History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 196

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 196

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In 1848, these children, six sons and three daugh- ters, by the authority of the General Court of Massa- chusetts, approved by the Governor, May 10, 1848, changed their family name from Hoar to that of Heywood.

The subject of this sketch spent his early years ou his father's farm in Princeton, attending the district school in the winter season until twenty years of age, after which he continued his education for two terms at the Westminster Academy, the expenses of which were defrayed by his own earnings. These years, spent among the rugged and fruitful hills of Prince- ton, rooted the habits of industry, self-reliance and simple taste, and laid the foundation upon which he has builded a useful and successful life.

On leaving the academy he entered the service of E. D. & E. A. Goodnow, who manufactured shoes and carried on an extensive country store business in Princeton. In August, 1848, he engaged in the country store business on his own account, as a part- ner in the firm of Heywood & Warren, in Hubbards-

Benjamin Booth Beny

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ton, and at the end of three years he bought his partner's interest and continued to carry on a large and prosperous business until January, 1855.

In the month of February following, Mr. Heywood removed to Worcester, and became a partner of E. A. Goodnow, under the name and firm of Goodnow & Heywood, and built up an extensive business in the wholesale and retail trade of boots and shoes. This partnership was dissolved in 1856, Mr. Heywood tak- ing the retail department, and doing a successful and increasing business until 1864, when he sold out and began the manufacture of boots and shoes, in which he has since been constantly engaged. No house stands higher in the quality of its wares, which of late years have been extended to the finer grades, and the annual product has in some years reached half a million dollars.

In 1879 Mr. Heywood erected the Wachusett building on Winter Street, which is one of the largest and best equipped boot and shoe factories in this region.

The firm of S. R. Heywood & Co. was incorporated in 1883 as the Heywood Boot and Shoe Company, with Mr. Heywood as president, and is still so con- tinued.

In financial matters Mr. Heywood holds an impor- tant place in the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He has been a director of the Central National Bank since 1865, and was a charter member of the People's Savings Bank, organized the same year. He has served as trustee and on the Board of Investment and finance committee of the People's Savings Bank for the twenty-four years of its existence, and has been its president since 1885. He is also a director in the Cotton and Woolen Mutual Insurance Co. of Boston.

Formerly connected with the Salem Street (Con- gregational) Church, he has been prominently iden- tified with the Plymouth (Congregational) Church since its organization, active in matters pertaining to the building of that edifice and the financial man- agement, and especially interested in lifting the burden of its debt, toward which purpose he was a most generons and cheerful giver.

Mr. Heywood married Harriet Butler, daughter of Z. T. Milliken, of Chelsea, in June, 1856. Five chil- dren-three sons and two daughters-have been the fruit of this marriage. Two sons are now living, Frank Everctt and Albert Samuel; the former (Har- vard College, 1882) is now the treasurer of the Hey- wood Boot and Shoe Co., and the latter is a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, '87.

BENJAMIN BOOTH.

Mr. Booth is another of Worcester's citizens who, though not native-born, have added largely to her renown as a manufacturing centre by their ingenuity, skill and industry. He was born in Manchester,

England, on the 3d of March, 1831, and came to the United States when nine years of age. He lived in Fall River, Bristol County, until the great fire of 1843, by which his home was destroyed and every- thing pertaining to it lost. After several changes of residence he settled at Lawrence, in Essex County, and became connected with the Pacific Mills as an engraver. His fidelity and ability were recognized, as was shown by his rapid promotion to positions of trust and importance. He was made superintendent of the company's telegraph, water and fire apparatus and general supervisor of their property. As a citizen he was very popular, being elected superintendent of the Fire Alarm and chief engineer of the Lawrence Fire Department, which offices he held eleven years.

It was in 1870 that Mr. Booth made his permanent residence in Worcester, being employed by the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, and was soon made superintendent of their Quinsigamond Works, which position he still holds.

He grew up to be an ardent lover of American in- stitutions, and though by no means an aspirant for political honors, has been willing to do his part in the public service. He is a Republican so far as party affiliation is concerned. But his popularity with his fellow-electors evidently rests on his integ- rity of character, his prudence and conscientiousness, rather than on any party consideration. In 1880 he was elected a member of the City Council from a ward that is at all times overwhelmingly Democratic ; and in 1882 he was again elected, thus serving four years. In 1886 he was elected alderman, having no opponent ; and to the same office he was again elected in 1888, receiving a larger majority than was ever given a candidate for the office who had an opponent.

The school education of Mr. Booth was good- quite sufficient as a foundation on which to build that after-superstructure reared day by day by re- flection, association with people of culture and the reading of instructive works. He has been somewhat of a traveler, having twice visited Europe, first in 1867 and again some twenty years later. These visits, though not, perhaps, for the ordinary purposes of pleasure travel, but rather as a refreshing pilgrim- age to the scenes of his early days, were well calcu- lated to infuse new energies and impart new ideas, such as are ever circulating in so busy and so pro- gressive a place as old Manchester. The return of Mr. Booth from both of his European trips was cele- brated by his fellow-citizens by testimonials of such a character as to leave no doubt of the warm place he held in their affections.

In religious sentiment Mr. Booth is an Episco- palian, and has long been a devoted member of All Saints' Church.

Mr. Booth was married, in 1853, to Miss Chamley, of Lowell, the fruit of the union being two sons and one daughter.

Mr. Booth has been successful in life; and it

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seems not difficult for one who follows his career and marks the elements of his character, to determine to what points his success is, in a great degree, attribut- able. We all have good intentions and aspirations; but indolence and indifference keep many lagging behind them. Mr. Booth's habits are neither indolent nor indifferent, but alert, watchful and interested in whatever promises healthful advancement. Some are sharp and unscrupulons, and by pursuing question- able ways lose the confidence of those with whom they have to deal. He has not been one of these, but conscientious and fair-dealing to the degree that wins confidence and esteem. Some, by undue parsimony and little ways of selfishness, loosen the bonds of good-fellowship ; but he, by open-hearted and open- handed ways, makes friendships on every side. Some possess a haughty bearing and repellent manners, but his bearing is unassuming and his manners complais- ant. In short, it may be remarked that such charac- teristics as he possesses will surely, under all ordinary circumstances, lead to popularity and success.

WILLIAM HOGG-WILLIAM JAMES HOGG.

The two portraits of father and son, which accom- pany this sketch, represent the second and third gen- eration of a family which has been prominently iden- tified with the marvelons development of the carpet manufacturing industry for over fifty years, and may be considered to rank among the pioneers of this branch of manufacture in this country.

The present representative of the family, Wm. Jas. Hogg, the proprietor of the Worcester Carpet Com- pany, is not a native of the city or State, but is one of the many enterprising young men whose brains and capital have been attracted to Worcester as a promising field for business enterprises, and a desira- ble place of residence, and whose skill and energy have aided in making the city a great manufacturing centre.

William Hogg, the father, was born in Philadelphia September 3, 1820, and died June 8, 1883. He mar- ried Catharine L. Horner, the daughter of an old and well-known Philadelphia family, who still survives him.

William James Hogg is the eldest son of this union, and has four sisters living. He was born in Philadelphia June 5, 1851, and was educated in the schools of that city and Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.

The genealogical record of the family in this coun- try begins with William Hogg, a wealthy linen man- ufacturer, born in Scotland, who came to this country early in the present century and settled in Northum- berland County, Pa. His son, William Hogg (2d), a stanch Scotch Presbyterian, removed to Philadel- phia when a young man and engaged in the manu- facture of shawls and other woolen fabrics, and in 1832 he began the manufacture of carpets.

At that time this branch of industry was in its in- fancy in this country, and many of the present carpet manufacturing concerns in Philadelphia date their origin from this house, where their founders were em- ployed in various capacities.

The business became prosperous, and in 1846, hav- ing amassed a competence, he withdrew, and was succeeded by his son, William Hogg (3d), who con- tinued the business, in connection with a younger brother, James, until 1850.

This partnership was dissolved in that year, and the business was thereafter conducted and enlarged by the senior through many prosperous years.

William James Hogg began his business life with his father in 1868, and acquired an interest in the firm in 1871.

In July, 1879, he came to Worcester, and, in com- pany with his father, bought the Crompton Carpet Company's plant, on Russell Street, changing the name to the Worcester Carpet Company, the firm- name being William J. Hogg & Co. William J. re- tained his interest in the Philadelphia house until 1882, when he withdrew from that firm and bought out his father's interest in the Worcester Carpet Company, becoming the sole proprietor.

He built a new mill in 1883, enlarging the weaving capacity of the mills one-third, and in 1884 he added to this plant the factories known as the Pacachoag Worsted Mills, and engaged in spinning his own worsted yarns. In 1885 this spinning plant was fur- ther enlarged to meet the demands of the rapidly growing business.

The product of the Worcester Carpet Company's Mills is Wiltons and body Brussels of the finer grades, and is sold to the trade direct, through the company's own agents. The business has been stead- ily prosperous from the start, and now gives employ- ment to about 350 operatives, producing about 15,000 yards of carpet per week, and this product finds a prompt market all over the United States.

In addition to the carpet mills, Mr. Hogg, in com- pany with Herbert L. Stockwell, bought the property known as the Stoneville Mills, Auburn, in 1887, which were refitted and furnished with new machin- ery for the manufacture of worsted and woolen yarns under the name of the Stoneville Worsted Company. The product of these mills is sold to the carpet man- ufacturers of Philadelphia and elsewhere, and gives employment to 150 operatives, nearly all of whom reside in the village of Stoneville, in cottages, all of which are owned by the company.

Like his father, who was largely interested in real estate in Philadelphia, Mr. Hogg has for several years been a large investor in building lots in the southwest section of this city, where he owns large tracts of land, which he has improved by opening new streets and building a number of modern honses for investment.

In politics Mr. Hogg is a Republican, and a firm

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WORCESTER.

believer in the principles of protection to American industries. He is a member of the Masonic order, and ranks as a member of the Royal Arch Chapter of Philadelphia.

William James Hogg married Frances Happoldt, of Philadelphia, in 1871, by whom he has three sons and two daughters living.

Though not yet forty years of age, he has already won a prominent place in business circles, chiefly by his own energy and enterprise, and is widely known as a successful manufacturer, a liberal and public- spirited citizen and a genial gentleman.

WILLIAM H. JOURDAN.

To attempt to condense the noteworthy events of a long and busy life into a brief personal sketch is to invite failure at the outset. .

When the subject of such a sketch is a modest man, who is still living, the task is doubly beset with em- barrassing limitations.

In the present instance only "a plain, unvarnished tale" is permitted, for wherever William H. Jourdan is known at all, he is known as a modest man, too honest and sincere in his nature and habit to covet or tolerate even the most artfully disguised form of eulogy.

William Henry Jourdan's life, from his birth in the neighboring town of Grafton down to the present time, is an open record of an honorable and successful business man, whose original stock in trade consisted chiefly in that old-fashioned family legacy,-personal industry, honesty and brains.

Thus equipped, it is not strange that he has earned a large measure of success and an honorable recogni- tion in the ranks of Worcester's respected and sub- stantial citizens.

The general verdict of a man's contemporaries-if such a many-sided expression were possible-during his life would be a truer estimate of his real worth than the glowing memorials which find their way into the obitnary columns of the newspapers when a good citizen or a great man dies.

Tried by this standard, the quiet, genial, unassum- ing and generous traits of William Henry Jourdan would call forth 'a practically unanimous tribute of good-will and esteem from his fellow-townsmen, and a hearty assent from a widely-scattered host of friends and business associates.

These qualities of heart and mind, united with rare business tact and sagacity, sound judgment and a con- servative, yet by no means narrow, temperament, and above all, an unswerving fidelity to his own convic- tions, have won him their natural rewards in firm friendships and easy fortunes, during his long and steadily successful business life.

In brief outline the record of his early years is that of the typical New England-bred boy and man.

Born in the rural but thriving town of Grafton 109

July 7, 1826, young Jourdan's educational advan- tages were limited to the excellent common-school system of the town.

At the age of fourteen his school-days ceased and he went to work with and for his father, with whom he remained, after the good old-time custom, until he was "twenty -one."

In October, 1847, having arrived at man's estate, he came to Worcester and entered the service of the Providence and Worcester Railroad as a passenger conductor, in which capacity he remained until Jan- uary, 1850, when he was promoted to be the general agent of that corporation at Worcester.

After thirteen years of faithful and efficient service as agent, he resigned the position September 1, 1863, to engage in his present business, having bought of Thomas Sutton his interest in the wholesale and re- tail coal trade, established then, as now, in the Lin- coln House block on Main Street.

For many years Mr. Jourdan was the sole proprietor of this constantly growing business, which has kept pace with the city in its growth from a population of less than thirty thousand in 1863 to that of over eighty thousand, during the last quarter of a century.

The present firm of William H. Jourdan & Co. was formed in 1885 by the admission to partnership of his only son, Mr. William S. Jourdan, who had been identified with the business since 1872, and Mr. Wil- liam G. Strong, who has been associated with Mr. Jourdan during the whole period, and had previously served for several years in the office under Thomas Sutton.

The firm is to-day probably the largest wholesale and retail house of its kind in the State, and in the magnitude of its annual transactions is second only to one of the many great manufacturing corporations in the city.

Mr. Jourdan has always been a stanch Republi- can, but without a trace of political ambition in his nature.

He has, however, been called to serve two full terms on the Worcester Board of Aldermen, from 1873 to 1877, where he rendered able and valuable service during those trying years of financial disaster and hardship.

For more than twenty years he has been a director of the Worcester National Bank, succeeding Governor Lincoln on that board, and for the past sixteen years he has been one of the trustees of the Worcester County Institution for Savings.

He has also been a director of the State Mutual Life Insurance Company for many years, and served several terms on the Board of Direction of the Man- ufacturers' Mutnal Fire Insurance Company.

Mr. Jourdan comes from sturdy New England ancestry on both sides. His mother, Susan Adams, was of the historical Adams family, her father being a cousin to President John Quincy Adams.

David Jourdan, his father, was a native of Thomp-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

son, Conn., whose ancestry date back to the French Huguenots of that name, who were among the early settlers of the country.

This branch of the Jourdan (or Jordan) family settled in Connecticut; another in Maine, from which Eben Jordan, of Jordan, Marsh & Co., of Boston, is a direct descendant ; a third in Virginia, now repre- sented by General Jordan, of Confederate fame; and a fourth in Ohio.

William Henry Jourdan was the eldest of five children-one daughter and four sons-born to David and Susan, and married Emily Boyden Saunders,- deceased September 19, 1871,-the eldest daughter of Esek Saunders, of Saundersville, whose line runs back to Roger Williams, of Rhode Island.

Previous to the death of Mr. Jourdan's father, in 1884, at the ripe age of eighty-six, the family gather- ings included four generations of male representa- tives in direct line of descent, from David to Harry Putnam Jourdan, only son of William, now eight years of age.

At the age of sixty-two years the present head of the line is still in daily attendance at his office and now, as ever, a peace-loving man, who, in all his long business career and extensive dealings with men and affairs, was never sued, or (with a single trifling ex- ception) ever brought a suit in court ; never failed to meet every financial engagement promptly, and was never known to deny an honest and deserving appeal for help or charity from his fellow-man.

If this be eulogy, may the coming generations strive to merit it in the same way and measure.

JJEROME WHEELOCK.

The picturesque town of Grafton (known since the colonial days as one of the " Praying sections " of the Indian Apostle Eliot), essentially a farming town, but long since noted for its product of men born with- in its borders who have gone out to join in the great conflict in life, and by their own efforts have helped push the world along, and become distinguished.

Jerome Wheelock, now so widely known the world over as the inventor of the Wheelock Engine, and the subject of this sketch, was born in Grafton, June 20, 1834. His parents were Daniel and Susan Pratt Wheelock.

One of a family of six, raised to hard labor and few opportunities, attending the common schools of the period, he received such education as the limited terms could supply to a youth who was inclined to original investigation and to do his own thinking.

A noteworthy event of young Wheelock's life was the seceding from the parental home and effectually concealing his whereabouts against the most strenu- ous efforts at discovery, sustaining his position until his independence was established.

The natural bent of his mind was soon gratified through the influence of the Hon. Abraham M. Bige-

low, by a situation in the Taunton Locomotive Works. Here he remained and served a full appren - ticeship, and started on his career with the following endorsement from the management of the locomotive works: "A good mechanic, steady, honest and of in- dustrious habits," from the locomotive works young Wheelock went out, turning his attention to the practice of the steam-engine, and locating in various points. Ample and interesting material would tempt to a long description of his early mechanical life ; but the limits of this sketch will not admit.

He came to Worcester in 1858. Subsequently, while engaged with the Washburn Iron Works of this city, he invented the now widely celebrated Wheelock Steam Cylinder Packing, which soon commanded such recognition among steam users that it hecame necessary to make arrangements for its extensive manufacture. Accordingly, the firm of Wheelock & Wheeler (a co-partnership with Mr. Charles A. Wheeler) began the manufacture in 1865. By the death of Mr. Wheeler, in 1867, Mr. Wheelock assumed the business and rapidly developed several inventions.

In 1870 he removed to the shops on Union Street, where the Wheelock Engine was first manufactured, and where, in the struggle for existence for almost a decade, there was a striking illustration of "one hand washing the other," the success of many smaller inventions making money to be spent in the experiments of developing the Wheelock En- gine. Long and patiently was the labor carried on.

At length, by a few devices full of that simplicity that always characterizes valuable thought, the ma- chine was completed. The fullness of his success is best attested by the universal applause bestowed on his work by the highest grade of mechanical experts in all parts of the world. At international exposi- tions the Wheelock Engine has been a prominent feature, and at every contest has been victorious. The American Institute of New York, in 1875, awarded Mr. Wheelock the great gold medal of progress (the only one ever given for a steam-engine, and considered a great honor). He also received the medal and diploma of the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876.

The Paris International Exposition of 1878 award- ed Mr. Wheelock the grand prize, the only one for a steam-engine, and one of eight coming to this coun- try.

The First International Millers' Exposition at Cincinnati, in 1880, offered a large award for the best steam-engine. Mr. Wheelock entered the Wheelock Engine, and, after a severe contest with the best known types, came off victorious, and re- ceived what is admitted to be the finest award in ex- istence.

From this the growth of the engine business was rapid, and the improvements and inventions of Mr. Wheelock have been hailed almost with acclamation

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WORCESTER.

throughout the mechanical world. At London, Ed- inburgh and Brussels, where foreigners have ex- hibited, the Wheelock Engine has received large gold awards.

In addition, and no less flattering, have been the encomiunis bestowed in more private ways by the most competent judges and experts in all countries where machinery and mechanical principles are best understood.

The late Colonel Forney, in a letter to the Phila- delphia Press from Paris, spoke very highly of the engine exhibited by Mr. Wheelock, and of the many favorable notices of it, and relates a conversation with a son of Mr. Wheelock, a lad of sixteen, who was in sole charge of the engine.

" Your father," he remarked, as he took the hand of the youth, "has given you a pronder name and a richer heritage than any king could give his son ;" and a prominent writer, noticing Colonel Forney's remarks, adds : " Without quarreling with that pro- position at all, and speaking within the sober limits which history is bound to prescribe to itself, there is no doubt that Mr. Wheelock has placed his name high on the roll of distinguished mechanics, whose works adorn their country and their age."

In November, 1855, Mr. Wheelock entered Franklin Lodge of Free Masons, and since has passed through all the successive degrees to the thirty-second. He is a member of the Worcester County Mechanics Association, the Massachusetts Charitable Mechan- ics' Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the American Institute of Mining Engi- neers, and in 1879, after his success in Paris, the Iron and Steel Institute of Great Britain made him a member without solicitation, a conspicuous honor much appreciated.

In June, 1858, Mr. Wheelock married Lydia Ann Robinson, a native of Concord, Mass., a daughter of Henry and Myra Robinson. Five children were born-four boys and one girl. Three have died, two sons are living.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 196

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464