Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 4

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 4

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Instances such as have been mentioned of the "Post" and its relation to the life and affairs of Worcester might be multiplied without end. Enough have been indicated to show that it is something more than a newspaper, although among the very best of these. The daily journal must also serve the community, and the "Post" from its humble beginning in 1891 has devoted a full four decades to being of use to Worcester, and its present popu- larity is a testimony to its accomplishments for Worcester and its suburbs.

JOHN H. FAHEY-The city of Worcester is fortunate in being served journalistically by such a newspaper as the "Post" and even more so in having such a man as John H. Fahey, banker, in- dustrialist, civic leader, for the president and pub- lisher of that paper. He is a native of New Hamp- shire, born at Manchester, February 19, 1873, son of Patrick and Maria Fahey. His formal educa- tion ended with the high school, but this was only the foundation upon which he built the knowledge and scholarship for which he was well known. Either by chance or because of some inner urge, he became a reporter on the Manchester paper and

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was started on a career which was to be full of color, carrying him to high places, and which was marked by remarkable achievements and success.

Mr. Fahey was the news editor of the Man- chester Journal before he left to take the post of editor of the Eastern Associated Press, of which he was later the day manager, with headquarters at New Haven, Connecticut. In 1893 he was made the editor and day manager of the Associated Press, Boston; four years later he was the New England superintendent of the Associated Press, in which capacity he served from 1897 to 1903. During the period from 1903 to 1910 he was the editor and publisher of the "Boston Traveler." He was also the president of the Boston Traveler Company; vice-president of the Associated Press, 1909-10; and in February, 1914, Mr. Fahey pur- chased the principal interest in the "Worcester Post," of which he has since been the president and publisher. A brief history of the journal fol- lows this review, and tells something of the further journalistic career of the power behind the throne.

Newspaper publishing, while undoubtedly the thing most to his liking, is but one phase of the varied activities of Mr. Fahey. He was president of the St. John's River Shipyard Company, at Jacksonville, Florida, from 1918 to 1920, and was always after deeply interested in the development of Florida. While connected with the Associated Press at Boston, he became an outstanding figure in the Boston Chamber of Commerce, of which he was, for nine years, a director. In 1911 he was chairman of the delegation from the Chambers of Commerce in the United States visiting the lead- ing European cities. He was also a director and chairman of the executive committee of the Cham- ber of Commerce of the United States, 1912-13; president of the organization, 1914-15; honorary vice-president, 1915-20; member of the senior coun- cil Chamber of Commerce of the United States, 1921-23. During the meanwhile, Mr. Fahey was chairman of the organizing committee of the Inter- national Chamber of Commerce, 1919-20; Amer- ican director of the International body, 1921-33; chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, Chamber of Commerce, United States of America, and a member of the Inter-American High Com- mission since 1915. Mr. Fahey, in June, 1933, was appointed by President Roosevelt as a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. He is an honorary member of the American Chamber of Commerce, in Paris, France; honorary member of the Bolsa de Commercio de Buenos Aires; and member of the National Economic League. The great service Mr. Fahey has done for the better- ment of international commercial relations has been rewarded with the conferring upon him of honors by several foreign countries. He is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, France, 1920; Commander of the Order of the Crown, Italy, 1920; Officer of the Order of the Golden Sheaf, China, 1916.

Turning again to his activities as a publisher, Mr. Fahey became president and publisher of the "Manchester Mirror" of that New Hampshire city; president of the Clarke Press of Manchester; was publisher of the "New York Evening Post," 1923. It is hardly necessary to state that he has been a constructive force in the advancement of the communities with which he has cast his lot as a publisher and citizen. Worcester has been his chief

center of interest for many years, and he is proud of the city. He has showed this in being the agent to bring to it more improvements than any other one man. He would, undoubtedly, hasten to ex- plain that he was able to do what he did because of the instrument he had in his hand, the "Post"; but that is, after all, only a partial explanation. Mr. Fahey is financially interested in numerous corporations. Among the clubs and associations of which he is a member might be added: Bankers' Club of New York; Exchange Club, Boston: Brae Burn and Tedesco Country clubs, Boston City, and the Economic of Boston. His religious faith is that of the Catholic Church.

On October 22, 1901, John H. Fahey married Margaret Quinn, of Boston, and they are the par- ents of two children: Margaret and Eleanor.

GEORGE TILTON RICHARDSON-It is still an unanswered question among those who know George Tilton Richardson, only by his works, whether he is at his best as a journalist, editor, author, or playwright. Those more for- tunate who know him personally, insist that he is greatest as a civic-minded citizen and a man among men. He is a native Bostonian, the son of Na- thaniel and Martha A. (Moore) Richardson, mem- bers of old New England families. He was edu- cated in the famous Boston Latin School and Boston University. He took to writing as nat- urally as a duck takes to water, and even while he was a college undergraduate was managing to make something with his pen, or it may have been from his indefatigable energy in going after news. He ran through the whole range of jobs in a news- paper office and in 1888 was city editor of the "Boston Advertiser and Record," serving as such for three years. During 1891 and 1892 he was managing editor of the "Boston News"; went with the "Providence News" for 1892; and was dra- matic critic and an editorial writer on the "Boston Traveler" from 1892 to 1894. Editor-in-chief of the "Boston Tribune" during 1907-08, he resigned to return again to the "Boston Traveler" as man- aging editor (1908-10). The years 1910-II found him editing the "Human Life" magazine; and dur- ing 1912 and 1914 Mr. Richardson was editor of the Boston "Chamber of Commerce News." In 1914 he was called to the editorship of the "Worcester Evening Post" persuaded by John H. Fahey, publisher of the "Boston Traveler," who had just purchased the Worcester paper. Mr. Richardson has remained at the head of the edito- rial department of the "Worcester Post" and for its literary and journalistic qualities and policies is largely responsible, which is an indirect method of complimenting the achievements of Mr. Rich- ardson, the editor.

One can but regret that Richardson, the author, is less well known to the average reader of fiction because he has permitted the duties of an editor to limit his creative writing in recent years. Among the books of which he is either the author or co- author are: "Miss Petticoats" (1902) ; "On Satan's Mount" (1903); "My Lady Laughter" (1904), all of which were great favorites of the lover of light fiction, and went through numerous editions; and that memorable series, "Letters of a Son to a Self- Made Father" (1904) ; "A Self-Made Man's Wife, Her Letters to Her Son" (1905); "The Golden

WORCESTER COUNTY

Greyhound" (1906); and "Meyer and Son" (1908). Mr. Richardson turned his "Miss Petticoats" into a most charming comedy, and followed its success upon the stage with "Little Red Riding Hood," "A Prince of Bohemia," "The Rainbow Chasers," and "Cloverdell."

While the average person cannot understand how the literary man finds the opportunity to write all that he does, the trained journalist and author al- ways has time for something more. Mr. Rich- ardson, while not particularly military in his tastes, served formerly on the staff of Major George S. Merrill, Commander of the First Battalion Artil- lery, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia. During the World War period, both as editor and as cit- izen, he was foremost in many of the drives and activities of that period. He is a member of the Worcester City, the Rotary, and the Worcester Conutry Club. His college fraternity is the Theta Delta Chi.

On May 24, 1901, Mr. Richardson married Clara Barnard, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

CHARLES D. WHEELER, M. D .- The State Mutual Assurance Company, of Worcester, has been the means of attracting to this city some of the leading professional men of New England. Charles D. Wheeler, medical director of the com- pany, is a physician and surgeon of unusual abili- ties and most extensive training and experience. He is not only a popular and important figure in the professional coterie of Worcester, but also in club life and civic movements. He is a native of Worcester, born November 9, 1865, son of Charles A. and Mary E. (Douglas) Wheeler. His father was also a native of the city, a well-known manu- facturer who died in 1867. His mother was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts, and lived until 1915.

The death of his father when Charles Wheeler was but two years old somewhat changed the nat- ural course of events in his early life. After pre- paring for college under private tutors, at Marble- head, Massachusetts, he entered Williams College from which he was graduated in 1888 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Matriculating at the Harvard Medical College, he was graduated with the class of 1892, holding the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Before hanging up his shingle as a doc- tor, he traveled extensively in America and abroad, visiting the hospitals and the universities with a view to adding further to his equipment as a physi- cian. Dr. Wheeler commenced the active practice of his profession at Worcester, in 1893, and con- tinued successfully until 1906, when he became as- sociated with the State Mutual Life Assurance Company, of Worcester. Acknowledgment of the efficiency and skill of his services to the corpora- tion were justly rewarded in 1912 by promotion to the post of assistant medical director of the Mutual Life. In 1919 he was made the medical director of the company, a position he has held ever since.

Dr. Wheeler has kept in close touch with his colleagues in his profession as a member of the Massachusetts State Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is con- sulting surgeon at the Worcester City Hospital, and actively interested in several other medical institutions and societies. During the World War period, Dr. Wheeler was a member of the Federal

Advisory Board, and prominent in many of the drives and movements of that time, financial, hu- manitarian and medical. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, while his col- lege fraternity is the Kappa Alpha. Among his clubs might be named the Worcester, Tatnuck Country clubs of Worcester; the Williams Club, of New York; the Harvard Club, of Boston; and he is a member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce. His religious faith is that of the All Saints Episcopal Church.

In 1891, Dr. Wheeler married Fanny L. Foster, and they were the parents of four children: I. Mary Louise, now the wife of Stuart T. Bell, and the mother of a daughter, Jacqueline F. 2. Wil- liam A. Wheeler, in 1932 a senior at Williams College. 3. Ann, who died in 1913 at the age of seventeen. 4. Charles D., who died in 1917 at the age of nine.

EDWIN ABRAM FAWCETT-Versatility and courage, the ability to see beyond the present and the determination to make one's visions come true, usually win laurels in life and the respectful admiration of one's fellows. It can be written of Edwin Abram Fawcett, one of the former out- standing citizens of Worcester, Massachusetts, that he was a pioneer merchant, but he was known as a builder. He was eminently successful in com- merce, yet he might have been equally prominent in finance, industry or any of the professions. He was, indeed, richly gifted and in whatsoever he did he lavished the wealth of his talents upon the work in hand, whether it had to do with his own fortunes, the betterment of the city's affairs or the welfare of its citizens. Without striving or osten- tation Mr. Fawcett achieved a career which was of importance and of lasting benefit to others and the city at large.

Edwin A. Fawcett was born on April 3, 1830, at Boylston, Massachusetts, son of Jonathan and Asenath (Barnes) Fawcett. He attended the local schools and Westminster Academy and for a time considered entering the Christian ministry. At the age of sixteen years he removed to Worcester to earn his livelihood. After being employed in various ways, he came to the opinion that the city, with which he had cast his lot, needed easier and better ways of getting its vegetables, fruits and general garden crops. The efficient and speedy distribution of these perishables was the crux of the question he had to solve, and he did it by what is now the ordinary way in our crowded centers of population; he became a wholesaler with small establishments in various parts of the city which would receive and distribute what he purchased in large quantities at the source. All of this was very new at that time, the early 1850's, and his keen vision and enterprise were amply rewarded.

A pioneer in commerce, Mr. Fawcett was also a leader in the physical development of down- town Worcester. In connection with his business and to allow it to expand, he set about the con- struction of a suitable building. Here again his faith in himself and the future growth of Worces- ter motivated his procedure. If a business block was to be put up, then let it be one that was ahead of the time, something larger and higher. The result was that, in 1855, Mr. Fawcett had a build- ing erected that was one of the early skyscrapers of Worcester, although it was only three stories

Edwin A Harcent

WORCESTER COUNTY

high. It stood at No. 260 Main Street, opposite the old city hall, and was the only building between Pleasant and Chatham streets. The lower floor was given over to Mr. Fawcett's business, and when not enough of the two upper stories were rented as offices to other business men, the owner turned the rooms into apartments, another novel feature for the time. There were some so awed by this tall building that they were certain that it swayed in the wind because of its height. The structure was sold in 1871 to the Worcester County Bank and continued in the possession of this insti- tution and its later organizations.

The sale of the block marked the end of Edwin Fawcett's business career, although he was still in the prime of life and was to live for many more years. Life meant more to him than the acquire- ment of wealth. He retired that he might devote himself to wife and family, culture and civic use- fulness, to religious works and philanthropy. He was for more than a quarter of a century treas- urer of Old South Church Parish and a leading member of its congregation. His helpfulness to the unfortunate and poor, the youth who were just starting out in life, and those he had employed in the past, was especially notable. For more than sixty years he lived in a house on the corner of Chatham and Irving streets, noted for its dignified charm and the beauty of its surrounding grounds and gardens. The estate may well be considered symbolical of the solidity, breadth and grace of his career.

Edwin A. Fawcett died on January 22, 1906, and a biographer has written of him that "he was a man ahead of his time, one who built for the future. No matter what he did he tried to accom- plish his result in the efficient manner which seemed to be a part of his nature. Strict integrity, and a thorough understanding of business took him far in the commercial affairs of his city and state. . .

"In Worcester his acquaintance was as wide as the city itself; for the citizenry knew of his achievements, and his fellows were greatly at- tracted by his pleasant personality and fine traits of character. A man of the highest principles, Mr. Fawcett never at any time sacrificed his standards or lowered them for the sake of petty business gain. For the loftiness of his character and intel- ligence he will long be remembered and loved by his fellowmen, while the influence of his memory will be beneficial in its effects upon Worcester and upon those who come after him."

At Worcester, on October 21, 1857, Edwin Abram Fawcett married Rosetta Perkins, daughter of Wil- liam and Prudence (Porter) Perkins, and they were the parents of : I. Walter Edwin, born April 4, 1859. 2. Arthur Perkins, born October 3, 1861. 3. Charles Edwin, born March 8, 1864. 4. Rosetta May, born May 3, 1868. 5. Helen Laura, born January 25, 1884.

WALTER S. YOUNG-The public school system of Worcester, Massachusetts, has the repu- tation of being among the highest in rank in New England. Walter S. Young, present superintend- ent of the city's schools, has been associated with the Worcester educational institutions for thirty years, and is credited with contributing very largely to the remarkable progress made during the long period. His standing as an educator and admin-

istrator is recognized over a far wider field than the State of Massachusetts. He is a native of New Hampshire, born September 29, 1878, at Londonderry, son of James F. and Elizabeth V. (Wilkins) Young, the former of whom died in 1898 and the latter in 19II. He is a descendant of English and Scotch families which settled in Mas- sachusetts and New Hampshire in the early Colo- nial days. One of these families was involved in the Salem witchcraft agitation and one of its sons was hanged.

Walter S. Young grew up on a farm. The pre- liminaries of his education were begun in the dis- trict schools, from which he went to Pinkerton Academy to prepare for college. Graduated from Pinkerton with the class of 1897, he entered Dart- mouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and was graduated in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. During the years 1901, 1902 and 1903, he pursued special further studies at Dartmouth College, and in 1903 came to Worcester as an in- structor in history at the South High School. In this capacity he served for nine years, and estab- lished a reputation as an educator which was hon- ored by a call to a more important position. In 1912 Mr. Young was elected assistant superintend- ent of the Worcester schools, which position he held until 1923, when he was made superintendent of public schools succeeding H. S. Gruver, and has so served since. Many of the improvements made in instruction and methods of teaching, in school administration, and the better housing and discipline of pupils, are directly due to Mr. Young's constructive ideas and leadership. The school building program by which part time was elim- inated from the Worcester schools was originated and directed by him. Ten thousand sittings were provided for pupils by this program. He has al- ways kept in close touch with his professional col- leagues as a member of the Worcester County Teachers' Association, of which he is a past presi- dent, and the State and National Education As- sociations and other organizations of similar char- acter. He has contributed numerous articles to teachers' magazines and periodicals, covering a wide range of subjects interesting to members of his profession. He is highly esteemed by his col- leagues not only for the splendid work he has done with the Worcester school system, but as an edu- cator, speaker and all-round man among men.

Superintendent Young is a Mason and Past Master of Morning Star Lodge. He has also served as president of the Rotary Club and in that capacity represented Worcester on the program of the Los Angeles Convention of Rotary Interna- tional. He is a member of the Economic Club and its president in 1932-33, the Worcester Club, the Dartmouth Club, of which he has been secretary and President, and the Sons of the American Rev- olution. He is president of the board of trustees of Pinkerton Academy.

In 1910 Mr. Young married Harriet E. Nute, a native of Worcester. Mr. and Mrs. Young make their home on Marston Way, Worcester.

EDWARD A. DENNY-Were Edward A. Denny an older man he would be known as the "Dean" of the staff of the State Mutual Life As- surance Company, of Worcester, in which in 1932

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he rounded out an association with this remark- able corporation of full four decades. He entered the employ of the company as a young man, and in point of continuous service is outranked by very few in the company. Mr. Denny was born at Worcester, Massachusetts, December 16, 1872, son of Daniel E. and Martha A. (Fisher) Denny. His father was a native of Worcester, a prominent citizen and leader in politics, who filled many im- portant offices, the gift of the citizens. He died in 1924; Mrs. Denny was born at Northbrook, Mas- sachusetts, and lived until 1923.

Edward A. Denny attended the public schools, but while in his teens started in to make a liveli- hood for himself, and at the age of twenty secured a job with the State Mutual Life Assurance Com- pany of Worcester. This was in 1892, and his connection with the corporation has been unbroken during the last forty years. He has served in va- rious capacities and held many offices. Few men know the scope of the corporation's work better. In 1932 he was justly rewarded by elevation to the post of Comptroller of the Mutual Life, a posi- tion he now holds. His department is one of the most important in the business, and to be chosen the head of it throws a great deal of light upon the esteem and respect in which he is held.

Mr. Denny has always taken a great deal of in- terest in his native city and the advancement of its affairs. Fraternally he is affiliated with Morn- ing Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he has been the treasurer for twenty years. He is a member of all the bodies of Masonry up to and including the thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, and is a member of Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. At one time prominent in the social and club life of the city, Mr. Denny has resigned in recent years from all such organizations except the Chamber of Commerce, the Mechanics Association and the Historical Society, all of Worcester. He is a member of the Congregational Church.

In the first year of the present century, Mr. Denny married Bertha J. Griswold, a native of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Denny make their home at No. 4 Chamberlain Park, Worcester.

WILLIS E. SIBLEY, a native of New Salem, Franklin County, Massachusetts, was born De- cember 10, 1857, son of Sylvanus and Abigail Elizabeth (Briggs) Sibley. His ancestors were earlier generations of New England Yankee stock. He attended the public schools and academy in his native town. During his vacation periods his time was occupied on his father's farm, as was the case with many other country boys. Although always interested in farming and stock raising as a boy, he felt that other fields of endeavor offered larger opportunities and possibly more lucrative employ- ment.

Mr. Sibley came to Worcester in 1885 and began the study of law in the office of Burton W. Potter, then a prominent lawyer. In 1887 Mr. Sibley was admitted to the Worcester County Bar and for a period of about two years was connected with the office of David Manning. Terminating this asso- ciation, he and Frederick H. Chamberlain, now senior Judge of Probate Court for Worcester County, took offices together for the general prac- tice of law. This relationship continued for some

years, until Mr. Chamberlain became connected with the Registry of Probate and was later ap- pointed judge. Thereafter, Mr. Sibley continued the practice of law independently, having as office associates his brother, Charles H. Sibley, and Carl M. Blair. In 1919 he entered into a partnership with his brother, Mr. Blair and Arthur J. Young under the name and style of Sibley, Blair and Young. This partnership has continued to the present time. At the start, Mr. Sibley decided that politics and business did not mix well for success in either line and therefore stuck to business, de- clining to enter politics or to hold political or elec- tive office, also declining an appointment to the Superior Court and other State offices.

He has served as director and trustee on com- mercial and savings bank boards, also as director and in other official positions in various business, insurance, hospital, religious and other local organ- izations. For several years he has been president and a director of the Worcester Mutual Fire In- surance Company, one of the oldest and most suc- cessful insurance companies in Massachusetts.

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Worcester county; a narrative history, Volume III, Part 4

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