USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 32
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Francis H. Lee, son of these parents, was born at Salem, Massachusetts, December 23, 1836, and died October 7, 1913. His education was begun in the pri- mary schools of Salem and following the completion of the common school course he went to Boston, where he was affiliated with his brother in an office, in the capacity of clerk. He was active in that connection for two years, then continued in business life until the out- break of the Civil War. He was one of the earliest of the Salem young men to respond to the need of his country when the Union was threatened and he enlisted in Company F, 23d Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and went early to the scene of action. When his first enlistment had expired, he reënlisted and con- tinued under his country's colors throughout the period of the war, returning to his native city after the close of hostilities. He made his life one of rare beauty and benevolence. Having learned sympathy through suf- fering, the need of every human being reached him with deep appeal, and he made his life interest the doing of good. His contributions to organized charity and benevolence were always generous, but it was in his private benefactions that he took the deepest interest, and whenever he could do so he avoided the possibility of his name appearing on the public records of any charitable movement. To the many poor, ill, and needy who personally knew Mr. Lee his life was a blessing, and his interest saved numberless people from despond- ency or actual suffering for the necessities of life. He never discussed his work in this field, preferring always to do good for its own sake. He was deeply in- terested in public affairs in the town, the State, and the Nation, but his modest, retiring disposition made the
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prominence of public life distasteful to him, and while he supported the Republican party in political affairs and did all in his power in an unostentatious way for the advancement of all good efforts, he never accepted the honors of public office. He was a member of the Uni- tarian church of Salem, Massachusetts, and gave largely of his means to the advancement of religious progress. Such a life as that of Francis H. Lee exemplifies the usefulness of unheralded self-sacrifice. Yet it is the pleasure of the biographer to attempt in some degree to convey to the people of the present day and those who shall come after, something of the gracious sig- nificance of such a life to the world. The name of Francis H. Lee fittingly stands on these permanent records of worthy effort and human progress.
Francis H. Lee married, in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 17, 1871, Sophia E. Willson, daughter of Rev. Edmund B. Willson, who was born in Petersham, Massa- chusetts, August 15, 1820, and died in Salem, Massachu- setts, June 13, 1895. A prominent minister in his day in the Unitarian church, he served for thirty-six years in this connection and became a distinguished figure in the progress of his denomination in Salem. He bought the home in Petersham, Massachusetts, now occupied by his daughters: Mrs. Lee and Miss Willson, in the year 1883. He was deeply interested in all that pertained to the completing of records both of family interest and of public import, and he was the author of a work pub- lished many years ago, entitled "The One Hundredth Anniversary of Petersham." He married Martha A. Buttrick, who was born July 20, 1815, and died Novem- ber 7, 1891. Mrs. Willson was a daughter of Major John Buttrick, on whose farm the battle of Concord took place in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Lee survives her husband and resides at No. 28 Chestnut Street, Salem, Massachusetts, spending her summers in the beautiful old Colonial homestead in Petersham.
JOHN WILSON BISHOP, president of the J. W. Bishop Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, was, at his death, October 22, 1923, probably the oldest building contractor actively engaged in the business in New England. In 1924 he would have rounded out a full half-century of active business life in Worcester, and he had reason to be proud of his record, for he won a degree of success and prominence equalled by few in the same line of business. Many are the factors that contributed to his achievement; thorough mastery of his trade, sound judgment in estimating and vision, which has been defined as "seeing what others do not see; seeing farther than they see; and seeing before they see." His energy and endurance were remarkable, and his in- dustry indefatigable. One characteristic of Mr. Bishop that could not escape observation, even in a casual con- versation, was his high ethical ideal-his strong sense of right and wrong, and his insistence on fair play. Having arrived at a decision as to what was a just course to pursue, he carried out his purpose with irresistible de- termination. He mounted each rung of the ladder from the ranks of the apprentice, and therefore regarded a problem or situation from the workman's point of view with a just appreciation of what was fair and right to employee as well as employer. Hundreds of his men
had been with him for years, many of them since the days of their apprenticeship, and few builders of his time were so free from labor troubles. His bricklayers had not gone out on strike in twenty-three years. Such loyalty is an impressive tribute to his personality, char- acter, and methods. Mr. Bishop possessed rare insight in judging the character and abilities of others, and built an organization of high efficiency and dependability, including some of the ablest men in the building business.
John Wilson Bishop was born in White Sands, Prince Edward Island, now a province of Canada, May 29, 1846, son of William and Sarah (Hooper) Bishop. His father, a' ship carpenter by trade, came down from Plymouth, England, to Canada, in 1818, and was for many years employed in the shipyards at St. John, New Brunswick, also following farming at White Sands, in the southern part of the island. His mother was also a native of England, a daughter of William Hooper. In 1857 the family removed to Lonsdale, Rhode Island. There were nine children, and those who lived to ma- turity made their homes in Lonsdale, Providence, and Smithfield.
Following the custom of the times, John W. and the other boys went to work in the cotton mills when very young. Their schooling was extremely short. At the age of fifteen John W. left the cotton mill to learn the trade of carpenter in the employ of Ezra Bliss, of Paw- tucket. Two years later he went to Providence and worked for a year or more for John & Charles Hull, builders. Though he had had but a year of school altogether, he realized the importance of education and applied himself with characteristic energy to study during his spare hours. It is safe to say that he kept pace with other boys who had the advantages of the best school training.
When he came of age Mr. Bishop left home and came to Worcester, entering the employ of H. W. Eddy, a contractor and builder, having a carpenter's shop on Norwich Street. Afterward he worked for other build- ers in the city, for William Sibley, Thomas G. Learned, and George S. Clough. He was a skillful craftsman, and when he engaged in business as a builder, in 1874, he had had a thorough training in all branches of car- penter and shop work. He rented a carpenter shop on Central Street, and his first contract was for the con- struction of the large brick stables of Harrington Brothers, on Central Street, a work of some magnitude for a young contractor. Then he built the residence of Thomas B. Eaton, on Boynton Street, and later the resi- dences of C. S. Goddard and W. B. Fay, on Irving Street, both fine and costly houses. He succeeded and his business developed. In 1880 he joined hands with George H. Cutting, another capable builder, and the partnership continued for thirteen years under the firm name of Cutting & Bishop. The business of the firm was extensive from the first, placing the partners among the foremost builders of the State. When the firm was dissolved in 1893 Mr. Bishop continued in business alone under the name of J. W. Bishop & Company, and. the extent and aggregate of his contracts multiplied. In 1899 he deemed it wise to incorporate the business, and from that time he was president and principal owner of the J. W. Bishop Company.
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The monuments to Mr. Bishop's ability and attain- ments, numerous and enduring, may be seen in the private and public buildings that he erected in all parts of the country, palaces at Newport and Lennox, great government buildings, substantial business blocks. The list of his contracts would fill pages, and the full story of his life work would require a volume by itself. But just as enduring as the brick and stone will be the story of his rise from humble circumstances by his own efforts, his self-training and his long and successful career. His life is one of the best as a guide and example to ambitious youth, an encouragement for the young men starting on the road he traveled.
The offices and mill of the J. W. Bishop Company are located at Nos. 107 and 109 Foster Street. The woodwork for contracts in this section and the orna- mental iron work as well are wrought in these shops. The Boston office is in the Essex Building, No. 683 Atlantic Avenue; the New York office at No. 101 Park Avenue ; other offices are located in New Bedford, Prov- idence, and Bridgeport. Mr. Bishop's son, John Warren Bishop, Jr., is vice-president and general manager, and Herbert N. Leach is treasurer of the company. Other vice-presidents are : Heywood S. French, Boston ; Robert F. Brown, New York. The aggregate business for many years has amounted to several millions a year. Mr. Bishop had little time for other enterprises than his own, but organized various subsidiary companies to manufacture material used in his business. He was a director of the Clason Architectural Metal Works, and president of the Bishop Securities, Incorporated.
Mr. Bishop was a member of Athelstan Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Worcester Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Worcester County Me- chanics' Association; the Worcester Country Club; the Turks Head Club, Providence, Rhode Island; and the Worcester Chamber of Commerce. In politics he was a Republican. He attended, with his family, the Pil- grim Congregational Church.
Mr. Bishop married, January 4, 1870, Sarah A. Fos- ter, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Jane (Fales) Foster. Mrs. Bishop, who died October 17, 1923, was descended from Samuel Foster, the first of the family in this country, who was born in England in 1619, and settled in Dedham, early; and from James Fales, the immigrant, who came from England to Dedham in 1650. Lemuel Fales, of the fourth generation, was a soldier in the Rev- olution, and Abner Torrey, Jr., another ancestor of Mrs. Bishop, served in the Revolution. All her lines of ancestry are traced to the pioneers of New England. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop had the following children: I. Mina, born January 24, 1871, died in infancy. 2. William Thomas, born February 25, 1872, died in Oc- tober, I911; he was associated with his father in busi- ness, and was vice-president of the J. W. Bishop Com- pany. 3. Frederick Herbert, born November 19, 1874, died in infancy. 4. Florence Jane, born August 24, 1875. 5. Marion Edith, born August 16, 1877; married March 4, 1897, Thomas H. Coe, of Worcester. 6. John War- ren, Jr., a sketch of whom follows. 7. Sarah Adelaide, born July 6, 1881, died May 12, 1912. 8. Alice Marie, born July 7, 1884, died in infancy. 9. Nathaniel Smart, born January 31, 1886, died April 13, 1904.
JOHN WARREN BISHOP, JR .- To hew to a given line is a task far more exacting than to cut full and free, and it is a debatable question whether the advantages of a distinguished ancestry outweigh the psychological handicap of a goal so lofty and difficult of attainment. When John Warren Bishop, Jr., entered active business life he was not confronted with the necessity of placing his family name in a position of commanding respectful attention and honor, but of so ordering his own endeav- ors that the high standards established by the founders of the business should be the measure of his own achieve- ment. Responsibilities were early thrust upon him, and the burdens increased as he proved his ability to bear them. Thus for years he has shown himself able to maintain the prestige of the family name.
In Plymouth, England, the Bishop family, in this branch, was identified for many generations with such endeavors as added to the sum of human happiness and contributed to the general welfare and prosperity of the civic body. William Bishop, Mr. Bishop's grandfather, a ship carpenter by trade, emigrating from Plymouth to Canada in 1818, founded the family on this side of the Atlantic, settling at White Sands, Prince Edward Island. He later followed his trade for many years at St. John, New Brunswick, in the great shipyards of that city. He married Sarah Hooper, and the family removed to Lonsdale, Rhode Island, in 1857. Of the nine children of these parents, John Wilson Bishop, who was born at White Sands, Prince Edward Island, May 29, 1846, won an outstanding position in the construction world of New England, achieving, entirely through his own efforts and in the space of a few decades, such success as is ordinarily the result of consistent effort extending over several generations. The record of his achievement, which precedes this review of his son's life, is full of interest. Mr. Bishop married, January 4, 1870, Sarah A. Foster, whose distinguished ancestry links the Bishop line with many of the most noteworthy pioneers of New England of the seventeenth century.
John Warren Bishop, Jr., was born in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, January 14, 1880. The early years of his life were filled with intensive study, his attendance at the local grammar schools having been supplemented by private tuition along special lines, all governed by his purpose, early determined, of entering his father's business as an associate. At the age of seventeen years, Mr. Bishop took up his life work as an apprentice under his father's direction, in order that he might master in the most thoroughly practical way every mechanical detail of the business of which he was destined in time to be the head. Learning bricklaying and carpentry, he fitted himself for executive responsibil- ity in the organization, and successively filled the offices of foreman and superintendent of construction, even- tually being made manager of the business. He has now filled this office for some years with ability and ever- increasing success, and his significance to the enterprise is clearly revealed in the confidence of the workers in his leadership. He commands their loyal cooperation and their unqualified esteem. Mr. Bishop has for a number of years also filled the office of vice-president of the concern, and in his activites in every branch of its interests he is a force for advance. He is further active as a director of the Clason Architectural Metal
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Works, also of the Bishop Securities, Incorporated. Affiliated with organized endeavors in various fields, Mr. Bishop holds membership in the Isaiah Thomas Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Worces- ter, Massachusetts ; and is also prominent in club circles as a member of the Worcester Country Club, Common- wealth Club of Worcester, the New Bedford Country Club, and the Wamsutta Club of New Bedford.
John W. Bishop married Ruby Dixon, daughter of Rufus S. and Cora (Bemis) Dixon, of Worcester, and they reside on Barre Road, Paxton.
THOMAS H. SAUNDERS, M. D .- In his prep- aration for his professional career, Dr. Saunders, of Webster, Massachusetts, attended some of the foremost institutions of the day, and in his experience of up- wards of twenty years, has gained high standing among his colleagues and is now commanding an extensive and lucrative practice in Webster and vicinity. A native of this town and a member of a highly esteemed family, long established in Worcester County, he is a son of Thomas C. and Isabelle (Haggerty) Saunders, long resi- dents of Webster, the father a carpenter in early life, but for many years active in business for himself.
Thomas H. Saunders was born at Webster, Massachu- setts, September 27, 1878. His education was begun at St. Louis' Parochial School, graduating from the same high school in 1894. Following his high school course, he was employed in Webster for about three years, thereby augmenting his funds for his higher education and for a classical course. He went to Canada, enter- ing Ottawa University, and then went to McGill Univer- sity at Montreal, Canada, where he took a pre-medical course, then returned to the United States and entered Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and began his medical training, attending that college for three years. He completed his studies, however, at the University of Maryland, from which he was gradu- ated in 1904 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately after obtaining his degree Dr. Saunders returned to his native town and took up the general prac- tice of medicine. He has been very successful indeed, and commanding the confidence and esteem of the people from the first, has developed a very wide practice, prin- cipally along general medicines. Dr. Saunders is a di- rector of the Webster National Bank and is interested in all that pertains to local advance. A Democrat by political affiliation, he served on the Webster Board of Health for three years, for the past ten years has been active as Town Physician, and in addition to this office he now holds that of School Physician. During the World War he offered his services to the government, and was made a member of the National Defense League. He now holds the rank of lieutenant in the Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Massachusetts State Medical Society, the Worcester Medical Society, and the Webster and Dudley Medical Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, of which he is med- ical examiner ; the Foresters of America, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and he is a member of Putnam. Country Club.
Dr. Saunders married Anna G. Mullan, of Putnam, daughter of ex-Mayor Edward and Elizabeth Mullan. Dr. and Mrs. Saunders have three children: Esther, Janet, and Mary.
HON. DANIEL THOMAS MORRILL-In the manufacture of marble and granite for memorials of many kinds, Mr. Morrill holds a leading position in southern Worcester County, Massachusetts, his plant being the only one of its kind in Southbridge. Mr. Morrill is a son of Michael D. Morrill, who was born in County Kerry, Ireland, and came to this country in his youth, settling in Worcester, Massachusetts, and later removing to Southbridge. As a young man he learned the marble and granite business, and this line of en- deavor he followed throughout his life, his death oc- curring February 25, 1918. The mother, Ellen (Coffey) Morrill, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and died June II, 1910.
Daniel Thomas Morrill was born at Worcester, Massa- chusetts, November 27, 1876. His education was ac- quired in the public and parochial schools of Southbridge, and after completing his studies he became associated with his father in the marble and granite business, as a partner. Mr. Morrill remained in this connection per- manently and was active with his father until the death of the later, which occurred in 1918, and then took over the business as its head. At the same time he received into partnership his younger brother, Michael T. Mor- rill, of further mention; and the business has continued under this management since, not, however, having any change of name, its entire history having been carried forward under the title of M. D. Morrill & Son. In cemetery memorials, the Morrill works turn out some of the most beautiful specimens of artistic achievement that have been erected in this vicinity. In 1917 Mr. Morrill bought the undertaking business of William C. Calla- han, one of the oldest businesses of its kind in this part of Worcester County. He graduated from the Massa- chusetts School of Embalming, in Boston, in 1918. Mr. Morrill has for many years been a leader in political affairs in Southbridge. Supporting the Democratic party, he was active as a Selectman for three years, and for twelve years served on the library committee, also on the cemetery committee. Never a seeker after public honors, his services have nevertheless been given in the spirit of helpfulness, and in every movement which has for its object the local advance or community welfare he takes a prominent and constructive part. In the year 1916 Daniel Thomas Morrill was elected to the Massa- chusetts State Legislature as a Representative from this town, and his record in the legislative halls of the State is such as to reflect credit not only upon himself, but upon his constituency. In 1917 he was elected a candi- date of both parties. Daniel Thomas Morrill is a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce and is widely known in fraternal circles, being a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and St. Mary's Total Abstinence Association. He is a member of St. Mary's Corporation, and attends St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Daniel Thomas Morrill married, on June 23, 1909, Mary
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S. Mallahy, who was born at Sturbridge, Massachu- setts, and they have one son, Daniel W., born May 23, 1918.
Michael T. Morrill, younger son of Michael D. and Ellen (Coffey) Morrill, was born at Southbridge, Massa- chusetts, July 8, 1887. His education was acquired in the local parochial schools, and after completing his studies he took up railroading, in which line of endeavor he was active for about seven years. He then became prominent in the grocery business in Southbridge, and in this activity continued until the year 1918, when, upon the death of his father, he became associated with his elder brother, as noted above, in the enterprise known as M. D. Morrill & Son. Mr. Morrill has always taken a deep interest in the success of the concern, although he has been otherwise affiliated until recent years, and his experience in other lines of business effort he now finds of great value to him and to the present interest. Fra- ternally Michael T. Morrill is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, of which he is Past Grand Knight; Ancient Order of Hibernians ; Loyal Order of Moose ; St. Mary's Catholic Temperance Society; St. Mary's Alumni As- sociation, and the American Legion, of which in this present year (1923) he is commander. Michael T. Mor- rill served in the United States Army Medical Corps during the World War, enlisting on July 29, 1918, and receiving his honorable discharge on May 4, 1919. In 1919 he was graduated from the Massachusetts School of Embalming, at Boston.
JAMES TATTERSALL, the son of a Lancashire textile worker, has progressed through all ranks of the weaving industry to the position he now holds as presi- dent of the Sterling Textile Mills, Inc., of Clinton, Massachusetts. He was born at Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, March 16, 1884, son of Joseph and Dinah (Tomlinson) Tattersall. His father is a member of an old English family, and on his mother's side Mr. Tatter- sall is related to a Lancashire family that has long been associated with the manufacture of textiles.
Mr. Tattersall was educated in the grammar school at Burnley, England, and at the Burnley Technical School. When his theoretical education was completed he turned at once to the mills of his home town in order to master the practical details of production. He worked in the cotton mills at Burnley as a weaver for some time, using his leisure hours for study and acquiring in this way an accurate and fundamental knowledge of the weaving industry. In 1903, when he was nineteen years old, he came to the United States and found employ- ment at Fall River, Massachusetts. He spent some time at Fall River and then moved to Natick, Rhode Island, where a better opportunity had presented itself to him. From Natick, in the course of time, he pro- ceeded to Fiskdale, Massachusetts, and entered the ser- vice of the Fiskdale Mills. After these broadening ex- periences Mr. Tattersall returned to Fall River and worked in the mills by day while attending the night sessions of the Fall River Textile School. When he had completed the course of study he had undertaken at this school, he became a loom fixer in one of the local mills at West Warren, Massachusetts. In 1906 Mr. Tattersall settled at Clinton and spent seven years a's designer in the Lancaster Mills. In 1913 he was
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