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 93
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On account of ill health he was obliged to relinquish mechanical labors, when his attention was drawn to historical and genealogical pursuits, in which he has been much engaged for the past forty years, materially assisting others by his studies and investigations. He copied the ancient town records of Boston, furnishing thereby, with fac-similes of autographs made also by him, a large quantity of matter for Samuel G. Drake's valuable history of that city, and was a great aid to General Wil- liam H. Sumner in preparing a "History of East Boston " (1858).
He has been a prolific and valuable contributor to the "New England Histori- cal and Genealogical Register," most of the volumes containing articles from his pen ; was editor of the work in 1865, having previously, from the year 1852, edited several volumes in part ; has made copies of entire documents from the " Mas- sachusetts Archives " for this publication, and prepared indexes of names and many of the general indexes for the nineteen volumes, from 1851 to '69 ; to each of the four " Memorial Biographies of the New England Historic Genealogical Society " (1880-'85) he has furnished a memoir, the first being that of the late Rev. John Pierce, D. D., of Brookline.
The "History of Dorchester" (1859) owed much to his researches, the chapters on schools and school-masters, nearly a fifth of the work, being written by him. Several articles contributed to the " Register " have been published in pamphlet form, among them, "Memoir of Andrew H. Ward" (1863): " Early Records of the Town of Dorchester, with Notes " (1867); " Memoir of Calvin Fletcher " (1869); "The Bird Family " (1871); " Early Matters Relating to the Town and First Church of Dorches- ter" (1886) ; " Memoir of Rev. Elias Nason " ( 1888). His separate published books are: "Seaver Genealogy " (1872) and " Jones Family " (1878).
He transcribed and edited volumes i., ii., iii., of Suffolk deeds (1880-'85), and
corrected and carried through the press volume iv. (1887). He was historiographer of the New England Historic Genealogi- cal Society from 1861 to '68, and a mem- ber of the society from 1851 ; has been one of the publishing committee, librarian, and one of the board of directors.
He is a corresponding member of vari- ous historical societies in the United States, and one of the vice-presidents of the Prince Society, Boston. He received the honorary degree of A. M. from Dart- mouth College, June 28, 1888.
Mr. Trask was married in Dorchester, November 25, 1844, to Rebecca, daughter of Richard and Mary (Blake) Clapp. They have no children.
TRAVIS, GEORGE CLARK, son of George Clark and Rachel Parker (Currier) Travis, was born in Holliston, Middlesex county, August 19, 1847.
He received his early educational train- ing in the public schools of Holliston, at- tended Phillips Academy, Exeter, N. H.,
GEORGE C. TRAVIS.
three years, where he fitted for Harvard College. He was graduated from Har- vard in the class of 1869
Previous to his graduation he had taught one term of school in North Berwick, Me., in the winter of 1864 and '65. After grad- uating he taught Greek and Latin in the
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TRUELL.
Medford high school three years, reading law at the same time with the Hon. Daniel A. Gleason and Hon. Benjamin F. Hayes.
He was admitted to the bar in Middle- sex county, in February, 1872. He prac- ticed law in Holliston from April 1, 1872, to April 1, 1874 ; then removed to South Framingham and lived, practicing law there until the spring of 1886, when he re- moved to Newton, where he now resides. He is in active practice of the law, with offices in South Framingham and in Boston.
Mr. Travis was married in Holliston, April 5, 1871, to Harriet March, the daugh- ter of Austin G. and Mary Charlotte (March) Fitch. Of this union are two children living : Harold Fitch and Howard Currier Travis.
In politics Mr. Travis is a Republican. He was trial justice two years at Holliston ; clerk and treasurer of the South Framing- ham Baptist church ; clerk and treasurer of the Baptist church, Newton ; director of the South Framingham National Bank, and a trustee of the Framingham Savings Bank.
TROWBRIDGE, JOHN TOWNSEND, son of Windsor S. and Rebecca (Willey) Trowbridge, was born in Ogden, Monroe county, N. Y., September 18, 1827.
Like Whittier and Charles Dudley War- ner, Trowbridge was a farmer's boy, his childhood days being passed in a log cabin at his birthplace, eight miles west of Roch- ester. A voracious appetite for books possessed him from his earliest years. He with great difficulty, and without a master, obtained a sufficient knowledge of French and Latin to read works written in those languages. At fourteen we find him a ver- itable poet, contributing to the " Rochester Republican" some verses on the "Tomb of Napoleon." His farm labors became distasteful to him, and after his father's death he availed himself of the opportu- nity of attending a classical school in Lock- port, N. Y., for a short time, when he set about improving himself in the languages. llere, too, he received the first money that he ever earned with his pen. The " Niag- ara Courier " offered a copy of Griswold's " Poets of America " for the best written " New Year's Address of the ' Courier' to its Patrons," and Mr. Trowbridge took the prize. He spent one year in farming and teaching in Illinois, and when only nine- teen years of age wended his way to New York, and became a journalist and writer for the magazines in that city. After years of penury and drudgery he rose to eminence.
In 1848 he removed to Boston. In 1850 he took Ben: Perley Poore's place on the
"Sentinel," during Mr. Poore's absence in Washington, D. C. He has since been en- gaged in magazine and newspaper work, and has acquired a national reputation in the editorial and general literary field of labor. He has been managing editor of the "Young Folks," and a contributor to the " Atlantic Monthly ;" among the contribu- tions appearing the poems, "The Vaga- bonds," "At Sea," and the " Pewee," also a short story, "Coupon Bonds."
Among his books, his " Neighbor Jack- wood " will be especially remembered as one of the early New England novels, and his " Vagabonds" was a pioneer in the Bret Harte style of poetry. His pen has been fertile in the production of books of travel, adventure, and fiction. Among them we mention "Father Brighthopes, or an Old Clergyman's Vacation," "Burr- cliff," "Hearts and Faces," "Home Life Unveiled," "Martin Merrivale, his X Mark," "Ironthorpe," "The Old Battle- ground," "The Drummer Boy," "Cudjo's Cave," " The Three Scouts," "Lucy Arlyn," " The South, a Tour of its Battlefields and Ruined Cities," " Neighbors' Wives," " The Story of Columbus," "The Jack Hazard Series " (five volumes), "The Emigrant's Story and Other Poems," " The Silver Medal Series " (six volumes), "The Book of Gold and Other Poems," " A Home Idyl and Other Poems," and " The Tide Mill Series " (six volumes). His work has been divided between prose and poetry, and he is acknowledged as one of the most popu- lar authors for boys in America.
He married, May 9, 1860, Cornelia War- ren, of Lowell, who died March 23, 1864, and by whom he had two children : Alice, born in 1861, and who died in infancy, and Windsor Warren Trowbridge, born Febru- ary 11, 1864.
TRUELL, BYRON, son of George W. and Fanny (Whitcomb) Truell, was born in St. Johnsbury, Caledonia county, Ver- mont, November 23, 1834.
He received his early education in the common schools of his native town and at Stanstead Academy, P. Q. At the age of nineteen he entered the employ of A. W. Stearns (dry- goods), Lawrence, as clerk, where he remained until 1858, when he entered into partnership with George H. Bailey, under the firm name of Bailey & Truell, which was changed in 1863 to By- ron Truell & Company, the present style of the firm.
In 1859, at Lawrence, Mr. Truell married Mary E., daughter of William and Mary (Hannaford) Armstrong. Their children
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TUCKER.
are : Gertrude E. (Mrs. A. E. Butler) and Grace L. (Mrs. George H. Eaton).
Mr. Truell is a member of Grecian Lodge of Masons, Royal Arch Chapter, Royal Arcanum, Home Club, and of the Lawrence board of trade. He is a director of the Merrimack Valley Horse Railroad and the Pacific National Bank. He has held a commission as justice of the peace for many years, in 1865 was a member of the Lawrence common council, a member of the lower branch of the Legislature in 1875 and '76, serving upon the committees on labor, statistics, and mercantile affairs. In 1877 and '78 he was a member of the Senate, serving each year on the commit- tees on mercantile affairs (chairman 1878) and prisons (chairman both years). In 1888 he was alternate delegate to the national Republican convention at Chi- cago. In 1889 he was elected to serve as a member of the executive council of Gov- ernor Brackett.
TUCKER, ENOS HOUGHTON, son of Enos Houghton and Sally ( Harris) Tucker, was born in Needham, Norfolk county, July 5, 1814.
ENOS H. TUCKER
He received a common school education, and in 1837 came to Boston and found employment with Benjamin Converse in the Boylston market. He remained in the
provision business till 1849. and then went into the employ of the Norfolk County and the Boston & Providence railroads, and has since been engaged in the railroad business. In 1867 he returned to Need- ham to take charge of the Woonsocket division of the Boston, Hartford & Erie Railroad, now the New York & New Eng- land road, and is at present division super- intendent of the same.
He has been chairman of the selectmen and of the board of assessors, and is clerk and treasurer of the First parish of Need- ham. He is a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and has been a director in the Odd Fellows' Hall Association, of Boston, since its organization in 1870.
In 1885 he represented the 9th Norfolk district in the House of Representatives, where he served upon several important committees. He was a member of the state Senate in 1888 and '89, both years being chairman of the committee on the state-house, and a member of the commit- tee on street railways.
In Dedham, on the 25th of February, 1852, Mr. Tucker was married to Frances, daughter of Stephen and Mary L. (Paul) Fales. Their only living child is Frederic Houghton Tucker ; Charles Francis and Stephen Henry having deceased.
TUCKER, WILLIAM JEWETT, son of Henry and Sarah (Lester) Tucker, was born in Griswold, New London county, Conn., July 13, 1839.
He was educated in the common schools, Meriden Academy, Meriden, N. H., and Dartmouth College, graduating from the latter in the class of 1861. Choosing the church as his field of labor, he studied for the ministry in Andover Theological Semi- nary, and was graduated therefrom in 1866.
He was pastor of the Franklin Street Congregational church, Manchester, N. H., 1867 to '75 ; Madison Square Presbyterian church, New York City, 1875 to '80, and has been professor of homiletics, Andover Theological Seminary, from 1880 to the present time.
Professor Tucker was first married in 1870, to Charlotte H., daughter of John Rogers, Plymouth, N. H. His second marriage was in 1887, with Charlotte B., daughter of Rev. Henry T. Cheever, of Worcester. He has three children : Alice Lester, Margaret, and Elizabeth Washburn Tucker.
Professor Tucker is one of the editors of the " Andover Review," established in 1884 ; also of " Hymns of the Faith," pub-
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TURNER.
lished in 1888. He is associated with four other professors in Andover Theological Seminary in what is known as the "Andover Case."
He is also a trustee of Dartmouth Col- lege, having been elected in 1878.
TUFTS, ARTHUR WEBSTER, son of Gil- bert and Mary (Chickering) Tufts, was born in Charlestown, Middlesex county, February 20, 1828.
He received his early education at the public schools of Charlestown, and in Chauncy Hall school, Boston.
At an early age he was employed in mercantile business on City Wharf, Boston, and was in some branch of that business until his retirement from its responsibilities later in life. He was for some time a mem- ber of the firm of Flint & Tufts, wholesale lumber dealers, Boston.
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ARTHUR W. TUFTS.
While a resident of Charlestown, he served three years in the common council, and three years on the school board.
He was a member of the House of Rep- resentatives in 1879, 'So and 'Si, and of the Senate in 1882 and '83. The first year he was a member of the committee on banks and banking, and in the second and third years a member of the finance con- mittee. In the Senate he served on the committees on claims, military affairs,
cities, and the treasury, of which last two he was chairman. His business training and experience well fitted him for serving on these committees, and rendered him a practical legislator.
Mr. Tufts is a director in various cor- porations, is president of the Roxbury Institution for Savings, and is one of the corporate members of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and one of the auditors of the board. He is also a member of the executive com- mittee of the Massachusetts Home Mission- ary Society, and president of the City Missionary Society of Boston. He was also at one time president of the Boston Congregational Club.
He was presidential elector in 1884, and delegate to the national Republican con- vention in Chicago in 1888.
Although retired from active business, much of his time is occupied as trustee of various estates. In politics, he was a Whig while that party lasted, but joined the Republican party when Abraham Lin- coln was nominated.
His ancestors came to this country from England early in the seventeenth century; his paternal ancestor settling in Medford, and his maternal ancestor (Henry Chick- ering) in Dedham, where he was prominent in the early history of the town.
He married, November 9, 1853, Annie, daughter of Rev. Henry B. and Martha Vinal Hooker.
TURNER, HENRY EDWARD, JR., son of Henry Edward and Ann (Burns) Turner, was born in Boston, May 4, 1842.
His parents removed to Malden in 1845. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Malden, Pierce Academy, Middleborough, and private schools of Medford and Norwich, Conn.
In 1858 he began his commercial career in the house of Wellington, Winter & Gross, wholesale dry-goods, subsequently with Wellington, Gross & Co .; Wellington, Bros. & Co .; Gross, Daniels & Co., and Daniels & Co. He was afterwards with Clark, Adams & Clark, crockery importers. from 1870 to '87, as confidential clerk and partner. He is at present treasurer of the Commonwealth Shoe Nailer Co.
In Malden, July 29, 1863, Mr. Turner was married to Lucinda H., daughter of Aaron and Lucinda W. (Bean) Barrett His second marriage occurred December 1867, with Hulda S., daughter of Joseph D), and Hulda S. (Lewis) Crowell. The children by his first marriage are: Anabe and Harry H. Turner.
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TYLER.
TWOMBLY.
Mr. Turner is an active member of Con- verse Lodge, and a past officer of Mt. Vernon Lodge, F. & A. M .; a member of the Royal Arcanum and A. O. U. W .; ex- second lieutenant 3d Massachusetts bat- tery (militia); vice-president of the Malden Club, and one of its founders ; has been twice president of the Republican city com- mittee, and its treasurer during the Butler- Robinson campaign ; a member of Malden
HENRY E. TURNER, JR.
common council the first two years after its incorporation as a city ; a member of the Boston Club ; commodore and vice-commo- dore of Great Head Yacht Club for four years ; and a member of the Hull and Corin- thian Yacht clubs. He represented the city of Malden, where he now resides, in the House of Representatives of 1889, serv- ing as clerk on the joint committee on drain- age, and was re-elected at the last election to serve his constituents for another year.
TWOMBLY, WILLIAM H., son of Wil- liam and Lydia (Horn) Twombly, was born in Dover, Strafford county, N. H., Febru- ary 28, 1822.
After his early tuition in the public schools, he finished his educational train- ing in the seminaries at Parsonsfield, Me., and Gilmanton, N. H.
He began to learn the printing business in March, 1835, and was first in business
for himself, January, 1844, in South Boston, publishing a paper called "The Galaxy." He has since been owner or part owner of sev- eral newspapers - one in New York City, one in Maine, and five in Massachusetts. He is at present publisher and editor of the " Reading Chronicle "
Mr. Twombly was married in Lowell, March 25, 1858, to Ellen A. Townsend (deceased). Of this union are three chil- dren : Willie E., James Franklin, and Gracie S. Twombly.
Mr. Twombly has generally held aloof from political life. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance, and has always been an active temperance worker. One of the most flourishing lodges of Good Templars in Maine was named after him -the Twombly Lodge, Camden, Me.
WILLIAM H. TWOMBLY.
During a period of more than fifty-four years he has worked at his chosen vocation of printer and general newspaper man, with but few weeks of interruption.
TYLER, WILLIAM SEYMOUR, son of Joab Tyler, a farmer in northern Penn- sylvania, and Nabby (Seymour) Tyler, of Otsego county, N. Y., was born in Har- ford, Susquehanna county, Pa., September 2, 1810.
He began the study of Latin at seven years of age in his native place, and fitted
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UPHAM.
UPHAM.
for college in Preston Richardson's private school, which afterwards became Harford Academy, and later, Harford University. He entered the junior class, Amherst, from which college he was graduated in the class of 1830 with honors.
He spent the first year after his gradua- tion in teaching in Amherst Academy, and the next year in studying theology at An- dover. He was tutor in Amherst College the next two years (1832-'34), and during the next two (1834-'36) he finished his theological studies, partly at Andover and partly at New York, under Dr. Skinner, in the class out of which the Union Theolog- ical Seminary was developed.
He was licensed to preach February 29, 1836, by the Third Presbytery of New York, and was ordained at North Amherst in 1854. He has been professor in Amherst College, first of Latin and Greek, then of Greek only, from 1836 until the present time.
Professor Tyler was married in Bing- hamton, N. Y., September 4, 1839, to Amelia Ogden, daughter of Mason and
Mary (Edwards) Whiting (grand-daughter of President Edwards). Of this union were four sons : Mason Whiting, William Wellington, Henry Mather, and John Ma- son Tyler-all graduates of Amherst. Two are professors, in Smith College and Amherst, one a lawyer in New York City, and one a mechanical engineer.
Professor Tyler is a trustee of Williston Seminary, Easthampton ; Smith College, Northampton; and Mt. Holyoke Seminary and College, South Hadley. He gave the address at the quarter-century celebration, Williston Seminary, and the semi-centen- nial address at Amherst College and at Mt. Holyoke Seminary.
He has published the following works : " Memoirs of Rev. Henry Lobdell, M. D., Missionary at Mosul ; " " Plato's Apology and Crito ;" "The Theology of the Greek Poets ;" "The History of Amherst Col- lege," etc. The degree of D. D. was con- ferred upon him by Harvard University in 1857, and LL. D. by Amherst in 1871, and again by Harvard at its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 1886.
UPHAM, SAMUEL O., was born in Waltham, Middlesex county, January 21, 1824.
His was a common school education. He was an operative in cotton mills in his youthful days, but upon finally leaving school he was apprenticed to a hatter, and served four years, then followed the busi- ness until 1860.
His first entry into political life was in 1855, when he was elected to the lower branch of the Legislature. In 1858, when General Banks was elected governor, Mr. Upham was elected messenger to the governor and council, and held the position three years.
From 1861 to '65 he was inspector in the Boston custom house, retiring to go into business in that city. From 1867 to '71 he was a member of the board of select- men of Waltham, and in July, 1869, he was appointed postmaster under President Grant's administration. This office he heid until March, 1886, and his faithful, efficient, and conservative administration is a part of Waltham's local history.
Released from his office, he was solicited as a leader in the political contest of 1886, and was nominated and again elected to the Legislature. As the senior member of the House, he presided over its delibera-
SAMUEL O. UPHAM.
tions until the election of a speaker. He was re-elected in 1887. In 1888 he was
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VAN NOSTRAND.
UTLEY.
elected county commissioner for the county of Middlesex, for three years. With the exception of about two years, Mr. Upham has always made Waltham his home, and has been prominently identified with its welfare and progress A staunch Republican, he was for several years chair- man of the town committee, and has been vice-president of the Middlesex Club. He is a member of Monitor Lodge, F. & A. M .; a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, and of various secret societies.
UTLEY, SAMUEL, son of Thomas Knowlton and Theodocia (Knox) Utley, was born in Chesterfield, Hampshire county, September 29, 1843.
He attended the common schools of his native town, Williston Seminary, and Wesleyan Academy, at Wilbraham. Fit- ting at the latter institutions to take up the pursuit of his chosen profession, he studied with Senator Hoar, entered Har-
vard law school, and was graduated there- from in the class of 1867. He was admitted to the bar September 13th of the same year, and immediately went into practice, which he continued for fifteen years.
Mr. Utley was appointed justice of the central district court of Worcester, Sep- tember 13, 1882, which position he still holds, having his residence at Worcester.
He was married in Worcester, December 8, 1875, to Julia M. Martin. He was one of the assessors of Plymouth parish, also treasurer of same, which office he held several years. For many years also he has been a master in chancery. Judge Utley has not sought political preferment, but has been thoroughly loyal to his chosen profession, performing the duties of his honorable and responsible position with marked ability and universal satis- faction.
VAN DEUSEN, MERRITT, son of Alan- son and Julia (Seely) Van Deusen, was born in Becket, Berkshire county, Decem- ber 3, 1820.
His early educational training was re- ceived in the common schools and Lee Academy. He began business life in a country store, and subsequently saw ser- vice as a Yankee-notion peddler. He was later on in the flour business in Albany and New York City.
In 1878 he became treasurer of the Hampden Whip Company, Westfield, and afterwards treasurer of the American Whip Company, holding the latter posi- tion until 1889. Upon resigning his posi- tion, he went into the hardware business in Westfield, in which he is now engaged.
Mr. Van Deusen was married in Great Barrington, March 31, 1842, to Mary, daughter of William and Mary (Lester) Root. Of this union is one child : Carrie Louisa Van Deusen (now Mrs. Williams).
Mr. Van Deusen has been chairman of the Republican town committee ; a mem- ber of the House of Representatives in 1879 and '80, and was town treasurer in 1865. He is a director of the First Na- tional Bank, Westfield, and a trustee of the Westfield Savings Bank. He served as postmaster from 1882 to '86.
Mr. Van Deusen is a representative of the progressive business element of West- field, and has been long identified with the growth and prosperity of the town.
VAN NOSTRAND, WILLIAM TREAD- WELL, son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Treadwell) Van Nostrand, was born in Hempstead, Queens county, N. Y., Octo- ber 7, 1821.
His early education was accomplished at the common schools of his native town, and when fourteen years of age the death of his father obliged him to enter upon the active duties of life, as clerk in a gro- cery store in New York City. Here he remained for two years and was then ap- prenticed in the coach-making business at Jamaica, Long Island. At the end of five years he went to New Haven to acquaint himself with the higher branches of coach- making, but gave up the work to accept the position of assistant postmaster and clerk in a general merchandise store, where he re- mained for a year, and then formed a part- nership with W. H. Ludlam, under the firm name of Van Nostrand & Ludlam, and began the grocery business in Brooklyn, N. Y. Later he was a partner of George Stillwell in the same business, and two years afterward he sold out and removed to Albany, where he began ship chand- lery and the cordage manufacturing busi- ness.
On account of ill health he shortly gave up this business and bought a farm in Con- stantia, Oswego county, with timber land, saw-mill, and dock, and engaged exten- sively in the lumber business. After sev- eral changes he moved to Boston, in
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1858, and founded the business of dealer in malt, hops, and brewers' supplies, in which for twelve years he met with marked success.
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