History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 199

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 199

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

It was in July, 1870, that the firm of Johnson & Bassett was formed, and pursued the manufacture of wool-spinning machinery. The partnership contin- ued till the death of Mr. Johnson, in March, 1880. Mr. Bassett then purchased from the heirs of his late partner their interest, and has continued the business to the present time. Under his sole management it has become extensive and profitable.

From this brief sketch of the business career of Mr. Bassett it will be seen that he has had his share of ups and downs. But early hardships and later reverses have not discouraged him, and at the present time he is reckoned among the many prosperous and substan-

1740

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tial men of whom Worcester has reason to be so justly proud-men who, by their various industries are daily adding to her wealth, and extending her credit and good name.

But Mr. Bassett has not been through life so ab- sorbed in business as to forego the advantages and deny himself the pleasures of travel. Not only has he visited nearly all the important cities and places of special interest in our own country and Mexico, but in the far north of Europe has witnesssed the wonder- ful spectacle of the midnight sun, and in the famous cities of other quarters of that continent has seen the triumphs of art and the varied phases of social life.

Mr. Bassett is not a politician, as the term is usually applied, but has decided opinions, and is not back- ward in expressing them. He is a strong Republican and accepts in full the doctrines they advocate. He has not been an office-holder to any great extent, though for six years he served as a member of the School Board, a position he cheerfully accepted for the opportunities it afforded to do something for the advancement of education among all classes ; and his efforts in the office won the approbation of those who placed him in the situation where so much good could be accomplished.

On the 16th of April, 1857, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with Elizabeth Kennan, of Vermont, and five children have been born to them-three sons and two daughters-but of the children only two sons are now living.

Mr. Bassett is still in healthful and active life, and there is good ground for hope that he may live for many years, by his ingenuity and accumulating skill, by his vigor and enterprise, adding more and more to the already famous industrial specialities of good old Worcester.

IVER JOHNSON.

Worcester has been noted for the character and ability of its prominent business men, especially in the manufacturing industries. The men who led in the transformation of the sleepy country village into the bustling growing city, were the foremost in cour- age, enterprise and sagacity. Early in the history of the city men often said where are we to look for suc- cessors to the Washburns and Wheelers of the genera- tion then passing away ? But they were answered with such names as Crompton, Walker, Moen, Knowles and many others, men who have even exceeded in achievements the leading actors in the earlier generations. Indications are not wanting that we are still evolving from the new generation of business men captains of industry with the spirit and energy of the great ones gone before.

Of this new generation, and notable in it in many ways, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Johnson was born in Nordfjord, Norway, February, 14, 1841. His father was John Johnson, a farmer, one of a line of Johnsons reaching back for a thousand years, who

from father to son, handed down the some narrow acres on which they had lived and died. But Iver was not exactly "a chip of the old block." His am- bition reached out beyond his meagre surroundings, and at the age of sixteen he left home to serve as an ap- prentice at gun making in Bergen. His only oppor- tunity for education had been the parish school for three months of the year, but this was afterward sup- plemented by the instruction received in Sunday- schools, institutions which in Norway combine secular with religious teaching. His life in Bergen was a hard one, with longer hours of labor than were ever known in this country for mechanical work. Toil from 5 A.M. to 9 P.M. in summer, and from 6 A.M. to 8 P.M. in winter, was a great tax on human endur- ance. But as it was then the common lot of the toiler nothing better was expected, and it was borne un- complainingly.

In 1862, having finished his apprenticeship, Mr. Johnson went to work at his trade in Christiania. Here he remained but one year. The fame of the newer land beyond the seas, with its wonderful possibilities had reached the ears of the young me- chanic, and in 1863, at the age of twenty-two, he emigrated to America, and located in Worcester. He was of the vanguard of the great army of Scandina- vians which has since been moving across the bor- ders of the land which recent historical research has proved their ancestors discovered.

If in number like an army, in no other respect does the likeness hold, for they came to build up, not to destroy. Their power is felt in increased material wealth and in moral example. " Purer manners, better laws " must inevitably result from the infusion of this wholesome Northern blood into the arteries of the national life. He came at a time when the country was engaged in the deadly struggle of the Rebellion, but found no difficuity in getting work at his trade, and to it he devoted himself assiduously for the next eight years. His opportunity had come and he knew how to improve it.

In 1871, with the small savings of industry and economy, he, in company with Martin Bye, hired a small room on Church Street, and began the manu- facture of pistols under the firm-name of Johnson, Bye & Co. From this small beginning grew the great business which has since, in busy times, em- ployed three hundred and fifty hands. In 1873 the firm had so outgrown its accommodations as to neces- sitate removal to the building on Central Street, known to old residents as the "Armsby Building," then owned by H. H. Bigelow. They took two rooms and employed about fifty hands. In 1875 they bought the building, and, as the business continued to grow, took room after room, until, in 1881, they occupied the whole of the building. In 1883 Mr. Johnson bought the interest of Mr. Bye, and the business has since been conducted by him under the firm-name of Iver Johnson & Co.

1741

WORCESTER.

He now manufactures single-barrel breech-loading shot-guns-top, side and hammerless-action ; revol- vers-single, double and hammerless-action ; single- barrel pistols, air-guns, police goods, handcuffs, leg- irons, balls and chains, police hooks, chain twisters, iron plates (for carpenter's use), and bicycles, most all under his own patents. He also does drop-forging of all kinds, polishing and nickel-plating. The firm have made many improvements on their goods, and have built many new machines for their manufacture. Mr. Johnson devotes himself closely to his business, yet he finds time to take considerable part in public affairs, and to meet all the requirements of a public- spirited citizen. He is an intelligent student of social and economic questions. He has been for many years a director in the Sovereigns' Co-operative Store, and on the board of directors of each of the three Co- operative Banks of Worcester, since their organiza- tion, being the president of one of them.

To the duties of these positions he devotes himself' with conscientious fidelity. Such time as he can spare from his exacting business is always at their service, and his advice on all questions relating to the conduct of their affairs is given great weight by his associates.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1869, and has four children. He lives in a comfortable home, which he built for himself some years since, on Catharine and Channing Streets. In 1884 he made a business and pleasure trip across the water, visiting his old home and many of the manufacturing centres on the Con- tinent and in England. Those who have heard him describe what he saw and experienced on his trip, have no doubt that he returned with strengthened regard for the land of his adoption. Recently he was of a committee of manufacturers who testified in relation to tariff legislation before the Finance Com- mittee of the National Senate. Endowed with an active mind and healthy bodily powers, he has great capacity for achievement, and will unquestionably accomplish even more substantial results than have already attended his efforts.

WILLIAM HENRY BURNS.

Mr. Burns was born in Charlestown, on the histori- cal summit known as Bunker Hill, on the 22d of June, 1856, and was a son of James Munroe and Catharine Marston Burns. The family is of Scottish ancestry, the American head having come over as early as 1642, settling in Haverhill, then a new and exposed frontier station.

While the subject of this sketch was yet young the family removed to Somerville, and his education was commenced in the common schools of that place. He afterwards attended the Lowell Grammar and High Schools, and subsequently took a regular business course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Boston. He was likewise a graduate of the State

Normal School at Bridgewater, and fitted for college, but relinquished the purpose of taking a college course, being urged to at once enter the profession of teacher. He went to Spencer and took charge of a district school for the winter and spring terms of 1878-79, and then accepted the situation of principal of a grammar school, and held it till the summer of 1881. When he took the cars for Spencer his pecun- iary means were at a rather low ebb for an enterpris- ing young man, being just $3.25. But he had what was of more value than many times that amount of money,-a laudable ambition and unyielding resolu- tion.

It was towards the close of the latter year that he abandoned teaching and commenced that business career for which he was so well suited and in which he has been so eminently successful, his first employ- ment being the selling of goods for an underwear house in Boston.

After spending two and a half years as a traveling salesman, with Mr. John S. Baker, another in the same line of traffic, he conceived the idea of settling in Worcester and starting a small factory for the manufacture of underwear. The idea was put in force, but for six or eight months they were subjected to much hard work and many anxieties. In 1884 the partnership connection with Mr. Baker was sev- ered, and Mr. Burns, continuing the business, em- ployed him to sell the goods in New York and the West. The business so increased that in three years offices were opened in Boston, New York and Chicago, with a sales-agent in each place. From 1883 to 1887 it was found necessary to increase the factory floor- space from four thousand to twenty-eight thousand feet, and still more was soon found necessary. In 1887 Mr. Harry S. Green, a brother-in-law of Mr. Burns, received an interest in the business. At the present time, January, 1889, the business has attained such magnitude that Mr. Burns has lately erected near the centre of the city a very large five-story brick and stone building, which will give an acre and a quarter of flooring for their own operations, besides three large stores on the ground-floor, which are de- signed for wholesale business. They are to remove their business to the new and capacious quarters in July next, that month usually being the dullest for business, and hence the most favorable for the inter- ruption of removal.

It need not be repeated that the business of the firm is the manufacture of ladies' and children's un- derwear. At the present time they employ four hun- dred hands, and their goods are sold all over the United States. They cut up, last year, over two mil- lions of yards of cloth and millions of yards of em- broidery and lace. Their daily capacity is about five hundred dozens of made-up goods, or six thousand pieces. Competition being sharp, they are, of course, obliged to take advantage of every facility that econ- omy can dictate. Their raw material they procure

1742

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

from first hands; have their own cloths made, and import their laces and embroideries, thus taking every means to put their goods on the market at the lowest possible prices. They largely employ female help, thus furnishing remunerative employment for many who would otherwise be doomed to indigent idleness. One great aid to his success Mr. Burns considers his liberality in advertising. He spends thousands of dollars annually in keeping his name and his business before the public. And another, and certainly not less potent element, is his honest and unswerving determination to always give his custom- ers their money's worth.

Mr. Burns has not been much in public life, his time and energies having been almost exclusively de- voted to business. In his religious views he is firmly established, being of the old Trinitarian order; is a great respecter of the Sabbath and a devotional at- tendant on public worship.

In politics he is a pronounced Republican, though not blinded by party zeal. He is likewise a strong temperance man, and always found liberal in con- tributing towards every commendable object of re- form and every beneficial enterprise.

Mr. Burns was united in marriage, November 21, 1882, with Annie F., daughter of Henry R. Green, of Spencer. The fruit of the union is two sons,-Ar- thur llenry and William Russell.

Of the early struggles of Mr. Burns, perhaps a word or two may be added to what has already been said. His mother died in 1869, when he was twelve years of age, and the family were then in rather de- pressed circumstances. There were five children. From the time of his mother's death he was obliged substantially to provide for himself, as his father was in poor health and died two years later, working by day and studying by night. He was, however, as- sisted in gaining his education by an aunt. At the age of fourteen he was working for his board and clothes and winter schooling, and at the age of fifteen he received four dollars a month in addition. At the age of sixteen he received fifteen dollars a month and board. From this it will be seen with what phenom- enal rapidity he progressed, as he now ranks among the most prominent manufacturers, not only of indus- trial Worcester, but of the whole country. To what is such success to be attributed ? Of course much is re- ferred to boldness in venture, activity and enterprise ; and something, perhaps, to what goes by the name of good-luck. But other and higher agencies have oper- ated-such agencies as are to be found in integrity of character, in fair dealing and in the faithful exercise of the manifold obligations due from man to man. The good instructions and sound principles instilled into his young mind by his pions mother have borne their legitimate fruit. And surely no well-ordered mind can envy the prosperity of a man like him ; but, on the contrary, feel that in him they have an exemplar worthy of imitation.

GEORGE CLARKSON WHITNEY.

We learn from high authority that "An honest tale speeds best being plainly told." We add, on our own responsibility, that the sum of a well-spent life is not reckoned by years.

George C. Whitney has not yet reached the veteran stage, as his portrait in this volume will attest, and though the hand of Time has dealt gently with him, he has also been "good to himself," as the phrase runs, having practiced life-long habits of temperance and right living.

In the business circles of Worcester he ranks among the young, active and successful forces of to-day, and enjoys many well-deserved marks of public esteem and confidence.

George Clarkson Whitney was born in Westmin- ster, Mass., September 19, 1842. His father, John Whitney, was a native of Westminster, as was also his grandfather, Jolin Whitney, born October 12, 1769. His great-grandfather, Nathan Whitney, born in England, March 12, 1727, came from England to Waltham, Mass., early in life, and later settled in Westminster. Nathan held a commission as captain under King George III., but resigned just before the War of 1774-78, and became an ardent patriot. Dur- ing the winter of 1776 he had charge of a squad of Dutch (British) prisoners, who were quartered for the season in the old homestead in Westminster.

On the maternal side the ancestry runs back to both the historic families of Ethan Allen and Gen. Warren, of Revolutionary fame. Lydia Allen, the wife of John Whitney and mother of George C., born in Hubbardston September 14, 1802, was the grand- daughter of Ephraim Allen, born in Rutland 1763, who married Lydia Warren, also of Rutland, and re- moved to Hubbardston.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the dis- trict schools of Westminster until fifteen years of age, and then came to Worcester in 1855 and attended the public schools until admitted to the Worcester Acad- emy in 1856. He enlisted as a private in Company F, Captain John Baldwin, of the Fifty-first Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Col. A. B. R. Sprague, and served a part of the time as clerk in the provost mar- shal's office, under Major Harkness, at Beaufort, N. C., and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. The regiment was in active service in Virginia and North Carolina.

In 1866 he began business in a small way at 393 Main Street, paying twelve dollars a month rental for a single back-room, where he carried on the manu- facture of fancy stationery and lace valentines, from imported stock. Three years later he bought the stock and good-will of Messrs. Berlin & Jones, the largest manufacturers in this line in New York, and removed. the whole business to Worcester. These branches have since been continued and greatly enlarged, but about 1876 he began to add Christmas cards, books and booklets, until this publishing branch

1743

WORCESTER.

has grown to much larger proportions than the original lines. The house now employs from one hundred to one hundred and twenty workmen and women, and has its own departments for printing, box-making and shipping, besides the designing and manufacture of the artistic features of the various publications, by skilled workmen. The product is sold direct to job- bers in all parts of the Union, employing six traveling salesmen, with branch offices at Chicago, New York and Boston.

Besides these business activities, Mr. Whitney has also found time and enthusiasm for much private and public usefulness and philanthropy in the exercise of higher aims in life than mere money-getting. He united with the First Baptist Church of Worees- ter in June, 1865, and has been the superintendent of its Sabbath-school since 1871.

He has been an active member of the Young Men's Christian Association since 1864, and presi- dent of that organization in this eity for four years -1872 and'73, and 1885 and '86. As a member of the soliciting committe to raise funds for the pres- ent new and costly edifice, he rendered zealous and intelligent service, and is an earnest promoter of the work of this association.

State Executive Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association from 1876 to '83 and is a charter member of the Worcester Baptist City Mis- sion Board, and has been its president since 1886.

In the department of education he has, for ten years, been a trustee of the Worcester Academy, is the secretary of the board and a member of the Ex- ecutive and Investment Committees.

Always a straight Republican, of strong anti-sa- loon, no-license convictions, he has been modestly, but earnestly identified with the cause of temper- ance reform, both as a citizen and a member of the city government. He was in the City Council in 1883 and '84, and was elected to the Board of Alder- men from Ward 8 for 1888 and '89. He is a trustee of the City Hospital, and for several years has been a trustee of the Home for Aged Women.

George Clarkson Whitney was married, in 1870, to Amy Ellen Whidden, born in Calais, Me., May 22, 1846, the daughter of Hon. Chas. R. Whidden, born in St. George, New Brunswick, May 22, 1822, the son of General Rendol Whidden. Her mother was Mila Frances Smith (Whidden), daughter of Hon. Noah Smith, of Providence, R. I. They have three children-Mila Frances, born April 6, 1871; ren Appleton, born April 16, 1883.

He also served as a member of the International | Florence Allen, born September 4, 1878; and War- Sunday-school Committee from 1879 to '83, on the

"WILLOW PARK," WORCESTER.

TO THE ANCIENT WILLOW.

I. Streams from earth's most sacred place, Poured at Oread's rocky base, Filled thee with the vital force of the planet's deathless course Ages gone, till thou hadst grown And made the upper skies thine own. And still thy tender vernal shoots Take the thrill those eager roots Feel, deep hidden from the sun, Where those crystal sluices ran. 2. Who thy mystic rede shall spell, Who thy generations tell ? Haply in the open glade The lover of some dusky maid Cast thee once, a supple wand. O'er thee since what days have dawned, What innumerable hours White with storm and grey with showers, Mornings bursting rosy hars, Purple evenings sown with stars ! 3.

Long ago, from ambush sprung, Through thy depths the war-whoop rung ! Awful lights about thee hlazed When the braves their war-song raised ! Round thee curled white clouds of fleece When they smoked their pipe of peace"! Cobwebs in the vanished gleam, Less than shadows of a dream, Even their dust is blown away,- Thou and thy green branches stay !

Thon badst known how many springs Of building birds and darting wings When thy great tops caught the fires Of Freedom's sunrise, and our sires For a cause that was the Lord's Turned their sickles into swords ! Thou hast seen those conquering men Beat their swords to plonghishares then, And the hamlet in its health Grow a mighty commonwealth !

Rent was all thy ancient mail. Familiar of the winter gale, That night the bell -tower's wildt alarms Called a nation into arms, And trembling to the squadrons' tread Earth made ready for her deud. Torn and twisted, gnarled, yet green, Living ruin, thou hast seen Empire from sea to sea complete And History pausing at thy feet.

Alas, alas, we come and go, And still thy yellow tassels blow, Still shall thy quickening reddening sprays Be first to promise genial days Of April, with her bright face wet, And the remembered violet. Still shalt thou toss thee grey and hoar When ruffling winds across thee soar In thy undying life, while we Fall like thy leaves, old Willow Tree !

HARRIET PRESCOTT SPOFFORD.

APPENDIX.

BERLIN.

BUSINESS MEN .- Our first young man who made a business success was Abraham Babcock, son of William, born 1770. He was a tobacconist in Boston. He died in mid-life.

Levi Meriam, son of Levi, born 1781, settled in Boston in the wholesale wine trade 1812. He died 1831. His annual family visit to the old homestead and his "turn out " were quite impressive on his na- tive town, which held him in high esteem.

William Addison Howe, son of Solomon and Sarah (Stowe) Howe, both of Marlboro', was born in Berlin July 4, 1806. He was inherently a " business man." The "heredity " was probably of the Stowe blood. His father was a country merchant-groceries, hard- ware, hats, cotton cloth, calicoes and broadcloth. Young Howe at sixteen bought and sold on his own judgment. A "tavern " was run in connection. The father died at the son's majority ; the mother soon after. He kept the family of five in home life till his location in Boston as a wholesale dry goods mer- chant at thirty-one years of age. This ability had come of his own hand in a country store in a town of six hundred inhabitants. He took a younger brother from the farm and made of him also a Bos- ton merchant. Acquiring reputation as a business man, he left the store to his brother and a partner, and took the presidency of the Eliot Fire Insurance Company, which soon had an established reputation. In connection he was also elected president of the Eliot Bank. These offices he held till stricken by paraly- sis, in 1858. His life was prolonged till the 1st of October, 1863. His years of feebleness were spent upon the homestead, which he had sacredly kept. He never married. His last days, though clouded, were enjoyable. His ambition for wealth (he had a competence) was never half so intense ax was his desire to stand among the successful business men of Boston. This was the pride of his life.

Solomon Henry Howe, brother to William A., was born November 29, 1822. Reared in the country, he entered his brother's store in 1839. He early devel- oped aptitude for mercantile life; became partner in his brother's firm and pressed business to a large extent. On his brother's retirement he entered into a partnership-Pierce, Howe & Co. (William P. Pierce); later as Howe, Pierce & Co., with a younger Pierce

brother. The elder Pierce said that S. H. Howe was the best salesman in Boston. Later he was silent partner in the house organized of his own clerks- Jackson, Mandel & Co. Mr. Howe retired with com- petence of wealth to a fine farm on Wataquadock Hill in Bolton. He adorned his home and improved his farm ; was prominent in the New England and the Worcester County Agricultural Societies ; was president of the latter. He held various trusts in the town. But his life had been too stirring for the country and leisure. He was persuaded into connec- tion with the B. C. & F. R. R. He was president when the road was extended to New Bedford. The road came to grief and Mr. Howe lost most of his well-earned wealth. But his buoyant nature carried him through the struggle. He was just getting free of legal complications when, February 5, 1879, he was smitten by the family hereditary disease, paral- ysis, of which his mother, brother and two sisters also died. Mr. Howe was a very genial and most popular man in all the relations of life. He married, 1851, Lucinda, daughter of James Savage, Esq., of Boston, then of Southboro'. He left one daughter, Mrs. Leslie Hastings, of Cambridge; three sons-Sol- omon H., commission agent, New York City; Doctor James S., of Boston; William Addison, of Oregon. He represented his district in the House 1875.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 199

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