USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 23
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Mr. Johnson married, at Sterling, Massachusetts, No- vember 19, 1889, Flora P. Barnes, born at Norwich, Connecticut, a daughter of William and Ellen Jane (Holyoke) Barnes, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of four children : Marion E., born March 6, 1897, in Worcester, Massachusetts, and educated at Barre High School, Cushing Academy, and Worcester Business College; Nathaniel L., born in Worcester, in 1898, died in that city in 1900; twins, Steven Dans and Stanley Phillips, born in North Dana, Massachusetts, . in 1901; Steven Dans died in 1901; and Stanley Phillips in Worcester, in 1918, of the influenza.
FRANK EDWARD WING-As a constructive business man, a public speaker, a community leader, one of the foremost Masons in the State, and as one of the best loved and most widely known men of his town, the life of Frank Edward Wing presents a scope of endeavor and diversity of attainments seldom equalled
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and rarely surpassed. His death, at the very height of his usefulness and powers, was a distinct loss to his church, his community, his business and his fraternity. Scores of newspapers and trade journals published eulo- gistic surveys of his exemplary life, that showed only too clearly how much this leading citizen had meant to his fellow townsmen, and how greatly he would be missed. Although comparatively short in years, the life of Frank Edward Wing was long and full in the num- ber and variety of his achievements. An upright man and Mason, he has gone in search of further light in the great fraternity he loved so well and served so faith- fully.
Frank Edward Wing was born in Conway, Massachu- setts, June 27, 1865, a son of Edward Everett and Helen Jane (Newman) Wing, and was one of the fifth genera- tion of the family of Wing in Conway. He was of the tenth generation removed from the family progenitor, Matthew Wing, or Wynge, of Banbury, in Oxford County, England. The family bore arms as follows :
Arms-Per pale argent and vert, a maunch counter- changed.
Crest-A maunch per pale argent and vert, between two wings or.
Motto-Tout pour Dieu et ma patrie.
The line of descent of the American branch is as follows: John and Deborah (Batchelder) Wing, of Saugus, now Lynn, Massachusetts; John and Eliza- beth Wing, of Lynn and Yarmouth, Massachusetts; Ananias and Hannah Wing, of Yarmouth; John and Mary (Knowles) Wing, of Plymouth, Eastham, and Brewster, Massachusetts; John and Abigail (Snow) Wing, of Harwich and Conway; the Rev. Isaiah and Zelinda (Allis) Wing, of Conway, Massachusetts; Lu- cius Bliss and Abigail (Wilson) Wing, of Conway; and Edward Everett and Helen Jane (Newman) Wing, of Conway, Massachusetts. Among Mr. Wing's forebears, his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Ananias Wing, served as a soldier in King Phillip's War (1675) ; his great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary War in the famous Colonel Nicholas Dike's regiment (1776) ; his great uncle was one of the firing squad when Major Andre was executed as a spy. The family of Wing ranks as one of the finest and oldest of the old New England families.
Frank Edward Wing's early education was received in the public schools of Conway, following which he at- tended Smith Academy at Hatfield, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in the year 1882. He matricu- lated at Yale University in the fall of the same year, and was graduated with the class of 1886 with the de- gree of Bachelor of Arts. He was chosen by his class as fence orator and class historian, two signal honors won only by ability and popularity. He was also chosen chairman of the editorial board of the "Yale Courant," a college periodical of more than usual excellence. Dur- ing his undergraduate days he was further honored by election to Psi Upsilon, one of the foremost of the national Greek-letter fraternities. Mr. Wing's dominant but winning personality that so endeared him to the citizens of Athol was just as evident in his collegiate years, as was evinced by the unusual popularity and the correlative honors accorded him. He was persona grata at all college functions and with all college classes,
and this general regard was destined to become amplified and intensified with the years. Frank E. Wing came to Athol, Massachusetts, in April, 1887, and entered the employ of the late Laroy S. Starrett in the capacity of bookkeeper and clerk, constituting at that time the entire office force. The sound and gradual growth of the L. S. Starrett Company was, to a great degree, given impetus by the skill and ability of Mr. Wing. In 1900, the business had grown from a small, one-room shop to a large and commodious plant, and upon its incorpora- tion Mr. Wing was chosen clerk and director, both of which offices he held and ably filled until 1912, when his duties and responsibilities were greatly increased by being given still another position, that of treasurer. These three important offices were held and their many duties admirably discharged by Mr. Wing up to the time of his death. In his work he was indefat- igable. He constantly kept in touch with all divisions of the business and watched the pulse of trade intently. In order to better get in touch with the foreign trade he became a' student of the languages, especially that of Span- ish, and personally supervised the compilation of data to be used in the foreign advertising. His work in bring- ing the L. S. Starrett Company up to its present size and excellent condition can not be over-emphasized. Mr. Wing's other business connections and interests were with the Athol Machine Company, in which concern he had held the offices of clerk and director since the year 1905. He had also been a trustee of the Athol Savings Bank since 1900, filling the position with his customary ability.
In his military service he was sergeant of Company 8, 18th Regiment, Massachusetts State Guard, and during the World War he served as a "Four Minute Man," and was also chairman of the Massachusetts Industrial Com- mittee of Athol during that period. For many years he was chairman of the Athol Library Board, and in his political affiliations was a member of the Republican party, of which he was a staunch supporter, serving his party and his community as a member of the Town Committee, and as a delegate to the nominating conven- tions. Town and community affairs were always of deep interest to him, many newspapers having since spoken of the great love he bore for his town and townspeople. As chairman of the Athol School Committee he gave valuable service from the year 1900 to 1906. He was also a library trustee for the years 1903, 1904, and 1905, and was at one time chairman of the appropriation com- mittee. No matter how occupied with his many business duties, Mr. Wing would always lend his personal and financial support to any movement designed to further the advancement of the public welfare or to improve civ- ic or community conditions. His fraternal record is especially worthy of more than cursory mention. He was a Free Mason and a Knights Templar in the fullest and finest meanings of the terms. He was a Past Mas- ter of Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Past High Priest of Union Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Past Commander of Athol Commandery, Knights Templar. He was a member of the Harris Council, Select Masters, secretary of the chapter for ten years, and recorder of the commandery for two years. Of his work in these last three offices, Mr. E. V. Wilson says :
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
His records are models of their kind for being com- prehensive, complete, concise and, added to this, their print-like legibility and the artistic, hand-illumined initials and other decorations, place them in a class by themselves.
In the year 1900 Mr. Wing was appointed District Deputy Grand High Priest of the district, and served for the three following years. He was then elected Excellent Scribe of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Massachusetts, which election made him a' permanent member of that Grand body. From 1906 up to the time of his death he had acted as treasurer of Athol Commandery, Knights Templar. He presided at the twenty-fifth anniversary celebration of Athol Com- mandery as Eminent Commander, and at the fiftieth year anniversary of Star Lodge he delivered the oration, which "was received with the unstinted applause of the brethren, who listened with rapt and undivided atten- tion." Mr. Wing's forensic ability was unusual, and consequently he was in demand out of all proportion to his time and strength. During the fiftieth anniversary of Union Chapter, Free and Accepted Masons, he pre- sided as toastmaster. Mr. Wing was also a Past Pa- tron of Themis Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. While he was Master of Star Lodge he began a corre- spondence with his Grace, the Duke of Atholl, Scotland, with the result that his Grace presented the lodge with a gavel made from the larchwood trees from the forests of Atholl.
Frank Edward Wing married, at Athol, Massachusetts, September 28, 1892, Edith Mary Smith, a daughter of Henry Alanson and Maria' (Smith) Smith, members of an old Massachusetts family. Mrs. Wing's paternal grandfather was Joseph Smith, and her maternal grand- father was Lafayette M. Smith. Mrs. Wing's father, Henry A. Smith, was a Civil War veteran.
Edith Mary (Smith) Wing was born at Petersham, Massachusetts, June 27, 1870, her early education being obtained in the Athol graded schools, and afterwards the Athol High School, and upon being graduated from that institution she took a special course at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Mrs. Wing is a member of the Themis Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and has been both associate conductress and conductress of her chapter. She is also a charter member of the Woman's Club of Athol, and is past vice-president of it. Mr. and Mrs. Wing were the parents of one child, Don- ald Goddard, who, having been graduated from the public and high schools of Athol, matriculated at Yale University, his father's alma mater, and is now in his sophomore year.
The death of Frank Edward Wing occurred May 12, 1923, at his home in Athol, after a long illness, during which, in spite of his failing health, he attended to the duties of his office. The passing of so prominent, so widely respected, and so well loved a man and Mason as Mr. Wing evoked a multitude of eulogies, editorials, and memoriams in the local, State, and even national press, excerpts of which are herewith presented: The editor of the Athol "Transcript" says :
No death in town could be more generally regretted, for Mr. Wing was a man respected, honored and be- loved more than is the common lot of men, and none will be more fervently missed in the community. which he has so generously and nobly served, ever since becoming a citizen.
Judge E. V. Wilson, in an appreciative sketch in the "Transcript," says, in closing :
Since 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Wing had lived at their home in Union Street, which with discriminating taste and judgment they had continued to beautify and adorn until it had become one of the most attractive places in Athol, and where the home life was worthy of all commendation. Mr. Wing will be sadly missed. He exem- plified to a marked degree the Yale spirit of faithfully serving the community in which he lived and, with true Yale tenacity, he held himself, in spite of con- tinually failing health, to the line of duty until his physical strength would not permit him to go farther, and then, in a few short days, he had passed on.
Another leading newspaper of Athol expressed the following sentiments :
Announcement of the death of Frank E. Wing at his home last Sunday morning came as a shock to the entire community. With his passing away Athol loses her foremost citizen and beyond a doubt the outstand- ing intellectual figure of our town. Broad in his view- point, with a superbly cultivated mind and blessed with the ability to express himself in just the right way on all occasions, he was sought after by his fel- low citizens to lend dignity and character at public gatherings, as well as at semi-public functions. .
few men had the ability of Mr. Wing to say so much in a few words; words that linked up a perfect sen- tence. This, together with his sterling character, his clean-cut business ability in the larger affairs of the community and his love for the town of his adoption makes his loss all the more keenly felt. Though a most kindly man, devoted to his home, family and friends, he had no weaknesses.
Eulogistic reviews of the life of Mr. Wing were also published in the "Boston Globe," the "Worcester Tele- gram," the "Springfield Republican," and others, besides many trade journals, including the "American Builder," the "American Machinist," "Canadian Machinery," the "Hardware Age," "Hardware and Metal," the "Iron Age," "Machinery," the "Manufacturers' Record," "Mo- tor Age," the "National Hardware Bulletin," "N. E. Hardware News," "Power," and the "Pacific Hardware Journal."
The "Church Record" says, in part :
By Mr. Wing's death, Athol loses a citizen univer- sally respected, the business world a keen and honor- able life, his church a devoted and faithful member, and the Masonic order one who was a true exponent of its life.
The "Christian Register," in closing its memorial sketch of Frank Edward Wing, says, in part :
One of the most valuable services rendered by Mr. Wing was his successful effort, with others, to unite the two Unitarian churches in Athol into one organ- ization. This work took considerable of his time and when he was suffering from an incurable disease. The gratifying result was the continuation of the old First Church with the Second Society, which thus inherits the honor and prestige of the oldest church society in town, and brings together the two peoples in a pleasant and harmonious way.
In the death of this man the Athol Unitarian Church suffers an irreparable loss, in common with the whole town, and its members feel that this official recogni- tion of his personal worth and his noble Christian character, as displayed in all the duties that he was called upon to discharge, is eminently proper and desirable.
MARTHA WILLSON BROOKS-The life of Martha Willson Brooks is a record of interest to her many friends in Worcester County, Massachusetts, and particularly to the people of Petersham, her birthplace. Miss Brooks has done much for the growth and pros- perity of this community, is broadly alert to present- day advance, and her constructive efforts in many
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branches of civic and social progress give her name permanent significance and value to the people of her native town and State.
The Brooks family traces back to Thomas Brooks, who was born in England, of a very ancient family, and came to America in early Colonial days, settling in Concord, Massachusetts. Descendants of this worthy pioneer became allied in marriage with various other distinguished families, and thus Miss Brooks traces back to John Bigelow and Mary Warren, whose marriage was the first recorded in the town of Watertown, Massa- chusetts. Through her paternal line she is also con- nected with the first settler of Lunenburg, Massachu- setts, by name Page, and Miss Brooks is a great-grand- daughter of President Dunster, the first president of Harvard University, of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Aaron Brooks, Jr., Miss Brooks' father, a direct descendant of Thomas Brooks, the pioneer, and a grand- son of Colonel Jonathan Trout, who was a member of the First American Congress under the Federal Consti- tution, was born in Petersham, Massachusetts, and be- came a famous lawyer of his day. A man of brilliant mental capacity, he was endowed with an unquenchable ambition to serve widely and well, this spirit of loyalty to his ideals costing the world one of its noblest men; for he drove himself beyond his strength, and died in the flower of his manhood, leaving, however, a deep and lasting impression upon his time. His prominence brought him clients from Greenfield, Worcester, and many cities and towns, distant then, when the means of transportation were difficult and hazardous. He won the trust and confidence of every one with whom he came in touch, and his influence for the progress of the com- munity was a force which counted in many lines of ad- vance. He served in the Massachusetts Militia with the rank of major. Aaron Brooks, Jr., married (first) Abby Morgan, who had three children: Francis August, who practiced law for many years in Boston; Frederick and Sarah, who died in childhood. He married (second) Martha Amelia Willson, daughter of Rev. Luther and Sally (Bigelow) Willson, and they were the parents of four children: James Willson, who followed in his father's footsteps in his choice of a profession, devot- ing himself untiringly to the welfare of Petersham; he was internationally prominent for a number of years as Vice-Consul from the United States to France, with John Bigelow, Consul; Abby Morgan, who became the wife of Professor John Fiske, the historian; Martha Willson, of further mention; and John, a graduate of Harvard University, for many years prominent in the world of finance with Chicago institutions; his son, Arthur Hendricks Brooks, is now a successful lawyer of Boston. Harvard University is the alma mater of Aaron Brooks' sons and his grandson.
Martha Willson Brooks was born at the family home- stead in which she still resides, in Petersham, March 27, 1842. Her father's death occurred when she was three years of age. Her education was a liberal one, her early school attendance being at the Leicester Acad- emy, at Leicester, Massachusetts. Later attending Lasell Seminary, at Auburndale, Massachusetts, she thereafter covered successive courses at Groton Academy, at Groton, Massachusetts, Miss Lyman's School, at Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts, and Professor Agassiz's School, also at Cambridge. In 1863 Miss Brooks went abroad and joined her brother, James W. Brooks, who was then Vice-Consul in Paris, a year later returning home to Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1890 James W. Brooks remodeled and improved the. Petersham homestead, and brother and sister have since then made their residence here. The charm of the old Colonial mansion was carefully preserved, and its grounds were beautified in keeping with old Colonial traditions. The Brooks home- stead is now one of the loveliest of the many stately structures of this section, which have sheltered genera- tion after generation of the old New England families. Miss Brooks takes the deepest pride in historic Peter- sham, and her endeavors for the civic welfare and social progress of the community are ceaseless. She was one of the first members of the Petersham Historical So- ciety, which in the beginning of its activities was known as the Historical Club. She personally copied and in- dexed the first town records of Petersham to facilitate the labors of the many descendants of New England stock who came to search these records. Making an exact copy of every page, she had the records bound in proper sequence, and this work of her hands forms a per- manent benefit to the community. Miss Brooks donated the site upon which the proposed building of the Petersham Historical Building is to be erected, and in every way she strives to encourage the preservation of those records or published volumes, which now repre- sent the culture of a day gone by. One of her highly prized possessions is a volume of Shakespeare, more than one hundred years old, which was presented to her father by pupils he had tutored in his youth. She shared the research labors of her brother, James W. Brooks, who wrote for the celebration in 1904 the monograph, "The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of Peters- ham." Miss Brooks has always been interested in the march of public events, and in recent years has never failed to exercise the franchise, supporting, as the family has always done, the Republican party. She attends the Unitarian church of Petersham, of which her grand- father, Rev. Luther Willson, was the first Unitarian pastor. He had been tried for heresy in Connecticut, and was invited to the Unitarian church in Petersham. Dr. Channing, about this time, asked him to visit him in Boston, and gave him a watch in consideration of his "sturdy manhood." His son, Rev. Edmund B. Willson, born in Petersham, was for thirty-six years pastor of the North Church in Salem, Massachusetts, beloved by every one with whom he came in contact.
JOSEPH A. SMITH, M. D., one of the foremost practitioners in Worcester County, and a prominent Roentgen expert of Massachusetts, was born at Pe- tersham, Massachusetts, June 8, 1875, a son of Henry A. and Maria (Smith) Smith, the father dying when Dr. Smith was but one and a half years of age, the mother still living at Athol, Massachusetts. Dr. Smith is a brother of Edith Mary (Smith) Wing, widow of the late Frank Edward Wing (q. v.), and F. U. Smith of Boston.
Dr. Joseph A. Smith's early education was obtained in the Athol public schools, following which'he entered
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Cushing Academy, a college preparatory school, and was graduated in the year 1894, being a member of the first class to be graduated from the new main building, which was destroyed by fire in October, 1923. He then matriculated at Boston University, in the Medical De- partment, and was graduated in the year 1898 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, whereupon he immediately began to practice medicine in the city of Boston, Massa- chusetts, and followed his profession successfully for two years. In 1900 he removed to Athol, Massachusetts, and entered upon a general medical practice, to which he devoted all his time and energy. Of late years Dr. Smith has been engaged in special practice; as an X Ray (Roentgen) expert and a specialist in electro thera- peutics his work stands second to none in Worcester County. Dr. Smith's medical service during the late World War was a noteworthy achievement. As chief physician and secretary of the local board of Division No. 12, State of Massachusetts, he had full supervision over nine towns and eighteen villages, and personal di- rection of all assistants. The work was so exacting and strenuous that not only did he sacrifice his own medical practice, but he also suffered a physical breakdown.
Dr. Smith's political affiliations are with the Repub- lican party. He was the first school physician to be appointed in Athol, which position he still holds. He was also the first police surgeon to be appointed in Athol, and is the present incumbent of that office. In 1923 he was elected to the School Board, and is the chairman of that body. For several years Dr. Smith was a mem- ber of the Board of Health. Fraternally, Dr. Smith is an active and interested member of Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Athol, and is prominent in the chapter, council, commandery, and Themis Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, of Athol, and of the Shrine of Boston. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Athol, Massachusetts. His medical societies include the Massachusetts Society of Homeopathy, the Worces- ter County Society of Homeopathy, the Hahnemann Medical Society of Boston University, and the Medical Veterans' Association of the World War. He is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Selective Service Officers, a local director of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and a member of the local branch of the American Red Cross, to which latter institution he has devoted much of his spare time. Dr. Smith is a golf enthusiast when the exigencies of his profession allow him to play. He is a member of the Greenfield Country Club, the Pequaig Club of Athol, and the Boston Athletic Association.
Dr. Joseph A. Smith married, at Athol, Massachusetts, December 12, 1906, Grace (Lord) Goddard. Dr. and Mrs. Smith are affiliated with the First Church Uni- tarian of Athol, and are active both in church work and in the social life of their community.
ORRA LAVILLE STONE, the son of a veteran of the American Civil War, and a distinguished member of the Massachusetts State bar, was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, May 27, 1873, the son of Louis L. and Josephine A. (Cheney) Stone, both of whom are mem- bers of families that have long been domiciled in Massa- chusetts. His father, who has retired from active par-
ticipation in business affairs, enlisted as a private in the . 60th Massachusetts Infantry and served throughout the Civil War with distinction. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and takes the keenest in- terest in all the activities of that patriotic organization. Mr. Stone's mother traces her descent to the English family of Cheney, of which the Massachusetts Cheneys are a branch. The Coloniel ancestry of the Cheney fam- ily is well known and so also is the ancestry of the Massachusetts family of Stone.
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