Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 109

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710

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. IV > Part 109

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

406

WORCESTER COUNTY

Harvard in 1824; Nathaniel, see forward; Abigail, born October 1, 1812, died October 10, 1834.

(VII) Nathaniel Thayer, seventh child and youngest son of Rev. Nathaniel Thayer (6), was born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, September II, ISOS. Raised in the country parsonage where frugality was a necessary law, he won the highest prizes in the mercantile world, and at the time of his death was the wealthiest citizen of Massa- chusetts. He began with a noble inheritance of character and example. He was educated at the Lancaster Academy. Although he never went to college, he had the benefit of the best teachers of his day, Jared Sparks, Solomon P. Miles and George B. Emerson having been among his instructors. He was a healthy and happy boy, acquainted with farm work, and fond of the woods and nature. Lan- caster has always been distinguished for the culture and refinement of her people. As a boy he had the unusual advantage of meeting on terms of intimacy at the parsonage not only his own teachers, but the brightest and most learned men of the country, who were guests there. A youthful listener and observer could not help learning from the conversation and example the opinions and manners of his father's guests. Indeed, the friends of Mr. Thayer all through life were impressed by the signs that though the tenor and occupation of his business activity drew him away from the pursuits of literature and science, he was ever an intelligent and appreciative companion of the foremost and most accomplished masters in those pursuits. His munificent patron- age of literary and scientific men later in life made him essentially a fellow of them. After leaving school he entered upon mercantile life in Boston. His brother, John Eliot Thayer, was already estab- lished in business, and Nathaniel began as a clerk, but at the age of twenty-six was taken into partner- ship by his brother, in 1834. The firm name was John E. Thayer and Brother, bankers and brokers. Their business, already highly prosperous when the younger brother joined the firm, grew and ex- tended very rapidly. The firm was dissolved in 1857 by the death of the senior partner, and the business was continued by the junior. The acquisi- tions of the firm at this time were large for the date and the then existing state of the business world. Both brothers had as capital in their busi- ness integrity and capacity. To these qualities, helped by signally favorably opportunities judi- ciously improved, they were indebted for a wonderful success such as is gained only by the few. Large as was the wealth of the firm at the time the senior partner died, it was small compared with that gathered by Nathaniel afterwards during the rapid development of the material interests of the coun- try. As his wealth increased, Mr. Thayer recognized the responsibilities of his position, and, determining to leave to his heirs the means of imitating his own generosity, instead of so distributing his property as to lead them to feel that he had relieved them of such duty, he preferred to give it in his lifetime and enjoy the sight of his good works. He was always generous, fully in accordance with his means. The extent of his giving was never known, never estimated in figures.

His benefactions to Harvard College are perhaps the best known of his gifts. He was a fellow of the corporation, elected in 1868, an exceptional honor to be conferred on one not a graduate. But Mr. Thayer had proved in many ways his interest in the college, its objects, its officers and students,

all having profited by his generous gifts. His knowledge of finance and investments were needed on the board as the endowment fund increased. After much useful service to the college in the management of its funds and in many other ways, he resigned in 1875. He took particular pleasure in extending aid to worthy students who needed finaneial help to get through college, and his friends never hesitated to inform him when they knew of a promising young man unable from lack of funds to enter college or to complete his course, and many men were assisted by him through their whole course. One of the most practical and efficient means for serving a class of students who were short of funds was the Thayer Commons, a dining hall where students got their board at cost, a very necessary institution at Cambridge before the dining hall in Memorial Hall was built. When steps were taken to erect the new dormitory in 1869, Mr. Thayer assumed the entire cost of the building "as a testimonial of respect to the memory of my much loved and honored father. Nathaniel Thayer, D. D., who was a graduate of and for some time an in- structor in the college, and also to that of my brother, John Eliot Thayer, who showed in various ways his interest in the college, and especially in establishing the scholarships bearing his name." The dormitory known as Thayer Hall was the best built up to that time, and still ranks among the most attractive to Harvard students. Mr. Thayer also gave to Harvard University the fireproof Herbarium, together with all the furnishings and library. He supported Professor Louis Agassiz in what is generally known as the Thayer Expedition to Brazil in 1868. True to his reverential regard for his father and his father's profession, he made the improverished and disabled clergymen a special ob- ject of his sympathies and charity. He gave $75,000 toward the building fund of the First Church, at the corner of Berkeley and Marlboro streets, and placed therein a memorial window to his brother. He early attached himself to the parish of Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., and shared in his work of benevol- ence and religion.

In 1870 Mr. Thayer decided to make his legal home in Lancaster, having for ten years previous spent the summers in a mansion built among the elms that shaded the old parsonage where his father and mother had lived and died. When at home he led a quiet life, and, always in cordial sympathy with the townspeople, taking a personal interest in whatever concerned the material, moral or intellect- mal life in the town. Mr. Thayer will always be pleasantly remembered in his association with Lan- caster by those privileged to be his guests there. He was never weaned from the home of his youth, and it became more attractive and satisfying to him in his later years. Mr. Thayer's mode of life in the country as well as the city has been characterized by a friend as that of an "elegant and graceful simplicity." In full health and vigor, Mr. Thayer enjoyed the refined pleasures, hospitalities and social clubs of his city life, and he enjoyed foreign travel. He loved patriotism, and in his practical way paid two-thirds of the cost of a Memorial Building to the soldiers of Lancaster, to be used as a public library there. He also procured the restoration and adornment of the brick meeting house built in Lancaster during his father's ministry, and gave the church an endowment of $10,000. He gave largely to every public enterprise in his native town. He used his magnificent stock farm in the country

Channing Smith

LIRE

407

. WORCESTER COUNTY

from which to distribute the produce and delica- cies among his poor neighbors. For about three years before his death he was debarred by failing health from business. Mr. Thayer was a member of the American Academy and of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and honorary member of the Berlin Geographical Society. In 1866 he received the degree of Master of Arts from Harvard College.

He married, June 10, 1846, Cornelia, daughter of General Stephen Van Rensselaer, of Albany, New York. He died March 7, 1883, and was buried in Mt. Auburn cemetery, between Cambridge and Wa- tertown, Massachusetts. The Thayer Memorial Chapel now contains a memorial to him, erected by the parishioners. The children of Nathaniel and Cornelia Thayer were: Stephen Van Rensselaer, graduate of Harvard in 1870, died October 10, 1871, leaving a wife, Alice R., and an only child, Stephen V. R .; Cornelia, married James H. Robb, of New York city; Nathaniel, Jr., graduate of Harvard in 1871, a prominent capitalist and financier ; Eugene Van Rensselaer, a well known capitalist; Harriet; John Eliot, see forward; Bayard, see forward.

(VIII) Eugene Van Rensselaer Thayer, son of Eugene Thayer, Sr., was born in Boston, September 27. 1881. Went to Groton school and then entered Harvard, where he graduated in 1904. He took a trip abroad and then returned to his beauti- ful home in Lancaster, Massachusetts. He is a great lover of animals, and has some very fine strains of horses, dogs and chickens. He married in 1903, Gladys Brooks, daughter of H. M. and Josephine Higgins Brooks, of New York. He is a Republican in politics. He is active in Masonic circles.

(VIII) John Eliot Thayer, sixth child of Nathaniel Thayer (7), was born in Boston, April. 3. 1862, and spent the larger part of his time on his father's farm at Lancaster, where he studied under private tutors until he entered college, graduating from Harvard in 1885. In 1891 he and his twin brother, Bayard, who were especially fond of do- mestic animals, established in Lancaster the Hill- side Kennels, which soon became well known, as their rare and choice imported breeds of stock won prizes at exhibitions all over the country. The love for fine horses and dogs is still prominent among the characteristics of Mr. Thayer. No man is better known in Massachusetts for his attractive and well stocked stables, and his interest in the turf than John E. Thayer. Colonel Thayer, as he is generally known, president of the New England Trotting Horse Breeders' Association. The Messrs. Thayer have done much to create an interest in the further importation and breeding of a high grade of stock both for the farm and the road. While they have not entered this field for a money consideration, the part taken by these liberal-handed .men has helped to encourage the farmer and stock raiser not only in Massachu- setts but through New England.

(VIII) Bayard Thayer, twin son of Nathaniel Thayer (7), was born in Boston, April, 1862. He received his early education under private tutors, and attended Hopkinson's school in Boston. After leaving school he spent two years in foreign travel. He has made his home in Lancaster, where his father lived. Mr. Thayer is not in business, having his attention fully occupied by the care of his prop- erty. He married. September 1, 1896, Ruth Simp- kins, daughter of John and Ruth (Sears) Simpkins,

of Yarmouthport, Massachusetts. Their children are: Ruth; Nathaniel, and Constance Van Rensselaer.

ALBERT EDWARD SMITH. Richard Smith (1) was the first American ancestor of Albert Ed- ward Smith, of Worcester. He married Mary Cleve- land, daughter of Josiah Cleveland, and a member of the same family with General Moses Cleveland, who founded the city of Cleveland, Ohio, January 30, 1716. He was probably born in England. He settled in the west half of Canterbury, Connecticut. His family were attendants at the Westminster Church at Canterbury, after it was established in 1770.

(IV) Joel Smith, the third generation from Richard Smith (1), was born in Canterbury, Con- necticut. He married Celinda Darling, of Mendon, in that part now called Millville. They had a son Channing. She married (second) Allen C. Clarke. (V) Channing Smith, son of Joel Smith (4), was born at Canterbury, Connecticut, November 12, 1797. His father died when he was a young boy, and he was brought up by Jolin Barstow, an uncle by marriage. His mother married (second) Allen G. Clarke, by whom she had a daughter, who was the mother of Louise Chandler Moulton.

When Channing was fourteen he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the trade of a woolen dyer. He served till he was twenty-one years old, and then went to Pawtuxket, Rhode Island, to work at his trade. He there met Eliza Beebe, and they were married March 16, 1823. They moved to Uxbridge. Massachusetts, in 1826, and lived there four years, removing to Blackstone, where he entered the employ of W. & D. D. Farnum. He worked for this firm and their successors until 1865, when he retired to manage his farm, which he had owned many years. In 1840 he and his wife united with the Free Will Baptist church at Blackstone (or Waterford. When he became a member of the order of Odd Fellows. in 1844, he was expelled from the church for joining a secret society. He appealed from his church to the higher authorities, and was tried by a council presided over by Rev. Alexander Mckenzie. The council, after a long trial, rein- stated him in full communion as member of the church. He was an Abolitionist, and his home was known as a station of the "Underground Railroad" for fugitive slaves, and many were harbored there. He was a giant in physique and a great athlete, and when the timid slaves were overcome with fear of being overtaken, he would say: "Don't be afraid, get right behind me; if they come for you they will never get you." In politics he was a Freesoiler until the formation of the Republican party, when he be- came an ardent supporter of its principles. In 1862 he was elected to represent his district in the Massa- chusetts legislature. and was a firm supporter of Charles Sumner. He held many town offices with credit. He was very benevolent, and in the hard year of 1857 kept many families from actual want with the products of his farm. He died August 29, 1878, in the house where he had lived with honor for nearly fifty years, and is buried with his wife, Eliza Beebe, in the cemetery at Blackstone.

Eliza Beebe was descended from Nathan Beebe and his wife, Hannah Stanhope. They were married when she was only sixteen. in one of the shire towns of England, in 1741. They sailed for America in 1758, and he died on the voyage. The widow and her children landed at Newport, Rhode Island, where her brother, Edward Stanhope, lived. She

408

WORCESTER COUNTY.

lived only a few years. Joseph Beebe, the second son of Nathan Beebe, married Elizabeth Skinner, of Boston. Their son, William Beebe, born 1779, mar- ried Grace Claghorn, in 1801. She was the daughter of Colonel George Claghorn, who was born at Chil- mark, July 6. 1748, and his wife Deborah Brownell, of New Bedford. Massachusetts. She was the grand- daughter of Shubael Claghorn and Experience Hawes, of Chilmark, Massachusetts, at Martha's Vineyard. Dukes county. George Claghorn married Deborah Brownell, December 16, 1709. He was a shipbuilder and contractor, having a shipyard at New Bedford and employed many workmen. He built at New Bedford the first American Whaler that doubled Cape Ilorn, and obtained a cargo of oil in the Pacific Ocean. IIe also built the frigate "Re- becca" and others, the most noted being the frigate "Constitution," immortalized as "Old Ironsides." This vessel he built at Hart's shipyard, Bos- ton, Paul Revere furnishing the copper bolts and spikes, drawn from malleable copper by a process then new. The government paid Mr. Claghorn $325,000 for building the "Constitu- tion" and the launching was October 21, 1797. The following advertisement appeared in "Russell's Com- mercial Gazette" of Boston, September 1I, 1797; "The constructor has the honor to inform his Fellow Citizens that the Frigate Constitution is to be launched into her destined element on Wednesday. the 20th inst. at II o'clock. George Claghorn." In "Miles' Register" it is said that the frigate "Consti- tution" was launched October 21, 1797, under the superintendence of Colonel George Claghorn, who assisted in establishing American independence, serv- ing as first lieutenant, captain and major, and being brevetted colonel. He was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was lame ever afterward. His military record will be found in the muster and pay rolls in the state archives at the State House, Boston. His daughter. Grace Claghorn, married William Beebe, in 1801, and they had several chil- dren. Her second daughter and fourth child, Eliza, married Channing Smith (first) and was the mother of Albert E. Smith.

(VI) Albert Edward Smith, son of Channing Smith (5), was born at Blackstone. Massachusetts, October 10, 1844. He was a "seventh son," and for that reason his father jocularly called him "the doctor." He received his education in the public school of Blackstone, and at the age of thirteen, when he left it, he was credited with being the best mathematician in the town. He went into the office of Evans, Seagrave & Company, as office boy, at their woolen mills at Blackstone, and remained there two or three years, then entering the dyeing estab- lishment of the mill to learn the trade of indigo blue and fancy dyeing from his father, who was one of the leading dyers of the country, and a recognized authority in the art. At the age of sixteen he took charge of the dyeing at the mill of F. M. Ballou & Company, at Blackstone. At this early age he was interested in politics and became a local leader. leading his forces triumphantly at every caucus and election. although not old enough to vote. At eighteen years of age he was engaged by the Mill- ville Manufacturing Company as superintendent of the dye house, at a salary of $I,Soo a year. He remained at Millville two years, and then formed a co-partnership with his brother. James A. Smith. to deal in wool in New York city. After fifteen months he accepted the position of superintendent at' the mill of G. N. & J. A. Smith, at Cherry

Valley. A year later his brother, F. B. Smith, in- duced him to go into business with him at Geneva Mills, Providence, Rhode Island. Two years later, he and his brother, James A. Smith, again formed a copartnership to operate mills at Cherry Valley and Moosup, Connecticut. In 1869 they added to their business by forming a partnership with Eli Collier under the firm name of Chapel Mills Manu- facturing Company. This firm continued business until 1878. and he then conducted a woolen manu- facturing business on his own account until 1892, when he entered into partnership with his son, Chan- ning Smith, in the manufacturing business that has continued to the present time. Their headquarters are at the Valley Woolen mill in Cherry Valley, with which Mr. Smith has been connected for so many years as proprietor. They are also the owners of a majority of the stock of the Chapel Mills Manu- facturing Company, operating the Chapel mill and the Bottomly mill, both at Cherry Valley, farther up the stream. This company was incorporated in 1897 with a capital of $200,000. The officers are: President, Henry J. Brouard, New York; agent and treasurer, Channing Smith; secretary, Albert E. Smith.

In 1873 Albert E. Smith was elected chairman of the board of selectmen of Leicester, and he held this office at various times for twelve years, a longer period than any other man in the history of the town. In 1895. as chairman of the selectmen, he began the construction of the state road across the town, and completed it against the strenuous opposi- tion of some of the leading citizens of the town. In 1896, as delegate from his congressional district to the Republican national convention, he was the only delegate from Massachusetts to vote for William McKinley. He believed that it was cruel to expose the name of Thomas B. Reed to perfectly evident and certain defeat by the party leaders from Massa- chusetts. He was a stanch Republican always, a fine manipulator of opportunities at caucuses and conventions, and, though both opponents and friends questioned his brilliant and far-seeing methods, there was not one of them but eagerly sought his help on any occasion that required political knowledge and ability to manage men at the polls, and willingly accepted all he could do for them. He was often mentioned as a candidate for the state senate, but steadfastly refused to allow his name to be used in the convention. He preferred activity in the party management and has been a familiar figure at Re- publican conventions in Worcester county for the past forty years. Mr. Smith built a very charming home at 10 Regent street, Worcester, a few years ago, and removed from his old home in Cherry Valley.

The children of Albert Edward and Anjeanette (Kennev) Smith are: Channing, born at Geneva Mills. North Providence, Rhode Island, June 15, 1868: Edith Kenney.

(VII) Edith Kenney Smith, daughter of Albert Edward Smith (7), was born at Cherry Valley, De- cember 20, 1871. She married Guy C. Whidden, of Worcester, at Cherry Valley. Leicester, Massachu- setts. June 3. 1806. Mr. Whidden is a newspaper writer who was for ten years on the reportorial staff of the Worcester Telegram. Since 1897 he has been engaged in newspaper work in Philadelphia, and at present is on the staff of the North American. Mr. and Mrs. Whidden have two children : Rendol Whid- den, horn July 20, 1897; Albert Smith Whidden, born February 13, 1902, at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania.

Charming North

409

WORCESTER COUNTY

CHANNING SMITH (VII), son of Albert Ed- ward Smith (6), was born 1868, at North Providence, Rhode Island. He attended the public schools at Cherry Valley, and in 1884-85 studied at Phillips Exeter Academy. He started in the business as his father and grandfather had done to learn it from the bottom to the top. He entered the Valley Woolen mills at Cherry Valley, then the property of his father, as a boy in the picker house. From one department to another he learned the business thoroughly. He studied the methods and operated the machines with the other hands. The dye house of the woolen mill holds the secret of his success, and it is as an expert dyer that Channing Smith has evinced his hereditary skill and commanded success in business. The flannels made by the Valley mills are favorably known to the trade. They have be- come a standard of excellence. He supplemented his practical knowledge in the dye house and his native skill at the art of dyeing by a thorough tech- nical training in 1890 and 1891 in the Philadelphia Textile School.

In 1892, at the beginning of the year, he started in business in the old Valley Woolen mills, which his father owned. He and his father formed a part- nership then, which has continued until the present. In 1897 the Chapel mill was purchased by a corporation, and Channing Smith became the treas- urer and agent. These mills are the second group of mills above the Valley Woolen mills. Newton Darling was the former owner. The capitalization at first was twenty-three thousand dollars. The Chapel Mills Company later acquired the mills above known as the Bottomly mills, and both are operated by the Chapel Mills Company, of which Channing Smith is treasurer and agent. The capi- tal has been increased to one hundred thousand dollars and recently to two hundred thousand dol- lars on account of the doubling of the capacity of these mills. The Chapel mills were enlarged to double their capacity in 1898, and a new brick structure at the Bottomly mills, now in course of construction, will also double its capacity. Each of these mills now employs one hundred and fifty hands. The product of the Chapel mills is woolen overcoatings and suitings. The Valley mills pro- duces dress goods and flannels. The Cherry Valley flannel made at this mill has stood the test of competition for twelve years. The secret of its success is in the coloring. This fabric is evidence of Channing Smith's knowledge of the chemistry of dyeing and the art of coloring fabrics.

Although the woolen business has been the main occupation of Mr. Smith, he is interested in the Lombard Machine Company of Worcester, which manufactures woolen cards for use in woolen mills. This corporation was organized in 1905, when the business was bought of N. A. Lombard & Co., a firm that had been in successful operation since 1853. Mlr. Smith is president, H. F. Gould is treas- urer. The company manufactures carding machinery for woolen mills and other preparing machinery, as it is called.

Mr. Smith takes an active part in the political life of his native town, Leicester, where he has al- ways made his home. For three years he has served as chairman of the Republican town com- mittee of Leicester. He was secretary of the third congressional district Republican committee for three years, and is now a member of the Republican state committee of Massachusetts. He is a director of the Home Market Club, elected in January, 1905.

He has recently been elected a member of the Mas- sachusetts Club. He is serving his second term as selectman of Leicester, and is at present chairman of the board of selectmen. He is a trustee and mem- ber of the finance committee of the Leicester Sav- ings Bank. He is a member of the Worcester Club, the Commonwealth Club, the Tatassit Canoe Club and the Tatnuck Country Club. He is a member of All Saints' Episcopal Church, Worcester.

Among the woolen manufacturers Channing Smith ranks easily among the most promising of the younger owners and agents in New England. The growth of his business is evidence of his ability to manufacture woolen goods successfully in New England, and as such he must be reckoned a bene- factor in his town and county. He has shown ex- ecutive ability of high order not only in his own business, but in the administration of public affairs. He is a fine type of the modern American mill owner, trained by the knowledge of generations of manu- facturers before him, inheriting the skill of his father and grandfather in the art of dyeing, trained in his own mill to work with his hands as well as his head, educated by the best teachers in modern technical schools, his fitness for his position has been proved by results.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 109

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed Publication date: 1907 Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 710

Author: Crane, Ellery Bicknell, 1836-1925, ed
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 710