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 36
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The birth of Frank Sumner Parmenter took place in Athol, October 26, 1849. His early edu- cation was acquired in the Athol public schools and he completed his studies at the Trenton (New Jersey) Academy. In 1867 he entered the employ of J. S. and F. C. Parmenter as a clerk, and three years later succeeded his uncle as a partner in that
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concern. After his father's retirement he was asso- ciated for a short time with C. A. Carruth. He subsequently conducted dry goods stores in Spring- field, St. Albans, Vermont. and Orange, this state. Returning to Athol he engaged in the clothing busi- ness as a member of the firm of Parmenter and Kendall, which continued in trade for four years, and at the expiration of that time he visited some of the western states. His next business venture was as dry goods merchant in Orange, where he had previously conducted a flourishing trade, and he re- mained there until 1897, since which time he has resided in Athol. Mr. Parmenter has evidenced his public spirit by contributing of his time and means in the establishment of various of the manufactur- ing interests of Athol. He was one of the origi- nal stockholders and directors of the Co-operative Bank of Athol. Mr. Parmenter is quite active in local civic affairs, having served as town auditor a number of years. He served two terms as chair- man of the Republican town committee and has been delegated to many of the party conventions. Being a man of advanced ideas, especially in religious mat- ters, he is deeply interested in "Christian Science," and is a leading spirit among the followers of that doctrine in Athol. He is a Free Mason of long standing and a member of the Eastern Star.
On August 26, 1873, Mr. Parmenter was joined in marriage with Miss Adele C. Ellis, daughter of Edwin Ellis. Mr. and Mrs. Parmenter have no children.
William Hale Parmenter, born July 29, 1855, re- ceived his initial schooling in Athol, entered Yale and subsequently attended Harvard Law school and was admitted to the bar. He entered upon practice of his profession in Boston, where after a short time he became interested in investment brokerage lines and entered into that business in a large way. He removed to New York city in 1891, where he continued in the same line of business for several years. In 1895, having tested by personal experi- ence the benefits of faith in Christian Science, he entered heartily and wholly into the practice of Christian Science and in that field of labor accom- plished much and marvelous good for his fellow- men. His sudden decease from apoplexy in De- cember, 1902, left a void in many hearts and de- prived the cause which he had espoused of a most enthusiastic and capable disciple, apostle and worker. He married Evelyn, daughter of F. B. Moore, shoe manufacturer of Lynn, Massachusetts. One child born of this marriage, Evelyn, married Harry E. Tolman, of the Tolman Printing Co., Brooklyn. One child of this marriage is Natalie Tolman.
REV. MICHAEL A. O'KANE, S. J. The peo- ple of Spencer may be justifiably proud of the honor and distinction which has been earned by Rev. Michael A. O'Kane, S. J., as the town may with propriety call him one of her sons, though the first three months of his existence were spent in a small township in county Clare, Ireland. The influences of heredity and careful parental train- ing were manifested in the life and character of this distinguished priest.
Michael O'Kane (or Kane, as the name is fre- quently abbreviated), was of the best type of Irish immigrant-industrious, frugal and honest. He came to America in the spring of 1849, and was one of the first of his nativity and religion to settle in Spencer. He immediately made prepara- tions for sending for his family, and they came in the following year, for at that time he pur- chased the property at the corner of Chestnut and Valley streets, which he has ever since continued to
be the home of members of the O'Kane family. His first employment was as a farm hand with Otis Howland, but he shortly changed this pursuit for a position in the finishing department of one of the woolen mills, and pursued this occupation until old age obliged him to resign active work. He was a shrewd man of business, and made con- siderable money by his excellent. investments in real estate. He was the first in that section to possess a piano, and the entire family had musical inclinations. He was noted for his charity, and gave ready welcome and assistance to all immi- grants from his native land, sheltering them until he had put them in the way of helping themselves. He died at his home in Spencer in 1877. He mar- ried Bridget Casey, born in ISIo, noted for her piety and her devotion to her faith and her family. She survived her husband until 1891. Their chil- dren were: Rev. Michael A .; Patrick; Sarah; John; Mary, married Hugh Kelly ; Bridget; Thomas; Richard Martin; and Eliza.
Rev. Michael A. O'Kane, eldest child of Michael and Bridget (Casey) O'Kane, was born in county Clare, Ireland, July 12, 1849. He was but three months old when his mother crossed the Atlantic with him. He acquired his preliminary education in the common and high schools of Spencer, and then entered Holy Cross College. He had always been studiously inclined, and early showed great aptitude for mathematics, in which he was a recog- nized authority in later years, when he acted in the capacity of teacher. The O'Kane household was the headquarters of the pioneer priests of that section, and young Michael may have drawn some of his inspiration from this source; at any rate he was, in early youth, one of the sanctuary boys in old St. Mary's Church. His father would have had him become a secular priest, for Michael early showed an inclination toward the church, but he had an ideal formed in his mind and would accept no financial aid towards his education, and helped himself through college largely by teaching. He left Holy Cross College in 1867 and joined the Society of Jesus, in which organization the mem- bers give up all title to things temporal and are devoted exclusively to the service of the Master- tasks that are by no means in the nature of a si- necure. He pursued his philosophical and theologi- cal studies at Woodstock College, Maryland, and spent nine years in this part of his education. He was sent to Georgetown College in 1876, to take the position of professor of classics, and remained there six years; during the next four years he was prefect of studies at Georgetown, and for two years vice-president. He was made rector and
master of novices at the novitiate at Fredericks- burg, Maryland, the home of the Jesuits. in August, 1887. This position he held for two years, and was then appointed president of Holy Cross College at Worcester. During Father O'Kane's administra- tion of four years great strides and a number of radical changes were made in the policy of this in- stitution. When he entered it the college had two hundred and fifty students; he saw the student roll grow to the number of three hundred, and the great addition which doubled the facilities and equipment of the institution was planned and begun.
Father O'Kane was and is a great lover of athletics, and as a result the fine baseball ground and grand stands at the west of the college were built and a magnificent gymnasium completed in the new buildings, including swimming tank. etc. These extensive additions and improvements to the college building had been completed when Father O'Kane was transferred to the arduous tasks of
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the Mission band, and the new structure of Holy Cross College is called the O'Kane Building. He joined this band in 1893, and has traveled through all parts of the United States, reviving dormant religion in the hearts of the Catholic people. The following year Father O'Kane was made leader of the band, with headquarters at Sixteenth street, New. York city. His influence in this work is tremendous. He held a mission in Ontario, Canada, not long ago, and the papers paid a magnificent tribute to him and his helpers, nine hundred men having taken the total abstinence pledge from him. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, the papers recently re- ported that, after one week's mission, four hundred and sixty people were confirmed and thirty con- verted. Father O'Kane has a deep, powerful voice, and a manner so honest, convincing, eloquent, fer- vent and spiritual, that he is recognized as one of the greatest powers in the church mission work of the present day.
The work at the Holy Cross College probably brought Father O'Kane more notoriety, and placed his talents before the public in a more prominent manner, but the work in which he is engaged at present is the greatest of his life, and seems to be achieved with apparently little effort. The work of a mission priest is constant and unremitting, day in and day out, with long hours and little time for rest or recreation. Father O'Kane, however, seems to have the equable temperament which makes light of all work, the mental power to understand, the in- centive to push forward, and the vitality to endure. This harmonious balance and combination enable him to accomplish an amount of work which would sap the strength of mind and body of the majority of men. In few words-he is a great, good and use- ful man.
MARK A. PUTNAM. The Putnam family in America was founded by John Putnam early in the colonial period, and the Worcester county branch was established by his grandson, Captain Benjamin Putnam, who went to Sutton as a pioneer. John Putnam, the immigrant, of Aston Abbotts, Buck- inghamshire, England, born about the year 1580, ar- rived in Massachusetts in 1634, and settled in Salem village, now Danvers. With him came his wife, whose maiden name was probably Priscilla Gould, and his three sons, Thomas, Nathaniel and John.
Nathaniel Putnam, second son of John, was bap- tized at Aston Abbotts, October 11, 1619, died in Salem village, July 23, 1700. He was a man of considerable prominence, serving as constable for some time, and in 1690-91 was a representative to the general court. His wife was before marriage Elizabeth Hutchinson, daughter of Richard and Alice Hutchinson.
Captain Benjamin Putnam, son of Nathaniel Putnam, was born in Salem village, December 24, 1664. As a young man he witnessed the exciting scenes enacted during the famous witchcraft delu- sion, and at least one of liis relatives, a young girl, was supposed to have been afflicted, but fortunately no serious consequences resulted therefrom. He ac- quired a tract of wild land in what afterward be- came the town of Sutton, and cleared from the wilderness a large farm, upon which he resided for the remainder of his life. IIe died in 1715. lle married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Putnam. To this branch of the family belonged General Israel Putnam, of revolutionary war fame, and the latter's cousin, General Rufus Putnam, who also distinguished himself in the war for independence both as an officer in the field and as an engineer, having erected the fortifications around Boston, and
those at West Point. He was for some time a resident of Rutland, and the house he occupied will be referred to at greater length presently.
The first of the Putnams to settle in Rutland was Archaelus Putnam, who went there from Sutton, and was the ancestor of Mark A. Putnam, whose name heads this sketch. Archaelus married Ruth Fuller, a native of Sutton. Sumner Putnam, Mark A. Putnam's grandfather, who was born in Rutland, married - Newton, of Sutton. Their son Daniel, Mark A. Putnam's father, who was also born in Rutland and is now residing in Shrewsbury, this county, married Louise Avery.
Mark A. Putnam was born in Rutland, January 8, 1872. He acquired his education in the public schools of Rutland and was reared to agricultural pursuits, in which he is now quite extensively cn- gaged. As his farm is especially well adapted to the pasturage of stock, he devotes much of his at- tention to dairy products, and in that branch of agriculture he has attained a mnost gratifying suc- cess. Although Mr. Putnam does not consider him- self a highly educated man in the literal meaning of that term, his natural intelligence enabled him to make good use of his educational opportunities, and having accumulated a good knowledge of the ordi- nary branches of study he has, on various occasions, acted as a substitute teacher at the county reform school in the absence of some of the regular in- structors. In politics he is a Republican ; has served as constable for two years, and is at the present time serving as local mail carrier. In his religious belief he is a Congregationalist, and in addition to being a trustee of that church acts as assistant superintendent of the Sunday school.
Mr. Putnam married, July 2, 1895, Mary Rockett, born in 1873, daughter of J. M. Rockett, of Hing- ham, Massachusetts. Of this union there are two children, namely: Avery W., born in 1896; and Walter C., horn in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam re- side at Rutland on a farm purchased in 1905 and now under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Putnam for some years occupied the historic General Rufus Putnam residence in Rutland, which aside from its antiquity and patriotic associations is of much interest to strangers, as within its walls is a veritable museum of valuable relics of by-gone days, consist- ing of spinning-wheels, hand-looms, clocks, swords, muskets, Indian bows and arrows, fireplaces, full sets of cooking utensils, high post bedsteads and other valuable furniture and implements. Upon the front of the house near the sun dial the Daughters of the American Revolution recently placed a hand- some bronze tablet, artistically designed and bearing the appropriate inscription :
Here from 1781 to 1788 dwelt Gen. Rufus Putnam soldier of the old French wars. Engineer of the works which compelled the British army to evacuate Boston, and the fortifications at West Point: founder and father of Ohio. In this house he planned and matured the scheme of the Ohio company, and from it issued the call for the convention which led to its organization. Over this threshold he went to lead the company which settled Marietta April 7. 1788 To him under God is owing that the great North West territory was dedicated forever to Freedom, Educaton and Religion, and that the United States of America is oot a great slave-holding empire.
BOWES FAMILY. William J. Bowes (1), father of an enterprising and prosperous family at Blackstone, Massachusetts, was born in Dublin, Ire-
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land, November 20, 1842, died at Blackstone, Massa- chusetts, March 18, 1900. At the age of fourteen years he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York in 1856. He went to Boston a few months later and finally located in Lawrence, Mas- sachusetts. His scanty opportunities for school in his native land were supplemented in the public schools of Lawrence. He started in his business career as an operative in the Pacific Cotton Mills and was in the employ of that corporation for two years. He worked in the finishing department of the Washington Mills at Lawrence and later in the factory of Methuen Woolen Company, where he re- mained for seven years. He became the superin- tendent of the factory of the Lawrence Felting Com- pany, was later advanced to the responsible posi- tion of agent and became a stockholder in the cor- poration. Some five years after he became a mem- ber of the company, a plant was erected at Millville in the town of Blackstone, Massachusetts, and in 1877 he removed to Millville and took charge of the mill. He remained the agent until 1893, when the plant was sold to the United States Rubber Com- pany, and under the new ownership he continued to manage the mills. The mill manufactures felt of all kinds. The raw material comes from Boston, New York and Philadelphia and the entire product of the mills is used by rubber companies for lining rubber boots.
Mr. Bowes was a director of the Woonsocket Rubber Company for fourteen years. In religion he was a Roman Catholic, an active member of St. Augustine's Parish in Millville. The church bell was his gift in memory of his parents and his wife's parents. He was always active in public affairs. In politics he was not a partisan, especially independent in town matters. He was town treas- urer, selectman, chairman of the committee on building the new alms-house, and also on the com- mittee to provide fire protection some years ago when the facilities were inadequate.
Mr. Bowes had one of the finest residences in the town, and as his sons married they have built resi- dences near their father's, making an interesting group of houses belonging to the family. The sons, who have succeeded their father in the business world, have established a high reputation for their tactful and generous treatment of employees. At the present time the felt mills employs several hundred hands and the little village is exceedingly prosperous.
Mr. Bowes married, in 1868, Elizabeth J. Kavan- augh, daughter of Michael Kavanaugh, a native of Ireland. She is a very capable and enterprising woman, held in the highest esteem by all who know her. Their children were: 1. Robert J., born 1871, married, October 27, 1897, Fanny J. Lanphere. 2. Annie F., born 1874, married John J. McGovern. 3. Mary C., born 1876, married T. T. Buckley. 4. Michael J., born 1878, married Annie Bousquet and they have one child, Francis Bowes. 5. William Joseph, Jr., born 1883. 6. Francis A., born 1884. died at age of fifteen. 7. Alphonsus L., adopted, resides in Fall River.
DANIEL W. TAFT, of Uxbridge, is a de- scendant in the seventh generation of Robert Taft. an early settler in Mendon, and the line of descent is through Robert (2). Israel (3), Jacob (4), Jacob (5) and Orsmus (6) Taft. The descendants of Robert the immigrant are numerous and widely distributed throughout New England and the western states. Many of them, however, are still to be found in Mendon, Uxbridge, Westboro and other Worcester county towns, and for further in- iii-9
formation relative to the early history of the fam- ilv the reader is referred to a sketch of Arthur R. Taft, which appears upon another page fo this work.
Jacob Taft, grandfather of Daniel, was in carly life engaged in farming in Mendon, his native town, but later turned his attention to manufacturing. His son Orsmus, Daniel W. Taft's father, was born in Mendon in 1795. In early manhood he identified himself with the manufacturing interests of Ux- bridge, and he resided there for the remainder of his life, which terminated in 1880. He married Margaret Smith and had a family of eleven chil- dren.
Daniel W. Taft was born in Uxbridge. July 26. 1833. His education, which was begun in the public schools, was concluded at the Worcester Academy, and he subsequently took a position as clerk in a dry-goods store in Worcester, remain- ing there' for five years. The succeeding ten years he devoted to the manufacture of woolen goods in Blackstone, this county, from whence he returned to Uxbridge as manager of a woolen mill, and he shortly afterward secured the control of that cstab- lishment, which he operated successfully on his own account for fourteen years. He was subse- quently for seventeen years engaged in the wool goods business in Boston. In 1901 he withdrew from active business pursuits, retiring to his pleasant home in Uxbridge. He is, however, actively con- cerned in the financial interests of Uxbridge, being a director of the local National Bank. He was formerly quite active in civic affairs, having served upon the board of selectmen, and in 1887 repre- sented Uxbridge in the lower branch of the state legislature.
In 1856 Mr. Taft was united in marriage with Henrietta Goulding. daughter of Eli Goulding, of Worcester. Mr. and Mrs. Taft had seven children, four of whom died in infancy, and the surviving children are: Jennie, widow of Henry Wheelock ; Martha, wife of Edward Clapp, having two chil- dren; and D. Wendell Taft, who married Mary Wilcox and has two children. The family attend the Unitarian Church.
ROBERT TAFT. This well-known Uxbridge business man is a son of the late Dadbridge E. Taft, and a descendant of Robert Taft, who immi- grated from Ireland about the year 1660, settling in Mendon in 1679 or So. Robert, who was ac- companied hy his five sons, built his house in the vicinity of Taft's pond (now Mendon pond).
Samuel Taft, great-grandfather of Robert Taft, the principal subject of this sketch, was a native of Uxbridge and a prosperous farmer of that town. For his first wife he married a Miss Mur- dock, and his second marriage was with Experience Hines.
Walter Taft, son of Samuel and Experience (Hines) Taft, and grandfather of Robert Taft. was born in Uxbridge in September, 1789. The active period of his life was devoted to agriculture and his death occurred in 1833. He was married in 1821 to Mrs. Mary (Taft) Lake, a daughter of Israel Taft, of Upton, Massachusetts, and the widow of Arby Lake. The children of this union were: Samuel, Arby L., Lucy C., Dadbridge E., Mary A., Harriet M. and Sarah A.
Dadbridge E. Taft, father of Robert Taft. was a life-long resident of Uxbridge, and like his an- cestors acquired a comfortable prosperity as a tiller of the soil. He was also engaged in the ice business. He was a man of strict integrity and en- joyed the good will of his fellow-townsmen. His
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wife was before marriage Abbie Whipple, also a native of Uxbridge. She became the mother of nine children.
Robert Taft was born at the family homestead in Uxbridge, May 9, 1875. After the completion of his studies, which were pursued in the public schools, he became associated with his father in the ice business. After his father's death he suc- ceeded to the business and subsequently admitted his brother .to partnership. He also deals quite extensively in coal and carries on a farm. In politics he is a Republican. His fraternal affilia- tions are with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He attends the Congregational Church.
In 1900 Mr. Taft was united in marriage with Mary E. Lovett, daughter of Samuel Lovett, of Uxbridge. Mr. and Mrs. Taft have had three chil- dren, namely: Robert, Jr., who died in infancy ; Pearl E. and Dora M.
GEORGE T. AITCHISON, for many years one of the leading and substantial business men of Worcester, Massachusetts, and an inventor and manufacturer of carriages, was born July 5, 1827, in Ossining, New York. He is a son of William H. and Harriet (Thwaits) Aitchison, and is a de- scendant of one of the oldest and leading families of Glasgow, Scotland, and Leeds, England, re- spectively. They emigrated to this county; set- tling in Ossining, New York, in 1824, where Will- iam Aitchison followed the occupation of merchant tailor, being very skillful and proficient in his trade. Their children were: Ann, born in England in 1818, now resides at Brooklyn, New York; John A., born in England in 1819, now lives in Ossining, New York; William H., born in London in 1821, died in Tarrytown. New York, February 18, 1905; Mar- tha L., born in England in 1824, died in Ossining about 1900; George T., of whom later; Abraham, born in Ossining in 1829; Harriet, born in Ossining in 1831; Alfred, born 1833, in Ossining, died there in 1855; Mary, born in Ossining in 1836, died in Vineland, New Jersey, about 1880. The parents of these children both died at the age of eighty-eight years.
George T. Aitchison obtained his education in the common schools of his native town, which he attended until he was fourteen years of age. He was then sent to Peru, Illinois, to become a civil engineer under Colonel Burnett, United States army, who surveyed the canal from Chicago, which was then but a small village with no railroads, to Peru. along the Illinois river. George T. Aitchison traveled most of the nine hundred miles journey by stage, being able to travel from New York to Amboy by boat, then on to Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, by rail. Young Mr. Aitchison remained in Illinois for some time, and while there won the respect and confidence of his employers, by the dili- gence and faithfulness with which he performed the duties allotted to him. After he returned east he was variously employed until about 1845, when he entered into an apprenticeship with a carriage and stage builder in Newark, New Jersey. His term of indenture was three years, and he received twenty-five dollars a year with board. After a few months service young Aitchison was given piece work, this kind of work being usually done by older and more experienced men. He was in- dustrious and energetic, and soon won the reputa- tion of doing more work than any man in the shop. When he was twenty-one years of age he came to Worcester. Massachusetts, and was employed in the shop of M. T. Breck, whose business was lo- cated on School street. Here he remained for
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