USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > Reflections on Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts, U.S.A > Part 47
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Winfield Scott Stockwell, son of Emmons and Elvira (Wood) Stockwell, was born Nov. 5, 1845. He resided at DesMoines, Iowa, for a few years, but was a resi- dent of Athol for the last 54 years of his life, where he was employed in machine shops. For many years he sang in the Unitarian Church choir and quartet. He married, 1st, Ellen A. Jones, daughter of Silas Jones, Jr., of Royalston; they had 2 daughters: Mary, who married Charles Ingalls, and Gertrude M., who married C. Eugene Tandy. Winfield S. Stockwell's 1st wife died in 1915; he married, 2nd, Estelle Nettie Mack, in 1924, who survived him; he died April 20, 1926.
Elvira Stockwell, daughter of Judah and Sally (Cutler) Stockwell, was born Nov. 17, 1807. She married Alfred W. Boynton, in 1836; they had a daughter, Edna Elvira Boynton, who married John Randall Hale, in 1868.
Simeon Stockwell married Sarah Nichols, in 1788; they had 5 children.
Reuben Stockwell, son of Simeon and Sarah (Nichols) Stockwell, was born in 1789. He married Betsey Chase, in 1817; they had 2 children.
George Stockwell, son of Reuben and Betsey (Chase) Stockwell, was born in 1818. He married, 1st, Sabra Bosworth, in 1843, and they had 8 children; he mar- ried, 2nd, Mary Prouty, and they had 7 children.
George Henry Stockwell, son of George and Sabra (Bosworth) Stockwell, was born in 1845. He married Abigail E. Bouche, in 1868; they resided at Westmin- ster; he died at the Heywood Memorial Hospital, in Gardner, July 26, 1924; he was survived by his wife, 6 sons, 2 daughters, and 10 grandchildren.
Joseph F. Stockwell, son of George and Sabra (Bosworth) Stockwell, was born in 1849. He lived on a farm in the easterly part of Royalston; he served as Treas- urer of Royalston Grange for several years. He married Ellen M. Lewis, in 1874; he died March 25, 1913; they had 2 children:
1. Myron E. Stockwell, born Nov. 4, 1880. He remained on the home farm. He has served as Assessor 8 years or more; as Superintendent of Highways, Forest Warden, and in other town offices for many years, and has been Secretary of Roy- alston Grange. He married Iva Belle Bryant, April 21, 1909; she has served as Tax Collector and Pound Keeper. They have had 3 children: Mahlon Joseph Stock- well, born March 12, 1916; Marilyn Ellen Stockwell, born Nov. 30, 1918; and Merle Bryant Stockwell, born Aug. 21, 1920.
2. Cora Elsie Stockwell. She became a successful teacher and an expert mu- sician. She married George Nelson Derby, of Peterborough, N. H., a partner in the Goodnow-Pearson-Derby chain of stores, Sept. 20, 1925.
Isaac Stockwell, son of Simeon and Sarah (Nichols) Stockwell, was born in 1790. He married Melinda Turner, in 1816; they had 4 children: Elmond Stockwell, twin, born in 1817, remained on the home farm; Edmond Stockwell, twin, born in 1817, engaged in the manufacture of brush woods at South Royalston; he married Laura J. Townsend, in 1845; Anan Stockwell married Lydia Ann Hale, daughter of Silas Hale, and they resided for many years on the old Hale farm; Cordelia married Emory Bemis, in 1840.
Freeman Stockwell, son of Simeon and Sarah (Nichols) Stockwell, was born in 1800. He married Lydia B. Day, in 1827. They had 2 sons: Edwin Stockwell, born in 1828, farmer and carpenter, married Martha E. Flint, in 1853, and they had 3 children; Caleb N. Stockwell, born in 1830, farmer; he married Mary Battles, in 1855; he died in 1907; they had 2 daughters: Eleanor M. Stockwell, who married Alfred W. Neale; she died in 1903; Lena Stockwell, who married Henry Beady.
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THE WILCOX FAMILY.
Calvin H. Wilcox has been active in the affairs of Royalston for many years. He has served as Highway Surveyor, Tree Warden, Janitor of the Town Hall, and in other positions, for long terms, and has been prominent in the Grange. His home has been at the place first occupied by William Brown, and afterwards by the Proutys, and by George Chase, on the road from the Center toward Winchen- don. He married Mary Linda Sprague, March 18, 1887. She was born in Richmond, N. H., but her mother died in her childhood, and she was cared for like one of their own children by relatives, Mr. and Mrs. George Woodbury, of Royalston. She taught school for several years before her marriage. A willing and active worker, she cheerfully participated in all of the social affairs of the community. She was president of the Ladies Benevolent Society for 11 years, and prominent in Grange and Church work. She died quite suddenly, Nov. 3, 1926. They had 4 sons:
1. Clifford H. Wilcox, born May 6, 1888. After completing a course at the Orange High School, he became clerk and assistant postmaster at the store of Sumner C. French, on the Common, where he has remained for many years. He has been one of the most prominent and active members of Royalston Grange, and has filled most of the offices in that organization. In 1918 he was elected Town Clerk, and has been re-elected to that position at each consecutive election down to the time of this printing. He has served as Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, and in other helpful positions. He married Hazel Lillis French, Sept. 25, 1909; they have a daughter, Lillis Estella Wilcox, born June 3, 1912.
2. Clayton Sprague Wilcox. For many years he has been engaged in the transportation of mails, cxpress matter and passengers between the Center and South Royalston, tronsportation of school children, and other similar service. He married Edith Elizabeth Bicknell, Dec. 16, 1912. They have had 3 sons: Kenneth Clayton Wilcox, born April 19, 1914; Merton Sprague Wilcox, born March 31, 1916; Calvin Bicknell Wilcox, born Jan. 22, 1918.
3. Calvin Ray Wilcox, married Hilda Victoria Dill, Oct. 1, 1920.
4. Carlton K. Wilcox, married Olga Kelsey Lawrence, Oct. 21, 1918; they have a son, Carlton K. Wilcox, Jr., born Sept. 4, 1920.
THE STIMSON FAMILY.
Charles A. Stimson was born in Warwick, May 17, 1856. He removed to Roy- alston in 1882, and in partnership with George D. Bolton bought the sawmill on the Lawrence, above Doane's Falls; his father bought Bolton's interest about 1896, and they continued the business until 1906, when they sold to E. E. Dickinson. In addition to his sawmill business, covering many years, Mr. Stimson has been em- ployed at painting, carpentering and farm work. He has rendered a full share of public service, as he was an Overseer of the Poor for some 18 or 20 years, and Sec- retary of the board for the most of that time; Chairman of the Republican Town Committee; on the Sesqui-Centennial Celebration Committee on music, and for the evening entertainment; and he and Mrs. Stimson served on the Reception Commit- tee. He has been very prominent in the Patrons of Husbandry, having served not only as Master for 7 years and in other offices in Royalston Grange, but also as Master, Lecturer, Assistant Steward and Treasurer of the Franklin-Worcester District Pomona Grange, and as District Deputy of the Massachusetts State Grange for many years. He is a member of Star Lodge of Masons, at Athol.
He married Sarah Madella Deane, Nov. 14, 1885. They had 4 children: Berle D. Stimson, born in 1887; Gladys L. Stimson, born in 1888, married W. E. Jackson of Athol in 1906, died in 1909; Glen H. Stimson, born in 1901; Lawrence D. Stim- son, born in 1906.
THE STEWARTS.
Luther E. Stewart was born in 1842. His home was in the west part of Roy- alston, and he became a thrifty farmer. He was an active member of the West Royalston Baptist Church, and the first Chaplain, and afterwards Master, of Roy- alston Grange. He served the town as School Committee, and on the Board of
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Health, for several years, and in other positions. He married Susie Steele Shep- ardson, in 1878; he died in 1914. They had 3 children.
Eri Shepardson Stewart, son of Luther E. and Susie Steele (Shepardson) Stewart, was born in 1887. He graduated from the Athol High School in 1905, and was at the Massachusetts Agricultural College for a year. He has since remained at the home farm. Prominent in the Grange, he has served as Master and in other positions. He has served the town as Assessor 6 years, on the School Committee 6 years, on the Board of Health 12 years; and in the printed lists of town officers his name appears under 8 or more designations of offices aud com- mittees, in some of the years. He married Bernice Hager; they have several children.
POPULATION OF ROYALSTON.
In his historical address at the Centennial Celebration, in 1865, Mr. Bullock stated that the active settlement of the town began in 1762, when 6 families moved . in, and that "almost soon after the French war had closed as many as 75 heads of families had become established here." Rev. Joseph Lee, in his semi-centennial sermon, 1818, stated that when he came to Royalston, in 1768, there were 42 or 43 families residing in the town. The following figures, based mainly on census reports, show the gains and losses in population for about 160 years:
1776, 617
1840, 1667
1875, 1260
1905, 903
1790, 1130
1850, 1546
1880, 1192
1910, 792
1800, 1243
1855, 1469
1885, 1053
1915, 866
1810, 1415
1860, 1486
1890, 1030
1920, 819
1820, 1424
1865, 1441
1895, 890
1925, 822
1830, 1493
1870, 1354
1900, 958
While 1667, in 1840, was the highest figure ever attained in a year in which a census was taken, it is not impossible that it might have been higher in some of the years preceding or following, between 1830 and 1840, or between 1840 and 1850. The gradual increase in population was due to some extent to the influx of new settlers with their families; but it was also due to the rapid development of the earlier and later families, many of which had 8, 10, 12, and even 14 and 16 children. It is probable that most of the various manufacturing concerns at South Royalston, the Center, on the Lawrence, the Tully, and other streams, were about at their best and employing quite as much help in the vicinity of 1840 as at any other time.
The radical drop to 890 in the census of 1895 was due to the destruction of the woolen mill in 1892 and the consequent removal of employes. The mill was rebuilt and put in operation, resulting in a modest gain in the population, but in 1910 there was another drop to 792, due probably to a "shut down" of the mill.
In the earlier times, not only were large families of children numerous, but very many of the children married and settled in the home town, to raise up other families of children. But gradually the size of families has been reduced, and more and more the children have gone out of town, to try their fortunes elsewhere.
When the Vermont & Massachusetts railroad was built, before 1847, Irish immi- grants were employed, many of whom remained in South Royalston and raised up families of children. The mill has called in many workers of other than American names; to the extent that in the lists of proficient school pupils and those taking part in public exercises, one-half perhaps may have the foreign names, of several nationalities, with a preponderance of the Finnish. These people are good workers and their children will become good American citizens. The parents are thrifty, and probably many of them live on small farms outside the village, where, with the help of their women in caring for the live stock and poultry, and in the garden and field, they are able to produce much of their living, and still keep up regular work in the mill. And it is probable that some of this class reside in adjoining towns, as the automobile has made that possible, and so do not count, with the resi- dent workers and their families, as a part of Royalston's population.
Accepting Mr. Caswell's statements, when the population of Royalston was 1130 it was more than double that of Gardner, more than that of either Ashburn- ham, Athol, Templeton or Winchendon, within 21 of that of Fitchburg, within 60 of that of Leominster, and more than one-half that of Worcester.
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COL. JAMES B. SMITH.
When I began these Reflections I had it in mind to introduce something of the war record of Royalston; but the chapter by Mr. Cross, in Caswell's History of Royalston, entitled "Royalston's Soldier Record," is so well planned, so complete and accurate, that it would be folly for me to attempt anything in that line. The reader of these Reflections is referred to the chapter by Mr. Cross.
I am inclined, however, to say something about Col. James B. Smith. My especial interest in him is due to the fact that he was a boarder at "our house" at the time when he started on his military career.
James B. Smith was born in North Orange, in 1838, and graduated from Mid- dlebury College in 1861. In the fall of that year he was engaged as teacher of the Royalston High School. Accumulating interest in the preparations for war against the Rebellion led him to resign his position and enlist in the military company then being organized by Varanus P. Parkhurst, of Templeton. He entered ener- getically into the work of filling up the company, and was credited with having placed about 25 men. His appeal was different from that of some of the prominent citizens, able-bodied men, who might have made good soldiers and officers, if they would have enlisted; for they said, "Go, boys !" while he said, "Come, boys!" He asked them to do only what he had done. The company became Company I of the 25th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, with Parkhurst as Captain and Smith as 1st Lieutenant. The regiment left for the seat of war Oct. 31, 1861. Lieut. Smith was presented with a sword, belt and sash by citizens of Royalston. He participated with his company in the Roanoke Island and Newbern campaigns. July 19, 1862, he resigned as Lieutenant in the 25th Regiment, and on August 22, 1862, he was commissioned Captain of Company K of the 36th Massachusetts Regi- ment. Oct. 12, 1864, he was promoted to Major; and Nov. 13, 1864, to Lieutenant- Colonel. From June 3, 1864, the day of the battle of Cold Harbor, until July 28, following, when the siege of Petersburg was well under way, he commanded the 36th Regiment; and on April 2, 1865, he was breveted Colonel of United States Volunteers, for gallant and meritorious service at the siege of Petersburg. At Bethesda Church, near Cold Harbor, his horse was shot under him, and he was slightly wounded, and taken prisoner, but was released, it is stated, through the connivance of the Confederate General Mabone, for whom he had done a favor, and returned to his command before sunrise the next morning. He was wounded again at Poplar Grove Church, when he lost a finger. He was discharged at the expiration of service, June 18, 1865, as Major. The sword and belt he lost at Cold Harbor, but retained the sash and treasured it as long as he lived. He resided in Chicago for many years, where his business was the prosecution of railroad claims. In 1917, he attended the Grand Army of the Republic Encampment, at Boston, and visited Royalston, with his daughter. He died in Chicago, March 14, 1921.
THOSE WHO REMAINED.
In Caswell's History of Royalston, Chapter XXX carries the heading, "Roy- alston's Hall of Fame," and this note: "In these pages we give a list of some of the native-born of Royalston who have attained prominence in the State and Na- tion." This is followed by a list, with memoranda concerning them, of 65 persons who passed the early part of their lives in Royalston and later became "famous." It appears that of these 65 "famous" people, 59 won their fame after they perma- nently removed from Royalston, leaving but 6 on the list who achieved fame while living in their own home town, as follows: Hon. Rufus Bullock, Hon. George Whitney, Maj .- Gen. Franklin Gregory, Dr. Stephen Bacheller, Jr., Joseph Ray- mond, Esq., and Hon. Fred Wilder Cross.
While it is well to laud the exploits of those who have gone from their child- hood's home and achieved prominence elsewhere, the work of those who remained should be remembered. It is probable that in some cases, perhaps in many, the toil and sacrifices of those who have remained have made it possible for the dis- tinguished ones to prepare themselves for their eminent careers. Sometimes a member of a family has remained at home, and perhaps abandoned some cherished plan for his or her own development and advancement, so that another member
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might have the opportunity and means to prepare for an illustrious position in life. Those who have remained have labored and produced; they have paid taxes to provide the constantly increasing improvements required by the development and progress of civilized social life; they have kept up the institutions founded by the early settlers, and sustained the reputation of the town as a peaceable, wholesome and law-abiding community; and they have responded in full measure, and more, to calls for the defense of the state and nation. And while those who went away have sent numerous and valuable presents to their home town, it has been left for those who have remained to outdo them all; the three most valuable gifts to the Royalston community have been made by those whose homes were in the town for the whole of their lives. Although two of these great benefactors were not given places in the typographical hall of fame, their gifts were of a character that will perpetuate their names.
HON. WILLIAM H. VOSE.
William H. Vose was a man whose life undoubtedly had an influence in Royals- ton during the time he resided there. He was born in Leominster, Nov. 5, 1808, and was brought up on a farm. At the age of 14 he began work in a woolen mill, and later was employed in the mill of the Fitchburg Woolen Company. When 21 years of age he became an overseer in the woolen mill of Rufus Bullock at South Royalston, and remained there about 17 years. He was a quiet, conservative man, and it does not appear that he held any public office while he resided in Royalston. It is recorded that he was chosen Secretary and Treasurer of the Riverside Ceme- tery Association at its organization in 1842; and he was undoutedly actively inter- ested in everything that concerned the public welfare. In 1846 he removed to Winchendon, where he was in partnership with George S. Coffin in woolen manu- facturing for about two years.
Returning to Fitchburg in 1848, he bought an interest in the Fitchburg Woolen Company, and soon became manager of the business, a position which he retained for the remainder of his life. He served as Selectman of the town and Alderman of the city of Fitchburg, and was Mayor of the city in 1879, declining an unani- mous renomination for further election to that position. He served as Representa- tive to the Massachusetts Legislature in 1863 and 1864. These and various other positions of trust and responsibility he filled with painstaking ability and unswerv- ing integrity, leaving an honorable record. He died Oct. 27, 1884.
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES.
On page 79 allusion was made to the development of methods of transporta- tion, from horse-back and the ox-cart, down through horse-drawn vehicles, to the automobile; and the question was asked, "How will people come to the Royalston Bi-Centennial in 1965 ?" An answer to the question might have been the prophecy that many would come on airships, aeroplanes, or airplanes.
Some of us recollect the poem about "Darius Green and His Flying Machine," which was frequently read or recited in school in our younger days. Darius' ma- chine was a failure, partly through lack of suitable power to keep its wings a-flap- ping. This need has been met by the application of the gasoline motor, and the airplane has become an actuality. In its development successful flights were made in 1903 and 1908. During the World War national governments began to experi- ment with airplanes as instruments of warfare and destruction; and it has been predicted that the next great war will be fought in and from the air. Airplanes were not in very common use at the time of the Royalston Sesqui-Centennial, in 1915; but following the ending of the World War, in 1918, they became quite con- spicuous in their gyrations over cities and towns. Development has advanced rap- idly; mails have been transported by airplane, under United States government auspices; and now, beginning Sept. 1, 1927, a great national express company has instituted a country-wide system of air express, transporting mails, express matter and human passengers. Aviators are crossing the Atlantic in their "planes," some- times accompanied by distinguished people, regardless of the great hazard.
It is not improbable that before 1965 the airplane will have become as common and popular as a means of transportation as the automobile was in 1915.
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THE MARCH OF PROGRESS.
Since the note relating to aviation was printed on page 324, some of the stunts there forecast have been accomplished. And the inevitable has come to pass. One of the earlier express planes was dumped, its pilot and its cargo incin- erated. Not all of those who have essayed to fly across the ocean have succeeded in their attempts; some have gone to their long rest in the "briny deep," while others have been rescued, and live to capitalize their experiences through the newspapers and magazines and the "movies." The human animal is neither a bird, a fish, nor an amphibian; it is not probable that he will soon evolve wings, fins, or crocodile scales; but he may in time, by his mechanical ingenuity contrive the means of performing as those creatures perform. And while some of the daring air-men have gone up as high from the earth as it is expedient for them to go, with reasonable regard for atmospheric conditions, who knows but that in time some gas or something else may be invented or discovered, by the use of which the daring adventurer may bore his way through space to some distant planet, or at least to the "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," of which we now hear so much in funereal song, and know so little. And why should not Royalston follow the ex- ample of Athol, Gardner, and others of its neighbors, and provide an "air-port?"
It might be interesting if we could mention many of the wonderful discoveries, inventions and improvements in matters pertaining to human progress and welfare that have developed since Royalston's Centennial; not especially to describe them, -for future readers will have learned much more about these things, by contact with them and actual use of them than we now know,-but to make some sort of a record of their genesis and the approximate time of their unfoldment.
The telegraph and the telephone have been many years in developing up to the efficiency which they have now acquired; but they have become so common and omnipresent that we have ceased to wonder at their accomplishments.
The telegraph is an apparatus by means of which communication at a distance is made over wires, by electric transmission; the message at the receiving end of the line is now usually recorded by dots and dashes on a strip of paper, the charac- ters being translated into the vernaular by the operator; this system was the in- vention of Samuel F. B. Morse, and it is recorded that it was "first used publicly in 1844." There are also a printing telegraph and a writing telegraph, which deliver messages all ready to be read by anyone, without the delay incident to translation by the operator.
The telephone is an instrument by which sounds or articulate speech are repro- duced at a distance, the voice or sound causing vibrations in a thin diaphragm, which are transmitted along a wire to a similar diaphragm, there reproducing the sound. It is told that the first telephone capable of practical use was patented by Alexander Graham Bell, in 1876,-11 years after the Royalston Centennial.
Wireless telegraphy is a method by which messages are transmitted through space by electric waves, without the use of connecting wires. The first commer- cially successful system of wireless telegraphy was probably that of Guglielmo Marconi, patented in 1897. In illustration of the work of the wireless, we note in a news item that Marconi, who arrived in New York, Oct. 7, 1927, sent messages direct to Rome that day at the rate of 250 words a minute by his "beam" system of transmission, and received replies. What will have been its accomplishments by 1965, when the reader may glimpse this?
The radio, radiophone, or photophone, is a form of telephone, invented by Bell, based on the effect which light has on the electric resistance of selenium, involving the production of sound by the action of radiant energy. A strong beam of light is reflected from the diaphragm of the transmitter on a solenium cell joined with the receiver; the diaphragm communicates its vibrations to the beam, which in turn produces variations in the resistance of the selenium cell, and thus the origi- nal sounds are reproduced in the receiver.
The radio, or radiophone, is practically a wireless telephone, by means of which sounds are conveyed long distances and over great extent of territory through vibrations transmitted into and through the air, rather than by electric current over wires, and reproduced with great strength and clarity. Provided with the proper apparatus, one may, in the quiet and seclusion of his domicile, "tune in"
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