USA > Massachusetts > One of a thousand, a series of biographical sketches of one thousand representative men resident in the commonwealth of Massachusetts, A.D. 1888-'89; > Part 92
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June 16, 1841, he married Jane Amelia, only daughter of Isaac Patch, of Ashby, who died of consumption, August 22, 1842. May 11, 1848, he married R. Elizabeth, third daughter of Ebenezer Hutchinson, Jr., of Fitchburg. Of the three children born to them, but one remains : Dr. C. F. O. Tinker, of St. Johnsbury, Vt.
Mr. Tinker was town clerk of Ashby, and a member of the school board some six years or more, resigning when he left that place. In 1860 he was a representa- tive in the Legislature from the 6th Wor- cester district. He was commissioned a justice of the peace in 1863, by Governor Andrew. On the organization of the town of Norwood, in 1872, he was chosen town clerk, which office he still holds.
He was the clerk of the Second Congrega- tional parish in Ashby, of the Evangelical church in Leominster, and is now clerk and deacon of the First Congregational parish and church in Norwood. He was the first librarian of the public library in Leominster, and a member of its board of trustees. He has also devoted much time and labor towards establishing a good free public library for the town of Norwood, and has been one of the trustees since its organization.
Mr. Tinker is the author of the " History of the Town of Ashby," in the Middlesex collection, published by Estes & Lauriat ; also the history of the Second or South Parish in Dedham, now the town of Nor- wood, in the " History of Norfolk county."
TIRRELL, CHARLES QUINCY, son of Norton Q. and Susan J. Tirrell, was born in Sharon, Norfolk county, December 10, 1844.
His early education was received in the common schools of Weymouth, where his parents removed when he was seven years of age - his father's native place, and that of his ancestors for two hundred years. His father was a physician and practiced medicine in Weymouth until his decease.
Mr. Tirrell entered Dartmouth College in 1862, and was graduated in the class of
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1866. During his college course, he taught school each winter. After graduation he was one year in charge of Peacham Acad- emy, Vermont, a famous school in its day. He was subsequently principal of the St. Johnsbury high school, Vermont.
In 1869 he entered the law office of the late Richard H. Dana, Boston, under whose care he was fitted for the bar, being admit- ted in August, 1870. He immediately opened a law office in Boston, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.
Mr. Tirrell was married in Natick, Feb- ruary 13, 1873, to Mary E., daughter of Elisha P. and Eliza A. Hollis. Of this union is one child : Arthur H. Tirrell.
In 1869 Mr. Tirrell was a candidate of the Republican party in Weymouth for representative to the Legislature, but the candidates of the party in that town failed of an election that year. In 1871 he was again a candidate, and elected by an un- usual majority. In 1873 he removed to Natick, where he has since resided.
He was a meniber of the state Senate from the 4th Middlesex district, 1881 and 82. In 1872, his first year in the House, he served on the probate and insolvency committee, and in 1881 on the senate com- mittees on public health, prisons, and bills in the third reading ; in 1882 on the com- mittees on public health and judiciary, and was chairman of the joint committee on the liquor law.
Mr. Tirrell is one of the wardens of St. Paul's Episcopal church, Natick. While a resident of Weymouth, he served four years on the school board of that town.
He received a large complimentary vote in the Republican congressional conven- tion, 9th district, in 1884, as its candidate for Congress, and in 1888 was the leading competitor for the same position of the Hon. John W. Candler, who was subse- quently nominated. He was elected presi- dential elector from this district the same year.
Mr. Tirrell is especially active in tem- perance work, and is a prominent official in temperance societies. He has also been an active worker in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other societies, and his services are in active demand in the various lines of work undertaken by them.
TITCOMB, ALBERT CUSHING, son of Francis and Sally D. (Dodd) Titcomb, was born in Newburyport, Essex county, July 16, 1831. He is a lineal descendant of William Titcomb, who came from Newbury, England, on the ship " Hercules " in 1634,
and became an original land-holder. He is a grandson of Hon. Enoch Titcomb, a member of the Constitutional Convention, representative and senator for a long time, and town treasurer for twenty-eight years in succession.
Mr. Titcomb obtained the rudiments of a common school education in his native town. He began business life at the age of fourteen, in the dry-goods store of Jo- seph F. Toppan. He then clerked in Bos- ton two years, but being excited by the gold-fever in 1849, he sailed from Newbury- port for San Francisco in the brig " Char- lotte," arriving July 23d of that year, and,
ALBERT C. TITCOMB.
as was the usual case in those days, with- out money or friends He remained in California two years, mining and clerking, then sailed for Relejo, Central America, where he engaged in the hotel business, and also in purchasing coffee and shipping it to San Francisco. In 1852 he returned to Newburyport and entered the machine shop of the Bartlett Mills, to learn the trade of machinist. He subsequently ob- tained employment in a machine shop in Roxbury for one year, then in the shop of the Old Colony & Fall River Railroad, where he remained until 1855. He was next engaged as a traveling salesman for Robinson, Potter & Co., manufacturing
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jewelers, Providence, where he remained two years. In 1868 he established the firm of Titcomb & Williams, wholesale dealers in watches, diamonds, and jewelry in San Francisco. This firm carried on business for several years, when Mr. Titcomb as- sumed the proprietorship and carried it on alone for twelve years, the business in- creasing in volume until the annual sales reached two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Since 1849 Mr. Titcomb has traveled to California forty times, and visited nearly all the states of the Union. He is now retired from active business and resides in Newburyport.
He was elected alderman from ward 4 of that city, and on the death of the mayor, Hon. William H. Huse, was unanimously chosen to fill the unexpired term. In De- cember, 1888, he was elected mayor, re- ceiving the largest vote of any mayor who had an opposition candidate, and now holds the office, his administration being espe- cially acceptable to his fellow-citizens.
TOLMAN, JOHN BROAD, son of John and Lucy (Broad) Tolman, was born in Barre, Worcester county, December 30, 1806. He is a lineal descendant of Thomas Tolman, who was born in England, in 1608 or 1609, and came over in the " Mary and John " in 1630, becoming a settler of Dorchester.
At an early period of his life his parents removed to Needham, it being the native place of his paternal grandfather, who was severely wounded at the battle of Lexing- ton, but on his recovery enlisted and served through the revolutionary war, ris- ing from the ranks to a field officer.
In the latter town most of Mr. Tolman's early life was passed, and his education was chiefly obtained at the public schools there. Ile had manual duties to perform about the farm, even at the tender age of eight years. At the usual age for apprentice- ship he was placed in the office of H. & W. H. Mann, of Dedham, to learn the print- ing business. He served his full time and then went to Boston to follow his trade, obtaining employment as a journeyman in the book office of Isaac R. Butts.
In February, 1830, he became a resident of Lynn, where he at once engaged as a printer of the "Lynn Record." After several years as manager and editor, he purchased the office, introduced the first cylinder press used in the city, and printed several papers at different times, besides building up a good business of job and commercial printing.
TOLMAN.
By middle life he was enabled to sell out his printing materials and business, and occupy himself with less wearying pursuits. He then engaged in real estate and kin- dred operations, with good success.
Mr. Tolman is a strict disciplinarian and an abstainer from both rum and tobacco. In 1881, on the occasion of the celebra- tion of his golden wedding, he made a do- nation to the Lynn Hospital of twenty-five hundred dollars, devoted in part to the benefit of members of the printing frater- nity in Lynn. In 1884 he conveyed to the Young Men's Christian Association of Lynn an estate valued at thirty thousand dollars, in trust for the suppression of in- temperance and the use of intoxicating liquors in Lynn. One of the latest of his public donations was the sum of one thou- sand dollars to the Home for Aged Women. He has made extensive tours in the west- ern and southern states and California, and has likewise visited Europe.
JOHN B. TOLMAN.
In March, 1831, Mr. Tolman was mar- ried to Lydia S., daughter of Herman and Sarah Ames (Haynes) Mann, by whom he has had two sons and a daughter, of whom the latter only is living, being the wife of Charles J. Pickford, of Lynn. At the death of his two sons he erected to their memory the first marble monument in Lynn.
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TOMPKINS. WILLIAM RIPLEY, son of Rev. William Brownell Tompkins, was born in Madison, Madison county, N. Y., March 19, 1826.
His grandfather, Gilbert Tompkins, was one of the early settlers of this part of the state, having organized and led a colony from southeastern Massachusetts to a tract of land in the town of Madison, previously located by him.
The early education of Mr. Tompkins was derived from the public schools of his native state. His studies in preparation for a collegiate course were pursued at first in an academy at Munnsville, N. Y., and afterwards under a private instructor at Oneida. He entered the sophomore class in the University of the City of New York in 1847. In 1848 he transferred his relation to Williams College, Mass., from which institution he graduated with honor in the class of 1850.
The next three years were spent in teach- ing in Schoharie and at Temple Hill, Geneseo, N. Y.
In the autumn of 1853 Mr. Tompkins entered the theological seminary at An- dover, Mass., graduating in 1856. Having been licensed to preach by the Suffolk (South) Association of Boston (Orthodox Congregational), he received an invitation to become pastor of the New England church in Brooklyn, N. Y., which invitation he accepted, and was ordained and installed October 15, 1856. This office he retained eight years, the church in the meantime increasing about four-fold.
At the end of eight years an obstinate affection of the throat, and health generally impaired, demanding a period of rest, he resigned his charge and remained without a pastorate for two years.
In 1866 he took charge as acting pastor of the Congregational church in Wrentham, Mass., which position he has now held for more than twenty-two years.
While in Brooklyn, Mr. Tompkins was on the committee of agencies of the Ameri- can Bible Society, a trustee of the Ameri- can Congregational Union, and a member of the executive committee of the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society.
During his long pastorate in Wrentham, Mr. Tompkins has taken a specially active interest in all matters involving the social and industrial prosperity of the town, in addition to his labors for the promotion of religion ; and during that period few public enterprises have been undertaken, or im- provements made in which he has not borne an active part.
TOWER.
He was twice elected to represent his district in the state Legislature, - in 1877, when he was chairman, on the part of the House, of the committee on religious socie- ties, and in 1880, when he was chairman of the committee on public charitable institutions.
Mr. Tompkins was never married.
WILLIAM R. TOMPKINS.
An ardent love of nature is one of his prominent characteristics, and the natural sciences have consequently received a large share of his attention; and from the laws of nature in all her departments it has been his custom and delight to draw parallels and analogies to illustrate and enforce the moral laws he is accustomed to preach.
One of the members of the Mendon conference - Rev. Jacob Ide-says of him : " An intimate ministerial association with Rev. W. R. Tompkins for nearly thirty years confirms my estimate of him as a ripe scholar, a profound thinker, and an exceedingly close reasoner."
TOWER, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS, son of Oren and Harriet (Gleason) Tower, was born in Petersham, Worcester county, Feb- ruary 26, 1825. Mr. Tower comes of An- glo-Saxon stock, the common ancestor of the Tower family in America having emi- grated from Hingham, England, in 1637, and settled in Hingham, Mass.
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He received his early education in the public schools. The eldest of four chil- dren, himself and three sisters, he was thrown entirely upon his own resources at the age of fifteen, when he removed to Lancaster and entered the employment of a country merchant doing business in that town. There he served as clerk until 1845, when he was admitted to partnership with his employer.
This co-partnership continued until 1848. In 1850 he entered the flour and grain busi- ness, Haymarket Square, Boston, as a mem- ber of the firm of Rice, Tower & Co., the first house in the Boston market to estab- lish direct connection with the West in the sale of cereal products. In 1852 the firm of Tower, Davis & Co. succeeded the par- ent house. Unremitting attention to busi- ness so impaired the health of Mr. Tower that in 1855, the same year in which he had changed his residence to Lexington, he found it necessary to retire from active business for a time, and seek recuperation in rest and travel.
During a trip South and West, while stopping in Chicago, he formed the ac- quaintance of George Watson, a native of Scotland, with whom Mr. Tower organized, in Chicago, the banking house of Watson, Tower & Co., which did an active and prosperous business until 1860. During this time Mr. Tower still retained his posi- tion as head of the firm of Tower, Davis & Co., Boston.
In 1860 he returned to Lexington, hav- ing closed his banking business in Chi- cago. He retained his interest as a silent partner in the house succeeding Tower, Davis & Co., until 1867. In that year he organized the banking house of Tower, Giddings & Co., which still exists as a leading representative house, most honor- ably known in business circles.
Railroad and banking affairs being so closely connected, naturally attracted Mr. Tower, and in many of them he is equally prominent and efficient. He has been a director of the National Bank of the Com- monwealth since its establishment in 1871, and was elected president in February, 1881. From 1870 to '73 inclusive he was president of the Concord Railroad in New Hampshire ; and in 1877 and '78 president of the Nashua & Lowell Railroad, and is director and trustee of other institutions and corporations.
Mr. Tower was an old-time Whig, and since the organization of the Republican party has been identified with it, having entered with zeal and purpose into all the
measures of the national government for the preservation of the Union.
In 1863 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and a member of Governor Rice's personal staff, with the rank of colonel. In 1882 he was elected to the governor's council from the 3d dis- trict.
Mr. Tower was married in Lancaster, April 29, 1847, to Julia, daughter of Aus- tin and Sally (Wellington) Davis, and grand-daughter of John Davis, a revolu- tionary soldier. Four children were born of this union : Ellen M., Charlotte G., Augustus C., and Richard G. Tower.
TOWNSEND, LUTHER TRACY, son of Luther K. and Mary T. (Call) Townsend, was born in Orono, Penobscot county, Maine, September 27, 1838.
His early education was received in the public schools of Bristol, Manchester, Franklin, and Lake Village, N. H., and fit- ting for college at the New Hampshire Conference Seminary, Tilton, N. H., he entered Dartmouth, and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1859. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
He then studied theology in Andover Theological Seminary, and was graduated therefrom in 1862, and ordained to the ministry in 1864. In 1866 the Wesleyan University conferred the degree of A. M., and in 1871 Dartmouth honored him with that of D). 1).
During 1862 and '63 he served in the war of the rebellion as adjutant of the 16th regiment of New Hampshire volunteers. Returning from the war with an honorable discharge, he was called to the pastorate of the Methodist church, and served most acceptably in the following appointments : Watertown, 1864 to '66; Malden, 1866 to '67 ; supplied Auburndale, 1867 to '68 ; Bromfield Street, Boston, 1868 to '70 ; Tremont Street, Boston, 1873 to '74, again 18So to '81 ; County Street, New Bedford, 1882 ; was professor of exegetical theol- ogy, Boston University, 1867 to '69 ; pro- fessor of historical theology 1869 to '72; and has been professor of practical the- ology since 1872. He has also supplied some of the larger Congregational churches in Boston and vicinity for terms varying from six months to two years.
He was appointed delegate to the Ecu- menical M. E. Conference, London, Eng- land, 1881, and was dean of the Chautau- qua School of Theology, 1882 to '85.
He is the author of "True and Pre- tended Christianity," "Credo," " Sword and Garment," "God-Man," " The Arena
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and the Throne,' "Lost Forever," " Ele- ments of Theology," "Outlines of Chris- tian Theology," 'Chinese Problem," " Saved Forever," "Bible Theology and Modern Thought," "The Supernatural Factor in Religious Revivals," " The Inter- mediate World," " The Fate of Republics," " What Noted Men Think of the Bible," "Art of Speech," "Mosaic Record and Modern Science,' " What Noted Men Think of Christ," " Bible in the Nineteenth Century," "Manual on Church Trials," " Faith Work, Christian Science, and other Cures," and "Pulpit Rhetoric." Eleven addresses on various occasions have been published. He is associate editor of " Our Day," one of the proprietors and editors of the " British-American Citizen," a regular and occasional contributor to nine news- papers and periodicals, and one of the prominent workers in the anti-Roman Catholic movement of 1888-'89.
Dr. Townsend was married in Water- town, September 27, 1866, to Laura C., daughter of David T. and Sarah F. (White) Huckins. Of this union were three chil- dren : Agnes Rich (born July 10, 1869), Helen Maud (born July 15, 1873), and Fannie Fletcher (born June 29, 1880).
TOWNSEND, MILTON BADGER, son of Charles J. and Mary C. (Cochrane) Townsend, was born in Andover, Essex county, August 25, 1838.
His education was received in the public schools of his native place. At twelve years of age he entered the mills of Andover, then worked in the shoe fac- tories for a number of years, and subse- quently formed a partnership with William Corse, and engaged in the shoe business at Andover. In process of time he removed to Merrimac, where he remained until 1873, when he settled in Lawrence and started the laundry business, which has since grown to such proportions that it has become one of the noted industries of that city.
In 1861 he enlisted in the 14th regi- ment, Massachusetts volunteers, which was afterwards made the Ist heavy artillery. He was present during the engagements at Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the Wilderness, and participated in most of the battles in which the army of the Potomac was engaged.
Mr. Townsend is a member of the I. O. O. F .; Grecian Lodge, F. & A. M .; Royal Good Fellows ; B. P. O. E. and U. O. P. F .; past commander E. R. Mudge Post, G. A. R .; president New England Laun- drymen's Association, and past president of the national body of this association ;
was a member of the Lawrence common council in 1884 ; member of the House of Representatives in 1885 and '86, and chairman of the Republican city commit- tee in 1885.
MILTON B. TOWNSEND.
Mr. Townsend was married in Andover, October 14, 1858, to Isabella, daughter of Hugh and Jane (Nichol) Smart. Of this union were nine children : Louis, Edward M., George W., Walter S., Ger- trude, Hugh, Bertha, Clarence, and James A. Townsend (deceased 1867).
TRACY, CYRUS MASON, fourth son of Cyrus and Hannah Mason (Snow) Tracy, was born in Norwich, New London county, Conn., May 7, 1824.
Being but a feeble child, his elementary education was all obtained at home, and not until his ninth year did he enter the public schools In October, 1838, he removed from Norwich to Lynn, Mass., where, after a brief stay in school, he worked for a time in a cordage walk, and then entered the factory of Theophilus N. Breed, maker of hardware and shoe-tools, where his father was already employed. Here he remained seven years, and learned the business of machinery and wood and iron finishing.
Having had some months' opportunity for practical study in the Essex registry of deeds, he finally left his factory work in
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1849, and entered the office of William Bassett, city clerk of Lynn, from whence, retiring in 1855, he engaged in surveying and engineering, and followed this with success for ten years, leaving it in 1865.
In 1848-'49 he became connected with the Essex Institute of Salem, under whose auspices he taught and lectured somewhat extensively in the department of botany. This led, in 1868, to his being called to the chair of botany and materia medica, Mas- sachusetts College of Pharmacy, which po- sition he held six years, retiring in 1873. During this period he also did business as a florist in Lynn, from 1859 to '69. In
CYRUS M. TRACY.
1871 he opened a large music school in Lynn, which he continued for four years, and then for a while followed a trade in minerals and curios. In 1869 hc likewise accepted the place of leading editor on the " Lynn Transcript," where he continued till 1879.
In public and official life he has spent much time. From 1856 to '69 he was clerk of the common council of Lynn. From 1853 to '73 he was one of the com- missioners for Pine Grove Cemetery in that city, being secretary of the board fifteen years. The ordinances of the city were twice codified under his supervision ; and he also compiled and edited the
memorial book of the city hall, after the erection of that edifice. The free public library of Lynn had its early beginning under his care ; and he was an active par- ticipant in the work of supplying the city of Lynn with pure water.
As a prolific writer and ready public speaker, his services have been much in demand. When the city of Lynn com- memorated its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary, June 17, 1879, Mr. Tracy was called to deliver the oration for the day ; and he also appeared as poet of the occa- sion at the dedication of the new city hall, November 30, 1867.
A natural taste has impelled him always toward the arts and sciences, with a marked leaning to the study of botany. His "Studies of Essex Flora," issued in 1858, proved very popular with botanists ; and his contributed writings in the " His- tory of Essex County " and the "History of Worcester County," have met with gen- eral approval.
As a musician, he was the pupil of the late Dr. Louis H. Southard, of Boston, and his operatic work has several times been put upon the stage with acceptance. His poetical efforts have often appeared with credit.
Mr. Tracy's present activity is mostly official. Originally commissioned by Gov- ernor Gardner in 1855 as a notary public and justice of the peace, he has held both offices ever since, and is now engaged in conveyancing, and in matters relating to probate, pensions, etc.
In 1881 Mr. Tracy began his, perhaps, greatest work, and inaugurated the move- ment for the establishment of the " Free Public Forest of Lynn," -a public park for the perpetual use of the people. By this he has become quite generally known, the work promising to be of the highest bene- fit in future time.
Mr. Tracy married in Lynn, March 20, 1848, Caroline Mary, daughter of George W. and Caroline (Rhodes) Needham, of that city. Of this union are four children, all living : Laura Caroline (Mrs. George F. Hosmer, Woburn), George Gilbert Low- ell, Julia Mason (Mrs. William J. Nutting, Lynn), and Susan Edith Tracy.
The son has become a musician of much eminence.
TRASK, WILLIAM BLAKE, son of Wil- liam and Patience (Pierce) Trask, a lineal descendant of Captain William Trask, one of the "old planters" of Salem, was born in Dorchester, Norfolk county, November 25, 1812.
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TRASK.
He received a common school education in his native town, and served an appren- ticeship there at the cabinet-making busi- ness, which he followed about a score of years, including a short residence in Lock- port, N. Y., in 1835 ; subsequently in Johns- town, Pa., and Philadelphia, working at his trade in those places until the spring of 1837, when he returned home. He was after- wards for a short time a member of the school committee in Dorchester, and one year an assistant assessor.
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