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. III > Part 105
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erward by terms in academies at Hancock, New Hampshire, and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. His at- tention was early turned to machinery, probably largely owing to his father owning a woolen mill in Winchendon. In the repair shop of the mill he learned to
Lise tools and acquired that mechanical skill that had much to do with his later success in life. When he was only ten years old he built a miniature saw mill, which was operated by a fall he made by damming up a small stream. Mr. Whitney's first business venture was the building of machinery for the manufacture of tubs and pails. He occupied a corner of his father's factory. In 1837 he built sixteen looms for weaving cashmere, and later built several steam jigs. Then in an old building that formerly stood at the rear of the present Whitney factory, he constructed a planing machine. Although not the first cylinder planing machine, it was certainly the first practical cylinder planer ever built, and it had many original devices invented by Mr. Whitney. The improve- ments that he introduced ensured the proper pres- sure and adjustment of the feed rolls, so that the clipping of the ends of the lumber planed-to this day a fruitful source of complaint with some styles of planers-was prevented. It was, of course, a crude machine compared with some that are being made at the present time in Mr. Whitney's concern, but it proved the foundation of the Whitney busi- ness in Winchendon. He was six weeks in build- ing it. He sold it in 1846 to Murdock & Fairbank, of Winchendon, and it was a success. Some of the new devices used in that planer are still used on every planer built at the present time by the Whit- ney works. He found a ready market, not only for his planers, but he was called upon to make other machinery used in the various wood-working indus- tries in Winchendon, Gardner, Fitchburg and the vicinity. He improved the old machinery and de- vised new. In 1857 he made his first scraping ma- chine for paring box rims and, as with the planer, introduced some devices that are still in use. About that time the Whitney Shaper and the Whitney Gauge Lathe were designed. The civil war gave his business a great impetus. Although many of his old hands enlisted, he was obliged to fill their places and increase his facilities to build machinery for making the stocks for muskets and rifles.
In 1867 Mr. Whitney exhibited at the Paris Ex- position a planing machine, a scraper, a gauge lathe and several other machines. He received a silver medal and sold all his machines, which it seems were used by the purchasers as samples, and he found himself competing with copies of his own machines at the Vienna Exposition subsequently. The improvements he had made in the meantime secured for him the prize, however, in 1873, at Vienna for progress. The Whitney machines were awarded a bronze medal at the Centennial Expo- sition at Philadelphia. The Whitney machines have not been exhibited at any of the International Ex- positions since 1876.
Mr. Whitney began work on the dam where the present works are located March 3, 1845, and it was completed before the end of the year. The foundry was in operation in August, the water wheel in the sliop started November 5, 1845, and on November 22d work began in carnest. The present buildings are very extensive. Mr. Whitney was progressive and enterprising in business. He supplied his men with the best tools and always tried to produce the best possible machines. Probably no man in the world has had a larger influence in the development of the wood working industry. The development of wood-working machinery in the past sixty years
has followed along the lines he laid out, and his firm has taken a prominent part in the invention and construction of new wood working machinery. Mr. Whitney began before the railroad was built. He has seen the growth of the business from small be- ginnings. As his distant cousin, Eli Whitney, with the cotton gin opened up new possibilities in man- ufacturing so Baxter D. Whitney's machines have promoted the development of the great wood work- ing industries of the United States. His machines have been used in the production of lumber in all parts of the country, and every house that is built owes some tribute to his achievements in the me- chanical arts.
For the past few years, owing to his age, Mr. Whitney has placed the active management of the concern in the bands of his son, William M. Whit- ney, who has been his partner for many years. Since May, 1900, he has withdrawn from active management, although he is usually at the works daily for a short time. He is a member of the First Unitarian Church of Winchendon, and has served as trustee and member of the executive com- mittee. He is a Republican in politics, a Protection- ist, and was a member of the state senate 1871-72. He is a member of the Home Market Club of Bos- ton, and of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
He married, March 1, 1846, Sarah Jane Whit- ney, born July 14, 1827, daughter of Richard and Eunice (Coggswell) Whitney, of Winchendon. Their children are: Baxter Emerson, born March 13, 1853, resides in Winchendon; Mary Matilda, April 23, 1860, married Elisha M. Whitney, Janu- ary 31, 1889, and they have two children: William Webster, born September 27, 1860. Emily, born November 21, 1894. William Milton, see forward. Emily Tyler, born July 6, 1868, died October 13, 1884.
( IX) William Milton Whitney, third child of Baxter Dodridge Whitney (8), was born in Win- chendon, Massachusetts, March 27, 1863. He attended the public and high schools of his native town. In 1880 he entered the Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology, in Boston. He graduated in 1884 with the de- gree of S. B. He made a specialty of mechanical en- gineering. From early manhood he has been asso- ciated with bis father in business, and even when in school spent vacations in the shops. The active management of the business bas been in his hands since 1900, and the growth and development of the plant in the past twenty years have been largely due to his efforts and ability. The works have been enlarged and plans are under consideration for still further increasing the capacity of the plant. No efforts have been spared on the part of Mr. Whitney or his father to make the factory a model plant in every respect. Among the more important of the present products of the works are: Single and double surface planing machines, wood scraping machines, barrel stave sawing machines, two spindle upright moulding or shaping machines, one back knife gauge lathe. Mr. Whitney shares with his father the credit for the success of this firm. He is a Republican in politics and has been a delegate to various state conventions, though he has no time to accept public offices. He has been a director of the First National Bank of Winchendon. He is a member of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and of the Alumni Association of the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology.
He married, May 9, 1894, Ada Macleod, born September 24, 1862, daughter of Wilford and Eliza (Johnson) Macleod, of Sussex, New Brunswick.
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Children of William Milton and Ada (Macleod) Whitney are: Charlotte (twin), born April 25, 1895; Pauline (twin), born April 25, 1895; Richard Baxter, July 22, 1896.
SIDNEY ELBRIDGE WHITE. It is exceed- ingly difficult to connect the American branches of the White family with the English tree, chiefly be- cause the family is so numerous in old England as well as New England. The family includes a great many distinguished men in both countries. The family had very prominent representatives at Plym- outh, where Peregrine White was the first child born in the colony, and in Massachusetts where a number of pioneers established their homes in the first years of the colonies.
(I) Benjamin White, the progenitor of Sidney Elbridge White, of Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born in England, 1754, and died in Holden, Massa- chusetts, September 24, 1819. When he was only seven years old, as he and a companion were play- ing about the docks of his native town, he was impressed and taken aboard a sailing vessel and kept in close confinement until the ship was well out to sea. He became the captain's cabin boy and in time a sailor before the mast. He followed the sea until nineteen years old. It is believed that he settled in America when he gave up his seafaring life. He was married in Grafton soon afterward, according to the family record, and his youngest son Stephen was born in the adjacent town of Sutton. He probably lived in the vicinity. He was a farmer. He married Esther born July 22, 1760, died March 24, 1850, and their children were: Esther, born November 7, 1781 ; James, December 30, 1783; Benjamin, Jr., July 17, 1780; William, June 4, 1789; Reuben, October 2, 1791; Joseph, April II, 1794: Oliver, January 9. 1796. died December 3, 1873; Thaddeus, April 19, 1799, died February 9, 1822; Stephen, September 8, 1803, at Sutton.
(11) Stephen White, youngest child of Benjamin White (I), was born in Sutton, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 8, 1803. He was educated in the common schools of the place, and at an early age, on ac- count of the death of his father, had to contribute to the support of the family. He went to Temple- ton, Massachusetts, and served his apprenticeship to a blacksmith. a trade that he followed with much success. He settled at Royalston and had a shop there. About 1828 he removed to the neighboring town of Winchendon, Massachusetts, and established a shop at the village of New Boston. He carried on a small farm also and remained in this place the remainder of his days. He died February 2, 1858. He was a quiet and useful citizen. He was active in the temperance movements of his day and a strong Whig in politics. He was a member of the Baptist church. He married, November, 1826, Harriet Smith, of Royalston, Massachusetts. She was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1804, January IO, died 1878, daughter of
Michael and Betsey ( Chubb) Smith. Michael en- listed in the Continental army during the revolu- tion and was never heard from. Children of Stephen and Harriet (Smith ) White were : Benjamin Michael, born November 24. 1827, see forward : Stephen Prentice, born December 22, 1828, married (first) Emeline Savage, of Maine: married (sec- ond) Lucinda Woodbury, of Winchendon, and by the second wife had: Emma, who married Collin McKenzie, of Royalston; Irving.
(111) Benjamin Michael White, eldest son of Stephen White (2), was born in Royalston, Massa. chusetts, November 24, 1827. When he was an in- fant the family removed to Winchendon, and he
grew up there and until he was eighteen years old attended the public schools of that town. While going to school and afterward, he worked at the blacksmith trade in his father's shop. He worked some also at farming in his youth for his father and for Rufus Bullock. In 1852 he entered the employ of Murdock & Fairbanks, at Winchendon Springs, manufacturers of tubs and pails. He was there for a year and a half, then with the Heywood Bros., of Gardner, in their saw mill at Templeton for a year. In 1856 he purchased a farm in Winchendon and carried it on for ten years. He also made bricks on his place. In 1865 he bought the Balcom farm, which he conducted for nine years, when he sold it and bought the Sibley mills, where he be- gan the manufacture of pails, a business that he carried on for about eleven years when his factory was destroyed by fire. In 1888 he purchased his present homestead on Elm street. He takes a lively interest in the town affairs, has served as highway surveyor for twelve years, as constable for nine years, as overseer of the poor, and was selectman in 1865. In politics he is a Prohibitionist and has attended as a delegate many of the party conven- tions. He is a member and officer of the Second Advent Church at New Boston.
He married, May 5, 1852, Ada P. Wyman, born December 13, 1828, daughter of Jonathan and Olive (Alger) Wyman, of Winchendon. Her father was a farmer. Their children were: Estelle, born No- vember 24, 1855, died December 5, 1858; Sidney El- bridge, see forward; Millard Walter, born October 16, 1859, married Jane L. Goodnow, of Winchendon ; now resides in Royalston, engaged in lumber busi- ness. Ardella Eva, born September 20, 1861, mar- ried John Gregory, of Winchendon, and they have three children: Leslie B., born November 24, 1884; Elliot 1., born August 23, 1886; George W., born December 19, 1889; Ida Eveline, born November 29, 1863, resides at home, unmarried.
(IV) Sidney Elbridge White, second child of Benjamin Michael White (3), was born at Winchen- don, August 2, 1857. He received his education in the public schools of his native town. ' At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of his father in the manufacture of pails and other wooden ware. He became foreman and remained in the business until the factory was burned in 1886. He then established himself as a contractor and builder. In 1892 he added the lumber business, although in a small way he had been dealing in lumber before that. His business has grown and prospered until he is reckoned among the leaders in the business and financial affairs of the community. Among the more important contracts that he has had are: The school building at the Baldwinsville Hospital; a large box factory for Morton Converse at his toy manufacturing plant; the large factory of E. Mur- dock & Company; the Winchendon Electric Light station. He has been a director of the Winchendon Co-operative Bank. He attends the Baptist church, and is a member of Manomonack Lodge, No. 121, Odd Fellows, of which he has been an officer; also of Watatic Tribe, No. 85, Red Men. He is a Re- publican and active in politics, having served on the Republican town committee.
He married, February 6, 1883, Sarah Addie Cut- ter. born December 2, 1860, daughter of John C. and Orilla (Pierce) Cutter, of Winchendon. Her father is a carpenter by trade. He enlisted Sep- tember 2, 1862, and was in the Ninth Army Corps under General Burnside; was in the battles of Vicks- burg, Fredericksburg and many engagements and skirmishes. The only child of Sidney Elbridge and Sarah Addie White is: Bertha Estella. born June
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9, 1884, married Harry H. Richards, of West Spring- field. Massachusetts. . They have two children : Ken- neth David, born January 30, 1902; Sidney Harry, born June 30, 1904.
THE PEIRCE FAMILY, of West Boylston, which is represented in this work by William Chaun- cey Peirce, was established there early in the eight- eenth century, and in addition to being prosperous tillers of the soil they have long been identified with the basket manufacturing industry. William Chauncey Peirce is a son of James Edward, grand- son of Levi, Jr., and great-grandson of Levi, Sr., who was a son of Josiah Peirce.
Levi Peirce, who was born in 1760 and died in 1833, married Persis Robinson, of Lexington, whose birth took place some years prior to the American revolution, and she preserved a vivid remembrance of the famous encounter of April 19, 1775. The children of Levi and Persis Peirce were : Levi, Jr., Ezra, Myron, Nancy, Josiah and two others, whose names are not at hand.
Levi Peirce, Jr., who was born in West Boyls- ton, October 14, 1794, and died there March 24, 1867, engaged in basket-making when a young man and followed it for the remainder of his active life in connection with farming. Aside from his promi- nence in developing the industrial resources of West Boylston, he participated actively in both civic and military affairs, serving as selectman and assessor, and as captain of the local company belonging to the state militia. Politically he was originally a Whig and later a Republican. In his religious be- lief he was a Unitarian. He married Mary Merriam. born in Sterling, this county, April 20, 1786, died December 21, 1841. Their children were: George Washington, born October 15, 1819; William, July 26, 1821; Marcia Ann, March 20, 1823; Mary, Jan- uary 16, 1825, died June 26, 1825; Henry, August 21, 1826; Jane, October 24. 1828; Adelia, February 18. 1831: Levi Merriam, June 21, 1832; and James Edward, December 20, 1834.
James Edward Peirce completed his education in Chicopee, Massachusetts, and having studied civil engineering followed that profession for a number of years. His chief occupation, however, was the manufacture of haskets, which he conducted on quite an extensive scale, and he was successful in that branch of industry. He was actively identified with the Republican party, by which he was chosen an assessor and a member of the board of selectmen and in these capacities he rendered excellent public service. His fraternal affiliations were with Boyls- ton Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a leading member of the Congregational church and for a number of years served on the parish com- mittee. James Edward Peirce died July 15, 1903. He married Eliza Lovell, daughter of Dr. Ephraim and Dorothy (Goodnow) Lovell, of West Boylston. She hecame the mother of eight children, namely : Elmer Ellsworth, born April 3, 1861, married Mary Baker, of Worcester: Mary Lovell, born June 19, 1862, wife of John Glover, of Shelton, Connecticut, and has one son, Raymond Lester; William Chauncey, see forward; Susan Augusta, born De- cember 28, 1866, deceased ; Helen Eliza, born August 30, 1869, now Mrs. Clarence Bush, of Los Angeles, California, having one son, Kenneth Miller; Irvin Edward, born May 23, 1872, married Ellen Bray, of Shelton, and has three children: Harold Lester, Granville and Mildred Eliza; Annie Ripley, born April 25, 1878, unmarried ; and Jessie Freeman, born August 9, 1881, unmarried.
William Chauncey Peirce was born in West Boylston, February 7, 1864. After concluding his
attendance at the public schools he acquired a knowl- edge of basket making, but he follows closely the footsteps of his ancestors and does not neglect the cultivation of the homestead farm. Occupying a convenient location on his estate is his workshop, wherein he manufactures substantial wood and coal baskets of large capacity and superior workmanship, which are used extensively in mills and factories throughout this commonwealth, and the business is both pleasant and lucrative. Mr. Peirce is unmar- ried, and his household affairs are under the care- ful supervision of his sister, Miss Annie R. Peirce. He is earnestly devoted to the moral and religious welfare of 'the community, and having united with the Congregational church is now atcing is its audit- or. Though not an aspirant for public office he lias nevertheless rendered his share of service to the town in various minor offices, and is at the present time serving as cattle inspector. In politics he is a Republican. For a number of years he was a member of the local grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
JOHN MILTON SMITH, of West Boylston, is a son of Stephen Hastings Smith, and a grand- son of John Smith, who was one of the early set- thers in that locality. His great-grandmother was Hepsin Stowe Smith, a native of southern Wor- cester county. John Smith, it is supposed, was born in Ashburnham, August II, 1773, died April 19, 1855. The major portion of his active life was spent in West Boylston, where he followed the trade of painter. He married (first), November 5, 1795, Annis Maynard, born April 21, 1771, who bore him three children, namely : John Prentice, horn August 31, 1796, died August 16, 1841; Polly, born December 1, 1798; Annis, born April 5, 1801. He married ( second), August II, 1803. Martha Hastings, who died August 11, 1862. Their chil- dren were: Stephen Hastings, born May 19, 1804, died December 20; 1807; Fidelia, died December 14. 1807: Fidelia 2d, born September 7, 1808; Mar- tha, born July 11, 1811; Lucy H., born September 21, 1813: Stephen Hastings 2d, born January 27, 1816, see forward: Ermina, born February II, 1819; Betsey A., born June 22, 1822; Sarah C., born March 26, 1824, died March 28, 1826. All of these children are now deceased.
Stephen Hastings Smith was born in West Boyls- ton, January 27, 1816. He was in early life a painter, but eventually engaged in farming at West Boylston and followed that occupation for the re- mainder of his life, which terminated June 17, 1801. As a Republican he took an active interest in civic affairs, and rendered valuable services as select- inan, assessor and overseer of the poor. He was particularly interested in developing the agricultural resources of his locality, and was a member of the. Patrons of Husbandry. In his religious belief he was a Congregationalist. He married. September 17. 1844, Adeline Parker, who died May 3. 1876. Their children are: Edna C., born October 9, 1852, and John Milton, see forward. He married for his second wife Abigail F. Keyes (nee Beaman) ; no issue to this union.
John Milton Smith was born in West Boylston, September 3, 1856. His boyhood and youth were spent in attending the public schools and making himself useful upon the homestead farm. When ready to begin the activities of life he decided upon agriculture as a permanent occupation, and has ever since followed it with success. Like his father he is prominently identified with local civic affairs, and has served with ability as a member of the. board of assessors and as overseer of the poor. In politics he is a Republican. His fraternal affilia-
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tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and at the present time he is occupying one of the important chairs of Centennial Lodge, No. 178, of West Boylston. He attends the Congrega- tional church.
Mr. Smith married, January 17, 1882, Fannie Augusta Keyes, daughter of Ezra and Abigail ( Beaman) Keyes, of Princeton, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Chester Milton, born July 25. 1884; and Myrtis Florella, born Feb- ruary II, 1891.
VERNON PROUTY, a life-long resident of the town of Spencer, was born June 7. 1834, a son of John N. and Melinda (Luther) Prouty. natives of Spencer. the former a farmer by occupation, and the latter a daughter of Thomas Luther, and grand- son of Thomas Prouty, also of Spencer. John N. and Melinda (Luther) Prouty were the parents of six children, as follows: Thomas A., Melinda A., Theodore C., John. Isaac L., and Vernon Prouty.
The common schools of Spencer and the Leices- ter Academy afforded Vernon Prouty the means of obtaining a practical. English education which thor- oughly qualified him for an active business career. He was reared as a farmer and has continued in this occupation up to the present time (1905), his operations being conducted on the same farm as were those of his father and grandfather, and the house he resides in has sheltered three genera- tions of the same name. Mr. Prouty possesses in a marked degree the qualities that are a guarantee of success-prudence, good management, and sound judgment-and by the exercise of the same has achieved prosperity. He merits and receives the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and his influence is felt on the side of reform, improvement and progress. He is a member of the Congregational church. and his political affiliations are with the Republican party.
GEORGE W. MACKINTIRE. Philip Mackin- tire (1) was the first ancestor of George W. Mack- intire, of Worcester. to make his home in America. He settled at Reading, Massachusetts, about 1651. A family tradition relates that he was the son of Ebenezer Mackintire, of Argyle, in the Highlands of Scotland. and that Philip Mackintire was one of a large number of prisoners sent to this country after the battle of Dunbarton: September 3. 1650. or Worcester, September 3, 1651. Philip Mackin- tire's name was variously spelled and his descend- ants differ widely in the spelling. He had six chil- dren horn at Reading. perhaps more. His farm was in the north precinct. His children were: Philip. born 1666: Thomas. born and died 1668; Daniel, born 1669: Mary, born 1672: John, born 1679: David, born 1688.
( 11) Daniel Mackintire, son of Philip Mackin- tire, was born at Reading. Massachusetts, 1669. The names of the children have not been found re- corded.
(III) Jonathan Mackintire, believed to be the son of Daniel Mackintire (2), grandson of Philip Mackintire (1), was born at Reading ( ?), Massa- chusetts. March. 1718, and died August 18. 1810. He married -. His children were: Deborah. born 1758: Mehitable, born 1761. died 1790; Joseph. born 1763. died 1813: Adah. born 1766.
(IV) Joseph Mackintire, son of Jonathan Mack- intire (3). born 1763. died 1813. He married Sarah Whittredge. They settled in Burlington, Massa- chusetts. Their children were: Daniel, born 1790, died 1852: George, born 1792, died 1851 : Sarah. born 1793. died 1793: Joseph, born 1794, died 1821: Eliab
Parker, born 1797, died 1864; Charles, born 1799; Jesse, born 1801, died 1801.
(V) Eliab Parker Mackintire, son of Joseph Mackintire (4), of Burlington, Massachusetts, was born at Burlington, August 31. 1797, and died in Charlestown, Massachusetts, February 3, 1864. He married, February 20, 1822, Mary Tufts, born May 4. 1797, died December 20, 1860. He resided in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where he was deacon of the Winthrop church. He founded the firm, still doing business in Boston, of Mackintire, Lawrie & Co., commission merchants in linens and damasks with connections in Dundee, Scotland. Their chil- dren were: Mary Ann, born December 25, 1824, died 1893: George Eliab, born 1833.
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