USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 11
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Mr. Tyler married Sarah A. Cook, who was born at Royalston, Massachusetts, and resided there until twenty years of age, Mr. Tyler is a daughter of Caleb A. and Susan (Herrick) Cook, of Royalston, Massachusetts. Mr. Cook was a jeweler of Royalston and, deciding to change his place of business and residence, came to Athol where he continued in the same line of mercan- tile endeavor, only on a much larger scale. He became one of the most prominent jewelers of this section and, spending the remainder of his life time in this community, was a leader in many lines of community advance until his death, which occurred in Athol, April 13, 1888. His wife died in Athol, in April, 1882.
E. Warren Tyler, son of Charles Hunt and Sarah A. (Cook) Tyler, was born at Athol, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 19, 1874. His education was begun in the local public schools and following his completion of the gram- mar course he entered Worcester Business College, at Worcester, Massachusetts. Only sixteen years of age when his father died, Mr. Tyler nevertheless took over the responsibility of his father's business, which he conducted for several years. His interests however, followed other lines of advance, and settling the estate,
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he associated himself with the world of finance in Athol. He has now for many years been identified with the Athol National Bank, of which in the year 1919 he was elected president, still ably serving in this largely re- sponsible office. Mr. Tyler is deeply interested in agri- cultural advance, and owns a fine farm and apple orchard in Phillipston, Massachusetts, where his leisure time is principally spent. He is one of the largely progres- sive men of Athol, and a leader in all that makes for the welfare of the people and the progress of the com- munity. He married Bertha Matthews, of Westboro, Massachusetts, and they have three children: Elinor, Rachel, and Robert.
WILLIAM GARDINER LORD-Even as a young man Mr. Lord engaged in duties devolving upon a public official, because of the illness of his father, and later in life served his community in various capacities. He is well known as a real estate broker, financier, and fra- ternity member. in Athol, Massachusetts, where he re- sides. He is a son of Gardiner and Mary (Barker) Lord. His father was born in Athol, February 26, 1824, and died there November 1, 1899. For many years he had been a boot manufacturer, but later devoted his time to public office as Selectman, Overseer of the Poor, Deputy Sheriff for thirty years, Highway Commissioner, and member of the Board of Assessors.
William Gardiner Lord was born at Athol, Massa- chusetts, September 7, 1871, and there attended the pub- lic schools, being graduated as class president and with class honors in 1888. It had been his purpose to pursue a college course however, but this was denied him on account of his father's illness, which necessitated the young man's attention to public duties. Until the father died, William G. was not free to follow his own course. From 1897 to 1900 he was associated with E. V. . Wil- son, an attorney. In 1900 he took a trip to Europe, and upon his return to Athol started a real estate brokerage business, which is still his vocation. He also is presi- dent of the Athol Cooperative Bank, and vice-president of the Athol National Bank.
Mr. Lord has served as Town Moderator for the past twenty years; Overseer of the Poor for four years, 1907 to IgII; and as member of the Legislature from 1917 to 1919. During the World War he was active on the Public Safety Committee and in all of the Liberty Loan drives, serving as a "four-minute" speaker. He was a member of the Legal Advisory Board, and is prominent as a Mason, being a member in that order of all bodies except the council, holding the thirty-second degree, and is a member of the Shrine. He also affiliates with the local Knights of Pythias and stands second in line for the high office of Grand Chancellor for the State of Massachusetts. He is a member of the Poquaig Club, and in religion is a Baptist, having been treasurer of the Baptist church in Athol for nineteen years.
CHARLES W. GATES-For over a century and a half that branch of the Gates family to which Charles W. Gates (present owner of the pleasant homestead known as "The Elms") belongs, has been identified with the community life of Petersham, Massachusetts. The Gates family is an old one in this country, and in Eng- land dates back for nine generations, Stephen Gates,
the immigrant ancestor being in the tenth generation in the English line from Thomas Gates of Higheaster and Thursteubie, Essex County, England, the line being traced through William; his son, Geoffrey, who mar- ried Agnes Baldington, daughter of Sir Thomas Baldington, of County Oxford, England; their son, William, who married Mabel Capdow, daughter and heiress of Thomas Fleming, of Essex, England; their son, Geoffrey, who married Elizabeth Clapton, daughter of Sir William Clapton, Knight of Kentwell, Sussex, England; their son, Geoffrey, of Higheaster, England, who married ---- Pascall, of Essex; their son, Geof- frey, who married Joan Wentworth; their son, Peter, of London, England, who married Mary Josselyn; their son, Thomas, of Norwich, Norfolk County, who became the father of the immigrant ancestor. The Gates families of Semer, Yorkshire, and Essex, England, were entitled to bear the following arms :
Arms-Per pale, gules and azure, three lions ram- pant gardant or.
Crest-A demi-lion rampant gardant or.
These are recorded in the visitations of York in 1584 and 1665, but records of the original grant have not yet been found.
(I.) Stephen Gates, son of Thomas Gates, of Norwich, Norfolk County, mentioned above, and immigrant ancestor of the branches of the Gates family, to which Charles W. Gates belongs, came from Hingham, England, in the ship "Diligent," of Ipswich, in 1638, accompanied by his wife, Ann (Hill) Gates, and two children. He settled first at Hingham, Massachusetts, and then re- moved to Lancaster, subsequently becoming a resident of Cambridge, where he died in 1662. His will was dated June 9, 1662, and proved October 1, 1662, and bequeathed to his son, Stephen, the home and lot in Lancaster, and to the wife and son, Simon, the home in Cambridge, the son Thomas to remain with them at pleasure. The widow, Ann, later married Richard Woodward, of Watertown, Massachusetts, but after the death of the latter, February 16, 1665, she resumed the name Gates. Children of Stephen and Ann (Hill) Gates were: Elizabeth, Mary, Stephen, Thomas, Simon, of further mention; Isaac, and Rebecca.
(II.) Simon Gates, son of Stephen and Ann (Hill) Gates, was born in 1645, and died April 21, 1695, at Brockton, Massachusetts. He resided first on the home estate at Cambridge, but later removed to Lancaster, and finally to Muddy River, (now Brookline) Massa- chusetts. He married Margaret , and they were the parents of eight children: Abigail, born August 14, 1671, died in 1776; Simon, born September 1, 1673, died January 2, 1675-6; Simon, born January 5, 1675-6, of further mention; George, born April 6, 1678, died May 23, 1679; Amos, born 1681, married, May 19, 1703, Han- nah Oldham; Jonathan, born June 22, 1683, married Persis Sheppard; Samuel, born August II, 1685; and Margaret born August 13, 1689, married James How.
(III.) Simon Gates, son of Simon and Margaret Gates, was born January 5, 1676, and died March 10, 1735. He married in the year 1710, Sarah Wood, daughter of John and Lydia Wood, of Marlboro, Massachusetts. They settled in Marlboro, where she died in 1751. Chil- dren: I. Simon, born December II, 1710, died April II, 1777; married Sarah How. 2. Sarah, born October 15.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
1712, died at Hubbardston; married, February 3, 1736, Ephraim Church, of Rutland. 3. Susannah, born De- cember 19, 1714; married Captain John Phelps, of Rut- land. 4. Stephen, born August 20, 1718, died October 5, 1773; married, February 4, 1742-3, Damaris How, and resided at Rutland. 5. Solomon, born May 14, 1721, died March 2, 1761, at Worcester ; married Mary Clark. 6. Samuel, of further mention. 7. Silas, born February 3, 1727, died August 25, 1793; married, May 9, 1754, Elizabeth Bragg. 8. John, born January 27, 1729, died young.
(IV.) Samuel Gates, son of Simon and Sarah (Wood) Gates, was born February 28, 1722, and died at Petersham, Massachusetts. He married Caroline How. Samuel Gates was the first of the family in Petersham and is said to have bought lands of the Indians and thus avoided trouble with them. He had his grant also as proprietor of the town, and part of the original home- stead is owned and occupied by Charles W. Gates, a lineal descendant, having remained in the family from the first settlement with the exception of two years. Samuel Gates, of Rutland, Massachusetts, responded to the Lexington alarm and served six days. In 1777 he is credited with service as a private in Captain Jon- athan Gates' company. In 1778 Samuel Gates was cor- poral in Captain Harrington's company and in Captain Munroe's Company in Rhode Island. Some of this service may belong to Samuel Gates of Rutland, whose son, Samuel Gates, Jr., was also in the Revolution. Children : I. John, of further mention. 2. Solomon, born October 4, 1761, died January 21, 1847; married, June 6, 1789, Esther Whitney, who was born December IO, 1769, and died August 16, 1848. He was a soldier in the Revolution. 3. Samuel, born in 1766, at Petersham, died there in 1822. He married Hannah Dike in 1789. 4. Susannah, married, September 8, 1788, Samuel McNear, and had one child, Lewis McNear, born in 1792, and died in 1858. 5. Polly, born October 30, 1773, died March 20, 1848. She married, October 22, 1795, Samuel Henry, of Rutland. 6. Caroline, born December 25, 1774; died in March, 1854. She married Joel Ballou, at Petersham. 7. Oliver Cromwell, born 1776, at Petersham, died there in 1841, married Mary How, No- vember 31, 1805, who was born in 1776, and died in 1841.
(V.) John Gates, son of Samuel and Caroline (How) Gates, was born October 7, 1759, at Petersham, Massa- chusetts, and died there November 23, 1824. He mar- ried, July II, 1806, Betsey Gleason, of Barre (intentions dated June 1). She was born March 5, 1780, daughter of John and Ruth (White) Gleason, who were married on April 5, 1771, at Petersham; she died at Petersham October 8, 1835. He was a soldier of the Revolution, a private in Captain Jonathan Gates' Company from December 15, 1776, to March I, 1777; sergeant in the same company, serving at Saratoga at the surrender of Burgoyne; in 1778 was a corporal in the guard at Rut- land, Major Read, commanding, and is credited with six months' service. Children, all born at Petersham: I. Samuel, born May 3, 1807, died there February 17, 1810. 2. Charles, of further mention. 3. Samuel Flint, born in 1811, died July 23, 1812. 4. Harriet, born Au- gust 18, 1813, died January 4, 1894; married (first) Thomas E. Winchester; married (second), June 17, 1856, Joseph W. Upton. 5. Elizabeth, born March 3,
1822, died March 8, 1882; married, September 10, 1850, P. Ames Fobes, of 'Oakham, Massachusetts. Their son, Charles Ames Fobes, was born May 12, 1859, at Marion, Iowa, and died at Kingston, Jamaica, March II, 1905. He and his parents are buried in the West Cemetery, Oakham, Massachusetts. A bequest in his will gave $4,000 to the town of Petersham, Massachusetts, in memory of his mother. This money was used toward building the schoolhouse in the centre in 1906. The same amount was bequeathed to Oakham, Massachusetts, in memory of his father, for a public library.
(VI.) Charles Gates, son of John and Betsey (Glea- son) Gates, was born at Petersham, Massachusetts, November 5, 1808, and died April 4, 1872. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Petersham, and lived on the farm inherited from his father. He was also engaged for many years in the palm leaf business. At first palm leaf hats were made and wagons sent with the stock to farm houses in all the surrounding towns, giv- ing employment to hundreds of women and children in their homes. Later he manufactured shaker hoods. The "webs" and "binds" for the hoods were woven and knotched braid made by the busy fingers of the housewives, then taken to the shop at Petersham, where they were made into shaker hoods. The finished goods were shipped to Boston and New York. The palm leaf was bought in crude form and was split and dyed by Mr. Gates in his shop. He was an expert in the dyeing of palm leaf and did considerable business in dyeing for other manufacturers. The colors most in vogue were black and green, Mr. Gates being one of the first to color palm leaf green successfully. The business for a short time was conducted by the firm of Gates & Tower, but mostly under his own name. It was finan- cially successful and was conducted from 1850 until 1866. From 1864 to 1866 he had a grocery store in Petersham. In 1867 and 1868 he had a hardware store in Athol, conducted under the firm name of Charles Gates & Company. The firm manufactured tinware of various kinds, and sent the familiar old tin peddler's carts about the country selling the goods in exchange for paper, rags, etc. He removed the tinware business to Petersham. He continued all the time to live on the homestead at Petersham, and managed it in addition to his other business interests.
In politics Mr. Gates was a Whig until that party went to pieces, when he became a Republican. Although interested always in town affairs, he preferred not to hold office himself. He was on the School Committee in District No. 4 for some years. In religion he was a Universalist, and an active member of the church. When visiting clergymen came to Petersham, they were entertained at his house, and the visits of such emi- nent men as Rev. Hosea Ballou and Rev. Sylvanus Cobb are still remembered by the older citizens. Mr. Gates was of a genial, pleasant disposition. In business he was strictly honest and honorable, and was shrewd and successful in making money, but too generous and trust- ful in the honor of others to save his money.
He married (first) Mercy T. White, May 31, 1832, who died at Petersham, June 25, 1834, aged twenty-five years. He married (second), March 7, 1836, Mary Ann Tower, who was born August II, 1812, and died March 28, 1895, daughter of Jonas, who was born March 8,
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
1768, and Fanny (Parmenter) Tower, who were married February 16, 1792, at Petersham. To the first marriage one child, Alfred White, was born, June 5, 1834, died October 22, 1871, at East Saginaw, Michigan; married Mary Gleason, of Munson, Massachusetts; had a gen- eral store at Belchertown, Massachusetts; later in the hotel and livery stable business at Enfield, Massachu- setts; afterward at East Saginaw, Michigan, where he conducted a large livery stable and stage business. Chil- dren born at East Saginaw: Mildred, born August 28, 1861, married, March I, 1886, Eugene F. Sanborn, and resides in Los Angeles, California. Charles Alfred, born October 6, 1868, married, June 15, 1892, Edith M. Van Alstine, of West Bay City, Michigan, now living in Dallas, Texas; vice-president of the Southwestern Telegraph and Telephone Company. Children of Charles and Mary Ann (Tower) Gates, all born in Petersham: I. Marcia Jane, born February 3, 1837, married, July 18, 1860, Edward F. Clark, died February 8, 1923, while on a visit to Worcester. 2. Mary Josephine, born February 22, 1839, married, December 19, 1865, Sextus P. God- dard, of Petersham; she died September 17, 1878, at Petersham. Children: i. Sextus Elwin Goddard, born October II, 1867, died at Petersham, March 9, 1876. ii. Mary Emily Goddard, born March 3, 1869, died at Petersham, September 24, 1869. iii. Malcolm Rupert Goddard, born June 29, 1871, died January 19, 1873, at Worcester. iv. Mabel Josephine Goddard, born May I, 1873, at Worcester. v. Alice May Goddard, born Janu- ary 20, 1875, at Petersham. vi. Willie Goddard, born July 7, 1877, died August 23, 1877. 3. Ella Frances, born April 14, 1841, died February 20, 1871. 4. John Tower, born September 20, 1843, married, September 20, 1864, Henrietta E. Buxton, he died February 21, 1870. Children : i. Ernest, born April 9, 1866, died at Peters- ham, August 13, 1867. ii. Edith M., born October 2, 1867, at Athol, Massachusetts, is now residing at West Boylston. John Tower Gates was in business with his father. 5. Elizabeth Louisa, born April 20, 1850, died December 28, 1873. 6. Charles William, of further mention.
(VII.) Charles William Gates, son of Charles and Mary Ann (Tower) Gates, was born in Petersham, Massachusetts, October 20, 1855, and received his educa- tion in the public schools of his native town, with which his ancestors have been identified for the past four gen- erations. He owns and occupies the Gates farm, known as "The Elms," in the east part of Petersham, and has throughout the period of his mature life taken an active interest in the affairs of that community. The high standards of citizenship and service which are tradi- tional in the Gates family have been most faithfully maintained by Mr. Gates. He was one of the coop- erators in the project which resulted in the building of the Petersham Library, and though never an active figure, he has most efficiently and faithfully borne his share of the burden of public office. For twenty-six years he has served as Town Tax Collector, his first appointment being received in 1890, and since 1904 he has held that office continuously. In 1915 he was appointed Town Treasurer, which important office he has continued to hold to the present time. Politically he gives his sup- port to the principles and the candidates of the Repub- lican party. During the World War he was active
in raising money for the Red Cross and for the success of the Liberty Loan drives, and there have been few movements for progress in Petersham during the last forty years in which Mr. Gates has not been one of the supporters. He is a member of the Grange of Petersham, which he has served both as assistant stew- ard and as steward, and he is also a member of the Petersham Historical Society. He is an attendant of the Orthodox Congregational Church, which organization he has served for many years as treasurer and collector and as a member of the board of trustees.
Charles W. Gates married, in Worcester, Massachu- setts, December 12, 1901, Sarah E. Buckminster, of Worcester, Massachusetts, a graduate of the Mt. Sinai Training School for Nurses, New York City, and daughter of Miles S. and Emily E. (Buxton) Buck- minster, the latter of whom was born in South Royal- ston, March 12, 1840. Miles S. Buckminster was born in Roxbury, New Hampshire, July 22, 1817, and was among those who crossed the continent in 1849 with the hope of quickly gaining wealth in the gold fields. In 1855 he settled in Keene, New Hampshire, where he lived during the remainder of his life and where he died March 24, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Gates have no children.
CHESTER PAGE PEARSON-With the acces- sion of dignity which came to Gardner, Massachusetts, as a civic center on January I, 1923, the name of Chester Page Pearson was honored by the people, Mr. Pearson having been elected first Mayor of the city of Gardner. Mr. Pearson has for many years stood among the foremost men of the day not only in Gardner, but in other cities of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont, where he has important mercantile interests.
The Pearson family has long been established in Ver- mont, and Samuel Howe Pearson, Mr. Pearson's father, was born in Albany, Vermont, later, with his parents, going to Coventry, Vermont, where he was a prominent farmer throughout his lifetime, and a leading figure in local political affairs, also participating in the legisla- tive business of the State as Representative from his district. He was a man of broad interests and the high- est integrity, esteemed by all who knew him. The mother, Sarah (Gray) Pearson, was born in Coventry, Vermont, and both are now deceased.
Chester Page Pearson was born at Coventry, Vermont, July 4, 1873. His education was begun in the district schools of his birthplace, and was continued at Crafts- bury Academy. After teaching school for two terms, he entered Becker's Business College of Worcester, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in the class of 1894. His early business experience was in the capacity of clerk, in the employ of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad, at their Worcester freight office, but a short time thereafter he became cashier for the American Telephone & Telegraph Company, at their Worcester office. Mr. Pearson then became iden- tified with the general line of activity in which he has since won wide renown as well as large success-the dry goods business. He began as a clerk in the store of Goodnow Brothers & Company, at East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where he filled this subordinate position for four years. Then on August 2, 1899, Mr. Pearson was
Eng by E G. Williams & Bro. NY.
The American Historical Society
ChesterPearson
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BIOGRAPHICAL
received into partnership with Walter L. Goodnow, of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, and Windsor H. Goodnow of Keene, New Hampshire. As a member of this mercan- tile organization Mr. Pearson came to Gardner to es- tablish a store in this community before the close of that year. He founded the interest on a small scale, first employing only one clerk, but under his efficient and progressive management has developed one of the largest and most important department stores of any in a city of similar size in the State of Massachusetts. The concern now employs here as many as II2 clerks, and their trade is drawn from many of the surrounding towns and villages as well as from the city of Gardner itself. The Goodnow-Pearson organization has widened and grown, becoming established in several other New England cities and towns, until now Mr. Pearson is president of the Goodnow-Pearson Company, of Fitch- burg, Massachusetts; president of the Goodnow-Pearson- Orton Company of Athol, Massachusetts ; vice-president of the Goodnow-Hunt-Pearson Company of Nashua, New Hampshire; vice-president of Goodnow-Hunt- Pearson, Incorporated, of Laconia, New Hampshire; and is a partner of Goodnow, Pearson & Hunt of Brattleboro, Vermont; also Goodnow, Jewett & Bishop of Bellows Falls, Vermont. All the above organizations are leading department stores of the various communities in which they are located, and Mr. Pearson's associates in these enterprises are men of high calibre, progres- sive, forward-looking executives who are bearing a constructive part in the business advance of the day. Mr. Pearson's interests center in Gardner, and his most recent enterprise is the floating of a project which will mean much to the city as a business center. This is the Gardner Hotel Company, of which Mr. Pearson is president, which has raised $300,000 for the erection of a modern hotel in this city, which will adequately en- tertain the traveling public and add to the importance of the city as a business and residential center. Mr. Pear- son is a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Gardner, and also of the Chairtown Cooperative Bank.
Holding this broad significance to the business world of Gardner, it was but natural that Mr. Pearson should be brought forward into public service, and for some years he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the town of Gardner, during 1920-21-22 serving as chair- man of the board. On December 5, 1922, Mr. Pearson had the honor of being chosen as chief executive of the city of Gardner, and he took up the duties of this high office on January I, 1923, when the new form of government went into effect. In emerging from the comparative obscurity of the town to the broader re- sponsibilities of the municipal form of government, the people of Gardner took a step which they looked upon as a civic duty, and in their choice of the executive who was to lead them out into the untried experience, they turned to one in whom they felt the utmost confidence. Few men of Gardner are better known to the people- few are more closely in touch with the leaders of com- mercial and industrial activity, and none hold more fully the confidence and esteem of all. The new era opened auspiciously, and with the cordial cooperation of the people Mr. Pearson is going forward with the best in- terests of the municipality at heart, its ever higher stand-
ing among the cities of New England his unfaltering purpose. In his more personal interests Mr. Pearson is broadly in touch with fraternal affairs. He is a mem- ber of Hope Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Gard- ner; of Gardner Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Ivan- hoe Commandery, No. 146, Knights Templar; and Massachusetts Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Boston; also of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of Boston. He is a member of Gardner Lodge, No. 1426, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and William Ellison Lodge, No. 185, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Well known socially, he is a member of the Ridgely Club of Gardner, is president of the Gardner Boat Club, a mem- ber of the Gardner Luncheon Club, and of the Worces- ter Country Club and the Oak Hill Country Club of Fitchburg. In benevolent and charitable activities he always bears a part, and since its organization has been chairman of the Home Service Committee of the Gardner Red Cross.
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