History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 94

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 94

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He was also president of the Worcester North Agricultural Society, and a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and one of the vice-presidents of the Fitchburg Board of Trade since its organiza- tion.

In all these positions of trust he evinced rare good judgment and executive ability. It has been re- marked by a gentleman who knew him intimately, that whatever he did, he did well.

In habits of thought he was rapid but exact, and much of his influence and ability to put into success- ful operation what would be mere day-dreams in the minds of others were the result of a faculty of swiftly weighing and passing judgment upon ques- tions of moment that claimed his attention. His impulses were generous and lofty, his manners urbane, and his treatment of his associates kind and con- siderate.

Captain Miles was an earnest supporter of the Union Army during the late war; ever ready to aid the soldiers and their families.

He enlisted early in the war, but the health of his partner failed, which left the sole management of a very extensive business entirely to his care, compell- ing him to resign his commission as captain of Com- pany A, Fifty-third Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, before the regiment left its quarters in New York for active service in the field. At the close of the war hewas captain of the Fusileers one year.

His labor in connection with the soldiers' monu- ment and the beautiful square in which it stands, and the admirable report which in behalf of the commit- tee he made at the time it was formally presented to the city, are subjects of record, and will long remain an enduring inscription to his memory, announcing at once his patriotic interest in the work, and his abil- ity to give efficient shape to lofty impulses.

In the very meridian of his manhood and in the midst of usefulness he was called from the scenes of this life. He died very suddenly at his residence on Blossom Street, June 26, 1876. Better known to all the citizens of Fitchburg, both rich and poor, than al- most any other man, and bound up as he was with so many of the mercantile interests of the city, his loss was severely felt.

His characteristics were a devotion to the welfare of his adopted city, honesty of official life as well as in- tegrity in business affairs of every description, and the exercise of those estimable qualities that go to make up the companion and friend; and it may be truly said of him that in his death the poor man, the sol- dier and the soldier's family lost a sincere friend.

GARDNER S. BURBANK.

The subject of this sketch was born in Montpelier, Vt., July 22, 1809. He was a son of Silas and Bath- sheba (Egery) Burbank, and the youngest of a family of eleven children.

Mr. Burbank was educated in the schools of his native town, but at a comparatively early age en- tered upon an occupation that seems to have been hereditary in the family-that of paper-making.

His grandfather, Abijah Burbank, lived in Mill- bnry, Mass., and erected and operated in that town the first paper-mill in Worcester Connty, and one of the first built in this State. Almost all of Abijah Bur- bank's children and grandchildren were paper manu- facturers. General Leonard Burbank, who operated the first paper-mill in Fitchburg, was his grandson and a consin of Gardner S. Burbank.

Gardner S. Burbank began paper-making in Mont- pelier, Vt., but in 1827 went to Millbury, Mass., where, for seven years, he was associated with his uncle, General Caleb Burbank, in the paper business. He then went to Worcester, where, for eleven years, he operated a paper-mill, formerly owned by another uncle, Elijah Burbank.

In 1846 he moved to Russell, and formed a partner- ship with Cyrus W. Field and Marshall Fales. The firm erected a large paper-mill and ran it for about five years, at the end of which time Mr. Burbank, being in poor health, withdrew from the firm, and in October, 1851, came to Fitchburg. He then formed a partnership with the late Hon. Alvah Crocker, at whose earnest solicitation he came to this town, under the name of Crocker & Burbank. C. T. Crocker was admitted to the firm in 1855, and G. F. Fay and S.

Is & Burbank Fitchburg

Johno Putnamo

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E. Crocker in 1863, and the paper manufacturing firm of Crocker, Burbank & Co. developed into the leading one in Fitchburg during Mr. Burbank's fifteen years' connection with it.

In 1866 he disposed nf his interest in the firm and retired from active business; but his sterling integrity and sound judgment made him the recipient of many offices of trust. In addition to many important pri- vate trusts, he was a director of the Fitchburg Na- tional Bank from 1871 till his death; a director of the Fitchburg Mutnal Fire Insurance Company since July, 1875; a trustee of the Fitchburg Savings Bank since June, 1875; and a member of the board of in- vestment of that institution from 1875 to 1885.

Mr. Burbank married, at Auburn, May 23, 1837, Mary Siblev, who died at Worcester December 4, 1839. On May 27, 1841, he married Sarah W. Grout, who survives him. Their three children are all de- ceased. Edwin H. died August 18, 1855, at the age of thirteen ; Mary J. died August 26, 1861, aged six- teen years; and Sarah F., wife of Dr. F. B. Joy, died February 10, 1879, at the age of twenty-nine years.

His modesty led him to decline public positions during his many years of residence in Fitchburg, and the only times that he has consented to be a candi- date for public office have been when his name would add strength to the weaker, and what he considered the better, cause. While residing in Russell he represented the town in the Legislature in 1849 and 1850.

Mr. Burbank was always deeply interested in what- ever tended to increase the prosperity of Fitchburg, and his wish and decree as to the ultimate disposal of his large property show not only his great regard for the city of his adoption, but also his warm, gen- erous heart and his love for humanity. During his life also he was constantly aiding the poor, the unfor- tunate and the struggling ; but the amount of good he thus accomplished can never be known, as he carefully avoided publicity and sought methods of assisting others which would not meet the public eye

Many a timely loan has he made to young men who were striving to establish themselves in business, or acquire an education; and oftentimes the only security that could be given was the honor of the recipient.

Mr. Burbank's excellent habits and strong will un- doubtedly prolonged his life many years. From early childhood his health was not good, and since middle life has been seriously impaired. He closed his long and useful life on the 7th of February, 1888.

His bequest, so generous and ample, to the city of Fitchburg, which will cause his memory to be blessed for generations to come, cannot be better spoken of than by quoting the following extracts from his will.

After providing for certain bequests, the residue of the property is placed in the hands of trustees, and, after paying some annuities, the income is given to Mrs. Burbank for life. At her decease the following clauses become operative :

" And the remainder of said principal not herein- before disposed of under the preceding provisions of this will, I direct my trustees to pay over to the city of Fitchburg, as far as, and as fast as, it is released from the charges and annuities hereinbefore created, for the founding and maintaining of a hospital for the care of the sick. And while I do not wish to embarrass this gift with provisions and restrictions, but desire that the city shall carefully and consider- ately carry my plan into execution, believing that founders of benevolent institutions like the one I contemplate often create great difficulties by endeav- oring to settle in advance the details of the work they have projected, still I wish to indicate, in gen- eral terms, two purposes which I desire to have ex- ecuted.

" First, I desire that a substantial and commodious hospital building shall be erected, and as I trust that my charity. may survive and do good to the poor and sick for many generations, and also believe that the City of Fitchburg will in time be a large and prosper- ons city, I would suggest that the sum of at least $100,- 000 be devoted to the purchase of the necessary land and the erection of the structure. And I also request and direct that while those who are able to pay for the services rendered them in the hospital may be subjected to such moderate and reasonable charge as is usual in such cases in similar charitable institutions, those, on the other hand, who are in poverty and sick- ness shall ever be received and cared for kindly and tenderly, 'without money and without price,' and without regard to color or nationality.

"It is by the request of my wife, whose good judg- ment has so greatly aided me in all the affairs and purposes of my life, that I was led to make the fore- going provision for the foundation of a hospital."

This bequest will be ample to insure to Fitchburg, at some future time, an excellent hospital, which will be at once a lasting memorial to the munificent founder and a great blessing to the community.

JOHN PUTNAM.

John Putnam, the founder of the Putnam Machine Company, and the pioneer of the machine business in Fitchburg, was born in Peterboro', N. H., October 14, 1810.

He was a descendent, in the seventh generation, of John Putnam, who, with his wife, Priscilla, came from Abbot-Aston, near Aylesbury, England, in 1634, and settled in Salem, Mass. John's eldest son, Thomas, first settled in Lynn, but soon removed to Salem Vil- lage (now Danvers.) The next in line was Edward, whose son, Elisha, removed in 1725 to Sutton, Mass.

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-incorporated ten years before-where he purchased a large tract of land for a farm. Elisha's son, John, speut his life in Sutton, and was a scythe-maker. His son, John, the father of John-the subject of this sketch-was also a scythe-maker.

Mr. Putnam was closely connected in descent with General Israel Putnam, and also with General Rufus Putnam, who was commissioned lieutenant-colonel at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, and super- intended the construction of fortifications at Brook- line, Roxbury and Dorchester Heights, In August, 1776, he was appointed chief engineer of the Conti- nental Army, with the rank of brigadier-general, and superintended the construction of fortifications at West Point, the most important one-Fort Putnam- being named for him. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of General Washington.

General Rufus Putnam was one of the earliest set- tlers of Ohio, and in 1788 founded the city of Mari- etta, the first permanent settlement made in that State.

John Putnam, during early life, assisted his father at scythe-making. When fourteen years old he be- came an apprentice at the shop of Loammi Chamber- lain, a machinist at Mason Village (now Greenville), N. H., where he served five years, working fourteen hours per day. He had the privilege of four weeks' schooling each year, working before and after school- hours.

After completing his apprenticeship with Mr. Chamberlain he continued in his employ, receiving one dollar per day as wages, and in 1835 he hired a part of his employer's shop and tools and began the manufacture of cotton-machinery. At this time his younger brother, Salmon W. Putnam, then nineteen years old, began working for him as an apprentice.

In 1836 he went to Trenton, N. J., and made ar- rangements to start a machine-shop there, and on his return to Mason Village he set about making the ma- chinery and necessary tools for his future business. His plan of going to Trenton was, however, destroyed by the panic of 1837, the parties who had agreed to erect a building for him there deciding it was inex- pedient to do so.

Mr. Putnam, after storing the machines and tools he had made, sought employment elsewhere and soon obtained a situation as repairer of machinery at Deacon Smith's cotton-factory at East Wilton, N. H. Shortly thereafter the mill was burned and Mr. Put- nam obtained another situation in Samuel Wood's cotton-factory in Ashburnham, Mass. After working there some months he hired a room in Mr. Wood's factory, and moving his tools, etc., from their place of storage in Mason Village, set them up there. He then took his younger brother, who was without capital or experience in the business, as an equal partner, and began business under the style of J. & S. W. Putnam.

The tools with which the firm started in 1837 con- sisted of one 24-inch swing lathe, two small screw-

cutting lathes, one chucking and one polishing lathe, an npright drill and gear-cutter, two die-stocks, taps, dies, rcamers and mandrels.

After having remained in Ashburnham nearly a year and not being satisfied with their prospects in that place, the brothers removed to the neighboring town of Fitchburg, which then had a population of a little over two thousand inhabitants.

The history of the firm and of its great successor, the Putnam Machine Company, is fully given in the section on Iron Industries in the sketch of Fitchburg.

John Putnam was extremely ingenious and a very skilful workman. Much of the new kinds of machin- ery made by the firm was devised by him ; and from the first and for many years he made all the patterns and forgings used in their business. Gear-cutting machines, new machinery for paper-making, gauge lathes for making bobbins, etc., may be mentioned among his many inventions.

In the early years of the business Mr. Putnam, being the only one competent to superintend the me- chanical part of the enterprise, devoted his entire ener- gies to make it a success, denying himself and his family, in a great measure, that he might put every dollar derived from the business back into it. He became so engrossed in its management, never allow- ing a moment of recreation to himself, that he gave slight heed to the outside and pecuniary part of the business, which he entrusted to his younger brother, Salmon W. Putnam. He did more hard work and furnished more capital toward building up the enter- prise than any one else; and the business of the Put- nam Machine Company of to-day represents the growth of an enterprise established mainly by his skill and untiring energy through long years of unre- mitting toil and self-denial.

Soon after the decease of S. W. Putnam, February 23, 1872, the presidency of the Putnam Machine Company was offered to John Putnam; but, having been confioed to the mechanical part of the business all his life, and not wishing, at that late day, to as- sume the responsibilities involved, he declined the position and used his influence to place Charles F. Putnam in the president's chair.

Up to the time of his death Mr. Putnam was a heavy stockholder, and for many years a director in the Putnam Machine Company ; and until he retired from business, in 1886, he energetically kept at work with unimpaired skill, and was daily found in his apartment.

Mr. Putnam married, in 1834, Miss Sophro nia Chapman, of Cambridge, Mass. She died February 14, 1866, leaving three sons,-John L., H. Marshall and Charles W.,-all of whom follow the business of their father, and two daughters, now Mrs. C. C. Strat- ton and Mrs. Edward Newitt.

In 1879 he married Mrs. Helen Domett, of Hyde Park, Mass., who survives him.

Mr. Putnam was one of the first members of the

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Methodist Episcopal Society in Fitchburg. He was always deeply interested in the welfare of the church and contributed generously toward its support. He was trustee from 1858 till his death, July 31, 1888, and one of the largest donors to the building fund for the handsome and substantial Methodist Church recently erected in this city ; and his pledge of two thousand dollars was at once the incentive and nucleus around which gathered the means that insured its erection ; and he afterwards made liberal contributions to the same worthy object.

Mr. Putnam was one of our oldest citizens, and much respected for his great mechanical skill, his strict integrity and his pleasant, unostentatious man- ners. At the time of his death he was nearly seventy-eight years old; he had been a resident of Fitchburg for just half a century, and lived to see the machine business of this place increase from the accommodations of the twenty by thirty room that he and his brother hired in 1838, in the "Burbank Paper- Mill," to its present enormous proportions.

LUTHER JULIUS BROWN.

Luther J. Brown was born in the town of Eden, Vermont, on December 31, 1827, and was the oldest of a family of four children. His parents were Luther H. and Bersheba (Shattuck) Brown.

His early education was acquired in the district schools of his native town and at the academy in Johnson, Vt .; and later he was a student at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, N. H. He was fond of study and fitted for college, but financial reverses obliged him to give up his intention of obtaining a collegiate education.

His father kept a dry-goods and grocery store in Eden, and for a time the young man was engaged in this store, where he gained his first experience in mercantile business.

In May, 1843, his mother died, and in June, 1845, the family removed to Manchester, N. H. During the greater part of this interval of two years young Brown was in Hyde Park, in the employ of Noyes Brothers, who kept a large country store. In Man- chester he worked in one of the mills and was also employed part of the time in a hardware store.

In 1850, when twenty-three years of age, Mr. Brown went to Boston and became a clerk in the large whole- sale and retail dry-goods house of Brett, Ellis & Co., located on Federal Street. He remained in their employ several years and acquired a thorough and valuable knowledge of the business. For a year he had charge of a branch store of the firm in Natick.

In August, 1855, Mr. Brown came to Fitchburg to locate permanently, as it proved. He very soon formed a copartnership with A. B. Sherman in the dry-goods business, and the firm, whose store was in the building next below the present Rollstone Bank block, enjoyed a flourishing trade. The partnership

lasted about three years. During this period he mar- ried, January 13, 1856, Miss Sarah P. Harding, of East Medway, who, by her tact, courtesy and ability, con- tributed essentially to the marked success which ere long crowned her husband's mercantile life in Fitch- burg.

In 1860 Mr. Brown formed a partnership with Charles Kimball, of Haverhill. The firm of Kimball & Brown occupied a store located on the spot where now stands the handsome structure known far and near as the " L. J. Brown Block."

It was about this time that Mr. Brown performed a feat that attracted widespread attention. In the fall of 1860 there was a sharp and spirited contest over the Representative to Congress from this district, which resulted in the election of Hon. Goldsmith F. Bailey, of Fitchburg, over Hon. Eli Thayer, of Wor- cester. Mr. Brown favored Mr. Thayer and entered into an agreement with Mr. Silas Ruggles, a druggist here, who favored Mr. Bailey, that the one favoring the defeated candidate "should wheel in a barrow from his place of business in Fitchburg to the hotel in Leominster a well-known gentleman of the 'colored persuasion,' named Ben. Franklin." Mr. Brown's candidate being defeated, in accordance with the agreement, he began his ardnous task at one o'clock Thursday afternoon, November 8, 1860. Over a thousand people were present to see him start and the Leominster Band furnished music. Mr. Brown ac- complished the journey of five miles in two hours and a quarter, with but seven rests, which was doing pretty well, as the negro weighed one hundred and sixty-five pounds. About a thousand people wel- comed Mr. Brown on his arrival at Leominster. In the evening Mr. Brown gave a supper to some twenty- five of his friends. The fulfilment of this novel bet created quite a sensation at the time.

In 1862 Mr. Brown bought Mr. Kimball's interest in the firm, and in April of that year commenced business on his own account, having his wife and a boy to assist him. He soon built up a large trade, purchased the building and enlarged it at five different times. In 1882 he built the present handsome brown- stone front.

Mr. Brown began with dry-goods and cloak-mak- ing, but dress-making was soon added. The carpet department was established in 1882 and the millinery parlor the year following. At the time of his death over fifty people were employed in the store.

Mr. Brown's death, September 29, 1884, was keenly felt by the citizens and was a severe loss to the city. The sincere grief of the community was evinced by the profusion of mourning emblems visible ou every side.

Private funeral services were held at the family residence on Blossom Street early in the afternoon of October Ist. Later in the day public services were held in Christ Church (Episcopal), under the direc- tion of Jerusalem Commandery, K. T., and King

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David Encampment, I. O.O. F. Thousands of people passed through the church to look for the last time on the face of the dead merchant. The floral offer- ings of friends, employés and organizations were pro- fuse and elegant.

All the places of business throughout the city were closed for the day at noon out of respect for the de- ceased.

Mr. Brown was a thorough business man. In addi- tion to his large establishment here he had, for three years, a branch store at Shelburne Falls. His promi- nence was, however, by no means confined to his special line of trade. He held many positions of trust and honor. He was a director in the Wachusett National Bank from its organization in 1875; vice- president of the Worcester North Savings Institution, and trustee since its incorporation ; president of the Wachusett Electric Light Company from its organiza- tion, and the first president of the Old Ladies' Home. He represented Fitchburg in the Legislature in 1878- 79. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and a vestryman of Christ Church.

Mr. Brown's social qualities gained him many warm personal friends ; he was of a benevolent disposition, and always ready to aid any worthy object. The hall in his block was freely opened for all meetings- political, religious or temperance-and for several years he furnished the hall, warmed and lighted, for meetings of the Railroad Meu's Christian Asso- ciation.

He was active in whatever tended to promote the growth and prosperity of Fitchburg, and it is safe to say that the death of no other citizen could have pro- duced a profounder sensation or more sincere sorrow than did that of Mr. Brown.

CHARLES BURLEIGH.

Mr. Burleigh was born in Waterville, Me., August 30, 1824, and was one of a large family.

He attended the schools of his native town, and early showed a natural aptitude for mechanical pur- suits. When a boy, he entered the shop of Mr. William Brown, a blacksmith of the town, where he was employed in ironing carriages and doing similar work, displaying great aptness and ingennity.

He worked here until he was eighteen years old, when, from a youthful love of adventure, and desire to look abroad, he left home for a whaling voyage of three years, during which time he visited all quarters of the globe.

Soon after his return from the voyage he went to East Boston, where, for several years, he was in the employ of Otis Tufts.

In 1850 he married, and in October of the same year came to Fitchburg, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred May 28, 1883.

Immediately after arriving in Fitchburg he entered the employ of J. & S. W. Putnam & Co., and soon

became a member of the firm ; and when the Putnam Machine Company was organized, four years later, he became one of the stockholders, and continued to be largely interested in the company during the rest of his life. For more than twenty years he was a direc- tor in the company.

For several years prior to 1869 he was one of the superintendents of the Putnam Machine Company, but his other important business interests outside the works obliged him to give up the position.

About 1865 Mr. Burleigh, appreciating the difficul- ties that were being encountered in the effort to com- plete the Hoosaic Tunnel by the use of hand-drills, applied himself to the arduous task of perfecting a power-drill, former efforts in this direction having proved wholly unsuccessful. The result was the Bur- leigh Rock-drill and Air-compressor, and to these two machines the successful completion of this great work may unquestionably be ascribed.

In 1867 Mr. Burleigh founded the Burleigh Rock- drill Company, with a capital of $150,000, to manu- facture these machines and place them on the market; since then they have found a ready sale in nearly all portions of the world, and have made a most impor- tant addition to the machinery interests of Fitchburg. These machines have since been used for the success- ful completion of various difficult engineering feats, and their advent marked a new era in the history of the development of mines. In connection with these two important inventions Mr. Burleigh's name has become widely known.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 94

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