.

Samuel Mason, born in Lexington, Massachusetts, great-grandfather of Mrs. Bancroft, mentioned above, was in Captain Solomon Stuart's company, Colonel Josiah Whitney's regiment, in 1777, and marched on the Bennington call.

DR. FELIX D. FONTAINE has practiced in Worcester, largely among the French speaking citi- zens, for nearly thirty years. He was born in St. Hugues, Quebec, Canada, December 14, 1832. He comes from early French stock that came from old France to New France early in the eighteenth cell- tury. His great-grandfather Fontaine, who lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and thirteen years, settled at Vercheres, near Montreal, and his grandfather Felix, for whom he was named, was born there and died there at the age of ninety years, nine months, about 1855. His father, Louis Fontaine, was also born at Vercheres, but settled at St. Hugues.

Felix D. Fontaine spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the parish schools of his native place. In 1846 he was sent to the college at St. Hyacinthe, and here he took the seven year course, graduating with the degree of A. B., in 1853. He then took up the study of medicine at Montreal in what was then known as the Medical School of Canada. now Victoria University Med- ical School. He received his degree of M. D. from the Ontario University. He had hospital practice in Montreal. He began the practice of medicine at St. Jude, near St. Hyacinthe, where he remained until 1860. March, 1860, he settled at St. Barnaby, Yamachiche, near Three Rivers, Quebec, where he was engaged in general practice for sixteen years. In 1876 he removed to Nicolet, Quebec, but after eighteen months there removed to Worcester, where he has practiced ever since. He came to Worcester, October 15, 1877, and opened an office in Primeau's drug store, 54 Front street. Four years later lie moved his office to Salem square, and finally in July,

1885, to 16 Portland street, having purchased the property there. Excepting Dr. Napoleon Jacques he was the first French physician to build up a practice in Worcester, and, excepting Dr. Jacques, is the oldest practicing physician among the French speaking population in and about Worcester. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society ; of Union St. Jean Baptiste d'Amerique; and of St. Joseph's Union of Worcester. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church.

He married (first) May 23, 1860, Emma Regnault of St. Pierre, Canada. She was born in France. She had seven children, only one of whom sur- vived. She died October 20, 1867. He married (second) May 24, 1874, Mary Cresse, of Nicolet, who bore him children; all but one of whom arc living. She died in Worcester, October 10, 1898. Among his children were: Albert, born at St. Barnaby, Canada, 1867; Joseph Didyme Steven, born at St. Barnaby, June 4, 1875; Marie Flora Albertine, born at St. Barnaby, May 4, 1876; Marie Laura Camelia, born at Nicolet, Canada, July 21, 1877; Marie Ida, born August 8, 1879, in Wor- cester; Marie Hortense Eva, born in Worcester, October 18, 1881 ; Marie Rose Eveline, born March, 1883; Joseph Arthur Steven, born in Worcester, May 25, 1884; Joseph Robert Emil, born in Wor- cester, September 2, 1886; Joseph Dona Rudolph, born in Worcester, December 11, 1887; Marie Blanche Rebecca Alexandrine, born April 7, 1890; Joseph Arthur Henry, born in Worcester, Novem- ber 11, 1891; Joseph Philip Auguste, born in Wor- cester, January 15, 1893; Joseph Anatole Oscar, born April 11, 1895; died December 23, 1895. Six of the elder children died in infancy or in early life.

CHARLES A. HOMER. Homer is an old Saxon surname, derived it is said from the Manor Homere, now called Hummer, in Somerset county. England. The earliest records containing the sur- name in England are the Inquisitiones Post Mortem in the reign of Richard II, 1381-2. In these ancient books the name is spelled invariably Homere and it occurs repeatedly. The old Manor House in Som- erset is gone; it was built of wood, and was very ancient when it was torn down.

The first nobleman of the name was Thomas de Homere, Lord of the Manor of Homere, to whom lands in the neighboring county of Dorset were granted in 1338 by Lord Maltravers. A family tradition holds that the Homer family in Stafford- shire left this manor in Dorset on account of a duel, in which presumably his adversary got the worst of the encounter, and settled at Ettingshall, where the family has been located since the four- teenth century. The old Manor Hall at Ettings- hall was taken down in 1868; it dated back to Eliza- bethian times. A pew is still preserved that was built in the church attended by the Homers of Ettingshall in 1626, built as the inscription states by Edward Homer. The church is in the parish of Sedgley. The name appears first in the Sedgley parish regis- ter il1 1560, but some of the family removed to Worcester, England, in 1552. The records at Et- tingshall give Richard Homer, married October, 1565, Margaret Wright, and was buried in 1606 at Ettingshall. He was probably grandfather of the following Edward Homer, from whom the line is traced with apparent correctness to the Worcester (England) family.

(I) Edward Homer, progenitor of Charles A. Homer, of Worcester, Massachusetts, lived at Et- tingshall, England. He married, July 8, 1628, Fliza-

Y C

LIDT. .:

Felix S. Fontaine Phy

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beth Wilkes. He was buried December 19, 1681. under the name of "Old Edward Ilomer" of Et- tingshall. His wife Elizabeth was buried February 22, 1085. Their children were: Edward, baptized November 5. 1634, see forward; Thomas, baptized June 15, 1637, buried July 2, 1637; Simon, baptized March 10, 1639; Richard, baptized January 23, 1642. (II) Edward Homer, son of the preceding Ed- ward Homer (I), and probably great-grandson of Richard, named above, was born in Ettingshall and baptized there July 8, 1628. He married, July 16 1656, Anne Gibbins. She was buried May 12, 1675, and he married (second) Jane -. His children born at Ettingshall were: Joseph, died young, buried February 9, 1660; Anne, baptized January 7, 1661; Edward, baptized November 8, 1664, proba- bly died young; Captain John, baptized March 20, 1665, see forward; Edward, baptized February 9, 1668; Mary, buried July 25, 1672; Francis, baptized September II, 1673; Rebecca; Benjamin, baptized November 23, 1682, married Mary Palmer.

(III) Captain John Homer, the immigrant, son of the preceding Edward Homer (2), was baptized at Ettingshall, England, March 20, 1665. Ile ap- pears to have resigned his rights to the succession to a younger brother and was perhaps well paid for doing so, as he was owner of the vessel of which he was the captain. He came to New Eng- land to live about 1690. He settled at Yarmouth, though he lived in Boston for a time. He mar-

ried, July 13, 1693, Margery Stevens. He dicd

November 1, 1717, aged fifty-two years. She died at Yarmouth, 1762, aged ninety-six or ninety-eight years. The children of Captain John and Margery (Stevens) Homer were: John, born August 8, 1694, administrator of his father's estate; Mary, born 1696, died young; Benjamin, born May 8, 1698; see forward; William, born June 29, 1701 ; Michael, born September 26, 1703; Robert, born May 29, 1706, merchant in Honduras, Central Amer- ica, sent his sons to Boston to be educated; sold out his goods and started with part of his gold on one ship while his wife took the rest of it by another, but both were lost, probably victims of pirates ; Thomas, born 1707; Mary, born 1708.

(IV) Benjamin Homer, son of Captain John Homer (3), was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 8, 1698. He removed to Yarmouth and built a house, which is or was lately standing. He died at Yarmouth, October 24, 1776, aged seventy-eight years. He married Elizabeth Crowe or Crowell. daughter of John and Bethia (Sears) Crowell and granddaughter of John Crowell, one the three orig- inal grantees of Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Benja- min Homer was a prominent citizen, a magistrate and deputy to the general court. The children of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Crowell) Homer were: Bethia, born March 18, 1722, married Benjamin Cobbs, of Boston; John, born September 28, 1724. married September 28, 1749, Abigail Osborn, of Nan- tucket ; removed to Boston and became a ship owner and merchant, was one of the fifteen who organized the famous patriotic society-the Sons of Liberty- but later when the break came he remained loyal to England, and removed to Nova Scotia, where his descendants have been prominent; Margery, born June 13, 1727, married, January 3, 1765, William Sears, of Harwich ; William, born July 14, 1729, was a loyalist, removed to Barrington, Nova Scotia, and died on a voyage from Barbadoes to Boston ; Ben- jamin, born August 5, 1731, removed to Boston ; Stephen, born April 15, 1734, married Elizabeth Chapman, of Yarmouth; Thomas, see forward; Elizabeth, born November 18, 1738, married David Knowles, of Eastham; Robert, born January 28,

1742, married (first) Jerusha Sears, married (sec- ond) widow of John Thatcher.

(V) Thomas Homer, seventh child of Benja- min Homer (4), was born in Yarmouth, Massachu- setts, March 21, 1736. He settled there and prob- ably his children were born there. He married, November 21, 1765, Elizabeth Sears. One record states that he went to Vermont, but a deed in the Worcester county records shows that Thomas Homer, of Barnstable, bought a homestead at Rut- land, Massachuestts, of William Caldwell, of Rut- land, July 20, 1789. The land was south side of John Rice's meadow and there were other lots besides the home lot. He lived in Rutland about twenty years, and several generations have lived on the old homestead since his death. He died at Rutland, November 21, 1812, aged seventy-six years. His widow Elizabeth died August 19 or 20, 1819, aged seventy-two years. She was a lineal descendant of Richard Sears. (See the Sears family sketch in this work.) The will of Thomas Homer was made October 17, 1807, and filed November 24, 1812. It names the six children as given be- low and wife Elizabeth. He left the real estate to his three sons, Thomas, Benjamin and William. Thomas settled in Virgil, Cortland county, New York; Benjamin in Spofford, Onondaga county, and their shares in the property were purchased by William, who remained on the old homestead in Rutland, for one hundred and forty dollars. The deed is dated September 9, 1813. The children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Sears) Homer were: Mary, married Stewart; Bethiah, married Almond Coleman ; Desire, married Smith and had a son Francis, mentioned in the will of Thomas Homer, Sr .; Thomas, married Lydia Glazier, of New Braintree, in 1800 and they had: Edmund, born May 9, 1801; Benjamin, born March 8, 1804; Thomas Stacy, born July 1, 1802, and probably others after he removed to Virgil, Courtland county, New York; Benjamin, settled in Spofford, Onandaga county, New York; William, see forward.

(VI) William Homer, son of Thomas Homer (5), was born in Barnstable, in 1784, and came to Rutland when very young. He died at Rutland, March 3, 1841, aged fifty-seven years. He married Experience Reed, October 24, 1813. They had eleven children born in Rutland, viz : Lyman Homer, see forward; Cyrus, born December 2, 1816, married in 1849, Julia K. Lackey; he died July 24, 1881; Samuel Read, born July 22, 1818, died May 26, 1852; William Sears, born September 16, 1820, died September 5 or 6, 1847; Elizabeth, born January 16, 1822, married in 1842, Amos Hos- mer, of Sterling, she died July 2, 1905; George Washington, born January 16, 1824, married Elsie Holden Rogers, April, 1863, died May 10, 1899: Sophronia Relief, born March 11, 1826, married William Green, of Hubbardston, April 13, 1847; Amasa Craft, born July 30, 1828, married Myra Holden, of Rutland, and died February 4, 1906; Mary, born December 9, 1830, died October 14, 1901; she married Addison Green of Hubbardston; Eunice Phylinda, born September 20, 1833, died December 21, 1893; she married Theodore Cook, of Leominster; Sarah Eveline, born March 24, 1838, died May 9, 1897; she married Henry Cook, of Leominster, Massachusetts.

(VII) Lyman Homer, eldest child of William Homer (6), was born in Rutland, Massachusetts, March 13, 1814, and died in Worcester, August 6, 1879, aged sixty-five vears. He married Adeline Russell, April 29, 1840, at Rutland. The children of Lyman and Adeline (Russell ) Homer were : Agnes M., and Charles A., see forward.

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(VIII) Charles A. Homer, only son of Lyman Homer (7), of Rutland, was born in Rutland. He went to school in Rutland and Syracuse, New York, and attended Wilbraham Academy. After leaving school lie went to work in the store of Walter E. Forbes & Co., dealers in fancy goods, 204 Main street, Worcester. He learned the business thor- oughly and remained with this concern about eight years. He formed the firm of Homer & Freeman, which purchased the business of Rufus L. Smith, dealer in fancy goods, at ISo Main street, Wor- cester. After three years the partnership was dis- solved. Since 1889 he has been connected with the John C. MacInnes Company department store, first as one of the heads of departments and since the incorporation as a director and secretary of the company. Since his connection with this business it has become one of the largest and most prosper- ous stores of the kind in this section. The busi- hess was established by Mr. MacInnes in 1873 at

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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 95

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