Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 22

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III > Part 22

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Although a man constantly engaged in activities of national import, Mr. Washburn was genuinely proud of his native city, and was foremost in con- tributing to its advancement and the welfare of its people. No worthy movement looking to the im- provement of the state of the unfortunate ever lacked his hearty help. While a leader in organ- ized charity, he was much inclined to take a per- sonal interest in those who needed assistance and in an almost secret way to give and do what he thought beneficial. He took a special interest in the work of the American National Red Cross and was president of the Worcester branch of that organization, which during time of war, especially during the World War, contributed its full quota of funds and materials. He was president of the board of trustees of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and for many years one of the most popular and substantial friends of that institution. He was a director in the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and the Wire Goods Company of Worcester. He was a member of the Massachu- setts Historical Society and the American Anti- quarian Society, and a delegate to the Massachu- setts Constitutional Convention of 1917. He was a member of the Worcester Historical Society, St. Wulstan Society, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Alumni Associa- tion, Worcester Economic Club, Worcester County Fish and Game Association, Worcester County Republican Club, Worcester Club, Commercial Travelers Association, Worcester Chamber of Commerce, Players Club of Worcester, Tatnuck Country Club, Harvard Club, of Worcester; Union Club, of Boston; Century Club, of New York; University Club, of New York; Metro- politan Club, of Washington; and Point Judith Country Club. He was a communicant of All Saints Protestant Episcopal Church, Worcester, and one of its wardens.

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WORCESTER COUNTY

Mr. Washburn married, April 25, 1889, Caro- line Vinton Slater, daughter of Horatio N. Slater, of Webster, and great-granddaughter of Samuel Slater, founder of the Slater Mills and the town of Webster. Her father was for a long time the head of S. Slater and Sons. Children: I. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 2. Slater (q. v.). 3. Charles Francis, born May 10, 1898, died December 19, 1902. 4. Philip, born October 4, 1899, died July II, 1910. 5. Esther Vinton, born August 10, 1902, now Mrs. Albert H. Crosby, of Minneapolis, Min- nesota. Mrs. Washburn's home is on Elm Street, Worcester, and she has a summer residence in Princeton and in Narragansett.

Ex-Congressman Washburn's death, which oc- curred on May 25, 1928, was a serious loss to the city of Worcester and the many friends and inter- ests to which he was attached. His life was filled with a real and lasting service, for which he shall be long remembered.

COLONEL SLATER WASHBURN-A dis- tinguished career in the World War, overseas and at American posts, followed by excellent and con- structive service in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for several terms, constitute part of the important record of Colonel Slater Wash- burn, a director of the Washburn Company, one of the leading industrial organizations of the State.

Born at Princeton, Massachusetts, August 5, 1896, Slater Washburn is a son of Charles Grenfill and Caroline Vinton (Slater) Washburn. He at- tended the Groton School from 1909 to 1916 and prepared for college. Three years of study at Harvard University were completed at graduation in the class of 1920 of which he was the class orator, when he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts. During the summers of 1915 and 1916 he was a member of the reportorial staff of the "Worcester Evening Gazette." In 1919 he went to work as a reporter on the "Worcester Telegram and Gazette" and thus served this paper until 1921. Since the latter year he has been associated with the Washburn Com- pany, of which he was elected a director in 1932.

His interesting military record dates from April 9, 1917, when, as a student at Harvard College, he enlisted for the World War and was assigned to Battery C, IOIst Field Artillery, 26th Division. He was in the foreign service from September 9, 1917, to August 4, 1918. From February 4, 1918, to July 22, 1918, he saw active service at the front -Soissons, Toul and Chateau-Thierry. On July 22, 1918, he was transferred to the United States as an instructor, after having been gassed in action, July 15, 1918, at Chateau-Thierry. He served as sergeant-instructor in the machine gun school at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, whence he was transferred to the Officers Training School at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky, where he was on duty when discharged with honor, De- cember 3, 1918.

He was commissioned second lieutenant of in- fantry in the United States Reserve Force, January 4, 1919. On November 26, 1920, with the reorgan- ization of the National Guard, he was commissioned a captain in the 3d Field Artillery in the Massa- chusetts National Guard, which became the 18Ist Infantry. He was promoted to major in the 18Ist Infantry, September 14, 1921. In the same regi-

ment he also served as regimental machine gun officer. Transferred May II, 1923, to headquarters of the 52d Infantry Brigade, he served as brigade executive officer. In 1925 he served as acting divisional machine gun officer in the 26th Division. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Massachusetts National Guard, May 25, 1926. On July 13, 1926, he was assigned as assistant chief of staff G-I, 26th Division. He was retired as a colonel of the Massachusetts National Guard, July 2, 1928. He is affiliated with the American Legion, Military Order of the World War, Veterans of Foreign Wars, YD Club of Boston, and Army and Navy Club of Boston.

Colonel Washburn's political career began in 1920 when he entered the Worcester City Council. He was Republican floor leader in 1921 and presi- dent of the council in 1922. In the latter year he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Repre- sentatives and from 1923 to 1930 served on the committee on ways and means. He was a member of the committee on rules in 1925-28, a member of the Massachusetts St. Mihiel Memorial Commission in 1925-30, and a member of the re- cess committee on reciprocal insurance in 1924. He retired from the House at the expiration of his term in 1930. He is a member of the Massa- chusetts Republican Club and the Worcester County Republican Club.

He is a member of the Tennis and Racquet Club, of Boston, Tatnuck Country Club, Worcester Club, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, the Dunes Club of Narragansett, Rhode Island, and Rear Com- modore of the New England Outboard Motorboat Association. He is a member of All Saints' Protestant Episcopal Church, Worcester. Baseball, squash racquets and yachting are his principal sports.

Colonel Washburn married, August 10, 1918, at Princeton, Massachusetts, Beulah McClellan, daughter of Arthur D. and Florence (Armsby) McClellan. Their children are: I. Beulah Wash- burn, 2d, born July 17, 1919. 2. Caroline Slater Washburn, born October 12, 1921. 3. Anne Marie Washburn, born October 28, 1923. 4. Charles G. Washburn, 2d, born April 3, 1926. The Worcester address of the Washburn family is 42 Elm Street, and their summer home is "The Dunes," at Narra- gansett Pier, Rhode Island.

THOMAS L. NELSON-For over thirty years a member of the Worcester County bar, Thomas L. Nelson is a well-known figure in legal circles of Worcester. He is engaged chiefly in the practice of real estate law and the examination of titles, possessing an authoritative knowledge of this entire field.

Mr. Nelson was born at Worcester on August 22, 1873, a son of Thomas L. and Louisa A. (Slocum) Nelson. He received his preliminary education in local public schools and, following his graduation from Worcester High School in 1893, attended Worcester Polytechnic for two years. Meanwhile he decided upon a legal career and ac- cordingly began the study of law in the office of Herbert Parker, attorney-general of Massachusetts. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and has been engaged in practice at Worcester since that time. During the past twenty years he has confined his activities almost entirely to the field of real estate

WORCESTER COUNTY

law, in which he enjoys a wide reputation. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Worcester County Bar Association.

On November 19, 1927, Thomas L. Nelson mar- ried Mary E. Crowther, of Worcester County, Massachusetts, and they have one son, Thomas Leverett, Jr. The residence of the family is main- tained at Northboro, where Mr. Nelson owns a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, of which fifteen are set out in fruit trees. His home there, which was built in 1727, is the second oldest house now standing in Northboro. Mr. Nelson finds his chief recreation in his farm.

CLARENCE J. ABBOTT-A trained elec- trical engineer, Clarence J. Abbott is well known to the people of Worcester for his connection with their efficient telephone service and his identifica- tion with the civic, commercial and social life of the city. For a quarter of a century he has been the manager of the local exchange, directing its affairs during a period of its greatest growth. As said an editorial: "He was personally known to thousands of subscribers for his courteous and painstaking attention to their telephone problems and troubles," which to the average person is of inore import than his ability as a business manager and in the administration of the affairs of an or- ganization of such extensive ramification. He was a popular figure in his clubs and other societies. The out-of-doors furnished him some of his pleas- antest recreations whether with a gun or simply in the collecting of plants and shrubs from the woods. Mr. Abbott was born in Newtonville, June 15, 1872, and died on February 16, 1932.

He was the son of John Everett and Sarah (Everett) Abbott, members of families old in the annals of New England. His preliminary educa- tion was that furnished by the local schools, and he was graduated from Newton High School, in 1891. After attending a business college at Bos- ton, he became associated with the Thomson- Houston Company, at the Lynn plant, where he completed his education as an electrician. He re- mained with this company, now better known as the General Electric Company, and went to many sections of the United States, installing electrical equipment. At one time he went abroad and as- sisted in the building of the electric street railway at Le Havre, France, the first road of its kind in that country. He was with the Mather Electric Company of Boston later and then was for a year an electrician on the Massachusetts training ship, "Enterprise."

Mr. Abbott, on April 1, 1895, became associated with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, at Boston, engaged in installing central offices, switchboards and apparatus. Promotion came rapidly, and he was successively manager of the local offices at East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Dorchester and Brookline. On September 1, 1906, he came to Worcester as manager, a post he held for twenty-six years. The increase in numbers and efficiency of telephones, and the extension of serv- ice, during this quarter century was very great, and to Mr. Abbott goes the credit for the manner in which this was carried out. To quote from a newspaper account of his life: "In 1906, the local exchange had 7,500 subscribers. He saw it grow to more than 45,000. The exchange, in 1908, re- quired only a part of the old building at Mechanic

and Norwich streets, which was then only three stories high. Under his management the exchanges multiplied; the immense building on Elm Etreet was built and the service converted to the auto- matic system. The increase in toll service and calls was at a vastly greater ratio even than the increase in local instruments. There were great crises which had to be met. The first was the fire which wrecked the telephone building in 1914, the sec- ond the ice storm which wrecked the system and the toll connections excepting such as were under- ground. The recovery in each instance was un- believably rapid, and in this Mr. Abbott played no unimportant part."

Mr. Abbott was always a very busy man, and more inclined to devote any spare time to home and family than to organized activities. He was thoroughly devoted to the best interests of Wor- cester and contributed greatly to its advancement and prosperity. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Masons, as a member of Athelstan Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and Eureka Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He was also a member of the Com- monwealth and Rotary clubs. He knew the coun- try round about the city as few men of his time did, for he had tramped with rod and gun or as a nature lover. He liked gardening, and many of the plants he cultivated were taken by him from their native haunts in the fields and forests to form a cherished "memory garden." At one time he was something of a big game hunter and had shot in the wild parts of several of our states.

Mr. Abbott, on June 15, 1897, married Josephine Eppler, daughter of Andrew and Josephine ( Mar- tin) Eppler, of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott were the parents of a son, Clarence J. Abbott, and a daughter, Mrs. Russell L. Norton, of Framing- ham.

JOHN H. WEINHEIMER-There are many thousand citizens of Massachusetts who are, with- out knowing it, deeply indebted to John H. Wein- heimer, now of Worcester, for the part he played in giving them a more nearly perfect telephone serv- ice. Nearly all his mature life he has been identi- fied with the telegraph and telephone systems, for the most part in an official capacity. He has had more troubles poured in his ear than have a hun- dred mothers, and he has had more duties to per- form than can be counted. But he knows his busi- ness, has the temper and the temperament for his job, and is recognized as among the first rank of telephone managers in New England. He is the son of John and Harriet (Van Schaick) Wein- heimer, both natives of Upper New York State, the first having been born at Syracuse and the lat- ter at Amsterdam. The son, John H., was born in Syracuse, New York, November 24, 1886, and was educated in the public schools of that city and of Somerville, Massachusetts.

While still a lad, Mr. Weinheimer left school, entered the employ of the American Express Com- pany at Somerville, and continued at this work for four years. He then was a traveling salesman for a year and in December, 1908, became associated with the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company as bookkeeper in the auditor's office. This marked the beginning of his career in the telephone business, which, before it brought him to Worcester, carried him to many parts of New Eng- land and gave him an experience in nearly all

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WORCESTER COUNTY

phases of wire communication. In 1910 he went to the contract department, as contract agent ; in 1912 he was stationed at Bar Harbor, Maine, as man- ager. In 1913 he returned to - Boston, the Metro- politan division, and two years later he became all assistant district manager. In 1918 he went with the American Red Cross Society for war service at Washington, District of Columbia, and in 1919 returned once more to the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company as office manager with the general commercial manager. The following year he was District Manager in the Metropolitan divi- sion, a post he held until 1924, when he was as- signed to Springfield as District Manager. Two years later he was again back in Boston, as the Central District Manager, and in 1927 he was made General Sales Manager for the company. In 1929 Mr. Weinheimer was made General Com- mercial Engineer of the corporation, and in 1929 came to Worcester, Massachusetts, as the District Manager, a position he now fills. This district comprises some fifty exchanges, and there are four managers covering most of Worcester County, who report to him at the Worcester office.

It is needless to point out that Mr. Weinheimer is a very busy man and that Worcester is for- tunate in having a man of his ability and experience in charge of its telephone system. He has found little time to indulge actively in many other inter- ests. He is a popular figure in the Rotary Club, is a member of the board of governors of the Safety Council, and the Chamber of Commerce. His recreations are camping and fishing. He is a quiet, efficient promoter of the progress of his adopted city and his company.

In 1911, Mr. Weinheimer married (first) Mar- garet Russell, who died in Springfield, May 31, 1926, and was the mother of three children: I. Dorothy, born December 4, 1913. 2. Eleanor, born November 18, 1915. 3. John, born June 4, 1923. He married (second) Mildred McLean, of Boston, and they are the parents of a son, Paul, born in Worcester May 15, 1930.

WILLIAM E. BRANSFIELD-A retired professional baseball player, William E. Brans- field, a native son of Worcester, is highly respected and honored in this city, of which he is a resident. He has many friends and extensive social, civic and fraternal affiliations, and his position is one of very high regard.

Mr. Bransfield was born on January 7, 1875, in Worcester, son of Thomas and Mary (Harrington) Bransfield, of this city, both of whom are now de- ceased. In the public schools, he received his early education, and his first work was in the iron mould- ing trade, in which he served an apprenticeship. From boyhood he was remarkably gifted as a base- ball player, however, playing in the semi-profes- sional ranks even in his younger days. In 1898 he was signed by the Boston National League Club and farmed out for two years. In 1900 he was sold to the Worcester Club of the Eastern League. In 1901 he was sold to the Pittsburgh Nationals, with whom he played first base until 1905. In 1901, 1902 and 1903 they won the National League pen- nant and played the first World's Series ever at- tempted. In 1905 he was sold to the Philadelphia Nationals, remaining with them thereafter until IQII. In 1912 he played with the Chicago Cubs, and during the season injured his knee in such a

way as to end his active playing days. Later in that same year he went to Montreal in the Inter- national League, managing that team through the rest of the season and continuing the work through 1913 and 1914. In 1915 he accepted a post as umpire in the Eastern League; in 1916 took a corresponding position in the International League ; and in 1917 was umpire in the National League. Retiring, then, for two years, he again served the Eastern League as umpire in 1919, 1920, and 1921, and in 1922 and 1923 was a scout for the Chicago Cubs. From 1924 to 1926 he acted as manager of the Waterbury Club, in the Eastern League, win- ning the pennant for them in 1924 and 1925. In 1927 he managed the Hartford team in the same league, and from 1928, through the 1930 season, served the Boston Braves as a scout.

In 1930 came his formal retirement from a ca- reer in which he had won a host of friends and had earned the respect of everyone associated with the baseball profession and the inseparable nick- name, "Kitty" Bransfield. He had thirty-two years of continuous activity in the game and had come to be widely and favorably known. In his playing days he acquired a reputation that even now makes his name one of the first importance when famous first basemen are being spoken of. He was with- out a peer in his days in the big league.

Throughout life Mr. Bransfield has taken a deep interest in the affairs of his native city, county and State, and Worcester has been the gainer from his manifold efforts in the city's behalf. Particu- larly has fraternal association interested him. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and active in the work of the order. In civic activities he stands at the forefront among the people of Worcester, being always ready to do what he can for the advancement of others. He was a member of the Church of the Ascension, of the Roman Catholic faith, and in his political at- titude was an independent. Each of the organiza- tions and activities with which he has affiliated him- self has benefited from his participation, and he himself has come to be esteemed and trusted by his contemporaries. In his spare time, since his retirement from professional baseball, he particu- larly enjoys wrestling and boxing matches, which he attends frequently. His sports knowledge is extensive and is often drawn upon by those who are his friends and associates.

William E. Bransfield married, in December, 1908, Lucy Hoy, of Worcester. They became the parents of four children, all of whom are now de- ceased with the exception of Bernice who was born in 1920. Mrs. Bransfield is also deceased, having passed from this life in 1923.

The Bransfield residence, in Worcester, is sit- uated at No. 96 Vernon Street.

EDWIN HENRY MARBLE-The first rec- ord of a textile machine manufactured in Wor- cester is of 1811, when William Hovey contrived a novel device for shearing the nap, or fuzz, and long fibres from woolen fabrics. This machine, in constantly improved forms, was constructed by succeeding concerns until 1831, when the firm mak- ing it was known as John Simmons and Company, of which Albert Curtis was a partner. In 1853 Mr. Curtis was the sole owner of the plant. In 1845 Edwin Tyler Marble, father of the subject of this review, served his three years' apprenticeship in

WORCESTER COUNTY

this shop, learning the machinist's trade. He later worked in a number of Worcester machine shops including A. and F. Thayer, Thayer, Houghton and Company, E. C. Cleveland and Company, as journeyman, foreman and superintendent. In 1863 he became a partner of Mr. Curtis to form the firm of Curtis and Marble, manufacturers of machinery for finishing woolen, silk and cotton fabrics. The plant, at that time, was on the present site of the electric light power station. In April, 1895, Mr. Marble purchased the interest of Mr. Curtis, re- organized and incorporated a company, known as the Curtis and Marble Machinery Company, capi- talized at $75,000, with Edwin T. Marble as pres- ident, a post he held to the time of his death, in 1910. Since that time the corporation has been run by his four sons, with Edwin H. Marble, president ; William C. Marble, vice-president and secretary ; Charles F. Marble, treasurer ; and Albert C. Mar- ble, superintendent. The plant turns out machinery for use in textile mills and similar factories, spe- cializing in picking, burring and mixing machines for handling the fibres and handling woolens, and cloth finishing machinery for cotton, woolen, wor- sted and felt goods, velvets, plushes, corduroys, silks, embroideries, carpets, rugs and mats. The services of about two hundred and fifty employees are required ; the plant now occupies several acres of floor space, and their products are sent to all parts of the globe. It is the oldest under one fam- ily, and the largest company manufacturing textile finishing machinery in the world.

Edwin H. Marble, president of the Curtis and Marble Machinery Company, is the son of Edwin T. and Harriet Hamilton (Chase) Marble and was born in Worcester, May 4, 1853. His father was born in Sutton, August 18, 1827, the son of Royal Tyler and Anna B. (Clement) Marble, the former of whom died in Worcester, July 3, 1910. Royal Tyler Marble was of the sixth generation of the American family of that time, was born in Sutton, March 13, 1797, and died in Worcester, October 13, 1861. He was a farmer of unusual attainments, winning many prizes for his high-bred cattle. He was a lieutenant of the 5th Regiment, Ist Brigade, 6th Division, commissioned September 20, 1828, and was promoted to captain of the Sutton Rifles, Au- gust 7, 1830. He married Anna Bailey Clement, daughter of Moses and Sarah (Bailey) Clement of Worcester. The lineage goes back through Royal Tyler Marble of the fifth generation, Andrew Mar- ble of the fourth, Malachi Marble of the third, to Freegrace Marble, one of the original granters of Sutton, and to the founder of the American family, Samuel Marble, of English Puritan ancestry. The members of the long line have been remarkable in their contributions to the industries of Massachu- setts.

Edwin H. Marble, of the eighth generation, was educated in the Worcester public schools and was graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with the class of 1875. For seven years, from 1876 to 1883. he was at the head of the drafting depart- ment of the mechanical course in the Worcester Evening Schools. Before attending the Worcester Polytechnic Institute he had spent three years learning the machinist's trade with Curtis and Mar- ble and in 1880 entered the drafting department of that concern, remaining in that department from 1880 to 1886. In the latter year he was placed in charge of the engineering work and nine years

later, in 1895, was made vice-president of the com- pany. In July, 1910, he became president and that official position he has continued until the present time. Curtis and Marble are the largest manufac- turers of textile finishing machinery in the United States at the present time, and E. H. Marble is recognized as an expert in that field of mechani- cal activity and is the oldest member, in continuous service, of the textile machinery industry. He is the inventor of several machines and processes which are used in connection with the textile indus- try, and his expert knowledge of the field in which he is engaged is recognized outside his own busi- ness interests. He is consultant for the United States Government in its textile matters, and is the author of several papers and articles on textile subjects. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the fabric committee of the American Society for Testing Material, the British Textile Institute, and the National Asso- ciation of Cotton Manufacturers. He is also a member of the Society of American Military Engi- neers, with the ranking of textile engineer. With all his business responsibilities and his numerous affiliations with technical organizations, Mr. Mar- ble has found time for other associations. He is a member of the Worcester County Mechanics' Asso- ciation, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Wachusett Country Club, the Rotary Club, and the Congregational Club. His religious affiliations are with the Congregational Church.

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 22

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933 Publication date: 1934 Publisher: New York, American historical Society Number of Pages: 700

Author: Nelson, John, 1866-1933
Publication date: 1934
Publisher: New York, American historical Society
Number of Pages: 700