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 50
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Johan Otto Emanuel Trotz was born on the country estate of his father, Hammersta, near Stockholm, Sweden, March 6, 1860. He attended the public schools of his native city, and then be- came a student at the Royal Technical High School, in 1879, where he first studied civil and mechanical engineering and later entered the Royal School of Mines, in. Stockholm, Sweden, where he studied mining and metallurgy, and from which he was graduated in 1883. Immediately afterward he was employed by the Jernkontoret, that is, The Associa- tion of Swedish Ironmasters, for scientific research carried on at the Royal School of Mines, and con- tinued thus employed for about half a year. He was then offered and accepted the position of superin- tendent of Blast Furnaces and Bessemer Steel Works, at Iggesund, iron and steel works in Sweden. Shortly after assuming the duties of this position he received a scholarship from the Association of Swedish Ironmasters, which placed him for one year on the list of engineers available for the mem- bers of the association to call upon when in want of technical advice. The report 'rendered in connec- tion with this work was subsequently published in Jernkontoret's Annaler, 1887. After about two years he left the Iggersund Works in order to accept a position as superintendent of open hearth steel furnaces, puiddling furnaces and iron and steel foun- dries of the Surahammer Iron and Steel Works, also in Sweden. After one year he resigned this position as he desired to study the iron and steel in- dustry in Germany and the United States, for which purpose he received a scholarship from the Swedish government. He spent about four months in Ger- many and then came to this country, where he passed the first two months in the study of the English language, as a practical preparation for the work he contemplated undertaking. He accepted a position with the Washburn & Moen Manufactur- ing Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, and re- mained with this company and its successor-The American Steel & Wire Company-for a period of fifteen years. He was at first engaged as a chemist, and after a few months was appointed inspector of the materials bought and manufactured by the com- pany, and about a year and a half later was en- trusted with the additional responsibility of recon- structing and starting its open hearth steel plant, and held the double position of inspector and su- perintendent of that plant until shortly after the
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American Steel & Wire Company had merged the Washburn & Moen Company, when he was made general superintendent of the South and Central Works in Worcester. He held this position for two years and was then appointed metallurgical engineer of the United States Steel Corporation, and attached to the office of the president in New York city. Shortly after the formation of the United States Steel Corporation he was appointed a member of its open hearth committee, and served in the ca- pacity of chairman of this committee until his resig- nation from the service of the company, in all about three years, during which time he had re- peatedly visited, inspected and reported upon the various open hearth steel plants owned by the United States Steel Corporation. As metallurgical engineer of this corporation, which was about two years, until January 1, 1904, about one-half of each year was spent in Europe, visiting and reporting on the condition of the principal iron and steel works in England, Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Sweden. He also visited Europe in 1889-94-99 for the purposes of recreation and study. When Mr. Trotz resigned from the United States Steel Corporation he opened an office as consulting en- gineer, giving part of his time to the perfecting of his own inventions. In 1905 he was the principal expert witness in an intricate and important case between two large steel manufacturers before the United States circuit court in New York city; the side Mr. Trotz represented winning the case. For the last year and a half Mr. Trotz has given much of his time to designing and supervising the erection of a steel plant and rolling mill, which are now being built by the John A. Roebling's Sons Com- pany, near their Trenton Works.
"The Iron Age" of September 7, 1905. has the following to say in connection with the career of Mr. Trotz: "The Worcester Steel Foundry Com- pany, Worcester, Massachusetts, has been incorpor- ated under the Massachusetts laws with a capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars to conduct the steel foundry business located at Millbury, a su- burb of Worcester. The officers of the company are : President, J. O. Emanuel Trotz; treasurer, W. H. Cook: clerk, Edgar Whidden, all of Worcester. Mr. Trotz is one of the best known of the world's steel experts. He was formerly head of the steel plant of the Worcester works of the American Steel & Wire Works, and before the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company went out of existence held the same position in these works. He was later superintendent of the great South Works at Worcester, and afterward became an expert metallurgist of the United States Steel Corporation. Mr. Trotz will give personal supervision to the Worcester Steel Foundry Company's steel manu- facture. The company is at present extending its facilities for manufacture, and it is expected that greater improvements will be made later."
Mr. Trotz was for many years president of the Swedish Mercantile Co-Operative Company, and also of the Swedish Razor Company. He is a corporate member of the Worcester People's Savings Bank, and of the St. Vincent's Hospital. During the business depression of 1893-94, he took an active part in the formation and organization of the Swedish Charitable Society, and served as its treas- urer. This society raised many thousands of dol- lars with which they assisted the unemployed Scandinavians of the city of Worcester, making
many improvements in the Swedish cemetery in order to provide work for them, thus helping in the best possible manner.
Mr. Trotz, beside the report mentioned previously in this narrative, has published "The Wiborgh Air Pyrometer," Transaction of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1892. He has also translated, in connection with P. W. Moen, Professor Aker- man's paper, "The Bessemer Process as conducted in Sweden," for Transaction of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, 1893.
He is a member of the following organizations : American Institute of Mining Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Chemi- cal Society, National Geographic Society. Society of Chemical Industry of Great Britain, Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain, Verein Deutscher Eisen Huettenleute of Germany and the mechanical, metal- lurgical, mining and chemical brances of the Swenska Tecknologföreningen of Sweden. Ile became a mem- ber of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons be- fore leaving Sweden, and belongs to a number of social clubs, among which are: The Worcester Club, The Bohemians of Worcester, Lotos Club, and the Trenton Country Club of Trenton, New Jersey.
Mr. Trotz married, June 7, 1890, Selma Petronella Ahlström, born at Höganas, Sweden, September 20, 1861, daughter of Magnus and Ker- stin (Lots) Ahlström, the latter a descendant of an old Viking family. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlström emi- grated to the United States in 1869, and were among the first Swedes who ever settled in Worcester, arriving in September of that year. Mr. Ahlström was in the employ of the Washburn & Moen Manu- facturing Company for a period of thirty years, but has now retired from active duties. Mrs. Trotz was graduated from the public schools and from the State Normal school of Worcester, and for several years prior to her marriage was a teacher in the schools of Worcester. She has made many trans- lations from the Swedish for various American papers and periodicals. Her translation of the famous book of Selma Lagerlöf-The Miracle of Ante-Christ-was published by the Lovell Company of New York city in 1899.
TAFT FAMILY. The ancestral line of George Mather Taft, of Mendon, Massachusetts, has been traced to Robert Taft (1), a carpenter, who came from England and settled first in Braintree, Massa- chusetts, and then removed to Mendon, being one of the early settlers there. By his wife he left sons : Thomas, born 1671 ; Robert, 1674; Daniel, 1677: Joseph, 1680; Benjamin, 1684.
(11) Daniel Taft, born 1677, married (first) Hannah -, who died August 8. 1704; married (second) Lydia Chapin, daughter of Captain Josiah Chapin. at Mendon, December 5, 1706, and died Au- gust 24. 1761. They had: Daniel, born August 4. 1704. deceased : Abigail, September 24, 1707 ; Josiah, April 2, 1709; Lydia, April 13, 1713; Daniel, April 29. 1715; Ephraim, May 25, 1718; Japhet, March 3, 1721-22: Caleb, 1724.
(III) Caleb Taft, the youngest son, married Susanna Albee, at Mendon, August 10, 1747, and their son
(IV) Jotham Taft married Mary Wilson at Mendon, December 2, 1772, who hore him a son
(V) Amariah Taft, born in Mendon, November 24, 1785, married, at Mendon, Watee, daughter of
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Obadialı and Alcy (Mowry) Wood, April 20, 1820. Their children were: Mary Maria, born February 3, 1821 ; Amariah Aulando, May 15, 1824; Alcy Annah, April 27, 1826; Austin Augustus, May 9, 1828; Susan Amanda, January 29, 1834.
(VI) Austin Augustus Taft, born May 9, 1828. married, at Canton, Connecticut, November 17, 1858, Helen Maria, daughter of Lester and Ursula (Alder- man) Mather. Children: Levi Rawson, born Au- gust 22, 1859; George Mather, see forward; Clar- ence Augustus, May 22, 1876.
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(VII) George Mather Taft, born in Mendon, Massachusetts, October 26, 1861, was a graduate of the Mendon high school, and is one of the enter- prising, public-spirited citizens of his native town. He is a farmer by occupation, and his wisdom and skill of management in the art of husbandry is forcibly illustrated in the neat and tidy appearance of his well-kept fields and buildings upon the farm as well as in the village. For ten years Mr. Taft has been a member of the board of selectmen of the town, and for a large portion of that time chair- man of the board. He lias also served the town as its treasurer and collector. He is actively in- terested in all matters relating to the public weal, whether of church or of state.
He married, June 4, 1890, in Mendon, Massa- chusetts, Emma A. Moore, daughter of Samuel W. and Amanda Moore, of Matteawamkeag, Maine. Their children are: Mabel, born February 4, 1891 ; Beatrice. December 21, 1895; Carl Mather, July II, 1892: George Kenneth, December 9, 1899; Helen Amanda, February 23, 1901.
WILLIAM HENRY BUCK, a prosperous and progressive business man of Worcester, who has gained a high position in commercial circles solely through his own ability and the exercise of energy and unconquerable determination, is a native of Thompson, Connecticut, born August 20, 1847, the eldest child in the family of William L. and Mar- tha (Maddox) Buck.
He received his early education in the schools of his native town, the common schools of Put- nam, Connecticut, which he attended until about 1860, and the schools of Moosup, Connecticut, which he attended for two seasons. He worked in the mill at Moosup between times up to September 29, 1864. when he enlisted in Company D. First Con- neeticut Heavy Artillery, but before going to the front he was in camp at Fair Haven, Connecticut, for three weeks. The company received orders to ga to Petersburg, Virginia, where the defense of thirty miles was established; they were a part of the Army of the James, under General Grant. Mr. Buck saw service at the siege of Petersburg, wit- nessed the blowing up of the defenses of that town, and participated in the action at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia. He saw one year of hard service in this campaign and was honorably discharged at Hartford, Connecticut, September 25, 1865. Upon his return to Moosup. Connecticut, he again en- tered the mills, serving in the capacity of dresser tender until 1867. He then removed to Wood- stock, Connecticut, and with his father purchased a farm, which they cultivated and improved. Later he located in Putnam, Connecticut, and the first two years was employed in a tin shop, subsequently becoming engaged as cutter in the shoe shop of C. M. Fisher, of that town. In 1878 he removed to Webster, Massachusetts, entered the employ of
B. A. Corbin, and served as cutter for a period of fourteen years. In February, 1892, he took up his residence in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the first year was an employe of the firm of Whitcomb- & Miles, who were engaged in the shoe business. After severing this connection he purchased his present grocery and provision business, which has proved a most lucrative enterprise, and which he conduets in a thoroughly efficient and businesslike manner. In all his business relations he is in- tegrity personified, and in his personal character is an ideal American citizen. Mr. Buck holds membership in the Coral Street Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which he has served as trustee, treasurer, and at the present time (1905) is a inem- ber of its board of trustees. He is also a member of George W. Ward Post, No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic, Worcester, Massachusetts, having been transferred from Nathaniel Lyon Post, No. 61, of Webster, Massachusetts. He is a Republi- can in polities, but has never sought or held pub- lic office, preferring to devote his entire time to business pursuits.
Mr. Buck married, January 12, 1868, Ellen Frances White, daughter of Henry Arnold and Amy Frances (Oatley) White, of East Killingly. Connecticut, where the former named was employed as head weaver in Young's cotton mill. Three children were the issue of this union, as follows : Grace May, born June 17, 1870, died April 12, 1871. William Marcus, born December 20, 1872, a shoe cutter by trade, but at present (1905) is employed in the leather goods company of J. J. Warren & Company in Worcester: he resides at home and is unmarried. Elmer White, born May 2, 1874. is a shoe cutter in the firm of Charles Case Shoe Company in Worcester; he also resides at home and is unmarried.
WILLIAM M. LEATHE. Francis Leathe (1), of Salem, a ship owner, is the immigrant ancestor of the family of that name in New England. He took the oath of allegiance December 18, 1678, at Topsfield or Rowley, Massachusetts. It is probable that he had children, among whom was Richard, of whom later.
(II) Richard Lcathe, believed to be son of Francis Leathe (1), was born about 1670. He set- tled at Manchester, Massachusetts. He married Susan - Among their children were: Richard, married Eliza Bates (published) October 20, 1711 ; Ann (twin), born October 5, 1692; Rebecca (twin), born October 5. 1692. Francis, of whom later.
(III) Francis Leathe, believed to be son of Richard Lcathe (2), was born probably at Salem. about 1690. Ile married Sarah -, and they set- tled in the adjacent town of Woburn, where their descendants have been numerous. He died at Wo- burn, December 29, 1738. The children of Francis and Sarah Leathe, all born in Woburn, were: Robert, born July 19, 1717, removed from Woburn to Grafton, where he left many descendants; Eben- ezer. born June 3. 1719, settled in Woburn; Elijah, born 1722, married Mary - . who died April 21, 1807, aged eighty-two years; he died September 30, 1800, aged eighty-seven years: Mary, born Sep- tember 24. 1724: Francis, died January 12, 1733; Francis, of whom later.
(IV) Francis Leathe, son of Francis Leathe (3). was born in Woburn or vicinity about 1730. He settled in Woburn and married Esther -
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The following children were born there: Benja- min, of whom later; Eleanor, born September 8, 1756: Esther, born July 16, 1758.
(V) Benjamin Leathe, son of Francis Leathe (4), was born in Woburn, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 14, 1753. He was a cordwainer or shoemaker by trade. He settled at Royalston, after residing for a time at Reading. He was of Reading when he bought his farm, November 7, 1783, of Thomas Brown, of Reading, for one hundred and fifty pounds (lot No. 84, consisting of ninety-two and one-half acres). He deeded this same farm to his son Benjamin, Jr. just before his death, January 6, 1827. He died in November or December, 1830, at Royalston. He was a soldier in the revolution, serving in the company of Captain Samuel Sprague, of Chelsea, at the Lexington alarm. He married Hannah His children living in 1830 were: Benjamin, Jr., of whom later ; John, and Lois.
(VI) Benjamin Leathe, Jr., son of Benjamin Leathe (5), of Royalston, settled on the homestead at Royalston deeded to him by his father in 1827. He died March 25, 1863. He married Paulina Chase. Their children: John W., lived in Bald- winsville, and died at the age of seventy-two years ; Leonard L., deceased; William, died young ; William M., whom
later ; Sarah G .; Paulina A., married Williard Thompson, and they had Emma L. and Willis H. Thompson; Benjamin Franklin.
(VII) William M. Leathe, son of Benjamin Leathe, Jr. (6), was born in Royalston, Massachu- setts, March 22, 1821. He was educated in the com- mon schools there and when not in school worked at home on his father's farm. He removed to Fitch- burg when twenty-one years old and eventually went into the manufacture of straw goods. He furnished the material which was woven into braid and sewed into hats according to models furnished. That was the old method of doing the straw busi- ness in Massachusetts, It was as common for the children to braid straw and the housewives to sew straw for the local "straw shop" as it was for the men to make shoes for the local shoe manufacturer in the same way. The material was taken home and the work of lasting and finishing the shoes done there. Most of the older men of New England have had some experience in black-balling shoes, as most of the women who were raised in the towns of Massachusetts still remember how to weave straw.
Mr. Leathe was successful in business. After giving up active business he accepted the position of manager of the Old Ladies' Home of Fitchburg. remaining in charge there for seventeen years. Since he retired from that position he has lived quietly in Fitchburg in his residence on Blossom street, occupied only with the care of his property. In politics Mr. Leathe has been a Republican ever since the party was organized. He has held' a few minor offices in Fitchhurg. He is an active and loyal member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Leathe is known as a writer, especially of verse. He has frequently contributed to the press in Fitchburg, Worcester and vicinity. Some of his work has been collected and published in pamphlet form. The following poem, entitled 'True Love or The Marriage Vow" is from his pen:
Love is the strongest tie in earth That binds two hearts in one, To them who know and feel its worth, 'Tis Heaven within begun.
Love is the golden link in life
On which your vows depend, And if you both should yield to strife, 'Twill break and have an end.
Love is the brightest star that guides
Two kindred souls aright, But when one jealous thought divides How hopeless is the sight.
Love is the source of earthly joy, Without it life is drear, The marriage vow is base alloy, And hope is lost in fear.
The home where marriage vows abide, With virtue on her throne,
And both as one in each confide Is where true love is known.
Then ever watch with zealous care This heavenly plant of love ; No jealous bickerings ever share, 'Twill sure all bliss remove.
Guard well the tongue, though small indeed, Be faithful, ever true ; In all your acts and words take heed, And both the right pursue.
Then God will surely bless your home, In basket and in store, And if you do not from him roam , He'll bless you evermore.
Mr. Leathe married, October 29, 1844, Sarah M. Davis, daughter of Samuel G. Davis, of Templeton. Their children are: I. Milton E., born September 14. 1845, married Ada Nichols. Their children are: William Edward, died at the age of eighteen ; Helen A., married Frank Larrimore, and they have two children: Roswell and Clarence Larrimore ; Flora, and Ella M., married John D. Brown. 2. Ellen, died young. 3. Ella M., born September 13, 1852, married George Hayes, and they have had three children : Sarah E., Adelaide and Harold. 4. William G., died young.
MASON FAMILY. Captain Hugh Mason (1), the immigrant ancestor of the Mason family of Winchendon, Massachusetts, was born in England. 1606. He embarked for this country April 30, 1634, then twenty-eight years old, with his wife Hester, aged twenty-two years, in the ship "Francis" of Ipswich. He settled at Watertown, Massachu- setts, and was admitted a freeman, March 4, 1634-35. He was a tanner by trade, also called a yeoman in the records. He was perhaps a brother of Cap- tain Jolin Mason, the redoubtable Indian fighter. Hugh was also a captain and fought in King Philip's war. He was deputy to the general court in 1644-45- 60-61-64-71-74-75-76-77, and was selectman twenty- nine years, between 1639 and 1678 inclusive. He was a lieutenant as early as 1649 and was made a cap- tain May 5, 1652. Was one of the three commis- sioners appointed to end small causes before the office of justice of the peace was instituted. He was selected on a committee to attend to defects in bridges in the county, October 30. 1657. He was appointed to take account of John Steadman, county treasurer, December 8, 1660. He died October 10,
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1678, aged seventy-three years. His wife Hester died May 1. 1692. Their children: Hannah, born September 23, 1636, married, October 17, 1653, Cap- tain Joshua Brooks, of Concord; Ruth, died De- cember 17. 1640; Mary, born December 18, 1640, married, May 20, 1668, Rev. Joseph Estabrook, of Concord; John, born January 1, 1644-45, tanner, resided in Newton; Joseph, born August 10, 1646, see forward: Daniel, born February 19, 1648-49, graduate of Harvard. 1666; Sarah, born September 25, 1651, married, May 20, 1668, Captain Andrew Gardner, of Brookline; lost in 1690 in the ill-fated Phipps' expedition to Canada.
(II) Joseph Mason, son of Captain Hugh Mason (I), was born August 10, 1646. He learned his father's trade of tanner, and settled in Watertown. He married, February 5, 1684-85, Mary Fiske, who died January 6, 1724-25, aged sixty-two years, six months. Joseph Mason died July 22, 1702. His inventory was dated August II, 1702. The amount was one hundred and ninety-five pounds, seven shillings. He was admitted a freeman in 1690. The children of Joseph and Mary Mason; Mary, born May 2, 1685, married Thomas Learned; Esther, born July 8, 1686, married. November 10, 1737, Cap- tain Joseph Cupplidge: (second) Edward Johnson ; Joseph, born October 2, 1688, see forward; Sarah, born November 17, 1691, married, June 22, 1709, Thomas Chamberlain, of Newton, son of Thomas Chamberlain ; married (second) Thomas Pond.
(111) Joseph Mason, son of Joseph Mason (2). was born in Watertown, October 2, 1688. He was a tanner, like his father and grandfather before him. He married (published June 26, in Boston), in Stoughton. September 14, 1710 (by Rev. John Danforth) Mary Monk, daughter of Elias and Hope Monk, of that part of Dorchester, now Stoughton, Massachusetts. Mason settled in Boston, then re- turned to Watertown where he was justice of the peace, town clerk and deputy to the general court (1733 and 1734). He was employed in legal busi- ness most of the time, making conveyances and legal documents of every description needed in the town; he settled estates and transacted the town business. He died July 6. 1755; his widow died April 22. 1763, aged seventy-two years. Children of Joseph and Mary Mason: Mary, born at Boston, October 23. 1711, married, April 7. 1737, Ebenezer Hovey: Joseph, born at Boston, October 9, 1713; Abigail, born at Watertown, October 10, 1715, mar- ried. June 14, 1737, Thomas Biscoe; Benjamin, born July 14. 1717. see forward: Elizabeth, born Febru- ary 3, 1718-19. married, October 1I, 1759, Nathaniel Perry, of Sherborn; Nehemiah, born June 14. 1721, died August 6, 1775; Elias, born August 24, 1723. died in Woodstock, March 5, 1802; Esther, born November 4, 1725, married, January 25, 1749-50, Captain Jonathan Brown: Lydia, born November 6, 1727, married. November 4. 1747, Michah or Urialı Whitney, of Natick; Susanna, married. December 16. 1755. Samuel Soden, of Cambridge: Ebenezer, born March 1, 1732-33; Josiah, born October 3, 1734, married, June 31. 1757. Anna Livermore.
(IV) Benjamin Mason, son of Joseph Mason (3). was born at Watertown, Massachusetts, July 14. 1717. He married, September 28, 1741, Martha Fairbanks, of Sherborn, Massachusetts, where he resided for a time. He finally settled in Dublin. New Hampshire, with his family in 1763. He had Lot 14. Range o. where he built a plank house on the top of the hill. He was a master carpenter and
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