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 97
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Augusta high school. He remained here until 1868, when he resigned to accept the principalship of the high school in New- ton. He continued in charge of this school till December, 1880, when he re- signed, to become head-master of the English high school, Boston, a position he now holds.
Mr. Waterhouse was married in Win- chester, August 23, 1881, to Mary Isabel, daughter of Joel Fernald and Martha (Swan) Hanson. Of this union are three children : Francis Asbury, Annie Isabel, and Paul Waterhouse (deceased).
When about fourteen years of age, young Waterhouse went on a sea-voyage for his health. This having been com- pletely restored, and having become, after the manner of boys, bewitched with the sea, he shipped for a second voyage as a forecastle sailor. From this voyage he
FRANCIS A, WATERHOUSE.
returned an able seaman, thus putting un- wittingly in practice an idea which he afterwards entertained,- that one should learn some trade or craft, though intend- ing to engage in a profession, in order to have in reserve a means of gaining a livelihood in case of failure in the chosen calling.
But nature did not intend Mr. Water- house for a sailor. His career as a teacher
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has, from the beginning, been a success. He has a rare power of stimulating his classes to earnest and sustained effort in the pursuit of any study that interests him. This power, when at his best, he no doubt exerts unconsciously, but in accord- ance with his theory of mental training - that the faculties of the mind are deter- mined to their most improving exercise by the desire for knowledge, and that the ideal teacher is one who has for his chief qualifications an inextinguishable thirst for knowledge and the power of exciting a like thirst in the mind of the pupil.
Mr. Waterhouse has, from time to time, contributed papers on various topics to literary and educational societies.
WATERMAN, ANDREW J., son of Wil- liam and Sarah (Bucklin) Waterman, was born in North Adams, Berkshire county, June 23, 1825, and was reared on a farm in Williamstown.
The public schools, Williams Academy, Williamstown, and Greylock Institute, South Williamstown, furnished him with his early educational training. He held several town offices in Williamstown, and in June, 185 1, after several years' service as clerk in a store, he commenced the study of law in the office of Keyes Dan- forth, and completed his legal studies in the office of Hon. Daniel N. Dewey, in Williamstown, and was admitted to the bar of Berkshire county, March 18, 1854.
He began practice in Williamstown in partnership with Mr. Danforth ; in Febru- ary, 1855, was appointed to the office of register of probate, which he held till 1858 when he was elected register of pro- bate and insolvency, and held that office till April, 1881, when he resigned. In November, 1880, he was appointed district attorney for the western criminal district, comprising Berkshire and Hampden coun- ties, to fill the vacancy caused by the resig- nation of Hon. N. A. Leonard. He was elected to the same office in 1880, '83 and '86, resigning October 1, 1887, to accept the office of attorney-general of Massa- chusetts, to which he was elected in No- vember, 1887, for the ensuing political year. The following year he was again elected, and still retains the office.
In 1855 he changed his residence to Lenox, then the shire town of Berkshire county, where he remained until February, 1872, when he removed to Pittsfield to dis- charge the duties of his office and to prac- tice law,- Pittsfield having become the shire town of the county. He still resides in the latter town.
WEBB.
Mr. Waterman was a delegate to the national Republican convention at Balti- more in 1864, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for a second election, and was alternate delegate to the national Republi- can convention in Chicago, in 1880. He has never been a candidate for election to either branch of the Legislature, having always been constitutionally ineligible by holding the above offices.
Mr. Waterman was married in East Bos- ton, January 7, 1858, to Ellen Douglas, daughter of Hon. Henry H. and Nancy (Comstock) Cooke. They have no chil- dren.
Mr. Waterman was reared politically in the Democratic faith, but left the party before attaining his majority ; cast his first vote for Stephen C. Phillips, for governor ; joined and acted with the Free Soil party, and later on, the Republican party, of which he has ever been a staunch member.
He has held many offices of trust, and has dispensed a generous charity in an un- ostentatious way. In religious sentiment he is a liberal.
WEBB, EDWIN B., son of Ebenezer and Sophia (Lancaster) Webb, was born in New Castle, Lincoln county, Maine, 1820.
The district schools furnished his early educational training until he entered Lin- coln Academy, New Castle, and prepared for Bowdoin College. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1846, and then spent something over a year in teaching in an academy. Meantime the choice of a pro- fession - a choice between the bar and the pulpit - was determined, and in the autumn of 1847 he entered the Bangor Theological Seminary, enjoying for three years the instruction of Professors Shepard, Pond, and Smith.
He was called to the pastorate before graduation, but he insisted on a further course of study, at Princeton, N. J., and there spent several months under the dis- tinguished professors Hodge and Alexan- der.
Returning from Princeton, he com- menced his pastoral work in Augusta, Maine, where he spent ten happy and suc- cessful years as the minister of an appre- ciative church and people. In 1860 he settled with the Shawmut Congregational church, Boston, and remained with this church as pastor for twenty-five years. With the name of Dr. Webb the best for- tunes, and the almost uninterrupted pros- perity of the Shawmut church are rightly associated.
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WEBBER.
WEBB.
During his pastorate the present com- modious house of worship was erected - begun February 10, 1863, and dedicated February 11, 1864. The war at this time was the one exacting, absorbing thing, ex- hausting the sympathies and resources of loyal men. Though not legally liable to the draft, Dr. Webb placed a substitute in the field, and spent some time with others amid the armed camps, studying the sani- tary and moral conditions of the soldiers, perceiving and reporting necessities which were afterwards met, as far as possible, by the sanitary and Christian commissions. Dr. Webb spoke often for the soldiers, in addition to his great pastoral and pulpit labors. In 1864 Williams College con- ferred upon him the degree of D. D., an honor repeated by his alma mater a few years later.
Soon after coming to Boston, he was chosen a member of the executive commit- tee of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society, a position which, with slight inter- ruption, he has held ever since. Hetraveled extensively through the West, and from southern California to the British Provin- ces, with the cause of home missions on his heart. He also felt the necessity for the education of the freedmen, and fre- quently and earnestly pleaded for their moral and spiritual elevation.
In 1876 he was elected a member of the prudential committee of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Mis- sions, having previously visited many of the missionary stations in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Constantinople, Athens, etc. As a preacher, he loved to dwell upon the distinguishing doctrines of Christianity. Decidedly evangelical, he threw the warmth and magnetism of his own heart into the teachings of the pulpit and the prayer- meeting.
Dr. Webb retired from his charge on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his settlement with Shawmut church, October 4, 1885. At a meeting of the church and society, November 10, he was declared pastor emer- itus. In parting, Dr. Webb presented the church with his valuable theological library.
His present residence is Wellesley. En- gaged in special pastoral service, he still labors in the various departments of his life work - preaching nearly every Sabbath, an active member of missionary boards and councils, full of zeal and gifts.
Dr. Webb was married in Augusta, Maine, in 1852, to Elizabeth Temple, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Tappan, D. D., and Eliza- beth Bowdoin Temple (Winthrop) Tappan.
Of this union were three children : Anna Winthrop, Elizabeth Temple, and Mary Bowdoin.
WEBBER, WALLACE GLEASON, son of Marcus B. and Elizabeth F. Gleason Web- ber, was born in Bedford, Middlesex county, August 13, 1856.
His early education was received in the public schools of his native town, and in a commercial college in Boston. In 1874 he entered the Blackstone National Bank of Boston, as messenger. His promotion through the various positions to that of assistant teller was rapid.
In the fall of 1880 he left the bank to engage in business for himself under the
WALLACE G. WEBBER.
firm name of Paine, Webber & Co., banking and brokerage - first located at 48 Con- gress Street, then at 53 Devonshire Street, lastly at 52 Devonshire Street, where they still remain.
In the fall of 1888 Mr. Webber was elected a member of the governing com- mittee of the Boston Stock Exchange As- sociation, being at the time the youngest man upon the committee.
Mr. Webber was married in 1882, to Mary A., daughter of William A. and Mary A. Smith Putnam, of Bedford. Of this union are three children : Carrie P., Paul B., and Marcus B. Webber.
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WEEKS.
WEIL.
Mr. Webber has done much to develop his native place. Largely to his energy are due the ample railroad accommodations enjoyed by his town. He has devoted much time and means to various benevo- lent and religious objects - the Village Improvement Society, public library, etc. He is treasurer of the Congregational church, and superintendent of the Sunday- school. He has always declined any politi- cal office, his business calling being more to his taste.
WEEKS, ANDREW GRAY, son of Ezra and Hannah (Merrill) Weeks, was born in North Yarmouth, Cumberland county, Maine, June 11, 1823.
He obtained his early education in the public schools of Portland, Maine.
In 1839 he went to Boston for employ- ment, and entered the apothecary store of Frederick Brown. He left this place in
ANDREW G. WEEKS.
1841, engaging immediately with Smith & Fowle, remaining with them ten years, when he left and formed a co-partnership with his present partner, W. B. Potter, in the wholesale drug business.
In 1847 Mr. Weeks was married in New York City to Harriet Pitt, daughter of Charles and Harriet (Pitt) Pierce. Of this union were four children : Harriet Emma (died in infancy), W. B. Potter, Andrew G.,
Jr., and Hattie P. Weeks (now Mrs. S. R. Anthony).
Mr. Weeks is a member of the Massa- chusetts Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter. He has frequently been offered various posi- tions of honor and trust, his qualifications being well known and eagerly sought by those interested in securing his active co- operation. But his time and energies he wisely dedicates to his chosen work, and it is rarely he is found absent from the daily management of his own business. He is, however, a director in the Equitable Fire & Marine Insurance Company of Provi- dence, R. I., and also of the Theological Library of Boston. He is a warden of Emmanuel church, and a member of sev- eral social clubs in the city of Boston, where he resides.
WEIL, CHARLES, the son of Jacob and Theresa (Bruell) Weil, was born in Merz- bach, Bavaria, July 5, 1845. His parents emigrated to the United States when he was twelve years of age, and up to that time he had the advantage of the foreign schools. Circumstances were such that he could reap but little benefit from the edu- cational opportunities of this country. At the age of fourteen he left the English high school at Ann Arbor, Mich., in order to commence active business in a wholesale house in New York.
At the age of seventeen he came to Bos- ton, and at nineteen, in connection with his present partner, Mr. Dreyfus, estab- lished the wholesale furnishing house, then as now known by the firm name of Weil, Dreyfus & Company. During the great fire of 1872 in the city of Boston, they were en- tirely burned out. Mr. Weil, however, was the first of the Boston merchants who re- paired to New York after the fire to re- place his stock, which fact called forth at the time a very flattering article in the " New York Herald " on the courage and energy of a firm whose loss was very large, and who were so little disheartened by such a calamity.
Mr. Weil early became identified with the best interests of his adopted country, and has ever shown a keen interest in her cher- ished institutions. He is a thorough Ameri- can, and a staunch supporter of the princi- ples of the Republican party, and though in no sense a politician, his active interest in public affairs has often been recognized and his counsel sought by public men.
'The title of "Colonel" by which he is familiarly known, was derived from his holding that rank in the military staff of Gov. Ames.
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WELLINGTON.
WEISSBEIN.
He has steadfastly refused political pre- ferment, owing to the fact that his increas- ing business requires his constant energy and care. His leisure hours he prefers to devote to his family, and to the active work incidental to many of the benevolent associations of the city, which ever find in him a ready and generous supporter.
CHARLES WEIL.
Mr. Weil was married in New York in February, 1874, to Carrie, daughter of Samuel and Helen Sykes. Two sons and three daughters gladden their pleasant home.
WEISSBEIN, LOUIS, son of M. A. and Johanna Weissbein, was born in Krotoschin, Germany, July 19, 1831.
He was educated in the grammar and Latin schools of his native city. After graduating from the latter, he studied with a government architect in Bromberg, and afterwards two years at the Royal College of Architects in Berlin.
In 1853 he arrived in Boston, where he has since resided. He was for one year employed as draughtsman by Charles K. Kirby, afterwards by the late Nathaniel J. Bradlee, and for a time was connected with Richard Bond and J. H. Rand.
In 1857 he opened an office on his own account, and from that time, to the pres- ent, he has pursued the profession of
an architect, and is to-day a representative man of the State in this branch of con- structive science. Twice he has had the op- portunity of filling the chair of city archi- tect for Boston, and on both occasions refused the proffered honor.
Standing as monuments to his skill, among the many buildings of his designing are the Dudley Street public school, the Dudley, Comfort, and Adelphi apartment hotels, the great brewing establishments of Roessle and of McCormick, Prang's Art Works and Mr. Prang's beautiful home - all at Roxbury ; the court-house, jail, opera house and the Berkshire insurance building at Pittsfield ; Hecht Brothers' wool house on Federal Street, Boston Jewish Temple on Columbus Avenue, Hon. Leopold Morse's dwelling on Commonwealth Avenue, and his business block on South Street, and the Copenhagen building on Washington Street, occupied by Oliver Ditson & Co.
Mr. Weissbein has been president of the Orpheus Musical Society for twenty years ; president of the German Aid Society twelve years ; president of the German-English school, and secretary of the German Rifle Club. He has been for some years trustee of the Home Savings Bank. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, also of the American Institute of Architects and of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, and was appointed by Presi- dent Grant one of the honorary commis- sioners to the Vienna exposition.
He has been intimately identified with all German society and philanthropic move- ments in Boston for over thirty years, and though unmarried and of a modest, retiring disposition, Mr. Weissbein is one of the social leaders among the German-American element of Boston.
WELLINGTON, AUSTIN CLARK, son of Jonas Clark and Harriet E. (Bosworth) Wellington, was born in Lexington, Middle- sex county, July 17, 1840
His school life was confined to the common and high schools of Lexington.
He began his business career in 1856 as book-keeper for the firm of S. G. Bowdlear & Co., flour merchants, Boston, continuing with them until his enlistment for the war in 1862, in the 38th regiment, Massachu- setts volunteers. He returned at the close of the rebellion as adjutant of his regiment.
He then engaged in the coal business, which he carried on till his death, which occurred at Cambridge, September 23, 1888. The company of which he was the principal is the well-known Austin C. Wel- lington Coal Company, Boston.
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WELLINGTON.
Colonel Wellington was married in Cambridge, June 30, 1869, to Caroline L. Fisher, whose death occurred ten years later. November 29, 1887, he married her sister, Sarah C. Fisher. They were the daughters of George and Hannah C. (Teele) Fisher, of Cambridge.
Colonel Wellington was made secretary of the Irving Literary Association, Cam- bridge, 1861. He was a director in the Mercantile Library Association in 1871- afterwards president. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1875 and '76, where he served on the committee on military affairs.
AUSTIN C. WELLINGTON.
He was commander of Post 30, G. A. R., Cambridge, and later of Post 113, Boston ; trustee of the Massachusetts Soldiers' Home ; captain of the Boston Light In- fantry, 1870 ; afterwards major of the 4th battalion ; colonel of the ist regiment Mas- sachusetts militia ; inspector-general G. A. R., department of Massachusetts; treasurer and general manager of the Austin C. Wellington Coal Company ; chairman of the Boston Coal Exchange ; president of the Charles River Towing Company, and vice-president of the Central Club, Boston. He was a member of the Art Club and Cecilia Society of Boston, and the Shake- speare Club of Cambridge.
WELLINGTON.
The announcement of the death of Col- onel Wellington, one of the most popular of the members of the Massachusetts militia, was universally received with the deepest and most sincere expressions of sorrow. Every member of the Ist regi- ment of Massachusetts volunteers felt he had sustained a personal loss in the sudden decease of one who had brought that famous command into such a state of pro- ficiency as to elicit the unstinted praise of every military man who had witnessed their marching, soldierly bearing, and gen- tlemanly behavior. Notably on two occa- sions, at the funeral of General Grant in New York in 1885, and at Philadelphia in 1887 at the Constitutional celebration, did Massachusetts receive great credit by the brilliant record of this same regiment under the leadership of its talented and idolized colonel.
Colonel Austin C. Wellington's military instinct was a family inheritance, dating back to his great grandfather, Captain Tim- othy Wellington, who, with his brother, Ben- jamin, was a member of Captain Parker's company at the battle of Lexington ; Ben- jamin being the first prisoner of the revo- lution, having been captured by the King's troops early on that eventful morning, but later rejoining his company.
WELLINGTON, FRED WILLIAMS, son of the late Timothy W. Wellington, of Worcester, and the great grandson of Cap- tain Timothy Wellington of Lexington and revolutionary fame, is the only representa- tive of this once large family now living in Worcester, and was born in Shirley, Mid- dlesex county, May 31, 1851.
He began his education in the public schools of Worcester, to which place his father had removed in 1855, and with the exception of two years spent in the schools of Germany and France, and one year's absence in California, his life has been spent in that city.
He began his business life at the age of seventeen years, as book-keeper in the First National Bank of Worcester, remaining from June, 1868, to October, 1869, when he entered his father's coal office. He went to California in 1871, but returned the next year to enter the firm of T. W. Wellington & Co.
He withdrew from the firm in 1874, and became associated with J. S. Rogers & Co., in the retail coal trade for one year, and in 1875 formed a partnership with J. S. Rogers and A. A. Goodell, under the same firm name, conducting a strictly wholesale trade in coal. In 1876 the firm
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WELLMAN.
was changed to A. A. Goodell & Co., J. S. Rogers retiring, and in 1878 Colonel Wel- lington withdrew from this partnership and began the wholesale and retail coal business on his own account. The following year the two firms were merged in one under the name of Fred W. Wellington & Co. Colonel Wellington is now the sole owner of the present large and growing business.
May 16, 1889, he was elected president of the Austin C. Wellington Coal Company (corporation), of Boston, and on the 24th of the following month was elected general manager. He retains his residence in Worcester, although the increasing cares of his growing interests in both cities nat- urally require a division of his time be- tween the two.
He has been an active member of the state militia continuously since March 27, 1882, when he was commissioned 2d lieu- tenant of battery B, light artillery, Ist brigade Massachusetts volunteer militia. He was promoted to be Ist lieutenant, captain, and finally to be assistant inspec- tor-general on the staff of the commander- in-chief, Governor Oliver Ames, with rank of colonel, which position he now holds. He comes naturally by his military taste. Four of his brothers were in active service on the Union side during the civil war, two of whom gave their lives to the cause.
Colonel Wellington was a member of the executive committee of the Republican state central committee 1887 and'88; chair- man of the 4th Republican senatorial dis- trict committee for the same years, and sec- retary of the 10th Republican congressional district committee from September, 1886, to September, 1888. In the Masonic order he is a member of the 32d degree Massachu- setts Consistory, Scottish Rite, and Worces- ter County Commandery, Knights Templar.
He was married September 4, 1883, to Lydia A., widow of General Arthur A. Goodell, formerly colonel of the 36th regi- ment, Massachusetts volunteers.
WELLMAN, JOSHUA WYMAN, son of James Ripley and Phebe (Wyman) Well- man, was born in Cornish, Sullivan county, N. H., November 28, 1821.
After attending the public schools in Cornish until he was fifteen years of age, he was fitted for college at the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., from which he was graduated in 1842, entering Dartmouth College that year and graduat- ing in 1846. Until 1849 he taught in the Kimball Union Academy a part of each year, and in 1847 was for two terms prin- cipal of the academy in Rochester, Mass.
WESTON.
Entering the Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1847, he was graduated in 1850, and was then a resident licentiate in that seminary one year.
He was ordained to the Christian min- istry and installed as pastor of the First church in Derry, N. H., on the 18th day of June, 1851, in which position he re- mained for five years, on June 11, 1856, becoming pastor of the Eliot church in Newton, Mass. This pastorate closed in 1873. He was installed pastor of the First church in Malden, March 25, 1874, remaining in that position till May, 1883, since which time he has not been settled over any church, but has continued preach- ing in various localities.
On October 24, 1854, in East Randolph (now Holbrook), he married Ellen M., daughter of Caleb Strong and Prudence (Durfee) Holbrook. Their children are : Arthur Holbrook, Edward Wyman, Ellen Holbrook, and Annie Durfee Wellman.
He was elected a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in 1867, and manager of the Congregational Sunday-school and publishing society in 1870 ; was trustee of Phillips Academy and Andover Theolog- ical Seminary in 1870; he is also a member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, a corporate member of the General Theological Library of Boston, and for many years has been a director of the American College and Educational Society, of which he is now vice-president. Olivet College in 1868, and Dartmouth College in 1870, bestowed upon him the degree of doctor of divinity.
WESTON, BYRON, son of Isaiah and Caroline (Curtis) Weston, was born in Dal- ton, Berkshire county, April 19, 1832.
His early life was one of frequent changes. When he was four years old he was taken by his parents to Tremont, Ill. When he was twelve years old, his father having died, he went to Madison, Wis., to live with an uncle, and attended school at Beloit. Five years afterward he returned to Dalton and a little later entered the Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, giv- ing his chief attention to mathematics, en- gineering, and book-keeping.
Shortly after graduating, he entered his uncle's paper mills on the Hudson, and to perfect himself in the art of manufacturing the finest grades of paper, he afterward entered the mills at Ballston Springs and Lee, where he soon became foreman for Platner & Smith, the largest manufacturers of fine paper in the country. In 1856 Mr.
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