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 76
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He married Betsey Brown, of Ipswich, born June 6, 1763, died 1849. He died 1843, aged eighty-eight years. Their children: I. Betsey, born January 18, 1782, died July 16, 1803. 2. William, born December 12, 1784, married Eunice Crane. 3. Nancy, born De- cember 12, 1784, twin of preceding. died September 12, 1859. 4. David, born September 12, 1786. 5. Susan, born November 2, 1788, married John Crane. 6. Samuel (twin), born November 29, 1790. 7. Sally (twin), born November 29, 1700, died 1868; married Smyrna Graton ( who had previously mar- 'ried her sister. Lucy, then deceased). 8. Lucy, born October 29, 1792, married Smyrna Graton, died 1846. 9. Polly, born May 9, 1795. married ( first ) Timothy Warner, and ( second) David Smith. 10. Olive, born February 25, 1707, married Phineas Ball (see sketch of the Phineas Ball family, Boylston and Worcester). II. Simon Brown, see forward.
(VI) Simon Brown Poland, youngest child of William Poland (5), was born in Winchendon, Mas-
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sachusetts, June 1, 1802. Ile was brought up on his father's farm, acquiring the usual common school education of a farmer's son at that period. At an early age he learned the carpeter's trade, which he followed from time to time when not engaged on his father's farm. In 1827 he settled on a farm of his own in Winchendon, where all his children were born. In the fall of 1854 he removed to Millbury, where he acquired another farmn. The chief objeet of this removal was to secure better educational ad- vantages for his children. In 1865 he sold his Mill- bury farm and returned to Winchendon, but five years later he returned to Millbury, where he resided until his death, February 20, 1873. He was an at- tendant of the Methodist Church and for many years sang in the choir. In politics he was a Republican. In both Millbury and Winchendon he served on the prudential committee of the school district. He was also a member of the military board of overseers of the poor and for one year chairman of the board, and also selectman. He also served as overscer of the poor in Winchendon. In his younger days he was in the Winchendon Militia Company. Throughout his life he was universally beloved and respected by all who knew him, and was distinguished for his sturdy character, his high civic virtues and his incorruptible honesty.
He married, February 28, 1829, Betsey Wheeler, born January 21, 1807, daughter of Zaccheus and Betsey (Dexter) Wheeler, of Orange, Massachusetts. Her father was a skilled mechanic. Their children were: I. Wheeler, see forward. 2. Saralı A. M., born July 1, 1832, deceased. 3. Mary A. E., born February 3, 1834, married Charles P. Streeter, now deceased. 4. Charles S., born February 1I, 1836. 5. Julia A., born November 16, 1838, married Samuel Aldrich, deceased. 6. Nellie G., born November 24, 18440, married Alvah Rice. 7. Emma O., born Octo- ber 7, 1842, married Silas G. Wood, deceased. 8. Martin L., born August 24, 1845. 9. Stella E., born August 8, 1848, married Charles A. Gould. 10. Ad- dison B., born March 26, 1851, now ( 1906) superin- tendent of schools, Newark, New Jersey. The mother of this family died December 2, 1883.
(VII) Wheeler Poland, eldest child of Simon Brown Poland (6), was born at Winchendon, Mas- sachusetts, October 1, 1830. He attended the com- mon schools of his native town and also the Win- chendon Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered the academy at West Brattleboro, Vermont, and was connected with this school several terms. Later he was a student at the Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Massachusetts. He taught school during the winter months to meet the expenses of attending these academies. Soon after his majority he entered a wooden-ware manufacturing establishment and con- tinued in this line of employment for some twenty- five years. Later he bought a farm and followed agricultural pursuits for several years. In 1885 he purchased his present estate in his home town, beanti- fully situated and known as Broadview, where he now resides.
Mr. Poland, while not a member of the bar, has had much to do in the settlement of estates and in the management of trust funds. Ile was also often appointed by the probate court as guardian for minors and for insane persons. He has had large experience in both charitable and educational work. He is now serving (1906), in his native town, his thirtieth year as an overseer of the poor, and his thirty-second year as a member of the school board of education. He has also served ten years as a
trustee of the Public Library. For many years he has been a trustee of the Winehendon Savings Bank. In politics he is a Republican, occasionly serving as a delegate to the representative and senatorial conventions. Mr. Poland has been a member of a Christian Church from early manhood, rendering service in its various departments. He has also been very active in various temperance movements.
He married, April 6, 1854, Lucy E. Newton, born June 12, 1828, died August 14, 1904, daughter of Colonel Willard and Phoebe (Emerson) Newton, of Royalston, Massachusetts. Her father was a farmer; he marched with the Royalston Company to Boston and served for a time in the war of 1812 with the rank of colonel.
HENRY BARNES, of Petersham, is a son of Jonas Barnes, of Hardwick, grandson of Adonijah Barnes, of Brookfield, and great-grandson of Jesse Barnes, also a native of that town. Jesse was a son of Moses, Moses was a son of Samtiel, Samuel was a son of Thomas, and the latter was a son of Thomas Barnes, the immigrant, who arrived from England in 1636, married Abigail Goodnow, and.set- tIcd in Marlboro. His son Thomas, who married Mary How, went from Marlboro to Brookfield. Samuel Barnes, who was town treasurer of Brook- field, and quite an extensive land owner, married Mercy Gilbert. Moses Barnes married Hannah Olds and became the father of fourteen children. Jesse Barnes, son of Moses, went from Brookfield to Hardwick about the year 1780. His wife was before marriage Patience Gilbert, and all of his children were born in Brookfield except the youngest, who was a native of Hardwick. The family is widely known throughout that section of the county, and a more extended account of its early history will be found in sketches of Hiram E. and Joseph S. Barnes, of Hardwick, which appear elsewhere in this work.
Adonijah Barnes, grandfather of Henry Barnes, was born in Brookfield, October 12, 1772. His act- ive years were devoted to agricultural pursuits in Hardwick, and his death occurred in that town Au- gust 21, 1841. On April 9, 1793, he married Chloe Knights, and she died September 26, 1851. Their children were : Clarinda, Jonas, Ruth, Chloe and perhaps others.
Jonas Barnes, father of Henry Barnes, was for many years engaged in farming in Hardwiek. He married, November 20, 1830, Olean (or Oleyine) Fay (or Fry), and she became the mother of Henry, Adelbert Forester, Emeline, Evelyn, Clariette, Alla Velorous (called in the record of his death A. De- forest), Warren Jonas and others.
Henry Barnes was born in Hardwick, January 21, 1844. He was reared and educated in his native town, and as a young man was employed as an as- sistant upon various farms in Hardwick and Peter- sham. About the year 1870 he purchased the prop . erty in the last-named town, where he has ever since resided, consisting of a productive farm, together with a substantial residence built in the colonial style of architecture, and located in close proximity to the village. Ilere he gives his principal atten- tion to dairy farming and the retail milk business. Politically he acts with the Republican party. He attends the Unitarian Church.
In 1885 Mr. Barnes was united in marriage with Mrs. Vernon S. Cook, nee Sprague, daughter of Otis and Harriet E. (Cook) Sprague. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have had three children, namely :
1
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Geland
F
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Edith, born September 30, 1885, wife of Harry E. Knowlton, of Petersham ; Harold, born March 7, 1887, residing at home ; and Clifton, born May I, 1892, died in early childhood.
JOSEPH E. RICKEY, of Petersham, Massachu- setts, was born at Barre, Worcester county, Massa- chusetts, January 2, 1833, son of Asel and Lucretia (Upton) Rickey, and grandson of Robert Rickey, born in 1746. Asel Rickey, lived the greater part of his life at Petersham, to which place he moved in 1836. He died there March 28, 1858. Hle married Lucretia Upton, born February 24, 1805, died Marchi IS, 1885, in New Salem. The children born to them were: I. Joseph. E., see forward. 2. George, born September 24, 1834, married (first) Hulda Batch- elder, by which union there were no children; he married (second) Jane Flint, by whom he had Grace G., Walter J., Maud and Lawrence. 3. Eliza- beth, born 1836, at Petersham, died aged four years. 4. Kies, born April 16, 1840, at Petersham, died February 13, ISSI; he married Sarah Wilcox. 5. Martha, born at Petersham, December 14, 1841, died February 18, 1867. 6. Anna A., born December 5. 1846, died June 29, 1869, at Petersham.
Joseph E. Rickey accompanied his parents to Petersham when he was but three years of age; he was educated at that place. His first real work was in a saw mill at Petersham. He next went to Athol and there was employed in a mill sawing match sticks for one year and then found employ- ment with the firm of Kendall & Ellingwood, mak- ers of sash and blinds, and still later worked at the planing mills. For one year he was in company with Lewis Enoch in the marble business. After various other lines of work, he finally, in 1859, set- tled on his father's farm, where he has since lived. In politics Mr. Rickey is a Republican and has held several offices, including that of road commissioner, fence viewer, measurer of timber. At one time he took an active part in the local Grange. In church relations he is an attendant of the Unitarian Church. Mr. Rickey married (first) Isabella Young, of Athol, daughter of Hiram Young; she died in 1859, without issue. He married ( second) Clara Wilk- son, born at Templeton, February 13, 1851, daughter of Daniel and Lucy Hale, of Hubbardston. By this union were born these children: Belle A., born at Petersham, August 16, 1875, is single and lives at Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Jennie E., born at Peter- sham, November 12, 1885, is an accomplished musi- cian and resides at home.
JOSEPH HENRY SMALL. Joseph Small, father of Joseph Henry Small, of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, was born May 12, 1807, at Canter- bury, New Hampshire, son of John and Keziah (Jackson) Small. He died July 21, 1891. He was descended from an old New Hampshire family. He was a Congregationalist in religion; Republican in politics. In 1855 Joseph Small removed to Ash- burnham, Massachusetts, where he followed the trade of blacksmith at the north village. He lived also at Rindge, New Hampshire. He was twice married. By his first wife Joseph Small had one daughter : Arvilla A., married Levi B. Tottinghamn, of Ashburnham. He married ( second), November 19. 1846, Polly Tottingham, born September 13, 1826, daughter of Moses, Jr., and Olive (Bigelow) Tottingham. Their children: Joseph Henry, born January 9, 1853, see forward; Lyman P., born Octo- ber 2, 1857, married Mrs. Lettie Bailey, of Harmony,
Maine; Hattie O., born March 4,- 1861, married, February 26, 1891, Alonzo S. Gage, of Gardner, Massachusetts.
(II) Joseph Henry Small, son of Joseph Small, was born at Rindge, New Hampshire, January 9, I853. He was only two years old when his parents removed to Ashburnham, Massachusetts. He at- tended the Aslıburnham public schools, and from early youth worked with his father in the black- smith shop. When he was eightten years old he bought his time of his father and began in busi- ness for himself with an ox team, working at first on the highways for the town. He did teaming for a year, then returned to the farm and helped his father one year. In 1874 he bought a farm and mill in the north part of Ashburnham, known as the Ellis farm. The place consisted of thirty-five acres of land and buildings. He began soon to saw lumber and stock for the wooden-ware and chair factories which abound in that neighborhood. He produced in his saw mill some two or three hundred thous- and feet of boxing lumber annually. He bought large tracts of wood land and continued his saw mill for twenty years. He sold the mill in 1897 to John Griswold and went to Alaska at the time gold was discovered in the Klondike region. He pros- pected for six months, then returned to Ashburn- ham and resumed farming for five or six years, paying special attention to his dairy. Later he hired the Isaac Ward saw inill for two years and then bought it and has conducted the mill in connection with his farming. He built his present residence. He also owns three other houses and some six hundred acres of land. He has bought and sold much real estate. Mr. Small attends the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican in politics, has often served his party as delegate to nominating conventions, has been overseer of the poor for four years, assessor one year and road commissioner sev- eral years. He is a member of Ashburnham Grange, No. 202, Patrons of Husbandry.
He married, April 11, 1878, Mary M. Elliot, born in Norton Creek, Canada, March 9, 1859. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary ( McGill) Elliot, both natives of Scotland. The children of Joseph H. and Mary M. Small: I. Mary Ellen, born April 26, 1875, married. October 12, 1904, Judson J. Rafuse, of Fitchburg, no issue; Henry James, born March 22, 1857, lives at home, unmar- ried ; Hattie Polly, born October 1, 1880, a graduate nurse; Alice M., born July 16, 1883, married, June 2.4, 1903, Arthur Edward Harris, of Ashburnham; they have Carroll Arthur, born April 2, 1905.
ADDISON B. POLAND, youngest son of Simon Brown and Betsy ( Wheeler) Poland, was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, March 26, 1851.
When he was three years old, his parents moved to Millbury, Massachusetts, where his father had purchased a farm in the outskirts of the village. Here he attended the district school until the age of nine, when he was admitted to the high school. His parents returning to Winchendon in 1865, he finished his preparation for college at the latter place, and entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connec- ticut, in 1868, at the age of seventeen. Being com- pelled to leave college before graduation, on account of ill health he engaged in teaching, first as prin- cipal of the Ashburnham, Massachusetts, high school, and later as principal of the high school at Salisbury, Massachusetts. In 1873 he began the study of law in the office of ex-Mayor George H. Verry, of
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Worcester, but soon after decided to return to teachi- ing, and was appointed principal of the Day street grammar school in Fitchburg. In the following year, 1874, he resigned from this position to accept a more lucrative appointment as principal of the Union School and Academy at Ilion, New York. He remained in charge of the latter school for eleven years, until September. 1885, when he resigned to become principal of the Jersey City high school. Three years later, he was made city superintendent of schools of Jersey City, and four years later March, 1892, was appointed by Governor Leon Ab- bott superintendent of public instruction of the state of New Jersey. After four years service as state superintendent, during which time he succeeded in completely revolutionizing the school system of the state, he resigned, March, 1896, to become assistant superintendent of schools of New York city, a posi- tion to which he had been unanimously elected. This was the first instance in a period of over thirty- three years when any non-resident had been elected to an official position in the schools of New York city and was regarded as an exceptional honor. After one year of successful service in New York city, during which time he assisted in reorganizing the schools under the new charter creating the Great- er New York, he resigned March, 1897, in order to travel abroad and secure a much needed rest.
After a year's absence from the country, during which time he made, with Mrs. Poland, a tour of the world, visiting Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zeland, he returned to New York, and immediately accepted the position of superintend- ent of schools of Patterson, New Jersey, to which he had been unanimously elected. He remained in this position for nearly three years, until elected city superintendent of schools of Newark, New Jersey, March, 1901, a position which he now holds (De- cember, 1906). Having held the position of assis- tant superintendent of schools of New York city and superintendent of the largest three cities lying in the Metropolitan district, Mr. Poland has visited more schools in an executive capacity than any other city superintendent of his time.
In 1876, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Con- necticut, conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He was one of the founders of the School of Pedagogy, connected with New York University. from which latter institution he was graduated in 1890 with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. ln the same year he was appointed lecturer on peda- gogy in the university. While state superintendent of public instruction, in connection with Dr. Nicho- las Murray Butler, president of Columbia Univers- ity, and Dr. William 11. Maxwell, superintendent of public instruction, city of New York, he founded the Educational Reviewe (New York), the leading educational journal in America. About the same time he helped organize the Schoolmasters' Club of New York city and vicinity, of which Seth Low, president of Columbia University, was the first president. This club, of which Mr. Poland was sub- sequently president, did much to bring into closer fel- lowship the schoolmasters of the metropolitan dis- trict. For many years Mr. Poland has been an ac- tive and influential member of the National Edu- cational Association, and has served on two of its most important committees, namely, the committee of fifteen and the committee of twelve. The reports of both these committees have exerted an unprece- dented influence on education throughout the coun- try. He has been president, also, of the New Jersey
State Teachers' Association. Mr. Poland has con- tributed largely to the educational literature of the country, being the author of many valuable educa- tional documents and reports, that have been widely circulated and much quoted.
In 1875 Mr. Poland married Fannie Elizabeth Flagg, daughter of Captain Algernon S. Flagg, of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, who died June 10, 1890, leaving two children, Ethel Elizabeth and Edwin Flagg Poland. In 1895 Mr. Poland married Mary Bishop Dennis, daughter of Rev. M. J. Dennis, of Dayton, Ohio. Miss Dennis was graduated, in 1892, from New York University with the degree of Ph. D., being the first woman to receive that honor. They have three children, Margaret Evangeline, Mary Dennis and Addison Brown Poland.
EDWARD HERBERT SMITH, a prominent business man of Northboro, engaged in the grain business, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, April 11, 1857, son of Samuel Augustus and Ade- laide (Keith) Smith, and grandson of Samuel and Abigail (Baldwin) Smith. Samuel Smith was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, September 10, 1796.
Samuel Augustus Smith was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, June 18, 1823. He was educated in the common school of his native town, and on com- pleting his studies turned his attention to the curry- ing trade, which he followed for several years. He resided at different times in Leominster, Shrewsbury and Worcester, and during the latter years of his life was employed in a restaurant and as a watch- man. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and a Republican in politics. He married Ade- laide Keith, of Sutton, Massachusetts, who died October 18, 1865. Their children were: Loring Augustus, Edward Herbert, of whom later; and Julius Edgar.
Edward Herbert Smith resided in his native town, Worcester, until he was eight and a half years of age, when he moved to Northboro, where he re- ceived his educational training, attending the com- mon schools thereof. His first employment was on a farm, and later he entered the employ of his uncle J. B. Root. who was engaged in the manufacture of ground bone and fertilizer. In the fall of ISS1 he purchased the business of his uncle and continued the same for a period of fifteen years, at the ex- piration of which time he remodeled the mill, en- gaged in the grain business, and at the present time (1906) is reaping large returns as a result of his labors. He has served in the capacity of town fire engineer for five years, also as assessor, having been elected on the Republican ticket. He attends the Orthodox Church.
Mr. Smith married (first). April 11, 1882, Isabella S. Rice, daughter of John Rice, of Shrews- bury. They were the parents of one
child, Mabel .A., born in Northboro, Massachusetts, October 10. 1881. Mr. Smith died June 10. 1887. Mr. Smith married (second). September 25, 1889. Jennie M. Gordon, born in Salem, Massachu- setts, May 4. 1854. No family to this union.
JOHN CONWAY. Michael Conway, of Ennisty- mon, county Clare, Ireland, was born about the year 1789, and died in December. 1896, then being one hundred and seven years old. He married Mary Jordon, of Ennistymon, and they raised a family of children.
John Conway, of Millville, Worcester county, Massachusetts, is a son of the late Michael Conway
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and his wife Mary Jordon. He was born in Ennisty- mon, July 29, 1854. His early education was re- ceived in schools in his native place in Ireland, but there the opportunities of obtaining a good education were quite limited, and in later years, in connection with a busy life, he gained a knowledge of men and affairs by reading and contact with men of under- standing. In 1862 John Conway came to America and for a short time engaged in farming in New York state. In 1864 he found employment as a con- mon laborer on a railroad, and in 1867 was ap- pointed foreman on the Dutchess & Columbia Railroad, a short road extending from the Connec- ticut line to Fishkill-on-the-Hudson in New York state. In 1872 he was made supervisor on the Boston & Erie Railroad, now a part of the New York, New Haven & Hartford system, and he worked in that capacity for about twelve years. In 1884 Mr. Conway quit railroading to engage in other and more profitable business. He had worked steadily for more than twenty years and by prudent habits had saved a sufficient sum of money to start a grocery and provision store in Millville. Almost from the outset his business venture proved a suc- cess and led to still greater successes until John Conway came to be recognized among the best busi- ness men of that place. This enviable position he occupies today in Blackstone, where he has been a prominent figure for many years. In December, 1893, he was appointed postmaster of Millville under Mr. Cleveland's administration, and held that office four years. In connection with the postmastership, he engaged in various enterprises and dealt consid- erably in real estate. At one time he was in the undertaking business.
Mr. Conway came to the town of Blackstone in 1868, and since he began merchandising has taken a prominent part in town affairs. He is one of the strongest Democrats in the county. He served as assessor three years, selectman one year, and for the last five years has held the office of town treas- urer. He also is prominent in Catholic fraternal circles, and was principal organizer of the local branch of Ancient Order of Hibernians, in which he has held one office or another for the past twenty- three years, and was the first and is the present president of St. Augustine Temperance Society ; he is a member of St. Augustine Branch, No. Soo, of Catholic Knights of America.
He has been married twice. Ilis first wife was Katherine O'Connell, of Copake, New York, who died February 6, 1873. Four children were born of this marriage, viz .: I. Mary, born in Copake, New York, October 8, 1866, married William Deegan, senior member of the firm of Deegan & Sweeney of South Framingham, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Deegan have two children: Mary, born in South Framingham, February 28, 1894, and Mil- dred, born in South Framingham, August 26, 1897. 2. Michael Augustine, born in Millerton, New York, December 29, 1867, died February 28. 1897; mar- ried Kate Keough, of Millville, Massachusetts, daughter of Daniel and Ellen Keough. They had four children: John Francis, William, Mary, and Frederick Conway, the latter of whom died July 2, 1905. 3. John Henry, born in Millerton, New York, July 5, 1869, died in Millville, Massachusetts, 1893. 4. Thomas T., born in Millerton, New York, July 7, 1871. Mr. Conway's second wife was Cath- erine O'Brien, who was born in Armagh, county Roscommon, Ireland, February 20, 1848. She is a daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Kelly)
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