USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1881-1882 > Part 37
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The first name on our roll is that of Thomas Melvin Lamb, who died December 29, 1881, at the age of 51 years. He was a native of Worcester, a jeweller by trade, and for more than 30 years occupied the same store in Harrington Block, at the corner of Main and Front streets. Mr. Lamb was a man of sound judgment, thoroughly industrious and strictly honorable in all his dealing. He took considerable interest in the welfare of this Society of which he was a member ; a worthy tribute of respect to his memory will be contributed by one of our mem- bers, and receive a place in our Proceedings for this year.
Next on the list of deaths among the sons of Worcester, , we find the name of Delano A. Goddard. He was son of Benjamin Goddard, who came to this town from Royalston in this state, and for a time was associated with the late Ichabod Washburn in establishing and building up the wire business. Mr. Goddard was born in that part of the town known as Northville, Aug. 27, 1832. Early displaying a fondness for study he fitted him- self for college in the Worcester schools. He then spent a year at Brown University, but in 1850, entered Yale College as a sophmore and graduated with his class in 1853. He soon took up journalism as a profession, being employed in various posi- tions, on the Herald at Painesville, Ohio, the Chronicle of Bos- ton, and the Transcript of this city, when in 1859 he began his connection with the Spy which was continued for about 9 years. In 1868 Mr. Goddard became the editor-in-chief of the Boston Daily Advertiser. Here his experience and skill as a writer enabled him to maintain that paper in a position fully up to the
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high standard of Journalism to which it had previously been accorded. Mr. Goddard was a modest retiring man, but the possessor of rare intellectual gifts the cultivation of which to- gether with his unselfish devotion to his profession carved for himself a place in the front ranks among the Journalists of this country.
The sudden death of a prominent citizen in any community always awakens a deep sense of grief in the hearts of the people. But seldom have the citizens of Worcester been called to mourn a greater loss than that which they sustained on the 17th of Jan., 1882, in the death of Alexander Hamilton Bullock. He was one of Worcester's brightest jewels, and a man of genius. Although not a native of Worcester he had spent the greater part of his life here and had been identified in so many ways with the public and private institutions of our city that no man in it was better known or more respected. His scholarly attain- ments, wise judgments, power af oratory and spotless character, amply fitted him to worthily fill any ofllce within the gift of the people. The many public trusts that we reposed in him from the least to that of chief magistrate of the Commonwealth, he filled with honor to himself and carried grace and dignity to the the office. It should be a source of pride to any community to have within its circle such a man, who by his official services within his own state had acquired a national reputation so cred- itable as to make him the choice of the chief magistrate of the Nation, to fill the highest diplomatic post in Europe. But Mr. Bullock was not a seeker of public office, and with due courtesy declined the proffered honors, preferring his own quiet social home-life.
On January 18th occurred the death of Mr. Thomas Ashworth of the firm of Ashworth and Jones of Valley Falls. Mr. Ash- worth was a native of Milurow in Butterworth, Lancashire, England. In December, 1848, at the age of 26 years, having acquired the weaver's trade, he came to America and soon found employment with the Harding brothers in the town of Oxford. In 1852 he went to California, but after the experience of a year and a half there, returned to his old field of labor, working in the employ of Buffum and Thayer and the late George Hodges
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at Oxford, and for a time operating the Franklin Mill in Holden, where he was one of the first if not the first in this country to manufacture shoddy, he having imported a picker from England for the purpose. Within two years after the formation of the copartnership of Ashworth & Jones, which occurred in 1861, the mill privilege at Valley Falls was purchased and this new firm started out on a business carcer which has been crowned with remarkable success. With but an exceedingly small amount of capital to start with, only the hard earned savings from their daily toil in the weaver's room after coming to this country, these men have by their fidelity and through knowledge of the business accumulated a handsome property and an envi- able business reputation.
Mr. Philander Sears who for more than half a century had been a respected citizen of Worcester(a tiller of the soil) passed away January 19th, aged 86 years.
January 29th another of Worcester's old-time business men died at his residence in South Worcester, at the advanced age of 80 years. Joseph Boyden was born Sept., 1801, on Paka- choag Hill, in the edge of Auburn, a descendant of Lieut. John Boyden who was living on Pakachoag Hill in Worcester as early as 1742. This John's son Samuel married Sarah Curtis and had several children, among them Joseph, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Boyden when a young man learned the watch- maker's trade of the late Parley Goddard in Shrewsbury, and in 1823 began business in Worcester in company with the late Wm. D. Fenno, occupying a store at the corner of Main and Walnut streets. When the brick building took the place of the wooden one, they took a store in that, and continued in trade until 1849, when Mr. Boyden retired, having by his upright and careful attention to business accumulated a handsome property.
Mr. John P. Southgate, for more than 30 years one of our active business men, died Feb. 5th, in his 78th year. He was born in Leicester, son of Samuel and Hannah ( Waite) South- gate. In 1834 he opened a shop on the site where now stands Horticultural Hall, for the manufacture of brushes. He was afterwards engaged with Mr. James H. Wall in the boot, shoe and leather trade, occupying a store on the north corner of Main
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and Mechanic streets. Their store being burned out in 1841, Mr. Southgate started again in a store that stood where Piper's block now stands, but in 1844 a copartnership was formed with Mr. Thos. M. Rogers for carrying on the leather and shoe-find- ings trade. In 1850 they removed their business to a store on the north corner of Main and Pleasant streets, and after five years of successful business Mr. Southgate retired from the firm with a well-filled purse ; but through unfortunate speculation in real estate he found in 1858 his fortune materially reduced. He was a member of the Common Council in 1850 and 1851, and of the Board of Aldermen in 1855 and 1856. Since 1860 he had been engaged in manufacturing business in Auburn.
Mr. John Dean, a native of Clitheroe, England, died at his residence in New Worcester Feb. 7th. Mr. Dean came to this country when but a lad of twelve years, his parents first settling at Lowell Mass., afterward removing to Providence R. I. Mr. Dean came to Worcester in 1858, and in company with Samuel P. Emerson established the manufacture of Daguerrotype mats. Afterward he was associated with Mr. Eneas Morgan in the manufacture of Photographie materials and japanning.
Another link in a long family chain was broken by the death of Mr. Sewall Rice on Sunday Feb. 26th, in his 84th year. He was a descendant of Jonas Rice who was the first to begin the settlement of Worcester in 1713. Mr. Sewall Rice was a black- smith by trade and for many years resided on the same spot where his great great grandfather first built his house.
Jonathan Grout, born in Millbury Sept. 24th, 1815, died in Worcester April 4th. About 40 years ago Mr. Grout came to Worcester and began the sale of stationery. Two years later he, with the late George Brown, established the business which in 1876 he sold to Messrs Putnam & Davis, and which has been so successfully managed by them. Mr. Grout was an enterpri- sing business man and died leaving a handsome property.
On the morning of April 13th the people of Worcester were astonished by the news of the sudden death of Mr. George W. Gill, which took place at the office of the Washburn Iron Com- pany, whither he had gone to attend to his accustomed duties. The history of this man's business life is indeed remarkable and
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illustrates what can be accomplished through genuine pluck and steadfast determination. Born in the town of West Boylston, March 31, 1819, he started out upon life with scarcely any men- tal training, his father and mother both dying when he was but a lad. At the age of sixteen he came to Worcester, and after several unsuccessful attempts at finding employment, finally found an opportunity to learn the blacksmith's trade with Levi Howe whose shop was at the corner of Old Market and Union streets. Before he had completely learned the trade he left Mr. Howe and began work in the blacksmith shop of Mr. Edward B. Rice. Here he remained until 1839, when he went to work at the car shop of Messrs. Bradley & Rice on Grafton street. Af- ter mastering his trade he took contracts for furnishing the iron work required in the constructin of their cars. His energy, good judgment and thorough knowledge of his business enabled him soon to begin the accumulation of property. About the year 1857 he left the car business to form a copartnership with Na- than Washburn for the purpose of the manufacture of iron T rails and car wheels, and during the war they did considerable in the way of rolling out rifle barrels for the government. In 1864 Mr. Washburn sold his interest in the business to Mr. Gill, and the Washburn Iron Co. was formed with Mr. Gill as Presi- dent and manager. Success attended this undertaking as it had all other engagements in which Mr. Gill had put his energy and determination, backed up by sound judgment and good practical common sense. No enterprise in which he took an interest failed ; he would overcome every obstacle in the way of success ; no task seemed to overtax his physical strength, and his rare good judgment was found equal to any emergency in whatever line of business he applied himself. The manufacture of iron rails brought Mr. Gill in direct contact with different railroad corporations, and while success attended his business he invest- ed in railroad stocks until he was pecuniarily interested in the Norwich & Worcester, Worcester & Nashna, Providence & Worcester, Rutland & Burlington, Boston & Albany, Eastern, Northern, Fitchburg, Chicago & Eastern Illinois, Evansville & Terre Haute, Ind. roads In several of the roads he was a large stockholder as well as a director.
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Thus have we very briefly followed the lad of sixteen from from the poor, ragged boy up to one of the most successful and wealthy business men of Worcester. Nor was this all, he was for many years one of the most active and prominent political Democratie leaders in the state, having been a delegate to almost every National and State convention of his party for a quarter of a century.
Hon. John C. Whitin, born March 1, 1807, died at Whitins- ville, April 22. He was the 5th son of Col. Paul Whitin, a blacksmith, who settled in Northbridge in 1782, and as early as 1809 established what was known as the Northbridge Manufac- turing Company and put in operation a mill for the manufacture of cloth. Here young Whitin was put to work when but nine years of age. At twelve years of age he was placed in the ma- chine shop where repairs were made. In 1825 a copartnership was formed under the style of Paul Whitin & Sons, and a new mill was soon erected on the site of the old mill, owned by Col. Whitin and his father-in-law Col. Fletcher. Mr. John C. Whi- tin was made general superintendent of machinery and repairs. In this occupation he developed a talent for invention, and in 1832 took out a patent for a picking machine. This machine attracted the attention of manufacturers throughout the country, and in 1834 the first one was sold. From that time on there has been a steady, growing demand for Mr. Whitin's pickers and lappers. The manufacturing capacity has increased from time to time until more than five acres of floor room is occupied for making and setting up machines, and 700 men are employed in their construction. Mr. Whitin was a man of rare talents and he used them with good results, for no man has done more than he to build up the manufacturing and mechanical interests along the line of the Blackstone river where the name has become famous, its fame spreading far beyond the valley of the Black- . stone. Mr. Whitin was thought to be a successful man and enjoyed the entire confidence of his fellow townsmen, having been called to fill many places of public trust. At the time of his death he was a Director of the National Bank at Whitins- ville, and President of the Savings bank there ; a Director of the Providence and Worcester railroad, and had been representative to the General Court, and a Presidential Elector in 1876.
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On the 11th day of May Mr. Elisha N. Child died at his home on West street. He was a native of the state of Maine, but went to Boston when a young man and learned the trade of a currier. For a short time he was located in Millbury. About 30 years ago he established himself in Worcester in the manufacture of boots and shoes. He soon gained a reputation for fair and honorable dealing, which reputation he retained until his death. He was a quiet, unassuming man, but one who did much to give character and stability to the busines interests of Worcester.
Mr. Harrison Bliss, another of our active and successful business men, died at his residence, corner of Main and State streets, July 7th. He was born in Royalston in this County Oct. 9, 1812. At the age of eighteen he came to Worcester and spent the first year in the employ of Dr. Oliver Fiske, who then lived on the same spot which Mr. Bliss has made his home- stead for nearly 20 years. He was afterwards clerk in the Post- office for two years under James Wilson as Postmaster, when the Post-office was in a wooden building which stood on the site of the present Union block. He also served as clerk two years under Jubal Harrington as Postmaster while the office was in the old Exchange building. He then, in 1835, started the gro- cery and flour trade with Allen Harris in Salisbury's Block at Lincoln square. After a few years Mr. Harris retired and was succeeded by Joseph E. Gregory who had been employed as clerk and to whom Mr. Bliss sold out his interest in 1850 and with T. & J. Sutton opened a store on Mechanic street for the sale of flour and grain : the style of the firm was Bliss, Sutton and Company. In 1857 he sold his interest to Messrs. Sutton and turned his attention to the banking and real estate business. Mr. Bliss was at one time associated in the flour and grain trade with Hon. II. A. Blood of Fitchburg. He was a large stock- holder in the New Bedford & Taunton Branch Railroad, and the Boston Clinton & Fitchburg Railroad, having been President of the former and Vice President of the latter road. Mr. Bliss was one of the most active movers in organizing the Mechanics' Bank in 1848, filling the office of President from 1860 until his death. The establishment of the Mechanics' Savings Bank in
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1851 was due largely to his efforts, he being its President since 1864. He was a heavy stockholder in the Bay State House and Music Hall Corporations, and President of the latter. He was a representative to the General Court in 1853, member of the Board of Aldermen for 1861, 1863, 1864, 1865, and 1874. Mr. Bliss has been one of Worcester's most successful business men and one of her largest real estate owners.
June 24th Charles Heywood died at his residence in Gardner Mass., where he was born Nov. 12, 1831. His father, Levi Heywood, was the originator and senior proprietor of the well known firm, Heywood Bro's & Co. of Gardner, extensive chair manufacturers. The late Mr. Charles Heywood was a member of this firm and an energetic, public spirited business man. For ten years he was a Director of the Boston Barre & Gardner Railroad, afterwards its Vice President, and at the time of his death was President of that road, in the prosperity of which he took great interest. He was President of the First National Bank of Gardner for nine years, and President of the Gardner Savings Bank at the time of his decease. He was also founder of the paper known as The Gardner News.
The death of Lieut. Col. Arthur A. Goodell occurred in this city on Friday June 30th. He was born June 30th, 1839, just reaching his 43d birth day. At the breaking out of the late war he was acting teller in the City Bank and at once decided to take his place in the ranks to do service for his country, the bank offi- cials voting to keep his place open for him and pay his salary. Hle joined the City Guards, was commissioned Sergeant Major and returned home in August, 1861, after three months, holding the office of Adjutant. In August, 1862, he received a Captain's commission in Company C, 36th Regiment, was made a Major in Jan. 1863, and Lient. Col. in July following. He was dis- charged by reason of disability with the rank of brevet Brigadier General, May 5, 1864, having been severely wounded at Blue Springs, Tenn., Oct. 10, 1862, by a piece of shell, which com- pletely disqualified him for active work on the field. After his return home he was Cashier of the First National Bank, and associated in business with Mr. A. II. Hammond in the manu- facture of organ reeds, and later with J. S. Rogers and F. W. Wellington, in the coal trade.
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Hon. Hartley Williams, Chief Justice of the Central District Court, died at his residence on Harvard street in this city Ang. 17th. Judge Williams was stricken with paralysis on the eve- ning of March 30th, while presiding in Horticultural Hall at a meeting of the natives of the State of Maine, he being a native of the town of Somerset in that state. The first attack was so severe that little hope of recovery was at first entertained by his friends, but with the coming of more favorable symptoms it was thought by some that he might partially recover, but a sud- den cold produced congestion of the lungs resulting in death.
He was born Aug. 12, 1820, and in 1844 came to Worcester and entered the employ of Howe & Goddard as book-keeper. He remained about two years when, in company with Asa W. Nickerson he engaged for a short time in the grocery business. Afterwards entering the law office of Hon. Francis H. Dewey, he was admitted to the bar in 1850, and soon entered into copartnership with Mr. Dewey, which copartnership continued until Mr. Dewey's appointment as Justice of the Superior Court. In 1868, at the creation of the Municipal Court, Mr. Williams was appointed its Justice ; and when the Central District Court was established in place of the Municipal Court he was also ap- pointed Justice for that tribunal.
In the death of Mr. Williams the citizens of Worcester have sustained a great loss, for he was one of the most useful and respected of her people, an able lawyer and an upright Judge. Previous to his appointment as Justice he was chosen Alderman in 1854 ; Commissioner of Insolvency in 1856 ; state Senator in 1862 and 1863 ; member of the Executive Council in 1864 and 1865 ; District-Attorney in 1866 and 1867, and for several years a member of the School Board. In all these departments of usefulness he leaves an enviable record for faithfulness and valuable service.
A few days less than a month from the date of the death of Charles Heywood of Gardner, we have to record the demise of his father, Levi Heywood, which occurred on the 21st day of July, in that town, of which he was a native, born Dec. 10, 1800. He was son of Benjamin and grandson of Seth who was son of Phineas of Shrewsbury, who went there from Concord about the
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year 1739. This Phineas was grandson of John Heywood who emigrated from England and settled at Concord in this State about 1650. Daniel Heywood, prominent among the carly set- tlers of Worcester, was a brother of Phineas of Shrewsbury, and the Hon. Benjamin Heywood who was so prominent in the affairs of Worcester and who served his country so well during the war of the Revolution, was a brother of Seth Heywood of Gardner.
Saturday evening Oct. 7th closed the career of one who for more than sixty years has been numbered among the business men of Worcester. Southworth Allen Howland was born in West Brookfield in this county, Sept. 11, 1800, son of South- worth Howland who died in Worcester in 1853. Southworth A. Howland learned the book-binder's trade of Joseph Avery in Plymouth, and in the fall of 1821 came to Worcester and opened a book store and hindery in company with the late Enos Dorr, under the firm name of Dorr & Howland, in what is now the north end of the Exchange Hotel building. In 1828 they re- moved to a store in what was known as "Goddard's Row," where Mr. Lewis Barnard's block of stores now stands. For about twenty years this firm carried on an extensive business as book- sellers and publishers, making a specialty of school books. Among their publications may be found the celebrated School Readers of Dr. A. T. Lowe of Boston, Pond's Murray's Gram- mar, Infant School Manual, Barber's Historical Collections of Massachusetts, and Historical Collections of New England, besides numerous Sunday School and other publications, several of which were compiled by Mr. Howland. For about ten years succeeding the year 1842 Mr. Howland continued the business for himself, publishing a number of books, among which was the Economical Housekeeper, compiled by his wife. After 1852 he was engaged in the Insurance business, which he continued until a few years ago when on account of failing health he was obliged to yield to the infirmities of old age. Mr. Howland was always alive to public interests, being an active member of the Mechanics' Association from its organization, and for several years its clerk.
William E. Frost, a native of Worcester, born in 1824, died at Clinton, Oct. 12th. For many years he was a resident of
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Worcester and connected with her manufacturing interests, His inventive skill and extensive experience in manufacturing brought him in 1860 into connection with the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Co., and the manufacture of crinoline wire was then started under the direction of Mr. Frost, and to his inven- tions the whole proces of preparing crinoline wire with the vari- ous improvements therein owe their origin. In 1873 he, in company with Mr. S. T. Howard, also of Worcester, purchased the old Lancaster Quilt Mill property in Clinton, and began the manufacture of cotton yarns, in which business they continued until his death.
Mr. Sewall H. Bowker died at his residence, No. 3 Harvard Place, Oct. 17th. He was born at Hayden Row, Hopkinton, Mass., son of James A. Bowker of that place. When a young man he learned the trade of making straw hats and bonnets at Upton. In 1856 he came to Worcester and started the manu- facture of straw goods in Flagg's Block. In this he was quite successful, and to add still further to his success he, about the year 1860, invented a process of striking out felt hats with a single blow on a die. At one time Mr. Bowker occupied the entire upper floor of Flagg's block besides a large building in the rear. His rapidly increasing business compelled him to run his works day and night. But failing health caused him to re- linquish a profitable business well established, and for the past fifteen years he has been carrying on a conflict with the disease that has finally caused his death.
ELLERY B. CRANE, Chairman.
REPORT ON ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS, PUBLICATIONS AND ENGRAVINGS.
T HE chance for obtaining contributions to this department is so rare that it becomes necessary, and perhaps profitable, to notice some things not in our possession, in order that we may obtain a better knowledge of what was formerly done in the line of literature and art. The improvements of to-day are before
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us, visible and tangible ; but in our hurry to find something new and startling we often overlook what is most substantial, or fail to receive benefit in comparing what we call new with what was well known centuries ago.
One of the earliest prints now in existence is that of a Calen- dar, a copy of which is to be found in the British Museum, bearing the date of 1465. The early production of this work indicates that the division of time into stated periods was of sufficient importance to warrant a more liberal promulgation of the methods then in use. From the earliest period of civiliza- tion the distribution and arrangement of time has been a "vexed question ;" and when we take into account the uniform revolu- tions of the celestial bodies, it seems strange that so many mis- takes should have been made, or so much controversy arisen in regard to measuring and dividing time. It is true that the division of the day into twenty-four equal parts, or hours, has been recognized since the earliest ages, but the proper time to commence the day has always been in dispute. The solar day and the solar year were no less marked 2000 years ago than they are at the present time, but many nations reckoned time by the motions of the moon alone ; whereas the solar day, the solar year, and the lunar month were and are the only natural divis- ions of time. But when shall we begin to count? Nearly all civilized nations now place the commencement of the civil day at midnight and divide it into twelve morning hours and twelve evening hours. The ancient Chaldeans and the modern Greeks commenced at sunrise ; the Italians and Bohemians at sunset. Under this arrangement the morning hour or beginning varies with the seasons, except under the equator. In early times Rome had three divisions, sunrise, sunset, and mid-day.
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