USA > Massachusetts > Memorial encyclopedia of the state of Massachusetts > Part 43
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In the year 1877, when he had reached his twenty-seventh year, Mr. Ranger had reached a point in his career when he realized that he must either embark in business on his own account, or forever remain an employee. His ambition forbade the latter alternative, and in a small way, as his capital would allow, he began contracting, and from that time until his death he was busily engaged in the contracting and building business, also general wood working and lumber dealing, his operations covering the New England States and the State of New York. It is, however, principally with his relations to the city of Holyoke that this narrative has to deal. Here he soon came to be recognized as its leading contractor and builder. His absolute honesty, strict observance of the terms of a contract, and his own thorough knowledge of his business, which constituted him his own most capable superintendent, were qualifications which appealed to those with building contracts to award, and his services were greatly in demand. The best class of contracts fell to him, and each one completed was another effective advertisement.
As time passed, and the business expanded, Mr. Ranger found efficient aides in his sons, and on May 1, 1912, he incorporated the Casper Ranger Construction Company and the Casper Ranger Lumber Company, and the Ranger interests entered upon a broader field of expansion. The elder Ran- ger gave personal supervision to every important contract so long as the business remained within limits where that was possible. In his latest years, he had the great satisfaction of seeing that his sons were so thoroughly grounded in his aims and methods, that the results attained by them were such
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as he himself would have accomplished; but, while these worthy sons shoul- dered the heavier burdens of the business, the father, as long as he lived, was the managing head of the great industries he had founded and developed to such unusual proportions.
While held in admiration for his masterly business abilities, Mr. Ranger was highly esteemed for his high personal qualities. He was upright in every relation of life, loyal and devoted in his friendships-in brief, of the best type of citizen. He was deeply interested in public affairs, and took an active part in civic government. In 1880 he was chosen to represent Ward One in the City Council; and in 1881-82-83 was reelected alderman from the same ward. In 1890 he was appointed license commissioner by Mayor A. B. Chapin, and later was appointed to the same office for a full term of six years. In 1906 he was reappointed, and during his entire term of twelve years was chairman of the commission. He was a member of the governing board of Holyoke Lodge, Knights of Columbus; and a member of the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, the Holyoke Club, the Mt. Tom Golf Club, and the Holyoke Country Club. He enjoyed the society of his friends in these organizations, his kindly, genial, friendly nature expanding under their social influence, and ren- dering him a welcome addition to any group. He was a lover of his home, and deeply beloved in that home by its every member. While monuments to his skill as a builder stand everywhere, his truest monument is in the hearts of his children. -
Casper Ranger married (first) Katherine Kilmurry, and (second) Ellen McDonnell. His first wife bore him nine children, six of whom attained years of maturity, namely: Joseph F., William E., James A., Charles, George A. L., and Catherine. Of his second marriege three children were born-Carolyn; Alma, who became the wife of Frank Brady, of Brookline, Massachusetts ; and Helen. Mr. Casper Ranger died in Holyoke, October 17, 1912.
The two great industries which bear the name of Casper Ranger, and which are enduring tributes to his name, are worthy of a particularity of men- tion which is deserving of space in this connection. Their contributions to the city of Holyoke and other important New England cities stamp their founder and his sons who are continuing his work, as public benefactors. Seventy per cent. of all the mills in Holyoke have been erected by Casper Ranger or by the Casper Ranger companies. A few of the most important are the Skinner Mills, the Whiting Paper Company Mills, the American Writing Paper Company Mills, the Farr Alpaca Company Mills, the Lyman Mills, the White & Wy- ckoff group, the National Blank Book plant, the Whitmore Manufacturing Company plant, the Deane Steam Pump buildings, and the B. F. Perkins Mills. Other mill and factory plants erected outside Holyoke are the West Boylston Mills in Easthampton; Hathaway Cotton Mills in New Bedford; Dwight Man- ufacturing Company plant in Chicopee; United Metallic Cartridge Company factories in Bridgeport; and many in Springfield. In the latter city they are represented by the buildings of the Springfield Institution for Savings, the
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United Electric Company, the United States Envelope Company, and many others. Nearly every building on the campus of Mt. Holyoke College, at South Hadley Center, including Skinner Recitation Hall and the Alumni Building, are the Ranger handiwork; as are also the Skinner Memorial Chapel of Holyoke, connected with the Second Congregational Church, concededly the most beautiful edifice in New England; the Smith College Library Build- ing at Northampton; Stockbridge Hall; the Massachusetts Agricultural Col- lege, and the Beta Theta Pi and Psi Upsilon fraternity houses at Amherst; the City National Bank buildings at Holyoke; and many more. Among the fine residences erected are those of S. R. Whiting, E. N. White and J. L. Wy- ckoff, on Northampton street, Holyoke; and the Joseph A. Skinner residence in South Hadley. The beautiful Nonotuck Hotel of Holyoke is an example of that class of building. The operations of the Ranger Company, as indicat- ed, cover structures devoted to every purpose, the range of material being equally wide-wood, stone, brick, steel or concrete-in fact, every known ma- terial being used in their building. In order to meet the demands of the business, an enormous plant is maintained in Holyoke, under the name of the Casper Ranger Lumber Company ; this includes a woodworking mill equipped with the latest and most improved machinery, which covers an entire block; a vast lumber yard, construction yards, and storehouses for their equipment ; and the Hampshire brickyards, of which the company are owners, burn mil- lions of bricks annually for their use.
The incorporation of the Casper Ranger Construction Company and the Casper Ranger Lumber Company has been previously mentioned. The officials of both corporations at present (1917) are the following named, sons of Cas- per Ranger, the founder: William E. Ranger, president; Joseph F. Ranger, treasurer ; and James A. Ranger, vice-president and assistant treasurer. In the Ranger industries, fair dealing and honest fulfillment of every contract was never deviated from; and it is the pride of his sons, who revere his memory, that the principles which were as dear to him as his heart's blood shall ever be the guiding lights of his successors. Admirable as is the work they have accomplished as builders, they have yet a greater claim upon public favor in the spirit of courtesy and kindness with which they have permeated their en- tire plant-that spirit of genuine goodwill and observance of the "Golden Rule" which pervades every department. Although two thousand skilled work- men, representing every mechanical trade, are at times employed, it is the pol- icy of the company to see every man with whom they can possibly have deal- ings; and every caller, whether he represents small or large interests, receives the most courteous consideration. The present managers of the great Ran- ger industries have well fulfilled the expectations of their honored sire.
Francis Daniel Heywood
T HE surname Heywood is distinct from Haywood, Hayward and Howard, although the spelling of each in every possible way makes it difficult not to confuse the families, especially where Heywards, Howards and Heywoods were living in the same town. The derivation of the name Heywood is given in a pedigree prepared by Peter John Heywood, of Whitehaven, England, in 1781, and published in "Hunter's Life and Times of Oliver Heywood," who was a non-conformist clergyman of note in the days of Charles I. The pedigree runs back to the year 1164, a period when sur- names were beginning to come into use in the mother country. The earliest authentic document containing the name of Heywood, or its prototype, is a title deed still preserved for a tract of land in Lancashire, from one Adame de Burgo or de Bury, who held the Knight's fee to a large section of territory in the vicinity to Peter de Ey-wood, that is "of wooded island." The latter was the reputed founder of the Heywood family in England, from which the American family is descended. This estate remained in the possession of the descendants of Peter Heywood more than five hundred years, or until 1717, when Robert Heywood sold it to John Starkey of Rochdale, whose grandson, James Starkey, dying intestate, allowed the place to pass into the hands of the Crown. It is now an attractive public park, having been donated for that purpose by Queen Victoria. The English line from this Peter Heywood is traced in an unbroken line to the emigrant in America. James and John Hey- wood, both about twenty-two years old, brothers, came together in the ship, "Planter," in 1636. They were both certified from Stepney Parish, London. James Heywood settled in Charlestown, and later went to Woburn, where he died November 20, 1642.
(I) John Heywood, born in London, 1620, died January II, 1707. He settled in Concord, Massachusetts, and was admitted a freeman in 1670. He married (first), August 17, 1656, Rebecca Atkinson, daughter of Thomas At- kinson. She died 1665. He married (second), August 5, 1665, Sarah Simonds. He married (third) Priscilla -, who survived him. Children of first wife: Rebecca, born September 9, 1657, died young; Rebecca, May 13, 1660; John, mentioned below; Persis, April II, 1664; Benomi, July 31, 1665.
(II) Deacon John (2) Heywood, eldest son of John (1) Heywood, was born in Concord, Massachusetts, April 5, 1662, and died there January 2, 1718. He was constable of Concord in 1676, and in his later years kept an ordinary or inn. He married Sarah --. Children : Sarah, died in infancy ; Thomas, born July 13, 1686; Samuel, mentioned below; Edmund, born July 31, 1689; Josiah, November 15, 1691, married Lydia -; Daniel, April
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15, 1694, removed to Worcester, married Hannah Ward; Eleazer, August 3, 1696; Nathan, September 24, 1698; Sarah, January 18, 1700-01; John, March 14, 1703, settled in Lunenburg; Mary, March 23, 1704; Phineas, July 18, 1707, settled in Shrewsbury, married Elizabeth Moore, died March 6, 1770; Benjamin, October 25, 1709.
(111) Deacon Samuel Heywood, son of Deacon John (2) Heywood, was born October 11, 1687, and died October 28, 1750. He resided in Con- cord, where he was a prominent citizen, serving as deacon of the church, town clerk, and in other town offices. He married, January 19, 1709-10, Elizabeth Hubbard (ceremony by Rev. Joseph Estabrook) and she died De- cember 25, 1757, aged sixty-six years, six months. Children, born at Con- cord: Samuel, October 18, 1710, died January 12, 1712-13; Amos, February 18, 1711-12, died young; Elizabeth, June 3, 1714; Samuel, March 4, 1715-16; Jonathan, December 3, 1717; Amos, mentioned below ; Jonas, August 21, 1721 ; Charles, December 24, 1723; Rebecca, December 23, 1725; Aaron, November II, 1728; John, June 22, 1729; Sarah, June 19, 1731 ; Mary, April 8, 1733.
(IV) Captain Amos Heywood, son of Deacon Samuel Heywood, was born at Concord, Massachusetts, October 3, 1719, died February 7, 1792, at Holden, Massachusetts. He and his brother Samuel were among the early settlers of Holden in Worcester county. He was received into the Holden church in 1742. He was ensign in the militia company in 1763 and captain in 1771. He was selectman in 1762, 1763 and 1780. He was active in both town and church during his long life. He married, August 30, 1743, at Con- cord, Mary Buttrick, of Concord, of the same family as Major Buttrick, who commanded the Americans at the Concord fight. She died January 21, 1793, aged seventy-three years. Children: Daniel, born July 2, 1744, died in in- fancy; Silas, mentioned below; Amos, born March 17, 1748; Mary, April 9, 1750; Lucy, February 28, 1751, died young; Daniel, February 24, 1752; Eunice, January I, 1756, married, August 19, 1779, Abiel Buttrick; Lucy, Oc- tober 31, 1757, married, March 7, 1782, Lemuel Heywood; Elizabeth, Octo- ber 30, 1759, married, January 28, 1781, John Forbes; Levi, November 21, 1761; Alpheus (twin), May 21, 1764, married, October 14, 1794, Patty Da- vis; twin of Alpheus, May 21, 1764.
(V) Silas Heywood, son of Captain Amos Heywood, was born in Hol- den, Massachusetts, February 20, 1745-46, died at Royalston, Massachusetts, November 21, 1825. He settled in Royalston when a young man; was a farmer. He was a soldier in the Revolution, a private in Captain Jonathan Hough- ton's company, detailed from Colonel Nathan Sparhawk's regiment (the Seventh) and General Warner's brigade to reinforce the guards at the Rut- land barracks under Colonel Jacob Gerrish and to escort troops of the Sara- toga convention to Enfield, Connecticut. (Massachusetts Revolutionary Rolls, volume vii, page 640.) He married, November 1I, 1779, Hannah Goddard, of Shrewsbury, who died at Royalston, January 18, 1821, in her seventy-first year. Children, born at Royalston: Hannah, January 6, 1781, died May 16,
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1795; Betsey, April 4, 1782, died May 23, 1795; Silas, mentioned below; Grace, February 7, 1785; Lucy, July 10, 1787; Benjamin, July 12, 1789, died April 19, 1795; Sarah, July 23, 1792, died May 22, 1795; Benjamin, Novem- ber 19, 1795, married, September 17, 1819, Sally Cutler.
(VI) Silas (2) Heywood, son of Silas (1) Heywood, was born in Royalston, Massachusetts, October 21, 1783, died May 2, 1819, at Royalston. He married, June 25, 1812, Hannah Heywood, of Winchendon, who was born September 24, 1785, at Winchendon, died February 21, 1829, at Royalston. Children, born at Royalston: Silas Nelson, May 7, 1813, died September I, 1815; Daniel, mentioned below; Silas N., December 9, 1816, died 1904, at Springfield, married Mary E. Reed, child, Sarah E .; Hannah Grace, Septem- ber 13, 1818, married William O. Brown.
(VII) Daniel Heywood, son of Silas (2) Heywood, was born in Royals- ton, Massachusetts, April 4, 1815, died November 29, 1884, at Holyoke, Mass- achusetts. He was a merchant, conducting stores at different times in Athol and Holyoke. He married Levina Partridge, born November 30, 1819, at Dedham, died January 10, 1899, at Holyoke. Children: I. H. Emogene, born August 16, 1846, married Herbert Lyman, of Westfield, June 3, 1873, died 1916 at Westfield; two children, William F., Mary E., both born in West- field. 2. Francis Daniel, mentioned below. 3. William H., born February 7, 1850, died 1911; married (first) Clementina Hazen; children: Ralph, born June 29, 1877, died July, 1895, and Alice, born March, 1882, married Alfred H. Morton, Jr., in Holyoke, Massachusetts. William H. married (second) Margaret Newell, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where she now resides. 4. George, born 1856, died 1857.
(VIII) Francis Daniel Heywood, son of Daniel and Levina (Partridge) Heywood, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, September 28, 1848, died there January 28, 1916. In 1856 his parents moved to Holyoke, and there he attended school until fourteen years of age. He then entered the employ of the Connecticut River Railroad, beginning in the offices of the freight depart- ment at Springfield. He displayed unusual aptitude, and was advanced through successive promotions until he became general passenger and ticket agent, a position he held until his resignation in 1881. He then entered the Whitmore Manufacturing Company of Holyoke, manufacturers of surface coated paper, and was the honored treasurer of that company until 1916, when he retired from business. From boyhood until 1915, Mr. Heywood made his home in Holyoke, then moved to Springfield. During the thirty-five years he was connected with the management of the finances of the Whitmore Man- ufacturing Company, he saw the company grow from a small beginning until it was operating one of the largest plants of its kind in the State, its product going to all parts of the world. In that growth and prosperity his was an important part, reflecting credit upon his ability as a financier. During his long residence in Holyoke he was closely identified with civic affairs, was a trustee of the City Hospital, director of the Boys' Club, was active in the af-
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fairs of the Second Congregational Church, and for a time chairman of the parish committee of the Church Society. He was a Republican in politics, and, although he never entered actively into political life, his name was fre- quently mentioned for responsible city government offices.
He married Isabel Cady, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, daughter of Mrs. Garner Cady. They are the parents of three children: 1. Frank Her- bert, born in 1876, died in 1887. 2. Clara Emily, born August 3, 1878; mar- ried, in 1903, Charles E. Scott, and since 1906 engaged in missionary work in China, where all their children except the eldest were born; children: Eliza- beth Alden, Helen Prentice, Beatrice Eleanor, Francis Heywood, and Ken- neth Monroe. 3. Francis Cady.
Felix J. Cloutier
IN the death of Dr. Cloutier, who died January 19, 1914, the city of Holyoke lost one of its most progressive and useful cit- izens. Dr. Cloutier was thoroughly educated, and brought to the practice of his profession the keenest interest in it, a re- markable ability, and a kindliness of heart which made him extremely popular among his patients. He was ever ready to relieve to the utmost of his power any form of suffering with- out consideration as to pecuniary reward. He was not only the good phy- sician, but a man of keen business ability, broad foresight and intense indus- try. In the short span of his life he accomplished much, and in his death a most promising career was cut short.
Dr. Cloutier was born March 15, 1863, in Napierville, Canada, one of a family of twelve children, nine of whom are still living. After attending the Grand Seminary in Montreal, he entered Trinity University at Toronto, Ontario, from which he was graduated in 1888. He then took a post-gradu- ate course at Queens University at Kingston, Ontario, and graduated the fol- lowing year. He at once settled in Holyoke, Massachusetts, where he began the practice of his profession, and in a short time built up a successful prac- tice. He was known as the leading French physician of the city ; was exceed- ingly popular among the French people, and his practice extended to all na-
tionalities, by whom he was equally regarded. Through his popularity as a physician, and his industry and thrifty care of his earnings he was en- abled to embark in a business which has proved of great benefit to the manufacturing city of Holyoke. In 1912, in association with Dr. G. C. Robert, he formed the Willimansett Ice Company, of which he was president. He superintended the erection of the buildings of this plant, managed the business in a very successful manner, and to-day it stands as a monument to his industry and business sagacity. Dr. Cloutier was exceedingly kind and benevolent to the needy of his city, ever ready to respond to the call of suffering, and many have cause to cherish his memory with great gratitude. His charities were many and widespread, were admin- istered without ostentation, and known in most cases only to the beneficiary. He was a member of Holyoke Medical Association, American and French Medical societies, of numerous fraternal orders, and of the Holyoke Club and Holyoke Country Club. His broad sympathies and benevolent impulses were represented by various fraternities in which he affiliated, including the Order of Heptasophs, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Foresters of America.
Dr. Cloutier married, May 22, 1895, Emily Robert, a sister of Dr. George
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Robert, of Holyoke. Like her talented husband, she is a woman of good ex- ecutive and business perception, and is now acting as president of the Wil- limansett Ice Company of Holyoke. Under her administration the business proceeds without interruption, and with the same success with which it started out under her husband's initiation. Dr. Cloutier was very fond of travel, and in 1905, together with his wife, visited the Paris exposition and spent some four months in traveling through continental Europe. Mrs. F. J. Cloutier married (second) December 12, 1916, J. Edward Wilson.
George Herbert Smith
I N the death of Dr. George H. Smith, the city of Holyoke lost not only its leading physician, but also one of its most prom- inent men who had for more than a quarter of a century taken an important part in all its political, social, business and professional affairs, and who was widely esteemed and highly respected by all who knew him. It was not only in the affairs of the city in times of peace that he took an active part, but when the war cloud rolled menacingly across the horizon, it found him not only ready but anxious to be of any service possible to defend the flag and to preserve intact the Nation. In the following review no attempt will be made to give in detail the service which he rendered, but simply to call atten- tion to some of the important events in a life which covered a period of nearly seventy years, and which from the time when he attained his majority until its close was every moment taken up in an effort to be of especial benefit to the citizens of his City, State and Nation.
(I) He was a descendant of one of the oldest American families, and inherited from worthy ancestors most estimable qualities. The founder of this family in America was Lieutenant Samuel Smith, who was born in Eng- land about 1602, and came to America with his wife Elizabeth and several children. They sailed April 3, 1634, in the ship "Elizabeth" of Ipswich for New England. The parents were then called thirty-two years of age. They settled first in Salem, Massachusetts, where Lieutenant Smith was admitted a freeman, September 3, 1634, and was one of the proprietors of the town in 1638. Later he removed to Wethersfield, Connecticut, where he was a lead- ing citizen. Thence he removed to Hadley, Massachusetts, where he held im- portant offices in both church and State, and died about 1680, aged seventy- eight.
(II) Phineas Smith, third son of Lieutenant Samuel Smith, was born about 1635-36, in New England, and died March 7, 1731, aged ninety-five years. In 1673 he was admitted a freeman, and resided in Hadley. He mar- ried, October 2, 1661, Hannah Hitchcock, born 1644-45, died August 31, 1733, daughter of Luke Hitchcock, of Wethersfield, Connecticut.
(III) Chileab Smith, eighth child of Phineas Smith, was born February 18, 1685, died November 8, 1746. His father was ensign and he was a lieu- tenant in the colonial militia. He resided in Hadley. He married, December 19, 1710, Mercy Golding, who died in her sixty-ninth year.
(IV) Phineas (2) Smith, third son of Chileab Smith, was born June 5, 1717, and resided in Granby, where he was a man of prominence. In 1774 he was a delegate to the Provincial Congress and again in 1775, and deputy to the MASS .- 3-27 417
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General Court in 1777, 1779 and 1781. Notwithstanding his great age he en- tered the Revolutionary army. He was a captain in Colonel Porter's regi- ment which marched on the Lexington Alarm, but was out only two days, as they were not in time to reach the scene of conflict. He was subsequently a captain of the Eighth Company in Colonel Samuel Howe's (Fourth Hamp- shire County ) Regiment, ordered commissioned in Council, April 1, 1776. He was subsequently a captain in Colonel Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment, which served four days, marching on the Bennington Alarm, August 17, 1777. Be- cause of his age he resigned October 6, 1777. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Benjamin Church, of South Hadley; (second) in 1751, Elizabeth Smith, born February 14, 1728, in Hadley, daughter of John and Elizabeth Smith, granddaughter of John and Mary ( Root) Smith, great-granddaughter of John Smith, who was killed by the Indians, May 30, 1676, in Topsfield. John Smith's wife was Mary, daughter of William Partridge. He was a son of Samuel Smith, the ancestor above mentioned. His wife survived him many years, dying July 28, 1814. Captain Phineas Smith died February 6, 1787. Both he and his wife are buried in the Granby Cemetery with the fol- lowing epitaph: "This stone stands but to tell not what they were; when Saints shall rise, that day will show, the part they acted here below."
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