USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Royalston > The history of the town of Royalston, Massachusetts > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
1915 Charles H. Brown, Luke B. Shepardson, Alfred W. Neal.
Charles H. Brown, chairman of the Board of Selectmen, was born in Royalston Feb. 3, 1865, son of Benjamin H. and Nancy L. (Wood) Brown. His education was obtained in the public schools of Royalston, all at the old North East District school, with the exception of two terms at the Center school. After nine years of age he attended school only a part of the fall and winter terms, the remainder of his time until seventeen years of age being spent in doing farm work. He then left home and went to Boston where he was employed in driving a whole- sale bakery team, getting up at three o'clock each morning for three years, when he went to Worcester and was employed as clerk in one of the largest grocery stores in the city for seven years, after which he went into business for himself with a part- ner. At the end of two years he sold out his interest and opened a general notion store which he carried on for three years,
In 1896 he returned to Royalston where he has ever since been engaged in farming, nearly all the time on what is known as the Raymond farm in the north part of the town, He owns the old ancestral homestead where he was born, which has been in possession of the Brown family for several generations.
Since his return to his native town he has been prominent in town affairs and actively interested in the social, educational and political life of the community. In 1900 he was elected a member of the School Committee and served as chairman for seven years, when in 1907, he resigned having two more years to serve. That year he was elected a member of the Board of Selectmen and has been re-elected at the expiration of every term of office to the present time, and has been chairman of the board the entire time. He is a member of the Finance Committee of the town and of the committee to draft town by-laws, and has also served on other important committees. He is a member of Royalston grange of which he has been Master, Overseer, Secretary, Treasurer and a member of the executive committee. He is also a member of Athol Lodge of Masons.
.
28
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
He was for many years a leading Republican and served as delegate to many of the party conventions and was for fourteen years a member of the Republican Town Committee, being most of the time secretary and was for two years chairman. He re- signed from the Committee in 1912 and was elected a member of the Progressive Town Committee of which he has since served as chairman. For the last three years he has been President of the Royalston Old Home Week Association.
On September 25, 18SS he was married to Miss Annie E. Rowe of Boston. They have three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living at home except one.
Luke B. Shepardson, a prominent town officer for more than twenty years, and one of the present Board of Selectmen, is a son of Eri and Elvira (Bemis) Shepardson and was born at the old Shepardson homestead Sept. 9, 1851. His education was obtained in the old No. 8 District School of Royalston, after which he settled on the old farm where he was born, and has ever since been engaged in teaming and lumbering in connection with his farming operations.
At the age of fourteen years he united with the West Royal- ston Baptist Church and in 18-was elected as Deacon, which office he has held ever since He also served as Superintendent of the Sunday school for several years and has been on important committees of the church. At the age of twenty-one he joined the Masonic fraternity and has ever since been a member in good standing. He has been a member of the Board of Select- men for sixteen years, and one of the Road Surveyors for more than twenty years, and has served the town on important committees.
He married Ellen L. Tandy, daughter of Rev. Lorenzo and Lucy Tandy, June 23, 1875. They have five children: Florence E., born Aug. 18, 1876, she graduated from Smith College in 1908, and after teaching in High Schools for several years married Edward Taggard of Portersville, Cal., where they now make their home; John, born Sept. 15, 1877, lives at home on the farm and is engaged in farm work and teaming; Bertha M., born Oct. 27, 1879, graduated fom the Athol High School, and married George E. Fairbanks Dec. 25, 1901, they have three. children and are now living in Fitzwilliam, N. H .; Carl W.,
29
TOWN GOVERNMENT
born Dec. 5, 1885, graduated from Brown University, and from June, 1909, until May, 1912, was a teacher in the Government schools in the Philippines, and since then has been a teacher in New Hampshire and Massachusetts; Lucy, born Sept. 21, 1889, attended Smith College, but did not graduate, leaving the College in her third year, her mother's health being such that she was ne ded at home.
Alfred Winfield Neale was born in West Brookfield in 1862. His father was born in Towbridge, England in 1828, and his mother in this country in 1820. He attended school in No. 9 district of Royalston, and has followed the occupation of farming. He was on the board of assessors for several years, was one of the Overseers of the Poor two years, and has been tax collector for several years holding the office at the present time. He married Eleanor M. Stockwell of Royalston in 1890. She died in February 1903. He married (2) Bertha Frumerin of Brockton, Mass. They have three children : Alfred Wesley, born Nov. 18, 1904, Theodore Winfield, born Nov. 4, 1908, and Winston Geddes, born Aug. 17, 1913. Mr. Neale is a member of the Board of Selectmen, having been elected in March 1915.
ASSESSORS
The first board of Assessors was chosen in 1766 and consisted of John Fry, William Town and Jonas Allen.
Some years the Board of Selectmen have been the Assessors. The Assessors serving when there has been a separate board are as follows:
1773 Henry Bond, Benjamin Wait, Stephen Bachel er.
1775 Peter Woodbury, David Lyon, John Peck.
1776 Willam Town, Peter Woodbury, John Peck.
1777 William Town, David Copeland, William Clement.
1778 Henry Bond, John Fry, Peletiah Metcalf.
1779 Timothy Bliss, John Bacheller, Isaac Gale.
1780 William Town, John Peck, John Bacheller.
1781 Henry Bond, Oliver Work, Ebenezer Blanding.
1782 William Clement, Oliver Work, Joseph Emerson.
1783 Oliver Work, Samuel Goddard, Ammi Falkner.
.
30
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Henry Bond, Oliver Work, Jacob Estey.
1784 1785 Henry Bond, Oliver Work, Jacob Estey.
1786 Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Daniel Woodbury.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Daniel Woodbury.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory.
Joseph Emerson, Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory.
Oliver Work, Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis.
Ammi Falkner, Isaac Gregory.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory.
Peter Woodbury, Peletiah Metcalf, Joseph Emerson.
Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory, Eliphalet Cheney.
Paul Ellis, Eliphalet Cheney, David Fisher.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, David Fisher.
Ammi Falkner, Paul Ellis, Isaac Gregory.
Daniel Woodbury, Isaac Gregory, John Norton. Ammi Falkner, Isaac Gregory, Salmon Goddard. John Norton, Salmon Goddard.
1803 1804 1805 1806 1807
Ammi Falkner, Salmon Goddard, Amos Jones, Jr.
Ammi Falkner, Amos Jones, Jr., Rufus Bullock.
Ammi Falkner, Amos Jones, Jr., Isaac Metcalf.
1808 1809 Ammi Falkner, Amos Jones, Jr., Isaac Metcalf. 1810 Ammi Falkner, Salmon Goddard, Isaac Metcalf.
David Fisher, Amos Jones, Jr., Rufus Bullock.
1814
Daniel Woodbury, David Fisher, Amos Jones, Jr.
1815 1816 1817 1820
Daniel Woodbury, David Fisher, Tarrant Cutler. David Fisher, Silas Heywood, Tarrant Cutler.
1821 Rufus Bullock, Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis. Rufus Bullock, Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis. Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis, Jonathan Peirce.
1822 1823 1824 Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis, Jonathan Peirce.
1825 Rufus Bullock, Asahel Davis, Benjamin Brown.
1826 Rufus Bullock, Asahel Davis, Stephen Richardson.
1827 Tarrant Cutler, Benoni Peck, Jonathan Peirce.
1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801
1802
Ammi Falkner, Isaac Gregory, Salmon Goddard. Ebenezer Blanding, Ammi Falkner, Isaac Gregory.
Ebenezer Blanding, Ammi Falkner, Amos Jones, Jr. Ammi Falkner, Isaac Gregory, Salmon Goddard.
1813
Daniel Woodbury, David Fisher, Tarrant Cutler.
Daniel Woodbury, Benoni Peck, Silas Jones.
31
TOWN GOVERNMENT
1828
Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis, Jonathan Peirce.
1829 Tarrant Cutler, Asahel Davis, Jonathan Peirce.
1830 Benoni Peck, Silas Jones, Jonathan Gale.
Silas Jones, Asahel Davis, Jonathan Peirce.
1831 1832 Silas Jones, Asahel Davis, Russe I Morse.
1833
Silas Jones, Asahel Davis, Russell Morse.
1834
Silas Jones, Joseph Davis, 2d., Russell Morse.
1835 Silas Jones, Joseph Davis, 2d., Russell Morse.
1836
Benoni Peck, Silas Jones, Russell Morse.
1837
Salmon Goddard, Russell Morse.
1840 Benoni Peck, Russell Morse, Joseph Estabrook.
1841
Arba Sherwin, Joseph Estabrook, Jarvis Davis, Luther Harrington.
1842 1844
Peter Woodbury, Tarrant Cutler, Adriel White.
Tarrant Cutler, Adriel White, George Peirce.
1845
Tarrant Cutler, Adriel White, George Peirce.
1846 Adriel White, George Peirce.
1850 1852 1855
Benjamin Fry, Otis Bemis, Daniel Davis.
Jarvis Davis, Franklin Richardson, Lemuel Fales.
1857 1858 1860 1861 1862
Joseph Raymond, L. W. Partridge, Henry W. Bliss. Joseph Raymond, Henry W. Bliss, Jesse W. Wheeler. Tarrant Cutler, Elisha F. Brown, Joseph L. Perkins. William W. Clement, Richard Baker, Cyrus B. Reed. William W. Clement, Richard Baker, Cyrus B. Reed. William W. Clement, J. A. Rich, Hiram Harrington.
1863
William W. Clement, J. A. Rich, Hiram Harrington. William W. Clement, J. A. Rich, Hiram Harrington. Daniel Davis, Edmund Stockwell, Benjamin H. Brown.
1864 1865 1866 1867
Obadiah Walker, Edmund Stockwell, Cyrus B. Reed.
1868
Daniel Davis, Edmund Stockwell, B. H. Brown.
1869
Joseph Raymond, Tarrant Cutler, Jonas Turner J. L. Perkins, Jesse F. Wheeler, Henry Nichols.
1870 1871 1872 1873 William W. Clement, C. W. Day, E. T. Warner.
Daniel Davis, B. W. Rich, William W. Clement. William W. Clement, B. B. Murdock, E. T. Warner.
1874 William W. Clement, C. W. Day, Lyman Stone.
1875 W lliam W. Clement, C. W. Day, J. N. Bartlett.
1876 C. W. Day, John N. Bartlett, Joseph Walker.
1877 A. D. Raymond, A. A. Hyatt, A. M. White.
Jarvis Davis, George Peirce, Otis Gale.
32
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
1878
John N. Bartlett, Joseph T. Nichols, Asaph M. White.
1879
Joseph T. Nichols, Caleb W. Day, Asaph M. White.
1880 Joseph T. Nichols, Caleb W. Day, Asaph M. White. 1881 Joseph T. Nichols, Caleb W. Day, Asaph M. White. Joseph T Nichols, Asaph M. White, B. W. Rich. B. W. Rich, Asaph M. White, George E. Peirce. Joseph Walker, B. W. Rich, Asaph M. White.
1882 1883 1884 1885
Alfred D. Raymond, John R Hale, William H Leathe
1886 Alfred D. Raymond, Roby R. Safford, Asaph H. White. 1887 Alfred D. Raymond, Asaph M. White, J. R. Hale.
1888 1889
Alfred D. Raymond, Caleb W. Day, William H. Leathe. Alfred D. Raymond, Caleb W. Day, William H. Leathe. Alfred D. Raymond, Roby R. Safford, George E. Peirce.
1890
Alfred D. Raymond, Caleb W. Day, George E. Peirce.
1891 1892 Alfred D. Raymond, Caleb W. Day, George E. Peirce.
1893 Alfred D. Raymond, William H. Leathe, Caleb W. Day. 1894 Alfred D. Raymond, Jeremiah A. Rich, Phinehas S. Newton
1895 George E. Peirce, Jeremiah A. Rich, Luke B. Shepardson. 1896 George E. Peirce, Jerem ah A. Rich, Phinehas S. Newton.
1897 George E. Peirce, Jeremiah A. Rich, Phinehas S. Newton. William H. Leathe, Jeremiah A. Rich, John Davis.
1898 1899 1900 1901
George E. Peirce, Alfred W. Neal, John Davis.
1902
1903 1904
George E. Peirce, Alfred W. Neal William H. Leathe. George E. Peirce, Alfred W. Neal, William H. Leathe. William H. Leathe, George E. Peirce, Alfred W. Neal. William H. Leathe, Levens G. Forbes, Charles H. Brooks. William H. Leathe, Charles H. Brooks, Levens G. Forbes. William H. Leathe, George E. Peirce, Charles H. Brooks.
1905
1906 William H. Leathe, George E. Peirce, Edward G. Beals. George E. Peirce, Edward G. Beals, William H. Leathe.
1997
1908 George E Peirce, William H. Leathe, Alfred W Neal. 1909 William H. Leathe, George E. Pierce, Eugene G. Twitchell.
1910 George E. Peirce, William H. Leathe, Eugene G. Twitchell.
1911 William H. Leathe, Eugene G. Twitchell, Levens G. Forbes.
1912 William H. Leathe, Levens G. Forbes, Eugene G. Twitchell.
33
TOWN GOVERNMENT
1913 Levens G. Forbes, Eugene G. Twitchell, Myron E. Stockwell.
1914 Eugene G. Twitchell, Myron E. Stockwell, Levens G. Forbes.
1915 Myron E. Stockwell, Levens G. Forbes, Eugene G. Twitchell.
Levens G. Forbes was born in Meriden, Conn., June 4, 1870. His father died when he was two years old, and he went to live with relatives in Branford, Conn., and came to Royalston in March 1878. He lived in the west part of the town and attended school at the City school. In December 1879 he went to live with E. V. Nelson in the east part of the town, and has lived in town ever since with the exception of two years in Orange. He was married Oct. 1, 1895 to Cora E. Howe, and they have two children, Mildred L, born in 1900 and Dorothy, born in 1907. He has been active in town affairs was elected as moderator of town meetings in 1900 and has held that position ever since. He was elected on the board of Assessors in 1903 and 1904, and has also served from 1911 to the present time, his term ex- piring in 1917. He was elected as one of the Selectmen in 1914 but declined to serve. Was constable several years and has held most of the minor town offices, and has been Superintendent of the Improved Highway two years. He has been an Insurance Agent for 15 years, and is a charter member of Royalston grange.
Myron E. Stockwell was born in Athol, Nov. 4, 1880. He was educated in the public schools of Royalston and graduated from Murdock school, Winchendon in 1899. He has held the office of Assessor for three years, and has served several times as a Highway Surveyor. He is a member of Narragansett Lodge of Odd Fellows of Baldwinville and Royalston grange of which he is Secretary. He married Iva Belle Bryant, April 21, 1909 and has one son, Mahlon Joseph, born March 12, 1915.
Eugene G. Twitchell, who has been a member of the Board of Assessors for the last seven years commencing with 1909 was born in Athol Jan. 22, 1867, and has lived in the town of Royalston twenty-three years. He married Nettie S. Clark of Royalston.
They have one daughter, Eliza E., ten years of age.
34
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Joseph R. Eaton, town auditor in his report for the year 1866 says: "The Assessors' books are not without their lessons. The decrease in agricultural products within the last forty years is remarkable, though not more so in this town than in country towns in general in New England. In 1828 the assessors reported 448 oxen, (Hon. Joseph Estabrook owning 139); 861 cows and three years old, and 264 swine. Last year (1865) the assessors found only 188 oxen, 557 cows and three years old, and 113 swine. From the Assessors' books of the last forty years, it is not difficult to learn, very nearly, the general rate of productive- ness of capital when invested in farming-in manufacturing-and in interest bearing securities. In fact I had prepared a paragraph on this subject, but as wise counselors advise its suppression, I am thrown somewhat on to the position of Dr. Holmes, the poet, who "never dares to write as funny as he can." I will, however, venture to say that whoever establishes a profitable manufacture in town should be considered a public benefactor."
Interesting facts gleaned from the Assessors' Reports covering the last fifty-five years.
1860
Valuation of Real Estate, $514,913.
Valuation of Personal Estate, 305,072.
Total Valuation $819,985. Whole number of acres from the survey of 1831 including the additions since, 26,882.
Number of polls, 377
Horses,
201
Oxen, 238
Cows, steers and heifers, 1293
Sheep, 239
Swine, 120
Largest tax payers: A. H. Bullock, trustee for Mrs. E. B. Ripley, $223,67; Barnet Bullock, $142.56; George Whitney, $102.51; Joseph Raymond, $95.64; Joseph Estabrook, $93.32; John Whitmore, $86.08; Elmer Newton, $65.94; Salmon S. Farrar, $64.92; Silas Stone, $60.44; Orrin Thompson, $58.19.
35
TOWN GOVERNMENT
1875
Valuation of Real Estate, $483,045.
Valuation of Personal Estate, 206 061.
Total Valuation,
$689,106.
Number of polls,
358
Horses,
224
Cows,
410
Sheep,
176
Dwelling Houses,
280
Largest tax payers: George Whitney Factory, $660.63; Mrs. D. P. Clark, $374.38; George Whitney $196.72; Joseph Raymond, $167.04; Joseph Estabrook, $163.10; Elmer Newton, $151.44; Salmon S. Farrar, $133.79; Mrs. E. B. Ripley, $111.07; First Parish, $94.38; Caleb W. Day, $86.10; Phinehas S. Newton, $74.37; John W. Hale, $86.41; George Chase, $74.30; Aaron Jones, $71.10; Barnet Bullock, $83.69; A. D. Raymond, $64.41; Jesse F. Wheeler, $63.79; Mrs. Mary E. Bullock, $63.75; George Pierce, $61.79; Edmund Stockwell, $61.54. The rate of taxation was $12.50 per $1000.
1180268
1885
Valuation of Real Estate, $503,670.
Valuation of Personal Estate, 158,665.
Total valuation
$662,335.
Number of polls,
340
Horses,
226
Cows,
471
Sheep,
189
Cattle other than cows, 290
Swine,
132
Dwelling Houses,
271
Largest tax payers: George Whitney Factory Property, $323.05; Mrs. D. P. Clark Estate, $175; George Whitney, $118.44; Estate of Harriet M. Estabrook, $110.53; Caleb W. Day, $66.09; Mrs. Henrietta Nutting, $64.75; Phinehas S Newton, $58.53; Lyman L. Clark Co., $53.37; Rate of taxation $7 per $1000.
36
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
1890
Valuation of Real Estate, $443,058.
Valuation of Personal Estate, 147,105.
Total valuation,
$590,163
Number of polls,
335
Horses,
224
Cows,
529
Sheep,
50
Neat cattle other than cows
376
Swine,
100
Dwelling Houses,
273
Largest tax payers : George Whitney Factory, $474.98 ; Phinehas S. Newton, $132.64; George Whitney, $112.70; Millard W. White, $102.23 ; Mrs. Henrietta Nutting, $83.25 ; George E. Whitney, $73.33; Caleb W. Day, $70.17; Lyman L. Clark, $67.50 ; Franklin H. Goddard, $63.56; John W. Stockwell, $54.54. Rate of taxation, $9 per $1000.
TOWN CLERKS
John Fry was chosen as the first Town Clerk in 1765 and served to 1781, with the single exception of 1773 when Dr. Stephen Bacheller was regularly chosen at the annual March meeting, and records the doings of that meeting and one other during the year but other records during the year are signed by John Fry as town Clerk. The town clerks since then and their years of service are as follows:
Peter Woodbury, 1782, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '91, '94. John Bacheller, 1790, '92, '93.
Daniel Woodbury, 1795 '96.
Isaac Gregory, 1797, '98, '99, 1800, '06.
Samuel Goddard, Jr., 1801, '02.
Joseph Estabrook, 1804, '05, '08, '09, '10.
Stephen Bacheller, Jr., 1807. John Norton, 1811, '14, '15, '16, '17. Rufus Bullock, 1812, '13.
Thomas J. Lee, 1818, '21, '22, '23, '24.
Franklin Gregory 1819, '20 and from 1825 to 1836 inclusive. Barnet Bullock, from 1837 to 1846 inclusive.
37
TOWN GOVERNMENT
George F. Miller, 1847, '48, '49, '51.
Joseph Raymond, 1850, '52, '53.
Rufus Henry Bullock, 1854.
Charles H. Newton from 1855 to 1865 inclusive.
George F. Miller, 1866 to 1870 inclusive, 1873.
Joseph T. Nichols, 1871, '72.
Joseph Walker, 1874, '75, '76.
Dr. Frank W. Adams, 1877 to 1915 inclusive.
TOWN TREASURERS
The first Town Treasurer was Peter Woodbury, who served from 1765 to 1770 inclusive.
Those who have served the town since, in that office have been as follows:
Silvanus Hemmenway from 1771 to 1777 inclusive.
William Town, 1778, '79, '80.
Jonathan Sibley, from 1781 to 1808 inclusive.
EbenezerFry, from 1809 to 1824 inclusive.
Rufus Bullock, from 1825 to 1837 inclusive.
Benjamin Fry, from 1838 to 1854 inclusive. with the excep- tion of 1840, when Joseph Estabrook served.
George Woodbury, from 1855 to 1857 inclusive.
Leonard Wheeler, from 1858 to 1864 inclusive.
Charles H. Newton, 1865.
Joseph T. Nichols, 1866.
Obadiah Walker, 1867 to 1873 inclusive.
Joseph Walker, 1874 to 1887 inclusive.
George E. Pierce, 1889 to 1899 inclusive.
Dr. Frank W. Adams, 1899 and 1900 to 1915 inclusive.
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR
In March 1899 John N. Bartlett made a gift of twenty thousand dollars to the town of Royalston, in trust, the income of which is for the benefit and support of the poor in the town of Royalston, and at the March town meeting of that year, a committee consisting of Caleb W. Day, one of the Overseers of the Poor, with B. Warren Rich, Frank W. Adams and Phinehas S. Newton, were chosen to receive and invest this fund.
38
HISTORY OF ROYALSTON
Since that time the Overseers of the Poor have had the in- come of the Bartlett fund to expend for the poor of the town, which for the year 1914 amounted to eleven hundred and fifty dollars and forty cents.
The present board of Overseers of the Poor are, Charles A. Stimson, Colin Mackenzie and Frank A. Brown.
The Committee on the John N. Bartlett Fund are: Colin Mackenzie of the Overseers of the Poor, Frank W. Adams, Phinehas S. Newton and Charles H. Brooks.
Charles A. Stimson was born in Warwick May 17, 1856. He lived in that town about twenty-five years, and came to Royalston in 1882, when in company with George D. Bolton he bought the saw mill at Doane's Falls. His father bought out Bolton's interest about 1896, and the property was sold to E. E. Dickinson of Buffalo, N. Y. in 1906. Mr. Simpson was engaged in the saw mill business more or less for thirty-five years, and has also been engaged in painting, carpenter work and farming. His education was obtained in the district schools of Warwick. He has been one of the Overseers of the Poor of Royalston for sixteen years, being Secretary of the board most of the time, and has also served as Constable. Is a member of Star Lodge, F. and A. M. of Athol, and is a prominent granger, having been Master of Royalston grange seven years, and held various other offices in that orgainzation. Is also a member of the Franklin and Worcester Pomona Grange, of which he has been Master, Lecturer, Assistant Steward and Treasurer, and was District Deputy of the Massachusetts State Grange for ten years. Has been chairman of the Republican Town Committee.
He was married Nov. 14, 1885 to Sarah Madella Deane of Royalston. They have had four children, Berle D., born Mar. 15, 1887, Gladys L., born July 30, 1888; Glen H., born Sept. 4, 1901 and Lawrence D., born Feb. 5, 1906, all being born in Roy- alston. Gladys L. married W. E. Jackson of Athol June 23 1906. She died May 21, 1909.
Colin Mackenzie, a resident of Royalston since 1876, and a prominent town official, is a son of Roderick and Janet (Braid- wood) Mackenzie of Edinburg, Scotland. He was born Feb.
COLIN MACKENZIE
LEVVENS G. FORBES
FRANKLIN A. BROWN
CHARLES A. STIMSON
39
TOWN GOVERNMENT
12, 1854 in Montreal, Canada, where he lived till the death of his parents in 1870, when he went to Winchendon, Mass.
He attended Cushing academy two years, and after learning the carpenter's trade came to Royalston in 1876, which has ever since been his home. He was married Sept. 20, 1880 to Miss Emeline Esther White of Royalston. They have two children; Bessie Janet, born May 26, 1884, who is Principal of a school, inNew Haven, Conn., and Harlan Roderick, born Sept. 24, 1886, who is the Boy's Secretary of the Fitchburg, Y. M. C. A. Mr. Mackenzie has been actively identified with town offices, has held the office of Selectman for two years, and now holds the offices of Overseer of the Poor, Board of Health and Trustee of the John W. Bartlett fund.
Franklin Allen Brown, was born May 23, 1874 at Chelsea, Mass. He spent his boyhood at Roxbury, Mass., where he at- tended the Boston Public Schoo's. His first position was with the Thomson Electric Welding Co., of Boston, and later was employed by the Reece Button Hole Machine Co., of Boston. He left that company in 1897 to work for the Nobscot Spring Water Co. In 1901 he went to work for the Boston E evated Railway Co., and in 1906 was given a position with the Boston and Maine R. R., in the signal department, where he is now employed as an electric signal maintainer. He married Eliza- beth D. Fay of Roxbury, Mass., Nov. 11, 1896, and they have had eight children of whom three boys and three girls are now living. He came to South Royalston in 1908, since which he has held important town offices, serving as constable, on the Board of Health and Overseers of the Poor. He is a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 76, Knights of Pythias, Gen- ernl Sheridan Camp, 53, Sons of Veterans and a charter member of South Royalston Grange.
CHAPTER V
SCENERY OF ROYALSTON and
INDIANS AND WILD ANIMALS
To the lover of natural scenery in its wild and picturesque aspects, the town of Royalston presents attractions not surpassed by many of the towns of Worcester County. High and rugged hills, grand swells of excellent land, with beautiful streams of water flowing through the intersecting valleys, make up the general contour of the land.
Overlooking the surrounding country by its high elevation, it has commanding eminences which look out over the surround- ing country giving grand and beautiful views. To the north grand old Monadnock, like a guardian angel, "majestic in might and infinite leisure, rises grand in his height," while in the east Wachusett stands out in bold relief, with Watatic further to the north, and the high hills of Southern New Hampshire bound- ing the view. To the west Mount Grace, not far distant, and the more distant Green Mountain range are in view. Most truly does the poet say.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.