Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester county, Massachusetts, with a history of Worcester society of antiquity, Vol. IV, Part 85

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 85

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(III) Flynt Barton, son of Edmund Barton (2), was born in Sutton, now Millbury, Massachusetts, December 3, 1749. He learned the blacksmith trade and followed it during his active years. He settled in Sidney, Maine, where he died May 12, 1833. He married Lydia Crosby, daughter of Jonah Crosby. His wife was born in New Ipswich, Massachusetts, November 23, 1758, and died at Sidney, Maine, No- vember 25, 1821. Their children, all born at Sidney, were : Edmund, born April 8, 1779, died 1860, un- married ; Amos, born November 12, 1780, died young ; Jonah, born July 13, 1782, died young; Otis, born May 24, 1784; Rufus, born August 28, 1786; Persia, born July 3. 1788; Crosby, born February 20, 1791; Stephen Flynt, born January 27, 1793, died September 26, 1810; Alfred, born March 18, 1795; Franklin, born May 12, 1797; Anson, born December 4, 1799, mentioned helow ; Dean W., born December 21, 1802, died 1830.

(IV) Anson Barton, son of Flynt Barton (3), was born at Sidney, Maine, December 4, 1799. He settled in Sidney, Maine, and died there September 17. 1853. He married Rhoda Sisson, daughter of Jonathan Sisson. She was born in the parish of Doug- lass, province of New Brunswick, Canada, February 18. 1806. The children of Anson and Rhoda Bar- ton were: Albion, born October 3. 1826, died April

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14, 1875, mentioned below; George Sisson, born Au- gust 17, 1828; Greenleaf, born at Sidney, May 2, 1831; Herrick S., born at Hallowell, Maine, March 14, 1833; Jonathan Quincy, born March 20, 1834; Anson Bliss, born at Cambridgeport, November 27, 1836; Mary Helen, born October 26, 1838, died March 11, 1839; William Henry Harrison, born March 13, 1840; Ellen Victoria, born May 8, 1841, died February 23, 1846; Charles Carroll, born March 27, 1842, died February 4, 1847; Mary Ellen, born October 7, 1845; Caroline Augusta, born March I, 1848.

(V) Albion Barton, son of Anson Barton (4), was born in Sidney. Maine, October 3. 1826. He mar- ried, November 11, 1850, Elizabeth A. Carr. Their children were Charles A., born June 17, 1852, mentioned below ; Frank Eugene, born August 20, 1756, died September 7, 1857; Frederick E., born December 20, 1857 ; Willard A., born November 24, 1865; Arthur P., born February 13, 1872.

( VI) Charles A. Barton, son of Albion Barton (5), was born June 17, 1852. He resided in Wick- ford, Rhode Island, and in 1875 removed to Ux- bridge, Massachusetts, where he died March 12, 1877, in his twenty-fifth year. He married, Novem- ber 1, 1871, Margaret Melvina Seagrave, daughter of Charles E. and Abigail (Carter) Seagrave. Her father was born in Uxbridge, October 1, 1825, and her mother was born in Pawtucket, June 12, 1824; they were married at Lunenburg, Massachusetts, May 3, 1848, and their children were: Edwin Car- ter, born February 12, 1849, died December 9, 18.49; Margaret Melvina, born December 20, 1850, at Northbridge; Charles Scott, born August 9, 1852, at Uxbridge; Mary Abbie, born April 15. 1858; Annie, born October 17, 1859. died October 18, 1859; Augustus C. S., born July 20, 1868, at Ux- bridge. The grandfather of Margaret Melvina was John Seagrave, of Uxbridge, who married, March 21, 1805, Mary Scott, of Bellingham; he was born February 5, 1784, son of John Seagrave, born No- vember 6, 1757, who married Sarah Dorrington, of Boston, born April 7. 1755; John, Sr., was a revo- Jutionary soldier and fifer. The father of John Sea- grave, Sr., was Edward Seagrave, born in England, 1722, farmer, captain in the revolution, settled in Uxbridge; married Lois White, January 6, 1757, the daughter of Joseph and Judith White, of Uxbridge. Edward Seagrave was son of the immigrant ances- tor, John Seagrave, and his wife Sarah; John Sea- grave died on the voyage over, leaving a wife and four children. The children of Charles A. and Mar- garet Melvina ( Seagrave) Barton were: Charles Albion, born October 1, 1874, mentioned below ; Elizabeth S., born October 7. 1876.

(VII) Charles Albion Barton, son of Charles A. Barton (6), was born at Wickford. Rhode Island, October 1, 1874 He was but one year old when his parents removed to Uxbridge, Massachusetts, where he has resided ever since. His father died when he was less than three years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Uxbridge and in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at Providence, Rhode Island. He began his business career August 30, 1897, as clerk in the Uxbridge Savings Bank, and was elected treasurer of this institution Janu- ary 10, 1904. He is also a trustee of the bank. Mr. Barton is interested in public affairs and especially in town matters. He is secretary and treasurer of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association, and a di- rector of Blackstone National Bank. He is a mem-

ber of the board of registrars of the town. In poli- tics he is a Republican. Mr. Barton is well known in Masonic circles and is at present (1906) wor- shipful master of Solomon Temple Lodge, A. F. and A. M. He is also a member of Uxbridge Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of Wacantuck Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen; of Ux- bridge Grange, Patrons of Husbandry; of the Sav- ings Bank Treasurers Club of Massachusetts, and he is an associate member of H. H. Legg Post, Grand Army. He and his family attend the Con- gregational Church.

He married, September 12, 1899. Carrie E. Dall- iels, of Blackstone, Massachusetts. She died May II. 1902. He married (second) Florence Julia Thayer, daughter of Frederick Thayer, of Woon- socket, Rhode Island, the woolen manufacturer whose mills are at North Oxford, Massachusetts. There was one child of the first marriage, Charles Seagrave Barton, born May 10, 1902.

EDDY WARNER PROUTY. This distinguished violinist is a son of Joel Eli and Minerva Prouty, and was born at Proutyville. or Lower Wire Village, Spencer, June 27, 1860. Mr. Prouty, who has been unusually successful in his musical career, inherited his love for the violin from his grandfather. Liberty Prouty, a pioneer wire manufacturer, and his gen- eral passion for music from his mother, who was a fine alto singer of local reputation. From his earliest years Mr. Prouty longed to possess a violin, and when he was six years old, his parents gratified this wish, purchasing a violin fitted for a boy of his size, and hanging it on the Christmas tree in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the winter of 1866. This proved mnost acceptable but did not entirely meet his wishes. Two years later he took up piano practice with Edward L. Sumner, but his love for the violin increased with his years, and when he was ten years old, his father purchased for him the violin of his grandfather, Liberty Prouty, which had been in the possession of his brother Henry, and which Mr. Prouty treasures up to the present day

Now for the first time he possessed an instru- ment which was 'satisfactory to his young mind, and commenced taking lessons from John Eastwood, a young English wire worker. living in Proutyville. His first lesson was "Yankee Doodle," and he was satisfied with his performance of this at the end of one week. The next lesson, "Money Musk," was too difficult for him, and after many trials and little progress, he became discouraged for the time, and abandoned further effort. This discouragement pre- vented any further attempt to get a musical educa- tion until he was seventeen years of age, except for a short time while he was at Wilbraham Academy, when he took lessons in harmony and on the piano, under Professor Hastings, in addition to his regu- lar studies. A contagious disease broke out among the scholars, and young Prouty left the school during his second term. He returned to his home, and when his strength was sufficiently restored he attended the high school for three years, but his only mitsical practice was singing for one year with his mother in the Methodist Episcopal church. He then attended Howe's Commercial College at Worcester, and acquired a knowledge of bookkeeping. He worked for one year for D. A. Drury, in his boot factory, having the promise of a position as book- keeper at the end of the year. This promise was

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not kept, and he accepted the position of book- keeper and cashier with Bemis & Prouty, a Spencer concern, then doing business as provision dealers in Worcester. During the early winter of 1877-78 Mr. Prouty was sick with lung fever, and was con- fined to his house until spring. During this time he took up his neglected violin work, and has never since abandoned it. He practiced scales and church music until he was well enough to go out, and then took lessons of Charles Muzzy, a noted local violinist. Mr. Muzzy advised him to get a more competent instructor, and he placed himself under the direction of Carl Eichler, of Boston, in June, 1878, and made rapid progress. He organized his first orchestra; known as Prouty & Bemis orchestra, in August of that year, Harry E. Bemis being a partner. Their first appearance in public was in the vestry of the Methodist Episcopal church at a festival on December 18 and 19, 1879. They put on Gilbert & Sullivan's "H. M. S. Pinafore" with all local singers, and this was probably the first opera ever produced in Spencer by home talent. Mr. Prouty conducted. and Sarah W. Dyer, daughter of Dr. Edward C. Dyer, sang the leading part.

On December 31, 1879, this orchestra played at the sixth annual concert and ball of the Spencer firemen, an engagement of which they were very proud, as it was the first time that the firemen had not been obliged to send out of town for their music. Mr. Prouty remained in Spencer during 1880, and at the same time continued his musical studies in Boston. His first appearance as a soloist was October 26, of that year, when he played the De Beriot Concerto in D Major at a concert given by the Spencer Cornet Band. The winter of 1880-81 was a very successful one for his orchestra, their time being well booked for parties in Spencer and adjoining towns. In the spring the name of the orchestra was changed to Prouty & Belcher, and went under that name for two years, since which time it has been known only as Prouty's orchestra, Mr. Prouty assuming full control.

Mr. Prouty soon made arrangements with the proprietors of leading summer and winter resorts, and between seasons had so many calls that he made his headquarters and permanent address with the Oliver Ditson Company, music publishers of Boston. His orchestra filled two seasons' engage- ments at Cottage City and Martha's Vineyard, dur- ing the summers of 1881 and 1882. They were at Poland Springs Hotel, Maine, during the summers of 1883 and 1884. The fall seasons of 1881 and 1883 were filled by engagements at the San Souci Gardens, Providence, and the New Bedford Opera House. At the close of his first season at Poland Springs, he accepted a position with the Germania Orchestra of Boston. continuing his study with its leader, Carl Eichler. He also took lessons that season of Bernard Listemann. During Mr. Prouty's first season at Poland Springs, the manager of the St. James Hotel at Jacksonville, Florida, then stopping there, heard his orchestra and was so well pleased that he offered him an engagement for the winter of 1883-84, and continued to employ him for eighteen consecutive seasons. until the hotel burned down.

During the fall of 1884 he made a tour of the Middle States and Canada. His connection with the St. James brought him an abundance of calls to other places, his orchestra having been heard there and favorably commented on by hotel managers from all over the United States. To this he owes his engagement at the Magnolia hotel, the Bay Point

hotel, Hotel Champlain, Owl's Head, Princess Anne, Virginia : Magnolia Springs, Florida ; and the Ocean House, Swampscott. During the summer of 1885 he was engaged as a soloist with Schmidt's orches- tra on the Fall River line of steamers to New York, and during that season studied with two of the lead- ing violinists of New York city.

During the summer of 1899 Mr. Prouty received an offer from both the Florida East Coast Hotel Company and the Plant system for the winter fol- lowing, and accepted the first named offer to play at Nassau, N. P., Bahamas, at the Colonial and Royal Victoria, where he lias been the past seven winters. He furnished music for the four Magnolia hotels twelve consecutive summers, at Masconomo at Manchester-by-the-Sea, two seasons at Ponce de Leon, St. Augustine, Florida, one season at Royal Palm, Miami, Florida, and one season at Hotel Continental, Atlantic Beach, Florida. During the winter of 1903 Mr. J. Leddie Hees, president of the Fonda, Johnstown and Gloversville Railroad Company, being in Nassau, Bahama Islands was so well pleased with the orchestra he made a flattering offer, which Mr. Prouty accepted, playing for said company at Sacandaga Park, New York, that sum- mer with orchestra of twelve men. In 1904 and 1905 there were sixteen men playing both orchestra and military band. These seasons have been very suc- cessful. The orchestra included some of the best soloists in the country. It is probable that Mr. Pronty's orchestra has filled more engagements at re- sort hotels than any other orchestra in the country, having filled fifty-five engagements. It is particularly worthy of note that these engagements have come unsolicited. His work has been and is eminently satisfactory, as may be judged by the frequency with which he has been engaged for succeeding seasons. That he is a hard worker in his chosen field is very evident, and that he has been a man- ager of no mean ability is equally clear, as proved by the excellent results achieved. Mr. Prouty has one of the most complete libraries of music for both orchestra and military band in the country, and employs the best of musicians. His son, Joel Cecil Prouty, has filled the position as first violin for two seasons at Sacandaga. He is a very prom- ising young violinist and leader, and will probably have charge of one of his father's orchestras in the Florida East Coast System during the winter of 1907.

Mr. Prouty married, February 14, 1883, Sarah Worcester Dyer, born April 4, 1858, daughter of Dr. Edward C. Dyer. (See sketch of Dr. Edward C. Dyer). Their children are: Joel Cecil, born April 9, 1886. Harold Dyer, January 22, 1888, died April 10, 1902. Edward Dyer, February 15, 1896. Cheney Russell, February 28, 1898, died March 3, 1903. Ida Ethelyn, July 22, 1899. Mr. Prouty has his home in Spencer, where he spends his vacations in much needed relaxation and rest.

IRA NATHANIEL GODDARD, a prominent resident of Millbury. was born March 1, 1830, in the house he now owns and occupies. On both the paternal and maternal sides he is a descendant of some of the earliest English families that emigrated to Massachusetts. By the aid of a work pub- lished in England, entitled "Memoirs of the God- dards of North Wiltshire," he traces his ancestry in a direct line to one Walter Goddard, who won fame and distinction during the latter part of the twelfth century.

The pioneer ancestor of the American branch

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of the family was William Goddard, seventh son of Edward and Priscilla (D'Oyley) Goddard. He was a wholesale grocer in London, England, but by heavy losses at sea and in trade was forced to give up the greater part of his property. In 1666 he emigrated to New England and located with his wife and children in Watertown, Massachu- setts, where he remained permanently. The follow- ing extracts from the town records refer to him : "Admitted to full communion January 8. 1677: ad- mitted freeman ( voter) December, 1677." " "March 27. 1680: These are to certify that Mr. William Goddard, whom the said town, by covenanting, en- gaged to teach such children as should be sent to him to learn the rules of the Latin tongue, hath those accomplishments which render him capable to discharge the trust confident to him." Signed by John Sherman, pastor.

Benjamin Goddard. son of William Goddard, was for many years a resident of Charlestown, Mas- sachusetts, and was the father of a son, also named Benjamin, who was born in Charlestown 1705. died in Grafton, Worcester county, December, 1759. His son Samuel, grandfather of Ira N. Goddard, was born in Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, December 27. 1742. During his early manhood he resided in Sutton, Massachusetts, and there mar- ried Elizabeth King, who died comparatively young, leaving six children: Henry; Samuel: Elizabeth, married 'Squire Peck, a man famous in the his- tory of Vermont, and their son, Asahel Peck, was governor of Vermont in 1874: Asahel; Salmon; and James Goddard. June 29. 1790. Samuel Goddard (grandfather) married ( second) Mrs. Catherine Parks of Athol. Massachusetts, a daughter of Stephen Parker, of Shrewsbury, and a direct de- scendant of Thomas Parker, who emigrated from London, England, to Massachusetts in 1635, and- became one of the original settlers of Reading, Mid- dlesex county. Of the eight children born of this union, four attained maturity ; Benjamin. Tamar, Nathaniel, and Danford Goddard. The father of these children died at Royalston, Worcester county, August 16. 1806.

Nathaniel Goddard, son of Samuel and Cath- erine ( Parker) Goddard, and father of Ira N. God- dard, was born in Royalston, Worcester county, Massachusetts. February 7. 1797. He was educated in the common schools, then served an apprentice- ship at the trade of boot and shoe maker, and in 1810 engaged in the manufacture of the same in Millbury. This enterprise proved exceedingly suc- cessful, and six years later he had accumulated sufficient to erect a fine home for those days in Millbury, the house still standing in a good state of preservation and now occupied by his son, Ira N. Thereafter in the shop and store connected with the residence he conducted the shoe business, both as manufacturer and dealer. until his decease. He was a prominent man of affairs in the town, and was chosen to serve in the various public offices. He was a member of the Congregational Church, in which body he served for more than fifty years in the capacity of deacon.

At Royalston, Massachusetts. October 27, 1820, Mr. Goddard married Rhoda Gale, born in that town, July 15, 1798, daughter of Jonathan and Rhoda (Baker) Gale, and a lineal descendant of two prominent early settlers of Massachusetts- Richard Baker, who emigrated from England to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1635: and Richard Gale, who settled in Watertown in 1640. Their chil-

dren: Julia A., born April 25,+1822, married Henry W. Benchley, lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts in 1858, and died July 30, 1854, leaving two chil- dren : Maria, died aged ten years, and Sophia, a resi- dent of Worcester, Massachusetts, widow of the late Rufus Wesson and mother of two sons. Ira Nathaniel, born March 1, 1830, mentioned herein- after. Nathaniel Goddard ( father) died December 8, 1887; he survived his wife several years, her death having occurred December 27, 1883.

Ira Nathaniel Goddard, son of Nathaniel God- dard, obtained a practical education in the com- mon schools and academy of Millbury, his native town, and afterward worked for his father in the shoe business until attaining his majority. He was then admitted into partnership as junior member of the firm of Nathaniel Goddard & Son. and on the death of his father succeeded to the entire business and parental estate, conducting the former in a successful manner and residing on the latter. For two decades he served as agent for many life and fire insurance companies, this adding materially to his income. For many years he has been connected with the Millbury Savings Bank, and at the present time ( 1906) is president of the same, having served as such for ten years, and is a member of the in- vestment committee. He has been the recipient of many political honors, is now town clerk, and is now (1906) serving with credit for the fifty-fourth con- secutive year. He has been assessor, tax collector and selectman. He was elected to the legislature in 1905. Although he was an earnest worker in the ranks of the Republican party, he received the support of his political opponents, this being a tribute to his worth and ability as a citizen. He attends the Congregational Church of Millbury, in which he has been clerk for fifteen years, was super intendent of its Sunday school some fifteen years, and takes great interest in the welfare of its va- rious branches of work. He is a member of the Masonic order. He is public-spirited and philan- thropic, and commands in a large degree the respect and commendation of all who are brought in con- tact with him, either in business or social life.

Mr. Goddard married. June 26. 1856. Josephine C. Ryan. daughter of John and Caroline (Merritt) Ryan, of Millbury, and they had two children : One died in infancy, and Harry M., born in Millbury, August 3. 1859. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1880 entered into the coal. ice and lumber business in Millbury and has continued the same ever since. He is a member of the Masonic order, and a stanch Republican in politics. In 18So he married Jenny M. Waters, born in Sutton, Massachusetts, daughter of John C. and Mary ( Abbott) Waters, of Millbury.

JOSEPH GODFROI VAUDREUIL was one of the leading builders and contractors of Worcester. He was the only son of Isaie and Adele (Auger) Vaudreuil, and was born at Lotbiniere, in the prov- ince of Quebec, November 15. 1850. Isaje Vaud- reuil was a farmer and wheelwright. His son in- herited his skill as a mechanic. He is living at the advanced age of eighty-nine, at Deschaillons, Can- ada. Joseph G. Vaudreuil attended the common schools and worked on his father's farm during his youth. He worked two years in a brickyard. at an age when boys are now kept in school. He was seventeen when he came to Worcester. He went to work in 1868. for J. C. French as a car- penter. He was somewhat familiar with his father's

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Jos. Gs. Vaudreuil

POR IC

David Macduff

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trade of wheelwright, but had never worked at it. His natural aptitude for this trade is shown by the fact that he had risen to the position of foreman in two years, before he had reached his majority. He started life in Worcester literally without a dollar, having but seventy-five cents when he came. He got ahead rapidly. In 1870 he became foreman for H. WV. Eddy, the contractor, and for eighteen years he was in full charge of many of Mr. Eddy's largest contracts. This experience fitted him thoroughly for his business when he started for himself in the building and contracting business. The backing of the late Charles F. Washburn helped him to make a good beginning. He had a shop and planing mill at go Foster street. Some of the contracts he had were for the residences of Charles F. Washburn and Charles G. Washburn, the Washburn block, res- idences of Frank B. Sinith, P. W. Moen, and Jesse Moore. He built all but one of the Worcester Academy buildings. He had the contract for the Crompton block on Front street, which was badly damaged by fire in March, 1905. He built the large brick block for W. H. Dexter, on Main street, near the postoffice; also the Dexter Memorial Hall at Charlton, Massachusetts. He built the magnificent country place at Shrewsbury for the late Philip W. Moen. He had the contracts for the residences of Chester W. Lasell, Whitinsville, and for John W. Wheeler. He built the shops for Prentice Brothers, 667 Cambridge street, Worcester. He has built many of the buildings of the American Steel and Wire Company. He built the country place of Attorney- General H. M. Knowlton, at Marion, Massachusetts, on Buzzard's Bay. He built the handsome country home of John C. MacInnes, at Auburn ; the South Baptist church ; and three of the latest school build- ings of the city of Worcester. He manufactured all the cabinet work and builders' finish used in his contracts and did some general cabinet work for oth- ers. He employed from one to three hundred men. according to the season. He invested heavily in Worcester real estate, having built and owned many of the tenement houses for which there is always a demand in Worcester. He owned a manor house in Canada, and a summer cottage at Lake Quinsig- amond. He resided at 55 Catherine street.

He was president of the principal French-Cana- dian Clubs, and was the founder of two of them. He was an Elk and a member of the Heptasophs ; the Hancock Club, and of the Worcester Continent- als. He was president of the Quinsigamond Steam- boat Company, and member of the Tatassit Canoe Club. In politics he was a Republican. He was fond of hunting and travel and made three trips abroad, travelling in Africa as well as Europe and Great Britain, also Cuba and Mexico.

Ile married, October 24, 18So, Alphonsin Giroux, of Montreal, Canada. Their children are : I Claudio, born in Worcester, July 24, 1885; educated at Worcester Academy and in Montreal schools. 2. Lorenzo, born in Worcester, October 14, 1886, edu- cated in Montreal schools and at Worcester Acad- cmy. Mr. Vaudreuil died in Worcester, February 17. 1906.

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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. IV, Part 85

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