USA > Massachusetts > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Massachusetts > Part 37
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In the fraternal and social organizations of his city, Mr. Loomis took a deep interest. He held all degrees of York Rite Masonry, belonging to Blue Lodge, Capitular, Cryptic and Templar bodies, also holding all degrees of the Scottish Rite, in the Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix, Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and Consistory of Princes of the Royal Secret, the thirty-third being the only degree of American Free Masonry he did not pos- sess. He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an order composed originally of officers of the Union army, serving in the Civil War. He took great pride in his membership in that or- der and was the only man in Holyoke to wear the Loyal Legion emblem. He was past commander of Kilpatrick Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and ever took a warm interest in the old veterans and their official organi-
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zation. Ilis clubs were the Pequot, Golf and Canoe, all of Holyoke; the Color Club, composed of veteran soldiers, and the Franklin Harvest Club.
Mr. Loomis married ( first) Augusta R. Weston, who died February 4, 1908. Their only child, a daughter, born 1870, died 1877. Mr. Loomis mar- ried (second) March 7, 1911, Harriet Clark, born at West Springfield, Mass- achusetts, daughter of John F. Clark, a paper manufacturer of Dalton, Mass- achusetts, the town of his birth and death. Mr. Clark married Anna Lan- sing, of the prominent Lansing family of Albany county, New York, born in Troy, New York, died in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were the parents of three children: Herbert S. Clark, of Holyoke, and Mrs. Harriet Loomis, widow of William S. Loomis; the third deceased.
Seventy-four years was the span of life allotted William S. Loomis, and during their continuance there were no wasted opportunities. Usefulness marked its every phase and everywhere in Holyoke are monuments to his memory. He loved his home city and he loved his native land. He trav- eled widely within her borders and was familiar with her scenic wonders. He loved her history and her traditions, fought as a young man to maintain them and in maturer years used his talents and his strength to add to their glory. His life is an inspiration, its lesson, the old, old lesson of intelligent industry backed by worthy ambition and upright character.
James Ramage
S COTLAND has furnished to the United States many of her valued citizens, men who have crossed the Atlantic to ally their interests with those of the "land of the free." Adapt- ing themselves to entirely new surroundings, customs and manners, they have achieved success and won a place for themselves among the representative men of the communities in which their lots have been cast. Such is true of the late James Ramage, who was for many years prominently identified with the in- terests of Holyoke, Massachusetts.
(I) John Ramage, the first member of the line herein followed of whom we have mention, was born in the year 1731, and was a witness of the exe- cution of Wilson, the smuggler, in Edinburgh, Scotland, which is mentioned in Sir Walter Scott's "The Heart of Midlothian." He married and of the children born to him was William, of whom further.
(II) William Ramage, son of John Ramage, was born in Scotland, in the year 1751, and his death occurred at Valleyfield, Scotland, in the year 1832, he having survived his wife, Helen (Bertran) Ramage, twelve years, she passing away at Valleyfield in the year 1820.
(III) William (2) Ramage, son of William (I) and Helen (Bertran) Ramage, was born in Scotland, March 10, 1778, and died at Lowmill, Peni- cuick parish, Scotland, January 23, 1864. He married, December 26, 1800, Helen Hill, born November 10, 1778, died at Lowmill, October 4, 1856, the ceremony being performed by Mr. McEwan, of Howgate. Children: I. James, of whom further. 2. Janet, born January 26, 1803. 3. Helen, born October 18, 1806. 4. John, born February 9, 1809, died January 7, 181I. 5. Margaret, born December 28, 1810, married Andrew Warden. 6. A son, born and died same day, in July, 1812. 7. Robert, born July 13, 1814. 8. William, born October II, 1816. 9. A son, born and died same day, June 23, 1820.
(IV) James Ramage, eldest son of William (2) and Helen (Hill) Ram- age, was born in Penicuick, Scotland, December 4, 1801. In 1816, after com- pleting his education in the schools of his district, he was apprenticed to a Mr. McGowan, to learn the trade of paper-making, his father having also served his apprenticeship at the same trade under the same master. He fol- lowed this trade all his life, and died at an advanced age in his native town. He married, in 1825, Christine Hunter, who bore him ten children: Mar- garet, Helen, Katherine, John, Adam, William, James, Robert, Joseph, and a child who died in infancy.
(V) James (2) Ramage, fourth son of James (I) and Christine (Hun-
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ter) Ramage, was born in Penicuick, Scotland, July 15, 1836. He attended the schools of his district, and after completing his course of study served an apprenticeship at the trade of paper-making, becoming thoroughly expert in that line, and later was appointed superintendent of a mill in Yorkshire, England. He emigrated to this country in the year 1863, at the age of twenty-seven years. He went first to Buckland, Connecticut, where he re- mained a year, and in 1865 went to Paterson, New Jersey, with his brother, Jolin Ramage, and assumed charge of the Ivanhoe Mills in that city. He con- tinued his residence there until January 1, 1867, when he removed to Hol- yoke, Massachusetts, and later accepted the position of superintendent of the Franklin Paper Company of Holyoke, and in 1872, five years later, in com- pany with Moses Newton, he established the Newton Paper Company, of which he was vice-president. In 1884 he was elected president of the Chem- ical Paper Company, of Holyoke, of which he was formerly the general manager, but resigned the office of president in 1887. He then went to Mon- roe Bridge and there erected the mills which bore his name, The Ramage Paper Company, which proved a successful undertaking and continued in operation until sold by Mrs. Ramage in 1914. In 1892 Mr. Ramage pur- chased the stock of the Franklin Paper Company of Holyoke, and oper- ated all these plants up to the time of his death. He was also interested in other channels of activity, having been one of the incorporators of the Home National Bank in 1884, the People's Savings Bank in 1885, and was a member of the board of directors of the former named, and a member of the board of trustees of the latter named, and he was also a member of the State Legislature in 1891, in which body he rendered valuable service. He was a member of the Unitarian church; Mount Tom Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Holyoke Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Bay State Club, of which he was president, and the Pequot Club. He was a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Ramage married, November 23, 1864, Adelaide Emogene Risley, born in Manchester, Connecticut, January 4, 1846, daughter of Martin and Eliza May (Skinner) Risley, the former named born in Coventry, Connecti- cut, and the latter named born in East Windsor Hill, Connecticut. Mrs. Ramage is a direct descendant of Elder Brewster of the "Mayflower" and is eligible to the Society of Mayflower Descendants. Mr. Risley spent his early years in his native town, followed the occupation of farming, and later moved to Somers, Connecticut, where he died at the age of eighty-four years, the death of his wife occurring at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Risley were the parents of five children, namely: Mary J., deceased; Eliza M .; Winifred H .; Adelaide Emogene, aforementioned; Emeline G. Mrs. Ramage is a member of a family noted for longevity, her grandfather attain- ing the age of ninety-two years, and her grandmother ninety years. She her- self has passed the allotted age of three score years and ten, but is as keeny alive to affairs of the day and as active, both mentally and physically, as the ma- jority of people twenty years her junior. For many years it was the custom
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of Mr. and Mrs. Ramage to annually take an extensive trip either in the United States, Mexico, South America or Europe, visiting the principal places of interest, and Mrs. Ramage is well posted on the history of all these vari- ous countries. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Ramage: I. Charles W., born De- cember II, 1865; married Edith Bartlett. 2. James M., born February 13, 1869; president and treasurer of the Franklin Paper Company ; married Mar- guerite Belle Dorr, daughter of Charles W. Dorr, who died April 13, 1915, and they are the parents of three children: Marjorie Dorr, born October 20, 1900, died April 10, 1905; Doris Marguerite, born May 20, 1905; May Risley, born April 17, 1909. 3. Adelaide C., born December 18, 1872; be- came the wife of Archibald Ramage. 4. Edith M., born November 2, 1878; became the wife of Lawson Ramage. 5. Robert A., born May 5, 1879; sec- retary and treasurer of the Franklin Paper Company. 6. Theodore R., born March 15, 1884; bookkeeper for the Franklin Paper Company; resides in Springfield. 7. Marian M., born September 14, 1885; became the wife of George Watson. 8. Grace Brewster, born June 4, 1887, married Edson R. Lyman.
Mr. Ramage died at his late home in Holyoke, December 9, 1902, and by his death there passed from that city one of the sturdy Scots whose rugged individuality, sterling integrity, inflexible honesty, as well as more than ordinary ability, won distinction and prominence. Starting from the bottom of the ladder, with the assistance and encouragement of his wife, who ever studied his interest, encouraged his efforts and was his constant companion for nearly forty years up to his death, he steadily climbed upward to a com- manding place in the world of business and finance, drawing about him a cir- cle of friends which was ever widening and who admired him for his deter- mination. His influence, not only in the business but in the social world, con- stantly grew stronger until at the time of his death no man in Holyoke, if in- deed in the State of Massachusetts, had more thoroughly demonstrated that by strict application of one's best energies it is possible to accomplish great things, than James Ramage. His one thought was to leave his family well provided for and he amassed a competence sufficient for this purpose. His loss, although most keenly felt by his widow and children, was a distinct one to the entire community in which he stood for so much. His career is in- deed worthy of commendation and should serve as an example to young men who are ambitious and desire to succeed in the business world.
Reb. Wlilliam Henry Hubbard
W ILLIAM HENRY HUBBARD, D. D., was born in Clark county, Kentucky, April 16, 1851, died in New York City, January 31, 1913. He was descended ninth in the direct line from George Hubbard and Mary (Bishop) Hubbard, who came over from England with an infant son John, settling first in Watertown, Massachusetts, 1633, shortly moving to Guilford, Connecticut. He was a member of the Assembly at the union of the Hartford and New Haven colonies in 1670.
John Hubbard married Mary Merriam, of Concord, Massachusetts (1630-1702), and the line of descent is traced through their son, Isaac Hub- bard (1667-1750), and his wife, Ann Warner; their son, John Hubbard (1693-1778) and his wife, Hannah Cowles; their son, Elisha Hubbard (1721-68) and his wife, Lucy Stevens; their son, John Hubbard (1765-1804) and his wife, Ruth Dickinson; their son, Henry Hubbard, and his wife, Mercy Warner; their son, William Henry Hubbard, a graduate of Brown University, receiving the degrees Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws, and his wife, Ann Waite Hinds, a graduate of Andover Seminary, parents of three sons: William Henry, the subject of this sketch; Charles F. W. (D. D.) ; and Edward Waite Hubbard, who died in early manhood.
Dr. Hubbard was graduated from Louisville, Kentucky, High School, and entered Amherst College at the age of sixteen. The year previous, in 1866, he received his diploma from the Bryant and Stratton Mercantile Col- lege at Louisville, having carried on this extra course in connection with his high school work. Graduating from Amherst College, Amherst, Massachu- setts, in the class of 1871, at the age of twenty years, he entered Andover Theological Seminary, remaining one year, terminating with graduation class of 1874. He accepted the pastorate of the first church offered him at Rut- land, Massachusetts, and performed earnest and efficient work for a little more than a year, when he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Congre- gational church at Merrimac, Massachusetts. Here he labored with great suc- cess for seven and a half years, and laid the foundation of the career which ended in distinction and honor.
From Merrimac he was called to the South Congregational Church at Concord, New Hampshire. His work at Concord prospered in a great meas- ure. Meanwhile he engaged in social uplift measures and in the enforcement of the law. Soon the Second Congregational Church, of Holyoke, Massachu- setts, extended him a call, and he became its pastor for one year, during which time one hundred and forty were added to the church membership. It was while at Holyoke that he married Miss Elizabeth Allen Skinner, who
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became also his associate and helper in his future work. About this time the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn called Dr. Hubbard to become its pas- tor, and he assumed his duties in October, 1886. From this time until his death, January 31, 1913, his life was one of intense activity. During his pas- torate eighteen hundred were added to the church membership; a debt of $8,000 was cleared; an endowment of $50,000 was raised; and the organ was enlarged. One of the dreams of his early pastorate was realized in the com- pletion of a new chapter house that would give the enlarged Sunday school better accommodations.
Not only did Dr. Hubbard busy himself in the upbuilding of the church and in extending its usefulness, but he went out into the highways and by- ways in pursuance of the religious, civic and moral uplift of the community. He never spared himself; his only thought was of the great work there was for him to do, and the limited time in which to accomplish it. His heart and en- ergy were devoted to every good cause, and he was active in city affairs. He served with ability and efficiency on the Board of Charities; and was closely identified with the Business Men's Association, and served it ably in various capacities. For five years he was editor and publisher of the "Assembly Her- ald of the Presbyterian Church," also for three years editor and publisher of the "Gospel Message." In this work, as all others, he evinced the strength and the same high ideals of Christian character. He was a member of the executive commission of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and on account of his executive ability was made executive secretary of this com- mission. The duties of the offices were so arduous and so exacting that in 191I he resigned the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church, in order to devote his time more fully to the appointed service.
That his work was appreciated, was evidenced by the following expres- sion from the joint executive committee of the Executive Commisson:
The Committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of the faithful, efficient and painstaking labors of Rev. William H. Hubbard, D.D. He brought to the work of the Committee a great aptitude for dealing with matters financial; a clear, clean-cut convic- tion of the necessity of developing in the individual church systematic beneficence, a full knowledge of the whole subject from every point of view; a deep and abiding interest not only in the entire Church, but in particular in the smaller and weaker churches, and a burning passion for all the work of the Church so that the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, might be advanced at home and abroad: "A workman that need- eth not to be ashamed." As one of the religious papers, "The Continent," stated, "The Church will not doubt wait long to see again his like for generous devotion, but the im- print of his intense crusade will always be found upon Presbyterians."
Dr. Hubbard married, November 9, 1886, Elizabeth Allen Skinner, daughter of William Skinner, the famed satin manufacturer and eminent citi- zen of Holyoke, Massachusetts, whose useful life is reviewed at length in this work. Dr. and Mrs. Hubbard were the parents of three sons: I. William Henry (3), born May 16, 1888. 2. Allen Skinner Hubbard, now of New York City, born January 31, 1891; graduated from Yale in 1911, and Har-
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vard Law School, 1914; married to Harriet Ellen Richardson, of Auburn, New York; has two sons: Allen Skinner Hubbard, Jr., and David Richard- son Hubbard. 3. Edward Waite Hubbard, born June 29, 1893; graduate of Hill School, 1912, and Yale, 1916.
nathaniel Retcomb
T "HE name of Newcomb is said to be of Saxon origin, "Combe" signifying a low situation, a vale, between two hills. New- comb is defined by Hallowell as "strangers newly arrived," but the family of this name, who trace back to Hugh New- come, of Saltfleetby, County Lincoln, in the reign of Richard Cœur de Lion (1189-92), are not parvenues in this or any other sense. The name is doubtless the same as Newcombe, though the locality from which it is derived is unknown. In early records in this country the name is found written Newcom, Newcome, Newcomb, New- combe, Newcum, Newkum, Newkom, Newckum, Nucom, Neccome, Nucomb, Nuccombe, Nucum, etc., in some instances in two or more ways in the same document. Now it is usually spelled Newcomb. The records of baptisms, mar- riages, etc., at Saltfleetby, where the family has been seated seven hundred years, begin in 1558, and are written in Latin. In these records the name is written Newcomen.
(I) Francis Newcomb, the ancestor of a numerous family in America, came to New England in April, 1635, in the ship "Planter," probably from St. Albans, in Hertfordshire, a few miles north of London, England. He was thirty years old, and with him came his wife, Rachel, aged twenty; daughter, Rachel, aged two and a half; and son, John, aged nine months. They lived in Boston about three years, and then settled at Mount Wollaston, after- wards called Braintree, and in that part now Quincy, Massachusetts, where he died May 27, 1692. His gravestone in Braintree says, "aged one hundred years," the town records, "accounted one hundred years old"; his age was doubtless about eighty-seven years. He owned several tracts of land in Braintree. His wife, Rachel, was admitted to the First Church at Boston, December 28, 1635, and transferred to the Braintree church, March 5, 1684- 85. Children: Rachel, born in England, 1633; John, 1634; Hannah, born in Boston; Mary, April 1, 1640, in Braintree; Sarah, June 30, 1643, in Brain- tree; Judith, January 16, 1645, in Braintree; Peter, mentioned below; Abi- gail, July 16, 1651; Leah, July 30, 1654; Elizabeth, August 26, 1658.
(II) Peter, second son of Francis and Rachel Newcomb, was born May 16, 1648, in Braintree, and died there May 20, 1725. He was a farmer in his native town, fence viewer in 1693, field driver in 1694, highway sur- veyor in 1698-99, 1702-03 and 1706; tythingman in 1710-II, and was admit- ted to the Braintree church, March 4, 1723. He married ( first) in Braintree, June 26, 1672, Susannah, daughter of Richard and Sarah Cutting, of Water- town, Massachusetts. She was dismissed from the Watertown church to the Braintree church, June II, 1674. He married (second) Mary Humphrey, a MASS .- 3-23 353
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widow, who died in 1738, leaving a will. She was appointed administratrix under his will, and afterward his son Peter. Children, born in Braintree: Susannah, June 22, 1674; Rachel, baptized October 31, 1675; Peter, born May 5, 1678, died young; Rachel, baptized August 15, 1680; Sarah, March 4, 1683; Jonathan, mentioned below; Peter, July 29, 1689; Richard, May 14, 1694; Richard, born March 17, 1704.
(III) Jonathan, second son of Peter Newcomb, was born March 1, 1686, in Braintree, was a yeoman, owning several tracts of land in that town. He removed -in March, 1728, to Norton, Massachusetts, where he bought land January 22, 1727, and more in 1728 and 1742. In 1721 he was a field driver in Braintree; constable in 1724; fence viewer in 1728. He was a soldier in the French War, and died in the service in the expedition against Louisburg, Canada, before November, 1745. His wife, Deborah, died in November, 1780, aged ninety-five years. Children: Jonathan, born May 13, 1711; Deborah, May 16, 1713; Joseph, mentioned below; William, July 21, 1721; Judith, February 23, 1724; Samuel, September 1, 1726; Sarah, never married.
(IV) Joseph, second son of Jonathan and Deborah Newcomb, was born July 2, 1716, in Braintree, but removed to Norton with his parents when twelve years old. He served in the old French War, first, in 1749, in Z. Leonard's company, Raynham, and in 1757 in S. Witherell's company of Nor- ton. His will disposed of about six hundred and fifty acres of land, and his personal estate inventoried at £1,286 6s 8d. He married (intentions pub- lished), October 3, 1745, Judith Pratt, daughter of Josiah Pratt and Tabitha Smith, the latter the daughter of Nicholas Smith. Children: Joseph, born June 28, 1746; Sarah, October 14, 1748; Samuel, December 1, 1752; Anna, April 15, 1756; Asa, December 15, 1759; Annas, March 25, 1762; Josiah, mentioned below.
(V) Josiah, youngest child of Joseph and Judith (Pratt) Newcomb, born April 14, 1764, was a farmer during his lifetime in Norton. He was a soldier in the Continental army in the Revolution, enlisting July 27, 1780, in Captain John Allen's company of Colonel Carpenter's regiment. He mar- ried (first) (intentions published October 17, 1782), Rebecca Godfrey, of Easton, born there September 27, 1765, died September 25, 1831, daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Tisdale) Godfrey (see Tisdale VI). He married (second) in 1834, Charlotte Forrest. Children, all by first marriage: Becca, born February 29, 1784; Josiah, December 22, 1785; Nathaniel, April 12, 1797; Anna, March 17, 1799.
(VI) Nathaniel, second son of Josiah and Rebecca (Godfrey) New- comb, was born April 12, 1797, in Norton, and died there November II, 1876. In the public schools of his native town he laid the foundation to which sub- sequent study and observation added in making a well-informed man of af- fairs. At the age of seventeen years he engaged with his brother-in-law, Simeon Presbrey, in a cotton mill in Stoughton, where he mastered the de- tails of cotton manufacture and the rudiments of business. His industry
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was unusual and he early developed a conservative and prudent character. He early established himself in business in his native town, in the manu- facture of cotton thread, which was interrupted by the burning of his mill December 31, 1831. He then purchased the right of manufacture of wad- ding, under the patent of James Beaumont, and until his retirement in 1861, continued in the production of wadding and batting, with unvarying suc- cess. Mr. Newcomb was the foe of waste and of idleness, and himself set the example of continued effort, which resulted in the accumulation of a very comfortable fortune. Because he was known as a man of caution, his advice was often sought by business men. The profits of his business were used in its development and growth. He often expressed a wish to bestow upon his native town, the scene of his successful career, some memento, and this wish was carried out by his surviving daughter in 1882, by the gift of the present town hall, as a memorial of her father. A man of strong and positive character, Mr. Newcomb entertained settled convictions, but never expressed an opinion without previous and mature reflection. Politically, he sustained the Democratic principles and policies, but shunned any sort of public preferment. His success was the natural development of his business force and courage, and he enjoyed the respect of esteem of those who came within the circle of his influence. Of genial and social nature, his friend- ships were spontaneous and continuous.
He married, April 7, 1823, Betsey, daughter of General Thomas and Esther (Newland) Lincoln, of Taunton, Massachusetts (see Lincoln V). She was born February 10, 1795, and died August 16, 1878. In 1873, Mr. and Mrs. Newcomb celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, in the midst of a large gathering of friends, assembled from many and remote localities. They were the parents of two children: Betsey Thomas, the senior, born April 5, 1825, became the wife of William A. Hayward, of Milford, Massa- chusetts, and died in New York, June 2, 1884. They were the parents of one daughter, Harriot B. Hayward, who married Charles Minchew, of Taun- ton, and she is now a widow, residing in Norton, Massachusetts. The junior, Harriot Augusta, born January 3, 1833, resides in Norton.
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