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 98
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642
WETHERBEE.
WHARTON.
Weston formed a partnership with William H. Imlay, a wealthy paper manufacturer, of Hartford, Conn. ; but Mr. Imlay's death, a year later, and the panic of 1857, neces- sitated its being closed, and Mr. Weston went to Texas for a few months. He re- turned, and once more entered the mills of Platner & Smith, and when the civil war broke out, he enlisted as a private in the 49th Massachusetts. Upon its organiza- tion he was elected captain. His regiment was sent to the department of the Gulf, and Captain Weston had his full share in the good service it rendered, especially at the siege of Port Hudson. Although en- listed for nine months, the 49th regiment served for about a year, and was mustered out of service August 24, 1863.
On his return from the war he purchased the Chamberlain Mill, in his native town, and began the manufacture of the highest grades of paper. He greatly enlarged his own mill, and later purchased the Bartlett Cutting mill property, near his own, pro- ducing upon an extensive scale a grade of linen record and ledger paper which has won a world-wide reputation. These pa- pers attracted great attention at the cen- tennial exposition at Philadelphia in 1876, and also at similar exhibitions in New York, Boston, Louisville and Atlanta. At the Australian exposition in 1882 they re- ceived a gold medal.
By request of the Berkshire Historical Society, Mr. Weston read before that body in 1881 an excellent history of paper-mak- ing in this country.
In 1865 Mr. Weston was married, in Dalton, to Julia Mitchell. They have four children, and their present residence is still in Dalton, one of the loveliest towns in the beautiful Housatonic valley.
Mr. Weston is an ardent Republican, and early in life held positions of political trust and responsibility in his native town and county. In 1876 he was a member of the state Senate, and in 1879 was elected lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Governor John D. Long, to which position he was re-elected after a nomination by acclamation.
WETHERBEE, AUGUSTUS WINSLOW, son of John and L. S. B. (Brown) Wether- bee, was born in Boxborough, Middlesex county, September 1, 1839.
His early education was received in the public schools of his native town. He afterwards graduated from the Pepperell Academy in 1861.
He worked with his father on the old ancestral estate until 1865. The two years
succeeding he was in the produce and com- mission business in Boston. He then learned the business of carpenter and builder, in which he is at present engaged.
Mr. Wetherbee was married in Boxbor- ough, January 1, 1870, to Hattie, daughter of Simon P. and Clarissa Gregg Lane, of Windham, N. H., who died June 15, 1884, without issue.
Mr. Wetherbee served as a representa- tive to the General Court from the 33d Middlesex district in 1882, and was for ten years chairman of the Republican town committee.
He was chaplain of G. A. R. Post 138, Acton, and clerk and treasurer of the Con- gregational church thirteen years ; three years superintendent of the Sunday-school, and eighteen years a member of the school board, four times its superintendent. He was fifteen years secretary of the Farmers' Club.
Mr. Wetherbee was three years a soldier. He enlisted in company B, 32d regiment, Massachusetts volunteers, November 26, 1861, and was discharged November 26, 1864. He was with the army of the Potomac in the 2d brigade, Ist division, 5th army corps, from Harrison's Landing to Weldon R. R., Petersburg, Va. He served two years as commissary-sergeant of the Ist division.
WHARTON, WILLIAM FISHER, son of William Craig and Nancy W. (Spring) Wharton, was born at Jamaica Plain, Nor- folk county, June 28, 1847.
When a boy he attended Epes Sargent Dixwell's school, Boston. He entered Harvard College in 1867, and was gradu- ated in the class of 1870 with honors in Latin, Greek, and ancient history. He studied law in the office of John C. Ropes & John C. Gray for a year, then attended Harvard law school two years, and was graduated in 1873, being admitted to the Suffolk bar the same year.
He then traveled in Europe until the autumn of 1875, when he returned to Bos- ton and began the practice of the law in that city, which he continued until April 2, 1889, when he was appointed by President Harrison the assistant secretary of state of the United States.
Mr. Wharton was married in Boston, Oc- tober 31, 1877, to Fanny, daughter of Wil- liam Dudley and Caroline (Silsbee) Pick- man, who died in October, 1880. Of this union was one child : William Pickman Wharton.
Mr. Wharton was a member of the Bos- ton common council from 188o to '84, in-
643
WHEELER.
WHEELER.
clusive, and a member of the House of Representatives from 1885 to '88, inclusive, serving in 1885 as House chairman of the committee on cities, and as a member of the committee on rules of the House ; in 1886 and '87 as House chairman of the
WILLIAM F. WHARTON.
committee on railroads and of the joint committee on rules, and chairman of the committee on House rules ; and in 1888, chairman of the judiciary committee and the committee on House rules, and House chairman of the committee on joint rules.
In 1883 Mr. Wharton was appointed by the mayor of Boston one of the commis- sioners to revise the ordinances of the city.
He is the editor of the seventh edition of "Story on Partnership."
WHEELER, JOHN WILSON, of Orange, Franklin county, is a native of that town, and has always resided there, with the ex- ception of two years spent in Fitchburg.
He was born November 20, 1832, the second of nine children of Wilson and Catherine (Holmes) Wheeler, and the only facilities he had for education were found in the public schools. For a year or two after his majority he worked as a carpenter. From 1856 to '62 he was clerk in a general store in Orange, then for a year or more was in the claim agency business, and
from 1863 to '67 was engaged in mercan- tile business on his own account.
In 1867, at the age of thirty-five, Mr. Wheeler became associated with others in the manufacture of sewing machines, un- der the firm name of A. F. Johnson & Co. Two years later a corporation was formed, known as the Gold Medal Sewing Machine Company. In 1882 the corporate name was changed to The New Home Sewing Machine Company, and the concern has grown from its small beginnings till it now employs on an average five hundred and fifty men, and turns out three hundred machines a day. From the start, Mr. Wheeler has been the financial manager, and one of the controlling spirits of this enterprise, as well as an active worker in the closely associated organization, the Orange Iron Foundry Company, organized in 1871.
In January, 1881, he was elected a trus- tee of the Orange Savings Bank, and five years later was made president, which position he now holds. He has been one
JOHN W. WHEELER.
of the directors of the Orange National Bank since June, 1880, and in January, 1888, was made its vice-president. He is likewise president of the Orange Power Company, and in January, 1889, was elec- ted one of the directors of the Gossard Investment Company, at Kansas City, Mo.,
644
WHEELOCK.
WHEILDON.
a corporation with five hundred thousand dollars capital.
In politics, Mr. Wheeler, while socially very democratic, is a Republican, and though by no means a politician, has often been called by his fellow-citizens to posi- tions of responsibility and honor. From 1861 to '67 he served as town clerk, and was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Andrew in 1864. In 1866 he was one of the selectmen of the town, and in 1876 was elected a member of the lower branch of the Legislature, where he was appointed to the committee on finance. In 1888 he was one of the Massachusetts delegates to the national Republican con- vention at Chicago, which nominated President Harrison.
Mr. Wheeler is a prominent Mason. He was one of the founders of Orange Lodge, organized in 1859, was its first secretary, and afterwards its treasurer. He was also a charter member and the first treasurer of Crescent R. A. Chapter, organized in 1884.
Mr. Wheeler was married in Orange, October 9, 1856, to Almira E., daughter of Daniel and Almira (Porter) Johnson. Three children have been born to them, but only one survives : Marion L., wife of John B. Welch. Mr. Wheeler resides about a mile northeast of Orange Village, on Grand View Farm, where, while still closely attending to business, he finds rec- reation in breeding fine horses and cattle, the fine bred young stallion, " Tyringham," son of the famous " Alcantara," being at the head of his stud.
WHEELOCK, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, son of Jerry and Suky (Day) Wheelock, was born February 27, 1812, in Uxbridge, Worcester county.
His early education was received in the district schools and academy of his native town.
His first connection in business was with his father, in the manufacture of woolen yarn, in 1834, under the firm name of J. Wheelock & Son. Silas Mandeville Whee- lock being admitted into the company in 1840, the firm name became J. Wheelock & Sons, and the manufacture extended to that of plaid linseys. The father withdrew from the business in 1846. They continued and enlarged the business under the firm name of C. A. & S. M. Wheelock, the same continuing until the present time. They added also the manufacture of satinets and fancy cassinieres.
. April 20, 1834, he married Nancy Sea- grave. Their children are : Mary Antoin-
ette, Lucy Sephora, Sarah Elizabeth, Charles Edwin, and Alice Augusta Wheelock.
Mr. Wheelock served in the state Senate from the 2d Worcester district for the ses- sions of 1869 and '70. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., having been secretary of his lodge for twenty-five years. His church connections are with the First Congregational Society in Uxbridge, of which he is an officer and influential mem- ber. He has served fifteen years on the school board. He is always foremost in any work for the public good ; was active in the establishment of the Uxbridge free public library, of which he has been a trus- tee, and president of the board since its formation in 1874, being elected by a vote of the town.
WHEILDON, WILLIAM WILLDER, son of William and Elizabeth (Corey) Wheil- don, was born October 17, 1805, in Boston. His father came to America from Birming- ham, England, in the year 1800, and his mother was a native of Groton, Mass.
His early education was received in the Boston public schools. He entered the printing office of the " American States- man " as an apprentice, and as apprentice and foreman, and later as assistant in the editorial department, remained until 1827.
In 1827 he established the " Bunker Hill Aurora " at Charlestown, of which he con- tinued editor and proprietor for nearly forty-four years, until 1870. Since that time his vocation has been that of journal- ist, historian, scientist and lecturer, fre- quently contributing to the daily and Sun- day papers of Boston. In 1828 and '29 he was a student at law with Hon. William Austin, of Charlestown. He did not seek admission to the bar, although he had a number of important cases outside the courts. He was counsel for the city of Charlestown in the matter of making the Chelsea bridge free, and the care of the Warren bridge by the state commissioners; counsel also for the city and for the Fitch- burg, Boston & Maine, Eastern, and Low- ell railroad companies in the matter of the Maverick bridge, before the United States commissioners. He also represented dif- ferent parties in several important matters before the state Legislature. In 1846 he removed to Concord, where he now resides.
Mr. Wheildon was married in East Cam- bridge, in May, 1829, to Juliet Rebecca, daughter of Benjamin Gleason, A. M., author, lecturer, and teacher. Of this union were seven children : William Glea- son, Juliet Frances, Josephine Barton, Ella Gertrude (died in infancy), Caroline Victo.
645
WHIPPLE.
WHEILDON.
ria, Alice Walker, and Frederick Willder Wheildon, who died in 1874, aged twenty- two years.
Mr. Wheildon was a member of the Charlestown city council, and of the school board for many years, until his removal to Concord. He was a member of the govern- ment of the Massachusetts Charitable Me- chanic Association, a director of the Bunker Hill Monument Association since 1845, and is now vice-president, a trustee or director in two savings banks in Charlestown, in an insurance company, a horse railroad, a gas company, etc. He is also treasurer
WILLIAM W. WHEILDON.
of the Peterborough & Shirley R. R., and president of the Boston & Chelsea R. R.
He is a fellow of the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Science, a member of the American Historical Asso- ciation, American Forestry Congress, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Essex Institute, Webster Historical Soci- ety, Bostonian Society, Concord Anti- quarian Society, and Massachusetts Horti- cultural Society.
Mr. Wheildon is master of a fertile pen, and his pamphlets are numerous. Of the following works he himself set the type : " Memoir of Solomon Willard," "Contri- butions to Thought," "Sentry or Beacon Hill," and "Signal Lanterns of Paul
Revere." It was his frequent practice to compose editorials without the use of manuscript.
The trend of this author's mind is his- torico-scientific. Among his best-known works, besides those mentioned, 'are : a series of papers on the Arctic Regions, "New History of the Battle of Bunker Hill;" " Evacuation of Boston and Charles- town ; " "Curiosities of History- Boston, 1630-1880." "The New Arctic Continent, or Wrangell's Land, with government map" (1868); "Scientific Excursion across the State of Iowa" (1872); "New Chapter in the History of the Concord Fight," " The Maverick Bridge," "The American Lobster," and " Letters from Nahant."
WHIPPLE, JOHN JAY, son of Fer- dinand and Hannah (Sweet) Whipple, was born December 31, 1847, in the city of Worcester.
At the common schools he obtained his education, and in 1866 went into the busi- ness of drugs and groceries, under the name of J. J. Whipple & Co., which firm has continued in the same business to the present time without change.
In Brockton, on the 22d of June, 1869, Mr. Whipple was married to Helen Otis, daughter of Franklin Otis and Helen M. (Davis) Howard. Their children are : Mary Helen, Edith Bell and Howard F. Whipple.
Mr. Whipple is president of the Brock- ton Savings Bank, a director in the Brock- ton National Bank, and one of the four proprietors of the Brockton City Theatre. In 1878 he was elected selectman, and has served nine years on the school com- mittee. For four years he was a water commissioner, and was mayor of the city in 1886 and '87, being elected the latter year by the largest plurality and majority ever given a candidate for that office in the city of Brockton.
In 1885 he was a member of the state Legislature, and served as chairman of the House committee on water supply, and as clerk on the committee on insurance.
In 1884 and '85 he was the efficient secretary of the Republican state central committee, and held the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Robinson, in 1884, '85, and '86. He was chairman on the first board of wage arbitration that ever existed in New England.
He has served as brigadier-general on the staff of the lieutenant-general com- manding Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., and in the same order has been past grand representative, Sovereign Grand Lodge ;
646
WIIITBECK.
WHITCHER.
past grand patriarch, Grand Encampment of Massachusetts ; past chief patriarch, Newmarket Encampment, Canton New- market ; past grand of Massasoit Lodge 69 ; past grand of Beatrice Lodge D. R. 28, and a trustee of Odd Fellows' Home. He has also been a member of Paul Revere Lodge of Masons, Satucket Royal Arch
JOHN J. WHIPPLE.
Chapter, Brockton Council, Royal and Se- lect Masters, Bay State Commandery K. S., Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, Giles F. Yates Council, Princes of Jerusalem ; grand warden of Grand Lodge, N. E. O. P., vice warden of the Supreme Lodge, N. E. O. P., Brockton Division Uniform Rank, K. P., past chancellor commander Damocles Lodge 16, K. of P., past chief justice of the Order of the Iron Hall, representative from Massachusetts to the supreme sitting of the same order, and post warden of Mayflower Lodge No. 4, N. E. O. P.
Colonel Whipple holds in his local com- munity a reputation as wide as it is good, and his prominence in the larger circle of political life makes him a man well and honorably known to the people of the Com- monwealth.
WHITBECK, ORRIN C., son of Killian H. and Maria Whitbeck, was born on the second day of December, 1827, at Mt. Washington, Berkshire county. His edi-
cation was received in the public schools of his native town, where he has always resided, and besides many public and pri- vate duties, he has followed the vocation of a practical farmer and surveyor, con- ducting the "summit farm," the family homestead, which he purchased in 1850.
During his active career, Mr. Whitbeck has held all of the town offices. For twelve years he was town clerk, has been a justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and is chairman of the school committee.
He represented his district in the Legis- lature in 1882, serving on the committee on agriculture, and is at present postmaster of the town. During 1883 and '84 he was en- gaged with Prof. H. F. Walling in the United States geological survey in south- ern Berkshire.
-
ORRIN C. WHITBECK.
On the 8th of June, 1849, Mr. Whitbeck was married in Albany, N. Y., to Nancy M., daughter of Horace and Electa Kline. Their five children are: George S., Mrs. F. B. Schutt, Mrs. Ira O. Lamson, Angie B., and Arthur B. Whitbeck.
WHITCHER, BRADLEY CHILD, the son of Miranda and Rosanna (Child) Whitcher, was born in Bath, Grafton county, N. H., September 5, 1834.
His early education was received in the public schools of his native town. He was
647
WHITCOMB.
WHITCHER.
brought up on a farm. His father died when he was ten years old, leaving him the eldest of three children. At twenty-one years of age he came to Boston, where he found employment in the grain business with Tower, Davis & Co., with which house he stayed until 1861, when he went into the grocery business in company with John F. Sawtell, under the firm name of Whitcher & Sawtell. In 1862 he bought out the business, in which he remained until 1867. He then went to Littleton, N. H., open- ing a general country store in company with Charles G. White, where he re-
-
BRADLEY C. WHITCHER.
mained one year, when he bought out a grocery business in Lexington, where he has since resided. He is at present en- gaged in the grain and flour business in Lexington.
He was married in Cambridge, April 9, 1861, to Sarah J., the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Hall, of Charlestown. Their children are : Eugene B. and Florence E. Whitcher.
Mr. Whitcher was a member of the com- mon council, Cambridge, in 1865 ; select- man of Lexington from 1872 to '76, and again from 1879 to '82, and was chairman of the board for four years ; is now chair- man of the board of registrars, having held the position since 1884. He is a public-
spirited man, always prominent in matters that affect the welfare of his town.
Mr. Whitcher was early identified with the Masonic fraternity in the city of Cam- bridge, where he at one time resided, and on his removal to Lexington became a charter member of the Simon W Robinson Lodge, F. & A. M. He served as treasurer of the A. O. U. W. for some two years.
He has been treasurer of Lexington Savings Bank for six years. His church connections are with the Hancock Congre- gational church, Lexington, of which he has been an exemplary member and church officer for twenty years.
WHITCHER, JAMES EDGAR, son of Amos and Polly Whitcher, was born in Benton, Grafton county, N. H., November 29, 1847.
He received his early education in the public schools of Benton, after which he was a student at the Newbury (Vermont) Seminary, and at the New Hampton (New Hampshire) Literary Institution.
When twenty-three years of age, he en- tered the employ of A. W. Arnold, and after an experience of seven years, formed a partnership with his brother, under the name of Whitcher Brothers, in the grocery and provision business. Ten years later he sold out to his brother, and went into the same business with A. F. Willey, with whom he still remains.
Mr. Whitcher was married in Salem, on the 8th of September, 1875, to Susan R., daughter of Person C. Thompson, of Stone- ham. They have no children.
In 1887 and '88 Mr. Whitcher was a representative to the General Court, and in 1888 held the office of selectman.
In religious and social circles he has been active and prominent. Since 1869 he has been a steward or trustee of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Stoneham, and for five years superintendent of the Sunday- school, and director of the musical service. He has also been secretary of the Law and Order League, first president of the board of trade, a prominent Odd Fellow, and for two years grand worthy templar of the Grand Temple of Honor of Massachusetts -in all departments taking an active position as a progressive man.
WHITCOMB, CHARLES WILBUR, son of Benjamin D. and Mary M. (McIntire) Whitcomb, was born in Boston, July 31, 1855.
He received his early education in the public schools of Boston , entered Bowdoin College in 1872 ; joined the junior class of
648
WHITCOMB.
Dartmouth in 1874, and was graduated in the class of 1876.
He then attended law lectures at the University of Göttingen, and traveled abroad until the summer of 1878, in the autumn of which year he entered the Bos- ton law school, and was graduated in June, 1880, having been admitted to the Suffolk bar just previous to graduation.
While at Dartmouth Mr. Whitcomb re- ceived several prizes in athletic contests, and wrote the class ode at graduation, and on graduating from the Boston law school received the first prize for the essay - thirty members competing for the same.
While attending the law school, and two years subsequently, he practiced law in the office of J. H. Benton, Jr., counsel for the Old Colony Railroad, after which he opened an office of his own in Boston.
CHARLES W. WHITCOMB.
He is now in active practice, and also holds the position of fire marshal, it being a state office, judicial in character, and in- stituted for the purpose of holding inquests as to causes of fire, and the prosecution of incendiaries. He was appointed by Gov- ernor Robinson in November, 1886 -the first appointment after the establishment of the office.
Mr. Whitcomb was a member of the Boston common council in 1883 and '84
WHITE.
from ward 18, in which body he was the recognized leader on the Republican side. He declined a third nomination in 1885, and in that year was the Republican can- didate for the governor's council. In 1883, '84, and '85, he was the secretary, and a leading spirit in the Republican city com- mittee.
He was quite active in the political cam- paign of 1884, made numerous speeches in different parts of the State, and was select- ed as a committee of one to escort Hon. James G. Blaine to Boston, on the occasion of his first public reception.
Mr. Whitcomb was married in Boston, June 26, 1884, to Marie M. daughter of James and Dora (Rowell) Woodsum, by whom he has two sons : Benjamin H. and Charles Wilbur, Jr.
WHITE, EDWIN LEONARD, son of Bar- ney Leonard and Mercy (Reed) White, was born at Newton Upper Falls, Middle- sex county, July 26, 1833. He comes of good old New England stock, his paternal great grandfather, Nathan White, being a direct descendant of Peregrine White of " Mayflower " fame. His ancestors held a prominent place in their respective locali- ties of Mansfield, Newton, and Shirley. His grandfather, Leonard White, was born in 1770 and died in 1853. His grandmother, Lydia (Hodge) White, was born in 1775 and died in 1869. His father was born in 1795 and died in 1872. His mother was born in 1795 and died in 1858. His father was an earnest worker for the anti-slavery canse, and in the early temperance move- ment many recollect his good counsel and example. He was a prominent cotton man- ufacturer, and was for several years inter- ested in mills in Philadelphia, Pa., Ansonia, Conn., and at Newton, Walpole, and Hol- den in this State. He was for nearly fifty years an active Mason, and later in life was a Knight Templar many years. His maternal ancestors, who lived in Middle- borough, Grafton, N. H., and Newton Upper Falls, were remarkable for great longevity. His grandfather, Bailey Reed, died upwards of eighty years of age. His grandmother, Elizabeth (Valentine) Reed, died aged seventy-three.
Mr. White attended the common schools in Newton Upper Falls, and in Roxbury, where the family at one time resided. On their return to Newton, he attended, as a day scholar, when about twelve years of age, the famous boarding school of Mar- shall S. Rice of Newton Centre.
In the summer of 1846 he was assistant to an inspector of a line of Boston water
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