USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts, Vol. III > Part 75
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George Sawyer Stone married, at Otter River, Massa- chusetts, September 3, 1898, Mary E. I,eland, daughter of Francis and Mary (Sawyer) Leland. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are the parents of six children : Leland, Margaret, Edith, Rachel, Elizabeth, and Ralph Lincoln. The fam- ily home is at Otter River, Worcester County, Massa- chusetts.
CHRISTOPHER JAMES CAMPBELL, of the firm of Carter & Campbell, throughout his entire active
career has been identified with the reed and rattan man- ufacturing industry. The concern of which he is now one of the owners is engaged in the manufacture of reed and rattan baby carriages, furniture, and novelties, and conducts a large and steadily growing export trade.
Mr. Campbell was born in Richmond, Province of Quebec, Canada, December II, 1859, son of Thomas B., a native of Tyrone, Ireland, who died in 1922, and Bridget M. (Cooney) Campbell, born in Ireland, in May, 1838, and died in 1873. He removed with his parents to Fitchburg, Massachusetts, while he was still a young child. He received his earliest education in the public schools of Fitchburg, but before his school course was completed his parents again changed their place of residence, this time taking him to Wakefield, Massachusetts, in the public schools of which he fin- ished his school training. Upon the termination of his school courses he secured a position with The Wakefield Rattan Company, where he remained until he was about twenty-one years old, when he went with I. N. Dann, of New Haven, Connecticut, and after a time he was made superintendent. He maintained this connection for a period of five years, at the end of which time he removed to Gardner, Massachusetts, where he became associated with Conant & Bush, who were engaged in the manufacture of reed work of various kinds, includ- ing baby carriages, chairs, and novelties. He remained with this firm until 1891, when he came to Winchendon, Massachusetts, and became superintendent for George Chandler, with whom he remained for one year, when he formed a partnership with M. L. Bartlett, the com- pany being known as M. L. Bartlett & Company. This partnership continued for about a year, when Mr. C. L. Carter bought an interest and the firm became Carter & Campbell, which it remains to-day. It was a co- partnership from its inception until August, 1919, when it was incorporated under the name of Carter & Camp- bell, Mr Campbell becoming president at this time. As the business grew, new buildings were erected, and it was due largely to Mr. Campbell's efforts that the indus- try greatly expanded, while they also steadily raised the standard in the quality of their products. At the present time they manufacture principally a high-class of upholstered reed furniture, which by the excellence of their workmanship and beauty of design, are the most potent medium of advertising used by the firm. Satis- fied customers seldom fail to bring new patrons, and Mr. Campbell finds that his business largely advertises itself. In addition to the home trade they are extensively en- gaged in an export business which, during the past thirty-three years, they have developed until it has greatly extended their field of operations.
Since the time of his first coming to Winchendon Mr. Campbell has taken a keen interest in local public affairs. For seven years, from 1907 until 1914, he served as a member of the School Board. He gives his support to the Republican party, and in 1922 was elected one of three to serve the town of Winchendon as a member of the Board of Selectmen. In that office he is render- ing valuable service, giving to the town the benefit of his ability and experience, and serving with a disin- terestedness of spirit that has won the confidence and esteem of his associates. For two years he served this
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
board as clerk, and he formerly was also on the Town Finance Committee. He is a member of the Win- chendon Chamber of Commerce, and is an indefatigable worker in all their activities. Fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 1426, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Gardner; and also belongs to the Avon Club, of Winchendon; and to the Associated Manufacturers of New England. His religious affiliation is with the St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Winchendon.
Christopher James Campbell married, in Gardner, Massachusetts, in 1889, Mary E. Dugan, who was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, daughter of Michael and Anne (Corbett) Dugan, both natives of Saint Stephen, New Brunswick. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell reside at the corner of Mechanic and Grove streets, Winchendon, Massachusetts.
COLIN MACKENZIE-Roderick and Janet (Broad- , wood) Mackenzie, both born in Scotland, came to America later in life and settled in the city of Montreal, Canada, where Roderick was employed as a clerk. Later they moved to Howick, Province of Quebec, a town located on the English River. There Roderick Mac- kenzie owned and conducted a merchandising business. Their son, Colin, is of further mention.
Colin Mackenzie was born at Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, February 12, 1854, and there spent the first seventeen years of his life. In 1871 he came to the United States and settled at Winchendon, Massachu- setts, going thence to Ashburnham, Massachusetts, in 1875, where he finished his education with a two years' course at Cushing Academy. In 1876 he began learn- ing the carpenter's trade in Winchendon, and later worked for Joseph Walker, of Royalston, Massachu- setts, and from that year Royalston has been his home. After Mr. Walker's death, Colin Mackenzie succeeded him in the contracting and building business, and has conducted it very successfully ever since.
For twenty years Mr. Mackenzie owned and resided in the property at Royalston known as the old Chase homestead, then bought the David Foster place. on the Fitzwilliam-Royalston Road, which has since been his home. He has in addition, about one hundred acres of farm land at Royalston. In politics he is a Republican, and for two years served Royalston as Selectman, for twenty-five years was Overseer of the Poor, for fifteen years a member of the Town Board of Health, for seven year a trustee of the public library, and is a trustee of the John F. Bartlett Fund. He is a member and for several years has been a' deacon of the First Congrega- tional Church and superintendent of the Sunday school.
Colin Mackenzie married, at Royalston, September, 1880, Emeline Esther White, born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, daughter of Stephen P. and Lucinda (Woodbury) White, both born in Winchendon. Mrs. Mackenzie, after attending the public schools of Roy- alston, became a student at Cushing Academy, then for five years, until her marriage, taught school. In Sep- tember, 1897, she accepted the position of librarian of the Phinias South Newton Library, at Royalston, and has held that position continuously until the present (1923). Mr. and Mrs. Mackenzie are the parents of two children : Bessie Janet, born May 25, 1884, married Everett Kahr- man, of Connecticut, and they have one child, Ruth
Elizabeth; Harlan Roderick, born September 24, 1886, now general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, of Franklin, Massachusetts. He married Gladys D. White, of Leominster, and they have the fol- lowing children : Charlotte, Ruth, and Harlan R., Jr.
MAX A. FINN-The world of amusements in Wor- cester, Massachusetts, is familiar with Max A. Finn, who is making this business the field of his life work, and whose ability is being very clearly demonstrated in this section, through his activity as manager of the New Park Theatre. Active along this line since completing his education, Mr. Finn is commanding the esteem and confidence of the theatre-going public, and his future is considered very promising. He is a son of Jacob Finn, who was born in Russia, and came to this country as a young man, engaging in the tailoring business in Wor- cester, in which he continued until his death, which oc- curred in the year 1913. The mother, Rebecca (Bran- holz) Finn, was also born in Russia, but survived her husband for about ten years, passing away in the year 1923.
Max A. Finn was born in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, July 4, 1896. His education was begun in the local public schools of this city, and after com- pleting the high school course he spent four years at the Worcester Art Museum, in study. He then became identified with the New Park Theatre in the capacity of usher, and while at the beginning, his purpose was tem- porarily to gain remunerative employment, he found op- portunities that, with his natural ability for artistic work, led to his promotion, so that at the age of twenty years he attained the responsible position of manager, which he still ably fills. Mr. Finn is a genial, broad- minded young man, deeply interested in the passing events of the day, and he possesses a discriminating taste in amusements which is placing the New Park among the best patronized play houses in this part of Worcester County. He has few interests outside of his work, but is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
CHARLES HAMMOND BROWN, prominent in agricultural circles in Northern Worcester County, Massachusetts, is numbered among the largely success- ful men in farming interests in Royalston, and his public service, although entirely of a local nature, places him among the broadly progressive men of the day in Wor- cester County. Mr. Brown comes of an old and note- worthy family of this section, and is a son of Benjamin H. and Nancy L. (Wood) Brown. The father lived in Australia for nine years before his marriage, having been around the world once and having become interested in that country. He served in the Civil War as a mem- ber of Company E, 53d Regiment, Massachusetts Vol- unteer Infantry, with the rank of first lieutenant.
Charles Hammond Brown, son of these parents, was born at Royalston, Massachusetts, February 3, 1865. His education was received in the public schools of his birthplace, and upon the completion of the grammar school course he associated himself with his father on the farm until about seventeen years old, then went to Boston, where he was active in a bakery business for three years, thereafter going to Worcester, Massachu-
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BIOGRAPHICAL
setts, where he followed similar lines of activity for about six years. He then established himself indepen- dently in the grocery business in Worcester and conducted the interest for about six years, when he had an opportunity to sell out to advantage, of which he availed himself. He then opened a novelty store in Worcester, but after two years came to Royalston to take charge of the large farm owned by A. J. Raymond. Active in this connection for nineteen years, Mr. Brown then removed to his own farm on the Fitzwilliams Road, in Royalston, where he has resided for the past six years. He conducts exten- sive operations along general lines of farming, and specializes on poultry, in which line he has had excel- lent success. In political affairs Mr. Brown has for many years been a leader. Always affiliated with the Republican party, he served on the Royalston School Committee from 1901-1907, and has been chairman of the Board of Selectmen since 1906. In the year 1917 he was elected to the Board of Assessors, and since 1919 has been treasurer of the town. For fifteen years he was on the Republican Town Committee, first as secre- tary and then chairman, and whatever phase of Repub- lican advance came up for consideration, he was a leader in progressive thought and effort. Fraternally he is affiliated with Athol Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; and Royalston Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
Mr. Brown married, on September 25, 1888, Anna E. Rowe, of Boston, Massachusetts, daughter of Charles M. and Alice V. Rowe, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have five children: Alfred H., born September 8, 1890, now superintendent of A. J. Raymond's factory, at Athol, Massachusetts, is married and has one daughter ; Irving F., born June 19, 1892, associated with the Twist Drill Company of Athol, Massachusetts; Rose Mildred, born June 2, 1894, now the wife of Omer Landon, of Northfield, Vermont; Gertrude Eva, born May 28, 1903, now a student at the Fitchburg State Normal School; and Edwin R., born September 4, 1905, still at home.
Mr. Brown has four brothers and one sister: Frank H., his oldest brother, is assistant treasurer of the Fitchburg Bank and Trust Company ; William L., a resi- dent of Medford, Massachusetts, and retired from busi- ness; Benjamin E., with the Brown Lumber Company of Winchendon, Massachusetts; Isabell E., who became the wife of Rev. Augustus M. Rice, who died in Roy- alston, Massachusetts, in 1921; and Arthur H., assistant treasurer of the Fitchburg Savings Bank.
CLIFFORD H. WILCOX-Among the progressive and enterprising young men of the day in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Clifford H. Wilcox is a broadly representative figure, being active not only in the busi- ness world, but in the public service and in fraternal and religious advance. His interests include every phase of communty life, and he is counted one of the thor- oughly estimable young men of Royalston. He is a son of Calvin H. and Mary L. (Sprague) Wilcox, his father active during his career as a painter, also as a teamster, in addition to the agricultural interests which he has long conducted on the homestead farm where he resides.
Clifford H. Wilcox was born at Royalston, Massachu- setts, May 6, 1888. As a young lad he attended the local primary schools, then, after three years of study at the
Orange High School, he laid aside his books to enter the business world. At that time he became associated with S. C. French, Postmaster and general merchant of Roy- alston, and Mr. Wilcox has since remained in his em- ploy, filling larger responsibilities and bearing a definite part in the prosperity and progress of the store. A supporter of the Republican party from the time he attained his majority, Mr. Wilcox has served as Town Clerk for five years, and is also chairman of the Repub- lican Town Committee. He is a young man of public spirit and keeps in touch with all advance, giving of his best to those movements which contribute to the general welfare. Fraternally Mr. Wilcox is affiliated with Royalston Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, and has at one time or another been elected to every office in the local grange except Master. He early identified himself with religious progress, and is a prominent member of the Congregational church.
Mr. Wilcox married, in Royalston, Massachusetts, September 25, 1909, Hazel L. French, who was born on June 7, 1888, at Templeton, Massachusetts, and is a daughter of Sumner E. and Ada E. (Mellan) French, Mr. French being the owner of the store of which Mr. Wilcox is now manager. The mother died on No- vember 2, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox are the parents of one child, Lillis E., born June 3, 1912, who attends the seventh grade at Royalston Grammar School (1923).
ALFRED MCKINSTRY-For twenty-eight years the name of Mckinstry has been identified with the ice business in Southbridge, Massachusetts, Alfred McKin- stry having conducted a retail interest in the distribu- tion of this necessity during this entire period, and has developed it from a modest beginning until he is head of the leading ice dealing firm in Southbridge, and prac- tically controls the local trade. Possessing strong busi- ness ability with the energy which counts, perhaps, equally in achieving success, Mr. Mckinstry has won his way to a noteworthy position in local business circles, and has also borne a part in the affairs of the com- munity.
The Mckinstry family was established in the United States by William Mckinstry, who came to New Eng- land about 1747 from Carrick Fergus, a borough of County Antrim, on Belfast Lough, nine miles from Bel- fast, Ireland. He settled in Southbridge, Massachusetts, where he bought land for one shilling per acre, part of that tract now being a farm owned by his descendant, Alfred Mckinstry. William Mckinstry married Mary Morse, and they were the parents of a son, William (2), born on the farm at Southbridge, where he spent his life, a farmer. He married Esther Robbins, and they were the parents of John Mckinstry, born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, where he followed the pursuits of a farmer until his death. He was also a school teacher, and owned a saw mill and a cider mill. He married Keziah Batchelder, born in Charlton, Massachusetts, of pioneer New England family, her father, Elijah Batchelder, a Revolutionary soldier. John and Keziah (Batchelder) Mckinstry were the parents of Prevostus Mckinstry.
Prevostus Mckinstry was born at Southbridge, Massachusetts, and there engaged in farming until his death. He represented his town in the State Legisla-
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY
ture, and was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church in Southbridge. He married, Jane Carpenter, born at Charlton, Massachusetts, died at Southbridge in 1875.
Alfred Mckinstry, son of Prevostus and Jane (Car- penter) Mckinstry, was born at Southbridge, Massa- chusetts, July 2, 1858. He was educated in the grade and high schools of his birthplace, and upon the com- pletion of his studies, entered the lumber business, in which he was actively engaged as clerk and dealer for about ten years. In 1895 he disposed of his lumber interests, and established his present ice business, in which he has been continuously active since. Beginning in a small way, he developed the business gradually, until he now cuts 8,000 tons of ice yearly, and with six teams distributes that crop in retail quantities to his entire community. The office is located on Dupaul Street, and there Mr. Mckinstry manages the details of his constantly increasing business.
In addition to his ice business, of which he is the sole owner, Mr. Mckinstry owns considerable real estate, including a farm, which he personally manages and oversees. The principal crops are ensilage and hay, about eighty tons of the latter being harvested yearly. A herd of twenty-five cattle is one of the features of the farm, half of these being high grade milch cows. For three years he has served his town as Surveyor, but otherwise he has accepted no public office, and out- side his ice business and his farm he has few interests of a public nature.
Mr. Mckinstry married, in 1879, Emma Hayes, who was born in Charlton City, Massachusetts, and they are the parents of nine children: Annie J., Sarah M., Alfred H., Emma K., Marjorie B., Edna G., Raymond L., R, Clifford, and Emily C. Mrs. Mckinstry is a daughter of Michael Hayes, who was born in Ireland, and engaged as a tailor until his death, which occurred in 1868. Her mother, Ann (Magatin) Hayes, was also a native of Ireland, and lived to an advanced age, passing away in 1893. R. Clifford Mckinstry has for some years been identified with his father in the ice business, and is now the active manager, and Raymond L. Mckinstry is also identified in the business, being secretary and treasurer.
CLARENCE R. WOODARD-For many years active in agricultural pursuits in Worcester County, Massachusetts, Mr. Woodard has more recently gone into the taxicab business and, devoting his energies to this broadly practical and modern field of endeavor, is bearing a definitely useful part in the welfare of the people. His success in his earlier activities has given him a prominent position in the community, and he is one of the highly esteemed citizens of Templeton. A member of a family long prominent in this section, he is descended from some of the oldest settlers of Pelham. His father, Nelson Herbert Woodard, was born at North Dana, Massachusetts, and died in Templeton, June II, 1918. He was a stationary engineer by trade and for twenty years was active in the employ of the Emerson Shoe Company of Wakefield, Massachusetts, having charge of the great engines of their plant. Late in life he came to Templeton and made his home with his son, the subject of this sketch, until his death. The mother,
Emma (Ashly) Woodard, was born at Wendell, Massa- chusetts, and also spent her declining years with her son, passing away May 14, 1923.
Clarence R. Woodard was born at New Salem, Massa- chusetts, September 25, 1875. His education was re- ceived in the public schools of Wakefield, where he gained a broadly practical education, then as a young man entered the world of men and affairs. His first ex- perience was in the employ of R. H. White & Company, at No. 15 Bedford Street, Boston, wholesale dealers in dry goods, and he was active as a salesman in this con- nection for a period of thirteen years. Mr. Woodard then came to Templeton, where he bought the farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres, which he sold to the State of Massachusetts two years later, and which is now known as the "State Colony." Immedi- ately after disposing of this property Mr. Woodard bought another farm of one hundred and eighty-four acres in Templeton, and this he conducted until the year 1918, when he removed to his present residence on South Road, in Templeton. Here he established his taxicab business, which has become a largely prosperous interest, and in this public service activity Mr. Woodard is not only meeting a daily need of the people in a thoroughly efficient way, but is winning success. Mr. Woodard has a complete equipment and his wide acquaintance in this section makes him one of the popular men in this field of endeavor. He has always been interested in the pub- lic affairs of the community and politically supports the Republican party, but has never taken any interest in political matters beyond that of the private citizen. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Woodard married, in Wakefield, Massachusetts, June 2, 1893, Eva Jane Pratt, of Wakefield, Massachu- setts, daughter of Thomas Burt and Clara (Robie) Pratt, her father a native of Wakefield, and her mother of Readville, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard have two children: I. Bernice E., born in Templeton, August 24, 1898, now the wife of Harold Fisher, of Templeton, their two children being: Clifton and Mayford, who died in September, 1923. 2. Elmer Pratt, born in Tem- pleton, October 12, 1905.
JAMES A. AUSTIN-In the textile industry in Worcester County, Massachusetts, James A. Austin holds a prominent position as agent at the Arden Mills, a subsidiary of the American Woolen Mills. Educated in one of the foremost colleges of the East, and taking up his career on the practical side of the textile industry, Mr. Austin has won a high position in his chosen field of endeavor, and has gained this eminence wholly through his own efforts. He is a son of James B. and Harriett (Auld) Austin, the father a mining broker of Boston, Massachusetts, but the family for generations residents of Fitchburg.
James A. Austin was born at Fitchburg, Massachu- setts, February 28, 1888. His education was begun in the local public schools, and following the completion of his high school course he entered Williams College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1910 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Shortly thereafter securing a position in the employ of the American Woolen Mills, Mr. Austin served a regular apprenticeship, meanwhile, devoting much time to the study of the various branches of
Elbach E. Donald
and Howard Fr Donald
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BIOGRAPHICAL
the manufacture of woolen textile goods. Mastering the various departments of production by the practical method of experience in each department he then spent two years in the New York office of the American Woolen Mills, learning the selling end of the business. It was at this point that his career was interrupted by the activities of the World War, but upon his return to civilian life, after the close of hostilities, he was made superintendent of the Arden Mills at Fitchburg. His demonstrated ability in this connection led to his ap- pointment as agent of these mills on March 1, 1923. He is now active in this capacity and commands the esteem of all with whom he is associated, and although he is still a very young man for the responsibility of this position, he is carrying forward the interests of the con- cern efficiently and well.
The military record of James A. Austin began with his enlistment shortly after the United States entered the World War. He was sent to the Second Officers' Training Camp at Fort Meyer, Virginia, where he was later commissioned first lieutenant and assigned to the 310th Battalion, 79th Division, American Expeditionary Forces. Sailing for France in July, 1918, he was sta- tioned at various points throughout that country, and took part in the offensive operations at Verdun, Argonne, and Toul sectors. Upon his return to the United States he received his discharge from Camp Dix, May 30, 1919, and returned to the activities of civilian life. Mr. Austin is a member of the Rotary Club and Oak Hill Country Club, of Fitchburg, and Williams Club of New York City, also the Delta Kappa Epsilon. He supports the Republican party in political affairs, and is a mem- ber of the Congregational church.
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