Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. III, Part 58

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772

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 58

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(IX) Joseph Peirce Johnson, son of Captain Nathaniel Johnson, mentioned above, was born Au- gust 25, 1834. He enlisted in Company C, Fifteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, in the spring of 1861, at the beginning of the war. At the battle of Antietam, as orderly sergeant, he became the commanding officer of his company, on account of the deaths or disabilities of his superior officers. He made a gallant stand with his men. In his eager- ness to hold their position, he kept reiterating the order: "Close up, boys; don't let them push us back," and in his delirium died with these words on his lips. He was wounded September 17, 1862, and died October 4, 1862, at Mt. Pleasant Hospital, Washington. His embalmed body was brought home by the town and buried with the highest mili- tary and civic honors in Howard Street cemetery, Northborough. Funeral services were held in the old Unitarian Church, October 9, 1862. Post Joe Johnson, Grand Army of the Republic, North- borough, Massachusetts, was named for him, also W. R. Corps of the same town. He was called "Little Joe," by his friends. "Small in stature he had a great heart, a noble, manly, fearless spirit."

MOSES C. GOODNOW, of Princeton, son of William B. and Susan (Cheever) Goodnow, is a de- scendant in direct line of Thomas Goodnow (2), the ancestor of Edward Goodnow, who, accompanied by his wife, came to Princeton from Sudbury dur- ing the last century, and they were the parents of Edward Goodnow, whose wife, Rebecca ( Beaman) Goodnow, was born in Princeton, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-seven years. In the prim- itive days of her girlhood it was the custom of the girls of her neighborhood to fetch the Princeton letters from Worcester, their nearest postoffice, and

Rebecca took her turn with others. Alone, on horse- back, guided only by "blazed" trees through the "forest primeval," the intrepid maiden often inade her way in the performance of this service. Among the children born to Edward and Rebecca (Bea- man) Goodnow was a son, William B. Goodnow, Sr.

William B. Goodnow was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, August 14, 1816, in the house built by his grandfather in 1786. Large, roomy, with stately elms in front and standing on the highway from Boston to Deerfield and "the back towns," it was well suited and situated for a tavern, and as such the father of William B. opened it to the pub- lic about the year 1823. By the wayside swung the sign bearing the inscription, "E. Goodwin, Inn." The fine old house, which for many years was the residence of William B. Goodnow, is still in a state of excellent preservation and bids fair to outlast the second century on which it has already en- tered. When thirteen years of age William B. Goodnow went to Boston to clerk in a store, and served in that capacity between seven and eight years. He then went to Hubbardston, opened a general store, successfully conducted the same for a period of almost eight years, and then disposed of it and located in New York. The first ten years of his residence there he traveled on the road, after which he took charge of a store in New York city and con- ducted the same for five years. At the expiration of this period he returned to Princeton, having in the meantime purchased the home farm in company with his two brothers, and he managed the prop- erty until his death, March 27, 1904. He took an active interest in politics, served in the state legis- lature one term, and for several terms was the in- cumbent of town offices. During his early years he was a Whig, later a Republican, and at the time of his decease a Prohibitionist. About the year 1815 he was united in marriage to Susan Cheever, born about 1818, in Princeton, died 1898, daughter of Moses and Rhoda (Wheeler) Cheever, and the issue of this union was one son, Moses C. Goodnow.

Moses C. Goodnow was born in Hubbardston, Worcester county, Massachusetts, June 20, 1846. He was cducated at Lester Academy and East Hampton, and his active business career has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, his operations being conducted on a fine farm; the management of hotels, being the proprietor of a large summer hotel in Princeton; and the insurance business, which is both extensive and remunerative. In 1890 he was elected a member of the state legislature, for three decades served as town treasurer and collector, and for a number of years was a member of the school committee, in all of which positions he merited and received the ap- probation of his constituents. He has been a mein- ber of the State Republican committee, chairman of the Republican town committee, and now holds membership in the Republican Club of Massachu- setts, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a trustee of the Goodnow Memorial Library, which was founded by his uncle, Edward A. Good- ·now.

In 1879 Mr. Goodnow married Nellie S. Whit- taker, born in Princeton, Massachusetts, 1850, daugh- ter of Charles A. and Abbie (Gleason) Whittaker. Their children are: Bertha S., a graduate of the Oread Institute of Worcester; Edward H., a gradu- ate of the Worcester Technical Institute; Helen E., and William H. Goodnow.

KEITH FAMILY. The Keith Family is one of the most ancient and distinguished of Scotland. The first of the name was Robert, a chieftain of the tribe of Catti, from which the name Keith is derived. At

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the battle of Panbridge in 1006 he slew Camus, general of Davies. King Malcolm dipped his fingers in the blood of Camus and drew pales on the top of Robert's shield. These pales are still retained in the family armor, viz. : argent, on a chief, three pallets or gules. The crest is: On a wreath, a stag's head erased proper and attired with ten tynes. The family motto is Veritas Vincit. (Truth prevails). In 1010 Robert Keith became the hered- itary marischal or Scotland, having the Barony of East Lothian, which was called Keith Marischal af- ter his own name.

(1) Rev. James Keith, the immigrant encestor of Dr. Halbert Lynn Keith, of Milford, Massachu- setts, was born in Scotland in 1643. He died at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, July 23, 1719, aged seventy-six year. He was the first settled minister in the town of Bridgewater. He received his education in Aberdeen, in Scotland, and came to America in 1662, when he was about eighteen years of age. He was ordained in February, 1664, prob- ably just about the time he came of age. His first sermon was preached in the pasture near the river.

He married Susannah Edson, daughter of Dea- con Samuel Edson. She died October 16, 1705, aged sixty-five years. He married (second) Mary Wil- liams. widow of Thomas Williams, of Taunton, Massachusetts. She died after 1719. Children of Rev. James and Susannah Keith were: James, Jr., born December 5, 1669, ancestor of the Mendon family; Joseph, February 4, 1675, married Elizabeth Fobes, daughter of Deacon Edward Fobes; Samuel, born 1677, married Bethia Fobes; Timothy, born 1683, married Hannah Fobes; John, born 1688, of whom later; Josiah, married Mary Lathrop, daugh- ter of Samuel Lathrop; Margaret, married

Hunt ; Mary, married Ephraim Howard; Susannah, married Major Jonathan Howard.

Rev. Mr. Keith was introduced to the people of Bridgewater by Dr. Increase Mather, to whom he brought letters of introduction from home. He was referred to in the recommendation to the church "as a student of divinity having some com- petent time improved his gifts among them in the work of the ministry and having also due approba- tion by the Reverend Elders of other Churches of Christ to whom he was known." He was granted a double house lot with a house and one fifty-sixth part of the proprietors' rights. His house is now or was lately owned by George M. Pratt, of West Bridgewater, and is situated on the north side of River street, near its junction with Forest street ; it was built in 1662, enlarged in 1678 and remodeled in 1878.

(II) John Keith, son of Rev. James Keith (I), was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, in 1688. He settled in Bridgewater. He married Hannah Washburn, daughter of Samuel Washburn, in 1711. Their children were: John, born 1712; James, 1716; Israel, of whom later; Hannah, 1721, married, 1740, Benjamin Leach, Jr .; Keziah, 1723, married, 1744, Arthur Bennett; Daniel, 1725; Susanna, 1727; Zep- haniah, 1730; Joseph; Mary, married, 1761, Solo- mon Pratt.

(111) Israel Keith, son of John Keith (2), was born in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 1719. He settled in Bridgewater also. He married Betty Chandler, daughter of Jonathan Chandler, 1741. He died before 1749, when she married (second) Joseph Harvey, 3d. Children of Israel and Betty Keith were: Chandler, Israel, Jr., of whom later.

(IV) Israel Keith, son of Israel Keith (3), was horn in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 1744. He was a soldier in the revolution, a corporal in Captain Nathan Mitchell's company of Minute Men April

19, 1775, on the Lexington alarm. He was in Cap- tain James Allen's company, General John Thomas' regiment later that year, and sergeant in Captain Abram Washburn's company, Colonel Edward Mitchell's regiment, in 1776. He was aide-de-camp and deputy adjutant general to General Heath in 1777-78, with rank of major January, 1777, and lieutenant-colonel November 2, 1777. He removed to Pomfret, Connecticut, and thence to Pomfret, Vermont. Other settlers from the same locality settled the adjoining town of Bridgewater, Vermont. Another branch of the Bridgewater Keiths settled in Barre, Vermont. Israel Keith married, 1767, Abigail Leonard. £ Among their children were: John, of whom later; Jephtha.

(V) John Keith son of Israel Keith (4), and grandfather of Dr. Keith, of Milford, was born about 1770, probably at Bridgewater. He was a young child when his father moved to Vermont. When the pioneers made their journey from the Connecticut town they blazed their way, and when the adjacent town of Royalton was burned by the Indians, Israel Keith thought it best to send his two sons back to Connecticut. They followed the trail accompanied by their dog, by aid of the blazed trees. They were kindly received in the settlements along the way and arrived at their old home in Pomfret in safety. Later the two boys returned to Vermont. John became owner of large tracts of land there. He was commissioned lieutenant of militia by Gov- ernor William Chatterton, of Vermont, May 6, 1794, in the Second Company, Third Regiment and Third Brigade, and was made captain of his company May 2, 1797. Captain Keith was a Methodist in religion, later becoming a Universalist, buying a pew in the Broad Brook Union Society Church, for which he paid $23.13 to the society.

He married Mary ( Polly) Lamb. Their children were: Vergene, Ira, Cyrus Alonzo, of whom later ; John, Thankful, Ziltha, Lucy, Mary ( Polly).

(VI) Cyrus Alonzo Keith, son of John Keith (5), was born at Pomfret, Vermont, March 26, 1811, and received the usual common school education there. He started teaching school in Pomfret in the winter terms. He also taught at Chatham, Massa- chusetts, and he continued to teach and study for about nineteen years. Then he took up the trade of wheelwright, which he followed for a number of years. He was a local preacher of the Methodist denomination in several Vermont towns. Later in life he was a Spiritualist in religion. He finally re- turned to his father's farm and carried it on until his father's death, and afterward, when the farm became his, until his own death in 1883. In politics he was a Republican and served on the school board of Pomfret for many years. He was a member of the state militia while living in Pomfret when a young man.

He married, June 18, 1839, at Pomfret, Vermont, Lucy M. Allen, who was born June 18, 1821, daugh- ter of Gilbert D. and Lucy ( Winchell) Allen. Her father was merchant and trader. Children of Cyrus Alonzo and Lucy M. Keith were: Josephine Nar- cissa, died young; Josephine .Narcissa, born Janu- ary 6, 1844; Evangeline Louisa, May 20, 1854, mar- ried Fred I. Graves, of East Barnett, Vermont, and had a daughter, Maud Evangeline, born September 5, 1878, died 1892; Halbert Lynn, of whom later ; Avis Muna, October 16, 1864.

(VII) Dr. Halbert Lynn Keith, son of Cyrus Alonzo Keith (6), was born at Pomfret, Vermont, April 7, 1860. He was educated there in the com- mon schools and at the Randolph (Vermont) State Normal school, where he was graduated after three years of study in 1878. He took up the study of

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medicine in the University of Vermont, receiving his degree of M. D. there in 1885. He made a specialty of physical diagnosis and pathology from the age of sixteen to a year after he graduated from the medical school he also taught school in various places. In 1886 he removed to West Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, where he practiced his profession for two years. He located at Upton, Massachusetts, in 1888, and remained there in gen- eral practice for three years. For several years he gave up his practice to accept a position with the Horlick Malted Milk Co. as salesman, remaining

for three years. He then returned to his native town on account of illness and remained there sev- eral years, until he recovered fully. In 1899 he removed to Milford, Massachusetts, where he re- sumed the practice of medicine with an office at 255 Main street, where he is located at present. Dr. Keith attends the Universalist Church. He is a Re- publican. He belongs to Milford Lodge, Odd Fel- lows. He is a member of the Thurber Medical, the Massachusetts State Medical Society, the Ameri- can Medical Association and was formerly a member of the New York State Medical Society. He is on the medical staff and board of managers of the Mil- ford General Hospital.

He married (first), October, 1888, Florence (Grow) Boyden, daughter of George Grow, of East Randolph, Vermont. Her father was a farmer. He married (second), June II, 1902, Alice G. Clapp (Williamson), born June 24, 1869, daughter of Al- bert and Mary Elizabeth (Dickman) Clapp. They have had no children.

EDWIN C. A. BECKER, son of John P. and Eva K. Becker, was born in Peoria, Illinois, April 30, 1855. He received his early education in the public schools of his native city, and at the age of fourteen entered the Peoria high school. Two years later he went to work on a farm in the country and followed agriculture for three years. Returning to his native city, convinced of the im- portance of a commercial education such as at that time was not given in the public schools, he en- tered Cole's Business College of Peoria, known as the Peoria Bryant & Stratton Business College, graduating from both business and telegraph de- partments. At that time stenography was not taught in the business schools. He proved so apt a pupil that he was engaged as a teacher and, shortly after- ward, was put in charge of the school during the temporary absence of the principal on a vacation. Mr. Becker remained as teacher in this institution until his marriage. Then he bought a school at Rockford, Illinois, known as the Rockford Business College, and conducted it profitably and success- fully for five years. under the name of Becker's Business College. He was also principal and pro- prietor of the Freeport Business College, conduct- ing it as a branch of Becker's Business College, and at the same time he established a thriving branch school in the city of Elgin, Illinois. He sold out on account of ill health and spent a season in the country. When he recovered he conducted a school at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, for two years and then went to Worcester, Massachusetts, to take charge of the business department of Hinman College. a position he filled with conspicuous ability and suc- cess for five years.

In 1888 Mr. Becker established in Worcester the business college that bears his name. His first location was in the Clark building, 492 Main street, in one small room. From year to year the attend- ance of the school has increased and its facilities have been extended until six times the original

space is used. The present average is over two hundred students. Practically all the graduates of this school have found and filled good positions, many of them being in the counting rooms of Wor- cester manufacturing and mercantile establishments. The graduates of the school have been especially successful in the civil service examinations. The stenographers educated in Becker's College take high rank in the business world. The college has its own printing plant, and the plant and equipment are excelled by none in New England. Good judges say that the courses are well selected, the text books of the best, and the accommodations and comforts for the pupils exceptionally good. Mr. Becker is a member of the Worcester Board of Trade and the Worcester Economic club. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

WILLIAM E. HAYWARD, prominently identi- fied with the industrial and commercial interests of Uxbridge, Worcester county, Massachusetts, who has filled many offices of trust and responsibility in the county, is a representative of an old and honored family of this town. The Hayward family of Uxbridge is one of the most prominent families in that town, coming there from Braintree, by way of Mendon. . Its original ancestor in America came from England at an early date and settled in Brain- tree. William E. Hayward is a woolen manufac- turer, and an ex-member of the Massachusetts legislature, in which he served with ability on the committee on banks and banking.

(I) Caleb Hayward, grandfather of William E. Hayward, was born in Braintree prior to the revo- lutionary war. He married Deborah White, and among his children were Caleb, who was educated for the law, practicing in Mendon, Massachusetts, in the office of William S. Hastings; and Ebenezer W., see forward. Dr. George Hayward, uncle of Caleb, Jr., became a prominent physician in Boston, Massa- chusetts, and the well-known thoroughfare called Hayward Place was named in his honor.

(II) Ebenezer W. Hayward, son of Caleb (I) and Deborah (White) Hayward, was born at Braintree, 1798. In his youth he went to Boston, where he learned the dry goods business, and. as a young man, he engaged in that line of trade upon his own account. He was not long, however, in discovering the field of operation wherein his abili- ties could find their proper scope of development, that of finance, and turning his attention exclus- ively to banking, he became officially connected with the local bank of discount in Mendon, which was then operating under the old state banking system. He went to Uxbridge in 1836, as chief official of the state bank in that town, and continued to direct the affairs of that institution for the re- mainder of his life, a period of thirty-eight years. During his connection with the Uxbridge Bank it was, in common with all other financial institu- tions of its kind, transformed from the old regime to the national bank system of the present day, and his entire administration of its affairs was highly commendable, both as to ability and integrity. He was an influential factor in the business interests of Uxbridge and its vicinity, and is remembered by his surviving business contemporaries for his earnest endeavors to promote the welfare and de- velopment of that locality. In his religious belief, as in all other matters, he took an optimistic view, and was a prominent member of the Unitarian Church. His death occurred in 1875.

He married Susan H. Burbeck, a member of the highly respected family of Boston of that name. She was a daughter of Thomas Burbeck, and grand-

= 1 UN F UBLIC LIBRARY

ECCO aBecker

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hom & Hayward

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daughter of Colonel William Burbeck, who com- manded the garrison at Fort Warren, Boston. Bri- gadier General Henry Burbeck, aide to General Washington, son of Colonel William Burbeck, com- manded the garrison at Fort Trumbull, New Lon- don, Connecticut. Ebenezer W. and Susan H. (Burbeck) Hayward had six children, four of whom are now (1906) living: Ebenezer B., of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere in this work; Ellen M., married Rev. Charles B. Ferry, late of North- ampton, Massachusetts, now residing in Newton, in the same state; William E., of whom later; Lucinda S., residing in Uxbridge.

(III) William E. Hayward, son of Ebenezer W. and Susan H. (Burbeck) Hayward, was born in Mendon. July 19, 1839. After being graduated from the Uxbridge high school, he accepted a clerkship in the Blackstone Bank, which he retained for eight years and at the end of that time was attracted to the woolen manufacturing business. Securing an interest in the Capron Woolen Mills, Uxbridge, he was for the succeeding thirteen years connected with that establishment as a member of the firm of Capron & Hayward, whose products-chiefly satincts-acquired a high reputation in the textile markets. For the next twelve years he was a mem- ber of the firm of Hayward, Taft & Company, operating a mill in Proctorsville, Vermont, devoted to the production of woolen goods for men's wear, selling his interest to his partners at the expiration of that period of time, and retiring from the firm. In association with Moses Taft he conducted a woolen mill at East Douglas, Worcester county. until 1890, when he purchased the interest of his partner and was thereafter associated with W. S. Schuster under the firm name of W. E. Hayward & Company, this partnership being now in cxistence. Mr. Hayward is now residing at his beautiful home in Uxbridge, ostensibly retired from active busi- ness pursuits, yet retaining his official connection with a number of important enterprises. He is president of the Blackstone National Bank, vice- president of the Uxbridge Savings Bank, president of the Schuster Woolen Company, president of the Charles River Woolen Company, North Belling- ham, president of the Stanley Woolen Company, Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and is interested in the Forestdale Manufacturing Company, Forestdale,

Rhode Island. Politically lie is a Republican, and in addition to serving on the sinking fund com- mission for the town of Uxbridge, he was a mem- ber of the house of representatives in 1892. His religious affiliations are with the Unitarians.

He married (first). 1864, Susan H. Taft, daugh- ter of Moses and Sylvia (Wheelock) Taft. She died in 1878, leaving three children: Harry T., of whom later; Sylvia W., born November 28, 1870, wife of Wendell Williams: and Mary B., born February 10, 1872, wife of Herbert Sayles, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. He mar- ried (second), June, 1879, Dora Lovett, daughter of Samuel P. and Sarah (Knapp) Lovett, whose death occurred in January, 1883. She left one child : William L., born. December 25, 1882. He married (third). 1886, Elizabeth C. Capen, of Stoughton, Massachusetts. daughter of Avery and Nancy (Churchill) Capen.

(IV) HARRY T. HAYWARD. eldest child and only son of William E. (3) and Susan H. (Taft) Hayward, was born September 18. 1868. He was educated in the public schools of Uxbridge, and commenced his business career in the office of the woolen mills at Douglas operated by his father. He remained there till 1892, having acquired a practical knowledge of the business. He then

bought and commenced to operate on his own ac- count the Charles J. Mckenzie Mill at Franklin, Massachusetts. His success was such that in a short time he enlarged the mill to three times its original size. A little later he was one of the organizers and principal stockholders in the Charles River Woolen Company, which purchased from the American Woolen Company the North Bellingham Mills, which it has since operated, Mr. Hayward being the treasurer of the corporation since its organization. He was one of the prime movers in the building of the large woolen mills at East Douglas, owned and operated by the Schuster Woolen Company, of which company he is the vice-president and one of the largest stockholders. He is president of the Forestdale, Manufacturing Company, owning and operating large cotton mills at Forestdale, Rhode Island. He is a director in the Franklin National Bank and also in the Black- stone National Bank at Uxbridge, Massachusetts, and is a trustee of the Benjamin Franklin Savings Bank of Franklin. In politics he is a Republican, but has never held public office. He is a man of enterprise and of marked executive ability.

He married. January II, 1905, Edith C. Wires, born June 14, 1872, daughter of Ephraim L. and Mary (Fitch) Wires, and they have one child, Mary Elizabeth, born February 28, 1906.

LYSANDER GROW. John Grow (1), the immigrant ancestor of the late Lysander Grow, of Milford, Massachusetts, was doubtless born in Eng- land. The name on the early records is sometimes spelled Grove and Groves. He settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. In 1669 he stated his age as twenty- seven years, indicating that the year of his birth was 1642. He married, December 15. 1669, Hannah Lord, daughter of Robert Lord. Their children were: I. John, Jr., born December 3, 1670, died young. 2. Samuel, see forward. 3. John, Jr., born December 16, 1673. 4. Joseph, born September, 1677. 5. Nathaniel, born September 17, 1683. 7. Thomas, born October 20, 1685. 8. William, born Novem- ber 22, 1690, died January 9, 1727.

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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. III, Part 58

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 772

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 772