History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 91

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 91

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No attempt has been made in this chapter to give a complete list of the multitudinous societies in town ; but we have tried to speak of all the more important organizations, which is all there is room for in this history.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

FITCHBURG-(Continued.)

PROFESSIONAL.

THE pastors of the various religious societies in Fitchburg have already been spoken of in the eccle- siastical history and no further mention of them will he made in this chapter. There remain the dentists, lawyers and physicians to he spoken of and we shall give only a mere catalogue of those now in practice here, with perhaps a brief account of some of the more prominent lawyers and physicians of past time.

DENTISTS .- Dr. Thomas S. Blood is the senior dentist in town. He was born in Sterling, June 23, 1810; studied dentistry in Worcester with his brother, Dr. Oliver Blood, who was the first dentist settled in that town; at the same time took a course at the Harvard Medical School, where he graduated in 1838; practised dentistry for a short time at Nan- tucket and in New York City; came to Fitchburg in 1840, and since then has been in active practice here.

Dr. Blood has always been identified with temper- ance work in Fitchburg and has been, in years past, quite closely connected with our educational affairs.

Dr. Thomas Palmer began the practice of dentistry in Fitchburg in 1844. He soon afterward built the

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brick "octagon house " on Main Street, where he has since lived and been engaged in the active practice of his profession. For the past sixteen years his son, Dr. Joseph W. Palmer, a graduate of Harvard Col- lege in the class of 1872, has been associated with him under the name of Palmer & Palmer.

The other dentists in town who have begun prac- tice more recently are Drs. F. B. Joy, A. E. Horton, E. G. Dwyer, F. A. Damon and the firms of Parker & Ross and Stone Brothers.

LAWYERS .- Of the many legal practitioners who have lived and practised in Fitchburg in past time, we have space to speak of but four of the most promi- nent.

Hon. Nathaniel Wood was born in Holden, Mass., August 29, 1797 ; graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1821 ; studied law in Boston, and was ad- mitted to the bar ; came to Fitchburg, and in Febru- ary, 1827, formed a partnership with Ebenezer Tor- rey, and for many years the firm of Torrey & Wood took high rank among the prominent legal firms of the Worcester County bar. Mr. Wood, however, at- tended to most of the legal business. In 1848 Gold- smith F. Bailey became a partner with Mr. Wood uuder the firm-name of N. Wood & Co.

Mr. Wood was for fifty years prominent in the town affairs and business interests of Fitchburg. He was often chosen moderator at town-meeting; was post- master for sixteen years; president of the Fitchburg Mutual Fire Insurance Company twenty-six years, and its treasurer twenty-four years, besides holding other positions.

In politics Mr. Wood was a Democrat, and was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature in 1839, '47 and '50. He was once chosen Senator, and in 1841 was the candidate of his party for Congress.

Mr. Wood was a strong Unitarian, and took an ac- tive interest in the First Parish during his long life in Fitchburg. He died August 3, 1876, after an illness of nearly two years.

Hon. Ebenezer Torrey was born in Franklin, August 16, 1801 ; graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1822 ; came to Fitchburg and studied law with John Shepley, tben a leading lawyer here, but who soon after removed to Maine. Mr. Torrey was admitted to the bar in 1825, and two years later en- tered into partnership with Nathaniel Wood. Mr. Wood conducted most of the firm's cases in court, while Mr. Torrey turned his attention more particu- larly to financial matters, and acquired a very high reputation as a safe and skilful financier. His con- nection with our banking interests has been already spoken of. For thirty successive years Mr. Torrey was town or city treasurer, declining further re-election in January, 1874.

In 1829 he was chosen a director of the Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which position he continued to hold during the rest of his life ; and from 1879 was president of the same company.

Mr. Torrey, in politics, was opposed to bis partner, Mr. Wood. He was a strong Whig, and later, as strong a Republican. He was in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1831 and 1847, and in 1849 was one of the five Senators elected at large from Worcester County. In 1853 and 1854 he was a member of the Governor's Council.

Mr. Torrey was a life-long Unitarian, and to the last a most constant attendant at the First Parish Church, in which he took great interest.

He died September 3, 1888, after a few days illness, leaving a widow, a daughter, the wife of Hon. Hiram A. Blood, of this city, and a son, George A. Torrey, of Boston, corporation counsel for the Fitcliburg Rail- road Company.

Hon. Charles H. B. Snow was a son of Dr. Peter S. Snow, and was born in Fitchburg, August 7, 1822; graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1844; studied law with Torrey & Wood, and was admitted to the bar in 1848 ; was for some years a law-partner with Hon. Amasa Norcross, but for the last eleven years of his life was with Judge Thornton K. Ware, under the firm-name of Ware & Snow.

Mr. Snow was elected to the Legislature, and was State Senator from this district at the time of his death. He was prominent in the educational interests of his native town, and her chosen centennial cele- bration orator. He was a very active and zealous member of Christ Church.

He died, September 18, 1875, after four months' ill- ness, leaving his aged parents, a widow and two daughters.

Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey was born in East West- moreland, N. H., July 17, 1823, and his widowed mother removed with her family to Fitchburg three years later. In 1845 he began the study of law, com- pleting his course with Torrey & Wood. In 1848 he was admitted to the bar, and became a partner in the firm of N. Wood & Company. He was Representative from Fitchburg in 1856, and State Senator in 1857 and 1859. In the fall of 1860 he was chosen by the Republicans of the Ninth Congressional District to represent them in Congress. But that terrible disease, consumption, had fastened itself upon him. He went to Florida, and on his return took his seat in Congress during the extra session. In December, 1861, he went back to Washington, but was soon obliged to return to Fitchburg, where he died, May 8, 1862. His widow, who was one of the well-known Billings family, of Woodstock, Vt., is now the wife of Hon. Rodney Wallace, of Fitchburg.

The senior lawyer at present living in Fitchburg, though not now in active practice, is Charles Mason, Esq.

Mr. Mason was born in Dublin, N. H., June 3, 1810 ; graduated at Harvard College in 1834, came to Fitch- burg in September, 1842, and has since resided here ; bas practised law and latterly has been interested in insurance business; was secretary of the Fitchburg

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Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 1864-69 ; represen- tative to the Legislature in 1849 and 1851, and a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1853.

He has always been deeply interested in education, and was for some years chairman of the School Com- mittee of the town. He was also active in starting and sustaining the Fitchburg Athenaeum. He has preserved a very complete collection of town and city reports and documents, from which much of this present history has been compiled.

The firm of T. K. & C. E. Ware consists of Judge Thornton K. Ware and his son, Charles E. Ware.

Judge Ware is a native of Cambridge ; graduated at Harvard in 1842; came to Fitchburg in 1846 ; has been in partnership with Hon. C. H. B. Snow and George A. Torrey ; was representative in 1850 and 1854; postmaster, 1861-66; justice of the Police Court since it was established and a trustee of the Public Library since its establishment, with the exception of one year, and chairman of the trustees since 1875. He is president of the Fitchburg Savings Bank and a di- rector of the Fitchburg National Bank.

Charles E. Ware is a native of Fitchburg; gradu- ated at Harvard in 1876, and has been associated with his father since July, 1879.

The firm of Norcross, Hartwell & Baker consists of Hon. Amasa Norcross, a native of Rindge, N. H., the first mayor of Fitchburg ; representative in 1858-59 and 1862; State Senator, 1874; representative to Con- gress, 1876-82. He has been prominent in financial and educational interests, and in many other public positions.

The second member of this firm, Hon. Harris C. Hartwell, is a native of Groton; graduated at Har- vard in 1869; since 1874 a partner with Mr. Norcross ; representative, 1883-85, and State Senator, 1887-88 . city solicitor of Fitchburg from 1877 to 1886.

The third member, Charles F. Baker, Esq., is a native of Lunenburg ; graduated at Harvard in 1872; in the office of Norcross & Hartwell since 1875, and became a member of the present firm January 1, 1887.

Hon. David H. Merriam is a native of Essex, N.Y., where he was born July 3, 1820; came to Fitchburg in July, 1829; in 1847 began the study of law with Torrey & Wood; representative in 1861; provost marshal of the Ninth District of Massachusetts 1863- 65; special justice of the Fitchburg Police Court since 1868; city solicitor of Fitchburg 1874-6; mayor in 1877 and 1878.1

The other lawyers in town are Stillman Haynes, Esq., a native of Townsend, who has practised here since 1868, and served several years on the School Board; Charles S. Hayden, Esq., a native of Har- vard, 'read law with Wood & Torrey, and has prac- tised here siuce 1871, and has been special justice of the Fitchburg Police Court since 1879; Samuel L.

Graves, Esq., a native of Groton, graduated at Am- herst in 1870; read law with Wood & Torrey, and has been in practice here since 1873; Harrison Bailey, Esq., a native of Fitchburg, graduated at Amherst in 1872, and at Harvard Law School in 1874, read law with George A. Torrey, Esq., and has practised here since 1874; James H. McMahon, Esq., a native of Ireland, read law with E. B. O'Connor, of Boston, and James M. Woodbury, of Fitchburg, has prac- tised here since September, 1877; Edward P. Pierce, Esq., a native of Templeton, graduated at Harvard Law School in 1877; has practised here since; in 1882 formed a partnership with James A. Stiles, Esq., under the firm-name of Pierce & Stiles, Mr. Stiles, having an office of the firm in Gardner. Mr. Pierce has been city solicitor of Fitchburg since January, 1887 ; Thomas F. Gallagher, Esq., a native of Lynn, graduated at University of Notre Dame, Indiana, in 1876, read law with Hon. William D. Northend in Salem; has been in practice here since December, 1881; Charles H. Blood, Esq., a native of Fitchburg, graduated at Harvard in 1879, read law with Attor- ney-General Marston and at Boston University Law School, in practice here since 1883, and since 1884 has been in partnership with David K. Stevens, Esq., under the firm-name of Blood & Stevens, Mr. Stevens maintaining an office of the firm in Boston; Charles A. Babbitt, Esq., began practice here in the spring of 1888.

PHYSICIANS .- A brief mention will be made of a few of the former physicians of the town, which will be followed by a summary of those now in practice here and an account of medical organizations in this vicinity. .

Dr. Thaddeus McCarty was the first settled physi- cian, and came here from Worcester prior to the Revolution. He was a skilful physician, but re- mained here only a few years, returning to Worces- ter in 1781.

Dr. Jonas Marshall settled here soon after the Revolution on the same farm now occupied by his grandson, Mr. Abel Marshall. He practised here many years.

Dr. Peter Snow succeeded Dr. McCarty, coming here in 1782. For over forty years he was a leading physician here, and also held important town offices.

Dr. Peter S. Snow, eldest son of the above, began practice in 1815, but retired in 1831 on account of poor health. For many years thereafter he was a valuable member of the School Committee. He died here November 25, 1884, aged ninety-two.

Dr. Jonas A. Marshall was for forty years a physi- cian here, and served the town also for twenty-four successive years as town clerk. He died in Charles- town, February 25, 1887, aged nearly eighty-seven years.

Dr. Thomas R. Boutelle graduated at the Medical Department of Yale College in 1819, and soon began practice in New Braintree; removed to Leominster

1 Mr. Merriam died October 11, 1888.

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in 1824, and to Fitchburg in 1833, where he practised the rest of his life. He was a physician of high standing, and was honored with many offices in medical and other organizations. During the War of the Rebellion he was chairman of the Relief Com- mittee of the town, and labored incessantly for the comfort of soldiers' families. He died, universally lamented, July 13, 1869, aged seventy-four years.

By far the most widely-known and remarkable member of the medical profession ever settled in Fitchhurg was Dr. Alfred Hitchcock. He graduated at the Dartmouth Medical College, and later received a diploma from the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- delphia. He settled in Ashby in 1837, but at the written request of many prominent citizens of Fitch- burg, came here in April, 1850, and spent among us the balance of his useful life.

As a practitioner of medicine and surgery Dr. Hitchcock had no peer in this vicinity, and his medi- cal brethren far and near sought his services in all doubtful and severe cases. Of what he did in the war period we have not space to tell; we can only say that during the whole course of the war nearly one- quarter of his time was given to the care of the sick and wounded Massachusetts soldiers in the field and at home.

Dr. Hitchcock was prominent also in public affairs, and held various offices of trust, which we have not space to enumerate. Perhaps the most important was his position in the Executive Council of the State, to which he was elected three times in succes- sion,-in 1861-62-63. He was also on the Board of Overseers of Harvard College from 1857 to 1865.

In addition to his skill, knowledge and good judg- ment, Dr. Hitchcock possessed those finer qualities of mind and heart characteristic of the true gentleman. He was entirely free from dogmatism and pride of the schools, and his uniform gentleness and courtesy endeared him to the people of Fitchburg-rich and poor. His death occurred March 30, 1874, at the age of sixty years, five months and thirteen days. His fun- eral at the Rollstone Church, April 3d, was very largely attended.

Dr. Alfred Miller graduated at the Vermont Medi- cal College, and began practice in Ashburnham in 1845. In 1863 he removed to Fitchburg to remain permanently.

He was a good physician and genial gentleman, and was prominent in school matters. He was also a Representative to the Legislature from this city at one time.

He died, universally regretted by the citizens of Fitchburg, November 15, 1877, aged sixty-two years.

All the above-named physicians were members of the Massachusetts Medical Society, with the excep- tion of the very first, who practised before the society came into existence.

We will now give a brief summary of those phy- sicians now in active practice here who are

Members of the Massachusetts Medical Society .- Dr. Levi Pillsbury is the senior practising physician in Fitchburg. He graduated at the Dartmouth Medical School in 1842, and settled here May 1, 1844; is at present a member of the United States Examining Board for Pensions.

Dr. George Jewett graduated at the Berkshire Medical College in 1847, and continued his studies for a time at the Harvard Medical School, being a pupil of Dr. Jacob Bigelow. He practised in Tem- pleton and Gardner, and came to Fitchburg in 1858; was surgeon in the army, and from 1864 to 1886 was examining surgeon for pensions ; is at present vice- president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He is a trustee of the Public Library, beside holding other public offices.

Dr. George D. Colony graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in 1843; studied medicine with Dr. Amos Twitch- ell, of Keene, N. H .; graduated from the Medical De- partment of the University of Pennsylvania in 1846, and immediately began practice at Athol ; removed to Fitchburg in May, 1861, where he has since con- tinued in active business.

Dr. Austin W. Sidney began practice as an eclectic physician in Sterling in 1860; came to Fitchburg in 1866; later took a course at the Dartmouth Medical School, graduated there, and joined the Massachusetts Medical Society. He is president of the Old Ladies' Home corporation.

Dr. Charles H. Rice graduated at the Harvard and Dartmouth Medical Schools ; settled in Fitchburg in 1866 ; is surgeon of the Sixth Regiment, M. V. M., a member of the School Committee, and a trustee of the Public Library ; was city physician 1873-75.

Dr. Frederick H. Thompson graduated at the Harvard Medical School in 1870; settled in Lancas- ter ; removed to Fitchburg in May, 1874; was city physician in 1877, and has been on the School Com- mittee and a trustee of the Public Library; was surgeon on General Kimball's staff in 1877-78.

Dr. Dwight S. Woodworth graduated from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in 1876; has prac- tised in Fitchburg since ; was city physician 1879-81, and 1884-86 ; is prominent in various fraternal orders ; has been medical director of the Massachusetts Mutual Aid Society for some years; and on the School Board, 1879-82.

Dr. Ernest P. Miller, son of Dr. Alfred Miller, graduated at Harvard College in 1872 and at the Harvard Medical School in 1876, and has practised in Fitchburg since; has been medical examiner since 1877 and was city physician in 1880 and 1883; is one of the United States Examining Board for Pensions.

Dr. Herbert H. Lyons graduated at Boston College in 1878 and at the Harvard Medical School in 1881 ; has practised in Fitchburg since September, 1881; is the third member of the United States Examining Board for Pensions in this city.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Dr. Atherton P. Mason, a native of Fitchburg, graduated at Harvard College in 1879 and at the Har- vard Medical School in 1882; has been in practise in Fitchburg since March, 1884; is secretary of the Worcester North District Medical Society.

Dr. John D. Kielty, a native of Fitchburg, gradu- ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Boston, in 1883, and from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, in 1884, and in June, 1884, began practise in Fitchburg. He has been city physician since January, 1887.

Dr. Clarence W. Spring graduated at Dartmouth College in 1880 and at the Harvard Medical School in 1884. He began practise in Fitchburg in February, 1885,

Dr. Eustace L. Fiske graduated at the Harvard Medical School in 1886 and began practise in Fitch- burg in September, 1888.

Dr. Emerson A. Ludden graduated at the Albany Medical College in March, 1888, and settled in Fitch- burg the following September.

Dr. Henry W. Pierson, though not a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, is a regular physician and has been in practise in West Fitchburg since 1884.

Homeopathic Physicians .- Dr. Daniel B. Whittier studied at the Harvard Medical School and later at the New York Homoeopathic College in 1863. He soon settled in Fitchburg, where he has since been in active business. He has been president of both the State and County Homeopathic Societies, and has served the city as a member of the School Committee.

Dr. Hollis K. Bennett graduated at the Pennsylva- nia Medical University. He practised in Hartford, New York, and in Whitehall, and came to Fitchburg in October, 1872, where he has since continued to practise. Dr. Bennett is a member of all the prin- cipal homeopathic societies.

Dr. Ellen L. Eastman graduated at the Boston University Medical School in 1880. She began prac- tise in Fitchburg, but, in 1884, removed to Wollaston. In the autumn of 1887 she returned to this city and resumed practice here.

Dr. J. Everett Luscombe graduated at the Boston University Medical School iu 1885, and settled herc the same year; is a member of the Worcester County Homeopathic Medical Society.

Dr. Oliver I .. Bradford formerly practised in An- dover, but removed to Fitchburg some years ago.

Dr. Hubbard Il. Brigham is an eclectic physician, a graduate, in 1855, of the Worcester Eclectic Medi- cal College. He has practised in Fitchburg siuce 1845.

There are also three French physiciaus in town.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES .- The Worcester North Dis- trict Medical Society was chartered by the president and councillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society May 28, 1858, and organized on the 5th of the fol- lowing June. Dr. William Parkhurst, of Petersham, was elected its first president.

Its membership comprises all Fellows of the Massa- chusetts Medical Society practising in Fitchburg and towns in the northern part of Worcester County and in the towns of Ashby, Shirley and Townsend, in Middlesex County.

Meetings are held at Fitchburg on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July and October, the annual meeting being in April. The society now has over forty members.

The Fitchburg Society for Medical Improvement was organized in July, 1874, and includes in its mem- bership Fellows of the Massachusetts Medical Society residing in Fitchburg and towns adjoining.

This society holds meetings the third Tuesday of each month at the houses of the members. It is the hope and intention of the society, in conjunction with the district society, to obtain rooms, in the near fu- ture, and fit them up for the purpose of holding both local aud district meetings therein, and also for ac- commodating the library of the district society.

The Worcester North Eclectic Medical Society was organized in July, 1861. Meetings are held at Fitch- burg on the last Tuesday of each month, the annual meeting being held in July.

CHAPTER XLIX.

FITCHBURG-(Continued.)

LITERARY AND ARTISTIC.

AMONG the residents or natives of Fitchburg who in the past have had a name for literary work, we shall mention in this chapter only two.

Rev. Asa Thurston was born in Fitchburg in 1787. He took a course of study at Yale College and the Andover Theological Seminary, and in 1819 sailed for the Sandwich Islands as a missionary. He re- mained there till his death, March 11, 1868, and the value of his life-work for humanity can never be esti- mated. He compiled a valuable dictionary aud grammar of the Hawaiian language.

Hon. Rufus Campbell Torrey was a younger broth- er of Hon. Ebenezer Torrey. He was for some years a resident of Fitchburg, editing a newspaper and teaching in the Fitchburg Academy. In 1836 he wrote the "History of Fitchburg." He afterward removed to Alabama, and became prominent as a lawyer. He died in Claiborne, Alabama, September 13, 1882.

Several natives and residents of Fitchburg, now living elsewhere, deserve at least a passing notice in this chapter.

Mary Caroline (Underwood) Dickinson, now of New York, was born in Fitchburg. She was a teacher in the schools here, later in Boston and New

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York. Her literary work is well known, but cannot properly be given in detail in this sketch.

James Ripley William Hitchcock is a native of this town and a son of Dr. Alfred Hitchcock. He graduated at Harvard in 1877. He is now the art critic of the New York Tribune and resides in New York City. His journalistic work is widely and favorably known.

Ray Greene Huling, principal of the Fitchburg High School, 1875-86, wrote and published a valu- able pamphlet entitled "The Teachers and Graduates of the Fitchburg High School, 1849-1883, preceded by some Mention of Teachers in the Fitchburg Acad- emy, 1830 to 1848." Mr. Huling is now principal of the New Bedford High School.

There are a few writers of prose and verse now liv- ing in Fitchburg still to be mentioned.

Caroline Atherton Mason is a native of Marble- head, the youngest daughter of Dr. Calvin and Re- becca (Monroe) Briggs, of that historic old town.

Her poetical talent began to develop before she reached the age of twenty. She contributed regu- larly to the Salem Register under the signature of " Caro;" and in that paper and under that signa- ture appeared the verses of hers which since have been known throughout all English-speaking coun- tries-the words of the song " Do They Miss Me at Home?" These words were appropriated and set to music by parties who thereby realized a handsome sum.

She also early contributed to other papers, and in 1852 published, through Phillips, Sampson & Co., Bos- ton, a volume of her poems, to which much favor was accorded.

Soon after the death of her father, in 1852, she, with the rest of the family, removed to Fitchburg, and in 1853 she was married to Charles Mason, Esq. Since 1857 Mr. and Mrs. Mason have lived in their present residence, "Laurel Hill," one of the sightliest and best located situations in town. They have one son, a practising physician of this city and the writer of this " History of Fitchburg."

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 91

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576